DX LISTENING DIGEST 4-038, March 1, 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: 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 NETS TO YOU: New March edition by John Norfolk: http://www.worldofradio.com/nets2you.html ** ALBANIA. Now that CRI is resuming MW relays via here, a lengthy discussion of how it used to sound, when and why it stopped, etc., is in BCDX #660 for March 2, the current issue for a week at http://www.wwdxc.de/topnews.htm (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANTARCTICA. LRA36 presumed the one on 15476 from 2020 tune in February 26th, mostly folk music featuring guitar and flute like instrument interspersed with announcements by lady in Spanish. Poor level but gradually fading up on clear channel until Voz Cristã signed on 2059 and blotted them out (Mike Barraclough, England, March World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** ANTARCTICA. ANTARTIDA ARGENTINA: 15170 (a) Radio Nacional Arcángel San Gariel, escuchada a las 1940 utc, aproximadamente en 15170 con señal (mas fuerte que en 15477) pero muy distorsionada (Alfredo Locatelli, Uruguay, Conexión Digital Feb 28 via DXLD) Fecha? Spur, or relay by someone else, say Spain? (gh, DXLD) ** ANTARCTICA. Sábado 21 de febrero: Estimados Amigos: El colega LUIS BRONZINI, de Rosario-Argentina, me ha facilitado este Boletín del GACW - Grupo Argentino de Radiotelegrafía. Considero que su contenido es de gran valor histórico por tratarse de la centenaria ocupación permanenete de la Antártida Argentina y de la creación de la emisora de onda corta más austral del mundo: LRA36 RADIO NACIONAL ARCANGEL SAN GABRIEL. Por tal motivo es que agradezco a Bronzini por compartir esta información y a todos ustedes por tener la deferencia de difundirla. Cordiales saludos de --- Rubén Guillermo Margenet Boletín GACW 198/877 GACW ~ GRUPO ARGENTINO DE RADIOTELEGRAFIA Página Institucional: http://gacw.no-ip.org/ Actualizada permanentemente Creado en junio de 1977 Radiofaro : LU4XS en 28.190 KHz (fuera de servicio momentáneo) reemplazado por LU1DZ/Beacon Boletín Internet GACW 198/877 del 17 de Febrero del año 2004 GACW - C.C. 9 - 1875 Wilde , Pvcia. de Buenos Aires, REPUBLICA ARGENTINA Editor: Arnoldo Jorge Corda, LU7EE ay7ee2002 @ yahoo.com.ar ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Con motivo de la conmemoración del CENTENARIO DE LA OCUPACION PERMANENTE DE LA ANTARTIDA ARGENTINA, el próximo domingo 22 de Febrero (1904/2004), celebramos el DIA DE LA ANTÁRTIDA ARGENTINA Epopeya de trascendencia Nacional, Histórica y Geopolítica protagonizada por Argentinos, y en estas líneas, rendimos homenaje a la Patrulla Soberanía, fundadora de la Base Aérea Vicecomodoro Marambio, que viviendo en pequeñas carpas, en una zona extremadamente inhóspita, contando solo con picos, palas y trabajando con esfuerzo, garra y coraje, abrieron un surco de tierra en el Desierto Blanco para permitir operar aviones de gran porte con tren de aterrizaje convencional, es decir con ruedas. Así fue como nuestros compatriotas, integrantes de esa Patrulla, rompieron el aislamiento con el Continente Antártico. A partir de entonces se abrieron rutas aéreas en sentido transpolar. La Antártida es un pedazo más de nuestra Patria, allí viven familias, nacen Argentinos y se continúa esa obra, con el mismo esfuerzo y sacrificio, que pusieron siempre, nuestros Antárticos. Como amantes de las ondas cortas, no podemos olvidarnos de: ---.. LRA36 UNA VOZ ARGENTINA QUE NACIO EN LA ANTARTIDA Hace algo más de 24 años comenzaban las primeras emisiones de Radio Nacional ``Arcángel San Gabriel``. Su emplazamiento se ubica a los 63º 23` de latitud sur y 56º 59` de longitud oeste, en la Bahía Esperanza, extremo norte de la Península Antártica. Bañada por el Estrecho Antartic y recostada sobre las estribaciones del monte Flora y los cerros Taylor y Pirámide. Una geografía distinta a otras conocidas en nuestro medio --- A veces paradisíaca, otras tempestuosa, con sensaciones térmicas extremas de alrededor de los 60 grados bajo cero y vientos huracanados que superan en algunas ocasiones los 250 km/h. Dentro de ese entorno, el proyecto de la radio nacía años atrás con fundamentadas razones. Sin los adelantos tecnológicos con que se cuenta en la actualidad, y con la sensación que embarga al argentino inmerso en la larga vigilia del invierno antártico, carente de un contacto con una emisora radiofónica audible que le devuelva el sonido de sus imágenes queridas --- El contraste con la potencia de la BBC de Londres, o Radio Moscú, o Radio Nederland de Holanda. Excelentes señales de audio, pero con un enfoque filosófico diferente. Y en contraposición, las débiles señales de las radios de Buenos Aires, que de acuerdo al capricho de las capas ionosféricas se desdibujaban hasta dejar simplemente un carraspeo ruidoso en el parlante --- Y nada más! Una primer experiencia traviesa fue la utilización de las frecuencias de los canales meteorológicos de BLU del móvil marítimo en la nochebuena de 1978. Por ese medio técnico se difundieron villancicos y posteriormente, la misa de gallo ofrecida por el capellán de la Base Esperanza. La transmisión fue captada por las estaciones antárticas argentinas y extranjeras hispano parlantes con un excelente margen de aceptación. Y de allí en más, el planteo a autoridades nacionales, los trámites ante el Comando Antártico, la Secretaría de Comunicaciones, el Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Culto, la Secretaría de Información Pública --- Y finalmente, en una lluviosa mañana del 24 de agosto de l989 zarpa del Puerto de Buenos Aires el flamante Rompehielos ``Almirante Irízar`` en su viaje inaugural. Sus amplias bodegas cobijan víveres, indumentaria, combustibles y además un transmisor de 1200 watts, una consola de transmisión, grabadores, torres, antenas, material de difusión y accesorios diversos. Su hangar aloja también a dos helicópteros ``Sea King`` de la aviación naval. Ellos, en el confín austral de la patria cumplirían la última etapa del transporte, dejando sobre la helada superficie al material transportado y a seis hombres expertos en comunicaciones. Fueron dos bonaerenses: Francisco ``Paco`` Vilá (LU8DBJ) y quien redacta esta crónica; un catamarqueño: Oscar Jorge Martínez --- lamentablemente fallecido; un porteño: Antonio Luis Pascual; y dos santacruceños: Felipe Cuenca y Victoriano Garay, con la misión de unirse a la dotación que invernaba en la Base Esperanza para consolidar el proyecto. Posteriormente, y a partir del 17 de setiembre se suceden las jornadas de arduo trabajo desafiando a una naturaleza hostil. Situaciones impredecibles donde se alternaban los logros y alguna frustración, las añoranzas por lo que quedó atrás en el continente, y la ansiedad por ganarle al tiempo cronológico y a la impredecible meteorología antártica. No fue fácil horadar rocas a pico, pala, punta y barreta, para emplazar el basamento de las torres y de las riendas de sujeción --- Licuar luego la nieve y convertirla en agua bullente, generar después el hormigón con las piedras de la costa y el adicional de cemento pórtland con fraguante rápido. Tampoco colgar posteriormente de ellas los alambres cooperweld que conformaban el rombo con tres planos de 53 metros de lado encargados de lanzar al éter la futura programación, y además el tendido de las líneas de alimentación. Mucho menos, voltear paneles de la casa habitación para poder introducir los módulos de la fuente, de alimentación, exitadores, moduladores y etapas de salida del transmisor de onda corta Philips TJB junto a la consola de transmisión. Acondicionar simultáneamente el grupo electrógeno de energía trifásica para alimentar los equipos --- La primera salida al aire con el apoyo de LRA10 Radio Nacional Ushuaia y LRA24 Radio Nacional Río Grande marcó un hito en la radiotelefonía argentina: era la primera y única radioemisora del mundo que emitía en prueba desde el continente blanco! Finalmente a las 1120 horas del sábado 20 de octubre de 1979, el locutor anuncia ``Aquí LRA36 Radio Nacional Arcángel San Gabriel en su frecuencia de 6030 Kilohertz, banda de 49 metros, emitiendo desde Base Esperanza en la Antártida Argentina, juntamente con las emisoras que integran la cadena oficial de radiodifusión`` --- ``La Primavera``, milonga de y por Víctor Velásquez, fue la primera composición difundida a los cuatro vientos del mundo como mensaje de argentinidad! El sueño estaba cumplido. Quizás todo lo expuesto ya forme parte de la anécdota. En la bruma del recuerdo quedaron las añoranzas de escuchar a una radio argentina que acompañara a los compatriotas en la larga vigilia antártica --- en la osadía de emitir en la frecuencia del móvil marítimo con equipos no convencionales los villancicos de la nochebuena del 78, y la misa de gallo --- o el titánico esfuerzo de la totalidad de los integrantes de la base y del Fortín Antártico ``Sargento Cabral`` --- Las dotaciones subsiguientes de LRA36, ya constituida oficialmente, perfeccionaron los distintos aspectos técnicos y operativos. Las horas de irradiación serían ampliadas y la era de los satélites de comunicaciones tenderían un puente superando el aislamiento con las gélidas latitudes que nos separan de ese suelo querido rodeado de mares tempestuosos y con fosas marinas abismales --- Actualmente se la puede escuchar desde las 17 horas en la frecuencia de 15476 Kilohertzios. Vaya nuestro reconocimiento a la dotación 1978/79 de la Base de Ejército ``Esperanza`` que colaboró en la difícil empresa de construir la primera radiodifusora antártica del mundo. A la Armada y a la Fuerza Aérea, que facilitaron el transporte de los elementos necesarios. También el recuerdo emocionado a todos los hombres y mujeres, civiles y militares, que transitaron mares, cielos, y la ``Pampa Blanca`` de nuestro vértice más austral desde un 22 de febrero de 1904 allanando el camino de los más bizoños. Ellos hicieron posible el cumplimiento de 100 años de ocupación efectiva y permanente --- hecho no emulado por ningún otro país ---, y en algunos casos puntuales, a costa de sus propias vidas! Juan Carlos Salvia (LW2DEI - GACW # 469) El autor, fue el primer locutor estable de la emisora antártica, y posteriormente el Honorable Senado de la Nación le otorgó el título de ``Expedicionario al Desierto Blanco``. (via Rubén Guillermo Margenet, Argentina, Feb 21, DXLD) Unfortunately, we did not get this article until after Feb 22, since it was sent to our hotmail address which is no longer active and checked only occasionally. Argentine sovereignty over any portion of Antarctica is not recognised internationally; it`s supposed to be an international continent (gh) ** AUSTRALIA. Radio Australia is looking for feedback on its website, and they've set up a short user survey and are interested in input. Survey is one click off the main RA website http://www.abc.net.au/ra/ --- direct URL is http://www2b.abc.net.au/surveypro/au/Content/ra.asp The survey will only be available until mid-March, so you don't want to waste time in paying a visit to the website (via John Figliozzi, NASWA Flashsheet Feb 29 via DXLD) ** BELGIUM [non]. TDP RADIO. A04 planned schedule for TDP's own programming, and those brokered for other organisations: in BCDX #660 for March 2, the current issue for a week at http://www.wwdxc.de/topnews.htm (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. 6030, 1639 Feb 29, CFVP. Strong signal (!!) with infomercial for 'Your Health Matters'. Various health supplements, etc. Way over another cochannel. Pushing 'Beta Prostate' over Viagra. 1 capsule equals to 2000 doses of Saw Palmetto, etc., etc. Only available from the 1-800 number. Filler music from 0858. Occasional fades with presumed Cuban jamming. ID for CKMX at 1700, into another paid program (Volodya Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Haven`t noticed Cuban jamming that late when Martí is never on (gh, DXLD) 6030, CFVP, Calgary, Alberta, nice full-data QSL letter and two stickers in 3 weeks for CD report; V/S Ken Pasolli, Technical Mgr., Standard Radio Inc., Calgary Division. Power given as 100 watts. "It is very unusual to receive reports from the eastern U.S. The future of CFVP is uncertain. There is no budget for repairs in the event of a major technical problem, so it will remain on the air until that time." (Jerry Berg, MA, DX-plorer via BC-DX via DXLD) ** CANADA [non]. UNITED KINGDOM, 11935, 1632 Feb 29, Radio Canada International. Good signal, but spoiled a bit by long/short path echo with RCI's Ukrainian program (soon to be decimated in favour of a Portuguese to Brazil program). (Volodya Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. radioactu.ca: March 9 will be kick-off for CFAV 1570 kHz. Still testing, sounds better than week or two ago. Really tough at night, with adjacent channel Radio Disney on 1560 [NYC] Radio has gone to the apes: Barrie, Ont. B101 FM introduced Choo-Choo the chimpanzee as its overnight host, Midnight to morning, 7 days a week. Has affection for kooky and eclectic music http://www.b101fm.com (Sheldon Harvey & Bill Westenhaver, CKUT International Radio Report Feb 29, notes by Ricky Leong, via DXLD) ** CHILE. Voz Cristiana at Calera del Tango-Santiago. Some, but not all transmitters of Voz Cristiana are on off frequencies today, see my observations here in Europe. But I can't check all these yet, due of poor propagation from the South into Europe at this time span. May you can check the remaining frequencies of Voz Cristiana for their 'oddity'. v15375.19 1045 Feb 17 ChristVision Santiago Sp, relig songs 1-22221-2 v21499.80 1100 Feb 17 CHL ChristVision Santiago Port, female sermon, hot relig mx 43333 (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, Feb 25, BC-DX Mar 2 via DXLD) Remember that Dave Valko had them on 11934.54 Feb 14 at 1138 (gh) ** CHILE. Here is a very interesting item: for A04, the BBC plans to use a new relay in SANTIAGO, Chile! See BCDX #660 for March 2, the current issue for a week at http://www.wwdxc.de/topnews.htm (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. 4800, 1558 Feb 29, CNR 1. Fair signal, spoiled by CODAR with Chinese music. Parallels 4460 good, 5030 good to very good, and 7935 poor. All 1+ hours after local sunrise (Volodya Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. Strongest International SW signal received from San José, CA. --- Glenn: 7290.0, CRI, Jinhua: when this signal came into my ken at 1030Z as I tuned through the 41 M band this morning, 02-29-04, to test a new 22m dipole, I nearly fell off my chair: 50 dB above S9! Even a ham down the street from me does not register a stronger signal -- and I think he's running a kilowatt. The signal is ten to fifteen dB stronger than local SJ BC band stations running 5 kW, only a 3-4 of miles from me. Furthermore, the audio quality of the Russian program (with a female whose accent sounds rather heavily Chinese) is terrible: she's hogging the mike and popping it, and the signal is severely distorted. Cutting back the RF does not improve it; no radio overload here, the problem is the transmission. I think I could probably solder with this signal, or perhaps run the dish washer. ILGRadio says the transmitter power is -- gasp! -- 600 kW. I believe it. Best, (Steve Waldee - SJ, Calif. retired broadcast engineer, Feb 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. I tuned 7140 & 7190 last night c2000 and heard the two CRI English transmissions starting. 7140 probably was for Africa - as listed - and was peaking to about 10dB over 9, but unlisted 7190 was obviously coming our way and peaking 20+dB over 9. Both had co-channel stations, which I didn`t stop to ID, but CRI was well on top. As far as I could tell, both appeared to be in sync. The only other site which provides such strong signals at night is Urumqi, and I presume this is already fully utilised, so Olle's suggestion would seem correct in that they come from Kashi. The audio seemed very clear and sharp to me too (Noel R. Green, UK, Feb 27, BC-DX Mar 2 via DXLD) ** CHINA. Re 4-036, the A-04 schedule for Kashi, and the list of `strange requirements`: I wonder what the "strange requirements" are intended for - that would be via 10 transmitters! It's interesting to see that some are listed with 100 kW and others with 500 kW. ...and ND, something that is impossible with an ALLISS system! Another piece in a puzzle that more and more appears to be an extensive schedule! Re 5905 being omnidirectional: We don't have to assume that all Thales transmitters are ALLISS ones! One strange thing about 5905 is that there is a marked delay between this one and 7330 at 1700, when both have Russian. One possible explanation is that the 100 kW and 500 kW sites are located some distance away from each other. What I assume in detail: Probably Thales built one station with 500 kW ALLISS units here but also another station with a classical combination of 100 kW transmitters and antennas at another location? I guess these are reservations for the planned 24h service, maybe also for more morning transmissions in other languages than just German. The great number of frequencies may me due to reserve bookings. The maximum number of listed 500 kW KAS transmitters heard at any time in the evening is four, and that lasts for one hour only. I guess that the assignments are based on current operations and that we will see more additions of both transmitters and hours in the near future. In the past few days some of the 308 degree transmissions have brought my S meter to the upper end of the scale. This goes a.o. for German on 7170, which often dominates over the extremely strong signal of the VOR transmitter for the Baltic area using 500 kW from Oyash. Several CRI transmissions have had a problem with scratchy audio for some days now. The problem is not confined to one site, although it is best heard on Urumqi transmitters. It sounds like a mild version of the Radio Pakistan audio problem. If Alliss cannot radiate 500 & 100 kW then it does seem a second site has been constructed with more conventional antennas. As both are listed as KAS they may not be too far apart and located in that province? And perhaps the four high power Alliss are the ones bending Olle's S meter. If the CRI scratchy audio is heard via more than one site maybe it suggests a feeder problem of some sort? (Olle Alm-SWE / Noel R. Green-UK / Kai Ludwig-D, Feb 28/29, [individual writers not identified, but we can guess], BC-DX Mar 2 via DXLD) ** CHINA [non]. China Radio International Promoted a Meeting in Rio de Janeiro with its Listeners, that already is part of Brazilian shortwave broadcast history. I would like to invite you to access a briefing in English of the meeting, also some pictures [page up] on: http://planeta.terra.com.br/arte/sarmentocampos/EncontroCRI2004.htm#english (Sarmento F. Campos, Rio de Janeiro - Brasil, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. 4869.93, 0745 UT Feb 29, Radio María, via old Radio Católica Nacional Macas???? Plenty IDs and usual Catholic religious programming (Paul Ormandy, ZL4PW, Host of The South Pacific DX Report http://radiodx.com DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4869.96 kHz, RD Cultural/Radio María, Macas, 28th of Feb. 2004. Amigos DXistas, aquí viene SWB MICROINFORMATIVO! Quito 29/Feb/2004 9:39 RD Cultural "LV del Upano" reactivated. Has not been active for some years on this frequency. Last night first with local programming and later relay of Radio María Ecuador in // with LV del Napo/Radio María 3279.54 kHz. So Radio María now seems to have the same business with Upano as before with Napo. You can listen to the recording on my homepage on internet (under construction) http://www.malm-ecuador.com (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador,SWB América Latina, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4870, La Voz del Upano, Macas, ID thoughtfully provided on tune in, 1100-1130 "Ésta es la Voz del Upano... América del Sur", strong signal, per Dave Valko tip as unID. 29 Feb (Bob Wilkner, NRD 535D - Icom R75 - Noise reducing antenna, Pómpano Beach, Flórida, U S, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4869.9 a las 0625 UT Feb 29, ¡RADIO MARÍA DE LAS ISLAS GALÁPAGOS! Programa religioso y se identificó a las 0700 UT. Entrando a cañón. Espero que estas captaciones te sirvan de algo. Un saludo que ahora me marcho a descansar del susto de Radio María Galápagos. Receptor JRC NRD-535, Antena Dipolo Horizontal 28 metros N/S (Juan José, España, Spain. Escucha de Onda Corta desde el año 1981. Listening to Short Wave from the year 1981. ea1474juanjo @ hotmail.com Visit my WEB page: http://www.iespana.es/ea1474juanjo (via Dario Monferini) Possibly the program originated in Galápagos, but I would not jump to the conclusion that 4870 emanated from there (gh, DXLD) 4869.94, Voz del Upano, apparently reactivated. Alternating M&W talking over "A Time For Love" and other light instrumentals at 2335 Feb 28, pretty good at first but signal declining. Religious male vocal at 2353, kids choral selection 2356, ID 0000 as "Radiodifusora Católica Cultural Voz del Upano," then more singing, seemingly some prayers. Better at 0945 Feb 29 with Ecuadorean mx, full Upano ID at 1000 announcing 1 x 40 MW [1540 listed], 5040 (not heard), 90.5 FM, then NA and religious programming (Jerry Berg, MA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) 2-29, 0427-0507 Spanish, Christian ballads, talk, Andean flutes, Hail Mary, choir, classical music, sermon (Sheryl Paszkiewicz, Manitowoc WI, ibid.) 4869.95, LV del Upano, reactivated, 0612-0804+, 0838-1002, 29 Feb. First heard at the Europirate micro-DXpedition at the State Game Lands. Gregorian chants at 0612 tune-in and then M and W with Rosary. Into piano music with M voice-over prayer/inspiritual [sic] talk. Thought heard couple mentions of Sur Africa. Still going and strong when I left at 0805. Later, after 0838 when I returned from the micro- DXpedition, heard again with LA music, into talk program at 0900, and then more music including some nice HC folk style. 1000 nice clear canned full ID announcement by M with call, frequencies, address, and phone, then into choral HC NA. Big signal and clear. A bit distorted from being overmodulated. Wonder if 5040 is going to return. 73 (Dave Valko, PA, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. HCJB, Quito, 9765 kHz, 1230-1300 UT Feb 28, DX Party Line, strong signal with a lot of interference and fading. I'm just getting back into this after many years and yesterday replaced my Hallicrafters S-120 with a new Grundig S350. The digital display reads two KC high on all bands. Temporary indoor wire antenna (Rich Brock, Bridgewater, PA, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ?? Supposed to be on 15115, but 9765 is also an HCJB frequency at other times; forgot to change, or moving down? Rich also heard WOR at 0330 on 4155, not realizing it was an image of 5070 (gh, DXLD) ** GUATEMALA. Does anyone out there in Radio Land know the correct E- Mail # of RADIO VERDAD? As per 2004 WRTH it is radioverdad @ chiquimula.zzn.com But it keeps bouncing back to me. Can anyone help me? (Tom Messer, River Falls WI, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** GUYANA. 3291, Voice of Guyana, 0100-0110 rock music, then YL with lottery numbers, the winning being 16-28-21.7.13, these repeated several times (Bob Wilkner, NRD 535D - Icom R75 - Noise reducing antenna, Pómpano Beach, Flórida, U S, Feb 29? DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUYANA. TWO STATE-OWNED MEDIA COMPANIES MERGED | Text of report by Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) news agency on 29 February Georgetown, Guyana: A new media entity will be launched in Guyana on Monday [1 March], following the merger between two state-owned entities. Effective 1 March, the Guyana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) and the Guyana Television and Broadcasting Company Limited (GTV), Channel 11, will be called the National Communications Network Incorporated (NCN Inc). Government ratified the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) along with the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU) - bargaining agent for the media workers - earlier this month, paving the way for the creation of the new entity. Under the terms of the compact some 23m Guyana dollars (117,000 US dollars) has been set aside for ex-gratia payments for severed employees of the two companies. A Government Information Agency (Gina) statement explained then that "persons with less than three years service will receive 10 per cent of the severance pay and those with more than three years 15 per cent". Gina also said that six-month temporary contracts will be offered to all employees of GTV and GBC employees in the new government outfit. Contractual workers are not expected to lose earnings under the new deal since "the temporary contracts shall carry the same salary as the employees currently enjoy, and in addition will carry an 8 per cent payment in lieu of leave and other benefits", Gina said. Executive Director of NCN Inc, Desmond Mohamed, said the assets and liabilities of the previously separated media houses have been taken over by NCN Inc so that any outstanding monies due to either GTV or GBC now become payable to NCN Inc. Also, all sums owed by GTV and GBC will now be paid by NCN Inc. "The directors and management of NCN look forward to providing new and improved services in both television and radio for the benefit of our viewers and listeners," Mohamed said in a Gina release Saturday. "The new company looks forward to the public's continued support. All telephone numbers for GTV and GBC remain the same," Gina advised. Source: Caribbean Media Corporation news agency, Bridgetown, in English 2229 gmt 28 Feb 04 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 4749.98, RRI Makassar (presumed), 3/1 1252-1402. Apparently reactivated, as noted by Bolland, after being off for at least 3 months - formerly on 4753v. Heard with Indo vocals 1252-1258; then a 60-second ad or announcement; 1259 YL spoke briefly but no ID noted; 1259:20 SCI to 1300 Jak program; checked later (1340) and YL was taking phone calls; at least one mention of "Makassar"; pop song at 1348, then more talk past ToH with no break. Good signal but didn't seem as strong as when on 4753v, when they were the strongest Indo on the band (John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge, Colorado, Drake R-8, 100-foot RW, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. IMPORTANT INFORMATION AS NASA TELEVISION PREPARES TO GO DIGITAL Glenn, NASA - TV is carried by both DISH Network and Direct TV and by many cable TV systems across the USA. It is the best place to watch launches and daily shows from the space station. I find it interesting that the serial number of this notice, 04-37, is the same number the FCC has assigned to the BPL NPRM proceeding. Is that a coincidence or another example of the the vast conspiracy by the new world order to control what we see and how we communicate? 73, (Joe Buch, DE, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: Bob Jacobs/Fred Brown Headquarters, Washington March 1, 2004 (Phone: 202/358-1600) NOTE TO EDITORS: N04-037 IMPORTANT INFORMATION AS NASA TELEVISION PREPARES TO GO DIGITAL The analog satellite signal used to broadcast feeds and other programming on NASA Television will soon become digital. Digital technology will enable NASA to concurrently broadcast multiple channels of broadcast-quality video, as well as interactive content and other information, all from one satellite transponder. Your access to NASA TV content will be impacted by this upgrade in technology, and your ability to see the programming provided by the agency will be affected, unless you have the correct equipment to convert the new digital signal. To keep you informed and to help you through this transition, the agency has set up an Internet site where you can join an e-mail list to receive periodic updates about the digital conversion. For information on how to sign up for news about the transition from analog to digital, visit: http://www.tvsurvey.msfc.nasa.gov The NASA TV homepage has broadcast schedules and information about the transition process on the Internet at: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv To better serve you in the future, we want to know how you use the material provided by NASA TV. You'll be asked to complete a brief survey, so we can send you the most appropriate information. No personal information will be collected, and those who register will only be contacted with news about the digital conversion of NASA TV. For information about NASA and agency programs on the Internet, visit: http://www.nasa.gov -end- * * * NASA press releases and other information are available automatically by sending an Internet electronic mail message to domo @ hq.nasa.gov In the body of the message (not the subject line) users should type the words "subscribe press-release" (no quotes). The system will reply with a confirmation via E-mail of each subscription. A second automatic message will include additional information on the service. NASA releases also are available via CompuServe using the command GO NASA. To unsubscribe from this mailing list, address an E-mail message to domo @ hq.nasa.gov, leave the subject blank, and type only "unsubscribe press-release" (no quotes) in the body of the message. (via Joe Buch, DE, March 1, DXLD) Enid`s PEGASYS cable-access channel has been carrying NASA during certain hours daily. Bet this catches them by surprise (gh, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. XM LAUNCHES RADIO'S FIRST ADVANCED INSTANT TRAFFIC & WEATHER SERVICE FOR MAJOR MARKETS NATIONWIDE --- New Service Superior to Existing Terrestrial And Satellite Radio Traffic Services WASHINGTON, March 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- XM Satellite Radio (Nasdaq: XMSR), the country's first satellite radio service, today introduced radio's first advanced instant traffic and weather service for major markets nationwide. The XM Instant Traffic and Weather service exclusively provides: (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000724/XMSATLOGO ) -- 21 channels of traffic and weather information for the nation's most traffic-congested metropolitan areas -- 24/7 continuously updated reporting for each market -- A dedicated channel for each major metro market -- Travel times for major roadways, provided by Traffic Pulse(R) technology on the ground in the local markets -- Average speeds for major roadways, provided by Traffic Pulse(R) technology on the ground in the local markets -- Amber Alerts and other important public safety and homeland security notifications on air and printed on the radio display -- Dedicated staff of more than 40 traffic and weather experts supported by a nationwide network of traffic data collection professionals -- Most comprehensive traffic information available utilizing advanced in-road sensors, aircraft, traffic and local eyewitness reports. To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/xm/11892 (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [non?]. COASTAL VIRGINIA. 8983L, Coast Guard, 0230 29 Feb; Dramatic rescue of crew member from lifeboat after ship explosion at sea; easy copy of base station and boats at the scene; later moved to 5696L (Jerry Strawman, IA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Tnx to tip from Ron Trotto, I was also monitoring 5696, but I thought it was USB; only occasional traffic there and about all I could understand were position reports matching this (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. This morning Feb 26, 17535 had bad case of split carrier. There were subcarriers +/- 20 kHz at 1 kHz intervals. It sounded like a swarm of mosquitoes (very hungry ones!). (Olle Alm, Sweden, BC-DX Mar 2 via DXLD) Whatever the problem was this morning on 17535 seems to have been noted and put right. Israel usually seems to operate their senders in a correct manner, and it's not often they are on air with faults. Even some of the former low power units also operated correctly, although the USB 'compatible' type audio didn`t always sound good. I guess these have now been sent to the transmitter hall in the sky (Noel R. Green, UK, Feb 27, BC-DX Mar 2 via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. ISRAEL`S MR TELEVISION --- 26 February 2004 This week on the Media Report we speak to the man regarded as Israel`s most respected television journalist: Chaim Yavin, on the media, the message and the Middle East. ISRAELI NEWS THEME (LANGUAGE) Mick O`Regan: The voice of Chaim Yavin, who is without doubt, the voice of broadcast news in Israel. He has a record in television journalism to rival America`s Walter Cronkite. Chaim Yavin has presented the evening news since 1968. He`s been the head of Israeli TV, a political correspondent in the Israeli Parliament, the Knesset, a correspondent in Washington and is a prolific maker of documentaries. He works for the Israel Broadcasting Authority, the IBA, and like many public broadcasters, the IBA endures a tense relationship with government. In fact many media academics in Israel have been critical of the extent to which the government has interfered with, and tried to influence, the IBA`s News and Current Affairs output. Jonathan Gadir, a reporter with ABC Current Affairs, has just returned from Israel, where he spoke to Chaim Yavin and asked whether he agreed that government interference in broadcasting was a problem. [page down for start of story] http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/mediarpt/stories/s1052277.htm (via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** JAPAN. A Puzzler: NHK Fukuoka --- Glenn: 6130.0, usb: NHK R One, Fukuoka, Japan. Powerhouse signal produced by their nominal 600 W, peaking at ~S8 with 53m. random wire but heard better, with less low frequency howling noise, with 22m. dipole, on 02-29-04 from 0915 through 0947Z. Phone callers, with male and female very jocular studio hosts: conversational and good-humored program, content not identified as I cannot speak Japanese. Jazzy musical IDs (presumably) like a typical western talk show; at 0928 some rather cool jazz music, which I assumed to be end-of-segment outro. More talk; then children's choir, which I *thought* I also could faintly hear under static at 3260. Transmission mode USB, no LSB signal heard at all. Signal in AM detection mode was exceptionally noisy to the point of being unintelligible muck; but in USB was extremely clear, quiet, and listenable at tune-in, decreasing gradually to rather poor at 0947. What puzzles me is that ILGRadio db says the frequencies are, respectively, 6133.8 and 3259; WRTVH says 6130 and 3259. So my experience doesn't match either publication. ID heard at 0950Z, and "Fukuoka". Best, (Steve Waldee - retired CE, San José, California, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALI. 9634, RDT Bamako, 0831, Feb. 29th, French, talk OM, back on this out frequency after many months of precise 9635 kHz, maybe different transmitters? Fair (Luca Botto Fiora, Italy, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** MEXICO. 6010.03, R. Mil, not very strong, but in the clear (no Conciencia) with ID at 0903 Feb 29, giving SW call, frequency, mb, also mention NRM [Núcleo Radio Mil] Comunicaciones. Blocked by HCJB in German at 0930-1030. R. Mil website http://www.nrm.com.mx gives info on SW, including the "Encuentro DX" program, and offers QSLs for reception reports "completos y correctos"; look under "R. Mil/ Programas/ Encuentro DX." (Jerry Berg, MA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** MEXICO [and non]. Mexico loggings from Houston trip (plus one Guatemala) Tim Hall, DXing in Houston, TX, ICF-2010, Kiwa Pocket Loop, Delco car radio: http://lists.topica.com/lists/CorazonDX/read/message.html?sort=d&mid=808667737&start=1711 Quite extensive, including some unIDs, and frequencies with Mexican national anthem which need identifying. Click on next messages for more discussion (via gh, DXLD) ** MONACO. Ciao! Infos sur les ondes moyennes à Monte Carlo: Depuis aujourd'hui 1 mars 2004 --- 702 kHz, Plus de RAI RadioDue émissions arrêtées à la demande de la Rai! RAI 2 stopped the Relay!!! 1467 kHz, NOUVELLE station: "M.C. One" depuis Monaco, pas encore de détails, mais les studios sont au 7 avenue du Gabian à Monaco. C'est dans l'immeuble de Monte Carlo Sat. Dés que j'ai plus de détails, je le signale. Ciao, 73's (Christian Ghibaudo, France, via Dario Monferini, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MONGOLIA. 1350, 1000-2000 WYFR via Dalanzadgad near Chinese border 150 kW; see WRTH, page 288! (Wolfgang Büschel / Bernd Trutenau, Feb 27, BC-DX via DXLD) ** NEPAL. Someone was asking me about Radio Nepal's 7165 kHz frequency. I haven't observed them using that frequency for a few years now. Even though it keeps being published in books like the WRTH an PTWBR or ILG, the frequency has really not been in use for a long time now. Two years ago they used 6100 kHz for a while but seem to have dropped that again. The only shortwave frequency in use at present is 5005 kHz with two 15 minute English segments at 0215 and 1415 UT. However, they seem to have transmitter problems at present. Right now (0445) they should be on with Nepali programming but there's nothing. The MW transmitter on 792 kHz is going strong though... 73 from the foothills of the Himalayas, (Thomas Roth, Feb 28, hard-core- rx via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA [and non]. CBS had a one-hour Democratic Presidential candidate debate (originally billed as a sesquihour, wasn`t it?), Sunday February 29 at 1600 UT. I`ll bet Dan Rather, the moderator, had to fight like hell to get such a debate on CBS, and that was the best time they would give him. No prime time in this case! I don`t know about clearances elsewhere in the country, but Oklahomans were out of luck. Neither KWTV-9 OKC nor its sister station KOTV-6 Tulsa scheduled it live, nor even the following overnight, as they have been known to do for some prime-time shows frequently pre-empted by gospel huxters. I did find it on the KWCH 12 Wichita online schedule for 11:35 pm, but the station was invisible, with conditions below par here some 125 miles away. Surely C-SPAN would carry it, some time on Sunday or overnight, just as they have most, if not all the other debates which were originally on commercial networks! NO, no sign of it on the C- SPAN networks` online schedules. We`re totally out of luck. Maybe it was availablized on CBS Radio live or delayed, but we had no time to go searching for it. In order to occur before so-called Super-Tuesday, CBS TV could have scheduled it in prime time Monday night. Sunday afternoon was full of stupid ballgames, and no one wanted to take on the Academy Awards all evening (on ABC). Later: I kept on checking CSPAN online schedules and finally the CBS debate DOES show up on Monday evening, 0250 and 0535 UT Tue March 2 --- always approximate and subject to change! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. BCB DX LOGGINGS FROM SHAWN M. AXELROD, VE4DX1SMA, DX'ING FROM WINNIPEG MB. RECEIVERS: ICOM ICR-70 / DRAKE R8. ANTENNAE: 4 FOOT UNAMPLIFIED BOX LOOP / QUANTUM LOOP/ 155 FOOT OUTDOOR WIRE / 100 FOOT INDOOR WIRE / MFJ 1026 PHASING UNIT. TIMES ARE EASTERN TIME ZONE FOR DOMESTIC / LOGGINGS: SPECIAL 1640, KFNY, OK, Enid, 02/29 0635. Poor signals but all alone on frequency with ID as ``All Comedy Radio`` and some comedy routines. NEW (SA-MB) COMMENTS --- No DXpedition but did manage to catch one new station from home so all is not lost this weekend. Besides it will be 4 more years until I can log anything new on Feb 29! -- 73 and Best of DX (Shawn Axelrod, amfmtvdx via DXLD) ** PAKISTAN. 9395.0, 1604 Feb 29, Radio Pakistan. On exact frequency, with English news. Poor only (Volodya Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. R. Atlántida --- Glenn: 4789.98 (if I could be so presumptuous): R. Atlántida, Iquitos, Peru. Heard 02/29/04 at 1120Z, a quite excellent, listenable signal, better than ever received here before, using 107m fencetop dipole, aimed more or less at SE Asia (almost unreceivable with my new 22m e-w facing rooftop dipole): a program of continuous sentimental Spanish language ballads -- oddly, with a short silent pause between selections: do radio station authorities allow this anymore? As artists/ensembles were quite varied, assume that it is not merely a CD or Lp tracking through. Uncharacteristic "relaxed" style, very pleasant after 3 AM local time, before putting my R75 to bed. 2.5 kW reaches here quite well from "the largest city in the Peruvian jungle and the navigation gateway to the Amazon", beautiful Iquitos. Wish I were there, rather than freezing in my garage. Best, (Steve Waldee - retired radio station CE, San José, CA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PITCAIRN ISLAND. The following is the scheduled normally used by hams on Pitcairn for regular contacts (same UT time year around): 1700-???? Betty Christian, VP6YL, Wednesday on 21325 1700-???? Tom Christian, VP6TC, Friday on 21248 2200-2300 Dave Brown, VP6DB, most days on 14226.5 or 14247 2330-0100 Tom Christian, VP6TC, Tuesday into UT Wednesday on 21348 or, if that frequency is poor, 14181 (John Norfolk, from the new March edition of Nets To You http://www.worldofradio.com/nets2you.html via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PUERTO RICO. 7507, 0442 Feb 19, AFRTS. Fair to good reception with AFN programming, with pulsatile ute splatter spoiling an otherwise reasonable signal. Funny choice of frequency, with adjacent SW broadcasters. Parallel to Key West on 5446.5 (also with co-channel ute). (Volodya Salmaniw, M.D., Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Pulsatile: pulsating; throbbing, as a vascular tumor (Merriam Webster via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. 5940, 0507 Feb 29, Radio Rossii. Fair reception with Russian programming. Ad at 0508 ('Reklama Radio Rossii'), then into weather. Parallel to slightly stronger 7320 (Volodya Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAUDI ARABIA. 1521 has been crushing WWKB between 9 and 10:30 p.m. EST most nights this week since last Tuesday when I noted them at huge level on the car radio on my homeward commute (Route 38) from the U. Mass. Lowell campus (where I'm taking a Microwave Engineering night course). Open carrier is run till 9:55 p.m. EST and then Kor`anic chanting kicks in. I actually wouldn't mind being able to hear WWKB's oldies when out driving around (local WODS-103.3 stinks), but who am I to complain about good TA reception? Anyway I'll be getting back out to the shore on after-work junkets in a few more weeks for "pumped up" DXing (TA's on steroids) once again. Winter's almost over - gotta like that (Mark Connelly, WA1ION - Billerica, MA, Feb 28, NRC-AM via DXLD) The het (and occasional audio) from Saudi-1521 has been obliterating any domestics on 1520 on my car radio on homeward commute around 1730- 1755 EST through Plymouth, Bourne, and Sandwich, MA. All of my home DX equipment is in packing boxes right now as Debby and I have purchased a home in South Dennis, MA (on the Cape) and will be moving on Sunday Feb 29 (Marc DeLorenzo, Cape Cod, MA, ibid.) ** SOMALIA. Radio Shabelle in Mogadishu, 6961, heard here February 26th and 27th at 2015-2025 tune out with Horn of Africa music, best in LSB due to utility interference, poor strength but steady signal (Mike Barraclough, England, March World DX Club Contact via DXLD) 6961, presumed this one, 2051 Feb 27, as rerported by Anker Petersen yesterday, with man in emphatic speech as if political exhortation or sporting event. A second man interjected brief comments from time to time. Couldn't tell language, but it had that ME-type of cadence. HoA instrumental misoc at 2057 seguéing into Qur`an-like vocal by man. Silence at 2059; carrier off at 2100. Weak and buffeted by electrical noise here, but none of the QRM mentioned by Anker. Sure nice to hear this one so relatively late in the season (Bob Hill, MA, DX-plorer via DXLD) News on the station can be found at http://www.dxing.info/news/index.dx#shabele - however, I´m not sure if the listed email is working. Nevertheless, I just received the following message from maalik @ shabele.com, so at least that email address, found on the station website at http://www.shabele.com/ along with the other one, seems to be valid. Here is the additional info sent for the readers of DXing.info. And, just as an idea to the international DXing community; if the station is as DX-friendly as the message indicates, perhaps DXers could also think of ways to assist the station in some way. If not anything else, at least to cover the burden of responding to a huge amount of international (e)mail. If you have ideas, you can post them for example in this forum. And you can of course get directly in touch with the station manager to know what they would need most. ----------- I am Very pleased to hear from you the long distance which our station covers that we were not definitely aware of. We have started a month ago, this short-wave broadcast and we supposed that it would cover a minimum distance of 3000 Km in every direction. So far it has been confirmed that we are heard east and central Africa, a part of Asia and as you mentioned Finland where we expect, we have good audibility. Our media station consists of Two FM and Short-wave Radios, In Mogadishu and Merca, a website http://www.shabele.com and daily news paper (Shabele Times) Please we are content to have from you what your activities are, and also we are ready to co-operate with you about any issue concerning Journalism, and we need your co-operation perfectly. I am sending you attached profile of our station and on the coming days I shall send you a complete report of Somali Journalism. Thanks. Abdimalik Yusuf Moh’oud Chairman of Shabele media Network Mogadishu Somalia --------------------- SHABELE PROFILE Shabele Media Network was set up on 06/5/02 on the F.M. 101.5 MHZ and the short-wave of 6961 KHZ lately, But the radio construction was started on 01/02/02. the head quarter of the radio is in Mogadishu (Banadir Region) and it also so has branches in Merka (Lower Shabele Region) and covers an area about 3000 km. The founders and owners of Shabele media network are composed by intellectuals, businessmen/women, qualified professional lists etc. Radio Shabele is a private company which is going to take part of revitalization of the free marketing system in Somalia. A country destroyed by civil strife and anarchy during to the past 13 years. The people of Somalia have tired living in emergency situations, Undoubtedly, at this critical moment the country grateful assistance from the international community. However, International Aid alone cannot achieve the desired political change and the huge task of reconstruction. Local capacities both human and natural resources of Somalia should be harnessed ingeniously to complement the external efforts, in order to produce enduring peace and socio-economic progress. Somalia’s private sector like Shabele Media Network and the civil society, though willing to participate fully in the process of reconstruction and reconciliation, Among other communication media. Radio Shabele as a social force is indispensable to lead the process of national reconciliation eradication of poverty and the decentralization of Somalia. MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE RADIO • To promote freedom of expression in Somalia. • To upgrade the skills of 1st personnel. • To spread its broadcasting services throughout the country. • To ensure and respect of well- being and development of the society. • To develop in achievement in youth. • To bring about desirable behavioural changes resulting in the improvement of the individual. • To create plans for the (economic, industrial, social) progress of the society. MISSION OF S.M.N The mission of Shabele media network is easily Somalia and foreign listeners access to media service and it has different programmes to air which can be interesting and useful to the society. VALUE OF S.M.N - Encourage the free expression of ideas. - Highlight stability, law and order, democracy and good governance. ACTIVITIES OF S.M.N. - Encourage the free expression of ideas. - Highlight stability, law and order, democracy and good governance through media channels. - Spread fresh update news, prepare debates, comments, analyses and views in and around Somalia. MAIN OBJECTIVES OF SHABELE MEDIA NETWORK. • To promote freedom of expression in Somalia. • To upgrade the skills of 1st personnel. • To spread its broadcasting services throughout the country. • To ensure and respect of well-being and development of the society. • To develop in achievement in youth. • To bring about desirable behavioral changes resulting in the improvement of the individual. • To create plans for the (economic, industrial, social) progress of the society. NORMS OF NATIONAL MEDIA OF S.M.N. 1. Ensure that they are adequately represented on any national co- ordinating committee set up in the country in connection with the international development programs. 2. Initiate a national dialogue on the development of appropriate editorial, Radio and Television discussions and documentary. 3. Launch a campaign against the bad habit. 4. Devote the maximum possible amount of space in newspapers or the on the air to peace-related matters. PROGRAMMES BROADCASTED. • Update world and home news. • Democracy promotion. • Disarmaments & Demobilisation. • Health, education programs. • Culture and Somali literature. • Religion programs • Sports and youth • Panel of discussion. • Notice, advertisement and tracing. • Local and international news papers. • Weather, business and market report. • Child programmes. • Human rights, women and child rights. • Music, songs, short stories, comics and drama. • Science and latest discoveries. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF SHABELLE MEDIA NETWORK BOARD OF TRUSTEE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN AND GENERAL MANAGER LEGAL ADVISER -- INTERNAL AUDIT VICE CHAIRMAN PROGRAMME OFFICER ADMINISTRATION & BROADCASTING PERSONAL GENERAL FINANCE DEPT SERVICES DEPT ACCOUNTANT LANGUAGES SECURITY & CARS & FUEL SECTION SECTION GUARDS SEC. SECTION Achievements Of Shabele Media Network In The Fields Of Disarmaments And Demobilization Of Militias. Since its inception, Shabele Media Network has played key roles in disarmament and demobilization Militias and Public awareness in general. In June, 2002, our Radio Station in Merca town had played an, important in mediating a clannish fighting in the lower Shabele Region which heavily swept the lives of many innocent civilians. The Radio has held a debate show for the warring clan elders as a means of cooling down the on going hostilities among rival militias, secondly the Shabele Media Network in Merca was the venue signed the negotiations between the clan elders. Our Radio has also helped the elders with transport means with facilitation of the peace talks, after signing agreement, Radio Shabele in Merca broadcasted Programs focused on peace promotion and forgiveness, that was really very fruitful all those activities were carried out Shabele Media Network voluntarily. Since Somalia is a war devastated country, Shabele Media Network prioritized programs related to disarmament and demobilization and also public awareness. Shabele Media Network presented disarmament and demobilization programs based and played in a series Drama covering the horror and the ruthlessness of 13 years of civil war, and the drama is called Qoomamo (regret for wrong-doing) The drama which is played every night at 9:00 pm local time or 6:00 pm GMT during the last eight months so that it has attracted the attention of millions of listeners. The Theme presented by the Drama helped many militiamen who took part in the civil war to get awareness and to reform their lives and also drop their guns by their wishes. A short time Survey by Shabele Media Network has learnt that 600 militias voluntarily dropped their guns rejoined the normal stable life after listening this drama Qoomamo. The drama is still continuing on nightly basis but it needs to be enlarged and well-funded so far no group has emerged to help us ith the cost of the drama which is eighty U.S dollars per day to arrange one drama per night. Besides Qoomamo, Shabele Media Network broadcasts a live debate concerning disarmaments, demobilization and demining invited to it and participated by Somali elites, Ex-militias military experts and cadres and this alive debate is held four timed a week. The Radio also presents programs focused on peace, stability and Human rights. SHABELE MEDIA NETWORK CONSISTS OF ? Two local FM radio stations one head quarter in Mogadishu which has a FM transmitter 101.5 MHZ and short-wave frequency 6961 KHZ ? The other Head quarter is in Merca (The Provincial capital of lower shabele Region) which has an FM 92.1MHZ. ? A daily News Paper Called (Shabele Times). ? A web site for abroad and the Local users as well and its address is, The web site has also English version. (via Mika Mäkeläinen, March 1, dxing.info via DXLD) ** SOUTH AFRICA. 3255, 0314 Feb 29, BBCWS. Fair reception in English (// to 5975). Just overhauled my antennae, so hoping for some good reception (Volodya Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN. Españoles en la Mar programme heard here Monday February 23rd on 15585, which was very strong, 21570 21610 and 21700. DXLD quotes a slightly different Conexión Digital schedule; at 2105 Mon-Fri they also list 7275 and at 2205 Saturdays 7275 9765 15110 15125 17850. Be careful to identify the programme as they have 15385 and 17755 listed Mon-Fri at 1510 but a different programme was being broadcast when I checked 23/2 (Mike Barraclough, England, March World DX Club Contact via DXLD) REE responded to a recent direct report saying the reception report verification service had been cancelled from January 2003 but ``we will be glad to answer any DX related letter or request.`` (Ian Nottage, March World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** SYRIA [non]. SYRIA/USA: US-BASED SYRIAN DISSIDENTS' PARTY ANNOUNCES RADIO "FREE SYRIA" | Text of press release from the US-based Reform Party of Syria dated 26 February and carried via the Kurdish Media web site, http://www.kurdishmedia.com Washington, 26 February: Syria's largest pro-democracy dissident group The Reform Party of Syria (hizb al-islah al-sourie) is announcing today that the Syrians' first-ever independently run pro-democracy radio station will become operational by 31 March with a test run on the Internet. Radio "Free Syria" is to be located in Cyprus and will air in Syria and Lebanon. The programming of Radio "Free Syria" will cover a variety of political, economic and social issues. The aim is to communicate to fellow Syrians living under Ba'th dictatorship the importance and benefits of democracy, freedom of expression, the goodwill of the US policy in the Middle East and the need to rid ourselves from a culture of violence. Radio Free Syria is committed to providing a much needed progressive and independent voice to Syrians of conscience languishing under a despotic regime --- most of whom desire to build a nation capable of meeting 21st century challenges. Radio "Free Syria" will make it clear to Syrians that the policies of the Ba'th have no hope of improving our economic, political and social stagnation and that we must embrace democracy to liberate ourselves from the quagmire of their deceit. RPS [Reform Party of Syria] will also advocate a strong message of the need for a true and lasting peace with all of our neighbours based on equal rights and respect. In response to a call to all Syrians in Syria and the diaspora, hundreds of emails, faxes and calls have been received by Syrians lending their assistance to the venture. Radio "Free Syria" is financed 100 per cent by Syrian businessmen. For more information on the Reform Party of Syria and our activities, visit our web site at http://www.reformsyria.com (English) or http://www.reformsyria.net (Arabic). Contact: Syria and Europe: Mr Malek Assaf or Mr Zakaria Milli malekassaf @ yahoo.com; zakariamilli @ yahoo.com Cell: 011-359-8-894-6737 Fax: 011-359-237-0896 United States: Mr Oubai Shahbandar oms @ reformsyria.com or oubai @ cox.net Cell: 602-690-0833 Reform Party of Syria, PO Box 59730, Potomac, MD 20859 Source: Reform Party of Syria press release, Potomac (Maryland), in English 26 Feb 04 (via BBCM via DXLD) WTFK??? Perhaps this has nothing to do with the IBB, or the 980 transmitter on Cyprus, as I previously speculated (gh, DXLD) ** TIBET [non]. Voice Of Tibet, 1215-1300 Feb 29 on 15680 and 17545. Opening music and comments audible under the Chinese big band, who found them very fast today (Silvain Domen, Belgium, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKEY. Voice of Turkey printed schedule gives English to Europe 1300-1400; it is in fact 1330-1430 on 15155, frequency for Asia, 15195, is also well heard at this time (Allen Dean, England, March World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** U K. LETTER FROM AMERICA --- For those of you who may be interested, due to Alistair Cooke's illness, a replacement LFA aired this weekend on Radio 4, and I can confirm that the same edition, from May 1996, aired both on Radio 4 at 05:45 UTC Saturday and on BBC WS one hour later (PAUL DAVID, Wembley Park, United Kingdom, Feb 29, swprograms via DXLD) ** U K. OPPOSITION PARTY REPORT CALLS FOR BREAK-UP OF BBC by ROBERT BARR Associated Press Writer LONDON (AP) -- The British Broadcasting Corp. should be broken up and gradually weaned away from dependence on license fees paid by television viewers, a report commissioned by the opposition Conservative Party said Tuesday. The BBC's charter expires at the end of 2006, and the government plans to publish its proposals for renewing the charter later this year. The report suggested that after 2010, when Britain switches to exclusively digital TV transmission, the BBC should be funded by subscription fees and perhaps advertising. Public funding should be limited to supporting BBC radio, certain public service programming and the BBC channel which carries Parliamentary proceedings, said the report of the Broadcasting Policy Group. The group's chairman, David Elstein, has a background in private television companies, including ITV, Thames Television, the BSkyB satellite broadcaster and Channel 5, Britain's newest terrestrial channel. Julie Kirkbride, the Conservative Party spokeswoman on cultural issues, stopped short of embracing the proposals. "It is extremely well-thought through and it does require some time to digest," she said. "It is right we do look at the license fee," Kirkbride added. "But it would be wrong for the Conservative Party to jump to any conclusions ... We wish to have a public debate." The BBC got 94 percent of its income last year from a license fee of 116 pounds (US$217) per year paid by every home with a TV set. Private competitors have long protested against the BBC's support from the license fee. Some have questioned, for instance, whether public money should fund the BBC's impressive Web site. Successive governments have accused the BBC of hostile coverage. And the corporation has been lambasted both for producing junky shows which draw big audiences, and high-minded programs which don't. The BBC just now is in a vulnerable position, following the resignation of its director-general and its chairman after its news division was sharply criticized for its reporting of claims that the government hyped the case for war in Iraq. Calling for drastic reorganization, the report said "the BBC is, after all, the product of a very different age. The arrangements by which it functions survive surprisingly little changed from the 1920s." No long the nation's sole broadcaster, "the corporation is having to reposition itself among what will soon be 400 television channels, a growing array of digital radio channels, the near-infinite expanses of the Internet and yet further new forms of broadcasting like third- generation mobile telephony," the report added. Rather than renew the charter, the report suggested the BBC should become a new public corporation, wholly owned by the government, and regulated by the government's Office of Communications rather than by a board of governors. The report called for the BBC's production unit to be split away from BBC Broadcast, to encourage competition and diversity among program producers. "BBC Radio should continue to be publicly owned, but there is no reason why the television broadcast services need to be: privatization is one obvious option," the report said. ------ Broadcast Group Report, http://www.beyondthecharter.com BBC charter review, http://www.bbccharterreview.org.uk/ (APws 02/24 0908 via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U K. LET'S NOT FORGET RADIO James Bethell, Monday March 1, 2004, The Guardian, Media Guardian http://media.guardian.co.uk/mediaguardian/story/0,7558,1158974,00.html This month, Tessa Jowell will be closeted with industry leaders for some "blue sky" thinking about the media, free from journalistic scrutiny. Her team of visionaries can certainly draw on a thick enough stack of inspiring material from last week's agenda-setting barrages from, among others, David Elstein, Terry (Lord) Burns and Richard Freudenstein. But, in all the post-Hutton, pre-charter-renewal rhetoric, it seems they will struggle to find hardly a word, let alone a vision, for a key element of our media landscape: radio. It is a shame radio has been largely neglected. Many of the questions rightly asked of BBC television about the duplication and public service relevance of its output could be asked of BBC radio. And there is a growing feeling among commercial radio chiefs that if BBC radio services want different funding in the future, they need to offer listeners something different. Take Radio 1 and 2. It is becoming more and more difficult to identify their distinctive programming on our increasingly crowded airwaves. Everyone accepts that competition between the BBC and the commercial sector has value for both sides and listeners. But there is a significant difference between competition and imitation. It seems BBC efforts to deliver licence-fee value foryounger audiences are leading it to places already served by commercial players. For instance, they are playing our songs, our heads of music will tell you. Radio 1's peak-time play-list has become indistinguishable from commercial radio's. On both Radio 1 and Radio 2, specialist DJs, such as Bob Harris and Tim Westwood, are increasingly marginalised to off-peak slots. They are signing up our sponsors, say our commercial directors. Renault and Vodafone are two companies which have switched money out of commercial radio and signed promotional deals involving the BBC. Lastly, they are stealing our talent, say our programme directors. Scott Mills from Heart, Chris Moyles from 95.8fm Capital and JK & Joel from Key 103 are the latest talent to hit the jackpot at the BBC. Does this mean that BBC radio should be hived off to the private sector? No one questions the public ownership of Radio 3 and 4 - it is doubtful the commercial sector could ever support the lavish programming operations on advertising budgets alone. However, there is a feeling that Radio 1 and 2 are at a crossroads. The public service arguments against privatising seem increasingly untenable. Added to which, some lawyers are questioning whether the scale of government funding for the BBC is in breach of our obligations under European Union treaties. In particular, there is growing concern about whether block-funding the monolithic BBC respects the "principle of proportionality". Meanwhile, commercial interest in an asset sale is mounting. "Investors looking at the commercial implications of charter renewal are waking up to the enormous value of Radio 1 and 2, even with some limited public service commitments," said Richard Menzies-Gow, a media analyst for Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein. "We are talking about a big cheque that could be invested in digital switch-over, community media, endowing BBC3 and 4, or any number of worthy causes." Eventually, this logic will become compelling. However, there is a get-out-of-jail card for Radio 1 and 2. They could be reformed in ways that focus their efforts on public service commitments and reduce duplication. Firstly, as many commentators believe, the BBC radio services should be independently regulated, probably by Ofcom. We think the purpose of each BBC radio service should be defined in a detailed format that requires them to be different, particularly during radio peak time. Formats should include commitments to new British music and specialist shows. These formats should be part of Ofcom licences issued to the BBC with the commitments subject to an annual review process. There should be a clearer commercial code with an independent adjudicator. Lastly, we need to unravel the way the BBC unfairly poaches talent by combining budgets from different departments. This is the vision for radio shared by commercial radio chiefs. The result would be a BBC radio service that is stronger because it is more focused. We hope that Tessa Jowell will take note. James Bethell is strategy and development manager at Capital Radio MediaGuardian.co.uk © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004 (via Kim Elliott, DXLD) ** U S A. Pakistan/USA: VOA TO CANCEL 17 FOREIGN LANGUAGE SERVICES | Text of report by Pakistani newspaper Daily Times web site on 1 March Washington, 1 March 2004: As many as 17 foreign language broadcast services of the Voice of America (VOA), are targeted for elimination. Most of these services are or were beamed at former communist countries. Other services have been modified in terms of content, including the VOA's Urdu service. A delegation of VOA executives will be in Pakistan later this week, which will include veteran broadcaster and head of the VOA Urdu service Dr Brian Silver, who is not only a scholar of Urdu, which he speaks with total fluency, but an accomplished classical musician who has performed on his chosen instrument, the sitar, several times at concerts in Pakistan and elsewhere. The VOA's Urdu service is going to be aimed at the age group 18-39 with a good deal of pop music and entertainment-oriented fare. The duration of the Urdu service, which is three hours daily at present, is going to be extended to 12 hours daily. It has already been renamed Radio Aap Ki Dunya. About eight young or relatively young and by and large inexperienced Pakistanis have been already hired in line with the objective of reaching out to a younger audience. The VOA delegation to Pakistan will contact some of the private FM radio stations that are coming up with the purpose of having them use US-supplied programmes either free of charge or for a price. However, this may be problematic as Pakistan Information and Broadcasting Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has been quoted as saying that the new private stations coming up would not be permitted to broadcast foreign-supplied programmes. Source: Daily Times web site, Lahore, in English 1 Mar 04 (via BBCm via DXLD) Surely the VOA is being dismantled, step by step (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE PUBLISHING SOCIETY ANNOUNCES PLANS TO DISCONTINUE SHORTWAVE BROADCASTS FROM WSHB February 25, 2004 Press Release BOSTON --- The Christian Science Publishing Society today announced the decision to discontinue broadcasts from its shortwave station, WSHB, South Carolina, while it plans new activities to make the ideas in Mary Baker Eddy`s landmark work on spirituality and healing, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, more available and accessible worldwide. ``Over the last few months, we`ve reviewed and reassessed many of our activities here with the goal of finding the most effective ways of connecting with spiritual seekers everywhere,`` said Catherine Aitken- Smith, Broadcast Director of Broadcast and Multimedia Services for The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, which owns both the Publishing Society and the Herald Broadcasting Syndicate. ``WSHB has been a very effective communications tool, and we`re deeply grateful to its staff for their dedicated professionalism,`` she added, ``but it`s become clear to us that we don`t need to actually own broadcast facilities in order to distribute programs.`` Aitken-Smith said the Publishing Society and the Herald Broadcasting Syndicate are investigating several distribution solutions and technologies that, in combination, will help the Society ``reach people wherever they are, reliably, and at a reasonable cost.`` During this planning period, many of the Society`s broadcast activities will continue: Herald programs will be heard throughout Europe, Africa, and South America on local radio, where the programs are supported by local funding sources. Listeners with access to the Internet are also invited to log on to www.churchofchristscientist.org where they will find: A selection of programs of The Herald of Christian Science in French, German, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and other languages. (audio) The Christian Science Sentinel-Radio Edition in English (audio) The Sunday Church Service from The Mother Church in English and, beginning in June, 2004, Spanish. (audio) The Weekly Bible Lesson in English (audio and video) The Church also sponsors http://www.spirituality.com – an online community where anyone can search the text of Science and Health, and participate in discussions and Webcast events. And the Publishing Society hosts http://www.csmonitor.com which publishes a daily column about Christian Science. Listeners are invited to send questions and comments to info @ churchofchristscientist.org or The First Church of Christ, Scientist, PO BOX 1524, Boston, MA, 02117-1524, USA. The Publishing Society initiated its shortwave broadcasts from WSHB in March of 1989. The last program to air from WSHB will be the Sunday Church Service on February 29, 2004. WSHB`s owner, the Herald Broadcasting Syndicate, has put the station up for sale. The Christian Science Board of Directors, the governing body of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, Boston, Massachusetts, created the Syndicate in 1985. Mary Baker Eddy, the Church`s founder, established The Christian Science Publishing Society in 1898. The Society publishes religious magazines in 12 languages as well as The Christian Science Monitor, an international daily newspaper. Media Contact: 617-450-3353 or 800-450-8950 email: infoline @ compub.org © 2004 The First Church of Christ, Scientist (via Jim Moats, OH, DXLD) 7535, 0245 Feb 29, WSHB Cypress Creek, Christian Science religious programming in English. Sign off announcements mentioning them leaving the air as of 1 March, and that some will be available on the web. Thanked listeners for the last 15 years. Dead air, then transmitter briefly off, and then IS and into Russian programming. Excellent reception. 17765, 1634 Feb 29, WSHB. Presumed last day of transmission with Portuguese programming to East Africa. Excellent signal with only some splatter from WYFR on 17760. Same excellent reception with French to Central Africa on 17505 at 1711 (Volodya Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Not sure exactly when the final broadcast was, but not heard on 7535 before or after 0400 UT March 1. Oops, cut on in English at 0404 but quite poor reception! Rechecked, 7535 was still running past 0600 UT March 1, and probably stayed on until the normal close time of 0800. Checking the only previously scheduled frequency at 1600 March 1, 17765, nothing there but splash from 17760. It is done. BTW, I understand WSHB frequencies have been coördinated at HFCC Dubai for A-04, just in case. Why no sale of the facilities? While WSHB is a top-rate transmitter site, the operating expenses are high, just for power, 2 x 500 kW. It will be increasingly difficult to find replacement parts as the units age. It would have been more marketable had it been made up of mere 100 kW transmitters (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WSHB has a 19000 SF building on 360 acres, and operates three (3) 750- kW generators in peak load shaving with its power supplier. The station employs 10 people. WSHB has two (2) 500 kW ABB transmitters with six (6) antennas. Eight of the employees as of two years ago: http://www.tfccs.com/GV/shortwave/wshb_employees.jhtml (WSHB website via DXLD) ** U S A. Despite several changes in the meantime, WWCR`s posted transmitter schedules, even tho shown to start March 1, are incorrect, not having been updated since December 23. On March 1 at 1500, we found that Bro. Scare, WWCR-4 was still running on 7465, instead of the usual 9475 at this hour. WWCR-3 was on 9985 instead of 12160. Altho in use for a couple of months, 9985 has yet to appear anywhere on the WWCR posted schedule. Keeping #4 on 7 MHz later avoids the potential problem of mixing products between two 9 MHz frequencies until 9985 shifts to 12160, I guess at 1600. The program guide is also almost two months old, neither updated at 0124 recheck March 2 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Allan Weiner emailed us to say that WBCQ will be running some broadcasts from a new lightship/radio boat the motorsailor Katie. Much work was done to her last summer with the engines refurbished and a light beacon installed. A studio area has been constructed in the main hold and equipment installed. The vessel has been fitted out as a mini lightship. Allan says ``We plan broadcasts from the ship via WBCQ`s transmitters this coming springtime. There will be a complete Ham radio station on board as well (Offshore Echo`s [sic] January issue, via March World DX Club Contact via DXLD) WORLD OF RADIO was missing from WBCQ 9330-CLSB UT Sun Feb 29 at 0130 as it had been scheduled. We are awaiting info on whether this be a permanent change (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 9370, 1706 Feb 29, WTJC. Star Spangled Banner into vocal hymn. Very poor. Power must be minimal? (Volodya Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) It`s at least fair strength here normally all day long, as well as in the evenings. Imagine that! A US SW station actually playing the SSB. Is that a regular time for it, roughly noon local? (Glenn Hauser, Enid, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 11715, 1628 Feb 29, KJES. Infrequently reported, but still here with excellent reception. Spanish religious programming, guitar vocal. Este es KJES --- ID at 1630 by child in Spanish (Volodya Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Very reliable and strong here in the mornings on 11715, afternoons on 15385, evenings on 7555. Just about everything that can be said about KJES has been said, as their programming is, to say the least, predictable (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 12172, Truth House Ministry Church via WWRB Manchester Tennessee. Received back my Prepared Card and Letter QSL, signed and stamped, as well information on the Global SW Club, which now I am a member as well. Reply in 33 days, v/s Dr. E. C. Fulcher Jr. As others have noted, possibly the only way a DX'er can get this station (WWRB) verified. Have several outstanding reports pending replies (Edward Kusalik, Alberta, Canada, VE6EFK, DX'er since 1965, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) I just heard Dave Frantz on WWRB 12172 around 1500 UT March 1 asking for reception reports, in order to adjust transmitters and antennas. Nothing was said about verification, no QSLs were offered (gh, DXLD) ** U S A [non]. WYFR relay on MW 1350 via MONGOLIA: q.v. ** U S A. 6925, 0514 Feb 29, Take it Easy Radio. Monologue by southern accented OM, giving email address. Laid back monologue. Mentioning other pirates he enjoys. Hello to Andrew Yoder, Mr. Radio. Also mentions FRN, MT, and Pop Comm. Email address is takeiteasyradio @ yahoo.com Sign-off announcement at 0518. Solid S7 signal. Did not sign-off, however. Into music and public service announcements for Al Frampton (?) running for president. TEAR ID at 0539. Sight fade at this time. Another ID at 0549 with Al's platform (marijuana to ease the pain, abolish the FCC, all pirate stations will have a frequency). 'Free Radio for America'. Rechecked at 0715 and still going strong with Bob Hope show. Weaker now (Volodya Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Commentary --- FATHER BENEDICT GROESCHEL For the benefit of our readers who do not live in the United States, Father Benedict Groeschel, one of the founders of a new Franciscan congregation in the Church, the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal http://www.franciscanfriars.org was struck by a car and critically injured in Orlando, Florida, in early January, when he was there to give a conference. He has been in the intensive care unit (ICU) in hospital for over a month, and in the early days it was not certain that he would survive. He has been the subject of prayers from thousands of people, and those prayers have worked. He is now out of intensive care, but still unable to take food or the Eucharist. For an earlier report with details of the incident and his injuries, see the Larchmont Gazette, January 22, 2004, http://www.larchmontgazette.com/2004/articles/20040122friar.html I had not previously reported on Father Groeschel, first, because just about everyone who listens to Catholic radio, reads the Catholic press, or watches EWTN television knows about the grave matter. Then, too, frankly I forgot about the matter in researching, writing, and editing these newsletters over the past weeks. Rarely do I report on personalities; I have done so on Mother Angelica and Father Harmon, but my focus is on stations and programming, not on people as a rule. Father Groeschel certainly deserves to be an exception. When I have watched him on EWTN, my wife in passing through the room would often stop and listen to him. This was quite a tribute to him. She thinks highly of him, as does most who have found him on EWTN or have met him in person. The man is a real priest. The built-in radars that every layman and laywoman have with which we can detect an authentic priest pick up his authenticity. What we see is what we get. Father Groeschel really believes what he says he believes. He is a pious priest, too -- pious in the good sense of the term. (Generally, when people say that one is pious, they mean he or she is ostentatious, saccharine or eccentric in his or her practice of the faith. When I meet these kind of pious, I run in the other direction. Those who have met me know that I am not pious.) Not only is Father Groeschel authentically pious, he is also intelligent. As we all know from our lives in Holy Mother Church, these are not always found simultaneously in the same person. There are those who are pious but not very bright. There are those who are very bright but not pious. It is no small delight to meet those who are very bright and pious. They are breaths of fresh air, for if the American Church needs anything these days, it is priests and religious who are people of great spiritual depth and yet intelligent. No piety is less convincing than piety coming from dummies. On the obverse, the American Church has been afflicted with people who are very intelligent but not pious at all. Father Groeschel is a clinical psychologist. His new community works with the desperately poor people who live in the shadows and back streets of New York City (and now elsewhere in the world). These people are poor, elderly, sick, drug addicts, ex-convicts, welfare recipients, alcoholics. In short, Father Groeschel and his community work with people most of us would rather not have to deal with. That is their apostolate, the reason for which they were founded. These new Franciscans are austere and ascetic. Their lives are simple, their possessions few, and best of all, they do not have television --- not even EWTN --- which means that they have intense lives of prayers because the omnipresent idiot tube does not distract them. Father Groeschel`s profession of clinical psychology and his deep prayer life and spirituality have made him an important member of the community of the Archdiocese of New York. He is counselor for priests there and he is involved in developing their spiritual lives. Further, he gives retreats nationwide for other priests and laymen. His credentials as psychologist and priest cannot be gainsaid. Those who watch his EWTN programs know them to be mines of wisdom. This man has something to say, and he says it very well—another uncommon gift. Not many have them both. His penetrating intellect, combined with a keen ability to communicate with the common man and woman, has made his several series of EWTN programs worth bookmarking every week. He affirms what is good in Church developments in these post-Vatican years, yet he does not hesitate to criticize positions and policies that he has seen to have caused many problems in the American Church. At this stage, we still do not know if Father Groeschel will be able to resume his programming and active speaker and retreat engagements. Probably not. After all, he is 70, he was critically hurt, and he underwent serious surgeries. But it is no small consolation that he has survived and is on the mend. We can look forward to at least occasional appearances on EWTN and at conferences in the future. For the time being, the Good Lord has left us this sterling priest (Michael Dorner, Catholic Radio Update March 1 via DXLD) ** U S A. STERN UNLOADS ON CLEAR CHANNEL, BUSH 3/1 - Howard Stern, on his Monday show, charged that the main reason Clear Channel dropped his show from a half dozen of its radio stations was not because of foul language, but because he slammed President Bush on his show last week. Stern was critical of Bush's broadcast indecency campaign, his proposal for a Constitutional amendment to prohibit gay marriage, and even Bush's Iraq policy. CC, Stern added, is a big supporter of Bush and other Republicans. Stern even compared himself to domestic diva Martha Stewart, a lefty who he said is being tried for trumped up financial irregularities. In any case, it looks like Stern's "suspension" last week from CC's stations in Pittsburgh, Rochester, Orlando, Louisville, San Diego, and Miami will become permanent. "The whole country is going nuts," Stern added (DCRTV via DXLD) ** U S A. RADIO MORALITY DEBATED --- DISAGREEMENTS RAGE OVER STANDARDS By John W. Barry Poughkeepsie Journal If your radio dial on Friday morning was tuned to 101.5 FM, then you heard more than just music. There was sex, drugs and rock 'n roll. . . http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/today/frontpage/stories/fr030104s1.shtml (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. This report from 100000watts.com:- Monday March 1 2004 KQXX 1700 Brownsville TX flips from oldies to news/talk KVNS. 73's (Barry Davies, UK, MWC via DXLD) Today I heard a commercial on KTEX for the Michael Savage show. At the end, the voice-over came on and said "Beginning Monday on News/Talk 1700". If this is so, this will give the valley 3 Talk stations, with the recently flipped KVJY-840 and established talker KURV-710. Some observations: 1. Looks like CC is going after KURV's audience (I'm sure they'll pluck Rush off 710) like they went after KEYS in Corpus Christi. 2. The valley will be treated to voice-tracked local news from San Antonio. That's always nice. 3. KQXX's current simulcast of Oldies 105 will move permanently to KBOR-1600. KBOR dropped their "classic Tejano" format a couple of weeks ago and is simulcasting 105.5 and 1700 (Smittian, Feb 28, Texas Radio-Info board via DXLD) According to Radio-Locator.Com, AM 1700 is now KVNS, while AM 1600's call letters have been changed to KQXX. Could KVNS stand for "Valley's News Source"?? Clear Channel has not had the dedication to local news in smaller markets... Most of it is just the production director doing rip and read from what I have heard. But if they want to have KURV's audience bad enough, I bet you they will do it. English speaking AM radio in the Valley probably just changed for the worse (MediaMogul, ibid.) ** U S A. Forwarded from the radio-tech list in case anyone wants to add / delete / correct. There are definitely a few updates needed. (Chuck Hutton, WA, NRC-AM via DXLD) Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2004 23:19:27 -0800 (PST) From: "Kevin T." To: radio-tech@broadcast.net Subject: [RT] The IBOC list Reply-To: radio-tech@broadcast.net Hello all, I have been keeping track of which AM stations are using the iBiquity "HD Radio" IBOC system, in three main categories: those stations which are transmitting IBOC all or most of the time, those stations which are still marked as digital in the FCC database but are no longer transmitting an IBOC signal, and those which are marked as digital in the FCC database but whose current status is unknown. Additionally, there are a few stations which the FCC has marked as digital, but have not begun to transmit an IBOC signal (if they ever will). The IBOC list I have compiled so far is printed below. If you have any additions or corrections, please let me know. Also, I would like to expand this list to include details on what kind of nighttime signal each station is transmitting -- i.e. whether it is analog mono, analog C-Quam AM Stereo, or experimental nighttime use of IBOC digital, as well as what analog audio bandwidth the station is using (typically 5 kHz, 6 kHz, or the full 10 kHz NRSC bandwidth). Kevin Tekel kevtronics@yahoo.com Sysop of The AM STEREO Forum: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/amstereoforum (via Chuck Hutton, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. FCC ACCEPTS MITRE REPORT ON THIRD-CHANNEL LPFM INTERFERENCE, ASKS CONGRESS TO ENACT NEW LAW Washington, Feb 20 (CRU) --- The Federal Communications Commission has accepted the report of the Mitre Corporation, which found that low- power FM stations (LPFM) separated by three channels from local commercial and noncommercial higher power stations do not cause them interference. The FCC said that the Congress should eliminate the second phase of a law enacted under lobbying pressure from the National Association of Broadcasters and National Public Radio that requires interference studies and economic analyses before the FCC begin permitting LPFM stations separated from other stations by only three channels (for example, an LPFM on 98.7 FM, separated by three channels from a local commercial station on 98.1 FM). Consequently, Senator John McCain said that he would introduce a bill to do away with third-channel protection for higher power stations from LPFM stations. He accused commercial broadcasters of masquerading their dislike of additional competition under the guise of being concerned about LPFM interference. Senator McCain said that, in face of growing concentration of radio stations in the hands of a few, community-founded LPFM stations are more important then ever. On St Patrick`s Day in 2003, the FCC dismissed hundreds of LPFM applications that it had previously accepted because Congress passed the law forbidding third-channel grants until the necessary interference study, done by the Mitre Corporation here, and economic analyses and other studies were done. Among those dismissals were 13 from Catholic groups and institutions. Congressional authorization to accept third-channel separated LPFM applications may or may not lead to the FCC reinstating these applications, or it may call for submissions all over again. Even then, some of these 13 Catholic LPFM applications have competing applications, so that award of a CP for new station is not necessarily assured (Mike Dorner, Catholic Radio Update Mar 1 via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. PRIVATE TELEVISION STATIONS DEMAND PROTECTION | Text of press release by International Federation of Journalists on 27 February Representatives of three private television stations, Globovisión, Venevisión and Televén, have demanded that the Attorney General's Office take measures to safeguard their personnel and property. On 20 February 2004, the television stations' legal representatives went to the Attorney General's Office to demand information regarding complaints they have registered over the last two years with respect to incidents of attacks against journalists, media workers and media outlet managers. "The situation continues to deteriorate. We have the example of the action against Globovisión on Thursday [26 February] and thepresident continues to make threatening comments. We believe this requires a response and action on the part of the Attorney General's Office, " Globovisión's lawyer, Perla Jaimes, said. In her statement, Jaimes was referring to a 19 February early morning incident in which four masked men, who were presumably armed, entered facilities that house Globovisión's and Televén's antennas and other transmission equipment. The facilities are located in El Ávila national park, in the northern part of Caracas. In a press release, Globovisión said the intruders overpowered two television employees who were guarding the facility. They searched the facility and removed some portable equipment that belonged to the station. Jaimes noted that, in the last two years, there have been approximately 40 incidents involving attacks against media workers, and the Venezuelan authorities have not taken action in any of the cases. Radio Caracas Television (RCTV) lawyer Gregorio Odreman said that precautionary measures issued by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), recommending that the government ensure the safety of RCTV's journalists, have been in effect since 2003. Odreman also said that more than 60 complaints about attacks against media workers have been registered with both the IACHR and the Venezuelan courts in the last two years. With respect to the assault on Globovisión's transmission facilities, Interior and Justice Minister Lucas Rincón said that his office will investigate the incident in order to identify those responsible. He rejected suggestions that the action could have been carried out by state security forces. Vice-president José Vicente Rangel instructed the head of the National Guard's Fifth Regional Command, General Marcos Rojas, to investigate the incident. On 14 February, President Hugo Chávez said on his Sunday radio and television programme, "Aló Presidente", that he would order a takeover of Globovisión's and Venevisión's antennas if the opposition was to undertake actions similar to those of 11 April 2002, when a coup temporarily removed the president from power. Source: International Federation of journalists press release, Brussels, in English 27 Feb 04 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** VIETNAM. From March 29, VOV plans to expand its Hmong service on HF from 3 to 19 hours per day, 5035 15 kW and 6165 50 kW. [non]. VOV A-04, overseas relays planned: 6175 Sackville 0100-0500 Ams; 9725 Moosbrunn 1700-1900 Eu; 9725 Skelton 1900-2030 Eu; 11710 Skelton 2030-2300 Af (Bob Padula, Radio EDXP, HCJB DX Partyline Feb 28, notes by gh for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** YEMEN (NON). 9870.0, 1612 Feb 29, Radio Sana`a. Very good reception of this frequency with continuous western music. ILG or HFCC has only Yemen on at this time. I'm a bit sceptical. No go. This is the Chinese with their classical music. Heard Chinese at 1624. Darn! (Volodya Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZAMBIA. Hi Glenn, Radio Zambia 2/29/04; 4910 kHz; SINPO 23443. "Fish Eagle" interval signal from tune in at 0146 to 0150, anthem, greetings by female announcer, male announcer with Afropop, time pips at 0300, presumed ID ("Lusaka, Zambia" heard among the ID sounding section). All language was in a vernacular. The interval signal is certainly distinctive (Mark Taylor, Madison, WI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE. 3306, 0321 Feb 29, Radio Zimbabwe. Presumed logging, with snippets of audio. Music mostly. Too weak to identify any speech. I can hear a het (weaker) on 4828 as well. Hopefully be able to hear at a better level one evening (Volodya Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 3306 only audible in LSB here evening due to utility interference (Mike Barraclough, England, March World DX Club Contact via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Re 4-036: 6025. 0225 2/28. Religious program in English of prayers, hymns, psalms and quotations from the Book of Revelation directed/dedicated as a "Blessing to the People and land of Iraq." Excerpts from "Messiah." Fair with QRM. Monitored this off-and-on until 0300. No ID heard. (Maybe R. Amanecer? [DOMINICAN REPUBLIC]) Strange program, even for a religious station! (Clar, NY, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) I heard this from around 0030 Feb 29, better when the DRM mess on 6015 cleared up at 0100 and I discovered that my outboard preselector had been set to the wrong band; battered by Martí-6030, but still good. Handel's "Messiah," man preaching over the music, sometimes woman preaching. "Freedom, freedom, the Iraqi people are free, praise God, see the light . . ." No IDs at BoH or ToH. At 0330 the programming stopped, and then, seemingly, seamlessly RCI came on in Arabic via DTK-Wertachtel for 0330-0400. I could not detect the religious station underneath Canada during this period, and while Canada seemed somewhat stronger than the religious station had been, the brief program break at 0330 suggests that it was the same transmitter. So is the religious transmission via DTK? Canada goes off 6025 at 0359 and Budapest comes on; no sign of the religious station then (Jerry Berg, MA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 7154.7 with relay of RAI Radio 3, 0819, Feb 29th, Italian, program of classic mUSIC presented by woman, 100% synchronized with local FM transmitter, perhaps a local low power pirate, Poor-Fair (Luca Botto Fiora, Italy, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Strange "OHR like" woodpecker signal came across around 1425 UT today in range 14878 to 14912 kHz (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, Feb 25, BC-DX via DXLD) Also pops up in the 15050-15100 interval from time to time (Olle Alm, Sweden, Feb 26, ibid.) WOODPECKER I've also heard these 'woodpecker' like noises - or perhaps 'machine-gun' like - in the 10/11 MHz range. VERY fortunately, they are only heard in bursts, and not for long periods, as the old style Russian ones were. This makes me wonder if they are from a radar installation. Would they be sent for a sufficient time to gather information? Undoubtedly, there are some very "unusual" noises to be heard from time to time. Possibly they are a new generation of ute signals. The noise I wrote about yesterday - around 11585-11645 - moved up in frequency last night, and was the one heard by Wolfie [and me] Has anyone noticed the very loud noise around 11600 which has been reported by others via Glenn Hauser's DXLD? It actually covers from about 11585 to about 11645, with loudest peaks around 11600 to 11610. It blocks out all others. It doesn`t sound like DRM - or anything else I have heard previously. I'm not sure what time it comes on, but I have heard it at 1830. Heard another loud scratch noise here on 11634 to 11662 kHz range around 2035 and 2145 UT. But I guess this sound is a disturbtion [sic] spur, produced by another transmission in the 25 mb. It was on air around 1830 and I thought I could hear some traces of audio, but not enough to even guess what it was. If I can find out what time it starts then it might be possible to ID the source. It makes a very good job of blocking the part of 25m it is operating in. The remaining Romanian transmitters seem to be "behaving" - ALB, POR and TUR could be suspects (Noel Green, UK, BC-DX Feb 26 via DXLD) ###