DX LISTENING DIGEST 4-054, March 25, 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 1225: Thu 2130 on WWCR 15825 Sat 0000 on Studio X, Momigno, Italy 1584 Sat 0900 on WRN1 to Europe, Africa, Asia, Pacific Sat 0955 on WNQM Nashville 1300 Sat 1130 on WWCR 5070 Sat 1930 on WPKN Bridgeport, 89.5, webcast http://www.wpkn.org Sat 2130 on WWCR 12160 Sat 2130 on WBCQ 17495-CUSB Sat 2200 on DKOS usually, http://www.live365.com/stations/steve_cole Sun 0030 on WBCQ 9330-CLSB Sun 0330 on WWCR 5070 Sun 0730 on WWCR 3210 Sun 1100 on WRN1 to North America, webcast; also KSFC 91.9 Spokane WA, and WDWN 89.1 Auburn NY; maybe KTRU 91.7 Houston TX, each with webcasts [or 1000 UT already? If not next week] Sun 1900 on Studio X, Momigno, Italy 1584 Sun 2100 on RNI webcast, http://www.11L-rni.com Mon 0200 on WBCQ 9330-CLSB [NEW] Mon 0430 on WSUI 910, webcast http://wsui.uiowa.edu [last week`s 1224] Mon 0515 on WBCQ 7415, webcast http://wbcq.us Tue 0400 on SIUE Web Radio http://www.siue.edu/WEBRADIO/ Wed 1030 on WWCR 9475 WRN ONDEMAND: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also for CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL]: Check http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html WORLD OF RADIO 1225 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1225h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1225h.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1225.html [soon] WORLD OF RADIO 1225 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1225.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1225.rm CONTINENT OF MEDIA 04-02 (low version only): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/com0402.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/com0402.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/com0402.html [soon] ** ASCENSION. Raiway sent a QSL card for report of 3/12/03 on 11765 kHz. For the first time they finally did indicate the transmitter location on the QSL card, as I requested but still no verie and did not include my particulars on it (Emmanuel Ezeani, P. O. Box 1633, Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria, March 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. Re RA Science Show scheduling --- Well, part of the confusion is my doing, unfortunately. When I updated the MT schedules I inadvertently omitted the time change for 'The Science Show', which is --- indeed --- supposed to air at 1405. I'm told the problem was due to a computer malfunction at RA which should be corrected for next Saturday (John Figliozzi, swprograms via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. It was around this season back in the year 1969 that the first official test broadcasts went on the air from the new Darwin relay station in northern Australia. This notable shortwave station is thus currently celebrating its 35th anniversary. But Ariel McLeggon takes us back 5 years earlier to give us the history of the Darwin relay. It was in 1964 that the federal government in Australia announced plans for the construction of what was called a booster shortwave station for Radio Australia. Two years later again, construction work commenced on this new facility that is located at the eastern end of Cox Peninsula across the waters from Darwin city. Unofficial test broadcasts from the first of three 250 kW Collins transmitters began in December 1968, and finally all three units were ready for regular programming in April 1970. However, many problems were encountered in the electronic and computer systems and so only two transmitters were taken into regular scheduling and the third was maintained for emergency usage, sometimes in hot standby. At first, the program relay from the Melbourne studios of Radio Australia was taken off air from the shortwave transmitters at Shepparton and Lyndhurst. However, beginning in September 1974, the program relay was fed by landline from Melbourne with the use of three lines that were designated with Australian shortwave callsigns, VLK VLL & VLM. On Christmas Eve in the same fateful year, 1974, a horrendous cyclone named Tracy hit the Darwin area destroying 80% of the entire city. The Radio Australia transmitters were taken off the air a little before midnight local time. For the benefit of the people living in the Darwin area, the programming from the local ABC mediumwave station 8DR was fed by landline to Melbourne where it was re-broadcast on shortwave from the 100 kW transmitters located at Shepparton in Victoria. At the time of this massive Australian disaster I was living in Colombo Sri Lanka and in order to keep up with these historic radio events, I fed the shortwave programming into a small microphone transmitter and listened to the continuing saga on a portable FM radio receiver. Due to lengthy delays on the part of the federal government, it was another four years before three new antennas were erected at the Cox Peninsula shortwave station, and even then, it was on the air only as a fill in with an emergency relay when the Carnarvon station in Western Australia was off the air. After another lengthy delay on the part of the federal government lasting six years, the station was finally re-activated with a regular schedule on September 3, 1984, using again, two active transmitters with the third in standby mode. Ten years later again, two new transmitters at 250 kW were installed, and three years later again, the 300 kW transmitter VLK at Carnarvon was transferred to Darwin as VLT. However, in July 1997, the station was again closed and the facility was maintained with only occasional on-air tests that were sometimes heard in Australia and beyond. At this stage, a new player enters the field, and this is Christian Voice from England. On September 18, in the monumental year 2000, test transmissions from Christian Voice were commenced from the Darwin radio station and soon afterwards they were granted government approval to purchase the station. Since then, Christian Voice has been radiating their own programming over the Darwin shortwave station, and on April 23 last year they also began a part-time relay of programming on behalf of Radio Australia. The current scheduling reveals that only two of the six transmitters in Darwin are in active on-air usage. These two units are the 300 kW VLK-VLT from Carnarvon, and one of the 1993 transmitters, probably the unit that was designated as VLS. QSLs verifying the reception of programming from the Darwin shortwave station abound throughout the world. The QSL cards and letters when the station was under Radio Australia are of colouful nature cards, or verification letters carrying the line callsign in use for each transmitter. Recent information tells us that Voice International is now also issuing a new QSL card from their office in Buderim in Queensland (Adrian Michael Peterson, AWR Wavescan March 28 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** BOTSWANA. Radio Botswana: received a nice QSL card, (with 3 beautiful stamps on it) for my report of 12/7/03, on 4820 kHz. Verie [signer Ted] Makgekgenene, Chief Engineer. RB. It is always great a surprise QSL card once in a while. this is after many follow ups (Emmanuel Ezeani, P. O. Box 1633, Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria, March 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. New Brazilian Frequency 5930 kHz Hi fellow DXers, This Saturday will be the 22nd edition of the DX program "Nas Ondas Curtas da Guarujá" produced by DX Club of Brasil, in an exclusive partnership with Radio Guarujá Paulista. The good news is the start of a new frequency - 5930 kHz - that is being tested and a special greeting will be aired to DXers all over the world, through the voice of Pedro Machado - which has already attended DX events in the USA representing DX Club of Brazil - and we invite you to try to get this DX, since the station has already received reception reports from several countries in Europe and America. All reception reports should be sent to : V/S: Orivaldo Rampazo, President-director QTH: Rua José Vaz Porto, 175, Santa Rosa, Guarujá, SP, 11431-190, BRASIL or through email : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Best regards and good dx ! (Sarmento F Campos, Rio de Janeiro - Brasil http://radioescuta.aminharadio.com DXCB, o DX em primeiro lugar http://www.ondascurtas.com/ hard-core-dx via DXLD) You forgot the time, but as already reported here, it is 0030 UT Sun, and there are two other frequencies (gh, DXLD) ** BRAZIL. Anker, Radio São Carlos is off on 2420 kHz, I don't know what Horacio heard on this frequency, but is not São Carlos. 73 (Samuel Cássio Martins, São Carlos SP, via Anker Petersen, via Horacio Nigro, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Dear Horacio, I saw your fine loggings the other day, but wondered if you really heard R São Carlos on 120 meterband. I asked Samuel Cássio who lives in São Carlos and he phoned the station. Yesterday I received this reply from him. I think you may have heard a Brazilian harmonic instead. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, Denmark, ibid.) Anker, Yes, I realize that it could have been an harmonic, and I must had written a "tentative" on this one. I did hear talk by males. Cassio's aseveration is the better confirmation they are inactive. What about 2480 R. Alvorada, Rio Branco and 2470 R. Cacique in Sorocaba? Maybe Samuel has better info if they are on the air. Another **unhrd** was the Brazilian timesignal PPR on 8634, only HLW hrd here with CQ marker. This was 2311 on Feb 11. 73 (Horacio Nigro, Uruguay, ibid.) ** BRAZIL. Faixa de FM - Alterada --- Pessoal, Essa ampliação é por causa das rádios comunitárias, principalmente por causa de São Paulo, onde o dial está todo tomado. Foram criados os canais 198 (87.5 MHz) e 199 (87.7). O 200 (87.9) já havia sido criado para as rádios comunitárias. O 87.5 é por onde vai o som do canal 6 de televisão [sic --- é 87.75 --- gh]. A intenção do Ministério das Comunicações é migrar, onde for possível, os canais comunitários para o comecinho do dial. Abraços (Lucio Haeser, Florianópolis, SC, radioescutas via DXLD) ** CANADA. RADIO CANADA INTERNATIONAL LAUNCHES NEW PROGRAMMING FOR BRAZILIAN AUDIENCES Montreal, March 23, 2004 --- On March 26, Radio Canada International (RCI) will launch new Portuguese programming specially tailored to Brazilian audiences. Journalist Hector Vilar will host the new weekly program, a prestigious news and information magazine covering key current affairs in Canada and Brazil. Vilar holds a master`s degree in communications, and has worked as reporter and news director at a leading São Paulo daily, Jornal da Tarde, as well as editor and teaching assistant at Université du Québec à Montréal. ``We`re proud to be able to offer our Brazilian listeners programming that is created specifically for them and speaks directly to their social, economic, political and cultural concerns,`` says Jean Larin, director of Radio Canada International. Thanks to an agreement with Radio Netherlands, this half-hour program will be broadcast on 300 AM and FM stations throughout Brazil. It will also be aired live on RCI short-wave on Fridays at 4 p.m. EST, and on weekends via satellite and Internet. On air for over 60 years, Radio Canada International broadcasts in nine languages via satellite, short-wave, the Internet www.RCInet.ca and partner stations. Its mission is to raise Canada`s international profile and reflect Canadian identity and culture worldwide. - 30 - Source : William St-Hilaire (514) 597-4441 william_st-hilaire @ radio-canada.ca Information : Caroline St-Jacques, Manager, Planning & development (514) 597-6295 caroline_st-jacques @ radio-canada.ca (via Bill Westenhaver, RCI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WTFK? The PDF skeds are up on the RCI website as of yesterday. Note that you should use a print screen format, since something went wrong in the conversion, and in some cases the first digit of a frequency gets attached to a transmitter site abbreviation: (e.g. SAC1 3785 instead of SAC 13785). Portuguese will be at 2000-2029 UTC Fridays only on 15255 & 17765, both indeed via Sackville, both 250 kW on 163 azimuths. The distribution via RN`s satellite service was news to me when I read it in DXLD. The Portuguese will be on the RCI-3 satellite stream as well (which is also available on the website). FYI, the Ukrainian at 1530-1559 UTC will be on 11935 Wertachtal and 15325 Rampisham. Another last-minute addition to the SW sked (along with the Portuguese and the Ukrainian) is a second frequency for the 2200-2259 French to Sub-Saharan Africa: 9390 kHz Hörby with 350 kW on a 220 azimuth. That is parallel 11755 kHz Ascension with 250 kW on a 65 azimuth. All of these were indeed added at the last minute, which is why they weren`t on the skeds I sent earlier. 73- (Bill Westenhaver, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Since it`s at ``4 pm`` and starts already this week, will it actually be at 2100 UT instead of 2000 for two weeks? (gh to Bill Westenhaver) No, the week sked lists Portuguese at 2000 UTC on April 2nd, and also at 2000 UTC after that date (Bill Westenhaver, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RCI em português !!!! Caros amigos, O colega Alexandre Dória deu a informação, fui ao endereço: http://www.rcinet.ca/horaires/A04_SW_24h.pdf E confirmei a nova transmissão da Rádio Canadá em português, que é a seguinte: UTC Frequência TX desde Potência Alvo Idioma Programação 20:00-20:29 15.255 KHz Sackville-CAN 250 KW Brasil Português Somente às sextas feiras 20:00-20:29 17.765 KHz Sackville-CAN 250 KW Brasil Português Somente às Sextas feiras A schedule informa referir-se ao período A04 que abrange de 04 de abril de 2004 à 31 de outubro de 2004. Bem, afinal não foi tanto assim, á partir de 04 de abril, 29 minutos de programação apresentados somente às sextas feiras e no horário de 17:00 às 17:29 de Brasília, não era exatamente o que eu esperava. Prá mim, que sou aposentado, dá prá acompanhar, mas muita gente ficará alijado devido ao horário de trabalho. Porém, tem uma coisa... Na proporção em que o pessoal que puder captar, mostrar que está ouvindo a transmissão e enviar correspondências e informes em profusão para eles, isso acabará os levando a aumentar este espaço. Vai depender somente de nós. Num momento em que vemos muitas emissoras encerrando suas transmissçoes, quando uma aparece abrindo uma nova porta, temos que marcar presença neste espaço para ampliá-lo. Um abraço a todos, E lembre-se que: Rádio ligado ... Antena esticada ... Ouvido atento. A próxima escuta poderá ser a melhor ! (Adalberto Marques de Azevedo, Barbacena, Minas Gerais, MEMBRO DO DX- CLUBE DO BRASIL http://www.ondascurtas.com Noticias DX via DXLD) NEW AGREEMENT BETWEEN RADIO CANADA INTERNATIONAL AND DEUTSCHE WELLE Montreal, March 25, 2004 --- Radio Canada International will now be able to expand its reach in the major capitals of French-speaking Africa, thanks to a new agreement with German international radio broadcaster, Deutsche Welle. Under the agreement, Deutsche Welle will allow its over 100 local partner radio stations to use its receivers to pick up RCI programming. ``This initiative fits perfectly with Radio Canada International`s repositioning, which puts greater emphasis on building meaningful partnerships with large-scale international radio services. Our agreement with Deutsche Welle will enable us to reach a larger French- speaking audience in Africa,`` said Jean Larin, director of Radio Canada International. According to Deutsche Welle`s distribution director, Heinz G. Pianka, ``Radio-Canada International programming will enrich our current radio offering by providing a Canadian perspective on the major issues of the day.`` On air for over 60 years, Radio Canada International broadcasts in nine languages via satellite, shortwave, Internet http://www.rcinet.ca and partner stations. Its mission is to raise Canada`s international profile and reflect Canadian identity and culture worldwide. - 30 - Source: William St-Hilaire (514) 597-4441 william_st-hilaire @ radio-canada.ca Information: Caroline St-Jacques, Manager, Planning & development (514) 597-6295 caroline_st-jacques @ radio-canada.ca 73- (via Bill Westenhaver, RCI, March 25, DXLD) ** CANADA. Thanks to a tip from Tim Brown who alerted me that RCI on 9755 in French at 0030 was splattering up and down the band. Someday, they'll get that problem in Sackville fixed! (Steve Lare, Holland, MI Drake R7, R8 and R8B, UT March 24, swl at qth.net via DXLD) ** CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC. Now we turn our attention to Africa and Livinus Torty reporting from an isolated area of Chad. In his report this month, Livinus will provide us with the current status of radio broadcasting in the Central African Republic. The Central African Republic gained independence from France on August 13, 1960. This country shares its borders with Chad in the north, Sudan in the north east, the Cameroons in the west, and the two Congos in the south. The Central African Republic is a small [sic] country with around 3.5 million inhabitants and it covers an area of nearly two thirds of a million square kilometers. The capital city is Bangui with a population of half a million. The principle languages are French, Sango, and Zande. The Ministry of Posts & Telecommunications in Bangui is responsible for the control of public communication and they handle all radio and TV broadcasting throughout the country. The national radio station, Radio Centrafique, broadcasts in French and several local languages on mediumwave, shortwave and FM. Their only mediumwave station is a 50 kW unit operating on 1440 kHz. On shortwave, Radio Centrafrique is heard daily on two channels with 100 kW, 6310 [sic] & 7220 kHz. Wide reception of the channel 7220 kHz is particularly good. Occasionally, Radio Centrafique may also be heard on 5035 or 6100 kHz. Although the main coverage area of their shortwave broadcasts is the Central African Republic itself, this programming is heard in many parts of Africa and beyond, particularly in the mornings and evenings. This government radio station is also heard on FM in Bangui on the channel 106.9 MHz. In addition, there are several privately owned FM stations most of which are located in the capital city area. These privately owned FM stations can be heard with programming from the Africa Service of Radio France International in Paris, the BBC in London, Africa No 1 in nearby Gabon, and with locally-produced commercial programming. Because of recent turmoil throughout the Central African Republic, many displaced persons have taken up temporary residence in neighboring countries and they rely on the shortwave broadcasts from Radio Centrafrique for news and information (AWR Wavescan March 28 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. 1819.93, HJTT, Ondas del Porvenir, Samacá (2 x 910), Mar 24, 0947-1006, campo ballads and canned announcements, positive ID at 1003 "...ondas...la radio...Ondas del...Ondas del Porvenir..." There are apparently 2 AM harmonics showing up on this frequency, HILB Radio 91 from Bonao, Dominican Republic [q.v.], and HJTT, Samacá, Colombia. Although the Colombian is listed on 1450, Malm has ID'd this as the station from Samacá, so they evidently have moved to 910; otherwise it is a spur from 1450. I have not yet logged any references to place names. Going back over my unID logs for this frequency for the past few months I find one entry which included many "Radio 91" ID's. Another included a bachata vocal. I assume these logs are from the Dominican station. A very unique situation I think where 2 different LA harmonics are audible on basically the same split frequency in different parts of the world (Mark Mohrmann, VT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 9820. It's neat to see, on the "S" meter, Cuba's beam change at 0500 UT to the West Coast. Before 0500 signal strength peaks to about 5 db over 9 into Bend (central Oregon). Then at 0500 strength jumps to approximately 15 to 20 db over, on peaks. The new beam heading is 315 degrees from Cuba to west coast US. Very evident. One of the strongest sigs on the band at that time (Joe Barry, K7SQ, March 24, swl at qth.net via DXLD) Unfortunately I did not make notes at the time, but I wonder if anyone can identify the program and all its airtimes: late one night, I think on a weekend around 0600 (or maybe 0500+), on RHC 9 MHz frequency, I found an enjoyable show of `new music` by student composers, something you rarely hear on any radio station (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. Multimedios del Caribe (CDN) anuncia hoy su decisión de transformar sus emisoras en medios que difundirán música además de informaciones. Ahora las frecuencias de FM, 92.5 y 89.9 se funden en una emisora llamada Super Mix que transmitirá noticias, pero con música, mientras las frecuencias AM, 1040 y 1230 se unen para llamarse La Mezcla, con noticias, música y béisbol de las grandes ligas". (Dino Bloise, South Florida, USA, March 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. [not COLOMBIA]. Regarding the harmonic in 4-052 under COLOMBIA on 1819.85 as Ondas del Porvenir, Samacá, it is not clear how this ID was made or assumed; Henrik Klemetz points out that in the next issue 4-053 (as well as previously) we have a report under DOMINICAN REPUBLIC on almost the same frequency, 1819.87 as La Grande, Radio 91, Bonao, which he apparently believes is the correct ID: (gh) There is no particular reason for the Colombian to use a numerical slogan. Under difficult reception conditions Noventa y uno and Sesenta y uno could be mixed up quite easily (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, DX LISTENING DIGEST) HOWEVER, see COLOMBIA above, just in ** ECUADOR [and non]. HCJB WORLD RADIO A04 BROADCAST SCHEDULE (March 28, 2004 - October 30, 2004) all 1111111 = SMTWTFS = daily UTC Freq Power Azi Target ----------------------------------------------------------------- ENGLISH 1100 1330 12005 100 330/128 N/S America 1100 1330 21455 1 35/225 Eur./S. Pacific GERMAN (High) 0500 0530 9780 100 42 Europe 0500 0530 21455 1 35/225 Eur./S. Pacific 0930 1000 6010 100 155 S. America 0930 1000 21455 1 35/225 Eur./S. Pacific 2300 2400 11980 100 150 S. America GERMAN (Low) 0530 0600 9780 100 42 Europe 0530 0600 21455 1 35/225 Eur./S. Pacific 1000 1030 6010 100 155 S. America 1000 1030 21455 1 35/225 Eur./S. Pacific 2230 2300 11980 100 157/330 N/S America HUARANI 1030 1100 6050 50 18/172 S. America PORTUGUESE 0800 0930 9745 100 100 N. Brazil 0800 0930 21455 1 35/225 Eur./S. Pacific 1530 1800 15295 100 139 Brazil 2300 0230 11920 100 126 Brazil 0000 0230 12020 100 100 Brazil QUICHUA 0830 1000 6125 100 155 S. America 0830 1030 690 50 000/180 Ecuador 0830 1200 3220 8 90(Vert.) S. America 0830 1400 6080 8 90(Vert.) S. America 1030 1100 21455 1 35/225 Eur./S. Pacific 2100 0300 6080 8 90(Vert.) S. America 2130 2400 9745 100 155 S. America 0000 0300 3220 8 90(Vert.) S. America SPANISH 0100 0500 9745 100 325 Mexico 1030 0500 690 50 000/180 Ecuador 1100 1500 6050 50 18/172 S. America 1100 1300 11960 100 355 Cuba 1100 1500 15140 100 150 S. America 1300 1500 15115 100 323 Mexico 1330 1500 21455 1 35/225 Eur./S. Pacific 1900 0500 6050 50 000/180 Ecuador 2000 0500 21455 1 35/225 Eur./S. Pacific 2100 2300 15140 100 150 S. America 2300 0100 11880 100 160/330 N/S America Note: HCJB's shortwave broadcast schedule also includes these programs transmitted from these locations. English 0100 0300 15560 75 307 India/Pakistan Australia 0800 1100 11750 50 120 South Pacific Australia 1230 1330 15405 75 307 India/Pakistan Australia 1415 1730 15405 75 307 India/Pakistan Australia Urdu 0300 0330 15560 75 307 India/Pakistan Australia 1330 1400 15405 75 307 India/Pakistan Australia Hindi 1400 1415 15405 75 307 India/Pakistan Australia Former Soviet Union Languages 1600 1645 11760 500 62 Central Asia U.K. Arabic 2100 2230 12025 250 150 N. Africa U.K. Mailing Address: HCJB World Radio, [Box?] 17-17-691, Quito, Ecuador S.A. Frequency Manager: Douglas Weber E-Mail: dweber @ hcjb.org.ec FAX: +593 2 226 4765 Regds, (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA [non]. ERITREAN OPPOSITION RADIO STATION ANNOUNCES FREQUENCY CHANGE | Text of report by Eritrean opposition radio on 21 March Dear listeners, Our radio, Voice of Eritrean People, will from next Sunday, 28 March 2004, start broadcasting to the Horn of Africa and the Middle East in the 16 metre band on 17660 kHz at the usual time - from 8.30-9.30 p.m. Eritrean time [1730-1830 gmt]. Voice of Eritrean People is the voice of the underprivileged. [Issued by] The Administrative Council. Source: Radio Voice of the Eritrean People in Tigrinya 1730 gmt 21 Mar 04 (via BBCM via WORLD OF RADIO 1225, DXLD) ** FRANCE. Superloustic --- Les émissions ont débutées le 24 mars 2004 à 12h loc. (11h UTC). Zone de planification : Paris. Fréquence : 999,00 kHz. Adresse du site : rue de la Plesse, 91140 Villebon-sur-Yvette. Altitude du site : 157,00 mètres. Altitude de l'antenne : 227,00 mètres. Puissance (PAR max.) : 5 kW. Excellente réception à Malakoff. Union des Ecouteurs Français Radiodiffusions, utilitaires, radio-écouteurs, radioamateurs, techniques... Courriel: tsfinfo @ magic.fr Web: http://www.u-e-f.net U.E.F.: B.P.31, 92242 MALAKOFF Cedex, FRANCE (Union des Ecouteurs Français 03/24/04 06:35 AM via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** GUATEMALA. 4698.71, Radio Amistad, San Pedro La Laguna, 1100 to 1130 24 March, distorted signal, strong into south Florida. "...hermanos en radio xxxxx.... radio emisora ... ....radio ami xxxx...". No clear ID's, OM in español. Clearly tunable in FM mode, AM synchro, but pulse ute on usb, best in lsb, or strangely FM, transmitter subject to drift (Bob Wilkner, NRD 535D - Icom R75 - Sony 2010 - Noise reducing antenna, "on the ground" long wire, Pompano Beach, Florida, U. S., DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. All India Radio A-2004 changes/ SW schedules Dear Friends, Here are the changes for All India Radio SW Services for A-04 period. 0315-0415 Hindi 15075 via Bangalore 2 x 500 kW 0830-1130 Urdu 9595 Aligarh (ex Delhi) 1000-1100 English 13695 Bangalore (ex 13710) 1115-1215 Tamil 13695 Bangalore (ex 13710) 1215-1245 Telegu 13695 Bangalore (ex 13710) 1000-1100 English 15410 Bangalore (ex 15235 Delhi) 1115-1200 Thai 15410 Panaji (ex 15235), Add 13645 Aligarh 1215-1315 Burmese 11620 Aligarh (ex Delhi) 1315-1415 Dari 9910 Delhi (ex Aligarh) 1415-1530 Pushtu 9910 Delhi (ex Aligarh) 1530-1545 English 9910 Delhi (ex Aligarh) 1515-1615 Swahili Add 13605 Aligarh 1615-1730 Hindi 15075 Delhi (ex Aligarh) 1730-1945 Arabic Add 11585 Delhi 1745-1945 English 15075 Delhi (ex Aligarh), Add 11620 Aligarh 2045-2230 English 11715 Panaji (ex 9575), (ex 11715 Delhi) 2245-0045 English 13605 Bangalore 2 x 500 kW 2300-0000 Hindi 13795 Aligarh (ex Bangalore) 0000-0045 Tamil 13795 Aligarh (ex Bangalore) The new schedules in different formats are available at: http://www.qsl.net/vu2jos (in Short Wave, External Service, News Timings Sections) Highlights: a) Use of 13 MHz frequencies by Aligarh for the very first time (13605, 13645, 13795). Till now 13 MHz frequencies were used by Bangalore only. b) Use of 2 x 500 kW by Bangalore at 0315-0415 on 15075 and at 2245- 0045 on 13605 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, 25 March 2004, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL. Re Merlin schedule: 1700-1730 15495 LEADING THE WAY G/Rampisham (Sa/Tu/Fr/Su) US-based radio ministry for the Arab world: see http://www.leadingtheway.org (Jerry Berg, DXplorer via BC-DX via DXLD) Though started as a ministry for the Arab world, it meanwhile has created a number of services in other languages as well (quote from the website): The international radio ministry was launched in 1996 with a dual- language, English-Arabic program broadcast on two high-powered AM stations in Monte Carlo and Cyprus. This program now airs three times each week and is designed to help Non-Christians in the Middle East, North Africa and Europe understand who Jesus is. Because of the strong response to these broadcasts, we have now launched radio programs with the same format in Mandarin (China), Indonesian (Indonesia), Turkish (Turkey), Punjabi (Pakistan/India), and Farsi (Iran). Plans are underway to create programs in other major languages where learning the English language is desired. Different target for these broadcasts which is "West Asia" on Tue/Fri and "Russia" on Sat/Sun. Quote from the original Merlin schedule, both MNO Rampisham: 15495 1700-1730 ..t..f. 500 95 LEADING THE WAY WeAS HR 4/4/0.5 15495 1700-1730 s.....s 500 76 LEADING THE WAY RUSS HR 4/4/0.5 So, the broadcasts are likely in other languages than Arabic. 13730 0100-1300 smtwtf. MNO Singapore 100 013 degrees PROJECT AIRWAVES CHN HR 4/2/0.75 --- This service has been in Merlin schedules in earlier years, but without being put on the air (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, DXplorer Mar 22 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL. Re: TWR --- I was unable to determine the following language codes: AEB 2115-2130 1 1467ro is Tunisian AJP 2000-2015 2 1233cy is Jordanian AJP 2200-2215 7 1467ro is Jordanian ARY 2200-2215 12345 1467ro is Moroccan MKJ 1915-1945 7 1548gr is Makedonian The recently published TWR schedule uses language codes introduced by SIL international (formerly Summer Institute of Linguistics). A full explanation of the codes, also used by FEB-International can be found at http://www.ethnologue.com/ Both international broadcasters are co-founders of a joint project trying to broadcast Christian missionary programs in as many mega- languages as possible. Probably, they decided to use the SIL list as a common reference for strategic planning (Dr. Hansjoerg Biener, Germany, BC-DX Mar 21 via DXLD) ** IRAN. En el nombre de Dios --- Venerables Oyentes, En atención a varios correos recibidos, donde nos ha sido solicitado el envío de nuestra actualizada tabla de las frecuencias, utilizando otro programa, tenemos el placer de reanunciarlos las nuevas frecuencias bajo este mismo correo. Tengan en consideración que esta tabla será aplicada desde el 28 de marzo. Atentamente, La redacción española 2030-2130 ESPAÑA 25 M 11760 KHZ 31 M 9650 KHZ 0030-0130 AMÉRICA CENTRAL Y AMÉRICA DE SUR 41 M 11610 KHZ AMÉRICA CENTRAL Y AMÉRICA DE SUR 49 M 9655 KHZ AMÉRICA CENTRAL Y AMÉRICA DE SUR 31 M 9905 KHZ 0130-0230 AMÉRICA DE SUR 49 M 11610 KHZ AMÉRICA DE SUR 31 M 9655 KHZ AMÉRICA DE SUR 31 M 9905 KHZ 0230-0330 AMÉRICA DE SUR 31 M 9905 KHZ 0530-0630 EUROPA 19 M 15530 KHZ 16 M 17785 KHZ (IRIB via Pedro Sedano, Madrid, España, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. 9740, Radio Pedar (Father Radio), via Rampisham, UK, Heard *1830-1930*, Fri Mar 19, Fanfare, Farsi talk mentioning Europe and Australia, ``Big Bang``, 1902-1910 soundtrack in English with summary in Farsi from a film about an Asteroide, 1926 closing ann and tentative ID, 55544. Scheduled on 17735 during A04 by Merlin (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window March 24 via DXLD) ** IRAQ. Re New Iraqi TV station Al-Sharqiya on Hotbird, Nilesat satellites: The London newspaper Al-Zaman on 23 March carried a front- page advertisement for "Al-Sharqiya [eastern]... Television of Truth". The advert stated that the channel was also available on Nilesat transponder 4, 11785 vertical, 27500, 3/4 (BBC Monitoring via DXLD) That [other] transponder [11747, Horizontal, 27500, 3/4] is the home of EDTV TV (Dubai); it`s labelled "SHARQIYA" and going off the production quality I assume (until discovering otherwise) it`s actually coming out of Dubai (Ray Woodward, UK, 03.24.04 - 8:40 am, Media Network blog via DXLD) ** IRAQ. IRAQI ISLAMIC PARTY'S "DAR AL-SALAM RADIO" OBSERVED A radio calling itself Dar al-Salam Radio From Baghdad [idha'at dar al-salam min Baghdad] was heard at 1440 gmt on 24 March broadcasting with fair reception on 1152 kHz. The radio was heard carrying religious songs, followed at 1445 gmt with a 15-minute discussion with Muslim women who talked on the life of the Prophet Muhammad and his respect for women. A Kor`anic recitation was heard at 1445 gmt. Just before 1500 gmt, the radio identified itself as follows: "This is Dar al-Salam Radio from Baghdad, Voice of the Iraqi Islamic Party." It then carries short excerpts of speeches by Muhsin Abd-al-Hamid, secretary general of the Iraqi Islamic Party and member of Iraq's Governing Council, in which he stresses that Iraq must have sovereignty on 30 June 2004. He also stresses "brotherhood of Muslims." The newscast at 1500 gmt ran as follows: 1. Iraqi Islamic Party Leader Muhsin Abd-al-Hamid visits Shi'i religious leaders in Al-Najaf. He visited Ali al-Sistani, Muhammad Sa'id al-Hakim, and Muqtada al-Sadr. "The visit expresses the party's care for the unity of ranks." "Talks dealt with the current conditions in the country, stressing the importance of unity of ranks, rejecting discord and disunity, and emphasizing that differences and discord between the two Muslim communities in Iraq serves only the enemies. He also called for a mass rally to strengthen Islamic brotherhood." The Shi'i leaders "welcomed the visit." 2. A missile hit the Sheraton Hotel in central Baghdad today, Wednesday. "The Iraqi police and US Army closed all roads leading to the hotel." 3. US spokeswoman says that the US embassy in Abu Dhabi closed temporarily following threats of an attack. 4. Russia releases two Qatari diplomats after they spent one month in detention. 5. Al-Qadhafi receives a letter from the US President. (Duration of news: 6 minutes) The newscast was followed by a "repeat" of a programme called "The Political Guide." The radio said that the programme is carried on Sundays and Wednesdays. Today's programme dealt with the life and work of the late Hamas founder Ahmad Yasin. The programme eulogizes Yasin and praises the "achievements" of Hamas. The Political Guide programme is followed by religious songs. Source: BBC Monitoring research in Arabic 24 Mar 04 (via DXLD) ** IRELAND. 252 LW, RTÉ, Clarkestown, curious programme heard 1930- 2000, Mar 18 - the Ireland Maritime Service, featuring the evolution in radio communications on board vessels and including reports from not so distant decades, like the Vietnam war, during which webpage http://www.wirelesscolleagues.freeserve.co.uk was mentioned (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DSWCI DX Window March 24 via DXLD) 252 LW is also heard strongly here in Denmark without Algeria QRM (Anker Petersen ibid.) ** ISRAEL. Cellphone changes --- I was sent a few changes regarding the Israeli mobile phone changes: The old numbers will still work until November... (Permissive Dialing Period) Also 057 becomes 057 7xx xxxx and is the Mirs Amigo company 059 becomes 059 9xx xxxx and is the Jawwal company (based in Ramallah) (Doni Rosenzweig, March 24, WORLD OF TELEPHONES, DXLD) ** ITALY [non]. See MONACO ** IVORY COAST. INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTERS GO OFF AIR IN ABIDJAN Radio France Internationale was observed to go abruptly off air in Abidjan at 1111 gmt on its 97.6 MHz FM frequency. Shortly afterwards, the FM relays of London BBC World Service and Africa No 1 were also been observed to be off the air. Source: BBC Monitoring research 25 Mar 04 (via DXLD) Hmmm, why not use SW from outside the country, more reliable and controllable (gh, DXLD) ** KASHMIR [non]. Radio Sadaye Kashmir --- Dear Friends, It is now confirmed that Radio Sadaye Kashmir on 6100 & 9890 is broadcast by AIR Delhi with 100 kW (Jose Jacob, Mar 23, dxindia via WORLD OF RADIO 1225, DXLD) ** MALAYSIA. RTM A'04 schedule: Looks like some stuff on here that I don't think has been on in a while --- 3385, 4970, and 5005 for instance (Hans Johnson, Mar 17, Cumbre DX via BC-DX via DXLD) These are the original HFCC A04 registrations, and thus should be marked "tentative" I think. As usual with HFCC registrations, the actual usage is often different. 3385, 4970 and 5005 have been registered also in earlier seasons like the current B03. In fact, the complete schedule is identical with the Malaysia's B03 HFCC registration. In addition, as far as the language used by Voice of Malaysia is concerned, other sources indicate a different usage than shown in this registration schedule (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, ibid.) ** MEXICO. Still no word about when XERMX will actually close down. A finale on March 27 would be logical, at the very end of the B-03 season. I was awake at 1257 UT March 25 so quickly checked 9705. I could barely hear something in Spanish mentioning the date, and then a cock crew before it was blasted into oblivion by VOA Cantonese from Saipan, whose open carrier had already been on the frequency. This lasts for two hours in what would have been prime morning listening time for XERMX (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. XERTA, Radio Transcontinental de América --- Amigos de la lista, Me comenta el amigo Andrés Cruz Mendoza, que el director de la emisora XERTA es el Sr. Rubén castañeda Espíndola, comenta que aún siguen en trámites ante la SCT. Por esa razón sólo transmiten de viernes a lunes. Los viernes desde las 2300 UT hasta el lunes a las 1300 UT. Su página Web está en la siguiente URL: http://www.xertaradio.com.mx Saludos (Héctor García Bojorge, Mar 24, Conexión Digital via WORLD OF RADIO 1225, DXLD) ** MONACO. /ITALY, 702 MW, Rai Radio 2, via Col de la Madone, Montecarlo, has disappeared. The transmitter was in use at 0500-2300 serving a vast area from Rome to Barcelona along the Mediterranean Coast from Italy to France and Spain, also in daytime. From a phone call with Montecarlo Radiodiffusion I learnt Rai had not renewed their contract with them and the transmitter is off since about Mar 01. Rai has not issued any news about this fact. As a consequence we can now listen to Turkey on the frequency during the night (Luigi Cobisi, Firenze and Paolo Morandotti, Milano, Mar 13, DSWCI DX Window March 24 via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS [and non]. For our listeners in North America, where daylight saving time doesn't start till next weekend, we're broadcasting a "double transmission" on shortwave in the mornings from 28 March to 3 April, so you can tune in at either the winter time of 1200 or the summer time of 1100 UT. Both hours will be on the new frequency of 11675 kHz via Bonaire. [contrary to what I say on WORLD OF RADIO 1225] The full summer schedule is on our Website at http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/html/schedule_a04.html. As usual this will be moved to our main schedule page on Monday: http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/html/schedule.html Our Dutch service will operate to a special schedule on Tuesday 29th March for coverage of the funeral of Princess Juliana. Broadcasts in other languages will follow the regular schedule. If you speak Dutch and would like to listen to the special coverage, you'll find the preliminary details in our Weblog at http://medianetwork.blogspot.com/2004_03_21_medianetwork_archive.html#108015497719645845 which will be updated as necessary up to the time of the broadcast (Media Network newsletter March 25 via DXLD) RNW COVERAGE OF THE FUNERAL OF PRINCESS JULIANA Radio Netherlands has announced preliminary details of its special transmission schedule in Dutch on Tuesday 30 March for coverage of the funeral of Princess Juliana: The European service from Flevo will follow the schedule normally used on Sundays: 0600-0758 UTC on 11935 kHz for S Europe and 9895 kHz for SE Europe 0800-1657 UTC on 13700 kHz for S & SE Europe, 9895 kHz for SW Europe and 5955 kHz for W Europe For Surinam, the transmission at 0930 UTC on Bonaire 6020 kHz will be extended to 1157 UTC. The Dutch transmission to North America at 1100- 1157 kHz on 9895 kHz will be cancelled. Other transmissions (all 0700-1230 UTC): 21735 kHz - Three different transmitters serving Africa, the Middle East, South America/NW Africa and the Canary Islands. 17725 kHz to South Africa 21480 kHz to Indonesia. Additional frequencies, still to be confirmed: 9855 kHz to the Far East 13830 kHz to East Asia 17540 kHz to East Asia and the Pacific. # posted by Andy @ 19:02 UT March 24 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. Hi Glenn, Thanks to Adrian Sainsbury, the Shortwaves and Long Memories programme is available for download. Adrian Sainsbury, Technical Manger of Radio New Zealand International has advised that the special programme 'Shortwaves & Long Memories' is available for a week to download as a Mailbox Special from the Audio download page at on the http://www.rnzi.com web pages. This 25 minute programme includes a recent reunion of some of the original announcers and technician from the launch of the Shortwave service in 1948, plus some historical audio clips. Direct link to Audio page is http://www.rnzi.com/pages/audio.php Go to MAILBOX and click listen to hear it or Download to download a 3.1 Megabyte Real Audio file (requires Real Audio Player). As the programme was a Spectrum programme from Radio NZ, normally this would only be available through Replay Radio after paying for it. So thank you to Adrian Sainsbury for arranging it to be available for download. http://www.radionz.co.nz/index.php?nav=1§ion=replay Regards (Mark Nicholls, Editor, New Zealand DX Times magazine, New Zealand Radio DX League, March 24, WORLD OF RADIO 1225, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA [and non]. KFNY 1640 Enid has finally been reported from Australia – and Western Australia at that! Plus, using our favorite antenna trick (gh, DXLD) Here's what I've logged lately: some US and African. All loggings (except where noted) are from 44 km south of the Perth CBD, using a farmer's east-west fence wire as a ready-made beverage antenna. The receiver is a borrowed AR7030+. All times are UTC (local -8 hr). Log: 8 March - good opening to the US. Programs were noted as early as 1110 on 1460, 1480, 1570 & 1580 (Spanish), and the following were identified [x-band portion only here]: 1640 KFNY Enid, OK; 1255 "comedy radio" ID 1650 KCNZ Cedar Falls, IA; 1211 "1650 KCNZ" 1650 KWHN Fort Smith, AR; 1238 "KWHN" Id 1650 KBJD, Denver, CO; 1317 "KNUS" Id 1650 probable KBIV El Paso, TX; 1334 "the country hits you know and love on - 1650" 1660 probable WCNZ Marco, FL; 1143 time check 6.43, "radio 1660", 1660 WQSN Kalamazoo, MI; "WQSN" ID at 1203 1660 KXTR Kansas City, KS; 1231 ad for "Eden Alley Cafe" 1660 KXOL Brigham, UT; 1353 "real oldies, KXOL" ID 1670 WMWR Macon, GA; "talkradio WMWR" ID 1200 1670 probable KHPY Moreno Valley, CA; 1408 Spanish 1680 probable KRJO Monroe, LA; religious, 1239 details of local fellowship meetings 1690 WSWK ID, near Atlanta, GA; C&W mx, 1159 WSWK ID 1690 WRLL Berwyn, IL; 1219 timecheck 6.19, "real oldies" ID and State Farm ad with Chicago addresses 1690 KDDZ Arvada, CO; 1321 "Radio Disney" ID 1700 probable WJCC Miami Springs, FL; Spanish 1130 1700 KTBK Dallas/Ft Worth; 1253 "Dallas/Fort Worth, the Ticket" ID (Tony Mann via the Australian Mediumwave group (19/3-2004), via Ydun`s MW News March 24 via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. R. National, Australia with news in English was relayed at 1118-1129, Mar 06, on 3205, 3335, 3365, 4890. The same program was heard at the same time from R Australia on 6035, 9475, 9580 and 9590. Local programs were heard on PNG stations from 1131. On Mar 06, 3275, 3305 and 3335 signed off at 1130* whereas 3365, 3375 and 3385 continued with local programs as listed. I found the following stations active: 3205, 3260, 3275, 3305, 3335, 3355, 3365, 3375, 3385 and 4890 on Feb 26, and 3205, 3260, 3305, 3335, 3375, 3385 and 4890 on Feb 28 (Roland Schulze, Mangaldan, Philippines, DSWCI DX Window March 24 via DXLD) ** PERU. Nueva Peruana --- 6329.1, RADIO L.V. DE EL FAIQUE. 0140-0235 Marzo 22. Presentado música popular y saludos a los oyentes de la Región Nororiental del Perú. Presumiblemente ex-Estación C. "Ésta es Radio La Voz de El Faique desde El Faique para todo el Perú. Salió del aire a las 0235 sin ningún tipo de cierre (Rafael Rodríguez, Colombia, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** PORTUGAL. RDPi-Rádio Portugal, A04. Olá a todos! Eis o horário ou grelha de emissão em OC da nossa RDP, como habitualmente, dotada das alterações sempre de interesse para o DXista*, a par da legendagem do essencial em inglês. De notar que, a par das emissões regulares, desapareceu a diferenciação entre "emissões extraordinárias ou especiais" e "prolongamentos", passando ambos a serem sòmente emissões especiais." *) designação completa da estação, zonas UIT, nomes dos dias da semana em inglês, zonas de destino pormenorizadas, centros emissores, potências e contactos. Hello all! This is the SW schedule of our RDP which I usually fill with bits & pieces* interesting for the DXer as well as the English translation of some key words. The usual difference between the "special broadcast" periods and the "extended broadcast" periods found in previous schedules now merged into "special broadcasts." *) full station name on heading, ITU zones, week days in English, detailed target areas, transmitter sites, respective powers & contact data. Hello and here's the e-mail version of the A04 schedule. *) special broadcasts only. --------: Mons-Fris target area UTC kHz kW azimuth Eur 0500-0700 7240 300 45º 0700-0755 9815 300 45º 0500-0755 9840 100 52º 0645-0800 11850 250 55º 0800-1200 12020 300 45º 0800-1200 11960 100 52º 1600-1900 15525 100 52º 1600-1900 13770 100 66º *1900-2300 15445 300 45º *1900-2300 13720 100 52º ME+India 1300-1500 21810 100 81.5º Africa 1000-1200 21830 100 142º 1600-1900 17680 300 144º *1900-2300 11945 300 144º NAmer *1200-2300 17575 100 294º 2300-0200 9715 100 294º 2300-0200 15480 100 294º Venez. *1700-2300 21540 100 261º 2300-0200 13700 100 261º Brazil+ +C.Verde &Guinea 1000-1200 21655 100 215º 1000-1200 21725 100 215º 1600-1900 21655 100 215º 1600-1900 21800 100 215º *1900-2300 21800 100 215º Brazil 2300-0200 13660 100 215º 2300-0200 15295 300 226º ---------: Sats. & Suns.: Eur 0700-1345 12020 300 45º 0700-1345 13640 100 52º 0830-1000 11995 250 55º 1400-2000 13770 300 45º 1400-2000 15555 100 52º *1900-2300 15555 100 52º *1900-2300 13720 100 52º Africa 0700-1655 21830 100 142º 1700-2000 17680 300 144º *1900-2300 11945 300 144º NAm 1200-2000 17575 100 294º *2000-2300 17575 100 294º Venez. 1200-2000 17615 100 261º *1900-2300 21540 100 261º Brazil + +C.Verde & Guinea 0700-1000 17710 100 215º 1000-2000 21655 100 215º *2000-2300 21655 100 215º Tx sites: RDP --: CEOC-Centro Emissor de Onda Curta São Gabriel, Pegões: 100 / 300 kW. Pro-Funk GmbH --: Sines: 250 kW The use of the Sines relay station is made by the RDP merely as a compensation in exchange of the permission to the foreign stn to work in the country. http://www.rdp.pt technicalities: redes @ rdp.pt listeners' mail: isabelsaraiva @ rdp.pt 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) SATELLITE TRANSMISSIONS HOT BIRD 2 (13º E) - Coverage of Europe, North Africa and Middle East Transponder 50 (11. 72748 GHz) - Ku Band Vertical Polarization Reception system Wegener Panda A national program, ANTENA 1, is broadcast mono, on subcarrier 7.20 MHz The program RDP Internacional, is broadcast mono, on subcarrier 7.02 MHz INTELSAT 907 (27.5º W) - Coverage of Africa Transponder 22/22 (3.8565 GHz) - C Band Right circular polarization Symbol rate 6.26175 Msymbols/s, MPEG-2/DVB FEC 2/3; Transmission rate 8.349 Mb/s The specific program to Africa, RDP Africa, from 0500 to 0100 UTC (Monday - Friday) and from 0700 to 2400 UTC (Saturday and Sunday), is broadcast on channel 1, RTPi co-channel. The remaining period of time is filled by ANTENA 1 transmission. ASIASAT 2 (100.5º E) - Coverage of Asia and Oceania "European Bouquet" - Transponder 10B (4 GHz) - C Band Horizontal Polarization Symbol rate 28.125 Msymbols/s, MPEG-2/DVB; FEC ¾ The program RDP Internacional is broadcast on the channel 704. A national program, ANTENA 1, is broadcast on the channel 705. PANAMSAT 9 (58º W) - Coverage of America Transponder 16 C (4 GHz) - C Band Horizontal polarization Symbol Rate 27.69 Msymbols/s; MPEG-2/DVB FEC 7/8 The program RDP Internacional is broadcast on the audio channel 14, RTPi co-channel (digital). INTERNET At RDP home page, which address is http:/www.rdp.pt - the programs ANTENA 1, ANTENA 2, ANTENA 3, RDP Internacional, RDP Africa, RDP Madeira, RDP Açores, RDP Centro, RDP Norte and RDP Sul may be listened in Windows Media Player Audio; - the program ANTENA 1 and RDP Internacional may be listened in real audio. NEW MAILING ADDRESS : Av. Marechal Gomes da Costa, 37 - Bloco A-3º - Sala 304 1800-255 LISBOA, PORTUGAL. (Isabel Saraiva, RDP via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, DXLD) Back in the 60's or 70's, Radio Portugal really steamed me when they refused my report and claimed they only issue one after a series of reports on their premade reports which they furnished me with. Years later I did get one, I think after they changed their criteria, but to this day I still recall that incident and it left a sour mark on my collective QSL RADIO PSYCHE ! : - ) (Tom Messer, swl at qth.net via DXLD) I got a QSL from Radio Portugal for their last English transmission. Come to think of it, that is who sent me the pennant! I also got a hat from them too. What does one do with all of these hats and T-shirts anyhow? (Duane Fischer, MI, ibid.) ** ROMANIA. SUMMER A-04 SCHEDULE OF RADIO ROMANIA INTERNATIONAL: ARABIC 0730-0756 11875 15340 15370 17720 1500-1556 11970 15260 15305 17860 new time, ex 1430-1456 AROMANIAN 1600-1626 7135 new time, ex 1630-1656 1800-1826 7145 additional transmission 2000-2026 7145 CHINESE 0500-0526 15445 17740 1400-1426 15380 17810 ==================================================================== ENGLISH 0100-0156 9690 11940 15430 17760 0400-0456 11820 15140 15235 17860 ||||| new time, ex 0300-0356 0700-0726 11830 15150 1300-1356 11830 15105 1800-1856 11940 15380 ||||| new time, ex 1730-1756 2130-2156 7285 9725 15285 17735 ||||| new time, ex 2030-2056 2300-2356 7280 9590 9645 11940 [via WORLD OF RADIO 1225] ===================================================================== FRENCH 0200-0256 9715 11940 ||||| new time, ex 0400-0456 0600-0626 9655 9690 11840 11875 1100-1156 11830 15250 15380 17740 1700-1726 11765 15170 2100-2126 7130 9585 till May 1 and from Sep. 5 2100-2126 7230 9585 from May 2 to Sep. 4 GERMAN 0630-0656 9655 9690 11840 11875 1200-1256 11775 15270 1900-1956 7145 9625 9760 11940 ||||| new time, ex 1600-1656 ITALIAN 1630-1656 11970 ||||| new time, ex 1700-1726 1830-1856 11695 ||||| additional 2030-2056 9580 ||||| new time, ex 2000-2026 ROMANIAN 0200-0256 7175 9620 ||||| additional 0800-0856 11830 15270 15370 17805 ||||| Sunday only 0900-0956 15430 15450 17740 17855 ||||| Sunday only 1000-1056 11830 15250 15380 17740 ||||| Sunday only 1200-1256 9760 11830 ||||| additional 1400-1456 9760 11830 ||||| new time, ex 1300-1356 1600-1656 9690 11960 ||||| new time, ex 1500-1556 1700-1756 9530 11865 ||||| new time, ex 1730-1756 1800-1856 9755 11765 RUSSIAN 0530-0556 9590 11875 1430-1456 9740 11855 ||||| new time, ex 1500-1526 1600-1656 7210 9680 ||||| new time, ex 1800-1826 SERBIAN 1530-1556 7165 1730-1756 7240 ||||| additional 1930-1956 7295 ||||| new time, ex 1900-1926 SPANISH 0000-0056 9575 9760 11935 11965 ||||| additional 0300-0356 9550 9775 11725 11970 ||||| new time, ex 0200-0256 2000-2056 11940 15465 ||||| new time, ex 1900-1956 2200-2256 11965 15255 ||||| new time, ex 2100-2156 UKRAINIAN 1500-1526 7210 ||||| new time, ex 1530-1556 1700-1726 7240 ||||| additional 1900-1926 7230 ||||| new time, ex 1830-1856 CANCELLED LANGUAGES: BULGARIAN; GREEK; HUNGARIAN; PORTUGUESE; TURKISH (Observer, Bulgaria, March 23 via DXLD) ** SOLOMON ISLANDS. Radio Hapi Isles (Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation) reactivated the Radio Temotu regional broadcast last week, with a new Taiwanese funded transmitter on 1386 AM from Lata. Previously operated as 5 kW on this channel but has been silent for some 4-5 years because of lack of parts, no funds and a collapsed civil society. Lata currently relays the National Service from Honiara //5020 SW, but is investigating local programs once housing for local staff arranged. SIBC is using a standby generator because of poor local power supplies in Lata. This signal should easily get into Australia, but the 10 kW Radio Tarana on 1386 in Auckland makes NZ reception difficult. Another indication that things are getting more stable in the islands after the Australian/NZ intervention force took control - UCB's Christian FM station in Honiara is also now about to come on air according to the SIBC website. SIBC also uses 1035 AM from Honiara (10 kW) and 945 AM from Gizo (10 kW) as well as Radio Wantok on FM in Honiara (David Ricquish Wellington NZ via Australian Mediumwave Group 22/3-2004 via Ydun`s MW News via DXLD) ** SOMALIA. 6980, R. Galkayo, Puntland State, North Somalia, 1635- 1745, Feb 19, talk program and local music session, QSA4 but rather poor readability QRK2. Three very positive email answers received: The first one from Ahajijama @ primus.ca -- 2nd from radiogaalkayo @ yahoo.com -- 3rd one from Technician Sam Voron who looks forward to any new reports from all over the world and why not: svoron @ hotmail.com Power is 800 Watts (Torre Ekblom, Espoo, Finland, Mar 14, DSWCI DX Window March 24 via DXLD) ** SUDAN. 4750, R. Peace, Nuba Mountains, Southern Sudan, 0330-0400 fade out, Mar 16, this new station was heard with dull programming in Vernacular language with talk, talk and talk. At 0343 there was an ID like this: ``We are broadcasting on 4750 kHz in the 60 metre band. This is Radio Peace. Thank you for listening``, another ID and then a new talk program. Lots of atmospheric noise around. No signal at all was heard at the same time on Mar 17. I sent my report to the BFO (Blessings for Obedience) Radio Free Sudan http://www.bfosouth.org/bfosouth/rfs/propagation_models.htm and EMC http://www.missionvisionnetwork.org and got two replies yesterday night: ``Hello Björn, I forwarded your QSL request to The Radio Free Sudan organization to see if I can get an address of the Operations Chief. It will give me an excuse to update my web page as well! Thank you for your reception report. The group is very happy to hear the station is being heard! David Craven, AC5CU, BfoSouth`` ``Björn, Thanks for the information. Actually, it is interesting to know that RP is heard there. The station has no QSL card. And, there is no direct contact with the station. If you have inquiries, let me know and I will answer what I can. With the exception of Golda Atkins, the other people on your ATTN: know nothing of the station. Thanks! Pete Stover`` (Björn Fransson, Lunds, Gotland, Sweden, DSWCI DX Window March 24 via DXLD) Also heard *0230-0355 (fade out), Mar 10, 14 and 19, with similar programs and same canned ID in English at 0243, 0258 and 0344. More relevant URLs: http://www.edmedia.org and http://www.globalendeavor.org (Jerry Berg, MA and Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window March 24 via DXLD) ** SWEDEN. Glenn, per new A-04 schedule announced by George Wood on R. Sweden broadcast via Sackville, 9495 at 0140, the 2130 transmission to Asia/Pacific will use 9880 which is in the printed schedule; target area is Aus/NZ, for morning reception there (Joe Hanlon in NJ, March 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN. Voice of Han BC - not heard. Yesterday (March 23 2004, at about 1900 UT), no sign of Voice of Han, only Bahrain in Arabic on USB was heard before CRI started its Esperanto (carrier on at about 1927). Also strong splatter from +5 kHz QRM'd. It sounds like R. Bahrain has a "clear" carrier with its USB transmission, although the carrier is stated to be -6dB. I could not distinguish a Voice of Han carrier on March 16th. It is also possible, that yet another carrier (before CRI's) was present. If these SSB transmissions are to be more popular, I have to get myself a "tighter" filter to avoid splatter from AM stations (Matti Ponkamo, Naantali, Drake R4-C, 20 m of wire, dxing.info via DXLD) Nothing changed, so listen hard with tight filter or SSB. I listen now at 1037 UT. Receiver: AOR AR7030plus, ICOM IC-R8500; Antenna: RF SYSTEM 40ft longwire, 100m random loop (Miller Liu, Taiwan, ibid.) 9745, V. of Han, Mar 24 *0655-0710 44444-44433, 0655 s/on with opening music. ID. National anthem. ID. Talk and music. Thanks for tip from Kenji Hashimoto [Kouji Hashimoto, Japan Premium via DXLD] ** THAILAND. THAILAND Radio Thailand, tentative A-04: 4830 1100-1230 49 BAN 10 0 0 925 THA NBT NBT Thai 6030 1130-1145 49 UDO 250 30 0 146 THA NBT IBB 6030 1145-1200 49 UDO 250 284 -16 216 THA NBT IBB 6070 1100-1230 49 BAN 10 0 0 925 THA NBT NBT Thai 7115 1100-1230 49 BAN 10 0 0 925 THA NBT NBT Thai 7155 1900-2000 18 UDO 250 329 8 226 THA NBT IBB 7260 1100-1130 49 UDO 250 144 0 156 THA NBT IBB 9570 0000-0030 48 UDO 250 276 -24 226 THA NBT IBB 9680 2000-2045 27,29 UDO 250 321 0 226 THA NBT IBB 9680 2045-2115 27,29 UDO 250 313 -8 226 THA NBT IBB 9695 1800-1900 39,40 UDO 250 284 -16 226 THA NBT IBB 9830 1400-1430 49-51,55,56,59-65 UDO 250 132 -12 156 THA NBT IBB 9855 1230-1300 49-51,55,56,59-65 UDO 250 132 -12 156 THA NBT IBB 11685 1330-1400 44 UDO 250 54 24 226 THA NBT IBB 11805 1000-1100 54 UDO 250 138 8 226 THA NBT IBB 11805 1200-1230 54 UDO 250 154 24 226 THA NBT IBB 11850 1300-1315 45 UDO 250 54 24 226 THA NBT IBB 11850 1315-1330 44 UDO 250 30 0 226 THA NBT IBB 15395 0030-0200 7,8 UDO 250 6 -24 226 THA NBT IBB 15395 0300-0430 6 UDO 250 38 8 226 THA NBT IBB 21795 0530-0600 27,28 UDO 250 321 0 226 THA NBT IBB (Radio Thailand, Feb, BC-DX March 23 via DXLD) ** U K [non]. Re BBC via SAC 9800 / 11955 --- Hmmm, yes, must be DRM since they are at present listed 0000-0059 on 6015 and 0400-0459 on 6010. Wasn't it agreed to register DRM transmissions with their actual DRM power rather than the AM equivalent? Obviously it was a mistake to gather from the listed 250 kW that this would be AM since otherwise 70 kW would have to be put in (Kai Ludwig, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. EXPERTS GIVE DIGITAL RADIO POOR RECEPTION --- By Mark Prigg, Evening Standard Technology Correspondent, 24 March 2004 It was meant to revolutionise radio with crystal-clear sound. But digital broadcasting has left listeners with worse audio quality than they had before, it was claimed today. An analysis of broadcasts has found that rather than go digital, listeners are often better off tuning into their FM - or even AM - counterparts. Scientists have labelled the muddy sound: "mush". The study was carried out by Dr David Robinson at the University of Essex, as a response to media regulator-Ofcom's proposal to expand digital-radio services. He found that, of the 50 stations Londoners can receive, half broadcast at a level far worse than FM. The stations include Radio 1, home to Chris Moyles; rock station Virgin; and indie broadcaster XFM, whose DJ roster includes Zoe Ball. Several stations, including comedy broadcaster BBC7, were found to operate at AM quality. The technology was today dubbed an example of "rip-off Britain". Digital radio transmits information over the airwaves in the form of coded computer data. The system filters out interference that plagues FM and AM broadcasts with static and blurry sound. But it now appears digital broadcasters are compressing the size of the data stream to let them put more stations into the limited frequencies available - and this cuts out chunks of the signal, damaging sound quality. Dr Robinson called for Ofcom to insist on higher standards. "In all areas of life and art, it is useful to have a high-quality marker," he said. "If the nation's ears can be trained to accept the dull mush of current digital sound, high-quality audio broadcasting will be killed for a generation." Stephen Green, who runs website http://www.digitalradiotech.co.uk went further, claiming the vast majority of Britain's digital stations compared badly with their FM counterparts. With customers paying more than £100 for digital radios, he said: "We've got the lowest quality service in the world. It's an example of rip-off Britain." The BBC said it could do little to compress signals less, as all its digital capacity was used up. The digital industry claimed only "hi-fi geeks" would notice a difference. "We're talking maybe 0.4 per cent of the market," said Mandy Green, of the Digital Radio Development Board. "We have never heard of a unit being sent back because of poor sound quality." David Harold, spokesman for Pure, which has sold more than 250,000 digital radios in Britain, said: "People are using these as portables in the kitchen or bedroom. They are not looking for CD quality, and that's something we never claimed. They want choice, and sales figures show they are very happy." Source: http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/ (via Sergei Sosedkin, DXLD) Hello, Here is an interesting article about DAB from the Sunday Times. The part about bit rates seems to prove the point. COVER STORY: GRAND ILLUSION OF DIGITAL RADIO We were told that digital broadcasting heralded a new era of CD- calibre sound, but audio on the airwaves has never been worse. David Hewson examines a triumph of quantity over quality. . . http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2103-1045071,00.html (via James Welsh, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** U K. UK FOREIGN OFFICE COULD CUT GRANT TO BBC MONITORING British Foreign office Minister Chris Mullin has said in parliament that the Foreign Office is considering whether to freeze, or even reduce, the subsidy of #7m a year that it provides towards the running costs of BBC Monitoring. The operation, which is part of World Service, costs #22m a year to run. The rest of its funding comes from the World Service budget, the Ministry of Defence and the Cabinet Office. Speaking in a debate, Mr Mullin praised the work of BBC Monitoring, which he said "plays a valuable role in providing information on developments in the Middle East and elsewhere. It continues to play a key role in covering closed societies such as North Korea, and can make a particularly useful contribution to our understanding of developments in countries with little freedom of information and tight state control of the media." However, Mr Mullin cautioned "I cannot speak for the other users of the service, but I know that it faces the same pressures on resources as the FCO [Foreign and Commonwealth Office], and I find it difficult to envisage any increase in funding for it. Frankly, we will have to think hard about whether we are able to maintain existing levels of spending. The pressure on public spending will force us to make hard choices. We will have to look rigorously at our spending programmes and what they contribute to the achievement of our objectives. The annual #7 million grant to BBC Monitoring is substantial in FCO terms, which we must take into account as we weigh up the options." (Source: Hansard) [3]# posted by Andy @ 18:44 UT March 24 (Media Network blog via Dan Say, DXLD) ** U K. EAST ASIA TODAY CLOSES ON FRIDAY The bastards! This was the only program worth listening to. It was three editions a day at one time, and talked to East Asia, not through them as the World Briefing dumbed down headlines will. Every person on the team had been in East Asia or regularly visited it for field reports (Dan Say, BC, March 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/asiapacific/eastasiatoday/news/story/2004/03/040319_end.shtml East Asia Today closure --- The BBC World Service is to end transmission of East Asia Today on March 26. This decision follows a review of our services to Asia against a background of the events and issues emanating from the Middle East and the wider Islamic world. The BBC World Service has decided to divert the programme's substantial budget to increase its investment significantly in the Arabic, Indonesian and Urdu Services, and to strengthen the audibility of programmes in these key languages. The BBC World Service remains committed to coverage of this region both for our listeners worldwide, and for our radio audiences in the region; ensuring the major stories emanating from East Asia receive proper prominence in our programmes. The East Asia Today slot will be filled by our news and current affairs programme, World Briefing, which serves the rest of the world at that time. World Briefing in the Asian evening, and the World Today, which has large audiences in the morning, will use existing reporters and resources from the region to ensure that audiences get a good mix of world and regional news when they tune in at early mornings or late evenings (via Dan Say, DXLD) ** U S A. UK'S ASIAN RADIO PLANS US DEBUT Shyam Bhatia in London | March 24, 2004 18:30 IST The head of Britain's best-known and privately owned Asian radio network says he is planning to expand his operations to the United States and Canada. Avtar Lit, whose personal wealth was recently estimated at more than £50 million, is best known as the owner of Sunrise Radio that has been broadcasting to the South Asian community for more than a decade from the West London suburb of Southall. Although his plans for North America have still to be formalised, Lit told rediff.com that his initial plans are to set up four broadcasting centres that would serve the South Asian community in California, New York and Canada. Lit is no stranger to North America. He previously set up Sina Radio International in California and also published a newspaper on the US west coast. For the past 10 years his operational base has been the United Kingdom from where he has been able to expand his Sunrise brand of broadcasting to Sri Lanka and Africa. Source: Rediff.com (via Sergei Sosedkin, DXLD) ** U S A. ENGLISH CUTS AT VOA FROM 28 MARCH, AND MORE TO COME IN OCTOBER VOA News Now, the Voice of America's global English-language service, will reduce many of its transmissions this weekend, with the beginning of the A-04 transmission season. These cuts were required by the US Broadcasting Board of Governors as part of a budget reduction. The last remaining News Now transmission to the Americas, UT Tuesday through Saturday (Monday through Friday evenings local time) at 0000 to 0200 will be eliminated. VOA Special English will continue UT Tuesday through Saturday at 0130-0200. VOA News Now transmissions to Africa, where its audiences are largest, will no longer be heard Saturday and Sunday mornings from 0300 to 0600 UT. Saturday and Sunday at 0600 to 0700, News Now is reduced to two frequencies: 6080 and 7290 kHz. Europe will no longer be a nominal target area for News Now. The morning transmission to the Middle East and North Africa, now at 0400 to 0700, will be reduced and retimed to 0300 to 0500. The evening broadcast to this target will be from 1600 to 2100, dropping 2100 to 2200. All News Now via the Munich 1197 kHz medium wave relay will be eliminated. (However, due to a scheduling fluke, News Now will be heard on 1188 kHz medium wave, via Marcali, Hungary, at 2100-2200. VOA's music programs are broadcast daily during this hour, including "Jazz America" on weekends.) The VOA News Now broadcasts to the Pacific region at 1900-2000 and 2100-2200 will be dropped. And the morning hour to South Asia at 0200 to 0300 will no longer be available Saturday and Sunday (when "Jazz America" is broadcast). With these reductions, the shortwave output of VOA News Now will be 18.5 hours per day Monday through Friday and 17.5 hours per day Saturday and Sunday. Further cuts to VOA News Now are planned for the end of October, when it will be reduced to 14 hours per day. Also to be eliminated are the special frequencies to South Asia for VOA's "Border Crossings" program at 1900-2000, and the late-night East Asia shortwave frequencies for "Talk to America" at 1700-1800 (Kim Elliott, VOA, March 24, Media Network blog via WORLD OF RADIO 1225, DX LISTENING DIGEST) How will the internet streams of VOA News Now be affected. Will they still be 24 hours? and what about affiliate stations (Wayne Senior, 03.24.04 - 11:57 am, ibid.) Kim replies: VOA News Now will continue to be transmitted via internet audio stream and satellite channels, and to affiliates, daily at 1200 to 0700 UT. VOA Music Mix, with live newscasts on the hour, fills the gap from 0700 to 1200. After October, VOA News Now will be reduced to 14 hours per day via the internet and satellite, and possibly renamed. Music Mix might fill the remaining ten hours, but that is yet to be decided (via Andy Sennitt, ibid.) ** U S A [non]. I wonder if the cancellation of all VOA English on 1197 will be the beginning of the end of this IBB outlet? On this occasion a certain announcement by Kim as I heard it two years ago on 1197: http://kailudwig.bei.t-online.de/VOA_CW.mp3 (Kai Ludwig, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) CW to be cancelled ** U S A. VOA BROADCAST FREQUENCY SCHEDULES EFFECTIVE 28 MARCH 2004 Notes: All times and dates are Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), same as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Frequencies are in kiloHertz (kHz). 1 MegaHertz (MHz) is equal to 1000 kHz. Conversion to meter bands: Meters=300000/frequency in kHz. e.g.: 17705 kHz --: 16.9 meters Abbreviations: All programs/frequencies are on daily unless noted otherwise. & - Monday only * - Monday through Friday = - Monday through Saturday < - Tuesday through Friday / - Tuesday and Friday only # - Tuesday through Saturday % - Tuesday through Sunday ~ - Thursday only > - Friday and Saturday @ - Saturday only $ - Saturday and Sunday " - Sunday only + - Sunday and Monday ^ - Sunday through Thursday ! - Sunday through Friday Afan Oromo 1845-1900* 11690 13670 13835 Albanian 0500-0530 1215 1830-1900 1458 Amharic 1800-1830 11690 13670 13835 1830-1900$ 11690 13670 13835 Azerbaijani 1730-1800 9740 11665 15135 Bangla 0130-0200 11735 15165 17780 1600-1700 1575 7280 9740 11965 Bosnian 1500-1530* 1197 2130-2200* 792 1197 Burmese 1130-1200 1575 9720 11850 15225 1430-1500 1575 5955 7155 9720 2330-2400 6185 9505 11840 15220 Cantonese 1300-1500 1143 7115 9355 11865 Chinese 0000-0100 7190 9545 11830 11925 15150 15385 17765 0100-0200 9545 11830 11925 15150 15385 17765 0200-0300 9545 11830 11925 15385 17765 0700-0900 13720 15160 15250 17855 21540 0900-1000 11825 13720 15160 15250 15665 17855 1000-1100 9575 11825 13740 15160 15230 15250 15665 17855 1100-1200 1143 6110 9575 11785 11825 11965 11990 12040 15250 1200-1230 6110 9845 11785 11825 11965 11990 12040 15250 1230-1300 6110 9845 11785 11805 11825 11965 12040 15250 1300-1330 6110 9845 11785 11805 11965 11990 12040 1330-1400 6110 9845 11785 11805 11825 11965 11990 12040 1400-1500 6110 9770 9845 11805 11965 11990 12040 2200-2300 7150 7190 7200 9510 9545 11925 13775 Creole 1230-1300* 9525 11890 15265 1730-1800 15385 17565 21555 2200-2230 11895 13725 21555 Croatian 0430-0500 756 792 1197 1395 6130 11855 1830-1900 1197 7175 15170 Dari 0000-0030 100.5 972 1296 0130-0230 100.5 1296 12140 1530-1630 100.5 972 1296 12140 1730-1830 100.5 972 1296 12140 1930-2030 100.5 972 1296 2130-2230 100.5 972 1296 2330-2400 100.5 972 1296 English to Europe, Middle East and North Africa 0000-0030 106.5 1593 0000-2400* 96.9 0030-0400 106.5 0400-0600 106.5 9530 11965 15205 0600-1600 106.5 1600-1700 106.5 9700 15205 15255 1700-1800 106.5 6040 9700 9760 15255 1800-2000 106.5 6040 9760 9770 2000-2100 106.5 6040 6095 9760 9770 2100-2200 106.5 1188 2200-2300 106.5 1593 2300-2330 106.5 2330-2400 106.5 1593 English to Africa 0300-0330* 909 1530 6080 7105 7290 7340 9885 12080 17895 0330-0400* 909 1530 6080 7105 7290 9885 12080 17895 0400-0430* 909 1530 4960 6080 7290 9575 9885 11835 12080 17895 0430-0500* 909 4960 6080 7290 9575 11835 12080 17895 0500-0600* 909 6035 6080 6180 7290 12080 0600-0630* 909 1530 6035 6180 12080 0600-0700 6080 7290 1600-1700 909 1530 9850 15225 15410 15580 1700-1800 9850 15410 15580 1730-1800* 909 11975 17895 1800-1900 909 9850 11975 15410 15580 17895 1900-2000 909 4950 9850 11975 13670 15410 15445 15580 17895 2000-2030 909 1530 4950 9850 11855 11975 13670 15410 15445 17745 2030-2100 909 1530 9850 11975 13670 15410 15445 17745 2030-2100$ 4950 2100-2200* 909 1530 11975 13670 15410 15445 English to Far East Asia, South Asia and Oceania 0000-0030 1575 7215 15185 15290 17820 0100-0300 7115 9885 11705 11725 1100-1130$ 1575 1200-1230 1143 6160 9645 9760 15240 1230-1300 6160 9645 9760 15240 1300-1400 9645 9760 1400-1500 6160 7125 9760 15160 15425 1500-1600 7125 1600-1700 1143 6160 7125 9760 1700-1800 6160 7125 9640 1700-1800* 1143 1575 2100-2200 11870 15185 17740 17820 2200-2400 7215 15185 15290 15305 17740 17820 2230-2400> 1575 English-Special 0030-0100 1575 1593 7215 9770 11760 15185 15290 17740 17820 0130-0200# 7405 9775 13740 1500-1530 6160 9590 9760 9845 12040 15550 1500-1530$ 1575 1530-1600 1575 6160 9590 9760 9845 12040 15550 1600-1700 12080 13600 17895 1900-1930 1197 7260 9680 13635 1930-2000 7260 9680 13635 2300-2330 1593 9725 11965 12055 13755 15145 2330-2400 7225 7260 9725 11805 11965 12055 13725 13755 15145 15205 French 0530-0600* 1530 4960 6045 6095 9885 13695 0600-0630* 4960 6045 6095 9885 13695 1830-2000 1530 9815 9830 12080 15730 17785 2000-2030 9815 9830 11720 12080 15730 2030-2100$ 9815 9830 11720 12080 15730 2100-2130* 9815 9830 11720 12035 12080 17750 Georgian 1430-1500 11935 15185 17810 Hausa 0500-0530 1530 4960 6045 6095 9885 1500-1530 9710 11990 13745 2030-2100* 4950 9815 9830 11720 12080 15730 Hindi 0030-0100 7430 9560 11820 1600-1700 7260 11705 12115 Indonesian 1130-1200 7260 9700 9890 12010 15320 1200-1230 7260 9545 9700 9890 12010 15320 1430-1500 9510 9585 15105 2200-2330 7225 9535 9620 11805 15205 Khmer 1330-1430 1575 5955 7155 9725 2200-2230 1575 6060 7130 7260 13725 Kinyarwanda/Kirunda 0330-0400 6095 7340 13725 0400-0430 6095 6120 7340 13725 Korean 1200-1300 7215 7235 1300-1400 648 7215 7235 9545 2100-2130 6060 7125 2130-2200 6060 7125 15470 Kurdish 0400-0500 7175 9705 12040 1300-1400 1593 9695 9825 15245 1600-1700 1593 15470 15545 17765 1800-1900 9625 11905 15545 Lao 1230-1300 1575 6030 7225 9545 11930 Pashto 0030-0100 100.5 972 1296 12140 0100-0130 100.5 1296 12140 1430-1500 100.5 1296 12140 1500-1530 100.5 972 1296 12140 1630-1730 100.5 972 1296 12140 1830-1930 100.5 972 1296 2030-2130 100.5 972 1296 2230-2330 100.5 972 1296 Persian 0300-0400 9840 11985 17855 1700-1800 1593 7280 9680 17585 1800-1900 648 1593 7280 9680 17585 1900-2000 1593 7465 11815 12030 Portuguese 0430-0500 1530 6095 6145 7340 9885 13725 1700-1730 1530 9830 12080 1730-1800 1530 9815 9830 12080 15730 17785 1800-1830* 1530 9815 9830 12080 15730 17785 Russian 1300-1400 11725 15130 15205 15215 17710 17730 1700-1800 6105 7220 9520 9615 11935 15370 1800-1900 6105 7220 9520 9615 11885 11935 Serbian 0530-0600 1197 1458 11805 11825 13615 1930-2000 792 9705 11910 15280 2100-2130 756 1197 7210 11885 11910 Shona/Ndebele 1700-1730* 909 11975 17895 Spanish 0100-0200 9560 9735 9885 11815 13760 1130-1200 9535 11925 13790 1200-1230 7370 11925 15360 15390 17875 1200-1230$ 11890 13770 1200-1230* 11890 13770 Swahili 1630-1700 9815 13670 15730 17785 1700-1730* 9815 13670 15730 17785 Tibetan 0000-0100 7200 7255 11690 0400-0600 15265 15490 17770 1400-1500 6030 11705 11975 15680 Tigrigna 1830-1845* 11690 13670 13835 Turkish 0330-0400* 792 7205 9740 11785 1030-1100* 11735 13795 17670 1800-1900 792 9595 11925 15235 Ukrainian 0400-0500 7115 9680 12015 2000-2030 3975 9715 11910 Urdu 0100-0200 7155 9835 11805 1330-1430 9510 12025 15190 1700-1800 11750 11905 15545 Uzbek 1500-1530 7135 13795 15295 17685 Various [??? Where are these FM transmitters?] 0000-2400 96.2 99 102 102.4 102.5 104.3 107.5 Vietnamese 1300-1330 1575 5955 9505 9720 1500-1600 5955 6120 7195 9780 2230-2330 6060 7130 7260 13725 (via Kim Elliott, March 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Kim also sent the NN program schedules, which we may eventually get reformatted for DXLD, but for now we refer you to (gh, DXLD) New schedule of VOA News Now --- We have received the full programme schedule of VOA News Now effective from Sunday 28th March. As this information is not yet available from the VOA's Web site, you can download it courtesy of Radio Netherlands. Four files in MS-Word format are available: {replaced by .pdf -- links changed in next issue} Broadcasts to Africa http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/VOA%20Eng%20Afr%20A04.doc Broadcasts to East Asia http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/VOA%20Eng%20Asia%20A04.doc Broadcasts to South Asia http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/VOA%20Eng%20South%20Asia%20A04.doc Broadcasts to the Middle East and North Africa http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/VOA%20Eng%20MENAE%20A04.doc (Media Network blog March 25 via DXLD) ** U S A. BATTLE INTENSIFIES AS RIVAL STATION HIRES COMMENTATOR By Greg Braxton Times Staff Writer March 24 2004 Radio commentator Sandra Tsing Loh, fired this month from Santa Monica-based KCRW-FM because of an on-air obscenity, was hired Tuesday by rival public radio station KPCC-FM in Pasadena. The complete article can be viewed at: [registration required] http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-loh24mar24,1,640284.story?coll=la-headlines-california (via Jim Moats, DXLD) POPULAR PUBLIC RADIO COMMENTATOR ON THE AIR IN JUNE PASADENA March 23 - KPCC 89.3 FM is proud to announce that humorist Sandra Tsing Loh will be joining the station's ranks as a regular weekly commentator. Loh's essays will begin appearing on KPCC in June. Besides being a public radio commentator, Loh is a solo performer and writer. Her latest one-woman show was "Sugar Plum Fairy," performed at the Geffen Playhouse last Christmas. She is the author of "A Year in Van Nuys," "Depth Takes a Holiday: Essays from Lesser Los Angeles," "Aliens in America," and "If You Lived Here, You'd Be Home By Now." "We're thrilled to have someone of Sandra's caliber join the KPCC family, said Bill Davis, President and CEO of Southern California Public Radio. "While she's made a lot of people laugh over the years, her essays have considerable depth and insight as well. So, we're pleased that we`ll be able to keep her on the air for her fans in southern California." "KPCC is a wonderful station and the staff is great," said Loh. "I'm very much looking forward to continuing my commentaries there in June, after a short but hopefully restful hiatus." Besides joining KPCC, Loh will continue doing a monthly radio commentary on the national business program "Marketplace," which airs on KPCC weekdays at 3 pm and 6:30 pm. KPCC is the flagship station of Southern California Public Radio. Along with Morning Edition, it airs NPR's other signature news and talk programs, as well as KPCC's Talk of the City with Kitty Felde weekdays from 2-3 pm, and AirTalk with Larry Mantle weekdays from 10 am-noon. Contact: David Barber at (213) 621-3480 http://www.scpr.org/about/press_releases/2004/03/sandra.html (KPCC press via gh, DXLD) KPCC is the last station I would have expected her to go to, as it just cancelled a much bigger show, The Play`s the Thing, also over naughty words. STL, no doubt, and her engineer, will be even more careful than before at KCRW (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) "A STAND AGAINST POMPOUS GASBAGS" [illustrated] After firing humorist Sandra Tsing Loh for letting the F-word slip onto the airwaves, a public radio station offered her job back. But Loh said no, and tells Salon why. . . [subscription or pass required] http://www.salon.com/ent/feature/2004/03/16/loh/index_np.html (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** VIETNAM. R. Son La 4740, reactivated (presumed). On 3/10 1320-1401 Vietnamese programming heard here with male & female announcers and Viet songs to 1330 then into indigenous programming until sign off at 1401. Indigenous programming is primarily songs with no instrumental accompaniment and occasional announcement. SINPO 3+5444 - seems too good of a signal for a Viet regional, but this used to be one of the Son La channels. It almost seemed like the 1330 programming was a pick up from the Hanoi Hmong program but I have heard similar programming on other regionals like Lao Cai (2-3 yrs ago). I would estimate that the signal was more like a 10-20 KW transmitter than a 1 KW transmitter (Bruce Churchill, Fallbrook CA, March 23, SWL DXer since 1952, dxing.info via DXLD) ** VIETNAM [and non]. A04 VTN --- A lot wooden registrations, like Mr. Anatoli Titov has done in past decades ... 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5035 2200 1700 49 CK2 15 320 700 VTN VOV VOV 5925 2200 1700 49 CK2 50 320 765 VTN VOV VOV 5975 2200 1700 49 HAN 50 176 765 VTN VOV VOV 6020 2200 1700 49 DAL 20 320 765 VTN VOV VOV 6165 2200 1700 49 CK2 50 176 765 VTN VOV VOV 6175 0100 0400 8,10NE,11NW SAC 250 212 141 G VOV MER 6175 0400 0500 2,6 SAC 250 268 141 G VOV MER 7210 2200 1700 49 DAL 20 320 765 VTN VOV VOV 7220 1100 1330 33,34,43,44 VNI 100 27 146 VTN VOV VOV 7220 1500 1700 46,47 VNI 100 290 216 VTN VOV VOV 7220 2030 2200 46,47 VNI 100 290 216 VTN VOV VOV 7220 2200 2230 33,34,43,44 VNI 100 27 141 VTN VOV VOV 7280 1600 2130 27,28 VNI 100 320 216 VTN VOV VOV 7285 1030 1600 49 MET 50 216 141 VTN VOV VOV 7285 2200 0100 49 MET 50 216 141 VTN VOV VOV 9530 2200 1700 49 CK2 50 176 765 VTN VOV VOV 9545 1100 1330 33,34,43,44 VNI 100 27 146 VTN VOV VOV 9545 1500 1700 46,47 VNI 100 290 216 VTN VOV VOV 9545 2030 2200 46,47 VNI 100 290 216 VTN VOV VOV 9545 2200 2230 33,34,43,44 VNI 100 27 146 VTN VOV VOV 9725 1700 1900 27,28W MOS 100 300 800 AUT VOV MER 9725 1900 2030 28S SKN 250 150 546 G VOV MER 9730 1600 2130 27,28 VNI 100 320 216 VTN VOV VOV 9840 1100 1230 33,34,43,44 VNI 100 57 156 VTN VOV VOV 9840 1230 1330 49,51,54 VNI 100 177 156 VTN VOV VOV 9840 1330 1430 33,34,43,44 VNI 100 57 156 VTN VOV VOV 9840 1430 1600 49,51,54 VNI 100 177 156 VTN VOV VOV 9840 2130 2230 33,34,43,44 VNI 100 57 156 VTN VOV VOV 9840 2230 2400 49,51,54 VNI 100 177 156 VTN VOV VOV 9875 2200 1700 49 MET 50 176 765 VTN VOV VOV 11575 1100 1330 33,34,43,44 VNI 100 27 146 VTN VOV VOV 11575 1500 1700 46,47 VNI 100 290 216 VTN VOV VOV 11575 2030 2200 46,47 VNI 100 290 216 VTN VOV VOV 11575 2200 2230 33,34,43,44 VNI 100 27 146 VTN VOV VOV 11630 1600 2130 27,28 VNI 100 320 216 VTN VOV VOV 11710 2030 2300 37,38,46 SKN 300 180 206 G VOV MER 12020 1100 1230 33,34,43,44 VNI 100 57 156 VTN VOV VOV 12020 1230 1330 49,51,54 VNI 100 177 156 VTN VOV VOV 12020 1330 1430 33,34,43,44 VNI 100 57 156 VTN VOV VOV 12020 1430 1600 49,51,54 VNI 100 177 156 VTN VOV VOV 12020 2130 2230 33,34,43,44 VNI 100 57 156 VTN VOV VOV 12020 2230 2400 49,51,54 VNI 100 177 156 VTN VOV VOV 13740 1600 2130 27,28 VNI 100 320 216 VTN VOV VOV 15115 1100 1230 33,34,43,44 VNI 100 57 156 VTN VOV VOV 15115 1230 1330 49,51,54 VNI 100 177 156 VTN VOV VOV 15115 1330 1430 33,34,43,44 VNI 100 57 156 VTN VOV VOV 15115 1430 1600 49,51,54 VNI 100 177 156 VTN VOV VOV 15115 2130 2230 33,34,43,44 VNI 100 57 156 VTN VOV VOV 15115 2230 2400 49,51,54 VNI 100 177 156 VTN VOV VOV (via Wolfgang Büschel, DXLD) ** VIETNAM. VOV-6 new channels 7220 and 9550 kHz, since Feb 4th. In an Airmail letter of March 9th, Roland Schulze in Mangaldan, Philippines, reports about the new VOV-6 broadcast channels of 7220 [alternate 11575] and 9550 kHz, latter tested extensively in February 2004. He heard the service also signing on at 1500 UT, but Roland reported an ID in Vietnamese followed by the Khmer? service, which is regular on air on the VOV-6 FM channel 105.5 MHz for the Ha Noi, Quang Ninh, and Ho Chi Minh City area domestically at that time span 1500-1530 UT. Remaining schedule VNI station So'n Tay, 100 kW 290 deg 1500-1600 Vietnamese 290 deg 1600-1630 2000-2030 English 290 deg 1630-1700 2100-2130 French 027 deg 2200-2230 1100-1130, 1200-1230, and 1300-1330 UT Mandarin. Other VNI outlets on 9840 [alternate 15115] 57 / 177 deg, 11630 320 deg, 12020 57 / 177 deg, 13740 [alternate 9730] 320 deg. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, Japan Premium via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Re 5000: Hi, there are several possibilities. In Taiwan, I heard on 5000 both WWVH from Hawaii and HLA from Korea. Both have female announcements each minute. WWVH I think announces from 45-52 seconds, the rest of the minute left for the US-continental brother station WWV which announces with a male voice in th 52-59 seconds, and in this gap also HLA has its announcement. So female English announcement: WWVH Female Korean announcement: HLA (but in fact in sounded English to me as well, although not readable, the signal was rather weak) Male English announcement: WWV, Colorado. You should be able to check the WWV/WWVH text by tuning to them in Canada, I think (5/10/15/20 MHz). HLA has a website on http://kriss.re.kr/time/English/IndexHLA.html though not too informative. Yours, (Eike Bierwirth, 04317 Leipzig, DL, hard-core-dx via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 7665, very weak, with obscure Sting album track then unfamiliar MOR music in unID language; signal always faded down during speech, sign off 2158 UT (Tim Bucknall, UK, harmonics Mar 21 via BC-DX via DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ REPORT FROM KULPSVILLE The seventeenth annual Winter Shortwave Listeners Festival in beautiful, historic Kulpsville, Pennsylvania is now history. Once again, the finest in the radio listening hobby descended upon this tiny enclave for a weekend of renewing friendships, attending forums, browsing displays, socializing, good food and other educational pursuits. This year saw about 220 radio folk gather at the Best Western. Congratulations and thanks are in order for Rich Cuff and John Figliozzi and all the wonderful people that volunteer to support this terrific annual gathering. Without this excellent cast of characters unselfishly volunteering their time, there would be no Winter SWL Festival. The 18th Winter SWL Festival is scheduled for March 11-12, 2005 at the usual location, featuring the usual cast of characters. I look forward to seeing everyone there once again (Rich D`Angelo, PA, DSWCI DX Window March 24 via DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ ANYBODY USING THE KAITO KA-1101 PORTABLE? I've been reading the ads for the Kaito KA-1101 portable radio on both the Universal Radio website ... http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/portable/1101.html and the Radios4You website ... http://www.radios4you.com/kaito-ka1101.html This sounds like an extremely good radio for the cost (under $70 plus S/H). What appeals to me most is that it has a "Line-Out" jack. I've been using a Radio Shack DX-399 (aka Sangean ATS-606) and having to use a dual-out plug for my headphones and my tape recorder. Having a dedicated "line-out" jack would reduce my desktop clutter! Anybody have a review of this receiver they could share? Is it a good radio for MWDX or is it a dog? I'd like to know before I order one. Thanks! (Steven H. Ponder, N5WBI, March 19, NRC-AM via DXLD) Steve, Check this site: http://www.radiointel.com/reviews.htm You will see the Degen 1102/Katito 1102 review early in the list and then further down the page, one for the 1101. I have 'em both. I like both radios a lot. I just got the 1102 and it is a heck of a radio bargain. 73 (Russ K3Pi Johnson, ibid.) DIFFERENT HUES Colour TV is 50 years old. The first colour sets rolled off the production line on 25th March 1954. But failure to agree a worldwide technical standard still has consequences today. . . http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/features/html/tv040325.html (Media Network newsletter March 25 via DXLD) DRM +++ Re Jeff White's NASB Newsletter about the Dubai HFCC meeting. It was most interesting. The DRM comments are absolutely true. I can't possibly see how it can co-exist with analogue transmissions --- the interference is horrific. I guess time will resolve the problem, but it looks to be a difficult road ahead (Barry Hartley, NZ, BC-DX Mar 17 via DXLD) I also complain that BBCWS schedules fail to specify which transmissions are DRM. There *is* a difference! (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ ARRL Encouraging ``Thoughtful, Considered`` Comments on Proposed BPL Rules (Mar 24, 2004) --- The ARRL will comment by the deadline on the FCC`s proposals to amend its Part 15 rules to adopt new requirements and measurement guidelines for so-called ``Access BPL`` systems that provide broadband access via electric utility power lines. Comments are due May 3. The deadline for reply comments is June 1. ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, says the League recommends that members read the FCC`s Broadband over Power Line Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) in ET Dockets 03-104 and 04-37, then develop their own thoughtful, considered comments. The ARRL advocates filing comments that specifically address the FCC`s BPL proposals, reflect positively on the amateur community and, if possible, offer alternative recommendations. Full story at http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2004/03/24/3/?nc=1 (ARRL via John Norfolk, DX LISTENING DIGEST) PROPAGATION ++++++++++++ PROPAGATION NEWS FROM RSGB Solar data for the period from the 15th to the 21st of March, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS. http://www.g0cas.demon.co.uk/main.htm Solar activity was very low to low but on the 18th increased to moderate when an M1/SF solar flare occurred. The solar flux increased from 101 on the 15th to 115 by the 18th. The average was 110. The 90- day solar flux average on the 21st was 111, that`s one unit down on last week. X-ray flux levels varied little and averaged B2.6 units. Geomagnetic activity was quiet to unsettled throughout, the most disturbed days were the 15th and 21st with an Ap index of 15 units on both days. The average was Ap 9 units. The ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds vary between 320 and 520 kilometres per second. Particle densities remained below 10 particles per cubic centimetre throughout. Bz varied between minus 6 and plus 7 nanoTeslas everyday. Despite the lower geomagnetic activity HF band conditions were not all that good. This can be put down to the seasonal changes that are now taking place. MUFs are always lower in the summer months than winter. Conditions will continue to deteriorate for the coming several weeks, but by late April or early May the summer sporadic E season will have started. The Rodrigues DXpedition, 3B9C, was heard and worked on all the HF bands. They have also installed a beacon on 50.090 MHz and it will be interesting to see how their operation on 50 MHz goes. And finally the solar forecast. This week solar activity is expected to be very low to low. No major solar flares are expected. The solar flux should increase and be around the 110s by next weekend. Geomagnetic activity should start at unsettled levels due to a recurring coronal hole but by midweek this should have rotated away and geomagnetic activity is expected to decline to quiet levels. MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be around 24 MHz for the south and 21 MHz for the north. The darkness hour lows are expected to be around 10 MHz. As promised last week, here now is a forecast for the Rodrigues DX- pedition, 3B9C, for the lower bands. The easiest bands to work them on will be 10 MHz and 7 MHz. The best time to try to contact 3B9C on these bands will be from 1800 to 0300 UTC. The 80-metre band should prove to be slightly more difficult, but the best time for this band will be between midnight and 0200 UTC. The RSGB propagation news is also available in a Saturday update, posted every Saturday evening and for more on propagation generally, see http://www.rsgb.org/society/psc.htm (Radio Society of Great Britain GB2RS New Script for March 28, posted March 24 on uk.radio.amateur by G4RGA via John Norfolk, DXLD) ###