DX LISTENING DIGEST 4-096, June 23, 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 AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1235: Wed 2200 on WBCQ 7415, 17495-CUSB Thu 2000 on RFPI http://www.rfpi.org [maybe] repeated 4-hourly Thu 2030 on WWCR 15825 Thu 2100 on WJIE 13595 +weekdaily [unconfirmed] Thu 1600 on WBCQ after-hours http://wbcq.com repeated weekdaily Thu 2030 on WWCR 15825 Fri 1600 on WBCQ after-hours http://wbcq.com Fri 2300 on Studio X, Momigno, Italy 1584 Sat 0800 on WRN1 to Europe, Africa, Asia, Pacific Sat 0855 on WNQM Nashville 1300 Sat 1030 on WWCR 5070 Sat 1830 on WPKN Bridgeport, 89.5, webcast http://www.wpkn.org Sat 2000 on WBCQ 9330-CLSB Sat 2030 on WWCR 12160 Sat 2030 on WBCQ 17495-CUSB [maybe] Sat 2030 on R. Lavalamp http://www.radiolavalamp.org Sat 2130 on RFPI http://www.rfpi.org repeated 8-hourly [maybe] Sat 2300 on RFPI http://www.rfpi.org repeated 8-hourly [maybe] Sun 0230 on WWCR 5070 Sun 0630 on WWCR 3210 Sun 1000 on WRN1 to North America, webcast; also KSFC 91.9 Spokane WA, and WDWN 89.1 Auburn NY; maybe KTRU 91.7 Houston TX, each with webcasts Sun 1100 on R. Lavalamp http://www.radiolavalamp.org Sun 1500 on R. Lavalamp http://www.radiolavalamp.org Sun 1900 on Studio X, Momigno, Italy 1584 Sun 2000 on RNI webcast, http://www.11L-rni.com Mon 0100 on WBCQ 9330-CLSB Mon 0330 on WSUI 910, webcast http://wsui.uiowa.edu [previous 1234] Mon 0430 on WBCQ 7415, webcast http://wbcq.us Mon 0900 on R. Lavalamp http://www.radiolavalamp.org Mon 1600 on WBCQ after-hours http://wbcq.com repeated weekdaily Wed 0930 on WWCR 9475 WRN ONDEMAND [from Fri]: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also for CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL]: Check http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html [from early UT Thu] WORLD OF RADIO 1235 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1235h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1235h.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1235.html [from Thu] WORLD OF RADIO 1235 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1235.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1235.rm DXLD YAHOOGROUP: Why wait for DXLD? A lot more info, not all of it appearing in DXLD later, is posted at our new yg. Here`s where to sign up. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dxld/ (Glenn Hauser, May 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WORLD OF RADIO BACK ON WJIE It appears that WOR is back on WJIE 13595, M-F at 2100 UT, as per the updated http://www.wjiesw.com/schedule.htm --- see USA below (gh) WORLD OF RADIO ON RADIO LAVALAMP Hi Glenn, Got the WOR schedule finalized. Same as before, except the first run will begin at: Saturday UT, 2030-2100 [3:30-4 PM CDT; 5:30-6 AM Sunday JST] The others remain: Sunday UT 1100-1130 [6:00-6:30 AM CDT; 8:00-8:30 PM JST] Sunday UT 1500-1530 [10:00-10:30 AM CDT; 12:00-12:30 AM, Mon JST] Monday UT 0900-0930 [4:00-4:30 AM CDT; 6:00-6:30 PM JST] When time allows, for example, over the summer school holidays, I hope to record WOR off of Real Audio onto MD and then make an MP3 file with it. Hopefully that will give better sound quality than the direct- from-shortwave MP3s. (Ralph Famularo, http://www.radiolavalamp.org June 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. CZECH REP.(non): Frequency change for RFE/RL Radio Free Afghanistan in Dari: 1330-1430 NF 12140, ex 17685 (Observer, Bulgaria, June 22 via DXLD) ** ALBANIA. This morning I noted a whole grid of Tirana home (?) service spurs around 9705. Spurs were on 9705 +/- n x 8 kHz, with n = 1, 2, 3, 4. Tirana not confirmed on 9705 due to strong co-channel interference (Olle Alm, Sweden, June 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ASIA [non]. USA (non): Frequency change for Radio Free Asia in Mandarin Chinese: 0300-0600 NF 15130, ex 15150 1700-1900 NF 13625, ex 15510 0300-0700 NF 15685, ex 15665 1700-2000 on 13690 cancelled 0600-0700 NF 15165, ex 15150 2300-2400 NF 11760, ex 11785 1500-1600 NF 15495, ex 15510 NF 13670, ex 13640 1500-1700 NF 13675, ex 13690 NF 13775, ex 13800 1600-1700 NF 15530, ex 15510 NF 15585, ex 15550 (Observer, Bulgaria, June 22 via DXLD) For a while, I think 15510 was the only RFA frequency direct from the USA, Delano (gh, DXLD) ** BELGIUM [non]. /SOUTH AFRICA: Frequency change for RVI in Dutch via MEY 250 kW / 352 deg: 1000-1100 Sun and 1100-1130 Daily NF 17750, ex 21630 (Observer, Bulgaria, June 22 via DXLD) ** CANADA. Hi, Glenn! Please be sure to listen to today's repeat of RCI's "Mailbag", if you don't already have this info. (Or maybe you can listen to it on-line?) I wasn't home in mid-afternoon Sunday so I missed it at my usual time, and then listened to the Sunday-evening broadcast while also paying attention to something else, so of course that was the first time in weeks or months they actually announced/ discussed something really interesting! Ian Jones had an interview with another RCI staffer and I am sure that I heard some mention of a new SE USA and Carib service that would run many hours in duration. I believe that I heard the words "from 11 AM to 6 PM Eastern" or something to that effect. The frequency 17765 kHz was mentioned. I just went to the RCI website and printed out their "technical frequency schedule". It has a new date as of June 21, and DOES list a French block from 1100-1459 Eastern (1500-1859 UT) and an English block at 1500-1759 Eastern (1900-2159 UT) on that frequency directed to "SE USA/Cuba/Haiti". I won't try to figure out the French programming stated, but the English is: M-F The Roundup, The World at 6, & As It Happens Sat Definitely Not The Opera Sun Tapestry, Cross-Country Checkup Well, we wanted more from RCI, and it looks like we're getting it. I also heard on the Mailbag discussion that they were planning on improving their Central and Western-US coverage. Maybe that means that we can look forward to hearing RCI overnight, like at 0400-0600 or so, when we really want and need it! Now we can begin nitpicking the choice of programming. I really wish that they would have "Vinyl Cafe" as one of those new English hours. It is now on only once, Saturday morning directly opposite Car Talk on NPR. And, if future plans allow the overnight service I mentioned, wouldn't it be great to have RCI re-broadcast all the old episodes of Vinyl Cafe at, say, 0500 UT weeknights, a different one each evening, going through the whole history of the show? What great going-to- sleep-time programming! Like classic radio used to be (Will Martin, June 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Before he saw this: RCI has, as of today (21 June) added some new transmissions for the SE USA and the northern Caribbean. This means that there will be at least one frequency on the air, in either English or French blocks of programming, from 1000 to 0200 UT daily. There are also additions to the current Spanish and Portuguese schedules, the latter involving extra repeats on SW of the weekly program. The updated technical schedule may be found (in PDF format) at: http://www.rcinet.ca/horaires/A04_SW_24h.pdf 73- (Bill Westenhaver, RCI, June 21, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Looks like a lot more French than English. It seems the only new transmission in English is 1900-2200 on 17765 250 kW, 227 degrees: M-F 1900-2100 The Roundup, 2100 World at Six, 2130 As It Happens (1/3 of it); Sat 1900-2200 DNTO; Sun 1900-2000 Tapestry, 2000-2200 Cross Country Checkup. Now there are two complete runs of W@6 and AIH at 2200-2400 and 0000-0200 weekdays, and various CBC/RCI features on weekends (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. "Prehistoric" CRI? --- Glenn: I think your comments about CRI are unfair and out of date, if not actually "prehistoric". All governmental stations have to adhere to the ideological line of their paymasters. CRI (and VOA) are no exceptions. You may not like the politics of CRI any more than I like the political bias of VOA, but it's a fact that CRI's politics are not laid on anywhere near as heavily as in the old days of Radio Peking and Radio Beijing, and you'll have to admit, I think, that the station has changed tremendously in recent years for the better, and that this is an ongoing process. Of course there's a certain ideological slant behind much of CRI's output but I would hardly call it brainwashing, whether subtle or otherwise. Phrases such as "work units" sound odd to English speakers and should not be used, but Chinese and English are very different languages and it must be difficult to use appropriate terms every time. Finally, China is still a developing country (although catching up fast with the West). It is not realistic to imagine that its media could yet be as slick and sophisticated as that of some other countries. The whole Chinese media is undergoing rapid change, but it takes time. In any case, it's right that the Chinese should find their own way and not try to imitate blindly either the media or the political system of the West (Roger Tidy, UK, June 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. CNR-1 ex 17615 has switched to new 17595. Listed site (on 17615) Shijiazhuang. 17615 is heavily jammed by China 0300-0700 because of RFA (Olle Alm, Sweden, June 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CONGO DR. WORLD REGION NEWS: PARTNER STATION IN EMBATTLED CONGOLESE CITY RESUMES BROADCASTS Posted by: newsdesk on Friday, June 11, 2004 - 03:12 PM Broadcasts from Radio Kahuzi, HCJB World Radio's partner ministry in Bukavu, Dem. Rep. of Congo, went back on the air earlier this week after heavy fighting disrupted power in the city of 250,000 near the Rwanda border for most of 10 days. "For the moment, we are the only private radio on the air in Bukavu," wrote Richard McDonald of Believer's Express Service, Inc. in an e- mail report on Wednesday. "So with our normal Christian programming, we are trying to reassure the distant populations that peace and calm are returning to Bukavu. We are thankful to be on the air after many difficult days with no electricity and varying stages of insecurity that began on May 26." McDonald added that government forces had captured the rebel insurgents with "very little, if any, loss of life." He urges prayer for "order to be reestablished among the military forces, and for civil authority to be established so normal life can resume." U.N. peacekeeping troops continue to patrol the streets of Bukavu to prevent further looting of shops and offices of humanitarian agencies. The troops are also working to prevent acts of retaliation among ethnic groups. Brig. Gen. Mbuza Mabe, the loyalist commander under which Bukavu falls, appealed to residents via U.N. Radio Okapi to remain calm. The dissidents had invaded Bukavu after they received reports that Mabe was killing Congolese Tutsis, known as Banyamulenge. McDonald said another 1,000 fix-tuned shortwave receivers built by Galcom have cleared customs in Goma and are ready to ship to Bukavu for distribution. "We sometimes toss one of these solar-powered radios to a passing armored troop carrier," he said. "The U.N. troops from South America, Europe or South Africa are happy to have it and to listen to our programming/music and the gospel along with development programs in health, hygiene and agriculture, as well as news." Radio Kahuzi, founded in 1992, broadcasts via FM (91.1 MHz) and shortwave (6210 kHz) in six languages -- English, French, Kikongo, Mashi, Lingala and Swahili. The station is among the first to be established via HCJB World Radio's "radio planting" ministry which helps establish local stations worldwide. More than 250 partner stations around the globe are now on the air as a result of this outreach (HCJB World Radio/U.N. Integrated Regional Information Networks, HCJB press via DXLD) ** DENMARK. Hi Glenn, World Music Radio on 5810 kHz came booming in on Monday, June 21 at 1700 UT. Good music for us middle-aged. Even my tiny Kenwood TH-F7E made enjoyable audio out of the signal --- with the gadget's little ferrite antenna. Propagation conditions on 15810 kHz were terrible, so no audio there, too much noise. Propagation on lower bands than 15 MHz was much better, few Brazilians on 49 and 25 metres was heard next morning at about 0300 UT. We are celebrating "Juhannus", that is mid-summer, here in Finland next weekend (June 25- 26), hope we have good weather (Matti Ponkamo, Naantali, Finland (locator: KP10AK), Drake R4-C, 20 m dipole, Sony 2001D, DX LISTENING DIGEST) {Correxion: 5815: 4-097} ** ECUADOR. Hola Glenn, Saludos desde Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA. En la edición del DX Party Line de los pasados 19 y 20 de junio, hubo una retransmisión de un viejo programa del DXPL con un tópico muy interesante: los himnos nacionales de los países latinoamericanos. Todo iba muy bien hasta que sonó al aire lo que se suponía debía ser el "Gloria Al Bravo Pueblo", himno de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela. La versión en cuestión transgredió toda la naturaleza del himno; el "Gloria Al Bravo Pueblo" sonó como una comparsa de carnaval y el final --- totalmente distorsionado por el director de la orquesta --- cerró con broche de oro la pseudorrepresentación del himno de todos los venezolanos. Además, en comparación con los himnos de Colombia y Perú, el himno venezolano fue mucho más corto y carente de su característica "marcialidad". Recomiendo a los productores de DXPL conseguir una versión más fiel al original, en caso de haber una futura retransmisión de dicho espacio (Adán González, Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA, June 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I doubt that Allen Graham reads DXLD, so did you send this directly to him? (gh, DXLD) ** GEORGIA. Today June 15 I was surprised[!] to hear Radio Georgia on about 11805.3 at 0640 in English. It was peaking about S6+ and the audio quality was much better than heard in a long time. Unfortunately DW 11795 splatter was spoiling it or it could have been listened to. I couldn't use the USB due to the assumed Romania buzz. I checked it after 0700 and the language was German, as listed. Adjacent Jordan 11810 was only about S4+ (it's never very strong at this time of the day) but 11960 was much stronger (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX June 22 via DXLD) ** GERMANY. GERMAN PARLIAMENT DEBATES NEW LAW ON DEUTSCHE WELLE The German government is planning to give Deutsche Welle (DW), the government-funded international broadcaster, a 'modern profile'. To achieve this, a new law was presented to Parliament last Thursday. While avoiding any specific guidelines on programming, DW is strongly encouraged to seek closer ties with its peers in other countries and with national public broadcasters ARD and ZDF. Together with ARD and ZDF, DW is already producing DW's second channel, which is available as pay-TV in North America only. In what is probably the most significant change in the new law, the Government suggests using the Internet as the 'third pillar' of distribution, together with radio and television. Intense lobbying from commercial broadcasters and publishers has thus far prevented ARD and ZDF from achieving this. The new law, which is still to be voted upon in Parliament, would be a big step forwards in recognizing the Internet as an integral part of any modern broadcasting strategy and may pave the way towards a more realistic approach to this issue by the German authorities. (Source: EBU) # posted by Andy @ 11:58 UT June 22 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Juelich spurs 9710/9350, 120 kHz difference. Re the occasional signal which I thought I had identified on 9710 - it was audible again this morning around 0745 and peaking loud enough to ID as HRT Croatia. BUT - not \\ 9830. It was \\ 9470!!! I'm puzzled, as 9470 & 9830 carry different programmes, and thought I was sure I could hear the same as 9830 previously. I didn't check 9470 then, so must keep this one under review when it appears. I tuned 9230 [9470 minus 240] and could trace a signal but not copy it. 9350/9710 Juelich spurious: 9470 0400-0659 55,59,60 230 JUL 100 HRT 9590 0457-0656 27,28,37-39 130 JUL 100 DWL/VRT Brussels Dutch (Noel R. Green, UK, June 15, BC-DX June 22 via DXLD) Juelich changed to a different slewing antenna [130 degrees] on 9590 the next day, from June 16th onwards. I've got a friendly reply from T-systems technicians at Juelich just four hours later, after I sent them an e-mail on this spur matter (Wolfgang Büschel, June 16, ibid.) ** GERMANY [and non]. 11655 RNW via Juelich site - Donald Duck format. There's very little to report from this mornings listening BUT - did anyone tune 11655 between 0600 and 0700? This is RNW via Juelich and today was broadcast in SSB - DSB!!! Or else the audio was received by DTK in "Donald Duck format"! I could just about resolve it to intelligibility by tuning to either 11655.5 or 11654.5. All returned to normal after 0700 when transmission came from Bonaire. Most strange goings on at Juelich these days! (Noel R. Green-UK, BC-DX June 19) But the transmission was full carrier AM as always? The Juelich transmitters could be SSB-capable, at least that's what a previous T- Systems publication suggests... (as far SSB was optional on Telefunken PANTEL series transmitters) By the way, I heard that YLE indeed had some SSB transmissions a decade or so again, somewhere on 19 metres? Concerning the "Donald Duck format": It was "used" for years also by the Tbilisskaya station on RM/VoR's German service (7300 / 7360 / 11980 / 15455), and it was the result of a mistuned STL circuit. Obviously a technology in German known as Traegerfrequenztechnik or just TF was in use, basically an SSB transmission, but on a copper wire pair and not on the air. Now the frequency was not properly adjusted at the receiving side, and Donald Duck was perfect. I heard that also Voice of Greece had such a fault for some time. At Tbilisskaya the problem was finally solved by replacing this certain circuit by a satellite link. This could of course also explain the faulty Juelich transmission, but I hardly think that such ancient circuits are still operational anywhere close to Juelich. Another possibility would the that something went wrong with a digital signal: Reproducing the audio with a wrong sample rate produces a Donald Duck, too. But how could this happen with the sample rate included in the header information anyway?? (Kai Ludwig, Germany, BC-DX June 20 via DXLD) Olle has a much better memory concerning Donald Duck transmissions than I have. But my memory has been revived concerning the Greek transmission referred to. However, it does seem to confirm my opinion that no one listens to what is actually being transmitted from the station concerned - so easy to do, as Olle commented. But I find it surprising that what is actually being fed into the transmitter is not monitored either. What I heard should have been detected if it was a "line" fault. But, listening would not be the "fun" it is if everything worked as perfectly! (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX June 21 via DXLD) In the 1970s a 100 kW transmitter at Taldom carrying the Moscow 3rd programme used Donald Duck modulation for years on 11570 and other frequencies. The Greek Donald Duck transmission Kai mentions persisted for many years. I believe this was the channel operated from VOA Kavala, so it is very surprising that it was not corrected. On one occasion in the 1970s the switching center in Moscow distributed the Mayak channel to much of the European USSR in the Donald Duck format for several hours before the fault was corrected. Frequency division multiplex is a commonplace technology for multichannel analog systems (Olle Alm, Sweden, BC-DX June 21, via DXLD) Or inverted for security? (gh) ** GREENLAND [non?]. IBC 7330 kHz Followup --- The following email has been sent to whitley (at) uknowncountry.com (Whitley Strieber) in regard to his website's claim that Dreamland can be heard on shortwave: "Your website indicates that I can listen to your program via IBC shortwave, on 7330 kHz. I have queried others, more expert on the subject of shortwave, and no one has ever confirmed that the 7330 kHz broadcasts from IBC actually exist. Can you confirm that this is a viable way to hear your program? Do you know what part of the world the 7330 kHz broadcasts originate from? Any information that you could provide to help me hear your program on shortwave would be most appreciated." (Dan Srebnick - Aberdeen, NJ, June 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GRENADA [and non]. Things you didn't know about President Reagan and international shortwave radio. 1. He eliminated the Voice of Grenada from shortwave by bombing the transmitter. It has never been repaired. (part of the Grenada invasion). This at one point was called the Windward Islands Broadcasting System and you can hear what it used to sound like here. http://www.ibcworks.net/radio68.htm (Lou Josephs blog June 11 via DXLD) Lots of other archives there ** IRAN [non]. Clandestine, 3875.77, V. of Iranian Revolution, 1714 June 22, talks by YL in Farsi followed by classical music clip at 1717 and continuation of political commentaries 1718. Signal S8, 34232. There is a jammer on 3885! (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, R75 and 2x16m inverted V, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. IBA TV English news deal (This does not impact radio) http://bet.iba.org.il/?lang=23 IBA English TV news returns to Channel One The Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA) English television news program returned to Channel One. Under a deal reached with management, the news is now back on Channel One at 4:50 p.m., and then continues on Channel 33 (via Doni Rosenzweig, DXLD) ** ITALY. RADIO EUROPE, 7306 USB --- Ciao piratomani! 26-27 giugno 2004, Radio Europe in onda dalle ore 8,00 alle 13,00 ITALIANE [0600- 1100 UT Sat, Sun] prove di trasmissione con nuovo trasmettitore potenza 600 watt. Sono graditi controlli anviati a: radioeurope @ iol.it Buon ascolto. haug!!!!!!!! (Alex, Play-DX yg June 20 via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. Frequency changes for Voice of Korea effective from May 2 [sic]: NF 13760 & and NF 15180, ex 6520 and 7580 to Ce/SoAm: 0000-0057 in Spanish; 0100-0157 in English; 0200-0257 in Spanish & strong co-ch 0100-0200 VOA Spanish NF 9720$, ex 6195 to NoEaAs: 0000-0057 in Korean; 0100-0157 in English 0200-0257 in French; 0300-0357 in English $ co-ch 0200-0357 RTTunisia Arabic; 0300-0357 CRI Mandarin Chinese NF 13760# and NF 15245*, ex 9325 and 11335 to Eu: 0700-0857 in Russian; 0900-0957 in Korean; 1400-1457 in French 1500-1557 in English; 1600-1657 in French; 1700-1757 in Korean 1800-1857 in Spanish; 1900-1957 in English; 2000-2057 in French 2100-2157 in English; 2200-2257 in Spanish # co-ch 1600-1700 BBC Dari/Pashto; 1900-2057 CRI En/Ch; from 1500 WHRI En * co-ch 1400-1500 BBC Hindi; 1500-1600 RL Tatar; 1730-1800 RFE Serbian 1600-1655 Channel Africa French NF 9325 and NF 11845@, ex 6575 and 7505 to Eu: 1300-1357 in Korean; 1400-1557 in Russian; 1600-1657 in German 1700-1757 in Russian; 1800-1957 in German; 2000-2057 in Korean @ co-channel 1300-1600 RFI French; 1630-2000 BBC Russian (Observer, Bulgaria, June 22 via DXLD) ** LIBERIA. [continued from USA - WJIE] I also have the Liberia FM on the air, LCBN. I am still working on the Liberia shortwave, 11.515 MHz, but it is just 10 kW targeting Northern Africa. It is so difficult getting programming and parts and such in, so it takes quite a time and patience but Liberia is well worth it (Morgan Freeman, June 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) So is 11515 currently active or not? (gh) ** LIBYA. New schedule for LJB Service to Iraq in Arabic: 1203-1303 NF 9605 USB (34443), ex 17600 NF 9745 USB (34433), additional NF 11180 USB (34333), ex 11890 1603-2203 on 11660 AM 1730-1827 co-ch CRI Mandarin; 2030-2200 CRI French 1803-1903 NF 9605 USB 1805-1825 co-ch RAI International German, ex 7425 NF 9745 USB (34433), additional NF 11180 USB (34443), ex 11890 2103-2203 NF 9605 USB (45444), ex 7425 NF 9745 USB (34433), additional NF 11180 USB (34433), ex 11890 (Observer, Bulgaria, June 22 via DXLD) Is their clock 3 mins off? V. of Africa, 15205, June 16 1920-1923 English ID and news, 1923 French news; fair, \\ 15315 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. KOCO-TV in Oklahoma City habitually joins Nightline late, anywhere from 30 seconds to 2 minutes!! Such is inexcusable for a top-50 market affiliate. The lateness is always filled by commercials. They apparently are unwilling/unable to time their 10 pm news so it ends in time (after break ads) to join ABC at 10:35:00 pm sharp. This has been going on for months and months sporadically, but lately it is the rule rather than the exception! If you confront them with this, don`t accept the excuse that severe weather alerts caused the news to run overtime. This happens when there is no weather problem. Can`t you do anything about this? Such disrespect could perhaps be rewarded by pulling Nightline off channel 5 and making a deal with one of the other independent or minor-network affiliates in the market. It would serve KOCO right, and it would serve your viewers much better. Or, I think technology exists to delay the network feed by the appropriate amount so none of it has to be cut off (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, to Nightline, via DXLD) Dear Mr. Hauser, Thank you for your concern. We will pass along your e-mail to the appropriate person at ABC. Sincerely, ABCNEWS Nightline (via DXLD) Evidently from an intern if not auto-reply. That evening, UT June 22, KOCO did it again, but hit the mark on June 23 {and every night thru UT June 26 at least} (gh) ** PALESTINE. WEST BANK AND GAZA: PALESTINIAN RADIO STATION AVAILABLE LIVE ON THE INTERNET --- Palestinian radio station Radio Angham is now available live on the Internet from its web site at http://www.radioangham.com Radio Angham broadcasts from studios in Ramallah round the clock on 92.3 MHz in the FM band. Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 22 Jun 04 (via DXLD) ** ROMANIA. 11840 kHz used for RRI French at 0600-0626 and German at 0630-0656 still produces two spurs 3.4 kHz wide somewhat 31.9 kHz away on: 11806.4 ... 11808.1 and 11870.2 ... 11873.6 (beware, the other nominal RRI is on 11875.00 exact). Same tx is in use for English 11830 kHz at 0700-0726, and spurious signal heard on the lower side only today June 13: 11796.4 ... 11799.8 kHz. RRI Spurious signals report of June 14: 0600-0656 nominal 11840 Galbeni site 11873.50 (11870.80 ... 11874.20) 11806.40 (11804.70 ... 11808.10) 0700-0726 nominal 11830 Galbeni site 11863.30 (11861.70 ... 11865.10) 11796.60 (11794.90 ... 11798.20) RRI Spurious signals report of June 15: 0600-0656 nominal 11840 Galbeni site 11871.45 and 11808.55 (31.45 kHz) and thanks to a tip of Noel R. Green also on 11902.90 and 11777.10 (62.9 kHz away) 0700-0726 nominal 11830 Galbeni site, 11861.55 and 11798.45. (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, June 14-15, BC-DX June 22 via DXLD) ** SOUTH AFRICA. Following mail received from Kathy Otto, Sentech in response to my reception report (Swopan Chakroborty, Kolkata, India, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: Dear Sir, Thank you for your e-mail. Please note that our supply of QSL cards is at an end, and Sentech has decided to issue verification letters instead of having new QSL cards printed. I am therefore unable to comply with your request. Kind regards (Kathy Otto, Transmission Planning, SENTECH (via Swopan, also via Rajeep Das, DXLD) So what was the request, for a QSL card? Why not just send you the letter instead, or do you have to directly request a v/l as such? And is it sent only by P-mail? (gh, DXLD) ** SPAIN. 12035, REE has two accompanied spurious signals on 11884.75 (11883 ... 11886.5) 12185.25 (12183.5 ... 12187), around 0700-0730 UT. Observed rather daily. 15585, REE Madrid with another spurious 'distorted' signal around 1200-1230 UT: on both 15497 and 15673 kHz (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, June 15, BC-DX June 22 via DXLD) My first harmonic via sporadic E and my highest ever harmonic: 43180 kHz, 1155 UT, REE, Noblejas (21570 + 21610). Finally some Es! Regards (Tim Bucknall, UK, June 23, harmonics yg via DXLD) mixing product ** SWEDEN. On July 4th, 2004, there is again SAQ Grimeton in the air and it will transmit again with its old machine transmitter a morse message on 17.2 kHz. The transmission times are 0830, 1030 and 1230 UT. Further informations on http://www.alexander.n.se/alexandersondagen_2004.htm (Harald, June 2, LW message board via DXLD) Or in English: http://www.alexander.n.se/sa6q.htm (John Davis, ibid.) ** SYRIA [non]. Re: "Bearings taken on this transmission show that the broadcast may originate from facilities near Köln, Germany." That would be DTK Jülich (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SYRIA [non]. GERMANY: Excellent reception in Bulgaria for R. Free Syria in Arabic on June 20: 1800-1900 Sun on 13650 (55555) via JUL 100 kW / 120 deg (Observer, Bulgaria, June 22 via DXLD) And very poor signal here in dead zone, 350 km south of Juelich, wb. Mere coincidence ... [or funding by 'same fleshpot' ?] in downtown Berlin ... see similar phone number for US-American / German Friendship Assoc. (below) "Radio Free Syria . . . fax us to Germany at: +49 30 6908 - 8573 (011- 49-30-6908-8573 from the US)". Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Deutsch-Amerikanischen Freundschaft e. V. (GFDAF) Postfach: 080115, 10001 Berlin Tel.: (030) 6908 - 8178 |||||||||||||||||| E-Mail: gfdaf@gfdaf.org Website: www.gfdaf.org (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I would not jump to such a conclusion with the last three numbers not so close (gh, DXLD) My reception at 1800 Sunday night on 13650 was similar to what I hear on the two mp3 recordings. Their signal was peaking to about 5 on the meter and I didn't have too many problems with CRI 13640. In the announcements all I could pick out was a word sounding like "Thowrah". BTW - was the "echo" I heard on both recordings actual or due to computer "processing" of the recordings? I didn't notice it. I noted the carrier come on but didn't hear any tones before the broadcast started. It was certainly not as well received as the other broadcast to Syria [now at 1500-1530]. Would the frequency be too high for CYPRUS-SYRIA at 1800-1900 [2000-2100 in SYR] for optimum reception? (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX June 21 via DXLD) ** THAILAND. BROADCAST MEDIA "TOTALLY IN GOVERNMENT'S HANDS", PAPER SAYS | Text of report entitled "More power taken from the people" published by Thai newspaper The Nation web site on 21 June ITV, Channel 11/1, Channel 5 - where will it all end? The complete takeover of the constitution so that it becomes whatever the government in power wants it to be? Not only is the broadcast media now totally in the hands of the government - and the victim of its propaganda - but also the administration's political "cronies" are being rewarded with manipulated interpretation of the rules and laws. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra might have suspended the controversial move by his cousin, who is the Army commander, to "dress up" Army Channel 5 for stock market listing, but it is no more than a political emergency stopgap. The premier dismissed criticism from academic and NGO quarters, even though they were absolutely right in their assessment that the constitution has been violated. A series of acts by the government on the broadcast media no longer leaves it in the grey area - it's as "black and white" as it comes. This editorial from The Nation can be made with full righteousness because our affiliate, Nation Television, has been subject to unfavourable treatment at the top level of the government through interpretations of the law that not only don't serve the public, but also threaten freedom of _expression and democracy as a whole. Among other things, Nation Television was told not to transmit its content via satellite for transmission globally - or into Thailand from outside - even though it is merely a content provider and not a broadcaster. It was barred from seeking an uplink transmission on grounds of security, even though foreign programmers such as CNN and others from China, Korea, Japan and the United States can beam anything to any viewer in this country who installs a satellite dish in their home. And the government's justification has always been that Nation Television must wait for the setting up of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC). However, the government did not raise any questions when iTV, a free- to-air TV station majority-owned by the family of the prime minister, sought to change its contract to air less news and more entertainment programmes - an issue which goes to the heart of the founding of the TV station. Nor did the government show any signs of telling Channel 11 to wait for the setting up of the NBC when the station carved out bandwidth from its allotment for another news-programme producer, claiming it was all still part of the one frequency. The programme producer was even able to run advertisements (the parent channel couldn't even do so). And the government also played for time rather than reprimand the Army commander who signed a questionable document on Channel 5's privatization, which is also in violation of the constitution, stipulating again that any such move needs to be judged by the NBC. This will only encourage another state-owned TV channel, Channel 9, to seek to fence itself off from the power of the new commission, whose mandate is nothing less than to allocate TV stations and broadcast frequencies to as diverse an array of people throughout the country as possible in order to better serve different communities. The question of fairness is one thing, the government's legitimacy in handling these cases is quite another. It means that the government under this prime minister is taking away the "power of the people" and handing it to select groups of technocrats and business associates, keeping the public from expressing its diverse views -all for its own political gain. What's next if the government has no legitimacy as guardian of the constitution? Source: The Nation web site, Bangkok, in English 21 Jun 04 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** UKRAINE. Frequency changes for R. Ukraine International in Ukrainian eff. June 22 0000-0400 NF 9385 KHB 100 kW / 055 deg to RUS, ex 9380 1300-1700 NF 7425 KHB 100 kW / 055 deg to RUS, ex 7420 (Observer, Bulgaria, June 22 via DXLD) ** U A E. R. Dubai, 13675.02, June 17 0330-0336* --- once again looking for English but only heard continuous Arabic music and they abruptly pulled the plug mid-song at 0336; \\ 15400.02, 12005.01. Also 15395, June 18 1330-1350+ --- I just won`t give up, still looking for English but only hear continuous Arabic music. Also checked 1600- 1615 for English but only hear Arabic music. Good, clean audio. No \\ heard today; even 21605 was off the air (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) {more: 4-097} ** U K. BBC DECIDES AGAINST REPLACING COOKE'S LETTER FROM AMERICA Matt Wells, media correspondent, Tuesday June 22 2004, The Guardian The BBC has decided against finding a replacement for Alastair Cooke, the veteran chronicler of life in the United States, who died a fortnight after recording his last broadcast this year. Instead, it will shorten his 15-minute Letter from America slot by five minutes and use it to try out different programmes. Helen Boaden, the controller of Radio 4, who took the decision, said: "My instinct is that Alastair was unique." Long before his death at the age of 95, the BBC had considered replacing Cooke. One BBC executive is said to have flown to the US to ask him to reduce his weekly contributions to one every two weeks, but lost his nerve and only took him out to lunch. It has been said that the BBC continued to think about who might replace Cooke until fairly recently; the last name to be touted as a possible successor was the essayist and Vanity Fair writer Christopher Hitchens, perhaps the most prominent British journalist living in the United States. Hitchens said the BBC never approached him formally: "The only time it ever rose above the hypothetical was when it was proposed to do a 'letter' on TV. This rather odd scheme eventually translated into my doing a few trial spots for some sort of BBC Late Show from New York, in late 1988 and early 1989. A few were shown, but the programme petered out, and the concept was almost immediately subsumed by the demands of telly, and became more of an off-beat featurette." Ms Boaden told the Guardian that she believed no broadcaster could match Cooke's ability to sustain an argument on radio over 15 minutes. At the moment, his place at 8.45am on Sundays is being filled with repeats of earlier talks, under the title Letter from America: a Celebration. When these end next month, the slot will be shortened to 10 minutes to accommodate an extended 8am news and paper review bulletin. Ms Boaden said the present bulletin, at just over five minutes, feels "too short" for that time of the morning. The regular service of Christian worship will continue to follow the news. Ms Boaden said she would try out several different ideas in the vacant 8.50am slot. The first is a series of talks called State of the Union, which begins on July 9. The series is intended as a scene-setter for the US elections, and will feature different writers and broadcasters. It is possible Ms Boaden will follow this with a series called Letter, featuring "postcards" from various parts of the world, which has already replaced Letter from America on the World Service. She also said she was interested in developing a series of talks from places around Britain. Cooke died in his apartment, overlooking Central Park in May, a week after [wasn`t it a month? -- gh] deciding to retire. Over 58 years, he recorded 2,869 letters, making Letter from America the world's longest-running radio programme. He said in his last: "I have had much enjoyment in doing these talks and hope that some of it has passed over to the listeners, to all of whom I now say, thank you for your loyalty, and goodbye." Copyright Guardian Newspapers Limited (via Bill Westenhaver, Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U K. Also attending yesterday's investiture were Nicholas Parsons, the veteran actor and host of Radio 4's Just a Minute, who received an OBE for services to drama and broadcasting. . . http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/06/23/nobe23.xml (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** U K. NEW BBC DG MAKES SWEEPING ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES The BBC's new Director-General Mark Thompson arrived for his first day at the helm today with a clear message to staff of the need for real, radical change over the next few years. Outlining a restructuring of the BBC's Executive Committee, Mr Thompson also announced reviews into its commercial businesses, production and commissioning, and how to increase efficiencies and control costs through self help. "We are going in to this with a genuinely open mind but these are questions which are not going to go away. If we did not examine them thoroughly ourselves, others would do it for us," he told 28,000 BBC staff around the UK. Mr Thompson said that since he left the BBC in early 2002 to become Chief Executive of Channel 4, both the BBC and he had changed and he was coming back with fresh eyes. Internal changes led by Greg Dyke had done the BBC good but it now needed to look at the outside world and address key concerns. One of his first moves will be to make the structure of the BBC simpler, more effective and more able to adapt and change by creating three new boards, covering the BBC's main activities. Mr Thompson will chair a cross media Creative Board made up of all divisions that drive the BBC's creative work. Alan Yentob, currently Director of Drama, Entertainment and CBBC, will also become the BBC's Creative Director. Deputy Director-General Mark Byford, in an enhanced role, will now lead all the BBC's journalism. He will chair a new Journalism Board, bringing all the BBC's journalism at an international, UK, national, regional and local level together for the first time. Read the full press release and details of new positions: http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2004/06_june/22/thompson.shtml # posted by Andy @ 15:44 UT June 22 (Media Network blog via DXLD) Who's who in new-look BBC management http://media.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,4953822-105236,00.html (Tuesday June 22, 2004 The Guardian (London, UK) via Dan Say, DXLD) ** U S A. VOA LAUNCHES SPANISH TV NEWSCAST TO LATIN AMERICA Washington, D.C., June 21, 2004 - The Voice of America (VOA) today begins a five-minute, weekday Spanish-language television news broadcast for Latin America. The evening "capsule" program, Desde Wáshington (From Washington), will feature news briefs on the top international and U.S. stories of the day, as well as reports on Washington-based news and events of interest to Latin Americans. "With these broadcasts, our neighbors to the south will be able to receive the latest Washington and world news from VOA on television as well as through radio and the Internet," said VOA Director David S. Jackson. "The response from our affiliates has already been very enthusiastic." Desde Wáshington airs at 5:00 p.m. EDT (2100 UT) Monday through Friday, and repeats at 7:00 p.m. EDT (2300 UT) and again at 9:00 p.m. EDT (0100 UT). VOA television affiliates in nearly a dozen countries throughout the Americas are now taking the program, with more being added each week. Desde Wáshington joins the long-established Foro Interamericano journalist discussion program in presenting news and public affairs on television for Latin America. VOA also airs two hours of Spanish- language programming daily on shortwave, as well as a half-hour midday newscast and hourly news updates for affiliates weekdays via digital audio satellite. Programs are available live and on demand at their web page http://www.VOANews.com/Spanish (VOA Press via DXLD) ** U S A. 13.595 shortwave is on the air --- Glenn, We replaced the tube on 13.595 and you`re on the air again. We air Rod Hembree of http://www.thestreamtv.com He has agreed to air your program. So you will be on there as well. I am listening to 13.595 in Caracas, Venezuela over dxtuner. Our corporate name is Word broadcasting and we call the shortwave WJIE. My name is Morgan Freeman and I am the director of international radio Now we also just finished an AM station in Norfolk VA. WCKO AM 1110 is back on the air after being dark for a year. We purchased it and rebuilt the antennas and the transmitters. It is a 50 kW daytimer that covers the coast of Virginia and down into North Carolina (Morgan Freeman, June 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Well, that`s a surprise. I do see the WJIE schedule has been updated to show WOR M-F at 2100; don`t see Radio Weather on it. The Stream TV is a complicated site, but I don`t see any program schedule link. 13595 audible at 1600 UT check June 22. Yet to be confirmed at 2100. WJIE audio link at http://www.wjiesw.com/WJIE2.htm was running at 1600 but just hiss (gh, DXLD) Morgan, OK, that`s a surprise, thanks. I see on your posted schedule WOR is at 5 pm M-F, right? What is the status of 7490? 13595 audible here at noon ET, tho not very strong. (Glenn to Morgan Freeman, via DXLD) 7.490 has had a long run since December and it is doing great. I play "Christian patriotic" on it, James Lloyd and on 13.595 I do evangelical Christianity. I want to go after Canada, but I am reaching Canada off the backside. I listened to 13.595 in Caracas, today; sounded good. I use dxtuner.com I don't know if I am airing you on 7.490. I probably am on the weekend, but we will pump you on 13.595 [more at LIBERIA] (Morgan Freeman, WJIE, June 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. Re: AFN-AFRTS is currently audible on new 9980U at 1445 at good strength. . . AFN were better off far from the broadcasting bands; now they will have problems from big AM transmitters on 9975, 9985, e.g. (gh, DXLD) Actually, 9940 was A04 HFCC-coordinated for AFRTS via Iceland (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, June 22, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Thank you to the person who said AFN is on 9980U; I have heard it at 0615 UT here in Australia. It is on RTTY or a weatherfax broadcast which is really annoyingl the website for AFN http://myafn.net shows no new frequencies. 9980.5U gives good reception although it is jammed [sic]. ===== --- Kia ora, (Meaning 'Good Health to you' - Maori) From (Robert Wise of Hobart, Australia, June 22, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Noel and others, I also came across the same station on 9980 at 2220 on USB. At 2228 approx. I heard identification for NPR. signal was barely above the noise floor. Propagation from Europe and North America was running on the Long Path so I am speculating that it is either Guam or Hawaii. Anybody have as definite location? (Robin L. Harwood, Norwood, Tasmania, June 22, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. 10TH ANNIVERSARY RADIO MIAMI INTERNATIONAL WRMI Radio station WRMI in Florida, Radio Miami International, is a very progressive commercial shortwave station and it is currently celebrating its 10th anniversary. The managing director of station WRMI is Jeff White who is the past president of NASB, the National Association of Shortwave Broadcasters, and he is the new Chairman of DRM, Digital Radio Mondiale in the United States. Even though WRMI in Miami is now just 10 years old, yet its earliest origins go back to another location a further eleven years earlier. It was in Chicago in1983 that Radio Earth was founded for the purpose of producing shortwave programming and making it available for broadcast on available shortwave stations with coverage in North America. During this initial eleven year period, the programming of Radio Earth & Radio Discovery was heard over several shortwave stations in the United States, such as WRNO in New Orleans, WHRI on the edge of Indianapolis, and KCBI near Dallas in Texas. As the new shortwave service grew, this programming was heard also over Radio Clarin in the Dominican Republic and Radio Milano International in Milan Italy. It was at this stage that Adventist World Radio, AWR-Asia in Poona India came into the picture. Occasional programming from Radio Earth was included into the old AWR DX program, ``Radio Monitors International``, and this DX program ``RMI``, was included regularly into the shortwave scheduling of Radio Earth. It became time for them to establish their own shortwave station, and so plans were made for the launching of station WRMI in Miami Florida. The first open-carrier test-broadcasts from the new WRMI were made from a temporary transmitter, a modified old military unit, on November 11, 1993. Test broadcasts from the 50 kW Wilkinson transmitter that was imported from the Dominican Republic commenced soon afterwards. When all of the necessary technical adjustments had been completed, including the suppression of an unwanted harmonic, the station implemented a regular broadcast schedule on June 14, 1994, just 10 years ago last Monday. Station WRMI is currently heard with a regular daily schedule on three different shortwave channels as follows:- 9955 0900 - 1200 Daily 15725 1200 - 2300 Daily, with variations on weekend 7385 2300 - 0900 Daily, with variations on weekend Over a period of time, station WRMI has been noted with a program relay from many different organizations, including for example, Radio 16 Desanm in Haiti, Radio Prague International from the Czech Republic, and Vatican Radio in Europe. In addition, WRMI also carries a downlink relay from the satellite service of the World Radio Network in England, and many stations throughout the world can be heard in this relay, including Radio Japan in Tokyo, China Radio International in Beijing, and Radio Australia in Melbourne. The lengthy series of digital-analog broadcasts on behalf of the National Association of Shortwave Broadcasters, NASB, is nearing the end of its tenure, though they can still be heard for a few weeks longer on Saturday nights in North America at 0230 UTC on 7385 kHz. The AWR DX program, ``Wavescan `` with all of its almost 500 editions has also been heard regularly each week from WRMI over the past 10 years. For a period of a little over two years, much of the programming from station WRMI was also heard on a delayed relay from station HRJA in Tegucigulpa Honduras. This 1 kW transmitter was operated by Radio Estereo Amistad and it was intended to grow into a major relay service for coverage into North America. However, the transmitter was removed from service for modification on October 31, 1995, but this station never did return to the shortwave bands. Radio Miami International is noted as a very reliable verifier and many listeners in the Americas, Europe, and the South Pacific own prized QSL cards from this station. The AWR collection contains more than 50 QSL cards and letters from the shortwave services of Radio Earth, Radio Discovery, station WRMI, Radio Copan, and the NASB. We here at Adventist World Radio salute Radio Miami International WRMI, on the occasion of their 10th anniversary; and we also express gratitude for the fact that WRMI and its additional shortwave services have carried more than 600 editions of the AWR DX programs, ``Radio Monitors International`` & ``Wavescan``. (Adrian Michael Peterson, AWR Wavescan script June 20 via DXLD) AMP also provides his references: ========================================================= Radio Earth & Radio Discovery --- References ------------------------------------------------------------ Year Date Event Reference ------------------------------------------------------------ 1980s Radio Earth founded, program & distribution WRMI NR 1983 Jun 1 Radio Earth began on Radio Clarin, 1st broadcast SWG 4-85 10, REI NR 1983 Jun 2 Radio Earth International due to commence from Clarin 11700 50 ADXN 6-83 1 1983 Jun 2 Radio Earth International studios on Curacao ADXN 6-83 1 1983 Oct 31 Radio Earth left Clarin began on WRNO REI NR 19-9-84; WRTVHB 1984 601 1984 Jan Radio Earth Presents ``The World`` ADXR 1-84 1 1984 Jul Radio Earth on 6185 kHz Schedule 1984 Sep Radio Earth leaves WRNO, re-negotiates with WRNO ISWLPG 6&7- 84 42 1984 Sep Radio Earth moving to Radio Clarin live 11700 kHz Schedule 24-9-84 1984 Sep Radio Earth begins tests from Radio Milano International Schedule 24-9-84 1985 Sep 1 Radio Earth begins on Radio Milano International 7295 kHz 5 kW REI NR 1984 Sep 10 WRNO dropped Radio Earth ``The World`` contract end 31-12- 84 SWG 10-84 4 1984 Sep 24 Radio Earth ````The World `` begins on Radio Clarin 11700 REI NR 19-9-84 1984 Oct AWR ``Radio Monitors International`` begins with Radio Earth Schedule 24-9-84 1984 Nov Radio Earth negotiates to lease Radio Clarin SWG 11-84-5 1984 Dec Radio Earth tour to Curacao RE NR 1984 1984 Dec 31 Contract with WRNO due to end SWG 10-84 4 1985 Mar 31 Final broadcast from Radio Clarin SWG 4-85 10 1985 Mar 31 Programming ended on Radio Clarin, plans for Miami station REI NR 10-4-85 1985 Dec Plans for 25 kW SW station on Curacao ASWLC 12-85 8 1985 Dec After 2.5 years leased time, 25 kW has been bought ASWLC 12-85 8 1985 Dec Transmitter modificatton in Iowa ASWLC 12-85 8 1985 Dec 25 kW , TMC similar to CHU & WWV Kahn stereo ASWLC 12-85 8 1986 Mar Mid Radio Discovery on air 50 w 6245 & 15045, soon higher power ASWLC 7-86 5 1987 Aug 3 Schedule to America & Europe on WHRI 7355 ASWLC 10-87 24 1987 Aug 10 New schedule on 7355 9525 7400 6000 Schedule Radio Earth 1988 Jan Radio Earth now 4 years old ODXA 1-88 22 1992 Feb WHRI WWCR WRNO skeds arranged into combined schedule ODXA 2 - 92 14 1992 Mar Radio Clarin 50 kW Santo Domingo activated test transmissions ADXN 5-92 8 1992 Apr 50 kW transmitter purchased from Radio Clarín Dominican Republic WRMI NR 1992 May 25 WRMI to be launched soon IBC 25-5-92 1992 Aug 24 Hurricane Andrew, emergency programming battery power in studio WRMI NR 1992 Dec 1 New schedule on WRNO WHRI WRMI NR 1993 Oct 29 Final broadcast of Radiio Desanm from Haiti WRMI NR 10-93 1993 Nov Call request as HRVC WRMI L 23-11-90 1993 Nov On air with ``Voice of the Caribbean`` as experimental station WRMI L 23-11-93 1994 Feb 10 KWHR new Vietnamese program begins WRMI NR 7-2-84 1994 Feb WRNO La Voz de Cuba & Radio Desanm on air WRMI NR 7-2-84 1994 Feb WHRI La Voz de la Fundacion, Alpha 66, Desanm on air WRMI NR 7-2-84 1994 Mar New schedule for WHRI WRNO KWHR WRMI NR 26-3-94 1995 Mar Schedule on WHRI WWCR KWHR WRMI NR 31-3-95 Radio Miami International - WRMI -- References ------------------------------------------------------------ 1989 Radio Miami International formed, brokerage service WRMI NR 1991 Jul Application to FCC for CP for SW station WRMI NR 1991 Dec CP received from FCC WRMI NR Request to FCC for usage of 10 kW instead of 50 kW WRMI NR 1992 Mar Radio Clarin 50 kW Santo Domingo activated test transmissions ADXN 5-92 8 1992 Apr 50 kW transmitter purchased from Radio Clarin Dominican Republic WRMI NR 1992 May 25 WRMI to be launched soon IBC 25-5-92 1992 Jun FCC approval to commence test broadcasts on 9955 ADXN 6-02 8 1993 Jul Mid Transmitter building completed WRMI NR 7-94 1993 Oct Test broadcasts planned for end of October WRMI NR 10-94 1993 Nov 11 1st test broadcast 400 w WRMI L 18-11-93 1993 Nov 13 1st test 2048 UTC 9955 kHz 350 w transmitter Phone call 1993 Nov Tests since last November on low power WRMI NR 7-2-94 1993 Nov Old military transmitter as standby, same as WRNO WRMI phone call 1993 Nov Studios Suite 252, 8500 SW B St, Miami FL WRMI NR 1993 Nov Transmitter 50 kW Wilkinson 9955 corner reflector 160 degrees WRMI NR 1993 Nov LP tests 400 - 500 w now on air WRMI Letter 23-11-93 1994 Apr 1 Friday, 1st on air test open carrier centered on Barranquilla & B Aires WRMI NR 1994 Apr Audio tests a few days later WRMI NR 5-4-94 1994 Apr FCC message over weekend 12th harmonic 119.45 aircraft WRMI NR 11-4-94 1994 Apr Test broadcasts, harmonic problem WRMI NR 10-6-94 1994 May Test broadcasts resumed WRMI NR 10-8-94 1994 May 12th harmonic corrected, now back on air with tests WRMI NR 16-5-94 1994 Jun 8 Authority received from FCC to begin regular programming WRMI NR 10-8-94 1994 Jun 14 Regular programming to begin at 0100 UTC WRMI NR 10-6-94 1994 Jun 14 New program schedule 0100-0400 UTC 9955 WRMI NR 11-6-94 1995 Oct Some HRJA programs now on WRMI while HRJA off air WRMI L 9- 10-95 1995 Oct 31 Last day HRJA 15675 closed, new transmitter planned WRMI NR 27-10-95 1995 Oct All HRJA programs now on WRMI WRMI NR 27-10-95 1995 Oct Plans for additional antenna for North America WRMI NR 27- 10-95 1997 Mar CP received rotatable log yagi, 2* Toronto, 284* Hermosillo WRMI NR 14-3-97 1997 Apr 2nd antenna under installation WRMI NR Apr 2 1997 1999 Jun 19 1st tests on 7465 kHz WRMI QSL sheet 1999 Nov Move from 7460 to 7385, Norway on 7465 WRMI NR 24-11-99 2000 Apr New schedule, 7385 North America WRMI NR 5-4-00 2001 Mar 1 Schedule shows 7385 9955 & 15725 WRMI Schedule 2001 Jun Schedule shows 7385 9955 & 15725 WRMI NR 2-6-01 2001 Sep Schedule shows 7385 9955 & 15725 WRMI NR 13-11-01 Radio Miami International - Studios --- References ------------------------------------------------------------ 1983 Radio Earth, Evanston Illinois SWG 4-85 10 1983 Jun 2 Radio Earth International studios on Curacao ADXN 6-83 1 1984 Sep Radio Earth usage of Radio Clarin studios Schedule 24-9-84 1993 Studios Suite 252, 8500 SW B St, Miami FL WRMI NR 175 Fontainebleau Blvd, Suite 1N4, Miami FL Website Radio Miami International - Transmitters === References ------------------------------------------------------------ TMC 25 kW Transmitter 1985 Dec Plans for 25 kW SW station on Curacao ASWLC 12-85 8 1985 Dec After 2.5 years leased time, 25 kW has been bought ASWLC 12- 85 8 1985 Dec Transmitter modification in Iowa ASWLC 12-85 8 1985 Dec 25 kW, TMC similar to CHU & WWV Kahn stereo ASWLC 12-85 8 Military Transmitter 1993 Nov 11 1st test broadcast 400 w WRMI L 18-11-93 1993 Nov 13 1st test 2048 UTC 9955 kHz 350 w transmitter Phone call 1993 Nov Tests since last November on low power WRMI NR 7-2-94 1993 Nov Old military transmitter as standby, same as WRNO WRMI phone call 1993 Nov LP tests 400 - 500 w now on air WRMI Letter 23-11-93 Wilkinson 1993 Nov Transmitter 50 kW Wilkinson 9955 kHz WRMI NR 1994 Apr 1 Friday, 1st on air test open carrier to Barranquilla & B Aires WRMI NR 1994 Apr Audio tests a few days later WRMI NR 5-4-94 1994 Apr FCC message over weekend 12th harmonic 119.45 aircraft WRMI NR 1994 Apr Test broadcasts, harmonic problem WRMI NR 10-6-94 1994 May Test broadcasts resumed WRMI NR 10-8-94 1994 May 12th harmonic corrected, now back on air with tests WRMI NR 16-5-94 1994 Jun 8 FCC authority received begin regular programming WRMI NR 10-8-94 1994 Jun 14 Regular programming to begin at 0100 UTC WRMI NR 10-6-94 1994 Jun 14 New program schedule 01200-0400 UTC 9955 kHz WRMI NR 11-6- 94 Collins 2004 Currently under modification for use as 2nd channel WRMI Email Radio Miami International - Antennas --- References ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Corner Reflector 1993 Nov LP tests with new antenna 400 - 500w WRMI Letter 23-11-93 1993 Nov 50 kW Wilkinson 9955 corner reflector 160 degrees WRMI NR Rotatable yagi style log periodic 1995 Oct Plans for additional antenna for North America WRMI NR 27- 10-95 1997 Mar CP received rotatable log yagi 2* Toronto 284* Hermosillo WRMI 14-3-97 1997 Apr New antenna under installation WRMI NR Apr 2 1997 Radio Miami International - Frequencies --- References ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 9955 1993 Nov 11 1st test broadcast 400 w WRMI L 18-11-93 1993 Nov 13 1st test 2048 UTC 9955 kHz 350 w transmitter Phone call 1994 Jun 14 Regular programming to begin at 0100 UTC WRMI NR 10-6-94 7465 1999 Additional channel for daily usage WRMI Email 1999 In use for one transmission period, then move to 7460 WRMI Email 7460 1999 One transmission period, Norway-Denmark on 7465 WRMI Email 1999 Nov Move from 7460 to 7385 WRMI NR 24-11-99 7385 1999 Nov Move from 7460 to 7385 Norway on 7465 WRMI NR 24-11-99 15725 2001 Mar 1 Additional channel for North America WRMI Schedule Radio Miami International - WRMI QSLs - Listed according to Location & Frequency ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Station kHz kW Year Date Style Notes Holder or Reference ---------------------------------------------------------------------- QSL Cards for Brokered Programming on Other Stations 6185 100 1982 Jul 25 Brown globe card Earth WRNO AMP 6245 1 1987 Mar 8 Palm top on antenna Dscvry Clarin AMP Blank Palm top on antenna Dscvry Clarin AMP 7355 100 1992 Apr 1 Red certificate WRMI WRNO AMP 7355 100 1992 Apr 27 WRMI program WRMI WRNO card AMP 7400 100 1986 Mar 1 Curacao beach scene Earth WHRI AMP 9495 100 1993 May 20 Palm frond ocean card WRMI WHRI AMP 11700 50 1992 Large Clarin card Earth Clarin AMP 11700 50 1985 Blue globe card Earth Clarin AMP 11790 100 1992 Jan 4 Red certificate RMI WHRI AMP 11790 100 1993 Jan 4 Green Desanm card WRMI WHRI AMP 15045 1 1987 Mar 25 Palm top on antenna Dscvry Clarin AMP QSL Cards for Relay Programming on WRMI 7385 50 1997 Dec 9 CID card La Voz del CID AMP 7385 50 1997 Dec 9 Sunset photo card CID relay AMP 7385 50 2003 Dec 21 Florida Greetings card NASB WMRI relay AMP 7385 50 2003 Oct 25 People card NASB-AWR relay AMP 7385 50 2003 Nov 1 Letter NASB-WMLK relay AMP 7385 50 2003 Nov 15 30th anniversary card, top NASB-WYFR AMP 7385 50 2003 Nov 22 Aerial NASB-KFBS AMP 7385 50 2003 Dec 6 Children card NASB-WSHB AMP 7385 50 2003 Dec 6 Boston HQ card NASB-WSHB AMP 7385 50 2003 Dec 20 NASB map card 3 printings, 12 cards AMP 7385 50 2003 Dec 27 30th anniversary card, top NASB-WYFR AMP 9955 50 1999 Jan 14 Dolphin underwater photo Alpha 66 AMP 50 [?] Oldrich Chip/Jeff White Radio Prague relay WRMI 50 [?] Simulcast QSL card, 1 day Radio Amazonas WRMI WRMI QSL cards 7385 50 2000 Jun 21 Transmitter photo card Computer reproductiion AMP 7385 50 1998 Oct 22 Florida Beach tourist card LA antenna AMP 7385 50 2003 Florida Greetings card Blank AMP 7465 20 1999 Jun Letter Test broadcasts AMP 7465 20 1999 Jun 19 Map border sheet 1st for tests AMP 9955 .4 1993 New QSL card Tests WRMI NR 21-10-93 9955 .4 1993 Nov 18 Letter Test broadcasts AMP 9955 .4 1993 Nov 19 Palm frond ocean card Blue art AMP 9955 .4 1993 Nov 19 Letter Test broadcasts AMP 9955 50 1994 Apr 17 Palm frond ocean card Blue art AMP 9955 50 1994 May 16 Letter Test broadcasts AMP 9955 50 1995 Jun 15 Palm frond ocean Photo copy AWR 9955 50 1998 Oct 22 Miami buildings tourist card NA antenna test AMP 50 [?] Everglades National Park Sheet blank AMP 50 [?] Palm frond ocean Photo card blank AMP HRJA QSL Cards 1 1993 New QSL card Available WRMI NR 10-93 15675 1 1993 Sep 16 Copan monument AMP 15675 1 1994 Feb 8 Copan monument AMP Radio Copan International --- References ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1992 Old military transmitter T368 same as WRNO, going to HRJA WRMI phone call 1993 Jul Now on air, joint venture with Radio Estereo Amistad WRMI NR 7-83 1994 Feb Radio Copan International HRJA 15675 expanding schedule WRMI NR 7-2-84 1994 Mar New schedule 1 kW N Caribbean & E North America WRMI NR 26- 3-94 1995 Oct Some HRJA programs now on WRMI while HRJA off air WRMI L 9- 10-95 1995 Oct 31 Last day for HRJA on 15675, new transmitter planned WRMI NR 27-10-95 1995 Oct All HRJA prgrams now on WRMI WRMI NR 27-10-95 1995 Oct 31 HRJA closed for modification WRMI L 26-9-95 1995 Oct Offer of 3.6 kw transmitter, modifications in Michigan WRMI L 26-9-95 Radio Miami International - WRMI QSLs - Listed according to QSL Description ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Station Card Color kHz kW Year Date Notes Holder ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Radio Earth Globe card Brown 6185 100 1982 Jul 25 Relay via WRNO AMP Globe card Blue 11700 50 1985 Relay via Clarin AMP Radio Discovery Palm on antenna Brown 6245 1 1987 Mar 8 Relay via Clarin AMP Palm on antenna Brown 15045 1 1987 Mar 25 Relay via Clarin AMP Palm on antenna Brown Blank 1987 Relay via Clarin AMP WRMI Printed QSL Cards Palm Frond Art Blue 9955 .4 1993 Nov 19 Emergency transmitter AMP Palm Frond Art Blue 9495 100 1993 May 20 Relay via WHRI AMP Palm Frond Art Blue 9955 50 1994 Apr 17 Broadcast on WRMI AMP Palm Frond Photo Blue 9955 50 1995 Jun 15 Photo copy AWR Palm Frond Photo Blue Blank 50 1995 WRMI card AMP Sunset Photo Red 7385 50 1997 Dec 9 CID via WRMI AMP Transmitter Photo White 7385 50 2000 Jun 21 Wilkinson unit AMP Tourist Picture Cards Curacao Beach Blue 7400 100 1986 Mar 1 Relay via WHRI AMP Florida Beach Purple 7385 50 1998 Oct 22 LA antenna AMP Miami at Night Orange 9955 50 1998 Oct 22 NA antenna test AMP Dolphin Photo Blue 9955 50 1999 Jan 14 Alpha 66 via WRMI AMP Florida Greetings Blue 7385 50 2003 Dec 21 PO card, NASB WMRI AMP Florida Greetings Blue Blank 50 2003 Post Office card AMP WRMI Form Letter QSLs QSL Certificate Red 7355 100 1992 Apr 1 Relay via WRNO AMP QSL Certificate Red 11790 100 1992 Jan 4 Relay via WHRI AMP Old Map Border Brown 7465 20 1999 Jun 19 1st for tests AMP Everglades Blue Blank 50 Sheet blank AMP Relay Cards Chip/White Photo 50 Radio Prague relay WRMI Simulcast QSL Radio Amazonas WRMI NASB QSL Cards - 3 Color printings World Map Blue 7385 50 2003 Dec 20 3 printings, 12 cards AMP WRMI QSL by Letter Circular Letter Text 9955 .4 1993 Nov 18 Test broadcasts AMP Circular Letter Text 9955 .4 1993 Nov 19 Test broadcasts AMP Circular Letter Text 9955 50 1994 May 16 Test broadcasts AMP Email Letter Text 7465 20 1999 Jun Test broadcasts AMP Radio Copan QSL Card Copan Monument Blue 15675 1 1993 Sep 16 Station HRJA AMP 15675 1 1994 Feb 8 Station HRJA AMP (Adrian Michael Peterson, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. AIR AMERICA HITS SOUR RATINGS NOTE --- By JOHN MAINELLI Click on the link below to access the story. http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/26172.htm (via Don Thornton, DXLD) Checked June 23, AA`s affiliate list http://www.airamericaradio.com/pub/resStations.htm had finally been updated, removing WMQM Memphis and many of the other previous ``coming soons`` Find a Station --- On The Air --- Nationally: XM Satellite Radio - ch. 167 Sirius Satellite Radio - ch. 125 East Chapel Hill, NC - WCHL 1360 AM Key West, FL - WKIZ 1500 AM New York City - WLIB 1190 AM Plattsburgh/Burlington - WTWK 1070 AM Portland, ME - WMTW 870 AM West Palm Beach, FL - WJNO 1290 AM West/Central Anchorage, AK KUDO 1080 AM Honolulu, HI KUMU 1500 AM Maui, HI KAOI 1110 AM Kauai, HI KONG 570 AM Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN - 1530 AM / 740 AM Portland, OR - KPOJ 620 AM Riverside, CA - KCAA 1050 AM Sacramento, CA KSQR 1240 AM San Luis Obispo, CA KYNS 1340 AM Coming Soon... July 5th --Northampton, MA WHMP 1400 AM Santa Cruz, CA KTEE 93.7 FM (via Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. The move of WSNJ-FM (107.7 Bridgeton NJ) to 107.9 in Pennsauken, just across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, was supposed to have silenced one of PENNSYLVANIA's oldest noncommercial stations - but there's still life in high school station WHHS (107.9 Havertown) after all, it seems. With some help from well-known Florida-based engineering consultants DuTreil, Lundin and Rackley, WHHS applied last week to move down the dial to 99.9, lowering its power to 9.5 watts from 14 watts and lowering its antenna from 113 meters to 49 meters. The station tells the FCC that 99.9 is the last possible spot it can call home on the crowded Delaware Valley FM dial - and in its new home it would still need waivers from WJBR-FM (99.5 Wilmington DE) and WPLY (100.3 Media PA) for the tiny amounts of interference it would cause in a block or two around the school. Both stations have already given WHHS letters in support of those waivers (and we note that WPLY is owned by Radio One, which is buying WSNJ-FM once it's moved in to the Philadelphia market.) WHHS traces its history back to 1948; it lived most of its life on 89.3 before moving to 107.9 in the great displacement of the Class D non-comm stations a couple of decades ago (passing up, in the process, the chance to increase power to 100 watts and gain protection from encroachment by new stations.) There's still no word on what will become of WWPH (107.9 Princeton Junction NJ) or of several Philadelphia-area translators on 107.9 once WSNJ-FM completes its move-in (Scott Fybush, NY, NE Radio Watch June 21 via DXLD) ** U S A. NO EASY FIX FOR WAVE OF LOCAL RADIO INTERFERENCE, EXPERTS SAY --- By SHEILA BOUGHNER-BLAIR http://www.thederrick.com/stories/06182004-5002.shtml A lot of stations share limited FM frequencies at the lower end of the radio dial. Those listening to noncommercial FM radio stations in Venango County may be fated to a sometimes-bizarre mix of National Public Radio and religious broadcasting. On a recent morning, an attempt to tune in Erie's NPR affiliate, WQLN, on its Oil City translator at 91.9, yielded a combination of Modest Mussorgsky's "Picture at an Exhibition" from WQLN and a discussion of how houses really are haunted by demons, aired on a neighboring religious station. NPR affiliates, noncommercial religious stations and college stations share the limited FM frequencies between 88.1 and 91.9 megahertz at the lower end of the radio dial reserved by the FCC for educational, community and non-commercial use. To prevent interference, stations are separated by at least two channels on the radio dial, so available noncommercial FM frequencies include 88.1, followed by 88.3 and so on through 91.9. The local non-commercial stations occupy 89.3 (WQLN in Meadville), 89.5 (WAWN in Franklin), 89.9 (WVME in Meadville), 89.9 (WVME in Cochranton), 90.3 (SonLife at W212BK in Franklin), 90.3 (WARC in Meadville), 91.5 (WQLN in Titusville), 91.9 (WQLN in Oil City) and 91.9 (WVME in Meadville). The only full-service stations in the local mix are WAWN of Franklin (2,000 watts) and WVME of Meadville (4,400 watts). The rest are translators, low-power antennae (of 10 to 13 watts) that relay a full- power station's signal. Signal confusion can be caused by a number of factors including the relative power of full-power stations and translators, atmospheric conditions, terrain, receiver characteristics and location and the increasingly crowded nature of the airwaves. WVME One possible factor affecting WQLN's reception in Venango County is the fact that WVME in Meadville is on the same frequency as WQLN's translator in Oil City at 91.9. At 4,400 watts, WVME is much stronger than the WQLN translator. Tom Pysz, WQLN's director of broadcast services, said he can pick up WVME as far north as Erie. Low-power translators, on the other hand, are designed to simply "fill in little gaps," he said. He described WQLN's translators as "back-fill for those who can't get WQLN on 91.3." "FM signals are line of sight, so if you are in a valley, you cannot get 91.3 very well. So we re-send it on (the translators). It helps those sitting in the valley," he said. When WVME was constructed, "some engineer said a 44kw station could fit here. Unfortunately, our little translator in Oil City may be potentially overpowered," Pysz said. However, a full-power license such as WVME's "could have precedence over a translator," he said. "It could be that we would be forced to move our frequency. Nobody is doing anything wrong. It's a technical issue. Maybe we have to change our frequency. But that can be expensive," he said. The FCC is "very strict about allocating frequencies," he said. "I don't think anyone chose it (91.9) deliberately to block out WQLN." Which frequency a station is licensed on is "an FCC thing," he said. Prior to the application, engineering studies are done to determine open frequencies. "Translators get drowned out by stations across the country. That is something translators will have to work out," Pysz added. "We've been around for a long time. As new stations come on the band, there is more and more interference," he said. "It's going to be interesting as years go by as more and more people want band width," he said. When the FCC licenses a translator, it is because no full-service station has filed for a license on that frequency, said Doug Hainer, chief operator of WCRF in Cleveland, which is rebroadcast on WVME. When a full-service station files for a license on the same frequency as a translator, "it is expected that (the translator) will go off the air," he said. "The interference is to our station, not the Oil City station," he said. He said his station does not intend to force WQLN off the 91.9 frequency, however. "We are also the owners of (translator) stations," he said. "We know you would rather not be forced off the air." "We don't have intentions of doing that (asking WQLN to go off the air)," Dick Lee, the station manager, confirmed. "We would like them to be able to continue operating." "It's a very common scenario. We have lost and made ineffective many translators over the years," Lee said. "That is kind of the lot of translators," Lee said. "When the FCC first allowed translators, they were not intended to be permanent stations. If they were causing interference, they had to cease and desist." "It never became an issue until recently," he added. "As the FM approaches being full, there is more interference. They are trying to fill every possible allocation and at the same time not allow interference." Hainer said one possible solution for listeners seeking to hear either WVME or WQLN on 91.9 is a directional antennae, "which can reject stations not in line with the antennae." Pysz said WQLN is currently applying for more power and a different frequency for the Meadville translator. The process could take a couple of years, he said. "It could be a lengthy process. It's a complicated thing to do," he said. The station may have to consider a similar solution for the Oil City translator, he said. WAWN When the changes to the Meadville translator are complete, that may eliminate another potential source of signal confusion. Some people halfway between WQLN's Meadville translator at 89.3 and Franklin's WAWN at 89.1 might "get them both," according to Pysz. "It's a function of radio," he said. "Where you are sitting, you can pick up both of them," he said. "It's not that anyone is doing anything wrong. It's like there is a light bulb in the living room and the bathroom, and from where you are standing, you can see them both." "If you are in the right spot, you pick up the larger station (WAWN)," he said. Jane Richey said when WAWN first signed on in 1998 the station received a few complaints from people who were no longer able to receive WQLN. "When we went on the air, we became the strongest signal in the area. We are not real powerful, but we are strong. This is our primary coverage area," she said. "We are not interfering with WQLN's signal in any way," she said. "This is our primary coverage area and it is their fringe area." "We are right within the spectrum we are supposed to be," she said. "We are very careful about that." WAWN engineer Lee Richey agreed. "The FCC never puts stations side by side in a primary coverage area - just so they don't interfere," he said. "There is a wide separation. There's no chance in the world our signal is bleeding over into the signal WQLN occupies." "Whether or not a listener happens to hear our signal when listening to WQLN depends on a number of things," Lee Richey said, and he indicated that one factor is proximity to the WAWN station, located at 149 Summit Drive, Franklin. "The quality of the radio also has a lot to do with it," he said. "There are radios quite capable of separating strong signals and weak signals," he said. "Most modern radios have no performance specifications published though, so the only way to determine that is to actually try it," he said. SonLife "FM signals are line of sight, and mountains and valleys can do weird things," David Whitelaw of SonLife radio said. He said his company has worked with NPR stations to eliminate interference. "They (an NPR station in New York state) were having trouble picking up their receive signal (the one going to the translator). We helped them put a filter in. I went up there myself, and we found some solutions," Whitelaw said. "Some problems can be fixed," he said. Others cannot. "They're running into us and we're running into them. There's nothing you can do about it," he said. The signals from translators "only go out about 20 miles," he said. "Someone five to 10 miles from my tower trying to listen to (a distant signal), may hear my signal," Whitelaw said. "We have a good relationship with NPR," he said. "I think well of them. (We) both know how these things work," he said. "What they are doing and what we try to do is replace translators with full-power stations. That's really the answer. But the FCC is not granting new licenses for full-power stations. There has been a freeze for a number of years. We can't and they can't (get full-power licenses)." He said the FCC is not accepting applications for new translators either. "Interference among translators, there's not much you can do. Once you get outside of town, it (the signal) is going to go," Whitelaw said. Reception will be worse in the spring and the fall because of inversion, cold air on top and warm air below, he said. "The signals go kind of funny. The warm air brings signals to the ground quicker. In cold air, signals go farther," he said. He said his station has received no complaints about signal interference. Hainer of WCRF summed up the state of noncommercial radio reception in the county - at least for now. "In Venango County, there is going to be an interference zone," he said (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. Glenn, the station with IBOC on 950 was WPEN, not WXGI (Bill Harms, MD, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UZBEKISTAN. Frequency change for TWR India in Hindi and Nepali: 0030-0145 NF 12080 TAC 200 kW / 131 deg, ex 12035 (Observer, Bulgaria, June 22 via DXLD) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. ARGÉLIA 1550.0 1800-... 19/5 ALG Polisario Front, Tindouf. S, nx, A ID, prayer, anns, folksongs. F/in 1740. //7460. 35343 (CG) 1550.0 0742-0752 03/6 ALG Polisario Front, Tindouf. A (t), mx. Drowned in noise prior to 0800. 7460 off. 15231 (CG) (Carlos Gonçalves, Aljezur, PORTUGAL. JRC NRD-545; Wellbrook & home-made amps.; Quantum Phaser; K9AY, 250 m CeAm Beverage, 100 m SoAm Bev, radioescutas via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Station in Pashto noted in Bulgaria: 1330-1500 on 17700 (55555) (Observer, Bulgaria, June 22 via DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ On June 22 NASWA filed reply comments with the FCC on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking NPRM 04-37. Here is the text of that filing: Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 In the Matter of Amendment of Part 15 regarding new requirements and measurement guidelines for Access Broadband over Power Line Systems ET Docket No. 04-37 REPLY COMMENTS ON NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE MAKING (NPRM) June 22, 2004 The North American Shortwave Association (NASWA) represents the interests of people in the United States who rely on free access to international news and cultural programming via short-wave radio broadcasts. NASWA filed its original comments on this NPRM on May 3, 2004. In those comments NASWA demonstrated why the FCC's proposed procedural rule changes to mitigate BPL interference would be impractical and ineffective for protection of the international short-wave broadcasting service. The technical feasibility of active, real-time interference mitigation has also proven ineffective in the weeks since May 3. Alliant Energy in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, using Amperion BPL technology, has been unable to eliminate harmful HF interference despite their best efforts since March to notch out interfering signals. A similar interference condition has been reported in the Raleigh, NC test area. The best efforts of these BPL providers did not eliminate harmful interference. The interference mitigation techniques, that are the basis of this NPRM, do not always work. NASWA warned in its comments that it was likely all HF spectrum users would request special protection by the FCC from BPL interference. As predicted, APCO, The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International, Inc.; ARRL, The American Radio Relay League; NAB, The National Association of Broadcasters; NAS, The National Academy of Sciences; NASB, The National Association of Shortwave Broadcasters; NASWA, The North American Shortwave Association; NTIA, The National Telecommunications and Information Administration; and several other organizations requested protection of particular frequencies and frequency bands or geographical regions (quiet zones) by BPL signals. NASWA suggested in its original comments that BPL should be confined to frequencies above 30 MHz. NASB supported that idea. NASWA further suggested that vacant VHF TV channels would be a place where BPL could co-exist with TV broadcasting. Organizations representing public safety agencies noted that many state and local police and fire services still use "low band" VHF allocations between 30 and 50 MHz and requested that BPL signals be prohibited from using this range. The NAB expressed concern that BPL signals would interfere with VHF TV reception and requested that BPL signals be prohibited from using frequencies above 50 MHz. Thus, nearly all frequencies between 2 and 80 MHz would be precluded from use by BPL if the FCC were to satisfy the concerns of all entities requesting special protection. Regardless of what the FCC decides to do in response to these requests for special protection, it is unlikely that all entities will be happy with the result. The FCC is thus forced to adopt rules that will do the least harm to existing services. In NASWA's opinion, that least-harm solution would be for BPL to be required to use vacant VHF TV channels under carefully engineered criteria that would protect co-channel and adjacent-channel TV broadcasters. The current TV channel allocations were developed in the 1940's when TV receivers were less selective. In each major market adjacent channels were left vacant to accommodate the 1940's state-of- the-art receiver selectivity. Selectivity of today's receivers is much improved. Today's cable-ready TV receivers require much better adjacent channel selectivity because cable TV systems use all VHF channels. BPL signals operating on vacant "over-the-air" TV channels would not be expected to affect cable TV subscribers. There are strict FCC rules limiting unintentional radiation by cable systems. The same tight shielding that prevents unintentional radiation from cable TV systems also protects cable TV systems from interference from outside emitters sharing the same frequencies. Responsible cable TV operators survey their physical plant periodically looking for problems. Unintentional radiation would make CATV program products freely available to nearby TV receiving antennas and would limit the ability to sell cable service. NASWA was pleased to see the release of NPRM ET Docket 04-186 on May 25, 2004 soliciting comments on how wireless broadband services could use vacant VHF and UHF TV spectrum. If wireless broadband services that intentionally radiate can co-exist with broadcast TV signals, then surely BPL signals with some unintentional radiation can also co- exist with VHF TV broadcasting. Because both BPL and broadband wireless services would use robust, adaptive, digital technology, it is likely they could also co-exist on the same otherwise-vacant, TV spectrum. Coordination will likely be required, but with proper engineering, frequency reuse should be achievable. Additional study is suggested. NASWA urges the FCC to consider both of these NPRM's together. The comments the Commission receives on the feasibility of using vacant VHF TV channels for wireless broadband services will be directly relevant to whether BPL on vacant TV channels can co-exist with TV and/or broadband wireless signals. If the outcome of the NPRM ET Docket 04-186 process shows broadband wireless can use vacant TV channels, the FCC should mandate that BPL services share these same vacant frequencies and vacate all frequencies between 2 and 54 MHz. Respectfully submitted, Richard A. D'Angelo Executive Director North American Shortwave Association 45 Wildflower Road Levittown, PA 19057 ~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-., (via Joe Buch, NASWA, DXLD) -*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^ DRM +++ DRM "I was recently surprised to read that reception of DRM signals was unreliable - I can't remember who wrote about it or what receiver was in use, but there were apparently lot's of 'drop outs'. Maybe the system is not as robust as it sounds. It seems inconceivable that signals I hear on such as 5990, 6095, 6140 and 15440 cannot be used within Europe." (ibid.) [referent not known] I think you refer to some recent reports about experiences with the DRM receiver from Mayah, available now for not less than 800 Euro? Yes, apparently the now shipped pieces behave similar to the one demonstrated on last year's IFA fair in Berlin. Indeed even these strong signals were a challenge for the Mayah, and they were about the only DRM transmissions this set could decode on SW at all (with an antenna outdoors, of course). When using modified commercial receivers (with the decoding done by a PC) the results are better, but the only SW reception without dropouts I was shown so far was the Sines flamethrower, running a robust mode with 14.5 kbit/s, and this is really no "near FM" quality! [DRM Junglinster LUX] 5990/6095 I guess both DRM outlets is fed via the same 49 mb antenna, see attached .jpg file picture. Yes, of course they still use the old turnstyle antenna delivered together with the two 250 kW by Telefunken. More details and high quality pictures see at http://www.bce.lu/transmission/ For pictures of Junglinster check out the Digital Radio Mondiale link at the bottom of this page while photos from the other sites are also included directly in the regarding subpages. Such detailed descriptions of transmission equipment are rarely seen from any operator! Moscow's DRM 15780 is less strong, and might be less reliable. This is an operation like at Junglinster: A classical transmitter with plate modulation run in linear class-A mode with no plate modulation being applied; the DRM modulator feeds the final signal into the transmitter which has nothing else to do than to amplify it (well, actually these rigs do nothing else in AM operation, but in this case they do it independently with the carrier from the oscillator [the Steuersender as recently discussed] and the audio until both are combined through a transformer in the plate circuit of the final stage). I think at Taldom one of the 100 kW is used for the DRM (Kai Ludwig, Germany, June 14, BC-DX June 22 via DXLD) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ SHORTWAVE PROGRAMMING As someone new to the hobby of shortwave listening I am surprised by the high quality of some of the programming available but hampered in my inability to unearth them. What I would like to ask is if you know of a resource that reviews radio programs that are favorites among listeners? For example, the most recent issue of "Passport to World Band Radio" has a section entitled "First Tries: Ten Easy Catches" that alerted me to Radio Taiwan International's "Jade Bells and Bamboo Pipes" and Radio Canada's "The World this Weekend." There must be a number of shows that more seasoned listeners like yourself would recommend and I would welcome any suggestions or guidance to a more comprehensive listing of quality shows. Thank you for your help, (Steve Rossiter, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Steve, I wish there were a simple answer to your question... MONITORING TIMES magazine has a comprehensive schedule of shortwave programming each month, but not rated as to quality. Of course, this is subjective. The introduction to the SW Guide section does go into some detail recommending certain programs. It should be on the bigger newsstands, or check http://www.monitoringtimes.com A pdf version is available for subscription. As for club publications, The Journal of the North American Shortwave Association http://www.anarc.org/naswa/index.html and Listening In of the Ontario DX Association http://www.odxa.on.ca have monthly columns dealing with shortwave programming. Check this in particular: http://www.anarc.org/naswa/swlguide/ Hope this helps (Glenn to Steve, via DXLD) NEWS FLASH When I was in Florida in the mid to late 70s, I met a woman who was interning at the local newspaper Florida Today owned by Gannett. She was a very neat lady. And now she's written a book. She was an NBC war correspondent, a CNN national correspondent and later VP of talent for CNN. It's truly an amazing book. It basically tells you that what you know about TV news is correct. It's shallow, it's got cute Ken and Barbie types reading and reporting and it's mainly junk. The local Barnes and Noble bookstore did not have it. Border does have it; it will be in the media area. So while you're picking up Bob Edwards` ode to Ed Murrow you might want to find Bonnie`s book News Flash. Or you could get it from Amazon. Get the book and read it (goes well if you are listening to the Four Seasons` Who Loves You from 1976 or Moonlight Feels Right --- Starbuck from the same era). You could ask why I choose those songs but If Ms Anderson stumbles upon these pages she'll know (Lou Josephs blog June 18 via DXLD) CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ DXERS MEXICAN MEETING JULY 30 - AUGUST 2 Hello, Friends: The 10th Dxers Mexican Meeting will be from July 30 to August 2 in Veracruz City, beautiful city and the most important port in México. Is on the Gulf of Mexico, near to México City. All you are welcome. More details with: SOCIEDAD DE INGENIEROS RADIOESCUCHAS ingenierosdx@y... ING. CESAR FERNÁNDEZ DE LARA GARCIA fedela@y... Phone in home: 229-9374618 ING. RAFAEL G. GRAJEDA ROSADO rggr681121@h... 2291-249082 (cell phone) Or with your amigo in Chihuahua State: PROFR. MIGUEL ANGEL ROCHA GAMEZ: profesor_miguel@y... or profesormiguel@m... phone in -also your- home 636 692 0543. Cell phone: 6361027125. (Rocha, June 14, am-sw-dxing yahoogroup via DXLD) I suppose the truncated y- addresses are yahoo.com --- or yahoo.com.mx ? (gh, DXLD) 11TH ANNUAL MADISON-MILWAUKEE GET-TOGETHER FOR DXERS AND RADIO ENTHUSIASTS AUGUST 21 Come join us for the 11th Annual Madison-Milwaukee Get-Together for DXers and Radio Enthusiasts! Note: This notice is appearing on several hobby-related mailing lists. Please pardon any duplication. This is the first of two announcements that will appear; the second will be posted about a week before the event. If you reply to this message, please write to me at DXing2 @ aol.com not to the list. Date: Saturday, August 21, 2004 Time: 1 p.m. [CDT = UT -5] until whenever Location: Sheridan Park, Cudahy WI, on the Lake Michigan shore at Layton Avenue in south suburban Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Background: This is an all-band event, and everyone interested in the radio hobby is welcome. The first ten of these annual events took place in Madison, hosted either by Bill Dvorak or myself. Though I moved with my wife and sons to Oak Creek in south suburban Milwaukee in July 2003, my commitment to the event remains. Thus, the August get-togethers will alternate between venues in the Milwaukee and Madison areas beginning this year. Agenda: Nothing formal at all. This is a chance to have fun, exchange ideas, make new friendships, and renew old ones. If you like, bring along radios, antennas, stickers, QSLs, photos, or any show-and-tell items. Be sure to bring your camera for our annual group photo. For more information and a complete invitation, please contact your host: Tim Noonan 8756 S Country Drive, Apt. 102 Oak Creek WI 53154-7521 414 762-2702 (where there is an answering machine) DXing2@aol.com 73, and we hope to see you in August! (via swl at qth.net via DXLD) RADIO STAMPS ++++++++++++ Re: [radiostamps] RESEARCHING EKKO AND OTHER VERIFICATION STAMPS Hi, Several years ago, a dealer on eBay had a number (probably 25 to 50 or more) of the "EKKO" type stamps put out by radio stations possibly before the EKKO Company, Chicago, IL published their 1924 album. I had thought about requesting permission from him to capture images of them as I was usually the far under bidder. I was too busy with other projects and never contacted him for permission. I have exhibited radio amateur QSL cards that used QSL Bureau stamps at several national stamp shows. I had hoped to get a draft catalog out but the revenue project has priority. I have seen stamps put out for Adventist World Radio but am not sure how they were used. Have fun, (Art Mongan, hard-core-dx via DXLD) They were attached to the QSL, indicating transmitter site and frequency (Horacio A. Nigro, Uruguay, ibid.) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ The geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to minor storm levels. The high speed solar wind stream and southward periods of IMF Bz resulted in occasional active periods at all latitudes and minor storm periods at high latitudes on 14 and 15 June. Quiet to unsettled conditions prevailed on 16, 19 and 20 June. Active periods were observed at high latitudes on 17 and 18 June. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 23 JUNE - 19 JULY 2004 Solar activity is expected to be at very low to moderate levels. Regions 634 and 635 have potential to produce an isolated M-class flare before they rotate around the west limb on 26 and 27 June. Thereafter, activity is expected to be predominantly very low to low. There is a slight chance for a greater than 10 MeV proton event from Region 634 and 635. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to reach high levels on 27 – 30 June and 13 – 16 July due to recurrent coronal hole high speed streams. The geomagnetic field is expected to range from quiet to active levels. Unsettled to active conditions are possible on 26 – 28 June, 1 July, and 12-14 July as generally weak, recurrent coronal high speed streams rotate into a geoeffective position. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2004 Jun 22 2211 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center # Product description and SEC contact on the Web # http://www.sec.noaa.gov/wwire.html # # 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table # Issued 2004 Jun 22 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2004 Jun 23 110 7 2 2004 Jun 24 105 10 3 2004 Jun 25 100 12 3 2004 Jun 26 95 12 3 2004 Jun 27 90 15 3 2004 Jun 28 90 15 3 2004 Jun 29 90 10 3 2004 Jun 30 90 8 3 2004 Jul 01 90 15 3 2004 Jul 02 90 10 3 2004 Jul 03 90 8 3 2004 Jul 04 90 10 3 2004 Jul 05 85 10 3 2004 Jul 06 85 8 3 2004 Jul 07 85 8 3 2004 Jul 08 85 10 3 2004 Jul 09 90 10 3 2004 Jul 10 95 5 2 2004 Jul 11 100 10 3 2004 Jul 12 110 15 3 2004 Jul 13 110 12 3 2004 Jul 14 110 12 3 2004 Jul 15 110 10 3 2004 Jul 16 115 10 3 2004 Jul 17 115 10 3 2004 Jul 18 115 10 3 2004 Jul 19 110 10 3 (http://www.sec.noaa.gov/radio via WORLD OF RADIO 1235, DXLD) ###