DX LISTENING DIGEST 4-120, August 11, 2004 Incorporating REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING 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 1241: Wed 2200 on WBCQ 7415, 17495-CUSB Thu 1600 on WBCQ after-hours http://wbcq.com repeated weekdaily Thu 2000 on RFPI http://www.rfpi.org repeated 4-hourly [maybe] Thu 2030 on WWCR 15825 Fri 0200 on ACBRadio Mainstream repeated 2-hourly http://www.acbradio.org/mainstream.html 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, http://www.wpkn.org Sat 2000 on RFPI http://www.rfpi.org repeated 8-hourly [maybe] Sat 2030 on WWCR 12160 Sat 2030 on WBCQ 17495-CUSB Sat 2030 on R. Lavalamp http://www.radiolavalamp.org Sat 2300 on RFPI http://www.rfpi.org repeated 8-hourly [maybe] Sun 0230 on WWCR 5070 Sun 0300 on WBCQ 9330-CLSB 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 0230 on WRMI 6870 [NEW] Mon 0330 on WSUI 910, webcast http://wsui.uiowa.edu [previous 1240] 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 1241 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1241h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1241h.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1241.html [from Thu] WORLD OF RADIO 1241 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1241.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1241.rm WORLD OF RADIO 1241 in the true SW sound via mp3: keep checking http://www.piratearchive.com/dxprograms.htm ** ALBANIA. Re 4-119: OK re ALB. There were too many storms around last night to risk connecting up my aerial, so I didn't listen all evening. I'll try to remember to tune ALB tonight. I did note a stronger than usual signal on air via 7110 this morning around 0610 - it was splashing a weaker than usual BBC-ASC 7105. I wonder if the two new 100 kW units are going to replace all others and that Cerrik will close down? Shijak doesn't seem to figure in any of the broadcasts currently - including those for TWR - so I assume the station has been refurbished and fitted with the new senders? A quick look through their current schedules seems to indicate that two senders would just about be enough to operate it. Except for the Swedish/Norwegian transmission at 2000-2100 on 9435 - which should be off air from today - all other TWR transmissions are in daytime. There is a service at 0200-0230 on 7355 & 9975 in Persian but this doesn't clash with the current R. Tirana sces to the Americas. Note that the R. Tirana service which follows starts at 0231 in the sched. Cerrik-A should have 8 X 50 kW units operated as 2 X 50 kW in \\ and Cerrik-B should have 2 X 50 kW and 6 X 15 kW. Shijak should have 2 X 50 kW operated in parallel. This info via Drita Cico in April this year, as previously mentioned, and discussed. But obviously all are not on air - even if they still exist in a workable condition. Maybe one or more of them will be refurbished as standby units at Shijak? (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX Aug 3 via DXLD) At 1800 I 'sat' on 7240 but could only hear Australia signing on at fair strength, but eventually ALB arrived and began Italian. The signal doesn't sound anything like 100 kW here, and was mixing badly with AUS. After searching various frequencies I eventually found a German language transmnission on air at 1810 on 7185 mixing very badly with Bangladesh. This is DW Kigali - not ALB. I only hear RL on 9520 in Russian and think 9570 is clear, but with lots of splash x 9575 Medi #1. 6100 has Belgrade. At 1830 I hear IRIB in Albanian on 9570 mixing badly with a strong signal - I guess this to be CRI in Hausa. There are no 'good' freqs on 41m but either 7205 or 7210 would be better than 7185. I assume it's BUL using 7200 and an unID on 7215 in what sounds a Persian 'type' language carrying sports. Both are strong signals here. A bubbling racket on 7210 indicates POL at 1830 - should be Ukrainian. No trace of ALB at 1845 in French. Still only RL on 9520 with splash ex-9525 - I guess Wolfie`s CRI logging. So, it doesn't seem to me that ALB has put two new 100 kW units on air - unless they are "hiding" them somewhere on undiscovered frequencies! At 1730 I tried to hear their TWR relay which should have been on 12075 and 9960, but could only hear a very strong signal from ARM on 9960 and nothing on 12075. Surely 9960 will suffer very severe QRM - maybe they have already shifted it somewhere else? (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX Aug 6 via DXLD) EIGHT NEW CHINESE TRANSMITTERS IN ALBANIA Last week, all Radio Tirana's transmissions via our Cerrik radio station are already transferred to our Shijak station, where the Chinese installed two new HF Transmitters, each 100 kW. Therefore, we are interested to receive from you, some new reception reports on Radio Tirana transmissions via Shijak radio station. We have always highly appreciated them. Attached, please find our A04 Schedule, last updated on April 2, 2004. I will update it, once I come back from vacations. Cerrik radio station is totally rented by CRI for 15 years, where they will install soon 6 new HF transmitters, each 150 kW, as I was told by the head of Cerrik radiostation some time ago (Drita Cico, R. Tirana, via Rudolf Krumm, Germany, BC-DX Aug 11 via DXLD) RADIO TIRANA, III-rd CHANNEL BROADCASTING PROGRAM IN ALBANIAN LANGUAGE During the Summer Season A 04. (05 April - 30 October 2004) UTC Tx/Pwr-kW Frq-kHz Wave Beam Albanian, Radio Tirana per Bashkatdhetaret. 0630-0800 Cerrik/100 7110 41m OND Daily Europe 0630-0800 Fllaka/500 1458 206m 338 degr Daily Europe 0801-0900 Cerrik/100 7110 41m OND Daily Europe 0801-0900 Fllaka/500 1395 215m 33 degr Daily Europe 1400-1530 Fllaka/500 1458 206m OND Daily Europe 2030-2200 Cerrik/100 7295 41m 350 degr Daily Europe [from 2130 UT] 2300-0030 Cerrik/100 7270 41m 305 degr Daily NoAmerica Albanian Summer Time = UTC + 2 hours Albanian Winter Time = UTC + 1 hours RADIO TIRANA, III-rd CHANNEL BROADCASTING PROGRAM IN FOREIGN LANGUAGES, during the Summer Season A04 (28 March - 30 October 2004) English 1845-1900 Cerrik/100 9520 31m 310 degr .MTWTFS England 1845-1900 Cerrik/100 7210 41m 310 degr .MTWTFS England [7210 not heard, wb] 2130-2200 Cerrik/100 7130 41m 310 degr .MTWTFS U.S.A 0145-0200 Cerrik/100 6115 49m 305 degr S.TWTFS U.S.A 0145-0200 Cerrik/100 7160 41m 305 degr S.TWTFS U.S.A 0231-0300 Cerrik/100 6115 49m 305 degr S.TWTFS U.S.A 0231-0300 Cerrik/100 7160 41m 305 degr S.TWTFS U.S.A French: 1900-1930 Cerrik/100 9520 31m 310 degr .MTWTFS France German: 1801-1830 Fllaka/500 1458 206m 338 degr .MTWTFS Germany Italian: 1800-1830 Cerrik/100 7240 41m OND .MTWTFS Italy Serbian: 2015-2030 Fllaka/500 1458 206m 004 degr .MTWTFS YUG 2115-2130 Cerrik/100 6135 49m OND .MTWTFS YUG [latter 7295 instead] Greek: 1545-1600 Fllaka/500 1458 206m OND .MTWTFS Greece Turkish: 1530-1545 Fllaka/500 1458 206m OND .MTWTFS Turkey Note: S=Sunday 1, M=Monday 2, T=Tuesday 3, W=Wednesday 4, T=Thursday 5, F=Friday 6, S=Saturday 7 (Via Drita Cico, Radio Tirana April 5) [comments by wb] (via Wolfgang Büschel, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. Heard station calling itself Radio Bruce broadcasting on 11412 at 0711 UT. Seems to be an Aussie playing Midnight Oil & Cold Chisel. Announcer said the station will be broadcasting Sunday at 0700 UT on 11412 kHz. Signal was heard at reasonable level with deep fades. Be interesting to know where it`s coming from. Sydney & Tasmania were the last pirates on SW in Oz (Dave Onley, Australia, Aug 7, ARDXC via DXLD) Couldn't hear it tonight (Sunday). Did anyone else? (Craig Seager, Aug 8, ibid.) Heard a faint carrier on Sunday about 0722 UT; tried to resolve by USB but only heard a bit of music and an ID of sorts, then gone forever on 11412.2 as measured. Conditions not that brilliant (Johno Wright, ibid.) Hey Dave, Thanks for the SMS on this. Also noted this on Sunday around 0730 with Oz rock and ID after each song, things like "This is Radio Bruce on 11412 khz". Not a great signal but would fade up every 20 seconds to be readable for 3 seconds. Heard best on antenna going south east from Townsville. Anyone know address for this one? This is the first station I've heard in Townsville above 1700 kHz !! Cheers (The Crocodile DX Hunter, Craig Edwards, Townsville, North Queensland, Australia, Icom R75, Drake SPR4 & flock of sheep for antennas (5 EWE's), PO Box 1075, Oonoonba Qld 4811, Phone 0411 966633, ibid.) ** AZERBAIJAN. Voice of Azerbaijan. 6110.7 - 6110.8 kHz. 1700 English, 1730 Russian. 1800 Relay Radio Liberty in Azeri on 1296, 6110 // 11865 (Vasily Gulyaev, Astrakhan, Russia, RUSdx Aug 8 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** CANADA. Re 4-119, CBC Toronto tests on 98.7: Hi Glenn, I've listened to CJBC 860 AM while visiting Toronto, and I can tell you coverage in downtown and even some suburban areas was mediocre under portable, "urban" listening conditions (i.e. under trolley lines, aboard commuter train, inside a city bus) compared to other AM outlets like 680 News. CBC already uses a mixed coverage scheme for 540 AM Regina/Saskatoon (Watrous): CBK has an amazing groundwave through the prairies, but CBC uses an FM relay in downtown Regina, and an acquaintance tells me there might be an FM relay for downtown Saskatoon soon. 73s, (Ricky Leong, QC, Aug 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. Re 4-119: ``6185, China Huayi Broadcasting Co., announced as the last program in the English-language series "Bi-Lingual Bridge" at 1140-1150 Jul 31, then back to all CH. ID 1200, more talk. Very good, not heard on 4830 (Jerry Berg, visiting Kaneohe, Oahu, HI, NASWA Flashsheet Aug 8 via DXLD)`` There seems some confusion in DX circles about the background of this station; many reference guides misunderstand the term "broadcasting corporation" (which is the correct name, not "bc company" as incorrectly distributed in some sources) and list this station as "private" - which it is not. Acc. to sources in Taiwan --- cf. http://www.mac.gov.tw/english/english/macnews/enews/enews910927.htm -- - China Huayi Broadcasting Corporation is the sister station the "Voice of the Strait" (Haixia zhi Sheng) which is operated by the People's Liberation Army of China. While the "Voice of the Strait" is addressing listeners in Taiwan, China Huayi Broadcasting Corp. is aiming at Chinese listeners "overseas" in South East Asia, including Hongkong and Macau. Both stations are based in Fuzhou with almost identical postboxes (P.O.Box 187 for VO the Strait, P.O.Box 251 for China Huayi Broadcasting Corp.), it is apparent that both are likely produced in the same broadcasting house (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, Aug 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also ALBANIA! ** CONGO DR [non?]. Hi Glenn, re DXLD 4-119 item CONGO DR, Sud- Kivu/Bukavu 10kW SW or FM. At the RIZ Transmitters Co. website http://www.riz.hr/first.html there was an item "2003, June --- Signed contract for delivery of 10 kW SW transmitters (2 psc) for African user." Has there been any info where these transmitters actually ended? Maybe Congo DR? 73 (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, Aug 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA. Not dead yet!! Great news! There's been a change of plans. Due to popular demand, saverfpi.org is not going away. Instead, it's going to get new, improved site software, a thorough despamming and regular articles! Stay tuned for further developments as we work out the details. Please note! As a result of software upgrades, the site may be unavailable periodically until the upgrade process is completed (Charlie Wilkins, Save RFPI Aug 6, via DXLD) ** CYPRUS TURKISH. I had a listen to Radio Bayrak on 6150 kHz at 1715 UT with English pop music programme presented by woman Aug 11. Signals were fair into Limassol-CYP. I tried earlier in the afternoon without any luck. I tried for the first time my ALA 1530 Wellbrook Com active antenna for the first time. The receiver at the time was the NRD 515. Going back to Radio Bayrak, maybe they only on limited broadcast times on short wave. Maybe someone from Radio Bayrak can let us know. As the station is very interesting maybe we should share broadcasting together as nation building to a new Cyprus. It would be nice to have the two communities working together and sharing ideas. I remember in South Africa there was sharing of broadcasters from other countries. Once a broadcaster came from Taiwan to work on Radio Five in Johannesburg and a South African DJ went to the Taiwanese radio station. It brought in a lot of goodwill to South Africans on how the other side lives (Costa Constantinides, Cyprus, BC-DX Aug 11 via DXLD) ** CYPRUS [and non]. Wednesday, August 04, 2004 BEACH MUSINGS IN CYPRUS [illustrated] http://criticaldistance.blogspot.com/ I can recommend Cyprus as a great holiday destination. Last year, I stayed in Paphos and explored the western part of the island, including Troodos mountains and Limassol. Further up the road towards Larnaca is a place called Zygi, famous for its giant cement works, and some transmitter towers next door which form the main part of the BBC's Cyprus relay station. On the door of the transmitter building was an (in)famous logo, that of the British government's clandestine radio station of the 1950's called Sharq al-Adna. Originally set up as a propaganda station in Palestine, it retreated to a site near Limassol, Cyprus when the British withdrew. After the end of the first Middle East conflict it even became a quasi-commercial station - run by the British government but independent of the BBC Empire Service. In July 1956, President Nasser of Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal. In October 30th of that year, the station suddenly became the "Voice of Britain" calling for the overthrow of Nasser. The transmissions were backed up with a leaflet campaign dropped by British aircraft over Egypt. Not only did the project fail to impress the Egyptian public, the entire programme staff of the Voice of Britain resigned, many of whom had family across the water in Egypt. Only later did the British government hand over the facilities to the BBC. The site moved to a better location in Zygi, and more recently two sets of giant mediumwave masts at Ladies Mile for 24 hour coverage of BBC's Arabic Service. So why all this history? Because Cyprus has become a hotbed of other international broadcast activity. This year, I stayed in Larnaca, and took a trip out to the eastern part of the island, past the tourist resort of Ayia Napa. This is sign to the real Eastern Tip of European Union. You can't get any further east that Cape Greko. It is the Eastern-most tip of the Republic of Cyprus, famous for its caves - famous to radio specialists as the home of Radio Monte Carlo Middle East. Formerly a separate commercial radio station, operated by the French government, since 1996 it has been under the wing of the Arabic service of Radio France Internationale. RMC-ME has always been an important outlet for the French government, since it has daytime coverage of Beirut, literally across the water. They still hire airtime out to TransWorld Radio in the evenings, so from 2130 in the evening the mix of French and Arabic music stops and its becomes wall-wall evangelical. I haven't heard gospel music in Arabic until now. This continues until 0015 when Radio Canada International appears out of nowhere with an Arabic language programme - presumably for nightwatchmen! But RMC-ME has a new neighbour. The US Board of International Broadcasting has persuaded the Cyprus government (and presumably also the French) that this spot is a great place for another mast on 990 kHz. It's a 500 kW transmitter carrying Radio Sawa. No Comparison In the battle for hearts and minds, the French have beaten the US hands down. Here are two stations, both with Arabic programming, both with a "commercial" music format and both part their government's strategy to influence Arab speakers in that part of the Middle East. But the French station is full of lively announcers, who show themselves on the station website - you can see them, e-mail them, send SMS. The Radio Sawa station is an emotionless jukebox, carrying a format of Arabic-US-Arabic pop which alternate. I note regular ads for the US government's Freedom TV (Al Hurrah) and drop-in IDs. There is a short news bulletin on the hour and a few times a day a 15 minute block (!) of correspondents reports, during which Sawa must frighten most of its audience away. The website is not the one you would expect from a music station, and the announcers/DJ's certainly do not profile themselves like RMC does. There are several versions of the same station - at night I can hear 4 different versions of the same thing, regionalised newswise. America is back in the business of shouting at its targets, and we know that no-one trusts anyone who shouts. So the French are playing it soft and subtle, the US brash and ever so cold, despite the 35 degrees here on the beach. If you're on your vacation, enjoy (Jonathan Marks, Critical Distance blog Aug 4 via DXLD) ** GERMANY. IBB HOLZKIRCHEN SITE DISMANTLED US-Sender gehoert jetzt der Gemeinde Valley. Antennenanlage wird sofort abmontiert. Es ist das Ende eines jahrelangen Kampfes: Endlich ist die Gemeinde Valley Hausherr der ehemaligen US-Sendeanlage in Oberlaindern. Die Bundesvermoegensverwaltung, die das Gelaende bisher besass, gab Valleys Buergermeister Josef Huber inzwischen die Schluessel fuer das Eingangstor. Die Gemeinde hat das Areal fuer 8,2 Millionen Euro gekauft und ist damit auch Eigentuemer der so umstrittenen Antennenanlage, die jetzt so schnell wie moeglich abmontiert werden soll. Den Auftrag dafuer hat der Gemeinderat von Valley bereits erteilt. Das Ereignis wird gebuehrend gefeiert. Am 4. September veranstalten die Gemeinde und die Buergerinitiative Sender Freies Oberland ein grosses Fest. Und weil dann noch Ferien sind, soll's im Oktober gleich noch eines geben (Muenchner tz newspaper, via Wolfgang Reis-D, A-DX July 31 via BC-DX via DXLD) DIE ANTENNEN DER AMERIKANER FALLEN --- Nach langem Streit werden die Sendeanlagen des International Broadcasting Bureau in Oberlaindern abgerissen. Valley - Puenktlich um zehn Uhr nahm gestern die Abbruchfirma Seidl auf dem Gelaende des IBB-Senders im Valleyer Ortsteil Oberlaindern (LK Miesbach) ihre Arbeit auf. Ende der Woche sollen die bis zu 122 Meter hohen Masten fallen, die IBB der Gemeinde zur Verschrottung ueberlassen hat. Mehr als 50 Jahre lang wurde von dem 68 Hektar grossen Areal bei Holzkirchen gesendet, anfangs von der CIA, zuletzt vom IBB, das das Areal 1995 uebernommen hatte und von Radio Free Liberty in Prag produzierte Programme von Oberlaindern aus gen Osten schickte. Der eigentlich bis Sommer 2005 laufende Pachtvertrag zwischen IBB und der Bundesvermoegensverwaltung als Besitzerin des Areals wurde vorzeitig aufgeloest, der Sender zum 31. Dezember 2003 abgeschaltet- offiziell, weil IBB seine Angebote veraendert hat. Seitdem hat die Firma technisches Inventar entfernt und die Sendeanlage bis auf die Antennen abtransportiert- der Abbau und anschliessende Wiederaufbau haette IBB mehr gekostet als eine neue Anlage. {Garniert ist der Artikel mit einem Farbfoto. Ein Riesen-Volvo- Bagger greift mit einer geoeffneten Stahlkrallen- Schaufel Richtung Sendeanlage} (Sueddeutsche Zeitung Aug 10, via Paul Gager-AUT, A-DX Aug 10 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** INDIA. SPECIAL BROADCASTS ON INDEPENDENCE DAY, 15 AUG 2004 Dear Friends, India is celebrating its Independence Day on 15 August. All India Radio will broadcast the President’s address to the nation on the eve of Independence Day, i.e. on 14 Aug 2004. It will be broadcast by Delhi at 1400 UT on 3365 6030 6085 9575 & 9835 and will be relayed by all stations of AIR. AIR will broadcast a running commentary of the flag hoisting ceremony to be held at Red Fort, New Delhi at 0135-0240 UT as follows: English : 4860 6030 9910(Aligarh), 13620(Bangalore), 15040 Hindi : 6155 9595 11620 11830 15135 In order to facilitate the relay commentary, the SW stations will change to their day time frequencies earlier than usual as follows: 6020 Shimla 0025 (ex 0215) 6110 Srinagar 0125 (ex 0227) 7115 Port Blair 0130 (ex 0315) 7140 Hyderabad 0130 (ex 0227) 7150 Imphal 0130 (ex 0227) 7180 Bhopal 0115 (ex 0227) 7210 Kolkatta 0130 (ex 0227) 7290 Thiruvanathapuram 0130 (ex 0230) All stations of AIR will relay the running commentary. The news bulletins in various regional languages will be broadcast later than usual, i.e. after the running commentary. With Independence Day wishes, (Jose Jacob, Hyderabad, Aug 6, dx_india http://www.niar.org via WORLD OF RADIO 1241, DXLD) ** INDONESIA. Estimado Don Guillermo, Después de casí 10 cartas enviadas y 15 años de espera, pudimos recibir la confirmación de una de las emisoras de radio de la onda corta más difíciles de confirmar. Se trata de La Voz de Indonesia, cuyo informe de recepción le enviara por correo electrónico el pasado mes de mayo. Sin embargo, no conforme con la aptitud de la emisora, pude contactarme durante esos días con la asoación DX de Indonesia para que me hicieran el favor de hacerles llegar mi informe directamente a la emisora. Desafortunadamente no obtuve la respuesta que esperaba por parte de ellos, y sólo se limitaron a traducirme el texto del informe que le envié en inglés a la radio, al Bahasa Indonesio. Pues bien me armé de paciencia y les envié nuevamente mi informe bilingüe a la emisora. Por aquellos días, se apareció en la lista india de diexistas a la cual estoy suscrito, un colega de Jakarta enviando sus captaciones. Su nombre Lim Kwet Hian, a quien le solicité que por favor me hiciera el favor de hacerle llegar mi reporte a la emisora. Él muy amablemente me dijo que haría todo lo posible, ya que la emisora no acostumbra a confirmar todos los reportes que le envian del exterior por problemas de presupuesto. Me dijo que tuviera algo más de paciencia, y que en cuanto tuviera buenas noticias me avisaría. Bueno, mi larga espera concluyó ayer 09 de Agosto, cuando con suma alegría recibí del cartero un sobre membretado con el nombre del servicio doméstico de la Radio Republik Indonesia, en cuyo contenido encontré entre otras cosas: 1 Bonita Tarjeta Postal, 1 sticker con el logo del Servicio Exterior de La Voz de Indonesia, así como una Carta de Verificación Qsl con el logo del Servicio Domestico de la Radio Republik Indonesia, y por si fuera poco también un esquema de emisiones impreso a manera de Qsl, con el logotipo del Servicio Exterior de la Voz de Indonesia firmado por el Sr. Eddy Ivan. Su actual esquema de emisiones en Español es el siguiente: Programa I: Todos los días. De 18:30 a 19:00 UTC por las frecuencias de 15.150; 11.785 y 9.525 KHz. Programa II: Todos los días. De 12:30 a 13:00 UTC por las frecuencias de 15.150; 11.785 y 9.525 KHz. Su esquema en Inglés es el siguiente: Programa I: Todos los días. De 01:00 a 02:00 UTC por las frecuencias de 15.150; 11.785 y 9.525 KHz. Programa II: Todos los días. De 08:00 a 09:00 UTC por las frecuencias de 15.150; 11.785 y 9.525 KHz. Programa III: Todos los días. De 20:00 a 21:00 UTC por las frecuencias de 15.150; 11.785 y 9.525 KHz. Su QTH es: Radio Republik Indonesia o The Voice of Indonesia Medan Merdeka Barat 4 - 5 P.O: Box 1157 Jakarta, Indonesia Website: http://www.rri-online.com E-mail: voi @ rri-online.com (Jorge García Rangel, Barinas, Venezuela, Aug 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. Re: 11860 RRI, Roland Schulze PHL answer. Very many thanks for relaying this via Roland - next time you contact him will you please send my thanks to him also. 11860 (...) The ASBU registrations show a beam heading of 316 degrees, but I find it "difficult" to believe that it propagated via short path - daylight - at 0630 (Noel R. Green-UK, BC-DX Aug 2) Nooo, Voice of Indonesia! [but not the 2200-1300 UT RRI] night service at 1600-2100 UT uses 316 degrees. But the RRI Jakarta 11860 / 15125 services are via E/NE beams, like 11860 kHz 98 degrees 15125 kHz 75 degrees Seldom heard RRI 9680 scheduled 2200-1300 UT is on 316 degrees. 9525 kHz: The VOI NE service is scheduled 0800-1400 on 30 degrees towards JPN, CHN, TWN, KOR etc. But 0200-0400 UT [to EAf?, Indian Ocean] at 290 degrees in English and Indonesian. I still haven't worked out what it is about SE Asia that allows signals beaming to and from there to be audible in my area at 0630/0730. So I believe that the signal around 0630 UT is coming from SW direction, via long path: Jakarta Cairns, Townsville EAu (Sunset around Solomons/New Hebrides) Tahiti south of Easter Islands / Ecuador French Guyana Azores (Sunrise about 100 km NW of Azores) St. Georges Channel Irish Sea. [I'll have a look to the Great Circle map, once provided {and centered} by SRI Switzerland, which is correct also for my place about long path to/and from PAC, NZ, AUS etc.] (Wolfgang Büschel, BC-DX Aug 2 via DXLD) My own observations seemed to indicate that this was really the path, but I could not work out exactly how it worked! Possibly this also applies to the RRI signals on 11860 & 9680? I wonder if the location of the Equator adjacent to this area of the globe also has some effect. Maybe also of interest - during the recent storms RNZI 9615 also disappeared, and this happened when stations from the Americas were inaudible. A path from the "west" seems very likely for 9615 to propagate - but which way, and why do signals always suffer from rapid (polar) type fading. (Noel R. Green-UK, BC-DX Aug 3 via DXLD) 11860.02, RRI Programa Nasional Jakarta #3 at 1450 under Iran?, with OM talking in BI and music at 1451, 31332. At 1525 under presume BBC, again with nice pop music. Also past 1600. At 1611 seems again QRMed (Noel R. Green, UK, Aug 3, BC-DX Aug 12 via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL. Global TV viewing set to break records for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games --- INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE PRESS RELEASE SATURDAY 07 AUGUST 2004 International Olympic Committee (IOC) today announced that the Athens 2004 Olympic Games global broadcast is set to break all records. With more channels than ever before broadcasting the Olympic Games to more countries and territories, with a record number of hours, a significant rise in potential audience, and dramatic increases in live and prime-time coverage, the Athens 2004 Olympic Games broadcast is expected to be the strongest Olympic broadcast ever. With over 300 channels now transmitting an expected 35,000 hours of dedicated coverage (2,000 hours per day) of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, it is estimated that over 3.9 billion people will have access to coverage of the Games – a significant increase from the last summer Games. This is a jump from Sydney, where 29,600 hours of the 2000 Olympic Games were put to air, and a significant rise in coverage since the last time the Olympic Games was held in Europe when, in Barcelona in 1992, 20,000 hours of the Games were broadcast. The popularity of the broadcast of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games is anticipated to reach new levels. Total Viewer Hours (TVH), a statistic that combines the amount of coverage and the extent of viewing to most accurately measure the actual popularity of an event, are expected to be around 39 billion. In Sydney, the TVH were 36.1 billion, while for the Atlanta Games in 1996 they were 33.5 billion. More than 60% of broadcasters have indicated that they will enhance their coverage of Athens 2004 from their Sydney 2000 broadcast coverage: In the US, NBC Universal Channels will offer the most in-depth Olympic broadcast in history with 24-hours-per-day coverage and a total of 1,210 hours – three times NBC's coverage of Sydney 2000 and seven times that of Atlanta 1996 [NBC, MSNBC, CNBC, others??] Canada's CBC and TSN will broadcast more than 440 hours, and Olympic coverage will consume all prime time slots China's CCTV channels will broadcast more than 600 hours of the Athens Games. CCTV will broadcast 24 hours per day Despite unfavourable time zone differences in comparison to Sydney, Japan's NHK and the NAB consortium are increasing their coverage for Athens Germany's ZDF and ARD will offer 1,400 hours of coverage – more than three-and-a-half times Germany's coverage of Sydney 2000 In France, coverage will increase 42% over Sydney to around 400 hours Peru's Channel 9 will offer five times its coverage of Sydney 2000 South Africa will provide 1,965 hours across Supersport International, SABC2 and SABC3 Live coverage will be boosted with more than half of the global broadcasters showing live sports competition: The NBC Universal networks in the US will offer more live coverage from Athens than any Olympic Games in history, domestic or foreign, despite the seven-hour time difference from the Eastern time zone to Athens In the UK, in addition to more than 250 hours of live action on channels BBC1 and 2, viewers will have greater choice through live streams via the BBC's interactive digital service In Germany, ZDF's coverage will be 70% live sports; ARD's coverage will be 60% live For the first time, Azerbaijan will carry live footage of the Olympic Games South Korea's three Olympic broadcasters will increase coverage by nearly 50%, and up to 70% will be live Several countries will carry extensive live footage for the first time, including Egypt (80%), Estonia (75%), Mozambique (60%), and Jordan (more than 50%) Ninety per cent of coverage on TV Bandeirantes in Brazil will be live sports Ninety per cent of Supersport's 1,760 hours of coverage in South Africa will be live Athens 2004 also will see an increase in the number of broadcast partners dedicating channels to Olympic coverage 24 hours per day. Dedicated channels, affiliated cable channels and digital interactive television services in several countries will provide more choice to viewers than ever before. "We are very encouraged by these responses from our broadcast partners, and look forward to a great Athens 2004 broadcast," said IOC President Jacques Rogge. "The IOC is committed to ensuring that as many people as possible throughout the world have the opportunity to share in the Olympic experience through television. As the Olympic Games return to the nation of their ancient birth and the city of their revival, it is fitting that the whole world witness the great achievements of the Olympic athletes." The Athens 2004 broadcast will also bring about several technological firsts that will bring Olympic Games coverage to more people around the world in new and innovative ways: For the first time, broadcasters in certain countries will make streaming video and highlight clips of the Olympic Games available through mobile phone handsets using 3G-technology. Streaming video also will be offered by a number of broadcasters via the Internet. A wealth of other offerings will be available on the Internet, as many broadcasters have indicated plans to create dedicated Olympic sites. For the first time in summer Olympic history, the host broadcaster will provide HDTV coverage. Olympic broadcast partners are planning to provide strong support for the IOC's "Celebrate Humanity" promotional campaign. Note to the editor: The Athens 2004 Olympic broadcast projections have been issued in a pre-Games report compiled by the Olympic Television Research Centre (OTRC), managed by Sports Marketing Surveys (SMS) in the UK. The report is based on data supplied by the Official Olympic Broadcast Partners. © IOC 2004. All rights reserved via Maryanne Kehoe, swprograms via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [and non]. The Hurricane Watch Net is activated as of 2 PM EDT (1800 UT) on 14325 USB. This for Hurricane Charley (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, Aug 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Much more about this in the dxld yg ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [non]. Commemorating August 14th, Steve Wright's studio guests this Friday 13th will be Tony Blackburn and Johnnie Walker, with Steve Merike on the phone. Offshore clips will be courtesy of the Hall of Fame http://www.offshoreradio.co.uk/index.html Steve Wright can be heard on BBC Radio 2, 14.00 to 17.00 BST [1300- 1600 UT] The show is also available on line http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/wright/ (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) A visit to the Ross Revenge "Climb aboard the love ship" was the tune being played as I approached Tilbury recently on my way to visit Radio Caroline during their one month`s restricted service licence broadcast. The tune is often played by the station as part of their policy of spreading a little loving awareness around the world during their broadcasts on Sky, the Internet and Worldspace and it seemed a good time to be listening to this track as I was approaching their new home at Tilbury. When I boarded the Ross Revenge I certainly felt there was an excellent atmosphere of Loving Awareness aboard the ship. Everyone seemed to be smiling and enjoying themselves even though the weather was hot and humid. I even noticed Peter Moore the chairman smiling and I was pleased to be able to shake hands with him. Tilbury is a port on the Thames opposite Gravesend and is not the kind of place that you would normally think of visiting but the port seems to be providing an excellent temporary home for Radio Caroline. Stop at Asda for a snack and a drink and then carry on towards the Gravesend car ferry terminal, drive up over a pontoon bridge and you will be able to see the masts and aerials of the Ross Revenge. Most of the ship has just had a coat of paint and it does look a lot better since I visited it on the Medway in Rochester. First to greet us was the smiling face of Peter Smith (the sponsor of Tuesday night`s 60s and 70s show) standing at the bottom of the gang plank. Peter soon made us feel welcome and after a few hand shakes and pictures we climbed aboard the love ship. You could soon see that a lot of hard work had been done by the Northern Support Group to make the ship more presentable for the many visitors. Well done to all the helpers. Looking up you could see the new aerial slung between the two masts erected many years ago after the original mast had blown down at sea after the 1987 hurricane and what a good job it was doing with the one watt transmitter to get the signal out all over Tilbury, Gravesend and many miles beyond into Essex and Kent. There were several tours taking place at the time but I was too busy meeting up with Anoraks, presenters and helpers and anyway I had been on several tours of the ship on previous visits. Perhaps I qualify to be a guide myself. I met so many people, many for the first time and I couldn't possibly list them all here. The studio and mess rooms were very hot and we soon found JP cooling off up on the deck. Maria was looking after the shop for Caroline sales and what a nice person she is. It was busy in the galley with people cooking their meals and out came Peter Smith with a plate full of sausages. The mess room was full so we carried on to have a look at the engines and then down to find Beachy the transmitter man who was proud to be able to show us his room with all the old transmitters looking clean and tidy. We told him how proud he should be of his one watt transmitter which was purring away quietly. He explained how the signal was getting to the Maidstone studios via an ASDL line, something that does not seem to have been done before on other Radio Stations and then on to London to be uplinked to the Eurobird and Afristar satellites. Let`s hope it all keeps working perfectly and perhaps more programmes can be aired from the Ross in the future. It certainly sounds more like the Caroline we remember from the 60s and 70s and again in the 80s when they were broadcasting from the North sea. The Maidstone studios are more comfortable but the atmosphere of friendliness comes over when broadcasts come from a ship. I went back to the ship the next day and sat in with Jim Ross. We sent out a dedication to everyone on the Worldspace Mailing List and he played a few of my favourite tunes. It`s nice to see the e-mails and phone calls coming through from all over the World. You can send an e-mail to studio @ radiocaroline.co.uk or visit their web site at http://www.radiocaroline.co.uk where there is a link to send e-mails and don`t forget to tell them your name and where you are in the World. You can also find a webcam link on http://www.radiocarolinesales.co.uk/ or you can find all the links on my site http://www.woodleynet.co.uk and click on Radio Caroline. Please find the time to visit the ship during August if you can, you will enjoy your day out. Roland Beaney (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. Re 4-119, spurs on 15172.8, 15317.5 --- Yes, noted these spurs while on holiday in Italy on June 4th also, wb. (Wolfgang Büschel, BC-DX via DXLD) ** LUXEMBOURG. DRM-SENDUNGEN VON RTL ABGESCHALTET Hallo, siehe hier: http://forum.myphorum.de/read.php?f=8773&i=130347&t=130347 Wegen umfangreicher Wartungsarbeiten in Junglinster und Beidweiler ist der DRM-Sender auf 6095 kHz in den naechsten zwei Wochen nicht in Betrieb. Das alte analoge Kontroll-Interface des Senders wird gegen ein modernes microcomputer-gesteuertes System ausgetauscht. Der zweite Sender auf 5990 kHz ist in dieser Zeit erst ab 1400 UT on air. HP mit DRM-Sendeplan: http://www.drm-dx.de (via Andreas Wohlhaupter-D, A-DX Aug 3 via BC-DX Aug 12 via DXLD) ** MEXICO [and non]. Frequency Measurements On 1570 kHz - 08/07/04 1569.9833 KTGE Salinas, CA "Radio Tigre" 0104 PDT 1569.9894 XERF Ciudad Acuna, Coah. "La Poderosa" 0057 1570.0025 KCVR Lodi, CA "La Consentida" 0106 All three stations were trading places as the dominant signal on the channel. Allied A-2515 receiver Homebrew external sync detector, frequency measurement system Two 35 ft. Ewe antennas at 218 and 293 degrees (Albert Lehr - Livermore, CA, Aug 7, IRCA mailing list via WORLD OF RADIO 1241, DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. KGYN 1210 is still in Guymon. At 1803 UT Aug 4 they started ABC News 3 minutes late! And also had some 15 seconds of dead air between commercials, etc. Their automation must be a wonder to behold. Upon another close pass to Goodwell OK, no sign of KPSU 91.7 at Panhandle State University, Aug 4 around 2000 UT when I was passing thru Guymon. Presumably still on summer break (Glenn Hauser, Texas County OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See USA for NM, TX observations ** PERU. [NoticiasDX] RADIO MUNICIPAL DE PANAO --- Querido amigo, me satisface escribirte por primera vez. Mi nombre es PABLO ALFREDO ALBORNOZ ROJAS. Te escribo desde la ciudad de Huánuco, Perú. Trabajo como operador de la emisora RADIO MUNICIPAL de la ciudad de Panao. Esto se encuentra en la Región Huánuco; la emisora cuenta con onda corta, 3173 kHz, banda tropical de 90 mtrs, Frecuencia Modulada 96.3, así mismo en TV. Desearía tener contacto via correo aéreo e intercambiar ideas; soy nuevo en esta afición. Me encantaría mucho me enseñes más; lo hacen también amigos como Arnaldo Slaen desde Argentina, César Pérez desde Chimbote, entre otros. Soy nuevo miembro al grupo NOTICIASDX. Un amigo ecuatoriano lo incluyó un segmento de Radio Municipal --- http:/www.malm-ecuador.com Colecciono adhesivo y banderines de radios del mundo; por favor desearía me mandaras algunos; estaría eternamente agradecido. Espero tener pronta respuesta; mi dirección es: (PABLO ALFREDO ALBORNOZ ROJAS, JR TACANA 385, PANAO, PACHITEA, HUANUCO, PERU dalsmop @ hotmail.com Aug 4, Noticias DX via DXLD) I feel uneasy correcting a native speaker of Spanish, French or some other language, but if I do it in English as part of the editorial chore, should I not also do it in any other language of which I am capable? If you want to see his original spelling, comma splices galore, etc., check BM`s page. Here`s more from Björn Malm`s website (gh) Quito 6/8 2004: Friday evening edition: Mail from Pablo Alfredo Albornoz Rojas, Radio Municipal; Recording of Radio Municipal This is the first time since I started this ID page, March 2004, I have received an e-mail from a radio station. So this is a very special edition of "Voces de América Latina". Thank you very much for your nice mail Pablo! Listen to the recording from this Friday morning of Radio Municipal and read the very nice mail from Pablo Alfredo Albornoz Rojas at Radio Municipal. 73s Bjorn Malm Woman from Panao [caption] Pablo Alfredo Albornoz Rojas - Radio Municipal: "Amigo Björn, me alegre grandemente el haber publicado la señal de RADIO MUNICIPAL DE PANAO en tu página; desearía tener intercambio de ideas. Me gustaría mucho me escribas via correo aéreo a la siguiente dirección: Pablo Alfredo Albornoz Rojas JR Tacna 385 Panao Provincia de Pachitea Huanuco, PERU. dalsmop @ hotmail.com Efectivamente el amigo Arnaldo Slaen mandó un reporte de sintonía, lo cual nos indicó los detalles de Radio Municipal. Gracias a todos los amigos que mandan su informe en la que me estoy dedicando al diexismo; claro que me falta aprender más. Lo haré con la ayuda de amigos como tú. Colecciono adhesivos y banderas de emisoras del mundo. La programación de Radio Municipal es de la siguiente, hora peruana [UT -5]: 5:00 pm hasta las 10: pm programación con comunicados, saludos, algunas entrevistas, varia la programacion en circunstancias de interés municipal. En horas de la mañana inicia su programación a partir de las 4:00 am, también con saludos, y comunicados a diferentes partes; cierra su programación a las 6:00 am --- esto es en onda corta 3173 kHz, banda tropical de 90 metros. Si tuvieras alguna inquietud, desearía me escribas, lo cual tendré el gran placer de responderte. Amigo mío, si tuvieras algunas revistas o folletos de diexismo por favor --- estaré eternamente agradecido. Sin más que decirte, por el momento me despido, sabiento que encontraré repuesta. Hasta pronto y 73!s". Radio Municipal: 3172.69, Panao, Provincia de Pachitea, Dpto de Huánuco. 119 kb. 1050 UTC 6/8 2004. This is a recording made this Friday morning and dedicated to Pablo Alfredo Albornoz Rojas. Info from "Ventanas Perú": El departamento de HUANUCO se encuentra dividido en las siguientes provincias: Provincia de Pachitea, cuya capital es Panao. Sus distritos son: Chaglla, Molino, Panao, Umari; con una población total de 45,013 hab. (via Björn Malm via DXLD) ** PERU. 1610 kHz, Radio Haquira, CONFIRMADA AL 100%. Gracias a la grabación del amigo Björn, investigué un poco, ya que el locutor hizo un "reclamo" al alcalde "Sr. MODESTO HUAYNA" (SIC). Teniendo ese dato, llegué a: http://www.jne.gob.pe/propuesta/elecciones/map_distrito.php?dep=3&prov=5&dis=4 asi que es: CIUDAD : HAQUIRA / PROVINCIA : COTABAMBAS / DEPARTAMENTO : APURÍMAC / PERU 73s (ALFREDO CAÑOTE, DXSPACEMASTER, Chaclacayo, Perú, Aug 9, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** PERU. El colega y amigo Alfredo Cañote, desde Chaclacayo, Peru, nos envia este log realizado en los dias de las Fiesta Patrias del Peru, celebradas los dias 28 y 29 de Julio pasados. [in SPANISH u.o.s.; time order and only incidentally partly in frequency order] Receptor: ICOM IC-R71A / Antena: RADIO SHACK 20-181 28-VII-2004 3172.6, R. Municipal, Panao 0928 44433 3234.8, R. Luz y Sonido, Huánuco 0930 44423 4386.6, R. Imperio, Chiclayo 0933 55534 4826.3, R. Sicuani, Cuzco 0936 42222 Quechua 4751.6, R. Huanta 2000, Ayacucho 1120 55534 4835.4, R. Marañón, Tarapoto 1124 34423 4855.9, R. La Hora, Cuzco 1128 34413 4886.6, R. Virgen del Carmen, Huancavelica 1132 43233 6731.1, R. Cielo, Chiclayo 1145 34432 4824.3, R. Voz de la Selva, Iquitos 1200 33122 4955.0, R. Dif. Cultural Amauta, Ayacucho 1203 55334 4965.0, R. Santa Mónica, Cuzco 1206 42322 4974.7, R. Del Pacífico, Lima 1208 42322 5014.6, R. Altura, Cerro de Pasco 1210 55423 5030.0, R. Los Andes, Huamachuco 1215 44423 5039.2, R. Libertad de Junín, Junin 1217 55533 5460.2, Voz de Bolívar, La Libertad 1220 44433 5470.7, R. San Nicolás, Amazonas 1222 24422 5939.3, R. Melodía, Arequipa 1225 24443 6114.7, R. Unión, Lima 1228 44423 6173.8, R. Tawantinsuyo, Cusco 1231 44323 6188.0, R. Oriente, Yurimaguas 1233 44232 6193.4, R. Cuzco, Cuzco 1236 44323 6819.4, Voz de las Huarinjas, Piura 1240 32423 9504.6, R. Tacna, Tacna 1242 43233 4774.9, R. Tarma, Tarma 1248 55534 29-VII-2004 4751.7, R. Huanta 2000, Ayacucho 1318 44423 4774.9, R. Tarma, Tarma 1322 44413 4855.9, R. La Hora, Cuzco 1325 34423 4886.6, R. Virgen del Carmen, Huancavelica 1328 44423 4955.0, R. Dif. Cultural Amauta, Ayacucho 1336 54523 4974.7, R. Del Pacífico, Lima 1338 44223 5025, R. Quillabamba, Cuzco 1340 34423 5460.2, Voz de Bolívar, La Libertad 1342 34423 5939.3, R. Melodía, Arequipa 1344 24423 6114.7, R. Unión, Lima 1346 55514 6173.8, R. Tawantinsuyo, Cusco 1348 44423 6188.0, R. Oriente, Yurimaguas 1350 44443 6193.4, R. Cuzco, Cuzco 1352 43423 9504.6, R. Tacna, Tacna 1355 44423 (via Conexión Digital Aug 7 via DXLD) ** RHODES [and non]. PEPPERELL MAN WORKS TO KEEP VOICE OF AMERICA ACTIVE --- By Don Eriksson http://www.pepperellfreepress.com/Stories/0,1413,109~5517~2313582,00.html PEPPERELL -- During the Cold War, one beacon of freedom throughout the Middle East and eastern Europe was the Voice of America (VOA), which brought newscasts and special programming to people behind the Iron Curtain and in the Middle East. Between 1952 and 1964, a key link in the broadcast chain was the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Courier, a vessel equipped with extremely high- power broadcast equipment (for its time) that acted as a repeater station from its berth in Rhodes, Greece. For two years, from 1958 to 1959, David Newell of 42 Mill St., known locally for the bass boat repair business he ran after his retirement as an infrared research and development specialist for the Air Force, was an electronic technician on the Courier. Nashoba Publishing / John Love, David Newell of Mill Street, Pepperell, shows a photo of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Courier, a floating repeater station for Voice of America radio and short-wave broadcasts during the early days of the Cold War, on which he spent two year' duty. [caption] For several years, Newell has organized reunions for crew members of the ship. Lately, he has been drawn into a battle to keep VOA funding and programming alive, prompted by the efforts of a former shipmate, Fred Haney, to restore broadcasting hours, funding and creditable programming. According to Haney, U.S. international broadcasting is seriously threatened at a time when a strong, substantive voice is important. Broadcasts to the Middle East and Islamic people have increased, but pop music networks have replaced comprehensive news reporting and analysis. Language broadcasts to most of Central Europe have been abolished, and during critical hours, the VOA doesn't broadcast in English, he said. The longtime VOA director of Central News, Andre DeNesnera, was relieved of duties this month, Haney wrote to Newell. Haney blames actions taken by the Broadcasting Board of Governors, the oversight entity for U.S. international broadcasting, for limiting the scope of the VOA since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Some 450 current VOA employees are circulating a petition through Washington, D.C., demanding Congress investigate the Broadcasting Board of Governors' actions. Newell said he is helping Haney contact the older VOA crew members. Newell's tour of duty on the Courier is an interesting and little- known piece of American history. The 338-foot, 5,800-ton Courier was launched as a cargo ship for the Maritime Commission in 1945. In 1950, the Truman administration became interested in a sea-going radio relay station, and so the Courier was converted in 1951. The ship was fitted with three locomotive-type diesel engines to drive three 500-kilowatt A/C generators, a 150-kilowatt medium wave transmitter, two 35-kilowatt short wave transmitters, and its own studio. "When we were broadcasting, there was so much RF [radio frequency] it would arc through the wires of ships that came too close, often starting fires," Newell said. "We could hold up a florescent tube and walk off the ship with it lit up. It freaked the Greeks out." At first, a 69-by-33-foot barrage balloon was used to fly broadcast wire high over the ship. Newell said that stopped after two broke away, one of them later returned from Turkey 20 miles away, the missing pieces of material shaped as shoe soles. He also told a story about playing with Soviet jammers over 10 to 12 broadcast feeds from the ship, and one about an emergency trip to a Turkish cove to avoid a Soviet submarine that was allegedly sent to sink the Courier. "They had jammers on all frequencies and tried to pick up weaker feeds due to medium frequency skips," Newell explained. Skips are signals that transmit into the atmosphere, but come down somewhere else because of ionization in atmospheric layers, he said. "We were not allowed to broadcast in open water because that is illegal," Newell said. "The VOA archives in Washington have a stack of mail from people in Communist Europe [who were affected by the broadcasts]," he said. "At the 1992 Williamsburg reunion, we got a unit citation for our efforts in bringing down the Berlin Wall." The ship used to broadcast in 16 languages to the Middle East and former Communist block 10 hours a day. The VOA still operates, broadcasting in 44 languages. When the Courier was decommissioned, her equipment was set up on a hillside on Rhodes. Newell spent a year repairing radio and radar stations up and down the East Coast before leaving the Coast Guard. "It was great duty," he said. He went to work at the Lowell Technical Research Foundation, building electronic equipment before signing to work for the Air Force. There, he worked with infrared sensing equipment. He said he once tracked heat signals from a cruise missile from a KC- 135 jet which flew beside the missile for 1,000 miles from the Pacific, over California and into Utah. During Operation Desert Storm in the early 1990s, he flew sensing equipment from Hanscom Air Force Base to Iraq to see if anthrax could be detected. "We knew Saddam had anthrax and had bought 600 disseminators in Italy," Newell said. Now retired, Newell works with Haney and others on the VOA project and said he has heard the petition has caused quite a stir on Capitol Hill. In an e-mail to Haney, Newell wrote, "Without the Voice, we have little input in broadcasts to the Islamics in the Near East and other countries in Africa and Far East. This, in my opinion, would be a travesty, as without the VOA, the only broadcasts to the poorer inhabitants of these countries would be the Taliban and the rest of the radical rabble. "Many of our now Islamic supporters listened to the broadcasts of my ship, as we spent many hours of broadcast time with Islamic languages," Newell added. (Pepperell [MA] Free Press Aug 4 via Andy Sennitt, Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [non non]. A prophecy of your great guru Glenn has come true! Brother Stair is now broadcasting from South Carolina, over WSHB now that LeSEA is running it. Current schedule shows: UTC Time Freq. Station Target Eastern US Time Days 2:00 3:00 7.535 WSHB US - World 10:00 PM 11:00 PM Everyday 4:00 9:00 7.535 WSHB US - World Midnight 5:00 AM Everyday 9:00 10:00 9.850 WSHB US - World 5:00 AM 6:00 AM Everyday Besides the usual WWCR schedule, the Germany relay is cut way back: 6:00 8:00 6.110 Julich Europe 2:00 AM 4:00 AM Everyday 13:00 15:00 6.110 Julich Europe 9:00 AM 12:00 PM Everyday 13:00 15:00 13.810 Julich SE/NE Eu, Israel 9:00 AM 12:00 AM Everyday 17:00 19:00 17.550 Julich North America Noon 3:00 PM Everyday (from http://www.overcomerministry.org/Outreach/sw.shtml via DXLD) ** TAIWAN [and non]. CBS RADIO TAIWAN INT'L current schedule as follows: Revised : AUG 10, 2004 NOTICE: TO AVOID CHINA HEAVY JAMMING WITH CNR PROGRAMS, CHINESE TRADITIONAL MUSIC OR CLASSICAL MUSIC. IT APPLIES TO VARIETY, NEWS, MAINLAND NETWORKS. SEE ALT CH. 1. VARIETY NETWORK ONE (in CH) 2200-0200, 0400-1700 (Mo-Fr 0800-1000 sign off) 603 0400-1600(0400-1000 Sa Su) C CHN C TWN 927 1000-1200 1300-1500 C CHN S TWN 1098 1300-1700 C CHN S TWN 1206 2230-2300 S CHN 1503 1000-1200 1300-1400 S TWN (unpublished) 1557 0500-0800(Mo-Fr) C CHN S TWN 6085 0800-1500(0800-0900 Sa Su) C&S CHN alt ch 6140 6280 6150 2230-0000 C CHN 7270 2230-2300 N CHN 7185 0900-1400(0900-1000 Sa Su) N CHN alt ch 7365 7425 9680 1400-1700 N CHN 11640 0000-0200 0400-1400(0600-1000 Sa Su) C CHN alt ch 11625 11645 11665 0900-1700(0900-1000 Sa Su) N CHN alt ch 15060 15625 11730 0400-0900(Sa Su) N CHN alt ch 11765 11875 1100-1400 N CHN alt ch 11795 11855 11885 2230-0200 N CHN alt ch 11865 11970 11985 11985 0400-0600 N CHN alt ch 11970 15245 0000-0200 N CHN alt ch 15345 15265 1500-1700 SEAs 15430 0400-0900(0600-0800 Sa Su) C CHN alt ch 15335 Note: 927kHz is for baseball live broadcast from 0900 every Sa Su till NOV 14. 2200-2230 simulcast with News Network. 2. VARIETY NETWORK TWO: PROGRAM: repeat some of VARIETY NETWORK ONE 0500-0600 15270 CHN 0900-1100 9415 CHN 1300-1500 7105 SEAs PROGRAM: repeat 0400-0500 of VARIETY NETWORK ONE 0400-0500 5950U 9680U 15320 15270 SEAs Am 0900-1000 11715 11605 11635 11720 15525 SEAs AUS NZL 1200-1300 15465 11605 SEAs NEAs 1300-1400 15265 SEAs 1900-2000 15600U 9645U EUR RUS 2200-2300 3965F WEu 3. NEWS NETWORK (in CH) 2200-1700 (Mo-Fr 0500-0900 sign off) 603 2200-0000 N&C CHN C TWN 747 2300-0000 1000-1200 CHN C TWN 1008 2200-0000 0300-0500 0900-1700(07-09 SaSu) CHN C TWN 1206 2300-0000 S CHN 1422 2300-0500 0900-1500 S CHN S TWN 1521 1200-1700 N CHN S TWN 1557 0300-0500 0500-0800(SaSu) C&N CHN 6150 2300-0000 C CHN 7105 0900-1400 C&N CHN alt ch 7310 7365 9790 2300-0000 SEAs 9780 0900-1700 S CHN 11635 2200-0000 SEAs 11710 2200-0300 N CHN alt ch 11780 11770 11715 1100-1200 AUS NZL 11780 1100-1700 N CHN alt ch 11710 11770 11885 2300-0000 N CHN alt ch 11865 11970 11985 11930 0100-0500 N CHN alt ch 11940 15215 0300-0500 0500-0800(SaSu) N CHN alt ch 15175 15235 15245 2300-0000 N CHN alt ch 15345 15290 0200-0500 SEAs alt ch 15105 15395 0900-1300 N CHN alt ch 15175 15215 5950U 2200-0000 ENAm 15440U 2200-0000 WNAm Note: 1422 kHz is for baseball live broadcast from 0900 every Sa Su till NOV 14. 4. Mainland NETWORK ("Date with Taipei" features program) 0600-1000 11795 1400-1800 7515 6060 2300-0300 9660 9680 5. DIALECT NETWORK (in Amoy Hakka Cantonese Mongolian Tibetan) 1) Amoy (mainly spoken in Taiwan, Fujian) 0000-0100a 15440U 11875 WNAm SEAs 0100-0200b 11875 SEAs 0500-0600b 15580 1422 1008 SEAs CHN 0600-0700a 15580 1422 1008 S CHN TWN SEAs 0700-0900cd 1206 1422 TWN S CHN 0900-1000b 1206 CHN TWN 1000-1100a 1206 11605 15465 AS CHN 1200-1300a 11715 TWN SEAs 1300-1400b 11635 15465 SEAs 2100-2200b 15130U ENAm 2) Cantonese (spoken in Hong Kong Guangdong) 0100-0200a 5950U 15440U 15290 NAm SEAs 0200-0300b 15610 SEAs 0500-0600b 5950U 9680U NAm 15320 SEAS 0700-0800b 1210 9680 15320 CA, USA SEAs 1000-1100a 11715 15270 11635 15525 SEAs AUS NZL 1100-1200b 15270 1206 SEAs CHN TWN 1200-1300a 11915 6105 6060 1206 SEAs CHN 1300-1400b 11915 6105 6060 SEAs CHN 2200-2300a 11565 Eu 3) Hakka (mainly spoken in Taiwan, E. Guangdong, S. Fujian) 0000-0100a 5950U ENAm 0200-0300a 15440U WNAm 0300-0400b 15160 SEAa 0900-1000b 15465 SEAs 1000-1100b 6105 6060 CHN TWN 1100-1200a 11635 15465 6105 6060 SEAs 1300-1400b 15175 SEAs 1400-1500a 11915 SEAs 1700-1800a 11875 EAf SEAs 4) Mongolian 1000-1100 11985 Mongolia Tibetan 1300-1400 9415 Tibet Nepal Note: a-PROGRAM A b-PROGRAM B 6. INTERNATIONAL NETWORK: English 0200-0300 9680U 5950U NAm CAm 11875 15465 SEAs NEAs 0300-0400 5950U 15320 NAm SEAs 15215U SAm 0700-0800 5950U WNAm 0800-0900 9610 SEAs AUS NZL 1100-1200 7105 SEAs (1100-1200Th 747 927 Program for Foreign Workers) 1200-1300 7130 NEAs 1400-1500 15265 SEAs 1600-1700 11815 INDIA S CHN 1800-1900 3965F EUR 2200-2300 15600U EUR Spanish 0200-0300 15215U 17845U WSAm 0400-0500 11740U CAm 0600-0700 5950U WNAm 2000-2100 5960D EUR 2300-0000 15130U 17805U ESAm German 0600-0700 7520U EUR 1800-1900 9565 EUR 1900-2000 6185G EUR 2100-2200 11565U EUR French 0700-0800 7520U EUR 1900-2000 6045G EUR 2000-2100 9635 15130U 18930U EUR NAm 2100-2200 9365F WAf Russian 1100-1200 11985 ECIS 1300-1400 11935 WCIS 1700-1800 11615F WCIS Japanese 0800-0900 11605 JPN 1100-1200 7130 11605 JPN 1300-1400 7130 11605 JPN Korean 0300-0330 15465 Korea 1200-1230 9415 Korea 1400-1430 9415 Korea Thai 0600-0700a 15270 THA 1400-1500a 15465 11635 THA 1500-1600b 7105 1503 927 747 THA 2200-2300a 7130 1503 THA 2300-2400b 7130 927 THA Arabic 1600-1700 11890 NAf ME 1800-1900 11890 NAf ME Burmese 1200-1300 15580 MMR 1500-1600 9465 MMR Indonesian 1000-1100a 11725 11940 INS 1100-1200b 11725 11940 INS 1200-1300b 11635 7105 927 SEAs 1400-1500a 11875 SEAs 1500-1600b 1422 S TWN 0400-0600ba 927 S TWN Vietnamese 0900-1000 15270 VNM 1500-1600 11915 VNM 2200-2300 9790 VNM Note: a-PROGRAM A b-PROGRAM B c-PROGRAM C d-PROGRAM D Relay via: U-Okeechobee, USA D-Juelich, Germany G-Skelton, UK F-Issoudon, France Relay stations via CBS : WYFR (World Family Radio): A04 CHINESE 0100-0300 0500-0600 0700-1000 2100-2200 1503 2200-0300 0900-1400 1700-1900 1557 0900-1000 1359 1000-1300 1098 1200-1500 747 2100-0000 1102-1602 7250 9280 CANTONESE 0800-0900 1557 0000-0100 0600-0700 1503 ENGLISH 1400-1700 1900-2200 1557 1800-2100 1503 1359 0900-1200 1521 0100-0200 15195 1300-1500 11560 1500-1700 15520 KOREAN 1000-1100 7130 HINDI 0000-0100 15195 1600-1700 11560 EUSSIAN 1500-1700 9955 TAGALOG 1000-1100 1300-1400 2100-2200 1359 INDONESIAN 1100-1200 1400-1500 2200-2300 1359 VIETNAMESE 1200-1300 1500-1600 2300-2400 1359 AWR-KSDA: A04 Vietnamese 0100-0200 15445(6) [6 = day of week? Sat?] 1400-1500 15550 R. AUSTRALIA: A04 INDONESIAN 0900-0930 11550 2130-2330 11550 VIETNAMESE 2330-0000 15110 R. FRANCE INT'L A04 CHINESE 2200-2300 1098 747 1200-1300 1503 RADIO FREE ASIA A04 VIETNAMESE 1400-1500 11605 2330-0030 11605 CHINESE 1800-1900 11665 2100-2200 9920 Clandestine station in Taiwan : STAR STAR BROADCASTING STATION: 11430 Star Star Channel 1 15388 Star Star Channel 2 9725 Star Star Channel 3 8300 Star Star Channel 4 13750 Star Star Channel 5 NB: seems inactive due to cases of Mainland spy [Star2 portion via WORLD OF RADIO 1241] VOICE OF CHINA: CHINESE 2230-2330 7270 0800-0900 11940 HMONG LAO RADIO: LAOTIAN 0100-0200 15260 (3.5) [days of week] Radio Chan Troi Moi(New Horizon Radio): VIETNAMESE 1330-1430 1503 //17595v (via Miller Liu, Taibei, Aug 11, dxing.info via DXLD) ** TAIWAN. BCC MAKES THREATS OVER TAIWAN'S NEW FREQUENCY PLAN Taiwan's Government Information Office (GIO) has unveiled a one-year plan to implement a new frequency allocation policy that will make available an additional 100 frequencies for broadcasters. Under the new plan, the FM band will be divided into three sections for different categories of station. The Broadcasting Corporation of China has threatened legal action if it loses some of its frequencies. The government will provide assistance for unlicensed stations to apply for licenses. The GIO plans to set aside 88.5 to 91 MHz for low- power FM stations, and will encourage "underground" stations to merge with each other in order to reduce the number of applications for licenses and to better maintain its supervision of such stations. Public stations will be allocated frequencies between 104.4 and 108 MHz, and commercial broadcasters 91-107 MHz. The GIO also plans to expand the broadcasting radius of medium powered commercial radio stations from 20 kilometres to 30 kilometres, and low-power stations will be encouraged to merge and upgrade to medium power stations. GIO Director-General Lin Chia-lung said that the restructuring plan is necessary because the current distribution of frequencies is unfair as the Broadcasting Corporation of China (BCC) has monopolized the radio market for decades. BCC transmits over 31 FM and 38 AM frequencies in Taiwan. The BCC points out that an independent National Communications Commission will soon be responsible for broadcasting issues, and should be the agency to deal with any restructuring of frequencies. The BCC says that if the GIO insists on taking its legally obtained frequencies, it will take legal action. (Source: eTaiwanNews) # posted by Andy @ 09:19 UT Aug 9 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** THAILAND. 7.4054 MHz USB MODE Now --- To all. Now we operate on 7405.4 kHz USB Mode and my URL: http://www.geocities.com/uthaipotha/Pirate_radio.html 73 DE (KEN Potha, Aug 8, swpirates yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1241, DXLD) ** TIMOR LESTE. (EAST TIMOR): Today's edition of the Timor Post says that the Catholic radio station Radio Timor Kmanek (RTK) will soon close down due to lack of funds. The newspaper says that RTK's 27 staff were asked to stop working while the Diocese of Díli ponders the future of the radio station. RTK is directed by Father Adriano Ola, and the Radio station was established in February 1998. Meanwhile a Member of the National Parliament for Democratic Party (PD), Rui Menezes, said that the Catholic radio station should not depend only on funding for its survival and look for alternatives, otherwise all the media will die in Timor-Leste (post by Dr. Helen Hill, Asia Region World Association for Christian Communication website http://www.arwacc.org/2004_archive/0029.html June 9 2004, via Bruce Portzer) (Radio Timor Kmanek operates on 1404 kHz. bp) Radio Timor-Leste (formerly known as Radio UNTAET) broadcasts in four languages on 684 + several FMs 0545-2100 LT (2045-1200 UTC) per website http://rttl.org/ (Bruce Portzer, DXWW, IRCA Soft DX Monitor Aug 14 via DXLD) ** UGANDA [non]. Radio Rhino International ..twtf. 1500-1530 17870 Juelich E (DTK T-systems) s.....s 1500-1600 17870 Juelich E (DTK T-systems) (DTK via BC-DX Aug 12 via DXLD) ** U S S R. Kai Ludwig is correct. In the 1980s Radio Moscow World Service in English used a melody of ``Podmoskovnye vechera`` (Moscow Region Nights) as its interval signal. The French Service had its own interval signal based on a rather romantic Soviet song ``Kat`jusha`` (Katyusha). Katyusha is a tender way of addressing a girl by the name Yekaterina. Here`s the English translation of the song: http://www.kaikracht.de/balalaika/english/songs/katy_txt.htm Other language services of Radio Moscow were stuck with a pompous ``Shiroka strana moya rodnaya`` (O, How Wide My Home Land!). Free MP3 files of all three songs in various versions are widely available online (Sergei Sosedkin, IL, Aug 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. OFCOM TO LEGALISE CB RADIO SERMONS August 11, 2004 The Times By Dan Sabbagh http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1211169,00.html It's a big ten-four for religious broadcasting as the new media regulator announced plans yesterday to legalise religious broadcasts on CB radios. Once the preserve of truckers and a diminishing band of enthusiasts who still revel in the once-illegal activity, the broadcasting of services and sermons is now seen as a lifeline for Citizen's Band radio. With its own language and a counter-culture built on CB's starring role in American road movies such as Smokey and the Bandit, it might seem an unlikely ally for preachers. Numbers of users have declined to just 20,000 from the hundreds of thousands of illegal users who were addicted to CB before it was legalised 23 years ago. In the past decade the only salvation for the frequency has been churches and mosques, which want to broadcast sermons. But, until now, using CB frequencies for broadcasting was illegal - and government officials and the "Smokey", or police, have acted to stop it, using laws dating back to 1949. Ofcom now hopes to allow religious groups to share the CB frequency with the dwindling band of citizens on the network. The regulator is consulting on a plan for trials for local broadcasting in Leeds, Bradford and Northern Ireland. Churches and mosques in those areas will be able to seek licences, if the regulator's plans go through (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. Pepperell man works to keep Voice of America active http://www.pepperellfreepress.com/Stories/0,1413,109~5517~2313582,00.html Article about David Newell, who used to be technician on the Coast Guard Cutter Courier in Rhodes, Greece, when it was a VOA relay. Lately, he has been drawn into a battle to keep VOA funding and programming alive, prompted by the efforts of a former shipmate, Fred Haney, to restore broadcasting hours, funding and creditable programming (via Andy Sennitt, Aug 4, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) see RHODES [and non] ** U S A. VOA MANAGEMENT STIFLES COMPREHENSIVE NEWS AND REVEALS DRASTIC CUTS IN ENGLISH Dateline: Washington, 08/05/04. At several meetings yesterday, the person VOA Director, David Jackson, installed as the Director of Central News, Ted Iliff, announced that all news produced by the VOA newswriters would be no longer than 40 seconds in length even if more optional material was requested. David Jackson removed the respected journalist, Andre DeNesnera as the Director of Central News last month. In the meeting employees complained that by not providing longer news items the VOA was in violation of the VOA Charter. When one employee complained that this action would turn the VOA into "CNN Headline News" Mr. Iliff visibly bristled. Employees were also stunned to learn that despite the ongoing war on terror and the upcoming presidential election, Mr. Iliff was eliminating the VOA Middle East News Desk and the VOA National News Desk. In a handout, it was revealed that VOA Worldwide English radio broadcasts would be reduced to 13 hours a day on weekdays and 10 hours a day on weekends. Two years ago VOA Worldwide English radio broadcasts were 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. The VOA Worldwide English radio broadcasts were considered one of the premier international radio broadcasting services. Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks and despite the increased need for broadcasting to the rest of the world the Broadcasting Board of Governors has steadily cut the VOA English language radio broadcasts. Late yesterday in an email to employees Mr. Illiff stated that the handouts were "not exact". (AFGE Local 1812 via WORLD OF RADIO 1241, DXLD) ** U S A. LEONARD BERNSTEIN: AN AMERICAN LIFE This eleven-part radio documentary series, will air nationally and internationally beginning in October. The series of hour-long programs, narrated by actress Susan Sarandon, is being produced by Steve Rowland with Larry Abrams of CultureWorks for the WFMT Radio Network. Bernstein's career and life will be explored through his own correspondence, as well as through interviews with people who knew and worked with him, including John Adams, Marin Alsop, John Corigliano, and members of the Bernstein family. For a list of stations airing the series, visit www.wfmt.bernstein.com [sic] from http://www.leonardbernstein.com (via John Norfolk, dxldyahoogroup) Actual link mentioned above is http://www.wfmt.com/bernstein/ NEWS RELEASE: http://www.wfmt.com/bernstein/newsrelease.html (John Norfolk, dxldyahoogroup via DXLD) ** U S A. Within range of High Plains Public Radio, based in Garden City KS, on Aug 4, via 89.5 KTOT in the Top O` Texas, I heard their multi-station ID adding another non-translator, KTXP in Bushland TX. Per FM Atlas XIX, this station already existed on 91.5 with fj format, 16 km range, 1000 watts, 80 meters, but apparently not previously with the HPPR network (altho a major drawback of FM Atlas is that you can`t figure out regional networks --- or any networks). I wonder who owned it? On Aug 9 I was passing thru Amarillo on I-40 and made a point of monitoring the HPPR stations. They aleady have a translator on 94.9. 91.5 was already audible at mile 36 with classical music; 89.5 KTOT from Spearman/Perryton was audible in parallel at mile 38, as well as 94.9 from somewhere in Amarillo. On the east side of Amarillo, yet another HPPR translator, missing from FM Atlas XIX, is still on the air on 91.3. So that gives HPPR THREE low-power relays in the Amarillo area. Unlike my previous trip a few months ago, 89.5 is blocked in Amarillo by a new rock-gospel-huxter translator, but soon comes back NE of the city on US 60, and remains the prime/only public radio outlet well into NW Oklahoma. The 105.7 full-power in Amarillo, which HPPR was reportedly buying, is still running comercially as ``The Breeze``, and audible as far west as the NM border. Lunching in Amarillo, I took time to do a quick RDS bandscan on the ATS-909. The ONLY local signal with RDS running was: 94.1 showing: KMXJ Other signals confirmed on the air and in stereo: 88.3 89.1 89.5 89.9 90.3 90.7 91.1 91.3 91.9 93.1 94.9 95.7 96.9 97.9 98.7 99.7 100.5 100.9 101.9 103.1 104.3 105.7 107.1 107.9. A couple stood out with Latin music: 99.7 and 104.3 The NWS relay on 1610 is still running in Amarillo, already audible considerably west at I-40 mile 43. The robotic voice doesn`t know how to stress a frequently used word, ``Panhándle``. Whilst in Albuquerque NM, I did a local RDS bandscan on the ATS-909. Despite the saturated band, only a few showed up: 92.3, K R S T [with spaces] 95.9, KLSK [a translator, no spaces] 107.9, BIG I --- not scrolling but alternating with another field: _107.9 FM [with a space before the 1] Passing thru Santa Rosa on I-40 made the following observations Aug 9: NM Department of Transportation District 4 is still running the same old loop with no useful info but hoping we arrive alive, on two frequencies, but not synchronized: 1610 and 1680. The stronger one in the town is 1610, and I had thought 1680 was further west where there is bridge construxion, but 1680 held up further to the east; of course I could be fooled if the powers are not the same. 1610 was gone by mile 290, while 1680 lasted until mile 297. Approximately, on the MW- insensitive caradio. The only local MW station, KSSR 1340, was silent, as it was more than two months ago. I can only wonder if has been off all this time, or has had another breakdown. Its FM companion on 95.9 was OK, still IDing as KSSR mentioning *both* frequencies, ``The Lion``! KANW 89.1 translator in Santa Rosa on 91.9 was on the air at this time, but I was startled to find it not \\ to 89.1 in Santa Rosa, where classical music was coming in, probably from KOHM Lubbock TX if not a sporadic-E opening from somewhere. This could be a problem for the translator off-air input. The 107.1 translator in Santa Rosa remains on; signs of RDS but too weak to break into display. The FM Atlas listed LPFMs are still missing. Kept an eye out for the old TIS-530 pole in Cuervo with solar panels, but no sign of it anymore. 540 KNMX Las Vegas must have a big null around mile 294, barely audible. The Conchas Lake translator on 105.5 was still with 99.5 Magic FM from Albuquerque, as it was last time, no longer classical KHFM 95.5. Around Newkirk, the closest point to Conchas, could not detect the other translators listed there on 88.3 and 102.3. Tucumcari: KENW translator is still on 104.5, with RDS as KENW_895. Gospel rock stereo translator is active on 90.1, but not the other ones or LPFMs listed on 89.1, 101.1, 106.5. I did discover an open carrier on 1610 in the Tucumcari area --- a long forgotten TIS transmitter? Did spot a TIS-type pole by the road between miles 335 and 336, but could not correlate with a signal peak as there was still noise on the frequency as we went by it. That led me to scan the rest of the MW band in case that was an in-band TIS. Another open carrier appeared on 970 --- slightly off frequency, but since this remained unchanged quite a distance out of town, I had to include it was an ATS-909 birdie, never noticied in Enid with local KGWA-960. Oklahoma items observed on this trip are filed under that heading (Glenn Hauser, NM and TX, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. EQUIPMENT DONATED TO RADIO STATION Wednesday, August 11, 2004 http://www.cibolabeacon.com/articles/2004/08/11/news/news4.txt LAGUNA-ACOMA [New Mexico] - The Laguna-Acoma communities are one step closer to establishing a community radio station. The idea began back in 1998 when the executive director of the Laguna Department of Education attended a conference in Denver given by the Association of Community Broadcasters. The conference emphasized the value of small communities forming local stations. In 1999 Bob Tenequer, an employee of the Laguna Tribe, was asked to look into the possibility of a community station for Laguna-Acoma. The biggest dilemma was where to house it. Tenequer, at the time, was a member of a task force that was instrumental in gathering support and resources for the new Laguna-Acoma High School. The task force came up with the idea of housing their community radio station in the new school. The next step was to find funding for the project. "The financial support is actually a two-tier process," explained Tenequer. "The first part of which was to go to the U.S. Department of Commerce. We received a grant from them in the amount of $36,000. We used this to do an assessment for a frequency and tower location. Some of the money will also go towards hiring an attorney once the FCC starts taking applications for obtaining frequencies." When asked by the Beacon if he had any idea when this would take place, Tenequer said he didn't. "The FCC isn't giving out radio frequencies for the time being," he stated. A potential frequency, however, has been identified for whenever the FCC does start taking applications again. The second phase of the grant system to set up the radio station involves ordering equipment. A start has already been made. Some equipment has been donated by an Albuquerque business called the AGM Radio Group. Tenequer approached Laguna Governor Roland E. Johnson to ask if Johnson knew of any place that might wish to make a donation. Governor Johnson put Tenequer in touch with the AGM Radio Group - an organization happy to give equipment to the Laguna-Acoma community. The school board formally accepted the donation at their last meeting on August 3. The equipment has been placed in the studio at the high school. Students and even community members will be able to go into the studio and start learning how to operate the radio equipment. Also being considered is whether to do a low frequency broadcast to give the community a taste of what it will be like to have a local station. Tenequer and others in the community hope that having a radio station at the high school will get students to consider a career in communications. Tenequer also hopes they can use the radio station to advance "cultural and traditional considerations in the community." by Amy Sorbello (Cíbola County Beacon Online Aug 11 via Artie Bigley, DXLD) WTFK? ** U S A. Radio stations KNSS, KFH to swap dial position http://wichita.bizjournals.com/wichita/stories/2004/08/09/daily3.html?t=printable Two Wichita radio stations are changing frequencies effective Aug. 30. KFH AM programming will move to 1240 AM, now occupied by KNSS, and KNSS programming will move to 1330 on the AM band. The call letters will swap as well. KFH will continue to broadcast on 98.7 FM in simulcast coverage. Jackie Wise, president and general manager for Entercom Radio in Wichita, says the move makes sense because it will expand KNSS to a station with a regional reach, rather than a citywide one. Wise says the station had received "a great deal of feedback" from listeners in outlying areas who want to hear KNSS. She also says people in those areas want to hear the station's expanded severe weather coverage. "We're very excited about it," Wise said. (© 2004 American City Business Journals Inc., Aug 10 via Brock Whaley, DXLD) ** U S A. END OF AN ERA FOR WOR/NEW YORK --- Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2004 After broadcasting from the same address for the past 76 years, legendary News/Talk WOR/New York will soon vacate its famed 1440 Broadway studios and head "downtown" to a facility walking distance from Wall Street. The Buckley station has leased 22,000 square feet at 111 Broadway in the "Trinity Center," located near Trinity Church, and 75 WOR employees will make the move to Lower Manhattan following an extensive build-out of state-of-the-art studios and offices. Among those who have roamed the hallowed halls at 1440 Broadway are three generations of Rambling With Gambling morning hosts --- John B., John A. and John R. Gambling --- Bob and Ray hosts Bob Elliot and Ray Goulding, Arlene Francis, Vincent Price, Jean Shepherd and Milton Berle (radioandrecords.com via Brock Whaley, DXLD) ** U S A. Err America: While the network plans on adding several key markets and tells prospective advertisers, the network has moved its San Diego launch date to Monday, August 23. Until then, KPOP enters a period of an un-easy calm. While not officially told, staff members see the flash of new hosts with pictures taken in studio and prospective board ops are fine tuning the schedule. Meanwhile, Frank, Dean, and Ray can be heard singing away and Happy Hare, Jerry G. Bishop, and Ken & Cynthia (along with Cindy Wood) await the official word. No memo please, a Cliff Note from management would be fine ... stay tuned.... (SDRadio.net Aug 11 via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA [non]. 15760 kHz, Radio Nacional de Venezuela en español. Comentario ininteligibles por locutor (mucho eco). Después una mujer habla sobre la música con una melodía de fondo. Pude entender la identificación de la emisora. 2335+ UT. 10-08-2004. SINPO 43232. Muy atentamente 73´s (José Bueno - Córdoba - España, (c) Notici@sDX via DXLD) That would be new frequency via Cuba, ex-9820, or mistake? Bet it is not yet announced. I suspect they have a few recorded programs they run repeatedly. Do regular listeners find anything dated on the RNV broadcasts? It should be especially interesting to check them out starting August 15. BTW, Aug 4 at 1958 I caught the closing of the 13740 broadcast to ``San Francisco`` and they were STILL announcing the Apartado 3979 address which reportedly has been closed (Glenn Hauser, Cimarrón County OK, DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. Aquí en Venezuela el próximo domingo se celebrará el REFEREDUM REVOCATORIO PRESIDENCIAL, donde se decidirá si Hugo Chávez se queda o se va del poder. Invitamos a todos los amigos radioescuchas del mundo a estar pendientes de lo que suceda ese día, donde se espera si la democracia venezolana se mantenga o se instaure un régimen socialista de corte autoritario. ¡La hora de la verdad - ha llegado! Invitamos a todos los diexistas y amigos del mundo a observar los acontecimientos en la siguientes páginas web: Televisoras: Comerciales: Globovisión: http://www.globovision.com Radio Caracas Televisión: http://www.rctv.net Televen: http://www.televen.com Venevisión: http://www.venevision.net Y para los amigos del proceso revolucionario pueden ver Venezolana de Televisión y Vive Tv: http://www.vtv.gov.ve http://www.vive.gov.ve Radios: Comerciales: Unión Radio: http://www.unionradio.com.ve Circuito Radio Venezuela: http://www.radiovenezuela.com.ve Circuito Nacional CNB: http://www.cnb.com.ve Para los amigos del proceso revolucionarios pueden escuchar: Radio Nacional de Venezuela: http://www.rnv.gov.ve Ya para finalizar Don Guillermo, le anexo un link de un video que espero le de una idea de lo que sucede en nuestro país, y que con el favor de Dios y de toda la mayoría democrática de nuestro pueblo, sacaremos "con votos y no con balas" a este dictador que tenemos en el Palacio de Miraflores. Le comento que la razón y la paz de la república está con nosotros, sólo al gobierno le convendría sabotear con violencia los comicios, en el caso de que se vean pérdidos. Los círculos armados bolivarianos, la mayoría del consejo nacional electoral, la fiscalia, la defensoría del pueblo, la asamblea nacional, y parte de las fuerzas armadas lo tiene controlado Chávez. La Oposición sólo lo que tiene es la mayoría de la gente que a pesar de las trampas del Consejo Nacional Electoral, irá masivamente desde tempranito en la mañana del domingo votando en santa paz. Véalo por televisión y dictamine quién tiene la razón en Venezuela. "En el juego de domino el que va ganando el juego - no lo tranca" Dicho venezolano. "QUE DIOS Y LA VIRGEN NOS AYUDEN A SALIR DE ESTA PESADILLA EN PAZ Y ALEGRIA" ¡amen! Hasta pronto Don Guillermo. ¡Un abrazo! (Jorge García Rangel, Barinas, Venezuela, Aug 10, WORLD OF RADIO 1241, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Mensaje de Orlando Urdaneta, sobre la situación en venezuela, para el Mundo [anti-Chávez] Español http://www.urru.org/orlando/la-revolucion-inutil-es.wmv English http://www.urru.org/orlando/the-useless-revolution-en.wmv [9+ minutes] Français http://www.urru.org/orlando/la-revolution-inutile-fr.wmv Italiano http://www.urru.org/orlando/rivoluzione-inutile-it.wmv Urru home: http://www.urru.org/index.html (via Jorge García Rangel, Venezuela, DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. ELECTION OFFICIAL SAYS TV, RADIO WILL BE SHUT DOWN ... By FABIOLA SANCHEZ, Associated Press Writer CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Venezuela's government will shut down any television or radio station that broadcasts results of the Aug. 15 recall referendum against President Hugo Chávez before the elections council announces the official outcome, an elections official said. The National Elections Council will order "shutting down or blocking the signal of any media station" that breaks rules which prohibits broadcasting voting results before the elections council announces them officially, said the council's president, Francisco Carrasquero. Carrasquero, who is considered a Chávez supporter, criticized opposition leader Enrique Mendoza's recent comments that the opposition would announce the results on its own if the government is too slow to release them. Carrasquero said that political leaders would be allowed to comment on the results only after the council makes its first announcement, and that the rules should be respected in order to avoid "public unrest." Government officials accuse the opposition of plotting to create chaos during the referendum to create confusion and overthrow Chávez. The opposition denies the claims. Vice President José Vicente Rangel said he was concerned about Mendoza's comments, which he says show a "clear, direct, and stirring violation from every point of view of the election rules." Rangel said that the government would strengthen security on Aug. 15, placing 117,000 military officers near embassies, voting centers and government buildings. Opposition leader Alberto Quirós Corradi did not confirm whether the opposition was still planning to give early results, but said that they would not allow the results to be announced late. "It is being said that the elections council has five days to make the announcements. The chief of the (armed forces) guaranteed that all the ballots will be gathered within 12 hours. There is no excuse for a delay and we will not allow it," said Quirós Corradi to the press Monday. Quirós Corradi did not give any details on what they would do if the results were delayed. The opposition needs almost 3.8 million votes to recall Chávez. If they succeed, elections would be held in a month for a leader to finish Chávez's term, which ends in 2007. Recent polls give an even chance for both the government and the opposition in Sunday's vote. Venezuelans are deeply divided between those who say that Chávez is the first president in decades to care for the nation's poor majority, and those who say he is a threat to democracy and must be stopped (APws 08/09 1801 via Mike Cooper, WORLD OF RADIO 1241, DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ THE BPL FIGHT: SAN DIEGO CA. UTILITY REPORTEDLY CONSIDERING BPL San Diego California could be the next BPL battleground, as an informed source tells the CGC Communicator broadcast industry newsletter that San Diego Gas & Electric is considering the deployment of Broadband over Power Lines in its service area. Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, is here with the specifics: According to Gonsett`s CGC newsletter, an informed source has told him that San Diego Gas & Electric`s communication systems planners met recently and are seriously considering endorsing and sponsoring BPL on the unility`s power distribution system. The newsletter also says that San Diego Gas & Electric is considering entertaining proposals to partner with vendors for one or more field demonstrations of BPL technology. CGC says that these plans should be of concern to all users of the High Frequency and low band VHF spectrum. This includes TV Channels 2 through 5 and possibly even Channel 6. The latter because spurious and harmonic energy could reach these higher frequencies. According to CGC and its unnamed source, San Diego Gas & Electric is aware that deployment of BPL in its service area could cause considerable radio frequency interference. Even so, planners at the utility still appear ready to proceed. More on this as it develops. I`m Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in Los Angeles. Bob Gonsett is known on the ham bands as W6VR. He says that he has a call pending with San Diego Gas & Electric corporate communications department to determine the company`s official position on BPL. Bob also says to stay tuned for updates. (CGC via ARNewsline(tm) August 6 via John Norfolk, dxldyahoogroup) THE BPL FIGHT: A TEXAS TRYOUT Meantime, Larry Pollack, of the W5YI VEC reports that Central Texas- based Broadband Horizons has launched BPL operations in three Texas communities. The pilot projects were launched in mid-June in the towns of Blanco, Burnet and Weimar. According to Mike Steele, Burnet`s City Manager, the community has had great success with the initial start- up. He says the city plans to expand BPL service it to additional parts of the municipality (W5YI VEC via ARNewsline(tm) August 6 via John Norfolk, dxldyahoogroup) THE BPL FIGHT: A BIG WIN IN PENN YAN NY Meantime the BPL test is over in Pen Yan, New York and it appears as if ham radio has won this round. This, with word that the broadband provider that`s been testing BPL in Penn Yan reportedly plans to ``move away`` from that technology. According to the ARRL Letter, the Western New York community of some 5000 residents has been considering various proposals with Data Ventures to offer broadband service. A BPL trial had been underway in Penn Yan for several months. The village reportedly would get 10 percent of the generated revenue. Now, according to an article in the July 28th edition of the Finger Lakes Times Online, the provider is now proposing to employ wireless mesh ``WiFi`` technology instead of BPL and ARRL CEO Dave Sumner, K1ZZ, has already congratulated Penn Yan Mayor Douglas Marchionda Jr and DVI for going with wireless broadband instead of BPL (ARRL via ARNewsline(tm) August 6 via John Norfolk, dxldyahoogroup via DXLD) THE BPL FIGHT: SPOKANE GOES WIDE AREA WI-FI Spokane, Washington has also opted for Wi-Fi over BPL as that city inaugurates a wireless Internet access system covering 100 blocks of downtown Spokane. The wireless zone uses new technology that allows Internet signals to be transmitted more than a mile. This is far beyond the traditional 200- to 300-foot range of previous Wi-Fi systems. The Wi-Fi area is divided into a private network for use by the city and an open network for the public. Public users can connect for two hours a day at no charge, and subscription plans are in the works for extended use. One Eighty Networks provided the networking for the project (Published reports via ARNewsline(tm) August 6 via John Norfolk, dxldyahoogroup via DXLD) NORTH CAROLINA UTILITY ENDING BPL FIELD TRIAL; SYSTEM SHUTDOWN PENDING NEWINGTON, CT, Aug 6, 2004 --- Progress Energy Corporation (PEC) says it`s completed Phase II of its broadband over power line (BPL) field trial in the Raleigh, North Carolina, area. In an August 4 PEC internal memorandum made available to ARRL, the company said its program to ``test the viability of providing broadband service to communities it serves`` will wrap up by the end of August, although PEC still plans to explore ``several key strategic issues`` regarding BPL through the end of this year. The company reportedly will shut down the system once it`s able to move its BPL customers to other broadband providers. ``Currently, the company does not have plans for a large-scale commercial rollout of BPL in the company`s service territories,`` the memorandum states. Progress Energy`s decision comes on the heels of announced shutdowns of BPL field trials in Penn Yan, New York, and Cedar Rapids, Iowa. PEC Vice President of Energy Delivery Solutions Lisa Myers said the utility obtained significant information about the design, construction and operation of a BPL system. ``Overall, this has been a successful test for us,`` the memorandum quotes her as saying. ``We have gathered valuable information about broadband over power lines and its potential.`` During its six-month Phase I and Phase II tests, the utility says it offered broadband service to more than 400 homes in southern Wake County. Earlier this year, FCC Chairman Michael Powell visited the BPL field trial to promote the technology, and local radio amateurs spoke briefly with him about their interference concerns --- see ``North Carolina Hams Experience Close BPL Encounter with FCC Chairman`` http://www2.arrl.org/news/stories/2004/03/09/1/ The PEC memorandum acknowledged Amateur Radio interference complaints. ``BPL has met with vocal opposition from amateur or `ham` radio operators who are concerned that the service will interfere with the radio frequencies they use,`` it said. ``Some complaints were filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) during Phase II by ham radio operators using mobile equipment in search of BPL signals.`` Responding to one complaint, the FCC earlier this summer took measurements in the field trial area, and FCC Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) Deputy Chief Bruce A. Franca said the FCC had concluded that PEC`s BPL trial ``is in compliance`` with FCC rules and that the company`s ham band notching efforts ``are effective`` to avoid the potential for harmful interference. The ARRL has requested clarification of certain claims made in Franca`s July 22 letter, however – see ARRL Seeks Clarification of FCC Response to BPL Interference Complaint http://www2.arrl.org/news/stories/2004/07/23/5/ The memorandum cites PEC Director of Emerging Technologies Matt Oja as saying the utility conducted its BPL trial ``strictly in accordance with existing FCC limits and measurement procedures.`` Oja said the technology PEC selected --- by Amperion --- ``allowed us to address all complaints by changing the settings to mitigate interference.`` One of the amateurs who`s been closely monitoring Progress Energy`s foray into BPL -- Gary Pearce, KN4AQ -- says he`s pleased with the utility`s decision. ``It`s a positive thing for ham radio that Progress Energy is not going to be pursuing BPL for whatever reason they decided not to do it,`` Pearce told ARRL. ``It`s going to make a lot of hams in Eastern North Carolina happy.`` Despite the apparent ``clean bill of health`` from the FCC, Pearce says he believes the specter of interference loomed large in PEC`s decision to not deploy a full-blown BPL system at this point. ``We kept pointing out to them that things probably would be much worse if they deployed in a large area,`` he said. ``Maybe that`s what they saw. It`s hard to tell --- they`re really not saying.`` Pearce acknowledged that Progress Energy and Amperion personnel worked closely with local amateurs to notch out interference on HF amateur frequencies. Effective notching turned out to be more difficult than anticipated, however. Even following the FCC`s visit to take measurements, amateurs continued to report strong BPL interference on the high end of 20 meters as well as in the HF international broadcast bands. FCC measurements indicated notch depths averaging 24 dB below Part 15 emission limits, which Franca characterized as ``sufficient to eliminate any signals that would be deemed capable of causing harmful interference, including interference to amateur operations.`` ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, asserted in response that Part 15 device operators ``must eliminate all harmful interference, and therefore in some cases must achieve more--in certain cases, considerably more --- than a 24 dB reduction in order to be in compliance.`` A news report on Progress Energy`s BPL decision appeared in the August 6 editions of the Raleigh News & Observer. http://www.newsobserver.com/business/nc/story/1504502p-7666421c.html There`s more information about BPL and Amateur Radio on the ARRL Web site http://www2.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/ Copyright © 2004, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved (via John Norfolk, dxldyahoogroup) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ SIDC Belgium Propagation Solar Wind quite High at (550 KM/Sec) at time of writing. SIDC (Belgium Observatory) Forecasts unsettled conditions for a further 24 Hours or so, before things settle down, that is barring a Coronal Mass Ejection Arrival at Earths Geomagnetic Field. Reception of Voice Of Russia confirms somewhat 'jumpy' conditions (9480 1820 UT 11th August (Ken Fletcher, UK, 1822 UT 11th August 2004, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ###