DX LISTENING DIGEST 4-146, September 25, 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 NEXT AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO Extra 50: Sat 2000 on RFPI http://www.rfpi.org repeated 8-hourly [maybe] 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 1930 on WWCR 12160 Sun 2000 on RNI webcast, http://www.11L-rni.com Sun 2000 on RFPI http://www.rfpi.org repeated 8-hourly [maybe] Mon 0100 on WBCQ 9330-CLSB Mon 0230 on WRMI 6870 Mon 0330 on WSUI 910, webcast http://wsui.uiowa.edu [previous 1246] 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 Mon 2100 on WBCQ 9330-CLSB repeated thru Wed Wed 0930 on WWCR 9475 WRN ONDEMAND: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also for CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL]: [WORLD OF RADIO Extra 50 is the same as CONTINENT OF MEDIA 04-05] WORLD OF RADIO Extra 50 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/worx50h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/worx50h.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/com0405.html WORLD OF RADIO Extra 50 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/com0405.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/com0405.rm WORLD OF RADIO Extra 50 in the true SW sound of 7415: (stream) http://www.piratearchive.com/media/worldofradio_09-22-04.m3u (d`load) http://www.piratearchive.com/media/worldofradio_09-22-04.mp3 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ HEADLINES IN THIS EDITION::: BELARUS --- New times for English BRAZIL --- 4755 reactivated CHAD --- Possible relay of Taiwan CZECH REPUBLIC --- Havel play on R. Prague MONGOLIA --- DST ends, English time shifts ROMANIA --- Classical on 9620 from here, not Uruguay USA --- KJES off the air USA --- WYFR off for Hurricane Jeanne, but full B-04 schedule here USA --- Air America in Portland ME, Phoenix, San Francisco USA --- Russian on 1690 USA --- ELF closing down shortly ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ** ALGERIA [non]. ALGERIAN OPPOSITION RADIO STATION AL-SALAM TO CLOSE Al-Salam radio, an Arabic-language Islamist opposition satellite station, announced on 24 September that it will officially cease broadcasting on 30 September, 2004. Al-Salam is a pro-Islamic radio station affiliated to the Islamic Salvation Front - a party banned by the Algerian government. The station's primary target audience is Algerian listeners. The radio said the decision was taken by the station's management board on 1 August, which was subsequently published in a statement issued on 16 August, from London and Amsterdam. The statement also said the management will examine the possibility of embarking on a fresh media project to be announced in the future. No further details on the new project were given. The station has a web site at http://www.assalam.info which includes live audio streaming and a contact address in the Netherlands. The full postal address given on the web site is as follows: P.O. Box 4059, 5604 EB Eindhoven, Netherlands. Al-Salam broadcasts on a digital multiplex on the Hotbird satellite located at 13 degrees east, 12597 MHz, vertical polarization. Source: Radio Al-Salam, in Arabic 1600 gmt 24 Sep 04 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. HCJB`s new schedule for Australia and Pacific from Oct 2 is 0700-1000 on 11750 (Bob Padula, Radio EDXP via Marie Lamb, DXing With Cumbre Sept 23 via DXLD) ?? The skeds we had before covered 0700- 1100 but Allen Graham said the current time of 0700-1000 would move one hour *later*. This never made sense, with DST just starting in parts of DU, so perhaps he got it backwards. Is this actually on at 0800-1100 currently, with DXPL at 0830 Sat? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA [and non]. Daylight Saving [sic] Time will be commencing here in Tasmania on October 3rd. Also in NZ on that date. The mainland states of NSW, Victoria, SA and the Australian Capital Territory will be on DST from the 31st of October (Robin L. Harwood, Norwood, Tasmania 7250, Sept 24, swl at qth.net via DXLD) I.e. Tasmania, and later NSW, Vic, ACT will be UT +11 and SA on UT +10 and one half. WA, NT and Qsld have the good sense not to do this, but Australia winds up with 5 timezones in spring & summer (gh) ** BELARUS. Radio Minsk has a new schedule and now IDs itself as Radiostation Belarus also in German (and so probably in English, too). New airtimes for German are Wed, Sat and Sun 2100-2130, Sun only 1930-2000 (apparently an alternative program, i.e. the 2100 broadcast will not be a repeat of this one), Thu and Sun 0400-0430. I have nothing about English, but I think it should be still on air, just at other times now (Kai Ludwig, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The transmissions were re-timed on 1 September and the name was changed to "Radio Belarus". According to the announcement in the audio files, the English program is supposed to be aired now mt.tf.s at 2200-2230 on 1170/7105/7210 and repeated mtw.fs. at 0330-0400 on 5970/7210 (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 4755, Rádio Educação Rural, Campo Grande, MS, Reactivada!!! 0904-0910, Septiembre 25, Português. Muchas ID's: "Bom dia, bom dia, Campo Grande, estamos chegando na Rádio Educação Rural... Bom dia Matto Grosso do Sul!!"; "na manhã do sábado 25 de setembro muito bom dia.... bom dia Campo Grande... Rádio Educação Rural, Campo Grande, Matto Grosso do Sul"; TC & ID: "5 y 6 na Educação Rural"; programa (tentativo): "Rancho Caboclo"; otra ID: "nas ondas curtas... Rádio Educação Rural..."; 44444. La estacion estuvo fuera del aire en los últimos meses. 4925, Rádio Educacão Rural, Tefé, AM, 0050-0055, Septiembre 22, português. Comerciales locales: "acesórios para motoristas...", "Supermercados... enlatados, leite....". Anuncio: "Distrito Eleitoral do Amazonas"; ann. & ID: "a partir da agora, programa na Rádio Rural...", 24442 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, Noticias DX via DXLD) ** CHAD. Une délégation de Radio Taiwan Internationale s'est rendue récemment au Tchad. L'émetteur OC de la Radio Nationale Tchadienne était en panne, ce qui était particulièrement important car ce pays, du fait de sa superficie, diffuse sur le territoire grâce aux OC. En un mois, les techniciens ont pu réparer l'émetteur qui a été remis en service le 2 septembre. Les Tchadiens avaient demandé de l'aide à d'autres ingénieurs étrangers, lesquels avaient répondu que la meilleure solution était d'acheter un nouvel émetteur, les réparations étant trop complexes. Par ailleurs, il se pourrait que certaines émissions de Radio Taiwan Internationale soient diffusées sur le territoire tchadien par le biais de l'émetteur réparé (Radio Taiwan Int. - 18 septembre, informations issues de http://perso.wanadoo.fr/jm.aubier via DXLD) ** CHINA. I am not in the habit of tuning much below 9280 on my 31m bandscans, but Sept 25 around 1335 kept going and heard a weak signal on 9170. Per EiBi, this is CNR-6 to Taiwan, in Mandarin, scheduled 1230-1805, as well as 2055-0105 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. Re unID 15500: Yesterday, 23 Sep at 1320 I did a "final" check on this English program. It was heard in parallel with more or less readable signal on ten CNR2 channels, 7130, 7140, 9620, 9755, 9775, 11740, 11785, 11800, 15160, 15500. Program contents were "Good Noodles" etc., just like described on the Studio Classroom website. I close the case. Amen (Jari Savolainen, Finland, Sept 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. RHC 0500-0700 UT, English: A wonderful signal received yesterday Sept 23, from RHC Bauta on 9550 kHz, covered the English transmission at 0500-0700 UT, and \\ 9655 kHz too, latter co-channel poor RRI [Romania]. Close to 11760 an unID digital ute signal could be observed (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST)) I also heard RHC this morning on 9550 and there was a very weak signal on 9820 which might have been them. But when I tuned in around 0630 9550 was not very strong, and only recognised from content. ROU was strong on 9655 and I couldn't hear RHC on there. And as you write, there was a strong digital signal on 11760 - and it seemed to be spreading up to 11765 but not down to 11755. Using LSB I could hear that 11760 did not have an audible broadcaster. There was another ute with fast dits and loud on about 11847 at 0925. (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX Sep 23 via DXLD) Yes heard the 11847-8 kHz digital signal too, strong 'oscillating' sound. Cuban transmission today [Sep 24] looks like on normal schedule and equipment now. RHC Bauta in English 0500-0700 UT. Much stronger 9820 kHz outlet today, at least fair level in Europe, accompanied by 9550 kHz poor to fair, and two poor signals on 9655 and 11760 kHz also. 9655 kHz suffers by severe co-channel R Finland at 5-6 UT, but R FIN service will close on Sept 30th here. Another co-channel is RRI Bucharest at 6-7 UT and still remains till Oct 30. 11760 suffers by co-ch BBC A'Seela Oman (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, Sep 24, ibid.) Don`t know about the 11760 `ute`, but around 11845 there are surely remnants of Cuban jammers against R. Martí, whether it is on the air at that moment or not. Checked at 1400 UT Sept 24 and found another reactivated frequency, 12000 in Spanish \\ 11760. As usual, Despertar con Cuba ran a few minutes late, and the 1404 ID with frequencies gave 15230, 12000, 11800, 11760, 9550 and 6000 --- but 11800 had still not resumed. At 1431 Formalmente Informal started, to last ``18 minutos``. Another day, another frequency: Sat Sept 25 at 1333 check, 11800 was also on along with the others. Possibly they have all Bauta transmitters going again, but not including the ones relaying China on 9570, 13740, etc. Also was looking for the R. Rebelde DX program UT Sat Sept 25 at 0405 on 5025. It lasted less than 5 minutes at 0407, introed by Manolo de la Rosa, but consisted only of a correspondent report from Bayamo about a new low-power relay transmitter; somehow Che Guevara had something to do with it (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. COMITÉ INTERNACIONAL POR LA DEMOCRACIA EN CUBA PIDE MAYOR DIFUSIÓN PARA PROGRAMA DE RADIO PRAGA SOBRE TRANSICIÓN [21-09-2004] Por Elena Horálková Sonido 16kb/s ~ 32kb/s En la cumbre del Comité Internacional para la Democracia en Cuba, celebrado el fin de semana, los participantes propusieron ampliar la difusión del programa sobre la transición checa, sobre el tema conversamos con Freddy Valverde. [caption:] Luis Alberto Monge y Freddy Valverde en la cumbre del Comité Internacional para la Democracia en Cuba Como coordinador del espacio del Totalitarismo a la Democracia, nos puede decir cómo surgió la idea de poner en antena semejante espacio. "Conversando con diferentes personas interesadas por lo que ocurre en Cuba, muchos interlocutores coincidieron en que sería bueno transmitir hacia Cuba, y hacia otros países que están o se preparan para iniciar su proceso de transición, un espacio radiofónico en el que los protagonistas de la transición checa cuenten sus experiencias." . . . http://www.radio.cz/es/articulo/58380 . . . Cuando y donde pueden captar los interesados el espacio de Radio Praga del Totalitarismo a la Democracia? El espacio se transmite todos los sábados [universales?] por las frecuencias de 6200 kHz y 7345 kHz de 0200 a 0230 de la madrugada, Tiempo Universal Coordinado (UTC). Y en Radio Praga esperaremos sus comentarios y sugerencias (via Horacio Nigro, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. A WORLD PREMIÈRE ON RADIO PRAGUE! Vaclav Havel Tuesday 28th September 16.09.2004 - Projects Guardian Angel, by Vaclav Havel A stranger barges in and makes himself at home... he is strangely, indefinably menacing... how can he know so much about your past...? a guardian angel, but not from above... This play is vintage Havel, his only radio play, dating back to the first half of 1968, when he was at the height of his creative powers. Not long after it was completed, Soviet tanks brought an end to the reforms of the Prague Spring, and for two decades the play was left on the shelf. On Tuesday 28th September 2004 Radio Prague broadcasts Guardian Angel in a first ever English-language production, in a translation by Paul Wilson commissioned by Radio Prague. The production features Gordon Truefitt as the menacing, uninvited guest Machon and Gerald Turner as the shy and impressionable playwright Vavak. It is directed by David Vaughan. Guardian Angel was recorded at Czech Radio's studios in Karlin, Prague in April 2004, sound engineer: Milos Kot, sound effects: Jiri Litos, sound editing: Jitka Kundrumova. Guardian Angel will be broadcast on all our English times and frequencies on Tuesday 28th September, immediately after our usual news bulletin at the top of the programme. For more details, consult our frequency schedule. Source: Czech Radio 7, Radio Prague URL: http://www.radio.cz/en/article/58333 (Jonathan Murphy, Ireland, World DX Club via DXLD) ** DENMARK. 5815, WMR World Music Radio (10/6 kW). 2250 UT, 24-09- 2004. Tras varios días sin reportar esta emisora musical, hoy la vuelvo a sintonizar con algunos problemas de transmisión. Durante el tiempo de la escucha tuvo varios cortes esporádicos en la emisión. Identificación entre canciones. 55333 (José Bueno - Córdoba - España, Sept 25, Noticias DX via DXLD) Porque funciona sólo fines de semana ** ECUADOR [non]. HCJB to use 75 m from Germany The enclosed message indicates that HCJB German will in B04 use 3955 via T-Systems facilities, I think altogether 1600-1700 with the first half hour being Plattdeutsch (low German). Last winter they insisted on using 49 metres, of course resulting in a disaster (vertical incidence transmission during winter nights). Site unknown so far: Wertachtal would be possible if the pschschsch [DRM] on 3995 is to start not earlier than 1700; as far as I recall both Wertachtal and Jülich have only a single 75 metre antenna each. Since 3955 is still associated with Skelton for me: I wonder if there will be any 75 metres from England in the coming winter season? Well, at least some KBS should be expected (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Sept 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: Hier die neuen Frequenzen (wurden heute bei "Für DXer" bekanntgegeben): AB 31. OKTOBER Für Europa in Deutsch 0700 UT 9765 via Quito, Ecuador 1630 UT 3955 via Jülich oder Wertachtal, Deutschland siehe auch http://www.andenstimme.org (Douglas Kähler, Kiel, Sept 25, A-DX via Ludwig, DXLD) ** EUROPE. Dear Friends, Thanks to all for their reception reports, comments and suggestions for last week`s test Broadcast. We hope to be on tonight 25/09/04 from around 2300 GMT, so we hope the channel will be interference free. Last week we made it to New York, as well as all over Europe (Joe Vincent (JRRI), R. Strike (Italy), shortwave yg via DXLD) WTFK???!!! 6240 mentioned in 4-141 (gh) JRRI, JOLLY ROGER RADIO INTERNATIONAL: JR_Radio @ hotmail.com 6240v, Sep 19, 2149-2257, Surprised to hear some music on 6239.4, one hour before my local sunset. Signal came up nicely at dusk, and could recognize a few songs, including one by the Cowsills. Frequent ID's, e-mail & postal mail addresses given. There was some ute QRM the whole time. Frequency drifted upward to 6240.16. SIO 222 (George Maroti, NY, Free Radio Weekly Sept 24 via DXLD) 6240, Jolly Roger Radio Int, agradece a todos quienes han enviado sus reportes por las pruebas realizadas en el dia de hoy 19 Septiembre, en // a 6395 kHz. Ellos han instalado 2 nuevos transmisores y 2 nuevas antenas. Estuvieron en el aire desde las 0000. QTH: P.O. Box 39, Waterford, Irlanda. email: JR_Radio @ hotmail (Joe Vincent, Ireland, en SW-Pirates, via Enrique A. Wembagher, Argentina, Conexión Digital Sept 25 via DXLD) ** EUROPE. Jerry Coatsworth sez: The Euro-pirate Radio Merlin International is back. They were easily heard in N America in the early 90's until there was a problem with the local authorities. They have been testing on 6305 and in a month or so will begin operations on 6300. No doubt in AM mode. Per posts on the FRN, better start checking all the way down [sic] to 6800. Finally! Some pirate DXing. Let's hope this just doesn't lead to a new pileup frequency (Free Radio Weekly Sept 24 via DXLD) ** FRANCE [non]. Thank you, George, for your valuable controls. In the near future, I'll do some experimental transmissions with 100 kW AM to Dallas from Montsinéry one day (to be precised) between 1400 and 1700 on 21 and 17 MHz. Could it be possible for you to try to receive this programme. If it's OK, we will transmit in DRM to Dallas between 8 and 12 of November. I know that SF is far from Dallas but anyway... Have a nice W.E. Regards. (Jacques GRUSON, TDF / Division Radio / Service Ondes Courtes, Radio Division / Short Wave Department, Sept 24, via George Poppin, DXLD) In preparation for a DRM Symposium in Dallas (gh) ** GERMANY. ``Re 6030 and 7265 closing: Wouldn't it have been worth hanging on for DRM?`` Opinion of SWR engineering: It is useless from the start to try DRM on shortwave with an 20 kW (AM carrier power) transmitter. A bit from the (not that) old days: VOA transmit its temporarily revived German service for some time also via Glória in Portugal on 6030. An internal comment at then Süddeutscher Rundfunk was ``occupying power``. VOA German, Gloria, Süddeutscher Rundfunk -- those were the days... (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Sept 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ICELAND. Hearing 13865 at 1759 crash start with program already seeming to be in progress. Hard to tell whether it is in AM or SSB, but the LSB is definitely suppressed. Best in USB here. Good signal. 9/24/04 (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. AIR TO OFFER 19 CHANNELS ON PRASAR BHARATI'S DTH SERVICE New Delhi, Sept. 24: All-India Radio said today it will offer 19 channels on Prasar Bharati's soon-to-be-launched DTH platform which will cover the entire country as well as neighbouring countries. "AIR will introduce the channels in two phases, ten in the first phase and another nine in the second," the public broadcaster said. AIR said programming on the 24-hour DTH platform would be kept in such a way that repetitions were at a minimum. "This service, meant for listeners who own a TV set, will cover as many prominent stations of the language area as possible, subject to the availability of linkage between the stations from where DTH programmes are uplinked and other radio stations in the language area," AIR said. It said the regional services would be a great source of entertainment and information for people away from their native States as they can listen to programmes in their mother tongue through the DTH platform. The languages in which it proposes to air programmes include Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Bangla, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Punjabi in the first phase. In the second phase, it plans to add channels in Urdu, Assamese, tribal languages of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, two classical music channels (Carnatic and Hindustani) and a data channel to provide data such as stock market information. The broadcaster, however, said this was not a terrestrial broadcast service and could not be tuned through the ordinary radio receiver sets (http://www.hinduonnet.com via Swopan Chakroborty, Kolkata, India, DXLD) Another version: http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/006200409242065.htm Regds (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 3960.89, RRI Palu (presumed), 1241-1310 Sep 25. Presumed Palu back on the air in this time slot with assorted music and talks; SCI and Jak program at 1300. Had not heard them for a couple of weeks in the 1200-1300 area (John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge, Colorado, Drake R-8, 100-foot RW, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET. RUMOURS SURROUND GOOGLE BROWSER The net is buzzing with rumours that Google is working on a web browser. Online journals, or weblogs, have put together a series of developments which suggest that the search engine is developing new web tools. A US newspaper has also reported that Google has poached former Microsoft workers who created early versions of the Internet Explorer browser... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3680942.stm (BBC News - Technology Sept 23 via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM [and non]. Glenn, Re WRN's rebranding: I spoke to someone at the station yesterday and WRN's new name is, simply, WRN. That's plain WRN without the "orld" "adio" and "etwork". (Alistair Coleman, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I am listening to WRN 1, the English language relay service of WRN broadcast to Europe on WorldSpace. The (presumably recorded) links between the different international stations still continuously announce "This is the World Radio Network." There must many organisations whose initials are used rather than their full name, but the curious always like to know what the initials stand (or stood) for. It appears to be more of a cosmetic change in policy rather than an actual re-brand, particularly if the change is being adopted on a very gradual basis. The BBC have spent a fortune over the years changing their logo; it still looks much the same, just the little boxes around the letters -- - they once had rounded corners, then they became rectangular but with a lean to the right, now they are vertical. Whether the Corporation have become more commercially competitive because of this I have no idea (Andy Cadier, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Don't you believe that the World Radio Network name has been dropped. WRN still identifies itself as the World Radio Network and the lame news headlines airing between international broadcasts still are identified as being "for the World Radio Network." (Mike Cooper, Sep 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LATVIA. On 24 Sep at 1525 UT noted Radio Nord, Latvia on 945 kHz with ID in Latvian and real oldies songs. Mixing with other stations on the frequency (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Tried them this morning at 0900 UT, but probably they were not on the air. Heard with weak signal at 1430 becoming stronger later on. Heard on top of the other stations right now with an S9 + signal at 1800 (Gert Nilsson, Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, Sept 24, R71+R75 + beverages, dxing.info via DXLD) The test transmissions from Latvia, 945 kHz, started as planned. Heard today at 11.00 UTC with oldies pop music and identifications in Latvian between every tune. The name is Radio Nord, the same as the old pirate radio station, transmitting from the ship "Bon Jour" on 603 kHz already in 1961. Mentioned the frequency and a telephone number. Quite good strength here on the island of Gotland, but lots of statics in the middle of the day. Better strength than Pirate Radio 603 AM from Mariehamn, Åland, when I compared them. Also more statics on 603 kHz. 73 (from Björn Fransson, Sweden, Sept 24, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** LIBYA [and non]. Dear Mr Hauser: Heard you yesterday on RCI. Do you have any reservations like I do about trying to get QSL cards from places like Libya, Russia, Vietnam, other Eastern European countries, etc., now that we are operating under the "Patriot" Act? I'm a little nervous about my name appearing on mailing lists in Libya and Albania, etc., with Ashcroft on the loose. I don't have any political interests in these "Axis" nations, just a poor SWLer who would like to collect some exotic bits of history. I would be fascinated to hear your thoughts. (Thank you very much. Eric Bryan, USA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Eric, Maybe I`m naïve or too carefree, but then I long ago quit active QSL-collecting --- I wouldn`t worry about it; besides, Libya and Albania are supposedly good guys now. The focus on terrorism really can`t be pinned on particular countries, with the possible exception of the Axis of Evil. I don`t think they even consider remaining Communist countries such as Vietnam and China as beyond the pale. (North Korea is another matter). One would like to think that contact with an official broadcasting station would be recognized for the innocent activity it is. But then maybe Ashcroft & Co. are monitoring all our E-mail, so what privacy have we, really? (Glenn to Eric, via DXLD) Thanks, Glen[n], for your input. I've since found that Libya/Voice of Africa has a surprisingly English-friendly website. I wasn't expecting that. (Though a recent broadcast was pro-revolutionary.) Thanks again, (Eric Bryan, ibid.) ** MALDIVE ISLANDS [non]. Minivan Radio now has seven programs in their audio archive and the Sept 22 one was updated on Sept 24 with a ``live bulletin``. Keep an eye on this page also for frequency changes: http://www.dhivehiobserver.com/minwanradio/index.htm (Glenn Hauser, OK, Sept 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO: IBOC has been on 100 kW XEN since the CIRT convention six months ago. Grupo Radio Centro (NYSE: RC) and BE are installing IBOC on about six stations right now. There is a press release on the BE website about the venture, which could expand to many of the GRC owned or LMA'ed stations in México, about 175 in total. Interestingly, with XEN on 690 and XEMP on 710 in the same market, and a 10:1 power difference, there have been no reports of any problems with the XEMP coverage. XEN has an all-new transmitter facility, built when they increased to 100 kW recently (David Gleason, Corazón DX via NRC International DX Digest Sept 24 via DXLD) ** MONGOLIA. Mongolian time shift --- http://www.timeanddate.com says Mongolia ended DST Sept 25, and this would explain that their English language transmission was at 1100 (ex 1000) today. 12085 kHz was in the clear at 1000, in Mongolian, but during the transmission in Chinese, at 1030, the co-channel QRM from Syria started building up. (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Perhaps they were confused? DST never used to affect timings of their external service, with 1000 being the ``correct`` time which ought to be maintained. Actually, I didn`t realize they were observing DST at all (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. KOKC and WKY advice Posted by: Camilla on: 09/19/04 09:56 AM ---------------------------------------------------------------------- No, not from me. From your old talk show man Cam Edwards. The following is a post from his website. If you would like to go there for yourself, here is a more exact location: http://www.camedwards.com/archives/cat_local.html His text starts here: So KOMA-AM will soon be no more... replaced by the call letters KOKC. I never talked about the radio wars in Oklahoma City while I was on the air at KTOK. Didn't seem appropriate, I guess. I also had several friends at KOMA-AM, and I didn't want it to seem like I was trashing them. However, since all my friends have now been fired, can I offer a few thoughts on talk radio in Oklahoma City? I'll admit to being biased as heck towards KTOK (duh), so keep that in mind as you read this. Let's start with KOMA (soon to be KOKC) first. Number one thing they could do: get rid of their program director. Whoever is in charge of running this station knows nothing about programming. Since the day KOMA-AM switched from oldies to talk, there has been no consistency. Shows are dropped from the lineup on a monthly basis, shows are switched around seemingly on a whim, etc. There's been no chance for any of their programming to find an audience. Hire someone who actually knows what they're doing (and no, I'm not applying for the job) and you've taken the first step towards competing. Step number 2: revamp the news department. If the website is any indication, KOMA is suffering from the same problem that most news radio stations have: finding qualified journalists who want to work in radio. I'll admit it's tough to do, but no serious news radio station should have headlines like "Bloody Fetuses on Wheels" and "Tom Terrific Likes New Iraqi Government". Step number 3: who's your audience? are you going for the 35+ demo? Drop Rusty Humphries. Are you trying for the 25-54 numbers? Get rid of Michael Medved and Jim Bohannon (although I'll admit, 9-midnight is never going to be a top priority for a news/talker). This station has no personality. KTOK's got the Gods of Talk, WKY's the Local Talker, and KOMA's the Leftovers. That's not a good image to have. Moving on to WKY. Biggest beef I had with WKY was this: good DJ's do not necessarily make good talk show hosts (and KOMA, keep that in mind as well). Sports talk show hosts do not necessarily make good news talk show hosts (hey there Mr. Olbermann!). The best local talk show hosts are just that: locals who are talk show hosts. They have the time and ability to pay attention to what's going on in their locale, their state, and their country. To be good at it takes more than an hour or two of show prep. I can't imagine having to do morning drive on one station, take an hour break, and then do two more hours of talk. That's just silly. The problem with having a stable of local talk show hosts is that you have to pay them. It's much easier to go to talent that's already in house, throw them a bone, and say "hey, it's all we can afford". All this is my way of saying I understand the financial reasons for WKY's programming, but it doesn't have to be that way. There's another option for the KY gang... FM style talk. One of the best shows here in the DC area is a program called The Junkies (originally the Sports Junkies). Four buddies who grew up together and were discovered on local cable access(!). It's not as foul as Howard Stern, but it's certainly "guy radio". If I'm running WKY (and the Sports Animal), I run ESPN's "Mike and Mike" on the Sports Animal and move Steely and the gang to WKY 6-10. Move Mark Shannon to afternoon drive (3-6)(sans Stein), put Ron Black on from 10-noon, and run shock-jocker Tom Leykis late night. Leykis is controversial (at least he would be in Oklahoma City), and it might generate some desperately needed buzz for the station. If either one of these stations would implement these changes, I have no doubt they'd see their ratings increase. I don't think either station would ever top KTOK, but it might provide more competition. And if either of these stations do implement any of these changes... I'm going into business as a consultant. *END OF EDWARDS TEXT* Hey "The Shadow." You asked if any of KOMA & KOKC's problems were PD related? Well this board dodged your question, but it looks like Cam didn't. BTW, who does Cam think was NOT a journalist in the newsroom over there? Revamp the news department? So there are ALL of these programming problems, and the newsroom needs a complete overhaul as well? I doubt it. Back when they had it on the programming schedule, KOMA's 5 o`clock news was as good as any single hour of news that KTOK did. SEEEEEEEEYUH! (Camilla, Oklahoma RI board via DXLD) Further discussion on this thread: http://www.radio-info.com/mods/board?Post=259273&Board=oklahoma (via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. I usually remember now to check for the weekly Vietnamese show from OKC on KOPX-62, Saturdays at noon CT, 1700 UT; it was on last week Sept 18, but this week Sept 25, an English-speaking PAAWS infomercial was on instead. The Viet show seemed to have lots of commercial support so I`m surprised it`s off; or retimed, but may have to find it by hit-and-miss as it`s classified as just another infomercial not worth identifying individually in KOPX, print and online schedules (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 4825, LVS Distrital, 1006- Sept 24. I`ve been listening to this frequency since Sept 18 but couldn`t get a positive ID. Format was talk show ("Levántate Sésamo") with several male voices, with greetings to listeners, transportation drivers, etc., comments on music, regional and local news. Same ads: Corexa, Gobernación de Loreto, Military draft, and several slogans: "Digital totalmente renovada", "Diferente, diferente, diferente". Today the announcer after a time check mentioned "está escuchando LVS Distrital, diferente". LVS stands for La Voz de la Selva. New Name? New owner? New equipment? (Fernando Viloria, Guacará, Carabobo State, Venezuela, Kenwood R-1000 (modified), Quarter wave Sloper fed to coaxial through a balun, Vertical 2,5 mts, Preselector: MFJ-956 (passive), DX LISTENING DIGEST) ¿LVS = both La Voz de la Selva, LeVántate Sésamo? ** ROMANIA. 9620, (250 kW). Identificada la emisora que descubrió el amigo Manuel Méndez con música clásica. Se trata de Radio Rumanía Internacional. A las 0218 tuvo una identificación en rumano (pude grabarla). Se puede escuchar a REE en los breves espacios silenciosos. Según su página Web desde las 0200 hasta las 0300, emiten un programa en rumano dirigido hacia Afganistán en las frecuencias de 7175 y 9620. 54544 (José Bueno - Córdoba - España, Sept 25, Noticias DX via DXLD) & check for // 11895, per EiBi. So not SODRE, Uruguay as hoped; however if you get something off-frequency up to 9621, it still could be that (gh, DXLD) ** SERBIA & MONTENEGRO [non]. Today Radio Beograd on 7200 started with abrupt audio cut-in at 1300. No preceding IS and no smooth fade in either, so this is apparently not run through the Radio Yugoslavia continuation [meaning, master control, feedline] (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Sept 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7200, R. Beograd, Serbian 2004-09-24, 1300-1433 UT --- Glenn, herewith attached a recording of 2.34 min of R Beograd domestic relay on SW 7200 kHz via tx Bijeljina in Bosnia. Transmitter signed on at 1257:45 UT, program relay started exact at 1300 UT, but ended at 1432:50 UT!! Some "laisser faire" habit at the Beograd supervisor room, some discussion between the locutora and supervisor at the end of Serbian transmission. 7200 switched off at 1433:10 today. Arabic started then late at about 1433:30 UT on 11800 kHz. Yesterday the Serbian program started late at 1306 UT instead. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, Sept 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) A photo of the curtains at what is called KTCB = kratkotalasni emisioni radio difuzni centar Bijeljina: http://www.minel.com/elpr6.html The antenna farm is described there as consisting of 40 curtains (slewable 4/4/1 and 4/4/.5, non-slewable 2/3/.5 and 2/1/.25) as well as 3 HQ's. A map with the station entered: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/bosnia/tuzla_tpc_92.jpg (Kai Ludwig, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Southwest of Bijeljina, not to be confused with smokestacks (gh, DXLD) ** SRI LANKA. SLBC holding its own against WEWN 15745, which was weak due to skipover here only a megameter away, Sept 25 at 1455 with music, 1500 into talk, presumably news tho I could not understand anything; measured on exactly 15748.50. I can go to two decimal places with some confidence, since on the YB-400 I carefully zero-beat the BFO on known frequencies such as 15745, and then stepping between 15748 and 15749 heard exactly the same pitch (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN [non]. Shades of PRC via MALI: possible relay of RTI: see CHAD above ** U K [and non]. PRESS RELEASE 22 September 2004 BBC LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN FOR ITS INTERNATIONAL ONLINE NEWS IN THE US The BBC is launching marketing campaign for its international news site bbcnews.com with an online advertising, starting Thursday, 23 September in key media across the US. As America heads for the polls, the campaign entitled World news, Global views, promotes the BBC`s award-winning site to the country`s hard news seekers – the people who, as research shows, are hungry for an international perspective. Following a competitive pitch process, creative for the campaign and online media planning/buying was handled by London-based specialists, Agency Republic. The highly-targeted campaign focuses on sites which attract hard news seekers, including AOL, MSN, International Herald Tribune, Washington Post, Time Magazine, The Economist and The Far Eastern Economic Review. For the first time the news agency site Reuters.com has allowed an external company to take over their homepage with a combination of flash animated ads and BBC-branded wallpaper. The BBC is using live news feeds from bbcnews.com in some of its creative executions, including an interactive overlay featuring a map of the world which allows the viewer to select BBC news headlines by region from within the advertising itself. Steve Herrmann, World Editor of bbcnews.com, said: ``The US market is significant to us. A large part of our international audience is based in North America. We get a lot of interest and a significant volume of feedback and comment from people in the US, many of them responding to news events through our interactive area, Have Your Say. Our users in the US tend to have a strong interest in international news, often because they have close family or business connections with other regions of the world. As the US election approaches, we expect more people to want access to the wider view we can provide. We don`t see ourselves as replacing domestic news suppliers but we offer a valuable alternative - in-depth insights on the day`s news from a global perspective.`` The campaign has been designed and the media plan executed by the London-based online specialists, Agency Republic. This is the third bbcnews.com campaign the Agency Republic team have produced for the BBC. Two advertising campaigns in Western Europe delivered over 100 million opportunities to view BBC advertisements. Gavin Marshall, Business Director at Agency Republic, added: ``To maximise effectiveness, we`ve used US Census data to inform DMA targeting. That way, we can focus our spend within those geographical regions that have high concentrations of our target audience.`` Ends --- For more information contact: Lala Najafova, International Publicist, BBC World Service +44(0)207557 2944; lala.najafova @ bbc.co.uk Note to editors: bbcnews.com is the website of the BBC`s news services featuring news and analysis with a special emphasis on a global news agenda. bbcnews.com also offers easier access to international coverage of sport, arts, science and technology, as well as the BBC World Service`s site which features text and audio in 43 languages. It contains detailed information about World Service broadcasts, schedules and frequencies in all languages. Agency Republic is a digital advertising agency that combines media, creative and planning expertise to transform businesses, build brands, drive transactions and generate commercial results. Lala Najafova, International Publicist BBC World Service Rm 315 NW, Bush House Strand London WC2B 4PH Tel +44 (0)20 7557 2944 Fax +44 (0)20 7557 1254 lala.najafova @ bbc.co.uk http://www.bbc.co.uk/ - World Wide Wonderland (BBC WS via DXLD) ** U K. Re ``When a Sri Lankan DXer was in London some years back I went into Bush House reception with him. They phoned the Tamil Section who came down to meet us and we spent some time in Bush House with them`` --- Once Andreas Erbe tried this, too: He was flatly rejected. The reception did not call up some German service editor as he requested; instead they stated that a visit would be not possible. Well, it can be ruled out that anybody will bother Bush House reception with such a request again :-| (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Sept 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. BBC DROPS "OFFENSIVE" POPETOWN SERIES | Text of BBC press release on 23 September After much consideration, Stuart Murphy, Controller of BBC Three, has taken the difficult decision not to transmit the animation series Popetown on editorial grounds. The decision has been supported by Jana Bennett, Director of Television, and follows consultation with the Controller of Editorial Policy, Stephen Whittle and Head of Religion and Ethics, Alan Bookbinder. Representations had also been made from various groups who feared from the basic premise of the comedy series, which is set in a fictional Vatican, that it would cause offence to practising Catholics. Stuart Murphy said: "Popetown was a challenging project for BBC Three to undertake. "After a lot of consideration and consultation, balancing the creative risk with the potential offence to some parts of the audience, we have decided not to transmit the programme. "Despite all of the creative energy that has gone into this project and the best efforts of everyone involved, the comic impact of the delivered series does not outweigh the potential offence it will cause. "It has been an extremely difficult and complex decision to make. There is a fine judgement line in comedy between the scurrilously funny and the offensive. "I knew when we developed the series that there was risk involved but unfortunately, once we saw the finished series, it became clear that the programme fell on the wrong side of that line." Jana Bennett says: "I'm sorry that this programme will not be coming to the screen, but I think the decision is the right one. "Risk taking, however, is a key part of the role of BBC Three, and Stuart and the channel will continue to break new ground in the notoriously difficult area of comedy. "BBC Three is an evolving channel and in its short life has already had real success in breaking strong and distinctive new comedy, such as Monkey Dust, Nighty Night and Little Britain." Alan Marke, Managing Director, Channel X, said: "I am incredibly disappointed about this decision as I am very proud of this project and all the talent involved. "But I understand the world has changed since the series was originally commissioned and sympathise with the difficult decision the BBC has had to make." Popetown is a ten-part animated comedy series which was commissioned from independent television company Channel X in association with producer Phil Ox from French production company Moi J'Aime La Television. The BBC is looking at ways of recouping at least some of the costs of the series through broadcast and video sales with Channel X and BBC Worldwide. Channel X, who co-produced the Bafta award-winning series Shooting Stars, has previously made Stupid Punts and co-produced Catterick for BBC Three. BBC Entertainment is actively working with Channel X on a number of other projects. Source: BBC press release, London, in English 23 Sep 04 (via BBCM via DXLD) Whew! All is not lost. But what made it so offencive? (gh) BBC SCRAPS POPE CARTOON UNDER PRESSURE FROM ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH LONDON (AP) -- The British Broadcasting Corp. has scrapped a cartoon featuring Pope John Paul II on a pogo stick, following a wave of protests by the Roman Catholic Church. "Popetown," featuring the voices of comedienne Ruby Wax as the pontiff and model Jerry Hall as a fame-hungry nun, was commissioned for the digital channel BBC3. The animation featured corrupt cardinals and an infantile pope who bounced around the Vatican on a pogo stick. But BBC chiefs said in a statement Thursday that it was too offensive to broadcast. "After a lot of consideration and consultation, balancing the creative risk with the potential offense to some parts of the audience, we have decided not to transmit the program," said BBC3 Controller Stuart Murphy. [... as quoted above] More than 6,000 Roman Catholics had signed a petition demanding "Popetown" be scrapped, after excerpts of the planned show appeared on the Internet. The Rt. Rev. Crispian Hollis, bishop of Portsmouth, who led protests against the show, welcomed the decision. "It was obviously going to be a controversial program which would have caused offense, not least among the Catholic community who hold the person of the Holy Father in the highest regard and affection," he said. "Any attempt to belittle or diminish his status as the leader of the Catholic Church is totally unacceptable, and not only to Catholics." (APws 09/23 1553 via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U K. MUSICIANS TO PLAY IN FANS' HOMES http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/3675722.stm Members of 30 nationwide orchestras will participate in the scheme Professional musicians will perform in the homes of fans in a BBC Radio 3 campaign to make orchestras accessible. The Musicians on Call service enables fans to request a free hour-long performance from two local musicians. Part of Radio 3's Listen Up! concert season, the service is aimed at people who are unable to attend concerts. "It has never been done on this scale before, so we do not know whether to expect a deluge of requests or a trickle," a spokesperson said. Housebound request A total of 1,500 musicians from 30 orchestras are taking part in the Musicians on Call scheme, including members of the London Symphony Orchestra and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic. "They might be sent to a town hall or the home of someone unable to leave their home, for example," the spokesperson said. "All requests will be considered, and they are ready to respond to as many as possible." Performances can be requested nationwide on 0800 033 033. Beginning on Thursday, the six-week Listen Up! season will feature more than 500 orchestral concerts and events across the UK (BBC News via Horacio Nigro, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** U S A. AGENCY PLANS TO SEND MORE PEOPLE PACKING Dateline: Washington, 09/23/04. In a letter to the Union yesterday, Mary Poggioli announced that the Agency will conduct another RIF that could potentially throw seven employees into the street. Six of the seven are from the former European Services and one employee is from the Armenian Service. This is another senseless act perpetrated by uncaring Agency bureaucrats who seem to believe that older employees are useless and unable to be trained in new skills. The Agency knew for years that it would close the European Services but refused to train these employees in skills that would relieve the serious understaffing in other areas. We urge the Agency to immediately identify all those positions it plans on eliminating within the next five years and to start training the employees in those positions for jobs the Agency will be needing (AFGE Local 1812 via DXLD) ** U S A. Saturday is our 6th anniversary on WBCQ/7415. We'll be live and as a reversal of the norm, the RNI crew, Johnny Lightning and Mike the Jokeman, will be in my studio for a change. Also joining us will be Rich Adcock of WWCR's Rock The Universe show, which we also produce here. Join us on WBCQ from 0000 to 0100 UT Sunday (8-9 PM EDT), and continuing on the internet until 11 PM ET at the Doo Wop Cafe, http://www.doowoopcafe.net in mp3 audio and on our live365.com station, http://www.live365.com/stations/steve_cole We'll also be in both the Cafe's Yahoo chat room, http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/doowopcafe (membership required), and in the IRC chat room, #cybershortwave on the Starchat network, web interface at http://www.starchat.net Steve Coletti, a/k/a "Big Steve Cole", Different Kind of Oldies Show, Sept 24, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) ** U S A. Hi Glenn: We noted your comments concerning our acquisition of our new shortwave frequency of 5.745 MHz. We find the use of your term 'Glommed' impugning the reputation of WWRB in the context that somehow WWRB did something underhanded. To make this very clear, WHRI left this frequency unused for approximately 3 to 4 weeks. We asked the FCC what was going on and they advised WWRB that they weren't sure what was happening but would find out. Later in the week, the FCC received an updated frequency schedule from LeSEA (WHRI) and the 5.745 MHz frequency was deleted. At that point, WWRB requested the use of 5.745 and our request was granted. Both the FCC and WWRB acted properly in this matter. Regards (David Frantz, WWRB, Sept 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I certainly did not mean to imply that WWRB was using the frequency without authorization, merely that it was aggressive in getting access to it, as any other US SW station could have under the circumstances of WHR abandoning it. If ``to glom onto`` has negative connotations, I can`t check since the word is missing from my 50-year-old Merriam- Webster Collegiate (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. KJES, Vado NM, appears to be off the air. Last time we noted them a few days ago, modulation was way down. No sign of them around 1350 or 1510 UT Sept 24 on 11715. Ditto around the same times Sept 25. This is normally well heard here, tho at such a short distance, propagation may skip it over so I am not 100% certain of this. Here`s the original A-04 schedule from the FCC: 7555 0100 0200 KJES 50 335 2,3 1234567 280304 311004 7555 0200 0230 KJES 50 20 3,4 1234567 280304 311004 11715 1300 1400 KJES 50 70 3,4,9 1234567 280304 311004 11715 1400 1500 KJES 50 350 2,3 1234567 280304 311004 11715 1500 1600 KJES 50 150 10 1234567 280304 311004 15385 1800 1900 KJES 50 270 55,58,59 1234567 280304 311004 15385 1900 2000 KJES 50 100 11 1234567 280304 311004 (Glenn Hauser, Enid, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Nasty mix of signals on 7490 at 1334 UT Sept 25, presumably WJIE and DW-Irkutsk in Mandarin as scheduled 1300-1350 per EiBi; no 13595 this time (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WRMI missing from 15725 around 1430 Sat Sept 25, but something else was audible weakly on 15725.1, presumably Pakistan? No, R. Liberty, Tajik via Morocco 1400-1500 per EiBi, no Pak until 1600. Guess WRMI has already battened down for Hurricane Jeanne (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn: Yes, we shut down as a precaution just after 1200 UT. But we're going to re-evaluate things just before 2200. If it's not too bad by then, we'll go on 9955 kHz at 2200, then continue with normal programming as long as we can. We'll be playing it by ear today and tomorrow I think. WYFR just shut down as a precaution at 1600 UT. Dan Elyea says they're expecting a long power outage and possible damage from wind and rain (Jeff White, WRMI, 1626 UT Sept 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WYFR is missing again Sat morning Sept 25, checked around 1500, unfound on any scheduled frequencies. I guess the winds have reached 30 mph already in Okeechobee; surely the power has not gone out yet due to Jeanne. For example 17750 was clear for R. Fardà at 1527 check, via Woofferton. I recognized their style of music immediately, and confirmed in Eibi sked (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello Glenn, When we shut down depends on strength of storm, how fast its forward motion is, what direction it's coming from, and so on. Our power feed comes in from the East. So if the storm is coming in from the East, we'll be off sooner than if it's coming in from the west. Much above 35 or 40 [mph], the movement of the transmission lines slapping around in the wind makes operation impractical. Power outages seem to happen around 45. We also have to consider the safety of our staff as they travel back to their homes. Today we'd planned to shut down operations at 1600 UTC. However, power problems took us down at 1505. Once shut down, we wrap the equipment up in plastic sheeting to minimize the effects of any water intrusion. The power company has warned its customers in advance that outages may be more prolonged this round than with Frances. So, we've battened down the hatches, and have to ride it out the next 24 hours or so. Best regards, (Dan Elyea, WYFR Okeechobee, 1824 UT Sept 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. The following is the Final 31 October 2004 to 27 March 2005 High Frequency Schedule for Family Stations, Inc., WYFR. [100 kW u.o.s.; this does include the Taiwan and BBC relays] Freq Time (UTC) Az Zones Power 5810 0500-0800 44 27,39 5810 0800-1200 160 14 5820 2000-2300 44 27,28 5850 0500-1000 181 11 50 5950 0300-1200 285 10 5950 2100-0300 355 4,5,9 5985 0445-0800 315 2 5985 2000-0445 181 11 50 6065 0100-0445 355 4,5,9 6085 0945-2000 181 11 6085 2245-0100 355 4,5,9 6105 0800-1100 142 15 6855 0300-0900 355 4,5,9 6855 0900-1300 355 4,5,9 6890 0900-1300 355 4,5,9 7355 0300-0745 44 27,28 7355 1045-1345 315 2 7455 0800-1100 315 2 7520 0100-0400 142 13 7520 0400-0800 44 27,28 7570 0045-0400 160 15 7580 1945-2245 44 27,28 9355 0400-0800 44 27,28 9355 1845-2300 44 27,28 9495 0500-1000 222 11 9505 0000-0445 315 2 9525 0100-0400 285 10 50 [that would be the BBCWS relay --- gh] 9555 0800-1400 160 16 9575 0900-1200 160 15 9605 0800-1100 142 13 9605 1100-1245 222 12 9680 0145-0800 315 2 9680 0800-1100 140 13 9690 2145-0045 142 13 9705 1100-1245 285 10 9715 2345-0100 285 10 50 9715 0400-1100 285 10 50 9985 0100-0500 151 15 9985 0500-0900 87 37,46 11530 0500-0800 44 27,28 11530 1200-1400 160 13 11565 2000-2145 44 27,28 11580 0400-0900 87 47,52,57 11615 1345-1700 315 2 11665 1945-2300 44 27,28 11720 2245-0145 142 13 11725 1100-1600 222 11 11740 0145-0500 222 11 11740 0800-1600 151 15 11740 2145-2345 315 2 11825 0045-0300 160 14 11830 1100-1300 140 13 11830 1300-1700 315 2 11855 1300-1700 355 4,5,9 11855 2000-0500 222 11 11885 2300-0145 140 13 11970 1145-1345 285 10 [sic: one of the following is out of order] 13775 1200-1600 160 15 13695 1300-1945 355 4,5,9 15115 1700-2100 87 46 15130 1245-2345 285 10 50 15170 2245-0045 160 15 15210 1400-1600 160 14 15215 2300-0400 160 16 15355 1245-1400 222 12 15355 1400-1600 142 13 15400 2300-0100 151 15 15440 1945-2100 355 4,5,9 15440 2145-0300 285 10 15565 1800-1945 44 27,28 15565 2100-2245 87 37,46 15665 1600-1700 44 27,28 17510 1400-1600 160 13 17510 1700-2145 285 10 17535 1700-2200 315 2 17575 1700-2245 140 13 17690 1600-1945 87 37,46 17760 1345-1700 285 10 17760 1700-2000 44 27,28 17845 2300-0045 160 14 18930 1600-1845 44 27,28 18980 1600-1945 44 27,28 21455 1600-2000 44 28 21525 1945-2245 87 47,52,57 21745 1600-1745 44 28,29 The following will be the shortwave schedule for Family Stations, Inc. aired from Taiwan 31 October 2004 to 28 March 2005. Time (UTC) Freq Target English 0100-0200 15195 S. Asia 1300-1500 11560 S. Asia 1500-1700 6280 S. Asia Hindi 0000-0100 15195 S. Asia 1500-1600 11560 S. Asia Korean 1000-1100 7130 Korea Mandarin 1102-1602 7250 E. Asia 1102-1602 9280 E. Asia 2100-0000 7250 E. Asia 2100-0000 9280 E. Asia Russian 1500-1700 9955 Eu/Sib (via Evelyn Marcy, WYFR, Sept 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WYFR BROADCAST SCHEDULE 31 October 2004 to 28 March 2005 Note: Schedule information showing languages for transmissions carried by WYFR for other broadcasters will have to be obtained directly from the other broadcasters. Frequency Schedule FREQ (KHZ) TIME (UT) LANG AZ ZONE PWR 5810 0504-0600 RUSS 44 27,28,39 100 5810 0800-1145 SPAN 160 14 100 5820 2004-2200 ENGL 44 27,28 100 5850 0500-0600 SPAN 181 11 50 5850 0600-0700 ENGL 181 11 50 5850 0700-1000 SPAN 181 11 50 5950 0800-1145 ENGL 285 10 100 5985 2000-2300 SPAN 181 11 50 5985 2300-0000 ENGL 181 11 50 5985 0000-0200 SPAN 181 11 50 5985 0200-0300 ENGL 181 11 50 5985 0300-0445 SPAN 181 11 50 5985 0500-0600 MAND 315 2 100 5985 0600-0700 CANT 315 2 100 5985 0700-0745 ENGL 315 2 100 6065 0000-0100 ENGL 355 4,5,9 100 6065 0100-0445 ENGL 355 4,5,9 100 6085 2300-0000 FREN 355 4,5,9 100 6085 1000-1600 SPAN 181 11 100 6085 1600-1700 ENGL 181 11 100 6085 1700-1900 SPAN 181 11 100 6085 1900-1945 ENGL 181 11 100 6105 0804-1045 PORT 142 13 100 6855 0304-0400 SPAN 355 4,5,9 100 6855 0400-0600 ENGL 355 4,5,9 100 6855 0600-0700 SPAN 355 4,5,9 100 6855 0700-1100 ENGL 355 4,5,9 100 6855 1100-1200 SPAN 355 4,5,9 100 6855 1200-1245 FREN 355 4,5,9 100 6890 0900-1000 SPAN 355 4,5,9 100 6890 1000-1245 ENGL 355 4,5,9 100 7355 0304-0400 RUSS 44 27,28,39 100 7355 0400-0500 ENGL 44 27,28,39 100 7355 0500-0600 GERM 44 27,28,39 100 7355 0600-0745 ENGL 44 27,28,39 100 7355 1100-1345 ENGL 315 2 100 7455 0800-1045 ENGL 315 2 100 7520 0100-0345 PORT 142 15 100 7520 0400-0500 ARAB 44 27,28,39 100 7520 0500-0600 ENGL 44 27,28,39 100 7520 0600-0700 FREN 44 27,28,39 100 7520 0700-0745 SPAN 44 27,28,39 100 7570 0100-0200 SPAN 160 15 100 7570 0200-0300 PORT 160 15 100 7570 0300-0345 SPAN 87 47,52,57 100 7580 2000-2200 ENGL 44 27,28,39 100 7580 2200-2245 PORT 44 27,28,39 100 9355 0404-0500 GERM 44 27,28,39 100 9355 0500-0600 SPAN 44 27,28,39 100 9355 0600-0700 ITAL 44 27,28,39 100 9355 0700-0745 PORT 44 27,28,39 100 9355 1900-2000 RUSS 44 27,28 100 9355 2000-2100 GERM 44 27,28 100 9355 2100-2200 SPAN 44 27,28 100 9495 0600-0700 SPAN 222 11 100 9495 0700-0800 ENGL 222 11 100 9495 0800-0945 SPAN 222 11 100 9505 0000-0445 ENGL 315 2 100 9555 0800-1100 SPAN 160 16 100 9555 1100-1200 ENGL 160 16 100 9555 1200-1345 SPAN 160 16 100 9575 0900-1100 PORT 160 15 100 9575 1100-1145 SPAN 160 15 100 9605 0804-1045 PORT 142 15 100 9605 1100-1245 SPAN 222 11 100 9680 0800-1000 PORT 140 13 100 9680 1000-1045 FREN 140 13 100 9680 0300-0400 SPAN 315 13 100 9680 0600-0700 ENGL 315 13 100 9680 0700-0745 SPAN 315 13 100 9690 0000-0045 PORT 142 15 100 9690 2200-2300 ENGL 142 15 100 9705 1100-1245 SPAN 285 10 50 9715 0000-0045 SPAN 285 10 50 9715 0404-0500 ENGL 285 10 50 9715 0500-0700 SPAN 285 10 50 9715 0700-0800 ENGL 285 10 50 9715 0800-1045 SPAN 285 10 50 9985 0500-0600 ARAB 87 37,46 100 9985 0600-0700 FREN 87 37,46 100 9985 0700-0845 ENGL 87 37,46 100 9985 0100-0300 SPAN 151 15 100 9985 0300-0400 ENGL 151 15 100 9985 0400-0445 SPAN 151 15 100 11530 1200-1300 ENGL 160 14 100 11530 1300-1345 PORT 160 14 100 11530 0500-0600 FREN 44 27,28,39 100 11530 0600-0700 ENGL 44 27,28,39 100 11530 0700-0745 ITAL 44 27,28,39 100 11565 2000-2100 ARAB 44 27,28 100 11565 2100-2145 GERM 44 27,28 100 11580 0400-0500 PORT 87 47,52,57 100 11580 0500-0600 FREN 87 47,52,57 100 11580 0600-0700 ENGL 87 47,52,57 100 11580 0700-0800 ARAB 87 47,52,57 100 11580 0800-0845 FREN 87 47,52,57 100 11615 1400-1645 ENGL 315 2 100 11665 2200-2245 ARAB 44 27,28 100 11720 0000-0100 ENGL 142 15 100 11720 0100-0145 PORT 142 15 100 11725 1100-1200 ENGL 222 12 100 11725 1200-1545 SPAN 222 12 100 11740 0200-0300 SPAN 222 12 100 11740 0300-0400 ENGL 222 12 100 11740 0800-1000 SPAN 151 15 100 11740 1000-1100 FREN 151 15 100 11740 1100-1300 SPAN 151 15 100 11740 1300-1400 FREN 151 15 100 11740 1400-1545 SPAN 151 15 100 11740 2200-2345 ENGL 315 2 100 11830 1100-1200 ENGL 140 13 100 11830 1200-1245 PORT 140 13 100 11830 1300-1400 ENGL 315 13 100 11830 1400-1500 SPAN 315 13 100 11830 1500-1600 MAND 315 13 100 11830 1600-1645 ENGL 315 13 100 11855 1300-1600 ENGL 355 4,5,9 100 11855 1600-1645 FREN 355 4,5,9 100 11855 2000-2300 SPAN 222 11 100 11855 2300-0000 ENGL 222 11 100 11855 0000-0200 SPAN 222 11 100 11855 0200-0300 ENGL 222 11 100 11855 0300-0445 SPAN 222 11 100 11885 2300-0145 PORT 140 13 100 11970 1200-1345 ENGL 285 10 100 13695 1300-1400 MAND 355 4,5,9 100 13695 1400-1500 ENGL 355 4,5,9 100 13695 1500-1600 SPAN 355 4,5,9 100 13695 1600-1945 ENGL 355 4,5,9 100 13775 1200-1545 SPAN 160 15 100 15115 1700-1800 FREN 87 37,46 100 15115 1800-2100 ENGL 87 37,46 100 15130 1300-2345 SPAN 285 10 50 15170 2300-0000 ENGL 160 15 100 15170 0000-0045 PORT 160 15 100 15210 1400-1500 PORT 160 16 100 15210 1500-1545 ENGL 160 16 100 15215 2304-0100 SPAN 160 16 100 15355 1300-1345 SPAN 222 11 100 15355 1400-1500 SPAN 142 15 100 15355 1500-1545 PORT 142 15 100 15400 2300-0000 ENGL 151 15 100 15400 0000-0045 FREN 151 15 100 15565 2104-2200 ENGL 87 37,46 100 15565 2200-2245 ARAB 87 37,46 100 15565 1800-1900 FREN 44 27,28 100 15565 1900-1945 ENGL 44 27,28 100 15665 1600-1645 ARAB 44 27,28 100 17510 1400-1545 SPAN 160 14 100 17510 1700-2145 ENGL 285 10 100 17535 1700-1800 SPAN 315 2 100 17535 1800-2145 ENGL 315 2 100 17575 1700-2000 PORT 140 13 100 17575 2000-2200 ENGL 140 13 100 17575 2200-2245 PORT 140 13 100 17690 1600-1700 ENGL 87 47,52,57 100 17690 1700-1800 PORT 87 47,52,57 100 17690 1800-1945 FREN 87 47,52,57 100 17760 1700-1800 GERM 44 27,28 100 17760 1800-1900 ITAL 44 27,28 100 17760 1400-1645 ENGL 285 10 100 17845 2304-0045 SPAN 160 14 100 18930 1600-1700 ITAL 44 27,28 100 18930 1700-1845 SPAN 44 27,28 100 18980 1600-1945 ENGL 44 27,28,39 100 21455 1600-1800 ENGL 44 27,28,39 100 21455 1800-1900 GERM 44 27,28,39 100 21455 1900-1945 FREN 44 27,28,39 100 21525 2000-2100 ARAB 87 47,52,57 100 21525 2100-2200 PORT 87 47,52,57 100 21525 2200-2245 ENGL 87 47,52,57 100 21745 1600-1745 RUSS 44 27,28 100 WYFR BROADCAST SCHEDULE 31 October 2004 to 28 March 2005 Note: Schedule information showing languages for transmissions carried by WYFR for other broadcasters will have to be obtained directly from the other broadcasters. Language Schedule LANG TIME (UT) FREQ (KHZ) AZ ZONE PWR ARAB 0400-0500 7520 44 27,28,39 100 ARAB 0500-0600 9985 87 37,46 100 ARAB 0700-0800 11580 87 47,52,57 100 ARAB 1600-1645 15665 44 27,28 100 ARAB 2000-2100 11565 44 27,28 100 ARAB 2000-2100 21525 87 47,52,57 100 ARAB 2200-2245 11665 44 27,28 100 ARAB 2200-2245 15565 87 37,46 100 CANT 0600-0700 5985 315 2 100 ENGL 0000-0100 6065 355 4,5,9 100 ENGL 0000-0100 11720 142 15 100 ENGL 0000-0445 9505 315 2 100 ENGL 0100-0445 6065 355 4,5,9 100 ENGL 0200-0300 5985 181 11 50 ENGL 0200-0300 11855 222 11 100 ENGL 0300-0400 9985 151 15 100 ENGL 0300-0400 11740 222 12 100 ENGL 0400-0500 7355 44 27,28,39 100 ENGL 0400-0600 6855 355 4,5,9 100 ENGL 0404-0500 9715 285 10 50 ENGL 0500-0600 7520 44 27,28,39 100 ENGL 0600-0700 5850 181 11 50 ENGL 0600-0700 9680 315 13 100 ENGL 0600-0700 11530 44 27,28,39 100 ENGL 0600-0700 11580 87 47,52,57 100 ENGL 0600-0745 7355 44 27,28,39 100 ENGL 0700-0745 5985 315 2 100 ENGL 0700-0800 9495 222 11 100 ENGL 0700-0800 9715 285 10 50 ENGL 0700-0845 9985 87 37,46 100 ENGL 0700-1100 6855 355 4,5,9 100 ENGL 0800-1045 7455 315 2 100 ENGL 0800-1145 5950 285 10 100 ENGL 1000-1245 6890 355 4,5,9 100 ENGL 1100-1200 9555 160 16 100 ENGL 1100-1200 11725 222 12 100 ENGL 1100-1200 11830 140 13 100 ENGL 1100-1345 7355 315 2 100 ENGL 1200-1300 11530 160 14 100 ENGL 1200-1345 11970 285 10 100 ENGL 1300-1400 11830 315 13 100 ENGL 1300-1600 11855 355 4,5,9 100 ENGL 1400-1500 13695 355 4,5,9 100 ENGL 1400-1645 11615 315 2 100 ENGL 1400-1645 17760 285 10 100 ENGL 1500-1545 15210 160 16 100 ENGL 1600-1645 11830 315 13 100 ENGL 1600-1700 6085 181 11 100 ENGL 1600-1700 17690 87 47,52,57 100 ENGL 1600-1800 21455 44 27,28,39 100 ENGL 1600-1945 13695 355 4,5,9 100 ENGL 1600-1945 18980 44 27,28,39 100 ENGL 1700-2145 17510 285 10 100 ENGL 1800-2100 15115 87 37,46 100 ENGL 1800-2145 17535 315 2 100 ENGL 1900-1945 6085 181 11 100 ENGL 1900-1945 15565 44 27,28 100 ENGL 2000-2200 7580 44 27,28,39 100 ENGL 2000-2200 17575 140 13 100 ENGL 2004-2200 5820 44 27,28 100 ENGL 2104-2200 15565 87 37,46 100 ENGL 2200-2245 21525 87 47,52,57 100 ENGL 2200-2300 9690 142 15 100 ENGL 2200-2345 11740 315 2 100 ENGL 2300-0000 5985 181 11 50 ENGL 2300-0000 11855 222 11 100 ENGL 2300-0000 15170 160 15 100 ENGL 2300-0000 15400 151 15 100 FREN 0000-0045 15400 151 15 100 FREN 0500-0600 11530 44 27,28,39 100 FREN 0500-0600 11580 87 47,52,57 100 FREN 0600-0700 7520 44 27,28,39 100 FREN 0600-0700 9985 87 37,46 100 FREN 0800-0845 11580 87 47,52,57 100 FREN 1000-1045 9680 140 13 100 FREN 1000-1100 11740 151 15 100 FREN 1200-1245 6855 355 4,5,9 100 FREN 1300-1400 11740 151 15 100 FREN 1600-1645 11855 355 4,5,9 100 FREN 1700-1800 15115 87 37,46 100 FREN 1800-1900 15565 44 27,28 100 FREN 1800-1945 17690 87 47,52,57 100 FREN 1900-1945 21455 44 27,28,39 100 FREN 2300-0000 6085 355 4,5,9 100 GERM 0404-0500 9355 44 27,28,39 100 GERM 0500-0600 7355 44 27,28,39 100 GERM 1700-1800 17760 44 27,28 100 GERM 1800-1900 21455 44 27,28,39 100 GERM 2000-2100 9355 44 27,28 100 GERM 2100-2145 11565 44 27,28 100 ITAL 0600-0700 9355 44 27,28,39 100 ITAL 0700-0745 11530 44 27,28,39 100 ITAL 1800-1900 17760 44 27,28 100 ITAL 1600-1700 18930 44 27,28 100 MAND 0500-0600 5985 315 2 100 MAND 1300-1400 13695 355 4,5,9 100 MAND 1500-1600 11830 315 13 100 PORT 0000-0045 9690 142 15 100 PORT 0000-0045 15170 160 15 100 PORT 0100-0145 11720 142 15 100 PORT 0100-0345 7520 142 15 100 PORT 0200-0300 7570 160 15 100 PORT 0400-0500 11580 87 47,52,57 100 PORT 0700-0745 9355 44 27,28,39 100 PORT 0800-1000 9680 140 13 100 PORT 0804-1045 6105 142 13 100 PORT 0804-1045 9605 142 15 100 PORT 0900-1100 9575 160 15 100 PORT 1200-1245 11830 140 13 100 PORT 1300-1345 11530 160 14 100 PORT 1400-1500 15210 160 16 100 PORT 1500-1545 15355 142 15 100 PORT 1700-1800 17690 87 47,52,57 100 PORT 1700-2000 17575 140 13 100 PORT 2100-2200 21525 87 47,52,57 100 PORT 2200-2245 7580 44 27,28,39 100 PORT 2200-2245 17575 140 13 100 PORT 2300-0145 11885 140 13 100 RUSS 0304-0400 7355 44 27,28,39 100 RUSS 0504-0600 5810 44 27,28,39 100 RUSS 1600-1745 21745 44 27,28 100 RUSS 1900-2000 9355 44 27,28 100 SPAN 0000-0045 9715 285 10 50 SPAN 0000-0200 5985 181 11 50 SPAN 0000-0200 11855 222 11 100 SPAN 0100-0200 7570 160 15 100 SPAN 0100-0300 9985 151 15 100 SPAN 0200-0300 11740 222 12 100 SPAN 0300-0345 7570 87 47,52,57 100 SPAN 0300-0400 9680 315 13 100 SPAN 0300-0445 5985 181 11 50 SPAN 0300-0445 11855 222 11 100 SPAN 0304-0400 6855 355 4,5,9 100 SPAN 0400-0445 9985 151 15 100 SPAN 0500-0600 5850 181 11 50 SPAN 0500-0600 9355 44 27,28,39 100 SPAN 0500-0700 9715 285 10 50 SPAN 0700-1000 5850 181 11 50 SPAN 0600-0700 6855 355 4,5,9 100 SPAN 0600-0700 9495 222 11 100 SPAN 0700-0745 7520 44 27,28,39 100 SPAN 0700-0745 9680 315 13 100 SPAN 0800-0945 9495 222 11 100 SPAN 0800-1000 11740 151 15 100 SPAN 0800-1045 9715 285 10 50 SPAN 0800-1100 9555 160 16 100 SPAN 0800-1145 5810 160 14 100 SPAN 0900-1000 6890 355 4,5,9 100 SPAN 1000-1600 6085 181 11 100 SPAN 1100-1145 9575 160 15 100 SPAN 1100-1200 6855 355 4,5,9 100 SPAN 1100-1245 9605 222 11 100 SPAN 1100-1245 9705 285 10 50 SPAN 1100-1300 11740 151 15 100 SPAN 1200-1345 9555 160 16 100 SPAN 1200-1545 11725 222 12 100 SPAN 1200-1545 13775 160 15 100 SPAN 1300-1345 15355 222 11 100 SPAN 1300-2345 15130 285 10 50 SPAN 1400-1500 11830 315 13 100 SPAN 1400-1500 15355 142 15 100 SPAN 1400-1545 11740 151 15 100 SPAN 1400-1545 17510 160 14 100 SPAN 1500-1600 13695 355 4,5,9 100 SPAN 1700-1800 17535 315 2 100 SPAN 1700-1845 18930 44 27,28 100 SPAN 1700-1900 6085 181 11 100 SPAN 2000-2300 5985 181 11 50 SPAN 2000-2300 11855 222 11 100 SPAN 2100-2200 9355 44 27,28 100 SPAN 2304-0045 17845 160 14 100 SPAN 2304-0100 15215 160 16 100 (Via Evelyn Marcy, WYFR, Sept 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. LIBERAL TALK RADIO GETS BRIEF REPRIEVE --- By RAY ROUTHIER, Portland Press Herald Writer Copyright © 2004 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc. Thursday, September 23, 2004 http://business.mainetoday.com/news/040923airamerica.shtml Listeners of Air America have persuaded a Portland radio station to continue airing the liberal talk network. But only for another month. WLVP (870 AM) will continue to run Air America's nationally syndicated programming through the Nov. 2 elections, said Patrick Collins, who oversees the station for Nassau Broadcasting. Collins announced earlier this week that his station would stop running Air America on Oct. 4 and replace it with the ESPN Radio sports network. But by Wednesday, the station had received 70 to 80 phone calls and more than 200 e-mails from people protesting the change. That response made station officials decide that taking a political talk network off the air in Portland just before a national election was not the right thing to do. "If something makes sense, we have no problem changing our minds," Collins said Wednesday. But Collins said the calls and e-mails will not persuade Nassau officials to keep Air America on indefinitely. Most listeners who protested - including a dozen or so who called this newspaper - contend that keeping Air America on in Portland is a fairness issue. All of the other commercial talk networks carried here, and in most parts of the country, feature conservative hosts and present a conservative voice. Air America's hosts are decidedly liberal, and include comedian and commentator Al Franken. Whether the one-month reprieve will appease Air America supporters is hard to say. "I'm glad they're at least keeping it on through the election, but I think (station executives) haven't given it enough time to catch on here," said Jeannine Forget of Cape Elizabeth, a listener who called the station to protest. "I think (Air America) has been a breath of fresh air." Forget, who owns the Forget-Me-Nots consignment shop in Falmouth, said she even offered to buy advertising on WLVP if it would help keep Air America on the air. When WLVP started airing Air America in April, station officials said it filled a niche here, being the lone liberal talk station. But WLVP has also been airing local sports programming. Based on advertising sales for those programs, Collins said, station officials believe it makes more sense for the station to air just sports. Collins said the decision is based on business, and has nothing to do with Air America's liberal programming. Collins said WLVP will begin airing ESPN Radio on Nov. 8 (Maine Today via Art Blair, IRCA via DXLD) ** U S A. VALLEY TALK RADIO YIELDS TO THE LEFT http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0923airamerica23.html Air America signs on Phoenix radio tomorrow [audio link] KXXT-AM launches Air America Randy Cordova, The Arizona Republic, Sept. 23, 2004 12:00 AM A Valley radio station is betting that some listeners are ready to move a little left of center, as liberal talk network Air America Radio arrives today. "I know Arizona has changed since 1964," says humorist and political commentator Al Franken, whose show is one of the network's flagships. "Phoenix has a lot of conservatives, but we find a lot of liberals in every place we air and that conservatives also tune us in." Air America programming began airing at midnight on KXXT-AM (1010). The shows include such left-leaning fare as The Majority Report, hosted by actress Janeane Garofalo and Sam Seder, and The Randi Rhodes Show, featuring the outspoken radio vet. In a bit of irony, the new format bumps conservative talkers off KXXT, including the controversial Michael Savage. The reason for the move had nothing to do with political ideology, says station general manager Bob Christy. "This market is loaded with conservative talkers. How many conservative talkers can one market support? I took myself out of the talk arena and thought about it like this: If this were music and there were five country stations, would I continue to be a country station?" While liberal talkers traditionally haven't thrived on the air, Air America has been able to make some inroads during its short life. Air America President Jon Sinton has an idea about why the concept seems to be working. Breaking the mold "Entertainment: That's why we broke the mold," Sinton says. "We have entertainers like Al Franken, Janeane Garofolo and Randi Rhodes along for the ride. Make no mistake: We are ideological and we do promote a position, but we have people that really understand the value of entertainment and how to hold an audience." Air America programming began airing nationally in March on three stations. Now it's in more than 30 markets. It has clicked in some regions. In Portland, Ore., radio station KPOJ jumped from No. 22 to No. 3 in the spring Arbitron ratings among listeners ages 25-54. It's also proved popular on the Internet. Real Audio says more than 3 million listeners a month hear programming through the networks' Web site, http://www.airamericaradio.com 'Brand-new niche' Debbie López, state director of Arizona Project Vote, listens to the station through the Internet at her desk. "It's kind of refreshing," she says. "It's nice to have an alternative to regular talk radio that doesn't give you a heart attack every time you listen to it." But it's a little early to tell if listeners like López will move over. "It's really a brand-new niche," says Tom Taylor, editor of the trade publication Inside Radio. "The book is being written right now on this, and it's rolling out very fast." He says the Air America people do have expert timing, especially by launching in an election year in which Democrats are not in the White House. "There is an enormous interest in this race," Taylor says. "When Clinton won in '92, Rush (Limbaugh) went on to have an incredible string of ratings. Talk radio functions better when you're an outsider. It's easier to be outside the house throwing rocks at the door." No one is predicting it's going to be an easy walk through the traditionally conservative, Republican-dominated Valley. Forty-four percent of active registered voters in Maricopa County are Republicans. Thirty-one percent are Democrats. Serving the 'disenfranchised' "That's still an awful lot of Democrats," Christy says. "There's a ton of independents, and not all independents are conservative. I approached my boss and said there's a whole group of disenfranchised people here and it makes good sense to take this station in a different direction." Reaction at KFYI-AM (550), home to Limbaugh, was underwhelming. "We'll do what we've always done," KFYI program director Laurie Cantillo says of Air America. "We're not going to react to them." "If they can appeal to a little younger audience, they might do OK," says Marv Nyren, general manager at KTAR-AM (620). "But are they going to get the 35-plus audience (to listen) on the AM talk side of things? That's going to be a long putt." The low-profile status of KXXT in the marketplace is another drawback, says Craig Allen, an expert on broadcast news and associate professor at Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. "I hate to say it, but 1010 is a pretty obscure station," Allen says. "With all due respect, it's one of the second-tier AM channels. For this to work, they're going to have to step forward with a lot of visibility." The station is working on doing that. The call letters changed from KXEM earlier this month. In two months, Christy plans to launch a local morning show. Liberals in the Valley are welcoming the station's arrival. "There is definitely a need for commentary other than Limbaugh. After a while, that's pretty dreary stuff," said Alfredo Gutiérrez, a former state senator who hosts a show on KNAI-FM (88.3). "There's a substantial liberal constituency here. There's a need to fill that void." (Arizona Republic Sept 23 via Art Blair, IRCA via DXLD) ** U S A. LIBERAL TALK RADIO ARRIVES --- COMIC AL FRANKEN'S AIR AMERICA STARTS TUESDAY AS KQKE Dan Fost, Chronicle Staff Writer Saturday, September 25, 2004 http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/09/25/BUGF68UNJ31.DTL Comedian Al Franken is bringing his ambitious attempt to create a liberal talk radio network to the Bay Area's airwaves starting Tuesday. Air America, which got off to a rocky beginning after its start in April, will take over the slot now occupied by KABL on 960 AM. The new station will be called KQKE, "the Quake." KABL, which plays American standards from the 1940s and 1950s, will move to 92.1 FM, broadcasting out of Walnut Creek. Clear Channel Communications, which owns KABL, hopes to turn the Sinatra-oriented station into a broader network, starting with 92.1 and a station in Monterey, according to KABL General Manager Joe Cunningham. Cunningham acknowledged the irony in Clear Channel taking on the liberal talk of Air America. Many liberals love to lambaste Clear Channel -- both for its corporate leadership's support of President Bush and for stations like KNEW (910 AM), a conservative talk station starring San Francisco's Michael Savage. "There's a general misconception that Clear Channel as a company must be aligned one way or another," Cunningham said. "These are just business decisions of where we can find the best programming. The Bay Area is pretty hungry for it." Or, in the words of Cunningham's boss, Clear Channel Senior Vice President Ed Krampf, who oversees a region stretching from Fresno to Alaska, "We're capitalists. We put on what the listening audience wants." Clear Channel started KNEW last year, hiring Savage away from Disney- owned KSFO (560 AM). Now it has even bigger game in its sights: KSFO's sister station KGO (810 AM), the market leader for the past 25 years. "KGO's going to have their hands full now," Krampf said. "It's a pretty centrist talk station. I'm not telling you we're going to beat KGO, but the 25-year reign they've had is going to be in jeopardy." In addition to the Air America lineup, which includes Franken, comedian Janeane Garofalo and Florida talk show host Randi Rhodes, KQKE will also feature Ed Schultz, a fiery liberal talk show host from North Dakota. Clear Channel said it has already had success broadcasting Schultz on one of its stations in Portland, Ore. Air America premièred to much fanfare this year as a liberal alternative in a talk radio landscape dominated by conservatives like Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity. But the network suffered from management turnover, miscommunication over how well it was funded and disputes with affiliates that led to it losing its stations in Los Ángeles and Chicago almost immediately. It was supposed to start airing on Bay Area stations KVTO and KVVN in April, but never did (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. I am trying to ID a station on 1690 kHz. I am in Western Washington State. I am hearing this station at 0145 to at least 0200 UT 24 Sept --- Most of it is in a Russian-like language. However, at the top of the hour, there's some English commercials. Looking at the AM database: KDDZ AM 1690 kHz ND2 Daytime ARVADA, CO 10.0 kW RADIO DISNEY GROUP, LLC KDDZ AM 1690 kHz ND2 Nighttime ARVADA, CO 1.0 kW RADIO DISNEY GROUP, LLC KFSG AM 1690 kHz ND1 Daytime ROSEVILLE, CA 10.0 kW WAY BROADCASTING LICENSEE, LLC KFSG AM 1690 kHz ND1 Nighttime ROSEVILLE, CA 1.0 kW WAY BROADCASTING LICENSEE, LLC These are the only two that are near Washington State. It does NOT sound like a Disney station. However, since the top of the hour, there has not yet been an ID that I can hear. Now, after 0200 UT, it is back to a language like Russian - mostly music. Any idea what this might be? Since there are clear commercials in English with 1-800 numbers, I know it is state-side. At first I thought maybe I was catching a far eastern Russian station. But I don't think so, now. Any help would be appreciated. 73 de (Tomas, NW7US (AARØJA/AAAØWA) Hood, amfmtvdx at qth.net via DXLD) Your 'Russian sounding' station is very very likely KFSG in Roseville CA. I am in San Francisco CA and just checked. Indeed, it sounds like Russian and they are pounding in here. I'm sure that's what you are hearing. Interesting though. I've never heard them program anything but Spanish language before tonight. 73 (Don Kaskey, ibid.) Recent listings show KFSG is "S/ETH", see http://www.diccons.com/radio/koje3.htm A web page I found recently lists KFSG running "Radio Islam" Sundays 3-6 pm [2200-0100 UT Mon] from Al-Manar Radio. Obviously it is an ethnic station for the time being, and it would be no surprise if they ran a Russian or another Slavic language program. Regards, (Bjarne Mjelde, Norway, ibid.) ** U S A. I just got letter from Adam Lock, Ops mgr, of WNQM-1300 [Nashville, WWCR`s MW station] and WMQM-1600 [Memphis] in answer to me fishing for a DX test. He tentatively says possibility of both stations, Dec 25/26, Sat/Sun 12-1230 for 1600 and 1230-0100 [sic; CST a.m., I suppose??? --- gh] for 1300. Now, I am not too well and do not wish to coordinate the tests further. Adam can be contacted via http://www.wwcr.com If someone with more DX test experience than I will run with this I will appreciate it. Great start for a new CPC! e- mail your snail address and I`ll send you the letter. I might possibly corral another and if so will hand it off to the CPC (RCW, IRCA mailing list via DXLD) ** U S A. Navy WI/MI ELF sites shutting down --- Since this event is right around the corner, instead of waiting for my WUN Military/Government newsletter column to hit the website, I thought some who monitor that region might be interested in this bit of news. ELF Communications System Frequencies: 76 Hz (primary) and 44 Hz (Secondary) There are two transmit sites: Republic, Michigan and Clam Lake, Wisconsin. This is used as a bell ringer communication system to submarines. Please note that these two broadcasts [sic] will be turned off on September 30, 2004 and these two sites will be dismantled per an article in the Bay City Times newspaper on September 13, 2004 (Larry Van Horn, Sept 23, WUN via Liz Cameron, MARE via DXLD) ** U S A. Little Rock, Arkansas public radio finally starts webcasting, thanks to a tip from PublicRadioFan.com --- both the news/talk/jazz format KUAR and the classical KLRE. Unfortunately there is little local origination, but they do have a local cooking show, US Congressional Candidate Debates (at the moment), and Classical Arkansas, along with the usual public radio fare. See http://www.ualr.edu/kuar/ The only other AR public radio station webcasting is KUAF in Fayetteville (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. PRIVATE LOOK AT PUBLIC RADIO [KSTX, KPAC San Antonio] By Lisa Sorg 09/23/2004 Texas Public Radio's Joe Gwathmey helped found NPR. At 63, he's still looking for the next big idea. When Joe Gwathmey tells stories, he often speaks with his eyes closed, as if he doesn't need to see, but needs only to imagine. Imagine a teenage boy living in Brownwood, Texas in the late 1950s, whose voice changed at age 13 to a rich, round baritone that resonates like the lowing of cows, prompting his family and friends to say, "You'll become either a preacher or a radio announcer." . . . http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=12982534&BRD=2318&PAG=461&dept_id=484045&rfi=6 (San Antonio Current via Current, and Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. Sound and fury --- WBUR dumps its Rhode Island stations, lays off employees, and downsizes Here and Now. It’s time for Boston University, its license-holder, to demand some answers. BY DAN KENNEDY AND IAN DONNIS, Boston Phoenix HERE`S SOME UNSOLICITED advice for Aram Chobanian, the interim president of Boston University: it`s time --- indeed, it`s long past time --- to demand some accountability on the part of WBUR Radio (90.9 FM), the BU-licensed public-broadcasting giant whose excellence is matched only by the mystery surrounding its operations and the imperious, fear-inspiring style of its general manager, Jane Christo. The past two weeks have been especially tumultuous. The most startling news unfolded last Friday, when Christo announced she was looking to sell `BUR`s Providence station, WRNI (AM 1290), which it had acquired just six years ago for some $2.4 million. Included in the deal would be a sister station in Westerly, Rhode Island. The announcement spurred anger on the part of some civic leaders, who charged that they had been lured into offering their financial support to an operation that would at some point be shut down --- and had not even received any guarantee that the stations will be sold to another noncommercial broadcaster. "Rhode Island should feel insulted," says Rick Schwartz, spokesman for the Rhode Island Foundation, a charitable organization that has given WRNI hundreds of thousands of dollars and below-market rent in the Providence building it owns. . . http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/dont_quote_me/multi-page/documents/04146111.asp (via Current via DXLD) ** U S A. JOURNALISM HAPPENS By Richard Cohen, Friday, September 24, 2004; Page A25 http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A45791-2004Sep23?language=printer Courage, Dan. Courage. That word, once used by Dan Rather as a sign-off, perfectly describes what he needs now. He's made mistakes. He has not handled himself well. He probably prejudged the story, maybe working backward from the conclusion, and for too long put up his dukes and got into a defensive crouch. Still, the fact remains that both he and CBS are guilty of making a mistake. It can happen -- bloggers and others take note -- when you commit journalism. Mistakes are what happen to aggressive news organizations. It is no coincidence that scandals being recollected at the moment are all associated with first-class newspapers or TV networks. It is that yearning to break the story, to make news, to bang the pot and change something for the better, that produced Janet Cooke at The Post or Jack Kelley at USA Today or Jayson Blair at the New York Times. They all took advantage of their organizations' hunger for --- and dedication to --- news. The difference between what happened to Rather and what happened with Cooke, Kelley and Blair is demonstrated by my wording -- "happened to" and "happened with." Rather did not concoct the apparently phony documents showing that George Bush was something less than a punctilious member of the Air National Guard. Someone else did. Rather was not trying to put something over on CBS or the public. He was the first one snookered. Yet on the Internet and in the right-wing press, calls shrill with false indignation have been issued for Rather's scalp. It is alleged, it is insinuated, it is winked and poked and smeared and whispered that Rather is some sort of liberal apparatchik or personally in cahoots with the Kerry campaign -- and that he should retire instantly. It beggars belief that some of this is coming from the Murdoch media empire -- the New York Post and Fox News -- which reports everything but the weather with a slant, and even then I wonder. The bloggers who were quick to spot the typographical discrepancies in CBS's tainted documents did their job. But it is only a piece of the larger job, which is to report the news. This is what Rather and CBS did -- not well enough, I grant you. But what animated them was good old-fashioned lust for the scoop. Believe me, those of us who have known such lust know it is blind. Rather would have done the same story on Kerry. It as, as Mario Puzo once pointed out in a somewhat different context, nothing personal. Just business. What's ironic here is that more and more Americans are getting their news through partisan filters -- talk radio, Web logs (blogs), Fox News and the like. We are pre-selecting, favoring those news outlets that already favor us. Regardless of where you're located, you can join an electronic -- cable, Internet, etc. -- community that is more compatible than the real one in which you live. This enhances the importance of national or regional outlets that do not have, or share, an ideological purpose. Some news ought to be upsetting. Some news ought to intellectually upend you and, if possible, make you uncomfortable. This is a journalist's sacred duty. As an opinion columnist, I rely a good deal on the reporting of others. I make my calls and have my lunches and sit in this or that government office, but I almost never break a story. I leave much of that hard work -- that very hard work -- to my colleagues, wherever they may be. It is the same with many bloggers, vultures sitting on the Internet, and a good deal of the media business today -- all those commentators on TV and the criminally insane on talk radio. Dan Rather has probably gone through more shoe leather than a veteran postman. In this case, he was wrong. In this case, he was truculent, too, and it goes without saying that his producer never should have been in touch with the Kerry campaign. A lot went wrong in the reporting and producing of that "60 Minutes" piece. But in the end, competitive juices and an outsized lust for a scoop -- truth in a hurry -- led to a calamitous mistake. It is the inevitable price of aggressive journalism. When we no longer are willing to pay that price, we will be paying a far greater one. © 2004 The Washington Post Company (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. I guess I'm on a QSL roll. 1440, WGEM, Quincy IL, huge QSL package including a very friendly p/d letter, coverage map, VHS tape produced by WGEM-TV about President Clinton's visit to Quincy on 01/28/00, and a magazine style book commemorating the first fifty years of WGEM (1997). Shipped in a box via Federal Express. Also returned my $1. Received in 19 days. V/s: Jay Sade, CE. Add: 513 Hampshire St., P.O. Box 80, Quincy, IL 62306-0080 (Patrick Griffith, NØNNK, Westminster, CO, Sept 24, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** URUGUAY [non]. Classical music on 9620: see ROMANIA! ** VENEZUELA [non]. RHC must have transmitters to spare, and energy to burn. Sept 24 I reconfirmed RNV relay on 13740, ending about 2000, but carrier stayed on for another 18 minutes. Before 2018 I started checking the four scheduled RNV relay frequencies during that hour: 15230 as usual, 17705 blocked by Greece/Delano and impossible to tell if anything is under it, 9550 with nothing, but 13680 was on, weakly, first time I`ve heard that one, and not \\ 15230. It could be the same program but out of synch by several minutes. 15230 dumped out of RNV before it was finished, around 2001 and switched to RHC Spanish programming at much lower modulation level (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Classical music on 9620: see ROMANIA! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RADIO STAMPS ++++++++++++ Re DXers on stamps: Also Finland has this option. Sweden has not. http://www.posti.fi/svenska/aktuellt/arkiv2004/Personliga_frimarken-270204.html (Henrik Klemetz, hard-core-dx via DXLD) The difference is that Finnish private stamps include the postage value (1st class mail) and they are valid stamps to use by anybody. Hmm... perhaps here is an idea... ;-) (Jari Lehtinen, Finland, ibid.) Ola Horacio and All, Yes, looks like they're "personal stamps": http://english.elta.gr/stamp/ps_stampcon.asp Funny, but no value collectorwise? I'm just asking. Perhaps one would want it when sending out one's reception reports! 73s (Andy Lawendel, Italy, ibid.) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ TINY SENSORS THAT CAN TRACK ANYTHING --- POTENTIAL SEEN FOR SECURITY, HOME, HABITAT By Robert O'Harrow Jr., Washington Post Staff Writer Friday, September 24, 2004; Page E01 They're small, smart and vigilant, the sort of miniature technology that science fiction writers once dreamed of. But the battery-powered, wireless sensors sometimes known as "smart dust" are here, and they're making their way into the electronic fabric of our lives. . . http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A45915-2004Sep23?language=printer (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ###