DX LISTENING DIGEST 4-177, November 26, 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 1254: Sat 0900 WOR WRN1 to Eu, Au, NZ, WorldSpace AfriStar, AsiaStar, Telstar 12 SAm Sat 0955 WOR WNQM Nashville TN 1300 Sat 1130 WOR WWCR 5070 Sat 1928 WOR WPKN Bridgeport CT 89.5 Sat 2030 WOR R. Lavalamp Sat 2130 WOR WBCQ 17495-CUSB Sun 0330 WOR WWCR 5070 Sun 0400 WOR WBCQ 9330-CLSB Sun 0430 WOR WRMI 6870 Sun 0730 WOR WWCR 3210 Sun 0930 WOR WRN1 to North America, also WLIO-TV Lima OH SAP Sun 0930 WOR KSFC Spokane WA 91.9 Sun 0930 WOR WDWN Auburn NY 89.1 [unconfirmed] Sun 0930 WOR KTRU Houston TX 91.7 [occasional] Sun 1030 WOR WRMI 9955 Sun 1100 WOR R. Lavalamp Sun 1400 WOR KRFP-LP Moscow ID 92.5 Sun 1500 WOR R. Lavalamp Sun 2000 WOR Studio X, Momigno, Italy 1584 87.35 96.55 105.55 Sun 2030 WOR WWCR 12160 Sun 2100 WOR RNI Mon 0330 WOR WRMI 6870 Mon 0400 WOR WBCQ 9330-CLSB Mon 0430 WOR WSUI Iowa City IA 910 [1253] Mon 0530 WOR WBCQ 7415 Mon 0900 WOR R. Lavalamp Mon 1700 WOR WBCQ after hours Mon 2200 WOR WBCQ 9330-CLSB Tue 1000 WOR WRMI 9955 Tue 1700 WOR WBCQ after hours Tue 2200 WOR WBCQ 9330-CLSB Wed 1030 WOR WWCR 9985 Wed 1700 WOR WBCQ after hours MORE info including audio links: http://worldofradio.com/radioskd.html 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 1254 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1254h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1254.rm WORLD OF RADIO 1254 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1254.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1254.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1254.html WORLD OF RADIO 1254, mp3 in the true SW sound of 7415: (stream) http://www.piratearchive.com/media/worldofradio_11-24-04.m3u (d`load) http://www.piratearchive.com/media/worldofradio_11-24-04.mp3 DXLD YAHOOGROUP: Why wait for DXLD? A lot more info, not all of it appearing in DXLD later, is posted at our yg. Here`s where to sign up http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dxld/ ** AFGHANISTAN. An Afghan radio station has appeared on 1602 kHz mediumwave and has been heard all the way in Europe. Martti Karimies from Finland was the first to pick up the station on November 20. Later the station has been identified as Radio Khost. According to previous station listings prepared by Internews, Radio Khost has earlier operated on 1200 kHz. Radio Khost was launched in 2002 (see DXing.info news in June 2002 for details), and first broadcast on 1300 kHz. Radio Khost is a government-run station for Khost (also spelled as Khowst) and its surrounding areas in eastern Afghanistan, near the border with Pakistan (DXing.info, November 25, 2004 via DXLD) ** ALASKA. A new mediumwave station has begun broadcasting in Alaska on 1110 kHz. KAGV in Big Lake began testing on November 16-17, partly using a backup transmitter of 2.5 kW. "On Thursday and Friday (November 18-19) we fired up our main transmitter at 10,000 watts. This transmitter is a Harris DX10 Solid state transmitter. We currently have two bad modules in the transmitter which will be fixed shortly. This should increase our modulation a bit," says KAGV Station Manager David Horning. DXpeditionists in Lemmenjoki, Finland, have reported to DXing.info that KAGV was first picked up on November 20 by Hannu Niilekselä. The station identifies as "Alaska's Gospel Voice", and "I AM Radio Network". Horning tells DXing.info that they have been working on this station for almost three years and their construction permit from the FCC times out on December 19. "This radio station is owned by Voice For Christ ministries (VFCM) in Nenana, Alaska which also owns and operates KIAM 630 AM, and KYKD an FM in Bethel, Alaska," Horning explains. VFCM is also a satellite network and will be feeding some of the programming from KIAM to KAGV via satellite. Horning says that he hopes to begin regular broadcasts on December 14 or 15. According to Horning, the broadcasts will be primarily religious in nature with news and information programming and also music. "Our power will be 10,000 watts 24 hours a day." KAGV is located just north of Anchorage. The station can be contacted by calling at +1-907-892-8820, or by email Dave @ vfcm.org (DXing.info, November 25, 2004 via DXLD) ** ALBANIA. See CHINA [non] ** ANTARCTICA. My e-mail reception report was verified after only six days by a very nice "Certificado de Recepcion" by e-mail. Text: "En Base Esperanza, Antártica Argentina a los 24 dias del mes de noviembre de 2004, por la presente certifico que, la estación receptora perteneciente a Gabriel Iván Barrera ha brindado testimonio de la escucha de nuestra emisora "LRA 36 Arcángel San Gabriel", del programa "63º Latitud Sur". Asimismo, hago propicia la ocasión para agradecer vuestro contacto e invitarlo a seguir escuchando nuestra emisión en la frecuencia de 15.476 kHz, de lunes a viernes, de 18:00 a 21:00 UTC....., NESTOR ARGÜELLO Director LRA 36". They promised a QSL card + original of this Certificate by air mail in the next twin-otter that depart from Base Esperanza (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Argentina, DSWCI DX Window Nov 26 via DXLD) ** ANTARCTICA. Operator VU3BPZ will be leaving to go to Maitri Base for a second term on December 2nd and promises to be active from India`s Antarctic Base (WAP IND-03). He is expected to reach Maitri Base on December 22nd. He is expected to check into the AIRNET on 14150 kHz every day at 1400z, and then he will try working DX on his own (KB8NW\OPDX November 29\BARF-80 via John Norfolk, dxldyg via DXLD) ** ARMENIA. Radio Voice of Armenia broadcasts in English Monday through Saturday from 1925 to 1945 UT on 4810 and 9965 kHz. The Home Service in Armenian can be heard on the same frequencies on Sunday. Also from Armenia you can hear Trans World Radio Central Asia from 1710 to 1725 UT on 5855 and 864 kHz (Rumen Pankov, R. Bulgaria DX Program Nov 26 via John Norfolk, dxldyg via DXLD) ?? We had reports that the 1925 broadcast is now 7-daily ** AUSTRALIA. 4835, VL8A, Alice Springs NT, audible on 20 Nov 1946- 2050 (gone at recheck 2155), English, pops & ballads, TCs, news 2030, music; 54433, QRM de MALI; noted on 21 Nov 1835 with news & program "Overnight." It was thanks to Bamako's extremely weak audio that the ABC was received so good (Carlos Gonçalves. Equip. usado: JRC NRD-545, DRAKE R-8E, ampl. Wellbrook Communications, T2FD, K9AY, V inv. de 41 m, L inv. 45 m, Lisboa / PORTUGAL, Nov 24, radioescutas via DXLD) 4835, 16/Nov. 0932 VL8A ABC, Alice Springs, English, news Paquistán, Iraq, "...ABC News...", música pop, S-2. 73 (Rogildo F. Aragão, Quillacollo, Bolivia, Sony 2001D/Lowe HF-225E, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELGIUM [and non]. Radio T.B.F. International broadcasts on 9970 from 0600 to 2100 UT, as well as from 0600 to 0812, and on Saturday and Sunday till 1100 on 17580; from 1100 to 1230 on 21565; from 1600 to 1805 daily and from Monday through Friday from 1530 to 1902 on 17570. The QSL address is: RTBF International, Bureau 3C23, 52 Boulevard Reyers, Brussels 1044, Belgium (Rumen Pankov, R. Bulgaria DX Program Nov 26 via John Norfolk, dxldyg via DXLD) Noted the lead-up to the 1530 broadcast on 17570 with IS and IDs not only in French but English, the other day. These are via Jülich, except 9970 is actually transmitted from Wavre, Belgium (Glenn Hauser, OK, Nov 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELGIUM. Flemish Media Minister response --- I received this response to my complaint to the Flemish Minster for Media, Geert BOURGEOIS. It seems the huge response from listeners has at least been noted by the Minister. Dear Sir, I well received your letter dated 1 November 2004, informing me of your position and concern on the planned alteration in the guidelines of RVi. Just like you, I have a problem with the abolition of the non-Dutch language broadcasts of RVi, for it is unmistakably the responsibility of the national channel to put Flanders on the map of the world. In my capacity as Minister for Foreign Policy as well as Media, I would strongly deplore the possible disappearance of this window of the world on Flanders. Already I am deluged with e-mails and letters from all over the world in which both Flemings and foreigners beg me to maintain the non-Dutch language broadcasts of RVi. Often, RVi is the only direct source of information about Flanders for these people. Also in my capacity as Minister for Tourism, I feel regret, as many foreigners find their way to Flanders by RVi Outside Europe, the Flemings abroad would be referred to the website on which the usual VRT programmes can be listened to. I also regret this decision. For it is self-evident that numerous Flemings in Africa, Asia and other continents will be de facto left to fend for themselves as they hardly have access to the Internet. I therefore wish to consult with the VRT about the possibility to maintain RVi as the best access to Flanders for both Dutch-speaking people and foreigners. I'm grateful for your concern and stay always at your disposal for further information. Yours sincerely, Geert BOURGEOIS Flemish Minister for Administrative Affairs, Foreign Policy, Media and Tourism (via Jonathan Murphy, Ireland, World DX Club via DXLD) also via Mike Terry, with added contacts: -- Duncan Braeckevelt Raadgever Media Kabinet van de Vlaamse Minister voor Bestuurszaken, Buitenlandsbeleid, Media en Toerisme Alhambragebouw Emile Jacqmainlaan 20, 7 verdieping 1000 Brussel 02/552.70.18 email : duncan.braeckevelt @ vlaanderen.be (dxldyg via DXLD) ** BENIN. Additional information received from TWR about the new relay station which is going to be constructed near Parakou during 2005: the transmitter will be operating on 1566 kHz with 100 kW. Cf. http://www.twrafrica.org/0055.asp for other details about this project (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, Nov 25, mwdxyg via DXLD) TFK! ** BENIN. 5025, ORTB, Parakou, noted on 21 Nov 1715-1729 in French, with African light music, then football match report from the Parakou field; 55433, so no trouble from Uganda 5026 (Carlos Gonçalves. Equip. usado: JRC NRD-545, DRAKE R-8E, ampl. Wellbrook Communications, T2FD, K9AY, V inv. de 41 m, L inv. 45 m, Lisboa / PORTUGAL, Nov 24, radioescutas via DXLD) ** BHUTAN. 6035, Bhutan BS, Thimpu. Since a relatively decent reception/recording of Bhutanese music on Nov 01 at 1351-1359, I have not heard anything here in the usual time frame of 1350 to 1415 when they would normally peak at my location. This is with above normal subcontinent reception of Indian regionals on and after this date. There is a BBC outlet (unknown site) here until 1345. I wonder if they have reduced hours or have a transmitter problem? (Bruce Churchill, Fallbrook CA, DSWCI DX Window Nov 26 via DXLD) No doubt they have had a transmitter problem, because they have not been reported heard by any DX-er since March 2004 as far as I know! When checking at 0105-0115, Nov 25, BBS indeed was back on 6035 with the usual monotonous choir of Buddhist Monks, 22222 with QRM from R Japan in English on 6030 via Skelton (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Nov 26 via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. R. Santa Cruz, 6134.79, 0915-0935+ Nov 21. Nice CP folk music, radio drama, adstring, jingles, 0931 ID. Very good signal (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BURKINA FASO. RTV Burkina, 5030, 2340-0001* Nov 20-21, back on frequency but weak, poor in noise with French talk, variety of Euro- pops, Afro-pops. 2359 instrumental NA to sign-off. University Network, Costa Rica sign-on at 0000 (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5030, R. Burkina, Ouagadougou, observed on 21 Nov 1719-1733 in French, airing some legislation on sport associations, then African light songs; 54443 (Carlos Gonçalves. Equip. usado: JRC NRD-545, DRAKE R-8E, ampl. Wellbrook Communications, T2FD, K9AY, V inv. de 41 m, L inv. 45 m, Lisboa / PORTUGAL, Nov 24, radioescutas via DXLD) ** CANADA. CBC COVERAGE LEADING UP TO DUBYA'S VISIT TO CANADA I've added RCI times/frequencies on SW in lines beginning with **. These programs are undoubtedly offered on the RCI satellite and Internet channels. Cheers, Ricky ===== from http://www3.cbc.ca/sections/newsitem_redux.asp?ID=3783 As George W. Bush prepares to visit Canada next week, CBC News offers special programming that will address the question ``are we a continent divided?`` Beginning Saturday, Nov. 27, CBC Television, CBC Radio, CBC Newsworld and CBC.ca present CBC NEWS INQUIRY: CONTINENTAL DIVIDE? (snip) CBC Radio Saturday, Nov. 27: The House - features the special documentary Mending fences, which revisits Prime Minister Martin’s promise of improving Canada-U.S. relations. Are we better off one year later? 9 a.m. (9:30 NT) on Radio One. ** 1400 UTC on 9515, 13655, 17820 kHz (Americas) Sunday, Nov. 28: World Report - Bush’s visit to Canada is the first step in his strategy to reach out to old allies and address the damage inflicted during his first term in office. 6 a.m. (6:30 NT), 7 a.m. (7:30 NT) and 8 a.m. (8:30 NT) on Radio One and Two. [The times are probably incorrect. On weekends, the last edition of World Report for any time zone is at 9 a.m. -- Ricky.] ** 1400 UTC on 9515, 13655, 17820 kHz (Americas) The Sunday Edition - Star Wars: The Next Generation. In advance of President Bush’s visit, Michael Enright explores everything you wanted to know, but were afraid to ask, about missile defence. 9 a.m. (9:30 NT) on Radio One. ** 1411 UTC on 9515, 13655, 17820 kHz (Americas) The World This Weekend - Reaching out to old allies, Bush begins the healing. Also, why making amends is so important to the United States and its partners. 6 p.m. (6:30 NT) on Radio One and Two. [Except in the Maritimes (7 p.m.) and Newfoundland (7:30 p.m.). -- Ricky] ** 0100 UTC (Nov. 29) on 6190, 9755, 9780 kHz (Americas) Monday, Nov. 29: World Report - What is missile defense? How effective is it? Is it ready? Will it work? Will Canada participate? 6 a.m. (6:30 NT), 7 a.m. (7:30 NT) and 8 a.m. (8:30 NT) on Radio One and Two. The Current - Last term it was Iraq, this term it`s Iran. With U.S. credibility at an all time low, Anna Maria Tremonti takes an in-depth look at the options available to President Bush as he faces the growing concern over Iran’s nuclear program. 8:30 a.m. (9 NT) on Radio One. ** 1300 UTC on 9515, 13655, 17820 kHz (Americas) (Parts 2 and 3 only) Canada at Five - Canada needs to make up its mind about joining the missile defense program. What are the pros and cons of joining? 5 p.m. (5:30 NT) on Radio One and Two. The World at Six - Which Canadian firms, entrepreneurs and industries stand to benefit from the missile defense program? What would they miss in sales and development by staying on the sidelines? 6 p.m. (6:30 NT) on Radio One and Two. ** 2200 UTC on 15180 kHz (Americas) ** 2200 UTC on 9800 kHz DRM (Americas) ** 0000 UTC (Nov. 30) on 9880 kHz (Asia) ** 0100 UTC (Nov. 30) on 6190, 9755, 9780 kHz (Americas) Tuesday, Nov. 30: World Report - How significant are the trade irritants to the Canada- U.S. relationship? Are there any solutions on the horizon? 6 a.m. (6:30 NT), 7 a.m. (7:30 NT) and 8 a.m. (8:30 NT) on Radio One and Two. (...) (via Ricky Leong, QC, Nov 26, DXLD) ** CANADA. 1609.9, CHSL, Toronto ON; 2313-2340+, 23-Nov; 2M discussion in Spanish, mentioning Perú, Quito, Colombia, Bogotá y nacionalistas y Andean tunes with flutes. On top to zilch. ID at 2335+, "Ésta es Voces Latinas ...en Toronto, Canadá". QRM is CJWI, which ID'd at 2337+, also with Latino music but French announcer. Frequency seems to be varying slightly, 1609.90-1609.95. ON #74 (Harold Frodge, MI, MARE Tipsheet via DXLD) ** CHAD. 6165, RD. Natle. Tchadienne, N'Djaména, noted (after a long time) on 21 Nov 2211-2232* in French, with talks, modern songs and closing down with the national anthem 2230; 52432, QRM de HRV [Croatia] (Carlos Gonçalves. Equip. usado: JRC NRD-545, DRAKE R-8E, ampl. Wellbrook Communications, T2FD, K9AY, V inv. de 41 m, L inv. 45 m, Lisboa / PORTUGAL, Nov 24, radioescutas via DXLD) ** CHINA [non]. CHINA RADIO INTERNATIONAL ADDS NEW TRANSMISSIONS VIA ALBANIA --- Various new transmissions of China Radio International are being reported, in readiness for their official launch on 28 November. Although registered with HFCC as Chinese sites, reception in Europe indicates that at least some are coming from the new transmitters in Albania recently installed at Cerrik. Ehard Goddijn of Radio Netherlands reported coming across the following signals this morning: 0603 UTC CRI in Arabic on 7120 kHz adjacent to our Flevo 7125 kHz, signing off at 0656 UTC. Listed in HFCC to North Africa from Urumchi. 0804 UTC Chinese on 11785 kHz. Very strong: S9 + 40 dB. 0825 UTC English on 11855 kHz, also S9 + 40 dB in Hilversum. Ehard also reports reading the following on the RCI Spanish Web site: "Starting November 28th 2004 two hours of Spanish to Spain 2200-0000 UTC on 7120, 7210 and 6175 kHz". Further details and observations in the latest DX Listening Digest. # posted by Andy @ 09:22 UT Nov 26 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** CHINA [non]. Re New CRI Albania relay --- Yes now 0000 UT English service starts on powerhouse 6020 kHz, but 9570 suffers due of short skip zone, over my head, - Cerrik transmitter is only 1400 km away. 73 wb Re dxld 4-176: They did subtract UTC minus 8 hours, instead of add 8 hours: [times corrected to UT] 2000-2157 5960 and 7285 0700-0857 11855 17490 1100-1257 13665 0000-0157 6020 and 9570 NoAM 0500-0657 11750 and 17505 NoAF CRI Cerrik-A site, regularly from November 28th, 2004: 1600-1657 Turkish 6165, 7325 [not checked today] 1600-1757 German 5970, 7155 1800-1957 French 5970, 7175 1900-1957 Turkish 7215, 9655 [not heard today] 2000-2157 English(EU) 5960, 7285 2200-2257 Portuguese 6175 2200-2257 French 7200 and at present: 2300-2357 Spanish 6175 7210 0000-0157 English 6020 9570 Special announcement on Spanish service noted at around 2310 UT about new CRI schedule from November 28th ... 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, Nov 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, 6020 and 9570 here at 0050 UT Nov 26, synchronized in English tho not especially strong (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) BTW, I'll also check the [intended for?] N American target channels, maybe originate from ALB site also in future: 5990 2200 2300 12,13 6020 0000-0400 8,9E 7160 2300 0100 12,14 7245 0000 0100 13 7245 2200 2300 13 7245 2300 2400 12,14 7245 2300 2400 12,14 9860 2200-2300 13S,15N (9870?) 11650 0000 0300 12,14 11680 0000-0100 12,13 11695 0200-0300 12-14 11700 2200-2300 13,14 (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11715 kHz, spur of new powerhouse CRI Cerrik Albania relay (11855). Noted from 0700(-0857), English service 0700-0800 UT not on scheduled \\ 17490, but on \\ 15350 instead, both Kashi-CHN. CRI Cerrik-A site, regularly from November 28th, 2004, but heard on test from Nov 25th: 0500-0657 English 11750 \\ 17505KAS couldn't heard due of skip zone [0500-0657 Arabic 9590 most likely also from Cerrik-ALB] 0700-0857 English 11855 \\ 15350KAS -0800, 17490KAS 0800- 0700-0857 Chinese 11785 \\ 17650KAS 1600-1657 Turkish 6165, 7325 [not checked today Nov 25] 1600-1757 German 5970, 7155 1800-1957 French 5970, 7175 1900-1957 Turkish 7215, 9655 [not heard today Nov 25] 2000-2157 English(EU) 5960, 7285 2200-2257 Portuguese 6175 2200-2257 French 7200 2300-2357 Spanish 6175 7210 0000-0157 English 6020 9570 to North America ! (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, Nov 26, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello, again CRI was today on air until 1957 in French on 5970 and 7175 and from 2000 in English on 5960 and 7285, almost for a certainty from Cërrik of course. Here is a recording of 5960 at 2000: http://www.radioeins.de/_/meta/sendungen/apparat/041120_a3.ram Note the announcement ``for China, North America and Africa``, not considering the Cërrik outlets so far. CRI German service already shows the transmission 1600-1757 on 5970 and 7155 in their schedule at http://de.chinabroadcast.cn/21/2003/12/18/1@2624.htm The modulation characteristics of the new Cërrik transmitters are identical to the ones at Shijak, suggesting that the design is basically the same. I understand that all these transmitters are manufactured in China, so probably they are rigs with classical plate modulation? The HFCC entries are really remarkable. CER has been replaced by some sites in China, but at least in some cases not the azimuths. Just look at 5960 and 5970 as examples: 310 and 330 degrees are no doubt the actual azimuths for Cërrik. A transmission from Kashi with such beams would aim at Russia instead. Quite impudent fakes (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Nov 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I was hearing 5960 // 7285 around 2130 Nov 26, fair signals more likely Albania than Kashi, I would say (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Prop condition was well in morning today UNTIL at stop about after noon today, then declined. Signals of Cerrik outlets were total different in characteristic today, compared to my observation serie yesterday / til night service to NoAM at 0000-0157 UT. Cerrik outlets from about 1700 UT suffered by less power than yesterday powerhouse signals. -- at least in target of approx. 1400 km distance around the transmitter site; some signals skipped over my head. 7155 kHz channel was totally covered by co-channel BVN Skelton today, no trace of CRI Cerrik signal during BVN service. All subcontinent, ME and NE stations like Turkey were on powerhouse level this afternoon. ONLY - thanks to my knowledge of yesterday monitoring table, I could recognize again, that these outlets did originate from Cerrik site. Yesterday night I had a look into the various CRI ONLINE websites of various language sections. Many of them were outdated of summer frequencies in 2003 season. Only English, German, and I guess French section had partly reliable information. All others: scrap. Frequencies I monitored today, were more or less same like yesterday. At 1200-1257 I noted two very strong 22 mb frequencies for English service, on 13610 and 13790 kHz, and very clean audio quality like the Cerrik audio quality of yesterday, far better than noisy Urumchi transmissions. 13790 kHz covered totally the IRIB co-channel signal, and also 13610 was well ahead of all adjacent channel interference. I assume, these two transmissions did originate from Cerrik. Scheduled 13665 couldn't be heard here. Taldom Moscow relay 7170 2200-2257 missed CRI English yesterday night, but noted 7130 CRI Arabic via St. Petersburg again today, at 1600-1657 UT. At present I use the Sony set and hear very strong both 6020 and 9570 kHz again. 10 diodes on the 'shining scale'. Kai, Listen to your .ram file shows much scratching noise on your recording. Looked into Geoclock map at Cottbus-Berlin path from Albania, shows a 35 degrees off-side the main lobe 310 degr towards Blackpool-North America. A look to Nagoya DXers C website brought no news to my attention today. I guess we Europeans should BRING the news on this matter to Japanese editor at Nagoya. 2000-2057 English-AF 13630M, 11640M, 9440B2, 7295k6 English-Eu 9855U3, 9600B4, 7190kas, 6100qq, 1440Lux, 1386Sit I hear English on all scheduled channels, even the poor Mali outlets. Mod at Cerrik ones is not crispy, but much better than the 100 kW Chinese units at Shijak and RHC Bauta site. But this depends also to kind of feeder quality and Optimods or similar. 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, Nov 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CONGO DR. unID, unlisted on 945 kHz. At 2030 UT am now getting ID of "République Démocratique du Congo" with French programming on 945 kHz. Anyone else ID this station? Is it Congo Brazza or Congo Kinshasa? It is not listed in my 2004 WRTH (John Plimmer, Montagu, Western Cape Province, South Africa, Nov 26, MWDX yg via DXLD) Surely Kinshasa if ``Democratic`` ** CROATIA. 1125 / 1134 kHz Deanovac / Zadar installations. Dear Mr. Percin, listener in Central Europe missed widely the HR HRV HRT transmissions from 1134 kHz Zadar Croatia mediumwave site, after the recent rainfall storm damage on the Croatian coast. This lasted till November 23rd. Since yesterday [Nov. 23rd] before, I noted HR signal on 1134 kHz again, B U T with decreased power, the signal suffers much. 1125 kHz couldn't be observed anymore here at Stuttgart Germany - since. So my guess is, Zadar suffers a long lasting failure, either main power line cut, or mediumwave antenna damage. And subsequently Zagreb mediumwave unit of former 1125 kHz, moved to the international audience more important channel 1134 kHz now instead, till final date to overcome the Zadar installation problems. HR - Croatian Radio 1134 kHz comes in, but of very limited power now, only 6-7 diodes on my Sony display, - compared to 10 diodes for shining of Macedonia 810 kHz, ALB 1395/1458 kHz, Slovenia 918 kHz. May you can explain what damage and subsequent measures occured at Zadar and Deanovac sites in past days/hours? Thanks for your information in beforehand. Kind Regards Wolfgang Bueschel df5sx D-70597 Stuttgart Germany - Nemacka [reply:] Dear Mr Bueschel, A very strong winds with speed over 220 km/h had caused damages on two of 4 antenna mast in Zadar. They have damaged base insulators. Unfortunately power distribution is coming from transmitter and later being distributed through one of them. Base insulators are ordered from RIZ factory which delivered and installed those antenna mast at beginning of this year. We are expecting to start transmission during next week with omni antenna system and two weeks later with directional antenna system as it was before these storms. In mean time transmitter Deanovec 100 kW is tuned from 1125 to 1134 kHz instead, because our listeners are usually on this frequency because 600 kW transmitter site in Zadar has better reception in Europe. Waiting for insulators is quicker way how to start transmission again, instead doing complex bypass through mast 1 and tuning one of good antenna mast to receive power of 600 kW with proper impedance matching. Thanks for your letter. Best 73, (Nikola Percin, 9A5W, HRT - Technical Director, Nov 25, via Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. Improving Radio Marti: see U S A ** DENMARK. World Music Radio is on the air right now on 5815 kHz - after a break in transmission tonight from 1715 to 2200 UT. We will be on the air until Monday 0700. Power is 5 kW and transmitter QTH is Karup in Denmark. Best 73s (Stig Hartvig Nielsen, http://www.wmr.dk Nov 26, HCDX via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. I listened to a Música del Ecuador program, archived as previously pointed out, currently the oldest one since it`s likely to be replaced first. I noticed that Jorge Zambrano pronounces LL as LY, which is a Castilian thing, but his overall accent is not Castilian, nor did I hear TH for Zs and soft Cs. `Jorgito` did spend a lot of time interviewing his studio guest, Betty ---, ``La Cancionera de América``, rather than playing straight music, but I sure do enjoy what music there is. Plays at 21 kbps, so not exactly hi-fi, and lacks the true SW sound of selective fading, but good enough. I was about to give him credit for limiting preaching to quoting one verse from Genesis, but at :48 into the program came a two-minute Creation Moment, apparently produced at HCJB itself, giving the 17-17-691 box, attempting to cast doubt on the Big Bang and the Red Shift (for which there is plenty of evidence) and instead believe in a god who cares for each and every one of us (for which there is no evidence). (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. 7590, Voice of Oromo Liberation, via Samara, *1700- 1730*, Monday Nov 22, Test tones and ID in Oromo: ``Radiyoo Segalee Qabsoo Bilisummaa Oromoo``, talks and songs from the Horn of Africa (HOA). At *1730-1800* R Voice of Oromia with two IDs: ``Kun Radio Sagalee Oromia`` and similar programme (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Nov 26 via DXLD) 9820, Voice of Ethiopian Salvation (presumed), -1659*, Sunday Nov 21, distinct sign off music. Fair (Finn Krone, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Nov 26 via DXLD) Got ID earlier in Nov (Ed. Anker Petersen, ibid.) 9820, Voice of Oromo Liberation, *1700-1730, Sunday Nov 21. Oromo program, SBO address in Washington 1730. Fair, heavy fading (Finn Krone, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Nov 26 via DXLD) ** GERMANY. NEW LEGISLATION CLARIFIES FINANCING OF DEUTSCHE WELLE A new law comes into effect in 2006 which will specify that the financing of German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle shall be determined for periods of four years at a time. This, says Director Erik Betterman, will enable Deutsche Welle to plan more efficiently and with a greater degree of certainty, less dependent on annual budgetary plans of the government. The law also sets out the mission of Deutsche Welle as an "instrument for the promotion of cultural exchange." Emphasis is placed especially on Eastern Europe, the Arab World and Asia from Morocco to Indonesia, as well as the former Soviet states. One likely casualty is the US Pay-TV channel German TV. The channel, with 10,000 subscribers, offers a potpourri of public programmes produced by the ARD, ZDF and Deutsche Welle and costs the Federal Government 5.1 million euro per year. Erik Bettermann says that, while nothing has officially been decided about continued financing, the signs are that the station will have to close next year. German commercial satellite broadcaster Sat 1 wants to start its own German- language pay channel in the USA, and is expecting to make a profit by 2007. Some of the money freed from German TV will be used to pay for the conversion to digital transmission formats for Deutsche Welle. Betterman also hopes to strengthen the programming of the free-to-air channel Deutsche Welle TV by using material from German TV's partners ARD and ZDF. Recently, at a conference of German business people living in Asia, there were complaints about limited programming on Deutsche Welle TV, and too many repeats. Betterman says Deutsche Welle can't afford to develop the programming alone. (Source: Handelsblatt) # posted by Andy @ 16:41 UT Nov 24 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Radio Volga villa --- Here are pictures of the former Radio Volga seat at Potsdam, Menzelstraße 5, as it looks today, ten years after this villa ceased to be a radio house: http://home.arcor.de/aerbe/bildor/Menzelstr5/ (via Kai Ludwig, DXLD) Rotate +90 degrees ** GERMANY. Freiburg 828 and Baden-Baden 1485 are no longer on air around the clock but only Mon-Fri 0400-2200, Sat-Sun 0600-2200 anymore. See http://www.swr.de/frequenzen/hinweise/index.html Reportedly both remaining transmitters on 711 were today silent. Ulm had been switched on at 1855 again but Heilbronn is still off. All the best, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Nov 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. Radio Makedonias, 7450, 25 Nov at 2110 in Greek. Good Greek music, alternating with phone calls. At 2118 I heard an English phone call. The caller kept saying How are you and the announcer kept asking, Would you like to send a message to anyone? Reception fair to moderate (Liz Cameron, MI, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. SCARCITY OF ENGLISH ON VOG Hi Glenn: In answer to Dave Kenny's and Wolfgang Buschel's complaint about the lack of much English on the Voice of Greece, I agree. It seems as though as the years went by, VOG has eliminated the News in English segments as well as the so-called Learn Greek in English. I downloaded and printed out both the detailed and condensed Greek versions of VOG's Daily, Saturday, and Sunday Program Schedules and this is what I found: Saturday (1700-1800 Greece Time) 1500-1600 UT -- ELLENES PANTOU STA AGGLIKA (Greeks Everywhere In English) with Katerina Thanasoula) on 9420, 15485, 15630, 15650; MW 792. Sunday (1305-1400 Greece Time) 1105-1200 UT -- MOUSIKE EKPOMPE STA AGGLIKA (Musical Broadcast in English) with George Frantzeskake on 9375, 9420, 15630, 15650; MW 792, 1260. That's all the English that I could find for VOG! And, on ERA RADIO FILIA: Every Day (0900-1000 Greece Time) 0700-0800 UT -- BBC ENGLISH (SATELLITE CONNECTION on 665 AM, 107 FM. Every Day (2130-2200 Greece Time) 1930-2000 UT -- (Foreign Language Information Zone) ENGLISH ORIENTATIONS on 7430 SW, 665 AM, 107 FM. The VOG Program Schedule in English Web site is still down; I guess they are working on it, but it looks as though they don't have much English-speaking help around anymore, or translators either. Regards, (John Babbis, Silver Spring, MD, Nov 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUATEMALA. R. Coatán, 4779.98, 0215-0233* Nov 20. Nice local religious vocals, Spanish talk, ID at sign-off. Poor-fair with occasional ute QRM; sign-off next nite, Nov 21 at 0238* (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. Galei Zahal, 6973.01, 0300-0402* Nov 20 Hebrew talk, variety of local pops, ballads and techno-pop music. Really booming in with a very good signal (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ITALY. IRRS, 13840, 0840-0910+ Sun Nov 21; tune-in to continuous US lite pops/ballads. 0857 & 0903 English IDs, otherwise just constant lite US pop music by Stevie Wonder and others. Very weak (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN [and non]. R. Japan special transmissions - Frequency change as on 01 Dec --- *Special Transmissions of Radio Japan's Regional Service in Arabic --- In view of the tense situation in Iraq, NHK World Radio Japan is providing special Arabic service. The schedule and the frequency change on Dec. 01. Special Transmission *Till Nov. 30, Tue. Time(JST) / 20:00 - 20:15 [1100-1115 UT] Frequency(kHz) / 17665 Relay Station / EKALA, SRI LANKA [to the Middle East & North Africa] *From Dec. 01, Wed. Time(JST) / 21:00 - 21:15 [1200-1215 UT] Frequency(kHz) / 17560 Relay Station / UNITED KINGDOM [to the Middle East & North Africa] Regular Transmissions Time (JST) / Frequency (kHz) 13:00 - 13:30 / 17780 [to Middle East & North Africa] [0400-0430 UT] 16:00 - 16:30 / 15220 [to Middle East & North Africa] [0700-0730 UT] (NHK WORLD e-GUIDE Nov. 26 via Alokesh Gupta, dxldyg via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. 9665, KCBS Pyongyang, Kanggye, 34433, Korean. Very slow, mournful music with YL vocalist (who had a pretty voice). Doesn't KCBS ever play any "bouncy, happy" music? This is a 50 kW "Regional" station. 1718 UT. *************************************************** * RECEIVERS: * * #1. Homebrewed "Mitch Lee" Design * * #2. Hallicrafters SX-71 (1955)& VLF Converter * * #3 Grundig YB-300 Digital (for spotting) * * ANTENNAS: * * #1. 20 Meter long "loaded" Sloper oriented E/W * * #2. Half Sized G5RV Inverted Vee oriented N/S * * #3. Roof mounted Hustler 6BTV 6 band Vertical * * #4. 15 Meter-band Inverted Vee oriented NE/SW * * * * Number of different NDB's heard: 974 * *************************************************** 73 (de Phil, KO6BB, Atchley, http://users.mercednet.com/beaconeer/ Merced, Central California, 37.3N 120.48W CM97sh, swl at qth.net via DXLD) This one is usually slightly off frequency. Altho it`s the domestic service, it`s not regional but P`yongyang. PWBR 2005 thinks it`s 200 kW, but WRTH 2004 does not hazard a guess as to power (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH. The following KCBS stations were audible 1000-1130 on Nov 11: 2349.78 // 2850 // 3350 // 3958.80 // 9665.50 // 11679.70 (Roland Schulze, Philippines, DSWCI DX Window Nov 26 via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN. Iran. Radio Komala was heard in Sofia again after a long absence on 3930 kHz from 1655 to 1835 UT as well as on the usual frequency of 4610 (Rumen Pankov, R. Bulgaria DX Program Nov 26 via John Norfolk, dxldyg via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN. 4026, Voice of the People of Kurdistan, Al-Sulaymaniyah, Northern Iraq, heard 1600-1630, Sat Nov 20 on 4024.26, but it was rather in the related language Turkmen which is spoken in Northern Iraq and by one million people in Northern Iran. This is not an external service towards Turkey (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Nov 26 via DXLD) ID in Turkmen is: ``Burazy Iraq Türkmen Sesi Radiouzel`` (i.e. ``This is the Radiovoice of Turkmen Iraq``) (Finn Krone, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Nov 26 via DXLD) 4164v, Voice of Independence, 1513-1658*, Nov 18 and 19, Kurdish talks, Muslim songs, 24232 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Nov 26 via DXLD) 4860, Voice of Iranian Kurdistan, 1530-1555, Nov 18, Kurdish (not Farsi!) announcement, ID: ``Aira dangi Kurdistan Irana``, instrumental Kurdish music, QRM weaker AIR Delhi, 34333 heard // 3945 (!) not found by jammer 3960/3970 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Nov 26 via DXLD) 6420.8-6420.6v, Voice of Iranian Revolution (presumed), 1445-1530*, Nov 21, lots of mentions of Kurdistan and Iran, no ID. The signal drifted from 6420.8 to 6420.6 and then back. Signal fading and deteriorating. Noted very strong jammer on 6411 1445-1545 but no program underneath or not possible (Finn Krone, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Nov 26 via DXLD) ** LATVIA. Re 4-176: I believe the item was about EMR, i.e. European Music Radio. Not only was the content too brief, but the name of the station was probably only in the subject line, which got lost (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. I dutifully looked for R. Insurgente during the alleged Friday 2100-2200 UT broadcast on ``6.0 MHz``, Nov 26. Tuned around 5800 to 6055 kHz or so multiple times for about 20 minutes 2120-2140 UT, but no sign of it. Conditions were poor, as Bulgaria 5800, China (Albania?) 5960, Antigua 5975, VOA 6035 were all audible, but only fair signals. No Cubazuela on 6000 this date, and there could have been a carrier around 6000 other than the PLL birdie in the FRG-7 --- clandestines really wishing to be heard should avoid such even MHz channels (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MYANMAR. Radio Myanmar (presumed). 11/26/04; 5985; SINPO 24232 at tune in and deteriorating; UnId language (listed as Burmese in EiBi); 1329-1400. OM announcer, probably ID ("Myan mar ... Yangon"), OM (presumed news), YL with long talk, fanfare OM ("... Yangon ...") short talk, fanfare and announcement repeated, western style flute tune with OM voice over, internet address (not copyable except "www"), off or lost signal just after 1400. Did not get a definite ID, but there were Myanmar references. I could not find anything else in DXLD or available schedules that would indicate that this was likely anything but Myanmar (Mark Taylor, Madison, WI, USA, dxldyg via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. RADIO NETHERLANDS RE-LAUNCHES WEB SITE | Text of press release by the London-based Association for International Broadcasting on 25 November It's been in the pipeline for years; now it's on the web. The Dutch international broadcaster [Radio Netherlands] has cleverly packed a mountain of content into its new web pages, folding pages and entire indexes into collapsible compartments. The subject headings are active links that take you to an index page for that topic. There is a lot of content you won't easily find anywhere else, for example the daily review of the main stories in the Dutch newspapers. Apart from the extensive Current Affairs archive, you can find 'Dutch Horizons' which deals with everything to do with the Netherlands. Every programme from the past week can be downloaded; every major feature programme is available online indefinitely, connected to a web story. The web site also supports RN's traditional broadcasting role, with details on what programmes are coming up next and how to tune in. Importantly, there is a 'Feedback' section. And you can even check on the Dutch weather with the webcam perched on the PTT telecommunications tower behind the Radio Netherlands building in Hilversum. [The web site can be found at http://www.rnw.nl ] Source: Association for International Broadcasting, London, in English 25 Nov 04 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** NIGERIA. 7255, V. of Nigeria, Ikorodu, noted on 23 Nov 1838-1900 in English, with talks and tribal songs; 52442, but 55444 for brief moments after CRI in Russian sign-off 1857, then VoA opened 1900. The modulation was dreadful, to a point it was often hard to tell which language was being used (Carlos Gonçalves. Equip. usado: JRC NRD-545, DRAKE R-8E, ampl. Wellbrook Communications, T2FD, K9AY, V inv. de 41 m, L inv. 45 m, Lisboa / PORTUGAL, Nov 24, radioescutas via DXLD) ** NORTH AMERICA. CRYSTAL SHIP: 4059.5/AM, 0403-0426+, 25-Nov; Got e- mail from Crystal Ship that he'd be on 4060. Covered by M in unknown language till about 0408, but hear music under. Music is mostly low key stuff. ID with Belfast drop address at 0419:30. 0421 went to speech by Pres. Kennedy. Voice is tough copy (Harold Frodge, MI, MARE Tipsheet via DXLD) Watch out, R. Verdad on 4052.5, Guatemala ** NORTH AMERICA. Nov 26 around 2250 UT, found some good blues music on 6925, therefore a pirate; occasional announcements, perhaps commercial parodies, but could not really make them out. Seemed to give time checks past 0000. Fair signal, but noise from my neighbor`s hedge clipping. Before Pulling the Big Switch at 2300 with Sayonara, ID as Black Mountain Radio, address wbmrradio @ hotmail.com Offered E- QSL, or if promissory note and a picture sent, P-QSL. I see someone else got a nice T-shirt. . . (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA [and non]. 136 kHz Amateur Band Activity. Low frequency experimentation is occurring in many countries in the vicinity of 136 kHz – typically 135.7 to 137.8 kHz. US ham WD2XDW, Howell in Oklahoma is reporting some spectacular success. On October 28, Mike, ZL4OL, in New Zealand copied his 137 kHz carrier ``bursts`` over a path of more than 13,000 km. The next day, Jim, M0BMU in the UK copied three North American ham stations in the vicinity of 137 kHz – WD2XDW and WD2XES in the USA and VO1NA in Newfoundland. Howell, WD2XDW says the disturbed solar conditions earlier this month wiped out long-haul paths through or close to the aurora oval during nighttime hours – especially at higher latitudes. He notes, however, that daytime signals over paths of between 1000 and 1500 km showed increased signal strengths during the disturbances (R. Bulgaria DX Program Nov 26 via John Norfolk, dxldyg via DXLD) Wonder just where in OK WD2XDW is --- nothing comes up in the ARRL callsign search, I suppose because it is experimental (gh, OK, DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. KGOU`s limited-run programming page now includes holiday specials thru yearend: http://www.kgou.org/limited_programming.php I`ll soon resume a special section on the MONITORING REMINDERS CALENDAR for public radio holiday special programming preview pages (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN. 4850.6, R. Pakistan, 1330-1400*, Nov 20, new frequency with just half hour program. Strong but very distorted. I could not catch location ID. Spoiling AIR at this half-hour. By the way, Heterodyne on Kohima's signal appeared soon after 1300 (Vlad Titarev, Ukraine, Dxplorer via DSWCI DX Window Nov 26 via DXLD) ** PERU. Rdif. Huancabamba, 6536.09, 0115-0217* Nov 20, OA folk music, Spanish talk, IDs, promos; fair (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. HOLA AMIGOS DX! EL DIA DE MAÑANA 27 DE NOVIEMBRE SERA EL ANNIVERSARIO DE RADIO ONDAS DEL HUALLAGA ASI QUE A SINTONIZARLA EN LOS 3234.8 Khz! 73s ALFREDO HELLO MY DX FRIENDS! THIS NOVEMBER 27th ONDAS DEL HUALLAGA RADIO WILL CELEBRATE ANOTHER YEAR, TRY 3234.8 Khz! 73s (ALFREDO DXSPACEMASTER, Chaclacayo, Perú, Nov 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES. 12015, PBS, Tinang, *0200, Nov 10, English on new frequency ex 11885 // 15120 and 15270 (Roland Schulze, Philippines, DSWCI DX Window Nov 26 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. 6235, Voice of Russia, 2045-2101 Nov 26. Heard a music program with OM host at tune-in; mostly Russian rock 'n' roll was played. ID at 2058 "This is the World Service of the Voice of Russia". IS at ToH, ID, then news presented by a YL. Per HFCC schedule, this is via Saint Petersburg, but PWBR lists it as Kaliningrad. SINPO 23332 with some ute QRM in USB (George Maroti, NY, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RWANDA. 6055, R. Rwanda, Kigali, heard on 21 Nov 1840-1854 in English, with news till 1845, then talks in Vernacular; 34422, adjacent QRM only (Carlos Gonçalves. Equip. usado: JRC NRD-545, DRAKE R-8E, ampl. Wellbrook Communications, T2FD, K9AY, V inv. de 41 m, L inv. 45 m, Lisboa / PORTUGAL, Nov 24, radioescutas via DXLD) ** SCOTLAND [non]. Radio Six International - Schedule for December 1st - 17th [From Tony Currie.] [WBCQ 5105 kHz] SATURDAYS 0000 Random Play 0100 News (Not 11th): Karin Spalter 0105 Gig Guide 0107 Aly`s Ears: Alyson Woodhouse 0130 Sequent Sounds 0200 Close Down SUNDAYS 0000 Random Play 0030 The Chart Show: Tony Currie 0100 News 0105 Tarry Awhile (12th: Campbeltown Ceilidh) 0200 Close Down MONDAYS 0000 Soundwave: John Cavanagh 0100 News 0105 Sounds from the Lost and Found: Jeff Fiedler 0200 Close Down TUESDAYS 0000 Tony Currie Wireless Show (7th: Saturday Sounds Around the World: Tony Currie visits Iceland and Washington DC) 0100 News 0105 Tony Currie Wireless Show 0200 Close Down WEDNESDAYS 0000 Random Play (1st: Unsigned Scotland) 0045 (1st only) Letter from Scotland: Rachel Vitale 0100 News (not 8th) 0105 Flashback: 1st: All Scotland - Tony Currie 8th: Vinyl Vaults - Allan Andrews 15th: Eurobeat - Craig Davies 0200 Close Down THURSDAYS 0000 Random Play 0100 News (not 9th) 0105 Paul Sawtell`s Jazz Programme 0200 Close Down FRIDAYS 0000 Random Play 0100 News (not 10th) 0105 John Cavanagh`s Album Show 0150 Memories Are Golden 0200 Close Down For a free copy of our printed schedule, send an IRC to Radio Six International, PO Box 600, Glasgow G41 5SH Scotland. Our Winter Holiday Schedule (Dec 18 - Jan 2) will be published in about two weeks' time. Posted by cosmikdebris on Monday, November 22 @ 19:40:28 CST (wbcq.com main page via John Norfolk, dxldyg via DXLD) ** SOMALIA [non]. Hi Guys: This message from Sam Voron in Sydney, no other information available. 73. Joe Talbot VA6JWT, 6O0JT Subject: Galkayo- Special TEST TRANSMISSIONS- Listener Reports needed. Date: Fri, 26 Nov 2004 10:19:38 +1100 H e l l o G a l k a y o, Journalists for human rights sent me the following request that they received. A short wave broadcaster EDC is running a TEST TRANSMISSION and they what to know if you can hear them in Galkayo. -----It`s Friday now so please try today because Canadian Thursday might be Friday in Somalia. -----They might also be testing next MONDAY and TUESDAY (maybe that`s TUESDAY AND WENDESDAY in Galkayo) so try next MONDAY, TUESDAY and WENDESDAY. They will have 2 TEST broadcasts each day. 15370 kHz (about 19 meter band) 0630 - 0645 GMT (Local Somali western time 9:30am-9:45am) THAT IS 3.30AM to 3.45AM local Somali Arabic time. 15385 kHz (about 19 meter band) 1130 - 1145 GMT (Local Somali western time 2:30pm-2:45pm) THAT IS 8.30PM to 8.45PM local Somali Arabic time. If you can or cannot hear them let me know and I will let Chris know. Regards, Sam Voron Hello Guys, EDC sent me the following email. I'm hoping either of you might be able to help them out. Dear Chris, Could you please ask someone in Galkayo to tune in and monitor our programs for a testing that will be conducted on Thursday and hopefully next Monday and Tuesday. We have already run a test on last Monday and Tuesday but couldn't find people in Galkayo to monitor it. The test will be broadcast on the following frequencies and time: 15370 kHz (about 19 meter band) 0630 - 0645 GMT (Local time 9:30am- 9:45am) 15385 kHz (about 19 meter band) 1130 - 1145 GMT (Local time 2:30pm- 2:45pm) Thank you for your help, Abdoul (all via Joe Talbot, AB, Nov 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I assume that the EDC referred to is the same group that runs the Sudan Radio Service operation, and therefore that VT transmitters may be involved in these tests (Chris Greenway, UK, dxldyg via DXLD) Smax of UAE site; if so, reception should be VG in Somalia (gh, DXLD) ** SUDAN. 7200, SNBC, Omdurman, noted on 23 Nov 1831-1900 in Arabic, with few talks, folk songs; 54433, adjacent QRM, then blocked by Bulgaria in Bulgarian 1900 (Carlos Gonçalves. Equip. usado: JRC NRD- 545, DRAKE R-8E, ampl. Wellbrook Communications, T2FD, K9AY, V inv. de 41 m, L inv. 45 m, Lisboa / PORTUGAL, Nov 24, radioescutas via DXLD) ** SUDAN. 4750, R. Peace, New Site, southeast of Narus village, sent me a brief e-mail verie statement in 10 days for an air mail report from pete @ edmedia.org Verie signer: Peter Stover (Vashek Korinek, RSA, DSWCI DX Window Nov 26 via DXLD) ** SURINAME. 4990, R. Apintie, 0756-0845, Nov 07, better than average signals with pop vocals (``Blowing in the Wind`` and two others), religious program and choral hymns to 0838 (``Crown Him with Many Crowns`` and others), announcement at 0838 and back into pop vocals (``Down by the Riverside`` and another). 35543 (Bruce Churchill, Fallbrook, CA, DSWCI DX Window Nov 26 via DXLD) ** SYRIA [non]. 7470, The Arabic Radio, 1610-1625, Nov. 21, ``Al- Idha`at al-Arabiyyah`` ID in Arabic between songs. Good to poor, heavy fading (Finn Krone, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Nov 26 via DXLD) ** UKRAINE. As I'm typing this, I'm listening to the RA feed from RUI. In the past this service was spotty and very prone to drop-outs, but it's been working very well. My Recall-Pro has recorded some 20 hours of feed for me to monitor. I've listened half-attentively during the past half hour to feel out the objectiveness of RUI. Clearly (at least in Ukrainian) the authorities do not have a firm muzzle on the news, unlike most of the local print, television, and radio, at least up to the second round of the fraudulent presidential elections. The headlines at 0700 today are quite pro-Yuschenko, with accurate reporting of the present situation, and reports from various European and North American capitals. Calls on the police and armed forces to support the democratic rights of the populace. I don't think that the government has control of the station's content at all. In the 5 minutes of the news Victor Yuschenko was mentioned at least 20 times (and in a positive light), whereas Victor Yanukovych was not mentioned even once. I will have to go over to the National Channel and see if the same applies there (Walter (Volodya) Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Nov 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UKRAINIAN MEDIA BEHAVIOUR NOTE 1500-2200 GMT 26 NOV 04 Text of report by Monitoring research on 26 November Ukraine's mainstream TV channels, following yesterday's drastic change in their slant towards neutrality, carried on in the same vein today. The UT1 state-owned TV broadcast live discussions between opposition and progovernment representatives for the most part of the afternoon and evening. The host, Olha Taukach, gave the floor to both camps, though her remarks occasionally revealed her bias in favour of the government camp. The channel's flagship news programme at 1900 gmt provided reports about the actions of both the opposition and the pro- Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych's camp during the day, although progovernment slant was visible in several reports from regions. The private One Plus One channel, which had been strongly progovernment until yesterday, made a strictly impartial 1730 gmt main news programme, in which reports about opposition actions outnumbered those about the government. The Inter TV channel, which is linked to presidential administration chief Viktor Medvedchuk, was somewhat less impartial than One Plus One. In its 1800 gmt main evening news programme, Inter gave the coverage of events with participation of both opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko and Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych during the day, but reports about Yushchenko were mostly presenter- or correspondent-read, while Yanukovych was shown actually speaking. Inter also held a TV marathon, in which representatives of both camps aired their opinions. The opposition-leaning 5 Kanal continued its rolling news coverage, interspersing live relays from the pro-Yushchenko rally in Independence Square in Kiev with news bulletins. It carried steady streams of interviews with opposition representatives. The ICTV channel, which is controlled by President Leonid Kuchma's son-in-law Viktor Pinchuk, produced an impartial 1645 gmt news bulletin, featuring actions by both the opposition and Yanukovych's supporters. In its overview of Western press, ICTV quoted Britain's Guardian as saying that the USA was behind the "revolution" in Ukraine. Radio Era continued live phone-ins featuring supporters of both camps, interspersed with news bulletins slanted in favour of Yushchenko. Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 26 Nov 04 (via DXLD) See USA: ** U S A. VOA ADDS ADDITIONAL UKRAINIAN PROGRAMMES DURING CRISIS The Voice of America has announced that, while the political situation in Ukraine remains unsettled, it will air additional programming in Ukrainian at 1615-1630, 1645-1700 and 1800-1815 UT. This programming supplements the VOA's regular Ukrainian broadcasts. The schedule is now as follows: 0500-0600 UTC on 3985, 6170 and 9875 kHz 1615-1630 UTC on 5970, 7190 and 9735 kHz 1645-1700 UTC on 5970, 7190 and 9735 kHz 1800-1815 UTC on 6020, 7260 and 11720 kHz --- thanks to Kai Ludwig for info from http://www.voanews.com/english/About/newukrainefreqs.cfm 2100-2130 UTC on 7295, 9650 and 11875 kHz # posted by Andy @ 23:30 UT Nov 25 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** U S A. IBB SEEKS CONTRACTOR TO "IMPROVE" RADIO MARTÍ | Excerpt from press release by the Washington D.C. based FedBizOps web site on 22 November The International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB), Office of Cuba Broadcasting (OCB), intends to solicit, negotiate, and award a firm- fixed-price Purchase Order contract on a competitive basis, using FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures, the Contractor shall advise and assist OCB with the further development, implementation, monitoring, and improvement of programming for both Radio and TV Marti for the period starting on January 3, 2005, and ending on September 30, 2005. The Contractor is expected to assist OCB in the development of specific programming that will appeal to Cuba's younger generation, programming that meets the needs of the Cuban people in the transition from communism to democracy, and programming targeting specific groups within Cuba that may have influence in the future transition to democracy. The Contractor shall have recently (within the last three years) demonstrated and verifiable experience working with Spanish language radio and television broadcasting to Cuba or the Caribbean region on a project of the magnitude and scope of the proposed Statement of Work (SOW). The Government's selection will be made on the basis of overall best value to the Government, based on technical capabilities, pertinent experience, verifiable past performance, and price. It is specifically noted that the technical and other factors besides price are collectively weighted higher than price. [passage omitted] Source: FedBizOps web site press release, Washington D.C.,. in English 22 Nov 04 (via BBCM via DXLD) Full details of solicitation: http://www.fbodaily.com/archive/2004/11-November/24-Nov-2004/FBO-00711487.htm # posted by Andy @ 17:36 UTC Nov 25 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. The item about Puerto Rico 7507 noted. It would appear then that another NASWA shortwave broadcast country is off the air. http://myafn.dodmedia.osd.mil/radio/shortwave/ And Diego García has not been reported on in sometime, as far as I can determine. [Later:] I am hearing AFN on 7811 // 12133.5 vs. 7812.5 in the current sked at: http://myafn.dodmedia.osd.mil/radio/shortwave/ 2230 November 26 2004 (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, USA, Nov 26, dxldyg via DX LISTNEING DIGEST) Usual sesquikilohertz SSB offset confusion? ** U S A. Re DXLD 4-175: Noted WBCQ 5105 in new carrier plus lower sideband mode this evening, SIO 545 (WBCQ Anomalies Nov 24 via DXLD) RADIO OBSCURA 2 LOSES ITS WAY --- The original radio Obscura machine has suffered a hardware fault and is offline. This private webcast machine is somewhat notorious as having originated the wbcq.com "after hours" webcast reliably every day for at least two years. Today the machine was sitting at one of those ominous boot prompts that said something like "press F1 to continue or press F2 to specify boot device" where no hard disk drives were recognized by the system's BIOS. Bummer. I had anticipated this system's imminent failure, as it's boot disk has been making strange sounds for some time, although Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server was not able to detect the ominous sounds or any errors of any kind originating from the soon-to-crap-out hard disk drive. I figured I'd just let it run 'til it was done and see what happened. A cold boot brought back the operating system, so the system is not quite failed. However I thought it was prudent to power down the machine and let it rest for the extended weekend while we tried to find a replacement drive. After all, we migrated the bulk of radio Obscura to a new machine back in the summer, and this system was doing beta tests for the new version of SAM and relaying a nice random feed of Hour of Slack episodes and the occasional Radio Free Euphoria show -- so we didn't lose any data at all, just this server's webcast. I sometimes get nostalgic when long running servers start to die, especially those that have faithfully served their mission reliably for a long time. Two years of constant service is not too bad for your typical souped up desktop Dell machine, but under conditioned power and safe corporate surroundings, I am a bit disappointed that the disk drive wasn't reliable enough to go for some real uptime records. Posted by cosmik at 10:31 PM Nov 24 (RFMA via DXLD) That means the WOR and COM webcasts daily at 1700 UT are off for now - - and also WBCQ 7415 webcasts? By 0200 UT Sat Nov 26, the 7415 webcast was working, not the 5105; much better reception here than 7415 or 5105 on SW, for the début of World Microscope, henceforth UT Wed-Sat. Actually started around 0207 after music fill, apparently leaving hole for network news on some other affiliates; taped it but haven`t had time to listen other than to the last few minutes; sounds very promising and it goes into my MONITORING REMINDERS CALENDAR (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. He's a sick Republican sleazeball with the face of a horse's ass --- Thanks to the Pab Subgenius Project and RNI's rebroadcast of Pab's most recent show, I came across a cute little ditty attributed to WNNX in Atlanta. The song is entitled "I'm A Nazi" and is sung by none other than Rush Limbaugh himself. [language advisory] http://www.barfcop.com/rushnazi.mp3 Posted by cosmik at 01:18 PM Nov 17 (RFMA via DXLD) ** U S A. BILL MOYERS LEAVES PBS IN THE MIDDLE OF A REBALANCING ACT by Joy Press November 24 - 30, 2004 Village Voice A few weeks ago, Bill Moyers, the venerable face of progressive current-affairs analysis on television, warned that the next four years were set to be a golden age for Watergate-style sleuth reporters. "I just think every time you wed the state and business together like this, you get corruption flowing like the Mississippi River," he announced on his PBS series, Now. Ironically, Moyers himself isn't sticking around to partake in the coming "bonanza for investigative journalism" he predicts. Although he's one of the few living media commentators whose folksy manner and heady background (he served as both a Baptist minister and a press secretary to President Lyndon Johnson) could conceivably bridge the gap between red state and blue state, secular and religious, Moyers is planning to retire from Now on December 17. . . http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0447/press.php (via Current vi DXLD) The genuine goods: truth as you know it — or a good try at balance? Is Bill Moyers' work a model for journalism in an age of strong opinion — or is he a pariah because he says what he believes to be fact? That may depend on your politics, but PBS's liberal sage, who retires from Now in December, has long maintained that his obligation is to report the facts as he knows them to be. Current Contributing Editor Louis Barbash offers an analysis. . . http://www.current.org/news/news0421moyers.shtml (Current via DXLD) ** U S A. FM SPECTRUM AUCTION NETS 147M DOLLARS | Text of press release from the US Federal Communications Commission on 24 November The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announces the close of Auction No. 37, in which 110 bidders won 258 FM broadcast construction permits. Many of the winning bidders are new entrants into the radio broadcast market. The auction began on 3 November 2004, and closed on 23 November 2004, after 62 rounds of bidding. The auction was the first-ever open auction of FM broadcast spectrum held by the FCC, and hundreds participated in the bidding process. The FCC plans to hold annual auctions for more FM construction permits over the next several years. FCC Chairman Michael Powell said, "We are in new territory with this groundbreaking auction, introducing new owners into the radio market and bringing increased diversity through new FM radio stations to cities and towns that have not had their own local stations. By placing small businesses on equal footing with other bidders at the auction stage, our policies ensure that more owners have the opportunity to become pioneers in the dynamic media marketplace. I would like to congratulate both the Media and Wireless Bureaus for their hard work in making this auction a success." In 1997 Congress mandated the use of competitive bidding procedures for commercial broadcast station licensing. The auction signifies the continuing strong demand for radio broadcast spectrum. The FM allotments are for cities all over the country such as Hanapepe, HI, Carmel, CA, Augusta, KS, Lennox, SD, and Nassawadox, VA, though most of the permits will be issued for smaller communities in the West. Signal strength of the stations will vary from 3,000 watts to 100,000 watts, based on the classification of the licence. A full list of the winning bidders and markets is available at the FCC website: http://wireless.fcc.gov/auctions. After final payments are made and construction permits issued, winning bidders will be given three years to complete construction of the new stations and begin providing FM service to their communities. The 110 winning bidders will submit payments of 147.4 m dollars during the next several months for the 258 construction permits that were won. The FCC will release a Public Notice detailing the next steps that winning bidders must take to complete the auction process and receive the construction permits. Source: Federal Communications Commission press release, Washington, in English 24 Nov 04 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** U S A. WPHT to broadcast Phillies games for next 5 years The article written by the Philadelphia Daily News' sportswriter Bill Conlin is about clear-channel WPHT (1210) getting the rights to broadcast Philadelphia Phillies baseball games for the next 5 years. This is big news for fans who had trouble hearing the Phils on 5 kW WPEN (950). WPHT's signal reaches over 30 US states and Canada, so their signal will be easy to hear at night. The one exception to WPHT broadcasting the Phillies will be when the games are played on Friday evenings, when the games will be heard on another Infinity-owned station, sports/guy-talk WIP (610), whose signal comes in better in most areas than WPEN. Why? WPHT wants to protect its long-standing tradition of airing the Frank Sinatra appreciation show, "Friday with Frank", hosted by Sid Mark (Joe Hanlon in NJ, Nov 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Anyone notice a bunch of noise on 1580 last night? If you did, I'd lay odds that it was WBCP in Urbana, IL. They're experiencing one of their continual technical catastrophes and are transmitting a highly distorted signal (with a high pitched tone) that has only just a hint of audio splatter from their usual program feed. This one can get out at times; I've seen DX reports of it from Finland, which considering that their alleged night-time power is 10 Watts seems a bit suspicious (Curtis Sadowski, Paxton, Illinois, Nov 26, WTFDA AM via DXLD) ** U S A. On Monday, residents in the Imperial Valley were able to tune in to KPBS San Diego on 97.7 FM. This marks the first English Language Public Radio service available to residents in the fast growing Imperial Valley. ``With the flip of a switch, the approximately 150,000 residents of the Imperial Valley will have access to the high quality news and information that KPBS already provides to San Diego County,`` said Doug Myrland, KPBS` General Manager. KPBS and Hanson Broadcasting have signed an agreement to transfer the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) license to San Diego State University, which also owns KPBS` license. In the meantime, the two stations have signed a programming agreement to broadcast KPBS programming on 97.7 FM in Calexico. That programming agreement took effect on Monday, at 12:01am, and will allow KPBS to immediately begin broadcasting across the Imperial Valley. ``KPBS is proud to be able to expand its service to the growing population of Southeastern California,`` said Myrland. ``This was one of the largest areas in the country that did not have any National Public Radio or Public Radio International service. We are thrilled to be changing that.`` KPBS-FM has been a broadcast service of San Diego State University since the mid-1960s. ``Providing KPBS programming to 97.7 FM is a logical extension of the University`s mission,`` said Myrland. ``With the existing Imperial Valley Campuses in both Calexico and Brawley, it makes sense that KPBS be available to those same communities.`` ``San Diego State University is proud to be a part of KPBS-FM`s expansion into the Imperial Valley,`` said Stephen Weber, President of San Diego State University. ``The University already knows how important the Imperial Valley is to Southern California, and by providing residents with KPBS-FM`s extensive lineup of quality programs, we are signaling our commitment by bringing a valuable public service to the residents in that area.`` Public Radio Capital (PRC) represented KPBS in its negotiations and purchase of 97.7 from Hanson Broadcasing, which took approximately a year to settle. ``Clearly, KPBS is an industry leader in expanding public radio service to new areas, and we are thrilled to have helped them achieve this goal in Southeastern California,`` said Marc Hand, PRC Managing Director. ``In our work throughout the country, we see how eager listeners are for more public radio. This new service should be greatly appreciated.`` 97.7 FM has been operating as a Spanish language Top 40 commercial station. KPBS will operate the station as a non-commercial public radio station. 97.7 FM is based in Calexico on the Mexican border about 114 miles east of San Diego and 61 miles west of Yuma, Arizona. The station`s signal extends south into Mexico and north up to Brawley. KPBS is a broadcast service of San Diego State University, serving the region with TV, radio and Internet content that is educational as well as entertaining – and free of commercial interruption. (Press release? Via SDRadio.net Nov 23 via DXLD) KPBS-FM used to be the place to Lounge around after the work day. Dirk Sutro would cover it all, and push musical boundaries within the day`s headlines. Last week, KPBS canceled The Lounge and gave Dirk his walking papers. The public radio station sent an email after an inquiry about the show: ``The decision to cancel ``The Lounge`` was a painful one. KPBS decided that we could better serve our audience and our donors by focusing our efforts on These Days, KPBS` existing two- hour morning program. This difficult choice was a programming decision and not a financial one. For some time now, These Days has been KPBS- FM`s signature local public affairs program. By enhancing the staff of These Days with the staff from The Lounge, we will pool our resources and talents toward making These Days the best it can be by bolstering it`s arts and culture content.`` Sure, Tom Fudge, the host of These Days is good at politics, but can he carry a tune? The bright item with The Lounge as Dirk`s injection of world-music. The noted author of Jazz for Dummies was a hit; and Dirk could carry the beat -- and a good interview in 5/4. Stay Tuned, expect Dirk to land on radio again -- most likely out of the market. In the show`s place, KPBS is carrying the BBC The World Today (SDRadio.net Nov 22 via DXLD) ** UZBEKISTAN. HOW TO SURVIVE AS A JOURNALIST IN UZBEKISTAN As Uzbekistan prepares for parliamentary elections on 26 December, its national press corps must figure out a way to write about the race without uncovering any unseemly details. In a long article on the website of the Committee for Freedom of Speech and Expression of Uzbekistan (http://www.freeuz.org) published on 29 June, an author identified only as D. Morfius, a likely pseudonym, offers a unique peek at the unwritten rules for writing -- or rather not writing -- news in Uzbekistan. Uzbek journalists face a special challenge: They must express confidence about the inevitable victory of good (the forces of President Islam Karimov) over evil, while at the same time avoid declaring that the result of the election is known well in advance. . . [more:] http://www.rferl.org/reports/mm/2004/11/22-251104.asp WORDS TO AVOID --- despot tyranny clannishness Communist Party insurgents "shakhid" (suicide bomber) revolution torture October Revolution Soviet FORBIDDEN SUBJECTS The personality of Islam Karimov The health of Islam Karimov The family of Islam Karimov The firms and companies belonging to Karimov The personal lives or commercial activities of high-level bureaucrats The number of people who work for the Interior Ministry and intelligence service Repression of religious people The use of child labor Corruption in higher-education facilities Corruption among state bureaucrats or law-enforcement officials Military readiness Unpaid wages The official status of the Russian or Tajik languages Homosexuality Vladimir Lenin, Josef Stalin, or Karl Marx Censorship in Uzbekistan Source: "O chem zapreshchaetcya picat v Uzbekistane," D. Morfius, 29 June 2004, freeuz.org (RFE/RL Media Matters Nov 25 via DXLD) ** VATICAN. Quinze jours de prison ont été requis le 18 novembre 2004 par un juge italien contre les dirigeants de Radio Vatican, s'ils ne mettent pas un terme au danger représenté par leurs puissantes antennes près de Rome pour la santé des riverains. "Ce qui nous importe est que la situation cesse et que le calme revienne parmi les habitants", a expliqué le procureur adjoint Gianfranco Amendola dans son réquisitoire contre père Pasquale Borgomeo, directeur général de la radio catholique, père Roberto Tuci, président du comité de gestion et Costantino Pacifici, son responsable technique. Le magistrat a aussi réclamé une indemnisation pour les victimes. Les trois responsables catholiques sont jugés à la suite d'une plainte des habitants de Cesano et ses environs, au nord de la capitale italienne. Ces derniers ont dénoncé des troubles graves, et même des cas de leucémie, causés selon eux par la présence à proximité des gigantesques émetteurs permettant à Radio Vatican de diffuser dans le monde. En 2001, des enquêtes du ministère italien de l'Environnement avaient relevé des champs magnétiques hors norme et largement supérieur au 6 volts par mètre autorisés dans 11 sites sur 14 soumis à vérification. Le ton avait monté et le ministre de l'Environnement avait menacé de couper l'électrité aux antennes du Saint-Siège, avant de rechercher une solution à l'amiable avec la création d'une commission conjointe. Radio Vatican avait même dû couper provisoirement la moitié de ses programmes en onde moyenne afin d'atténuer ses champs magnétiques polluants. Les trois responsables encourent au maximum un mois de prison et une amende de 200 euros (AFP via yahoo.fr – 18 novembre 2004) (informations issues de http://perso.wanadoo.fr/jm.aubier via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. APRUEBAN EN VENEZUELA LA POLÉMICA LEY SOBRE CONTENIDOS E N RADIO Y TV Saludos cordiales amigos radioescuchas: Noticia extraida de IBLNEWS: http://iblnews.com/noticias/11/119894.html La Asamblea Nacional (Congreso) de Venezuela aprobó con los votos de la mayoría oficialista una polémica ley sobre contenidos en radio y televisión, que ha sido criticada por la oposición como una normativa que limitará libertad de expresión. Jueves, 25 noviembre 2004 IBLNEWS, DPA La bancada oficialista aceleró la aprobación de la ley, con la cual intenta promover un cambio radical en la programación de la radio y la televisión, con el argumento de erradicar los mensajes violentos y de sexo en horario infantil. La ley de 36 artículos será sometida a una revisión final en la cámara y entrará en vigor una vez que sea promulgada por el presidente Hugo Chávez y publicada en la gaceta oficial. Los diputados estiman que sus normas comenzarán a aplicarse en la primera semana de diciembre. La ley prevé una serie de sanciones que incluyen multas millonarias para las violaciones, así como mecanismos de supervisión de los programas y la conformación de una comisión que aprobará la asociación de productores independientes en radio y televisión. La oposición rechazó apoyar la ley, pero igual la estrecha mayoría oficialista reunió los votos suficientes para la aprobación. El gremio de periodistas rechazó la nueva legislación y sugirió la posibilidad de convocar un referéndum abrogatorio para anularla mediante una consulta electoral. La oposición dijo que la ley atenta contra un principio básico como la libertad de expresión, en vista de que las radioemisoras y televisoras acudirán a la autocensura para evitar sanciones. El debate de los últimos artículos se centró en la discusión de 78 posibles violaciones en que pueden incurrir las televisoras y que estarán sujetas a sanciones. Según los gremios, la ley generará desempleo entre periodistas, ya que los horarios de información se verán restringidos desde las 23:00 horas las 5:00 de la mañana. "El país amanecerá mañana con la libertad de expresión amordazada", dijo el diputado Pastor Heydra, quien además tiene un programa de radio sobre temas políticos. Agregó que el gobierno pretende controlar las radioemisoras y televisoras privadas para evitar las críticas a la gestión gubernamental de Chávez. (via José Bueno - Córdoba - España, Nov 26, Noticias DX via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA [non]. CUBA, 11875, R Nacional de Venezuela relay, personal e-mail and full data attractive e-QSL in 6 weeks. Verie signers: C-Ali Méndez M. (Periodista) and Jose Luis Noguera (Director). (Vaclav Korinek, Florida Hills, RSA, DSWCI DX Window Nov 26 via DXLD) ** VIETNAM. 6165, Dai Tieng Noi Vietnam, Hanoi, 1140, Nov 11, H`Mong program. 5035 is off the air at present! On Oct 26 and 27, three different Voice of Vietnam programs were heard: One on 5975 // 7210 // 9530 and two other programs on 5925 and 6020. 9875 was off (Roland Schulze, Philippines, DSWCI DX Window Nov 26 via DXLD) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. 7460, National R of the Saharan Arab Democratic Republic, Rabouni, Algeria was off the air Nov 10-18, but heard daily on 1550 MW. It was last heard on SW Oct 23. R. Free Asia is using 7460 at 2100-2300* in Korean (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal and Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Nov 26 via DXLD) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. ALGERIA, Polisario Front's 7460 kHz outlet has been silent for days, with only 1550 being loud & clear (Carlos Gonçalves. Equip. usado: JRC NRD-545, DRAKE R-8E, ampl. Wellbrook Communications, T2FD, K9AY, V inv. de 41 m, L inv. 45 m, Lisboa / PORTUGAL, Nov 24, radioescutas via DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ HEY, A NEW SHORTWAVE LISTENER! ... (Mounds View, MN) Shoplifting: A caller reported Nov. 19 that someone took two Sony short-wave radios and a book on world band radio from a store in the 2600 block of County Road I (St Paul Pioneer press, 26 Nov 2004, via Kim Elliott, DXLD) THE RADIO YOUR WAY by W. Curt Deegan The Radio Your Way (RYW) is an AM/FM radio that includes a solid- state audio recorder. Its intended purpose is to record primarily talk radio type programs on a scheduled basis. However, through an external audio input, it can also be used as a recorder for DX heard on another radio. The RYW comes with either 32MB or 128MB of internal flash RAM - not a mechanical drive. There are two recording modes - ADPCM 32Kbps and 16Kbps - which provides 135/270 minutes of recording time on the 32MB model or 480/960 minutes on the 128MB model. The RYW also allows up to 256MB on an external MMC/SD style flash memory card, which would add another 960/1920 minutes per card. The unit operates from either 2-AAA batteries or external power adapter (sold separately). Recording, whether from an external source or the internal FM stereo radio, is only in mono, hence my comment about recording primarily for talk radio. There is a built-in microphone for voice recording and a mike-in jack that operates at line-in levels (a pre-amplified microphone is required for the external connection). This serves well for recording - in mono - from various audio devices with line-out connections, such as other radios. I have used it, for example, to record from XM Satellite Radio as well as my NRD-535D. A recording from the 535 was transferred to my PC, digitally cleaned up and slowed down, which let me recognize a difficult station ID. During playback on the RYW, there is available 10 times fast forward and reverse with sound - choppy snippets not speeded up full audio - and 100 times fast forward and reverse without sound in stopped mode. Earphone output is available during playback, as well as while recording from any source, but for general purpose listening and quick checks, there is an internal mono speaker. Speaker output is available during playback or when recording from the internal AM/FM radio, but not when recording from the internal mike or from the line-in connection, or any time the earphones are plugged in. Because of the speaker's small size, and its location on the underside of the unit, earphones may be more practical for listening to difficult audio recordings, or it might be advisable to feed the phone audio-out to a more robust self powered speaker. Recordings can be scheduled from designated AM and FM stations, or from external mic/line-in on a specific day of the week, five days a week, every day of the week basis, at prescribed start and stop times to either the internal or external flash memory. There are 10 of these "reserved recordings" schedules that can be defined. However, you can also manually start, pause, restart, and stop the recording process, while DXing, for example. After each stop, the next start will create a new file. Hundreds of such files can be created on both internal and external memory, space permitting. As you listen to a given station, you can record and pause, then just before you tune to another station, you stop the first recording, and start a new one. You end up with a series of files, each representing a specific segment of your listening session. When a recording is stopped, it can be immediately played back. There is no "append" function, so once stopped, any additional recording will create a new audio file. But going back and forth amongst files is a straightforward, sequential process of clicking on the skip-to- beginning and skip-to-end buttons when playback is stopped. The RYW files are identified by sequence number and recorded duration on the RYW display as well as an indication (I or E) of whether the file is in internal or external memory (e.g. E002_1732 for the second recording to external memory that began at 1732 hours). The sequence numbers are independent, internal from external, and do not reset on a given day even if all earlier files have already been erased when a new one is recorded. On a new day, if there are no existing files in the given memory, the sequence will begin again at 001. As the filenames are predetermined by the RYW, it might be necessary to keep some notes of what was recorded where. A USB cable is included with the RYW, along with a CD containing the RYW-Explorer program, allowing the user to access the files created and stored on the RYW using a PC and its USB 1.1 port. The file names can be changed to something more descriptive once they are transferred to the PC but cannot be changed directly on the RYW. The original RYW file name is important as it contains the time-stamp, so, when renaming on the PC, you might want to make sure that information is preserved. When the files are transferred from the RYW to the PC, the PC file time-stamp will reflect the time the file was transferred, not the time the original recording was made. This use of a specific PC application for transferring files from the RYW is not optimal, but has not proven to be a problem for me. he renamed files could be reloaded on the RYW, but since the file name is not shown on the display - only a sequence number of when the recording was made relative to other recordings - this procedure would only be of use when the player is next accessed through the USB port by the PC software. The recording format (RVF) is proprietary, so using the created recording files anywhere other than on the RYW and its included PC software requires conversion. RYW-Explorer plays the RVF files on the PC and includes a "convert to WAV" function. There is also a free utility to convert the RVF files to MP3 available from an independent source. These two formats are apparently quite similar since the conversion is almost instantaneous - suggesting only header information is modified in the conversion process. Since RVF files are mono and MP3 files are stereo, this need for conversion makes sense. There are no audio editing functions on the RYW or in the RYW-Explorer PC software. That requires a separate piece of software such as the popular, and free, Audacity audio editing program. The RYW can be loaded with MP3 audio from the PC; these files will play in stereo (as does the built-in FM radio) if you use stereo headphones. Non-audio data can also be stored on the internal and external flash memory via the USB connection, for transfer or back-up purposes. Extraneous files on the RYW can be easily erased by clicking the erase button once, which starts the file playing so you can confirm the erasure, then clicking that button a second time, erasing the file and freeing the memory space. RYW resident files can also be erased via the USB connection from the PC. The recorded audio is well optimized, conserving memory space but retaining a high degree of intelligibility. The file size is much smaller than an uncompressed WAV file would be, but the captured content is quite adequate such that it can be manipulated with audio tools to remove noise, apply filtering and other processing techniques. Since the audio is mono and the frequency response narrower, the recorded quality is not comparable to MP3. The RYW specified frequency response for recording/playback is 400 Hz-3.2 kHz (-6db), while MP3 playback is quoted as 20 Hz-20 kHz as one might expect for music. Although the RYW is also an AM-FM radio, I would say the signal reception is somewhat poorer than most others and assume this is the result of a smaller ferrite rod antenna. Since one of my objectives with the RYW was to record a rather weak, though local, station, I used an active external antenna and inductive coupling to boost the signal strength. That brought the audio up out of the noise and gave a good signal for recording. I use the RYW this way each day. The only problem with this arrangement is that the substantial signal boost provided by the external antenna can overload the RYW front-end if the two are too tightly coupled. This is easily avoided by just moving the RYW and coupler an inch or so apart. I have not used the FM radio or made any comparisons, but find no pocket portable FM radio all that great due to antenna issues. There is an interesting attachment provided with the RYW in this regard. As is common, the RYW uses the earphone cord as the FM antenna, but since it has a built in speaker, a length of wire with special earphone plug is provided for use as an antenna when listening through the speaker. The plug is a snub version of the usual 3.5 mm plug, so that it connects to provide an antenna but does not insert far enough to disable the speaker. A thoughtful addition. Overall however, for anything but casual listening (or with antenna assisted reception), the RYW is more adept as a recorder. The Pogo Products web site: http://www.pogoproducts.com/radio_yourway.html includes the product description; by clicking on the "Support" tab, one can access the FAQ and download product documentation in PDF format. Note that the latest catalog from C. Crane has the RYW on sale (via Nick Hall-Patch, IRCA Technical Column, Soft DX Monitor Nov 17 via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ Welcome back to Thomas Giella and his propagation outlooks. This is the complete version, but we refer you to the websites below for future editions (gh) KN4LF DAILY HF/LF/MF FREQUENCY RADIO PROPAGATION OUTLOOK #2004-004 http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf5.htm http://www.hard-core-dx.com/index.php?topic=Propagation http://dayton.akorn.net/pipermail/propagation/ Date Format is MM/DD/YYYY Published Friday 11/26/2004 At 1800 UTC Valid 11/26-12/02 2004 Note! Producing this propagation outlook requires several hours of analysis. Please excuse any errors or omissions in this first outlook as I’m a little rusty and will need a little time to get back in the swing of things mentally, so to speak. I expect to see quiet to unsettled geomagnetic conditions (Kp 0-3) during the forecast period. Isolated periods of active to minor geomagnetic storming (Kp 4-5) are possible, in association with recurrent coronal hole #129 which will move into geoeffective (Earth facing) position between 11/27-28, 2004. The chance of polar cap absorption on high latitude propagation paths due to excessive energetic protons >10 Mev (10+0) is low. The chance of daylight radio blackouts from solar flares is medium. BUT with prolific sunspot group #10696 rising around the east limb of the Sun today or tomorrow my forecast could be completely derailed. GLOBAL LF UNDER 300 KC PROPAGATION CONDITIONS EXPECTED- Daytime- Poor Nighttime- Poor To Fair GLOBAL HF 3000-30000 KC PROPAGATION CONDITIONS EXPECTED- Low Latitude- Good Mid Latitude- Good To Fair High Latitude- Fair GLOBAL MF 300-3000 KC PROPAGATION CONDITIONS EXPECTED WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE MF AM BROADCAST BAND, 160 METERS AND 120 METERS- -Expect fair to good "Northern Hemisphere" domestic propagation conditions on east-west paths. *Expect poor to fair domestic conditions on north "TO" south paths in the "Northern Hemisphere" out to approximately 1100 miles. +Expect good to fair domestic conditions on south "TO" north paths in the "Northern Hemisphere" out to approximately 1100 miles. -Expect fair "Southern Hemisphere" domestic propagation conditions on east-west paths. +Expect fair domestic conditions on north "TO" south paths in the "Southern Hemisphere" out to approximately 1100 miles. *Expect poor conditions on south "TO" north paths in the "Southern Hemisphere" out to approximately 1100 miles. Equatorial region domestic propagation conditions out to approximately 1100 miles should be fair to good. "High latitude" Northern Hemisphere (TA) Trans Atlantic, (TI) Trans Indian, (TP) Trans Pacific and cross equatorial propagation conditions in excess of approximately 3200 miles should be poor to fair. "High latitude" Southern Hemisphere (TA) Trans Atlantic, (TI) Trans Indian, (TP) Trans Pacific and cross equatorial propagation conditions in excess of approximately 3200 miles should be poor. "Mid latitude" Northern Hemisphere (TA) Trans Atlantic, (TI) Trans Indian, (TP) Trans Pacific and cross equatorial propagation conditions in excess of approximately 3200 miles should be good then becoming fair to good. "Mid latitude" Southern Hemisphere (TA) Trans Atlantic, (TI) Trans Indian, (TP) Trans Pacific and cross equatorial propagation conditions in excess of approximately 3200 miles should be fair. "Low latitude" Northern Hemisphere (TA) Trans Atlantic, (TI) Trans Indian, (TP) Trans Pacific propagation conditions in excess of approximately 3200 miles should be good. "Low latitude" Southern Hemisphere (TA) Trans Atlantic, (TI) Trans Indian, (TP) Trans Pacific propagation conditions in excess of approximately 3200 miles should be fair. Equatorial region to Northern Hemisphere `mid latitude` propagation conditions in excess of approximately 3200 miles should be fair to good. Equatorial region to Southern Hemisphere `mid latitude` propagation conditions in excess of 3200 miles should be poor to fair. Equatorial region to Northern Hemisphere `high latitude` propagation conditions in excess of approximately 3200 miles should be fair to good. Equatorial region to Southern Hemisphere `high latitude` propagation conditions in excess of 3200 miles should be poor to fair. Propagation Forecast Scales- Excellent- +1 db Over S9 Or better Good- S7-9 Fair- S4-6 Poor- S1-3 GLOBAL NOISE (QRN) OUTLOOK- U.S. LIGHTNING STRIKE DATA (See Where Your QRN Is Coming From) Sorry but global views of near real time lightning strikes are no longer available. http://www.lightningstorm.com/tux/jsp/gpg/lex1/mapdisplay_free.jsp;jse ssionid=70301187101071113657379 During the 7 day outlook period there will be "moderate lightning induced QRN levels in low latitude areas of the Northern Hemisphere due to the proximity of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and tropical cyclones. Northern hemisphere mid latitude regions can expect "low to moderate" lightning induced QRN tied to winter season thunderstorms, cold/warm/occluded fronts and associated extra-tropical cold core low pressure systems. Northern hemisphere high latitude regions can expect "very low to low" lightning induced QRN tied to winter season thunderstorms, cold/warm/occluded fronts and associated extra-tropical cold core low pressure systems. During the outlook period there will be "high" lightning induced QRN levels in low latitude areas of the Southern Hemisphere due to the proximity of the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and tropical cyclones. Southern hemisphere mid latitude regions can expect "high" lightning induced QRN, tied to summer season thunderstorms and tropical cyclones. Southern hemisphere high latitude regions can expect "moderate" lightning induced QRN tied to summer season thunderstorms, cold/warm/occluded fronts and associated extra-tropical cold core low pressure systems. End of Forecast SOLAR, SPACE WEATHER AND GEOMAGNETIC INDICES FOR 11/19-25/2004- Sunspot Groups- No visible sunspot groups were capable of producing large M class and huge X class solar flares. Unfortunately though even small C class solar flares can impact MF propagation conditions in a negative manner. Solar Flux Readings- 99 to 113 SEC Sunspot Number- 27 to 72 Solar Wind Speed- 309-627 X-Ray Solar Flares- C-11 M-0 X-0 Averaged Background X-Ray Flux- B1.1 to B3.0 Elevated Energetic Protons >10 MeV (10+o)- None Geo or partially geoeffective (Earth Facing) Coronal Mass Ejections- 0 Recurrent Coronal Hole #128 which became geoeffective beginning on 11/21-23/04, finally lost it’s negative impact on Earth’s magnetic field on UTC 11/26/04. The Ap index has been at quiet to minor storm levels, with a range of 0 to 39. The Kp index has been at quiet to minor storm levels, with a range of 0 to 5. Here are some "general" guidelines concerning correlation of propagation indices to actual expected MF propagation conditions. 1.) Dropping indices numbers are better. 2.) For medium frequencies a solar flux under 150, under 100 better, 70 is best for E layer multi hop. Keep in mind though that the 10.7 cm (2800 mhz) solar flux index is not a "reliable" gauge of ionization in our atmosphere, as the energy of photons at this frequency is to low on the order of one million times. However most are used to solar flux and sunspot number and it's a hard habit to break. A better indicator is the background x-ray flux. See #7. 3.) Solar flux of at least 100 for E valley-F layer ducting mechanism. 4.) Previous 24 hour Ap index under 10, under 7 for several days consecutively is best. 5.) Previous 3 hour Kp index under 3 for mid latitude paths, under 2 for high latitude paths, 0-1 for several days consecutively is best. 6.) Energetic protons no greater then 10 MeV (10+0) for 160/120 meters and no greater then (10-1) on MF broadcast band. 7.) Background x-ray flux levels less than C1 for several days consecutively for 160/120 meters and less then B9 for MF broadcast band but A9 or less is best. 8.) No current STRATWARM alert. 9.) IMF Bz with a (+) sign, indicates a lesser chance of high latitude path auroral absorption/unpredictable refraction or scattering of MF RF signals, when the Kp is above 3. 10.) A -50 or better towards a positive number Dst index during the recovery time after a geomagnetic storm, as related to the Equatorial Ring Current. TODAY'S PROPAGATION LESSON - None this week. Space Weather Scales- Kp Indices- G5 = Extreme Storm - Kp = 9 G4 = Severe Storm - Kp = 8 G3 = Strong Storm - Kp = 7 G2 = Moderate Storm - Kp = 6 G1 = Minor Storm - Kp = 5 Active - Kp = 4 Unsettled - Kp = 3 Ap Indices- Ap 100-400 Severe Storm Ap 50-99 Major Storm Ap 30-49 Minor Storm Ap 16-29 Active Ap 8-15 Unsettled Ap 0-7 Quiet Correlation Of Kp To Ap Indices- K- 0= A- 0 K- 1= A- 3 K- 2= A- 7 K- 3= A- 15 K- 4= A- 27 K- 5= A- 48 K- 6= A- 80 K- 7= A- 140 K- 8= A- 240 K- 9= A- 400 Standard Disclaimer- Note! I use "RAW" public domain data from the NOAA Space Environment Center, as well as other U.S. government organizations, to produce my "not for profit" propagation forecast outlooks. This data is gathered and made public by the U.S. Government using taxpayer $$$. However the forecast outlooks that I produce from the "RAW" public domain data, is my personal intellectual property. Therefore the propagation outlooks contained herein is copyrighted © 1988-2004 by Thomas F. Giella and the Florida Space and Atmospheric Weather Institute, all rights reserved. Reproduction of information herein is allowed as long as proper credit is given. Also space weather forecasting is still an inexact science. The discussions, forecasts and outlooks are not official but for educational purposes only and are subject to human error and acts of God, therefore no guarantee or warranty implied. 73 & GUD DX, Thomas F. Giella, KN4LF Retired Space & Atmospheric Weather Forecaster Plant City, FL, USA Grid Square EL87WX Lat & Long 27 58 33.6397 N 82 09 52.4052 W kn4lf@arrl.net Propagation eGroup: http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/propagation PropNET Beacon Program: http://www.propnet.org KN4LF Daily Solar Space Weather & Geomagnetic Data Archive: http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf5.htm KN4LF HF/MF Frequency Radio Propagation Theory Notes: http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf8.htm KN4LF Amateur & SWL Radio History: http://www.kn4lf.com/index.htm (via DXLD) ###