DX LISTENING DIGEST 4-178, November 28, 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: 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 ** ALBANIA. 7120, R. Tirana, 2240-2254, Nov. 27, English, YL re Albanian geography, climate and flora. Rough copy with co-channel CRI- China battling for dominance (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, 200 ft,. NE and NW Beverages, Nov 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Geez, if any two countries should be coördinated, these are they (gh, DXLD) [history] Shijak MW and SW site built up by the Chinese in 1961, 50 kW units erected only. Fllaka MW 500 kW Transmitter No. 1 since 1966, No. 2 since 1970; and Cerrik SW followed in 1966-1968, all 50 kW units, combined to 100 or 200 kW of power. Cerrik site was used as Radio Peking relay in English language, towards U.S.A. as mouthpiece of the anti-US- Vietnam war movement between 1968 and 1975 (lasted till 1978). Mostly at 0000-0357 UT on 7120 and 9780 kHz, 300-310 degrees (Wolfgang Büschel, BC-DX Nov 24 via DXLD) Much more under CHINA [non] Mrs Drita Cico, head of the Albanian Monitoring Center, has sent the following list of transmitters: Location kHz Origin year kW Antenna Remarks Shijak 1089 CHN 1961 150 ND Kashar 1359 RUS 1952 50 ND Ceased broadcasting 15.06.2000 (now stand-by for 1089) Shkoder 693 CHN 1983 50 ND 1323 CHN 1980 15 ND Kukes 648 CHN 1980 50 ND 990 CHN 1970 16 ND Korce 1260 CHN 1982 50 ND 621 CHN 1980 25 ND Gjirokaster 909 CHN 1982 50 ND 1305 CHN 1970 15 ND Sarande 864 CHN 1980 30 ND Ceased broadcasting 15.05.2000 Fllake 1215 CHN 1966 500 Directional 33, 315 & 330 degrees Fllake 1395 CHN 1968 500 Directional 4, 30, 33, 315, 330, 338 degrees Fllake 1458 CHN 1968 500 ND (?Bengt Ericson, Sweden, via Arctic R Club MV-Eko via Olle Alm, July 10, 2000! via BC-DX Nov 28, 2004 via DXLD) ** ANTARCTICA. ANTÁRTIDA, 15476, recibida por mail, e-QSL de LRA 36 Radio Nacional Arcángel San Gabriel, con datos completos, con el escudo y fotos de Base Esperanza y en la que se detalla que transmiten con una antena rómbica de tres planos línea abierta y con una potencia de 10 kW. Operador de la emisora es el Sargento Mayor Mario Gallardo, locutoras Dña. Yolanda Sotomayor y Dña. Gabriela Santiano y Director de la emisora, y también de Base Esperanza, D. Nestor Argüello que es quién emite el "Certificado de Recepción". El próximo 10 de Diciembre, aproximadamente, saldrá de la base el avión "Twin-Otter" que llevará la correspondencia al continente, en la que me enviarán carta QSL por correo ordinario, con firma y sello de la base. LRA 36 saldrá al aire, con sus locutoras en directo, hasta el martes 30 de Noviembre; a partir de ahí, tendrán sólo programas de música grabada, ya que empezará a producirse el relevo anual en la base. El informe de recepción se envió por correo ordinario y se adjuntó un IRC. Dirección: LRA 36 Radio Nacional Arcángel San Gabriel CP 9411 Base Esperanza Antártida Argentina (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Nov 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANTIGUA. BBC harmonic into NE US Saturday 27 November 2004 --- 30.38 MHz AM - BBC Antigua FK97 1420-5 UTC OM, YL talk S2+ > 4+ w/low audio. BBC harmonic into NE US Sunday 28 November 2004 --- 30.38 MHz AM - BBC Antigua FK97 1339 UTC OM, YL talk S4+ w/low audio (Jack Sullivan, Central New Jersey, FN20, harmonics yg via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. Todas frecuencias portando la misma programación de la RAE/LRA. ¡Increíble! "El Primer Clásico del Domingo" - 20 de noviembre Fútbol - 21 de noviembre (Nivel de Señal Recibido) 15345 KHZ - positivo 10 dB 15420 - positivo 20 dB 15270 - positivo 2 dB 15500 - positivo 4 dB 15570 - positivo 2 dB 15650 - positivo 2 dB 15720 - positivo 2 dB 15800 - positivo 1 dB Presentes: 6060, y 15345 KHZ más las frecuencias fantásmicas. Ausentes: 9690, y 11710 KHZ (Adan Mur, Paraguay, Conexión Digital Nov 27 via DXLD) 11710.96 --- We are now midst on winter prop condition. Noted RAE Buenos Aires in Japanese around 1000-1015 UT on v11710.96 kHz, scheduled 1000-1200 UT? ID in Spanish at 1000 UT. Fair signal increasing continual at 1030 UT. [beware of NHK Skelton relay from 1058 UT]. Is such heavy frequency offset typical for that morning service? (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, BC-DX Nov 23) It is at 0200 (gh) ** AUSTRALIA. 2310, VL8A Alice Springs. Partial data QSL letter in 3 weeks for a postal mail follow-up. Also included were stickers and program schedules for various ABC services. v/s Barbra Lilliebridge (George Maroti, NY, Nov 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. Radio Australia B04: 5995 0800 0900 CPac/SPac B English 5995 0900 1100 CPac/SPac B Tok Pisin 5995 1100 1400 CPac/SPac B English 5995 1400 1800 CPac/SPac S English 6020 0900 1100 CPac/SPac S Tok Pisin 6020 1100 1400 CPac/SPac S English 6080 1400 1800 WPac S English 6080 1800 2000 WPac S English 6080 2000 2100 WPac S Tok Pisin (Su-Th) 6080 2000 2100 WPac S English (Fr-Sa) 7240 1800 2000 WPac S English 7240 2000 2100 WPac S Tok Pisin (Su-Th) 7240 2000 2100 WPac S English (Fr-Sa) 9475 1100 1300 As S English 9475 1300 1430 As S Mandarin 9475 1430 1900 As S English 9500 1900 2130 As S English 9560 1100 1400 WPac S English 9580 0800 1400 CPac/SPac S English 9580 1700 2100 CPac/SPac S English 9590 0800 1600 CPac/SPac S English 9630 2130 2330 As D Indonesian 9660 2100 2200 WPac B English 9660 2300 0800 WPac B English 9710 0800 0900 WPac S English 9710 0900 1100 WPac S Tok Pisin 9710 1600 2000 WPac S English 9730 2300 2330 As K Khmer 9875 1500 1530 Eu R English (DRM, Sunday only) 11550 0800 0930 As C Indonesian 11550 2130 2330 As C Indonesian 11650 2000 2200 WPac S English 11660 1300 1430 As S Mandarin 11690 0000 0030 As K Indonesian 11695 2100 2130 As S English 11695 2130 2330 As S Indonesian 11750 1400 1600 As S English 11820 2330 0000 As D Vietnamese 11880 0900 1300 WPac S English 11880 1700 2100 CPac/SPac S English 12010 1300 1430 As K Mandarin 12080 2000 2200 CPac/SPac B English 12080 2300 1200 CPac/SPac B English 13620 2200 0000 As D English 13630 2100 0700 CPac/SPac S English 15110 2330 0000 As C Vietnamese 15160 0500 0800 As S English 15230 2200 0000 As S English 15240 0000 0100 CPac/SPac S English 15240 0100 0700 CPac/SPac S English 15240 0700 0800 WPac/CPac S English 15240 0800 1130 As S English 15240 2200 2330 As D English 15415 0000 0030 As S Indonesian 15415 0030 0400 As S English 15415 0400 0430 As S Indonesian 15415 0430 0500 As S English 15415 0500 0530 As S Indonesian 15415 0530 0800 As S English 15415 0800 0830 As S Indonesian 15415 0830 0900 As S English 15415 0900 0930 As S Indonesian 15415 0930 1100 As S English 15415 2130 2330 As S Indonesian 15415 2330 0000 As S English 15515 0200 0900 CPac/SPac S English 15515 2100 2300 CPac/SPac S English 17715 0000 0200 WPac S English 17750 2330 0900 As S English 17775 0000 0130 As D English 17795 2300 0200 CPac/SPac S English 17855 0000 0030 As D Indonesian 17855 0400 0430 As D Indonesian 17855 0500 0530 As D Indonesian 17855 0530 0600 As D Vietnamese 21725 0200 0500 WPac S English 21740 2200 0000 CPac/SPac S English 21780 0400 0430 As T Indonesian B Brandon, C Taipei, D Darwin, K Kranji (Singapore), R Rampisham UK, S Shepparton Vic, T Tinian (via DXLD) ** AUSTRIA. Re: Damage must not have been too heavy? (gh, DXLD) Technician disentangled the various damaged wires ... (wb) Sehr geehrter Herr Meixner! Vielen Dank fuer Ihr Interesse an unserem Klassik- und Kulturprogramm Oesterreich 1. Zur Behebung von Sturmschaeden an der Antennenanlage musste heute von 0715 bis 1100 UT der Sendebetrieb von OE1 International abgeschaltet werden. Wir bedauern, Ihnen diese Nachricht uebermitteln zu muessen und hoffen, Sie auch weiterhin zum Kreis unserer Hoerer zaehlen zu duerfen. Mit freundlichen Gruessen, OE1 Service E-Mail: oe1.service @ orf.at Tel.: +43 [0] 1 501 70 371 Schon gehoert? liveradio, inforadio, downloads ab sofort auf http://oe1.orf.at (via Herbert Meixner-AUT, A-DX Nov 25) ORF at 1118 UT again on air (Wolfgang Büschel, BC-DX via DXLD) Sturmschaeden an der Antennenanlage in Moosbrunn! Dazu gab es weder vom ORF noch von den Funkamateuren bei mir ein Mail. Heute sagte mir ein Arbeiter von Waagner Biro, dass Moosbrunn einige Sturmschaeden erlitt, und die Seile zum Boden haengen, die normal waagrecht gespannt sein sollten. Es bestuende auch die Moeglichkeit, dass sie in Zukunft mit Ersatzantenne senden muessen. Vorlaeufig konnten nur einige wichtige Arbeiten durchgefuehrt werden. Bitte verlange von einem Schlosser nicht zu wissen, was eine Vorhangantenne oder eine Drehstandantenne ist (Michael aus Wien, via Joachim Thiel-D, BC-DX Nov 25 via DXLD) ** AZERBAIJAN. Voice of Azerbaijan heard 14 Nov at 1500-1630 on 6110 kHz. SINPO: 35543, in Azeri. Couldn't be catched in previous seasons because of QRM by other strong signals (open_dx - Ivan Zelenyi, Nizhnevartovsk, Russia, via Signal via DXLD) previously reported as varying 1 or 2 kHz with very poor modulation (gh) ** BURKINA FASO. 7230, Radio Burkina, Ougadougou, noted at 0850- fadeout 0950 (I believe they sign off at 1000), talks in French, tribal songs; 34332, the sporadic QRM coming from NAm amateur stations only (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, BC-DX Nov 25 via DXLD) ** BURMA [non]. CHINESE INTERFERENCE CAUSES BURMESE OPPOSITION RADIO TO CHANGE FREQUENCY | Text of report by Burmese opposition radio Democratic Voice of Burma web site on 26 November Dear listeners. The broadcasting frequency of the DVB [Democratic Voice of Burma] morning programme broadcasted at 5945 kHz from shortwave 49 metre band will be slightly changed from today. The new frequency will be 5955 kHz. Thus, the DVB morning programme will be broadcasted from 0600 to 0700 Burma Standard Time [2330 to 0030 gmt] from shortwave 49 metre band at 5955 kHz. The morning programme broadcasting frequency had to be slightly changed due to disturbance from a Chinese station. Source: Democratic Voice of Burma web site, Oslo, in Burmese 1430 gmt 26 Nov 04 (via BBCM via DXLD) What Chinese station? PWBR has none on 5945. If it is a jammer, moving 10 kHz permanently is not likely to help, if China is helping the Myanmar regime with jamming (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See: ** CANADA [non]. Looking for Myanmar on 5985.9, Nov 27 at 1450, I found instead French on 5985, astronomical discussion. Actually it was in Quebecois, which clewed me to RCI as the ultimate source. Sure enough at 1455 the RCI IS started ---- underneath the French, continuously, and continuing, much weaker, after the French broadcast closed at 1459! Checking the RCI schedule, here`s what happens: French to Asia/China at 1430 from Yamata Japan, Science-Tech program on Saturday, 300 kW, 290 degrees. The second RCI transmission was Kimjae, ROK, 100 kW, 270 degrees, warming up for an English hour to India. But imagine the clash in Asia --- hello!? Meanwhile, a tiny het was audible, no doubt the only trace of Myanmar, with RCI blocking its entire sesquihour in English at 1430 not only in North America but Asia, 7 days a week. PBWR 2005 claims the 1430 RCI broadcast is in Chinese, and does not show the 1500 one, outdated already (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA [non]. Due to political crisis in Ukraine, RCI continues its Ukrainian Service (previously announced as planned to reduce) on 9555 and 11935 at 1630-1700 UT. Unfortunately 9555 CRI/Arabic resumed recently, so it brings strong co-channel QRM to RCI/Ukrainian (open_dx - Vladimir Titarev, Kremenchuk, Ukraine, via Signal via DXLD) But will it stop after Nov 30 as planned? (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. 2040.00 (harmonic 3 x 680), CFTR Toronto, 17 de noviembre, 1035-1100, noticias, boletín meteorológico, TC, 1100 ID y TC "Thank you for making us Toronto's number one radio station. 680 news time..." (Mark Mohrmann, VT, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** CHILE. La emisora chilena Radio Agricultura, que estuvo bastante tiempo inactiva en 570 Khz en la zona de la capital, Santiago, está de nuevo en el aire en esa frecuencia desde ayer día 27 de Noviembre, según su nueva página web, que estuvo, también, bastante tiempo inactiva por reformas. A través de dicha página, http://www.radioagricultura.cl/ se puede escuchar la emisora con sonido en directo, además de disponer de sección de noticias, programación, frecuencias a nivel nacional, algo de historia, etc. Allí se puede leer lo siguiente sobre la emisora: "RADIO AGRICULTURA VOLVIÓ A TRANSMITIR EN AMPLITUD MODULADA, EN EL 570 A.M. RADIO AGRICULTURA VOLVIÓ A SU TRASMISIONES EN AMPLITUD MODULADA A.M 570. UD PODRÁ ESCUCHAR A PARTIR DE HOY SU RADIO DE SIEMPRE Y TRASMITIR A LOS AUDITORES QUE VIVEN EN SECTORES APARTADOS Y QUE DEJARON DE OIRLA, QUE VOLVIÓ A SUS TRASMISIONES HABITUALES EN A.M Y F.M Radio Agricultura es una de las emisoras de más larga trayectoria y de destacado perfil en la preferencia de los auditores a lo largo de Chile. A partir de su fundación, 1936, brillantes figuras del periodismo nacional han pasado por sus micrófonos y su Centro de Noticias. En su flujo informativo general, su cobertura alcanza a casi ocho horas de noticias diarias, lo que sitúa a Radio Agricultura entre las emisoras de mayor gravitación en la opinión pública, desde Arica a Punta Arenas. La potencia y calidad de sus equipos, califican a la radio como a una de las primeras de su género en el continente. En 1936, la Sociedad Nacional de Agricultura, comprendió que las necesidades de la gente hacían imperiosa su presencia en la oferta del dial chileno. El 11 de julio salió al aire Radio Agricultura de Valparaíso. El 20 de octubre, del mismo año, se dio la partida a la Radio Agricultura de Santiago. En octubre de 1946, se inaugura otra filial en Los Angeles. La zona norte se incorpora a la red con Radio Agricultura de La Serena, el 1º de Septiembre de 1986 y el 14 de diciembre de 1987 inauguró sus emisiones la filial de Temuco. Radio Agricultura es hoy el complejo radial privado y chileno que transmite la noticia oportuna, especializada, actual y completa que cotidianamente se registra en el país. Sus auditores son principalmente hombres y mujeres de 25 años en adelante, Líderes de opinión, empresarios de las más diversas actividades, ejecutivos de primera línea, gerentes generales, gerentes de venta, gerentes de marketing y operaciones de grupo socioeconómico A, B, C, C1 Y C2. Los auditores de Radio Agricultura apuestan a ganadores y escuchan una radio de reconocido prestigio y mucha credibilidad a lo largo de sus 68 años de vida. Son auditores que han comprobado que: ``SI LO DICE AGRICULTURA, ES VERDAD`` Radio Agricultura, a través de su programación, atiende a la necesidad pública de información, cultura y entretención. Su actual parrilla programática responde a tres conceptos inclaudicables para la emisora: Compromiso con Chile y su soberanía, con su agricultura y con los principios de una sociedad libre." (via Manuel Méndez, Spain, Nov 28, DXLD) ** CHINA. CNR 8 (Minority language) schedule: Kazakh 0100-0157 15670 11810 15390 11630 9455 1143 0500-0557 15415 11780 15390 12055 11630 1143 (9470, 7340) 0900-0957 15415 11780 12055 11630 9420 1143 1400-1457 9440 7120 11630 9630 9420 1143 (4330, 6015) Korean 0200-0257 9610 7120 1143 1000-1057 9610 7120 1143 1017 (1206) 2100-2157 5420 4190 Mongolian 2200-2257 5420 4190 1143 0300-0357 11815 9610 1143 (9750 7270 7210) 0700-0757 11815= 9610= 1143 1200-1257 9610 5420 1143 1600-1657 9440 7120 11630 9630 9420 1143 (6190, 4500 XJ) Tibetan 2300-2357 9480 7360 6010 1143 (7375 7125 6200 6130 6110 5240 4920 4905 XZ) 0400-0457 15570 11685 9530 1143 (9580 9490 6200 6130 6110 5240 4920 4905 XZ) 0800-0857 15570= 9530= 9480= 1143 1300-1357 11685, 7350, 6010 1143 (5970 3990 GS), (7385 7125 6200 6130 6110 5240 4920 4905 XZ) Uighur 0000-0057 15670 11810 15390 11630 9455 1143 0600-0657 15415= 11780= 15390+ 12055+ 11630+ 1143 (13670 11885 9560 7275 XJ) 1100-1157 11780 9690 12055 11630 9420 1143 1500-1557 9440 7120 11630 9630 9420 1143 (7195, 6120, 4980, 3990 XJ) + not Tu. = not W. Xinjiang People's Broadcasting Station (XJBS) November 7, 2004 Chinese Service UTC: 2330-1800(not Tu. 0800-1100) 11770 0300-1200, 5060 2330-0300, 1200-1800 9600 0300-1400, 7310 2330-0300, 1400-1800 7155 0300-1200, 3950 2330-0300, 1200-1800 5960 2330-1800 Kazakh UTC: 0000-1800 (not Tu.Th.0800-1100) 9470 0300-1200, 6015 0000-0300, 1200-1800 7340 0300-1200, 4330 0000-0300, 1200-1800 Mongolian UTC: 0000-0330, 0530-1030(Tu.Th.0800), 1230-1800 6190 0000-0330, 1230-1800, 9510 0530-1030 7230 0000-0330, 0530-1030, 4500 1230-1800 Kyrgyz UTC: 0330-0530, 1030(Tu.Th.1100)-1230 9705 0330-0530, 1030-1230 7120 0330-0530, 1030-1230 Uighur UTC: 2330-1800 (not Tu.0800-1100) 13670 0200-1400, 7195 2330-0200, 1400-1800 11885 0300-1200, 4980 2330-0300, 1200-1800 9560 0300-1200, 6120 2330-0300, 1200-1800 7275 0300-1200, 3990 2330-0300, 1200-1800 (NDXC via Dec Australian DX News via DXLD) ** CHINA [non]. Radio Internacional de China. 2130 UT, 20 y 21 de noviembre, 11720 KHZ, SINPO 55555. Con graves dificultades en la alimentación de audio. Mezcla entre varios idiomas. Toda la programación de procedencia RIC. ¡Una locura verdadera - saltando entre idiomas y programas! (Adan Mur, Paraguay, Conexión Digital via DXLD) In LA they don`t seem to be aware that 11720 is the Chile relay, tho I have publicized it as such; or would they rather not know? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [and non]. Found a CRI broadcast in English at 0142 UT 11/25/04 on 6020kHz (SIO 322) not listed on my freq lists and not carrying the same programming as CRI relay from Sackville on 6005 kHz. The 6020 program was an interview with the Headmaster of the International School in Beijing. Childrens rights and acceptance of differences between students was discussed. After the interview the female announcer read a list of places in Beijing for Americans to go and get a "real traditional Thanksgiving Dinner." The name of the interview show was "Real Time Beijing." The frequency changed back to Chinese at 0200UT. Tried to find the same program on 11/26/04 at the same time but no luck. (Steve Cross, Del City, OK, Nov 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) New Albanian relay, also on 9570; see 4-177 (gh, DXLD) || Kai, Listen to your .ram file shows much scratching noise on your recording.|| That's just the usual noise floor here, as always :-( |||| The modulation characteristics of the new Cërrik transmitters are identical to the ones at Shijak, suggesting that the design is basically the same. (Kai)|||| || 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. (WB)|| That's what I tried to express by saying "modulation" rather than "audio": It is my impression that all differences in the audio are caused by the sources while the transmitters themselves have the same characteristics. By the way, the Fllakë mediumwave outlets are a good opportunity to study these differences in the Radio Tirana and CRI inputs (Kai Ludwig) || Reportedly they employ pulse step modulation which I understand to be a system proprietary to BBC/ABB. I do not know if the current line of Thales shortwave transmitters use the PSM design (they appear to be developed from earlier Thomcast/Thomson models rather than the BBC/ABB line), but anyway it would be interesting if Chinese transmitters use the original PSM system (Kai)|| Most likely the basic PSM patents elapsed some years ago, so now everybody is using this technology. The Chinese transmitters (SW100F and SW150A) at Shijak and Cerrik, respectively, which are based on the Continental 420C model (500 kW), are using PSM, and RIZ have been marketing PSM transmitters since at least 1999. The Chinese transmitters also are equipped with "CCM floating carrier technology", which seems to be the same thing as the Telefunken DCC technology, but the Chinese appear never to activate the CCM function. 73s (Olle Alm, Sweden, DX LISTENING DIGEST) At Telefunken and in Germany in general this function is known as DAM. In some cases you may find the mode of shortwave transmissions described as such, of course not to be confused with DRM! The term DCC is also used on BBC/ABB transmitters, see the pictures of the Sottens transmitter where such a button can be seen (lit, so DCC was activated). Thanks for the further details! (Kai Ludwig, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I didn't hear either 11785 or 11855 on air today [Sat Nov 27], so they are now presumably awaiting the big switch on tomorrow before adopting the new schedule. I haven't found any Turkish yet, but there was something on one of the frequencies which started with the CRI music - 6165 I think - but too much co-channel to copy what language it was. Re audio quality - the new CRI ALB units do lack some sharpness - they sound like the dull audio we get from Iran. I think the problem Shijak has is to do with the feeder from the studios. It sounds almost telephone line quality to me sometimes. If they established a better quality link then I think all would be OK. BTW - how does TWR audio reach Shijak? I assume it is fed via satellite so perhaps received at the station direct and not fed by poor quality line from somewhere else. That always sounds quite good. Yes, the CRI engineers have been quietly registering frequencies for Albania "disguised" as some other site. And that is probably the explanation for all of those 150 kW transmitters which don't exist at KAS and URU! (Noel R. Green-UK, BC-DX Nov 27) But why??? (gh) ** CHINA. Ex-CKUT announcer Keith Perron leaving China Radio International --- Last show is on Jan. 31. Wants to know if there are any Montrealers who listen. Will be on new Radio Beijing station on 774 AM, first English station. kperron @ hotmail.com (CKUT International Radio Report Nov 28, summary by Ricky Leong, via DXLD) ** CONGO. QSL: 5985, R. Congo, Blank, "Direction Générale- Télédiffusion du Congo" card and personal letter, both in French. Each with red-ink "Rep. du Congo -- LE DIRECTUER" station seals. In 39 days for 1 IRC and an English report. V/S, Felix Lossombo. Nice stamps on envelope (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, 200 ft,. NE and NW Beverages, Nov 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CONGO DR [non]. Glenn, that 945 Kinshasa item is most likely Angola which runs international services on the frequency. Heard Radio Nacional with French service there while on a recent trip to Newfoundland at 2043 UT. Your South Africa reporter might try the SW parallel at the same time for comparison (Jim Renfrew, NY, Nov 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CROATIA. Re shifting 1125 transmitter to 1134 temporarily while the latter is indisposed: I also have been trying to find some info on HR web pages, but there is nothing like that. I do not hear anything from Croatia on mediumwave 1125 kHz. It is quite clear that Deanovac is now on 1134 kHz. BTW: it has no morning break from 0630 UT. Zadar had the break as you surely know (Karel Honzik, Czech Republic, BC-DX Nov 25 via DXLD) ** CUBA. Otra cosa que te agradecerìa es que cuando puedas, informes que nuestro programa En Contacto de RHC tiene unas bellas y originales tarjetas QSL que realizò el buen amigo diexìsta costarricense Josè Alfredo Pineda Dubòn. A los que nos reporten,a partir de ahora, En Contacto la recibiràn. Lo pueden hacer como siempre a En Contacto, RHC, apartado postal 6240, La Habana, Cuba ò a nuestra direcciòn electrònica: encontacto @ rhc punto cu Muchas gracias por todo y si no tenemos màs contacto este año te deseo unas felices navidades y un ventursoso 2005. Un abrazo y 73,s (Manolo de la Rosa, RHC, Nov 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. Re Bauta: Is there an evidence for the new transmitters there being manufactured in China (i.e. not just delivered from there)? Reportedly they employ pulse step modulation which I understand to be a system proprietary to BBC/ABB. I do not know if the current line of Thales shortwave transmitters use the PSM design (they appear to be developed from earlier Thomcast/Thomson models rather than the BBC/ABB line), but anyway it would be interesting if Chinese transmitters use the original PSM system (Kai Ludwig, Nov 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. Since it was the 1500 semihour on a Sunday, Nov 28, I went looking for RHC`s weekly Esperanto broadcast on 11760 --- nothing. Checked other known frequencies and quickly found it on very good 9550 at 1520 --- just in time, as that transmitter cut off early at 1521! Did the engineer realize it was supposed to be on 11760? Still nothing there. I wanted to see what the RHC website says, but naturally I find http://www.radiohc.cu is down (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. Radio Rebelde, 5025, Recibida tarjeta QSL de una transmisión de fecha 11 de Septiembre de 2004. La tarjeta viene firmada por el Jefe de Relaciones Públicas, D. Jorge L. Martín, y tardó en llegar 70 días. El informe se envió por correo ordinario y por e-mail. Dirección: Apartado 6277, La Habana webrebelde @ rrebelde.icrt.cu (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Nov 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EGYPT. I was listening to a Slavic station on 7115 Nov 27 at 2355, expecting a Serbian ID at hourtop, but instead heard an English ID for R. Cairo, mixing at equal level and virtually zero-beat. Since I had not heard anything but the Slavic station before 0000, it seemed as if Cairo was starting its broadcast now instead of at scheduled 2300 to ENAm. During the following half-hour, the two were an even mix, hard to get much out of either, but at 0029:30 there was a 5-pip ``timesignal`` from one of them half a minute early. By 0032 one of them, presumably Cairo as scheduled in Arabic, was Qur`aning. I at first thought the Slavic was Serbia, but that`s not scheduled until 0030; instead, RFE in Serbo-Croatian at 2300-0100 per EiBi. In any event, it`s a bad channel for Cairo, besides being in the 40m hamband, allowing the occasional ARO to transform CW into MCW (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6970, Radio Cairo, 0320-0330 Nov 28. Thanks to a tip on the FRN.net Grapevines, I tuned in and heard Arabic vocals, possibly a Kor`an recitation. Upon completion of the music, a YL spoke in English, and mentioned Radio Cairo, Thanksgiving, and 7260 kHz. Sure enough, this was parallel to 7260. National anthem at closing. SINPO 33343, although earlier there was severe ute QRM on LSB (George Maroti, NY, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Well, well, Cairo may be phasing out its other illegal 40m hamband channel to NAm, English 0200-0330 (and Spanish 0045-0200?). Trouble is, 6970 is awfully close to Galei Zahal, Israel, 6973v. No sign of it on this occasion, or was that after they go up to 15785? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA. Currently the English service of Radio Ethiopia can be heard with fair signals at 1600 UT on both 7165 and 9560 kHz (Wolfgang Schweikert, Germany, BC-DX Nov 24 via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. 7590, V. of Oromo Liberation, 15 Nov, 1700-1730, SINPO 55444. Music and talks. Address in Scarborough, Canada, read at the end. 7590, Radio Sagalee Oromiyaa, 15 Nov, 1730-1800, SINPO 55444. Slightly deteriorated quality during some musical pieces, with lots of bass frequencies which made the transmitter to become a bit overloaded at times. Obviously came via Russia - right after the program end, some IS of the Voice of Russia were heard. Open carrier stayed for a minute after 1800 (Dmitry Mezin, Kazan, Russia, Signal Nov 28 via DXLD) ** EUROPE. Pirati mattutini --- Segnale fortissimo di Radio Hit Channel (non è Hit Channel Napoli che ricevo a Palermo in FM) su 7070 khz in LSB già dall'alba, altrettanto forte pure Mistery Radio su 6220.1 Khz. Quest'ultima utilizza anche i 7480 Khz (Roberto Scaglione, Sicily, 0840 UT Sun Nov 28, PlayDX via DXLD) 7070 unusual frequency for a pirate; intruder! Intruder! (gh, DXLD) ** GEORGIA. 11805.1 R. Georgia. Vague signal here with music 0715, so presumed only. Always a tough one, but at least still on air, it seems, 13/11 (Craig Seager, NSW, Dec ADXN via DXLD) ** GERMANY. DAB EPG Tests in Germany --- Wednesday, 24 November 2004 Unique Interactive, in partnership with German broadcaster, DeutschlandRadio, and network operator Bayern Digital Radio, demonstrated broadcasts of the DAB Electronic Programme Guide during the recent WorldDAB Radio Programmers and the Munich Media Days Conferences. This trial is the first ever broadcast of a DAB Digital Radio EPG in Germany. With the publication of a worldwide DAB EPG standard shortly, and recent announcements from manufacturers, Pure Digital and RadioScape about the launch of EPG-enabled DAB digital radios in early 2005, the number of full-time DAB EPG services being broadcast around the world is expected to grow sharply over the next twelve months. Michael Hüther from DeutschlandRadio commented: "The EPG is an important tool for radio programmers, enabling us to provide our audiences with a far greater level of detail about the programmes currently on air and programmes coming up over the next 7 days. The EPG will not only provide us with another opportunity to interact with our listeners but it will also draw the listeners closer to the station, thereby increasing listening hours. DeutschlandRadio has always been at the forefront of DAB digital radio developments and I'm pleased that by working with Unique Interactive and Bayern Digital Radio we have been able to launch the first ever DAB EPG service in Germany". Matthew Honey, Managing Director of Unique Interactive said, "This is a fantastic opportunity for radio stations to actually see the benefit of providing an EPG. We were in a situation before where broadcasters and receiver manufacturers were in a deadlock; there were no services on air and no receivers in the shops. However this year, using Unique's EPG Management solution, we have demonstrated the value of the DAB Electronic Programme Guide, by launching EPG programme listing services on a number of multiplexes around the world, and extending the network in the UK to over 50 commercial radio stations. We are now starting to see a definite commitment from receiver manufacturers and I look forward to seeing EPG enabled DAB digital radios in the shops in early 2005." (ukradio.com via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Re SWR 711: Reportedly Heilbronn 711 is still off this morning (Kai Ludwig, Nov 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Browsing the Telefunken website brought up that they installed a new 100 kW transmitter at Deutschlandradio's Berlin-Britz site already in summer 2003. Frequency not mentioned, but this appears to be the new main transmitter for 990. T-Systems ordered new transmitters for Deutschlandradio services: For longwave 2 x 500 kW, for mediumwave 1 x 100 kW, 1 x 200 kW, 2 x 800 kW. Delivery and installation are provided for 2005/2006. No further details given, so one can only guess about the destinations of the mediumwave equipment. A single 800 kW is meant for Braunschweig/ Königslutter of course, and probably the mention of 2 x 800 kW in fact just describes this very pair of TRAM400 transmitters since I have no idea where else 800 kW could be used. 100 and 200 kW would match the 549 sites (Nordkirchen and Thurnau-Tannfeld, respectively). Some details about the new (rather: refurbished) 177 kHz antenna at Zehlendorf: http://www.telefunken-sendersysteme.de/int/Press/DRM_and_lw- antenna/drm_and_lw-antenna.html I think the 153 antenna at Donebach has a quite narrow bandwidth as well, also resulting in the muffled-sounding modulation? If so a new transmitter alone wouldn't make the facility DRM-ready... ("As well" referring to the triangular hammock used for 177 during the nineties which had to be replaced by the main mast again because it's bandwith was insufficient for DRM operation.) (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Nov 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GILBERT & ELLICE ISLANDS. Adventist World Radio Wavescan program #517 -- 49/1 11/28/2004 --- Main Script for Wavescan, Edition number 517 for airing on Sunday 11/28/2004. http://english.awr.org/wavescan/scripts/ws517.htm Just a while back, David Ricquish (RICK-WISH), the well-known radio historian in New Zealand, noticed an interesting picture for sale on ebay. It was a colored photo showing one of the exotic entertainment radio stations that American forces established throughout the Pacific during the Pacific War. This particular picture was a page from a National Geographic magazine and it showed the station, WXLH on the island of Makin. In the purchasing arrangement regarding this picture, David asked our DX editor, Adrian Peterson to receive the item from the seller. When the picture was received in Indianapolis, it was quickly discovered that it showed a very valuable piece of old radio history, portrayed in a beautiful dimension. The 60 year old picture was copied and the original was then forwarded on to New Zealand. This colored picture shows an idyllic scene on the island of Makin, complete with coconut palm trees, thatched huts, and servicemen relaxing in between duties. Large in the picture is another thatched building that contains the exotic radio station with an American homeland callsign, WXLH. The locally made, but rather neat and ornate identification sign states: Radio Makin WXLH, American Expeditionary Station, Armed Forces Radio Service. Very few pictures of these unique temporary radio stations have survived, so this item spurred us on to perform a spate of research in order to discover more about this AFRS unit, station WXLH. This is what we found: The island of Makin is the most northerly island in what is now the Republic of Kiribati (KIR-e-BAHS). In earlier times, Makin was one of the Gilbert Islands, a colonial outpost of the old British Empire. Makin is described as a lagoonless tropical island of coral origin, about a dozen km long and a couple of km wide. The local people say that the shape of the island resembles an exclamation mark. The original inhabitants came from Samoa 500 years ago, English traders and missionaries came to the island 150 years ago, and soon afterwards it was the home for the famous novelist, Robert Louis Stevenson for a year or two. The Japanese took over the islands in early December 1941, and the American forces arrived almost exactly two years later. The only radio broadcasting station ever installed on the island of Makin was the aforementioned AFRS unit, WXLH. The best available information tells us that the station was inaugurated on July 15 in the year 1944. According to these records, station WXLH operated with 1 kW on 1400 kHz. A glimpse at the picture showing station WXLH would suggest that it was really quite a substantial station in view of all of the local and temporary circumstances. Throughout all of these years, Makin has boasted of just one radio station with just one transmitter and just one operating frequency, and it was the Gilbert Island unit in what was called at the time the Pacific Ocean Network. Programming for this unique little radio station came from the PON network headquarters in Hawaii and AFRS headquarters in California, as well as from off air relays from California on shortwave, and locally produced programs. This station was on the air on Makin Island for a little less than six months, running from mid July to some time in December during the year 1944. With the changing tide of events in the Pacific, station WXLH was closed, dismantled, transferred, and re-erected on another island, this time on Okinawa in the Ryukyu Islands. The records tell us that it was the same station with the same callsign though on a different channel that took to the air at this new location. The inauguration date on Okinawa for the transferred WXLH was May 20, 1945, and the new operating channel was 680 kHz. No, there are no known QSLs from this station while it was on Makin, though several international radio monitors in Australia & New Zealand, and probably California also, did send reports to the station. We could ask the question: If the long gone station WXLH was the only radio broadcasting station ever on this island of Makin, then what station do the people listen to today? There are some 1,500 inhabitants on this island these days and they are able to pick up the programming from their capital city radio station on the island of Tarawa (TA-ra-wa). Radio Kiribati with 10 kW on 846 kHz is 150 km distant, straight across this wide section of the blue Pacific Ocean (Adrian Michael Peterson, AWR Wavescan Nov 29 via John Norfolk, DXLD) So may this rare colored picture be seen somewhere on the web??? (gh, DXLD) ** GREECE. 7450, Radiophonikos Stathmos Makedonias, 13 Nov, 2110-2130, SINPO 35443. If the signal would be a bit stronger, it would deserve O=4. Decent reception, anyway - clear channel, no interference. (Daytime frequency 9935 kHz propagates much worse.) Male-female talk in studio, answers to phone calls. One of callers even read a kind of a poem about late Yasser Arafat. All in Greek (Dmitry Mezin, Kazan, Russia, Signal via DXLD) ERA Avlis Athens - to Amsterdam/Brussels main target direction in Europe is 323 degrees, but towards Russia some 73 degrees apart, towards 35 degrees instead! Athens - Kazan 2750 kms at 35 degrees. 7450 1800-2400 18,27,28 AVL 100kW 323 degrees (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, ibid.) 73 degrees apart the main beam - it turns that I receive a kind of the side lobe. Nevertheless, signal is fair to good every day, well readable and not boring at all. Wonder if people in Amsterdam / Brussels can hear it with excellent quality. And additionally, program content was jolly and easy --- a pleasure to listen, despite my complete incomprehension of Greek (Dmitry Mezin, Kazan, Russia, ibid.) ** GUATEMALA. I have not heard either R. Maya 3324.8 or R LV de Nahualá 3360 since I have been back in Florida. I guess they are both off now, perhaps for good. Radio K'ekchí is also off, but that could just be for transmitter repairs as has been the case before. Radio Cultural has not observed on either 3300 or 5955, but that is not surprising, given that they have said that they have dropped SW due to lack of response (Hans Johnson, FL,, Cumbre Nov 27 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** INDONESIA [and non]. Voice of Indonesia noted on 15150 kHz with a broadcast in English after 0200. Strength was poor to fair. At 0248 another strong carrier appeared for a minute, causing considerable heterodyne beat. This carrier was again switched on at 0255, modulated by a program in Chinese after 0256. I guess it was CNR1, but didn't check for parallels. At 0300 RFA Chinese broadcast started. After a minute, China began jamming it with a strong CNR1 signal. All this continued until 0700. Indonesia heard again at 0800 with a broadcast in English. At 0900 language changed to Indonesian or Malay. (Must be Malay, according to WRTH. - Signal Ed.) (open_dx - Vladimir Kovalenko, Tomsk, Russia via Signal via DXLD) VOI English had been at 0100 UT for ages; but already in WRTH 2004 it had changed to 0200; this broadcast rarely reported in NAm (gh, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [and non]. Radio ship MV Communicator advertised for sale The current owner of the radio ship MV Communicator, Dave Miller, is advertising the ship for sale. An advertisement on his Web site invites offers over £25k, but says that no radio equipment is included in the sale. The ship, which is the former home of Laser 558, is currently situated in St Margarets Hope in the Orkney Islands where it was recently broadcasting on FM under a three-month Restricted Service Licence as the Superstation. (Thanks to David Leadbeater for alerting us to this). MV Communicator Sale http://www.thesuperstation.co.uk/sale.htm [includes several sharp photos!] # posted by Andy @ 20:29 UT Nov 28 (Media Network blog via DXLD) As I understand it, any radio equipment that wasn't already removed (by force) whilst it was in the Netherlands was removed under the supervision of OFCOM when it arrived in the UK. Therefore there should be no "radio equipment" of any kind on it (Ray Woodward, UK, 11.28.04 - 9:58 pm, ibid.) By force? I thought Nozema just took the stuff off the ship when they got rid of it (Jonathan Marks, 11.28.04 - 10:03 pm, ibid.) ** ISRAEL. According to Kol Israel, "shortwave broadcasting is due to cease on December 31, 2004." Until then: 0000-0430 Hebrew* 7545 9345 0345-2210 Arabic** 5915 0430-0445 English 6280 7545 17800 0430-0500 Hebrew* 9345 0445-0500 French 6280 7545 0500-0600 Hebrew* 7545 15760 0600-1030 Hebrew* 15760 17535 1030-1045 English 15640 17535 1030-1115 Hebrew* 15760 1100-1115 French 15640 17535 1115-1455 Hebrew* 15760 17535 1345-1355 Ladino 17535 1455-1700 Hebrew* 15760 1500-1600 Persian 9985 11605 17535 Fr-Sa 1500-1625 Persian 9985 11605 17535 Su-Th 1600-1625 Sp/Ladino 15640 17535 Sa 1700-1725 Yiddish 9390 11605 17535 1800-1815 French 9390 11585 11605 1815-1830 Spanish 9390 11585 11605 1830-1845 English 9390 11605 1845-1900 Romanian 9390 11585 11605 1900-1945 Amharic/Tigre 9390 11585 11605 1945-2000 Hungarian 9390 11585 11605 2000-2025 English 6280 9390 15615 2030-2045 French 6280 8520 9390 2045-2100 Spanish 6280 7520 9390 2100-2200 Russian 6280 9390 2100-2215 Hebrew* 7520 2200-2215 Hebrew* 6280 7520 2215-2400 Hebrew* 6280 Reserve frequencies 15640 13850 *Reshet Bet - Second Network **Reshet Dalet - Fourth Network (Kol Israel website via Mike Terry via Al Quaglieri, Nov 28, DXLD) ** KALININGRAD. 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 Mikhail Timofeyev of St. Petersburg radio center (via Wolfgang Bueschel) and e-mail response to John Herkimer, this transmission is via Kaliningrad. The HFCC B-04 listing is incorrect. SINPO 23332 with some ute QRM in USB (George Maroti, NY, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH. NORTH KOREA SLAMS "REPTILE" MEDIA REPORTS ON LEADER'S PORTRAIT | Text of report in English by North Korean news agency KCNA Pyongyang, 27 November: Media in some countries are now busy spreading false rumour that portraits of leader Kim Jong-il are no longer displayed in the DPRK. We categorically refute this misinformation as it is revelation of their utter ignorance of the true reality in the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] where the leader and the people are firmly united in thought and sentiment and the servicepersons and people deem it their life and soul to devotedly defend the leader. The spirit of devotedly defending the leader is being considered in the DPRK as the strongest national sentiment and the biggest treasure to be handed down to posterity. The Korean people are firmly determined to devotedly defend their leaders and hold them in high esteem forever for the sake of the nation's right to existence and all generations to come. It is only the wicked hostile forces hell-bent on bringing down the political system in the DPRK that deny and falsify this stark fact. A relevant institution in the DPRK has already made clear this stand. It issued a stern warning to those reptile papers involved in this smear campaign, stating that such thing has never happened and will never happen in the future in the DPRK either as what they claimed is baseless and the story floated by them is just part of a psychological warfare launched by the US and other forces hostile to the DPRK. However, even after the DPRK's clarification of the matter, media in the US, Germany, Russia and other countries again cited this issue in spreading more misinformation in a bid to make the story sound plausible and true. They went the lengths of spreading sheer lies. This has lashed the Korean army and people into great fury as it is a crucial issue related to the authority of the supreme headquarters of the DPRK. We would like to make it clear once again that the ongoing smear campaign is part of the anti-DPRK psychological warfare waged by the US and its allies in an effort to impair the high authority of the supreme headquarters of the DPRK and create the impression that the DPRK is fraught with a serious problem. Those hack writers are no more than slaves of power and money as they are so politically insensitive that they know nothing about the nature of the peculiar society in the DPRK and the ideological awareness and sentiment of its people. Kim Jong-il represents the destiny of the Korean people and that of socialism. The Korean army and people have never thought of their present and future apart from him. Their trust in their leader and respect for him have become immutable and absolute in practice throughout the course of the victorious and glorious advance of the Korean revolution. Their faith to entrust their destiny and future entirely to the leader and accomplish the cause of socialism has grown stronger with the passage of times. Herein lie the solidity and invincibility of the socio-political foundation of the DPRK. It is as foolish an act as trying to cover the sun with a palm for the enemies to slander the headquarters of the DPRK. The misinterpretation of this noble ideological awareness and sentiment of the Korean army and people is nothing but the most serious misunderstanding of the reality of our society the enemies have ever made. Those hack writers who took the lead in the anti-DPRK trumpeting are well advised to stop at once their mean practice. Source: KCNA news agency, Pyongyang, in English 1316 gmt 27 Nov 04 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. Spurs on Nov 28: 60.3 kHz apart on 15184.64 and 15305.32 kHz (wb, BC-DX Nov 23-28 via DXLD) However, the warbling gradually resolved as the harmonic which Wolfie writes about, and I heard the other around 15305 too - that's plus/minus about 60 kHz from 15245. I didn't notice any others. How can this be happening - has the Great Leader decreed that their transmitters send out three signals instead of one? (Noel R. Green-UK, BC-DX Nov 24 via DXLD) Voice of Korea still on A-04 schedule, like monitored in Europe: 0700-1000 13760.08 15245.04 0700-1300 7140 9650 0700-1300 9975.04 0900-1100 11735.06 1000-1100 11710.04 co-ch NHK Skelton from 1100 UT. 1400-1700 9335.06 / .12 / .16 1400-2000 9325.00 even 1500-2400 9975.04 (BC-DX Nov 28 via DXLD) ** LATVIA. 9290 kHz, European Music Radio s/on at 1500 Sun Nov 28, fade out by 1545 UT. Very muffled speech (deep fading), rock and roll interspersed with brief announcements in ? English at 1507, 1511, 1525, 1529 with "European Music Radio" ID, a UK phone #, more music, SINPO 22222, speech unintelligible except for peak of 2-3 minutes about 1530. Fade out completely by 1545. On a SONY 2010 with long wire attic antenna (Roger Chambers, Utica, New York, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LUXEMBOURG. Telefunken will provide BCE's Marnach site (1440 kHz) with a new TRAM/P 600 unit, consisting of two 300 kW transmitters. The system can be easily switched between DRM and AM operation. Press release (in German): http://www.telefunken- sendersysteme.de/News_Presse/RTL_digital_MW/rtl_digital_mw.html Meanwhile WRN stated on enquiry that for the time being no changes for the AM transmissions of CRI on 1440 are planned (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Nov 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALDIVE ISLANDS [non]. 11810, Clandestine. Minivan Radio to the Maldive Islands. 1600-1700 in Maldivian-Divehi, jammed by the National Security Service (NSS) in Male with a pulsing tone, as if someone is keying a transmitter on Morse code with a hand key. Jamming is quite strong in Male, but not outside the main island. 25/11 (Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, Dec ADXN via DXLD) ** MALI. 4782.5 kHz, R. Mali, Kati, observed at 2226-2245 in Vernacular, then announcements in French; 54433; worse on \\ 4835. (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, BC-DX Nov 16 via DXLD) 5995, R. Mali, Kati, at /1800-..., French, resumed the ministerial speeches relayed until 1758 as observed on 11960 kHz at 1750-1800 (53443); 52442; the sort of modulation was noted identical on 11960 & 5995, so I guess that's the same transmitter (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, BC-DX Nov 18 via DXLD) 7284.9, R. Mali, Kati (I strongly believe this the transmitter they used for 4785v), audible at 0852-fadeout 1110 UT, Vernacular, talks, folk songs; 35342 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, BC-DX Nov 25 via DXLD) 9635, R. Mali, Kati, still at extremely low audio on this outlet, their best during day time (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, BC-DX Nov 25 via DXLD) ** MEXICO. Radio Educación inició maratón radiofónico de 80 horas en los 6185 desde ayer a las 2200 UTC (Abigael Najera, Nov 28, Noticias DX via DXLD) I think she`s with the station. 6185 is normally on the air only 0000-1200 UT, so they are also running it in the daytime. I compute that the 80 hours will be over UT Wed at 0600. Purpose? (gh) ** MYANMAR. See CANADA [non] ** NAGORNO-KARABAKH. A radio station `Voice of Justice` broadcasting in Stepanakert in the Azerbaijani language tries to establish a `trust bridge` between the Karabakh conflict parties. http://news.artsakhworld.com/ArCNews/Eng/index.php?cover=1&id=22062 As GH would say, WTFK? :-) (Andy Sennitt, Nov 27, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9677v kHz. The station is on the air since August 1997, the "actual" name (in Azeri) is "Ädälän Säsi Radiosu". 73s, (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, ibid.) Viz.: RADIO STATION `VOICE OF JUSTICE` BROADCASTING IN STEPANAKERT IN AZERBAIJANI LANGUAGE TRIES TO ESTABLISH `TRUST BRIDGE` BETWEEN KARABAKH CONFLICT PARTIES STEPANAKERT, 27.11.04. A radio station `Voice of Justice` broadcasting in Stepanakert in the Azerbaijani language tries to establish a `trust bridge` between the Karabakh conflict parties. In his interview with ARMINFO`s correspondent to NKR, Director of the radio station Mikael Hajyan said that the radio station propagandizes good, trying to assure Azerbaijanis that a new war will bring new disasters to both parties. Unfortunately, the Azerbaijani authorities create artificial obstacles for negotiations, which we have to mention in our programs, he said. However, I am sure that the last word rests upon the peoples of the two states, that is why we try to establish trust between them. In this connection we have repeatedly applied to all our colleagues in Azerbaijan proposing cooperation, Hajyan said. He said that broadcasted in many countries, the `Voice of Justice` receives warm responses. Only, Azerbaijan makes no response to the programs of the radio station. But, Hajyan expressed confidence that the station has its permanent audience in Azerbaijan in spite of the obstacles made by the Azerbaijan authorities. He told that once an Azerbaijani boy spoke at RFE/RL expressing desire to hear the opinion of a boy of his age from Armenia about the war. `Voice of Justice` responded immediately, organizing a cycle of relevant programs. Mikael Hajyan explained that they named the radio station `Voice of Justice` not accidentally. Each party has its own justice which is often inadequate to the reality. That is why, the station tries to find a single common real justice, Hajyan said. The radio station has gone on air for some 700 times already (4 times weekly). The employees at the radio station are mainly refugees from Azerbaijan. The programs are sponsored by Karabakh businessmen. The administration of the radio station hope to make the programs daily. ARMINFO 2004-11-27 09:33:00 (via DXLD) ** NICARAGUA. 680, R. La Primerísima, Managua NOV 18 0456 - Telephone report in Spanish. Sign off at 0500 with announcements by woman including "Radio La Primerísima" ID followed by national anthem, intro by flute sounding instrument. Excellent signal. Thanks to tip from AA5CO published in Glenn Hauser's DX Listening Digest (Mike Beu, KD5DSQ, Austin TX; R8B, 70-ft terminated Delta, NRC IDXD Nov 26 via DXLD) However, six nites earlier at about same time on 680 he had this: 680, HONDURAS, La Voz de Honduras, multiple sites NOV 12 0450 - News talk format in Spanish with discussion between two men. Sign off at 0500 with "HRN" ID and listing of transmitter sites. Excellent signal (Mike Beu, KD5DSQ, Austin TX; R8B, 70-ft terminated Delta, NRC IDXD Nov 26 via DXLD) ** NIGERIA. Voice of Nigeria. Tuned in on 9690 at 1945 UT, Sunday, November 28, and heard a program in English entitled "From the Bookshelf". A romantic novel was being discussed with readings from the novel. Excellent modulation and signal strength up to +20. This frequency may be an error on their part instead of the usual 7255 (or 15120). At 2000 into World News, Nigerian News and Sports Roundup to 2028. "The Villa" (archive material) at 2030 with transmitter problems for 5 minutes soon after 2030. Announced "Nigeria and Politics" coming up at 2045 and French at 2057, but soon after 2045 the transmission ceased. From 2000, announcements were with excellent modulation but when they switched to the ?? studio for the programs, the modulation was very poor. Nothing heard on 7255, 11770 or 15120 during this time, but found them again soon after 2100 in French on 15120 with poor reception but reasonable modulation (Bernie O'Shea, Ottawa, Ontario, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PORTUGAL. In case you need RDPI`s full schedule, it was announced at 1505 UT Sunday Nov 28 on 15575. Took about four minutes, on 15575. I noticed that meter bands were called ``bandas`` rather than ``faixas`` --- perhaps the latter is the preferred term in Brazilian (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. Broadcasts from Kazan for Tatar compatriots have been shortened to 50 minutes each. The schedule is: 0510-0600 15105 0710-0800 15105 (QRM by co-channel BBC French Service via Ascension tx until 0730) 0910-1000 252 (Tu-Su), 11915 11915 is scheduled but was not audible here on 28 Nov - due to bad propagation, or...? (Dmitry Mezin, Kazan, Russia, Signal Nov 28 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Kamchatka Rybatskaya, 28/11 (Sunday), 0000+ UT: managed to catch the station on both scheduled frequencies, 5910 and 11975 kHz. 5910 is beamed to Okhotsk Sea, 11975 serves Bering Sea. Modulation leaves much to desired on both frequencies. 5910 SINPO 35322, 11975 SINPO 45333 (open_dx - Igor Ashikhmin, Primorskiy kray, Russia, via Signal via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. 9480, for test of R. Tikhiy Okean, f/d QSL card for ``reception of Primorskoye Radio`s broadcast``, with Best regards, Pacific State Television and Broadcasting Company Vladivostok`` and friendly letter in English from Alexey Giryuk (Technical Department Engineer), indicating ``In the nearest future we are planing to be in the air regularly``. Address: TGTRK ``Vladivostok``, 690950, Vladivostok, Uborevicha st, 20-A, Russia. In 7 weeks, for an e-mail and hard copy Russian report with $2. Their web site is: http://www.ptr-vlad.ru (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, Nov 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAMOA. SAMOAN OPPOSITION SAYS STATE BROADCASTER BIASED | Text of report by Samoan newspaper Samoa Observer web site on 28 November; by Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia and Terry Tavita, dated 26 November Angry deputy opposition leader Asiata Sale'imoa Va'ai says he has started to boycott state-owned Samoa Broadcasting Corporation TV. Asiata said he will not speak with or appear on SBC TV One until it provides what he calls fair coverage of the opposition and its views. Samoa Democratic United Party's Asiata said that SBC coverage, particularly air-time allocation, has been lopsided and unfair in favour of government. "It's one minute for us and 10 minutes for the prime minister," he told an opposition news conference. This is in contrast to other media outlets which, he said, have been providing balanced coverage of political debate. SBC chief executive Faiesea Lei Sam Matafeo could not be contacted for comment before this edition went to press. She was in a meeting yesterday and could not be contacted after the opposition news conference either. But Communications Minister and SBC board chairman Palusalue Fa'apo II said that Asiata is within his rights to boycott SBC if he wants to. "But I'm surprised by this sudden change of opinion as recently they've been complaining that SBC was not covering their conferences," Palusalue said. He said that whether or not Asiata continues with his boycott plans, SBC will continue to cover the opposition's press conferences. "Unless of course they request for SBC not to come around any more," Palusalue said. Asiata also wants the SBC to provide coverage of political issues in both Samoan and English, rather than just in Samoan. Asiata believes that the issues will then be understood by a wider audience. International awareness of what he describes as corruption rife in government will put pressure on the Government to address it, he said. Opposition leader Le Mamea Ropati Mualia said that SBC's management has been doing a weekly hatchet job in editing news and views from the opposition's press conferences. This, he said, is while Prime Minister Tuila'epa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi's responses to issues raised by the opposition are aired in their entirety. If this is how SBC is conducting political coverage then its licence should be pulled, Le Mamea said. "They're biased and not balanced," he said. "They think that we're idiots that don't know what they're doing." Source: Samoa Observer web site, Apia, in English 28 Nov 04 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** SICILY. Hello Gleen, Here is my MW log. ITALY, 567, Rai Radio 1 - obviously from Caltanissetta (37 29N 14 04E)- was heard with a regional program for Sicily in Italian and with latest news about national strike of 30th November at 1828 UT on 25th Nov. 2004. SINPO 33333 - RAI Radio 1 is using the Caltanissetta's 567 kHz MW transmitter for regional programs at 6:20; 11:20; 13:30; 18.26 UTC. Target area: Mediterranean and Central Europe. 73's (Nino Marabello, Treviso, Italy, RX: SANYO M-1750K, Antenna: MW indoor http://web.tiscali.it/ondecorte/ Nov 28 DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOMALIA. 6960.14, R. Shabele, Mogadishu. More than likely the one, interminable animated political speech 1621, and at subsequent checks over the next hour, good strength, but at 3.30 am my patience didn't run to sticking with it for a definitive ID. A much weaker Somali- sounding station, presumably Galkayo, up on 6980 at the same time, 27/11 (Craig Seager, NSW, Dec ADXN via DXLD) So the UT would be 1630 ** SWEDEN. After receiving lots of positive comments on the new Belarussian language broadcasts, Radio Sweden decided to air them weekly, rather than fortnightly. So, starting from 5 Dec, Belarussian programs will go out every Sunday at 1830 (re-timed!) on 5830 kHz. (open_dx - Sergey Nikishin, Moscow, Russia via Signal via DXLD) ** TAIWAN. Multilingual "Voice of Taiwan" radio network to be set up 2004-11-27 19:57:10 Taipei, Nov. 27 (CNA) The government is planning to integrate the resources of the two state-owned radio stations to set up a multilingual "Voice of Taiwan" radio network to serve foreign nationals in Taiwan, the Government Information Office director- general said Saturday. Lin Chia-lung unveiled the plan while addressing a Mandarin and Taiwanese story-telling competition for foreigners hosted by the state-owned Radio Taiwan International (RTI). Lin pointed out that the RTI, which receives NT$500 million (US$15.6 million) in government funding every year, is mainly responsible for overseas broadcasting. To serve foreign nationals residing in Taiwan and help them better understand the island, the government will set up a new radio network by combining the resources of the RTI and the other state-owned radio station, Voice of Han Broadcasting Network, Lin said. The "Voice of Taiwan" will broadcast programs in a number of different languages, including Mandarin, Taiwanese, English and Japanese, he said. (By Y.F. Low) (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** THAILAND. 9810, R. Thailand, 1246-1259*, Nov. 25, English, Various features; "Business Weekly Report"; "Stock Report" and "Sports News". "7 Wonders of Asia" promo by Bangkok Airways re Singapore. IDs as "This is Radio Thailand News". Date, web info and "Happy Thanksgiving" cut-off at 1259, revealing RCI via Korea. Didn't know they celebrated Thanksgiving in Thailand! Fair (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, 200 ft NE and NW Beverages, Nov 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See UNIDENTIFIED 4830 ** TIBET [non]. 17515, Clandestine. Voice of Tibet. New transmission started 26th Nov 1100-1145 in Tibetan and last 15 minutes in Chinese. Chinese jammers didn't find it yet! Good reception until Vatican sign- on at 1130 cochannel with English Holy Mass from the Vatican Chapel. Requested V. of Tibet to move to 17525, which they will do today and leave Vatican in the clear, 26/11 (Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, Dec ADXN via DXLD) PETITION TO STOP THE EXECUTION OF TENZIN DELEK RINPOCHE Reply to: lampofhope @ yahoogroups.com Source of the Petition: http://www.tibet.ca/en/urgentactions/ "Since I am a Tibetan, I have always been sincere and devoted to the interests and well-being of Tibetan people. That is the real reason why the Chinese do not like me and framed me. That is why they are going to take my precious life even though I am innocent." . . . For more information on Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, please visit: http://hrw.org/english/docs/2004/02/06/china7278.htm http://www.savetenzin.org (via Maryanne Kehoe, swprograms via DXLD) ** U S A. USA VoA Ukrainian (additional with sites) Biblis 1615-1630, 1645-1700 7190 1615-1630, 1645-1700 9735 Kavalla 1615-1630, 1645-1700 5970 Biblis 1800-1815 6020 Lampertheim 1800-1815 7260 Briech-MRC 1800-1815 11720 (Wolfgang Büschel, WWDXC TopNews, Nov 25 via DXLD) ** U S A. AFN's FL transmitter now has a new 24 hour frequency 7811, although as 7812.5 I have found the signal 1 kHz off. All other frequencies are the same. http://www.myafn.net Live long and prosper, (Robert Wise of Hobart, Australia, HBI - Hobart Radio International, Nov 27, ARDXC via DXLD) I have yet to hear 7811 or 7812.5 in various random chex (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) AFN Key West 5446.5U and 12133.5U noted at 1500, 1730 as well as 0952 on Nov 27. No sign of 7811U or listed 7812.5U (Hans Johnson, FL, Cumbre Nov 26-27 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** U S A. WWCR Solid State Modulator Card Modification For Immediate Release 3 November 2004 POC: George McClintock During the months of September & October 2004, George McClintock, Adam Lock and Zach Harper modified each transmitter`s solid-state modulator cards, by replacing certain carbon resistors with flameproof style resistors. Every so often, a power module would arc over and destroy some components of the cards. A modification was necessary due to the deterioration of the carbon resistors with time and heat. This type of continual preventative maintenance is what consistently keeps WWCR on the air at full power (via Craig Seager, Dec ADXN via DXLD) WWCR 5070, UT Sunday 0505 -- Cyberline was not on 11/14; there was some other religious/political thing instead. But it was on last night (11/28). However, the audio from Cyberline itself was incredibly bad, all muffled and distorted. It was NOT WWCR's fault, as the news segment at 0500 before Cyberline came on sounded perfectly fine (Will Martin, MO, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WBCQ Sometimes on Later Than Scheduled --- In case you're interested, I ran across WBCQ staying on-air on 7415 kHz far later than the posted schedule indicates. On Saturday 11/20/04 UT 0530, after Herald of Truth ended and at the usual sign-off time, instead the station stayed on-air broadcasting a jazz program "World Jazz Federation", announced as an Internet program. I re-checked after 0600 UT and it was still on; finally ended at 0632 UT, followed by a WBCQ ID, and then "Hot Country Late Night" that went off-air abruptly at 0756 UT. The next week, on 11/27/04 at 0530 UT, "Juliet's Wild Kingdom" started, consisting of air checks from CKLW circa 1967. (This program *is* in the printed schedule.) It was off-air when I next re-tuned in at 0630; scheduled to go off at 0600. It appears that sometimes the transmitter "off" switch doesn't get hit, so it sometimes pays to listen for the actual sign-off at the usual 0530 UT most days. I wish that Allan would air more in-house productions at that 0530 UT time on the days he doesn't air WoR, Juliet, or Odin Lives at that time. I'd really appreciate a repeat of "Duhh News" late Tuesdays then, since I often miss the early-evening live airing. 73, (Will Martin, MO, Nov 28, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. KJES was active Nov 28 at 1519 on 11715, when I ran across its unmistakable format, but it sounded like they were playing two tapes at once --- one with the usual responsive readings, and the other with singing, making it even more incomprehensible than usual; strong signal. Had not noticed them for some weeks and suspect they had been off again (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Denver, 25.950 MHz. Remote broadcast cueing relay of KOA-850 Denver. Narrow FM modulation. Local "good riddance Dan Rather" talk show. Several KOA mentions. Local quality on peaks. 1900-1930 UT November 27 (Brock Whaley, GA Scanner and Sony 2010 120 ft. longwire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Great catch! Got it here -- very good on occasional short peaks with football. High school? "Cherry Creek" is one team, Columbine is the other team. Haven't heard one of these in ages. 970 WFLA [Tampa 25870] killed their 24/7 a couple of years ago. Don't even seem to spot the dipole on the roof any more, though could be wrong (Terry Krueger, Clearwater, FL, ibid.) ** U S A. KRISHNA RADIO HITS AIRWAVES - Todd Hollingshead DAILY HERALD http://www.harktheherald.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=41128&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0 After a four-year hiatus, Spanish Fork's KHQN Krishna Radio is back on the air. The Indian devotee station, which plays dramas, devotional music and lectures among other spiritual content, started broadcasting again from 1480 AM about three weeks ago and can be heard on a clear signal throughout Utah Valley. For the past few years, the station has been loaned out to a Spanish language community, but now the Krishnas are back and their content is better, said program director Charu Das. "We're really excited about the format, and we think that people will really like it," Das said. "The type of music that we choose will resonate with everyone's innermost being, regardless if they're black, white, red, yellow or green." Because of FCC guidelines, Krishna Radio has to reduce power after sunset, but during the day the channel can be heard clearly throughout the valley and as far north as West Jordan and parts of the University of Utah campus. [NRC AM Log 2004-2005 says it`s D1 1000 watts day, 500 watts psra == presunrise authority from 6 am MST --- should not be on the air at all after local sunset!! Was Radio Latina from 8 am to SS; address actually in North Salt Lake --- gh] KHQN is the only full-time [sic] Indian devotee station in the United States. Das started it in 1982 after he realized he could run a full- time station for the same amount he was paying to broadcast a weekly Indian radio show in Los Angeles. He and his wife purchased the small Utah County radio station for $130,000 after learning the pious nature of the Provo area. With a small amount of programming, Das began Krishna Radio in an album- oriented rock format for a couple of years with the hopes of converting the format to entirely Hare Krishna religious. In 1994, the station started a main menu of devotional programming, with a lineup of vegetarianism shows, serialized and dramatized Indian epics, Puranic literature, stories and music. But the broadcast struggled for funding, with only bake sales and donations subsidizing the station. In 1999, the Utah Krishnas started construction on the Krishna Temple and a Spanish-language community approached them about using the station. "They came at the perfect time," Das said. "We were broke and it provided needed cash." The temple, which has cost $1.2 million so far, opened in 2001. Now, with the Spanish station moving on and the Krishnas solid on their feet, they've started to broadcast once again with new technology and more than 1,000 songs to play. The station has a new solid-state transmitter; the programming is all digitally fed from computer; and Das has a trip to India planned for January that will result in an even larger music collection. "When we went off the air in 1999, there were a couple of people who were bitterly disappointed," Das said. "We're not only back, but we're better and the radio station paid for a chunk of the temple. It was all so timely. Some day we'll write a book about all the supernatural events that contributed to this project." For those who can't receive the signal, Krisha Radio is also broadcast online at http://www.utahkrishnas.com This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page D1. There are 2 comments on this story (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. Greetings from Seattle --- I managed to track down the maritime transmitter site of KKOL 1300 today with relative ease considering that I forgot to pack my GPS. I just posted some of the photos on my AM-DXer web site (link below). Enjoy! http://community.webtv.net/N0NNK/ http://community.webtv.net/AM-DXer/ (Patrick Griffith, NØNNK, Westminster, CO, Nov 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. A TELEVISED REVOLUTION: PIRATE TV COMES TO BERKELEY: BY ANNA OBERTHUR http://www.berkeleydaily.org/text/article.cfm?issue=11-26-04&storyID=20166 (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. 94.3, WKUF-LP Flint MI Kettering University low power fm, 100 watts at 138 feet, http://WKUF.org Mono only. Playing lots of urban, techno, etc. Seem to be automated during hours they do not have live host. [bleah!] Monday and Friday nights 8-10 pm [EST = 0100-0300 UT Tue & Sat] is the Video-Game Music show. Music sounds halfway between video-game sounds and techno. From the web page, they are hoping to add community producers. I heard it on their first day, Fri 11/19 at 2:13 pm. Had to put my whip antenna horizontal, and move it around. Adjacent channels kill 94.3 with whip antenna vertical (Larry Russell, Flushing MI, MARE Tipsheet via DXLD) Strangely enough, the URL above forwards to http://www.wkus.org/content/0 – no webcast (gh) ** U S A. The FCC had been instructed by Congress some years ago to auction off commercial frequencies, and the FCC decided about two years ago that if noncommercial organizations wanted to compete for commercial FM frequencies (in the US, the frequencies of 92-108 MHz are commercial frequencies; 88-92 MHz are reserved for noncommercial stations operated by noncommercial organizations), they had to participate in competitive bidding with commercial applicants. But few noncommercial groups have the funds to match the escalating bids of commercial enterprises that want the frequencies (it is cheaper to build new stations than buy existing ones, all things being equal), and the dozen or more noncommercial public and community radio groups were early out of the running, even for frequencies in remote rural areas. But it is the estimation of Catholic Radio Update that the matter is not finished. It is likely that noncommercial groups and their organizations will file suit against the FCC in federal courts, arguing that the very fact that they had to compete against rich commercial applicants meant that the system for awarding commercial frequencies is unfairly stacked against noncommercial applicants (Mike Dorner, CRU Nov 28 via DXLD) ** U S A. Estimado Glenn: Ante todo mis saludos cordiales para tì. Todo los viernes escucho tu interesante secciòn en Radio Enlace. Quiero informarte que el 7 de de este mes de noviembre falleciò el buen amigo diexìsta John M. Killian. Lo conocì el pasado año en el 9no. Encuentro de Radioescuchas y Diexìstas mexicanos" en Tizayuca, Estado de Hidalgo. Quizàs tu ya lo sepas, pero serìa bueno que lo informaras en R. Enlace. Yo le enviè mi pèsame a la viuda a travès de Jeff White. El participò en el Dècimo Encuentro DX en Veracruz, y me cuentan que ya se sentìa mal. Ha sido una pèrdida para el Diexìsmo. El era profesor en Virginia Western, community College (Manolo de la Rosa, RHC, Nov 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. ALGERIA, 7460 kHz outlet has been silent for days, with only 1550 being loud & clear. 1550. Yes, I heard Spanish & ARABIC yesterday 25 Nov at around 2304 UT, but they WERE airing the Spanish program during the first hour of their evening transmission [presumably 1700 as previously discusssed], not afterwards, during which it was all in Arabic. I monitor this regularly, and they must have changed the language format, because I haven't heard any Spanish after sign-on. Mornings, their sign-off is variable, but usually at 0900 UT, and until some time ago at least, no Spanish, only Arabic was used. 7460 is either off for some reason or they moved to a completely different QRG (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, BC-DX Nov 26 via DXLD) ** ZANZIBAR. 6015. RTZ *0257-0310. Balafon-like IS to 0259, then anthem; 5 pips to 0300, then YL with opening announcement, difficult copy with 6010 splatter. Heard a definite "Dar-es-Salaam" but believe this is Zanzibar; Qur`an followed at 0301, then M announcer at 0305 with Swahili talk to 0310 tune-out. VG signal but rough copy due to the 6010 splatter (John Wilkins, CO, Nov 20, Cumbre DX via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 4830, 1207-1219, Nov. 27, Vernacular, Ballads and pop- like music with talks between selections. Talks sound "Far East" but way too noisy to be certain. Perhaps Mongolian Radio-2 per Dave Valko tip? (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, 200 ft,. NE and NW Beverages, Nov 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Could be Mongolia, but I point out that in DXLD 4-164 we had a tentative schedule for Thailand at 1100-1230 only on 4830, 6070, 7115. Suggest you check the others for parallel (well, CFRX blox 6070, I suppose). 73, (Glenn, dxldyg via DXLD) Glenn, Add one more to the mix. Message from Bruce Churchill speculates China Huayi B.C and recommends checking // 6185. Says they've used 4830 in past winters (Scott Barbour, DX LISTENING DIGEST) PWBR 2005 has this only after 1300 (gh, DXLD) 4830 - 21 Nov, 1150 a very interesting UNID, instrumental music, one piece after another without any announcement, 35333. Not heard during the subsequent checks (Dmitry Mezin and Alexey Kulinchenko, Kazan, Russia, KAD0411, Signal via DXLD) Almost 100% sure it's Mongolian Radio 2, // 4895 regularly heard here until 1600. 4895 co-channel AIR (open_dx - Vladimir Titarev, Kremenchuk, Ukraine, ibid.) UNIDENTIFIED. 7530, 1855-1903*(?), Nov. 25, Vernacular, Caught this while trying for Africans, early afternoon at my location. Nothing at tune-in until Kor`an-like chanting poking thru the static at 1857, brief announcer at 1900 followed by martial music until 1903 when the signal either signed off or slipped back under the static. Very weak/poor. Maybe R. Hargeysa, Somalia? Will try this one again as the days grow shorter (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, 200 ft NE and NW Beverages, Nov 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ COMMENTARY ++++++++++ ``Radio is mediocre here [Tampa Bay] as it is most places in America right now. There is little passion in the voices I hear.. Very few people sound like they are genuinely having fun. It is hard to know whether anyone is live. Spoken content is all so generic that most everything could be voice tracked in advance.`` --- Cleveland Wheeler, Radio Daily News ALL HUCKSTERS ALL THE TIME: THE END OF THE SANCTITY OF THE HEARTH I suppose it is another symptom of old age. Lately, I have been wondering and trying to imagine what life was like before radio and television invaded our homes. Homes, not houses. What was life like for our great-grandparents and their ancestors? I can barely imagine, and only in the abstract, what life was like before the incessant noise of our electronic media, noise that pervades every household from dawn to bedtime and often all night as people sleep to the blare of televisions and radios. Lately, I have found someone else who shares my thoughts in this matter. One of the finest radio websites is Radio Daily News, which I read faithfully every day. On it the other morning, there was one of those frequent, delightful essays on what radio used to be. These autobiographical notes are very fine reading indeed, and for those of us who are no longer wet behind the ears, a trip back into time. Cleveland Wheeler, a successful radio broadcast man and then one of the people who put satellite radio into shape and on the air, spoke of an experience he had with his fiancé and his mother at a dinner at his place. ``My mother . . . had experienced music`s place in life before radio and how radio changed the world. She began to recount her childhood experiences at her grandmother`s house where Saturday nights were regular musical house parties. Some brought fiddles — others brought guitars ... everyone had a voice.`` There it was. People assembled around the piano or the guitar or whatever musical instrument people had. They sang. They talked. They had refreshments. If it were warm weather, they moved onto the lawn or the screen porch. On ordinary nights and weekends, people talked with each other. With family, with relatives, with neighbors. They visited. They were aware of their neighborhood and their community without the middle man doing a stand-up report in front of a spectacular background mouthing journalistic platitudes into a mike and camera. People associated, related, directly, face to face, not electronically. They heard what their neighbors thought about things directly, not by listening to their voices coming over the radio on a phone-in show. There was an immediacy to life that has been lost. Mr. Wheeler continues. ``Then came live radio and not everyone had one. Radio programs were the events that assembled whole families, neighbors and friends.`` Now, I was not around when radio started off in the 1920s, but I was around when television started off in the early 1950s. People who had pioneer television sets invited neighbors in to watch. We had relatives and our grandparents over every night. We set up chairs for everyone. Television then was initially a community experience, as early radio had been. What we did not know, nor could we have foreseen, was that the dice irretrievably were cast. The nose of the camel was in the tent. Soon the whole camel would be inside. We were being invaded by a relentless, noisy intruder that, for all its many benefits, would forever change human intercourse, understood in the old meaning of that term. The time was fast coming when the electronic media would be so pervasive that they would be nigh the sole medium of interfacing with the neighborhood, the community, the world. Worse, the electronic media would utterly and with finality destroy the sacrosanct atmosphere of the hearth. Make no mistake about it, in the eyes and the purposes of those who are its kingpins, the electronic media are advertising media. They exist to sell. They exist to convince us we have need of whatever they are harking. No longer was the salesman --- the drummer, to use the old 19th century word -- - confined to the marketplace and perhaps knocking on the front door. Now he had entered the living rooms of America, and people sat riveted in front of radio and television, whose sole purpose was and is to sell us something, something we probably don`t need. The entertaining element of radio and television is simply the bait that entices audiences to forego ordinary human intercourse, sit passively, and soak up their relentless commercial messages. (I defer comment on all the other stuff they also soak up.) How quiet the houses of our great-grandparents must have been! There was time for thought, for reading, for writing, for music, for meaningful conversation, conversation not always done in words. But their generation was the twilight of centuries of daily life. In short order, our grandparents, parents, we, and soon our children, would be the targets of incessant bombardment from hucksters. The sanctity, the peace of the family hearth would be only memories (Michael Dorner, Catholic Radio Update Nov 28 via DXLD) DRM +++ ANALYSIS: TOO LATE FOR DRM ON SHORTWAVE? Text of editorial analysis by BBC Monitoring's Martin Peters Heralded as the saviour of shortwave broadcasting, Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) was supposed to breathe new life into shortwave and AM broadcasting. DRM offers high fidelity, even stereo, reception of broadcasts using similar bandwidth to that occupied by conventional analogue broadcasts. Simple data, such as scrolling text, is another benefit for the user. For the broadcaster, robust signal reception is possible using comparatively low transmission power, meaning a cost saving in energy. The success of DRM and the renaissance of shortwave hinges on a number of fundamental assumptions: broadcasters' willingness to continue to produce material for an overseas market and their readiness to upgrade transmission facilities, and the public's interest in listening to foreign radio and their inclination to buy the receivers necessary to decode the signals. Far from maintaining multilingual output for overseas and expatriate listeners, recent years have seen an increasing number of broadcasters downsize their external service, and in some cases, terminate it completely. Swiss Radio International closed its foreign language shortwave outlets in October, while Belgium's Radio Vlaanderen International will close its English, French and German services next year. Ireland's shortwave service ceased operation at the end of 2003, RTE electing to provide satellite receivers, free of charge, to those listeners who could demonstrate a pressing requirement. Other recent casualties include a raft of Radio Free Europe's eastern- bloc language streams, the BBC's programming directed toward North America and a scaling back of Iran's external service. Radio Slovakia International's future hangs in the balance and it has recently been reported that Israel's foreign-language Network B is to be axed. With annual budget cuts an ever present threat, this statistic is undoubtedly destined to rise. Major players committed to new technology Contrary to this downward trend, some major broadcasters are demonstrating their faith in DRM and the future of shortwave. Bonn- based Deutsche Welle already broadcast over DRM 24 hours a day on shortwave and are investing in analogue-to-digital migration over the next few years. BBC World Service offers a DRM service for several hours a day. Others include China Radio International, Voice of Russia, Radio Nederlands and Vatican Radio. Meanwhile Radio New Zealand has recently placed an order for a DRM-enabled transmitter to cover their Pacific-region service area. One major European broadcaster committed to DRM is Radio Television Luxembourg (RTL). The RTL group has interests in 24 television channels and 23 radio stations across eight countries. Despite already operating a brace of regional radio outlets in Germany, RTL has ambitions to provide a nationwide service; something denied to them under the current analogue infrastructure. The group's network of FM transmitters serving France provides only patchy reception, even in some densely populated areas. RTL views early adoption of DRM as a solution to both these challenges by using the technology to reinforce its existing channels. Plans for opening up new markets, made feasible with DRM, include a possible fourth network for France and a relaunch of Radio Luxembourg, targeting the UK. RTL is in talks with equipment manufacturers to encourage the introduction of suitable receivers in the shops by the second quarter of 2005. The incentive for consumers to buy into DRM would seem to rest on increased choice, effortless station acquisition and improved audio quality. Unfortunately, there may be little overlap between the type of listener interested in accessing foreign news and the desire for more stations or improved fidelity. Present shortwave programming may not be enticing enough to attract listeners. The successful new radio systems are satellite radio in the USA and Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) in the UK. In addition, audiences who rely heavily on shortwave broadcasts for their news would include large numbers living outside of major population centres in Africa and therefore unlikely to afford to buy the relatively expensive receivers when they become available. Prices will fall if and when DRM becomes mainstream. However, so far, only one stand-alone portable radio is available; the Mayah DRM-2010, costing over 800 dollars. All other available options rely on connection to a computer. Alternative programming would draw in a new generation of listeners. To date, programming mirrors completely that which is already available over conventional analogue on shortwave. A Germany-based, bilingual music station, unique to DRM, is planned but is not yet in operation. Another obstacle DRM must overcome is the competition from established technologies already providing a satisfactory service. Besides shortwave AM, there is an increasing number of international broadcasters available via satellite, over the internet and, in major population centres throughout the world, through part or full time FM rebroadcasts. It is now possible to listen to the BBC, Voice of America, Radio France Internationale and many others - some in stereo - on portable radios or whilst driving in many towns, even in the Third World. Finally, and perhaps of most concern, is the threat from the distribution of broadband Internet over power lines. Power Line Telecommunication (PLT) uses the same segment of spectrum as currently used by shortwave broadcasters. An unfavourable side-effect of the system is to pollute the airwaves, blanketing them in noise and rendering much of the spectrum unusable. The consortium is on record as saying that the adoption of PLT is incompatible with the success of DRM. In the United States, despite vociferous opposition from users of the spectrum, PLT has been given a cautious go-ahead by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Europe may follow suit, unless a viable alternative to providing broadband to otherwise unserved areas can be found. Additional spectrum sought The DRM consortium recently announced that it intends to seek a frequency extension to the system which currently does not permit its use above 30 MHz, generally recognised as the upper limit of shortwave. The proposal suggests that this be raised to 120 MHz, thereby embracing a significant portion of the VHF spectrum. DRM's precise intentions are unknown, but a 1-MHz slice of spectrum at VHF could accommodate up to around 100 radio stations for consumers within line of sight of the transmitter and largely resilient to PLT- borne interference and the vagaries of variable radio propagation: an attractive proposition to broadcasters and listeners alike. The other contender for the future of digital radio, in Europe and elsewhere, and hitherto seen as the sole replacement for FM analogue is Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB). In the United Kingdom, operators have elected to convey up to 10 radio stations within each multiplex with a resulting trade-off in audio quality. In addition to bandwidth considerations, another advantage of DRM over DAB is that broadcasters need not be bundled into a multiplex, dependent on whether the national or local provider wishes to carry them. Instead, each station can be a stand-alone service, completely independent of such gatekeepers, thus providing lesser broadcasters a mechanism with which to reach their audience via a digital medium. With DRM's ability to provide an outlet to niche stations at similar quality to that offered by DAB in the UK, it's possible that there will be a struggle for supremacy between the two systems. DRM employs modern, efficient coding techniques but DAB is already dated and has only made a major impact in the UK. In the United States, neither DRM or DAB are used for domestic broadcasting, as their own home-grown systems take root. Similar to DRM, the In-Band On-Channel (IBOC) technology has no need for additional spectrum. However, IBOC permits stations to broadcast digital versions of their analogue counterparts simultaneously on the same channel, meaning the system is spectrally efficient. The system also offers seamless transition between the digital and analogue, should one or other suffer from poor reception. Satellite radio, with extensive, ground-based fill-in relays, also provides a multichannel radio service. Uncertain future for shortwave If DRM is to be the success its backers are hoping for, a content, not industry-driven agenda is a prerequisite, as is the easy availability of affordable receivers. The future may not lie with international broadcasting on shortwave. Declining numbers of stations and listeners; little in the way of alternative programming; threats from interference; and a target audience, many of whom earn less than a dollar a day, all add up to a considerable challenge for the proponents of DRM. Instead, domestic use of DRM on longwave, mediumwave and the proposed VHF allocation, where armchair listeners will value increased choice and audio quality, is where this technology may more comfortably sit. Crucially, DRM's profile is low in the consciousness of the public. Far from appreciating what the system has to offer, most are unaware of its very existence. Source: BBC Monitoring research 26 Nov 04 (via DXLD) DRM statement --- Kongsfjord - 70 43'N 29 21'E The advance of DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale) is a concern for many DX- ers. The DRM signal does provide excellent sound quality if you are after that particular station (and have equipment to decode the signal). But - it also effectively blocks everything else on the frequency as well as adjacent frequencies. For us, listening for trans-Atlantic radio stations, this poses a great problem. We are very negative to the advance of DRM and hope that this will pass as yet another unsuccessful attempt to revitalize medium wave broadcasting. For more information on DRM see http://www.drm.org (from http://www.kongsfjord.no/drm%20statement.htm via gh, DXLD) http://www.kongsfjord.no/ homepage has a STOP DRM gif leading to the above statement (gh) POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ BPL comes to Texas, Burnet is a small town located northwest of Austin, Texas' state capital. Nov. 26, 2004, 4:59PM http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/business/2919786 TEXAS TOWN GETS NET OVER POWER LINES --- Associated Press BURNET -- High-speed Internet service is coming to about 120 homes in this town of 5,000 using a novel technology that connects residents to the Web through power lines. Broadband Horizons, which provides Internet access to about 6,000 customers in rural parts of Central Texas, is paying most of the estimated $50,000 cost to install a network in a neighborhood of Burnet, about 40 miles northwest of Austin. Once the system is in place, scheduled by year end, they say that houses will connect by plugging a simple modem device into a wall socket. Companies have been trying to develop the technology -- called broadband over power line, or BPL -- for nearly a decade, and now the technology is being tested in a few places. The city-owned electric utility in Manassas, Va., launched a pilot project last fall. Ohio-based Cinergy Corp. is also testing a system. In theory, electric current runs along power lines at low frequencies and doesn't interfere with Internet signals at much higher frequencies. Advocates say the technology would be a cheaper way to wire rural towns like Burnet. Bob McClung, a Blanco entrepreneur, believes he could provide broadband service for about $30 a month with the cooperation of public and private electric utilities. He told the Austin American-Statesman that the technology could be much more common within a few years. Some analysts are skeptical, however, noting that cable television operators and phone companies have a big head start in building broadband networks. "There are 31 million subscribers to broadband in the U.S.," Bruce Leichtman of Leichtman Research Group in Durham, N.H., told the Austin American-Statesman. "We are well beyond the early-adopter stage. The high-end of the market is pretty well plucked." Ken Graham, the mayor pro tem, who retired to Burnet in 1999 after working in telecommunications, said he doesn't like his slow dial-up connection to the Internet and views the broadband pilot as a good thing. "This will enhance our quality of life, very definitely," Graham said. "Most people that live in this subdivision are retired professionals. They have moved to the small town, but they don't want to give up the conveniences that they had." Brought to you by HoustonChronicle.com (via Keith Anderson, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ Hi Glenn, very bad conditions at present tonight. From Bulgaria only 5800 kHz, but nothing on 7400, 7500, 9400, 9500 all dead zone. 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, Stuttgart, Germany, 2258 UT Nov 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Alvestad's depressing forecast: "During the latter half of November 29 a strong high speed stream from coronal hole CH129 is expected to arrive. This will cause unsettled to major storm conditions until December 1." (Olle Alm, Sweden, via Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) KN4LF Daily HF/LF/MF Radio Propagation Outlook Update #2004-004A http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf5.htm http://www.hard-core-dx.com/index.php?topic=Propagation http://dayton.akorn.net/pipermail/propagation Published Sunday 11/28/2004 At 2330 UTC Valid Through 12/02 2004 Large and growing coronal hole #129 has been in geoeffective (Earth facing) position since Friday 11/26/04. During its last reincarnation as coronal hole #122 on 10/31/04, it produced a maximum Kp of 4 (active) and a maximum Ap of 22 (active). Because of its rapid growth and large size its impact on the geomagnetic field will probably be more significant this time around. Therefore I'm now predicting minor geomagnetic storming (Kp-5), with periods of moderate geomagnetic storming (Kp-6) between UTC 11/29/04- 12/02/04. Prolific sunspot group #10696 rose around the east limb of the Sun on Saturday 11/27/04. So far this group is pretty quiet and stable and let's hope it stays that way. Therefore the chance of daylight radio blackouts from solar flares is reduced from medium to low. And the chance of polar cap absorption on high latitude propagation paths due to excessive energetic protons >10 Mev (10+0) continues low. . . [full report in the dxldyg] ###