DX LISTENING DIGEST 5-029, February 15, 2005 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 2005 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 1263: Wed 1030 WOR WWCR 9985 Wed 1700 WOR WBCQ after hours Mon 0430 WOR WSUI 910 http://wsui.uiowa.edu 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 1263 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1263h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1263h.rm WORLD OF RADIO 1263 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1263.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1263.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1263.html WORLD OF RADIO 1263 in the true shortwave sound of 7415: (stream) http://www.piratearchive.com/media/worldofradio_02-09-05.m3u (d`load) http://www.piratearchive.com/media/worldofradio_02-09-05.mp3 FIRST AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1264: Wed 2300 on WBCQ 7415, 17495-CUSB Thu 2130 on WWCR 9985 ON DEMAND: from early UT Thu, change 1263 above to 1264 CONTINENT OF MEDIA 05-02 available from Feb 15: (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/com0502.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/com0502.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/com0502.html [not yet] MUNDO RADIAL, febrero-marzo, informe DX mensual de Glenn Hauser: (corriente) http://www.w4uvh.net/mr0502.ram (descargar) http://www.w4uvh.ent/mr0502.rm (texto) http://www.worldofradio.com/mr0502.html ** AFGHANISTAN. AFGHAN TV, RADIO TO BROADCAST IN MINORITY LANGUAGES | Text of report by Afghan radio on 14 February [Announcer] The Afghan Radio/Television Department started broadcasting programmes in Pashayi, Baluchi and Nurestani languages today in accordance with the policies of the Information and Culture Ministry, and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. These programmes are daily broadcast on television from 1600 hours [local time] to 1720 hours. The head of Radio/Television Department, Gholam Hasan Hazrati, says: [Hazrati speaking in Dari] As the government media belongs to all the people, we decided to broadcast our programmes in other languages of our brotherly tribes such as Nurestani, Baluchi and Pashayi. As our compatriots know, Afghanistan's television has already broadcast programmes in Turkman and Uzbek languages. The television will continue to broadcast these programmes. As all Afghans have equal rights in accordance with the constitution, the radio and television displays the faces of our Nurestani, Pashayi and Baluchi brothers and sisters in accordance with the constitution to deliver their voice to the people. Source: Radio Afghanistan, Kabul, in Pashto 1430 gmt 14 Feb 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN. RADIO JAGHORI LAUNCHED IN GHAZNI PROVINCE | Text of report by Internews Afghanistan on 4 February The sounds of a free and blossoming media are now broadcast from a hill in Ghazni Province from where mojahedin fighters once launched rockets. The building housing Radio Jaghori, in Jaghori District, housed a faction of these fighters during the civil war in the 1990s. Later a Taleban spy post where locals were tortured, the building has now been resurrected by the media and stands as a symbol of free thought in Afghanistan. Internews, with its partner, Future Generation, opened the station in early January. Future Generation works on sustainable development through vocational institutes and professional trainings such as this radio station. Four staff and seven volunteers produce five programmes, including "Nama ha wa Ahangha Shuma" ("Your Letters and Your Songs"), a programme designed to facilitate dialogue within the community. The station also plays a selection of programmes from the Tanin Network - an Internews and AINA supported initiative that produces and distributes radio programming with a strong local flavour. It plans to add programmes on culture and poetry, education, sports and business in the next few weeks. Radio Jaghori (93.5 kHz FM) can be heard for 10 hours every day. With Salaam Watandar, the daily four-hour national cycle of programming produced by Internews in Kabul, and in-house productions, the people of Jaghori are now connecting with the rest of Afghanistan and receiving news to make informed decisions about their futures. Radio Jaghori's signal reaches an estimated 30,000 people in and around this remote district. Funded by the United States Agency for International Development, Radio Jaghori joins the Internews-assisted network of 29 radio stations around Afghanistan, broadcasting to eight and a half million people. Source: Internews Afghanistan, Kabul, in English 4 Feb 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non] UNIDENTIFIED --- 12140 - at 1425 man with long talking, mentioning Bush & Condoleezza Rice often and 1430 IS and followed man & woman with brief news (presume) with strong signal here, but can't identify their station, sounded like Arabic Feb. 9, 2005 (Lim Kwet Hian, Jakarta, HCDX via DXLD) From http://www.susi-und-strolch.de/eibi/dx/freq-b04.txt 12140 1430-1500 USA Voice of America PS AFG /KWT 12140 1500-1530 USA Voice of America DR AFG /KWT 12140 1530-1630 USA Voice of America PS AFG /KWT 12140 1630-1700 USA Voice of America GE Cau /CLN 12150 So at 1430 starts Pashto via Kuwait, but what about before 1430? In Dari it`s known as Radio Ashna, but VOA language/frequency schedule site does not give any special name for the Pashto service (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) One possibility is this: http://www.azadiradio.org/en/default.asp http://www.rferl.org/listen/shortwave/shortwave-af.asp (Reijo Alapiha, Joensuu, Finland, HCDX via DXLD) So 12140 has R. Free Afghanistan at 1230-1430 (gh, DXLD) ** ANTIGUA. 100.1, 11/02 0153 Sun FM, St. John`s, OM em EE, ID ``Sun, one, zero, zero, one``, 33232 (CLEDERSON JEAN FISCHER, GUABIRUBA-SC, BRASIL, RECEPTOR SONY ICF SW7600GR, @tividade DX Feb 13 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. A Rádio Cultura, de Araraquara (SP), voltou a transmitir, em 3365 kHz, na faixa de 90 metros. Desde Fernandópolis (SP), Edmilson Bergamini informa que sintonizou a emissora, em 12 de fevereiro, a partir de 2200. O som era local, segundo ele. Na mesma data, o colunista conferiu o sinal da emissora, em Porto Alegre (RS), a partir de 2350. A Cultura estava fora do ar, desde que um trator, que fazia a limpeza do parque transmissor, derrubou a antena. Incentivamos aos dexistas e radioescutas para que escrevam ao coordenador artístico da emissora, Wagner Luiz, explicando o que é o nosso hobby. Quem sabe sai da iniciativa uma confirmação QSL da emissora? A Cultura também está de endereço novo: Avenida Bento de Abreu, 789, Bairro Fonte Luminosa, CEP: 14802-396, Araraquara (SP). (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX Feb 13 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. No próximo sábado, 19 de fevereiro, termina o horário brasileiro de verão. Os relógios devem ser atrasados, em uma hora, à meia-noite, conforme noticia toda a imprensa. 73s! (Célio Romais, radioescutas via DXLD) ** BULGARIA. See OTTOMAN EMPIRE [non] ** BURKINA FASO. 5030, bits of hilife music but mostly phone talk in French, so presumed. Good signal at 2317 Feb 13, holding its own against Fidel on 5025 // 6000 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. 6030, CFVP, Calgary, Alberta, 34333, English. Feb 14, 0710 YL singing a song "He's My Man". OM announced the station ID. 0712: Elvis sang "Have I told You Lately That I Love You". 0715: OM gave station ID "We bring you great songs, great memories. CKMX". OM announced "We are Alberta's First Radio Station". 0719: Song "The Moonlight Gambler". 0740 OM gave Station ID followed by the song "Coward of the County". Frequent station ID's, something all stations should consider. A 100 Watt station, it does surprisingly well. This last appears in the logbook for August 12, 1996 (Phil KO6BB Atchley, Merced CA, swl at qth.net via DXLD) During Martí & jammers` Monday- morning-only silent period (gh) ** CANADA. CKOI, 96.9, Verdun-Montréal PQ, still has 307 kW, but it was in danger of losing this superpower status. It transmits from atop the CIBC skyscraper downtown, but because of new Industry Canada safety requirements, faced having to move to a new site at 122 kW. Its aging antenna, in use since 1962, sent too much radiation downward near where people live and work. But then the Maine-based Dielectric Company came and worked with Corus Communications to modify the spacings on the CKOI antenna elements, which helped it to satisfy RF safety guidelines at the CIBC site (Feb FMedia! via DXLD) How? ** CANADA. RALLY HELD FOR MONTREAL RADIO STATION FACING OVERHAUL http://www.mytelus.com/news/article.do?pageID=canada_home&articleID=1844862 MONTREAL (CP) - Hundreds of people rallied Sunday at a popular French- language radio station to protest an ownership change that will end the station's popular news and talk-radio format. Listeners and retired hosts at CKAC asked fans of the station to help persuade the new owners, Corus Entertainment, to shelve the planned closure of the Montreal newsroom. Corus, of Toronto, received approval in January to buy CKAC from Astral Media Inc. of Montreal. CKAC's newsroom will be closed as part of the Corus restructuring plan and 17 of the 20 Montreal journalists will be laid off. The change of hands will mean a switch to sports and health programming at the station, which has specialized in hard news and talk shows for decades. Claude St-Denis, a CKAC listener and organizer of the rally, said Corus can be persuaded to maintain the station's current format if enough listeners rally to the cause. "Nothing is impossible," St-Denis said during the protest. "The people are ready to organize. When people take action the government will change their ideas." The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission last month approved the Corus bid to acquire seven AM stations and one FM station from Astral. In return, Astral gets five stations from Corus in a deal worth a total of $11 million. Corus announced earlier this month that it has agreed to local programming levels the CRTC set out as a condition for the swap of the Quebec-based radio stations. The CRTC required, for example, that CKAC provide at least 60 hours a week of local programming in 2005-2006. The threshold would increase to 80 hours a week as of 2007-2008. Corus has also agreed to specified levels of local programming in other areas of the province. The company initially offered to provide 40 hours a week of local programming. In Trois-Rivieres, Que., the Parti Quebecois passed a resolution Sunday demanding the federal government intervene to save CKAC's newsroom. "This dismantles a team of information professionals at CKAC and it diminishes the presence of information professionals in the regions of Quebec," PQ Leader Bernard Landry said as he proposed the resolution. "It's liberty that counts, and the right to be informed." Landry said he has written to Prime Minister Paul Martin and Premier Jean Charest asking them to work to reverse Corus's decision. Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe has also said he wants the acquisition reversed, and supporters have lobbied federal Heritage Minister Liza Frulla, a former CKAC executive. © The Canadian Press, 2005 (via Brock Whaley, DXLD) ** CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC [non]. 11760, R. Centrafrique via Issoudun? (tentatively). In an e-mail to Erich Bergmann in Germany, OM Cristian Mocanu from Romania noted R. Centrafrique on 11760 kHz on Feb 9. And asks whether this originate from Issoudun, France too, formerly reported widely to be on 9590 kHz during winter season. (1700-2300 UT, 500 kW, 156 deg) Has anybody the tent. [final conference] HFCC list of 6000 entries at hand, cooked up at Mexico conference last week? May be - you have a look into the 11760 kHz column under TDF? Or even CAF will move from 9 to 15 MHz from March 28th? 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello Wolfgang, Maybe Radio Ndeke Luka between 1830 and 1930? Signal was weak yesterday. Regards (Jean-Michel Aubier, France, ibid.) Merci, Jean-Michel, that could be true "Radio Ndeke Luka" 11760, formerly on 11785. Noted very strong Chinese music jammer on adjacent 11790 today. Against US IBB Tinian, so seemingly VT Merlin replaced 11785 by 11760 early in February. 11760 signal (RMP 500 160 or WOF 250 164 degr) skips over my head, only a strong buzz could be heard at 1830 UT today. 11785 Radio Ndeke Luka via Woofferton, *1830-1929* Oct 31, 2004. 1830- 1930 11760 (x11785 x15470) R Ndeke Luka G Woofferton Fr/Sango, (Feb 11, 2005) Centrafrique via Issoudun heard again on 9590 around 1700 UT today, loud and clear. 73 de (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, dxldyg via DXLD) So of the two CAR stations, R. Centrafrique is still on 9590, and R. Ndeke Luka is the one on 11760 (gh, DXLD) ** CHILE. VÓZ CRISTÃ será uma das primeiras emissoras internacionais a transmitir, no idioma português, em ondas curtas digitais, sistema conhecido como DRM - Digital Radio Mondiale. As emissões ocorrem nos dias 15 (terça-feira) e 16 (quartafeira) de fevereiro, entre 11h e 16h, no horário brasileiro de verão (das 1300 às 1800, no tempo universal), pela freqüência de 21500 kHz, na faixa de 13 metros. De acordo com o apresentador da emissora Edson Bruno Zilse, ``as transmissões vão servir para que os engenheiros da Voz Cristã captem e avaliem os sinais``. O ouvinte poderá ouvir as emissões usando um modelo de receptor que capte o modo DRM, como é o caso do Sangean DDR3 http://www.rigpix.com/dabdrm/sangean_ddr3.htm Em aparelhos tradicionais, é preciso efetuar algumas modificações --- instruções em http://www.drmrx.org/receiver_mods.html (Célio Romais, Porto Alegre, Brasil, @tividade DX Feb 13 via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. 6139.78, R. Líder/R. Melodía: It looks like they are now using mainly the R. Líder (MW) ID. Fair-good signal (although fadey), improving a bit over time, from 1013 tune-in Feb 12 with extensive weather for Colombia, one dpto. at a time, UT-5 TCs (2 minutes slow), "las últimas noticias" at 1021. Several IDs as R. Líder, no mention of R. Melodía. Then at 1055 an ID for R. Líder-730, "AM Estéreo," and "Melodía FM Estéreo"-96.9. More news, and they played the HJ NA at 1100 and gave an ID at 1103 for R. Líder, HJCU, "AM estéreo, 730 kc, otra potente emisora de la Cadena Melodía de Colombia." Then I believe they promoted a farmers program that is on at 11:30 am, said "escríbanos al Aptdo. Aéreo _91369, Bogota" (something came before the "9"), and they went into more news. Also good but hetted at 0405 Feb 13 with a nice Líder ID, and at 0845 Feb. 13, so seems it is an all- nighter. Recently I have also noticed Conciencia playing the NA at 1100, also well into their programming, and I wonder if this is a legal requirement in Colombia (Jerry Berg, MA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) 6139.8, Radio Líder, 0415-0435 Feb. 13, program of Latin pop vocals and love songs hosted by a man announcer with Spanish talk and IDs between musical selections. Presumably a reactivation of Radio Melodía's transmitter but relaying this AM station. Good signal (Rich D`Angelo, PA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) 6140, R. Líder via R. Melodía, 1059-1114, Feb. 15, Spanish, NA at 1100, As previously reported, lengthy ID announcement "Bogotá, Colombia, transmite Radio Líder.." and "..la cadena Melodía de Colombia" over dramatic instrumental music. "Última de noticias" program. Booming signal. Nothing noted at this time/frequency on Feb. 14 (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, 200' Beverage antennas, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA [and non]. Re 5-027: There is no region-wide agreement for VHF FM in Region II, and as far as I am aware, no ITU regs that require 200 kHz "odd-number" spacings of VHF-FM in the region. There are a number of bilateral agreements, and at least one three-party agreement between countries, and the ones we have copies of all use 200 kHz "odd-number" spacings for the channel allotments. However, although the US regulators are somewhat constrained by treaty agreements, not all countries are, and so their local administrations may find it expedient to make allotments at "even-number" tenths of MHz (Ben Dawson, WA, Hatfield & Dawson, Feb 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA. Don Guillermo, ¡Saludos! Le comento que la noche del Domingo 13 de Febrero (Lunes UT), pudimos captar con relativamente buena señal a la estación colombiana Marfil Stereo 88.9 FM desde la localidad de Pto. LLeras, Departamento del Meta, Colombia. Se identificó a las 0023 como: "Así Suena Marfil Stereo", presentando música romántica en español y vallenatos. Esta emisora sale al aire gracias a la nueva frecuencia de La Voz de tu Conciencia en los 5910, desde Villavicencio. SINPO: 43333. Originalmente fue captada en Caracas por el colega diexista Carlo Ferro que la escuchó a las 2320 identificándose de igual forma: "Así Suena Marfil Stereo" el pasado día Sábado 12 de Febrero, con música Vallenata pero con interferencia de ligera a fuerte por parte de Radio Ucrania Internacional. Pregunta: Estando La Voz de Tu Conciencia en Villavicencio, por lo demás capital departamental ¿Porqué retransmitir la señal de una emisora ubicada en una localidad más pequeña que ésta a 103 km al sureste de ella? (Jorge García Rangel, Venezuela, Feb 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CONGO DR. Candip 5066, Kahuzi 6210 and Okapi 9550 all heard. Neither Bukavu 6713 nor Lubumbashi 7435 heard. Also, no sign of the new station reportedly on 4845 (Chris Greenway, Jan-Feb observations from Nairobi, Kenya, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CONGO DR. STATE TV CHANNEL RTNC OBSERVED ON SATELLITE BBC Monitoring observed on 14 February DR Congo state broadcaster, RTNC (Radio-Television Nationale Congolese) broadcasting on PAS 4 located at 72 degrees east using transponder frequency 3729 MHz, MPEG, vertical polarization, symbol rate 10500 and FEC 3/4. Additional television channels on the same transponder frequency were also observed, as follows: Digital Congo, RTG@ and Canal Congo TV. Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 14 Feb 05 (via DXLD) ** DESECHEO. KP5 OPERATION BY OHIO DXERS DENIED! The ARRL Web reported this past week: "The US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has again said "no" to four Ohio radio amateurs seeking to visit Desecheo Island (KP5), a prized DX location that's on the top-ten "most-needed list" for DXCC. The denial came in a letter from the FWS to US Rep Mike Turner (R-OH) of Dayton, who acted on behalf of well-known DXer and contester Harry Flasher, AC8G, and three other members of the South West Ohio DX Association (SWODXA). Flasher was on Desecheo in the 1980s. A small island about 14 miles off the northwestern corner of Puerto Rico, Desecheo Island is a national wildlife refuge and under FWS jurisdiction. The FWS told Turner that the Desecheo National Wildlife Refuge 'is closed to all public entry for safety reasons due to unexploded ordinance (artillery shells) in the area.' The island once was the site of war games. The FWS has not issued Amateur Radio permits since 1993. As it has in earlier denials, the FWS also raised the specter of problems with Caribbean drug traffickers in turning down the latest request. The SWODXA group had requested access to a small landing beach -- a manmade gravel patch the group feels is far away from potential contact with unexploded artillery shells. ARRL Ohio Section Manager Joe Phillips, K8QOE, said the group has not given up its attempts to gain permission to land on and operate from Desecheo Island." (KB8NW/OPDX/BARF80 Feb 14 via Dave Raycroft, ODXA via DXLD) Here is the promised KP1/KP5 press release from NA5U, Mike. Please contact your congressman/congresswoman, even if you do not need KP1 or KP5. You'll be helping those who do need it and those outside the US who are unable to contact their congressman/congresswoman. Please pass this on to your friends and clubs. I've already contact Congressman Cummings. 73 Bernie, W3UR DXers, contesters, and other interested hams, The KP1/5 Project Team in conjunction with the Lone Star DX Association wants to let you know that the effort to gain access to Navassa and Desecheo Islands has begun again. You will recall that Representative Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) introduced H.R. 5361 in the 108th Congress. The bill has now been introduced in the 109th Congress and its number is H.R. 298. Fortunately, it is again a bipartisan bill with co-sponsorship by Representative Richard Pombo (R-Calif.). This bill requires the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to allow public access to the islands, which would open the door to Amateur Radio expeditions. As before and even more now, we need your help to ensure passage of this Bill in the House of Representatives. You can help by contacting your representative and encourage them to support H.R. 298 and become a co-sponsor. If you are not sure who or how to contact your representative, go to http://www.house.gov/writerep/ Be sure to use your 9-digit zip code to ensure that you find the right representative. It is very important to use that same 9-digit zip code in your correspondence so that your representative knows that you are their constituent. You can find your 9-digit zip code by going to http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/welcome.jsp Also, remember that emails are fine and please follow-up with a telephone call to ensure your request is being acted on. Insist on a point of contact for you to follow-up with. If you need assistance determining who your Congressman is or your correct 9-digit zip code, contact us at KP1-5 @ DXer.org There is another very important date coming in April. The KP1/5 Team will be traveling to Washington, D.C. to make a presentation on Capitol Hill. The purpose of the presentation is to educate our legislators about the Amateur Radio Service, highlight the importance of Amateur Radio and the vital role it plays in national and worldwide communications, and of course focus on the facts surrounding the Fish and Wildlife Service's unjustified closure of Desecheo and Navassa to Amateur Radio DXers and contesters. The presentation will take place on April 8th in the Longworth House Office Building. Your representative can contact Representative Rahall and Pombo's offices for the exact time and location. In summary, we are asking that you contact your Representative as soon as possible and ask them to support H.R. 298, co-sponsor the Bill, and finally encourage them or their staff to attend the briefing on Capitol Hill on April 8th. A sample letter to legislators, news updates and information about the KP1/5 Project can be found at http://www.KP1-5.com Please feel free to pass this information on to anyone who does not have electronic access and may be interested or can help. Bernie McClenny, W3UR Now more than ever - you need The Daily DX and The Weekly DX - to keep up with the DX news from around the globe! Editor of - The Daily DX -- two free weeks http://www.dailydx.com/order.htm - The Weekly DX -- free sample http://www.dailydx.com/weekly2.html - How's DX http://www.dailydx.com (DailyDX mailing list via Ken Kopp, dxldyg via DXLD) ** DJIBOUTI. No sign yet of reactivated 4780 (but well worth watching as reports say that it may be on the air as early as next month). (Chris Greenway, Jan-Feb observations from Nairobi, Kenya, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. Hearing DRM on 15375 at 2311 check Feb 13, so HCJB must still be running it after the HFCC week in Mexico. On DXPL, Allen Graham at the meeting mentioned that this was 4.5 kW to a high-gain antenna. Probably last occasion as their one DRM transmitter goes onto 6 and 3 MHz Feb 14, schedule as in 5-028 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EGYPT. É excelente a sintonia, nos últimos dias, da programação em português da Rádio Cairo, que vai ao ar, entre 2215 e 2330, em 11790 kHz. Uma única ressalva: durante a execução de músicas e vinhetas, a sintonia é 100%, mas quando ocorre qualquer locução o áudio fica baixíssimo (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX Feb 13 via DXLD) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA [and non]. Re 5-028, Mendez log; On 13 Feb 15190 signed off at 1630 giving Radio East Africa address "PO Box 984" somewhere. I checked 7190 between 1630-1645 but it was empty. 73, (Jari Savolainen, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also U K [and non] I found English Gospel programmes on air on 15190 today [Feb. 15] at 0810 tune in until apparent off at 0906. The signal was fair strength but splashed by RVI via ARM 15195. I think the programme on air was Voice of the Lord, and an address in Canada was given. Another programme followed from c0831. BBC via ASC arrived on frequency c0858 at about equal level. I did not hear any ID but assume this must have been Radio Africa via Equatorial Guinea. 73s (Noel R. Green [NW England], dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Good opening to Africa last night on 60 meters, including: 5005.0, RN Guinea Ecuatorial (presumed), 0605-0620, Feb 15, Spanish, 0605- Alternating male and female announcers in Spanish. Heard mentions of Malabo, Bata. Deep fades and some splash from WWV made this one very difficult. Poor (John Beattie, Ventura, CA, Drake R8B; PAR EF-SWL; 50 foot wire; MFJ 1026, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA. 7100 and 7180 both active (Chris Greenway, Jan-Feb observations from Nairobi, Kenya, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA. Radio Ethiopia domestic service: 5990, 7110 and 9704 all confirmed active. However, 7110 and 9704 observed to be irregular at times. This didn't used to be the case. Furthermore, the 5990 transmitter, formerly right on-channel, now varies. It is a pity that of the three transmitters, the one likely to propagate best outside the region (9704), has the worst audio, sometimes very poor (low/very low modulation and a hum). Radio Ethiopia external service: 7165 and 9560 confirmed active but with variable frequency, as usual. From a country with such a distinctive indigenous musical heritage, it is sad to hear hip-hop being played on this service. Note: Although R. Ethiopia's transmitters can be irregular in operation, they were heard (at times) with all five on the air simultaneously. With the stations below, this means that Ethiopia still has nine working SW transmitters - quite impressive these days. Radio Fana: 6210 and 6940 both active and heard well. Catch that beautiful interval signal if you can. Voice of Tigray Revolution: 5500 and 6350 both active and heard nicely (Chris Greenway, Jan-Feb observations from Nairobi, Kenya, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA. 6940, R. Fana, 0314-0333, Feb. 15, Ahmaric, OM with talks between various Horn of Africa musical bits, calliope-like music at 0330 with IDs. Fair. // 6210-poor. 7110, R. Ethiopia, *0300-0320, Feb. 14, Ahmaric, IS, ID, sign-on announcement, Talk by various announcers, very nice Horn of Africa ballads and up-beat music at 0312. Poor/fair with lots of 7115-R.Cairo slop at sign-on (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, 200' Beverage antennas, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FALKLAND ISLANDS. Fecha 13 Febrero 2005. 530 kHz - 0500 UT - FALKLAND ISLANDS BROADCASTING STATION - Port Stanley. Retransmisión de BBC NEWS DEL BBC World Service. Entre otras noticias la posición de Hamas ante las negociaciones Palestino - Israelíes. Es posible su sintonía en la madrugada montevideana, con muy buena señal cuando apaga en esa misma frecuencia Radio República ubicada en San Justo, Buenos Aires, Argentina. No pude menos que replantearme la guerra entre Argentina y el Reino Unido de 1982. En torno a la radio el recuerdo muy especial para LRA 60 Radio nacional islas Malvinas, la cual salió al aire tras la toma de la FIBS, por parte de los Militares Argentinos, grabaciones que conservo en mi archivo. QRK 3 (Gabriel Gómez, Uruguay, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GHANA. See KENYA ** GREENLAND. SIAMO ORMAI AL DELIRIO TREMENS ....... La colonna DX di Nord-Est ha estratto una perla rara dall'ottava spedizione di Piancada, località a breve distanza da Latisana e Lignano, quasi affacciata sulla Laguna di Marano estrema punta settentrionale dell'Adriatico, cioè del Mediterraneo. Il periodo è ingeneroso nei confronti dei patiti delle onde medie? E allora gli intrepidi di Piancada si permettono il lusso di imitare, su 3815 kHz in USB, l'exploit finora riuscito (a quanto si sa) solo nell'estremo nord della location finnica di Lemmenjoki. A Piancada la Groenlandia su 3815 è arrivata, attraverso un ripetitore a bassissima potenza, tra le 21.34 e le 22.14, ora del sign off, dello scorso 6 febbraio. Con sollecitudine, Anker Petersen ha confermato, dalla Danimarca, che l'audio ascoltato era effettivamente in danese, riconoscendovi una ritrasmissione delle news di DR lette dalla signorina Jette Bjernum. Sulle rive della laguna friulana, nei prati di una pista per il volo leggero, sono da tempo in corso DXpedition organizzate con antenne beverage temporanee ma di ragguardevole lunghezza. Questa volta Alessandro Groppazzi, Graziano Rigo e Valter Comuzzi (aiutati per le antenne da Elio Fior) hanno steso quattro beverage verso 270, 300, 330 e 60 , oltre a una antenna EWE. La ricezione artica, una quasi sicura "prima assoluta" per l'Europa a sud delle Alpi, ha brillato su alcune discrete prede latinoamericane sui 60 e 49 metri. Roba da brividi. Ma chi ha scritto queste STRONZATE ??? forse scordano i tempi in cui la Groenlandia arrivava su 3999 kHz ??? o a quel tempo il Dr. Manhannatintelcul poppava ancora Latte ???? Zella docet .... visto che è sua la prima QSL della Groenlandia in Italia ... Siete proprio dei CAZZONI Dario Monferini, Feb 14, Playdx via DXLD) I have a bit of trouble detecting the literal and non-literal senses of Dario`s very idiomatic comments, but apparently 3815-USB has definitely been heard in Italy (gh, DXLD) ** INDIA. AIR, HS 4880 Lucknow and 4910 Jaipur are // at 1648, Feb 13, fair to good. Lucknow (luck now?)... I wonder why not Luknow? Anyone know if this is old Raj spelling? (David Norcross, Kahalu'u HI, 2010 & SW100, Grove (attic) T, DX Listeners Digest) ** INDIA. AIR National Channel, 9425 Bangalore (500 kW!?) 1728, Feb 13, You're right Glenn, as if this was the NAm (/ Pacific) Service. Armchair signal daily here in Hawaii. After 1700 great music. 1728 YL English "end of National Program". 1729 IS, very weak, then suddenly kicked in to full strength. 1730 English News with the usual //'s. Not sure what's on after the end of the National Program. News in Hindi (assumed) followed English news. Power and signal are great --- but why the shoddy sound: hum during pauses, clicking and rattly noises. 9470 // fair (250 kW?). (David Norcross, Kahalu'u HI, 2010 & SW100, Grove (attic) T, DX Listeners Digest) ** INDIA. AIR GOS in English at 1435 UT Feb 15 on 13710 had extreme audio breakup, apparently from a remote; it cleared up somewhat a few minutes later, perhaps back in the studio. On this occasion \\ 9690 was inaudible (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. I received a message from a reader in Europe who said Sirius was easily receivable in Europe. Confused, I went to the link he provided and sure enough there is a system beaming to Europe with radio and TV services apparently. That is not the same system we call Sirius in the USA. Our system is digital audio only with some plans for digital cartoons to keep the kids in the back seat of the car entertained. It is a direct broadcast satellite with capability to beam to automobiles in motion in addition to fixed receive antennas. This is the link to the other Sirius site: http://www.nsab-sirius.com/nsab4.asp?tx_category_id=176 Sorry for the confusion (Joe Buch, DE, Swprograms via DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. DISSIDENT BROADCASTER RADIO BARABARI OBSERVED ON SATELLITE BBC Monitoring observes dissident broadcaster Radio Barabari (Equality) on the Hotbird 6 satellite at 13 degrees East, frequency 12597 MHz, vertical polarization, symbol rate 27500, FEC 3/4. This is on the air with programming in Persian at 1700-1800 gmt daily. The broadcast is also available in the form of on-demand audio files from their mainly Persian-language web site at http://www.radiobarabari.net The web site states the aims of Radio Barabari as "a platform for breaking the walls of censorship and oppression, to reflect the struggle of the workers and all the wage-earners, to voice the concerns of unemployed, deprived, women, foreign residents, young people, intellectuals and religious and ethnic minorities and all those Iranians who fight for freedom and equality". Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 13 Feb 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) Familiar name; believe they were on SW a few years ago (gh, DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. This weekend I returned from a one week DXpedition in Northern Denmark. During this week we also heard Radio Farda on 1575 khz with strong signals. In Herman Boel's Mediumwave list we found that Kuwait is testing on 1575 khz, so we presumed the origine of these transmissions is Kuwait. Is the location UAE confirmed or also still presumed? We also heard Radio Asia on 1557 khz. Strange enough we didn't hear WYFR Taiwan on this frequency. 73 (Max van Arnhem, Feb 14, HCDX via DXLD) Radio Farda 1575 kHz heard here also in Hyderabad, India (Jose Jacob, HCDX via DXLD) Hi Max, I haven't seen any confirmation about the location of the 1575 yet. RFE/RL web now lists this frequency: http://www.rferl.org/listen/shortwave/shortwave-fa.asp 73, (Jari Savolainen, ibid.) but, but this isn`t SW (gh, DXLD) ** ISRAEL. Kol Israel, 15760 at 1725, end of music program, into news by woman in Romanian (?), mentions of Yuschenko (sp?), Peres, Sunami, Sharon, IDed as "Kol Israel" twice, very strong signal (Eric Bryan, WA, Degen DE1103, 35 ft indoor wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. VOICE OF ISRAEL PERSIAN PROGRAMME OBSERVED ON SATELLITE BBC Monitoring observes Voice of Israel's broadcast in Persian on the Hotbird 6 satellite at 13 degrees East, frequency 12597 MHz, vertical polarization, symbol rate 27500, FEC 3/4. Broadcasting hours are 1500- 1600 gmt Friday/Saturday, and 1500-1625 gmt Sunday-Thursday. This transmission is also on 7420, 9985, 15760 kHz shortwave for Iran, Europe and North America. Voice of Israel carries broadcasts in other languages on the same satellite on the frequency of 12207 MHz, horizontal polarization, symbol rate 27500, FEC 3/4. Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 13 Feb 05 (via DXLD) Is this new? ** JAPAN. JOZ3, Radio Nikkei was heard today Valentine´s Day February 14 on 9595 kHz only ten minutes from 1150 UT till the powerful sign-on of CRI Beijing via Shijiazhuang 9590 in Russian at 1200. Signal strength for Radio Nikkei was S5-7 and overall merit of reception 2-3. I tried three other Nikkei frequencies. On 6055 kHz there was an Arabic speaking station, most probably Radio Kuwait. The 75 meter band does not propagate at this time of the day or maybe not even the season. BTW, it was very boring to listen to Nikkei stock exchange news in Japanese while having Japanese takeaway lunch! 73´s (Jouko Huuskonen, Turku, FINLAND, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KENYA. Re my earlier posting about Kenya. On 13 Feb at 1900 KBC Nairobi on 4915 in Swahili with ID. Has been running Swahili Service past few days and also during weekend. Noted on Saturday, 12 Feb past 2100 (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, Feb 14, HCDX via DXLD) 4915 back to normal. It seems to me KBC Nairobi on 4915 is again running the (north) eastern service. Noted 14 Feb at 1715 with nice signal strength with local language and Somali/HOA sounding music. The audio is back to the bit distorted and "narrow" sound (my opinion only) it used to be. I think that during those few days with Swahili service, the audio was much more enjoyable (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, Feb 14, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Is Ghana not interfering with Kenya on 4915? ZNBC Lusaka is coming fair on 4910 these evenings. SIO 444 at 1822 UT, Feb 15 (E-Cordier, France http://radioafrique.site.voila.fr ibid.) Ghana starts to fade in around 1800 and yes, it does interfere. Some days it is loud, some days real weak. They are not exactly on the same frequency, I recall Kenya is a bit low, but we are talking about some ten or so Hertz. Last few months Kenya has been very weak here, but for some reason they are now fighting with Ghana. Maybe just propagation. 73, (Jari Savolainen, Finland, ibid.) 4915 is active, albeit irregular (as already reported). Despite these problems, the transmitter appears to be running the full 10kW, but with rather rough audio (probably overmodulated). At a listening post on the Kenya/Uganda border (much closer to Kampala than Nairobi), 4915 was much stronger than either 4976 or 5026 (Chris Greenway, Jan-Feb observations from Nairobi, Kenya, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA SOUTH. RKI [sic] is seeking a Native Proofreader & Broadcaster for English Service: Radio Korea International [sic] is currently seeking a native proofreader & broadcaster for its English Service. The potential employee will face a wide variety of challenges in the exciting and cosmopolitan field of international broadcasting. Interested applicants should send a resume and cover letter to RKI English Service at sophia @ kbs.co.kr (Source : RKI Website via MD. AZIZUL ALAM AL-AMIN, RAJSHAHI-6100, BANGLADESH, DXLD) Native of what? I suppose they mean a real Korean (gh) ** KURDISTAN. IRAQ: VOICE OF IRAQI KURDISTAN OBSERVED ON SATELLITE BBC Monitoring observes Voice of Iraqi Kurdistan (also known as Voice of Kurdistan) on the Hotbird 6 satellite at 13 degrees East, frequency 11137 MHz, horizontal polarization, symbol rate 27500, FEC 3/4. Broadcasting hours on satellite are 0300-1800 gmt, and programming is in Arabic and Kurdish. The station also broadcasts terrestrially on 1116 kHz mediumwave, 6335 kHz shortwave, and 91.5 and 93.3 MHz FM, and is available online from the web site of the Kurdistan Democratic Party at http://www.kdp.se Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 13 Feb 05 (via DXLD) ** KYRGYZSTAN. On 15 Feb, 1527-1803 UT I did some random monitoring on 1566 [see MOLDOVA]; and on 1467: At 1530, TWR program in Russian via transmitter of R Maranatha (former R Extol) in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Russian and Central Asian languages, changing at .15 and .45 but 1745-1800 was in English, I assume this was the regurlar MemCare by Radio program. Possibly signing off at 1800. No local ID heard. Iran made a lot of interference (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, Feb 15, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MADAGASCAR. 3288, 5010, 6135, 7105 and 9689 all active, but can be irregular (Chris Greenway, Jan-Feb observations from Nairobi, Kenya, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAWI. Nothing at all heard of listed TWR on 4870 (Chris Greenway, Jan-Feb observations from Nairobi, Kenya, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAYSIA. Just now February 15, 1515 UT, very good reception conditions to Asia in the 60 mb. R Malaysia Sarawak, Kuching on 5030 kHz heard after several years. Has this one been inactive? Quite a mess with Central People´s BS, Beijing (Jouko Huuskonen, Turku, FINLAND, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5030.04, Feb 15 -1600, MLA (eastern): RTM Sarawak, Kuching. Heavily interfered by co-channel CNR1, which (CNR1) was also heard on 7130 kHz (Mauno Ritola, Finland, HCDX online log via DXLD) ** MEXICO. R. Educación (assumed), 6185, Feb 13, 0640+ great signal here in Hawaii. Spanish talk, did not get an ID. (Mexico, Central America and the west coast of South America are across open water to Hawaii; when propagation is up, the signals can be really clean.) Wiped out by Brasília at 07. No het so they must be pretty close in frequency (LA SW Logs puts this at 6184.96). (David Norcross, Kahalu'u HI, 2010 & SW100, Grove (attic) T and 2nd floor lanai 30' random, DX Listeners Digest) ** MOLDOVA [and non]. On 15 Feb, 1527-1803 UT I did some random monitoring on 1566 and 1467 [see KYRGYZSTAN]. 1566: 1527 transmitter warm-up tones from assumed Maiac-MDA 1530 CRI Russian program starts 1730 CRI Russian ends 1730 Russian religious program from HLAZ, Korea well audible and weakish signal of AIR 1755 transmitter warm-up again 1800 VOR Bulgarian program (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, Feb 15, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Segun el EMWG la Voz de Rusia en los 1566 kHz aparece como inactiva; alguien sabe si se ha reactivado? Hoy entre las 1913-1940, en ruso con la misma sintonía que acompaña a la Voz de Rusia cuando en el programa se cambia de segmento, con noticias y a partir de las 1930 música clásica y comentarios (Jose Miguel Romero, Spain, Feb 15, Noticias DX via DXLD) ** MONGOLIA. Mongolian Radio is seldom audible at my QTH during the afternoon hours. Now really strong signal on 4895 at 15 UT Feb 15. 4830 was a lot weaker. Sign-on of Mongolia at 22 UT is often heard on these two outlets. 73´s (Jouko Huuskonen, Turku, FINLAND, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MYANMAR. 5040.3, R. Myanmar, 1204-1220, Feb. 15, Burmese, Sub- continent ballad at tune-in, YL with lengthy talk, music resumes at 1215. Poor with het. 5985.85, (Presumed) R. Myanmar, 1222-1231, Feb. 15, Sub-continent ballads and YL with talks. Up-tempo instrumental bit at 1230 followed by OM. Poor, need USB to seperate from 5980-Martí slop. Didn't sound // to 5040v (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, 200' Beverage antennas, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NAVASSA. See DESECHEO ** NEW ZEALAND. RNZI HS relay. 15720 Heard with almost local quality for some days now (mid Feb), 0600 on. Did not note the date it returned. But it seems they did more than fix it (David Norcross, Kahalu'u HI, 2010 & SW100, Grove (attic) T and 2nd floor lanai 30' random, DX Listeners Digest) see also SAMOA ** OKLAHOMA. Still trying for 1640 KFNY OK which has been heard and QSLed by a couple of guys in Sweden (of course) notwithstanding the station's directional pattern. 73's (Barry Davies, UK, Feb 15, MWC via DXLD) ** OTTOMAN EMPIRE [non]. SPECIAL EVENT. To commemorate the 127th anniversary of the Liberation of Bulgaria from Ottoman yoke by Russia, the Balkan Contest Club LZ1KZA (LZ5A) will operate with the special event callsign LZ127LO from March 1-31st. Activity will be on CW, SSB and RTTY on all HF bands. Suggested frequencies are: CW - 1824, 3514, 7014, 10104, 14014, 18074, 21014, 24894 and 28014 SSB - 1850, 3714, 7074, 14244, 18144, 21244, 24944 and 28444 kHz QSL via the bureau or to: LZ1KZA, P. O. Box 36, 4300 Karlovo, BULGARIA (KB8NW/OPDX/BARF80 Feb 14 via Dave Raycroft, ODXA via DXLD) ** PERU. 4386.60, Radio Imperio, Chiclayo, 0930-1110, Febrero 14, Español. Transmitiendo el programa Pentecostal "La Voz de Salvación". (Dino Bloise, EEUU, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES. Hello Dear DX Friends, Following is the new email address for Radyo Pilipinas, Philippines: radyo_pilipinas_overseas @ yahoo.com Radyo Pilipinas encorages you to make their programs a part of your listening habit. 73s & Best DX for the New Year, (Harjot Singh Brar, Globe Radio DX Club Feb 15 via DXLD) ** PHILIPPINES. RVA, 9505, Feb 13 at 2300, nice intro in English to Indonesian program, slight het, probably Brasil, as uncovered at recheck 2330. Per sked in 5-026, RVA beam is 222 degrees, so directly off the back would be 42 degrees, almost toward NAm; or was it long path (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES. 11730, R. Pilipinas, 1856-1930*, Feb. 14, Tagalog/ English, (Presumed), radio drama at tune-in thru 1900, OM and YL listing several SE Asian countries followed by ID in Tagalog. English commentary re "equality, working together" with OM giving phone number; "I'll be waiting for your call, waiting for your letters". Interview in Tagalog/English re "research and development training courses" cut off at 1929 for English ID and frequencies, cut off at 1930* sharp. Fair at best using USB. // 11890-fair using USB (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, 200' Beverage antennas, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** POLAND. POLAND'S EX-PRESIDENT ISSUES STRONGEST CRITICISM OF CATHOLIC RADIO | Excerpt from report by Polish news agency PAP Gdansk, 14 February: In a letter to [Catholic] Radio Maryja, Lech Walesa has criticized the way this radio station has been "treating politics". Speaking to PAP, he expressed the conviction that the believers should force the station to change the "format". Walesa wrote the letter after listening to the Saturday programme with Krzysztof Wyszkowski, former secretary of the Tygodnik Solidarnosc weekly, but Walesa said that the views voiced on the air by this radio had been shocking him for quite some time before. "I cannot silently look at pseudo-political activities of this centre. I have nothing against religious themes, I am a faithful son of our Church and I am happy when issues of faith are raised and reach people. And it is a tragedy for me that I must voice criticism against this Catholic radio; but is it possible not to see and not to hear. For God's sake, come to your senses! God, forgive me but it is not possible to watch this [presumably he means TV TRWAM] and listen to this. These programmes can make you lose your faith in religion and in human beings!" the [ex-]president wrote. [Passage omitted]. Walesa emphasized that he had always been a supporter of vetting but during his presidency it was not possible to carry it out in a precise manner. [Passage omitted]. Walesa warned Radio Maryja programme makers that "he would warn his compatriots across the world against you, and by calling you a 'group of [Radio Maryja director Father Tadeusz] Rydzyk's loonies', I will be discouraging them and warning them not to be taken in by your wise-guy attitudes and fatalistic theories". "Father Krol, Father Rydzyk and all that group has probably been selected by the Satan to destroy faith and Poland!" Walesa wrote in a letter. [Passage omitted]. According to Walesa, it is necessary to carry out changes at the radio. "I am convinced that we, believers, must make Radio Maryja to change its format. It is not about the censorship. You cannot play politics like that. They undermine everything. They are undermining the round table [negotiations in 1989 when the Communists gave up power to Solidarity], and they would not exist if it weren't for the round table. I have been enduring this for some time: I thought they would change their attitude but they haven't done this at all," Walesa said today. A former president said that it was his personal tragedy to issue critical remarks about the Catholic radio. He added that people connected with this radio had been travelling across the world and have been undermining Poland's authority by voicing their views. The president said that he had already called on the "world to pay attention to these people and draw conclusions from what they were doing". At the same time Walesa emphasized that Radio Maryja had great achievements in spreading the Catholic faith. Walesa said he had sent his letter while the programme in question was still in progress but "there was no reaction". Source: PAP news agency, Warsaw, in Polish 1453 gmt 14 Feb 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** PORTUGAL. OS RADIOAMADORES PORTUGUESES VÃO EMITIR ENTRE 7100 E 7200 As estações portuguesas de radioamadores vão poder operar entre 7100 e 7200 KHz mediante pedido ao ICP-ANACON e ao abrigo das recomendações da WARC-2003 e do novo Quadro Nacional de Atribuição de Frequências portuguesas. As estações de categoria A e B(CT1/4 e CT2 + Madeira e Açores) podem solicitar premissão para realizar experiencias de propagação. A autorização será dada caso a caso e terá a validade até 29/03/2009, altura em que o segmento passa do estatuto de serviço secundário para o serviço de amador, para o estatuto de serviço primário. Para os interessados em solicitar a premissão podem contactar o ICP- ANACON atravês do e-mail info@a... [truncated] (CT1FBF, João Costa, Feb 14, Portugal, radioescutas via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. 7201, Feb 14, 1230-, R. Rossii, Yakutsk. Off-frequency, distorted audio. No regional program at this time (Mauno Ritola, Finland, HCDX online log via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Magadan Radio, 7320, mid Feb 05. Did a bandscan of Russian locals lately, found an excellent signal here, night after night. "Radio Rossi" heard frequently. So far, not much music tho'. Best "part time" // is 6075 Petropavlovsk-K. Tonight 2/14, 6075 has that great minor key Russian music at 0625 not // (David Norcross, Kahalu'u HI, 2010 & SW100, Grove (attic) T, DX Listeners Digest) ** RWANDA. 6055 active (Chris Greenway, Jan-Feb observations from Nairobi, Kenya, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAMOA [and non]. STORY OF SAMOA'S RADIO POLYNESIA Join us for the magic story of Samoa's Radio Polynesia on the latest Mailbox program from Radio New Zealand International. Radio Polynesia operates a network of four FM stations from Apia. Magik FM, Talofa FM, K-LITE and K-Rock cover the Samoan islands with a variety of program formats, and have become the major radio influence for contemporary listeners. In this radio heritage documentary, you'll hear an exclusive interview with network manager Corey Keil, anecdotes from a meeting in Samoa last year with station founder Rudolf Keil and a wide variety of recorded station ID jingles, stings and musical promotions never heard outside of Samoa before. Join David Ricquish on this magical tour of the Samoan FM dial, produced by the Radio Heritage Foundation in association with Radio New Zealand International. Visit http://www.radioheritage.net for more Pacific radio news. Listen to the usual shortwave frequencies of RNZI or listen and download audio on demand from http://www.rnzi.com from February 15. Warm regards (David Ricquish, Radio Heritage Foundation, Wellington, New Zealand, http://www.radioheritage.net Feb 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAUDI ARABIA. A big buzz of slightly oscillating pitch is way atop BSKSA Holy Qur`an Service on 21460, Feb 14 at 1510 past 1530. As far as I can tell, this is a malfunxioning transmitter, not jamming or some other kind of external interference. No such problem on the French service, 21600. Surely this qualifies as blasphemy (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) HQS, 21460, still/again with huge buzz over audio making it unlistenable, at 1445 and still at 1510 recheck Feb 15. Meanwhile, at the later hour 21600 in French was doing a voice-over translation from someone speaking Arabic, but the Arabic was too loud and it sounded like two stations mixing. When will SW stations ever learn not to do this? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SCOTLAND [non]. Glenn - From March 2005, we're extending the hours of transmission as follows:- Tue-Sat: 0000 to 0200 UT on 5105 from Monticello, Maine (50 kW) [WBCQ] Sun and Mon: 0000 to 0300 UT on 5105 from Monticello, Maine (50 kW) Second Saturday of month: 0930 to 1030 UT on 13840 via IRRS (20 kW) Second Sunday of month: 0800 to 0900 UT on 13840 via IRRS (20 kW) Second Thursday of month: 2000 to 2100 UT on 5775 via IRRS (20 kW) Additional transmissions on other frequencies and from other transmitter locations are likely in March - details once the arrangements have been confirmed. Regards (TONY CURRIE, Programme Director, Radio six international http://www.radiosix.com Feb 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SLOVAKIA. Es cierto que la RSI aún sigue en el aire, pero la noticia no es cierta del todo. Es decir, recibimos ayuda financiera, pero para cubrir las deudas del 2003 y 2004. Lo nuestro aun queda por solucionar, definir...o como quieras llamarlo. El fuego no está apagado. Recibe un cordial saludito de nuestra redacción (Marcela Gregorcova, RSI, Feb 2, via Rubén Guillermo Margenet, Argentina, Feb 16, condiglist via DXLD) Un saludo cordial, R. Slovaquia Internacional empezó hace tres semanas una serie de entrevistas de carácter diexista, primero con la entrevista de la señora Chocholatá, encargada de las frecuencias y el envío de las QSLes, justo poco antes de dimitir a su puesto. Laya, los martes continúa con otra serie de entrevistas al respecto; hoy ha comenzado con un experimentado radioaficionado de Slovakia, OS2AR. Es probable que el próximo sábado lo repitan. Respecto al tema del envío de las QSLes, parece ser que se van a encargar las secretarias respectivas de cada sección; en el caso de la española, la encargada será Mónica, según se desprende de las palabras de José Portuondo en contestación a un diexista en la petición de la QSL por el repórter enviado, escuchado el pasado domingo en el programa de lectura de cartas de los oyentes; próximo jueves se repetirá (Jose Miguel Romero, Burjasot (Valencia), España, Noticias DX via DXLD) ** SOMALIA. Radio Shabeelle 6960 and Radio Galkacyo 6980 both heard (Chris Greenway, Jan-Feb observations from Nairobi, Kenya, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN. REE, 17595, until 1453 Tue Feb 15, with a female singer; outroed this hour as ``La Bañera de Ulises``, the program title I had been wondering about. It seems it is about the Mediterranean basin as an inland sea (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN [and non]. Omdurman 7200 and Radio Peace 4750 both active. 4750 noticeably stronger than last year. No sign of Radio Peace on 5895 (note: 5895 is occupied in the local evening by unlisted - in WRTH and PWBR - Moscow in Persian). Mediumwave: I was delighted to hear Radio Juba reactivated on its former frequency of 693, not on new 810 as I was advised last year that it might be on. Heard with good signals on 693 in the evening with English music request programme and news in English at 1800. Clandestines: As already reported, 8000 heard, 6985 not heard (Chris Greenway, Jan-Feb observations from Nairobi, Kenya, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN. 4750, R. Peace, 0327-0348, Feb. 13, Vernacular/English, OM with talks in language, native music. Full English ID at 0348. Poor/fair at best (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, 200' Beverage antennas, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SURINAME. 4990, R. Apintie, 0250-0312, Feb. 15, Dutch/English, Pop ballads in English and Dutch. English jingle ID at 0307 re "..great sounds --- Radio Apintie --- Great!". Need to review the MD to get the rest. Fair, best heard in quite some time (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, 200' Beverage antennas, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN [non]. Surprised to hear RTI via WYFR, 5950, in English at the unusual time of 2325 UT Sun Feb 13, talking about Taiwan medical school, soon followed by a produced *commercial* for Taiwan Medical University, http://www.tmu.edu.tw Finally into Chinese at 2327. So RTI has another, 2-minute, English broadcast, but is it reliable? Amend our Broadcasts in English schedules (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TANZANIA. 5050 and 6105 both active (but 6105 only on air at 0645- 1315 approx, so only likely to be heard within the region). 5050 was a little irregular in operation. I can't confirm suggestions that 5050 has increased power - sounded about right for 10kW, unlikely to be much more. Zanzibar: Neither 6015 nor 11734 heard. Not active on SW at present, I suspect (Chris Greenway, Jan-Feb observations from Nairobi, Kenya, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TUNISIA [and non]. The China-via Cuba blob was missing from 17730 Feb 14 at 1531, allowing RTT to be in the clear on 17735, in lo-fi Arabic, also with a continuous clicking underneath, like I have previously noted on 17630. Tuning around 19m, same clicking audible under Spain on 15385. Since the rate of clicking (altho the sound is different from the bubbles) seems to match the dentro-Cuban jammer against Martí on 15330, my theory is now that these clicks are spurs from the jammers, yet another instance of collateral damage. Martí on 17670 is so overpowering that I could not hear any jamming there, but it no doubt exists. This is 65 kHz away from 17735, while 15385 is only 55 kHz away from 15330. Tunisia 17735 is \\ 15450 with no clix, a sad song at 1540 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKEY. 7300 at 0230, woman with music program, apparently Turkish pops, heavily influenced with Arabian scales, some bouzouki, usually lone male voice, thumping bass drum, signal got stronger and stronger, music very listenable, speech not so clear (Eric Bryan, WA, Feb 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UGANDA. 4976, 5026, 7110 and 7195 all active. As has been the case for some time, transmissions can be irregular. I suspect that neither transmitter has been running at the full listed 10kW for several years. The transmitter on 4976/7195 is noticeably weaker than that on 5026/7110 and is poorly modulated (Chris Greenway, Jan-Feb observations from Nairobi, Kenya, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [and non]. For the first time here this morning, around 1500- 1545+ UT Feb 14, BBC Antigua 15190 is getting some co-channel interference from an insane screaming American gospel huxter, no doubt R. Africa 2, Equatorial Guinea, which reactivated this frequency a few weeks ago and is within a very few Hz of BBC. Fortunately, BBC remains on top, but it can be an annoying undercurrent to what was formerly a pristine BBC channel, and of course the primary one in North America at this hour. I should think the situation would be worse in northeast America, further off the beam of this `Mexican` service. Is this so? BBC has a better chance here on a whip than on an E-W longwire. BBC has actually been on borrowed time, as Eq G was on or about this frequency until their transmitter failed a few years ago, before BBC took it up. So I wonder if the collision has been considered and resolved at the A-05 HFCC in the DF? 73, (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I can also hear the presumed R. Africa 2 under BBC 15190 at 1645. I can get rid of a lot of the interference by shifting to my 70' N-S wire, but if I switch to the 200' W-E wire it is much more apparent of course (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, ibid.) Glenn, just before 1700 UT today Feb 14 noted two 'beats', both far below threshold here in Germany: 15190.00 and 15189.08 kHz. 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Wolfie, Are you sure about that? Surely nowhere near 1 kHz apart, what I was hearing. 15189.98 you mean? Not even 20 Hz apart, I think, maybe 2 Hz (Glenn to wb via DXLD) Yes - it was 920 Hertz lower. BUT this could be a strange QRM signal of PLC or similar unwanted noise here in Europe, and has nothing to do with BBC or EqGuinea signals!!!! 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) O; no such het audible here (gh, DXLD) ** U K. Beginning Feb. 14, BBC7, a satellite network which also streams, has a new schedule. For example, I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again, whose first airing was 1200 Friday now has its first airing at 1430 Monday. There is also "on demand" audio. BBC7 has old BBCR4 comedies (back to the Goons!), dramas (including mystery and science fiction) and childrens' programming. (Little Toe and Big Toe) (Programing days 0700 GMT/GMT+1 to 0659 GMT/GMT+1 in summer) http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbc7/listings/weektoview.shtml (Joel Rubin, NY, swprograms via DXLD) Seems they still have SF serials at 1800, repeated at 2400 (gh, DXLD) ** U K [non]. PARTNERS TRY NEW POSITIONS. "BBC World Service has partnered with Washington DC's public radio station WETA 90.9FM as the station repositions itself in the market." To translate from the corporatespeak: more World Service news programs on FM here in D.C. as WETA dumps its old partner, classical music. World Service already has another partner in Washington, WAMU. Despite scarce noncommercial FM spectrum space, WETA AND WAMU simulcast NPR news programs four hours per weekday. Will they do the same with BBC offerings? Meanwhile, BBCWS music, drama, science, etc., programs, not available here on FM save during the wee hours, still audible during prime time on 5975 kHz shortwave (kimandrewelliott.com via dXLD) ** U K/USA: BBC WS NEWS IN DEAL WITH WASHINGTON PUBLIC RADIO STATION | Text of press release by BBC World Service on 14 February BBC World Service has partnered with Washington's public radio station WETA 90.9FM as the station repositions itself in the market. The public radio station is introducing a news and information format from 28 February which will be anchored by programmes from BBC World Service and the United States' National Public Radio (NPR). The new format will highlight international news coverage that puts world events in focus and examines their relevance to Washingtonians. WETA's new schedule will offer news reports from around the world. It includes live coverage from BBC World Service at key times, with Newshour at 9 a.m. and World Briefing at 10 a.m. Washington listeners are already exposed to BBC World Service programming on WETA and other public stations serving the city as well as satellite radio, but this is the first time they will have access to over 10 hours of World Service programming on FM every weekday. "We are delighted to be able to offer listeners to WETA access to independent eyewitness news coverage from the largest team of news reporters in the world," says Nigel Chapman, Director of BBC World Service. "The BBC can call on a newsgathering strength of 250 correspondents reporting from 50 bureaux around the world; a global network of specialist news correspondents, reporters and stringers, often working in dangerous, demanding circumstances to ensure objective and impartial coverage." Lucio Mesquita, BBC World Service Head of Americas Region, says: "BBC World Service specialises in going behind the headlines, interviewing the news-makers and bringing depth and detail to the stories which shape our world. "We aim to equip listeners to WETA with the information they need to form a view on the issues of the day." Dan DeVany, vice-president and general manager of 90.9 FM, says: "Our station has evolved as our community has evolved. "To be a news station in the epicentre of world news requires a partner such as BBC. "Few news organizations can boast the reach of the BBC, and its commitment to the highest journalistic standards makes WETA proud to be associated with these professionals." Source: BBC World Service press release, London, in English 14 Feb 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** U S A. RUSSIA/USA: TV CRITICIZES LACK OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH IN USA FOLLOWING CNN SCANDAL | Text of report by Russian Channel One TV on 14 February [Presenter] An official representative of the American administration described the Iraqi elections as a great success. In the USA these comments coincided with a big scandal on TV, also about Iraq. Vladimir Lenskiy, Channel One correspondent in New York, brings you the details. [Correspondent] For one phrase said at the World [Economic] Forum in Davos, the chief news executive of the information giant, the CNN TV company, paid with his 23-year career. Eason Jordan, when speaking in Switzerland, noted that US servicemen deliberately kill journalists in Iraq. Later he clarified that many journalists died not because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time but because the American military deliberately shot at them because they mistook journalists for guerrillas. In accordance with the rules of the Davos forum, everything said during the discussion is kept secret from the press. Indeed, the cassette with the speech of Eason Jordan has not been published but the transcript of his speech was leaked to an extreme conservative internet publication. A real campaign began against CNN. In the National Review Online, senators and Republicans announced that they were extremely appalled by how Eason Jordan poured dirt over American servicemen at the international forum. The observers of this internet newspaper described the behaviour of the CNN director as "treason in the time of war" and Eason Jordan announced his resignation in order not to expose the reputation of the TV company to undeserved smearing. Freedom of speech in the USA, it seems, is becoming the privilege of the ruling party. Under Jordan, CNN gained its international status by opening offices all round the world. He recently returned from Iraq and was deeply saddened by the deaths of three employees of CNN in this country. They all died at the hands of American soldiers. So it turns out that one can forgive a soldier a fatal mistake but a mistake by a journalist is fatal for his career. The resignation of Jordan reminded many of the CBS TV company scandal. Under the pressure from conservative Republicans, this information service had to dismiss experienced producer Mary Mapes and ask for the resignation of three main editors. Then, in the centre of the conflict were documents published by CBS about George Bush's AWOL in the National Guard. The documents turned out to be fakes but the facts described in them have been verified. For American mass media sources, it is becoming increasingly difficult to criticize the Republican administration. The conservative wing of the Republican Party is capable of organizing a targeted campaign against anyone who is not satisfied with the actions of the Bush administration, particularly in Iraq. The Conservatives are so influential that even such a powerful structure as CNN cannot withstand their pressure. Vladimir Lenskiy, Andrey Melikhov, Channel One, New York. Source: Channel One TV, Moscow, in Russian 1800 gmt 14 Feb 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** U S A. VOA Studio 7, New morning service to Zimbabwe: q.v. ** U S A. WBCQ Reception problems: see PROPAGATION below; R. Six via: see SCOTLAND [non] ** U S A. KLSP *91.7, Angola, LA, the in-house station at Louisiana State Prison, is mentored by the Moody Broadcasting Network. According to NRP magazine, the station hosted MBN`s Phil Shappard for an extended weekend of training and fellowship among the prisoners. On air since 1987, KLSP is completely run by inmates committed to the Christian message. It received all new equipment in 2002 through fund- raising efforts from out of town. ``The early 2003 addition of MBN programming further enhanced the station`s schedule,` according to Shappard (Feb FMedia! via DXLD) Is there another station at the prison for non-Christians, and if not, why not?? (gh) ** U S A. A MOUSE TRIES TO ROAR --- CLASSICAL MUSIC DROWNED OUT BY MOUNTAINTOP SIGNAL By ANNE RUDERMAN, Concord Monitor staff, February 13. 2005 8:00AM Even right downtown, WCNH is sometimes hard to hear. That's because of interference from WHOM. From his closet-size transmitting room, just feet from his radio tower, Harry Kozlowski, founder of classical music station 94.7 FM, can hear one thing loud and clear: WHOM 94.9 FM. And when he drives around Concord with the radio set to his own station, Mozart, Beethoven and Bach have a lot of static to contend with. After a year on the air, Kozlowski's nonprofit, low-power FM station has found itself in a David-and-Goliath story of the FM waves: The low-power station is patchy throughout much of its Concord coverage area because it is located on the dial right next to Mount Washington's 94.9 FM, the most powerful radio station on the continent. Last week Kozlowski traveled to Washington, D.C., to testify before the Federal Communications Commission, which established low-power frequencies as community radio stations five years ago. He argued the FCC should take into account the strength of other FM signals when telling low-powered community stations where they're allowed to set up on the dial. Currently, Kozlowski said, the FCC allocates dial openings for low-power FM stations based purely on the number of miles between stations. "Ninety percent of the time this works out fine, but sometimes there are exceptions and WHOM is an exception," he said. . . [MORE] http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2005502130357 (via Ken Kopp, DXLD) ** U S A. Re NPR/PBS budget: It isn't like there hasn't been any warning about Public Broadcasting being a target at the Federal level. I have no desire to debate the merits of any of this because it's ultimately a political discussion, but we've been moving away from Federal funding of this area for a decade now - this is simply another step along the way. But perhaps it will be a setback for IBOC on public FM stations, so maybe there's a good side to this (Russ Edmunds, WTFDA via DXLD) ** U S A. THE FUTURE OF SPORADIC E TVDX (Re: DTV channel elections) Since I really have nothing better to do today, I've decided to put together reports on what TV Es targets will be around after the DTV switchover, based on the info currently available. I have to admit, thing's aren't looking good. Of course, this is just for stations in the US, although I doubt Canada or Mexico will be any better... Here's the list of stations in the US who have so far elected to use channels 2-6 for DTV: *: Current DTV allocation #: Current NTSC allocation +: Option B alternate Channel 2: * KTNL - Sitka, AK - analog 13 * KREX - Grand Junction, CO - analog 5 * WCES - Wrens, GA - analog 20 * WWMT - Kalamazoo, MI - analog 3 * KVBC - Las Vegas, NV - analog 3 * KOTA - Rapid City, SD - analog 3 # WDIQ - Dozier, AL # KNAZ - Flagstaff, AZ # WLBZ - Bangor, ME # KNOP - North Platte, NE # KUSD - Vermillion, SD # KBEJ - Fredericksburg, TX (1) # KJWY - Jackson, WY Channel 3: * WDLP - Key West, FL - analog 22 * WBRA - Roanoke, VA - analog 15 # KIEM - Eureka, CA # KYUS - Miles City, MT # KBJN - Ely, NV Channel 4: * WDKY - Danville, KY - analog 56 # KJNP - North Pole, AK # WHBF - Rock Island, IL # WSKY - Manteo, NC Channel 5: + KNSO - Merced, CA - analog 51 * WABW - Pelham, GA - analog 14 * KGTF - Agana, GU - analog 12 * WGVK - Kalamazoo, MI - analog 52 * KXLF - Butte, MT - analog 4 * WLMB - Toledo, OH - analog 40 # KYES - Anchorage, AK # WOI - Ames, IA # WBKP - Calumet, MI + KSTP - St Paul, MN # KHAS - Hastings, NE # KOBI - Medford, OR # WTVF - Nashville, TN # WMC - Memphis, TN # WCYB - Bristol, VA # WDTV - Weston, WV Channel 6: # KRMA - Denver, CO # KBSD - Ensign, KS # KTVM - Butte, MT # WRGB - Schenectady, NY # 960624KT - Casper, WY (2) (1) KBEJ will not be running a temporary DTV station (2) CP for an analog station, facility ID 82575 It certainly doesn't look very promising, but remember that there are still two more rounds to go, and there are still a lot of stations that haven't chosen a channel yet (Joe Veldhuis, Feb 12, 2005 06:22 PST, WTFDA via DXLD) ** U S A. Last week was the deadline for TV stations to make their initial choices about which channel they'll keep when the time comes - someday - to turn off analog transmissions and go digital-only. Over at the NECRAT site http://www.necrat.com/dtv.html there's a handy list of the choices that stations have made so far. A few interesting notes: several stations had no choice this time around, with either an analog or a digital allocation that was "out of core," beyond the channels 2-51 spectrum that will be left after the conversion. Despite evidence that suggests that low-band VHF (channels 2-6) will be susceptible to interference, one low-band VHF station will survive after the transition, when Bangor's WLBZ-DT moves from 25 down to the station's analog channel, 2. And despite evidence that high-band VHF (7-13) may be the ideal band for DTV, Providence's WJAR opted to keep its channel 51 digital allocation instead of moving back to its analog channel 10. (This may have to do with the decision that WTNH over in New Haven made, to stick with 10 instead of its analog channel, 8.) Several duopoly groups did some horse-trading within their ranks; in the Boston market, Univision's WUNI (Channel 27) goes to 29, but Telefutura's WUTF (Channel 66) abandons its channel 23 DTV allocation to go to WUNI's abandoned 27. In Providence, WPRI (Channel 12) goes to 13, while LIN sister station WNAC (Channel 64) takes over channel 12. (WNAC was one of several stations with "dual out-of-core" allocations for digital and analog; others, like Springfield's WGBY, will wait for the second round of the process to make their picks, now that they know what channels will be vacated by stations that picked in the first round.) (Scott Fybush, NE Radio Watch Feb 14 via DXLD) ** U S A. Re 5-027: The original FCC table of TV allotments at the time of the "un-freeze" and adoption of UHF in 1952 made intermixed channel allotments to medium sized places like Eugene and Salem (Oregon), and left cities like Eugene with less than 3 VHF stations. When ABC became a viable network, this didn't fit the affiliation pattern well. Channel 3 Salem was badly compromised when Fisher Broadcasting moved channel 2 Portland from Washington State (Mt. Livingston, E. of Vancouver) to the Skyline Boulevard location along with the other Portland TV's. The rumor mill consistently promoted the gossip that the Eugene TV station that bought channel 3 after its unsuccessful early year or so as an independent did so to keep it from being moved to Eugene, where the NBC affiliate was a UHF station, channel 16. Moving the channel to Bend got it very conveniently out of the Willamette Valley. (More full disclosure: our firm was the original engineering consultant to channel 16.) (Coincidentally, I read the item while near Salem, where my family's farm is located, and where I was pruning fruit trees this weekend.) (Ben Dawson, WA, Hatfield & Dawson, Feb 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Pirate radio defies broadcast laws --- A nearly six and a half minute television news report on an FM pirate [unnamed, on 104.5, later moved to an unspecified ``bandwidth``] in Ft Myers, FL [vs WSGL 104.7]: http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=2569&z=3&p= (via Artie Bigley and via Ken Kopp Amateur Radio - KKØHF, dxldyg via DXLD) ``NBC2`` is sort of a pirate too --- they`re really on channel 20; I trans-Gulf DXed them several times from Von Ormy TX (gh) ** U S A. Three DX tests: 1) Feb 20: 0100-0200 ELT 1130 WISN Milwaukee WI [UT Sun 0600-0700] 2) Feb 20: 0100-0200 ELT 920 WOKY Milwaukee WI [UT Sun 0600-0700] WISN 1130 Milwaukee WI. Saturday at midnight central time (1 am Eastern). WISN Programming will be: Midnight - 12:06 Local news, 12:06 Art Bell Coast to Coast AM, Mixed in CW IDs planned near top of the hour. 50 kW and day pattern will come on at midnight CENTRAL. May power down during ads. A previous WISN test last weekend was heard in GA and AZ, so signal can get out. WOKY 920 Milwaukee WI TENTATIVE Test. Saturday at midnight CENTRAL time. Programming will be a mix of Standards and AC. NO News at top of the hour. We will run 5 kW and day pattern (directional east.) Will be in glorious AM STEREO Reports for either, or both: Kent Winrich Chief Engineer WISN Radio 12100 West Howard Ave Greenfield, WI 53228 3) KEVA 1240 Evanston, WY will run a DX test Feb 20 at 0005 Mountain Time (0205 Eastern) Sunday morning immediately following the WISN 1130 test [0705 UT]. KEVA 1240 will run CW and tones. KEVA's normal programming is country music. The test is planned to run for 50 minutes. Correct reception reports can be sent to: michaelj @ vcn.com -or- KEVA - P. O. Box 190 Evanston, WY 82930 Forwarded to this list by Saul Chernos (ODXA via DXLD) Tests were set up by ABDX (Kevin Redding, AZ, IRCA via DXLD) ** U S A. I received this station on January 3rd at 9:59 AM and again at 10:59 AM EST. The first log was the best of the two. Clearly heard WB3XNN on 1620 kHz from Milford, PA. Then gave call phonetically and mentioned they were conducting a hearing test. Dave [Schmidt] mentioned in the latest DX News (No. 19) that they had to cut the tests short because they were setting off local house alarms! He said this nixed any possibility of a DX Test. In Issue No. 15, he said I was his first reporter. I saw at least 3 other reports from Dave in Issue No. 17. 73s (John Sgrulletta, Mahopac, NY, ODXA via DXLD) ** URUGUAY [non]. Checking for R. Cimarrona, Sun Feb 13 at 2245, no trace of it on 9480 via Germany, not even a carrier; some European signals were in on 31m such as Spain on 9595, 9630. So the station appears to be gone (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VANUATU. R. Vanuatu, 7260.2±. Checking at 0650 as I type, just beginning to hear sound (music) in the muck. 0707 barely audible YL in a news style speaking pattern. 0708, 0714, 0729 heard their "flute" "IS", very weak but that's clearly what it was. Music at 0714. On the Sony SW100, lower synch lock is better tuned to 7260; on the Sony 2010, tuning up to 7260.3 with synch detector on is better. Sunset this time of year in Vanuatu is around 07, end of April around 0630. Checking on time of sunset and my log on Feb 8 starting at 0625 (DXLD 5-025), it seems a little early to hear, but I am as sure as one can be listening to hash and fades. Funny how the patterns of these stations stick in our brain (do DXers have 'em?) (David Norcross, Kahalu'u HI, 2010 & SW100, Grove (attic) T and 2nd floor lanai 30' random, DX Listeners Digest) ** VANUATU. 7260, (Tentative) R. Vanuatu, 1129-1140, Feb. 15, Vernacular, Fair signal with vocal and wind instrumental ballads. YL between selections with tentative mention of Vanuatu at 1131. Unfortunately I tuned in when 7255-VOA, Thailand signed on creating some splatter; otherwise reception would have been even better (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, 200' Beverage antennas, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) So `day` frequency is staying on well into the night (gh) ** VIETNAM. VOV LAUNCHES NEW MUSIC PROGRAMME "ASIA CONNECTING" A recreation music programme, Asia connecting, will be broadcast on short wave FM 100MHz and 104,5MHz for southern provinces as of January 23. The programme, a product of Radio the Voice of Vietnam (VOV), will broadcast twice a week. It consists of three main parts. The first part, Asia Express, covers a cultural news bulletin and most favourite Asian songs in the week. The second part, Asian Stylish, presents Asian music through specific topics. The last part, In the Asian sky, is a music exchange with a Vietnamese singer. In addition, the programme presents two songs at request, one Vietnamese song and one Asian song. Requests will be made at the website http://www.ketnoichaua.net (from http://www.vov.org.vn/2005_01_22/english/vanhoa.htm via Fred Waterer, Programming Matters, Feb ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** ZAMBIA. ZNBC 4910, 5915 and 6165 all heard well (Chris Greenway, Jan-Feb observations from Nairobi, Kenya, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZANZIBAR. See TANZANIA ** ZIMBABWE. 3306 heard (Chris Greenway, Jan-Feb observations from Nairobi, Kenya, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. VOA ANNOUNCES NEW STUDIO 7 MORNING BROADCASTS TO ZIMBABWE: PRESS RELEASE- Washington, D.C., February 14, 2005 Voice of America (VOA) will begin a new half-hour morning broadcast of the popular Studio 7 radio show to Zimbabwe focusing on the country's March 31 parliamentary elections. Beginning February 21, 2005, the broadcasts will air Monday through Friday from 5:30-6:00 AM in Zimbabwe (0330-0400 UT). The new program will provide listeners with in-depth information on their nation's March 31 parliamentary elections. For over two years VOA has also broadcast an evening hour-long program, Studio 7, to Zimbabwe in the English, Shona and Ndebele languages that can be heard seven days a week from 7:00-8:00 PM in Zimbabwe (1700-1800 UT). "With the March elections approaching, the people of Zimbabwe need more access to objective news and information," said VOA Director David S. Jackson. "This new broadcast from the Voice of America will give them the news they need in the morning as well as at night." The new English-language program can be heard in Zimbabwe and in southern Africa on 909 kHz on the AM dial and on 4930 kHz and 6080 kHz shortwave (Source : VOA Press Release via MD. AZIZUL ALAM AL-AMIN, RAJSHAHI-6100, BANGLADESH, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. ``...4. The wobbler is caused by a problem in the power source: the line voltage dips, the regulation in the transmitter's power supply can't handle it, so the transmitter FM's. Perhaps all of the offending transmitters are in a part of Cuba where the electrical grid is particularly unstable.....`` I vote for an unstable power grid because I hear the same effect on Cuban ham radio signals on 160 meters every night here in Florida. 73 & GUD DX, (Thomas F. Giella, KN4LF, Retired Space & Atmospheric Weather Forecaster Plant City, FL, USA Grid Square EL87WX Lat & Long 27 58 33.6397 N 82 09 52.4052 W kn4lf@arrl.net Feb 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. I just visited the site at http://www.spynumbers.com/YosemiteSam.html and they do mention that Yosemite Sam has returned in February 2005. Also cites the FCC source saying this comes from near Albuquerque, N.M. It also mentions that YS has been heard on WWV frequencies 10.000 and 15.000 MHz. Site also speculates that there maybe other frequencies used by YS. I am hearing YS again on 6500 and 10500 at 2325 UT Feb. 13. It will be interesting see if this time it is as short-lived as the previous transmissions in Dec. Website said they were heard previously from 12-19-04 to 12-23-04 (Carl DeWhitt, KI5SF, Ponca City, OK, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yosemite Sam: Dear Glenn --- Yosemite Sam was on Double side band. Well, NIST Station WWV In Ft. Collins, CO Uses Double Side Band just like the Yosemite Sam Mystery Station does. It has appeared on the WWV Frequency (10 & 15 MHz) In February 2005. As well as the Old Frequencies that it was on in December 2004. I found this info at: spynumbers.com (Paul Armanil, Denver, CO, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Whoa! That doesn`t mean it has any connexion with WWV, which also has carriers along with the DSB, unlike YS (gh, DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ PASSPORTECTOMY SACRILEGE?... or Don't Try This at Home? After dragging my 2005 PWBR around Asia several times, I wondered about performing a "blue pages- ectomy". Well, I tried it, and the patient lived. I cut the binding between pages 412 and 413, then taped the front and spine... and wallah, a handy frequency / time / station reference about 5 mm thick (and seemingly many pounds lighter). My 2004 WRTH may not be far behind in this Frankensteinian effort (David Norcross, Kahalu'u HI, DX Listeners Digest) Hi, Glenn! Did you hear of this and/or did I miss it on World of Radio? I just received my much-anticipated copy of the 2005 Passport to World Band Radio from Amazon.com. As I began to pour through the pages, I noticed something terribly wrong. The pages are numbered and the page following page 160 is page 257!!!! This continues to page 288 which is then followed by page 193!!! This continues to the end of the numbered pages at 592. So pages 257 thru 288 are duplicated, pages 161 thru 192 are missing!!!! I've emailed both amazon.com and passband.com, the publisher. Anyone else come across this? (Tom Kennedy, Louisville KY, Feb 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Tom, There have been a few other reports of such binding errors, both this year and previously. That`s why people are advised to buy it at a hands-on brick-and-mortar bookstore, and check every page first to be sure they`re all there and in the right order... 73, (Glenn to Tom, via DXLD) LATEST PACIFIC RADIO NEWS from http:/www.radioheritage.net (1) radio heritage sites in New Zealand destroyed by fire and under demolition threat. (2) Australia's oldest commercial radio station turns 80 (3) Australian volunteer groups work hard to save old radio programs, QSL cards and old radio magazines (4) Breakfast DJ rescues heritage items as station closes More full length radio heritage articles coming soon: (1) Radio Norfolk Island (2) 44 years with Radio New Zealand's 2YZ, 2ZC and 2ZB (3) WXLG Kwajalein (4) Canton Island from WXLF to the Hermit Crab Network (5) Canton Island in the Phoenix Islands Group, WXLE Radio 1385 (6) Canton Island: Inside DJ stories from WXLE (7) Tokelau FM (8) Ham Radio in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1932 (9) KMTH Midway - 1950's (10)KMTH Midway - 1960's Lots of new information, long lost photos and images, exclusive stories from the people who were there at the time and much more... Keep visiting http://www.radioheritage.net to find out more, and remember to claim your free membership with just one 'click' to stay in touch with the latest news. Warm regards (David Ricquish, Radio Heritage Foundation, Feb 15, http://www.radioheritage.net DX LISTENING DIGEST) CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ XI ENCUENTRO NACIONAL DIEXISTA MEXICANA, TAMPICO, 29-31 JULIO 2005 La ASOCIACIÓN ESPAÑOLA DE RADIOESCUCHA (AER) informa que en la sección de ENCUENTROS http://encuentros.aer-dx.org/ de su sitio web ya está disponible la última información recibida de JUAN JOSÉ MIROZ LOZANO, organizador del XI ENCUENTRO NACIONAL DIEXISTA. Este evento se celebrará en Tampico, entre los días 29 y 31 de julio y ya están disponibles datos tales como la sede, los precios, horarios de transporte, etc. La AER continua su apoyo a este importante evento DX a nivel internacional y recuerda que, desde hace bastante tiempo, mantiene una sección, única y exclusiva, para este evento en su sitio web. En esta sección se recogen las últimas informaciones del siguiente "encuentro", así como reportajes de los "encuentros" habidos desde el año 2000. Una vez más queremos mandar nuestro agradecimiento más sinceros tanto a los distintos organizadores del evento como a los amigos que asistieron y nos remitireon los reportajes para su publicación. Por último, animamos a todos y a todas a participar en el evento que, sin lugar a dudas, nos os defraudrá, ya que encontraréis de todo: amistad, camaredería, informaciones, ayuda, etc. Un saludo cordial (Pedro Sedano, Madrid, España, COORDINADOR GENERAL, AER, http://www.aer-dx.org Noticias DX via DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++ HARRIS HIGH-POWER TRANSMITTERS Re 5-027: Kai Ludvig is incorrect. Harris makes the DX series medium wave/long wave transmitters to powers as high as 2 MW, and higher would be possible. (Full disclosure: the dTR/H&D JV, of which my firm is a partner, provided antenna design services to Harris for both their 2 MW installations.) All high power solid state MW and LW transmitters are combined units, with "power blocks" of 100, 200, ~400 Kw. Off to beautiful Poro, La Union, Philippines on Friday. (The transmitter there is, of course, a Harris DX-1000.) (Ben Dawson, WA, Hatfield & Dawson, Feb 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) DRM +++ [Puff alert! Puff alert!] Texas Instruments Incorporated is working with RadioScape to develop the necessary hardware and software to support Digital Radio MondialeT (DRMT). Leveraging its vast technical expertise in Eureka Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) technology, TI will supply the necessary digital signal processor (DSP) -based digital radio silicon along with RadioScape's software radio technology. Together these companies will offer a cost-effective platform for designing consumer receivers. Peter Senger, director of distribution at Deutsche Welle and chairman of the DRM Consortium, said: "The announcement from Texas Instruments and RadioScape regarding their new DRM technology is a major milestone for the DRM consortium. Coupling TI's position as a global leader in the semiconductor industry with RadioScape's expertise in digital radio software brings invaluable resources to the DRM market. We believe their commitment to DRM will help drive its commercial success in the coming years - repeating their success at driving the DAB market by enabling a wide variety of receivers to be made at easily affordable prices." "We know what it takes to succeed in an emerging digital radio market," says Les Mable, business development manager for Digital Radio at TI. "TI is committed to the promising new DRM market and will leverage our expertise to help provide the innovation required to speed its rapid adoption. The use of RadioScape's software-defined radio solutions will allow a single cost-effective hardware platform to receive DRM, DAB, FM and AM broadcasts." Nigel Oakley, RadioScape's VP of Marketing, adds, "RadioScape's unique software approach provides the flexibility that customers require, especially for an emerging technology. New features, customized variants and changes in standards can all be easily done via our software running on TI's programmable solution, unlike an ASIC chip that requires slow and expensive mask re-spins. Our experience in creating innovative DAB software solutions has made RadioScape one of the world leaders in Software-Defined Digital Radio and will enable us to create a similar success for DRM." Website: http://www.drm.org Taken from The Radio Newsletter (via Ray Browell, BDXC-UK via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ About propagation: I heard you read the message from the ham about propagation problems on last week's program, and I certainly do not want to be insulting or argumentative. I would really appreciate it if you could devote some time in upcoming Allan Weiner WorldWide programs to discussing the actual nitty-gritty details of propagation and how it affects WBCQ's signals. I've been listening to SW for about 50 years now, and I thought I had some basic understanding of how propagation works throughout the day and night, but some of what is going on in recent months is really confusing me. For example, here in St. Louis, MO, in mid-US, are we one hop or two from your transmitter on 7415 kHz? If we get good reception on 7415 from before sunset here to after sunset, let's say till when AWWW starts at 7 PM local (Central) on Fridays, why does the signal sometimes fade away into the noise at 7:30 PM but other days continue fine throughout the program past 8 PM? Is it due not to sunset here on the Earth's surface, but instead sunset many miles up on the region of the ionosphere between Maine and Missouri? But what makes it change from day to day? The sunset times (either here on the surface or up there in the ionosphere) are not varying wildly; they smoothly change over the seasons. Note that I'm not referring to extraordinary events like SIDs or coronal mass ejections or solar storms. I mean over ordinary-condition periods. Next, over the past few months, reception here at 11 PM by the time Amos & Andy comes on is usually very poor. One can barely detect that there is audio on 7415 under a barrage of popping and noise spasms (but this does NOT seem to be due to local electrical interference; other stations from other sites are still OK). However, on those nights when WBCQ stays on the air past that time period, like last night when Odin Lives was on for an hour past a double-airing of Amos & Andy, the signal *improves* and becomes fine by the end of that program (midnight-30 Central). Sadly, then WBCQ goes off the air! It would really be nice if there were repeats of programs like "Duh News" then instead of terminating. If 7415 is too high for the maximum usable frequency at 11:30 PM local, how can it be OK by 12:30 AM local? There is still a darkness path and this is far too soon for daylight to begin coming in from the East, even at ionospheric heights. Maybe you can get one of the SW propagation gurus who should appear at the SWL Fest to call in to AWWW and discuss the many variables and factors that explain all this. Also, this is just what I am detecting here in St. Louis. What are things like further East, say Ohio and Pennsylvania, halfway between you and me? What about further West; are listeners in Colorado or Arizona getting a completely different pattern of reception variation? I note that you seem to have most of your callers on AWWW from East Coast or NorthEast US locations. Are they really your primary target area, and any signal I get here in the mid-US just a side benefit? By the way, I'm using a Grundig Satellit 800 with an external random wire about 20 meters or so; when conditions are right, WBCQ comes in perfectly fine on 7415. Reception on 9330 is less; that drops out much sooner than 7415. 5105 is always pretty weak; I'm a little surprised that that lower frequency isn't better in the evenings if the propagation issue is what the Max Usable Frequency happens to be. 17495 is usually OK in the daytime but is just about always gone in late afternoon -- for example, I never can hear the Wednesday-evening second airing of World Of Radio at 6 PM local, but I'm usually listening to "Off the Hook" on 7415 at that time anyway. I religiously listen to and tape World of Radio at 5 PM local on 7415 Wednesdays unless something keeps me away from home at that time. Regards and thanks, 73, Will Martin, MO, Feb 15, to Allan Weiner, cc to DX LISTENING DIGEST) 17495 airing has moved to simulcast 7415 at 2300 The geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to major storm levels with isolated severe storming at high latitudes. The period began with quiet to unsettled conditions. Midday on 07 February, activity levels increased to active to major storming, with some isolated high latitude severe storming, as a recurrent coronal hole high speed wind stream rotated into a geoeffective position. Storm conditions persisted through midday on the 9th at the lower latitudes, and through midday on the 10th at the higher latitudes. By 11 February, and through to the end of the period, geomagnetic conditions were mostly quiet to unsettled with one isolated period of major storming observed at high latitudes midday on the 11th. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 16 FEBRUARY - 14 MARCH 2005 Solar activity is expected be at very low to low conditions the entire forecast period. A greater than 10 MeV proton event is not expected. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at high levels on 16 – 21 February, 25 February – 02 March, and 07 – 10 March. The geomagnetic field is expected to range from quiet to minor storm levels. Coronal hole high speed wind streams are expected to produce unsettled to active levels with occasional minor storm periods on 17 - 19 February, 24 – 28 February, and 06 – 09 March. Otherwise, expect quiet to unsettled conditions. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2005 Feb 15 2211 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center # Product description and SEC contact on the Web # http://www.sec.noaa.gov/wwire.html # # 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table # Issued 2005 Feb 15 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2005 Feb 16 120 8 3 2005 Feb 17 115 12 3 2005 Feb 18 115 15 3 2005 Feb 19 110 12 3 2005 Feb 20 110 10 3 2005 Feb 21 105 5 2 2005 Feb 22 100 5 2 2005 Feb 23 95 8 3 2005 Feb 24 90 15 3 2005 Feb 25 85 25 5 2005 Feb 26 85 20 4 2005 Feb 27 85 20 4 2005 Feb 28 85 20 4 2005 Mar 01 85 8 3 2005 Mar 02 85 8 3 2005 Mar 03 85 8 3 2005 Mar 04 85 8 3 2005 Mar 05 90 8 3 2005 Mar 06 90 12 3 2005 Mar 07 95 25 5 2005 Mar 08 95 15 3 2005 Mar 09 100 12 3 2005 Mar 10 100 10 3 2005 Mar 11 100 10 3 2005 Mar 12 100 8 3 2005 Mar 13 100 10 3 2005 Mar 14 100 8 3 (http://www.sec.noaa.gov/radio via WORLD OF RADIO 1264, DXLD) ###