DX LISTENING DIGEST 5-048, March 19, 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 1267: Sun 0400 WOR WBCQ 9330-CLSB Sun 0430 WOR WRMI 7385 Sun 0730 WOR WWCR 3210 Sun 0930 WOR WRN1 to North America, also WLIO-TV Lima OH SAP Sun 0930 WOR KSFC Spokane WA 91.9 Sun 0930 WOR WXPN Rhinelander WI 91.7 91.9 100.9 Sun 0930 WOR WDWN Auburn NY 89.1 [unconfirmed] Sun 0930 WOR KTRU Houston TX 91.7 [occasional] Sun 1030 WOR WRMI 9955 Sun 1100 WOR R. Lavalamp Sun 1300 WOR WRMI 7385 Sun 1400 WOR KRFP-LP Moscow ID 92.5 Sun 1500 WOR R. Lavalamp Sun 1700 COM WBCQ after hours Sun 2000 WOR Studio X, Momigno, Italy 1584 87.35 96.55 105.55 Sun 2100 WOR RNI Mon 0330 WOR WRMI 7385 Mon 0400 WOR WBCQ 9330-CLSB Mon 0430 WOR WSUI Iowa City IA 910 [1266] Mon 0530 WOR WBCQ 7415 Mon 0900 WOR R. Lavalamp Mon 1000 WOR WRMI 9955 Mon 1700 WOR WBCQ after hours Tue 0700 WOR WPKN Bridgeport CT 89.5 Tue 1700 WOR WBCQ after hours Wed 1030 WOR WWCR 9985 Wed 1700 WOR WBCQ after hours MORE info including audio links: http://worldofradio.com/radioskd.html WRN ON DEMAND: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also for CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL] WORLD OF RADIO 1267 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1267h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1267h.rm WORLD OF RADIO 1267 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1267.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1267.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1267.html WORLD OF RADIO 1267 in the true shortwave sound of 7415: (stream) http://www.piratearchive.com/media/worldofradio_03-16-05.m3u (d`load) http://www.piratearchive.com/media/worldofradio_03-16-05.mp3 ** ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS. INDIA, 4760, 1449-, AIR Port Blair (presumed), Mar 18. Impressive S6 signal with Hindi programming. Best I've heard them for a while (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. 2310, 1421-, ABC Northern Territory, Mar 19. Alice Springs with surprisingly good audio with 50s music. Parallel 2325 was only very poor with some sort of choppy QRM. 2485 only a het (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BHUTAN. BHUTAN TO TAKE "CONTROVERSIAL" SATELLITE CHANNELS OFF AIR | Text of report by Ugyen Penjor in English by Bhutanese official newspaper Kuensel web site on 16 March Music channels like Channel V and Zee Music, Ten Sports which hosts the popular World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and Fashion TV (FTV) are some of the channels that will soon be going off the air for the Bhutanese TV audience. Starting [in] April, all cable operators in Bhutan will provide only 30 channels with all the "unnecessary channels" like all the music channels and the controversial channels out. The Association of Private Cable Operators (APCO) decided on the regulation during their annual general meeting earlier this month. According to the secretary of the association, Kinley, the move was initiated based on concerns expressed both from the authorities and the public. "There was great concern on the negative influence brought by some channels to our culture, language, and on our youth," Kinley told Kuensel. "Media in any form should be responsible to the national interest," he added. "Cable operators will not gain or lose financially, but the social gain is huge." A member of the association and a cable operator, Rinzin Dorji, said that the present regulation is a step towards respecting the feeling of the viewers of the unregulated channels. "The number of channels without content regulation is too much," Rinzin Dorji said. "There are channels that are offensive for family viewing, we never tried to resolve that," he added. While there is a bigger social responsibility of regulating the channels, members also said that there has been rising public concern about the increasing evidence of an association between younger children watching media violence and showing more aggressive play and behaviour. "Channels like FTV show more skin than clothes, children imitate wrestling moves from WWE and try it on their friends," one member said. The 30 channel rule is the first phase of regulating cable channels. "More channels might go in the second phase at the end of the year," the APCO secretary said. There was a proposal to bring the channels down to 20, but this was not fair for the public, especially after the revision on the rental charges, he added. The present regulation will however have no affect on operational cost or on the monthly cable rental charges. Viewers see the regulation differently. "FTV is a source of inspiration to aspiring designers," says a young business manager, Peday. "It depends on the viewers mentality, one person's objectionable channel is another's entertainment or even education," she said. "How can foreign songs and dances bring negative influence? I think they broaden our creativity and talents," said another viewer. "It is a good move if our own entertainment industry can substitute for programmes like MTV and Channel V," a teenager argued. "It will be a long time before our recreation industry can come up with interesting programmes." On the contrary, Chencho, a father of two feels that the regulation is late. "Unregulated programmes has already influenced our children," he says. "Look at the way our youth dress and behave. These are symptoms of a declining culture and tradition." "Most programmes, especially the remixes of film songs accompanied by lewd dancing, are really embarrassing. We need decent programmes." Source: Kuensel web site, Thimphu, in English 16 Mar 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 4900.13, Radio San Miguel, 1000-1040 March 19. Noted lengthy Spanish comments by a man until 1021 when music presented. Later at 1030 & 1033, canned ID as, "...Radio San Miguel ... Bolivia." It seemed like a possibly religious comments from 1035 were presented. Signal was good. Notice the frequency today of 4900.13 (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston, Florida http://www.orchidcitysoftware.com/IMAGE18.HTML DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. Radiodifusora Roraima en 4875 kHz lleva inactiva ya un buen tiempo. ¿Problemas de transmisor? Al menos por aca no se oye. 73s y buen DX, (Adán González, Catia la Mar, Venezuela, March 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. RCI A05: Bill had the info at his fingertips. All are from Sackville targeting North America unless specified otherwise. No significant changes. These are effective AFTER the 3rd April time change. For the "week of confusion" (Glenn Hauser's term) all EXCEPT the 15325 transmission will be one hour later UTC. 0000-0200: 9755 11990 13710 Weekdays 1200-1500: 9515 13655 17800 Sat / Sun 1300-1600: 9515 13655 17800 1900-2200 17765 2000-2100 15325 (targeting Europe) The Europeans among us get a new half-hour MW transmission 2230-2300 on 1179 kHz from Solvesborg, Sweden (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, March 19, swprograms via DXLD) Only parts of the sked (gh) ** CANADA 6070, CFRX Toronto, Mar 16, 0458-0505, ads, ID: ``news talk 1010 CFRB, Toronto. From Canada’s most listened to news talk radio station, CFRB,`` weather, news and sports, poor-fair/QRM. Usually this is totally covered (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, NRD545, with T2FD antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Station name changes in Canada: http://www.chumlimited.com/press/releasetelevision.asp?stationID=92&pressID=1477 reports that the following stations are to be renamed "A-Channel": CKVR-3 Barrie CHRO-5/43 Pembroke/Ottawa CFPL-10 London CHWI-16 Windsor (Wheatley) CKNX-8 Wingham CIVI-53 Victoria (& 17 Vancouver) And the following A-Channel stations are to be renamed "CityTV": CKAL-5 Calgary (& 2 Lethbridge) CKEM-51 Edmonton (& 4 Red Deer) CHMI-13 Portage la Prairie (Winnipeg) -- (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66, http://www.w9wi.com March 17, WTFDA via DXLD) ** CANADA [non]. SCTV is back! The classic sketch comedy series with Joe Flaherty, Rick Moranis, Dave Thomas, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Catherine O`Hara, John Candy et al., is scheduled on the TV LAND cable channel starting tonight, UT Saturday March 19 with four episodes in a row, 0500-0700 UT, and at least four more one week later UT Sat March 26, according to zap2it online listings; Timings applicable to OK; usual disclaimer if there is also a delayed westcoast feed (Glenn Hauser, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHILE. Voz Cristiana noted on new 15585, // 15375 at 0310 UT March 19 in Spanish (Joe Hanlon, NJ, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. 4830, China Huayi Broadcasting Corp. (Presumed), Mar 19, 1300-1325, in Chinese, time clicks (5+1), news(?), phone-in program, very good reception (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, NRD545, with T2FD antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. 4940, 1442-, Voice of the Strait, Mar 18. Very strong reception this morning with traditional Chinese vocal by YL. Confirmed to be this station by many sources. Thanks! English apparently only on weekends. 4940, 1434-, Voice of the Strait, Mar 19. Fairly strong S9 signal, in English, but darn if I can understand the male and female announcers due to their thick Chinese accents. Audio too is a bit muffly. Music is strong and well modulated. Same theme music as I've heard in other weeks. Too bad for the accent : - ( (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA, 5860, V. of Jinling, Chinese text QSL "form" card with my name and date of reception penciled in. Front of card features colorful scenery of the gates to either a palace or temple. This in 25 days for $1 and an English report (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, 200' Beverage antennas, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [non]. (Clandestine) 9680 // 11765, Sound of Hope (Presumed), Mar 19, *1555-1615, on with nice Chinese music and singing, Chinese programming, very strong jamming (Chinese drums and gongs), ToH time clicks (5+1), mostly talking. Poor (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, NRD545, with T2FD antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [Later:] Jerry Berg wondered if 9680 was correct for the "Sound of Hope" (China). I could clearly hear the jamming being // and it seemed the underlying Chinese was also //, but with that very heavy jamming, I am not positive. It seems that 11765 may be the only correct frequency. The jamming certainly makes it very interesting to ID some of these stations, as they are very effective (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [non]. CANADA/CUBA 15230, 1456-, China Radio International, Mar 19. Interesting mix of stations with both easily heard with CRI in English via Sackville over cochannel Havana in Spanish. CRI ID'd with web address, and then left the air at 1459. So did Cuba. Dead air at 15:00 (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA. 5910.03, 0408-, Marfil Estereo/Voz de tu Conciencia, Mar 14. Seems they've dropped closer to nominal 5910 with stong S9+ signals with late night Spanish ballads. One brief announcement just after TOH, but nothing more. Canned ID at 0509 for an FM channel. Multiple announcements followed including some with children. Public service I think. Nothing noted mentioning shortwave (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA. Updates to the WRTH 2005 by Tetsuya Hirahara, visiting San José and Alajuela on February 6-12, 2005: 670 TIRM R. Monumental, San José, email: carias @ monumental.co.cr 700 TIJC R. Sonora, San José, web: http://www.fcnradio.com 730 TIHB R. Reloj (R. 730), San José, delete 800 TIW R. La Gigante, Calles 15-13, Av. 11, Barrio Alanjuez, (or: Ap 1735) 1000 San José. 820 TIGC R. Centro, San José, email: rcentro @ racsa.co.cr 850 TIW R. Tigre, San José, delete 870 TIUCR R. Universidad, San Pedro Montes de Oca, now 24h 930 TIRCR R. Costa Rica, San José, web: http://www.radiocrc.com 960 TICS La Nueva Radio Alajuela, ex Premium Radio. Inaugurated in November 2004. Postal QTH is the same as Radio Monumental. Email: radionoticias @ costarricense.co 980 TIRI R. Managua, ex R. Favorita. Inaugurated in July 2004. Postal address is the same as Radio Monumental 1120 TI.. R. Miel, Alajuela, new. Address: 300 m Norte y 50 Oeste del Antiguo Hospital de Alajuela, Alajuela. Email: nelson @ racsa.co.cr 1280 TIGV R. Visión 1280, ex Radio Alajuela. QTH: De la Hyundai de Paséo Colón 100 al sur, San José. Web: http://www.estereovision.com/ Email: estereovision @ racsa.co.cr 1300 TILC R. La Fuente Musical, Cartago, now 24h 1360 TICA R. Celestial, San José now 24h. During the night they relay Visión Cristiana programs. 1420 TIRP R. Pampa, Ap. 248, 5000 Liberia. Email: pemparamirez @ costarricense.cr 1430 TIRSC R. San Carlos, web: http://www.compreensancarlos.com/radiosancarlos/index.html 1480 TI.. R. Betania, Esparza, new. Address: 100 m Sur del Correo, Esparza, Prov. de Puntarenas. 1560 TIRN R. Nicoya, email: rnicoya1560 @ racsa.co.cr (ARC LA News Desk, March, via editor Tore Larsson, DXLD) ** COSTA RICA [and non]. Dear RFPI Friends and Supporters, We are pleased to announce a new edition of Vista, Radio For Peace International's newsletter, is now available at the RFPI website: http://www.rfpi.org/vista_March2005.html Included in this edition: # The Quitirrisí by James Latham, RFPI Founder # Field Studies Resume At RFPI # An Update on RFPI’s Return To Shortwave # Children's Radio In Mallorca by Eva Ulmer, RFPI volunteer. Please stop by when you have a moment to catch up on all the great news from RFPI! Yours in Peace, (Joe Bernard, March 18, Rfpi-announce mailing list via DXLD) See also USA: Oregon, no relation I assume ** DJIBOUTI. Habe gerade (1736 UT) ein Signal mit O=2-3 auf 4780, noch nie vorher gehört und nichts passendes gelistet. Dem Musikstil nach entweder Ostafrika oder Vorder-/Südasien, jetzt sprache aber unidentifizierbar. Guten empfang wünscht (Thorsten Hallmann, Müneter, Germany, A-DX March 18 via Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DXLD) Picked up what I presume to be Djibouti, though I didn't catch a definite ID. Was audible all evening on 4780 kHz, signing off after the national anthem at 2002 UT. Mostly music that I would place in the Horn of Africa. The language sounded like Somali. Calls to prayer and occasional greetings were however in Arabic. Thanks to Thorsten Hallmann for the tip on A-DX mailing list. Anyone else hearing this? (Mika Mäkeläinen, Finland, March 18, dxing.info via DXLD) 4780, Thanks to a tip of Thorsten Hallmann in Austrian news group A-DX of 1736 UT, RTD Djibouti is back on 4780 kHz TB tonight. Scheduled 0300-2000 [Fris- 2200 only, acc to WRTH 2005, but RTD left the air at 2000 UT today - even now we have Friday tonight ! ] Signal is m u c h disturbed in southern Germany by an UNKNOWN UTE signal nearby, so no reliable MP3 recording could be made yet. Monitored around 1800-2000 UT. Bad reception released on both Kenwood and Sony receivers, even in SYNC mode. AOR 7030 set used in SYNC lowerband flank mode at around 4779.6 kHz and set Pass Band Shift to plus 2.1 kHz, in order to listen in an agreeable sound. 50 kW tropical band transmitter and a MW on 1116 kHz is a gift of US propaganda organization BBG-IBB to Djibouti in return: "was supposed to have been built by IBB as part of the deal to establish the 1431 Radio Sawa station [US 600 kW super power propaganda station to SDN, ETH, ERI, audience wb.]" Existing tropical band antenna has been refurbished already. Envisaged final opening date was May 2004, but postponed to March 2005 lately. 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, March 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Noted Horn of Africa type music here on 4780 at a poor level around 1910 to fade out at 1920. Who? no announcements heard, perhaps Djibouti? (John Durham, Tauranga. BOP. New Zealand, UT March 18, HCDX via DXLD) 4780, 0417-0422, RTD Djibouti Mar 19 Tentative. I didn't learn of this reactivated outlet until past 0400 tonight, but I presume it was Djibouti putting in a weak signal anyway, more than one hour past RTD sunrise. Male announcer in African-sounding language, a brief bit of music, and that was it. Signal quickly dropped into the noise by 0420. Some swisher (CODAR) interference. Thanks to Hallmann via Bueschel for tip (Guy Atkins, Puyallup, WA, mod. ICOM IC-756Pro & mod. ICOM R-75 Kiwa MAP / ERGO / DSP-59+ 450 & 700 ft. Beverage Antennas, HCDX via DXLD) Extraña estación -- El pasado 19/03 pude captar una estación en 4780 kHz, a las 0341 UT, con SINPO 32222. La emisora en cuestión emitía música muy parecida a las melodías radiadas por las estaciones de Eritrea y Etiopía; parecía árabe y a la vez no. Locutora a las 0401, pero no pude entender nada. Primera vez que capto algo en esta frecuencia y a esta hora; en un momento pensé que era la acostumbrada centroamericana de ese canal de la banda tropical (Adán González, Catia la Mar, Venezuela, March 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4780, spectacular signal since *0300 Mar 19, several clear "R. Djibouti" IDs, still going strong at 0342. If I had guessed I would say much more than 50 kw. Tnx Mika & Wolfie (Jerry Berg, MA, via Büschel, DXLD) No wonder it sounds like more than 50 kw. Website http://www.mccpt.dj/Direcom.htm says SW transmitter is 100 kW; MW is 50 (Berg, ibid.) HF 100 kW was planned by Djibouti national Telecom in 1999? According to the mccpt.dj website. But BBG-IBB planned 2 x 40 kW MW and 1 x 50 kW HF in 2002y paper. http://www.fbodaily.com/archive/2002/06-June/26-Jun-2002/FBO-00098287.htm Notice Date 6/24/2002 Response Due 8/15/2002 Archive Date 11/30/2002 (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) It really seems that RTD Djibouti (Doraleh) has re-activated on 4780 kHz. Noted today March 19 at 1935 UT with pretty good signal strength, S7-8, but overall reception was poor. 73´s (Jouko Huuskonen, Turku, FINLAND, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DJIBOUTI. Re: This refers to the RTD facility, 1116 kHz listed as 40 kW in WRTH 2005 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Coordination requested for 50 kW on 1116 at 43E05 11N35 using a 100 m mast. (ITU GE75/112) (Olle Alm, ARC Information Desk 14 March via DXLD) ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC [non]. Hoy Domingo: La Rosa de Tokyo ! En "LA ROSA DE TOKIO", el programa de DX y comunicaciones que produce Omar Somma y que se irradia los Domingos por LS11 Radio Provincia 1270 kHz, La Plata, con 50 kW!! Ahora, en su nuevo horario de 13 a 14 hora argentina (16 a 17 UT). LA TEMATICA DE ESTE DOMINGO SERA: "HISTORIA DE LA RADIO EN LA REPUBLICA DOMINICANA" --- UNA INVESTIGACION SOBRE SU HISTORIA, SUS EMISORAS DE RADIO, GRABACIONES HISTORICAS Y ACTUALES, UNA SEMBLANZA REALIZADA POR EL DIEXISTA DOMINICANO DINO BLOISE SOBRE QUE ES LO QUE PUEDE ESCUCHAR DEL PAIS TRATADO EN OC Y O POR INTERNET. También Radio Provincia está en la WEB AM Y FM --- ATENCION estamos con audio AM y FM en forma experimental en el siguiente sitio: http://www.radioprovincia.gba.gov.ar/ Detalles de la emisión: De 1600 a 1700 UT por los 1270 kHz. En real audio por Internet entrando a: http://200.55.63.35:80/radio_provincia_am/jetAudio_streaming.wma (Dino Bloise, Hollywood, Florida, EEUU, condiglist via DXLD) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. March 18th. For the first time in quite a while I heard the Bata transmitter on 5005 broadcasting throughout the evening, first at 1730. Local music mainly, must have switched off not much later than 2200. Greetings (Thorsten Hallmann, Münster, Germany, March 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5005, R. Nacional Guinée Equatoriale, DS, 50 kW, 2041, 444 espagnol YL commentaires sur les automobiles sur fonds musical de variétés Mar 19 05 (Michel Lacroix, France, HCDX via DXLD) ** ESTONIA [and non]. THE COLD WAR JAMMERS --- According to Olle Alm, it was written by I. Hallas; try http://www.okupatsioon.ee/kaastood/hallas/hallas.html or http://www.okupatsioon.ee/english/mailbox/radio/radio.html This [illustrated] article has been around for some time now. 73s de (Wolfgang df5sx Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA. 5500, 1456-, Voice of Peace/Voice of Democratic Eritrea, Mar 18. As listed in ILG. A pleasant surprise. Weak but in the clear with horn of Africa music. Not sure if it's atmospherics, or some noise on frequency. Remove that, and reception would be pleasant. Something indecipherable at 1459:30 by YL, then a male. Too weak to be make anything out, though (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FINLAND [and non]. YLE plans to shop around to find other possible service providers on shortwave. The Controller of YLE Radio, Mr Heikki Peltonen, confirmed in a listener phone-in that YLE tries to find other possibilities of transmitting on SW. Historically, YLE has only been using the Pori base, owned now by Digita/TDF. YLE has never swapped time with others. The northern location of Pori has made, at times, services to other continents problematic. And in winter time the skip zone is so vast that SW transmissions from Pori have had to be closed down early this winter again, as the skip zone exceeded even the UK late evening. International radio is almost exclusively an expatriate service matter for YLE. SW works well in serving scattered Finnish nationals worldwide, but is expensive. Plans by YLE to reduce the service were met with huge protests by the expatriate organizations in 2004. They describe SW as "a subjective right", particularly as Finland has of late confirmed "dual nationality" making many emigrants eligible for getting back Finnish citizenship - without losing their new one. (In no time at all the expats collected 15 thousand signatures in support of SW. This is not a shortwave listener movement, but an actual consumer protest in high volume.) Headed by former foreign minister and labour party chairman, Mr Pertti Paasio, the expatriate movement was effective in getting the attention of decision-makers and the political elite. Foreign language external radio was closed (except Russian) in 2002. The present YLE contract with Digita/TDF comes to a close at the end of 2006. YLE external radio is not a typical international service, but rather offers a generalist type of all day service. Listeners on 11755 in Western Europe get a mixture of music, news, sports, religious portions and even drama. Most of the service is a rehash of domestic networks, though not usually as a simulcast. (Mika Mäkeläinen, Finland, March 17, dxing.info via DXLD) ** GUINEA. RTG, Conakry, March 18th, 7125, 2305-2357 (later covered by Golos Tossii), O=3, local languages, local music. Sounds really nice (Thorsten Hallmann, Münster, Germany, March 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. 4970, AIR Shillong, Mar 18, 1408-1444, in English, `dramatic presentation` of an Indian legend, ending with: ``Now let us listen to a song which tells us about the tragic death of the poor woman.`` BoH into a musical request show, songs by Celine Dion, etc, with woman DJ, numerous IDs for ``The North Eastern Service of A.I.R. broadcasting from Shillong.`` Reception fair-poor (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, NRD545, with T2FD antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. GOVERNMENT TO JAM HOSTILE PROPAGANDA VIA MEDIA Friday, 18 March , 2005, 08:06 http://sify.com/finance/fullstory.php?id=13695827 New Delhi: The Home Ministry --- jammers are likely to be activated to put an end to hostile television and radio broadcasts. To have a more effective screening of propaganda against the national interest, the Government has decided to move the Central Monitoring Service (CMS) to the Home Ministry from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B). According to top Government sources, the decision to shift the CMS to Home Ministry was mooted because the Government had security concerns. "It was felt that the intelligence wings of the Home Ministry such as RAW would be in a better position to monitor these channels. They would also be able to jam the channels which have been broadcasting hostile content," they said. The security concern has become important due to the large number of channels that are available currently in the country. "With direct-to- home (DTH) broadcasting set to take off in a big way, households will be able to access hundreds of channels. Hence, it is essential to keep a watch on these channels," they added. From next month onwards, the CMS facility as well as the equipment at the outskirts of Delhi would be taken over by the Home Ministry. The CMS was set up by the British in 1937 to track news broadcasts across the world. However after Independence, the cell was mainly servicing the External Affairs and Home Ministries. Subsequently, the previous National Democratic Alliance Government used the CMS to monitor obscene content on television channels after consumer complaints. The Government in the recent past blocked channels such as Fashion TV, Ren TV and some "objectionable" commercials. However, now with the intelligence wing of the Government taking over, it is unclear how the I&B Ministry would monitor pornographic content. While the I&B Ministry has made it clear that it is not in favour of censorship of television shows and serials, an autonomous regulator to monitor content is being planned. The broadcasting industry is in favour of exercising restraint and self-regulation on the quality of programmes being aired by them (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, DXLD) So much for ``the world`s largest democracy`` (gh) ** INDONESIA. Here are some observations by Alan Davies. -Boyolali, C Java: Radio Bima Sakti moved to 837 kHz, ex-711. I mistakenly conjectured last year that the station on 837 might be Radio Immanuel, Surakarta. Radio Karysma moved to FM ex-1080 kHz. -Delanggu, C Java: Radio Suara Delanggu Bersinar (Radio Swadesi) moved to 1152 kHz ex-1131v. -Jombang, E Java: Radio Gita Nada is silent on 666 kHz and was last heard in Dec 2004. It may have moved to FM (possibly 97.4 MHz). -Kediri, E Java: A new station is operating on 1458 kHz. The ID sounds like 'Radio Sega' (as heard, not confirmed). -Madiun, E Java: RKPD Madiun is on 1485 kHz. -Pekanbaru, Riau: RRI Pekanbaru is inactive on 1116 and 1188 kHz. 927 kHz continues to operate a split schedule. -Surakarta [Solo], C Java: Radio Immanuel is still on 846 kHz. -Surabaya: Radio Carolina Arjuno moved to 1117v kHz ex-1080 in late Jan or early Feb 2005. I haven't heard the frequency announced, so it may be a deliberate move or a happy accident. Either way it leaves RRI Singaraja in the clear on 1080 kHz and reduces mixing products with Radio Sangkakala 1062 kHz, which is located just down the road in the same neighbourhood of Surabaya. -Tanjung Pinang, Bintan, Riau Is: RRI Tanjung Pinang was silent on 1341v kHz when checked from Singapore, 19-21 Feb. During middle of the day, the mediumwave band in Singapore was dead except for very weak signals across the South China Sea from Thoi Long, Vietnam, on 711, 783 and 873 kHz. -Wonogiri, C Java: Radio Gelora Indah Swara has moved to FM, ex-1098 kHz. (via Olle Alm, ARC Information Desk 14 March via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL. FCC licensees outside Region II gain early access to 7100-7200 kHz (Mar 18, 2005) --- The FCC has given licensees operating in FCC-administered territory in Regions 1 and 3 early access to 7100-7200 kHz. The change was included in a massive Report and Order (R&O) in ET Docket 04-139, a portion of which dealt with 40-meter worldwide realignment. ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, credited the efforts of Larry Gandy, AH8LG, and the American Samoa Amateur Radio Association, who supported the ARRL`s comments in the proceeding, for helping to advance the proposal. Gandy argued that during a typhoon that struck American Samoa, communication would have been significantly improved had amateur operators been allowed access to 7100-7200 kHz. Sumner said the ARRL was grateful to the FCC for allowing amateur stations it regulates in Regions 1 and 3 to gain prompt access to 7100-7200 kHz. ``This will make it easier for amateurs throughout the world to use the very popular and crowded 40-meter band and will facilitate disaster communications,`` Sumner said. He added that ARRL joins the FCC in cautioning Commission-licensed amateurs outside of Region 2 to avoid interfering with broadcast stations in the 7100-7200 kHz band during the transition period, which ends in 2009 per an agreement reached at WRC-03. Other countries also have made 7100-7200 kHz available to amateurs, generally on a secondary, non-interference basis. Sumner said that even with constraints, access to this band by amateurs in a growing number of countries ``is a significant benefit to the Amateur Radio Service,`` and he said the League appreciates the Commission`s efforts to extend this benefit to its licensees, especially those in the U.S. Pacific insular areas in Region 3. In a footnote to the R&O, the FCC said amateur operators may file interference complaints if they receive interference from HF broadcast signals directed to Region 2. ``In the current seasonal schedule, we observe that several HFBC signals are directed to the United States in the band 7100-7300 kHz,`` the FCC noted. The FCC did not announce the effective date of the rule change. (ARRL main page via John Norfolk, dxldyg) The Report and Order (R&O) in ET Docket 04-139 URL is http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-05-70A1.doc (ARRL via John Norfolk, dxldyg) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. HE`S NO CHICKEN WHEN IT COMES TO CHANGE TORONTO -- It may not be perfect, but John Bitove Jr. has a pretty impressive record of bringing big things to Canada. From spearheading successful bids for the world indoor track and field championships, world basketball championships and Toronto Raptors a decade ago to heading his hometown's unsuccessful Olympic bid earlier this decade, the entrepreneur is known as a guy who can close a deal. Nowadays, his time is divided between two separate ventures -- trying to launch satellite radio in this country and fried chicken. As different as they appear, they have one thing in common: Both are about to endure considerable change. . . http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20050315/RBITOVE15//TPBusiness/ (Via Rich Cuff, swprograms via DXLD) ** IRAN. Re 5-047, problems in Italian at 1930, WTFK? 6215 on March 16... regularly on March 17 (Roberto Scaglione, Sicily, March 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN. VOIRI A-05 Schedule Albanian 0630-0730 13810s 15235k 1830-1930 -P 7295s 1830-1930 9545k 9570s 2030-2130 11775k 9535s Arabic 0230-1430 13790k 13800z 0330-1630 15125m 0530-1630 15150s 1530-0330 7285m 1630-0330 3985m 6025m 1630-0530 9935s Arabic (Voice of Palestine)[presumed] 0330-0430 9610k 11875s Armenian 0300-0330 12025s 0300-0330 -P 9545s 11710s 0930-1000 15260s 9695k 1630-1730 7230s 9780s Azeri 0330-0530 13710s 1430-1700 6200s Bengali 0030-0130 9855k 9890s 0830-0930 11705a 1430-1530 9810k 12090k 9940k 1430-1530 -P 9520k 12015k Bosnian 0530-0630 15235k 15340s 1730-1830 7295k 9860s 1730-1830 -P 9835s 2130-2230 11875k 9810s Dari 0300-0630 11910k 13740a 0830-1430 13720a 0830-1430 -P 15480a 0830-1500 9930k English 0130-0230 9495k 11875s 1030-1130 15600 17660k 1530-1630 9635s 11650k 1930-2030 7205k 9800s 9925k 11860s 1930-2030 -P 11660s 11670k French 0630-0730 15430s 17590k 0630-0730 -P 13750k 1830-1930 13755k 15085k 9905s German 0730-0830 15085k 15430s 0730-0830 -P 13690s 1730-1830 11855s 15085k 1730-1830 -P 11930s Hausa 0600-0700 17810s 17870s 1830-1930 11860s 11930k Hebrew 0430-0500 9610k 11875s 1900-1930 3985a 5970k Hindi 0230-0300 15165s 17635s 1430-1530 11695k 13805s 1430-1530 -P 12030s Italian 0630-0730 15085k 17560k 1930-2000 7295s 9615k Japanese 1300-1330 15555s 17810k 2100-2130 11990s 12010s Kazakh 0130-0230 11785s 11935s 1300-1400 11665k 13615s Kurdish/Kirmanji [presumed] 1330-1630 5990k Kurdish/Sorani 0330-0430 7255k 11920s Malay 1230-1330 15200s 17555k 1230-1330 -P 17625k 2230-2330 7310s 9820k Mandarin 1200-1300 15160k 15190k 17535s 17545s 2330-0030 11785k 11975s 13715s 2330-0030 -P 11735k 12000s 15230s Pashto 0230-0330 7130s 9605k 0730-0830 11990s 13770a 0730-0830 -P 15440a 1230-1330 11730k 6175s 9790s 1230-1330 -P 11870k 1430-0430 -M-P 3945z 1430-1530 -M 7270z 1630-1730 6000s 7195a 1630-1730 -P 6015s Russian 0300-0330 11925k 9650s 0500-0530 11870k 15215s 17595s 17655s 1430-1530 7165k 9580s 9900a 1700-1800 3985k 7175a 1700-1800 -P 5985k 7210a 1800-1900 6205s 7235k 1800-1900 -P 7260k 1930-2030 3985k 7175s Spanish 0030-0230 9655k 0030-0230 -P 11610k 0030-0330 9905k 0030-0330 -P 7220k 0530-0630 15530k 17785s 2030-2130 7300k 9650s Swahili 0330-0430 15265s 15340k 0830-0930 15240k 17660k 1730-1830 7165s 9655k Tajik 0100-0230 6175k 7285s 0100-0230 -P 9735s 1600-1730 5945k 5955s Turkish 0430-0600 13640k 15260k 1600-1730 7165k 9870k Urdu 0130-0230 7205z 9480a 9845k 0130-0230 -P 7220k 9785k 11965a 1330-1430 11695k 6175s 9665k 1330-1430 -P 5960s 1530-1730 -M 7270z 1730-1800 7220k 9530s Uzbek 0230-0300 9740k 11945s 0230-0300 -P 6175k 1500-1600 5945k 5955s Transmitters: a = Ahwaz k = Kamalabad m = Mashad s = Sirjan z = Zahedan NB: -P and -M are not explained! (via Swopan Chakroborty, DXLD, via Glenn Hauser, re-arranged by Alan Roe, WDXC & DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [non]. 11630.2, V. of Iranian Nation, Mar 14 *1430-1442, 24432-24332, Farsi, 1430 sign on with opening music, ID and opening announce, Talk (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan, Japan Premium via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. A05 English: 0330-0345 : 11605 (May to August), 7545 (April, September, October), 9345, 17600 0930-0945 : 15640, 17535 1730-1745 : 9345, 15640 1900-1925 : 11605, 15615, 15640 (Kol Israel web site via JM Aubier, France, dxldyg via DXLD) Doni Rosenzweig says his item mentioning June 20 closing was a typo for June 30 (gh) Here are the table entries of HFCC Kol A-05 registrations: 9345 1600-0500 6-10,27,28 ISR 50 318 0 214 HEBR ISR KOL 9390 0100-0600 6-10,27,28 ISR 250 330 0 214 HEBR ISR KOL 9400 1900-2300 6-10,27,28 ISR 250 315 -15 214 ENGFRESPAN ISR KOL 9435 1600-1700 28-30 ISR 250 341 -15 800 YIROHU ISR KOL 9435 1700-1900 28-30 ISR 250 341 -15 800 RUSS ISR KOL 9435 1900-2000 6-10,27,28 ISR 250 300 -30 214 ENGFRESPAN ISR KOL 9435 2000-2100 6-10,27,28 ISR 250 300 -30 214 ENGFRESPAN ISR KOL 9985 1400-1530 40 ISR 250 90 0 800 PERS ISR KOL 11585 0000-0330 6-10,27,28 ISR 100 318 0 900 HEBR ISR KOL 11590 0330-0500 6-10,27,28 ISR 100 318 0 214 HEBR ISR KOL 11590 1600-2100 28-30 ISR 250 330 -15 214 var ISR KOL 11590 2100-2400 6-10,27,28 ISR 100 318 0 900 HEBR ISR KOL 11605 0330-0400 6-10,27,28 ISR 250 330 0 214 ENG+FREN ISR KOL 11605 1400-1530 40 ISR 250 27 0 800 PERS ISR KOL 11605 1600-1700 28-30 ISR 250 341 -15 800 YIROHU ISR KOL 11605 1900-2000 6-10,27,28 ISR 250 315 -15 214 ENGFRESPAN ISR KOL 11605 2000-2100 6-10,27,28 ISR 250 315 -15 214 ENGFRESPAN ISR KOL 13635 2200-2400 6-10,27,28 ISR 250 330 0 214 HEBR ISR KOL 13850 1400-1530 40 ISR 250 90 0 800 PERS ISR KOL 15615 1900-1930 57 ISR 250 187 0 218 ENGL ISR KOL 15615 1930-2115 3,10-13 ISR 250 264 0 214 FRESPAHEB ISR KOL 15640 0330-0400 6-10,27,28 ISR 250 330 0 214 ENG+FREN ISR KOL 15640 0930-1030 27,28 ISR 250 315 0 214 FREN+ENGL ISR KOL 15640 1400-1530 40 ISR 250 27 0 800 PERS ISR KOL 15640 1530-1600 6-10,27,28 ISR 250 315 -15 214 FREN ISR KOL 15640 1630-1700 6-10,27,28 ISR 250 315 -15 214 FREN ISR KOL 15640 1700-1715 6-10,27,28 ISR 250 315 -15 214 ENG ISR KOL 15640 1800-1815 6-10,27,28 ISR 250 315 -15 214 SPAN ISR KOL 15640 1800-1900 10-13,37 ISR 250 264 -30 214 MABAT ISR KOL 15640 1900-2000 6-10,27,28 ISR 250 315 -15 214 ENGLfreSP ISR KOL 15640 2000-2100 6-10,27,28 ISR 250 315 -15 214 ENGfreSPa ISR KOL 15760 0001-2359 6-10,27,28 ISR 50 318 0 900 HEBR ISR KOL 17525 1400-1530 40 ISR 250 27 0 800 PERS ISR KOL 17535 0500-2100 6-10,27,28 ISR 250 330 0 214 HEBR ISR KOL 17600 0330-0400 10-12,55,56 ISR 250 294 0 214 ENG+FREN ISR KOL (March 9)(via Wolfgang Büschel, DXLD) ** ISRAEL [and non]. THE SATELLITE DISH - A MIDWIFE FOR DEMOCRACY By Danny Rubinstein One familiar event in past military coups in the Arab world was the immediate takeover of state radio and television stations. This was done at the outset, to fully control the media. The desire to establish a monopoly over the information that reached the citizenry was not limited to Arab countries alone. Totalitarian regimes everywhere made sure that information would first be filtered and reviewed by a censor or by the official news agency. Most of the media was owned or controlled by the authorities, or subject to "official guidance." In many places, this is still largely true. But for several years there have been academic and political discussions in the Arab world about what happens when the authorities can no longer fully supervise the media. The discussions are usually associated with the Al Jazeera television station, based in the Persian Gulf emirate of Qatar. The station's slogan - "The opinion and the other opinion" - has long signaled dramatic changes. . . http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/553138.html (via Joel Rubin, NY, swprograms via DXLD) ** ITALY [non?]. IRRS-Shortwave testing on 15725 on Saturdays Hi There, Here is some last minute information on a some tests scheduled this week-end from IRRS-Shortwave: On Saturday March 19, 2005 IRRS-Shortwave will be running some tests as follows : Freq.: 15725 kHz (20 kW), 1000-1100 and 1300-1400 UT Targets: Europe, N Africa and the Mediterranean. DX reception may be possible outside the target area in the Americas, Australia and NZ. This will be in addition to our usual schedule on 13840 kHz (0800-1300 UT) and on 5775 at 2000-2130. Reception reports are appreciated. Please email to: reports @ nexus.org Please check frequency and program schedule at http://www.nexus.org/NEXUS-IBA/Schedules We plan to start an additional 7-hour broadcast every Saturday effective March 26 from 0900 to 1600 UT on 15725 kHz to Europe, N Africa and the Mediterranean. More details later next week. Best 73s, de Ron – (Ron Norton, NEXUS-IBA support, PO Box 11028, 20110 Milano, Italy e-mail : ron @ nexus.org DX LISTENING DIGEST) From what country?? "Hi, Radio mi Amigo is back on shortwave every Saturday starting 0900 to 1600 UT with programmes commencing Saturday 19th March 2005--- 25 years to the day after the great ship sank!!! Frequency details to follow. Regards (Neil Gates, Radio Mi amigo." [Quoted on Anorak Nation forum on 14 March 2005] "Hi, Just a quick line to inform you that the frequency for Radio Mi amigo's shortwave transmissions every Saturday 0900 to 1600 UT will be 15725 kHz. On air from this Saturday 19th March 2005. Regards. (Neil Gates. Radio Mi amigo." [Quoted on Anorak Nation forum on 18 March 2005 via Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, DX LISTENING DIGEST) This from http://www.offshore-radio.de/fleet/miamigo.htm === On 19th March 1980, during force ten storms, the anchor chain broke, and the Mi Amigo drifted for ten miles before running aground onto the Long Sand Bank The hull was damaged in the generator room. Water started to pour in. At 23:58 hours the Caroline theme was played for the last time, then DJ Stevie Gordon announced "Due to severe weather conditions and the fact that we are shipping quite a lot of water, we're closing down and the crew are at this stage leaving the ship. Obviously we hope to be back with you as soon as possible, but we'd just like to assure you all on land that there's nothing to worry about. We're all quite safe. Just for the moment we'd like to say goodbye." DJ Tom Anderson then continued "Yes it's not a very good occasion really. I have to hurry this as the lifeboat is standing by. We're not leaving and disappearing, we're going onto the lifeboat hoping that the pump can take it. If they can, we'll be back. If not, well I don't like to say it. I think we will be back one way or another." DJ Stevie Gordon continued "Yes I think so, From all of us, for the moment goodbye and God bless." After standing by for three hours the coxswain of the Sheerness lifeboat insisted that the crew leave the ship as parts of the ship are waist deep in water. On the next day the Mi Amigo sank at 51 degrees 35 minutes North, 01 degrees 17 minutes 20 seconds East. Only the mast remained visible. Divers inspected the Mi Amigo and announced that the ship was distorting as it sank into the sand. On 22nd May Thanet Council announced plans to refloat the Mi Amigo and turn it into a tourist attraction in Ramsgate, Kent. But the Mi Amigo was left untouched. During the last week of July 1986 the mast on the MV Mi Amigo collapsed. On 2nd August Trinity House issued a notice (weekly edition 30) stating that the one-hundred and twenty-seven foot mast was no longer visible. On 13th September Trinity House issued an updated notice (weekly edition 36) stating that a can buoy is to be placed at the location of the wreck of the MV Mi Amigo. See TV video footage at http://www.radiocaroline.de/ (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** ITALY. ITALIA, 15725, IRRS. La transmisión de prueba de IRRS consistió en un programa de Radio Six International, de Escocia, escuchando ya antes de la hora anunciada de prueba, a las 0945 con música de sintonía, luego identificación: "Radio Six International", comentarios alternados con música escocesa. A las 1030 todavía seguía en antena este programa. También se escuchaba por 13840, frecuencia usada habitualmente por IRRS. Señal fuerte por 15725, 45444 y débil por 13840, 24222. (Marzo 19). (Manuel Méndez Lugo, España, March 19, Noticias DX via DXLD) ITALY, 15725, IRRS. The test transmission from IRRS on 15725 was a Radio Six International of Scotland programme with tuning music at 0945 (before the hour who was announced the test transmission, 1000- 1100), identification: "Radio Six International", comments and Scottish music. Good signal, SINPO 45444. Also hear on 13840 with poor signal, 23222. (March 19). (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, España, March 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also SCOTLAND [non] ** JAPAN. 3373.5(USB), NHK Osaka, Mar 19, 0931-1017, English language lessons, first program repeated words and short sentences, second program read short story, then a Q & A session, poor-fair. A quick check at 1020 found 3607.5(U) // 6005(AM), both good (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, NRD545, with T2FD antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN. 3925, 1429-, Radio Nikkei, Mar 19. Very strong reception with usual light Japanese banter, quiz show with ditzy females (so typical of JJ programming!). Off suddenly in mid-sentence at 1430. I didn't hear any kind of sign off ID. ILG lists Saturdays only now (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LATVIA. LATVIA AT LAST --- By Bryan Clark In my 44 years monitoring the shortwave bands, there have been disappointments – especially not QSLing countries before they disappeared from the geopolitical map, or easy to verify stations closing down in hard to QSL countries. Portuguese Timor or Radio CORDAC in Burundi come to mind. Latvia has always been on my wanted countries list, but I was never able to hear the old 5935 kiloHertz transmitter on its irregular schedule before the national broadcaster Latvijas Radio ceased shortwave broadcasting in the 1990s. Another missed opportunity, or so I thought. With European and other western international broadcasters steadily quitting shortwave transmissions these days, it was a surprise to get another chance to hear Latvia. So I am very pleased to have finally managed to log and QSL Latvia on shortwave at the start of March – my verified country number 240 according to the DX League’s Radio Country List. My reception and QSL comes courtesy of Radio Joystick, which is one of a number of small programme producers that have been renting airtime since 2003 on Latvijas Valsts Radio ir Televizijas Centrs` 100-kilowatt shortwave transmitter at Ulbroka, 15 kilometres from the Latvian capital Riga. For the princely sum of §30 an hour (about NZ$85), anyone can have a go at international broadcasting on 9290 kiloHertz and be confident of Europe-wide coverage and, provided the time of day is right and the ionosphere is behaving, further afield to Africa, the Americas, Asia and Australasia. Charley Prince is the brains and voice behind Radio Joystick. July 2005 marks his 20th anniversary producing shows for the station. The shows, mostly presented in German, are normally an hour`s duration. They were first aired via low powered Radio Milan International back in 1985. Later broadcasts were carried on another Milan operation, the Italian Radio Relay Service. Prior to using the Ulbroka Latvia site, Radio Joystick was rebroadcast by WRMI in Florida but this didn’t propagate into Europe at the broadcast time. Early formats were guitar rock, and later black oldies, then hip hop. In January 2003 Radio Joystick started carrying the current format - contemporary music called BreakBeat and Big Beats. Radio Joystick via Latvia on 9290 kHz was heard opening at 0900 UT on Saturday 5 March with a surprisingly good signal, and the station now intends to be on air at 0900 on the first Saturday of every month. Propagation changes as winter approaches will probably make reception more difficult in the coming months, but I suggest you have a listen on Saturday 2 April. Whilst Europe changes to summer time late March, the transmission will continue to start at 0900 UT. You can check the Radio Joystick website for updated information – see http://www.radiojoystick.de My report to Radio Joystick was their first confirmed QSL for New Zealand, though they have previously been logged in Australia. Reception reports can be sent by email to chapri @ radiojoystick.de or by standard mail (with return postage) to Charlie Prince, Radio Joystick, Post Office Box 10 08 12, 45408 Muelheim an der Ruhr, Germany. Correct reports received through the post will receive a 4 colour QSL card (NEW ZEALAND DX TIMES PAGE 44 MARCH 2005 via DXLD) ** LEBANON. 873: Voice of Lebanon wants to use this frequency with 100 kW. (ITU GE75/112) (Olle Alm, ARC Information Desk 14 March via DXLD) ** LUXEMBOURG. The following requirements are up for coordination: 279 Junglinster 006E19 49N40 300 kW directional centered on 50 567 Clervaux 005E58 50N02 250 kW directional centered on 310 783 Clervaux 005E58 50N02 250 kW directional centered on 230 1098 Clervaux 005E58 50N02 250 kW directional centered on 300 (ITU GE75/112) An educated guess is that these frequencies will be used for DRM transmissions if accepted. Another possible user would be China Radio International, but they are currently planning for three new 500 kW MW transmitters at the Fllake site in Albania, apparently to replace the existing units at the site. The suggested beam for 567 is strange, as there would be severe mutual interference with the existing Irish station. Possibly Chinese technicians were doing field work during the period when Tullamore was off the air for refurbishment. Clervaux is located close to Marnach, the site of the 1440 transmitter (Olle Alm, ARC Information Desk 14 March via DXLD) ** LUXEMBOURG [non]. Re 5-045, 7145, Long awaited RTL DRM service to England soon --- the UK is one of the several European countries that has granted its hams preliminary/shared access to the 7100-7200 frequency range, and I hear regular use of it being made by them. To operate a powerful DRM signal in midst of it will effectively destroy their access to a large part of this range at a time when it will be most useful to them. A spare frequency in the 7300-7600 range instead should be easy to locate. 73s from (Noel R. Green [NW England], dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MOLDOVA. 1503, Maiac. VOR heard here ex 1467 on March 7, 8. Sign off at 2100. In mid February this transmitter was testing on 1566 for a few days. 1503 must be a problem for the Moldovan transmitters on 1494. (Olle Alm) (1503 has been operating daily since then from 1800-2100 - oa, added after publication, 19 Mar) (Olle Alm, ARC Information Desk 14 March via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. Re 5-047: Rich Cuff says that our morning transmission to North America from Bonaire is "being bumped" [sic] by a transmission for the BBC! That's an exaggeration. The transmission that is "being bumped" was only a temporary one week continuation of our winter schedule, overlapping with the move to summer time of the "real" transmission. We did this last year at the suggestion of a colleague in the technical department, who noticed that we had a spare transmitter at 1200 UTC. That would have been the case this year also, but then we picked up some extra transmissions from the BBC. The permanent transmission at 1200 UT in winter and 1100 UT in summer is not affected, and Radio Netherlands does not adjust the times of its own services on its own facilities to accommodate other broadcasters (Andy Sennitt, RN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEWFOUNDLAND [non]. Feature: In Search of Guglielmo (Mar 17, 2005) --- It was a cold, stormy afternoon at Signal Hill in Newfoundland. A man sat in the old military hospital on a cliff 600 feet above the harbor, listening intently to static with an earphone. Outside, his assistants used a kite to lift a wire 600 feet into the sky. Finally he thought he heard 3 dots, the letter S in Morse code, but he wasn`t sure if he only imagined it. He called to an assistant to listen. Yes, the assistant heard it too. It was December 12, 1901 at 12:30 PM, and Guglielmo Marconi had received a signal sent from Cornwall in England to St John`s, Newfoundland. Full Story at: http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2005/03/17/1/?nc=1 (ARRL main page via John Norfolk, dxldyg via DXLD) ** NIGERIA. Radio Nigeria, Kaduna, March 18th: 4770 at 2230 O=3, musical program in English, closedown before 2250. 6090, 2200-2318*, coverage of National Political Reforms Conference in Abuja, English. National anthem at 2308, then continuing, national anthem again at 2318. O=3, strong hum, terrible modulation and audio (Thorsten Hallmann, Münster, Germany, March 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OMAN. 702, BBC is scheduled 1500-0200. The beam is 315 degrees. 1413. BBC is scheduled 0030-0400, 1300-2100 and is using three different beams: 35, 80 and 350 degrees (VT-Comm via Andreas Volk-D, ADDX March 6, 2005 via BCDX via Olle Alm, ARC Information Desk 14 March via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 4960, CRN (tentative), Mar 19, 1043-1204, in English, seemed to be religious program (one announcer clearly Australian), into a 40 minute non-stop program of religious music and hymns, poor/QRN. This is the first time I have heard them. NBC was pounding in on 4890 with a very good signal (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, NRD545, with T2FD antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. Quito 19/3 2005 *** Saturday edition: *** Recording of 3172.69 Radio Municipal, Panao Listen to my recording and enjoy the two photos Señor Pablo Albornoz rojas, working at Radio Municipal, has sent to me. Comments, photos and recordings at: http://www.malm-ecuador.com 73s (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. R. La Oroya is not in the city of La Oroya; in fact its studio is now located at Marcavalle (locally called sometimes Nueva Oroya), a district of La Oroya. R. Andina lost its position as the messenger broadcasting station because the telecommunication development changed the situation. Actually a very few people use the station`s ``comunicado y mensaje`` service now. The station also started its FM outlet and may cease its shortwave transmissions in the near future. R. Huancayo will soon be on the air on shortwave. I visited the transmitting plant and I confirmed its new shortwave transmitter!!! (it is only for the owner`s hobby.) In fact, R. Huancayo ``La Voz del Centro en el Perú`` is the station formerly operated on 5955 kHz shortwave with the callsign OAX4P. The shortwave license was already expired due to an out-of-service of assigned frequency for a long time. While having been active, the station utilized the ``Cominco`` brand transmitter with an output power of 0.35 kW, but the equipment will note be reused. It will be on the air with a 1 kW transmitter which is newly manufactured by Vicente Crisóstomo. Currently R. Huancayo is operating on 870 kHz medium wave with the callsign OCX4D and 104.3 MHz FM with the callsign of OCZ4X. The medium wave frequency was changed from 1470 kHz (Takuyuki Inoue Nozaki, Japan, Dxplorer via Radio Nuevo Mundo via DXLD) ** POLAND. POLISH EX-PRESIDENT TO SUE FORMER OPPOSITION ACTIVIST, RADIO STATION | Text of report by Polish radio on 16 March [Presenter] Lech Walesa is to sue Radio Maryja and [1980s free trade union activist] Anna Walentynowicz because they have accused him of having been an agent of the [communist-era] Security Service [SB], and everything indicates that he will win. This is because historians from the National Remembrance Institute [IPN] confirm that the documents on his subject were counterfeited and that there is no doubt as to this. Historian Grzegorz Majchrzak of the IPN told our afternoon At First Hand programme that it was even clear who had fabricated these documents. [Majchrzak] This was a strictly secret operation which was known about by just a few people at the ministry, from Minister [of Internal Affairs Czeslaw] Kiszczak down. The documents were physically prepared by a functionary from the techncial department, the leading counterfeiter at the SB. And these documents were later passed to members of the jury awarding the Nobel Prize, on the one hand, and on the other hand to the Norwegian Embassy. [Presenter] The counterfeited documents were to discredit the Solidarity trade union leader and make it impossibel to award him the Nobel Peace Prize. Bronislaw Komorowski, of the Civic Platform [PO], feels that the citings of these documents constitute groundless political attacks on a man whose achievements for the overthrow of communism were incapable of being undermined. [Komorowski] Lech Walesa never hid that he did not necessarily behave very bravely, but he was a simple worker. On the other hand, the attempt today to persuade public opinion that his public activity, as the great leader of the Solidarity movement, was associated with any kind of form of activity as an agent is quite simply a national scandal. [Presenter] The Solidarity trade union feels the same. The attacks on Lech Walesa and Solidarity harm Poland and its image in the world - that is the view of the trade union. Source: Polish Radio 1, Warsaw, in Polish 1700 gmt 16 Mar 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** QATAR [and non]. ANALYSIS: WEB USERS FACE AL-JAZEERA MAZE | Text of editorial analysis by BBC Monitoring Media Services on 17 March Web users searching for the homepage of the Doha-based Arabic language satellite channel are faced with no less than four web sites bearing the name "Al-Jazeera" and are forced to decide which one is the genuine article. Al-Jazeera was recently named the world's fifth most influential brand in a recent poll, yet its online identity appears to be somewhat confused. This is a problem that web site operators worldwide need to address in order to convince their readers that they have arrived at the right place. This is, at first glance, not as straightforward as it seems. All four sites are registered in good faith, and show the origin of their material somewhere on site. However, for the casual surfer, these differences may not be immediately apparant and may lead to confusion. Al-Jazeera translates as "the (Arabian) peninsula", and it is to be expected that several organisations in the Gulf region should use the same name. However, with the Qatar-based TV channel becoming the best known of these organisations - even if it wasn't the first to use the title - internet uers may be confused by the burgeoning number of similarly-named web sites purporting to be the definitive news outlet for the middle east region. http://Aljazeera.net is the "official" homepage of the Qatar-based TV channel. The TV station went on air in 1996, with a web site opening soon afterwards. An English language site did not open until March 2003, where it immediately came under repeated distributed denial of service [DDOS] attacks from American conservative groups, who accused the station of an anti-American bias. However, web users are just as likely to click on aljazeera.com, the web site of a Dubai-based publishing group, which operates an English-language news site concentrating on Middle Eastern news. http://Aljazeera.com states "Aljazeera Publishing owns and operates Aljazeera.com, ... an independent media organisation established for more than 12 years delivering news and analysis to readers all over the world. Aljazeera.com has a particular focus on events and issues in the Middle East covering major developments presenting facts as they happen." The web site's editorial slant is of a primarily pro- Arab, anti America, anti-Israeli point of view. Despite its lack of connections with the Qatari al-Jazeera television, there is sufficient blurring of boundaries for the Dubai- based site to carry an advertisement selling DVD copies of "Control Room" - the documentary made about Al Jazeera TV. A third site, http://al-jazirah.com also operates from the Gulf region with an Arabic-language news service based in Saudi Arabia. This site, first copyrighted in 1997 is the homepage of the independent pro-government Saudi Arabian newspaper Al Jazirah, and pre-dates the Qatari TV station by some years. Finally, web users may find http://aljazeerah.info --- also http://aljazeerah.us which calls itself "The US independent news publication". Based in Dalton, Georgia, it is edited by Dr Hassan El- Najjar as a non-profit anti-war organisation. No attempt is made to convince the reader that is is anything other than an independent web site, which claims to employ "fair use" of copyright material to post news on their site. Although several web sites of the same same exist, all with a similar style of content, it should not be too difficult for the reader to discern between the different sources. However, web users are more inclined to visit a .com site than one with a different top-level domain extension, which may work against the Doha-based TV channel, and drive traffic to the Dubai-based web site. As it stands, anyone can register a domain name - provided it were available - and pass themselves off, legally or otherwise, as an existing web site, and operators should be aware that alternative versions of their root domain can divert traffic away from them, or even cause damage to their reputation. This is a phenomenon that faces many major corporations groups as they attempt to protect their online interests. The BBC has, in the past, invested sums in protecting the Corporation's name from opportunitst cyber-squatters, and making a clear distinction between themselves and legitimate interests which happen to share the same initials. The BBC's homepage can even be accessed hrough the Tuvalu-based domain http://www.bbc.tv This is an issue already being addressed by Al Jazeera television - http://www.aljazeera.co.uk already diverts to the English language version of their web site. Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 17 Mar 05 (via DXLD) ** RUSSIA/RWANDA. 12025, 1511-, Voice of Russia/Deutsche Welle, Mar 19. Another interesting clash, with both stations at good level. Voice of Russia World Service in English with their www site, about equal to DW from Kigali in Swahili. My ILG lists Golos Rossii, but this is clearly in error (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. EKHO MOSKVY RADIO FACES A NEWS RIVAL By Anatoly Medetsky Staff Writer, MT, Friday, March 18, 2005. Issue 3127. Page 4. Alexei Venediktov [caption] The Kremlin hopes to dent the popularity of Ekho Moskvy radio, the country's last national independent broadcaster, through a new news radio station that could offer pro-government coverage, Ekho Moskvy editor in chief Alexei Venediktov said. The station in question is Russkoye Radio 2, which is owned by privately held Russian Media Group, a leading domestic radio corporation. Russian Media Group announced Wednesday that it planned to boost news coverage at the station to 12 hours per day, a change that would make it a direct competitor of Ekho Moskvy. Until February, Russkoye Radio 2 was predominantly a music station, playing Soviet-era hits. . . http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2005/03/18/013.html (via Gerald T. Pollard, DXLD) ** SAUDI ARABIA. 13710, 1506-, Holy Qur`an Program, Mar 19. Fair reception with wails and then into a lowly modulated male voice. Nothing special about the program. Best heard on my 25 meter dipole oriented east-west. Went back into more typical Qur`an chant at 1508 (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SCOTLAND [non]. This morning (Saturday, March 19) our 0930-1030 transmission on 13840 kHz was paralleled on 15725 kHz. IRRS were testing a new transmitter. We got a couple of reports by email within minutes of signing off at 1030 - but I'd be keen to hear from anyone else who heard our very distinctive bagpipe programme on 15725. We may use the frequency officially at some point in the future. Meanwhile last Sunday (March 13) World FM (88.2 MHz in Tawa, NZ) took two hours of our programming on a test basis; there may be more tests very soon and we're anticipating a regular rebroadcast possibly on a daily basis. This will be in stereo once we've sorted out the feed issues involved. And in April we hope to test a live relay via Ulbroka 9290 kHz. Best regards (TONY CURRIE, Programme Director, Radio six international http://www.radiosix.com March 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also ITALY [non?] ** SOLOMON ISLANDS. 5019.91, 1503-, SIBS, Mar 18. Been a while since I've heard much audio from these folks. English news from the BBCWS (ID for the world service at 1506:15). Poor to fair (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5020, SOLOMON ISLANDS, (Presumed )SIBC, 1138-1204, Mar. 19, (presumed) Pidgin-English, Native music with announcer between selections. YL at 1149 with devotional sounding program and lite musical bits; a few words of English heard tho not much to work with. Anthem (NA-?) at 1200 right into OM and YL in English, sounding very much like the BBC. Fair at tune-in but way too much Rebelde-5025 slop as the hour progressed (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, 200' Beverage antennas, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOMALIA [non]. A new target station was added to the TDP online schedule: http://www.airtime.be/schedule.html Radio Horyaal 1730-1800 12140 AM mtwt.ss Somali Africa. The website http://www.halganews.com quotes a different frequency, 12130: waxaa la idin ogaysiinayaa in uu hawada soo galay radio cusub oo la magac baxay Radio Horyaal : Codka Shacabka Somaliland Radio Horyaal waa Radio Madax banaan oo laga dhagaysan karo Dalalka Geeska Afrika ilaa Somaliland, Somaliya, Jabuuti, Etopia, Uganda, Tansaniya Eleteriya, iyo gabi ahaanba Geeska Afrika sidoo kale Sudan iyo wadamadda Khaliijka iyo Sacuudi Arabia. Laga bilaabo 21 March 2005, Horyaal waxa ay hawada soo geli doontaa habeen walba (Habeenka Jimcaha ah ee Sabtidu soo galayso mooyaane). Saacadda Somaliland markay tahay 8:30 ilaa 9:00 habeenimo.Waxana laga dhegaysan karaa mawjadda shortwave ka ee 12130 KHz. Iyo Shabakada Wararka Halganews Cinwaankeeduna http://www.halganews.com Ha moogaan idaacadda xorta ah ee Horyaal: Codka Shacabka Somaliland oo kuu haysa barnaamijyo iyo madadaalo XIISO iyo TAYO LEH (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SRI LANKA. 9645, 1540-, VOA, Mar 19. Strong signals from Iranawila this morning, with English VOA News Now program. Excellent modulation. Medical news about saliva tests. At same time DW from Trincomalee was heard at excellent levels with DW ID in Hindi on 9585 (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN [non?]. Religious broadcaster Radio Peace 4750 kHz was heard March 18 at 0335 UTC with programme in local language. Not Arabic or English and referring Darfur. Signal level S3-4 and reception poor. I want to point out, I didn`t get a proper ID. 73 (Jouko Huuskonen, Turku, SUOMI-FINLAND, March 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWAIN`S ISLAND. The KH8SI expedition to Swains Island (OC-200) went QRT at 0010 UT on 9 March, after 9460 QSOs in less than three days. "Because of the oppressive heat and humidity, and poor band conditions, and the storm reduced length of the operation", they say, "we concentrated on maximum number of QSOs on the bands that were open, vice trying to give every band/mode to a few. The bands were simply dead during several hours each day, and 10, 12 and 160 were non productive. We primarily worked from 80/75 to 15 meters SSB and CW (with a few other mode QSOs attempted). We recognized the great demand in Europe for IOTA OC200 and attempted to catch every opening to Europe. Following the sun, as usual, we had long runs of North and South America, brief openings to Europe, long runs of the Pacific area, and long runs of JA and Asia". An important aspect of KH8SI was the help they gave to the people living on Swains, as the island had been hit by Typhoon Percy. "The need for food, water and assistance was real. In addition to our radio equipment, food, tents, generators and gasoline; we carried food, water, generators and gasoline for the people living on Swains Island. We had meetings with the families of those living on Swains, the Government in Am Samoa, and nearly all of the Pago Pago evening TV news was devoted to coverage of the KH8SI trip. The rescue meant as much to the Government and People of American Samoa as the Tsunami effort did to the people around the Indian Ocean. And once again Amateur Radio was the first communication from the disaster area to the outside world". The "Swains Island DXpedition Story" can be found at http://www.swains-island.org/swains-story.htm (425 DX News via Dave Raycroft, ODXA via DXLD) ** SWEDEN. RADIO SWEDEN STARTS PODCAST TEST --- PODCASTING This is still not a proper MediaScan, but I do want to let everyone know that we have actually gotten our Podcast test up and running, and the thing seems to work. If you don`t know about Podcasting, see the March 2005 issue of ``Wired`` magazine. The system essentially takes the RSS feeds typically produced by blogs, and instead of linking to a text article, links to an mp3 file. These can range from an audio version of someone’s webblog to a complete BBC program like `In Our Time`. The beauty of the system is that, using a program like iPodder, you can `subscribe` to the feed, which means that if you connect your mp3 player to your computer, and schedule the feeds you want, when you get up in the morning you can listen to downloads of your favorite programs! Naturally you can also listen on your PC. More information at http://ipodder.org We hope to make our Monday to Friday English half hour available (since the system is not automated yet, weekend programs will not be available). Aim your iPodder (or other Podcast program) at: http://feeds/feedburner.com/RadioSweden Let us know what you think, and remember, this is an experiment. Time and technology make get in the way sometimes (George Wood, SCDX/MediaScan March 18 via DXLD) ** TAIWAN [non]. Re DXLD 5-047, Fu Hsing reported on 15250 at 1429- 1458*: VOA Korean is using 15250 1400-1458 (transmitter: Tinian 5). They always cut in mid sentence a few seconds after 1458 (to switch to 13625). (Olle Alm, Sweden, March 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Well, that was reported to be in Standard Chinese, but no ID. Korean has a rather distinctive sound, with lots of words ending in ``ímnida`` (gh, DXLD) ** TAIWAN. 15250, Fu Hsing Broadcasting Station (Presumed), Mar 19, 1452-1458*, Chinese music and talking, off in mid-sentence. Siren type jamming. Poor (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, NRD545, with T2FD antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) A heads up: Olle Alm pointed out that VOA is on 15250 until 1458* but it`s in Korean. Are you sure your log was in Chinese? 73, (Glenn to Ron, via DXLD) Hi Glenn, Certainly was Asian and I was leaning towards Chinese but with that jamming it was hard to be sure. I only heard it for a short time and probably should have gone with a generic "Asian language." Jerry Berg says: "Ron, beware of 15250. I had VOA in Korean there the other day until 1458*" so it obviously needs more work than just the few minutes I spent with it (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U A E. 1314, BBC via Dhabbaya scheduled 24 h. Beams used are 46 and 316 degrees. (VT-Comm via Andreas Volk-D, ADDX March 6, 2005 via BCDX) 1557, Radio Asia from Ras al Khaimah moved to this frequency when Radio Farda took to the air on 1575. (various reports) 1575, Al Dhabiya 400 kW at 54E15 24N11, moderately directional to the north. (ITU GE75/112) [According to Thalès information, "Al Dabiyah II" was planned to be completed in the beginning of 2005. "Al Dabiyah I" is the 1170 kHz 800 kW transmitter.] (Olle Alm, ARC Information Desk 14 March via DXLD) ** U K. 1296, The planned DRM schedule for the summer period is 1600- 1915 and 2115-2400. AM broadcasting is planned for 1930-2100 (VT-Comm via Andreas Volk-D, ADDX March 6, 2005 via BCDX via Olle Alm, ARC Information Desk 14 March via DXLD) ** U K [and non]. Looking at the frequency pages there are a lot more cuts coming the BBC on Shortwave. The following areas are also being impacted. || From March 27 2005, there will be adjustments to the BBC World Service short and medium wave provision of the Arabic Service across North Africa to reflect global changes in audiences' use of short wave. There will be no Arabic Service overnight broadcasts on short wave or medium wave from 2300 GMT to 0200 GMT. || From March 27 2005, there will be adjustments to the BBC World Service short and medium wave provision of the Arabic Service across the Middle East to reflect global changes in audiences' use of short wave. There will be no Arabic Service overnight broadcasts on short wave or medium wave from 2300 GMT to 0200 GMT. || From March 27 2005 there will be adjustments to the BBC World Service short wave provisions across ALL of Europe. The number of hours broadcast on short wave in English to Europe will be reduced to two blocks at peak times daily, in the early morning and evening. The bottom line for all of this is that some of the frequencies which we had hoped might provide service to fill in the gaps to the Americas may not be there. Not good news (Sandy Finlayson, PA, March 18, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) In fact, shortwave is being played down if you look for schedules/ frequencies in the left-hand-side menu. In most cases, the default mode of delivery is the nearest FM or MW radio station. In some instances, the information is downright misleading. I looked for what is listed for the Montreal area. It shows shortwave broadcasts are available -- but all the frequencies listed are DRM transmissions from Sackville. Explain to a novice shortwave radio listener why they only hear noise on those frequencies. Nary a mention of conventional shortwave broadcasts aimed at the Caribbean that are tunable from my location. Then there is this curious page: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/schedules/031001_nofreqs.shtml "We usually aim to provide frequencies to cover peak listening hours in the morning and evening, local time," it says. But it doesn't bother them to provide round-the-clock programming over satellite and the Internet, even though no one might be listening. I'm shocked (to a degree) they're willing to waste millions of dollars/pounds on forms of delivery (Internet and satellite) that are costly for the user AND the broadcaster. Particularly for Internet: streaming isn't easily scalable (more listeners means more bandwidth, more processing power, more "modules" on the server side). Worst yet, we know about these changes because we have access to the Internet. What about the thousands of listeners whose BBC On-Air magazine was cancelled recently and who don't have access to the Internet? They'll tune their radio and will hear nothing but static, not having known of impending shortwave service cuts. If their aim is to whittle their shortwave audience to nothing, I'll give them five stars for their efforts (Ricky Leong Montreal, ibid.) Ricky, Interesting comments. A couple more things. 1] I heard a brief announcement on 15190 yesterday just before 1300 GMT telling us they were cutting short wave hours and directing people to the website for information. 2] There is a basic untruth in one section of the page you provided the link for. "And of course, all our programmes can be heard online - Live via the Radio Player link (a daily internet schedule is accessible) - and many are available on demand for seven days after the original broadcast - select your programme from the A-Z Programme list" The statement that all programmes can be heard online is simply untrue. You cannot get Sportsworld on the weekend online...unless this is going to change. In the interests of honesty it would be nice to have the BBC put out a statement which says...we don't care about our shortwave listeners and get used to it. I just had an email from the Producer of Sportsworld on the BBC World Service. They have just learned about the Shortwave cuts. There will be no change to the non streaming of Sportsworld over the internet for contractual reasons. For those with an interest in UK Sports this looks like the end of the road for us in terms of live coverage except for those who can pick up weaker signals from elsewhere. Time will tell which of those frequencies work and how long it will be before they are gone as well (Sandy Finlayson, ibid.) Interestingly, you may remember the "back & forth" Glenn Hauser and I had regarding the frequency charts on the website and the text warning of the cuts. That text now has a statement at the bottom -- see http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/schedules/internet/800/radio_frequen cies_south_america.shtml or http://tinyurl.com/452c4 -- the frequencies posted are the current ones, not the proposed ones (Rich Cuff, ibid.) Does anyone have any idea if the change in transmitter sites for the BBCWS to the western hemisphere will make it even harder to hear them when they ARE on the air? (Sandy Finlayson, PA, ibid.) The schedule does change somewhat -- North America evenings tend to slide back one hour UTC. World Update and Europe Today also slide back one hour. The BBC counts listeners in part by those who have heard BBC newscasts on US public radio stations. That's one way their numbers increase. Interestingly nothing has been mentioned regarding the timing and frequencies of service to Africa. That appears to be unchanged, fulfilling a long-standing prediction of mine -- that Africa will probably be the last continent where SW is used regularly. (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA, ibid.) Listening to "Write On" this morning, I was surprised to hear Dilly Barlow tell listeners that next week's edition would deal with listeners' response to *the end of shortwave to the Americas and Europe*. She clearly spoke about the end, not the reduction, of shortwave. So, was she mistaken, or will all shortwave transmissions be cut? 73, (Peter Bowen, March 19, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) Why is BBC World Service reducing its short wave provision? "Short wave listening around the world is declining. The downward trend is accelerating: the global short wave audience for BBC World Service has dropped from 122 million in 1996 to 97 million in 2003... http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/us/050318_short_wave.shtml (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) Complete and utter b.s. IMHO. The sales figure for shortwave radios in the US alone is UP each and every one of the past seven years. The number being manufactured in and pumped out of China continues to go up almost exponentially. The BBC would like everyone to believe that SW listening is down, so it uses (cleverly, but dishonestly) figures for *its* shortwave audience. Well, if you've eliminated both North America and Australasia from your shortwave coverage area (two primary English language regions of the globe) and reduced the hours you cover the other areas with shortwave, of course your audience figures for shortwave will go down. It's a self-serving and self-fulfilling prophecy. Next week on "Write On", Dilly Barlow will read a raft of letters from irate listeners once again. The BBC spokesman will intone (once again) that these are really a minority of listeners either too old, out of touch, unimportant or otherwise insignificant to matter. (Of course, he'll say it all much nicer that.) What the "official" BBC won't tell you is that, internally, management was surprised by the volume, level and depth of protest the BBC received the last time they did this. But its management team is committed -- in "non-crisis" regions -- to reducing distribution costs by de-emphasizing high cost methods (like shortwave) and transferring an increasing amount of those costs to the listener. The BBC claims that its audience accessing its broadcasts by means other than shortwave is increasing. As far as it goes, that's true -- but not to the extent claimed. The BBC's figures don't differentiate between a listener who accesses its broadcasts for a few minutes a week and one who listens for hours a day. It also tends to fudge figures reflecting availability by equating overnight broadcasts via local FM with prime time hours on local radio and an occasional five minute newscast with the broader info/entertainment service that characterizes (or characterized) its shortwave service. It is interesting to observe that, as the BBC reduces global access to its broadcasts, China Radio International is dramatically increasing such access by actively embracing ALL distribution methods, including shortwave. Shortwave hours and relays targeting NA by CRI are up just as dramatically as BBC hours are down. And CRI's use of the internet, satellite (including WRN on Sirius Satellite Radio) and local (FM) placement also has increased. There is even talk that CRI is planning to inaugurate a 24 hour English language news service in direct competition to the BBC. I'm sure the rather smug management at Bush House will chuckle at all this and shrug it off. But I wouldn't be surprised if, while the BBC is dithering and dicing up audiences, CRI begins to eat the BBC's lunch in North America. Call it "Old Europe Makes Way for New Asia". While the BBC steadily abandons and discards the public service broadcasting principles it historically created, perfected and nurtured, CRI seems to -- more and more -- be embracing those very principles. JMHO (John Figliozzi, Halfmoon, NY, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) The BBC isn't alone in fueling this downward trend. The radio manufacturers and book publishers are also culpable. As John correctly states, SW receiver sales in the USA are up, and have been. However, there is very little information shared by the receiver manufacturers / sellers as to *who* the people are who are buying the radios, *why* they're buying them, and *what* they listen to. What resources do they use to identify what's on and when? How do they find out about fellow radio enthusiasts who share their love for the medium? What role (if any) are the radio manufacturers taking to help ensure that content remains available in the future? Are they lobbying the BBC / RVI / DW? Meanwhile, one of the two leading annual shortwave references has nothing in its book to help its readers identify others out there who share their passion. No mention of clubs, online references, e-mail lists, chat groups, whatever. No way for the buyers of that reference to easily dialogue with other shortwave listeners. [i.e. PWBR, which is afraid people might find out there are better sources of SW info] The BBCWS uses statistics that are self-serving: If you drop your shortwave availability, then fewer people *will* find you by shortwave. Duh! All hope is not lost, though. A few of us at the Fest last weekend discussed possible ways to bridge the communications gaps identified above, because these companies, fueled by listener passion, are an important way to counter the obfuscatory statistics exuding from Bush House. John also points out the harsh realities that underlie the economics of shortwave broadcasting -- if you can get the consumer to directly (or indirectly) pay part of the freight for transmitting and distributing the broadcaster's "signal", that's money saved. The only countervailing argument to that economic reality is an argument that addresses 1) the "value" of a multiple-hour shortwave listener versus the value of someone lucky enough to catch a 5-minute newscast; 2) The public service heritage and, as appropriate, charter under which a broadcaster operates. About the only "good news" to come from this is that we seek to expand the dialogue regarding shortwave to as many stakeholders as possible. Working together might help us better "market" shortwave to broadcasters than working separately (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, ibid.) ** U K. INTERNSHIP: VOLUNTEER RADIO ASSISTANT WITH PANOS LONDON Salary : Travel expenses within London, lunch Location : Islington, London, United Kingdom Closing Date : 01.04.2005 00:00 Posted Date : 18.03.2005 00:00 http://www.oneworld.net/job/view/10995 Panos London's radio unit runs Interworld Radio --- IWR, http://interworldradio.net a global network of radio stations and journalists. We commission local journalists in developing countries to produce short English-language radio features that cover global issues from local perspective. We also produce a daily international text news bulletin for radio stations. We have an editor and radio researcher based in London, and an editor in Kampala, Uganda. We are looking for a volunteer to support the radio editorial activities. The postholder would be expected to provided editorial support and practical back-up to the IWR radio production team. We would like the postholder to available for a period of three months on a part-time basis. MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES * Supporting the radio team administratively including responding requests for information and maintaining contact lists and databases * Supporting overseas radio reporters * Contributing ideas for radio features * Supporting project development activities - fundraising and evaluation * Researching news, events and background information on the Panos themes - HIV/Aids, Information Society, Environment, Globalisation, Conflict * Collecting interviews and sound effects using recording equipment in the UK SKILLS * Journalistic/radio experience * Experience or knowledge of international development * Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate with a wide variety of people in a diplomatic manner. * Excellent organisational skills and the ability to work within tight time constraints. This is an unpaid position. Benefits: Travel expenses within London, lunch Type of work: Internship Location: Islington, London, United Kingdom Languages required: English Closing date: 01.04.2005 Date job appeared on the site: 18.03.2005 To apply: By CV and covering letter to alex.whiting @ panos.org.uk (no phone calls please) (via Dr Hansjoerg Biener, Germany, March 19, DXLD) ** U S A. NEW CONSTRUCTION PERMIT APPLICATION FOR SHORTWAVE FROM OREGON Transformation Media International, a limited partnership based in Albany, Oregon, has applied to the FCC for a construction permit for a shortwave station near Lebanon, Oregon. The application calls for installation of four 50-kilowatt P.E.P. reduced carrier upper sideband transmitters, three rhombic antennas directed toward northeast Asia, the Caribbean, and Central and northern South America; and a log periodic antenna beamed to central and eastern Canada. According to the application, Transformation Media "intends to offer a variety of programming suited to the local target, foreign population. Such things as news, religious teaching, educational, comedy, and music will be included in the program format." Programs are planned in English, Spanish, French, Russian, Japanese, Korean and Mandarin. Michelle Brosnan, operations manager of the station, attended the recent HFCC-ASBU Conference in Mexico City in order to learn more about international broadcasting and in particular shortwave frequency planning (March NASB Newsletter via DXLD) ** U S A. DR SCOTT SONG on DR DEMENTO --- The Dr. Demento Show #05-12 - March 20, 2005 The Doctor Is In - Eric Westfall The Silver Fox's body lies a moulderin' in the grave but his voice goes marchin' on! (Joel Rubin, Marcy 19, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) DR GENE SCOTT: Institutionally speaking, the Update is not an adherent of manmade organized religion (nor of Atheism, for the record). But we could not help holding some admiration for the late Dr. Gene Scott, who passed away in February at age 75 of complications from a stroke. Dr. Gene made his mark around 30 years ago, as owner of the old KHOF/99.5 and KHOF-TV/30 in Los Angeles, also of KVOF-TV/38 in San Francisco and WHCT-TV/18 in Hartford. He regularly tweaked the FCC and Government in general, while holding widely-lauded scholarly sessions about the Bible, and contributing mightily to unrelated charities, including efforts to rebuild the Los Angeles Central Library. after a devastating fire years ago. The hook about the good Doctor was his utter honesty. We remember hijinks conducted by Jim Bakker, Jimmy Swaggart and other alleged evangelists over the years, usually involving the siphoning of contributed funds into personal lifestyle upgrades. Dr. Gene Scott pulled no punches, blatantly flaunting his horse and automobile collections, as well as a bevy of attractive young ladies as hangers-on, and imported cigars. His archived broadcasts are still available via Satellite over his own University Network, and sister radio outlet, The Caribbean Beacon/690 & 1610 in Anguilla. Also, catch Gene on Shortwave, from the very same Caribbean Beacon, blanketing North America evenings with a huge signal at 6090 kHz, or during time purchased from Shortwavers WWCR in Nashville, or KAIJ in Dallas (Greg Hardison, Broadcast Band Update March 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Complete UD in the dxld yg ** U S A. Hi Jeff, Just in case you are unaware IRRS has moved in on 15725. Any plans to resume it from WRMI? 73, (Glenn to Jeff White, via DXLD) Glenn: No plans at the moment. I'm happy with 7385. But if there's going to be anybody moving onto 15725, I suppose IRRS is the best possibility, as we have worked together often in the past (Jeff White, WRMI, March 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Checked 7385 around 1500 UT March 19 and it was barely audible. But, who cares as long as it`s Brother Scare or Xian Media Network? (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. 11715, 1525-, KJES, Mar 19. No ID, but sounds very much like them with a female vocal singing a religious piece very slowly, in English. Channel seems to be jammed also (or is there some digital hash?). Mostly good. ILG lists only Monday to Friday at this time, but KJES can be pretty variable (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WIMA-1150 in Lima OH will conduct a DX Test on April 4, 2005 from 02:00 to 02:06 Eastern Standard Time. This test will consist of audio test tones, sweep tones, Morse code IDs, and voice IDs. Note, this test only runs for 5-minutes. Reception reports for WIMA's test should be sent to; Mark Gierhart, Director of Engineer, WIMA Radio, 667 W. Market Street, Lima OH 45802. No phone calls please. E-mail reports can be sent to MarkGierhart@ClearChannel.com. Attached MP3 files should be less than 1 mb. Details and results of the test will be provided at http://www.1150wima.com/dxtest.html This test has been arranged by the N.R.C. C.P.C. (Fred Vobbe, NRC-AM via DXLD) Fred, In case no one has queried this, and no one has that I have seen as I always struggle to keep up with posts on this list, most of the continent will by then be observing Daylight Shifting Time, as silly as that is, so I suppose you mean EDT? -- i.e. 0600-0606 UT Monday April 4? 73, (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) Fred, will the test use the daytime ND rig? 73 KAZ (Neil Kazaross, IL) That is the plan. The CE needs just a small amount of time to set modulation levels, and I suspect that the last minute will be on night pattern just to verify nothing has changed. I know it's a small window, but take every opportunity you can to listen for it. And to answer Glenn's question, the time is Lima Local Time |g| 02:00 to 02:06 AM in Lima OH on 4/4/2005 (Fred Vobbe, OH, ibid.) IOW, yes (gh) ** U S A. IBOC now on 980: WTEM is 20.8 miles from me (and they are 50 kw). They absolutely ruined 970 and 990 here this morning. I have a semi-local on 970 (WAMD) that is now impossible to hear without at least some IBOC remnant in the background. While I am not in WAMD's main coverage area, I could hear them easily in the daytime here. I have to wonder if WTEM is now trashing WAMD's signal in WAMD's main coverage area. On 990, I COULD regularly hear two or three stations in the daytime by nulling the others out, now that is virtually impossible. There is also some minimal hash on 1000 which will be annoying in some situations. With WPEN 950 using IBOC, I have IBOC hash on 940, 960, 970, 990, and 1000. So, 960 may now have hash from two stations (Bill Harms, Elkridge MD, Marcy 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. CHRISTIAN RADIO HOST CHARGED WITH DOWNLOADING CHILD PORN By IAN DEMSKY Staff Writer A Nashville midday Christian radio host was arrested by federal agents yesterday and charged with downloading child pornography from the Internet. FBI officials said they found numerous graphic images on the home computer of 94FM The Fish host Chris Ruleman, 40, of Turning Leaf Place in Brentwood. The station's Web site boasts the motto ''Safe for the whole family.'' . . . http://www.tennessean.com/local/archives/05/03/67159826.shtml?Element_ID=67159826 (via Artie Bigley, Brock Whaley, DXLD) ** U S A. RADIO TO FREE YOUR MIND --- By Deanna Larson, March 17, 2005 Getting there What: Radio Free Nashville barn raising with radio production workshops by Prometheus Radio Project When: Apr 1-3 Where: RFN station, 8920 Griffith Road, Pasquo Cost: Free with donation of volunteer time; registration required Info: http://radiofreenashville.org http://prometheusradio.org . . . http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/index.cfm?section_id=9&screen=news&news_id=40018 (via Artie Bigley, OH, DXLD) ** U S A. Finally had a chance to listen to the intriguingly-titled HOBBY RADIO semi-hour on the Radio Reading Service of the Rockies, Sat March 19 at 2130-2158 UT and found they were reading from March MONITORING TIMES, including John Figliozzi`s Programming Spotlight about tsunami, CRI. Audio: http://www.rrsr.org/boulder.pls (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Ralph Nader will co-host "Crossfire" this coming Monday (March 21st) and Wednesday (March 23rd). The show airs at 4:30 pm EST [2130 UT] on CNN (Nader for President 2004 via Clara Listensprechen, DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. (clandestine) SW Radio Africa, received an e-mail from Richard Allfrey richard @ swradioafrica.com It was his program that I heard last Sunday. In part he says, they had a laugh in the office as they wondered if anyone was able to hear their broadcast, seeing as they were being jammed on three frequencies simultaneously in Zimbabwe. So he had started to read out my e-mail about hearing them loud and clear and everyone was excited until he got to the bit about me being in California. ``But it was good to that someone could hear us. I think we are broadcasting on 7 separate channels this evening [Mar 18] as we have heard they only have 3 Chinese made transmitter to block us.`` (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, NRD545, with T2FD antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST SW Radio Africa, 11845, Mar 18, *1600, ID, gives frequencies and time schedule, talks about jamming, into `Newsreel` program. There is jamming here now but could still make out a fair amount of the program. Sent Gerry Jackson (Station Manager) an audio clip of this jamming. She responded in 12 minutes with: "You're an absolute star. Thanks so much for that. We have just found out that they're experimenting with jamming tones and have found a more effective one!" Very nice to be able to interact with the station (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, NRD545, with T2FD antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) SW RADIO AFRICA INTRODUCES ADDITIONAL 90MB FREQUENCY According to the website of SW Radio Africa, the independent station broadcasting to Zimbabwe which is currently being jammed, an additional 90 metre band frequency of 3300 kHz will be used intermittently over the weekend between 1600 and 1900 UTC. The station now gives its schedule as follows: In the 90 metre band: Intermittent* 3230 kHz, Intermittent* over weekend 3300 kHz In the 60 metre band: Intermittent* 4880 kHz In the 49 metre band: 1800-2100 [1600-1900 UTC] 6145 kHz In the 25 metre band: 1800-1900 [1600-1700 UTC] 11845 kHz, 1900-2000 [1700-1800 UTC] 11705 kHz, 2000-2100 [1800-1900 UTC] 11995 kHz. * Try these frequencies during the broadcast times. We do not have precise times, 1800-2100, Zim time [1600-1900 UTC]. The station says its new mediumwave broadcasts in the morning are not being jammed. The morning schedule is: 0500-0700 [0300-0500 UTC] on 1197 and 3230 kHz. The station also says that "The mediumwave signal is being improved all the time and country coverage is increasing." Radio SW Afica has added a recording of jamming on 6145 kHz saying that "Many Zimbabwe news outlets are unsure if we are really being jammed. You decide." Listen to the jamming mms://swradioafrica.streamuk.com/swradioafrica_archive/swra_being_jammed.wma # posted by Andy @ 10:54 UT March 19 (Media Network blog via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Re 5-045: Glenn - you are correct in your assumption. These transmissions do not sound the same as known DRM signals. They are not as wide in bandwidth and do not cause the same 'hash' characteristics as do strong DRM signals. A similar sounding transmission to that heard by Wolfgang was heard on about 11864-11866 on March 17th at 0740 - this was before TWR via Albania appeared on 11865. On March 15th fast sounding 'dits' were noted on 9590 at good strength, also around 0740 and before BEL via SKN came up, while on about 9847.5 there was another transmission which I can only describe as an on/off pulsing noise. Whatever these transmissions are, they don't appear to operate to a regular schedule or on the same frequencies each time (Noel R. Green [NW England], dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 9810, 1533-, Mar 19. Who's on this frequency at this time? ILG doesn't list anyone, and yet there are two on right now. One is quite strong, with Indian sounding music (?so is it AIR). About a S9 + 10 signal. Earlier there was an interview in an unknown language, part of which had some American accented English. Washington was heard. Now underneath is a much weaker station with talk. Too weak to hear anything. Ideas? (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ I have been enjoying DXLD and find a lot of great information there. Keep up the great job! Thanks for your input. Have a good weekend! (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###