DX LISTENING DIGEST 5-052, March 24, 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 1268: Fri 0200 WOR ACBRadio Mainstream [repeated 2-hourly thru 2400] Fri 1030 WOR World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.2 Fri 1700 WOR WBCQ after hours Sat 0000 WOR Studio X, Momigno, Italy 1584 87.35 96.55 105.55 Sat 0000 WOR ACBRadio Mainstream Sat 0600 WOR SIUE WEB RADIO Sat 0900 WOR WRN1 to Eu, Au, NZ, WorldSpace AfriStar, AsiaStar, Telstar 12 SAm Sat 0955 WOR WNQM Nashville TN 1300 Sat 1130 WOR WWCR 5070 Sat 1130 WOR World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.2 [NEW] Sat 2030 WOR R. Lavalamp Sun 0330 WOR WWCR 5070 Sun 0400 WOR WBCQ 9330-CLSB Sun 0430 WOR WRMI 7385 Sun 0730 WOR WWCR 3210 [DST shifts in Europe go into effect here:] Sun 0830 WOR WRN1 to North America, also WLIO-TV Lima OH SAP Sun 0830 WOR KSFC Spokane WA 91.9 Sun 0830 WOR WXPN Rhinelander WI 91.7 91.9 100.9 Sun 0830 WOR WDWN Auburn NY 89.1 [unconfirmed] Sun 0830 WOR KTRU Houston TX 91.7 [occasional] 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 1730 WOR WRMI 7385 [from WRN] [NEW] Sun 1730 WOR WRN1 to North America [NEW from March 27] Sun 1900 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 [1267] 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 [also with Week of Confusion and DST schedules] WRN ON DEMAND [from Fri]: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also for CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL] WORLD OF RADIO 1268 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1268h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1268h.rm WORLD OF RADIO 1268 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1268.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1268.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1268.html WORLD OF RADIO 1268 in the true shortwave sound Alex`s mp3: keep checking http://www.piratearchive.com/dxprograms.htm MUNDO RADIAL, marzo-abril: desde el 25 de marzo en WWCR 9985, viernes 2215, martes 2230, miércoles 2200, y desde el 5 de abril una hora más temprana y en 15825. (descargar) http://www.w4uvh.net/mr0503.rm (corriente) http://www.w4uvh.net/mr0503.ram (texto) http://www.worldofradio.com/mr0503.html ** ALAND ISLANDS. FINLAND (Åland) About 603 kHz; This week we are testing our mobile unit of antenna, ATU and transmitter. 500/1500 watt. Planned power 50 kW in the year of 2006. When everything are tuned to the best we go for Åland. We are hiring some piece of land north west of Mariehamn, about 30km from the city. 603 kHz is one of the best frequencies of the Nordic countries, is coordinated to 300 kW. Have a nice Easter. Best From Roy Sandgren Radio 603 AM. http://radionord603am.cjb.net (Excerpt from message by Roy Sandgren via SWEDX mailing list, 23 March 2005 via Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, mwdx yg via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. 6050 (harmonic), R. Mailín, Gregorio de Laferrere, B.A. (5 x 1210). Heard here for 20 days, but just got an ID on Mar 22, 1400+, with ID by woman, echoed, giving contact phone number as 44577204, chamamé mx, promos for music Festivals in the region, like one for "Encuentro de Amigos... 24 de abril, Gregorio de Laferrere". SIO: 3/2 5 3/2, QSB 3 (Horacio Nigro, Montevideo, Uruguay, Kenwood R600, Randomwire 10 meters long, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARMENIA. V. of Armenia, 9965, 1926-1944* March 20, opening English announcements with ID, address, English news, commentary, lite instrumental music, reading listeners` letters. IDs as both V. of Armenia and Public Radio of Armenia. Good (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. WORLD MUSIC IS ONE MAN'S OYSTER. By Andra Jackson. When young Philadelphia-born Reuben Gosfield received money from his grandmother for his 14th birthday, it came with the exhortation "don't spend it all at the record store". He didn't, but even today, at 53, he says, "I remember being so impressed by this man who walked into the store and spent about $50 on records from all over the world." Decades later, Gosfield is able to emulate that man, liberally collecting recordings from the most far-flung regions of the globe - and getting paid for it. As the laid-back ABC Radio National presenter Lucky Oceans, he has kept thousands of listeners tuned in to world music developments for the past nine years. On his show The Planet, Oceans has introduced them to music that ranges from Russian Tuvan throat singing to Mali singer and guitarist Ali Farka Toure to Japanese bamboo flute master Tajima Tadashi. . . http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2005/03/23/1111254040062.html?oneclick=true (via Richard Cuff, swprograms via DXLD) Formerly on R. Australia (gh) ** AUSTRALIA. Interesting program this week on digital radio. Available in audio and transcript form below. For my money, Media Report is among the best of this genre. Worth checking out just about every week (John Figliozzi, dxldyg via DXLD) Radio National's Media Specialist Newsletter 24 - 30 March, 2005 Home page: abc.net.au/rn/ Going Digital (Media Report: 24/03/2005) http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/mediarpt/stories/s1329768.htm Radio – the medium of the crystal set and ancient receivers the size of a small car – is going high-tech. The Government will shortly decide how to divvy up the digital spectrum. This week on the Media Report, we talk to the runners and riders. Transcript and Audio available: http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/mediarpt/ (Radio National's Media Specialist Newsletter 24 - 30 March, 2005 via John Figliozzi, dxldyg via DXLD) ** BANGLADESH [non]. Dear Listener, RVA [PHILIPPINES] Bengali Section is going to air a special program on the occasion of Bangladesh's Independence Day 26 March. On this day RVA will present a special program "Liberation war and one George Das". RVA is heard at 0100-0127 UT on 11790 and 1400-1427 on 11725 kHz. Best regards (via Salahuddin Dolar, Rajshahi, Bangladesh, March 21, DXLD) ** BELGIUM. Glenn, I'm very glad you included the link to the last Radio World program in latest DXLD. I was looking for their webpage because I was hopeful I would find the audio link to their last program. I find this link works better then the one you supplied in DXLD: http://www.rvi.be/rvi_master/uk/programmes/internet/index.html 73s, (Artie Bigley, DX LISTENING DIDGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 4900.4, R. San Miguel, 2225 March 22, talks by OM in Spanish. At 2230 a reference to Cuba, 2242 referring to participants and 2252 with music, mostly rhythmic drums. At 2256 with ID 'San Miguel' followed by a song. Signal S7 32333, best in narrow AM. QRM Xinjiang 4905 and carrier on 4900. Seems off frequency (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, WORLD OF RADIO 1268, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOTSWANA. Re VOA QSL confusion: Apparently they weren't provided the correct details. I recently received a package with QSL card for a report of VOA-Botswana, 4930, *0330+ for reception of Studio 7. The card had full-data except for "transmitter" where the note "Time and Frequency doesn't match. Please recheck and try again". I resent the report with a copy of the Feb. 14 VOA press release announcing the new schedules for 4930 and 6080-São Tomé. Attached is the VOA`s reply (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: Dear Scott, We are very sorry for the mix-up. It appears that we used a frequency schedule which did not have the latest updates. We are very grateful that you brought this to our attention. Another listener also sent us a similar reception report. This time, thanks to you, we were able to correctly fill out his QSL card. Your corrected QSL card should arrive shortly. All the best, VOA Audience Mail Staff (via Barbour, ibid.) ** BRAZIL. 3385, Radio Guarujá Paulista, Guarujá Paulista, 2320-2332, Marzo 21, Portugués. Programa de música melódica brasileña, con canciones por diferentes intérpretes. 24432 en paralelo con los 5045 Khz (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, radioescutas via DXLD) After 3 weeks I received a verification letter from R Guarujá Paulista. I reported the station on both 3235 and 5045, however only the frequency of 3235 was verified. Also I received some tourist information folders and stickers (Max Van Arnhem, Holland, Mar 09, DSWCI DX Window March 23 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. R. Cultura, São Paulo, 17814.89, 2210-2235+ March 20, lite jazz music, romantic ballads, Portuguese announcements. Weak; better on \\ 9614.98 (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) A het presumably from that on 16m here around 2130 March 24 (gh, OK) ** CANADA. Glenn, just a note to let your readers in the East know that CBA 1070 Moncton will be off the air Wednesday night from midnight until 5 am Atlantic Time Thursday. That`s Thursday March 24, 2005 from 0400 to 0900 UT. This is for maintenance that was previously cancelled due to a snow storm (Wade Smith, New Brunswick, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) CBA 1070 Moncton is still on well past 1 am local time. The weather shouldn't be a factor tonight for their maintenance. I heard the off time mentioned on the province wide Main Street program out of Saint John Tuesday afternoon, they first said it would be that evening, then just before the World at Six they said it would be Wednesday night. They also announced it on the program Wednesday afternoon. Will have to see what they say tomorrow (Wade Smith, New Brunswick, 0541 UT March 24, ibid.) ** CANADA [non]. Re SCTV: Too bad TVLand's only showing these on Friday nights. THE ONE I DON'T HAVE ON TAPE (from NBC late-night) BUT WISH I DID: The first SCTV I ever saw was something about the Butch Grant Show and 2 Zany Ambulance Drivers; an SCTV News segment where Earl Camembert kept interrupting Floyd Robertson's news item, then starts to get mad when the picture supposedly accompanying his own news item doesn't appear, then Earl loses it when he realizes the crew forgot his "marking pencil" (then a whole bunch of them cascade on his head and an arrow keeps pointing at him). Following was (I believe) a promo for Ted & Edna Boil's Organ Emporium. Last segment was about "Rockin' Mel Slurp" learning a new disco-dance bit from a slovenly- dressed Cher-type. KKS (Keith K. Smith, MI, March 22, WTFDA via DXLD) ** CHINA. RADIO GUANGDONG --- Hi all, Thanks to a message in HCDX around Christmas time I listened to my first ever online transmission, Guangdong Today, http://www.wrn.org on an Internet station, Radio Guangdong in China. The station asked for greetings ``from the world`` because of their celebration of ``55 Glorious Years of Radio Guangdong``. So I sent them my greetings, and in my e-mail I also included a picture of myself in my radio ``chamber``. Yesterday I got one of the nicest and biggest envelopes I have ever got as a DX-er (48 more or less radio active years). The content was fabulous: A letter from the director, two nice calendars picturing ``The Year of the rooster``, two CD-records with ``Touching Melodies`` and ``Sentimental String`` (very nice Chinese music and songs) and a DVD with lots of interesting stuff: A live greeting in English by the director, a slide with the ``Greetings from Overseas Audiences`` (including ``yours sincerely`` – first time ever on a DVD!), the History of Radio Guangdong and live pictures from the anniversary party. I also got a QSL card, but it included no details, evidently because I had listened to them via their streaming audio. All together a really nice and interesting surprise, thanks to HCDX! You can watch their English service website: http://www.radio-gd.com/English and write to radioguangdong @ yahoo.com.cn 73 from (Björn Fransson, DX-ing on the island of Gotland, Sweden, HCDX via DXLD) ** CHINA [and non]. China is more open personally, but as far as state media (and most is state, except in Shanghai, Guangzhou and a few small other places where a private station is allowed), they are as closed as ever they were. The staff no longer wear Mao jackets, but they have one in the closet if they have to. The control is internalized. Most know how far they can go, even in Hong Kong where the minor press is slavish to the Beijing line. What you find in domestic press is : "Newspapers now report previously taboo subjects such as industrial accidents and social problems, but sensitive subjects, such as the death in January of ousted leader Zhao Ziyang, can be buried on back pages and left off broadcasts altogether." See more at http://google.sh/news?hl=en&ned=us&ie=ISO-8859-1&ncl=http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp%3Fxfile%3Ddata/theworld/2005/March/theworld_March595.xml%26section%3Dtheworld including Linkname: China cracks down on rogue journalists http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2005-03-23T032204Z_01_JON312081_RTRUKOC_0_CHINA-REPORTERS.xml and Linkname: Rules issued to ensure fair journalism http://english.eastday.com/eastday/englishedition/nation/userobject1ai956611.html The Reuters story above mentions the "warning shot" at the very popular Southern Weekend paper "Last year a former editor-in-chief of China's best-selling newspaper was jailed for 12 years for corruption and another editor was held for five months without charge, drawing fire from critics who said aggressive journalists were being silenced." So while the domestic press is bold enough to take on petty corruption, and with a signal, larger pieces, they let the party line speak for itself. It is not as Stalinist? as it once was, yet the iron fist is in the velvet glove if necessary. There are more outlets at the provincial and state level. Not the thousand channel universe but not the 2 channels only in big cities of a few decades ago. But the glut of media from every organization, ministry and regional and city or provincial group has proved uneconomic, so the government, sparing a half dozen party organs, has deemed that most papers should close if not economic and that forced subscriptions to the Nat Enq and NY Post shall cease. Other broadcast media have been forced into business conglomerates to be able to compete, including with a promised media opening under the WTO. Radio has gone out to be commercial and hit niches such as traffic, music, but the news all is filtered -- and read -- from the Xinhua teletype with only local stories reported live and with a local touch. Good enough for most people, and the wiser ones know what is up and how the press is manipulated. But as the 'mountains are high, and the emperor is very far away' the provinces and Shanghai can get away with a lot. Hunan TV is quite modern and watched all over by domestic satellite. Provincial radio isn't as extended but people do listen to other regional radio where they can receive it. Shortwave listening to the Voices of America, Russia, BBC and Radio Australia give them a perspective and shortwave listening to the Chinese, not the World or English Services, is common. Bringing it back to shortwave, Chinese media don't dare phrase or cover stories in the western way when they have been given moral guidelines or it involves a Chinese external relation affairs. Nor will any notice be made of most politicians except the major leaders and spokespersons. Otherwise you'll just hear about the "Ministry said...." which the inner circle will have agreed is the line. Pick up a copy of Media, market, and democracy in China : between the party line and the bottom line / Yuezhi Zhao Published Urbana [Ill.] : University of Illinois Press, c1998 Contents 1. Party Journalism in China: Theory and Practice -- 2. The Trajectory of Media Reform -- 3. Media Commercialization with Chinese Characteristics -- 4. Corruption: The Journalism of Decadence -- 5. Broadcasting Reform amidst Commercialization -- 6. Newspapers for the Market -- 7. Toward a Propagandist/Commercial Model of Journalism? -- 8. Challenges and Responses -- 9. Media Reform beyond Commercialization (Dan Say, BC, swprograms via DXLD) OK, I have been following the debate here in regards to CRI comparing to VOA/BBC/propaganda/etc. There is one big difference: If a VOA, BBC, and a CRI reporter do a story on, say, the Falug Gong, guess which one of those reporters is going to see the police at their door and be taken downtown for some questioning and government lodging? (To say nothing of losing their job _just for performing their journalistic duties._) It's a no-brainer! I don't trust Xinhua and anything that comes out of their mouth --- for reasons I have covered here previously. They're nasty people. I would much rather tune to VOA or BBC for at least some resemblance of debate and opinion, and not CP propaganda. Besides, unless one's been under a rock for the past 16 or 17 years or so, the CP has been pretty much out of business, or in a diminished role where they held government sway previously. Just my opinion --- your mileage may vary (Maryanne Kehoe, swprograms via DXLD) I agree with you with respect to *degree* viz. BBC, VOA, CRI. But make no mistake that about the depth of pressure that has been placed on BBC and VOA reporters when the political leaders in each sponsoring country feel the sting of reportage they don't want. The VOA is being systematically dismembered because it alone has a Charter, carrying the force of law, that requires its reporting to tell the truth as opposed to trumpeting the government line. BBC managers were fired when their reporters had the temerity to report the truth about what happened in the lead-up to the Iraq war, regardless of what was said by dottering old judge (Hutton) dragged out of retirement because he would be only too pleased to carry the government's water.) Is there a difference? Yes. But mostly with respect to subtlety. The danger is the same, only much closer to home than China (John Figliozzi, ibid.) "We shouldn't try to impose our way of life on the Chinese... for God's sake stop preaching to the Chinese." Oh, so the Chinese people don't deserve the same rights as I do to listen to foreign broadcasts or look at foreign web sites? Human rights are universal. The Chinese deserve the same rights as me. Those who deny them such rights are not resisting "cultural imperialism", they are squalid tyrants. Those in the west who defend such tyranny are, at best, dupes or muddle-heads. The Chinese authorities want an asymmetrical media relationship with the rest of the world. They want their point of view to be widely accessed through their own very large transmitter network, plus extensive international transmitter hirings and local rebroadcasts (e.g. Spectrum Radio in London). But they take active measures (shortwave jamming, Internet blocking) to stop their own citizens from hearing outside voices (Chris Greenway, UK, March 24, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ANALYSIS: CHINA CRACKS DOWN ON MEDIA CORRUPTION | Text of editorial analysis by BBC Monitoring Media Services on 23 March China says it will introduce new measures barring journalists from reporting if they are found to have made up stories or taken bribes. The rules also set out guidelines on how to avoid conflicts of interest, and are aimed at "maintaining justice, authenticity and objectivity in news reporting", according to the official Chinese news agency Xinhua. Journalists could be banned from reporting for five years, or even for life if the offence leads to a criminal penalty. The measures were issued by the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and two media regulators - the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television and the General Administration of Press and Publication. Xinhua said the new rules forbid reporters and editors "from taking advantage of news coverage to seek illicit benefits or taking gifts that might influence their writing. They are also prohibited from operating businesses or taking concurrent jobs at other press or economic organizations... People who impersonate reporters will be given `severe penalties'. Journalists who are bribed to report unjustly or write stories with false information can have their press cards revoked and be barred from news writing for five years... Meanwhile, they also warn reporters, editors, producers, anchorpersons and announcers not to get involved in advertisement deals. They are forbidden from forcing interviewees to subscribe to their newspapers or periodicals or to buy ads and from providing financial support by publishing praise or criticism." According to the rules, journalists should "embrace and support the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party and the socialist system", reinforce stability and support the country's opening and reform policies, the Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post noted. They also require journalists to firmly follow Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory and Jiang Zemin's Theory of the Three Represents as their guiding principles, the paper added. "A dog serving two masters" A BBC correspondent says it is unclear when the measures will come into effect. Francis Markus, BBC correspondent in Shanghai, reported: "Driven by the need to sell newspapers and advertising space, China's media has been increasingly turning into what one local journalist called `a dog serving two masters - not just the Communist Party, but also the market'. "The result has been a steady surge towards sensationalism among some of China's once staid newspapers. The latest announcement from Beijing's regulatory authorities seems to be aimed at addressing some of the side effects." Reactions to the measures are likely to be mixed, amidst widespread cynicism among the Chinese public about journalistic ethics and suspicion of reporters' roles, Markus added. He wrote: "The regulations will also stir fears among those trying to write about abuses of power or corruption that they could be targeted. A number of high-profile journalists have already been detained in cases which international media rights groups warn are centred on their bold reporting of touchy issues." "Tighter control" The South China Morning Post quoted a mainland media observer as saying that, together with the recent renewal of reporters' licences, the regulations were another gesture by the mainland authorities to tighten control over the media. But he predicted it would be difficult for the authorities to wipe out the practice of journalists taking bribes, saying: "Paid journalism has been a prevalent phenomenon on the mainland. A lot of media outlets have to rely on it as a source of income, otherwise they might not be able to pay their staff properly." The regulations also reflected concerns that the reputation of the mainland's media had deteriorated to such a level "that the government realised it can't sit back and do nothing," the unidentified observer added. The Ministry of Information Industry has also banned the print media from using content posted in weblogs, the paper recalled. China has about 150,000 journalists, according to Xinhua. More than 70,000 write for newspapers and magazines, over 60,000 work in broadcasting and TV, and the rest work for news agencies. Source: BBC Monitoring research 23 Mar 05 (via DXLD) ** CONGO DR [non]. R. Okapi, 11690, *0400-0430+ March 18, opening sign-on announcements with ID, French talk, many Radio Okapi IDs and ``Okapi`` jingles, Afro-pops. Good (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) SOUTH AFRICA/CONGO-KINSHASA, 11690, Radio Okapi via Sentech, 0525- 0544, March 24, French. Interview to male. Instrumental music. Talk in French. 24442. Is impossible hear the sign-off because at 0555 UT is only NHK World in English in the frequency with very strong signal (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, HCDX via DXLD) I previously noted the same problem with Japan, which is not supposed to be on 11690 until 0600. Is GUF turning on R. Japan with a timer running fast in the middle of the Guianan night? There has also been a report that R. Japan relays END five minutes early! I have not noted exactly when NHK transmitter comes on. Perhaps a warm-up is in order, but not with modulation, the tail end of the 0500 broadcast. Just another operational error at Montsinéry (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DJIBOUTI. Rdif. Télévision de Djibouti, reactivated 4780, 0314- 0335+ March 20, tune-in to talk in unID language, Horn of Africa type music, 0330 ID. Good (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RTD with fantastic signal here at 1800 on reactivated 4780 (Chris Hambly, Victoria, UT March 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yep, heard this Monday morning here in Peakhurst on 4780, good level at 1800 to 1830 UT in African language. But the music --- yes, I can remember hearing this station in the 70's playing the same distinctive music. As soon as I heard the music I realised that this is the station. Anyway it`s out there, so you have a chance of a new country for most of you, and me for a QSL. Regards (Johno Wright, Australia, and Happy Easter, ARDXC via DXLD). 4780, 0359, RTD Djibuti, here with apparent Afar talk followed by indigenous music. QRM from English numbers station 0416 and heavy ute QRM later. Y-nak Mar 24th 4780, 1820, RTD Djibuti, good signal with indigenous music, Kor`an 1950 and sign-off after breif closing announcement 2000. Y-nak Mar 24th (From Bryan Clark and Paul Ormandy, using AR7030+ and assorted longwires, Waianakarua trail, ripple via DXLD) There are two principal languages in the Republic of Djibouti: Somali (300,000 speakers) of the Issa tribe, and Afar (100,000 speakers). The official languages are French and Arabic (Anker Petersen, DSWCI DX Window March 23 via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. Dear Allen, This is Tim Hendel, in Huntsville, Alabama. I wrote to you a few years ago, though you may not remember. Thank you for clarifying the hours of the Warani and Cofán broadcasts on 6050. In fact, I have fairly good reception of those programs at the moment. I expect this to change as we move into summer, with more daylight. I think a feature about these indigenous languages would be very interesting to the listeners of DXPL. Perhaps you could interview some of the presenters, who are they, etc. I imagine they speak Spanish, so you could interview them and translate. What is the content of these two programs? Are they limited to western-style Christian preaching, or do they also talk about issues of concern to local people, such as health care and agriculture? Is one of these languages the same as the Auca language? I know the "Auca Story" of the missionaries killed in 1956. I would also like to know more about your Quichua (Quechua?) programs. You have mentioned, in passing, that you broadcast in various "dialects" of Quichua. How much difference is there among these dialects, and when are the various programs on? There is one Quichua speaker whom I have often heard in the evening on 9745 who sounds to me as if he is a North American; his Quichua sounds accented to me, even though I don't understand the language. Who is this person? Maybe you could interview him some time. This would also make an interesting program. Now, Allen, I have another issue, which you may feel is outside the format and content of DXPL, though you might like to give your point of view on "Tips for Real Living," some time. What are the ethical considerations involved in beaming a Christian program to a very isolated group, such as the Warani or Cofán. Put in plain language, is this a fair and moral thing to do? In the minds of many indigenous people, western style Christianity is deeply associated with what is perceived by local people to be the more advanced civilization of the "west," I.E. everything from better medicine to electricity, motor bikes and radios. Does the average Warani speaker have the same opportunity that a listener in urban Quito or New York might have to evaluate your gospel message and decide for himself whether or not he wishes to accept it? Does the average Cofán speaker even know that not everyone in the "west" accepts your style of Christianity, and, if this listener does not know this, is it your duty to present these options, or do you present the Christian religion as an integral part of all "western" civilization? I realize that this is a big topic, but, I think it merits some thought and discussion. I do enjoy the program, and rarely miss it. 73, (Tim Hendel, Huntsville, Alabama, March 23, to Allen Graham, HCJB, cc to DXLD) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. GUINEA ECUATORIAL, 5005, Radio Nacional, Bata -- - esta emisora cada vez está más horas en el aire. Escuchada entre las 1930 y las 2133 con música vernácula, identificación a las 2009 por locutora: "Radio Bata", "Radio Nacional Guinea Ecuatorial". A las 2100 presenta un boletín de noticias local en la que escuché la noticia de que un ministro visitó los centros transmisores de Radio Malabo y Radio Bata y se le planteó la necesidad de dotar al centro transmisor de Malabo de un teléfono, así como de vigilancia, debido a varios robos que se cometieron allí ultimamente. El boletín local termina a las 2114: "Señores hasta aquí las noticias de Radio Bata" y a continuación tienen las noticias deportivas del país. 24322 y por momentos 34333. (Marzo 22). Respecto a la pregunta que hace Adán González, de Catia la Mar, Venezuela en DX LISTENING DIGEST 5-051, March 22, 2005, sobre política QSL de Radio Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial, por lo que yo sé al respecto, la política de esta emisora sobre envío de confirmaciones, es de lo peor que existe. Antes de estar inactiva por un largo tiempo en los 5003-5004 kHz, yo envié varios informes de recepción, siempre con la ayuda de 1 US $ para el sello de retorno y nunca he recibido respuesta. Muchos otros colegas se han quejado de lo mismo. Incluso he leído, hace años, de a un colega, que el director de la emisora le había pedido 10 US $ para enviarle una QSL. Y si consultamos la página archivo de recepción de confirmaciones "QSL Infortation Page" http://www.schoechi.de/af-gne.html#R%20Nacional%20Malabo vemos que sólo hay registradas 2 confirmaciones de esta emisora, una del año 1988 y otra del año 2002. Y lo mismo se puede decir de Radio Nacional, Malabo, cuando transmitía en los 6250 kHz (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, March 23, WORLD OF RADIO 1268, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hola compañeros, yo cuando reactivan esta emisora o la capto en Cartagena (España), sólo me alegro porque puedo volver a escuchar en español una voz desde el Occidente Africano, porque lo de la QSL ya lo tengo olvidado ya que he mandado al igual que mi amigo Manuel Méndez un montón de informes con su respectivo dólar durante muchos muchos años y lo único que puedo decir es que esta emisora es la peor verificadora del panorama radial y además los que están a cargo de la correspondencia son unos irresponsables y unos manguis (ladrones para el que no reconozca este localismo), ya que no sé cuantos dolares se habrán embolsado de todos los diexistas, con lo que se ha embolsado dicho Señor o Señora en Guinea Ecuatorial ha tenido para hacerse un chalet de lujo, así que si queréis mandar informes, mandarlos al igual que hago yo pero a esta emisora ya no le meto un dólar en el sobre ni loco, total da igual que le mandes dólar que no, el fin es el mismo, si le mandas dólar se lo queda el responsable y no te verifica y si no se lo mandas, tampoco te verifica. Bueno, un saludo desde el Sureste de España de vuetro colega y amigo (JOSE HERNANDEZ MADRID, Noticias DX via DXLD) 5005, 23/3 R. Bata, 2036-2120, español, se identifica "Sintonizan Radio Bata, radio dos, una emisora de la radiodifusion de Guinea Ecuatorial", música local y pop, noticias y cuñas publicitarias. Emiten desde las 0500 a 2400 hora local, (0400-2300 UT), anuncian emitir por las frecuencias de 5005 kHz en Onda Corta y por la FM; a las 2100 UT conectan con Radio Malabo y emiten un boletín de seis minutos. SINPO 44433 (José Miguel Romero, Sacañet (Castellon), España Sangean, ATS-909, Antena hilo de siete metros, ibid.) 5005: Thanks to Zacharias and Max, I also heard it at 1820-2203*, Mar 22, talks in Bubi - the Bantu language spoken on the island of Fernando Po. I could recognize the language which was similar to that related Bantu language the natives talked near my bungalow in São Tomé two years ago! 1838 typical Congolese Afropop, 1900 talk in another native language, probably the mainland Fang which had several heavily accented French words included. A woman read names 1920-1929. More nice Afropop, 1953 an ad in Spanish, 2100 Hymn and news and reports in Spanish from Equatorial Guinea and Bata, mentioned "Radio Malabo" and at close ID: "Radio Bata", 2154 Afropop, signed off 2159 with "Arriba la República de Guinea Ecuatorial" and the wellknown very long national hymn lasting three minutes! Some audio breaks; slight CWQRM, though 2145-2156 severe CWQRM, but else good signal, 44333 improving to 45444! (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window March 23 via DXLD) ** FINLAND. Scandinavian Weekend Radio's next transmission starts 1st April 21 hours UT. (So we are already in Summer time then, that's really HOT!) All bands are in use, 25 mb (11690/11720 kHz), 48 mb (5980/5990/6170 kHz). and MW 187 meters 1602 kHz. more info: http://www.swradio.net Postal address of SWR is: P. O. Box 99, FI- 34801 VIRRAT, Finland. Rock it baby! (Alpo Heinonen, Scandinavian Weekend Radio, March 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) More than a week`s notice! (gh) ** GERMANY [non]. The Deutsche Welle A05 schedules in DX press mention a new relay from Montsinéry, GUF. However, the PDF A05 schedules which now can be downloaded from the DW website http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,435653,00.html do not mention any use of this site! The corresponding frequencies are shown to be aired from Bonaire. Now which version is correct? And could please somebody post (or email to me) the "updated" VT (BBC) A05 schedules which no longer show Antigua? Find the current overall shortwave schedule on http://www.eibi.de.vu/ (Eike Bierwirth, 04317 Leipzig, DL, March 23, dxldyg via DXLD) They are from Bonaire. The official information from Deutsche Welle is correct. The RNW engineering schedule is being finalised today, and will be published ASAP, latest by tomorrow, and will show these transmissions. The confusion results from the leaking of internal working documents to the DX press :-) (Andy Sennitt, Radio Netherlands, ibid.) See NETHERLANDS ANTILLES ** GOA. 7250, AIR-Panaji, a friendly "almost a QSL" letter, from S. Jayaraman, Superintending Engineer, ``We are grateful to you for the detailed reception report sent by you`` and saying they have sent my report to New Delhi for verification. In 6 weeks. Although it`s ``almost a QSL,`` still nice to get a letter direct from Goa, with some stamps on the envelope (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, NRD545, with T2FD antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREENLAND. The relays of Greenlandic Radio (KNR) on 3815 USB are a service provided by Ammassalik Radio (OZL), the costal maritime station of the Greenlandic PTT in Tasiilaq. 3815 is not a KNR transmitter; KNR is renting air time (2:30h/day) on the facilities of Amassalik Radio to broadcast news in Greenlandic and Danish for the fishery fleet. Acc. to Ammassalik Radio, the times of the broadcasts will shift to 1400-1515 and 2000-2115 from 27 March when Greenland starts observing DST (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 7234.6v, RRI Palu, West Papua, 0750-0805*, Mar 06, Bahasa Indonesia, ID's at 0755 and 0758, only a few words and music heard because of strong splatter from Singapore on 7235. 7289.9v, RRI Nabire, West Papua, 0800 (fade in)-0820v*, Bahasa Indonesia, relay RRI Jakarta with "Warta Berita" (news), 0810 ID and popular music. Very strong splatter from 7280. Very rare catch here! (Roland Schulze, Philippines, DSWCI DX Window March 23 via DXLD) ** ISLE OF MAN. Hi all, New LW station from Isle of Man using the old Laser ship the MV Communicator is opening this summer with DJ Emperor Rosko and others lined up. Info below from Hans Knott (Cyril Willis, MWC via DXLD) viz.: It was way back in 1999 that I wrote the first article about the plans from Music Mann to start a long wave radio station transmitting from the Isle of Man to Great Britain and Ireland and of course their signal would come in to several countries at the European Continent. Years of struggle and court cases have gone by and finally the owners IoMBC got permission to get the station on the air. Without going into much detail I’ve the privilege to bring the news that probably this summer the station will finally come on the air on 279 kilohertz long wave as well as on digital radio and internet. The starting date also depends on the work which is done onboard the MV Communicator. Yes, the company is the new owner of the former radio ship which was once used by Laser 730, Laser 558 and Laser Hot Hits but also in Holland by Veronica. It’s possible to put some money in this private company and if you’re interested to pay a small amount or more (depends on your spending) you can make contact with: Isle of Man International Broadcasting plc St Pauls Square, Ramsey, Isle of Man, UK IM8 3LF http://www.iomib.com The idea will be that the Communicator will be partly the home for the new station with a 100 kW transmitter, which will be built into the ship. For the first time since the Marine Offences Act became law there will be a legal offshore radio station on the air soon. The ship will be anchored in Ramsey Bay and have also live broadcasts. I can mention you exclusively three names of deejays who could be heard live from international waters way back in the sixties on Radio Caroline and who will take part in the new venture too: The Emperor Rosko, ‘Ugly’ Ray Teret and Mick Luvzit’. So exciting news and I do wish Paul Rusling, the initiator behind this project, a lot of success with his team to make the station a big success (via Cyril Willis, MWC via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN. 6315.3, R Roj, 0500-0515, Mar 19, Kurmanji Kurdish announcement and two clear ID's, sounding like: "Aidee Radio Rozh", 0502 non stop Kurdish songs. Heard best in LSB due to CWQRM, 23332, but fading out quickly 0515. Heard again 0455-0615, Mar 20, with much later fade out! Mostly non-stop Kurdish songs. The fade out pattern was very similar to that of the Voice of Iraqi Kurdistan, Salah al- Din, Northern Iraq which was heard at the same time. Together with direction finding that indicates that the same transmitter location may be used (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window March 23 via DXLD) ** MAURITANIA. 4845.0, R.M., Mar 24, 0228 to still there 0310, in Arabic & French, phone-in program, African music, some pop music. On late, with good-fair reception (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, NRD545, with T2FD antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 6185, Radio Educación, escuchada entre las 0805 y las 0840. Entre las 0805 y las 0830 con música clásica ininterrumpida y luego, a partir de las 0830 con canciones en español. SINPO 24322 deteriorándose al final hasta desaparecer la señal por ser ya muy de día en España. (Marzo 24). Radio Educación sigue siendo la emisora mexicana que mejor y más facilmente se escucha en España, sobre todo en horas del amanecer, una vez que cierra Radio Vaticano en la misma frecuencia, y casi siempre con programas musicales (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, March 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I believe Vatican is scheduled to close a lot earlier on 6185 in the A season. I love XEPPM`s music after 0500 (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) Radio Mil resulta muy difícil de escuchar en los 6010, por entrar mucho más fuerte la colombiana La Voz de tu Conciencia en la misma frecuencia, aunque hoy me pareció escucharla a las 0832, con canciones y locutor presentándolas. Señal muy débil SINPO 14211. Hoy no se escuchaba La Voz de tu Conciencia, que normalmente transmite comentarios religiosos en esta banda horaria. Tampoco se sinotizaba Marfil Stereo en 5910; no sé si por estar hoy inactivas o por mala propagación Colombia-Europa (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, March 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Es verdad que Radio Mil se escucha muy mal últimamente, pero no es por la interferencia de LV de tu Conciencia (esa emisora suele estar algo por encima de su frecuencia nominal lo que permite con un buen receptor sintonizar ambas emisoras a la vez) pero es cierto que la señal de Radio Mil ha bajado mucho en comparación con años anteriores, talvez debido a problemas con su transmisor. 73, (Enzio Gehrig, Denia /Spain (38.50N-000.07E) NRD535D/IC-R8500/IC-R75/R5000 Dipole/ALA1530/RF Systems MTA, ibid.) ** MEXICO [non]. BONILLA CROSS-BORDER MICROWAVE APPARENTLY LIGHTS UP WITHOUT FCC AUTHORITY Jaime Bonilla's Chula Vista studio was reportedly inspected by the FCC on March 9, 2005, and it appears that Mr. Bonilla was operating a cross-border studio-to-transmitter microwave link at the time but without FCC authority to do so (see CGC #678), and that he is continuing to operate that link today without proper authority. According to a Bonilla statement filed with the FCC after the inspection, his multiplexed microwave system feeds his three Tijuana- area AM stations: XESS, XESDD and XEKTT. In a bold move, the microwave is being kept on the air for now - apparently without a permit - while Mr. Bonilla asks the Commission for an STA to keep the system going so his audiences won't "suffer what may turn out to be a prolonged disruption of valued program service." As CGC Communicator readers know, Mr. Bonilla has angered ABC and others to the point where they have asked the Commission to revoke his U.S. broadcast licenses and construction permit (see CGC #634). This microwave episode, if the system is truly unlicensed as Bonilla's own STA request strongly suggests, will only add fuel to the fire. The first URL below is a shortcut to the Bonilla STA request. The second URL will produce the complete March 18 Bonilla filing consisting of the STA request and a resubmission of his previously dismissed microwave application. STA Request Alone: http://tinyurl.com/594ps Complete Application: http://tinyurl.com/6tr36 (CGC Communicator March 23 via Kevin Redding, AZ, ABDX via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS [and non]. Radio Nederland español A05 Esquema en español de Radio Nederland - Temporada A05 UTC 1100-1127 B6165 kHz Caribe/Cuba 1130-1157 B6165 kHz Sudamérica (noroeste) 1200-1227 B9715, B9895 kHz Centroamérica/México, Sudamérica (noroeste) 2300-2357 F9895 kHz Sudamérica (sur) 0000-0157 F9895, A11900, B15315 kHz Sudamérica (norte y sur) 0200-0257 B6165, F7325, B9590 kHz Centroamérica, Caribe, México 0300-0357 B6190 kHz Centroamérica, Caribe, México Las principales novedades en este esquema A05 son el uso de la banda de 41 metros (7325 kHz) hacia el Norte de Sudamérica y la utilización de la estación repetidora en la isla de Ascension (11900 kHz) hacia el Sur de Sudamérica. Las frecuencias subrayadas indican que son operadas por un emisor de 50 kilowatios, en lugar de 250 kilowatios. Dicha operación se hace necesaria debido a nuevos contratos con otras emisoras internacionales como DW, NHK y Radio Internacional de China y a la espera de la instalación de un cuarto emisor de 250 kilowatios que entrará en servicio dentro de un año. Por el momento se hace uso, para ciertas emisiones, del transmisor de baja potencia que es usado a otras horas en modo DRM. Radio Nederland transmite las 24 horas en español y portugués por internet y via satelite Astra, Telstar 12, Panamsat 3, Thaicom3, OptusA3, OptusB3. Con mucho interés esperamos sus informes de recepción correspondientes a todas las emisiones en español. Los mismos son verificados con una nueva serie de tarjetas QSL compuesta de 8 diferentes temas relacionados con las "mañanas holandesas". Cordiales 73 (Jaime Báguena, Director Artístico, Radio Nederland Wereldomroep, March 23, Noticias DX via DXLD) Unfortunately, underlining was lost in text transmission. So it does appear that some of the stations relayed by Bonaire are getting better facilities than RN itself; however, an Ascension relay could be advantageous during that bihour when one Bonaire transmitter is tied up with DW (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Los 50 kW se utilizarán así: 0000-0157 UT B15315 (lamentablemente!, pero para ello contarán en Argentina con la frec. adicional de A11900) 0200-0257 UT B6165 0300-0357 UT B6190 (Jaime Báguena, Bolivia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS ANTILLES. Thanks to Leo van der Woude, and Andy Sennitt, just in from RN is the A-05 transmission schedule, final version, including Bonaire relays of Deutsche Welle, on familiar frequencies, but now from a new site: 2200-2358 15410 ENAm 350 degrees 0000-0158 11955 ENAm 350 0200-0400 9735 CNAm 320 0400-0458 9735 WNAm 290 0500-0600 9735 CNAm 320 And the only BBC WS relay is: 1200-1300 15190 SAm 170 (Glenn Hauser, March 23, WORLD OF RADIO 1268, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEW ZEALAND. RNZI schedule as of March 25, with corrected times: UT NZST 1300-1850 0100-0650 6095 000deg All Pacific 1851-1950 0651-0750 9845 035deg NE Pacific, Fiji, Samoa, Cook Islands 1951-2050 0751-0850 11725 000deg All Pacific 2051-0458 0851-1658 15720 000deg All Pacific 0459-0705 1659-1905 11820 000deg All Pacific, also heard on the USA west coast 0706-1059 1906-2259 9885 000deg All Pacific, also heard mid-west USA 1059-1259 2259-0059 9885 325deg NW Pacific, Bougainville, Timor, Asia, Europe (via Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTHERN MARIANAS. CNMI O&M CONTRACT: The Office of Contracts awarded a contract for the Operation and Maintenance of the Tinian and Saipan broadcast facilities to PAR Rome Research. All the remaining contract offerors (VT Communications, JWK and Astro Systems) have been notified of the award. The CNMI station manager (Michael Thissell) has been designated as the AR/CO for the O&M contract. The contract will become effective on July 1, 2005 (via Aaron Zawitsky, DXLD) ** PARAGUAY [non]. INFORME N 175 Antena de la Amistad, KBS World Radio El próximo sábado 26 de marzo de 2005, a través del programa "Antena de la Amistad" de KBS World Radio, conducido por Sonia Cho y Ramiro Trost, será emitido el Informe N 175 dando comienzo a la serie de micros sobre la radiodifusión en Paraguay. El mencionado informe de aproximadamente 6' incluye el primer encuentro con el Técnico Adán Mur y la visita realizada a ZP20 Radio América de Ñemby. José Holowaty, una figura legendaria de la onda corta, es quien dirige a Radio América. Ustedes podrán refrescar la memoria escuchando la identificación de la desaparecida KGEI La Voz de La Amistad y de Radio América al inconfundible estilo de Holowaty. La primera parte de la entrevista a la que amablemente se prestó el pastor Holowaty cerrará este primer informe desde tierras guaraníes. El esquema de KBS World Radio por onda corta es el siguiente: Para Europa: De 0600 a 0630 UT por los 6045 Khz (S) De 0700 a 0800 UT por los 13670 Khz De 1000 a 1100 UT por los 15210 Khz De 2000 a 2100 UT por los 9515 Khz Para Latinoamérica De 1000 a 1100 UT por los 9580 Khz y 11795 Khz (S) De 1100 a 1200 UT por los 11795 Khz (S) De 0100 a 0200 UT por los 11810 Khz Nota: (S) Sackville, Canadá. Esquema vigente desde el 31/10/2004. En real audio por Internet entrando a http://rki.kbs.co.kr en los siguientes horarios UTC y canales: 2000-2100 - CH1 2100-2200 - CH2 0100-0200 - CH1 1300-1400 - CH2 También en audio por demanda entrando en http://rki.kbs.co.kr haciendo click en Select Language, optando por Spanish, luego Antena-Buzón (abajo a la derecha) y elegir la fecha Marzo 26. El programa se instala uno o dos días después de su emisión por onda corta. Están disponibles los últimos 8 programas emitidos. IMPORTANTE: Todas las cartas, postales y reportes remitidos a KBS World Radio, Casilla de Correo 950, S 2000 WAJ - Rosario, Argentina, hasta el 31 de marzo de 2005 participarán en el último sorteo bimensual, organizado por el Servicio en Español de KBS y el GRA, con interesantes premios. Agradeceré su difusión. Un cordial saludo y hasta la próxima (Rubén Guillermo Margenet, Casilla de Correo 950, S 2000 WAJ - Rosario, ARGENTINA, Tel.: +54 (0)341 4558952 margenet @ arnet.com.ar DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PORTUGAL. Portugal sent the A05 sked along with the news that they would be sending a QSL for my report on Feb. 4 at 2100 of their test on 9615. I'll put the sked here for the next few days: http://www.iserv.net/~n8kdv/A05VEROD.DOC (Steve Lare, Holland, MI USA, March 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SLOVAKIA. Radio Slovakia Int. A05 rearranged from RSI website English 0100-0130 NAm 5930 49 CAm,SAm 9440 31 0700-0730 Aus,SAs 9440 31 Aus,Oc 15460 19 1630-1700 WEu 5920 49 WEu 7345 41 1830-1900 WEu 5920 49 WEu 6055 49 German 0800-0830 WEu 6055 49 WEu 7345 41 1330-1400 WEu 6055 49 WEu 7345 41 1600-1630 WEu 5920 49 WEu 7345 41 1800-1830 WEu 5920 49 WEu 6055 49 French 0200-0230 NAm 5930 49 SAm 9440 31 1700-1730 WEu 5920 49 WEu 7345 41 1930-2000 WEu 5920 49 WEu 6055 49 Russian 1300-1330 EEu,As 9440 31 EEu,As 11990 25 1500-1530 EEu,As 9535 31 EEu,As 11715 25 1730-1800 EEu,As 5920 49 EEu,As 9485 31 Spanish 0230-0300 SAm 11990 25 SAm 9440 31 1430-1500 WEu 9440 31 WEu 11600 25 2000-2030 WEu 6055 49 SAm 11650 25 Slovak 0130-0200 NAm 5930 49 CAm,SAm 9440 31 0730-0800 Aus,SAs 9440 31 Aus,Oc 15460 19 1530-1600 WEu 5920 49 1900-1930 WEu 5920 49 (via Eike Bierwirth, 04317 Leipzig, DL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOMALIA [non]. Re 5-050, I got the R. Horyaal frequency change reversed; should read: 12140 KHz 8:00 - 9:30 PM === Idaacadda waxa laga maqli doonaa majadda dusha ku qoran inta ka horaysa Salaasada 29 March. Maalinta Salaasada ah ee 29 March iyo wixii ka dambeeya waxa laga maqli doonaa oo ay u wareegaysaa 12130 KHz (from http://www.horyaal.net/ March 21 via Glenn Hauser, DXLD) My Somali is a bit rusty (Joe?), but I guess they are saying they change from 12140 to 12130 as of 29 March, which is a Tuesday. Note this says it`s a sesquihour rather than a semihour; 2000 local would be 1700 UT (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1268, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Horyaal, the recently started new target station for Somalia has its own website: http://www.horyaal.net The station's email address is given as radio@horyaal.net (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, March 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) R. Horyaal --- The station was not yet on the air on Mar 20, but strongly heard Tu Mar 22, 1740-1757* on 12140 in Somali, report from a local event with brass band, mentioned in English: "Radio Free, Radio Free". At 1743 studio announcer mentioned Radio Horyaal twice, phone- in interview and a Horn of Africa song. 1748-1750 within these two minutes R Horyall was mentioned four times and Somaliland six times!! 1750 another telephone interview about Somalia and 1756 phone-in of a man talking about Somaliland. At 1757 just open carrier, but at 1800 the Voice of Russia used the transmitter (by error) for the start of the Polish broadcast with ID: "Mowi Moskwa" heard // 7215. However the 12140 transmitter was switched off at 1801! 44554 with slight splashes from 12130 where AWR, Meyerton was broadcasting talks in Masai (45544). (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window March 23 via DXLD) ** SWITZERLAND. Sent an e-mail of protest to Auntie Beeb asking them to reconsider their cutbacks in their Americas' shortwave broadcasts! Look what happened to Swiss Info! They lost their audience, & are now gutting their staff! Way to go, swiftos! 73s from (Sactown-n-Ed Gardner!!!, CA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Looks like the Swiss don't care about a presence online either. http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/Swissinfo.html?siteSect=107&sid=5619527 Switzerland is everywhere. Stay connected ! http://www.swissinfo.org http://www.swisspolitics.org http://www.swissinfo-geo.org (via Martin Gallas, IL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Previous story on swissinfo about its own fate has been expanded and updated, also with a 1:40 video/audio (gh) ** TIBET [non]. TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES PLAGUE NEW VOA TIBETAN PROGRAM It appears that problems plagued the internet webcast version of the March 23 début of VOA's new Tibetan programming. According to VOA publicity, "At 9:00 a.m. (1400 UT) on Wednesday, March 23, the Voice of America débuted Talk to VOA, the first regular TV program offered to Tibetans apart from those produced by broadcasters within the People’s Republic of China. The new, live Tibetan-language television program airs every Wednesday." "Talk to VOA features a newscast, world news reports, and a call-in segment where viewers can discuss major topics of the day. The one- hour Tibetan-language program is broadcast on television via satellite, on shortwave radio, and on the Internet in real time." However, reports from the Tibetan exile community in Europe and Asia say there was no video when the new VOA program was due to air, although audio was carried on shortwave frequencies. Indeed, hours after the VOA Tibetan program "aired" links to the program under the VOA Tibetan website were dead, and the link for the live program remained up on the site (Aaron Zawitzky, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TONGA. TONGA BROADCASTER REJECTS US CRITICISM ON FREEDOM OF RELIGION | Text of report by Tongan magazine Matangi Tonga web site on 23 March The general manager of the Tonga Broadcasting Commission, 'Elenoa 'Amanaki, today rebutted a claim by the US Department of State that the government-owned TBC infringed the human right of freedom of religion. But 'Elenoa also said that TBC's policy on "Jesus Christ" still stands In its 2004 reports on human rights practices in Tonga, the US State Department claimed that the government-owned TBC infringed freedom of religion by not allowing the Baha'i faith and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, LDS, to discuss their faith and to mention the names of their founders, Baha'ullah and Joseph Smith, in their religious programmes. 'Elenoa said that the LDS is a member of the TBC religious committee, which meets once a year to allocate free religious programmes for churches and to discuss other issues regarding religious broadcasts using Radio and Television Tonga. She said that during the recent celebration of the Baha'i faith, Radio and TV Tonga covered the whole week-long event, and the LDS use Radio and TV Tonga in their own Church programmes on Sundays and for other social programmes. Siaosi Moleni, for the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints, said that he was not aware of any restriction on any of their programmes with TBC but he admitted that they do not discuss serious issues such as church doctrine in their programmes. The US State Department report was concerned with a long-standing policy of TBC on Jesus Christ. The TBC policy, as published in 1988, reads: "While it is recognized that there are doctrines peculiar to particular churches, the character of the listening public obliges you to confine your preaching within the limits of the main stream of Christian tradition as contained in the commission's policy guidelines: 1. Preaching to be confined only to the Biblical Jesus, i.e. the Jesus that is taught in the Holy Bible. 2. Preach only the historical Jesus i.e. the Jesus as is accepted in the history of the Bible. 3. It will assist in the peaceful co-existence of all Christians if the respective doctrines of churches are not preached for broadcast purposes, and, 4. Attacks on other churches either directly or implied is an abuse of the privilege as stipulated in this clause." Under this policy the churches are required to practice self- censorship in order to comply with the guidelines for broadcast. The policy contributed to Tonga's continuing "poor" rating for human rights in the annual US report. Source: Matangi Tonga web site, Nuku'alofa in English 23 Mar 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** U K. Guardian Unlimited | FURY AS 2,050 MORE BBC JOBS GO Jason Deans Tuesday March 22, 2005 The Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1442949,00.html The BBC director general, Mark Thompson, has been accused of "ripping the heart out of BBC programme making", as broadcasting unions reacted with fury to his announcement of a further 2,050 job cuts yesterday. The job losses, which amount to a 13% reduction in staffing levels across production and broadcasting departments such as news, sport and drama, were described as "absolutely murderous" by one union official. Broadcasting unions will meet today to consider their formal response to the latest round of BBC cutbacks, but are already threatening industrial action if they lead to compulsory redundancies. Jeremy Dear, National Union of Journalists general secretary, said: "Mark Thompson is ripping the heart out of BBC programme making. Today's figures simply do not add up. They fail to take proper regard as to how money could be saved without axing jobs." Luke Crawley, of the Broadcasting Entertainment Cine matograph and Theatre Union, condemned the cuts as "absolutely murderous." He added: "This is the worst day in the BBC's history." The cuts announced yesterday by Mr Thompson will fall heaviest on the BBC nations and regions, where 735 jobs are to be lost, and BBC News, which is earmarked to lose 420 journalistic and administrative posts. Yesterday's announcement comes two weeks after Mr Thompson unveiled plans to cut 1,730 jobs from the BBC's professional services depart ments, such as legal, human resources and marketing, bringing the total to 3,780. By the time the sell-offs of the Broadcast and Resources commercial subsidiaries are complete, the reduction in the BBC staff will top 6,000. Mr Thompson said these cutbacks, representing 19% of the BBC's UK public service workforce, would help to create annual savings of ?355m by 2008, which would be reinvested in new programming (Guardian via Dan Say, swprograms via DXLD) Auntie under the knife --- The cuts at the BBC have nothing to do with delivering services to an audience or the preservation of a name that money couldn't buy - it merely has to do with applying commercial imperatives to a non-commercial organization and, also, the chance to make a quick buck by cutting Auntie into pieces and selling them off. Doing that to organizations that are (or were) nationalized has proven to be immensely lucrative to the money men - think of Thatcher's England or Yeltsin's Russia. [or VT/Merlin shareholders ---gh] Nothing personal, just that some of the bigger predators in our civilization scent yet another profit to be made. Why else do you think that upper management from the commercial world was allowed in to become BBC upper management? Not to worry - once everything that can be sold off has been, the carcass will be thrown back to the taxpayers to refinance and fatten up again (Lee Reynolds, KD1SQ, swprograms via DXLD) ** U K [non]. BBC JOINING W. 33RD ST. MEDIA HUB http://www.nydailynews.com/business/story/292478p-250404c.html Daily News Exclusive By PHYLLIS FURMAN DAILY NEWS BUSINESS WRITER Turn up the telly, the BBC is opening its first New York bureau. The British broadcaster is moving to 450 W. 33rd St., where it will sublease space from WNET/Ch. 13, BBC execs told the Daily News yesterday. "This will be our journalistic base in New York," BBC New York bureau chief Jeremy Hillman told The News. Some 20 BBC workers are currently spread around a number of Manhattan locations, including the Reuters building in Times Square. They will begin moving to their new W. 33rd St. offices at the end of this week. The BBC is constructing a TV studio and two radio studios on the seventh floor and will also make use of an existing studio and control room on the sixth floor. The building at 33rd St. and 10th Avenue once housed the Sky Rink on its top floor, but has now become media central. In addition to WNET and its sister station WLIW, it houses the Daily News, U.S. News and World Report and The Associated Press, which moved in last year. "It's become a media hub," Hillman said. Starting in June, the BBC will begin broadcasting its flagship financial show, "World Business Report" from the new facility. The program is seen in more than 200 countries around the world. The new studio will also transmit segments of "BBC World News," the nightly news program that airs at 6 p.m. on Channel 13 that is anchored by Tanya Beckett. The move means the BBC and WNET are likely to cooperate on more programs. The two already co-produce foreign affairs and news shows like the international documentary series "Wide Angle." Originally published on March 23, 2005 (via Joel Rubin, NY, swprograms via DXLD) ** U S A. Hi Jeff, I wonder if you know anything further about the new SW applicants in Oregon. I don`t find anything named ``Transformation Media International``. I assume you met the person in the DF. What is their agenda. Primarily religious? Who is advising them? Interesting that they want to be USB from the outset. What is the status of their application at the FCC? Are they connected with any known station or organization? (Glenn to Jeff White, via DXLD) Glenn: The guy behind TMI is named Bob Lund, in Oregon. Yes, it's primarily religious oriented. They have been consulting for a long time with George Jacobs, and I did a bit of consulting for them. I understand they submitted their application to the FCC just before the HFCC in Mexico (Jeff White, FL, March 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. By the way, I may be able to get WRN back on WRMI Saturdays from 1300 to 2300 and Sundays from 1430 to 2100 UT, both on 7385 as of this weekend. (Of course that will be adjusted by an hour when the time changes.) Europa Radio International was supposed to be monthly on Sunday 1900- 2100, but has decided to go weekly one hour instead of monthly two hours (with still a repeat probably on Wednesday)- exact hours to be determined, beginning first weekend in May (Jeff White, WRMI, March 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Let me know if and when WRN is definite. From this Sunday they have me back on in the daytime Sundays at 1730 UT (fixed time), tho I forgot to mention it on this week`s show. 73, (Glenn to Jeff, via DXLD) [Later:] Glenn: It's definite for WRN on weekends. I'd like to get them on certain weekday hours as well, but haven't figured out the technical way to do it yet. That's good news about the 1730 Sunday WOR on WRN. That will give it another airing on WRMI (Jeff White, ibid.) ** U S A. WWCR Transmitter Schedules http://www.wwcr.com/wwcr_transmitter/wwcr_transmitter_schedules.html Summer (A-05) Final Schedule Transmitter #1 - 100 KW FREQ TIME (CST) TIME (UTC) DATES 9.985 4:00AM- 5:00AM 1000-1100 27 Mar 05-02 Apr 05 15.825 5:00AM- 4:00PM 1100-2200 27 Mar 05-02 Apr 05 7.465 4:00PM- 6:00PM 2200-0000 27 Mar 05-02 Apr 05 3.210 6:00PM- 4:00AM 0000-1000 27 Mar 05-02 Apr 05 9.985 4:00AM- 5:00AM 0900-1000 03 Apr 05-31 May 05 15.825 5:00AM- 5:00PM 1000-2200 03 Apr 05-31 May 05 7.465 5:00PM- 7:00PM 2200-0000 03 Apr 05-31 May 05 3.210 7:00PM- 4:00AM 0000-0900 03 Apr 05-31 May 05 9.985 4:00AM- 5:00AM 0900-1000 01 Jun 05-31 Aug 05 15.825 5:00AM- 5:00PM 1000-2200 01 Jun 05-31 Aug 05 7.465 5:00PM- 8:00PM 2200-0100 01 Jun 05-31 Aug 05 3.210 8:00PM- 4:00AM 0100-0900 01 Jun 05-31 Aug 05 9.985 4:00AM- 5:00AM 0900-1000 01 Sep 05-29 Oct 05 15.825 5:00AM- 5:00PM 1000-2200 01 Sep 05-29 Oct 05 7.465 5:00PM- 7:00PM 2200-0000 01 Sep 05-29 Oct 05 3.210 7:00PM- 4:00AM 0000-0900 01 Sep 05-29 Oct 05 Transmitter #2 - 100 KW FREQ TIME (CST) TIME (UTC) DATES 13.845 7:00AM- 7:00PM 1300-0100 27 Mar 05-02 Apr 05 5.935 7:00PM- 7:00AM 0100-1300 27 Mar 05-02 Apr 05 13.845 7:00AM- 8:00PM 1200-0100 03 Apr 05-31 May 05 5.935 8:00PM- 7:00AM 0100-1200 03 Apr 05-31 May 05 13.845 7:00AM- 9:00PM 1200-0200 01 Jun 05-31 Aug 05 5.935 9:00PM- 7:00AM 0200-1200 01 Jun 05-31 Aug 05 13.845 7:00AM- 8:00PM 1200-0100 01 Sep 05-29 Oct 05 5.935 8:00PM- 7:00AM 0100-1200 01 Sep 05-29 Oct 05 Transmitter #3 - 100 KW FREQ TIME (CST) TIME (UTC) DATES 9.985 7:00AM-10:00AM 1300-1600 27 Mar 05-02 Apr 05 12.160 10:00AM- 5:00PM 1600-2300 27 Mar 05-02 Apr 05 5.070 5:00PM- 7:00AM 2300-1300 27 Mar 05-02 Apr 05 9.985 7:00AM- 9:00AM 1200-1400 03 Apr 05-31 May 05 12.160 9:00AM- 5:00PM 1400-2200 03 Apr 05-31 May 05 5.070 5:00PM- 7:00AM 2200-1200 03 Apr 05-31 May 05 9.985 7:00AM- 9:00AM 1200-1400 01 Jun 05-31 Aug 05 12.160 9:00AM- 6:00PM 1400-2300 01 Jun 05-31 Aug 05 5.070 6:00PM- 7:00AM 2300-1200 01 Jun 05-31 Aug 05 9.985 7:00AM- 9:00AM 1200-1400 01 Sep 05-29 Oct 05 12.160 9:00AM- 6:00PM 1400-2300 01 Sep 05-29 Oct 05 5.070 6:00PM- 7:00AM 2300-1200 01 Sep 05-29 Oct 05 Transmitter #4 - 100 KW FREQ TIME (CST) TIME (UTC) DATES 7.465 7:00AM-10:00AM 1300-1600 27 Mar 05-02 Apr 05 9.985 10:00AM- 6:00PM 1600-0000 27 Mar 05-02 Apr 05 7.465 6:00PM-10:00PM 0000-0400 27 Mar 05-02 Apr 05 5.765 10:00PM- 7:00AM 0400-1300 27 Mar 05-02 Apr 05 7.465 7:00AM- 9:00AM 1200-1400 03 Apr 05-31 May 05 9.985 9:00AM- 1:00PM 1400-1800 03 Apr 05-31 May 05 9.975 1:00PM- 5:00PM 1800-2200 03 Apr 05-31 May 05 9.985 5:00PM- 7:00PM 2200-0000 03 Apr 05-31 May 05 7.465 7:00PM-10:00PM 0000-0300 03 Apr 05-31 May 05 5.765 10:00PM- 7:00AM 0300-1200 03 Apr 05-31 May 05 7.465 6:00AM- 9:00AM 1100-1400 01 Jun 05-31 Aug 05 9.985 9:00AM- 1:00PM 1400-1800 03 Apr 05-31 May 05 9.975 1:00PM- 5:00PM 1800-2200 03 Apr 05-31 May 05 9.985 5:00AM- 8:00PM 2200-0100 01 Jun 05-31 Aug 05 5.765 8:00PM- 6:00AM 0100-1100 01 Jun 05-31 Aug 05 7.465 7:00AM- 9:00AM 1200-1400 01 Sep 05-29 Oct 05 9.985 9:00AM- 1:00PM 1400-1800 03 Apr 05-31 May 05 9.975 1:00PM- 5:00PM 1800-2200 03 Apr 05-31 May 05 9.985 5:00PM- 7:00PM 2200-0000 03 Apr 05-31 May 05 7.465 7:00PM-10:00PM 0000-0300 01 Sep 05-29 Oct 05 5.765 10:00PM- 7:00AM 0300-1200 01 Sep 05-29 Oct 05 Last revision 21 March 2005 © 1996-2005 F.W. Robbert Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved (via John Norfolk, DX LISTENING DIGEST) As implied by the UT -5 difference instead of UT - 6, ``CST`` applies only to the first group of times under each frequency thru April 2; the rest are actually in CDT, tho still labeled CST (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Re 5-051: Glenn: -- There was some confusion afoot about the WQQZ/88.7 in Clermont, Florida (#5-051) --- the station is owned by Hispanic Broadcast *System*, Inc., as opposed to any incarnation of Univisión. Here's a link to the info-page: http://www.fccinfo.com/CMDProEngine.php?sCurrentService=FM&tabSearchType=Appl&sAppIDNumber=598877 Calls have morphed into WWKG, per the above website. -- Also, many thankyews for adding the proper Spanish punctuation to my Update ramblings; I have yet to figure out how to coax my own system into producing such luxuries. 73z (GREG HARDISON, CA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I edit on MS Word, where it`s easy to produce most accents. For example control-apostrophe makes an acute appearing over the next letter typed, if eligible. Control-shift-colon makes an umlaut, etc. You can also use extended ASCII numbers, such as alt-168 for ¿ and alt-173 for ¡ (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. ¡Despiértese, Despiértese! --- Starting the day with Piolín by BEN QUIÑONES (Photos by Gregory Bojorquez) The sun has not even risen, but the alarm goes off and the radio blares, ``¡Despiértese, despiértese con Piolín por la mañana!`` Many in the Latino community are up and taking care of the kids at home or getting ready for work or school. In Los Angeles there are a host of locutores (Spanish-language DJs), but these days, it’s Piolín por la mañana on La Nueva KSCA-FM (101.9) who’s getting la communidad out of bed. . .[long article] http://www.laweekly.com/ink/05/18/features-quinones.php (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** U S A. GRESHAM LAUNCHES AM STATION TO AIR ALERTS The city's radio system broadcasts weather and will give information in the event of an emergency Wed, March 23, 2005 DAVID R. ANDERSON http://www.oregonlive.com/metroeast/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/metro_east_news/1111575786135580.xml City officials hope their new radio station is a hit but not a smash. That would mean Gresham was in the middle of an earthquake, ice storm, flood or other natural disaster. The city bought a 10-watt AM radio system and went on the air about a month ago with WQCA (1610). So far, the station has been broadcasting the weather report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, but the main purpose of the Alert AM system is to give residents information during an emergency. That could include such as where to pick up sandbags during flooding, which direction an ash plume from Mount St. Helens is headed or which roads have been blocked by fallen trees or a mudslide during a storm. The system, similar to one about to broadcast in Beaverton, will also provide information to volunteer members of the Community Emergency Response Team. Both cities will try to create an audience using a loop of information about city programs and events played throughout the day. Eventually, they hope to develop their own programming that is interesting enough to draw listeners. "We don't want people to listen and say, 'That's boring,' and won't tune in again," said Cathy Harrington, Gresham's emergency management coordinator. Gresham used a grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for the $28,258 cost, Harrington said. Unlike Beaverton, Gresham plans to put up signs around the city that will inform drivers to tune into the station if lights are blinking. Beaverton's new 10-watt AM radio station, WQAD (1610), will go on the air sometime in the next two weeks. "Will people listen? I have no idea," said Joseph Gall, a senior program manager for Beaverton. "I'm always amazed that people watch public-access TV." Eventually the stations might broadcast information about road construction and city meetings and other live shows. "We want to build more and more into it so people won't get bored," Gall said. Each city's station will have a range of about three miles. However, the signal might travel farther depending on weather, topography and other radio interference. The systems, purchased from Information Station Specialists of Grand Rapids, Mich., are regulated by the Federal Communications Commission. As voice-only services, they can't compete with commercial stations and are prohibited from broadcasting business names, commercials or music. The manufacturer has sold about 300 systems to cities across the country, said Bill Baker, company president. When telephones and electricity are out, the radio station will often be the best means of spreading information, Baker said. And daily broadcasts about city doings can reduce the number of telephone calls. "Citizens really love feeling they're in touch with their municipality," Baker said. Other Northwest cities with the system include Camas, Wash.; Ashland; Umatilla; and the Hanford Nuclear Reservation near Richland, Wash., Baker said. The system also is used to broadcast information for Portland International Airport and Crater Lake National Park. (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) I assume these 4-letter W-callsigns actually have 3 or 4 numbers after them; if you can`t believe their own IDs, how can you believe what these stations have to say? Can Bruce MacGibbon hear this? (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. NETWORK (?) FOR SALE? TALKSTAR RADIO NETWORK host CHUCK HARDER is selling his FOR THE PEOPLE TV NETWORK on eBAY. Check out the free-to-air Ku band satellite service and make a bid by clicking here; bidding is up to $400,000. by midday WEDNESDAY (3/23). HARDER's TV network is scheduled to leave the air (a new owner will be able to bring it back) as of MARCH 31, but the radio show will continue as usual (http://www.allaccess.com via Brock Whaley, DXLD) ** U S A . CNN SEEKS NEW WAYS TO BATTLE FOX NEWS By JACQUES STEINBERG Published: March 23, 2005 It is known, in the lexicon of television news, as a throw or toss - an onscreen handoff from one host to another. And to Jonathan Klein, the new president of CNN, none is more critical than the throw from Larry King to Aaron Brown each weeknight just before 10. . . http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/23/arts/television/23cnn.html?ex=1112245200&en=693eb39ac440acff&ei=5070 (via Rich Cuff, swprograms via DXLD) IMHO this is disheartening. We deserve better than this. Too bad we need Sirius or XM to get it (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, ibid.) ** U S A. SPRINGER TALK RADIO SHOW TO EXPAND NATIONWIDE Springer's show will go live weekdays on the Air America Radio network beginning April 1: http://www.nbc4i.com/news/4312161/detail.html (via Artie Bigley, Columbus OH, DXLD) JERRY'S SHOW GOES NATIONAL --- By Rick Bird Post staff reporter http://www.cincypost.com/2005/03/24/spring032405.html (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. HBO TO AIR DOCU ON AIR AMERICA: "LEFT OF THE DIAL" http://billboardradiomonitor.com/radiomonitor/news/business/net_syn/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000854277 (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) HBO special on "Air America" starting March 31: It sounds like it will be very interesting: http://www.drudgereport.com/flash3aa.htm (Harry Helms, W5HLH, Wimberley, TX http://futureofradio.typepad.com/ DX LISTENING DIGEST) also (via Brock Whaley, DXLD) ** U S A. ARBITRON/EDISON MEDIA REPORT ON SATELLITE/INTERNET RADIO Arbitron and Edison Media Research have released a report on internet use and new media forms that is loaded with eye-opening data (you will need a .PDF reader, like Adobe Acrobat, to read the linked document). Here are just a few of the more interesting items: * 81% of all Americans now have access to the internet at home, work, school, or other location. This is up from 50% in 1999. * 48% of all home internet connections are now broadband (cable, DSL, etc.). * Almost 20 million Americans listen to internet radio each week. * 16% of Americans say they currently listen to Howard Stern, and 22% of them say they will probably follow him to Sirius satellite radio. * Listenership to terrestrial AM/FM radio drops as one listens more to on-line audio and other media. * Content issues --- greater variety in music and programming, the ability to hear music or other programming not available on local stations, etc. --- were cited as the biggest reasons for listening to internet radio. * One out of five Americans says they are "very" or "somewhat" likely to subscribe to either XM or Sirius within the next twelve months. Incredibly (but not surprisingly), the Radio World report on this study somehow manages to spin it as very positive news for terrestrial AM/FM radio. Read the report for yourself and see if you agree. My blog entry about this, with full links to the report, is at: http://futureofradio.typepad.com/the_future_of_radio/2005/03/broadband_inter.html (Harry Helms W5HLH, Wimberley, TX EM00, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. Re: ``SCS Services: NY, New York, WCBS-FM-2 has described video for the blind, the first CBStation known to have such a feature ``The Sound quality is beautiful!`` (March FMedia! via DXLD) Why ``FM`` -- isn`t this on a TV channel two SAP? (gh, DXLD) In most areas of the country the SAP channel is used for a 2nd language, usually Spanish in most urban areas. The FCC in its wisdom decided when approving the TV stereo standard almost 2 decades ago that TV stations can have a 2nd subcarrier called the Professional Channel. It is for the most part an SCS service although like FM stations, it can be used for anything the station wants to use it for. It has not become a popular service; I have never seen any article about it. I would guess that decoding equipment is non existent for the channel or it is so expensive that only TV stations can use it to make one way cues to the field units. I'm sure to tap into it would involve shoving something like the probe used in the long forgotten F.R.E.D. TV stereo decoders inside of your set. I would guess that with the better isolation in TV receivers today and that the analog TV system is soon to be abandoned, a device to receive the Professional Audio Channel/ subcarrier would not be worth manufacturing. In addition, cable TV systems do not have to pass the subcarrier through. In most cities, the cable companies are provided with a direct video/audio link from the stations. The raw video and audio is modulated to the channel at the cable company's head end. Stereo and SAP generators are optional units on the modulator. Again adding on another generator for a service that no one may be able to receive is financially unacceptable. [but some systems, such as Cox Enid, refuse to provide stereo audio where available from cable networks --- gh] Services that describe the picture for the visually handicapped are already there. MADtv and That '70s Show on Fox have a description on the SAP channel. A symbol that looks like this "D)))" in red or white in a red box, specifies the service is available on the program. Since both shows are comedies the old saying, "it loses something in the translation" would probably apply more often than not for a Spanish speaking audience. MADtv being more visual in its humor, a description channel is an asset. When I last had an SCS decoder connected to my FM tuner, an off the air description channel was available on the 67 kHz subcarrier of the local Family Radio station, WFME 94.7, Newark, NJ. This was about 10 years ago. They tuned in various shows on the local stations and adlibbed what they saw. I didn't stay around long enough to find out who was providing or supporting the service. A few "Radio Reader" services, also available by way of FM SCS, are providing similar services for the visually handicapped in their areas. The idea is not new; it is just now being acknowledged (Steve Coletti, NY, DX LISTENING DIGEST) There is quite a bit of descriptive video available on PBS, including here in OK on OETA, as I have mentioned previously. This does not answer my question about exactly where the WCBS-TV DV is being transmitted (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. ALL THE NEWS THAT'S FIT TO HEAR [Washington Ear, radio reading service] By John Kelly, Washington Post Tuesday, March 22 It's half past seven on a Tuesday morning, and this room in a Silver Spring church basement is filled with a warm, pleasant sound. It rises and falls like a thrumming beehive. . . http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A55424-2005Mar21?language=printer (via Paul Balster, DXLD) I have actually visited the service which is being portrayed in the preceding article (Paul Balster, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Greetings from Sactown once again, Glenn! Here's a missive sent to Sactown's KPFA Listener's Group. Since Nevada City's KNCO encroached upon KPFA's former clear channel signal on 94.1 MHz, (effectively blanketing their signal from the Sutter Buttes to near Stockton), KPFA's fund raisers have suffered. Which is why they're exploring putting a transponder up on Mount Diablo. 73s from (Sactown- n-Ed Gardner!!! CA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: Hi Susan, Just to update what is going on, I am happy to report that the new KPFA main antenna went into service last week. While it might not make much overall difference, it may improve the signal in selected areas. The other big news is the application that I filed in late December for a 1000 watt booster for KPFA at Mt. Diablo. The designated city of license is Oakley. If approved, this booster will restore the KPFA signal in areas from Stockton to south of Sacramento, and will help along I-80 up to around Dixon, and perhaps farther as well. The application is still pending at the FCC, and will likely be pending for about a year, based upon recent experience. KPFK just received a permit to build a similar booster along the Malibu coast, and that took about 18 months to be approved. The application was prompted by a couple of listeners in the Oakley-Antioch area, which has been hard hit by interference from KNCO in Grass Valley. I looked into solving their problems with KPFA reception, and discovered this as a possibility. The folks at KNCO are not happy about this application, but it is not something they can stop at this point. While a construction permit grant is not a certainty at this high power level, I think we have a good chance to see it approved one way or another eventually. I'll keep you posted if anything develops soon. Thanks, Don Mussell, Consulting Engineer No trees were killed in the sending of this message. However a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced (via Suzan Tobin, KPFA, via Ed Gardner, Sacramento, DXLD) ** U S A. Back in February 2004 a DX test was conducted by Paul Walker at 1520 WQMA in Marks, MS. If you heard the test and sent a reception report for QSL response and did not get a response please read the following which was recently e-mailed to me: ----- Original Message ----- Sent: Monday, March 21, 2005 10:16 PM Subject: Re: WQMA Mr. Procop: I want to sincerely apologize for my tardiness and lack of replying to QSL's! I left WQMA last June, spent 6 months in Montgomery Alabama, moved back to Connecticut and a week I'm moving to Florida for a new job. Things have just been a little hectic. I would prefer you mail me the letter. You may also spread the following address around to any and all newsgroups and any DX'ers who didn't get a QSL/Verie, I will be happy to reply this time. Please tell everyone that a self addressed stamped envelope would be very helpful. Pass along my sincerest apologies to everyone! Paul B. Walker, Jr., P.O. Box 504, Colchester, CT 06415 ---------- In another e-mail he also added that the PO Box will be open through November and his mail will be forwarded to him until then. If you do send him a report please do not forget to send a SASE. Good DX! (Michael Procop, OH, amfmtvdx at qth.net via DXLD) ** VIETNAM [non]. 9930, after several months of absence, the California-based "Radio Free Vietnam" (not to be confused with the TDP-brokered "Radio Free Vietnam" with contact address in New Orleans) appears to be back on Angel 3 of World Harvest R (KWHR, Hawaii). Listed Tue/Thu 1600-1700 (Bernd Trutenau, Mar 12 in Dxplorer via DSWCI DX Window March 23 via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. 3300.0, SW Radio Africa, 1805-1830, Mar 20, Vernacular conversation heard synchronized with 11995, 1817 English ann and Afropop, no jamming noted, but utility QRM, 23232 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window March 23 via DXLD) SW Radio Africa: 6145, 3230, 3300 (1600-1900 UT) & 3230 (0300-0500 UT). Monitored as jammed, two jammer types in use, very effective (David Pringle-Wood, Harare, 2103 UT March 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Clandestine, SW Radio Africa, 11845, *1602-1659* March 20, opening English announcements with ID, mentioned that they were changing around their programming due to jamming. Gave these frequencies: 6145, 4880, 3230, 3300, 11705, 11845 and 11995. English religious program; ``Behind the Headlines`` news program. Abrupt sign-off, continuing on 11705; good. 11705, *1700-1759* March 20, sign-on with English program in progress from 11845, talk about Zimbabwe elections, Afro-pops, IDs. Fair-good but some weak co-channel QRM. 11995, *1800-1859* March 20, English programming; ``Restart`` program about improving conditions in Zimbabwe, local music program with Afro- pop, IDs, some vernacular talk. Good (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Slightly correcting and updating what I said in a yg posting: I see on its website as of UT March 25 that SW Radio Africa is now saying to try 3230, 3300 and 4880 at indefinite times, but presumably during the 1600-1900 broadcast, as they jump around to combat jamming, along with 6145 specified as 1600-1900, and the triad (from UK), 1600 on 11845, 1700 on 11705, 1800 on 11995; morning 0300-0500 on 3230 and MW 1197. PLUS: ``In the 19 metre band from Easter Sunday 1600-1800 UT on 15145 kHz`` (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1268, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. RECENTLY LAUNCHED ZIMBABWEAN WEEKLY GOES ONLINE | Text of report by South African news agency SAPA web site Johannesburg 21 March: A Zimbabwean newspaper aimed at Zimbabweans around the world went online at http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk on Monday [21 March] afternoon. The entire content of The Zimbabwean newspaper would be available free on the website. The Zimbabwean was launched on 11 February with weekly editions in Britain and South Africa, said publisher Wilf Mbanga in a statement on Monday. "It is...[ellipsis as published] a vital source of independent and accurate information to Zimbabweans at home, who have been snapping up the 10,000 copies shipped in weekly from Johannesburg in a matter of hours," he said. It would also provide information to those Zimbabweans who had left their homeland. "The web site is very user friendly. We have purposely kept it simple, quick to download and easy to access - especially for people in Zimbabwe where there is limited bandwidth," Mbanga said. He said the newspaper had already attracted the opprobrium from authorities in Harare. "All we want to do is inform people about what's going on so that they, in turn, can make informed choices. We are merely asserting the right of all Zimbabweans to freedom of expression and access to information." Mbanga said the newspaper would strive to be a reliable source of information, and include news from Zimbabwe and items on life in exile. It would also cover politics, art and culture, business, sports, gender, human rights and social issues, news background and analysis. Mbanga said the newspaper was important in light of the general elections to be held at the end of March. "A news blackout is dangerous for any society. The forthcoming general election scheduled for March adds urgency," he said, adding the newspaper would give all viewpoints, including the Zimbabwean government. Source: SAPA news agency web site, Johannesburg, in English 1807 gmt 21 Mar 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE [and non]. ZIMBABWE FAULTED FOR BANNING TWO SOUTH AFRICAN RADIO STATIONS FROM COVERING POLLS | Text of report by South African news agency SAPA web site Johannesburg, 23 March: The barring of some South African media from covering the Zimbabwe general elections is a blow to democracy, the National Press Club said on Wednesday. "Freedom of expression and freedom of the media are the cornerstones of democracy. Tampering with these is a blow to democracy," said press club chairman Ben Rootman in a statement. He was responding to the Zimbabwe authorities' refusal to grant accreditation to Talk Radio 702 and 567 Cape Talk to cover the 31 March elections. "Barring Talk Radio 702 and 567 Cape Talk from reporting on the general elections in Zimbabwe next week does not auger well for the right to receive information through recognized communications media," Rootman said. Authorities gave no reason for the refusal. Rootman said the press club had also received no response from Zimbabwe's high commissioner in South Africa, Simon Khaya Moyo, despite numerous requests for him to brief them on the forthcoming elections. "However, serving a free media corps, the club's door remains open and we will entertain such a briefing at very short notice," he said. Last month, three journalists - Jan Raath and Brian Latham, who both work for a number of British and South African news organizations, and Angus Shaw of the Associated Press - left Zimbabwe after their offices were raided and they were interrogated by police about allegations that they broke the country's media and security laws. Following their departure, only a handful of foreign correspondents remain in Zimbabwe, including the tiny Reuters and AFP bureaux. Earlier this month, the government-controlled Media and Information Commission cancelled the licence of the Weekly Times newspaper. This was the fourth independent newspaper to be closed in Zimbabwe since 2002. The Daily News, the Daily News on Sunday, and the Tribune had all been closed. In January, President Robert Mugabe signed a law requiring journalists to be accredited by the government. Source: SAPA news agency web site, Johannesburg, in English 1356 gmt 23 Mar 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LANGUAGE LESSONS ++++++++++++++++ VERNACULAR [non] I think I have made the following comment before, but it might be worth repeating. I would like to urge DX publications to drop the term "vernaculars" to refer to local languages. As I am sure you know, every language is a vernacular to its speakers, whether that language is English, Russian, Chinese or Cofán. I do like the term "local language," it seems to be a non-culturally biased way to refer to small indigenous languages. What do you think? (Tim Hendel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RADIO STAMPS ++++++++++++ Nice radiostamps webpage at... http://www.swlcs.com/philatelie/ 73 (Horacio Nigro, Montevideo, Uruguay, radiostamps yg via DXLD) DXPEDITIONS +++++++++++ O 4º LORENA DX-CAMP ! O DX Clube do Brasil, tem a satisfação de anunciar o mais recente evento dexista ! O encontro será realizado na cidade de Lorena, em São Paulo, nos dias 13, 14 e 15 de maio de 2005. O local, como sempre será o confortável Valle Hotel http://www.delvalle.tur.br/valle.htm que oferecerá acomodações a preços módicos a todos os participantes. A programação desta DX-Camp está sendo realizada para proporcionar maiores facilidades de participação aos que teriam dificuldades em estar presentes nas já vitoriosas DX-Camps litorâneas que periodicamente são realizadas. Não se trata de um encontro com a realização de palestras, mas sim um encontro para interação entre as pessoas e se ouvir rádio. A previsão de programação será: Dia 13 de Maio de 2005 (Sexta Feira) - Chegada dos participantes por volta de meio dia, acomodação, preparação do local de escuta, etc. Tarde é noite será reservada para escutas gerais. Dia 14 de Maio de 2005 (Sábado) - Manhã para descanso ou conversas. Tarde e noite reservada para escutas. Dia 15 de maio de 2005 (Domingo) - Preparação do regresso, desmontagem do local de escutas, despedidas e regresso Encerramento completo ao meio dia. PREÇOS: Diária de R$.30,00 para cada pessoa, desde que sejam acomodadas 2 pessoas por apartamento Diária de R$.40,00 para cada pessoa, quando ficar uma pessoa por apartamento. As diárias dão direito somente ao café da manhã. Mas o Hotel possui restaurante self-service, com excelente qualidade e preço acessível. Se desejar maiores informações sobre o evento, basta ir a um dos seguintes endereços: http://www.amantesdoradio.he.com.br http://www.ondascurtas.com http://aer-dx.org/lorena.htm (Adalberto Marques de Azevedo, Barbacena - MG - Brasil, py4wth @ bol.com.br Membro do Conselho do DX Clube do Brasil, DX LISTENING DIGEST) CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ Re NRC Kulpsville, 5-050: The NRC dates are almost certainly Labor Day weekend; otherwise there would not be a Sunday night banquet (Jim Renfrew, NY, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ ICOM R8500 The "rumors" section of the Grove Enterprises Web site says: What's up with Icom??? IC-R8500-02 blocked version is no longer available & has been discontinued. Please check with your local dealer for any available units (Mike Cooper, GA, Mar 22, DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ MOUNTAIN BLOCKAGE OF MEDIUMWAVE SIGNALS I lived in Hawaii for 17 years. Almost all of it in Kailua, just across the Pali from Honolulu. The difference in DX was amazing. The mountains attenuated the Honolulu locals a great deal. Including the horrendous spurs and mixing products from having so many of the Honolulu stations diplexed on to a single tower. The MW band in Honolulu and on Waikiki beach is full of mixing trash. The east side (Kailua) was perfect for Mainland DX. In the winter, KFAX 1100 would start rolling in about 3 hours before Kailua sunset. Alaska well heard, even on a car radio. I had no problem with TP stations on this side of the island. I even heard India and Thailand on occasion. The super TP pests like Japan 747, 774, and the Korean monster on 972 were heard year round, as was Australia on 1548. Longwave (my passion) from Far east Russia in all year, and even Mongolia heard a few times. So yes, mountains make a difference on close-in groundwave. Regards, (Brock Whaley, WH6SZ/4, Lilburn, GA, NRC-AM via DXLD) BIZARRE WEATHER PHENOMENON SLOWS TRI-RAIL TRAINS By Josh Friedman, sun-sentinel.com http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-324trirailweather,0,4420170.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines Commuters using the Tri-Rail trains throughout South Florida were delayed this morning -- by Mother Nature. A bizarre high pressure weather phenomenon called tropospheric ducting disrupted radio signals --- making it impossible to operate the commuter trains safely at more than 15 mph. Under normal conditions, radio signals bounce off [sic] the troposphere, which is the ceiling of the atmosphere. But a dominant high-pressure system can create temperature inversions at higher altitudes that deflect signals to unusual places. According to Tri-Rail the phenomenon disrupts signals on radio controls. The radios are designed to operate over a 30-mile radius, but when this rare event occurs they can transmit for 1,000 miles, creating the effect of a mass conference call where everyone is speaking at once. The phenomenon is totally unpredictable. A Tri-Rail spokeswoman said the interference, which happens about once a year in the Southeastern states, began shortly after 4 this morning and lasted until about 8 a.m. with train delays continuing until around 10 a.m. Thursday. CSX, which runs freight on the same tracks, and Amtrak, the passenger service, were also affected in the Lakeland and Miami areas. All morning Tri-Rail trains were impacted by the slow down (via Dino Bloise, FL, dxldyg via DXLD) ??? Gulf tropo is more common than that; tho this must have been especially intense. Totally unpredictable? Apparently they are unaware of : http://home.cogeco.ca/~dxinfo/tropo.html (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###