DX LISTENING DIGEST 5-061, April 7, 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 1270: Fri 0000 WOR WTND-LP 106.3 Macomb IL Fri 0200 WOR ACBRadio Mainstream [repeated 2-hourly thru 2400] Fri 1030 WOR World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.2 Fri 1600 WOR WBCQ after hours Fri 2300 WOR Studio X, Momigno, Italy 1584 87.35 96.55 105.55 Sat 0000 WOR ACBRadio Mainstream Sat 0800 WOR WRN1 to Eu, Au, NZ, WorldSpace AfriStar, AsiaStar, Telstar 12 SAm Sat 0855 WOR WNQM Nashville TN 1300 Sat 1030 WOR WWCR 5070 Sat 1130 WOR World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.2 Sat 2030 WOR R. Lavalamp Sun 0230 WOR WWCR 5070 Sun 0300 WOR WBCQ 9330-CLSB Sun 0330 WOR WRMI 7385 Sun 0630 WOR WWCR 3210 Sun 0830 WOR WRN1 to North America, also WLIO-TV Lima OH SAP Sun 0830 WOR KSFC Spokane WA 91.9 Sun 0830 WOR WXPR 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 1200 WOR WRMI 7385 Sun 1300 WOR KRFP-LP Moscow ID 92.5 Sun 1500 WOR R. Lavalamp Sun 1730 WOR WRMI 7385 [from WRN] Sun 1730 WOR WRN1 to North America Sun 1900 WOR Studio X, Momigno, Italy 1584 87.35 96.55 105.55 Sun 2000 WOR RNI Mon 0230 WOR WRMI 7385 Mon 0300 WOR WBCQ 9330-CLSB Mon 0330 WOR WSUI Iowa City IA 910 [1269] Mon 0430 WOR WBCQ 7415 Mon 0900 WOR R. Lavalamp Mon 0900 WOR WRMI 9955 Mon 1600 WOR WBCQ after hours Tue 0600 WOR WPKN Bridgeport CT 89.5 Tue 1600 WOR WBCQ after hours Wed 0930 WOR WWCR 9985 Wed 1600 WOR WBCQ after hours MORE info including audio links: http://worldofradio.com/radioskd.html 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 1270 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1270h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1270h.rm WORLD OF RADIO 1270 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1270.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1270.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1270.html [from UT Friday] WORLD OF RADIO 1270 in true shortwave sound Alex`s mp3: (stream) http://www.piratearchive.com/media/worldofradio_04-06-05.m3u (d`load) http://www.piratearchive.com/media/worldofradio_04-06-05.mp3 ** AUSTRALIA. Glenn, re: 5-060, there is an addition: RA schedule for Shepparton and Brandon in attached xls. Also our relays from VT Merlin. The Merlin relays are 500 kW from UAE, 250 kW from Taiwan and 100/250 kW from Kranji. The schedule for RA relays from the former RA station at Cox Peninsula, Darwin, now owned by Christian Voice, is here: (the Cox transmissions are all 250 kW senders & the aerials are HRS4/4/0.5 curtain arrays) English: 9625 1400-1600 290 deg 13620 2200-2400 317 deg 17775 0000-0130 317 deg Indonesian: 17855 0000-0030 290 deg 17855 0400-0430 290 deg 17855 0500-0530 290 deg 9785 2130-2330 290 deg Vietnamese: 17855 0530-0600 317 deg 11820 2330-2400 317 deg (Andreas Volk-D, wwdxc BC-DX March 25) 73 wb df5sx (via Wolfgang Büschel, April 6, dxldyg via DXLD) ** BELGIUM [non]. RVi via satellite --- RVi is now available on a U.S. satellite, unscrambled for people with an MPEG receiver. The feed is right next to the three Radio Netherlands audio channels. RVi 1 is in de Verenigde Staten, Canada en Mexico 24 uur per dag free- to-air te ontvangen via de Intelsat Americas 5-satelliet. Je kunt RVi gratis ontvangen met een eigen schotelantenne en ontvanger. De uitzending is niet gecodeerd en je hebt geen abonnement nodig. Satelliet: Intelsat Americas 5 (voorheen Telstar 5) Transponder 11 Positie 97 graden west Frequentie 11.929 GHz Ku-band Polarisatie Verticaal Symbol Rate 22.000 FEC: 3/4 Om RVi te kunnen ontvangen heb je een schotelantenne nodig met een doorsnede van 80 cm tot 150 cm. Laat je hierover goed adviseren door je satellietleverancier (Mike Cooper, GA, Apr 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 6105.49, Radio Panamericana 1027-1043 I was sitting on the freq and a carrier popped up at 1027. Immediately, Radio Panamericana was audible with the program already in progress. After a couple of minutes for warmup of the transmitter, the signal faded in to a good level until about 1044 when it began to fade out. Noted Spanish comments between a man and woman with an ID of sorts, "... en Panamericana ..." at 1031. After the halfhour, just music heard (Chuck Bolland, April 7, 2005) In Clewiston Florida Using NRD545 in ECSS - with dipole 6105.4, 07 April 0112-0234, R. Panamericana, La Paz, reactivated, football play La Paz --- The Strongest (really unusual football team name) 1-1. Good strongs peaks (Dario Monferini, Italy, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. R. San Miguel, 4899.88v, 1005-1025+ April 2, Spanish talk, ballads. Unstable, wobbly carrier, but fairly good signal strength (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4900.4v, 06+07 April, 2223-0028, R. San Miguel, Riberalta, Avisos, news, songs (also LAMBADAS!!!) Suff/Good still drifting up or down (Dario Monferini, Italy, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRUNEI [and non]. AN UNUSUAL DX LOCATION by Gareth Foster I`ve often wondered, and I`m sure many of us have, what VHF reception would be like from an aeroplane. After all line of site is a long way at 30,000 feet and I know from experience that I can hear aircraft several hundred miles away talking to ground stations. Of course turning a radio on in an aeroplane is not allowed and would be irresponsible. A radio operating in the upper part of the FM band would have it’s local oscillator running in the aircraft communication band, clearly not a desirable situation. Perhaps the next best thing then is the top of a high mountain. I’ve recently returned from a holiday in Sabah, Borneo and one of the things I did out there was to climb Mount Kinabalu which at 4095 m or 13,432 feet is the highest point in Southeast Asia. Climbing Mt Kinabalu is normally a two-day exercise, though the record to climb up and down again is 2 hours, 41 minutes (currently held by an Italian). A guide is compulsory and to the list of recommended items to carry (woollen hat, gloves, torch, water bottle, high energy food, warm clothing, raincoat, stout shoes, etc) I added a Sony SW100, some in- ear cans, and two mobile phones (UK and local). On the first day one climbs to Laban Rata at just over 10,000 feet. At Laban Rata there is a restaurant and overnight hostel accommodation with the coldest showers I have ever come across. There is a permanent staff of around 30 there and everything required has to be carried up by porters. A number or porters passed me with huge backpacks containing food, cooking oil, canned drinks etc. However what really put me to shame was a wiry guy climbing up with a boxed twin tub washing machine weighing 60 Kgs on his back. By the time I reached Laban Rata some 7 hours later this machine was plumbed in and working, the porter having returned his backpack now full of rubbish, beer cans etc which all has to taken off the mountain. Incidentally the porters are paid around 35p per kilo so he would have earned £20 for his delivery. Soon after arriving at Laban Rata I sat down with the radio, my main interest being the FM band. The whole band was full, very full. In fact many frequencies were unintelligible due to heavy co-channel interference. My first big surprise was to hear London’s Capital Gold in stereo on 100.9 MHz. There was a benefit fraud warning followed by a time check of 10:25 (local was 18:25), then announcements of traffic problems on the M25. I later found a parallel transmission on 92.9 and also Capital FM on 94.4 and 100.1 MHz with the Johnny Vaughn, Capital Breakfast Show. I subsequently learnt that these broadcasts were coming from Brunei. There were no opt outs, the raw feed from London was being relayed. One wonders why a strictly Islamic country would do this. Going through the band there were many broadcasts in Malay, Mandarin, and English, lots on parallel frequencies. They were difficult to identify but I believe they were mostly the Malay networks (there is virtually no local broadcasting in Malaysia). For a while I thought I was listening to Hong Kong when I heard very pure Cantonese on 87.8 Mhz but after listening for a while it identified as Kota Kinabalu FM. Climbers go to bed early in Laban Rata, around 20:00, the idea being to get up at 02:00 to climb to the summit for the sunrise. I didn’t sleep too well however having a slight headache due to altitude sickness. The next days climb was pretty tough, at times one has to haul oneself up a steep rockface by rope in the dark. Luckily the weather was kind to me. At the summit after taking photographs and making a phone call home I got out the radio again. However reception was little different from Laban Rata and anyway I could not linger too long as there were plenty of other climbers all jostling to stand on the roof of SE Asia. On my return flight I transited in Brunei so I packed the radio in my hand baggage to check out those Capital Radio transmissions. The transmissions on 92.9 and 100.1 were very strong at the airport, the 94.4 and 100.9 were there but almost lost in the noise so I assume they came from another part of the Sultanate. I also heard BBC World Service noise free coming from a music centre in one of the shops but I could not locate on the FM band of my SW100. Perhaps it was a satellite feed they were using (Gareth Foster, April BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) 35 years ago (!) in Korat, Thailand, I used to get Kota Kinabalu FM by sporadic E. Seems like it was on 97.5 then, and I believe it was transmitted from the mountaintop. WRTH 2005 has six other K.K. FM frequencies listed (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. CRI English to NAm at 0100: 6020 and 9570 with parallel programming; 9580 is a different show (Bob Thomas, CT, early April, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA. R. Líder, Bogotá, 6139.79, 0215-0235+ April 2, nice local ballads, Spanish announcements, IDs. Spanish, phone talk. Fair; strong signal strength but some splatter from 6140. Best to use ECSS-LSB to avoid stations on 6140 (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I wonder what the stations were on 6140; I`d think there would be more than splatter; did you mean 6145? (gh, DXLD) ** CUBA. 6140, 07 April 0115-0255, R. Habana, Cuba, in Spanish. Good; NO TRACES of R. Líder, Colombia 6139.8 this night (Dario Monferini, Italy, DX LISTENING DIGEST) You mean Rebelde? ** CUBA. 9550, 6/4. R. Habana Cuba, 2220-2244, español, ID "Ésta es Radio Habana Cuba, territorio libre de América", recta final del programa con noticias deportivas y programa DX con Manolo de la Rosa. SINPO 33333 (José Miguel Romero, Burjasot (Valencia), España, SANGEAN ATS 909, Antena siete metros de hilo. BRIGMTON [Brighton?] BT-310, Antena telescópica. 73´s y buen DX, Noticias DX via dXLD) The Spanish DX show is normally on Sundays/UT Mondays; is this a reliable new time on Wednesdays, a fill-in, and/or a different show, mid-week edition? (gh, DXLD) ** CUBA. 24 hours after I heard the spy-numbers transmission on 13680, April 6 around 2030, a quick check found it was back to RN Venezuela relay (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. US SENATE VOTES NOT TO CUT BUDGET OF RADIO AND TV MARTÍ The US Senate has voted to keep funding for the government-backed broadcasting operation to Cuba, Radio and TV Martí, at its current level. The broadcasts of the Miami-based stations are funded though the US Information Agency, and the budget is often disputed in Washington. An amendment on a State Department spending bill this year would have cut the budget, which includes $8 million for airborne TV broadcasts. However, the Senate defeated the amendment by 65 votes to 35. # posted by Andy @ 13:10 UT April 7 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** DJIBOUTI. RTD, 4780, *0300-0340+ April 2, sign-on with instrumental music, opening announcements, 0302 Kor`an. Vernacular talk, 0324 Horn of Africa type music. Poor in noise (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. Hi Glenn, Here are a few things I have observed. You are free to quote me, if you think it worthwhile, but, it would probably be good if you labeled what I say as "speculation." I have been observing the Warani and Kofan language programs on HCJB between 1030 and 1130 UT on 6050. Reception here in Alabama is surprisingly good at this time of year. Based on absolutely nothing but speculation, and listening, I am thinking that maybe the Kofan people are more "assimilated" than the Warani. In part, I base this theory on the music I hear on the two programs. Most of the music I hear on the Warani program seems to consist of what might be called tribal chanting; the music on the Kofan program sounds more like the Ecuadorian version of "contemporary Christian," guitars, western scale, etc. Also, I observe more Spanish word borrowings on the Kofan program, though each of the programs is remarkably free of Spanish words. Compare the Guarani and Quechua programs of Radio Havana Cuba, where more Spanish words seem to be used. You can notice that both the Warani and Kofan programs use Spanish numbers for the Bible verses and chapters. Some people might mistakenly conclude that -- these "primitive tribes" lack a proper "numbering system" --. I have another suggestion, even though, of course, I do not speak these languages. Some languages use a different form of number depending on what is being counted. Perhaps it is long objects versus round objects, other groups may differentiate among food items, personal items, live animals, trees, etc. Obviously such a numbering system would have a hard time coping with something in an abstract series, such as Bible chapters and verses. Thus it may be easier to use the Spanish form of numbers, if the speakers are familiar with these numbers. I recommend that anyone who is interested check out these two programs. As we move into summer, perhaps reception will not be as good (Tim Hendel, Huntsville, Alabama, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EGYPT. ASSESSMENT OF EGYPTIAN TV COVERAGE OF US FOREIGN POLICY Selected output of Egyptian state-run television was reviewed between 26 and 29 March 2005 to assess its coverage of various aspects of US foreign policy. This report looks at the following specific aspects of this coverage: \ \ General \ The US presence in Iraq \ The US-led war on terror \ US calls for reforms in the Arab world \ The US and Israel Egyptian TV channels All terrestrial television stations in the country are controlled by the state-run Egyptian Radio and Television Union (ERTU). There are no privately-run terrestrial TV outlets in Egypt although independent broadcasters are permitted to operate satellite channels and at least three such stations have opened. As in most parts of the Arab world, many people use satellite dishes to watch various Arabic-language channels based abroad. Also - again as in most of the Arab world - television is now a more influential medium in news coverage than radio. Broadcasts on the following channels were assessed: \ \ Channel 1 (Al-Oula) TV. \ Channel 2 TV. (Note: Channels 1 and 2 are conventional, long- established TV services that broadcast nationwide. There are also a number of local channels broadcasting to various regions of Egypt.) \ Nile News TV. As its name implies, this is a dedicated news channel. (Note: There is also a separate but similarly named channel - Nile TV International - which offers both entertainment and news, including bulletins in English, French and Hebrew.) \ \ Egyptian Space Channel TV, known formally since the start of this year as "Al-Misriyah" ("The Egyptian"). This channel - a news and entertainment station that broadcasts to a pan-Arab audience in competition with many similar services such as the Dubai-based Al- Arabiya and the Doha-based Al-Jazeera - is only broadcast via satellite, although some programming is relayed from Channel 1 TV. The other channels mentioned above can be seen via conventional terrestrial transmissions within Egypt. General During the review period Egyptian TV showed considerable interest in US foreign policy, especially regarding Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Sudan, Israel and the Palestinians, Iran, North Korea and China. On certain occasions, key speeches by US President George W. Bush are carried live on Nile News TV and Channel 1. However, it appears that Channel 1 is now doing this less often. On 29 March, Nile News broadcast live Bush's address on democracy from the White House rose garden, but without an Arabic translation. There was no mention of Bush's speech on the 1700 gmt Nile News bulletin, the 1800 gmt Space Channel news or the 1900 gmt Channel 1 news bulletins that evening. Also on 29 March, the 1600 gmt news on Channel 1 reported the meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss a draft resolution to refer those suspected of war crimes in Darfur to the International Criminal Court. The report described Washington's stance on the draft resolution as undecided, as it did not know whether to support the resolution despite refusing to recognize the ICC, or to veto it in spite of the fact that it has called for Sudanese officials suspected of committing war crimes to be tried. The 1700 gmt Nile News TV bulletin the same day reported the deputy US State Department spokesman as downplaying reports that Sudan had arrested officials accused of war crimes in Darfur. The US presence in Iraq Egyptian TV news bulletins frequently give considerable coverage to events in Iraq. Nile News, Channel 1 and the Space Channel always carry a daily report from Baghdad on developments there and on US policy towards Iraq. Reporting in the review period tended to be negative, focusing heavily on security incidents - such as car bombs and attacks on US forces, and the political wrangles over the formation of the new government - rather than more positive developments such as reconstruction efforts. Reports on developments in Iraq are frequently accompanied by video footage likely to have a negative impact on viewers, such as pictures showing the aftermath of bombings and other security incidents. US forces in Iraq are routinely described as "American occupation forces". On 28 March, Channel 1 at 1900 gmt and Nile News at 1700 gmt both reported that the USA had expressed reservations over some of the candidates nominated to be ministers in the new Iraqi government. On 29 March, all the TV channels reported the failure that day of the Iraqi National Assembly to chose a Speaker. The US-led war on terror Egyptian television gives little specific attention to the US-led war on terror. Occasional reports on the conflict in Afghanistan are presented in terms of it being a conventional war between US forces and those of the Taleban and other rebel forces, rather than an anti- terrorist operation. On 26 March, a news bar on Channel 1, which appeared several times during the day, said that four American soldiers had been killed in a land mine explosion in southern Afghanistan. This news was also reported in the 1700 gmt bulletin that day on Nile News. At 1800 gmt, the Space Channel noted that the Taleban had claimed responsibility for the incident. Also on 26 March, the Space Channel reported the US approval of the sale of F-16 aircraft to Pakistan, describing the deal as a reward for Pakistan's support for the US in its war on terror. Nile News at 1700 gmt that day carried two separate reports on the issue, noting that it represented a change in US policy, and including remarks by an Indian official, expressing disappointment over the US move. US calls for reforms in the Arab world The Egyptian official media has for some time been focusing on the importance of carrying out political reforms on the basis of internal requirements and customs. But it couples this with attacks on foreign (including US) calls for reforms, describing them as inappropriate to some Islamic doctrines and Arab customs. On 26 March, the daily programme "Good Morning Egypt" (broadcast on both the Space Channel and Channel 1) interviewed Mahfuz al-Ansari, chairman of the Egyptian state-owned news agency MENA, who commented on a statement by a US State Department spokesman describing the 22-23 March Arab summit in Algiers as a missed opportunity to bring about reform in the Arab world. Al-Ansari said that such a statement was an expression of irritation and anger and did not represent anything concrete because the State Department had been expecting the summit to be marked by disputes. (It may be noted that the Egyptian official media, including MENA - indeed the official media of many Arab states - had given generally positive coverage to the Arab summit, while other sources in the Arab world - such as Al-Jazeera - had portrayed it more negatively, noting widespread public indifference to the summit, the absence from Algiers of a substantial number of Arab leaders, and the meeting's failure to address satisfactorily a number of pressing issues.) Al-Ansari said that Arabs could not adopt the priorities of the American agenda because progress had already been made regarding the Arab reform project. He asserted that many positive things had taken place at the Algiers summit but the Americans had ignored them completely, adding that they did not have an accurate agenda for reform. Moreover, he wondered how democracy could be realized without establishing democratic institutions and popular awareness of the culture of democracy. On 28 March, Nile News TV reported that the US State Department had published a report on the issues of democracy and human rights around the world in which the US stressed that it would continue to exert pressure on Russia, China and US allies in the Islamic world to achieve progress on these issues. Nile News also carried a statement by Condoleezza Rice in which she said that the USA would continue to put pressure on Russia; there was no mention of the names of any Arab or Islamic countries. On 29 March, at 1815 gmt on Channel 2 TV, a programme called "The Bridge" discussed the issue of democracy in the Arab world and whether US pressure was behind any of the steps taken on the road to democracy in some Arab countries. The programme, presented by Dr Hanan Yusuf, interviewed Dr Mustafa Ilwi, professor of political economy at Cairo University, who admitted the existence of American pressure on Arab regimes to carry out political reforms, explaining that the US Administration believed that lack of democracy in Arab countries was behind the 9/11 attacks. Ilwi affirmed that the democratic steps taken in Egypt were part of a continuous process and not simply the result of foreign pressure. He also praised progress in Saudi Arabia, the political reforms in Palestine, and the Iraqi elections. Later in the programme, Lebanese journalist Jihad al-Khazin was interviewed over the telephone. Al-Khazin said that the USA was not behind the political reforms in the Arab world. Indeed, US "interference" had actually delayed the progress of democracy in the region. He alleged that the US Administration contained elements who were hostile to Arabs and Muslims. President Bush himself was innocent of this charge but he was carrying out his advisors' hostile policy out of ignorance. Later, Ilwi said that the USA had a bad record in the Middle East because of its bias towards Israel and its "occupation" of Iraq, and accordingly no-one could have any faith in US calls for democracy. Presenter Hanan Yusuf mocked US claims that it was behind the current political reforms in Arab countries after the alleged US successes in Iraq and Afghanistan, and said that these reforms realized the higher US interest which was uprooting all the reasons behind the 9/11 events. She also said that realizing democracy was based on experience and establishing an appropriate atmosphere. The US and Israel Egyptian television news bulletins do not directly criticize the relationship between the US and Israel, but these relations are sharply criticized and analysed in interviews and talk shows aired at other times. On 26 March, the Satellite Channel's 0800 gmt news reported a statement by Condoleezza Rice in which she criticized Israeli plans to expand settlements in the West Bank, denying that there was any American-Israeli deal to allow Israel to keep some of its settlements. Later, it reported that, contrary to what Rice had said, the US ambassador to Israel had renewed US support for Israel's decision to keep large settlements in the West Bank, saying that he had called Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, stressing to him Washington's commitment to Bush's pledge regarding allowing Israel to keep some of the territories which it had occupied in 1967. The US ambassador's remarks were also reported by Nile News at 1700 gmt on 26 March. The following day, the 1700 gmt Nile News bulletin reported Rice as denying that there was any disagreement with Israel over West Bank settlements. But it followed Rice's remarks with a statement by Israeli Prime Minister Sharon that the US-Israel agreement on settlements was still in force. On 28 March, in the Satellite Channel's review of the Israeli press, Israeli affairs expert Ahmad al-Himali quoted an Israeli press commentary that said that the USA had asked Israel in 1976 to ignore the entry of Syrian forces into Lebanon as it had claimed to Israel that this would lead to the weakening of Palestinian liberation movements. Al-Himali also quoted another Israeli press commentary on Israel's position regarding the Iranian nuclear programme, which said that Israel should not deal alone with the Iranian nuclear programme but should work through a military alliance with the USA. On 28 March, in an interview on Nile News TV, Egyptian journalist Makram Muhammad Ahmad said that US pressure on the Lebanese Hezbollah to disarm was aimed at ensuring security for Israel. On 28 and 29 March, Nile News broadcast a correspondent's report on a forum organized by the Egyptian press syndicate on US pressures on Syria and Lebanon, in which Dr Rif'at Sayyid Ahmad, general coordinator of the Arab Committee for Supporting Resistance in Lebanon, described US pressures on Syria and Lebanon as unjustified, adding that they aimed at besieging the Lebanese resistance and realizing the objectives of Israel which it could not achieve through war. Muhsin Hashim, the forum's coordinator, also said the pressure on Hezbollah was meant to achieve Israel's interests. The report showed a sign carrying the slogan: "Yes to the resistance and Hezbollah. No to America, Israel and [UNSC] Resolution 1559". Source: BBC Monitoring research 26-29 Mar 05 (via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA. I received a QSL letter from Fre Tesfamichael, Director of the Voice of the Revolution of Tigray in 73 days for my English reception report with US$1. According to the letter, they broadcast Mon.-Fri. 0400-0500 UT, 0930-1030, 1500-1900. Sat. & Sun. 0400-0900, 1100-1630 on 5500 & 7515 kHz with 10 kW (Iwao Nagatani, Kobe, Japan, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Matches info in WRTH 2005, page 194; despite the name this station is now considered a legal domestic outlet, not a clandestine --- except for 6350 instead of 7515. So they have moved to 7515? Which frequency did you hear? (gh, DXLD) I heard the station on 5500 at 1455 UT January 20. I was surprised that new frequency 7515 kHz is listed in the letter. But, it's not sure they really use 7515 instead of 6350. Not heard on both frequencies last night (Iwao Nagatani, April 8, ibid.) ** FAROE ISLANDS. Hi Glenn, re 5-060; yes, indeed, Útvarp Føroya on http://www.uf.fo/les_tidindi.asp?Id=23661 shows this comment in English: 'The Parliament to decide who is responsible for the Medium Wave Transmitter of the Faroese Radio --- týsdagur, 22. mars 2005 12.53 The Parliamentary Committee should become involved in the matter on the medium wave transmitter of the Faroese Radio, says Tórbjørn Jacobsen, MP. He has sent the Parliamentary Committee a letter in which he advises the committee to decide who is responsible for the fact that the medium wave transmitter is not being used. Tórbjørn Jacobsen points out that one of the main purposes of the transmitter, when it was bought, was that those at sea should be able to listen to the Faroese Radio. Recent announcements that the transmitter will remain turned off at least for another month have left Tórbjørn Jacobsen very discontent with the situation. Tórbjørn Jacobsen says that when it seems to be so difficult to determine whether it is the Ministry of Trade and Industry or if it is the Faroese Telecom that is responsible for the transmitter then the correct thing would be for the Parliamentary Committe to get involved in the matter. Now that the medium wave transmitter is out of service the main news programs of the Faroese Radio will be broadcast on the Tórshavn Radio. The programs at 12:20 and 18:30 will be heard at 1758 kilohertz, which is channel 2 of the Tórshavn Radio on medium wave. With this system it will be possible for most ships to hear the news programs using a normal radio.' So now´s the chance to hear broadcasts and get a verification from a second 'MW' transmitter in the Faroes. 73's and best wishes (Finn Krone, Denmark, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Do they really mean 1758 kHz??? Broadcasting in that range would be unprecedented. I don`t see any MW frequency besides 531 mentioned in WRTH 2005. Actually a maritime transmitter? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, Glenn, cf last item in this partial coastal stations list on http://www.dkscan.dk/maritim.htm Danske, færøske og grønlandske kystradiostationer på MF Station Kyst kHz Skib kHz Antennens position Trafiklistetider(UTC) (i.e. Danish, Faroese and Greenlandic coastal stations on MF - Station Coast kHz Ship Anetenna position Trafoclisttimes (UTC)): Lyngby Radio (Skamlebæk) 1704 2129 55 50 20N 11 25 26E 0105-0305-... Blåvand I (Bovbjerg) II 1734 1767 2078 2111 55 33 14N 08 06 58E 0105-0305-... (kun 1734) Skagen 1758 2102 57 44 26N 10 34 27E 0150-0305-... Rønne 2586 1995 55 02 33N 15 06 57E 0105-0305-... Tórshavn Radio 1641 1758 2066 2102 62 00 52N 06 47 27W 0035-0235-... (kun 1641) but used for 'broadcast' (news) as long as dispute/absense of MW, it seems. 73's (Finn Krone, Denmark, ibid.) Now we may fight over whether to classify 1758 as MW or SW. Note that FI is not the only station on 1758; kun means primary, or alternate? (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) 531: see also GERMANY just below ** GERMANY. On April 6 Medienanstalt Sachsen-Anhalt allocated the currently silent mediumwave outlets at Burg to new potential users: 531 to Truckradio and 1575 to Oldiestar, cf. http://www.lra.de/news/news_detail.htm?id=460 Truckradio shows 531 in a presentation of their future plannings already for a while, cf. http://www.truckradio.de/connect.aspx?do=2&go=543 Oldiestar is a station launched just a few weeks ago by the company also running Kaufradio, probably known from the 1485 DRM tests at Berlin. At present Oldiestar uses FM 104.9 from Zehlendorf, primarily with the goal to reach at least the northern Berlin. Website of this station, so far containing just contact details and live streams: http://www.oldiestar.de Some people are talking about a possible output of 100 kW on 531. If so the original power level had been coordination-wise kept when moving this frequency from Wiederau to Burg, and so probably the 1000 kW authorization for 783 in theory still exists as well. However, I don't know if the statements about 100 kW on 531 are correct (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE [and non]. Dear John KALHMERA, I received your reports thank you. I know for the time 0000-0400 GMT, Kavala they no have antennas for west, so I test something all, in the time 1100–1200 GMT if is you up listen the frequency 15650. The frequency 17705 I think to goes better in the next month, is difficult to change it in the middle of season. Best regards (Babis Charalabopoulos, ERA, April 7, via John Babbis, MD, DXLD) Babis: Received your item about Kavala not having antennas to the west. I was under the impression that the azimuth of 355 degrees was being used for America even though it was beamed in the direction of Alaska. The frequency of 9375 from Kavala at 240 degrees is heard in this area sometimes from 0000 to 0200 UT, so it could be useful to listeners in Florida and the southern USA. I will listen at 1100-1200 tomorrow morning when you are testing 15650 and include it in my report (is this Avlis 3?). At 2030 Delano on 17705 is very strong with a little noise (John Babbis, Silver Spring MD, April 7, to Babis Charalabopoulos, ERT, cc to DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. BBCWS on Sirius Comments Looking over the new PRI-based schedule for the BBCWS on Sirius, it should be noted that there are some significant changes (and improvements) from the previous "all-news" London-based schedule that Sirius used to carry (all times UT/GMT): 1. Several more feature programs including: Sports International (Su 0432); The Ticket (Sa 0706, 1506, Su 1606); Pick of the World (Sa 0806, 0906, 1306); Write On (Sat 0845, 0945, 1345); Outlook (T-F 0806, M-F 1806, 2132); Masterpiece (W 0706, Sa 1606, Su 1706); The Word (Sa 0232, 1632, Su 1732); Documentary [currently the Arab World Debates series](Su 1306, 1806); Charlie Gillett (Sa 1832, Su 0032), and three scheduled with somewhat less accessibility--Health Matters (M 0706), Go Digital (T 0706), Science in Action (F 0706). 2. Feature programs also are retained from the previous schedule: Reporting Religion (F 2232, Sa 0432, 2232, Su 0532, 0832, 1032, 1132, 1932); Global Business (Su 0106, 0506, 1506); People and Politics (F 2332, Sa 0132, 0532, 1932, 2132, Su 0332, 0732, 0932, 1532); The Interview (Sa 0332, 2332, Su 0132, 0632); Assignment (Th 0706, Sa 0306, 1806, Su 0906, 2106); Talking Point (Su 1406, M 0806); From Our Own Correspondent (Sa 2106, Su 0306, 0806); Off the Shelf (M-F 1845); The Instant Guide (Sa 1145, 1745, M 0045); World Business Review (Sa 0632, 1132, Su 2132). 3. The World, a program produced cooperatively by the BBC and WGBH Boston, joins a WS schedule for the first time (Tu-Sa 0306). 4. While the greater variety is indeed most welcome, there are some reservations. a.) Sportsworld carriage has been reduced to just the first hour of the three hour program on Saturdays and Sunday Sportsworld has been eliminated entirely from this schedule. This comes at a time when the WS has made it doubly difficult to hear the program on shortwave with its coverage reductions in Central and South America and the Caribbean, frequencies which were still reliable for the most part for at least some North American listeners. Sportsworld also is entirely unavailable from the oft-promoted (by the BBCWS) streaming internet audio feeds as well. b.) The schedule is somewhat curiously imbalanced with, for example, no less than eight airings of Reporting Religion and nine of People and Politics, yet only three of the staple From Our Own Correspondent and one each (at a very inaccessible time all over the continent) of Health Matters, Go Digital and Science in Action. Why the schedule makers at BBC give such overriding emphasis to the two programs cited seems quite unexplainable. It would not seem that PRI (who contracts for this schedule) or its FM affiliates would have any reason to favor these two programs over others. Then again to this observer, the expense and effort put into the multiple "customized" schedules by the BBC has never seemed to justify the losses in feature program production and shortwave coverage apparently given in trade, as BBC management set such priorities. 3. The information given on the screen of the Sirius player often still does not match that which is being broadcast or which appears in printed on online schedules, despite the yeoman efforts being made by the BBC and Sirius to address this annoying (at least to this subscriber) anomaly. It is apparently due to some deep-seated problem resident in the software which governs what appears there. But it points, once again, to the pitfalls and sometime follies of devising a distribution scheme so complex as to vex even the most intricate computer-based software solutions ostensibly designed to cope with it. One continues to hope not only for a soon-as-possible repair, but also -- on several levels -- for saner heads to once again assume the leadership of the BBC (John Figliozzi, column editor, Monitoring Times magazine, Halfmoon, NY, April 7, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) This is an improvement. I subscribed to Sirius specifically for BBC and WRN and was very disappointed to discover that 80% of what I heard on *their* BBC was the endless drone of current headlines, like a British audio CNN. Glad to hear there'll be a little music and literature in the mix (Blaine Waterman, ibid.) ** ISRAEL. Will this schedule cease end of June or end of October??? (George Poppin, official IBA monitor to Moshe Oren, Bezeq, via DXLD) Hi George, Hope it will be until October and more (Moshe to George, ibid.) First it was March for discontinuing KI broadcasts on shortwave, then June and now it might be October or more. Moshe is the chief cook, bottle washer and manager at Kol Israel --- like a "one armed paper hanger". What a wonderful guy. Best regards (George J. Poppin, San Francisco CA, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ITALY. I only hear Rai English to NAm at 0055 on 11800 (Bob Thomas, CT, early April, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ITALY. R. Mi Amigo, via IRRS, 15725, 1105-1138+ April 2, new broadcast. IDs, variety of Euro-pop dance music, bluegrass and US pops from the 70s including Moody Blues and others. Saturday only; fair to good. IRRS, 13840, 1105-1200* April 2, English religious programming about the upcoming World War III and Armageddon. 1130 ``Words of Life`` program with religious music. 1200 IRRS ID. Poor-fair; reduced carrier USB (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) So that accounts for two IRRS transmitters at once, wherever they may be. Per 5-060 both are 20 kW (gh, DXLD) ** LATVIA. RTI - Radio Tatras International http://www.rti.fm will be relayed via the Ulbroka transmitter on 9290 on Sat 9 April from 1730 to 2300 and on Sunday 10 April from 1800 to 2300 UT (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, dxldyg via DXLD) O o, if this happen, someone will have to eat his WRTH. Does this coincide with the demise of Offshore Music Radio? Have listened to Eric Wiltshir`s Media Zoo there a number of times on webcast; see listings in MONITORING REMINDERS CALENDAR (gh, DXLD) RADIO TATRAS INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCES TUNING DETAILS The new pan-European radio station Radio Tatras International (RTI), which launches on Saturday, has launched its new website and announced tuning details. According to the website "RTI - Radio Tatra [sic] International is a new, unique English speaking radio station bringing entertainment radio to a global audience. The RTI headquarters is based in the heart of the beautiful Slovakian Tatras Mountains in Central Europe and broadcasts 24/7 to listeners across the world via a range of media: AM, FM, satellite and internet." Tuning details are given as follows: Satellite: Eurobird 28 East 11.623H 27500 2/3 Radio 1350AM: Baltics, Scandinavia, Germany Radio Riga FM: T.B.A. Radio 94.2FM: in Slovakia Also online at http://www.rti.fm The website also says that "Later in 2005 RTI will also broadcast via the new digital AM service - DRM - being launched by the BBC, Deutsche Welle, RTL, Radio France and more. In car sets also arrive later this year with portables available from Q2 2005. This means you could drive from Sweden to Switzerland without any interruptions to your listening pleasure." The website reveals that the studios are in Poprad, Slovakia. # posted by Andy @ 18:19 UT April 7 (Media Network blog via DXLD) This newcomer with ambitious plans is signing on on April 9. Check out the details at the DXing.info News page at http://www.dxing.info/news/index.dx#rti But where exactly is the transmitter on 1350 kHz? Perhaps in Kuldiga, where a 50-kilowatt transmitter was used in the early 90's. But then again, I suspect they will start with very low power, which would explain that the transmitter power is not revealed. Any more info on this one? Anyone hearing tests on 1350 or 9290 kHz? (Mika Mäkeläinen, April 7, dxing.info via DXLD) This 1350 would be from Latvia I think (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RTI says to DXing.info that reception reports are not wanted, and will not be verified. "We really can't have people sitting there sending out QSL cards when we have a commercial radio station to run", RTI says (DXing.info, April 7, 2005 via DXLD) Know how to win friends ** MEXICO. I just noticed on UT April 7 at 0114 that the frequency was missing from this item in 5-053: 2390, of course: (gh) Radio Huayacocotla, 0030 to 0045 with instrumental music, om in Spanish, very bad band noise (Bob Wilkner, Pompano Beach, South Florida, US, NRD 535D ~ Drake R8A ~ Icom R 75, March 25, HCDX via DXLD) ** MEXICO. R. Educación, Mexico City, 6184.97, 0855-0915+ April 2, local ballads, Spanish announcements, \\ 1060 = weak under KYW, Philadelphia. 6184.97 was poor, mixing with Brazil on 6185 (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 4/6 Mexican FM DX --- Antennacraft FM-6 yagi @ 35' CM #9537 antenna rotator; Times are CST; distances in [statute] miles 1955 92.3 XHTU Poza Rica, Veracruz; 360 "Fiesta Mexicana"; ID at 1958 "XHTU Poza Rica, Veracruz con 20 mil watts de potencia"; begin "60 minutos de música romántica" at 2000; SP M DJ with TC, saludos, giving telephone numbers "en la cabina' 2006 93.1 XHCRA Tuxpan, Veracruz; 335 "La Poderosa del Tuxpan"; "Cañonazos musicales", featuring local groups from Veracruz to 2100; música cumbia-tropical-veracruzana; ID at 2130 "XHCRA en Tuxpan, Veracruz con 40 mil watts del potencia, desde el punto más alto del Temapache" 2010 93.9 XHTXA Tuxpan, Veracruz 350 "Calor 93.9"; "Clasicos 93.9" to 2100 featuring classic rock U.S. & MEX; then 2100 "la Mejor Música sólo en 93.9" W DJ in Spanish, saludos. Música popular en español 2014 96.3 XHTNO Tulancingo, Hidalgo 425 "número uno de pop en Tulancingo"; man in Spanish with TC & Temp (18 grados C); promo for a classical music concert on 10 de Abril en Tulancingo; música popular/rock en español 2029 106.9 XHTVR Tuxpan, Veracruz; 335 "La Nueva Azul, música romántica"; ID, mention of // 1150 AM 2032 105.5 XHTIO Tampico, Tamaulipas 270 "Radio Universidad" música popular en español/música regional mexicana 2036 96.9 XHHF Tampico, Tamaulipas; 270 'Los éxitos principales - son 40, Los 40 Principales" música popular/rock en español 2051 104.5 XEHU Martínez de la Torre, Veracruz; 405 "Shock FM"; música popular/rock/hip-hop en español 2328 102.7 XHPR Poza Rica, Veracruz; 350 "Los 40 principales" woman DJ in Spanish with "muchos saludos" talking to listeners over the air; full ID 2335 "XHPR en Poza Rica, Veracruz con 5 mil watts de potencia". Finally an ID from 102.7 proving that the call is "XHPR 102.7" 73's and gud DX (Steve AB5GP Wiseblood, Boca Chica Beach, Texas, DX LISTENING DIKGEST) ** MEXICO. MEXICAN RADIO JOURNALIST IN CRITICAL CONDITION AFTER SHOOTING | Text of press release by Paris-based organization Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) on 6 April Reporters Without Borders voiced outrage today at the attempted murder yesterday of Guadalupe García Escamilla of Radio Estéreo 91 XHNOE in Nuevo Laredo (in the northeastern border state of Tamaulipas), who was fighting for her life after receiving multiple gunshot wounds outside the radio station. "This is the third attack against a journalist since the start of the year in this region, where the press is at great risk," the press freedom organization said. "We do not want to see a repetition of last year's shocking events in which five journalists were murdered and local authorities were often implicated," the organization said, adding, "we therefore call on the federal authorities to carry out a thorough investigation in order to expose those responsible and bring them to justice." An unidentified gunman fired 15 shots at García as she got out of her car outside the radio just before 8 a.m. Eight of the shots hit her, injuring her in the abdomen, chest, arm, left knee and groin. She was rushed to hospital where doctors immediately began operating on her injuries. According to the most recent reports from her colleagues, she was still in intensive care and in a very serious condition. García presents a daily spot about crime and public security called "Punto Rojo," which goes out during the morning news programme. Sources who asked not to be identified said García had in recent days heard threats being made against her on the police radio frequency. The radio messages also referred to the imminent execution of lawyer Fernando Partida Castañeda, who was murdered a few hours before the attack on García in the same district and with a gun of the same calibre. Source: Reporters Sans Frontières press release, Paris, in English 6 Apr 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** MOZAMBIQUE. Re 7135: Good Morning Glenn, the following is from the German Foreign Office report on Mozambique. It says that RTV operates on SW "in the capital" and on MW in parts of the country... Do the confuse Short Wave (Kurzwelle) with FM (Ultrakurzwelle)? However, they misspelled it. Der Bereich der elektronischen Medien wird weiterhin von staatlicher Seite beeinflusst. Die Vielfalt ist aber gewährleistet. Der staatliche Hörfunksender "Radio Mozambique" ist der einzige landesweit operierende Rundfunksender. "Radio Terra Verde" steht der Oppositionspartei RENAMO nahe und sendet sein Programm in der Hauptstadt auf Kurzwellle sowie in Teilen des Landes auf Mittelwelle. Das Fernsehen "TVM" wird als Anstalt des öffentlichen Rechts betrieben. Daneben existieren mehrere Privatsender. http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/www/de/laenderinfos/laender/laender_ausgabe_html?type_id=13&land_id=116 (Thorsten Hallmann, Münster, Germany, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Bottom of Form 1 ** NETHERLANDS [non]. The following item from the current edition of Feedback will be of interest if you live in the UK and Ireland and northern Europe: Since the start of our summer schedule, we've had a number of letters, phone calls and E-mails from UK listeners regarding our mediumwave transmission via Sweden on 1179 kHz. R G Rose in Macclesfield writes: "What is happening to your 2300 GMT transmission via Sweden on 1179 kHz? It seems to have been plagued by interruptions since it began last Monday. Today, 2 April 2005, however, it was not broadcast at all. The Radio Sweden 1179 kHz station is usually well received here in the North of England during the hours of darkness. In the meantime I note that your 1900 GMT transmissions for Africa can be received here with a reasonable signal on 17810 kHz via Bonaire." Alwyn Lewis in Suffolk says: "I have not been able to pick up your new scheduled mediumwave frequency of 1179 kHz at 2300 hours. I thought this might be due to the strong sideband splatter from a local UK station on 1170 kHz, or due to the co-channel signal from a Spanish station. But, this evening, I started to listen a few minutes ahead of 2300 hours. And I clearly heard a trailer for your broadcast, announcing an hour's transmission from Radio Netherlands. But come the hour - no signal! What's happening?" Yes, this broadcast has got off to a bad start due to a number of different technical problems, most of which are in the transmission chain outside of our direct control. Our engineers have been exchanging urgent emails with our colleagues in Sweden. Because it's on the air between 1 and 2 o'clock in the morning local time, this transmission relies on automated switching by computer, and that hasn't been happening reliably. Please be assured that our technical colleagues in Hilversum and in Sweden are doing their utmost to find and remove the gremlins. In the meantime, it's worth trying the frequency Mr Rose mentions - 17810 kHz - at 1900 UT. http://www2.rnw.nl/rnw/en/feedback/feedbackprogrammes (Media Network Newsletter April 7 via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. Glenn, didn't you complain about the "non-reception" of KFNY? Here is a QSL log from March --- USA Dom KFNY KFNY KFNY Enid, OK 1640 kHz n/d letter at 11 days v/s: Hiram Champlin, Owner of Chisholm Trail Br. H. Yokoi-JPN direct to QIP (Martin Schoech - PF 101145 - 99801 Eisenach - Deutschland, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) First report from Japan I am aware of; would be nice to know details of the reception (gh, DXLD) ** PARAGUAY. 9736.9, 06+07 April, 2240-0235 R. Nacional, La Asunción, ID + time + news; Good peaks (Dario Monferini, Italy, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello Glenn, Radio Nacional De Paraguay, with nice signal here in UK 0000 UT on 9737,with TOTH station ID. Also, around same time, Dr Eugene Scott`s transmissions via Costa Rica, 9725, also very good. Greetings from England (Christopher Lewis, 2233 UT April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. R. Huanta, 4746.77, 1000-1010 April 2, OA folk music, Spanish announcements, IDs. Weak but in the clear (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Quito 7/4 2005 *** Thursday edition: *** Recording of 4746.78 R.Huanta 2000, Huanta Huanta 2000 has been around many years with good signal but I always have some kind of interference. Better late than never so here is my first recording of: Radio Huanta 2000! Comments, photos and recordings at: http://www.malm-ecuador.com 73s (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4746.8, 06+07 April, 2240-0045 R. Huanta 2000, Huanta, advertising, IDs, time, better in LSB, Suff/Good. I have been listening at the farm house of Paolo Albini 15 km west to Voghera town and 40 km south from Milano. A very quiet place. We utilized an ICOM R-75 receiver with EWE antenna outdoor for SW and an indoor DLA loop antenna with preamplifier (Dario Monferini, Italy, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES. VOA`s new Poro MW facility is rated at 1000 kW, but so far has only got up to 800 kW on one direxional pattern and 900 kW on the other pattern, which are almost the same. An RF contactor is arcing since it needs to be higher rated to handle 1000 kW, and it could be a sesquimonth or more before it can be replaced. Anyhow, full modulation is achieved as long as the power is held down to these levels (Aaron Zawitzky, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. VOR English I confirm: 0100 9665 15595 17660 0200 9665 9860 15595 17660 0300 9665 9860 0400 9665 9880 Best are 9665, 9860, 9880 (Bob Thomas, CT, early April, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RWANDA. HATE RADIO FOUNDER "WANTS MORE TIME TO APPEAL" | Text of report in English by Swiss-based Hirondelle Foundation web site on 1 April One of the founders of the extremist radio station Radio-television libre des Mille collines (RTLM), Friday requested more time to prepare his case which is now pending in the appeals chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). Trained in the former Soviet Union as a lawyer, Jean Bosco Barayagwiza, 55, was a member of the steering committee of the RTLM station, which incited the1994 genocide of Tutsi and the massacres of Hutu members of the opposition. On 3 December 2003, he was sentenced to 35 years in prison in a trial that lasted slightly over three years. He boycotted the entire proceedings in protest over what he termed "partiality" of the judges. He even refused to recognize lawyers assigned to defend him. When Barayagwiza was convicted, he decided to appeal. He said that he had only boycotted his trial session because he did not trust judges in the lower chamber. During a status conference held Friday [1 April], Barayagwiza requested more time to prepare his appeal arguing that his case was "complicated". He had been given three and a half months to file his pre-appeal briefs but he considered the time given to be too short and wanted it to be pushed to 12 months. "I find myself in a very unusual position. I do not have to be limited or be discriminated against. My co-accused were given more time." Barayagwiza was jointly accused with the other partner in RTLM, Ferdinand Nahimana and Hassan Ngeze, former editor of the radical anti-Tutsi newspaper, Kangura. He blames the Registrar for dragging his feet in appointing a new defence counsel. Mr. Donald Herbert was assigned to Barayagwiza 30 November 2004. "I am the one prejudiced and you expect me to pay for the Registrar's delay?" the accused asked Judge Ines de Roca from Argentina who was chairing the hearing via video link from The Hague. Judge Roca informed Barayagwiza that the interests of his co-accused should be taken into account as well as they had requested for a hearing without delay. The Argentinean judge advised the accused that if he was not satisfied with the arrangements, he could appeal to the complete five-person chamber and not a sole judge. Source: Hirondelle Foundation web site, Lausanne, in English 1 Apr 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** SERBIA & MONTENEGRO [non]. This is RSM, English to NAm at 0100 on 9580, but covered by CRI English to NAm (Bob Thomas, CT, early April, DX LISTENING DIGEST) that would be via Cuba (gh) ** SERBIA & MONTENEGRO [non]. International Radio of Serbia and Montenegro 4 April to 30 October 2005 Albanian 1700-1715 EU 6100 Arabic 1430-1500 ME 11800 Bulgarian 1715-1730 EU 6100 Chinese 2230-2300 AS 9580 English 0000-0030 xsu NAM/EU 9580 0430-0500 NAM/EU 9580 1830-1900 EU 6100 2100-2130 EU 6100 2200-2230 xsa AU 7230 French 1600-1630 EU 9620 2030-2100 EU 6100 German 1630-1700 EU 9620 2000-2030 xsa EU 6100 Greek 1545-1600 EU 6100 Hungarian 1530-1545 EU 6100 Italian 1730-1800 EU 9620 Russian 1500-1530 Rus 11870 1800-1830 Rus 6100 Serbian 0030-0100 NAM/EU 9580 1300-1430 EU 7200 1930-2000 xsa EU 6100 1930-2030 sa EU 6100 2130-2200 xsa AU 7230 2130-2230 sa AU 7230 2330-0030 su NAM/EU 9580 2330-2400 xsu NAM/EU 9580 Spanish 1900-1930 EU 7200 2300-2330 SAM 9680 (Website following tip by Eric Zhou in dxldyg mail list via Alan Roe, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOMALIA [and non]. Re 5-060: Yes, situation there seems to be increasingly tense; I wonder which stations are off. I myself have been unable to hear R. Horyaal 12130 kHz the last 3-4 days and their previously nice website http://www.horyaal.net seems 'closed' with only this message available: 'Wixii imika ka dambeeya websitekan kama heli doontaan wararka idaacadda ka baxa, iyadoo wararkaas caadi looga maqli doono hawada. Hawlwadeenada websitekani waxay idinka raalli gelinayaan duruufaha aan noo saamaxayn inaan sii wadno inaan wararka halkan soo gelino.' Anybody? My Somali is a bit rusty. Also Radio Somaliland/ Hargeysa web-site seems a bit amputated (Finn Krone, Denmark, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) But later: Hi again, right as I put my neck out today re: CLANDESTINE (Somalia) R Horyaal well heard 12130 kHz with sign on 1730 (re earlier today contribution) just after hearing V. of Oromo Liberation closing 1730 on 12120 with even better signal, April 7 :-) (Finn Krone, Denmark, ibid.) ** SPAIN. REE English to NAm at 0000: 15385 not doing well, covered by Chinese (Bob Thomas, CT, early April, DX LISTENING DIGEST) VOA Tinang, Philippines and/or jammer (gh) ** SRI LANKA. During somewhat jumbled propagation conditions, SLBC All Asia Service ID heard at 1505 April 7 on 15748.0, claiming to be on 15745 plus two other frequencies --- don`t the announcers ever turn on a radio and listen to their own station, at least to confirm its frequencies? After news in English. WEWN on 15745 was just as weak if not weaker at this time; still, it would have been nice to have more than 3 kHz separation, but it sure beats 0 kHz (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN. Re R. Peace, 4750: The upgrade to 5 kW could explain the substantial increase in signal strength on 4750 I noted in Nairobi in January and February, compared to what was observed in 2004 (Chris Greenway, dxldyg via DXLD) Well, I can now confirm that the station on 5895 is Radio Peace. On 6 Apr at 1655 the frequency was clear without the ute. Couple of minutes later rather strong carrier appeared and then there was that usual canned ID "Thank you for listening to Radio Peace". Into English religious program and at 1715 into local language program. Sign-off around 1723. It seems the signal is undermodulated and so it is rather difficult to hear them clearly. On 5 Apr I was a bit late in monitoring, but noted them at 1717 with local language and sign-off was also then around 1723. Hopefully we'll soon get info which transmitter site is in use on 5895 (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, April 6, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1270, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWEDEN [non]. Hi buddies, Ibra Radio's A05 frequency schedule is now available on its official website. It is a PDF version: http://www.ibra.org/sandning/Sandningsschema.pdf Regards, (Eric Zhou in Nanjing, China, April 8, dxldyg via DXLD) ** TIBET. 7240: Signal improving most afternoons here in upstate NY (minus ham QRM), last heard in September, will probably vanish in a few weeks. Positive ID as Tibet last year when I caught part of an English lesson. Left the air then at 2358. Fades in now around 2100+. Catch it while you can! (Al Quaglieri, April 6, HCDX via DXLD) ** UGANDA [non]. Could those further east please check whether R. Rhino International Africa is really back as of today April 7? Presumably 1500-1530 UT (or later?) on previously used 17870. All I have there is a carrier at 1510. Tnx, (Glenn, OK, dxldyg via DXLD) Slightly later: Never mind; their website http://www.radiorhino.org now says they resume on April 11. Keep putting it off (Glenn, ibid.) ** U K. BBCWS on Sirius: see INTERNATIONAL VACUUM ** U K. INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE PRAISES BBC MONITORING The work of BBC Monitoring has been praised for the second year running in the annual report of the House of Commons Intelligence and Security Committee. The full report is at http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/publications/reports/intelligence/iscannualreport.pdf Here are the relevant extracts: 37. In last year's Annual Report, we commented on the valuable service that BBC Monitoring provided to both government departments and to the Agencies, a view the Government endorsed in its response. BBC Monitoring, in partnership with its US counterpart, the Foreign Broadcast Information System (FBIS), produces open source reporting from the media in over 150 countries, which involves 100 languages. We reported that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) was reviewing its allocation of funding for BBC Monitoring, which would cause a significant reduction in BBC Monitoring's coverage. We raised our concerns with the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary and initiated a Westminster Hall debate on the matter. We were then told that the funding levels for BBC Monitoring would be maintained until 2005–06 so that a strategic review could be conducted which would seek to align customer requirements better with available resources and agree a new funding regime for the future. 38. This strategic review was conducted by Sir Quentin Thomas, who will shortly be submitting his report to the Security and Intelligence Co-ordinator. Negotiations with all of BBC Monitoring's stakeholders, including government departments, continue with a view to ensuring that BBC Monitoring's important capability will be maintained and that it will remain in a position to meet the key priorities of customers. This means that funding arrangements for future years and their impact on BBC Monitoring's capacity to meet customers' requirements have yet to be agreed. We repeat our view that BBC Monitoring provides a valuable service and we will comment on the new funding arrangements and their impact on capacity once they are agreed by stakeholders (via Chris Greenway, BBCM, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U S A. Dear Friends: I know many of you knew our chief engineer at WRMI, Kiko Espinosa. And many of you are aware that he had been very ill for a number of months now with inoperable cancer. I am sorry to report that today (April 6) Kiko passed away. Kiko was one of our partners at WRMI, and had been in charge of the engineering aspects of the station ever since we went on the air 11 years ago. He almost single-handedly built the transmitter site, maintained it, kept the transmitters on the air and fixed anything that went wrong over the years. It won't be easy to fill his shoes, but Kiko's son-in-law Raul is now helping us with technical matters, and we have a contract engineer working with us as well, in addition to our regular transmitter operator staff. Kiko's experience as a broadcast engineer goes back to the 1950's in his native Cuba. He was an active amateur radio operator, and we know he had a great sense of accomplishment when WRMI went on the air as a commercial shortwave station in 1994. Sincerely, (Jeff White, WRMI, April 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Our condolences to Raul and Kiko`s family. Tnx to Kiko we have a modified telephone for patching still in use today e.g. for feeds to WBCQ when required, which has held up very well since it was first used for DX Daily via RMI (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WWCR advises me that an outdated program schedule was uploaded to the website by mistake. Tho dated April 4, disregard it until it can be replaced. The wrong one, for example, has Spectrum back on Saturday nights (Glenn Hauser, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. US NAVY SOLICITS MF/HF TRANSMITTERS FOR COMMANDO SOLO The US Naval Air Warfare Center - Aircraft Division (NAWCAD), Patuxent River MD 4.5 Department has announced a competitive requirement to acquire MF/HF transmitter systems for the Modular Commando Solo (MCS) Program. The planned MCS system shall include a Roll-On/Roll-Off (RORO) MF, HF, FM, and Narrowband broadcasting system that is mounted on pallets that are loaded on a C-130J Aircraft. This system is used in psychological operations (PSYOP). Full details of the solicitation can be found here. http://www.fbodaily.com/archive/2005/04-April/08-Apr-2005/FBO-00783125.htm # posted by Andy @ 15:46 UT April 7 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** U S A. CONGRESS MAY EXTEND DAYLIGHT-SAVING [sic] TIME WASHINGTON (AP) -- If Congress passes an energy bill, Americans may see more daylight-saving time. Lawmakers crafting energy legislation approved an amendment Wednesday to extend daylight-saving time by two months, having it start on the last Sunday in March and end on the last Sunday in November. "Extending daylight-saving time makes sense, especially with skyrocketing energy costs," said Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., who along with Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., co-sponsored the measure. The amendment was approved by the House Energy and Commerce Committee that is putting together major parts of energy legislation likely to come up for a vote in the full House in the coming weeks. "The more daylight we have, the less electricity we use," said Markey, who cited Transportation Department estimates that showed the two- month extension would save the equivalent of 10,000 barrels of oil a day. The country uses about 20 million barrels of oil a day. © 2005 The Associated Press. (via Brock Whaley, April 7, DXLD) SCREAM! Anyway that would obsolete the Week of Confusion, a blessing of sorts ** U S A [non] The attached files are all effective on 8 April 2005. (Evelyn Marcy, WYFR) SHENYANG DELETE YFR CHN MAND 2100 2400 7250 TWN 136 ADD YFR CHN MAND 2100 2400 7235 TWN 136 CHENGDU DELETE YFR CHN MAND 2100 2400 7250 TWN 136 ADD YFR CHN MAND 2100 2400 7235 TWN 136 HONG KONG DELETE YFR CHN MAND 2100 2400 7250 TWN 136 ADD YFR CHN MAND 2100 2400 7235 TWN 136 SHANGHAI DELETE YFR CHN MAND 2100 2400 7250 TWN 136 ADD YFR CHN MAND 2100 2400 7235 TWN 136 BEIJING DELETE YFR CHN MAND 2100 2400 7250 TWN 136 ADD YFR CHN MAND 2100 2400 7235 TWN 136 Hi Evelyn, Tnx for keeping us updated. But I`m a bit confused. All of these seem to concern a single broadcast changing from one frequency to another. Why are five different Chinese cities (and only 5) named in connexion with them? Regards, (Glenn to Eveyln, via DXLD) The message should have read as follows. Please note the following change in transmissions carried for Family Stations, Inc. from Taiwan: Delete 7250 kHz, 2100-2400 UTC, service to China. Add 7235 kHz, 2100- 2400 UTC (Evelyn Marcy, Secretary, WYFR, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Re Master`s Golf Tournament station on 1300: This link is to the Augusta.com page about the station... http://www.augusta.com/masters/stories/040505/new_3808862.shtml I found the previous link on Information Station Specialist's web site, the source of the equipment http://www.theradiosource.com/ (Pete Dernbach, St. Louis MO, amfmtvdx at qth.net via DXLD) ** U S A. TIS on 1610 in Kettering, OH, WPVW207: http://www.theradiosource.com/articles-case-study-kettering.htm (via gh, DXLD) ** U S A. I heard IBOC on 840 tonight 4/6 between 2000 and 2015 EDT. WHAS has turned on the switch. They turned it off right at 2015. Unless they turned it back on since then, I assume they are day only for now (Bill Harms, MD, amfmtvdx at qth.net and DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Religion radio co-opts low power FM --- Christian broadcast stations have been snapping up low power FM licenses to implement translators, which extend the broadcast area of their main signal. Links from Metafilter.com March of the Low-Band God Squad http://www.diymedia.net/feature/fcc/f072004.htm Right-wing Radio http://www.alternet.org/module/printversion/21639 (Ed Thomas / wd8kct / Canton, Ohio, dxldyg via DXLD) ** VATICAN. In our feature this week, we look at how the Vatican has developed its use of the media during the 26-year papacy: The Vatican's PR machine Under Pope John Paul II, the Vatican greatly developed its use of the media and high-tech personal communications. His successor will need to be a good PR man as well as a spiritual leader. http://www2.rnw.nl/rnw/en/features/media/vat050407.html?view=Standard (Media Network newsletter via DXLD) ** VATICAN [and non]. ANALYSIS: POPE JOHN PAUL II - THE FIRST GLOBAL MEDIA PAPACY | Text of editorial analysis by Alistair Coleman of BBC Monitoring Media Services on 6 April Tearful announcers brought news of the Pope's death on Italian state broadcaster RAI, while Radio Vatican sombrely announced the end of John Paul's reign with a short statement in several languages. While it was white smoke from the Sistine Chapel chimney that announced Karol Wojtyla's arrival, it was the world media he used so effectively that signalled his end. "Karol Wojtyla would not have become Pope Wojtyla without the media," said an editorial in Italy's Il Messaggero newspaper, "Something he was very much aware of. No-one was as aware as he was of the importance of the media in our present time. Similarly no-one, to the extent that he did, knew how to exploit with such amiable ruthlessness its immense potential." The Pope once told the Catholic Church that "the mass media can and must promote justice and solidarity". Ironically, the Vatican's own media output in the days leading to the pontiff's death did not reflect the image of a Pope used to dealing with the media. Radio Vatican has always been a dry mix of news, comment and religious services, while the Vatican's own Telepace TV channel barely deviated from a diet of documentaries as the crowds gathered in St Peter's Square. While the Vatican's own media outlets exist to preach to the converted, it is through global news channels that John Paul II made his mark on world opinion. The late Pope's reputation was made by exporting his theology to the screens, newspapers and radios of the world. Not only did he extend his mission beyond the Vatican in many visits and pilgrimages to foreign shores, he also became the most visible Pope in history. No Pope has been seen by more of his followers than John Paul II, either at masses attended by millions, or through a media hungry for his image. Global media reach It was inevitable that this Pope should become a subject for the attentions of the global media. The 26 years of his reign saw an explosion in communications from relatively small numbers of state, independent broadcasters and print media, to a globalising panoply of television and radio channels, web sites and digital media, where opinions are formed, experts speculate and news broken within minutes. In fact, in the media frenzy surrounding the Pope's final illness, his death was erroneously reported more than once. The Denver Post commented on US news channels' impatience at the slow trickle of information offered by Vatican spokemen - in a breaking news culture, the news wasn't breaking fast enough for CNN or Fox. It was John Paul II's gift that, even in old age, he knew the power of being seen in the right place, in the right company. From the forgiving of would-be Papal assassin Mehmet Ali Agca in 1983, to his scolding of US President George W Bush over the Iraq war some two decades later, both were conducted under the stare of the camera lens. Global condolences The Pope's death has brought into play major broadcast plans from news organizations. Eurovision has 10 radio studios and 20 camera positions available in and around the Vatican for its member broadcasters, offering 17 channels into the Eurovision broadcast network, while a 24-hour operation has swung into effect to ensure optimum coverage of the Papal funeral mass. It is some indication of the global reach of mass media that the Pope's death should draw comment from broadcasters as diverse as Al- Jazeera, Hezbollah-backed Al-Manar TV and the KCNA news agency in Pyongyang, although it is unlikely that such news would be imparted to a domestic North Korean audience. Similarly, Hong Kong's South China Morning Post noted that the Pope's death had been mentioned only in passing in China, with a short notice on the official Chinese news agency Xinhua setting the tone for news coverage seen by a quarter of the world's population. The most notable turnaround in papal coverage is that of the Russian media. Officially atheist at the time of his election, both state- owned and commercial TV channels interrupted their programming to bring news of the Pope's death, and like many news organisations around the world, have spent much time and energy speculating over a successor. Meanwhile, Reuters reported that Hungary's public-service MTV drew angry comments from viewers for its lack of papal coverage. Public response French news agency AFP speculated that such coverage would lead to an extreme, uncritical outpouring of grief, such as that following the death of Princess Diana in 1997. As the Pope appealed to millions, so the public response, triggered by media coverage, becomes more extreme, sociologist Tony Walter told AFP. However, there is room to critically assess Pope John Paul's legacy, with the Pope's stance on homosexuality, AIDS, marriage and sexual abuse in the American Catholic Church discussed by the BBC and other broadcasters alongside other aspects of the papacy. As he lived by media, so it was inevitable that Pope John Paul should die with the TV cameras at his windows. Source: BBC Monitoring research 5 Apr 05 (via DXLD) ** VATICAN [and non]. THE POPE OF THE MASS MEDIA: SIGNIS RENDERS HOMAGE TO JOHN PAUL II AND HIS USE OF THE MEDIA by Peter Malone MSC, President, SIGNIS World The illness and the death of Pope John Paul I have provoked an extraordinary media mobilization that has demonstrated the respect that he has won from Catholics, Christians, and peoples the world over. John Paul II himself was recognized as a master in the art of communication. This past Good Friday, the world discovered a little of this symbolic image of the Pope regarding the Pascal ceremonies on television, as we have been invited to watch the Holy Father at prayer through the intermediary of the media. As is well known, Karol Wojtyla was an actor in his youth. He wrote, notably theatrical pieces, and was also a lover of the cinema. The influence of the theatrical dimension of Polish devotion in the life and work of John Paul II is perceptible in the sequence of the opening of the film that his friend Kzrysztoff Zanussi made on the beginnings of his life, ``From a Far Country.`` One sees Karol, a child of six years, witness the preparations for the mise en scene of the last days of Christ, a Passion play that would be played in the different neighborhoods of the town. When John Paul II was named Pope in 1978, the news was spread principally by radio, television, and the printed word. The world was on the point of experiencing the video revolution in the 1980s, as well as the Internet in the 1990s. This new digital arena meant the globalization of information. The ceremonies at Rome, the Papal audiences and the events that occurred during his numerous trips were more easily accessible to the public at large than for any other Pope. His long pontificate, punctuated with visits to exotic countries and historical assemblies, have furnished an impressive quantity of strong images, as one can see by means of news reports, documentaries, and the montages broadcast at his death. One can speak of his role in the fall of communism, of his meetings with international personalities such as Nelson Mandela and Fidel Castro, and his interviews with successive American presidents, the most recent over the matter of the war in Iraq and the campaign of the Pope for peace. The Pontifical Council of Mass Media has never had so much work in responding to the numerous requests of television and radio journalists and networks that wanted to cover the ceremonies and the Papal journeys. Each year, John Paul II accorded a particular attention to the World Mass Media Day. It was the occasion for him to choose a theme in the context of the mass media and recommend it to the attention and prayer of the world. In 1992, he authorized the publication of De Aetatis Novae, The New Age, a document in which the members of the Pontifical Council for Mass Media had assembled their reflections on the significant role of the mass media in the second half of the twentieth century. This text also contained an important direction: it demanded that all dioceses and religious orders integrate into their ministry a pastoral plan for the use of the media. Other documents such as the ethics of advertising, ethics in the mass media, and ethics on the Internet have been published during his pontificate. In his annual address to the Council, the Pope the Pope brought up numerous subjects regarding the media, his interest in video, the Internet, and other methods of contemporary communications. By means of his discourse to associations of movie fans, particularly in 1999, he evoked all the genres of film, from cartoons to science fiction, and he loved to state that the movies were one of the best instruments of dialogue, notably in favor of peace. His general approach towards the mass media and his willingness to collaborate with the media, as much as his own abilities in using it, ought to be viewed from the perspective of the Gospel. For John Paul II, and he loved to affirm it many times, the mass media ought to be considered in a positive manner, as ``gifts of God.``He believed in the power of evangelization of this gift of God, not in an abusive manner or in high-power proselytism, but more in the manner in which Paul displayed in his meeting with the Athenians. The Pope wants to appeal to believers in the manner that Paul dialogued with the Athenians --- by using their own culture; the dialogue would develop today in the ``new Areopagus`` of the mass media. As an international Catholic association for communication, SIGNIS gives its support to the Catholics working in the field of audiovisuals and established a nexus between the Church and the professional world of the mass media. In this we render a particular homage to John Paul II, ``the Pope of the mass media.`` (Catholic Radio Update Extra, April 7 via DXLD) Hi Glenn, You note in DXLD that no one in the media critically examined the Pope's beliefs. I'm afraid we've moved beyond that. I heard that a library in Texas (in Austin, I think) recently cancelled an IMAX movie about science and Evolution. Why? Because people objected it was "blasphemous." Maybe they should have played that old Hollywood movie about the Scopes Monkey Trial, with Gregory Peck? (Ed Stone, NY, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, stick to what you do best -- reporting on the goings-on on the shortwave bands -- and keep your personal views about Catholics and the pope out of your column. As a journalist, I believe the so-called hype concerning the pope's funeral coverage and pre-empted broadcasts stem from him being perhaps the most influential personality in the past century. Whether you believe in the Catholic doctrine or not, the pope's influence was vast and wide and touched many political leaders. So you can see why the Pope was top news even when he was alive. As a Catholic myself, I am the first to admit that our religion isn't the most perfect but then again which religion is? The protestants? Episcopalians? Jehovah's Witness? the Jewish or Muslim faiths? Brother Stair? Your views about contradictions between Catholics mourning for a sick old man and their beliefs in afterlife lack any type of profound analysis about faith, life and love. I would enjoy your column more if you concentrate on speaking out about BPL and cutbacks to shortwave stations rather than giving your two-cents on what you think how journalists should cover a significant international event and how Catholics should behave (Marty Delfin, San Juan, Puerto Rico, April 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Marty, Sorry this bothered you (the only such comment I have received so far). Let me assure you that I have nothing against Catholics any more than I do against other religionists. They just happen to be (excessively) in the news at the moment. Well, there has been plenty about BPL and SW cutbacks and no doubt more of that to come. 73, (Glenn to Marty, via DXLD) ** VATICAN [and non]. ATHEISTS: NO TAXPAYER JUNKET TO PAPAL FUNERAL AS BUSH PREPARES TO LEAD U.S. DELEGATION American Atheists today called upon President Bush to not use public funds for an official government delegation traveling to Rome for the Friday funeral of Pope John Paul II. Mr. Bush issued a statement through the White House press office saying that the purpose of the trip "is to express our gratitude to the almighty for such a man..." The president and first Lady Laura Bush are scheduled to depart for Rome on Wednesday, and return to Crawford, Texas immediately after the burial. Bush is the first sitting president to attend a pope's funeral. Late last night, it was announced that former Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton will also be in the official delegation, along with Secretary of State Condolezza Rice. "Bush intends to pray and thank the 'almighty,' which renders the presidential excursion to Rome a religious pilgrimage," said American Atheists President Ellen Johnson to reporters earlier this afternoon. "It is unfair of our president and our government to use public funds for such a purpose. If Bush or anyone else wants to attend the papal funeral and pray, they should do so using their own money or private contributions, not funds from the American people." There are unconfirmed reports that a number of prominent U.S. officials, including Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia -- a hard-shell Roman Catholic -- will also be traveling to the funeral and might intend to use public funds to pay for the trips. Scalia's plan was revealed on cable news over the weekend, but the story has quickly faded from view. Did politics play a role in selecting who would be in the official U.S. junket to Friday's funeral? Former President Jimmy Carter had expressed interest in attending the event, but no mention of this was made by the White House when it announced the list of names for the U.S. delegation. According to Associated Press, "it was not immediately clear why Carter was not included." THE HOOPLA CONTINUES Meanwhile, saturation media coverage of the papal funeral continues amidst reports that Friday's event will attract "millions" of people and become, as CBS news claimed this evening, "one of the great events in human history." Indeed, all three major networks lead their nightly broadcasts with segments from Rome, including details of the lavish burial as well as speculative reports on who might be chosen as John Paul II's successor. European news agencies are saying that as many as 2 million Polish citizens are flocking to the Holy City for the burial of their native son. While Americans are being bombarded with the constant hoopla surrounding the papal funeral and plans to elect a new pontiff, there is little attention in U.S. media about how this story is playing out in other parts of the world, particularly the Middle East. Arab networks have been giving what the Times of India described as "unprecedented coverage" to events at the Vatican, "provoking anger from Islamic extremists" who see the satellite network spin as further evidence of Western -- and Christian -- cultural incursions. The Al-Jazeera network along with the Saudi-controlled Al-Arabiya stations have been providing live coverage along with historical documentaries about John Paul II. In March, 2000 the pontiff visited the Palestinian territories and Israel where he was received by enthusiastic crowds. Fundamentalist Islamic websites have been critical of the mainstream Arab media coverage, though, describing the pope as an "old tyrant." FLAG FIGHTS Back in America, a handful of state governors are determined to follow President Bush's call that U.S. flags be lowered to half staff to commemorate the pope's death. Kansas Governor Sebelius issued a statement declaring: "I join with my fellow Catholics and the faithful throughout the world in mourning the death of Pope John Paul II. His papacy touched millions of lives and inspired young people in every nation to embrace faith, peace and understanding, sacrifice and service..." He applauded Mr. Bush's call for lowering the American flag to salute Pope John Paul II adding: "I urge all Kansans to join in honoring the life of this sacred leader." Governor Baldacci of Maine has also announced support for the flag display, and ordered that the official state flag also be flown at half staff for the same period. AN AVUNCULAR FIGURE, BUT U.S. CATHOLICS STRAYING Despite all of the public enthusiasm, everything from public masses and the saturation media coverage to gushing statements of government officials, there appears a growing disconnect between grief for John Paul and support for many of his doctrinal policies. The pontiff was very much a defender of traditionalist Roman Catholic doctrine, and allowed conservatives within the Holy See to retain a tight grip in church administration and policies. But American Catholics, while admiring John Paul II as a man or avuncular figure are at odds with many of the church's teachings on critical issues. A USA TODAY/GALLUP/CNN poll released recently indicates that 78 percent believe in the use of artificial birth control, and 63 percent think priests should be permitted to marry. Almost 60 percent would like the Vatican to drop its opposition to the use of stem cell research; and 55 percent feel that women should be permitted to join the priesthood. ** THE DEATH OF A POPE by Edwin Kagin (Editor's note: Friend, philosopher, raconteur and attorney Edwin Kagin -- also founder of Camp Quest and Kentucky State Director for American Atheists -- has some thoughts on the death of a pope...) THAT "Pope," who assumed the name of John Paul II (J2P2 for the sarcastically inclined), avoiding April Fool's Day, died April 2, 2005, right on schedule, in time for the nightly news and Sunday sermons, with an audience waiting outside his window, and the press waiting at their delivery systems. Prior to his death, the electronic news and the morning newspapers, were speaking of him in the past tense. If he had not died on that day, there would have been inconveniences. Opposed to birth control. Opposed to the rights of gays. Opposed to the rights of women. Opposed to the right to have an abortion. He made a virtue of human suffering rather than working for meaningful ways to prevent human suffering. He sought ways to deal with the persistent problem of so many priests of his church raping children -- mostly same sex children. Perhaps he could have suggested that they obey the law. He exonerated Galileo, and he apologized to the Jewish people for his church having not condemned, and maybe even having helped their un-excommunicated communicant Adolph Hitler. Many of the faithful thought he was correct in all things. And they obeyed him. Except when he condemned capital punishment and the war in Iraq. The pope, they figured, got it wrong on those -- that abortion is god-prohibited murder, but that killing people in prisons and on the battlefields is fine no matter what the Vicar of Christ has to say on such matters. The dead Supreme Pontiff also thought the teaching of evolution was okay. Many think he was wrong on that too, and that they are more qualified to decide where people came from than the chief primate. The President of the United States is lowering the flag of our country to half staff for this foreign religious leader who is also the head of a foreign state. Our American President said god had sent this person as a "hero for the ages." There is talk of making him a saint. He made more people saints than any other previous pope. He reinstituted, after a lapse of some centuries, teachings on how to perform exorcisms. Apparently, demon possession is on the upswing. At least the news put the aftermath of the Terri Schiavo death on the back burner. Vatican Hill in Rome had been the headquarters of the religion of Mithraism prior to Christianity being made the official religion of the Roman Empire in 325 E.E. Now you know why the home of the pope is called "The Vatican." One might muse just why the Vatican has not been required to register as a foreign lobby when its leaders are attempting to force their views into American laws and to force our lawmakers to vote as the Vatican thinks they should. And just why the representatives of the Holy See are not charged with a crime when they try to intimidate voters into voting for persons thought acceptable to the faith. Did you know that before a pope is pronounced dead, he is smashed on the head with a silver hammer to make sure? My Helen, the doctor says "Why didn't they use a stethoscope?" Why didn't they do a lot of things differently? If they had, we might inhabit the stars right now. A replacement pope will be selected soon. Watch for the white smoke. If you don't know what that means, you are about to find out. -- Edwin (Mr. Kagin welcomes E-mail through ekagin @ atheists.org ) (AMERICAN ATHEISTS AA NEWS #1162 4/5/05 via DXLD) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. WESTERN SAHARA TV CHANNEL TO BEGIN BROADCASTING IN NOVEMBER - ALGERIAN PAPER | Text of report by Rabah Beldjenna broadcast by Algerian newspaper El Watan web site on 7 April [Western] Saharans will soon have their television channel. SADR [Saharan Arab Democratic Republic]TV, which was kicked off by Mohamed Abdelaziz, the president of the Saharan Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), on 4 April, will broadcast officially starting in November 2005. According to Mohamed Salem Ahmed Lamine, the director general of this project, to start with Western Sahara television will broadcast one hour per day and its air waves will cover an area of 40 square kilometres. The director general of the SADR TV project, who announced this information to reporters yesterday, stated that this television station will initially have to broadcast the activities of the four big camps in the SADR. These are Smara, Laayoune, Dakhla, and Aouisset. The headquarters of this channel will, according to our interlocutor, be ready starting October this year. Still according to the same source, the materiel and the equipment necessary for its launch were acquired thanks to gifts from Spanish non-governmental organizations [NGO]. SADR TV is currently in a trial period and broadcasts two hours and thirty minutes every 15 days. It needs to be explained that the channel broadcasts using a video system. Its officials expect to move into the satellite transmission phase as soon as they have the resources to do so. Source: El Watan web site, Algiers, in French 7 Apr 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) WTFK? ** ZAMBIA. ZNBC Radio 2, 6165, *0242-0255+ April 2, sign-on with Fish Eagle IS, 0250 NA, Afro-pops. Weak under a very strong R. Nederland [Bonaire] (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE. Hello Glenn, Zimbabwe to launch 24-hour news radio station. Just found this information on http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-04/08/content_2801186.htm Best 73s (Ydun Ritz, Denmark, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) We had something like this several months ago. Note the plans for SW. Does this mean it is actually closer to fruition? Hey, they should convert the jamming transmitters and leave SWRA alone in the battleground of ideas (gh, DXLD) Viz.: HARARE, April 7 (Xinhuanet) -- Zimbabwe will soon launch the New Ziana 24-hour News Radio Station, an official said here on Thursday. The New Ziana head of the Electronic Services Business Unit, Happison Muchechetere, said everything was ready for the launch ofthe Radio Station with the equipment having been procured and installed in the studios in Gweru. He said recruitment of staff had been completed and rehearsals for broadcasting were in progress. The Radio Station would also rely on synergies with its sister companies, the news agency and the community newspapers, which have an abundance of news gatherers, he said. On the choice of frequency for the Radio Station, Muchechetere said short wave was the best, as it had the longest reach. "On short wave we will be accessible to people within Zimbabwe and those abroad where our signal will reach," he said. Muchechetere said the station would provide news of a Pan-African perspective 24 hours a day and seven days a week, targeting everyone in Africa. On the justification for another radio station on top of the four that the country already has, Muchechetere said the format was different from the existing ones, which provided news after every hour. "At the moment one has to wait for an hour to hear updates of events," he said, citing the example of the just ended elections, which were punctuated with musical programs as people waited for the announcement of more results. "With Radio 24-7, within an hour we would have given a lot," said Muchechetere. He said the radio station would provide news, analyses, live reports from the region and the continent as well as many other news related programs. There was a niche for providing news 24 hours of the day as people wanted to keep abreast of events instead of having to wait for hours, he said. Plans are underway to open up the airwaves to other players andend the monopoly that Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings has enjoyed over the years, he said. Enditem (Xinhua via Ydun Ritz, DXLD) 6045.07, April 0024-0035, R. ZBC, hi-fi afro music, ID 0029 Radio one, thanks to alert from Jean-Pierre Penaud who heard them 06 April same hour (Dario Monferini, Italy, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. SW Radio Africa heard in Zimbabwe, 7 April, 3300 (1600-1900 UT) is severely jammed. Alternate 15145 (1600-1800) and 11770 (1800-1900) heard in the clear, these transmissions are from the UK, Rampisham. Alternate 12145 (1600-1900) is heard with strong jamming. This signal propagates well into Southern Africa, transmitter airs 15 minutes before sign on, before being locally jammed. Armavir, Russia relay site being currently used by this station (David Pringle- Wood, Harare, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ LISTA FREQUENZE A05 Segnalo che è stata aggiornata alle schedule A05 (quella de ILGRADIO ancora non c'è) la lista di tutte le frequenze in Onde Corte da parte della BiNewsletter giapponese la potete scaricare direttamente (almeno evitate problemi con lo scaricamento dei caratteri giapponesi) qui già compressa in formato excel http://210.132.112.4/~ndxc/a05fq.zip (Leonardo *LeoBlues*, bclnews.it via DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ DRAKE R8B GONE I just checked AES, Grove, and Universal. Gone. Drake's site no longer has Shortwave under the Products Section. The end of an era and I am sad to see it. I could never afford the R8B, but it is still my dream radio. So sad to see it gone and no new shortwave with the Drake name (Michael C. McCarty, WDX8IAH, WA8022SWL, K8WTR, 2009 UT April 7, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I have been comparing the SPR4 with my R8. Both are very close on sensitivity, at least in the AM mode. The noise floor of the SPR4 is lower than the R8 I think. It is quieter. I am very impressed with this receiver. It is in excellent shape. Anything in the AM mode of groundwave on MW that I can hear on the R8, I can hear on the SPR4. I think the audio amp in the R8 is stronger though. But the SPR4 is one quiet receiver. Even the electric fence noise does not get into the SPR4 as much as it does on the R8. However, I did find a noise blanker for the SPR4 I am ordering. Now to get the SSB filter and the AGC mods. It will be a good backup for the R8. I DO like Drake gear. It is a shame they are getting out of the communications receiver business, per my e mail from Bill Frost there at Drake. This is sad. But they will continue to repair the R8, R8A, R8B, SW1, SW2, and SW8 receivers for sometime to come. 73s, (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, HCDX via DXLD) CROSSED FIELD ANTENNAS [earlier under EGYPT [and non]] Shifnell CFA and LW propagation. I also visited the Shiffnel device and saw it accepting power, though how well it radiated i cannot be sure. Dr Kabbary told me that it radiated well (I never saw any measurements before anyone asks) and that he changed the configuration to "stop the CFA secrets being stolen," pending his fees being paid. I was not involved in the test programme, it was a company Called CFA Ltd I think, run by some Americans. I do know that know another well respected UK engineer (ex BBC and Classic fM) was also similarly treated and never got paid by the operator / licensee. David Thorpe said: ``the antenna was never made to resonate properly dispite a lot of time and effort.`` This is erroneous as a CFA doesn't resonate at all. It's a non- resonant device, which is why its size doesn't matter other than for power handling capability. (Or so the theory goes and I am not sufficiently well qualified to challenge the theory.) Chris Greenway is correct in pointing out that ground wave doesn't vary between day and night, showing that the web site designer doesn't have English as a first language. But can anyone explain why a Long Wave broadcast station would want to send a signal towards a market that had no Long Wave receivers in general use? That's one bit that I don't understand! (Paul Rusling, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ###