DX LISTENING DIGEST 5-064, April 14, 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 Extra 55: 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, WPKM Montauk NY 88.7 [see USA] 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 Extra 55 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/worx55h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/worx55h.rm [Extra 55 is the same as COM 05-01; low version minus WOR opening] WORLD OF RADIO Extra 55 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/com0501.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/com0501.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/com0501.html WORLD OF RADIO EXTRA 55 in true shortwave sound Alex`s mp3: (stream) http://www.dxprograms.net/worldofradio_04-13-05.m3u (download) http://www.dxprograms.net/worldofradio_04-13-05.mp3 ** AUSTRALIA. Re Radio OZ and HFCC: Dunno about RA - usually their schedule is available from other sources, but many of the Asian broadcasters in particular have their schedule information excluded from the HFCC public list. I have long held the view that some of the "secrecy" or simply poor communication surrounding frequency and transmitter site information generally is a contributory factor towards international broadcasting on shortwave slowly disappearing up its own fundament. Maybe they only regard the public version of the HFCC list as a document frequented by crusty old hobbyists and not the type of people they are trying to target. If the site data is deemed to be somehow sensitive, I'm sure that anyone that has enough interest in finding this stuff out can do so in other ways. And we do. Regards (Craig Seager, ARDXC via DXLD) ** AUSTRIA [and non]. On tuning over 49m around 0630 today [April 13] I noticed that 6155 was empty - should be ORF Austria there. A check on parallel 13730 revealed no signal either. It is now after 0900 UT and still nothing is heard - and Moosbrunn should be rebroadcasting BBC Arabic on 17555 at 0900-1130, but I can't hear that either. Can anyone across the pond check if the ORF Sackville relay at 1500- 1600 on 13775 comes up? I'll try it from here, but it's not completely reliable. ORF Vienna was still off air at 1200+ check on all frequencies today, April 13. But another check at 1345 reveals the station is back on air via usual 6155 and 13730. There are also transmissions audible but unidentified on 17720 at 1400 (may be AWR Urdu?) and on 9725 (may be TWR Russian?), both scheduled at this time via Moosbrunn. So I expect Sackville to fire up at 1500 on 13775 after all! 73s (Noel R. Green, [NW England], April 13, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, ORF, or rather OE1, very strong as usual via Sackville 13775 at 1525 in English (gh, ibid.) And thanks for Glenn's observation of OE1 Sackville 13775 at 1500. It is audible here too, but not very strongly. 73s (Noel [NW England], ibid.) I listened to ORF TV yesterday night, there wasn't any strike announcement at Vienna bc center. I guess they have an extended MAINTENANCE day at Moosbrunn today, on the curtain arrays or either antenna matrix or transmitter hall over there. In case of the predicted DRM mode tests on 9720 0500-0900, 9815 0900-1400, and 9705 1500-1700 UT with 40 kW only, such transmitter modulator modification wouldn't harm the whole broadcast station. Dear Noel, ORF Moosbrunn totally off this morning. yes Noel, when checked ORF on 6155 around 0600 UT, they were on air with usual newscast, BUT a little bit later around 0625 UT, I missed both 6155 and 13730 too. Also BBC Arabic relay on 17555 kHz is empty now [0900- 1130 UT]. Nothing heard on DRM registered 9720, not either, scheduled 0500-0900 UT. 73 wb [09.50 UT] (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, April 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BANGLADESH. Radio Bangladesh, 7185 heard here at 1231 with news in English to 1241 with woman reader. Followed by a nice music selection, then into commentary by man regarding co-operation between China and Bangladesh. I haven't listened to Bangladesh in some time so this was a nice treat (Steve Lare, Holland, MI USA, April 10, swl at qth.net via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. Me puse en contacto con el Director de Radio Illimani, para preguntarle si esta emisora está fuera del aire en 6025 kHz, pues hace como 5 ó seis meses que no la sintonizo y tampoco veo que otros colegas DX-istas la reporten en sus informes. Consultados distintos listados, veo que el ultimo informe de haberla escuchado es del 14 de Noviembre de 2004. Radio Illimani estuve bastante tiempo inactiva en esta frecuencia, 6025 y se reactivó aproximadamente en el mes de Marzo de 2004. Duranate varios meses, más o menos hasta Septiembe ó Octubre, yo la estuve escuchando frecuentemente a partir de las 2300 UTC, una vez que cerraba Radio Budapest en la misma frecuencia y últimamente no hay ni rastro de ella. Pues bién, el Director, Sr. Almanza me comunica que no están fuera del aire, pero que están teniendo problemas con la onda corta, que el ténico hizo varios ajustes con la antena para que se recibiera mejor en Sudamérica, pero tales ajustes parece que no están dando resultado. Me gustaría saber si los colegas de las zonas más próximas a Bolivia escuchan o han escuchado últimamente a esta emisora en 6025 kHz. Está en el aire más o menos desde las 0930 hasta las 0300 UT, así que a primeras horas de la mañana o de la noche de ahí es buena oportunidad para tratar de sintonizarla. También transmite para Bolivia, en onda media 1020 kHz con 10 kW. Me dirijo sobre todo a los amigos Arnaldo Slaen, Ruben G. Margenet y José Elias Díaz y a otros colegas que puedan aportar algún dato. Un abrazo para todos (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, España, April 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. Em principio pensei que fosse defeito do receptor, mas a Inconfidência chega aqui em São Bernardo não só em 6070 (+60 kHz acima dos 6010), como também na mesma intensidade e proporção nos 5950 (-60 kHz abaixo dos 6010 kHz). Não só em um receptor mas em qualquer um. 73s, (Rudolf Grimm, São Bernardo, SP, radioescutas yg via DXLD) ** BURKINA FASO. RTV Burkina, 5030.04, *0529-0615+ April 8, sign-on with instrumental tune and into Afro-pops and indigenous music. 0600 French talk. Fair to good level but mixing with Gene Scott programming [TIRWR Costa Rica]. Both in at equal level, but BF stronger than DGS at times (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. RCI 0000-0200 UT: 9755 has heavy splash from Spanish on 9745 [China via Bonaire, then HCJB]; 11990 covered by a lot of buzz QRN; 13710 just audible (Bob Thomas, CT, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. CHEX TV VIGNETTES TO CELEBRATE THEIR 50TH ANNIVERSARY CHEX TV 12 in Peterborough, ON has several short vignettes that can be viewed with Windows Media Player by going to this link: http://chextv.com/peterborough.htm (Mark Coady http://geocities.com/luckywimpy April 13, ODXA via DXLD) ** CANADA. Hi all, Per Shawn Axelrod, a new Winnipeg radio station, CJML-580 will be on for 2 weeks starting May 1 to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of VE Day in the Second World War. As well as war-time memories, the broadcasts will feature events leading up to and immediately following the war, big band and other period music, and appearances by veteran Winnipeg radio personalities. The calls stand for "Come Journey Down Memory Lane." I will enjoy this as long as it ONLY lasts two weeks. If they use the old CKY-580 50 kW transmitter and facilities, they should be widely heard (Morris Sorensen, Winnipeg MB, Apr 11, WTFDA via DXLD) ** CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC [non]. It's rather remarkable in the case of Central African Republic on 9590 from Meyerton after 2200, sometimes overrunning RN in Indonesian(?). Regards (Raúl Saavedra. Costa Rica, April 14, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) That`s not Meyerton, but Issoudun, France: 9590 1700 2300 37E,38W,46E,47,52 ISS 500 156 1234567 270305 301005 D French F NEW TDF (HFCC A-05 via gh, DXLD) Altho I think RN has used 9590 in Indonesian in the past, via Madagascar, that is not scheduled for A-05. At 2200 you would most likely be hearing on 9590 RFE/RL in Russian via Morocco (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, I can confirm it's not us - we're on Singapore 6120 and Madagascar 7400 at that time in Indonesian. But even if it was us, I wouldn't expect our Indonesian service to be coming in too strongly in Costa Rica :-) (Andy Sennitt, Radio Netherlands, ibid.) Yes, I read that 9590 was coming from Issoudun, but I crossed my wires [with Okapi 11690 at 0400-0600 which is Meyerton]. I also have noticed that exactly at 2300, that Issoudun transmission is replaced by CRI in English since A-05 started. Best regards (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, ibid.) ** CHINA. Found CRI English at 2100 on 7285 (Bob Thomas, CT, April 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) That`d be Kashi; see also INTERNATIONAL VACUUM ** COLOMBIA. Marfil Estéreo, 5909.97, 0235-0255+ April 8, local Spanish ballads, announcements, IDs. Very good; irregular (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5910, Marfil Estéreo, 0356-0740, Canciones, anuncios comerciales y muchas identificaciones: "Marfil Estéreo, al servicio de la comunidad, información y música, un servicio de Marfil Estereo, estamos en 88.8. También nos puede escuchar en todo el estado del Meta a través de Ondas del Meta, Villavicencio". "Marfil te hace compañía las 24 horas del día". "Marfil Estéreo te lleva lo mejor. Marfil Estéreo te lleva ondas de paz". "Están escuchando Marfil Estéreo, transmitiendo desde Puerto Lleras, Lomalinda, Departamente del Meta". 45444. (Abril 12). (Manuel Méndez, Friol, Spain, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA. 6140, Radio Líder, 0527-0600 April 11. It's surprising the very nice signal of this station here at sunrise hours, till DW begin its program in English. At this moment I am listening to Radio Líder with my small Sony ICF SW-7600 G, inside my apartment. The music is very nice. Spanish singer Nino Bravo songs and identification at 0530: "Transmite Radio Líder, 730 AM estéreo, Radio Líder, otra emisora de la cadena Melodía de Colombia, en Radio Líder, 730 AM estéreo, ésta es la hora oficial, las 12.30 de la noche", and at 0558: "Desde Bogotá, Colombia, transmite el canal preferencial Radio Líder, 730 AM estéreo, Radio Líder, otra potente emisora de la Cadena Melodía de Colombia". 34333. (April 11). (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [and non]. If the censored and incomplete HFCC A-05 is to be believed, 6140 happens to be clear of any international stations 0000-0600 except for one hour 03-04. How does Turkey`s NAm service fare against Colombia, producing a het? and vice versa? 6140 0300 0400 3-5,9,17,18,27N,28 EMR 500 335 1234567 270305 301005 D English TUR TRT TRT 2822 --- and even more fortunately, nothing in North America on 6135 or 6145 during this quarter-day either. Líder itself however is not coördinated in HFCC, so this must be a case of pure luck. Just remotely possibly, its strong signal will be noticed by the conferees and 6140 continue to be avoided for that reason. O o, must not forget Cuba on 6140 as in 5-061, whether it`s Rebelde or RHC. Always the spoiler, not in HFCC either. And Japan q.v., reported on 6145 at least until 0100 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CONGO DR [non]. R. Okapi, 11690, via South Africa, 0440-0450+ April 9, vernacular talk, 0441 many ``Okapi`` jingles. Weak, poor in noise (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. RHC in English, very good on 11760 at 0500-0700 April 14 (Chris Hambly, Victoria, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Test or to stay? (gh) ** ECUADOR. "Hola Muy Estimado amigo Bjorn, Visitando una pagina WEB formato pdf: http://www.supertel.gov.ec/PDF/onda%20corta.pdf Pude encuentrar en el listado unos dados de esta nueva emisora, 4910 CHASQUI DEL NORTE ONDA CORTA Responsable Sr. Chaquiguango Cotacachi Luis Enrique Direccion : Jiron Roldos Aguilera y Panamericana Norte, Imbabura Telefono : 907429. Espero estas noticias te sean utiles. 4910 kHz fues la frequencha de Emisora Gran Colombia de Quito, inolvidada emisora de los anos 70's que tenia lindos banderines.... Gracias por tus noticias y monitoreos. Muchos 73's extensibles a tu Senora Susana. saludos desde Italia". (Dario Monferini, via BM`s website as below, via DXLD) Latest Recordings 13/4: 4909.27, Radio Chaskis, Otavalo, Imbabura, Quito 13/4 2005 *** Wednesday edition: *** Recording of new 4909.27. Radio Chaskis, Otavalo, Imbabura. I have now talked to the owner of Radio Chaskis, Señor Chaquiguango Cotacachi Luis. We had a very nice conversation and this is what he told me: He has been working in the radio business for 12 years and is also owner of the mediumwave station Chaskis del Norte, Ibarra on 950 kHz. Note that the name of the two stations is "Chaski" and not "Chasqui" (both WRTH and the official Ecuadorian list have this name). The station has nothing to do with Radio Baha`í, Otavalo (active on MW but inactive on SW). Radio Chaskis now has a period of test transmissions and is very interested in receiving reception reports to: Radio Chaski Jirón Roldos Aguilera y Panamericana Norte Otavalo, Imbabura, Ecuador. email: radiochaskis @ hotmail.com Telephone: Chaskis Otavalo shortwave: (062) 920 922 Telephone: Chaskis Ibarra mediumwave: (O62) 908 124 Thank you very much Señor Chaquiguango for this information! Comments, photos and recordings at: http://www.malm-ecuador.com 73s (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, April 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hola amigo Björn, Muy interesante esta noticia, ya que gracias al mensaje de ayer, logré escucharlos luego de las 0130 y hasta su salida de aire hacia las 0300, con una acepatable señal y presentando música folclórica; ojalá que por el contacto telefónico que tuvo con ellos sea posible entusiasmarlos para que mantengan la emisora regularmente en el aire (Rafael Rodríguez, Colombia, condig list via DXLD) ** EGYPT. Heard latest WOR; thanks for R. Cairo, sesquihour English to NAm at 2300 on 11885. I don`t get it clearly till half to three- quarters into the transmission (Bob Thomas, CT, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. 5005, RADIO NACIONAL. Bata, 2150-2201* Abril 08. Escuchada en este horario gracias a que en el momento se presentaba un Eclipse de Sol sobre Colombia. Música africana en español similar a la Salsa. ". . .acá Nacional desde Bata..." Luego a las 2158 cierre con la frase. "...Arriba la República de Guinea Ecuatorial..." luego vino el Himno Nacional (Rafael Rodríguez, Bogotá, condiglist via DXLD) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. Lo-fi preaching on 15190, but fairly strong signal, comparing unfavorably to WYFR on 15195, April 13 at 2034 wrapping up one show, Listen To The Word; long pause, no ID, and 2035 starting Brother Ed(?) for another half hour. At 2104 there was a 10- minute pause of dead air, which I dutifully monitored, never any ID or announcement, almost 2115 before started next show, from OH, apparently Midnite Cry, as preacher went on and on about crying at midnight (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, tho BBCWS is not on 15190 anymore from 1400, I never caught Eq. Guinea until around 1900 and getting better from 2000 with 34443 SINPO with characteristic gospel preaching format and sign-off at 22, an hour earlier they were doing in the past, but slightly off-frequency (Raúl Saavedra. Costa Rica, April 14, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA. R. Ethiopia, 7110, *0259-0325+ April 8, IS, opening announcements in Amharic, 0303 Horn of Africa type music. Poor with some ham splatter; weaker on \\ 9704.2 (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FINLAND. YLE Radio Finland airs daily broadcasts in ``Special Finnish`` (Erikoissuomi). Tho primarily targeted for immigrants in Finland, the broadcasts continui serving also second and third generation expatriate Finns abroad. The five-minute ``Selkis`` covers items of current interest: 1555 on 13665, 17730; 2255 on 9715; 1855 on 11755, 964; 1945 on 558; 0245 on 558; 0855 on 17655, 558; 1255 on 9595 (YLE A05 program booklet via John S Carson, OK, DXLD) I assume that order means the first broadcast is at 1555 and the last repeat at 1255 the next day. In previous seasons, this was 5 or 6 days a week at the same time as Nuntii Latini on Sundays, but not any more (gh) RADIOPHONIA FINNICA GENERALIS - -- Nuntii Latini. Bulletins in classical Latin air domestically on YLE Radio 1 and worldwide on YLE Radio Finland. NL is also available on the internet at http://www.yleradio1.fi/nuntii The broadcast has a long summer recess from mid-June until mid-August [but what if there is any news then?]. Sunday at 0950 UT on 11755 and 6120 for Eu; 1145 on 13710 for Asia, 1355 on 15400 for NAm (YLE A05 program booklet via John S Carson, OK, DXLD) ** FRANCE. Technical and administrative personnel at Radio France voted unanimously Tuesday in favor of continuing a 9-day-old strike, according to a union spokesman quoted by the French Associated Press. "The vote was unanimous, except for four abstentions," a CGT spokesman said. The striking workers want salaries raised by an average of about 269 Euros per month. In an interview published in "Le Monde," Radio France's president, Jean-Paul Cluzel, acknowledged "the low-salary situation." He said he wanted to see a "global evolution" of salaries, one side for journalists and the other for other personnel. "I think that seemed so 'revolutionary' that the unions are afraid," he said. (Mike Cooper, GA, Apr 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. FRENCH PUBLIC RADIO WORKERS VOTE TO EXTEND STRIKE | Excerpt from report by French news agency AFP Paris, 12 April: The workers, administrative staff and presenters of Radio France's local radios, who have been on strike since 4 April, voted "unanimously" this afternoon at a general meeting to extend the strike on this, its ninth day, a union source has said. This vote came after negotiations with the management broke off at 1600 hours [1400 gmt]. They had started yesterday evening and continued this afternoon. "Unfortunately, this meeting did not come to much because the direction team repeated to us in a kind of loop what it had already proposed," a union source said. A new general meeting has been called for tomorrow at 1100 hours [0900 gmt] [Passage omitted] Source: AFP news agency, Paris, in French 1713 gmt 12 Apr 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** GHANA. La GBC de Ghana pudo escucharse claro y fuerte este 10/04, a las 2301 UT, en los 4915 kHz. Cantos en inglés y locutora con comentarios. Gracias a la ausencia de la brasilera en el mismo canal. SINPO 43333 (Adán González, Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA, Yaesu FT-890, Antena TH3 MK3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. Glenn: Saw your item about Voice of Greece from Delano [17705] on Sunday at 2036 UT where you picked up an unexpected English segment. I referred to the A-05 VOG Program Schedule and they list 2300-2400 Greek time or 2000-2100 UT as TUCHE AGATHE (I translate this as GOOD LUCK). This program is probably about people who have had good experiences in their lives. I have noticed that on their Radio Newspaper programs they have recorded sound bites in foreign languages as part of the program or interview. I don't believe that this is anything but that (JOHN BABBIS, Silver Spring, MD, April 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Babis: I just noticed that Voice of Greece no longer has the use of its two 250-kW Kavala transmitters from 0200 to 0400 UT. Possibly they are being used by Voice of America for early morning broadcasts to Iraq or other Near East countries? (JOHN BABBIS, Silver Spring, MD, USA, April 13, to Babis Charalabopoulos, ERT, via DXLD) ** HUNGARY. R. Budapest, English: NAm 01-0130 M-Sat 9590 and Sun on 9560; 0230-03 daily on 9795; Eu 1500-1530 Sun 6025 9655; 1900 on 3975, 6025; 2100-2130 6025 and Eu/Af 9525 (Bob Thomas, CT, April 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) That 9560 instead of 9590 at 0100 UT Sundays only is new and strange, but so says their website too: http://www.english.radio.hu/index.php?cikk_id=33385&rid=PT1RTzFBVE0= What conflict could be pushing them off 9590 one day a week? No clues in HFCC A-05 as censored (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. VOI inserted an ID in English with website info, sometime around the middle of the mostly-music 1300 Indonesian broadcast on 9525, but I did not note the exact time, April 12; next day listened from 1320 to 1340 but did not hear it again. Next2 day April 14, caught the English announcement at 1319, giving http://www.rri-online.com for access to transcript of news, then into trance-inducing music, and at 1330 Qur`an, followed by sermon past 1345; it was after all Thursday evening (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re 5-060: ``Spanish at 1730 long on their sked; you never know which of the external service frequencies will be in use, this or 11785 or 15120 (gh)`` -- I should have said 15150 (Glenn Hauser, April 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. WRN and WorldSpace I have at last received a response from WRN's marketing Manager about the WRN service on WorldSpace becoming encrypted. The nuts and bolts of this situation is that WRN were given an ultimatum by WorldSpace to agree to the encryption or to remove their service completely. WRN it seems has decided to go for the encryption rather than leave WorldSpace. They do accept that many people did invest in expensive W/S receivers are disappointed in now having to pay to continue listening to WRN. In this respect they have negotiated an initial discount on the first year`s subscription. The message concludes by suggesting that dissatisfied customers may wish to contact WorldSpace directly at customerservice@worldspace.com [customerservice at worldspace.com] I have not reposted their actual response as the footer of their message contains some heavy confidentiality clauses. 73 (Andy Cadier, BDXC-UK via DXLD) WORLDSPACE FILES $100M IPO --- By Steve Gelsi, MarketWatch WorldSpace Inc., a Washington-based satellite radio operator, filed to raise $100 million in an IPO with UBS. The company said it's spent $1.2 billion since 2004 to develop its business. WorldSpace said it was a principal founding shareholder of XM Satellite (XMSR: news, chart, profile) and it sold its stake in that business in 1999. WorldSpace provides satellite radio services to Asia, the Middle East, much of Western Europe and Africa. The company plans to trade on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol WINR. Copyright © 2005 MarketWatch, Inc. All rights reserved. ~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-., (Joe Buch, DE, April 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) -*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^ ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. CHINA/USA: CRI SIGNS DISTRIBUTION DEAL WITH PANAMSAT | Text of press release from PanAmSat web site on 11 April 05 Sydney, Australia, 11 April 2005: PanAmSat Corporation announced today that it entered into a multi-year agreement with China Radio International (CRI), China's sole overseas radio network. Under the terms of the agreement, CRI will leverage the power of three of PanAmSat's satellites, the PAS [Pacific Asia Satellite] 8 Pacific Ocean Region satellite, the PAS 9 Atlantic Ocean Region satellite and the PAS 10 Indian Ocean Region satellite. Through PanAmSat, China Radio International will reach listeners around the world in eight different languages via its 36 audio channels. "PanAmSat will now serve as the global platform for the worldwide delivery of China Radio International's programming bouquet, enabling the network to reach listeners on every corner of the earth," said David Ball, vice president, Asia-Pacific, PanAmSat. "This significant agreement offers CRI the versatility, reliability and comprehensive coverage that they need as they expand their service offering." PanAmSat will provide C-band capacity on PAS 8, PAS 9 and PAS 10 and turnaround service at its Napa, California teleport to facilitate the global distribution of CRI's programming. The network will initially broadcast in eight languages and plans to expand to 39 over time. Its programming fare includes 200 hours of daily airtime comprised of news, music, commentary and entertainment. PAS 8, an FS 1300 model satellite employing 24 C-band [C-band earth stations use the 6 GHz frequency band to transmit and the 4 GHz frequency band to receive] and 24 Ku-band [Ku-band earth stations use the 14 GHz frequency band to transmit and the 12 GHz frequency band to receive] transponders, is located at 166 degrees east longitude. The satellite provides comprehensive coverage of the Asia-Pacific region, including high-power spot beams that cover Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia and Australia. PAS 9, a Boeing 601 HP model satellite employing 24 C-band and 24 Ku- band transponders, is located at 58 degrees west longitude and offers comprehensive coverage of the Americas and the Caribbean. The satellite serves more than a dozen of the world's most prominent international broadcasters and programmers who deliver their content throughout the Americas. The PAS 10 satellite, a Boeing 601 HP model satellite, employing 24 C- band and 24 Ku-band transponders, is located at 68.5 degrees east longitude and offers comprehensive coverage of Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent and Asia. Many of the beams can be switched between the various regions, offering flexibility in the creation of new platforms for the delivery of video, data and IP [web] based services. Source: PanAmSat press release, Wilton (Connecticut), in English 11 Apr 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** IRAN. I heard R. Voice of Justice (VOIRI) announce English to NAm at 0130 on 6120 (where I hear R. Sweden[??] and some very faint other) and 9580 (where I hear CRI different English programming than on 6020 and 9570 at 0100 to NAm (Bob Thomas, CT, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [non]. Voice of Iran of Tomorrow Movement (quoted by Observer- Bulgaria as "Seda-ye Jambushi Iran e Farda"), produced by US-based Iran of Tomorrow Movement (IOTM) a.k.a. SOS Iran. On their website http://sosiran.com the email address for the radio program is quoted as radio @ sosiran.com More background info about IOTM: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=41568 (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ. NEW RADIO VOICE OF UNIVERSITY AND OTHER BAGHDAD OBSERVATIONS BBC Monitoring undertook a survey of the mediumwave and FM radio bands in Baghdad on 10-14 April 2005, with the following changes noted since late January 2005: 96.0 MHz FM: Unidentified station broadcasting Arabic music and Koranic recitations, no announcements observed. 97.0 MHz FM: Voice of the University [Sawt al-Jam'ah]. New station broadcasting in Arabic. 1053 kHz mediumwave: Al-Salam Radio. Reversion to former frequency, after a time on 1030 or 1040 kHz. 1305 kHz mediumwave: Radio Al-Mustaqbal no longer radiates on this frequency, only on 95.5 MHz FM. Source: BBC Monitoring research 14 Apr 05 (via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. Can`t hear VOI in English at 1900 on 11605 because it is blocked by Sweden and DW (Chris Hambly, Victoria, UT April 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hmmm, HFCC A05 does show Sweden on 11605 also during that half hour, but DW supposed to end at 1900; all 1245657 and 270305 301005: 11605 1800 1900 46E,47W WER 500 180 D HAUSA D DWL DWL 11605 1900 2000 6-10,27,28 ISR 250 315 D ENGFRESPAN ISR KOL ISR 11605 1900 1930 28,29,38-41,48,52,53,57 HB 500 165 D SWEDISH S RSW TER I could not check until about 1953 April 13 when Spanish on 11605 was in the clear but weak (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. Galei Zahal está un poco corrida de su habitual 6973v; el 10/04 la capté en 6974.74 kHz, a las 2315 UT, con un SINPO de 44333 (Adán González, Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA, Yaesu FT-890, Antena TH3 MK3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. 4X/4Z, ISRAEL (Special Event). The "2005 Holyland Contest", organized by the Israel Amateur Radio Club, will be held on Saturday, April 16th, from 0000 to 2359z, on both CW and SSB. It will provide a good opportunity to work many 4X/4Z stations toward the "Holyland Award". Full details are available on the Web page (under contests) at: http://www.iarc.org The Contest Manager is Mark, 4Z4KX (E-mail: 4z4kx @ iarc.org (KB8NW/OPDX/BARF80 via Dave Raycroft, ODXA via DXLD) ** JAPAN [and non]. I hear NHK/R. Japan English at 0100 on 11935 (Bob Thomas, CT, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) via Bonaire (gh) Also at 1000-1100 General Service, 1100-1200 NAm service, on 6120 Sackville plus 9695 and 11730; 0300 on 21610; 0000 English to NAm on 6145 Sackville; to Asia until 0010 [sic, just news?] on 13650, 17810 (Bob Thomas, Bridgeport CT, April 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KERGUELEN. Additional Bulletin for OPDX InterNet Subscribers. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 4 April 2005 Lat 42'49"S Long 88'13"E South Indian Ocean The 2005 Microlite DXpedition to The Kerguelen Islands is now history. 11.5 days of operating netted almost 68,000 QSOs using the callsign FT5XO. The operators for this DXpedition were AG9A, GI0NWG, HB9ASZ, M0DXR, N6MZ, N0TT, SP5XVY, VE3EJ, VK6DXI, W3WL, W7EW and 9V1YC. In an effort to equitably cover the variety of openings, bands, and modes available, the team actively reviewed the QSO stats each day and adjusted the operating plan accordingly. The final numbers are as follows: CW: 45687 68% SSB: 19903 29% RTTY: 2358 3% EME: 6 ------------- TOTAL: 67954 Band-Mode breakdown Band CW SSB RTTY TOTAL --------------------------------- 160m: 1173 16 0 1189 80m: 3578 957 0 4535 40m: 9643 2774 160 12577 30m: 9683 0 616 10299 20m: 4012 4640 327 8979 17m: 5144 2168 497 7809 15m: 4485 3964 758 9207 12m: 4411 3499 0 7910 10m: 3558 1885 0 5443 6m EME: 6 Continental breakdown --------------------- Europe: 53% Japan: 21% USA: 17% Other Asia: 5% All others: 1% or less each The journey began in Durban, South Africa on the afternoon of March 9 aboard the R/V Braveheart. Kerguelen was reached on the morning of March 19, and camp assembly was started that same afternoon. The first QSOs began at about 0700 UTC on March 20. The operation took place from an old abandoned whaling station at the center of the island called Port Jeanne d'Arc, which is approximately 30km southwest from the French base at Port Aux Français. The operating site was close to the seashore with good take-offs in most directions. Antennas consisted of half-wave vertical dipoles for 20m and up, quarter wave verticals for 30m and 40m (with 2 elevated radials each), and two Battle Creek Specials for 80m and 160m. With the exception of the Battle Creek Specials, all antennas were designed and built by ZS4TX. Radios consisted of three Kenwood TS50s, a Yaesu FT897, an ICOM 756 ProIII, and one Yaesu FT1000MP. We also had several small amplifiers for the low bands. Because we broke from tradition and chose the Austral mid-autumn for this DXpedition we were able to take advantage of excellent 10 and 12 meter equinox openings which would have otherwise been impossible during the Austral summer (when most of these types of Antarctic Dxpeditions usually take place). The drawback is that Kerguelen drops far below the Antarctic convergence at this time of year bringing with it a noticeably cooler and harsher climate. The weather during our stay was typical for islands below the convergence, with strong wind, rain, sleet and even heavy snow alternating throughout the day. In fact, during the space of just one hour the weather changed many times from calm and sunny to a 45 knot howling blizzard. Winds could come from any direction, but the prevailing trend was usually from the southwest. Static from snowstorms often produced S9+40 noise, forcing us to abruptly stop operations until it died down. The intensity of these snowstorms also caused the antennas to develop kilovolts of static voltage across the coax connectors (something we learned the hard way when a large voltage spike from one of the antennas destroyed a power supply and transceiver during an antenna switchover). The last QSO was made at approximately 0200 UTC on 31 March. With calm weather throughout the morning the teardown went smoothly and on schedule. The ship is now on its way to Fremantle (Perth) Western Australia and should arrive on the morning of April 11. The total sea travel time for both legs of the journey is about 22 days. Operating time was just over 11 days, which works out to a 2 to 1 ratio of travel to operating. We purposely advanced minimal publicity about this trip in the hope that the chase would be more of a challenge. With good operating skills combined with attentiveness to both propagation and band openings it is our belief that FT5XO should have been available to all who wanted a QSO. For our part, a great effort was made to work the weakest of stations and cover as many openings as possible within our limited time frame. Reading some of the feedback and looking at the final QSO stats we stand firmly behind the belief that it is mainly skill, not hardware, that makes a successful DXpedition. Small teams, light gear and strong operators are the key. We hope that your call made it into our log on at least one band. With the extremely high expense and travel time necessary to reach these remote Antarctic islands we wish to say thank you in advance for all contributions sent with your QSL cards. Special thanks to ZS5BBO and all the members of the Highway Amateur Radio Club in Durban, South Africa who made our air to sea transit exceptionally smooth. Thanks also to TAAF (Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises) for their kind support for our adventure. And finally, we would especially like to thank our sole organizational sponsor, the Northern California DX Foundation. Their continued support for DXpeditions to the far reaches of the world helps to keep one of the most exciting aspects of amateur radio alive. Without the NCDXF, this trip would not have been possible. 73, and see you on the bands. The Microlite Penguins DXpedition Team (OPDXKB8NW/OPDX/BARF80 via Dave Raycroft, ODXA via DXLD ** KOREA NORTH. RADIO AIRS US POP SONG In a rare broadcast presentation of contemporary US music to the domestic audience, North Korean radio carried the US pop song "Hero" during a recorded relay of the 2005 annual "April Spring Friendship Art Festival" marking the late North Korean leader Kim Il-sung's birth. At 0447 gmt [1347 local time] on 14 April, the Korean Central Broadcasting Station, North Korea's central radio targeting the domestic audience, carried a rendition of "Hero" - a pop song released by US recording artist Mariah Carey in 1993 - during its recorded relay of the "23rd April Spring Friendship Art Festival" in Pyongyang. According to an introduction provided by the mistress of ceremonies, the song was sung by a Korean singer affiliated with an Australia- based Korean art troupe. The mistress of ceremonies introduced the name of the song as "Hero" [Korean: yongung] in Korean. While Western songs have been performed at this festival in the past, the performance and broadcasting of a contemporary US pop song to the North Korean domestic audience is rare. The April Spring Friendship Art Festival is an annual affair in Pyongyang, held for several days in mid-April to mark late leader Kim Il-sung's birthday on 15 April. Foreign and ethnic Korean singers, dancers, and circus troupes are invited to perform during the festival. Folk music of different countries, mostly Russian and Chinese, classical non-Korean songs, including opera, and North Korean music have made up the core of performances at the annual April festival in past years. April Spring Friendship Art Festival performances are given extensive coverage by the North Korean media. Source: Central Broadcasting Station, Pyongyang, in Korean 0447 gmt 14 Apr 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** LATVIA. As reported, there has so far not appeared a transmitter on 1350 kHz with a 24/7 relay of Radio Tatras International (RTI), contrary to info given on the Web and in the anoraknation forum (pointing at a 50 kW transmitter in Kuldiga). Sources in Latvia suggest that such a regular relay would not be likely at this point, taking into account license matters and technical circumstances (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, April 13, MWDX yg via DXLD) See also SLOVAKIA ** MEXICO. Glenn: here's what I heard today! Times are CDT; distances in miles. 4/12/2005 tropo 1122 96.5 XHRN Veracruz, Veracruz 475 "La Nueva R-N", W dj SP w/muchos saludos, taking requests; musica tropical/salsa 1154 106.5 XHZUL Cerro Azul, Veracruz; 350 "desde Potroltepec... Radio mas, la radio de los Veracruzanos" "RTV, Radio Mas"; musica cubana/veracruzana vocals & instrumental numbers. "en Radio Huasteca-Veracruzana son las 12" 1744 XHOTE Ocozotepec, Veracruz; 555 "Radio Mas" slogan , // 106.5, 107.7 musica popular/romantica en español 1750 100.9 XHMTV Minatitlan, Veracruz; 585 "El Lobo de Mina"; musica regional Mexicana, cumbia, ads "Bodega de Gigante" with today's specials in the supermarket 1800 97.3 XHVB Villahermosa, Tabasco 605 "Extremo FM"; full ID "XHVB Extremo FM con 30mil watts de potencia, en Villahermosa Tabasco.... un estacion mas de Radio Nucleo"; ending programa "salsabor" con musica salsa; W dj in SP 1925 96.1 XHON Tampico, Tamaulipas 270 "Color 96" jingle; musica romantica SP/EG light rock 1939 94.5 XHTPO Tampico, Tamaulipas 270 "La Caliente" musica grupera, ranchera, cumbia M dj w/muchos saludos 1947 96.9 XHHF Tampico, Tamaulipas 270 escucha "Las Cuarenta Principales" musica popular en español/EG light rock; ID at 2001 "8 mil watts de potencia" 2010 93.1 XHCRA Temapache, Veracruz 350 "Cañonazos musicales", featuring local groups from Veracruz to 2100; musica cumbia-tropical-veracruzana (Steven Wiseblood, Boca Chica Beach, Texas, Antennacraft FM-6 yagi at 40', CM #9537 antenna rotator, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MONGOLIA. 12085, Voice of Mongolia, 0900-1010, programas en Mongolian-mongol 0900-0930, Mandarín, 0930-1000 y en Inglés, 1000- 1030: "This is the English Service of the Voice of Mongolia". 34333. (Abril 12). (Manuel Méndez, Friol, Spain, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. Re 5-063, gh`s suggestion: I put this to my technical colleague Ehard Goddijn. He pointed out that on Saturdays and Sundays all the Bonaire transmitters are already in use from 1900 UT onwards. Also, reception in Europe would not be very good on portables and indoor antennas as the signal strength would be quite low (Andy Sennitt, RN, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Defeatists. Similar paths, maybe in other direction are of adequate strength, at least done all the time by European stations to Latin America. So do it at 1800, or even 1700 UT --- good early-evening times in Europe. 73, (Glenn, ibid.) Concerning the suggestion that "instead of fiddling with unsatisfactory MW relays", RN should broadcast to Europe on SW from Bonaire, I would have thought that an MW service is desirable in that it is likely to attract more "ordinary" listeners than SW, especially given the fact that the Swedish transmitter used by RN is well heard in at least parts of the UK and, secondly, the fact that it is "strategically" placed close to frequencies used by Independent Local Radio (Roger Tidy, UK, ibid.) If it`s satisfactory, fine; I had the impression that overall, it was not (gh, DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. Re: Oklahoma City severe weather coverage April 10 ``Well not for long, with tornado WARNINGS soon to follow by 8:30`` Yes, I was a little surprised when the weather radio activated at 8:30 with a tornado warning, and sirens sounding here even though the storm was about twenty miles east and moving away. I did note that at 8:40 when the tornado touched down both KWTV and KOCO reported it while KFOR had gone back to network! I did a quick scan of the FM dial and did hear Brady Brus of KSBI-52 on KKNG, and Gary at KWTV on one FM station, but it seems the others opted out of coverage this time (John Norfolk, OKCOK, April 11, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN [and non]. Radio Pakistan has changed frequency at 1700- 1900 [World Service to West Europe] from 9390 to 9365. This is to avoid IBB [Liberty] on 9390 at 1700-1800 and Radio Sweden at 1800- 1815, as well as splash from IBB [VOA] in Turkish on 9385 at 1800- 1900. Both IBB's are registered as Sri Lanka with the HFCC. Another one to add to Glenn's growing list of collisions! (Noel Green, Blackpool UK, April 13, dxldyg via DXLD) ** PARAGUAY. 9737, Radio Nacional, 0810-0905, "Transmite ZP1 Radio Nacional de Paraguay, información que contribuye, presenta Noticias al Minuto, las 4 de la mañana con 10 minutos". Resumen de presenta de los diarios "La Nación", "Crónica" y "Última Hora", programa presentado por Hugo Venancio Villalba. Canciones de Paraguay. 35433. (Abril 12). (Manuel Méndez, Friol, Spain, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 5939.4, Radio Melodía, Arequipa, 0649, locutor, noticias y anuncios de la ciudad de Arequipa. 0702 Identificación: "Continúen en la escucha de Melodía, dos de la mañana con tres minutos". Anuncio de una misa por la memoria del Papa. 23222. (Abril 12). (Manuel Méndez, Friol, Spain, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 580, RADIO MARAÑÓN. Jaen, 0020-0040 Abril 08. Anuncios de Pilsen Callao, Tristezan Compuesto, Agronor. "...Calidad digital en música, Marañon..." Pgm: El Guayucero. La señal en onda corta de esta emisora actualemnte presenta problemas ya que solo me llega la portadora en 4835.5 kHz pero el audio es muy bajo y pobre (Rafael Rodríguez, Bogotá, condiglist via DXLD) ** PERU [non]. Radio Fuerza Democrática (the Peruvian program) is now on 0030 UT Sunday on 9955, and it should still be on the air for a long time, since the elections aren't until next year. (It may expand to a half-hour at some point.) They are going to be doing a series of interviews with all of the Peruvian presidential candidates -- not just the Fuerza Democrática candidate (Jeff White, WRMI, April 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ROMANIA. RRI to NAm at 2100, F-G on 9645 and 11940. At 2300 9645 has co-channel but good. 11940 co-channel and poor-fair (Bob Thomas, CT, April 7, Bridgeport CT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Also 0100 on 6040, 9690 (Thomas, April 11, ibid.) ** SCOTLAND [non?]. Este sábado 10/04, capté a la pirata europea Radio Scotland International, en 6305.51 kHz. SINPO 33433. Buena señal por acá. Identificación a las 0348 UT como: "This is Radio Scotland International". Locutor con acento británico. Rolling Stones con "Sympathy For the Devil" ("Lástima por el diablo", título mal traducido por casi todos los locutores de Venezuela); locutor daba página web http://www.radioscotland.nl --- Tema "Back in the USSR". Mención de un apartado postal "Box 85 (...) 9410AB (...)". Señal aún en el aire a las 0436. Sin duda les enviaré un informe de recepción con su respectivo IRC. 73s y buen DX (Adán González, Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA, Yaesu FT-890, Antena TH3 MK3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SLOVAKIA. The 100th release of ``Radio World`` – the DX Programme of Radio Slovakia International was aired on April 3 2005 (Radio Bulgaria DX Programme April 8 via John Norfolk, dxldyg). Anyone know about this program? I`ve never heard of it (Norfolk, via DXLD) It's a Russian DX-program titled "Mir radio/radiomir" (The Word of Radio/Radio World), hosted by Tina Krasnopol'skaya from DW's technical dept. In the past Tina was producing a similar program for RSI German. I'm not sure if it's still on, though. The Russian edition can be heard every Sunday during last 10 minutes (Sergei Sosedkin, IL?, ibid.) This should have been clarified, since the item was in English ** SLOVAKIA [and non]. R. Tatras International: You may be interested to know that the station had a talkshow about itself tonight where I asked how it expected to attract a European audience by broadcasting in a language during the day most Europeans didn't understand. I was shocked with the rude response I was given. I was told that I'm sad if I listen to them all day and that I should "get a life". I was just tuning out of curiocity to the first pan European radio station to see what it was like as I was interested. I didn't expect to be insulted simply because I asked a question and furthermore I didn't expect to be insulted like that on a radio station which is new and therefore needs to attract listeners. How can a radio station which doesn't treat its audience with any level of respect expect to keep its audience? (Wayne, 04.13.05 - 8:33 pm, Media Network blog via DXLD) There is an interesting commentary about RTI at: http://radiocritic.blogspot.com The radio critic calls it 'Radio TOYTOWN international' !! (Peter Goodman, 04.13.05 - 9:04 pm, ibid.) Whew! (gh) I have checked out that website and what is said there is very true. This prodject is prooving to be nothing but a disappointment (Wayne, 04.13.05 - 9:52 pm, ibid.) ** SOMALIA. Radio Shabelle, Mogadishu has been heard on 6960.1 since April 7th. The programming consists of news, sports, drama, features and phone-in request concerts. The station is audible between 1700- 2010 UT (Jari Korhonen, FIN-82500 Kitee, dxing.info April 13 via DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. Caught part of Brother Scare talking about ``cutback on WWCR almost any day now``, at 2114 UT April 13 on WWCR 9975. Apparently had had trouble paying bill and WWCR was asking how come? Says the Overcomer ministry overall will be enlarged, but stations which aren`t getting adequate response (measured in $$) will be reduced or dropped, those listeners no longer getting a ``free meal for God`s word``. Income from other sources has had to be ``dumped`` into continuing the WWCR broadcasts (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN. I hear REE Madrid IS at 0000 on 15385; gets covered quickly (Bob Thomas, CT, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I heard REE fairly good in English to NAm at 0000 UT April 7 on 15385. S was 1-2. No cochannel. So confirmed (Bob Thomas, CT [later?] April 7, ibid.) ** SRI LANKA. Things seems to improve as Summertime is near for the Northern Hemisphere. Tho Costa Rica is part of it and we are over same 10th North latitude, 9770 is decaying for the 0030-0400 slot in favor of the off-frequency 15748, which I tuned April 12 with good signal. The funny thing is how their listeners seem to prefer instrumental and some vocal classics from the 60s, giving you the idea they are middle- aged persons. We got to consider that by this hour, after 7 a.m. their local time, young people must be at school (Raúl Saavedra. Costa Rica, April 14, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN [non]. R. Nile, 15320 via Madagascar, 0429-0457* April 10, tune-in to English news about medical care in Sudan. Afro pops, program about economic development in Sudan, some vernacular talk. Surprisingly good signal; weaker on \\ 12060 (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I`ve been hearing this one too (gh, DXLD) ** SWEDEN. English to NAm at 0130 & 0230 on 6010 [via Sackville] has splash by RHC 6000 (Bob Thomas, CT, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** THAILAND. R. Thailand A-05 in English via IBB Udorn u.o.s.: 0530-0600 17690 Eu 1230-1300 9600 SEAs/Au 1400-1430 9830 SEAs/Au 1900-2000 7155 Eu 2030-2045 9680 Eu 0000-0030 9570 Af 0030-0100 5890 Carib (Greenville) 0300-0330 5890 WNAm (Delano) (Aaron Zawitzky, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TUNISIA [and non]. RSF SENDS OPEN LETTER TO INTERNET COMPANY WANADOO As Wanadoo is on the point of announcing a partnership with Tunisia's leading Internet operator, media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has published an open letter pointing out that Tunisia censors the Internet and imprisons its users: Letter to Olivier Sichel, Director General of Wanadoo Dear Mr. Sichel, We have learned with amazement that the company you head will, in the coming days, announce the launch of a strategic partnership with the Tunisian Internet operator Planet. We are perfectly aware that Wanadoo is a private company and that it is not your job to defend human rights, but we believe that investing in the Tunisian Internet raises a number of ethical issues to which we would like to draw your attention. We are moreover convinced that you are unaware of the facts that we are going to present to you and that, once alerted, you will agree with us that this partnership will have a negative impact on the image of your company, in which the French state has a 40 per cent stake. As you surely do not know, the Tunisian government, after already completely gagging the traditional media, has set up a very effective system of Internet filtering. Using the Internet access provider Planet, your future partner, it blocks access to all the political websites critical of President Ben Ali, as well as those of the main international human rights organizations. Even the Reporters Without Borders site, http://www.rsf.org has been inaccessible for years in Tunisia. As you surely do not know, a Tunisian lawyer, Mohammed Abou, has been imprisoned for more than a month for posting an article on the Internet about prison conditions for political detainees in Tunisia. At the same time that you are covering Tunis walls with posters announcing Wanadoo's arrival in Tunisia, dozens of Tunisian lawyers are staging a sit-in at the bar association to demand their cyber- dissident colleague's release. As you surely do not know, eight young Tunisian Internet users from the southern town of Zarzis received sentences of up to 26 years in prison for visiting websites considered illegal by the authorities. They are now languishing in prison in horrifying conditions. As you surely do not know, the Internet has become an essential vehicle for news and information, especially in countries where the traditional media are under the government's control. Helping the Internet to grow in a developing country is obviously a laudable aim, but we must warn you that if you try to do this in Tunisia, you will have to accommodate to its government's systematic violations of free expression. I hope this letter will have enlightened you as to a situation about which you were clearly unfamiliar. We remain at your disposal should you wish additional information. Sincerely, Robert Ménard Secretary-General # posted by Andy @ 11:32 April 11 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** TURKEY. VOT to NAm at 0300 collides with Líder 6140: see COLOMBIA ** UGANDA [non]. On behalf of the staff and sponsors of Radio Rhino International Africa, I hereby inform our Ugandan listeners and others throughout the world, that with effects from April 11th, at 18.00 hours (East Africa Time) on Monday, Radio Rhino International Africa resumes its transmissions and broadcast as Ugandans enter a new dimensional phase in the liberation of Uganda from the NRM dictatorship. Throughout this third phase of our transmission we will use our air time to call on Ugandans to massively and actively participate and influence the process of political transition, join political parties, register and vote in the coming 2006 elections if it ever takes place. Fellow citizens, trust not and have no hope in the dictatorship’s parliament which is constitutionally and numerically NRM total. It therefore calls on the people of Uganda in every corner, region and towns to massively and forcefully take to street demonstrations and rallies in protest of any aborogation of the constitution, or changes that will lead to further abuses of the rights of the members of political parties and people of Uganda. In humility and without any self chest stamping, Radio Rhino International Africa broke the ochestrated lopsided propaganda of the Uganda dictatorship, exposed the concealed sufferings of the people of northern Uganda and introduced the LRA as a talking- partner in the 19 years old war, contrary to the previous image of LRA as a mysterious non-speaking untoucheable group. Above all, Radio Rhino International Africa dedicates its air time in the pursuit of bringing genuine peace, security in northern Uganda, the dismantling of the inhuman IDP camps and resetllement of the 2 million internally displaced Acholi, Langi and Teso to their homes. As demonstrated by the recent street protests demonstrations in Kampala, the displaced persons north of Uganda must be encouraged to take to mass street demonstrations, lay siege on major towns and if need be, march to Kampala in protest of their unending inhuman internment in IDPs camps. Since its conception and launch, Radio Rhino International Africa has had to suspend its transmissions and broadcasts twice due to financial constrains born from the uniqueness of our aims, targets and no- nonsense campaign of exposing the Ugandan dictator Museveni as `a naked-king marching in self dellussion´ We have done so, and will continue calling the spade by its true name and ashame the NRM devil worshipping cliques in Uganda. No, we will tell dictator Museveni that we make no mistakes, but we burry the mistakes along with those who make them. We must say; Museveni, your time is up in 2006, you made mistakes, we burry you along with your mistakes, and so; MUSEVENI MAY YOU NEVER REST IN PEACE. Unfortunately, and as a result, neither business firms, nor institutions, nor governments have given us a penny to support Radio Rhino International Africa. We have been and shall continue to operate with the great personal sacrifices and support from friends of Uganda and some individual Ugandans. I take this opportunity to thank our benefectors who contributed towards the clearance of our previous bills. Meanwhile, I beg my fellow country women and men, and friends of Humanity to contribute and donate some Money for the realisation of the aims and goals of RRIA. To all our listeners in Uganda who found our broadcast to have been of any service, we are honoured and pledge to continue speaking the truth exposing all the rot in the NRM dictatorship. However, we can only do that if you make this radio yours, and our collective work by promptly informing us on every incident in your locality and habitation in Uganda. Wherever you may be living, in western or Eastern, southern or northern Uganda, or Central Uganda; this is your radio. As I mentioned before, I would like to remind you, the people of Uganda that Radio Rhino International Africa is your voice, the voice of the voiceless oppressed suffering Ugandans, the victims of state terror and war of vengeance in Uganda. Please tune in every weekdays from 18.00 to 18.30 hours (East Africa Time) You may reach us by telephone or leave a recorded message under 00 49 221 3561754, 3561755, 3561756 or by fax 00 49 221 35618080 or 35617539, or send us an SMS messege under 00 49 162 88 5 44 86. Our website is http://www.radiorhino.org (Godfrey Ayoo, ELUM-ANIAP Director – Radio Rhino International – Africa, April 8 editorial from website, via DXLD) With original spelling; no kHz! Unfortunately, I forgot to check on April 11, and propagation was too bad on April 12 and 13 to confirm this (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Can someone further east confirm whether R. Rhino International Africa (clandestine to Uganda), is finally back on the air? Supposed to be at 1500-1530 presumably on previously used 17870. Can`t hear it here. Thanks, (Glenn, Enid, April 13, dxldyg via DXLD) K = 4 April 13 1500 Yes, it is. I fired up the NRD-525 in the office and they're on a clear channel, very weak and fluttery, but about 70% readable. News items about Uganda to 1510, then some music. ID at 1513. Further obs: A very strong carrier blocked them at 1515 UTC, with a 1 kHz tone. Then it went off again after about a minute. Not jamming, it seems to be some other station tuning up. Further obs: The other carrier on 17870 came back on at 1527. Turned out to be VOA Morocco, which signed on in Georgian at 1530. But channel is basically clear for most of the 1500-1530 period (Andy Sennitt, Hilversum, ibid.) [earlier:] Maybe the carrier and 1 kHz tone heard by Andy was the IBB at [registered] Breich 'tuning up'. They appeared at 1529+ welcoming us all to their programme in Georgian at 1530. Before then I caught part of a transmission of songs, which I assume is what Andy also heard. There was an announcement before it went off at 1530 but I could not copy. Their signal was fairly good, but no match for the IBB. 73s (Noel [NW England] Green, ibid.) Yes, it was definitely Radio Rhino International, as I heard a clear ID at 1513 and at least one more after that. Not sure which antenna is connected --- we have several that Ehard uses for technical monitoring, and I have to use whatever is switched in at the time :-) Yes, it was mainly music after 1510, but I noticed the guy reading out at least three phone numbers and a couple of fax numbers all starting "0049" - it was starting to sound more like a numbers station :-) (Andy Sennitt, ibid.) Yes Glenn - good clear reception of Rhino on 17870 kHz here at 1520 tune-in - man with political rhetoric about Uganda in English plus 'phone & fax numbers and website mentioned: http://www.radiorhino.org Plus some African songs. SIO 344. Covered by, but still audible under, carrier at 1527 when Rhino closing, but drowned by much stronger VOA sign-on at 1529 in Georgian (Alan Pennington, Caversham, UK, April 13, AOR 7030+ / longwire, ibid.) Hi Glenn, I noticed my reply to your query about Radio Rhino International Africa took about 7 hours to arrive at Yahoogroups yesterday. Not sure if the problem was with my ntlworld provider or yahoogroups - probably the former. On the http://www.radiorhino.org website (on the donation page) it says their "yearly" cost of broadcast and transmission fee is 19,000 Euros. On the basis of five half-hour broadcasts per week (Monday-Friday) that works out at only 73 Euros per broadcast from Juelich!? Good value? Not sure how that compares with charges made by other transmitter providers (e.g. VT Merlin Communications)? (Alan Pennington, Caversham, UK, April 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [non]. For what it's worth, 15190 kHz was not on the air this morning during the 1300 UT hour. So they cut back the scheduled time and then don't even bother transmitting during the resulting reduced period... :-( (Will Martin, MO, April 12, dxldyg via DXLD) Yes, 15190 via Guiana French absent again after 1300 on April 13; maybe the audio dropouts became too long to bear and the transmitter is down for maintenance. Let`s hope it come back. But later that same day, 15390 was on from 2100, and still had the drop-outs roughly once a minute during sports at 2110. Yippee, April 14 at 1300, 15190 was back after a brief carrier overlap with Bonaire, and still with dropouts (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. "Westway" termination --- To the BBC Worldservice: Your discussion in the latest "Write On" about the upcoming termination of "Westway" was rather amazing to anyone who, like me, has been listening to the BBC and to "Write On" specifically for many years now. I clearly recall the extensive and rather bitter correspondence about "Westway" when it was first added to the Worldservice program lineup. It was derided and condemned, and the programmers and staff interviewed about it made all sorts of claims as to the desirability and value of having it on your program lineup. And now you interview a BBC programmer taking the part of all those protesters from years ago. "Westway" is now acknowledged as being unsuitable for the Worldservice. The broadcast time can be put to far better use than transmitting it, and the production expense is better spent elsewhere! So where are those original proponents now? Where are their voices admitting that they were wrong? Where are the "mea culpas" and apologies? You present this whole issue as if it had no history whatever! Let's view all these changes in full context! (William Martin, Saint Louis, Missouri USA, April 11, cc to DXLD) To the BBC Worldservice: Last week's "Write On" contained some discussion in an interview with a Worldservice executive that I found incredible. It was in the context of the coverage of the Pope's death, and was in response to listener feedback complaining about the length of repetitive coverage of the event. The main point of this objection was that basically the same announcement and description was broadcast over and over for (I believe) 13 hours. The interviewee's response and explanation was that the news needed to be transmitted to new audiences as dawn arrived from time zone to time zone and people woke up and tuned in the BBC for news new to them at that time. But this ignores the whole concept of "streams"! You have wasted vast amounts of your resources developing and transmitting different streams of BBC Worldservice programming aimed at different audiences. You did NOT need to continue to transmit the same news of the Pope's death to EVERY one of these streams; you just needed to put the "special" coverage on for two or so hours on each stream as it began coverage of that stream's area to get the news to those newly-awakened audiences. Then the regular programming could have resumed on each of the previously-covered streams and othert news and features could be transmitted to them for the rest of their broadcast days. If you are NOT going to use "streams" this way and instead treat the whole matrix of BBC Worldservice transmissions as one unified stream in this special case, you make a mockery of the whole "stream" concept and give the lie to the rationale behind having set them up in the first place. Thus you have NO justification for all the expense of creating and maintaining separate streams, and you should save the money for funding continued shortwave transmission coverage instead. The Worldservice does NOT need all these separate streams; return to having one worldwide set of programming for all the world except Africa, and have one African-specific stream containing the specialized programming directed to Africa. Eliminate the separate and different program sequence you feed to the United States Public Radio rebroadcasters, so that their FM signals relay the real "rich mix" full Worldservice instead of a subset emphasizing "news" at the expense of features (William Martin, Saint Louis, Missouri USA, cc to DXLD) To the BBC Worldservice: Now that you've cancelled "On Air" magazine, I was under the impression that you wanted people to use the data on the Worldservice website as a replacement. So it thus is required that you keep the data on the website updated and current, and that the future schedules accessible in the "Schedules" section are at least as useful as the data that had been in "On Air". So today (April 12) I go to the website and check on the schedules for various Worldservice streams. I looked at the Americas, Caribbean, regular Europe, and Middle East/FSU. NONE of them are complete! They go as far as April 22 and then either have NO schedule data shown or an error message saying that there is no data available displays. The April 16-22 weekly grid for the Americas and Caribbean has blanks for the latter part of Friday. Yes, you had a schedule change at the end of last month. Does that REALLY mean that you don't know what you plan to broadcast two weeks from now? Why would it be any harder for the website maintainers to enter the data over the past week or so than it had been during all the previous months? Speaking of maintaining the website, there are a lot of the pages for different programmes that have VERY old dates on them as the "last updated" date. Surely most of them should get at least a weekly update with info about the most-recently-broadcast edition (William Martin, Saint Louis, Missouri USA, to BBC Write On, April 12, cc to DXLD) World Service Feedback --- This just in from the BBC World Service. (Sandy Finlayson, PA, April 11, swprograms via DXLD) viz.: -----Original Message----- From: Letters Worldservice worldservice.letters @ bbc.co.uk Sent: Monday, April 11, 2005 10:49 AM To: Sandy Finlayson Dear Mr Finlayson, Thank you for your email regarding the reduction of BBC World Service short-wave coverage for the Caribbean and Central America region. The BBC World Service, like other international broadcasters, has been adjusting its short-wave provision around the world over the past few years in line with changes in global demand. In some regions, this means a reduction in the range of frequencies available and the times at which they are transmitted. This reduction is largely a result of consumers turning less and less to short wave and more to alternate methods of listening such as FM, the internet and cable or satellite. At the beginning of the 1990s almost all our audience were listening to BBC World Service through short wave, but now around 50 million listeners each week (around a third) are listening through alternate means. While the short-wave method of delivery does have certain advantages, the main disadvantage for the broadcaster is its high cost relative to other forms of delivery. As short-wave audiences reduce in number, there inevitably comes a point when it no longer makes sense to continue on value for money grounds, especially when alternatives exist and the same money could be used to greater effect elsewhere. The BBC World Service is committed to making the most efficient use of the money it receives from the British government (our sole source of funding) and it is especially important to get the balance right between the amount of money we spend on programme production relative to the amount we spend on distributing programmes. We are investing more in other forms of distribution - FM relays, satellite, partnerships with local FM stations, digital radio, and the internet. The way people consume news and information is changing rapidly and we want our distribution channels to reflect those changes. We recognise that not all the alternative options for listening are suitable, or indeed possible, for all individuals, and the decision to reduce short-wave coverage for your area was thus a difficult one to make. We regret the disruption to your listening which has resulted but we hope, at least, that you will continue tune in to the World Service at the times when short-wave frequencies remain available if it is not possible for you to listen by other means. With regard to 'Sportsworld', as you are aware we cannot make this programme available online because of rights restrictions. However, it is still possible to listen in the US via XM Digital Satellite Radio. XM Radio offers a 24-hour BBC World Service stream as part of their subscription service, which includes 'Sportsworld'. For information about XM Radio, visit http://www.xmradio.com With best regards, Audience Relations - CMS, BBC World Service [NB: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites] (via Finlayson, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) ** U S A. VOA TO OUTSOURCE NEWS TO HONG KONG CONTRACTORS? VOA Director David Jackson has announced that every day between midnight until 7 a.m., Washington time [0400-1100 UT], the Voice's new state-of-the-art multimedia newsroom will be closed. The news will be ``contracted out`` to a team of eight editors and writers (reportedly Americans, British and Australians) in Hong Kong, Peoples Republic of China. Some sources project cost savings at about $300,000 annually, in a VOA budget of approximately $168 million. If implemented, the proposed schedule will mark the first time since at least the early 1950s that the VOA headquarters newsroom has gone dark. Today, the news center continues to provide information for hourly newscasts for VOA's 44 language services and its newly consolidated VOA-TV and website operations. Relocating VOA central news operations in the PRC for nearly a third of each day poses significant risks. In the event of another Tiananmen uprising or a Beijing assault on Taiwan, the Chinese regime could shut down VOA's worldwide news service in a flash, either by cutting communications or by expelling staff. In June 1989, the PRC expelled two VOA Beijing correspondents after the Tiananmen massacre. VOA has an audience estimated at nearly 100 million each week and hundreds of FM and TV affiliates around the world. A start date for the Hong Kong news operation has yet to be announced. Jackson told his senior managers April 7 that training will be given to newly-hired contractors in Washington later this year. An overnight shift supervisor in Washington will continue to monitor production. It is unclear how or when real time communications will be set up between that editor and Hong Kong to ensure accountability for a high quality newsfile. The proposed outsourcing of news services to PRC-based contractors appears to be the latest in a series of measures aimed at dismantling the Voice and its global reach. Since 1999, the U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors, which oversees VOA, has cut the number of its worldwide shortwave frequencies in English from 354 to 52. VOA English broadcasts can no longer be heard in Latin America or Europe (East and West) and are barely audible in the Middle East. The BBC meanwhile, has two 24/7 streams in English, the universal language of trade and commerce. The PRC and Germany recently expanded their English services. Alan Heil (via John Figliozzi, NY, April 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) What I'd really like to say about this would be unprintable. The dismantling continues apace even as the know-nothings that are doing it continue to out and out lie about their intentions (John Figliozzi, NY, April 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. VOA Morocco, 15410.00 as closely as I could tell on the YB-400, not off frequency now, during news at 2010 April 11 // 15445.00 Greenville. The two were almost synchronized, with a reverb- effect when listening to both on two receivers (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. AFN with Paul Harvey News & Comment ending at 2029 April 11 on 12133.5 USB. Since with commercials removed it`s only 12 minutes, it should have started at 2017, M-F and possibly Saturday too (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WBCQ Question - Tom & Darryl --- I've been wondering why the posted WBCQ schedule (and therefor the DX Programs List) always lists WBCQ's Saturday-night "Tom & Darryl" program as being two hours long (currently entered as 0400-0600 UT Sundays on 7415) when for the past many weeks (or months), every week when I've tried to listen to it, WBCQ signs off after only one hour (and the program hosts DO say "goodbye" at that time). If it is two hours long on the Internet, there's no indication of anything but a one-hour show on the SW over-the-air broadcast. I wish it WAS on the full two hours, because that would give us an hour to listen to it AFTER "Cyberline" terminates on WWCR. As it is now, the listener has to give up one or the other, or content himself with tuning back to WBCQ during Cyberline's annoying commercial breaks in order to hear the Tom & Darryl segments a few minutes' worth at a time. Since both programs have "space news" and other discussions that would appeal to the same audience, they really should coordinate and air at different times instead of in competition. An open message to Allan Weiner: How about recording the first hour of Tom & Darryl live and then playing that hour back during the advertised second hour and keeping 7415 on the air one hour later? 73, (Will Martin, MO, dxldyg via DXLD) This is an oversight on my part. For a while, T&D were running an additional hour for a while as part of a sponsorship from another individual. That sponsorship is gone and the show reverted back to it's single hour time slot, but I missed changing the online schedule. Please remember that the "Annotated WBCQ Program Guide" is managed and maintained independently of WBCQ. Allan and the crew at Monticello share their log sheets with me on occasion, so I'm able to keep this schedule reasonably accurate. When in doubt, feel free to contact the station or me directly. Cheers, Lw (Larry Will, ibid.) ** U S A. WWCR web sked better, but no cigar --- http://www.wwcr.com/wwcr_program/wwcr_pgmguide_text.html The April 12 version of the text program schedule on website looks better, but the time conversions are still wrong (6 rather than 5 hours apart -- the CT is right, the UT should be one hour earlier) for the M-F and Sat #3 portion of the schedule (but OK for #3 on Sunday and #1 thruout). I hear from Jeff White that WRMI has been having a lot of problems with their website provider, due to a change in its ownership. He regrets WRMI has been unable to update their program schedule since mid-March, despite the timeshift. This has also caused mail forwarding to go astray if you try to use info@wrmi.net Now at 1745 UT April 14 I see that http://www.wrmi.net is Unfound, so perhaps some progress is being made. 73, (Glenn, dxldyg via DXLD) Sunday April 10 at 1205 on 7385, WOR via WRMI, compressed! I missed the beginning, so don`t know exactly when it started, but it was running a bit fast; you sounded like a guy approaching 16 instead of 60! The program ended at 1227:05, followed by DX Partyline at normal speed. UT Mon April 11 at 0230 on 7385, WOR was normal! That was the next airing on WRMI, and everything was OK. However, when it ended, it was followed at 0300 by a brief newscast from WRN, and one of the items was ``Prince Charles and Camilla will marry in just a few hours time.`` Talk about stale news! Didn`t that happen on Saturday morning? (Pete Bentley, NY, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WWRB on 3185 at 0417 UT April 13 with gospel huxter, still active on that easy-to-miss channel (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. The WPKN website now also mentions WPKM 88.7 Montauk [LI] NY, and an ID for it was appended to a promo-ID at 1704 UT April 14 on webcast after New Music New Haven. This presumably means, spring fundraiser anomalies permitting, WOR is also heard on that station at 0600 UT Tuesdays, recently added as a satellite of WPKN Bridgeport (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. RHODE ISLAND will continue to have public radio service on WRNI (1290 Providence) and WXNI (1230 Westerly). Boston University's WBUR announced late last week that it's officially dropping any thought of selling the two stations, ending a saga that started last fall and helped to bring about the downfall of longtime WBUR station manager Jane Christo. BU is reportedly talking to Bryant University about helping it manage the Rhode Island stations (Scott Fybush, NE Radio Watch April 11 via DXLD) ** U S A. House passes time change bill --- Legislation approved 51 to 47 after three Republicans switch their vote against the controversial plan to move Indiana to daylight-saving [sic thruout] time. By Mary Beth Schneider April 11, 2005 http://www.indystar.com/articles/3/235991-4033-092.html A controversial bill to put all of Indiana on daylight-saving time survived today when the Indiana House, after earlier voting 50 to 49 against the legislation, came back after three Republicans changed their vote to pass it 51 to 47. Senate Bill 127 was eligible for a second vote because the original tally was one vote short of the 51 needed to pass or defeat it. It now goes to the Senate for a possible vote. Gov. Mitch Daniels has put a lot of political capital into the time change, saying the matter isn't about clocks but about jobs. Some lawmakers in the House prefer allowing certain counties to opt out of daylight-saving time. Federal officials, however, say that is illegal, and Senate leaders already have said they oppose such a provision for that reason. The end result: a conference committee likely will be necessary to work out differences between the House and Senate. Time zones are set by the U.S. Department of Transportation. States can decide whether to observe daylight-saving time, but counties cannot. The time change issue has divided Indiana literally and figuratively for decades. Currently, 77 Indiana counties are on Eastern Standard Time yearround. Ten counties in southwestern and northwestern Indiana are in the Central Time Zone and do observe daylight-saving time. Another five counties in southeastern Indiana are in the Eastern time zone and illegally observe daylight-saving time in order to stay aligned with Ohio and Kentucky. There have been several attempts over the years in the legislature for Indiana to adopt daylight-saving time, but all have failed. The vote was the first the full House has taken on daylight-saving time since the mid-1990s. In 1993, the House defeated the issue 61-38. In 1995, the House actually approved daylight-saving time -- by mistake. Lawmakers thought they were voting on a nonbinding referendum and passed it 54-45. When they realized what they'd done, House members killed the bill. Read tomorrow's Indianapolis Star for more details about this story (via Steven Cline, Indianapolis, DXLD) ** U S A. JAZZ EXPOSÉ: THE NEW YORK JAZZ MUSEUM AND THE POWER STRUGGLE THAT DESTROYED IT can be ordered from http://www.NYJazzMuseum.com or by calling (212) 579-0689. Title - JAZZ EXPOSÉ: THE NEW YORK JAZZ MUSEUM AND THE POWER STRUGGLE THAT DESTROYED IT Author - Howard E. Fischer Price: $15 (plus shipping) 5 ½ x 8 ½ Paperback 134 pages illustrations ISBN: 1-932203-97-7 Published by Sundog, Ltd., Nashville, TN Contact: (212) 579-0689 Web site: http://www.NYJazzMuseum.com (from some spam? via gh) Check out reason 15 of 52 to read this book (gh) ** VENEZUELA [non]. Neither spy numbers nor RNV were to be heard on 13680, April 11 during the 2000 hour, but RNV was winding up on 9550 until 2057, then open carrier (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE [and non]. Apr 10, 15145, 1745, SW R Africa, OM long talk offending President Mugabe as such stolen the election, SINPO 44444. 1757 OM announcer inform to move to 11770 and also try 12145 and 3300. Even the worsen result, 11770 was stronger and better than the two others. Program, Letter from America followed, said as expert analysis (Ashar, Depok, Indonesia, ICF-SW7600GR, telescopic, HCDX via DXLD) Hi Glenn, A new frequency for SWRA: 4880, 1600-1900 UT. Just to keep you updated on SWRA, they have been heard on 4880, 1600- 1900 yesterday 12 April and again this evening 13 April. This is their original A-05 Winter frequency from Meyerton, Sentech, South Africa. Heard in the clear without any jamming but as the station hasn't fully updated their website as yet, the jammers are still on 3300, which is severely jammed (no comment!) 12145, 1600-1900 from Armavir is jammed severely as heard from Zimbabwe. 15145, 1600-1800 from UK, Ramphisham is in the clear. 11770, 1800-1900 from UK, Ramphisham is in the clear. It`s a heavy struggle that SWRA has had over these past weeks but as the station is still making plans to beat the jammers, and it is working out so far, they are still being heard well here in Zimbabwe. Pasted below SWRA & VOA Studio 7`s latest info on frequencies & times. Please note Zimbabwe time is UT +2. 73 (David Pringle-Wood, Harare, DX LISTENING DIGEST) SW Radio Africa : The government is still jamming our shortwave broadcasts. To get around this we are broadcasting on more than one frequency. For the full 3 hours of our broadcast (6 to 9 pm Zimbabwe time) we are on 12145 kHz in the 25m band. We are also broadcasting on 15145 kHz in the 19 metre band from 6 to 8 pm, on 11770 in the 25 metre band from 8 to 9 pm, and on 4880 in the 60 metre band for the full three hours. In the mornings you will also find us on Medium wave from 5 to 7 am on 1197 kHz. Outside the broadcast area, listen over the internet at http://www.swradioafrica.com VOA Studio 7 broadcasts every evening from 7 to 8 pm Zimbabwe time. In Zimbabwe, tune in to 909 AM, and at 4930, 11975 and 17895 kHz short- wave. Studio Seven in the Morning broadcasts Monday through Friday at 5:30 am Zimbabwe time at 909 A-M and at 4930 and 6080 kHz short-wave. Outside the broadcast area, Studio 7 and Studio 7 in the Morning are accessible on the internet at: http://www.voanews.com/english/africa/zimbabwe (via David Pringle-Wood, Zimbabwe, DXLD) Glenn: I've been hearing SWRA for the last two Saturdays, April 2 and 9, with poor signal on that 15145 after 1600, but not a thing to really enthrill me, cause we know is Rampisham, and not a real DX from the Heart of Africa (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, April 14, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) SW RADIO AFRICA JAMMING OBSERVATIONS Further observations made on 13 April confirm the continuing deliberate jamming of broadcasts made by SW Radio Africa on selected frequencies. The 1630gmt, 1730gmt and 1830gmt casts on 12145 kHz were targeted by a rotary jammer. The following additional broadcast frequencies were either clear of jamming or unheard at time of observation: 1630 gmt 15145 kHz clear of jamming, 3300 kHz unheard. 1730 gmt 15145 khz clear of jamming, 3300 kHz unheard 1830 gmt 11770 kHz clear of jamming, 3300 kHz unheard 0300 gmt 3230 kHz and 3300 kHz unheard. The interfering signal was noted throughout the SW Radio Africa programming. Source: BBC Monitoring research, in English 1835 gmt 13 Apr 05 (via DXLD) SW Radio Africa, 4880, 1600-1900, was heard with jamming. This new frequency was only released less than 24 hours ago on their website. This jamming was intermittent but still severe. Alternate 12145 was heard, with jamming which also ceased at various intervals during 1600-1900. SW Radio Africa was heard undisturbed by any jammers on 15145 1600-1800 & 11770 1800-1900 (David Pringle-Wood, Zimbabwe, April 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 9312, huge distorted blob covering at least 10 kHz and centered approximately here, talk in unidentifiable language, at 1352 April 14, and continued past 1400. Large hum/roar accompanying. On another receiver tuned all the way up to 10000 but could not find any matching cadence. A lot like the old XERMX blob which used to inhabit this region, but surely something else now (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 15420, could be WRNO, weak talk in American English around 1855 UT April 13 (Chris Hambly, Victoria, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Nothing there when I checked just after 1900. Likely CRI, as in HFCC A-05 Kashi in English in the 1800 hour only. BTW, WRNO website http://www.wrnoworldwide.org still seems 3 years out of date (Glenn Hauser, OK, ibid.) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Dear Glen[n]: Enclosed please find a contribution to support your work with DX Listening Digest. I find that I use the digest regularly as the most comprehensive and timely source of current DX news for our hobby. A lot of work goes into producing DXLD and many SWLers benefit from your efforts. Because I can only enjoy our hobby now and then when I am not working or traveling on business or engaging in family activities, my time is at a premium. I find that I can turn to the latest DXLD in many instances to see if someone has reported something on a station I think I am listening to, or simply to see what is happening generally in the shortwave broadcast world. I also cannot constantly make submissions to DXLD or other DX services simply because my time is limited, but I sincerely appreciate that you review and respond where necessary to all submissions, even from those of us who are not able to devote all of our time to this wonderful hobby. Thank you again and keep up the good work. 73 (Jeffrey Heller, IL, April 5, with a cheque) Keep up the good work Glenn - very much appreciated even if I don't have time to read every item at present! 73s (Alan Pennington, Caversham, UK, April 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Editorial Comments --- Glenn, I was sorry to see that one reader took exception to your comments about the Pope. Strictly speaking, I suppose one can argue that DXLD should stay away from this kind of topic. On the other hand, I have been reading your publications since the early 1980s, and I really enjoy your editorial comments – probably because I agree with most of them. Religion can embody many valuable things. But I think it is no substitute for rational thought. I believe that we only move forward by asking difficult questions and transcending our cultural biases. (Ed Stone, NY, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dear Glenn, My calendar says that it once again is time to wish you Many Happy returns of your birthday! I also see that you are entering a new decade!! Kind Regards, (Erik Køie, DK-2840 Holte Denmark, April 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello Glenn, Allow me to wish you all the very best for your birthday - 60 years if I am not wrong - and hoping, that you will continue the great work you are doing for us DXers. I really appreciate it! Best 73s (Ydun Ritz, Denmark, April 12, ibid.) Hi Glenn, I just wanted to drop you a note to wish you a very happy 60th birthday. May you have many more! 73 (Bill Westenhaver, QC, ibid.) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ ACTIVE PORTABLE BODY-ANTENNAS Hi, Glenn! Here's a note you might want to put into radio equipment forum at some future time. It's just some thoughts I had about making portable SW easier. I had suggested it to Bill Lauterbach of DWM Communications, but he figures that developing new technology specifically for HF SW wouldn't be cost-effective due to a dwindling customer base. ******** I'm writing to bring up an idea I've been kicking around for some time: an antenna or antenna system specifically designed to be used with portable SW radios while they're being used as a real portable, that is, while walking around and being carried. For many years, I've exercised by walking. Sometimes I listen to local AM or FM via a headphone radio, but I would many times rather listen to SW because local radio often has nothing worth listening to. But it is actually terribly difficult to listen to SW while moving around, mainly because the whip antenna on portable SW sets is awkward and intrusive. You really have to hold the radio in your hand and constantly move and maneuver the set so that the antenna avoids being snagged on tree branches or otherwise gets in the way and is subject to damage. Ideally, you'd have the SW radio in a belt pouch or fanny pack, wear headphones, and have both hands free. But doing this with a whip antenna sticking out of that carrier always presents problems, with the whip getting in your way or catching on something you go by. And, of course, having a whip sticking up looks silly (if you care about appearance). I have many different portable radios, and using them with just the whips usually produces poor and noisy reception. That's why I have and use a TinyTenna. But trying to use a TinyTenna itself in this mode is also pretty unrewarding. The TinyTenna works best when the clip on the end is fastened to some other metal that acts as an antenna extension, and by itself works best when stretched out vertically. Just trying to use it as the radio's antenna while just draped over your shoulder or the like doesn't work. Also, the open circuitry of the TinyTenna's circuit board is subject to damage if used portably, such as jammed in a pouch along with the radio. What I've been wondering about is the application of advanced technology such as that being used for surface-mounted antennae on spacecraft and aircraft, where the antenna itself is physically small but electrically large. Maybe some nondescript encapsulated flat packet that clips to your collar or other parts of your clothing, with a wire that runs to the external-antenna jack of the SW radio, and which provides a high-level signal comparable to a 10-meter chunk of wire or the like? Is this possible? A low-noise active antenna unit with low power consumption to provide good quieting on relatively weak SW HF signals and be of minimal size may well be a contradiction in terms, but technology has performed miracles before. Maybe people could bring up this topic on some of the ham-radio or SW discussion groups and see if the technology exists and could be made into a marketable product at an acceptable price? I'm sure that there IS a market, not only for this specific mobile use but also for the many owners of SW portables who don't want any wires hanging off them (or whose wives don't want the wires :-). Maybe the antenna unit could be a directly-plug-in unit that could attach to the side of the radio, or be used as I said with an intervening wire as an alternate. Maybe we can get some input from some engineers that work on military electronics and who might have some ideas to share. Regards & 73, (William Martin, St. Louis, MO, DX LISTENING DIGEST) BURIED ANTENNAS Antena enterrada Cumprimentos, colega. Na sua última carta lida no Altas Ondas [DX program on the Antarctic-bashing Voz Cristã] falou em antenas enterradas. Acho que são boas segundo dizem para receber sinais que vêm de cima atenuando bastante os sinais de QRM/QSB locais. Por acaso o colega tem alguma documentação relativa à instalação dessas antenas dentro de tubagem enterrada? Boas escutas, (Sérgio Oliveira, radioamador CT2IFT, Fátima - Portugal, radioescutas via DXLD) Caro Sergio, Negativo, hehehehehe. Ouvi o programa e o Edson Bruno se enganou na leitura do texto que elaboro para o Altas Ondas.... também achei engraçado ouvir o termo 'antena enterrada'. É claro e natural que o texto original diz 'aterrada', ligado ao terra. Se você quiser, te passo o texto integral do Sintonia Fina 'in private'. Soou bastante estranho. Acho que outros também ouviram isso. 73s, (Rudolf Grimm, São Bernardo, SP, BRASIL, ibid.) CROSSED FIELD ANTENNAS CFAs in the amateur world --- The amateur fraternity have been using Crossed Field Antennas for about 15 years. Professor Maurice Hately, one of the co-inventors, is well known to the amateur fraternity as G3HAT and sold CFA loops via the pages of Radcom for many years - he stopped a few years ago due to ill health (he in well into his seventies!). These CFA-loops do work well at HF and handle a few hundred watts with no problems. I`ve used them successfully on 40 and 20 metres (7 and 14 MHz). The CFA's used for broadcast are a different creature - they are known as CFA Ground Planes, and are much larger, as its the power handled that governs the size of the elements. I've also run the maximum power on top band (1.8 megs) into a CFA-GP, which I tell my neighbours looks more like a tree than a cup! The GPs are expensive but the loops were pretty cheap at £200 or so and many more are still in use. As to why these are not in more general use, one must consider the marketing skills and jealous (and over zealous) guarding of patents. Few would wish to promote something after paying a lot of money for it (Paul Rusling, BDXC-UK via DXLD) QUIET ROCK --- MICK FLEETWOOD PROMOTES TURNING DOWN THE VOLUME CLEVELAND (AP) -- Rock-n-roll musician Mick Fleetwood is starting a campaign today to turn down the volume. The Fleetwood Mac icon and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee is teaming up with a hearing aid battery manufacturer for a program called "It's Hip to Hear." The program is designed to promote prevention and treatment of hearing loss. Fleetwood's career was behind a drum set. Fleetwood and Energizer E-Z Change are producing a quiet concert at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The concert audience will hear a band's live vocals and music simulcast through portable F-M radio headsets, rather than speakers or amplifiers used in traditional concerts. (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) (APTV 04-11-05 0717EDT via Brock Whaley, DXLD) Hear, hear! This is what it takes to get people to appreciate and protect one of their most important senses???? (gh, DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ The geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to severe storm levels. The period began with the geomagnetic field at quiet levels. By 04/1800 UTC, activity levels increased to active to minor storm levels as a recurrent coronal hole wind stream rotated into a geoeffective position. Early on 05 April, activity levels further increased to minor to severe storm levels and persisted through 0900 UTC. For the remainder of the 5th, activity levels decreased to unsettled to active. On 06 and 07 April, activity levels were mostly quiet to unsettled, with isolated periods of active to minor storming at high latitudes, as the coronal hole stream rotated out of a geoeffective position. For the remainder of the summary period, the field was quiet to unsettled. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 13 APRIL - 09 MAY 2005 Solar activity is expected be at very low to low levels. A greater than 10 MeV proton event is not expected. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at high levels on 13 – 15 April, 22 – 29 April, and again on 03 – 08 May. The geomagnetic field is expected to range from quiet to major storm levels. Recurrent coronal hole high speed wind streams are expected to produce unsettled to minor storm levels on 13 – 14 April; unsettled to active levels on 21 – 23 April; and unsettled to major storm levels on 01 – 03 May. Otherwise, expect quiet to unsettled conditions. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2005 Apr 12 2215 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center # Product description and SEC contact on the Web # http://www.sec.noaa.gov/wwire.html # # 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table # Issued 2005 Apr 12 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2005 Apr 13 88 25 5 2005 Apr 14 88 18 4 2005 Apr 15 88 10 3 2005 Apr 16 88 8 3 2005 Apr 17 88 8 3 2005 Apr 18 88 5 2 2005 Apr 19 85 5 2 2005 Apr 20 80 8 3 2005 Apr 21 80 18 4 2005 Apr 22 80 15 3 2005 Apr 23 80 15 3 2005 Apr 24 80 10 3 2005 Apr 25 80 5 2 2005 Apr 26 80 8 3 2005 Apr 27 80 8 3 2005 Apr 28 80 8 3 2005 Apr 29 80 5 2 2005 Apr 30 80 8 3 2005 May 01 80 20 4 2005 May 02 80 30 5 2005 May 03 85 15 3 2005 May 04 85 10 3 2005 May 05 85 5 2 2005 May 06 85 8 3 2005 May 07 85 8 3 2005 May 08 85 8 3 2005 May 09 85 10 3 (http://www.sec.noaa.gov/radio via DXLD) ###