DX LISTENING DIGEST 5-067, April 23, 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 1271: 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 [Extra 55] Mon 0430 WOR WBCQ 7415 Mon 0900 WOR R. Lavalamp Mon 1600 WOR WBCQ after hours Tue 0600 WOR WPKN Bridgeport CT 89.5, WPKM Montauk NY 88.7 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: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also for CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL] WORLD OF RADIO 1271 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1271h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1271h.rm WORLD OF RADIO 1271 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1271.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1271.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1271.html WORLD OF RADIO 1271 in true shortwave sound of Alex`s mp3: (stream) http://www.dxprograms.net/worldofradio_04-20-05.m3u (download) http://www.dxprograms.net/worldofradio_04-20-05.mp3 MUNDO RADIAL, abril-mayo: (corriente) http://www.w4uvh.net/mr0504.ram (descargar) http://www.w4uvh.net/mr0504.rm (texto) http://www.worldofradio.com/mr0504.html DXLD YAHOOGROUP: Why wait for DXLD? A lot more info, not all of it appearing in DXLD later, is posted at our yg. Here`s where to sign up http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dxld/ Note: the editor took a couple days off but the news keeps piling in; maybe we`ll get caught up sometime; or maybe not, but be more selective and include info less likely to have been seen elsewhere. A number of our DXLD contributors have not signed up for the yg but are welcome to do so if they would like to get their contributions circulated without delay (gh) ** AFGHANISTAN. TALEBAN TO AIR PROGRAMMES IN ALL AFGHAN LANGUAGES - SPOKESMAN | Text of report by Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press news agency Peshawar, 21 April: The Taleban say US forces will not be able to locate their radio station, Shari'ah Zhagh [Voice of Shari'ah]. After a spokesman for the coalition forces in Kabul said they would try to locate the Taleban's radio station, the spokesman for the Taleban, Mofti Latifollah Hakimi, told AIP [Afghan Islamic Press] this afternoon: "US forces will try to locate the Shari'ah Zhagh radio station, but we believe they will fail." He added: "On the one hand, Shari'ah Zhagh is a mobile station. On the other hand, it broadcasts programmes at dawn and sunset. No one can detect the station's frequencies during these times. Moreover, this radio station has been installed by expert Afghan engineers who have safeguarded it against all possible risks." Hakimi said they would soon put into operation other Shari'ah Zhagh stations. Hakimi also told AIP that at present Shari'ah broadcasts programmes in Dari and Pashto languages. However, they want the other stations to broadcast programmes in local languages, such as Uzbek, Turkmen and others. After the downfall of their government, the Taleban aired their first radio programme through Shari'ah Zhagh on Monday 18 April. A spokesman for the coalition forces in Kabul today described these programmes as antigovernment propaganda. Source: Afghan Islamic Press news agency, Peshawar, in Pashto 1445 gmt 21 Apr 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) DF`ing a radio signal, even at dawn & dusk, is a lot easier than pinpointing UBL (gh, DXLD) Duh, that means it's in another country, probably Pakistan. You bet they'll find it (Lou Josephs, 04.22.05 - 1:57 am, Media Network blog via DXLD) ** ALASKA. 11870 KNLS (World Christian Broadcasting Corp.), Anchor Pt, Alaska, United States, 34333 English. OM teaching about "Your Spiritual Life". YL gave station ID at 0818 22 April with mention of sending you a Bible free of charge. She gave the Web address too. OM announced "Your New Life Station KNLS". A very pretty song "And I will Always Love You" by a YL singer. YL with an "English Language Tutorial" featuring American Idiom "Don't make a mountain out of a molehill". 0820 OM gave another station ID. 0818 UTC (Phil Atchley, Merced CA, swl at qth.net via DXLD) This log still does not resolve whether they are really on the one- or two-transmitter schedule version, since the 0800 broadcast is the same on both (gh, DXLD) ** ANTARCTICA. LU_ant - Henry, LU4DXU reports that the following stations are QRT, as the relevant Bases closed down in March: LU1ZAB (Teniente Matienzo Base), LU1ZC (Decepcion Detachment), LU1ZS (Juan Camara Deatchment). Still active stations include LU1ZD (General San Martin, AA LU-11) LU1ZG (General Manuel Belgrano II, AA LU-08), LU1ZV (Esperanza, AA LU- 06) and LU4ZS (Vicecomodoro Gustavo A. Marambio, AA LU-03, IOTA AN- 013) from Antarctica; LU1ZA (Orcadas del Sur, AA LU-14, IOTA AN-008) from the South Orkneys; LU1ZI (Teniente Jubany, AA LU-15, IOTA AN-010) from the South Shetlands. Further information will be available at http://www.mdxc.org/antarctica/activity/2005.htm [TNX LU4DXU & IZ8CGS] (425 DX News April 23 via Dave Raycroft, ODXA via DXLD) Note that this confirms that Base Esperanza is still in business, as would be LRA-36 15476, blocked by Voz Cristã, Chile, 15475, during the former`s entire transmission span of 1800-2100 (gh, DXLD) ** ARMENIA. New emissions on short wave from this country: Public Radio of Armenia was heard from 1500 to 1530 hours on 11930 kHz (Rumen Pankov, R. Bulgaria DX program April 22 via John Norfolk, dxldyg via DXLD) Language?? ** AUSTRALIA. Got up nice and early today. About 4 am. Surprisingly poor show from the Africans. Very disappointing, and MW had no life either. However I did get ARDS Humpty Doo [5050] at S9 so that was a new one for me. Dunno if they are there all the time and common or rare these days, but I hadn`t heard them before, so I`m happy. Do they QSL? If so who do I contact? 73 de (Jem Cullen, Australia, April 14, ARDXC via DXLD) First report of a reactivation; did you get a definite ID? If in the AET zone, 4 am would be 1800 UT. If not Tanzania, there is also a Chinese on 5050; how about a few more details? (gh, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA [and non]. Roger Broadbent was kind enough to send along these program schedule updates dealing with the ANZAC Day remembrances and the station's coverage of same. The ABC web site also has a treasury of information about this important Aussie and Kiwi holiday. Refer to http://abc.net.au/news/indepth/anzac/ John Figliozzi Begin forwarded message: Sunday UT April 24 1928-2000 UT Dawn Ceremony of Remembrance live from Canberra Monday April 25 0210 UT Replacing The World Today: ANZAC Memories (info attached) 0810 UT PM is only 20 minutes on Monday 0830 UT Verbatim - a special ANZAC edition (info attached) Details: ANZAC DAY --- Dawn Ceremony of Remembrance from the Australian War memorial in Canberra. ANZAC Memories First broadcast in July last year to mark the 90th anniversary of the outbreak of the Great War this is a programme about war, survival, memory and remembering. While the men who provided the very foundation for ANZAC Day, our national day of mourning, are no longer alive the legend that sprang out of the war-time experience seems to have been embraced with greater vigour than ever. This is a timely reflection on the individual experience of fighting in a war and of surviving and living with the memories of that experience in the shadow of a powerful national legend. Twenty years ago, when many of the surviving diggers were well into their 80s, oral historian Alastair Thompson interviewed a number of diggers from some old working class suburbs of Melbourne. He then wrote the book ‘ANZAC Memories’ which explores how the experiences of returned servicemen match up with the official story of ANZAC, how these men came to terms with their time in the war, and the ways in which, over the years, they came to understand and shape a story of their war experience, a story that each of them could live with. This is a radio adaptation of some of the interviews recorded by Alastair Thompson. Verbatim This is an intimate perspective of the Australian soldiers taken prisoner by the Japanese after the fall of Singapore. The late Don McLaren was just 19 years old when his AIF Group, the 8th Division Salvage Unit, surrendered to the Japanese and was later sent to Changi. It was at this now infamous POW camp that Don began to keep a diary, dangerous as this was and against the advice of his mates and superiors. And right throughout the three years of his incarceration Don kept writing in his small scrappy note pad, recording the deaths, the horror of sickness, the despair but also the boredom, the humour and the capacity to endure, even to find some empathy for the enemy. In 1997 Don Published his diary, ‘Mates in Hell’. In this programme we hear, through his own words, Don McLaren’s account of his time in Changi and on the Burma railway (via John Figliozzi, dxldyg via DXLD) ** AUSTRIA. See the enclosed message and http://www.drmrx.org/forum/showthread.php?s=d3f3d5d2532ed36d0c3ea34e562a8d79&threadid=1054 http://www.drmrx.org/forum/showthread.php?s=d3f3d5d2532ed36d0c3ea34e562a8d79&threadid=1055 So it appears that Moosbrunn carries Virgin Radio // 1215 kHz etc. There are talks about a ´´UK bouquet´´ to become operational in May. For the moment it still appears a bit unclear to me whether these are merely engineering test transmissions or Virgin Radio is indeed interested in using DRM on shortwave to the UK (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Original Message----- Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2005 09:38:34 +0200 Subject: [A-DX] Ab heute erste DRM-Tests aus Moosbrunn Hallo, ab heute ist mit ersten DRM-Tests aus Moosbrunn zu rechnen. Zum Einsatz kommen die Frequenzen 9705, 9720 und 9815 kHz. Beam 300 (England). Hatte eben mal kurz ein schwaches Signal auf 9720 kHz, hat aber leider nicht für ein Label gereicht. 73, (Klaus Schneider, A-DX list via Ludwig, DXLD) Enclosed a message with details for upcoming DRM tests from Moosbrunn between May 2 and June 26. 6155 will be run in DRM instead of AM in the 1700-2100 period; otherwise there will be transmissions on 31 metres with programming of Christian Vision and various stations from the UK. I still have not seen anything about the background of the 31 metres tests so far, but probably VT is the driving force behind them (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) _________________ Sg. Herr Süss, Donnerstag, dem 21. 4 fanden Tests für die DRM Sendungen via Moosbrunn von 2. 5. bis 26. 6 statt. Frequenz: 9720 kHz von 7:00 bis 9:00 UTC (Virgin Radio) 9815 von 9:00 bis 11:00 (Asian Sound) Die regulären Testsendungen werden auf 9720 kHz 5:00 - 11:00 Virgin Radio 9815 kHz 9:00 - 11:00 Asian Sound 9815 kHz 11:00 - 13:00 Classic Gold 9815 kHz 13:00 - 14:00 Premier Radio 9705 kHz 15:00 - 16:00 Christian Vision 6155 kHz 17:00 - 21:00 Ö 1 INTERNATIONAL vom 2. Mai bis 26. Juni mit voraussichtlich 50 kW DRM abgestrahlt. MfG [with friendly greetings] Ing. Ernst Spitzbart Leiter Kurzwellen-Sendezentrum Head of Short Wave Radio Station (via Harald Süss) (via Kai Ludwig, Wolfgang Büschel, April 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also UK [non] for Virgin angle ** BELARUS. R. Belarus, 5970, *0200-0230 UT Sat April 16, sign-on with IS and multi-lingual ID sequence, into English programming with sked announced. 0202 English news; local ballads. Poor with a lot of splatter. Weaker on \\ 7210. [but not daily] Also UT Sun April 17, 5970, *0230-0300, sign-on with IS and multi- lingual ID sequence, into English programming with sked announced, followed by English news. Fair; \\ 7210 weak. English at 0230 only on UT Sunday (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 6025, Radio Illimani, Luego de no ser captada por aquí desde hacía tiempo, parece que ahora empieza a ser la época de sintonizar Radio Illimani, aunque con señal débil a muy débil y siempre a partir de las 2300 que cierra Radio Budapest en la misma frecuencia. 2315, día 20 de Abril, locutor, comentarios y música. Anuncios comerciales. 24222. 2310, día 21 de Abril, señal muy débil, comentarios y canciones. 14221 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain Grundig YB 400, antena de cable, 4 metros, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC [non?]. POSSIBLE NEW SW PROJECT IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC http://www.timeswrsw.com/N0420053.HTM Two other areas where Hocking said ICDI will help in Africa include short wave radio and micro-enterprise development. Few people in CAR have access to television, telephones, Internet, telegraph systems or the post office. But most have access to radio. Radios are obtained easily and are equipped with short wave, AM and FM reception. ICDI plans to use short wave radio as a tool to continue teaching AIDS prevention, nutrition education and water sanitation and usage methods. "That's why we're really going into radio," said Hocking (via Andy Sennitt, dxldyg via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. R. Líder, 6139.79, 0210-0300+ April 16, Spanish talk, IDs, phone-talk, Spanish ballads, pops. Irregular. Good-strong; best to use ECSS-LSB to avoid a weak Cuba [q.v.] on 6140 and Turkey [q.v.] after 0256. R. Líder much stronger than either Cuba or Turkey (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. RHC, 6140 \\ 5965, 9550, 9600, 11760, 11875 at 0300 clashing with Colombia [q.v.], Turkey [q.v.]. Is 6140 a legit frequency or some kind of spur? (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Since Arnie has mentioned 6140, it would be legit, tho perhaps used for testing new antenna, and not on sked (gh, DXLD) ** CUBA. Radio Reloj, the 24 hour-per-day news and information broadcast station was founded in 1947 here in Havana, and today broadcasts on the AM and FM bands, and also provides streaming audio by means of the Internet. Radio Reloj is extremely popular among AM medium wave band DXers around the world, because the station uses a CW Morse Code tone modulated identifier with the letter R R, that is very easy copy even when the signals are very weak. So AM band Dxers have a positive identification that they are picking up Radio Reloj from Havana, Cuba, even when they can't copy the voice of the two announcers that provide the news, as this is a voice-only station with pulse ticks every second that are also very easy to identify. Here is a short example of how the Radio Reloj signal sounds like; pay attention to the time pulses every second. Si amigos, you can pick up Radio Reloj on 950 kiloHertz from Havana, and also on many other frequencies, like 850 kiloHertz from the Isle of Youth and 860 from Colón, Matanzas [on the broadcast I think Arnie interjected that this outlet is a new one --- gh]. QSLing Radio Reloj is very easy by sending a postcard to their website address found at http://www.radioreloj.cu Si amigos, yes my friends, we [RHC] do QSL here 100 percent, and we are planning now a special anniversary QSL card to be sent to listeners picking up Dxers Unlimited's programs and reporting them during the period between April 15 and May 15. On May Day, the first day of May we will be celebrating Radio Havana Cuba's 44th anniversary --- something very dear to me, as I was among the small group of radio enthusiasts that helped to put this station on the air 44 years ago!!! (Arnie Coro, CO2KK, RHC DXers Unlimited April 19 via ODXA via DXLD) ** DJIBOUTI. 4780, (presumed) 0300-0325 April 18. No ID heard, but sign-on with good 44344 signals, and nice audio. Kor`an chants followed, with a rapidly-building digital QRM underneath. QRM became progressively worse after 0311. They became totally unreadable after 0325 due to the QRM (Steven Zimmerman, Golconda, IL, 500 ft unterminated wire and HQ 129X receiver, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. HCJB SAYS IT'S UNAFFECTED BY POLITICAL CRISIS IN ECUADOR International missionary broadcaster HCJB World Radio in Quito, Ecuador, says its operations have not been affected by the political crisis of the past few days. A note on its website says that all operations have continued as normal despite a series of escalating street protests in the last week that culminated with the ouster of President Lucio Gutierrez on Wednesday 20 April. The website says all staff members at HCJB World Radio are safe and in no imminent danger as the mission continues to monitor the situation. As a precaution, the Alliance Academy, a school for children of missionaries, suspended classes on Thursday but planned to reopen today. HCJB World Radio http://www.hcjb.org # posted by Andy @ 14:54 April 22 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** EGYPT. EGYPTIAN RADIO &TV UNION (ERTU) BROADCAST ENGINEERING TENTATIVE PROGRAM SCHEDULE (A 05) UTC KHz M PROGRAM TARGET AREA 0030-0430 11885 25 ARABIC E.N.AMERICA 0045-0200 7260 41 SPANISH N. AMERICA 0045-0200 11755 25 SPANISH C. AMERICA 0045-0200 9415 31 SPANISH S. AMERICA 0200-0330 7260 41 ENGLISH N. AMERICA 0700-1100 15115 19 GENERAL PROGRAM W . AFRICA 1015-1215 17775 16 ARABIC M . EAST & AFGHANISTAN 1100-0300 12050 25 GENERAL PROGRAM N . AMERICA&EUROPE 1115-1215 15810 19 THAI S . E . ASIA 1215-1330 17835 16 ENGLISH S . ASIA 1215-1315 18810 19 MALAY S . E . ASIA 1230-1530 15490 19 PERSIAN TADZHIKSTAN 1300-1600 15365 19 ARABIC W . AFRICA 1320-1450 15810 19 INDONESIAN S . ASIA 1330-1430 17835 16 BENGALI S . E . ASIA 1400-1530 11655 25 AZERI AZERBAIJAN 1430-1600 15670 19 PASHTO AFGHANISTAN 1500-1600 13665 22 HINDI S . ASIA 1530-1630 9495 31 UZBEKI UZBEKISTAN 1530-1630 15155 19 AFAR E . & C . AFRICA 1530-1730 17810 16 SWAHILI C . & E . AFRICA 1600-1800 13665 22 URDU S . ASIA 1600-1645 11760 25 ZULU C . & S . AFRICA 1600-1800 6230 49 TURKISH TURKEY 1600-1800 9990 31 ALBANIAN ALBANIA 1630-1730 15155 19 SOMALI E . & C . AFRICA 1630-1830 11880 25 ENGLISH C . & S . AFRICA 1645-1730 11760 25 SHONA C . & S . AFRICA 1730-1815 11760 25 INDEBELE C . & S . AFRICA 1730-1900 15155 19 AMHARIC E . & C . AFRICA 1800-1900 9988 31 ITALIAN EUROPE 1800-1900 7120 41 RUSSIAN EUROPE 1800-2100 11830 25 HAUSA W. AFRICA 1830-1915 11880 25 LINGALA C . & S . AFRICA 1830-1930 15375 19 WOLOF W . AFRICA 1900-2000 9990 31 GERMAN EUROPE 1900-0030 11665 25 VOICE OF THE ARABS C . & E . AFRICA 1915-2030 15425 19 FULANI W . AFRICA 1930-2030 15375 19 BAMBARA W . AFRICA 2000-2200 7210 41 ARABIC AUSTRALIA 2000-2115 9990 31 FRENCH EUROPE 2030-2200 15375 19 ENGLISH W . AFRICA 2030-2230 15335 19 FRENCH W . AFRICA 2100-2200 11830 25 YORUBA W . AFRICA 2115-2245 9990 31 ENGLISH EUROPE 2215-2330 11790 25 PORTUGUSE S . AMERICA 2300-0030 11885 25 ENGLISH E . N . AMERICA 2330-0045 9735 31 ARABIC S . AMERICA 2330-0045 11755 25 ARABIC S & C AMERICA (via Swopan Chakroborty, India, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. R. Africa, 15190, 1500-2158* April 15, English religious programming. 1536 ``Word of Life`` (which I have also heard on IRRS Italy); 1655 R. Africa ID and Cupertino CA address. 1656 ``Crying Out`` program. Sign-off with ID and Cupertino address. Fair- good and in the clear (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) GUINEA ECUATORIAL. 5005, Radio Nacional, Bata, 2114, Noticias deportivas, noticias de los próximos partidos del campeonato nacinal de fútbol de España. Notas de condolencia por el fallecimiento de militantes del partido en el poder en Guinea Ecuatorial "Hermanos militantes". A las 2130 se cortó la transmisión, no llegando a la hora habitual de ciere( 2200). 34333. (Abril 20). En cambio el día 21 si se escuchó hasta la hora de cierre, 2200, con himno nacional (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain Grundig YB 400, antena de cable, 4 metros, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. INFORMATION MINISTRY TO REFURBISH STATE RADIO, TV | Text of report by Equatorial Guinea radio on 21 April A commission from the Ministry of Information, Tourism and Culture, led by the secretary of state for information, radio and television, Purificacion Opo Barila, and including the technical assessor for radio and television, Hermenesildo Moliko Djele, the technical director for radio and television, Soto Barila and an Italian engineer, arrived in Bata on 19 April from Malabo. The presence of the commission on the mainland is to assess the services with respect to the 4bn CFA francs that the government has just made available to the ministry for the construction, rehabilitation and purchase of media equipment for Equatorial Guinea's media organs. On its arrival in Bata, the commission visited the central studios of Bata Radio Television, where they assessed the priority needs, namely, equipment for the four audio controls, the installation of two FM transmitters with a capacity of one kilowatt, a television transmitter with a capacity of one kilowatt, two microwave links for the short wave transmitter and two power generators for the Ntobo transmission centre and the central studios of Bata Radio Television. Ms Opo Barila expressed optimism that the projects will be completed in the short term and that they were part of her work programme when she assumed office as secretary of state for information. Source: Radio Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial, Malabo, in Spanish 0600 gmt 21 Apr 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) EQUATORIAL GUINEA: RADIO BATA SEEKS TO IMPROVE PROGRAMMING | Text of report by Equatorial Guinea radio on 21 April The general manager of Bata Radio Television, Martiniano Abaile Ndo, on 20 April met with the various service heads of the radio and television, Potopoto [state-owned print press organ] and the IEC Advocacy project to undertake a study on how to improve the general programming of Bata Radio Television to reflect the evolution and scope of the radio. The meeting that was attended by the regional coordinator of the IEC Advocacy project, Santiago Gabriel Oscar Nzue Mokuy, the head of the information service, Saturnino Mbailo, as well as the administrator of Potopoto, Feliciano Edu Ndong Mifumu, representing the director of Potopoto, officials of the programmes service of Bata Radio Television and programme presenters, had as main theme the production, creation and drafting of radio programmes touching on all aspects of social life. In his presentation, the general manager of Bata Radio Television called for the support of the broadcasting technicians and programme officials present at the meeting and gave them instructions to that effect. It is hoped that a similar meeting will be organized for the programming service of Bata Radio Television, for better coordination of programmes, to meet present demands. Source: Radio Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial, Malabo, in Spanish 0600 gmt 21 Apr 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** FRANCE. RADIO FRANCE STRIKES ENDS | Text of report by French news agency AFP Paris, 22 April: The strike by workers and administrative staff at Radio France, which began on 4 April, ended on Friday [22 April], the group's head of personnel, Didier Tourancheau, told AFP. A CGT [trade union] delegate for the strikers, Marie-Helene Elbaz, said work was expected to resume in the afternoon. As the announcement was being made, the trade unions (CFTC, CFDT, CGC, CGT, CSA, FO and SNJ) who had called for the strike in support of a demand for higher pay, were signing an agreement to end the strike. This strike, which disrupted programmes on Radio France's various stations for 19 days, was one of the longest ever to have affected the group. Radio France journalists went on strike for 18 days from 27 January to 13 February in 2004 to achieve pay parity with staff working for the state-owned group, France Televisions. Source: AFP news agency, Paris, in French 1045 gmt 22 Apr 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Re: 6085 kHz: DRM from May 2nd --- Now Bayerischer Rundfunk mentions the power to be used for DRM operation on 6085 as a mere 10 kW, cf. http://www.br-online.de/br-intern/thema/rundfunktechnik/2-3-radio-kurzwelle.xml They say this will be done with the existing transmitter. Seems to me that using a 500 kW tube transmitter to generate 10 kW of HF doesn't promise a high efficiency (Kai Ludwig, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. The week-end English features are heard here in Copenhagen on Saturday at 1400-1500 UT on 15630 and 15650 kHz + possibly 11605 kHz and on Sunday at 0905-1000 UT on 9420, 15630, 15650 and possibly 21530 kHz. Their live audio stream can be found at http://www.ert.gr. Kind Regards, (Erik Køie, DK-2840 Holte Denmark, April 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. Glenn: I found this on VOG's Web Site: TV [sic] SHOWS: It's All Greek To Me --- Description of program: A music program with Greek songs but comments in the English language for third generation Greeks who do not know the Greek language as well as for foreign nationals who love Greek music. The program, presented by George Fratzeskakis --- reporter --- has completed its 5th year. As the term reporter has a broad meaning on the radio, instead of doing boring news commentaries, which nobody listens to (unfortunately television has won in this sector), Fratzeskakis plays the music he likes. He selects pop and rock music from the last 4 decades with intervals for comments on the artists' life and carrier. Lately after many requests by listeners he has included artistry and popular music in the program. The program was named "It's all Greek to me" after a chat he had with an American friend who now lives permanently in Greece. Before moving to Greece, Peter had never listened to Greek music except for Zorba maybe. Greek music was all Greek to him, meaning he knew nothing about it. Now he is a regular listener of the Sunday noon [0900 UT] program and he even makes comments. The program is transmitted every Sunday on the frequencies of 9375 and 15630 to Europe, on 9420 and 15630 to the Atlantic Ocean and on 15650 to Australia, Japan, Middle East, the Indian Ocean and Taskend. The program is also transmitted on medium waves on the frequencies of 792 and 1269 and the Internet (via JOHN BABBIS, Silver Spring, MD, DXLD) ** GREECE. I just finished working up the VOG Program Schedule in English. Here it is; a few of their items stayed in Greek evidently because the translator didn't have a clue as to what it translated to in English. I took a stab at it; hope that I'm at least in the balo- game ballpark. VOICE OF GREECE: A05 PROGRAM SCHEDULE (Effective March 27, 2005 to October 30, 2005) MON-FRI UTC Program 0000-0100 Connection With Second Program 0100-0105 News In Greek 0105-0200 Popular Singers 0200-0205 News In Greek 0205-0300 (Mon Wed Fri) For Your Favor Today (Tue Thu) For You Patriots 0300-0400 Radio Terminal and Secrecy 0400-0500 Connection With NET 105.8 (Continued) 0500-0600 Radio-Newspaper 0600-0800 Greek Coffee With Athletics 0800-0900 (Mon Wed Thu Fri) For You, Patriots 0900-0905 (Mon Wed Thu Fri) News In Greek 0905-1000 (Mon) 2004 Civilization Broadcast (Wed) Profits And Losses (Thu) Traveling With Art (Fri) Greece In The First Person 0800-1000 (Tue) BREAK 1000-1100 (Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri) BREAK 1100-1200 (Tue) BREAK 1100-1200 (Mon Wed Thu Fri) Radio-Newspaper And NET On The Economy 1200-1230 Radio-Newspaper 1230-1300 Postman 1300-1330 (Mon Wed Fri) Today*s Songs (Tue Thu) I Know Sea Songs 1330-1335 From Where And Why 1335-1400 Deck News 1400-1405 News In Greek 1405-1500 Party Songs 1500-1600 Little Greece`s, For You 1600-1700 Radio-Newspaper 1700-1900 ERA 5-Network Without Borders 1900-1905 (Mon Tue Wed Thu) News in Greek 1905-1915 (Mon Tue Wed Thu) Athletic Panorama 1915-2100 (Mon Tue Wed Thu) Live Program 1900-2100 (Fri) Live Program 2100-2300 (Mon Tue Wed Thu) Connection With NET 105.8 (Fri) In Concert With The Voice Of Greece 2300-2400 Connection With Second Program SATURDAY 0000-0100 Music Program 0100-0200 Popular Singers 0200-0300 Hello Compatriots 0300-0305 News Bulletin 0305-0315 Athletic Panorama 0315-0345 Money And Investments On Saturday 0345-0400 Ecology Pages 0400-0405 News Bulletin 0405-0500 Greek Land Songs 0500-0600 Traveling In Space And Time 0600-0700 In, Out, And On NET 0700-0800 Sweet Country Cyprus 0800-0805 News In Greek 0805-0815 Athletic Panorama 0815-0900 Old Good Times 0900-0905 News In Greek 0905-1000 Party Songs 1000-1100 BREAK 1100-1200 Mid-Day Radio-Newspaper 1200-1215 Unknown Hellenism 1215-1230 I Know Sea Songs 1230-1300 Today`s Songs 1300-1305 News In Greek 1305-1400 People Of The Week 1400-1500 Greeks Everywhere (In English) 1500-1600 Connection With ERA Sport 1600-1700 Radio-Newspaper 1700-1900 Connection With ERA Sport 1900-1905 News In Greek 1905-1915 Athletic Panorama 1915-2100 Live Program 2100-2105 News In Greek 2105-2200 Live Program 2200-2330 Connection With ERA Sport 2300-2400 Music Program SUNDAY 0000-0100 Music Program 0100-0200 Popular Singers 0200-0300 Hello Compatriots 0300-0305 News Bulletin 0305-0400 A Week`s Story 0400-0405 News Bulletin 0405-0415 Athletic Panorama 0415-0430 Folklore 0430-0500 The Good Word 0500-0715 Divine Liturgy 0715-0800 Radio Terminal and Secrecy 0800-0805 News In Greek 0805-0815 Athletic Panorama 0815-0845 The Third Bell 0845-0900 I Know Sea Songs 0900-0905 News In Greek 0905-1000 Music Broadcast (In English) 1000-1100 BREAK 1100-1200 Mid-Day Radio-Newspaper 1200-1230 Greek Cuisine 1230-1300 Today*s Songs 1300-1305 News In Greek 1305-1600 Microphone At The Grounds (Connection With ERA Sport) 1600-1700 Radio-Newspaper 1700-1800 Microphone At The Grounds (Connection With ERA Sport) 1800-1900 Rebetica-Smirneika 1900-1905 News in Greek 1905-2000 Live Program 2000-2100 Good Luck 2100-2330 Without 090 (Connection With ERA Sport) 2330-2400 Music Program (John Babbis, Silver Spring, MD, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dear Glenn: I found the following on ERT's Web Site and copied it below. I have attached my A05 Program Schedule in English of Radio Filia in Athens. FILIA 665 [sic] AM & 107 FM Multilingual program (12 languages) Greece, which was a sending country of migrants in the 60's, through its successful European course, transformed itself into a receiving country of workers from every corner of the planet. The changes in Greece's cultural and social map, that took place in just a short period of time, comprised a challenge for us all. State radio thus decided to respond to these challenges and provocations decisively and creatively. Just two years ago, an idea was born by the General Director of State radio at the time, Giannis Tzannetakos, having as a framework the foreign language department of ERA-5, a pilot program in 12 languages aimed at reaching out to foreign workers in Greece. This successful project's continuation is the program we are inaugurating today, "FILIA" on 665 AM and 107 FM. It's aim is to firstly allow migrants from 121 countries to maintain ties with their countries of origin and to be informed daily in their own languages, thus creating a communication bridge and embracing each and every migrant and refugee living and working in Greece. "FILIA" will also serve as means of eliminating prejudices and xenophobic tendencies that often lead to racist phenomenons [sic!], as in many European countries. The goal of the new state radio station is to contribute to the establishment of a mutual feeling of acceptance and solidarity between locals and migrants, through news broadcasts and of course music, adding just another stone to the structure called FILIA of the people. During these times of globalization, language for our people is the basic element of existence, the beauty of individuality. Our radio may not be able to drastically influence the conditions or rather the complex issues created by the migrant phenomenon. It can, however, positively contribute in cultivating an environment where racism and xenophobia cannot thrive. "FILIA" therefore, will speak in 12 languages, Arabic, Russian, Rumanian, Turkish, Serbo-Croation, Bulgarian, Albanian, German, Spanish, French, Polish, and English, firstly, with news from the countries of origin and not translations of the Greek news bulletins and reports and write-ups from the source of the headlines. In addition, there will be analysis and commentaries with the objective views of Greek State Radio. We would also like to emphasize our significant agreement of collaboration with the BBC World Service and our cooperation with volunteer non-governmental organizations such as "The Doctors Without Borders" and the "Doctors of the World" as well as with the migrant communities such as the Albanian Migrant Forum. The news and information bulletins in 12 languages will soon be included on ERT's web site in view of the Olympic games in 2004. RADIO FILIA, ATHENS 3 (ERA-3) A05 SCHEDULE (Effective from March 27, 2005 to October 30, 2005) MON-FRI 665 AM 107 FM UTC Program 0000-0300 News In Brief Every Half Hour 0000-0330 Connection With Cosmos 0330-0400 BBC-Bulgarian (Satellite Connection) 0400-0430 BBC-Turkish (Satellite Connection) 0430-0500 BBC-Russian (Satellite Connection) 0500-0530 D/W*German (Satellite Connection) 0530-0600 BBC*Albanian (Satellite Connection) 0600-0700 BBC-English (Satellite Connection) 0700-0800 BBC-Arabic (Satellite Connection) 0800-0900 (Mon) Phillipino Communities Program (Tue) Immigrants* Communities 60* (Wed) "As a Fairy Tale?" With Rissos Charalambides (Thu) Connection With Cosmos (Fri) Program for the International Immigration Organization 0900-0905 From Where and Why 0905-1100 Information Without Discriminations 1100-1200 With Rhythm 1200-1300 Journey Taken, Journey Left INTERNATIONAL ZONE 665 AM 107 FM 15650 SW 1300-1330 News in Arabic 1330-1400 News in German 665 AM 107 FM 12105 SW 1400-1430 News in Russian 1430-1500 News in Spanish 1500-1530 News in Rumanian 1530-1600 News in Turkish 1600-1630 News in Serbo-Croatian 1630-1700 News in Bulgarian 1700-1730 News in Albanian 30* 1730-1800 News in French 30* 1800-1830 News in Polish 30* 1830-1855 News in English 30* 665 AM 107 FM 1900-2100 (Mon Tue Wed Thu) Connection With Cosmos 1900-2100 (Fri) Connection With Studio 3A 2100-2400 Connection With Cosmos 2200-2400 News In Brief Every Half Hour SAT-SUN 665 AM 107 FM 0000-0500 Connection With Cosmos 0500-0530 D/W*German (Satellite Connection) 0530-0600 BBC*Albanian (Satellite Connection) 0600-0700 BBC-English (Satellite Connection) 0700-0800 (Sat) Sweet Country, Cyprus (Connection With Studio 3A) (Sun) Connection With Cosmos 0800-0900 (Sat) Bangladesh (Sun) Program With India-Pakistan Communities 0900-1100 (Sat) Out of Place 0900-1000 (Sun) Doctors of the World-Doctors Without Borders 1000-1100 (Sun) Connection With Cosmos 1100-1300 (Sat) From Forty Waves 1100-1200 (Sun) Albanian Migrants Forum 1200-1300 (Sun) Connection With Cosmos INTERNATIONAL ZONE 665 AM 107 FM 15650 SW 1300-1330 News in Arabic 1330-1400 News in German 665 AM 107 FM 12105 SW 1400-1430 News in Russian 1430-1500 News in Spanish 1500-1530 News in Rumanian 1530-1600 News in Turkish 1600-1630 News in Serbo-Croatian 1630-1700 News in Bulgarian 1700-1730 News in Albanian 30* 1730-1800 News in French 30* 1800-1830 Today*s Songs 1830-1855 News in English 30* 665 AM 107 FM 1900-2400 (Sat) Connection With Cosmos 1900-2100 (Sun) Connection With Studio 3A 2100-2400 (Sun) Connection With Cosmos 2200-2400 News In Brief Every Half Hour (John Babbis, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. Splashing 9440 at first, at 2200 on 9445 I heard ID as All India Radio GOS, in English; very good but slight hash to 2230* (Bob Thomas, Bridgeport, CT, April 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) AIR is NOT in HFCC A05 but YES in EiBi: 9445 2045-2230 IND All India Radio E Eu 9445 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. VOI: Instead of English at 0800 UT, try new 15150v (rather 15149.86v) which re-appeared for summer, reported on last Sunday to replace former - winter - frequency of 9525 kHz. 15150 1600 Ar, 1700 Sp, 1800 Ge, 1900 Fr, 2000-2100 English. I'll check this today. 73 wb [Later:] Yes Glenn, VOI now narrowed more 130 Hertz towards 15149.97 kHz, heard French at 1950 UT today. Surprisingly strong today; signal strength will last between equinox in March and September in 19 mb. 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, April 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. NEW DIRECT TO HOME TV SATELLITE It sounds like we will have in two years a satellite capable of broadcasting TV direct-to-home from a location over the mid-Atlantic Ocean. It should be visible from North America, Africa, South America and Europe leading one to suspect it may be used by international broadcasters to bypass local gatekeepers. 4/18/2005 11:26:01 AM DULLES, Va., Apr 18, 2005 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Orbital Sciences Corporation (ORB) announced today that it has signed a new geosynchronous (GEO) communications satellite contract with PanAmSat Corporation (PA). PanAmSat's new spacecraft will provide C- and Ku- band fixed telecommunications and direct-to-home television broadcasting services from a mid-Atlantic orbital location. The new satellite, to be called PAS-11, will carry up to 18 active Ku- band transponders and 16 active C-band transponders. The satellite will generate approximately 4.5 kilowatts of electrical power and will weigh approximately 2,500 kg at launch. Delivery of the satellite is scheduled in the first quarter of 2007. More information about Orbital can be found at http://www.orbital.com SOURCE: Orbital Sciences Corporation Barron Beneski, 703-406-5528 Beneski.barron @ orbital.com Copyright Business Wire 2005 ~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-., (via Joe Buch, DE, April 19, DXLD) -*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^ It's by no means the first in that type of position. For example Telstar 12 http://www.lyngsat.com/t12.html at 15w could be used for that purpose. Sadly fixed dishes are much cheaper than motorised systems and people usually point their dish at a spot with lots of attractive content. That satellite also illustrates well the problem of a mid Atlantic location. In the Americas the satellite is at a very low elevation and much further west than the US East coast it is unusable. It's rather better for broadcasting from the East coast of the US to Europe & Africa but it still would not be my choice for a direct to home service. These less well known satellites do, however, provide opportunities for the satellite equivalent of DX listening (Mark Hawkins, UK, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. Dear Glen[n], Re WRN Service to South America via Telstar 12 --- After careful consideration, we have decided to end coverage of our English service to South America via Telstar 12. We have found this has not been a very successful transmission for us and are keen to reposition the service. Investigative work is underway now to look at how best to reach this part of the World. We intend to end the relay on Saturday 14th May at Midnight (Gary Edgerton, Managing Director, WRN, April 18 via gh, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN. Radio ``Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran`` was reported in English from 1930 to 2030 hours on 9800, 9925 and 11860 kHz. However, the station still announces its old frequencies. The QSL address is: P. O. Box 19395-6767, Tehran, Iran (Rumen Pankov, R. Bulgaria DX program April 22 via John Norfolk, dxldyg via DXLD) ** IRAN. V. of Justice, 9495, *0130-0230 April 16, opening English announcements with IDs and announcing 9495 and 11875. 0133 Kor`an, English translations. 0138 English news. Political commentary and the usual anti-American rhetoric. Lite instrumental music. Good. \\ 11875 very weak under Cuba (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) If anyone listens closely to both VOJ and to the regular VOIRI English program, is there any real difference in the content? (gh, DXLD) NO V. of Justice to NAm on 6120 at 0130, which has heavy R. Tirana interference from 6115 at 0145; Only on 9495. 9580 has CRI, or splash from CRI on 9570. (At times 9570 and 9580 have same program, or 9580 differs. Sometimes 9580 is a no-show) (Bob Thomas, CT, April 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9580 = Cuba, 9570 = Albania (gh) ** IRAN [non]. IRAN OF TOMORROW MOVEMENT OPPOSITION RADIO LAUNCHED Iran of Tomorrow Movement Radio in Farsi was heard on 21 April 2005 on 7490 kHz shortwave from sign-on at 1600 gmt to sign-off at 1645 gmt. The station announced itself as "Seda-ye Jambushi Iran e Farda". There is also a web site for the Movement at http://www.sosiran.com which lists contact details for the radio station as well as details about the Movement itself. The web site also has audio and video archive material available. The web site is available in Farsi, English, French and German. An associate satellite station is also mentioned on the web site as being available via Telstar 12, 15 degrees west, 12520 MHz vertical polarization, S/R 8700, FEC 1/2. However, the actual frequency proved to be 11494 MHz vertical polarization, S/R 17469, FEC 3/4. The Clandestine Radio Watch newsletter published on the http://www.clandestineradio.com web site on 15 April 2005 reported: "... Discovered on 8 April by Danish monitor Finn Krone, the station supports the Iran of Tomorrow Movement (IOTM), a new 501c(4) non- profit organization based in California that seeks to build a coalition movement of secular and pro-democracy groups under the `SOS Iran' banner. The group has already launched a 24-hour satellite TV network, XTV, and claims to support a network of over 2,000 resistance cells within Iran. "[Web site] http://www.sosiran.com "The group seeks regime change through peaceful means and, according to documents published on its web site, encourages regular Iranians living under the brutal control of the regime's internal security apparatus to participate in `Thursday Night Black-Outs' and `Friday Afternoon Walk-Abouts." Source: BBC Monitoring research 21 Apr 05 (via DXLD) ** IRAQ. RADIO AL-NUR NEW ON AIR IN BAGHDAD Since 20 April BBC Monitoring has observed a new radio station identifying as Radio Al-Nur [the Light] broadcasting on 90.3 MHz FM in Baghdad. The station's format is mostly music interspersed with frequent announcements in Arabic, including one giving their e-mail address as alnoor903fm@yahoo.com It is not known if the station is linked to either of the two newspapers of the same name published in Baghdad, one of which supports Grand Ayatollah Sistani and says that the Shi'i religious authorities are the legitimate representatives of the Iraqi people. Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 23 Apr 05 (via DXLD) ** ITALY. MediaLine Radio --- Hello everyone, Mike Terry has asked me to publicise my radio programme on this list, so here goes: - MediaLine Radio is a one hour bi-weekly radio programme which airs every week on IRRS (new edition every other week with a repeat the following week). It began airing on 6 June 2004 The format is quite loose, it is mainly about all aspects of radio both old and new, and features interviews, reports and old-time radio drama. It also covers other areas including science and technology. For the next edition (23 April), it will feature an episode of Boston Blackie and Lum & Abner, as well as a VOA report about nanotechnology. Next edition (7 May), I plan to feature, amongst other things, an interview with Joe Moell regarding Radio Direction Finding (RDF). MediaLine Radio airs on Saturdays at 1930 UT on 5775. It can also be heard at http://mp3.nexus.org at 1330 and 1930 UT, also on Saturdays. For more information, please visit http://www.nexus.org/radio.htm (Henry Brice, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** ITALY. Hi Playdx folks, just a short note to inform you that effective April 23, 2005, Radio Mi Amigo via IRRS-Shortwave from Milan, Italy, will start and finish one hour earlier, from 0900 until 1600 Central European Time (0700-1400 UT) on 15725 kHz - every Saturday. This broadcast will be in parallel to our transmissions on 13840 at 0900-1400 CET (0700-1200 UT). We will appreciate receiving comparative reports for reception on both frequencies. Please email to: reports @ nexus.org (preferred) or via snail mail to : IRRS-Shortwave, PO Box 10980, 20110 Milano, Italy. Thank You. Best 73, (Ron Norton, NEXUS-IBA support, PO Box 11028, 20110 Milano, Italy, e-mail : ron@nexus.org Noticias DX via DXLD) ** LATVIA. THIS SUNDAY 24TH OF APRIL AT 1600 UTC ON 9290 KHZ WITH MIKE AND TOM TAYLOR GOING BACK IN TIME. New EMR Mailing Address EMR c/o A. TAYLOR, 32 Shearing Drive, Carshalton, Surrey, SM5 1BL. New email address studio @ emr9290.co.uk New Website http://www.emr9290.co.uk GOOD LISTENING TOM AND STAFF (From Tom, apologies for the shouting via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** MEXICO. Hi Glenn; Here are some of the more interesting loggings I have from a mini-DX-pedition I took last weekend. I was looking in on the house of an absentee friend who lives on 175 acres in far southern Illinois. The 500 ft unterminated wire and HQ 129X were used for all of the loggings. 2390, R. Huayacocotla, 0015-0105 April 17. Sounded like news headlines around Latin America, with the items being separated by L.A music bridges. Very good 45544 signals on peaks, with slow fades down to the noise floor, then back up. Music program after 0030; some of the most interesting music I have ever heard on the tropical bands. Sign-off with children's chorus singing Mexico's NA; wish I had recorded it as it was fascinating. First heard this station last December while visiting my sister in southern Alabama, and only wished they wouldn't sign off so early. This is the kind of SW station that keeps the hobby interesting (Steven Zimmerman, Golconda, IL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. Mexican tropo 4/20/2005 1645, 107.7, XHXAL Xalapa, Veracruz; 445 "Radio Mas" slogan; W in SP w/mention of Xalapa' start of "futbol" at 1900 with "America" vs. "Veracruz" "Radio Mas, la estación de los Veracruzanos" 1919, 92.3, XHTU Tihuatlan (Tuxpan), Veracruz; 364 "Fiesta Mexicana", promo for "Los Tigrillos" in concert in "Zaragoza, Puebla" ads, programa "A todo ritmo"; W dj in SP w/saludos, introducing a group visiting the studio called "Los Gómez" música regional mexicana, cumbia, popular, full ID w/xmtr QTH in Tihuatlan, Veracruz and studios in Poza Rica, Veracruz "con 20 mil watts de potencia" (Steven Wiseblood, Boca Chica State Beach, Texas, TECHNICS SA-200 $Receiver, Antennacraft FM-6 yagi @ 40', CM #9537 antena rotator Times are CDT; distances in miles, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEPAL. ANALYSIS: NEPALESE MEDIA FACE TOUGH TIMES | Text of editorial analysis by Steve Metcalf of BBC Monitoring Media Services on 20 April Since 1 February, when King Gyanendra declared a state of emergency and imposed reporting restrictions, Nepalese journalists have found themselves facing legal and financial difficulties and the Nepalese public has been without sources of information it had previously been used to. Along with opposition politicians and human rights activists, up to 50 journalists are reported to have been arrested and interrogated. Ten are thought still to be in detention, along with five more who had been imprisoned before 1 February. The media watchdog Reporters Without Borders noted that this made Nepal "the world's fourth largest prison for journalists" after China, Cuba and Eritrea. The emergency restrictions included a six-month ban on criticism of the royal proclamation. This has not deterred journalists, particularly in newspapers and online sites, from regularly appealing for a return to democracy, nor from reporting stringent criticism of the emergency by foreign visitors. However, the Nepalese media also faces more specific problems. A number of regional publications are reported to have closed down, often after pressure from local administrators. The country's 40 private FM stations have been banned from broadcasting news programmes, and have had to resort to entertainment and education scheduling instead. All this has resulted in job losses, variously estimated at between several hundred and 2,000. The FM news ban left the broadcast news field virtually clear for state-run radio and TV, with the exception of the privately-owned Kantipur TV. It also resulted in the radio stations facing a decline in advertising revenue. According to the Association of Nepal Advertising Agencies, FM stations generate some 2m dollars a year in advertising revenue. The government appeared to be tightening the financial screws with reports that government organizations have been instructed not to place advertisements in the private media. Although officials denied the reports, saying that there was merely a review of government expenditure on advertising, the Federation of Nepalese Journalists charged the government with attempting to eliminate the entire private media sector. Foreign media have not been exempt from the effects of the clampdown. A fact-finding mission by the International Federation of Journalists stated that cable TV operators had stopped supplying a number of Indian news channels. Its report noted that the BBC's Nepali Service could be heard on shortwave, which had led to increased sales of radios capable of receiving shortwave. BBC World Service in English had been available in Kathmandu on FM, under a relay agreement signed with Radio Nepal in November 2004. The news relays were stopped on 22 March without any explanation, with the bulletins being replaced by music. Reporters without Borders issued a statement that linked the move with Pakistan's recent halting of BBC Urdu Service relays on FM in a number of cities. It condemned the closures as "a step backwards from pluralism of radio news in South Asia after years of liberalization". This view had earlier been echoed by the executive director of the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists, Ann Cooper. At the conclusion of a visit to Nepal, she told a press conference in Kathmandu that the crackdown was "the most devastating blow to the country's vibrant private media since democracy began here in 1990". Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 20 Apr 05 (via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS ANTILLES. Desde hace algunos días me queda la impresión de que R. Nederland en español nos esta tomando el pelo con el servicio que prestan a las 0300 dirigido a los hispanoparlantes en 6190 desde Bonaire y el cual esta ratificado en su más reciente boletín. Y es que resulta ridículo concebir que sea por skip que no recibimos NADA al menos en Costa Rica, y sí es audible su servicio en holandés ahí nomás en 6165//9590, con menos fuerza en esta última. Para qué diantres queremos holandés en esta parte del continente, si la segunda lengua en todo caso sería inglés? (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, April 23, dxldyg via DXLD) Now, now, one must understand any country will give priority to its national language, even if there are relatively few listeners--- well, except maybe VOA/USA. As reported here some weeks ago, some of the Bonaire frequencies, such as 6190, are running only 50 kW, as Deutsche Welle gets to use the high-powered Bonaire transmitters (gh, DXLD) BONAIRE, RN (presumed), 11675. 1218 3/6 [sic] found distorted spurs 11605-11620, 11730-11750. At 1257 with 11675 carrier only, there were hum products on 11610, 11740. Last time I went through a similar problem, Glenn Hauser found out from RN that they have one manually- tuned transmitter which sometimes(?) does not get tuned right. :-P Site per HFCC (Larry Russell, MI, DXPedition, MARE Tipsheet April 21 via DXLD) ** PARAGUAY. R. Nacional, 9736.94, 0215-0330+ April 15, local Spanish ballads, announcements, ID. Fair level but overall poor due to a lot of adjacent channel splatter. Next night, April 16 at 0045 on 9736.90 with sports coverage and usual excited play-by-play announcer (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9737, Radio Nacional de Paraguay, luego de una temporada que se escuchaba con mucha dificultad, o incluso no se sintonizaba a Radio Nacional de Paraguay por esta zona, llevamos un tiempo que se escucha sin ningún problema durante toda la noche. Día 20 de Abril, 2256, programa de fútbol, retransmisión del partido de la Copa Libertadores entre Libertad de Paraguay y Atlético Paranaense de Brasil. Identificación a las 0101: "En la banda de 31 metros, 9737 kHz, transmite Radio Nacional de Paraguay" "Lo mejor de la noche para toda la audencia. Música y comentarios. 24322. También el día 21 de Abril entre las 2156 y las 0200 con comentarios y música del Paraguay. Identificación a las 0017: "Radio Nacional de Paraguay. 34333 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain Grundig YB 400, antena de cable, 4 metros, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU [non]. Glenn: There was no (local) time change for Fuerza Democrática. The first two weeks it was on Sundays at 8 pm ET, then went to 8:30 pm Saturday ET ever since. They couldn't start on Saturdays because that time slot wasn't going to be available until the third week of their broadcasts. (Actually, I think we put it in both time slots the first two weeks, then dropped the Sunday night transmission.) It is now 0030 UT Sunday, still on 9955. Yes, the Mon-Fri 09-11 UT Spanish from Radio Logos Network is correct, but I am not totally sure we can technically make that change by next Monday. That's the idea at the moment though (Jeff White, WRMI, April 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES [and non]. This year marks the 60th anniversary of an international Christian radio network that broadcasts the gospel in more than 150 languages from 32 transmitters located throughout the world. http://www.christianpost.com/article/missions/1546/section/febc.celebrates.60.years.of.ministry/1.htm (via Andy Sennitt, dxldyg via DXLD) ** POLAND. POLONIA - star of Polish Radio! 23.04.2005 Today, Polish Radio is highlighting its external services in all domestic programs. The presentation of RADIO POLONIA comes in the anniversary series titled "The Power of Radio" to mark 80 years of public broadcasting in Poland. Radio Polonia director Michal Maliszewski enumerated with considerable pride the 7 language sections transmitting in Polish, English, German, Russian, Esperanto, Ukrainian and Belarusian and operating on a global scale through the shortwave spectrum, via satellite and in the Internet. Thanks to these various broadcasting options supplemented by the latest in digital technology, Radio Polonia can be monitored in such distant regions as the U.S. and Canada or the Republic of South Africa as evidenced by the abundance of regular and e-mail correspondence from its listeners, as well as phone calls. Director Maliszewski declared the station intends to further expand its offer by next year when Radio Polonia will be celebrating 70 years of its activity! http://www.radio.com.pl/polonia/article.asp?tId=22100 (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** PORTUGAL. RÁDIO CLUBE PORTUGUÊS REPLACES RÁDIO NACIONAL ON MW Top of Form 1 Bottom of Form 1 29 years later, Rádio Clube Português is back on MW, on the same frequencies that it used back then: 1035 kHz (Porto Alto, near Lisbon) and 783 kHz (Canidelo, close to Oporto). The oddly called Rádio Nacional, which could be heard on these frequencies up until now, is now extinct. 73 (Fernando de Sousa Ribeiro, Portugal, April 24, HCDX via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Voice of Russia What`s New http://www.vor.ru/English/Exclusives/what_new.html MUSIC AROUND US (on the air on Tuesday, April 26). This program is one of the series in the run-up to the coming celebrations of the 60th anniversary of Victory-in-Europe Day. Nearly every family across Russia suffered the consequences of the war, including Voice of Russia staff members. On our program we`ll feature recordings from the family archives of Olga Shapovalova of our Music Department, who recorded a story of the war years her mother once told her little granddaughter. Family story --– and the lives of Russians --– in the program MUSIC AROUND US. The program can be heard at 0430, 1430, 1730, and 2030 UT on Tuesdays. It is repeated at 1430 UT on Thursdays and at 0530 UT on Fridays. We wish you all good listening (via John Norfolk, dxldyg via DXLD) Add a sesquiminute ** SYRIA. The overseas broadcasts of Radio Damascus are now carried out on the new frequency of 9330 kHz instead of 13610 kHz. After 1805 hours the program is emitted on 12085 kHz as well. The announced QSL address is: Radio Damascus, P. O. Box 4702, Damascus, Syria (Rumen Pankov, R. Bulgaria DX program April 22 via John Norfolk, dxldyg via DXLD) Dear Glenn, Listened last night, April 20, on 9330 kHz and I can confirm that they also carry their English program there from 2005 and again from 2110 to 2210 UT. 12085 kHz was noted until approx. 21 with a strong carrier and some hum, but no audio was audible. A 2½ minute recording of the 2110 UT opening on 9330 kHz is attached. Note that they only mention 12085 kHz. When listening to my audio clip please note that they only mention Canada as target area - not the US! (Erik Køie, Denmark, April 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) On this clip, I did not hear Canada mentioned; said transmission is to Australia, New Zealand, Japan, on 12085. Program previews included: at 00:40 Damascus time would be a new edition of Listeners Overseas --- that was UT Wednesday 2140 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) When listening tonight, April 21, I made these observations: The German program at 1805 UT announced 9330, 12085 and 13610 kHz, but was only heard on the two first ones + digitally on the Hotbird satellite. The English program at 2005 UT only announced 13610 kHz, but was heard on 9330 and 12085 kHz + Hotbird digital (in - by the way - very good quality). Kind Regards, (Erik Køie, DK-2840 Holte Denmark, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Standard rant (gh) ** TURKEY. V. of Turkey, 6140, April 16, *0256-0305+, IS, 0300 English programming. Very poor reception with a weak Cuba on 6140 and a strong R. Líder on 6139.79. Turkey \\ 7270 --- weak but at least it is in the clear with no QRM from other stations (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Se sigue escuchando en buena forma su escuálido servicio en castellano (qué agarrazón!) dirigido a España a las 1630 por 13720. Debe tomarse en cuenta que RTI enciende este transmisor o sale por esta frecuencia solo durante esa media hora porque no vas a escuchar nada antes de 1630 o después de las 1700. Mientras los latinoamericanos no nos acojamos a escuchar este servicio turco en español, pudiendo hacerlo casi exclusivamente en fin de semana, seguiremos olvidados por ellos (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, April 23, dxldyg via DXLD) ** TURKS & CAICOS. ==== DX TEST ALERT ==== [for the record] Tonight will feature a repeat of the Caribbean Christian Radio 1020 kHz DX Test from Grand Turk in the British West Indies. If you missed the first test, please try again tonight. Caribbean Christian Radio Turks and Caicos 1020 kHz DX Test Date(s): April 18, 2005 (Monday Night) Time: 8:30 to 10:30PM Eastern (2.5 Hour Test) [0030-0230 UT Tuesday] Modes of Operation: 20 KW Programming: Gospel Music and Morse Code ID Notes: This is a repeat of Saturday night's test which was well heard along the East Coast; hopefully the later start time will allow for more reception throughout the United States. Please note that the test may end as early as 10:00 PM, so don't wait for optimum conditions to try for this one. Morse Code is an ID string at 10 WPM, 1 kHz tone. Listen for a string of "CCR, CCR" that repeats several times. Reception reports can be sent to Ron Gitschier, who is acting as QSL Manager for the test. If possible Ron asks that you include a recording of the test in your reception report. It is also customary to include an SASE. Ron Gitschier, 68 Roxboro Drive, Palm Coast, FL, US, 32164 His e-mail address is: wgsr1570 @ nrcdxas.org Our special thanks to Ron Gitschier for helping to coordinate this test. The test is being done to test a new GE transmitter on site, which is why notice was so short. We are all also very grateful for the folks at CCR for agreeing to repeat this test tonight. A detailed test report will be issued for both tests later this week. 73, Les Rayburn, N1LF, IRCA CPC Chairman (via ABDX via DXLD) Posted in advance on dxldyg; I tried briefly but new KOKP Perry OK would block it; numerous reports including (gh, OK) Caribbean Christian Radio, 1020 kHz DX Test: I was lucky to hear this test under KDKA. Didn't think I had a chance. KDKA was pounding in, but there was a talk show in progress giving the audio from the test an opening in between words. At 10.20 pm EDT [0220 UT] I heard a series of short tones going up the scale followed by Morse code at 10.21. UnID music and possibly voice announcements were heard faintly until 10.30 pm EDT when I presume the test ended. Sent off a written report April 21. My fingers are crossed (Jerry Coatsworth, Merlin, Ont., MARE Tipsheet via DXLD)) ** U A E [non]. Re DXLD 5-066 --- I can confirm Glenn's surmising that the Arabic speaker using 12005 at around 1620 is Tunis. It is heard in parallel with 9720 and 7225. And 12005 is on air from before 1600, but the exact sign on time is not yet known. TUN is registered to use 11730 but another little 'trap' awaits the unwary as that frequency is being used by CRI Beijing in Arabic - viz...... ||| 11730 1600-1700 37,38,39N,40N KAS 500 269 ||| UAE Dubai did shift from 21605 to 12005 towards the end of B-04, but the station is still not heard on any of its former frequencies - or elsewhere - since the start of A-05. 73s from (Noel R. Green [NW England], April 21, dxldyg via DXLD) Re: ``We also had a report that UAE Radio had closed down its own SW operation recently (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1271, DXLD)`` Indeed, they apparently did not submit any frequencies for the current HFCC schedule, despite having hosted an HFCC conference in 2004. All the entries in the A05 schedule are marked "old A04" (Andy Sennitt, dxldyg via DXLD) Well, the UAE SW transmitters are still plenty busy relaying other stations; I suppose this free three or four more of them for that (gh) ** U K [non]. Rough reception, but I hear BBC in English at 2100 on 9860 with splash from 9855 (Bob Thomas, CT, April 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) HFCC says that would be: 9860 2100 2300 48S,53NW SEY 250 270 1234567 270305 301005 D G BBC MER (gh) I also hear BBC English with different programming on 9440 until 2200 close, splashed by 9445, Indian songs, both quite noisy/hash. (Thomas, ibid.) HFCC says was really DW, which I too have mistaken for BBC: 9440 2100 2200 37S,46 WER 500 195 1234567 270305 301005 D ENGLISH D DWL DWL (gh) ** U K [non]. 9720 kHz DRM, Virgin Radio via Moosbrunn Austria, VT- Merlin brokered. 9720/9815, Klaus Schneider from Germany notes Virgin Radio in DRM mode via Moosbrunn Austria at present, the very first day. 40 kW towards England. Now at 0919 UT on 9815 kHz. VT-MNO_Merlin brokered. 73 wolfgang 9720 0500-0900 27 MOS 40 295 G MNO MER 9815 0900-1400 27 MOS 40 295 G MNO MER 9705 1500-1700 27 MOS 40 300 G MNO MER (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX April 19 via dxldyg via DXLD) Viz.: Ab heute erste DRM-Tests aus Moosbrunn Hallo, ab heute ist mit ersten DRM-Tests aus Moosbrunn zu rechnen. Zum Einsatz kommen die Frequenzen 9705, 9720 und 9815 kHz. Beam 300degr (to England). Nachtrag: Jetzt sehr stark auf 9720 kHz: Virgin Radio. (Klaus Schneider-D, A-DX Apr 21, via WB, ibid.) see also AUSTRIA VIRGIN RADIO TESTS SHORTWAVE DIGITAL SYSTEM National music broadcaster Virgin Radio has appeared on shortwave for Europe using the Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) system. The transmissions are beamed towards the UK and brokered by transmission operator VT Merlin. They emanate from a facility in Moosbrunn, Austria. Three frequencies are scheduled: 9720 kHz at 0500-0900 gmt, 9815 kHz at 0900-1400 and 9705 kHz at 1500-1700 gmt. Virgin has traditionally embraced a wide range of leading-edge distribution solutions to reach its listeners. In addition to conventional national AM and FM broadcasts in London, the station can be heard over DAB, live on the internet, some podcasts, via satellite (including the WorldSpace subscription radio service), cable and as a 3G stream to mobile phones, and now, DRM. Source: BBC Monitoring research, 1100 gmt 22 Apr 05 (via DXLD) ** U K. THE 'SECRET' MASTS OF CRIGGION 20TH CENTURY You are in: Shropshire > History > 20th Century > The 'secret' masts of Criggion [VLF] For 60 years the radio masts at Criggion were a part of the scenery of the Shropshire/Wales border until their demolition in 2003. We look into the role of this station, which played an essential part of Britain's communications in World War Two. . . http://www.bbc.co.uk/shropshire/content/articles/2005/04/09/20th_century_criggion_masts_feature.shtml (via Dr Hansjoerg Biener, DXLD) Text on this page is somewhat jumbled ** U S A. WWRB UPDATE --- Greetings to all!!! Whew!! We have been VERY busy here at the Manchester, TN transmitter facility!! We just finished erecting three new 180 feet high towers, hung a new Rhombic antenna for HF communications, 'Ground to Air' Data and secure voice, installed additional VHF 'ground to air' communications antennas for Co-located Airline Transport Communications, Inc (ATC) As an aside, the new Rhombic antenna can be used for Shortwave broadcasting if WWRB needs it. The Avionics repair facility is BURSTING at the seams with Aircraft Avionics in for repair and refurbishment. With our diversification in to Aviation communications support we have 'kinda' placed WWRB shortwave on the back burner but now that Airline Transport Communications, Inc (ATC) has taken off like a Rocket ATC is at a point that we can place it on 'Auto Pilot' and let it grow on its own now that it's been established and 'word of mouth' is taking over Just like shortwave broadcasting we charge HALF of what any competitors are charging for our services. We are now moving WWRB shortwave back to the front burner. From a business perspective their is more profit in the repair of ONE Airborne weather radar for an Aviation client than 15 to 20 hours of shortwave broadcasting. A good Avionics repair facility can knock out two to three Radars a day and plenty of work exist as EVEY Airliner, Corporate jet, almost every helicopter, private piston twin engine has one [Airliners have two units} installed and they break down at a very predictable and financially lucrative rate. On to WWRB shortwave : For years we have pulled our hair out trying to figure out why another station using the same type of antenna pointing in the same direction, at the same power level enjoyed a 2 to 5 DB signal advantage over WWRB???? Observers indicated that this station ALWAYS had an advantage??? We could correct the advantage by switching antenna direction but then our signal would drop in some other area where we enjoyed parity with the other station's signal???? What gives????? We took a little road trip to the other station and standing on PUBLIC property using binoculars we discovered the reason why! The reason why was so SIMPLE that we should have figured it out on our own without the road trip. Well as soon as we tested the 'reason' here at the WWRB shortwave transmitter facility using the SAME type of antenna, Same Azimuth and power level observers indicate our signals track the other station's signal VERY close within 1 db or so --- give or take propagation and the distance between stations. As you are aware, We are moving to 'in band' frequencies for our broadcasting services to the Middle east, Africa and Europe We have obtained 11920 and 15250 respectively. We will remain 'out of band' for our broadcasting services to North America as listeners over here can afford to purchase shortwave radios with full tuning coverage. The inexpensive Chinese shortwave radios flooding the market seem to be able to tune/ receive ONLY the 'Officially' recognized ITU International Broadcasting bands So we move 'in band' to those areas. It is our understanding that the VAST majority of EXISTING shortwave radios in the Middle East and Africa can ONLY tune the ITU 'in band' portions of 11 and 15 MHz. We will be updating our web site FAQ section educating new and existing broadcasters as to what ' in band' and 'out of band' means and its potential impact on reaching listeners and why it is important to be 'in band'. Now that WWRB has been moved to the front burner we will be making more updates. Regards to all!!!!! (Dave Frantz, WWRB, April 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Guess he means he was spying on WWCR (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Late-night special on WBCQ. Instead of going off-air at 0430 UT Friday April 22 from 7415, after "Herald of Truth", WBCQ stayed on- air for at least another half-hour with some music and strange discussion. I was in the process of falling asleep, so I may be saying the wrong thing, but I do believe that they were speaking of transmissions from a ship, and I think they said they'd be on the air "as long as their Internet connection held up" or words to that effect. But I cannot know if this was actually a live broadcast or something played back from a recording from the past. I woke up in the 0500 UT hour (midnite locally) and the signal was gone, so I turned off the radio and went back to sleep. These sorts of late-night unscheduled transmissions appear now and then, so I just listen to "Herald of Truth" (so far haven't heard much truth... :-) and wait until a real WBCQ sign-off appears most nights, if propagation allows a listenable signal here in St. Louis. 73, (Will Martin, MO, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WBCQ ANNOUNCES SPECIAL SUMMER 2005 BROADCASTS FROM THE MOTOR SAILOR KATIE For immediate release --- Monticello, ME, April 19, 2005 After a successful test run in September 2004, WBCQ is planning to return to the Motor Sailor Katie in the summer of 2005. The Katie, a sixty foot lightship based in Boston, Massachusetts, is designed to promote international shortwave and provide a unique broadcasting environment for our clients. This summer, we will originate programming from the Katie in Boston Harbor that will be transmitted live via WBCQ's shortwave broadcasting facilities in Monticello, Maine. We invite all interested parties to participate in this summer's broadcasts from the Katie. We are offering specially discounted broadcast rates for programming originating from the Katie. The exact dates, times, and frequencies will be announced in the upcoming weeks. WBCQ is an international shortwave broadcaster serving North and Central America via four 50,000 watt transmitters. Since 1998, WBCQ has provided access to the airwaves to hundreds of programmers and an outlet for all types of messages, from spiritual, religious and political to music and entertainment. WBCQ is a strong advocate of the United States of America's guaranteed First Amendment right to free speech, and WBCQ does not censor it's programming content. If you are interested in originating your broadcast from the Katie, contact WBCQ today at 1-207-538-9180, or visit us on the internet at http://wbcq.com Free speech, it's more than just words. -- ARRRRR WHERE BE ME SEA BISCUIT? (WBCQ via Larry Will, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Reply from AWR Asia Pacific after my query of start of DX programme Wavescan. Regards, Swopan Chakroborty, Kolkata, India On 4/20/05, Aspac-DX AsPac-DX @ awr.org wrote: We hope to start as soon as we find the right person to be in charge of this program. Doing our best to have DX but hope you can enjoy our regular programs, too. Thank you for your understanding and support to AWR (via Swopan Chakroborty, April 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ?? They had 3 months to find someone (actually a few more since the decision was apparently made to stop it from London and Indianapolis). They couldn`t do better than retain Adrian Peterson in charge of Wavescan, assuming he wants to keep writing most of it; no reply from him to my inquiry at Marchend. He would hardly have to move to Singapore to do it. Better yet, they should have had a successor lined up before suspending it (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) A-05 for AWR via DTK: 0500-0600 on 5965 JUL 100 kW / 115 deg Daily EaEu Bulgarian 0900-1000 on 11775 JUL 100 kW / 145 deg Sun SoEu Italian 1900-1930 on 15245 JUL 100 kW / 200 deg Daily NoAf Arabic 1930-2000 on 15245 JUL 100 kW / 200 deg Mon/Wed NoAf Dial Arabic 1930-2000 on 15245 JUL 100 kW / 200 deg Thu/Sun NoAf Kabyle 1930-2000 on 15245 JUL 100 kW / 200 deg Tue/Fri/Sat NoAf Tachelhit 2000-2030 on 15245 JUL 100 kW / 200 deg Daily NoAf French A-05 for AWR via Meyerton: 1700-1730 on 9595 MEY 250 kW / 005 deg Daily CeEaAf Swahili 1730-1800 on 9595 MEY 250 kW / 005 deg Daily CeEaAf Massai 1800-1830 on 3215 MEY 100 kW / 275 deg Daily SoAfNo English 1800-1830 on 3345 MEY 100 kW / non-dir Daily SoAfWe English 1800-1900 on 9590 MEY 250 kW / 019 deg Daily SoAfNo English 2000-2030 on 6100 MEY 500 kW / 350 deg Daily CeEaAf French 2000-2030 on 9820 MEY 250 kW / 328 deg Daily NoCeAf French 2000-2030 on 7175 MEY 250 kW / 352 deg Daily CeEaAf English 2030-2100 on 7175 MEY 250 kW / 352 deg Daily CeEaAf English 2030-2100 on 6100 MEY 250 kW / 328 deg Daily NoAfSo Yoruba A-05 for AWR via Moosbrunn: 0200-0230 on 9895 MOS 300 kW / 090 deg Daily SoAs English 0230-0300 on 9895 MOS 300 kW / 090 deg Daily SoAs Urdu 0330-0400 on 9895 MOS 300 kW / 100 deg Daily WeAs Persian 0400-0430 on 9770 MOS 300 kW / 120 deg Daily ME Arabic 0430-0500 on 9770 MOS 300 kW / 145 deg Daily NoAf Arabic 1400-1430 on 17720 MOS 300 kW / 090 deg Daily SoAs Urdu 1430-1500 on 15225 MOS 300 kW / 145 deg Daily EaAf Afar 1500-1530 on 6130 MOS 100 kW / 320 deg Daily WeEu German 1600-1630 on 15225 MOS 300 kW / 090 deg Daily SoAs Urdu 1630-1700 on 15360 MOS 300 kW / 100 deg Daily WeAs Persian 1700-1730 on 15265 MOS 300 kW / 120 deg Daily ME Arabic 1730-1800 on 15265 MOS 300 kW / 145 deg Daily NoAf Arabic 1800-1830 on 15280 MOS 300 kW / 160 deg Mon CeAf Bari 1800-1830 on 15280 MOS 300 kW / 160 deg Tue/Sat CeAf Juba Arabic 1800-1830 on 15280 MOS 300 kW / 160 deg Wed/Fri CeAf Col English 1800-1830 on 15280 MOS 300 kW / 160 deg Thu/Sun CeAf Moru 1830-1900 on 15280 MOS 300 kW / 190 deg Daily EaAf Arabic 1900-1930 on 11955 MOS 300 kW / 190 deg Daily WeAf Hausa 1930-2000 on 11955 MOS 300 kW / 190 deg Daily WeAf Igbo 2000-2030 on 11870 MOS 300 kW / 215 deg Daily WeAf Dyila 2030-2100 on 11870 MOS 300 kW / 215 deg Daily WeAf French 2100-2200 on 9715 MOS 300 kW / 215 deg Daily WeAf English A-05 for AWR via Al-Dhabbaya: 0300-0330 on 11710 DHA 250 kW / 225 deg Daily EaAf Orominya 0300-0330 on 11975 DHA 250 kW / 225 deg Daily EaAf Amharic 0330-0400 on 11975 DHA 250 kW / 225 deg Daily EaAf Tigrinya 0300-0330 on 15205 DHA 250 kW / 020 deg Daily CeAs Russian 1200-1230 on 15135 DHA 250 kW / 085 deg Daily SoAs English 1230-1300 on 15135 DHA 250 kW / 085 deg Daily SoAs Bengali 1300-1330 on 15320 DHA 250 kW / 060 deg Mon-Fri WeCHN Chinese 1300-1330 on 15320 DHA 250 kW / 060 deg Sat/Sun WeCHN Uighur 1330-1500 on 15320 DHA 250 kW / 060 deg Daily WeCHN Chinese 1330-1400 on 17740 DHA 250 kW / 020 deg Daily CeAs Russian 1500-1530 on 15225 DHA 250 kW / 075 deg Daily SoAs Nepali 1530-1600 on 15225 DHA 250 kW / 075 deg Daily SoAs English 1500-1530 on 15265 DHA 250 kW / 075 deg Daily SoAs Punjabi 1530-1600 on 15265 DHA 250 kW / 075 deg Daily SoAs Hindi 1630-1700 on 15460 DHA 250 kW / 225 deg Daily EaAf Somali 1730-1800 on 15520 DHA 250 kW / 225 deg Daily EaAf Arabic A-05 for AWR via Bonaire: 2200-2400 on 6165 BON 150 kW / 320 deg Daily CeAm Spanish (Observer, Bulgaria, April 22 via DXLD) Col = colloquial ** U S A. FCC ADOPTS DIGITAL BROADCASTING STANDARD (Apr 21, 2005) --- The FCC has adopted the Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) standard for US HF Broadcasting Service (HFBC) digital transmission and taken related actions that it anticipates will reinvigorate HFBC. DRM is capable of providing near-FM quality sound within current AM emission bandwidths. Adoption of the DRM standard was among several actions the FCC took in a wide-ranging Report and Order (R&O) in response to World Radiocommunication Conference 2003 (WRC-03)--ET Docket 04-139. The FCC agreed with a recommendation from the National Association of Shortwave Broadcasters (NASB) to set a 10-kW mean minimum power level for digital transmissions in order to minimize interference and conform to International Telecommunication Union (ITU) spectrum masks. The FCC authorized both digital audio broadcasting and datacasting. The FCC said channels using digitally modulated emissions may share the same spectrum or be interleaved with analog emissions in the same HFBC band, provided the protection afforded to the analog emissions is at least as great as that currently in place for analog-to-analog protection. The Commission authorized double-sideband (DSB), single-sideband (SSB), and digital transmissions in HF bands between 5900 and 26,100 kHz, and it set minimum HFBC power levels of 50 kW PEP for SSB. DRM was demonstrated at the National Association of Broadcasters convention this past week in Las Vegas. In the same proceeding the FCC also reallocated the 7100-7200 kHz band to the Amateur Service on a co-primary basis and reallocated the 7350-7400 kHz band to the HFBC Service on a co-primary basis with the fixed service until March 29, 2009, after which it will be allocated exclusively for broadcasting (ARRL main page via Bill Smith and via John Norfolk, dxldyg via DXLD) Go to http://www.arrl.org and scroll down until you reach this item in order to access any links (such as the R&O) as the URLs are very loooooooooooong and I doubt if they would survive intact here (jn, ibid.) ** U S A. We're in for a period of significant change. If nighttime IBOC persists, and radios are sold, then many many stations will go silent. But I think IBOC is a fad idea, and I think consumers will resist buying new radios unless the car manufacturers make the switch, and my bet there is with satellite ... really, some kind of Internet/computer-based wireless/satellite technology. I see this as the general, ultimate direction. I see in the future of DXing an eventual opening of the AM band, with some temporary aberations and barriers such as IBOC, followed by the ultimate demise of the band. Once the dust settles this way, FM will go the same route. My hunch... (Saul Chernos, amfmtvdx at qth.net via DXLD) Saul, Terrestrial radio is for the most part dead. I believe that the figures that people use are incorrect. I believe they are vastly inflated. Once people step out of the car, they watch TV and videos or go on the internet. Were it not for sports on TV, I would not watch TV. If I want music, I listen to CDs or turn on XM. The radio has become a DX appliance and losing ground there in a hurry. The problem with DXing, at least in Phoenix is that there are no open frequencies. Rimshots are popping up everywhere on FM here in the last month and AM is plagued with noise because, here in the USA, the LAWYER led FCC, who have NO CONCEPT of engineering practice, has allowed every noise making device on earth to be sold under the guise of being a part 15 radiator. IBOC will get the people in cars to turn off the radio because of all the noise and they will play CDs or turn on the XM / Sirius. If I owned a terrestrial radio station, I would be selling it about now. There is not much of a future in it (Kevin Redding, ibid.) This also applies to TV. New devices will kill DX here in Shreveport long before DTV and IBOC (Danny Shreveport, LA Oglethorpe, ibid.) ** U S A. HD IBOC signal spotted on KMKI-620 Plano/Dallas Tx After several weeks of putting two and two together, I realised that these extra interfering 'sidebands' (they interfere with reception of KTBB 600 [Tyler TX] to my location north of Dallas) are Ibiquity's HD Hybrid AM digital sidebands! http://www.dallas.net/~jvpoll/rfi/AM620_KMKI/AM620_KMKI.html And Ibiquity shows KMKI 620 to be 'signed up' (although not on-the-air according to them) to be digital too: http://www.ibiquity.com/cgi-bin/liststations?state=TX&sort=StnOnAir Querying the FCC's AM database yielded nothing revealing anything about this digital mode change; this station doesn't even appear on the FCC's digital station list! (Jim Poll, WB5WPA, April 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1230, KSST Sulfer Springs TX. This was the radio highlight of the trip. This station was just plain fun to listen to. The BEST part easily was that kSSt in Sulfer SpringS texaS -- eaSt texaS (no less) -- has a DJ who whistles his esses. Honest. I couldn`t make this up if I tried. I almost lost control of the car I was laughing so hard, and I MADE Paula write details. The local news was special. They listed names of the kids who took FIFTH place in an oddesy [sic] of the mind-type competition, and must have at some point named EVERYone who lives in the town during the local news. They played LOTS of audio from the good-ole boy sheriff who in GREAT detail (I assume in a news conference setting, since that is what it sounded like), talked about local police blotter info, including an investigation of an 80 year old woman who was crushed by her own pick up truck (only in TX is an 80 year old woman driving a beat up Pick Up!) when, it is presumed, she got out to inspect the back, after a relative had done some work on the transmission, he added, but apparently didn`t really have it securely in park, and it backed over her and continued, driverless, across the street until it struck a telephone pole (what a way to go), and an item about a drug bust where the suspect voluntarily allowed the officer to search his car, and the astute cop noticed a burning joint in the ash tray, and several pounds of the stuff in the back seat. (Dumb criminal award time?) Honest, I really thought they didnt make radio like this any more, but I am pleaSed to Say that Sulpher SpringS in eaSt texaS Still ServeS the SitiSens of the SouthweSt with Scintilating SelectionS of local SelebretieS ScandalouS actionS, and a Smattering of the activitieS of more normal folkS too. Special Stuff! Heard while on I-30 in Sulfer Springs. 1:00 PM CDT 4/4 --Zichi-TX 1645-ish Ethnic Pirate (presumed) in Southern Dallas (presumed) with Indian music, ads (yes, ads!) for sub-continent businesses in Dallas, and splattering all over the Ex-band. Heard best on 1640, but I presume it was really on about 1645 since it splattered from 1640 - 1660 on the car radio. Could this be a legit low power Broadcaster? Interesting! 1:12 PM CDT 8/Apr south of Downtown Dallas and just before hitting the mother of all traffic jams. --Zichi-TX 1650, TIS relaying NOAA WXK-77 (162.4 also heard). Heard near Austin 5:56 PM CDT 4/4 --Zichi-TX 1670, WPIW-244(?) "Farmers Branch (Texas) Information Radio" a TIS/HAR w/relay of NOAA weather AND (interestingly!) local announcements from the Farmers Branch government and emergency services. Per the info on www.farmersbranch.info, the transmitter pole (NOT antenna-- pole!) is located at the Don Showman Rec Center, and "Info 1670 features Farmers Branch news & information, along with real-time simulcast of NOAA weather radio.... For more information, call 972-919-2510" This town gets the award for least accurate name of any town I've seen. This place is about as urban as you can get, -taint no farmers within hollerin distance, let alone near anything that branches around there! Heard at 1:22 PM CDT 8/Apr north of Dallas and while still in the midst of the mother of all traffic jams! Texas drivers are REALLY rude and a bit stupid per my observations. They SEE the accident, and drive right up to it and expect you to let them in after you've waited in line like a good person. Would they run up to someone in line in person and say "hey -- my time is more valuable than yours so move over so I can get ahead of you!" I dunno, maybe they would! --Zichi-TX 1680, WPSX-98 Houston Texas Department of Transportation Interstate closure tape loop. They need to fix the bloody roads and stop fixin to fix them already -- we spent more time sitting in traffic in Houston than I care to think about! 0413 7/Apr --Zichi TX 1680, Dallas, Downtown Dallas Information Station with such comforting statements as 'lock your car, take your valuables, and welcome to Dallas.' Well, OK, I made up that last one, but they really did warn visitors to hide valuables and lock their cars! Heard on the South side of Dallas through downtown.... 1:03 PM CDT 4/8 --Zichi-TX 1680, WTLR-650 Dallas DFW airport arrivals departures on the SAME freq as the downtown info station! Mixing with it but on top north of Downtown while in the midst of the worst traffic jam Ive experienced in a dogs age! Sigh -- they do EVERYTHING big in Texas, including the traffic congestion! 1:28 PM CDT 4/8 -- (Kenneth Vito Zichi, TX, MARE Tipsheet via DXLD) ** U S A. CAMPUS RADIO STATION NOW OFFICIAL By Erin Borysewicz, News Writer, The Keystone, Kutztown PA KUTZTOWN — KU Radio (KUR), the university`s campus radio station, which can be heard on 88.3 FM/1670 AM, celebrated its return with a grand opening on March 31 by hosting and sponsoring a series of events culminating with a ribbon cutting ceremony and a Battle of the Bands competition. [large portion snipped from:] http://keystoneonline.com/story.asp?art_id=1300 The schedule of shows can be viewed at http://www.kutztown.edu/activities/clubs/kur/ People interested in joining the KUR team for next semester can fill out an application online or go to the station located in Room 188 of the McFarland Student Union. KUR can now be heard streaming over the aforementioned website (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) Karrier Kurrent, or Part 15, or ??? Yes, stream heard on test (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Re: Closed Captioning --- Glenn, being a closed captioner of a live broadcast isn't easy, and there aren't enough captioners to meet demand. "Marketplace" had a story on this in late March. Excerpts follow (Rich Cuff, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ----- DAVID BROWN, anchor: Starting next year, virtually all television programs will have to be closed captioned for the deaf and hard of hearing. That's job security for hundreds of trained stenographers who do the work. The problem is there aren't enough of them to meet demand. Cathy Duchamp reports now from Seattle. CATHY DUCHAMP reporting: Cynthia Hill has a job situation most of us only dream about. Unidentified Woman #1: At this hour, the earthquake's pushing half the people in that area... DUCHAMP: She gets paid to watch TV in her pajamas from the comfort of her den. Ms. CYNTHIA HILL (Stenographer): I'm typing my shorthand into my machine. It runs through my software on my laptop. It translates it into English and then puts that English caption up on the appropriate station's television screen. Unidentified Woman #2: We don't expect earthquakes. A lot of forest fires, yeah, but earthquakes, we don't. DUCHAMP: This day, she's captioning local TV news from Phoenix. The national average salary for a broadcast captioner is $60,000 a year, but Hill says the fast talkers and long hours make for stressful work. On September 11th, 2001, for example, Hill started to caption at 4 in the morning. Ms. HILL: And I didn't stop until midnight that night. I captioned all day long, not for the same station, but, you know, everybody needed captions to tell everybody in the world what was going on. And, you know, during times like that, it's painfully obvious we don't have enough qualified people in our industry. DUCHAMP: It would take about 3,000 captioners to do the work required under the new federal law, and right now, there are only about 400 people trained for this particular type of stenography. To narrow the gap, Congress has boosted funding for broadcast caption training programs like this one at Green River Community College in Auburn, Washington. Unidentified Woman #3: And we're back on the air in three, two... Unidentified Man: The child molestation case against Michael Jackson is finally ready for a... Ms. KIM RACHEL (Student): At 160 words a minute, you can only miss 16 words in a five-minute-long test, and that's very difficult to do. It's really very difficult to do, especially when you're pushing and you just are trying every single week. DUCHAMP: What Rachel may not know is that many closed-captioning companies don't require certification for employment. That's something you may have noticed when watching captions that are riddled with spelling errors or just plain gibberish. The National Association of the Deaf is lobbying the Federal Communications Commission to enforce quality standards. Meantime, television stations are looking for ways to absorb the additional costs of closed captioning. One option: Replace the stenographers with voice translation software. Student Kim Rachel says the human brain is the best computer for now. Ms. RACHEL: Our brains can process I've heard 500 words a minute and can differentiate the meanings behind them and then get that information to your fingers. It's better than the computer trying to figure out the grammar that you were trying to say but it doesn't know, you know, the English language as well as we do. So I just think that it's going to take a long time before that technology to do what everyone thinks that it's going to be able to do. DUCHAMP: In fact, a Michigan company that developed voice translation software for TV took it off the market because of slow sales. It hopes with the new rules to get a second shot next year. In Seattle, I'm Cathy Duchamp for MARKETPLACE (via Rich Cuff, DXLD) ** U S A. WHY AIR AMERICA DOESN'T FLY Byline: Brian C. Anderson Date: 04/21/2005 (NEW YORK) The liberal Air America Radio, just past its first birthday, has probably enjoyed more free publicity than any other enterprise in recent history. But don't believe the hype: Air America's left-wing answer to conservative talk radio is failing, just as previous efforts to find liberal Rush Limbaughs have failed. . . Click here to read this story online: http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0421/p09s01-coop.html (via Jim Moats, DXLD) Full of stereotypes, extremely biased; takes it as a given that NPR is ``liberal`` ** U S A. CEREMONY SET TO CELEBRATE NATIVE AMERICAN RADIO SERIES Saturday, April 23, 2005 http://www.oregonlive.com/living/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/living/111425053191720.xml&coll=7 A salmon feast, celebration ceremony and charity auction Sunday afternoon will mark the completion of the Native American radio series "Wisdom of the Elders, Series Two: Native Nations Along the Lewis and Clark Trail." The kickoff, with drumming, honor songs and prayers to acknowledge the elders and storytellers who took part in the project, will be from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Native American Student and Community Center, 710 S.W. Jackson St., on the Portland State University campus. Donations are accepted, and the salmon bake is $10 (free to elders). Arlie Neskahi hosts the Portland-produced series, which will air nationally and which includes eight hour-long segments on the oral history and arts of the Shawnee, Otoe, Omaha, Yankton, Sioux, Arikara, Mandan, Hidatsa, Crow, Northern Cheyenne, Gros Ventre, Assiniboine, Blackfeet and Shoshone tribes (The Oregonian via Bruce MacGibbon, DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. Re 5-066: You are 100% correct, since when is Studio 7 a "private" radio station? It is of course paid, with many thanks to, by the US taxpayer, no less! Also the article had incorrectly named the SWRA station director Jerry Jackson. Don't think that will phase Ms Gerry Jackson that much though. Finally, it`s great to get outside news heard here on the MW & Short wave bands directed to Zimbabwe, so yes, even three VOA Studio 7 shortwave frequencies and one Studio 7 MW frequency in the evenings is to us back here in Zimbabwe quite numerous! 73, (David Pringle-Wood, Harare, Zimbabwe, April 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) We should appreciate if the spelling Gerry be reserved for females, and Jerry for males, if they insist of sharing the `same` name. Thank you (gh, DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ EiBi A05 SCHEDULES COMPLETE Go and get it now: The EiBi A05 shortwave schedules are available on http://www.eibi.de.vu/ Sorted by UT: http://www.susi-und-strolch.de/eibi/dx/bc-a05.txt Sorted by frequency: http://www.susi-und-strolch.de/eibi/dx/freq-a05.txt Send any corrections (if not published already in Glenn's DXLD) to the author at Eike.Bierwirth (at) gmx.de - thanks! Have fun, Eike -- Eike Bierwirth 04317 Leipzig, DL (via David Ross, April 22, ODXA via DXLD) BCLNEWS.IT CLOSED bclnews.it ha chiuso Alle 20.00 di oggi bclnews.it ha chiuso i battenti dopo 13 anni di attività. I domini bclnews.it .com. .org sono già stati ceduti ad un'altra associazione estera che credo abbia intenzione di gestirli in altro modo. La decisione, che era nell'aria già da tempo, è stata presa a causa degli ultimi spiacevoli eventi che hanno ancora una volta caratterizzato il mondo del radioascolto italiano. Nelle prossime ore verrà tolta la moderazione all'intera lista bclnews e ai nuovi iscritti della lista shortwave (350 in totale), liste che saranno abbandonate a se stesse e a cui non sarà più possibile iscriversi. Corad.net rimane attivo come sito storico, ma non contiene più la lista aggiornata delle emissioni in lingua italiana. Il bollettino cartaceo sarà ancora edito, per coloro che ancora lo ricevono, per qualche mese. Continuerà ad essere regolarmente in onda, finchè AWR lo richiederà, la trasmissione Studio DX. Rimane invece a disposizione, per le associazioni ed i privati che ne faranno richiesta, lo spazio su radioascolto.net. Il sito non è più gestito dal sottoscritto ma continuerà ad essere pienamente operativo per gli associati. Sono disposto a cedere, a chi ne farà richiesta ed avrà interesse a gestirlo, anche il relativo gruppo yahoo "radioascolto". (Roberto Scaglione, ex http://www.bclnews.it bclnews yg via DXLD) That`s too bad. The yg of the same name remains (gh) ###