DX LISTENING DIGEST 5-083, May 18, 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 AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1274: Wed 2200 WOR WBCQ 7415 17495-CUSB [first airing of each edition] Thu 1000 WOR World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.2 Thu 1600 WOR WBCQ after hours Thu 2030 WOR WWCR 15825 Thu 2300 WOR World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.2 Fri 0000 WOR WTND-LP 106.3 Macomb IL Fri 0200 WOR ACBRadio Mainstream [repeated 2-hourly thru 2400] Fri 1600 WOR WBCQ after hours Fri 2105 WOR World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.2 Fri 2300 WOR Studio X, Momigno, Italy 1584 87.35 96.55 105.55 Sat 0800 WOR WRN1 to Eu, Au, NZ, WorldSpace AfriStar, AsiaStar Sat 0855 WOR WNQM Nashville TN 1300 Sat 1030 WOR WWCR 5070 Sun 0230 WOR WWCR 5070 Sun 0300 WOR WBCQ 9330-CLSB Sun 0330 WOR WRMI 7385 Sun 0630 WOR WWCR 3210 Sun 0730 WOR World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.2 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 1200 WOR WRMI 7385 Sun 1300 WOR KRFP-LP Moscow ID 92.5 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 [1273] Mon 0430 WOR WBCQ 7415 Mon 1600 WOR WBCQ after hours Tue 0600 WOR WPKN Bridgeport CT 89.5 [also WPKM Montauk LINY 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 [from Fri]: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also for CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL] Ready: WORLD OF RADIO 1274 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1274h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1274h.rm WORLD OF RADIO 1274 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1274.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1274.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1274.html [from Thursday] WORLD OF RADIO 1274 in true shortwave sound of Alex`s mp3 [projected]: (stream) http://www.dxprograms.net/worldofradio_05-18-05.m3u (download) http://www.dxprograms.net/worldofradio_05-18-05.mp3 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/ ** ALASKA. New updated schedule for KNLS effective from May 1: 11870 0800-0900 in English; 0900-1000 in Russian; 11765 0800-1100 in Chinese; 9795 1000-1100 in English; 1400-1500 in English; 1500-1700 Russian; 9780 1200-1300 in English; 1300-1400 in Chinese; 9655 1100-1200 in Russian; 9615 1100-1200 in Chinese; 1200-1300 in English; 1300-1800 Chinese; 7355 1700-1800 in Russian (Observer, Bulgaria, May 17 via DXLD) ** AUSTRIA. Dear Glenn, 6155, Österreich Eins, Moosbrunn, 1400-1700, May 17, cultural programme in the Austrian dialect of German, opera, conversation about Breakfast, songs from France and Cape Verde, 55555. However, at 1930-2030 same evening, ORF had changed the well received analogue broadcast to a new test of DRM heard with QSA 5 (S 9 + 30 dB!) and totally covering 6150-6160 kHz with "White noise"! Another "spoiler" to DX-ing has shown up in Europe! At the recent Conference of the European DX Council in Prague, the Chairman of the High Frequency Co-ordination Committee (HFCC), Mr Oldrich Cip, told us that the HFCC fully supports the wishes of many SW listeners that the DRM broadcasts should be allocated certain frequency bands, but this is opposed by some big broadcasters who insist on continuing their use of certain traditional frequencies which are well-known to their listeners! Best 73, (Anker Petersen, Denmark, May 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BHUTAN. Glenn, The SW. news is even more depressing these days after hearing that the Bhutan Broadcasting Service is closing down its SW service. The BBS announced back in 1984 that it was building a new SW service with 50 kW of power. It was announced that the SW transmitter site couldn`t be constructed until a hydroelectric plant was completed for the SW station, further delaying the operation on SW. It seems as though the SW station was a major construction project for this country, so the closure of the SW operation in the next few months comes as a complete surprise if not outright shocking news. Didn't some kind of school have a SW service from Bhutan with 60 watts of power back in the 70s and 80s?? (Artie Bigley, OH, May 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) That was Radio NYAB (National Youth Association of Bhutan). I believe that is what evolved into the present BBS. Well, the SW service was never for DXers wanting something exotic. FM rules when available. Tho if Bhutan is as Himalamountainous as I thought, there are always going to be gaps in FM coverage which SW could fill (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Radio Canada International now has an online scrapbook at http://www.rcinet.ca/rci/en/scrapbook.shtml featuring some of the RCI listeners` listening posts (Henry Brice, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** CANADA. CFIE, 106.5, Toronto ON, SCS on assumed 67 kHz, TNVN Radio, Tieng Noi Viet Nam. Programing to be 95 percent Vietnamese, 5 percent English. It will produce 60 percent of it locally with the rest coming from the US and Vietnam. The percentage of Canadian production is expected to increase (Bruce Elving, May FMedia! via DXLD) TNVN name already belongs to Vietnam`s government broadcaster! (gh) ** CANADA. The number of AM stations in Canada continues to dwindle, though I think the exodus to FM is starting to slow down. If I counted right, there are currently 237 AM stations on air here (not including those with powers under 100 W), which is about half as many per capita as in the US. Here's a breakdown of where they are (also a quiz to see if you know your two-letter province/territory abbreviations!): ON 54 BC 45 AB 28 QC 28 NL 24 SK 18 MB 16 NS 11 NB 6 PE 2 NT 2 YT 2 NU 1 (Barry McLarnon VE3JF Ottawa, ON, NRC-AM via DXLD) Soon PEI might have zero --- 720 and 630 want to move to FM. In December 1938 there were 85 AM stations in Canada and 776 in the U.S.A. (Ben Dangerfield, Wallingford, PA, ibid.) ** CHINA [non]. Frequency change for China Radio International in Russian: 1430-1630 NF 1413 via Miac/Grigoriopol, ex 1467 (Observer, Bulgaria, May 17 via DXLD) ** CUBA. A huge chunk of the Cuban national and provincial networks, along with locals, are currently linked with coverage of an anti-US outdoor rally since my tune-in from 1358+ GMT (9:58 EDT+) today, 17 May. Only the national Radio Reloj network is not parallel. It's not too often that Musical Nacional links up, as they are today. Per http://www.granma.cu --- "President Fidel Castro headed the march of thousands of Cubans against terrorism and calling on the United States to arrest the terrorist Luis Posada Carriles, which wound its way through the streets of the capital today. "Wearing his traditional khakis, Fidel led the event to denounce the acts of terrorism against Cuba that have cost some 3,5000 [sic] lives in 40-plus years. "The march of the combative people filed past the US Interests Section in Havana to make patent their rejection of the US anti-Cuba policy and the presence in that country of the terrorist Luís Posada Carriles." Maybe the Old Man already retired to the shade. All the airings of Fidel have been sound bytes dubbed over marching music beds; same with the "live" music -- Silvio Rodríguez, etc. -- all studio recordings between the street rally coverage. Man and chica reporters covering a group working their way up the Malecón, now at Avenida Veinte Tres as I type at 1514. A quick MW scan of everything that's in parallel: 530 Rebelde - THIS IS NOW A HUGE SIGNAL! They have just greatly increased power from the former threshold signal that initially appeared in response to the airborne platform Radio Martí Saturday broadcasts on 530. This is still DFing to western (Habana-area) Cuba; 550 Rebelde; 590 Musical Nacional; 640 Progreso; 670 Rebelde; 710 Rebelde; 730 Progreso; 1000 Guamá; 1020 Guamá; 1020 Cadena Habana; 1080 Cadena Habana; 1120 Cadena Habana; 1140 Cadena Habana or Enciclopedia; 1180 Rebelde; 1260 Enciclopedia (?). In addition, shortwave 5025, 6000, 9505, 9550, 11655, 11670, 11720, 11760, 11800, 12000 and 15230 are in parallel. And a quick rundown of some of the local and provincials that are relaying was announced just before 1425 and included "...Radio Caribe, Radio Revolución, Radio Mambí, Radio Siboney, Sonido FM [previously unknown station], Radio Ocho -- FM [previously unknown station]; Radio Grito [1420 kHz], Radio Pitan [1520 kHz]..." I missed a similar announcement at 1510, catching only "...Radio Sandino..." Venceremos! Visit my "Florida Low Power Radio Stations" at: http://home.earthlink.net/~tocobagadx/flortis.html (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, 1538 UT May 17, WORLD OF RADIO 1274, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Rechecked 530 kHz from 2010 GMT (1610 local), and the anti-US street rally networks relay is over. However, 530 is now NOT parallel the Rebelde or Progreso network. So far, it's lots of current Cuban popular and rock vocals, male DJ briefly at 2019 with no ID. "Rebelde FM" net feed, or something brand new? 530 was always parallel stock MW Rebelde until now. I'll keep an ear on this as long as I have the time to listen today. The signal remains HUGE (Terry L Krueger, ibid.) Las emisoras cubanas se encuentran todas encadenadas en este momento ya que están transmitiendo "La Marcha por la Justicia y la Paz Mundial contra el Terrorismo". 11655, 11760, 11800 kHz frecuencias de onda corta donde se pueden escuchar los comentarios que hacen, frecuencias que corresponden a Radio Habana Cuba Y Radio Rebelde. Acabo de escuchar cuando han nombrado una cantidad de emisoras que están encadenadas y acaban de hacer un pase al móvil aéreo (helicóptero) que está informando sobre la cantidad de personas que están en esta marcha. "Ésta es la Red Nacional de Emisoras del Instituto Cubano de Radio y Televisión". El colega Manolo de La Rosa, estuvo dando sus impresiones sobre esta marcha. Atte: (José Elías, Venezuela, 1407 UT May 17, Noticias DX via, WORLD OF RADIO 1274, DXLD) CUBAN LEADER WAGES HEAVY MEDIA CAMPAIGN WITH TV APPEARANCES By JOHN RICE Associated Press Writer HAVANA (AP) -- Night after night, Fidel Castro has sat before hundreds of government and Communist Party officials -- and millions of other Cubans watching on live television -- and proceeded to read them the daily news. He thunders with indignation and laughs in ridicule as he works through a scattering of newspapers from Europe, Latin America and the United States, occasionally pausing to hunt for a quotation. The result is remarkably like a televised version of an Internet blog -- references to outside news sources tightly wrapped in personal commentary. Speaking sometimes several nights in a row and for up to four hours at a time, the Cuban president has mounted his most intensive media campaign since the successful battle for the return of shipwreck victim Elián González from Miami in 2000. Increasingly focused on Castro's longtime foe Luís Posada Carriles, the campaign peaks Tuesday with a massive march to demand that the United States arrest the Cuban exile, who is sought in Venezuela on charges of helping bomb a civilian airliner in 1976, killing 73 people. Cuban officials -- and newly released U.S. archives -- also link Posada, a former CIA agent, to other violent actions, some of them military, some aimed at civilians. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to participate in the morning march outside the U.S. Interests Section, the American mission here, and state media reported that Castro would address the nation in another live broadcast Monday night. Sometimes angry, sometimes laughing, Castro in his nighttime chats has dismissed U.S. government claims that Posada cannot be found and might not be in the United States at all -- even as the fugitive's attorney and friends have confirmed his presence. And he has demanded that U.S. President George W. Bush -- whom he sometimes calls "the little führer" -- live up to his promise to fight terrorism wherever it occurs. Castro repeatedly links the case to hundreds of other attacks meant to undermine his government -- notably focusing on a longtime associate of Posada, Orlando Bosch, who was pardoned by the first U.S. President George Bush despite American intelligence reports branding him a terrorist. "What a grotesque type, to pardon him," Castro said on May 12, accusing the United States -- "the empire" -- of organizing or backing virtually all of the attempts to topple his government since he took power in 1959. Cuba's three state television channels and its radio stations always have focused heavily on Castro's doings. But Castro became even more visible starting in March, making four jovial Thursday night appearances to announce an up-valued currency and to offer millions of cut-price energy-saving appliances. Castro's appearances became more frequent in April when Miami news media reported that Posada had slipped into the United States and was seeking political amnesty. Castro has given 16 "special interventions" on live state TV since April 12 -- not counting lengthy televised comments on May Day and during a two-day meeting with Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez. He's even made sure broadcasters set aside one of the three channels for children's programming so boys and girls don't miss their favorite cartoons. Underscoring how long Castro has been in power -- 46 years -- some of the documents he has read out in his appearances are declassified historic documents about attempts to assassinate him. And his TV chats often suddenly switch focus from one subject another. Complaints about U.S. failure to return a hijacked Cuban aircraft, for example, detoured briefly into a discussion of the merits of a late 1950s British jetliner that carried Castro on an early trip to North Africa. Castro spent more than an hour reading from one New York Times story. He spent most of two nights reading and commenting on newly declassified CIA and FBI documents. The readings from newspapers, as well as documents from the Internet, offer Cubans an unusual, if very personalized window on the world. The government allows relatively few Cubans to have unfettered access to foreign newspapers, magazines, broadcasts or the Internet. They also point up differences between how differently the American and Cuban governments operate. Several times, Castro has sneered at the cautious tone of U.S. government spokesmen as they respond to questions about Posada. In Cuba, he quipped, "I am the spokesman. They don't pay me for that; it's an additional role." (APws 05/16 1111 via Mike Cooper, DXLD) Several years ago, TV media scorned R. Marti, citing wholesale jamming rendered all outlets - TV, HF, MW, - unreadable. Their premise, do away with Marti, noting it costs Don Maximo Interferiencio $700 million to jam. They missed the point while speaking it. Not to mention oil he didn't then posess. Interesting, how things really work. -Z.- (Paul Vincent Zecchino, Manasoviet Key, FL, 16 1503Z MAY 05 BT IRCA via DXLD) Pensaremos! So the Posada case begins to get some attention in US media, but RHC has a lot of nerve --- what else is new --- going on and on about a hijacker, when there is a hijacker on their own staff for years, who was also involved in a mortal incident (gh, DXLD) ** DJIBOUTI. 4780, RTD, 0303-0321, May 17, Arabic-?, Continuous Call to Prayer, beginning to slip under static by tune-out (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, 200' Beverage antennas, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. QSL: MALABO, 15190, R. Africa, f/d card picturing unID man at transmitter, personal letter and schedule in 16 days for an SASE (used) sent to the PAB-San Jose CA address (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, 200' Beverage antennas, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. RUSSIA: New station via RUS transmitter - Tensae Ethiopian Voice of Unity: 1500-1600 Sun on 15660 SAM 250 kW / 199 deg to EaAf in Amharic SAM = Samara New station via RUS transmitter - Voice of Ethiopian National United Front: 1700-1800 Fri/Sun on 12120 ARM 250 kW / 188 deg to EaAf in Amharic (Observer, Bulgaria, May 17 via DXLD) ARM = Armavir ** GAMBIA. BIWEEKLY INDEPENDENT FORCED TO STOP PUBLICATION | Text of press release by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on 16 May New York, 16 May: The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned that the biweekly newspaper The Independent, which lost its printing press in an unsolved arson in April 2004, has been forced to stopped publishing entirely after its printing arrangement with the private Daily Observer was abruptly terminated. The Independent has not published since 6 May and is still looking for an alternative way to print, according to Editor Musa Saidykhan. Other Gambian printing and publishing outlets have refused the paper's requests for a contract. Saidykhan said he believes they have been threatened not to print The Independent, or they fear their own presses could be attacked. "Those who use threats and violence to silence the Gambia's independent media have achieved their objective for the moment," CPJ Executive Director Ann Cooper said. "If this important newspaper disappears, it will be a serious blow to press freedom in the Gambia." The government has failed to solve a series of arsons against news outlets, including a 2000 attack on private broadcaster Radio 1 FM; an August 2004 attack on the home of BBC correspondent Ebrima Sillah; and an October 2003 attack on the offices of The Independent. A second attack on The Independent in April 2004 destroyed the newspaper's new printing press, and several employees barely escaped. The most shocking attack, though, was the December 2004 murder of veteran journalist Deyda Hydara, co-editor and founder of the independent newspaper The Point. Investigations into these attacks have produced little or no results. After The Independent's printing press was burned, it reached an informal arrangement with the Daily Observer to have the paper printed there. Saidykhan said he was notified by phone on 4 May that the arrangement had been terminated. Independent journalists suspect the pro-government Daily Observer had political motives for terminating the agreement. Daily Observer Managing Editor Momodou Sanyang told CPJ that he made the decision after learning of problems with his paper's printing facilities, including the need for spare parts and extra capacity. Source: Committee to Protect Journalists press release, New York, in English 16 May 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) Just wait till June 4! (gh) ** HONDURAS. See PROPAGATION below ** INTERNATIONAL. LANDMARK ANNIVERSARY FOR INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION | Excerpt from press release by Geneva-based International Telecommunication Union on 17 May Geneva, 17 May: Today is World Telecommunication Day, the day on which telecommunication users and the telecommunication community worldwide celebrate the founding of ITU in Bern, Switzerland, in 1865. ITU Secretary-General Yoshio Utsumi commemorated the day with a special address to the Ubiquitous Network Conference, a thematic meeting being held in Tokyo in the context of the forthcoming second phase of the World Summit for the Information Society, taking place in Tunis from 16 to 18 November 2005. In his address, Mr Utsumi said ITU was proud to celebrate its central role in helping to bring the benefits of information to all. "Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have the unique potential to bring enormous progress to the entire world in the next decade. To realize this potential, the international community requires strong leadership capable of implementing appropriate international policy and strategy and of providing smooth, effective and transparent global coordination." [passage omitted] This year's World Telecommunication Day marks the 140th anniversary of the year when the International Telecommunication Union first embarked on its mission to harness the power of electronic communications to fulfil human beings' fundamental need to communicate. [passage omitted] The advent of new technologies like mobile telephony, low-cost satellite services and high capacity wireless trunk links has seen the total number of telephone subscribers worldwide quadruple since 1990, from 10 per cent to over 40 per cent of the global population. Over the same period, the percentage of people worldwide with a mobile telephone has soared from 0.3 per cent in 1991 to more than 20 per cent today. ITU estimates that around 80 per cent of the world's inhabitants are now within reach of a mobile phone signal, and while many in the developing world still lack access to services, prospects nonetheless look good for achieving 50 per cent global household telephone coverage within the next 10 years. [passage omitted] "In many least developed countries, most people live in small rural communities where penetration figures for even basic phone service remain very low. Even in some of the world's most highly industrialized nations, such as Australia, Canada or the Nordic countries, access for remote rural dwellers can be difficult at best. That's why ITU's forthcoming World Summit is focused on addressing clear, concrete targets for connecting towns, villages and community services like schools, libraries, hospitals and post offices worldwide, through a 10-point plan of action endorsed by 175 world leaders at the first phase of the Summit in Geneva in 2003." As governments and national authorities around the world now begin to gear up for the second phase, the theme of this year's World Telecommunication Day is particularly relevant. By emphasizing Creating an equitable Information Society: Time for Action, World Telecommunication Day 2005 seeks to raise awareness of the urgent need to address digital divide issues and spur development of effective national ICT development and implementation programmes that will quickly realize the goals laid out in the Plan of Action. In an increasingly interconnected world, ITU and its UN partners recognize that effective ICT development strategies must involve a cooperative, multi-stakeholder approach. In acknowledgement of this, WSIS 2005 will involve a broad cross-section of representatives from government, UN and international agencies, civil society and the private sector. "Building an equitable and accessible information society depends on the strength of partnerships between governments, civil society and the business community, underpinned by the support of international organizations like the United Nations," said UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in his World Telecommunication Day message. "The theme of this year's World Telecommunication Day calls on us to give shape to the vision adopted at the first phase of the World Summit in 2003. I urge Member States and all stakeholders to reaffirm their commitment to that process, and to participate at the highest levels when the Summit reconvenes in Tunis in November this year." Source: International Telecommunication Union press release, Geneva, in English 17 May 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** JAPAN [non]. 11935, BONAIRE, NHK/R. Japan relay, 0102-0150, May 16, English, YL with Japanese related news items, "Hello from Tokyo" program at 0110 with talk re Cherry Blossom festivals, listener mail, music, etc. At 0143 was what I was waiting for: program "Topics Jukebox" with JSWC's "DX Corner" featuring an interview with Mr. Ohtake re attending the EDXC Conference in Prague, Apr. 29-May 1. The interview ended at 0150 with Czech music. Good (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, 200' Beverage antennas, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Except this time, DX segment is monthly on first Saturday and into following UT Monday, this final repeat (gh) ** KOREA NORTH. (DPR), 9335, V. of Korea, f/d "Mountain Scene" card with usual package containing pennant, lapel pin, newspaper, schedule, report form and personal form letter in 82 days. "Radio Pyongyang" was whited-out on the cards reverse with "Voice of Korea" typed over. (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, 200' Beverage antennas, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) So you don`t have any problem QSLing them direct, you nasty American, you? (gh) ** KUWAIT. Additional IBB via KWT 250 kW / 070 deg (ex ERV and UDO) 0100-0300 9365 RFA# Tibetan 1100-1200 17855 RFA# Tibetan (ex 11590) 0600-0700 17780 RFA# Tibetan 1200-1300 11590 RFA# Tibetan 0630-0730 17685 RFA* Pashto 1300-1400 11590 RFA# Tibetan 0730-0830 17685 RFA* Dari 1400-1500 11975 VOA Tibetan 0830-0930 17685 RFA* Pashto 1500-1600 11540 RFA# Tibetan 0930-1030 17685 RFA* Dari 2300-2400 7550 RFA# Tibetan (ex 9365) RFA#=Radio Free Asia; RFA*=Radio Free Afghanistan; VOA=Voice of America (Observer, Bulgaria, May 17 via DXLD) ** MAURITIUS. TWO COMMERCIAL RADIO STATIONS AVAILABLE LIVE ON THE WEB BBC Monitoring observes live audio streams from two Port Louis-based commercial radio stations, accessible from their respective websites. Radio One broadcasts mainly in French on 101.7 MHz (north), 100.8 MHz (centre) and 102.4 MHz (south) in the FM band, and has a French- language website at http://www.r1.mu The station's own programming is carried at 0100-1800 gmt Monday-Friday, 0100-2100 gmt Saturday and 0100-1900 gmt Sunday, with the remainder of the 24-hour schedule taken up with a relay of Radio France International. Top FM broadcasts in French, English and Indian languages on 105.7 MHz (north), 104.4 MHz (centre) and 106.0 MHz (south) in the FM band, and has an English-language website at http://www.servihoo.com/channels/media/radios/TopFM The station is on the air 23 hours a day Monday-Friday and around the clock on Sat/Sun. Source: BBC Monitoring research 17 May 05 (via DXLD) ** MEXICO. See PROPAGATION below ** MEXICO [and non]. MORE 325(c) CROSS-BORDER PERMIT ACTIVITY More requests to send audio programming from U.S. studios to Mexican AM & FM transmitter plants (so called "Section 325(c) authority") have been filed with the Commission. Here are the latest applications, all for Jaime Bonilla stations, and all filed in the name of Broadcast Company of the Americas, LLC: (a) For XHBCE-FM, 105.7 MHz, Class B, Matamoros Jaramillo (near Tecate), Mexico. This is apparently the station that has been heard loud and clear in San Diego County as mentioned in earlier Communicators. (b) For XHBCE-FM, 105.7 MHz, Class C1, Tecate. It is said that XHBCE, "holds authority to construct a new Class C1 facility, and that the facility is yet to be coordinated. The instant application seeks authority to program XHBCE-FM upon coordination of the Class C1 facility." (c) For XEKTT-AM, 1700 kHz, Cerro Jaramillo. This station is said to be in the process of moving to Tijuana. In other news, XHTIM, 91.7 MHz, Tijuana (apparently not a Bonilla station) has been granted Section 325(c) cross-border program transmission authority. The complete FCC announcements of all the items above are at the following URLs respectively, and it is delightful to see the Commission publishing this information for the public to view: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-258681A1.pdf http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-258680A1.pdf http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-258686A1.pdf http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-258597A1.pdf (CGC Communicator May 17 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. Big L, Radio London, 1395: again, see UK [non] ** NEW ZEALAND. World FM - Tawa I`ve just received the latest issue of the DX Times and I see that in your tv.fm section you mention World FM in Tawa. I can provide some more information on said station, since it is run by someone I know quite well - long-time League member Chris Mackerell! I`m running it as a hobby station. I was looking around for some decent electronic kitsets to build and ended up buying an FM transmitter kit. Things have grown from that! World FM transmits on 88.2 MHz from my home in Kereru Bend in Tawa, south of Porirua. The transmitter is an NRG PPL Pro 3. The antenna is a 1/4 wave ground plane. The transmitter runs nominally 1W output, but with the length of antenna cable, and lowish gain of the antenna, EIRP is slightly less than the 500mW limit. Transmissions are in stereo, using an NRG stereo encoder. A full RDS data service is also broadcast using a Czech built Pira RDS encoder. RDS data includes ``current track playing`` & station ID info. It will also include Tawa weather data once a friend of mine gets his weather station running! Programming is nominally ``world music``, but I interpret that very liberally. There`s also a variety of relayed programmes from other stations around the world, and news broadcasts from FSN in Washington, and AIRN in Australia. Of interest to League members, World FM relays the World Radio Network overnights, and also carries Glenn Hauser`s ``World of Radio``. I also have a few QSL cards in stock (Chris Mackerell, May NZ DX Times via DXLD) And webcasts extending the range just a bit (gh) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA [and non!]. If Wantok Radio Light still plans to use 7120 as its only frequency, starting any day now, 24 hours? what interference will it confront? Hard to believe the WRL or the PNG authorities took all this into consideration when picking the frequency --- tho it may have been hard to do any better if they must have an inband 41m channel: HFCC: 7120 2130 2200 27 SHI 100 300 123456 270305 291005 D ENGLISH ALB ALR ALR 7106 7120 1900 2030 38NE,39NE,39SW DHA 500 300 1234567 270305 301005 D UAE EMI EMI 1052 7120 1800 1900 29 ABS 250 5 1234567 270305 301005 D Russian EGY ERU ERU 2147 7120 1800 2200 27S S.P 250 230 1234567 270305 301005 D RUS VOR GFC 1352 7120 0000 0100 29 BIB 100 63 1234567 270305 291005 D D IBB IBB 5738 7120 2300 2400 29 BIB 100 63 1234567 270305 291005 D D IBB IBB 5739 7120 0300 0400 46S,47S,52 MEY 500 335 1234567 270305 301005 D G BBC MER 18264 7120 0400 0500 46S,47S,52 MEY 250 328 1234567 270305 301005 D G BBC MER 18265 7120 1659 1757 47E,48,52E,53 MDC 50 265 1234567 270305 301005 D Eng MDG NEW RNW 364 7120 1859 2057 47,48,53,57 MDC 250 270 1234567 270305 301005 D Eng MDG RNW RNW 374 7120 2059 2157 47,52N MDC 250 280 1234567 270305 301005 D Dut MDG RNW RNW 386 7120 1600 1700 29 TIG 250 37 1234567 270305 301005 D RUSSIAN ROU RRO ROU 13123 7120 0200 0300 33SE,44NE BEI 50 63 1234567 270305 301005 D CHN CRI RTC 4076 7120 0330 0530 42N URU 50 247 1234567 270305 301005 D CHN CRI RTC 4068 7120 1000 1100 33SE,44NE BEI 50 63 1234567 270305 301005 D CHN CRI RTC 4077 7120 1030 1230 42N URU 50 247 1234567 270305 301005 D CHN CRI RTC 4069 7120 1400 1700 42 BEI 50 283 1234567 270305 301005 D CHN CRI RTC 4078 7120 2000 2100 27,28 JIN 500 320 1234567 270305 301005 D CHN CRI RTC 4073 7120 2130 2200 28NE URU 500 308 1234567 270305 301005 D CHN CRI RTC 4074 Eibi: 7120 2130-2200 Mo-Sa ALB Radio Tirana E Eu 7120 0200-0257 CHN China National Radio 8 K CHN B 7120 1000-1057 CHN China National Radio 8 K CHN B 7120 1400-1457 CHN China National Radio 8 KZ CHN B 7120 1500-1557 CHN China National Radio 8 UI CHN B 7120 1600-1657 CHN China National Radio 8 MO CHN B 7120 2000-2057 CHN China Radio Int. M Eu j 7120 2130-2157 CHN China Radio Int. HU Eu u 7120 0330-0530 CHN PBS Xinjiang KG CHN 7120 1030-1230 CHN PBS Xinjiang KG CHN 7120 1700-1800 CLA Voice of the People VOP E ZWE /MDG 7120 1800-1900 EGY Radio Cairo R EEu a 7120 0300-0500 G BBC World Service E WAf /AFS 7120 1900-2100 HOL Radio Nederland E SAf /MDG 7120 2100-2200 HOL Radio Nederland NL CAf /MDG 7120 0420-0600 Su IND AIR Jaipur (Rajasthan) Vn IND 7120 0630-0930 Su IND AIR Jaipur (Rajasthan) Vn IND 7120 0700-0930 Mo-Sa IND AIR Jaipur (Rajasthan) Vn IND 7120 1030-1120 Su IND AIR Jaipur (Rajasthan) Vn IND 7120 1600-1700 ROU Radio Romania Int. R EEu 7120 0000-0100 USA Radio Liberty R EEu /D-b 7120 2300-2400 USA Radio Liberty R EEu /D-b NDXC: 7120 R.ROMANIA INT. 1600-1656 1234567 Russian Tiganesti 250 37 ROU 2606E4445 ROR a05 7120 AIR New Delhi 0430-0700 1 Hindi Jaipur 50 ND IND 7550E2654 AIR n 7120 AIR New Delhi 0700-0930 1234567 Hindi Jaipur 50 ND IND 7550E2654 AIR n 7120 AIR New Delhi 1030-1130 1 Hindi Jaipur 50 ND IND 7550E2654 AIR n 7120 CHINA Radio INT. 2130-2157 1234567 Hungarian Urumqi 500 308 CHN 08730E4335 CRI a05 7120 CNR 8 0200-0257 1234567 Korean Beijing 491 50 63 CHN 11625E3955 CNR 8 a05 7120 CNR 8 1000-1057 1234567 Korean Beijing 491 50 63 CHN 11625E3955 CNR 8 a05 7120 CNR 8 1400-1457 1234567 Kazakh Beijing 491 50 283 CHN 11625E3955 CNR 8 a05 7120 CNR 8 1500-1557 1234567 Uighur Beijing 491 50 283 CHN 11625E3955 CNR 8 a05 7120 CNR 8 1600-1657 1234567 Mongolian Beijing 491 50 283 CHN 11625E3955 CNR 8 a05 7120 R.CAIRO 1800-1900 1234567 Russian Abis 250 5 EGY 3005E3110 ERU a05 7120 R.N'Djamena 0600-0730 1234567 French Ndjamena 100 65 TCD 01503E1208 Djame 7120 R.N'Djamena 0730-1030 17 French Ndjamena 100 65 TCD 01503E1208 Djame 7120 R.N'Djamena 1030-1600 1234567 French Ndjamena 100 65 TCD 01503E1208 Djame 7120 VOICE OF PEOPLE 1700-1757 1234567 Engl./Shona/Ndeb.Talata-Volondry 50 265 MDG 4737E1854 VOP a05 7120 R.NEDERLAND 1900-2100 1234567 English Talata-Volondry 250 270 MDG 4737E1854 RNW a05 7120 R.NEDERLAND 2100-2200 1234567 Dutch Talata-Volondry 250 280 MDG 4737E1854 RNW a05 7120 R.TIRANA 2130-2158 234567 English Cerrik 100 310 ALB 2000E4100 RTSH a05 7120 CHINA Radio INT. 2000-2057 1234567 Chinese Jinhua 600 320 CHN 11939E2807 CRI a05 7120 R.LIBERTY 2300-0100 1234567 Russian Biblis 100 63 D 00830E4941 RL a05 7120 BBC LONDON 0300-0500 1234567 English Meyerton 250 328 AFS 2808E2635 BBC a05 (via Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. See PROPAGATION below ** PHILIPPINES. Frequency changes for Radio Veritas Asia effective from May 22: Sinhala 1330-1357 NF 9520 PUG 250 kW / 280 deg, ex 9565 Tamil 1400-1427 NF 9520 PUG 250 kW / 280 deg, ex 9565 Telugu 1430-1457 NF 9520 PUG 250 kW / 280 deg, ex 9565 Russian 1500-1557 NF 9685 PUG 250 kW / 330 deg, ex 9570 English 1500-1527 NF 11765 PUG 250 kW / 300 deg, ex 9695 Wed/Fri/Sun English 1500-1557 NF 11765 PUG 250 kW / 300 deg, ex 9695 Mo/Tu/Th/Sa (Observer, Bulgaria, May 17 via DXLD) ?? As in WRTH 2005 the 1500/1557 broadcast is considered to be in Tagalog, not English, altho English words or segments may be included. Later: Observer corrected this before seeing my comment (gh, DXLD) ** QATAR. IRAQI PAPER SAYS SADDAM'S DAUGHTERS WANT TO BUY AL-JAZEERA According to Iranian news agencies quoting the Iraqi newspaper Sout al Iraq, the daughters of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein are in talks with the government of Qatar, to acquire 55 percent of the shares of satellite TV news channel al-Jazeera. Reports from Qatar in recent months have suggested that the government wants to sell the station, which is planning to launch an English channel in the first quarter of 2006. The Iraqi government has closed down al-Jazeera's Baghdad offices and ordered its reporters out of the country saying the channel gives a distorted image of Iraq. # posted by Andy @ 16:23 UT May 17 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Voice of Russia in English WS: 1600-1700 on unregistered 11640, co-channel AWR in English till 1630 (Observer, Bulgaria, May 17 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Summer schedule for Kamchatka Rybatskaya in Russian: 2300-2400 Sat on 5910 P.K 100 kW / 250 degrees and 11980 P.K 100 kW / 060 degrees (Observer, Bulgaria, May 17 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA [non]. Frequency change for Voice of Russia in Bulgarian/ Greek/ Bulgarian: 1700-2000 NF 1413 via Miac/Grigoriopol, ex 1503/1510/1566/1467 (Observer, Bulgaria, May 17 via DXLD) ** SEYCHELLES [non]. Frequency changes for FEBA Radio: 1400-1415 Daily in English; 1415-1500 Sun-Tue/Thu/Fri in Urdu; 1415-1515 Wed/Sat in Urdu; 1500-1515 Tue in Punjabi; 1500-1515 Sun/Mon/Thu/Fri Balti NF 9500 NVS 250 kW / 195 deg, ex 9495 1630-1700 Daily in Amharic NF 9865 DHA 250 kW / 230 deg, ex 9885 1700-1800 Daily Somali/Tigrina NF 9865 KIG 250 kW / 030 deg, ex 9885 (Observer, Bulgaria, May 17 via DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. See U S A. WWRB ** SUDAN. Altho there are USG sanctions against this country, plans are underway for BBG to install FM transmitters in Khartoum and as many as eleven other cities (Aaron Zawitzky, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SYRIA. Monitored schedule of Radio Damascus (times vary): 1000-1300 Arabic 12085, ex 13610 for A-04 1600-1700 Turkish 9330, ex 13610 for A-04 1700-1800 Russian 9330, ex 13610 for A-04 1805-1905 German 9330, ex 13610 for A-04 \\ 12085 1905-2005 French 9330, ex 13610 for A-04 \\ 12085 2005-2105 English 9330, ex 13610 for A-04 \\ 12085 2110-2210 English 9330, ex 13610 for A-04 \\ 12085 2215-2315 Arabic 9330, ex 13610 for A-04 \\ 12085 2320-0030 Spanish 9330, ex 13610 for A-04 \\ 12085 (Observer, Bulgaria, May 17 via DXLD) ** TUNISIA. All transmissions of RTTunisia in Arabic moved one hour earlier as follows: 1100-1500 (ex 1200-1600) on 17735 SFA 500 kW / 100 deg to EaAf 1100-1500 (ex 1200-1600) on 15450 SFA 500 kW / 100 deg to EaAf 0100-0400 (ex 0200-0500) on 12005 SFA 500 kW / 100 deg to EaAf 1500-2000 (ex 1600-2100) on 12005 SFA 500 kW / 100 deg to EaAf 1300-1600 (ex 1400-1700) on 11950 SFA 500 kW / 265 deg to NoAf 1300-1500 (ex 1400-1600) on 11730 SFA 500 kW / 340 deg to WeEu 0100-0400 (ex 0200-0500) on 9720 SFA 500 kW / 100 deg to EaAf 1500-2000 (ex 1600-2100) on 9720 SFA 500 kW / 100 deg to EaAf 0300-0600 (ex 0400-0700) on 7275 SFA 500 kW / 340 deg to WeEu 1500-2200 (ex 1600-2300) on 7225 SFA 500 kW / 340 deg to WeEu 0300-0600 (ex 0400-0700) on 7190 SFA 500 kW / 265 deg to NoAf 1600-2200 (ex 1600-2300) on 7190 SFA 500 kW / 265 deg to NoAf (Observer, Bulgaria, May 17 via DXLD) The original frequency changeover times should have been based on propagational considerations, and therefore should stay the same UT regardless of local time. This nonsense applies to many other stations which make wholesale one-hour timeshifts solely because of local clock changes. Demonstrates an appalling lack of understanding of the shortwave medium (gh, DXLD) ** U K. BBC TAMIL, SINHALA SERVICES FACE INTERRUPTION The BBC`s Tamil and Sinhala services may not broadcast on May 23, May 31 and June 1 as staff may join colleagues across the Corporation in industrial action against proposed job cuts and plans to privatise some functions, sources said. BECTU (Broadcasting Entertainment Cinematograph and Theatre Union), which employed, contract and freelance workers in broadcasting, film, theatre, entertainment, leisure, interactive media and allied areas has called the stoppage. The first strike would be on Monday May 23rd, from midnight to midnight, followed by a second 48-hour action on Tuesday May 31st and Wednesday June 1st, from midnight to midnight. If the dispute is not resolved, the Tamil and Sinhala services may face further disruptions, with Luke Crawley, BECTU's lead BBC official quoted as saying: "These are the opening shots in a campaign to force the BBC to negotiate with the trade unions.`` (Tamilnet.com 12/05 via Sakthi Vel, Ardic DX Club, Chennai, India, May 17, DXLD) i.a. ** U K [non]. Radio London 1395 noted back on here tonight 2045 UK time, strong signal but with a heterodyne due to Albania being on the frequency with TWR programming though Radio London dominant. Tirana closed 2200 UK time and Radio London now strong and in the clear. They are also on Sky Channel 940 and at http://www.bigl.co.uk (Mike Barraclough, UK, May 16, BDXC-UK via DXLD) Big L transmitter pumping out a strong signal tonight --- Great signal on 1395 in Bournemouth now (22.45), a slight "Luxy" fade adds to the oldie feel, nice clear channel with excellent audio. Superb choice of music as well. Congratulations and thanks to Ray Anderson (Mike Terry, ibid.) You're right, Mike. It's there - weak - in Shoreham during the day (not strong enough for the car radio I don't think, which is a shame, but at night when Albania is not there it is romping in. The sound quality is very good - nice wide bandwidth AM. It's just like listening to MW radio in the seventies! Hope it succeeds (Andrew Tett, UK, 0819 UT May 17, ibid.) Regrettably here the signal is unusable, it seems it's not going to be heard by a good number of former fans and regular listeners in the Midlands as the signals nothing like the proper 'Big-L' of the 60's even in the early days of that station. I used to pick up Radio London on a HMV trannie in the 60's (I tried a long wire but it overloaded even with 'loose' coupling). Now I'm using a Lowe HF-225 17 metres (north to south) of cooker earth lead through a balun and RG 58/U and the signal`s lousy! I can only reckon you lucky chaps are getting what was once referred to by a very well- known Canadian broadcaster as 'the ocean effect' where the sea becomes an excellent 'ground wave' conductor though the 'sky wave' is virtually lost 30 to 50 miles inland. So what chance do we have here! Great shame and disappointment (Rog Parsons (BDXC 782) Hinckley, Leics., ibid.) Radio London photos: http://www.fusionfm.net/bigl/photos/index_t/ There are a number of photos of the launch on Saturday at the above link 1395 appears to be back on again tonight (David Thorpe, ibid.) RADIO LONDON TRANSMITTER ON 1395 KHZ NOW FIXED Broadcasts of Big L Radio London via the Dutch mediumwave transmitter at Trintelhaven on 1395 kHz are now back to normal following the repair of the transmitter. Broadcasts were interrupted shortly after the station's official launch because the transmitter was overheating, and the cause was eventually traced to a faulty capacitor which has been replaced. Big L Radio London http://www.bigl.co.uk # posted by Andy @ 08:29 UT May 17 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** U S A. KEAR *106.9 San Francisco goes for $90 million to Infinity, netting Harold Camping`s outfit $55 million after paying $35 million for KEAR [really KFRC] 610 AM. Family Stations, Inc., began on KEAR when it was on *97.3 in 1959 (Bruce Elving, May FMedia! via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. RUSSIA: Additional transmission for WYFR via Russian transmitter: 1000-1100 on 7380 K/A 250 kW / 178 deg in Japanese (Observer, Bulgaria, May 17 via DXLD) Komsomol`sk na Amure, DVR (gh) ** U S A. Well, where is it? Last we heard, WRNO was about to go on the air by April 15, but never any sign of it yet, more than a month later, on 7355, 7395 or 15420 (Glenn Hauser, OK, May 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. RIGHT-WING RADIO CHANGES --- Reference our recent mention of American Dissident Voices and comparable-viewpoint SW radio programs: Ran into something unusual there when I checked Saturday night. There has been an "attempted coup" at the National Alliance and an internal struggle which has resulted in the expulsion of the voice we've heard on SW for many years: Kevin Alfred Strom. He's now out and the programs are being voiced by someone named Shaun Walker. No matter what people might think of Strom's politics and his past behavior (reference some TV coverage of his wife or ex-wife accusing him of abuse), it cannot be denied that the man has a *wonderful* radio voice. I would have thought that he could have had a lucrative career as a voice-over announcer or producing commercials or narrations. His replacement sounds terribly ordinary in contrast. I wonder if he'll be heard elsewhere as the voice of another movement? Another change appears to be that ADV, which was on WWRB on 5085 at both 2200 UT Saturdays and repeated at 0300 UT Sundays, was only on at the 2200 hour last week. WWRB filled the half-hour at 0300 with big- band music; that was so enjoyable that I forgot to tune over to the BBC for From Our Own Correspondent that evening at that time, thus missing it because the bad reception this past weekend made hearing it Sunday morning impossible... :-( You can read about the attempted putsch at ADV's website, http://www.natall.com -- sounds like the usual bitter internecine squabbles that plague all fringe groups. 73, (Will Martin, MO, May 17, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Ström? ** U S A. Press release Number -1 --- WWRB shortwave has leased to the Overcomer Ministry 24/7 the following broadcasting facilities: All times Eastern [daylight]: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM 9320 045 Degree rhombic [1200-2200 UT] 6:00 PM to 1:00 AM 6890 045 or 340 Rhombic ? [2200-0500 UT] 1:00 AM to 8:00 AM 5085 270 Degree Rhombic [0500-1200 UT] [This contradicts the often confused BS`s announcement quoted in 5- 082, which had 6890 instead of 5085] As WWRB shortwave has 7 Major antenna systems & azimuths WWRB will be experimenting with various antenna / frequency combinations to shape the coverage to meet the objectives of the Ministry. Brother Stair is welcome to stay with WWRB shortwave for as long as he wants. Press release Number -2 --- WWRB shortwave has leased to a Major ministry the following facilities: All times Eastern: 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM 15250 090 Azimuth to Africa [1600-2200 UT] 6:00 PM to 1:00 AM 5050 340 Rhombic (Initial antenna) [2200-0500 UT] This new Ministry is to start on or about June 1, 2005; they want to expand to 24/7 ASAP. Press release Number -3 --- Airline Transport Communications, Inc (ATC) Co-located with and future owner of WWRB shortwave has broken ground to construct an on-site helipad to facilitate avionics support, sales and service of various types of helicopter operations such as medical 'life flight', law enforcement, private operators, electronic news gathering organizations such as television stations, and various governmental entities. Airline Transport Communications, Inc., is also installing a VORTAC on site to provide navigational guidance for our Helicopter clients (Dave Frantz, WWRB, May 17, WORLD OF RADIO 1274, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. Updated schedule for VOA's "Border Crossings" in English Mon-Fri: 1500-1600 on 7125 UDO 250 kW / 284 deg to As/Pac 9580 IRA 250 kW / 356 deg to As/Pac additional frequency 9825 KAV 250 kW / 095 deg to Eu/ME 9850 SAO 100 kW / 138 deg to WeCeAf 13690 IRA 250 kW / 049 deg to As/Pac additional frequency 15105 UDO 250 kW / 272 deg to As/Pac additional frequency 15195 BIB 100 kW / 085 deg to Eu/ME 15445 LAM 100 kW / 077 deg to Eu/ME 15580 BOT 100 kW / 350 deg to CeSoAf (Observer, Bulgaria, May 17 via DXLD) ** U S A. WX4NHC HURRICANE SEASON 2005 ON-THE-AIR STATION TEST Saturday, June 4th, 2005 from 9 am to 6 pm EST [sic] (1300z-2200z) This is not a Contest or Hurricane Exercise. The purpose of this annual Station Test is to test all of our radio equipment, computers and antennas using as many modes and frequencies as possible. RFI monitoring is also done to NOAA & NHC equipment. We will also be testing some new antennas and equipment that are being installed for this coming season. Some operator training will also be conducted. Remember this is just an equipment and operator test, we are not activating any ``nets.`` WX4NHC will be On-The-Air on HF, VHF, UHF and 2 & 30 meter APRS We plan on using the following phone frequencies ± QRM 7.268 14.325 21.325 28.525 MHz CW will be on 14.035, 21.035 and 28.035. PSK31 on 14.070. Need to find us on HF, try using the DX Summit Web Site: http://oh2aq.kolumbus.com/dxs/ Select ``DX-Spots`` 50, 250 or 1,000 or select ``Spot Database Search.`` We will also be on VoIP Hurricane Net 1-3 pm EDT (1700z-1900z) Echolink WX-TALK /IRLP node 9219 Conference). http://www.voipwx.net/ South Florida area VHF & UHF Repeaters & 146.52 simplex & 144.200 SSB Report your Callsign, Signal Report, Location and name. Short Weather Report (``Sunny,`` or ``Rain,`` etc.) Non-Hams are invited to submit their actual weather using the On-Line Hurricane Report Form at http://www.wx4nhc.org/WX-form1.html Thank you for your participation in this TEST. QSL Cards are available via W4VBQ. Please S.A.S.E. Due to security measures, NO VISITORS will be allowed at NHC during this test. Please forward this announcement to appropriate recipients. 73, John McHugh K4AG, Amateur Radio Coord. National Hurricane Center Julio Ripoll WD4R, Asst. Amateur Radio Coord. National Hurricane Center WX4NHC Home Page: http://www.wx4nhc.org Feel free to join us with your Repeaters and links. Join us and give us your report. (Posted by KF4VGX May 12 on qrz.com via John Norfolk, dxldyg) ** U S A. BEARING DOWN ON NPR --- CJR Blog Followup --- Update The New York Times reported today on the running Corporation for Public Broadcasting-National Public Radio-Public Broadcasting Service wars, and there wasn't much there that you haven't already read here. But one new tidbit did catch our eye: in his ongoing effort to bring NPR to heel, Kenneth Tomlinson, head of the CPB, has suggested yet another survey of NPR's reporting, this one focused on its coverage of events in the Middle East. Late last year, without notifying board members or NPR, Mr. Tomlinson contacted S. Robert Lichter, president of the Center for Media and Public Affairs (CMPA), a research group, about conducting a study on whether NPR's Middle East coverage was more favorable to Arabs than to Israelis, Mr. Lichter said. While the study appears to have been shelved -- or at least postponed -- Tomlinson's selection of Lichter and the CMPA is worth noting. While any poll or study of media bias always takes fire from those who don't agree with its conclusions, some of Lichter's ties, and the criticisms leveled against his methodology, raise questions about his group's findings. Here's what the Times didn't tell you about CMPA: In March and April 2003, CMPA conducted a study of nightly newscasts to determine which programs had the most "positive" and "negative" reports about the war in Iraq. A total of 1,131 stories broadcast on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox's "Special Report With Brit Hume" were measured. There was wrinkle in the study, however: Although it was set up to gauge television news, CMPA didn't include CNN and MSNBC in its tally for what it said were "budgetary reasons." It seems a bit odd that the researchers included Fox but couldn't find the resources to study its two major competitors, CNN and MSNBC. While the excuse of not having the funds to include the two channels might fly on first blush, there may be more to the story than the Center simply running out of money. As Howard Kurtz reported in September 2003, "Lichter recused himself from the research because he is a paid Fox commentator." While Kurtz didn't deal with this, it does smell fishy that CMPA couldn't include two of the three major cable news channels (and in particular the two that don't pay Lichter) in a study looking at television news. CMPA also took some heat back in December 2002, when Salon's Joe Conason slammed a study the group conducted that purported to show that reporters are overwhelmingly liberal. Not only were the sources used for the study woefully outdated (covering reports from 1962 to 1996), according to Conason, "There is nothing 'scientific' about his research into bias, since all of his organization's judgments about favorable or unfavorable coverage on newscasts are inevitably subjective." Conason and Lichter then got into a good, old-fashioned letter-writing fight, in which Lichter shot back that "The method of scientific content analysis that we use ... specifically addresses the concern of subjectivity [Conason] raises through standardized reliability and validity tests." Lichter might be overstating his case a bit. Take, for example, two "positive" quotes Kurtz transcribes from the 2003 newscast study. On Fox's "Special Report," Michael Barone pronounced the war "the most amazing military success in human history," while CBS's Dan Rather, with somewhat more restraint, said, "Facts on the ground indicate that overall, from a military standpoint, the invasion continues to go well." Rather's comment, while nominally positive, included enough qualifications to render it sufficiently skeptical about the overall success of the war. Still, as with most opinion polls and media studies, little room is left for the gray areas of language or nuance. On top of this, as Media Transparency has documented, CMPA has actually looked at public broadcasting before. In 1987 and '88, the Center looked at 225 PBS documentary programs, concluding that there is a liberal bias in its programming. The study, however, left out some important source material, excluding conservative programming such as William F. Buckley's "Firing Line" and Morton Kondracke's "American Interests" in order to ensure "a group of programs that were similar in style and content, to maximize the comparability of judgments." In other words, CMPA stacked the deck in order to demonstrate liberal bias. Given the CMPA's declared "independent" status, it's also worth looking into where it gets its funding. Again, Media Transparency has the breakdown, and the donor list looks like a "Who's Who" of conservative foundations. That's not to say that CMPA is automatically in the pocket of big money conservatism, but since foundations generally give out money to those who have viewpoints not too far removed from their own, more often than not, where there's smoke, there's fire. So, what's the upshot of Tomlinson calling for a study of NPR's Arab/Israeli coverage? As we reported on Friday, this whole situation is complicated by Tomlinson's position as chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which oversees U.S. government-sponsored media overseas. Now Tomlinson is trying to interfere with domestic media's foreign coverage. He seems to be operating on the flawed assumption that our public airwaves are government property. The CMPA has yet to get to work on that study, but it looks, once again, like Tomlinson's preference is to form a conclusion, then launch an investigation. Funny ... we were always taught it should be the other way around. --Paul McLeary (via Aaron Zawitzky, DXLD) Bill Moyers takes on Kenneth Tomlinson`s attempt to turn PBS and NPR into a Republican mouthpiece, etc. This speech is now available on demand; look for ``Bill Moyers on the Corporation for Public Broadcasting & Politics (05/15/2005)`` in the video/audio section of http://www.cspan.org Later it may take a bit of searching to find. Highly recommended! 73, (Glenn Hauser, May 17, dxldyg via DXLD) Leave NPR alone --- ON THE radio, good news is hard to come by. I don't mean happy talk or merely the upbeat. I mean comprehensive reporting about what's going on in the world. . . http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/Stories/0,1413,206~22097~2874864,00.html (Pasadena Star-News, Wed, 18 May 2005 0:06 AM PDT via Sheldon Harvey, DXLD) ** U S A. NORTHLAND RADIO STATION TO BROADCAST BEGINNING MAY 26 [Wisconsin] Ashland's newest radio station will begin broadcasting May 26. To launch WRNC [97.7], host of Democracy Now!, Amy Goodman, will participate in a gala event at Northland College in the Kendrigan Gym, Saturday, May 28. . . http://www.ashland-wi.com/placed/index.php?sect_rank=4&story_id=200892 (The Ashland Daily Press, Tue, 17 May 2005 8:39 AM PDT via Sheldon Harvey, DXLD) ** U S A. KDNK MINING LEADVILLE MARKET [Colorado] Donna Gray, Post Independent Staff, May 16, 2005 http://www.glenwoodindependent.com/article/20050516/VALLEYNEWS/105160017/0/FRONTPAGE When Carbondale public radio station KDNK says it reaches the Roaring Fork Valley and beyond, it isn't just whistling Dixie. As of April 13, KDNK can be heard across the Continental Divide in Leadville. Although a bit far afield for the little radio station, the connection came about through a serendipitous set of circumstances. On Feb. 7, KDNK station manager Shawna Claiborne received an e-mail from Greg Race, a Leadville artist who has a backcountry cabin near the top of 13,186-foot Mosquito Pass. Race listened to KDNK on his radio and wondered if Claiborne was interested in bringing the station to Leadville. The reason Race could hear the signal is simple physics, Claiborne explained. Radio signals work by line of sight. Apparently Mosquito Pass is in a direct line, as the crow flies, to Sunlight Peak, near Glenwood Springs, where the KDNK antenna beams its signal. Race went to Howard Tucker, with Lake County TV and FM, and found it had a radio license for a frequency that could broadcast KDNK in Leadville, Claiborne said. "KDNK offers a great example of how to build a community through inclusion. Leadville has collective community ideals, but myriad ideas on how to accomplish that vision," Race said. "Hopefully KDNK's model will inspire the Leadville community to see the potential and possibility of its unique character and diverse individuality." Claiborne said the station would provide a 10-watt translator that captures the signal from Sunlight Peak and changes it into the licensed frequency, 93.5 in Leadville. But getting the translator up to Mosquito Pass was a challenge. In April, over 13,000 feet, the world is white. A Leadville man, George Lufkin, donated the use of his snow cat and Race provided fuel. The 'cat brought the translator and an antenna up to the top of the pass. Both pieces of equipment were installed on the town's cellular tower on the pass, Claiborne said. KDNK, which began in 1983, also has translators in Thomasville up the Fryingpan River, and in Old Snowmass, Basalt, Redstone, Aspen and Glenwood Springs. Besides Carbondale, it's also available in Silt, New Castle and Rifle. The radio station offers a mixture of local programming along with programming from National Public Radio including "Morning Edition" and "All Things Considered." It also carries independent news and affairs programming such as "Democracy Now," "Alternative Radio," "Counterspin" and "Making Contact." Local programming includes bluegrass, acoustic, jazz, rock and classical music, as well as Spanish programming on Thursday evenings, with news at 7 p.m., then Latino Youth Radio and an hour of Latino music. This fall KDNK doubled its wattage with a new tower on Sunlight Peak. It shares the tower with Aspen Public Radio and Colorado Public Radio. Once KDNK was on the air in Leadville it took a while for people to catch on, Claiborne said. "We got a couple calls the first week, but people are certainly finding us now." KDNK wants to be as much a part of Leadville as it is part of the Roaring Fork and Colorado river valleys. It will run public service announcements for nonprofits as it does on this side of the divide. "We're bringing public radio to this community and we want to do it right," Claiborne said. "I'm so excited about the fact that they thought so much of KDNK to invite us." KDNK is planning a kickoff party in conjunction with Leadville's Pb Arts Authority at its gallery, 201 W. Sixth St., from 3-6 p.m. Saturday, June 11. (Glenwood Springs Post Independent via Sheldon Harvey, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. SHORTWAVE NUMBERS STATIONS MAY BE SPY RELATED http://news4colorado.com/topstories/local_story_136125106.html CBS4 in Denver has a Web feature and video on number stations (Andy Sennitt, dxldyg via DXLD, also via Kim Elliott, Artie Bigley, P. Armani, WORLD OF RADIO 1274) ** U S A. KDJQ 890 [near Boise ID]. Hi All, Another 890 station is alive and kicking. It was fluctuating quite a bit, 0530 PDT, but comes in well at times here. Details at: http://idahoradionews.com/go/archives/category/kdjq-am/ I think they have the right idea (Doug Pifer, IRCA via DXLD) ** U S A. TV AUXILIARY TRANSMITTING ANTENNA APPLICATIONS FOR LICENSE TO COVER AUXILIARY PERMIT GRANTED BXLCT-20040401ALS KAZA-TV 29234 PAPPAS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA E CHAN-54 LICENSE LLC AVALON, CA License to cover auxiliary permit. (CGC Communicator via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) An LPTV TV station in Avalon? That would be AM, FM and now TV from Catalina Island. Too bad Avalon USCG shut of their LF beacon at 307kHz a few years back (Darwin, Thousand Oaks, ibid.) Sounds like it's gonna be an Azteca America affiliate. Pappas is/was involved with bringing the Mexican network to the US. Of course, these days, being in Avalon (and not necessary reaching all, most, or any of the LA market) means anything --- LA must carry is all that matters. Key West is quite a ways from Miami. I can't hear or see any media from there by unaided means (save for tropo, etc). But they get their ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox from Miami. Conversely, there are two TV stations licensed *to* Key West. We get them on cable here in Miami. Do you think there is one program, commercial, or announcement geared to the Conch Republic?? Nope. All Miami stuff. But that ``must carry`` means everything to them. I don't know anything about TV signals from Catalina and whether or not they can reach the mainland, but that seems to be a natural explanation if they can't. (--tony, FL, ibid.) KAZA-TV (Avalon) --- A little snooping determined that the analog and digital transmitter for this station are (or will be) on Mt. Wilson. It looks like the analog is already on the air, but I didn't dig deep enough to find dates. Avalon is nothing more than the city of license, and with the directional antenna shown, there's not a doubt in my mind that they'll toss a city-grade signal over to the island (Tom Bryant, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. KOGO, 600 KHZ, SAN DIEGO, EXPERIMENTS WITH HD RADIO KOGO has been observed testing IBOC (HD Radio) over the air, at least for a short period of time on May 11, 2005 according to two reports that have reached our office. One comment said, "Both 590 KTIE and 610 KAVL signals were blanked by the [HD Radio] sideband noise." The other comment said, in effect, "So.... how do I receive KTIE, that transmits from San Bernardino, in my home in El Cajón during the daytime? As CGC Communicator readers know, HD Radio is a great way for major market stations to eliminate out of town competition, as this example clearly shows, although the jamming aspect was not part of the original IBOC design. If AM HD Radio is eventually authorized at night, the jamming will simply become full time. Had the original AM IBOC system included sideband energy that would jam first adjacent channel stations, we are confident that the product would have never seen the light of day, or the dark of night. Welcome to the new world of AM (CGC Communicator May 17 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) While it's true that IBOC can be a very divisive topic, it is a FACT of life and will become far more widespread during the next year or two as it is deployed throughout the USA. And, it's only divisive if you let it be that way. Civil, mature discussion is far more constructive, and not that difficult. Here, in Indianapolis, both CC (WNDE 1260) and Emmis (WIBC 1070) have it on the air and weak signals are covered from 1050 thru 1090 and 1240 thru 1280. Dashboard DX is impossible in this range in central Indiana during the day night transition as a result until after they switch to night operation which, early in the month can be a good 15 minutes after local sunset. Soon, when the FCC issues rules, I expect this will be the case ALL NIGHT. When I'm driving around, I like to see if I can catch anything near sunset, but maybe that's just me. To get back to the point, IBOC is in the final stages of approval. It was announced at the NAB convention at Las Vegas that the NRSC recommendation for rulemaking is complete and was sent to the FCC after the NRSC meeting that was held at the same time. The public comments, replies, etc. were taken last year, thus the NRSC recommendation is the last thing needed before rules are promulgated. I can state clearly that the context of all the sessions at Las Vegas was that IBOC was essentially complete IOW GAME OVER. Personally, I do not agree with what the FCC has done, and think they may live to regret it, but there's nothing I or anyone else can do about the FACT that IBOC is being deployed. While the rules are not yet out, I predict they will permit some for of nighttime IBOC. Why? Because the NAB has stated their members value IBOC more highly than skywave, and because there can be no full digital transition (which is the NRSC's stated intent) unless and until nighttime operations are permitted. Most of the presentations at Las Vegas assumed this would be the case, if they touched on the subject. The only ones that disagreed were those who offered something incompatible with IBOC. Because IBOC IS a fact, and because it will become an all-pervasive FACT, I don't see why this topic can't be discussed in a civil manner by all present. One focus might be, it's here, how are we going to live with it? That might produce some constructive discussion. I do agree that lambasting Clear Channel, WOR and others for promoting what will happen anyway is not only boring, it is a pointless waste of bandwidth and time. IBOC will probably affect this hobby more than anything in its history. Not discussing it in a civil and constructive manner simply means not understanding what might be done to live with it. IMHO, it makes no sense to stick our heads in the sand. What does that accomplish? Might as well take a sledge hammer to the equipment and say forget about it. How much sense does that make? OTOH, RF has not changed, only the modulation and decoding of it. That should be a clue. Reception still depends on skills and antennas. It's true that a critical ear becomes less important and technology more important, but WHAT IS SO IMPOSSIBLE ABOUT DXing IBOC? The future will bring opportunities for that, compared with very few for domestic analog after about 5 years or so. IMHO it is something to think about, and something to discuss in a constructive, civilized manner, because regardless how we see it, IBOC is part of the future. (Phil Alexander, CSRE, Indianapolis, Nems-Clark 120E, EMC-25/ALR-25 (a/k/a URM-200) with loops I've built and loops I've bought. NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. THE PREMATURE DEATH OF HD RADIO By Mark Ramsey, Mercury Radio Research May 16, 2005 You and I are not Kevin Costner and HD Radio is not the Field of Dreams. Because we build it does not mean the audience will necessarily come. The HD Radio path we are galloping down is a treacherous one. And the future of our industry hangs in the balance. HD Radio has been much examined by the engineers and sellers and owners and programmers. But from what I can tell not a single consumer marketer has ever tried to make sense of it. Until now. Will HD Radio die a premature and ignominious death? I hope not. But the difference between the success of, say, digital photography and the failure of, say, AM stereo is the difference between understanding the way consumers think and ignoring it. So far, we`re ignoring it. Here are the reasons why HD Radio could die on the vine --- unless you and I do something about it now. . . http://www.radiomarketingnexus.com/2005/05/the_premature_d.html (via Brock Whaley, DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. VENEZUELA BACKING INTERNATIONAL NEWS CHANNEL Some charge network is Chávez propaganda tool By Danna Harman, USA TODAY http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20050518/a_venezuelatv18.art.htm CARACAS, Venezuela — Television is a window on the world, but if you're sitting in Latin America, that window is more likely to be facing Baghdad than Buenos Aires. Or show Michael Jackson instead of Mexico City. Or offer a clearer view of Ukraine's Orange Revolution than the one in Ecuador last month. The networks that cover regional news in Latin America are based elsewhere --- such as CNN Espańol out of Atlanta, or Spain's TVE. International news delivered from a Latin point of view has been almost non-existent. ``Not for long,`` Venezuelan journalist Aram Aharonian says. On May 24, Venezuela's President Hugo Chávez will launch a 24-hour hemispheric TV news network, with Aharonian at the helm. The idea, Chávez has explained, is to combat ``the conspiracy`` by foreign networks to ignore or distort information about Latin America. ``We have been trained to see ourselves through foreign eyes,`` Aharonian says. ``Europeans and Americans see us in black and white, and yet this is a Technicolor continent.`` Critics say Televisora del Sur (Telesur) --- or TV of the South --- will be used by Chávez to drown out the free press at home and spread his populist, socialist and anti-U.S. message throughout the region. ``We get enough of him already,`` says Ana Cristina Nuez, legal counsel at Globovisión, a 24-hour news station critical of Chávez. Globovisión, like all channels in Venezuela, is obligated by law to drop its regular programming to cover Chávez speeches whenever instructed by the government. His TV appearances are often hours-long rants against the United States or rambling chats with ``the people.`` In the past, he has used them to praise Cuba`s Fidel Castro or to describe President Bush as a ``jerk`` bent on invading Venezuela. Chávez`s Telesur is drawing comparisons to Al-Jazeera, the Qatar-based Arab satellite network. Al-Jazeera has been criticized repeatedly by the U.S. government and military for inflammatory and biased reporting in Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East. New sources of news can be healthy, says John Dinges, associate professor of journalism at Columbia University in New York. ``I am in favor of initiatives that create additional voices in the news,`` he says. ``Al-Jazeera, for example, has made an important impact on journalism in the Middle East.`` If Telesur is a propaganda tool for Chávez, ``that`s politics, not journalism,`` Dinges says. ``But if it`s being done in order to spread an alternative journalistic voice, it will be good journalism and a contribution.`` Telesur`s programming, available by satellite, will be split between news and ``Latin America interest`` documentaries, reaching viewers across South, Central and North America. The network is a regional endeavor: Argentina owns 20%, Cuba 19% and Uruguay 10%. But Venezuela, with 51%, is the main player: The government has provided $2.5 million in start-up money. Other funding will come from corporate sponsors, though not advertising. Venezuelan Information Minister Andrés Izarra is Telesur`s president, and headquarters are being constructed here in Caracas. Other offices are being set up in Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, México, Cuba and in Wáshington. One of the news anchors will be Ati Kiwa, an indigenous Colombian woman who wears traditional native dress. ``We all like the idea of a Latin American perspective of news, but not a one-sided view,`` says Globovisión`s Nuez. ``I am very suspicious that Telesur will represent the voice only of leftist governments in Latin America --- and will be an instrument of propaganda for them.`` Globovisión, like many other private media outlets in Venezuela, has tangled with Chávez. During the April 2002 coup that briefly ousted him, several news organizations openly sided with the opposition, providing round-the-clock coverage of anti-Chávez protests while refusing to air footage of massive demonstrations by his supporters. Ever since, ``it has been payback time,`` she says. Globovisión hired Nuez four months ago in response to Chávez`s new press laws, under which whoever ``offends,`` or ``shows disrespect for,`` or ``defames`` the president or his top officials, faces fines and up to 30 months in prison. Nuez says the new laws have already led to self-censorship across the country`s half-dozen private channels, she says. ``There is no jurisprudence to go by, and people don`t know what is allowed and what`s a crime,`` she says. Late-night TV jokes about Chávez are out, risqué political talk shows are being canceled, and news reports are being finely combed before airing. ``Telesur is introducing a super-well-funded official voice, just as free-press voices are being fined and intimidated,`` she says. Aharonian dismisses the idea that Telesur is part of a plan to muzzle the media or give Chávez an open microphone. The programming is not ``against or instead of any other,`` but simply an option, he says. ``That is what the remote control is for,`` he says, ``so people can pick and choose between different perspectives.`` Slanted or straight, Telesur`s success will depend on whether it`s watchable, says Richard Siklos, adjunct professor at New York University`s department of culture and communication. Chávez ``will learn what every media executive in New York has learned: You can put stuff out there, but if people don`t watch, you are wasting your money,`` he says. (USA Today via Mike Cooper, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. FISHING NETS: Re: "At 1670 kHz, there was a set of about 6 or so steady carriers, each offset from each other by about 100 Hz, and each carrier emanated from a separate transmitter site, because at night the composite polytonic heterodyne among this group of carriers changed with skywave fades - some tone pitches dropping out momentarily, while others being enhanced. (DJL4LOON, location unknown, ABDX via DXLD)" Glenn: I believe this guy is Darwin Long, in Thousand Oaks, California (Ventura County) -- I recall a bandfull of such reception during the 1960s in Atlanta, ranging from about 1620 kHz, on up to past 1700. None were audible during daytime, and I was under the youthful impression that these were some form of aeronautical beacons. I also remember all such carriers had disappeared by the mid-1970s, at least in the ATL area. In Southern California, only two or three of these were audible circa 1970, and I do seem to remember some of those being factors in daytime reception --- again, all had vanished by 1975 or so. Regarding Loran-C, I recall one station on either 1900 or 1950 kHz emanating from San Mateo Point, by the Nixon Western White House in San Clemente; I couldn't tell you when this one disappeared, except that it was a year or two later than the tonal-stuff that seemed to populate both U.S. coasts (GREG HARDISON, CA, May 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 5700.1, UNID, Unknown, Unknown, 14311, Unid Very weak. time pips heard here at 1600 and 1700. MA after 1600 and faint music, sounded like religious or operatic music. perhaps South American but not African. The only station known on this one is "R Frecuencia" Perú on about 100 watts but not at this time. Other Peruvians were heard at this time this night tho. 1600 UT 14/05/2005 JC (Jem Cullen, Cataract DX-pedition, Australia, ARDXC via DXLD) Jem, 5700 is generally Pyongyang harmonic (2 x 2850). Pops up every now and then. Rgds (Craig Seager, ibid.) See also PROPAGATION below ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DRM +++ CHRIS MACKERELL - DRM OBSERVATIONS AND COMMENTS I monitored the recent DRM tests on 657 kHz from two locations - my home in Tawa, 10 km south of the Titahi Bay transmitter site, and my computer-filled office in Karori, 23 km south of the transmitter. At home I was able to test with an AOR AR-7030, Yaesu FRG-100/DRM, a Coding Technologies Digital World Traveller (DWT) receiver, and various domestic AM radios. In the office I was using the DWT, plus the office`s ``Radio Sport`` AM radio. Most of the tests that I was able to monitor were in simulcast mode, with both AM and DRM signals present. In this mode the DRM signal sits off to one side of the AM carrier (in most of these tests it seemed to be the ``high`` side, though during one day I did see it flip to the ``low`` side briefly). From my home, 10 km away from the transmitter, the AM signal was so strong as to render the simulcast DRM reception nearly impossible. Only my AR-7030 was good enough to trim out the DRM signal from the massive splatter of the AM signal. Neither my factory modified DRM FRG-100, nor the DWT were able to decode any listenable DRM audio due to the strength of the AM signal. The situation an extra 13 km away at my office was better. There the DWT receiver was able to decode the DRM using a simple piece of wire dangled by the window. The supplied software worked ok, but decoding using the free ``Dream`` software was better. So, it looks like all simulcast DRM listeners will either need to be issued with AOR AR-7030`s or moved at least 20 km from the transmitters! I checked on a variety of domestic AM receivers to see if the DRM simulcast was noticeable on the AM signal. On most receivers there was no sign of it, somewhat to my suprise. The only receiver to show any sign of interference was the tuner in my hi-fi - there was a faint DRM hiss audible in the background of the AM signal, but it was not distracting. DRM signals were broadcast using three different bandwidths, 4.5, 9 & 18 kHz, and a range of bit rates (audio quality), both mono & stereo. I was disappointed not to see any multimedia tests such as news headline or weather map services as are in use or have been demonstrated overseas. During most of the period of the DRM meeting in Wellington, the transmitter was running in simulcast mode, with a 4.5 kHz bandwidth, with 8 kbps mono audio. The DRM audio was the same Southern Star programming as was being carried on the AM signal, so comparison was easy between the two. No one would be tempted to listen to the DRM signal in that mode. I’ve heard better audio quality on SSB! During the daytime sessions of the meeting the transmitter was demo`d in a range of modes. I found the simulcast tests were a disappointment. If the DRM bandwidth or bit rate was high enough for good quality listening it became too mixed up with the AM signal and my DWT receiver was no longer able to decode it. The modes it could decode the quality was worse than AM. When the transmitter was used in DRM-only mode it was a different matter completely, especially when the audio was sourced from RNZ. Some of the modes provided stereo listening that was similar to FM. Paul Ormandy monitored the simulcast signal from the Mainland, and was not impressed by the impact of the signal. While the DRM signal is sharply defined, with no ``splash`` as with AM signals, the energy of the signal is distributed fully across the DRM bandwidth in use. This sounds like a loud hissing, somewhat like listening to a weak FM station. Overall, my in my opinion, the simulcast modes are a waste of time. They would be too difficult for listeners to receive, and offer no improvement in audio quality - worse in fact. The DRM only modes sound good, but the 18 kHz bandwidth is a waste on the AM band - leave that to DRM on the FM bands (Chris Mackerell, May 14th, 2005, NZ DX Times via DXLD) A technology most often used in shortwave broadcasting is holding promise for FM. It`s DRM, Digital Radio Mondiale. That, along with Canada`s and Europe`s Eureka 147 are closing ranks, and expanding to FM-like technologies. The new way of configuring DRM is to extend its usefulness up to 120 MHz, according to a story in Radio World. Developers of DRM are the DRM Consortium, which plans to combine technologies with Eureka 147, at least on some projects. For those looking toward DRM as a replacement technology for so-called ``HD Radio`` (iBiquity`s in-band on channel system) it may be too late, since the DRM group hopes only to be ready with testing of its system by 2008-2010. IBiquity declined comment following the announcement about the DRM-Eureka 147 get-together. From what I`ve read, there wasn`t much news about DRM at the National Association of Broadcasters convention, but it did feature lots of gear, including Continental new 816HD transmitter. That unit`s unique in its combining analog and digital into a single tube-type transmitter. It is available in a 20-kW version (most likely the analog power) and soon in a 25 kW model. Don`t expect SCS-type services to be easy to tune in, come in-band, on-channel, with its ability to codify various combinations of audio sources. Digital Radio Express is a company which claims to take the analog FM subcarriers (such as at 67 and 92 kHz) and combine them into two monophonic digital carriers. They are said to be free of license fees for broadcasters. The service is for subscription programming, and tuners can be turned on and off by the station (Bruce Elving, May FMedia! via DXLD) See also AUSTRIA POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS [and non] ++++++++++++++++++++++++ SAN DIEGO BPL UPDATE May 10, 2005 - According to a representative of San Diego Gas and Electric Company, SDG&E's plans for testing Broadband over Power Line ("BPL") technology on a portion of SDG&E's power grid are progressing smoothly. At least 30-days notice of the actual testing will be provided to the public as required by Section 15.615 of the FCC Rules. The information that must be provided includes not only the zip codes of the test zones, but the frequencies to be used, the manufacturer and type of equipment to be used and the proposed or actual date of the operation/s. The list of zip codes slated for testing is said to be nearing completion. SDG&E currently plans to release the entire zip list all at once when the necessary bits and pieces come together. So far, we have no hint as to which geographic areas will be tested. It is possible that SDG&E will test only one BPL system at the outset and use only a small geographic area, but nothing is definite. SDG&E reemphasizes its willingness to work with all potentially affected parties. FIBER OPTICS IN LIVE GAS LINES PROPOSED Website statement: "Sempra Fiber Links introduces a unique solution to the last mile bottleneck for optic fiber networks. "We've developed a new and exciting process to safely route fiber- optic cable and conduit to buildings through existing, live natural gas pipelines. That's right. Active, live natural gas pipelines. So fiber-optic networks can easily go places difficult to reach before. Faster. With less excavation and disruption." This web posting is of more than routine interest since Sempra Fiber is owned by Sempra Energy which owns San Diego Gas and Electric, the entity that will soon be testing BPL in San Diego. http://www.semprafiberlinks.com/Pages/Home/Home.aspx (CGC Communicator May 17 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) FLAWED BPL IS NO BROADBAND PANACEA http://internet.newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=05/05/16/2040240&from=rss (via Joe Ringer, swprograms via DXLD) http://analysis.itmanagersjournal.com/article.pl?sid=05/05/17/1616248 Broadband over power lines has been in the news again recently. At one time BPL was seen as the best way to bring affordable Internet access to poor and rural America: an answer to the technology gap between the haves and the have-nots. Now, thanks primarily to boosters like Michael Powell and Kevin Martin, Powell's successor at the FCC, it's back for another go at the broadband access market. But BPL remains a flawed and controversial technology. Proponents in Texas are pushing a pro-BPL bill past confused legislators in Austin at the same time their counterparts in Washington, D.C., are considering a measure to rescind "BPL-friendly" rule changes made at the FCC last fall. (Ken Kopp, KKŘHF, http://www.qsl.net/kk0hf/ May 17, dxldyg via DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ RECOMMENDED: THIS WEEK'S "GO DIGITAL" The BBC Worldservice's "Go Digital" program has been fairly uninteresting in recent weeks, but this week's program seems to have a good assortment of worthwhile discussions and interviews. Computer- audio users can listen to it by going to the program's webpage at the http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice website. One of the things they mention is a new technology for making unusually small antennas out of ceramics; a technique that allows an antenna much smaller than a metal one for the same frequency. The application discussed is GPS additions to many small devices, which reminded me of the GPS-containing digital watch I saw in a catalog the other day. But wouldn't it be great if this could be used for HF and thus improve reception for portable SW receivers over the usual metal collapsible whip? 73, (Will Martin, MO, May 17, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) WHAT IS THIS GIZMO? CGC COMMUNICATOR READERS REPLY The "strange and bizarre gizmo" pictured atop the tower at http://earthsignals.com/add_CGC/050320_%20017_2.jpg and discussed in last week's CGC Communicator newsletter is most likely a lightning dissipation array. That is the overwhelming vote of our readers. Just how does a lightning dissipation array work? Check out this remarkable video clip: http://www.lightningeliminators.com/das_systems.htm Now from Fred Vobbe: "You ask, "Will it survive ice and wind?" Those of us in Canada and northern states just figure that once in a while there might have to be repairs. In my case, I have found the stainless steel spikes from my array in the parking lot, looking like someone detached them with a blow torch. I would rather lose one of the 240 spikes than my RCA transmitter or TFU30JA antenna!" Of the few readers who believe that the gizmo pictured is an anti- perching device, one respondent wrote, "They have them (bird anti- perchers) all over at LAX." Lightning dissipation arrays and anti- perching devices can look a lot alike; someone will probably market a dual-purpose device soon (CGC Communicator May 17 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ 4810 XERTA Mexico City Mexico 24322 1640 UTC 14/05/2005 4830 Radio Litoral La Ceiba Honduras 14322 Spanish 1650 UTC 14/05/2005 (Jem Cullen, from Cataract DX Pedition, Australia, ARDXC via DXLD) Jem, These two are astounding logs, as they are almost noon local time. Just checking whether you are absolutely sure of these IDs, or if there was a typo in the times given. The major geomagnetic storm might have caused something like this to happen, but it did not hit until 0230 UT May 15, according to ARRL propagation bulletin. 73, (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) XERTA --- I`m 99% sure of and at 1650 indeed yep the local dirty hours and their midday. I was jaw dropped. I heard a FA in SS mentioning Mexico, but no actual ID. The Honduras, I have in my book as Tentative ID only. Again, it was definitely Spanish. The thing is, there DID seem to be an opening northern to Central America. I don`t claim to understand it. (I also heard Peru on 4840 (Which had a MA and FA reading news, with items on Peru....) at --- wait for it 1700 UTC. 4840 Radio Andahuaylas Andahuaylas Peru 14322 Unknown 1702 UTC 14/05/2005 JC I remember thinking, "I will go to my grave knowing I have heard these!") (Jem Cullen, ibid.) Plus the unID on 5700 (gh, DXLD) :Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts :Issued: 2005 May 17 2212 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center # Product description and SEC contact on the Web # http://www.sec.noaa.gov/weekly.html # # Weekly Highlights and Forecasts # HIGHLIGHTS OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 09 - 15 MAY 2005 Solar activity ranged from low to high. The majority of the period’s activity was split between two very active regions, Region 758 (S10, L=141, class/area, Ekc/630 on 11 May) and new Region 759 (N14, L=052, class/area, Ehi/540 on 09 May). During the summary period, Region 758 was responsible for 24 C-class and 3 M-class flares, while Region 759 had 14 C-class and 3 M-class flares observed. Of these flares, two M-class flares were significant. On 11 May at 1939 UTC, Region 758 produced an M1.1/Sf long duration event (LDE) with an accompanying full halo CME. LASCO/EIT imagery detected the mean plane-of-sky speed of the CME at about 470 km/s. Later in the summary period, Region 759 produced an M8.0/2b LDE at 13/1657 UTC with Type II (1349 km/s) and Type IV sweeps and a 2900 sfu Tenflare. LASCO/EIT imagery observed a bright, full halo CME. Because of limited imagery, the mean plane-of-sky speed could only be estimated at between 794 - 1020 km/s. Other activity included an impulsive M3.5/1n flare at 15/2236 UTC from new Region 763 (S15, L=015, class/area, Dao/200 on 13 May). The remainder of the disk and limb were quiet and stable. Solar wind data were available from the NASA Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) spacecraft during most of the summary period. Solar wind speed ranged from a low of 455 km/s early on 11 May to a high of 1000 km/s near 15/0900 UTC. The period began with solar wind speed elevated near 670 km/s and the IMF Bz ranging between – 8 to + 5 nT as effects from a coronal hole high speed wind stream waned. By the end-of-day on 09 May, wind speed had decayed to 515 km/s and the IMF Bz had relaxed to +/- 5 nT. These trends persisted through late on 12 May. By 12/2100 UTC, ACE data indicated an increase in density and a slight increase in wind speed from about 490 km/s to 525 km/s as effects from the 11 May CME became geoeffective. The IMF Bz stayed mostly south at -7 nT. By 13/1600 UTC, wind speed increased to 615 km/s. Thereafter, through early on 15 May, wind speed slowly decayed and the IMF Bz did not vary much beyond +/-4 nT. Early on 15 May, effects from the large, full halo CME from the 13 May M8.0 flare arrived at Earth. At 15/0238 UTC, the Boulder magnetometer recorded a 67 nT sudden impulse. Solar wind jumped from 460 km/s to near 900 km/s and the IMF Bz turned sharply southward and by 0600 UTC, it read -43 nT. By about 0800 UTC, the Bz turned northward and the total field remained strong near 56 nT. The IMF Bz remained northward through about 1700 UTC when it turned south to about -9 nT and remained so for the remainder of the summary period. By 0900 UTC, wind speed reached its maximum of 1000 km/s, but for the remainder of the 15th, velocity rapidly decayed and ended the summary period near 740 km/s. A greater than 10 MeV proton event began at 14/0525 UTC. The peak of 3140 pfu occurred at 15/0240 UTC, following the CME shock arrival, and ended at 15/1120 UTC. The suspected source of this event was believed to be the M8.0 flare on 13 May. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit reached high levels on 11 – 15 May. The geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to severe storm levels. The period began with quiet to active conditions through 12 May. Isolated minor storming was observed at high latitudes midday on 11 May and late on 12 May, while an isolated major storm period occurred midday on the 12th. By early on 13 May, active to minor storming, with periods of high latitude major storming, were observed as effects from the 11 May CME became geoeffective. These conditions persisted through most of the 13th. For the remainder of the 13th, and through 14 May, conditions relaxed to quiet to unsettled. Early on 15 May, geomagnetic conditions increased significantly as the CME shock from the 13 May M8.0 flare arrived. Through the first 12 hours of the 15th, the field was at minor to severe storming, but by 1500 UTC, and through the end of the summary period, conditions relaxed to mostly active to minor storming. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 18 MAY - 13 JUNE 2005 Solar activity is expected be at low to moderate levels. Further M-class activity is possible from Regions 759 through 20 May and 763 through 23 May when they are due to depart the visible disk. Old Region 758 (S10, L=136) is due to return by 28 May and was an M-class flare producer on its last rotation. Otherwise expect very low to low levels. There is a chance for a greater than 10 MeV proton event from Regions 759 and 763 through 23 May. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at high levels on 19 – 20 May, 28 May – 02 June, and 07 – 13 June. The geomagnetic field is expected to range from quiet to minor storm levels. Effects from two weak CME’s on 16 and 17 May are expected to produce active to minor storm levels on 18 - 19 May. Recurrent coronal hole high speed wind streams are expected to produce active to minor storm levels on 27 – 28 May and 11 – 12 June. Otherwise, expect quiet to unsettled conditions. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2005 May 17 2215 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center # Product description and SEC contact on the Web # http://www.sec.noaa.gov/wwire.html # # 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table # Issued 2005 May 17 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2005 May 18 100 20 4 2005 May 19 95 15 3 2005 May 20 95 10 3 2005 May 21 90 10 3 2005 May 22 90 10 3 2005 May 23 95 8 3 2005 May 24 95 8 3 2005 May 25 95 5 2 2005 May 26 95 8 3 2005 May 27 95 20 4 2005 May 28 100 25 5 2005 May 29 100 10 3 2005 May 30 105 10 3 2005 May 31 105 8 3 2005 Jun 01 105 5 2 2005 Jun 02 105 5 2 2005 Jun 03 110 8 3 2005 Jun 04 105 12 3 2005 Jun 05 105 12 3 2005 Jun 06 105 12 3 2005 Jun 07 105 12 3 2005 Jun 08 105 12 3 2005 Jun 09 105 12 3 2005 Jun 10 100 8 3 2005 Jun 11 100 20 4 2005 Jun 12 95 20 4 2005 Jun 13 95 10 3 (http://www.sec.noaa.gov/radio via WORLD OF RADIO 1274, DXLD) ###