DX LISTENING DIGEST 5-118, July 19, 2005 Incorporating REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING edited by Glenn Hauser, http://www.worldofradio.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits For restrixions and searchable 2005 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn NEXT AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO EXTRA 58: Days and times strictly UT. Wed 0930 WOR WWCR 9985 Wed 1600 WOR WBCQ after hours Latest edition of this schedule version, with hotlinks to station sites and audio, is at: http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html WRN ON DEMAND: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO: WORLD OF RADIO Extra 58 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/worx58h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/worx58h.rm WORLD OF RADIO Extra 58 (low version): [same as COM 05-04] (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/com0504.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/com0504.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/com0504.html WORLD OF RADIO Extra 58 in true SW sound of Alex`s mp3: (stream) http://www.dxprograms.net/worldofradio_07-17-05.m3u (download) http://www.dxprograms.net/worldofradio_07-17-05.mp3 NEW! WORLD OF RADIO Extra 58 downloads in studio-quality mp3: (high) http://www.obriensweb.com/worx58h.mp3 (low) http://www.obriensweb.com/worx58.mp3 WORLD OF RADIO PODCAST: www.obriensweb.com/wor.xml (currently available: 1277, Extra 57, 1278, 1279, 1280, Extra 58) FIRST AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1281: Wed 2200 on WBCQ 7415 Wed 2300 on WBCQ 17495-CLSB Thu 2030 on WWCR 15825 WRN ON DEMAND [from Friday]: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL]: http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html WORLD OF RADIO 1281 (high version): [from UT Wednesday] (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1281h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1281h.rm WORLD OF RADIO 1281 (low version): [from UT Wednesday] (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1281.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1281.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1281.html [from Thursday] ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. 17670, Adari ? Radio, 0330, sinpo 34433 OM ID "Adari radio" (3 veces mencionado ID), se hizo mención a Afganistán. 0357 YL ID "Adari Radio", se habló de Kandahar. 0359 OM ID "Adari Radio", 0359+ inicio de QRM de emisora oriental 17665. 0400 TU (en USB para evitar QRM) ID "Adari Radio", 0403 continúa YL con entrevista? a hombre. 6 de julio (Héctor Álvaro Gutiérrez, Perú, Conexión Digital via DXLD) This would be R. Free Afghanistan as scheduled to switch from Dari to Pashto at 0330 via Sri Lanka; probably Azadi was the word in Pashto, while in Dari ``Free` is Ashna (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AFGHANISTAN. Internews has a job opening for Project Manager here: http://www.internews.org/about/emp_open/overseas/job_0095o.html (via Dr Hansjoerg Biener, DXLD) Look around the Internews site for more job openings in various countries if interested. I doubt that Kim Andrew Elliott would be. See also UZBEKISTAN (gh, DXLD) ** AFRICA [non]. USA/Africa: THE AFRICA CHANNEL TO LAUNCH IN AMERICA | Text of press release by Los Angeles-based The Africa Channel on 18 July The Africa Channel, a new independent cable television network showcasing the rich and diverse perspectives of the people of the African continent, has set its launch for the third quarter of this year. The network has already secured a corporate agreement with Atlanta-based Cox Communications Inc. and anticipates it will conclude additional carriage agreements shortly. The goal of The Africa Channel, whose high-profile backers include Ambassador Andrew Young, as well as entertainment and sports notables is to amplify the African experience through a daily window into modern African life and build bridges of understanding between U.S. television viewers and the people of Africa. The launch of the 24/7 commercially supported channel represents a significant achievement and milestone in the history and growth of the U.S. cable television industry and the industry at large. For the first time ever, the medium of television will connect U.S. viewers with the richness and promise of an entire continent on a daily basis; including the fascinating lifestyles of the people who inhabit its 53 countries, their incredible stories, their daily lives, their successes, celebrations and challenges; all of this via the broad- based appeal of a general entertainment network. The Africa Channel will launch with more than 1,200 hours of original and first run English language programming, including news and information, travel and lifestyle, music, feature films, soaps, talk, reality and special events. The company's exclusive program distribution agreements provide the kind of flexibility to tailor programming that continually meets the tastes and preferences of a broad and nationally diverse audience. In fact the channel will have strong appeal for both African Americans and general American audiences, all of whom are interested in learning about the continent and its people. "Our network will serve an important cultural need, while providing diverse, entertaining programming that demystifies Africa to the American television audience," said James Makawa, CEO of The Africa Channel and one of its trio of founders. "We couldn't have picked a better launch partner than Cox Communications," said Jacob Arback, President and a co-founder of The Africa Channel. "Cox is a first-class company with particularly strong ties to the local communities they serve. This is key to our mission both here and in Africa. With our pro-social agenda firmly rooted in education, the Africa Channel will be a highly visible participant in the local communities of each market where it is available." "We anticipate The Africa Channel will provide our Cox Digital Cable customers with a new diverse destination on the line-up that entertains and informs," said Bob Wilson, Senior Vice President, Programming, Cox Communications. Original and first run programming As of June 2004, The Africa Channel has concluded binding, long-term, exclusive distribution agreements with the major content suppliers in Africa and has leveraged its long-standing and close relationships with Africa's major television producers and program distributors to create daily programming blocks across a wide variety of entertainment and informational genres. The vaults of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), Summit TV (Johnnic Group/BDFM), M-NET, Endemol and other suppliers are full of outstanding content, including many award- winning shows that have never been seen outside of Africa. "James, Jacob and I have all spent a considerable amount of time in the television business here as well as in Africa, and are keenly aware of the high quality of television produced there," said Richard Hammer, a co-founder and Executive Vice President, Communications for The Africa Channel. "These shows have the production and entertainment value of top American shows, which is not surprising considering that many people in the African television business got their training here. This will be an entertainment channel that serves a large, demanding audience." Flagship series include "Carte Blanche Africa," a weekly one-hour investigative journalism program now in its 17th season on M-Net; "Africa Within," a vibrant weekly hour that takes viewers from Cairo to the Cape; the reality series "Big Brother Africa" and "All You Need is Love," and the soaps "Generations" and "Isidingo". Original series include "Conversations with Felicia," hosted by author, entrepreneur and icon Felicia Mabuza-Suttle, "Africa This Week," a weekend news wrap-up series, and "AfricaMusic!," a VJ hosted music series that will serve as the launch pad for a new wave of music from across the African continent. Founders and partners The Channel's co-founders are accomplished veterans of the media and television industries. Mr. Makawa, originally from Zimbabwe, is one of the few executives from Sub-Saharan Africa to have enjoyed a successful career in both local and network television in the U.S. A reporter and anchor, he also served as a correspondent with NBC Network News in New York and Chicago. Mr. Makawa co-founded the African Barter Company (ABC), Africa's first barter syndication company, in partnership with Grey Advertising Worldwide. He cleared hundreds of hours on television stations across the continent reaching an audience topping 150m. Mr. Makawa co-founded the African Broadcast Network (ABN) and served as a board member and as EVP for program acquisition and distribution dealing with NBC, CBS, MGM, Columbia Tri-Star, Endemol and Paramount. Mr. Arback has over 20 years of international business, pay television, and media experience, much of it focused on Africa and the Middle East. Mr. Arback has advised a number of media and satellite ventures including: Afrisat Networks, the Modi Entertainment Group, Arab Radio and Television, the H.T. Telesis Group, Sterling, Ltd., New Skies Satellites, PanAmSat and Intelsat. As president of Business Research International (BRI), he advised Fortune 500 companies in the international pay television, broadcasting and satellite businesses. He also served as a VP at DirecTV International and was responsible for establishing DTH television businesses in Africa, the Middle East, India, Southeast Asia and Central Europe. Mr. Hammer, with over 20 years of entertainment industry marketing and promotion experience, has held senior marketing positions with industry giants such as Buena Vista International, WTBS, Paramount Television and Columbia Pictures. In 2001, Mr. Hammer was selected as part of a strategic team assigned to launch a new television network, the African Broadcast Network (ABN), in Johannesburg, South Africa. There he was responsible for corporate and network branding, marketing, promotion and media relations. He was also the supervising producer in charge of re-editing content for local broadcasts. Mr. Hammer has also spent significant time in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, serving as a consultant for the East African television station ITV. The channel's initial partners, in addition to Ambassador Young and his company, Goodworks International - include Weller/Grossman Productions and National Basketball Association (NBA) players Dikembe Mutombo and Theo Ratliff. Source: The Africa channel press release, Los Angeles, in English 18 Jul 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) http://www.theafricachannel.com (Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog) ** ARGENTINA. 1610 KHz, RADIO COPACABANA (Gregorio de Laferrere), dejó de operar en AM. Cabe señalar que por un breve lapso llegó a retransmitir la programación de FM Alem (88.3 MHz) desde Isidro Casanova, hasta que desapareció del éter. 1640 KHz, Nueva emisora NO ID, también con emisiones de prueba. Se escucha sólo música de los '70 y '80, y con muy fuerte señal en la zona sur del Gran Buenos Aires, lo cual imposibilita que se recepcione a Radio Libre que opera desde la zona sur de la Capital Federal. 1650 KHz / A través del Decreto Nº 514 publicado en el Boletín Oficial del 23/05/2005, el COMFER adjudicó esta frecuencia al Sr. Norberto Eugenio Chindemi para operar una estación de AM que se ubicaría en la localidad de Pilar, Provincia de Buenos Aires, con Categoría V (Rubén Guillermo Margenet, Conexión Digital July 16 via DXLD) ** BENIN. A new Trans World Radio site for a mediumwave transmitter is under way in Benin backed by the President of that country. If work can [be] completed by the target date of November, 2005, the station will serve Algeria, Burkina Faso, parts of Nigeria, Ghana, Mauritius [sic], Mali, Niger, Togo, and Benin in local languages and the expensive SW broadcasts to W Africa from S Africa can be scaled down (Christopher J. Williams, July World DX Club Contact via DXLD) WTFK? ** BERMUDA. THE WORLD BEYOND OUR SHORES Limey in Bermuda by Phillip Wells Last Friday, The Royal Gazette did an unusual thing. It put a foreign news story on the front page. The story, of course, was the terrorist attack in London, in which at least 52 people died and more than 700 were injured. It came on the same day that Bermuda's national cricket team qualified for the World Cup for the first time in their history. But only The Royal Gazette seemed to acknowledge the seriousness of the bombings, giving the two stories equal prominence on its front page. In the Mid Ocean News, the cricket and the water shortage pushed the bombings to the bottom of the front page (continued in a short column on page eight). In the Bermuda Sun, apart from a brief mention on page one and a tiny slot in the news-in-brief section on page two (with the same prominence as a snippet about Portugal winning a prize for issuing the best stamps for the 2004 Olympics), coverage was relegated to page five. In the absence of such a major story, however, foreign news rarely makes it to the front page at all. . . http://tinyurl.com/dx2lo (The Royal Gazette, via Rich Cuff, DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. Em Bandeirantes (PR), Rubens Ferraz Pedroso ouviu a Rádio Yura, que emite da cidade boliviana do mesmo nome, em quatro de julho, às 0128, em 4715 kHz. No momento da sintonia, a emissora apresentou endereço eletrônico para contato, que é o seguinte: radioyura @ hotmail.com (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX July 17 via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 4876.3, Radio La Cruz del Sur, 23-05-2327, 16-07, Locutor, comentarios de partidos de fútbol, canciones. Señal muy débil. 14321. 5952.5, Radio Pio XII, Siglo XX, 2211-2240, 14-07. La emisora boliviana que mejor se escucha por aquí esta temporada y la primera que se sintoniza en la noche, tan temprano como a las 2211 cuando hay buena propagación ya se recibe. Locutor, español y quechua. Información municipal. Musica boliviana. Identificación: "Buenas tardes a todos los oyentes de Radio Pio XII". Noticias: "Informativos Pio XII". Comentarios del departamente de Oruro. "Desde Radio Pio XII saludos al municipio de ...". 24322 variando a 34333. 6025, Radio Illimani, 2258-2315, 14-07, Locutor, comentarios de fútbol. Copa Libertadores. Equipos bolivianos de fútbol. Identificación: "Radio Illimani". 24322 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, España- Spain, escuchas realizadas en Reinante, costa del Mar Cantábrico, 90 Km. N. de Lugo, Grundig Satellit 500, antena de cable, 10 metros, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. A Rádio Gazeta, de São Paulo (SP), deixou de transmitir a programação católica da Rádio Canção Nova, de Cachoeira Paulista (SP). O contrato entre as emissoras terminou. Com isso, a emissora da capital passou a levar ao ar uma programação musical, com prioridade para canções brasileiras. O tradicional "Jornal da Gazeta AM Universitária" continua sendo irradiado no seguinte esquema: das 7h às 8h; das 13h às 14h e das 23h à meia-noite, no horário oficial de Brasília [= UT 1000-1100, 1600-1700, 0200-0300]. Eu confirmei as informações com a funcionária da emissora, Natali. A freqüência de 5955 kHz tem sido ouvida aqui em Porto Alegre (RS). 73! (Célio Romais, Porto Alegre, Brasil, July 18, radioescutas yg via DXLD) 15325 too? ** CANADA. Hi Glenn, You were asking me once about the fill music in the RCI morning transmissions. Here`s a scan of the CD used, with some info about the artist. 73 (Bill Westenhaver, RCI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Thanks, Bill. ``Marches, Waltzes & Rags of Scott Joplin`` performed by William Albright, MusicMasters Classics, 01612-67102-2 © 1993 Here are the titles in order, totaling 73:05 --- 1, The Crush Collision March 2, Harmony Club Waltz 3, Combination March 4, Swipesy Cake Walk 5, Augustan Club Waltz 6, Sunflower Slow Drag 7, Cleopha 8, March Majestic 9, Something Doing 10, Bethena 11, Rosebud 12, Binks` Waltz 13, Antoinette 14, Heliotrope Bouquet 15, Lily Queen 16, Pleasant Moments 17, Felicity Rag 18, Kismet Rag So unless they are programmed to play in random order, you could match up what you hear, perhaps, by noting whether a march is followed by a waltz or a rag, etc. (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. A partir de 18 de junho [quer dizer julho], a Seção Brasileira da Rádio Canadá Internacional retira de funcionamento o telefone gratuito 0800 891 7066. Motivo: a emissora vinha recebendo trotes, ao invés de sugestões e comentários sobre a programação. É o único telefone que a emissora precisou retirar de circulação. Nos demais países da América Latina, o sistema funciona normalmente. Os contatos com o Canadá Direto podem ser feitos, a partir de agora, pelo endereço eletrônico: brasil @ rcinet.ca (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX July 17 via DXLD) 800 number closed due to abuse (gh) ** CANADA. 6030, CFVP (relay of CKMX), after readings Ricky`s item in DXLD 5-113, July 10, 2005, thought I would try them on a clear Monday opening. July 18, 0441-0503, noted weak signal but in the clear. Indeed they have changed their format to all C&W songs. Several IDs: ``A life time of county music, all in one place, AM 1060`` and ``All time county favorites, Classic County AM 1060.`` (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, RX340, with T2FD antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [non]. Strange conditions July 19 at 0525-0530 on the higher bands, as I was hearing // Chinese programming and little else, not even Australia. Seemed to be same program, except some frequencies were not synchronized with others --- a bit harder in Guoyü to figure out which ones were delayed and by how much. 15685 // 13670; 17880 (strongest) // 17615. Also on 13760, 15130. M&W talking in lively show, bits of music, several IDs mentioning BDT. At first I assumed this was a domestic program from China, since there was no jamming to be heard! But NDXC says at http://www.geocities.jp/binewsjp/bia05.txt that all these are R. Free Asia, Chinese service via Tinian or Saipan. Nor do they show any co-channel China transmitters, except on 13670. That doesn`t mean there aren`t any. This seems to have been a very selective opening from the Northern Marianas. Viz.: 13670 PBS Xinjiang 0300-0600 1234567 Uighur [not heard] 13670 R.FREE ASIA 0300-0700 1234567 Chinese Tinian Island 500 303 MRA 13760 R.FREE ASIA 0300-0700 1234567 Chinese Tinian Island 500 303 MRA 15130 R.FREE ASIA 0300-0700 1234567 Chinese Tinian Island 500 317 MRA 15685 R.FREE ASIA 0300-0700 1234567 Chinese Tinian Island 500 296 MRA 17615 R.FREE ASIA 0300-0700 1234567 Chinese Agignan Point 100 300 MRA 17880 R.FREE ASIA 0300-0700 1234567 Chinese Agignan Point 100 310 MRA 14541E 1507N RFA a05 = Saipan, 14538E 1458N RFA a05 = Tinian And from http://www.rfa.org/english/frequencies/ --- Mandarin Broadcast Schedule 7 days a week, 12 hours a day Time Frequencies as of 2005-3-27 0500-0600 UT 13670 13760 15130 15685 17495 17525 17615 17880 21690 So there were a few more frequencies I did not notice. And it all fits: 17495 and 17525 are Tajikistan, hitting China from the other side, but not making it at all here. 21690 is another Tinian, but just too high --- I think I checked 13m just in case (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Solar-terrestrial indices for 18 July follow. Solar flux 72 and mid-latitude A-index 29. The mid-latitude K-index at 0600 UTC on 19 July was 2 (12 nT). Space weather for the past 24 hours has been moderate. Geomagnetic storms reaching the G2 level occurred. Solar radiation storms reaching the S1 level occurred. (SEC via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. A las 0600 UT pude escuchar en buena forma la identificación de Radio Lider 730 AM, emisora colombiana que según la promoción al aire transmite en los 6140 kHz banda de 49 metro. Hoy si pude entender todo lo que dijeron y a continuación lo comparto con todos ustedes: Comentario de lo escuchado: Al sintonizar la radio estaban colocando música; al finalizar un tema colocaron un jingle que decía: ``Ésta es Radio Líder, la de la música bonita.`` Luego colocaron más canciones y a las 0600, 2 de la mañana hora venezolana, identificaron a la radio de esta manera: "Desde Bogotá Colombia, transmite Radio Líder en canal preferencial HJCU. Radio Líder, AM Stéreo 730 kilociclos, otra potente emisora de la Cadena Melodía de Colombia. En Radio Líder 730 kilociclos AM Stereo ésta es la hora oficial: es la una. ``Ahora Radio Líder llega a los diferentes países del mundo; escúchenos en la frecuencia 730 kilociclos onda larga y en 6140 kilociclos onda corta, banda de 49 metros. Escríbanos a nuestro correo electrónico: radiolider @ cadenamelodia.com o al Apartado Aéreo 19823, Bogotá, Colombia, indíquenos la hora y la ciudad donde escucha a Radio Líder y a vuelta de correo reciba un fabuloso premio. Radio Líder, siempre líder en el mundo". Como ustedes podrán notar, esta emisora está ofreciendo un fabuloso premio a las personas que reporten la señal de la radio, y si mal no recuerdo, hace ya cierto tiempo reporté una emisora que solicitaba que le reportara su señal y a vuelta de correo recibiríamos un fabuloso premio, pues en esa oportunidad reporté la señal y todavía no he recibido nada. Creo que si se ponen a prometer premios para llamar la atención y que les escriban, y luego no cumplen lo prometido, está muy mal hecho. Por el momento ya he reportado la señal de la estación; ahora solo queda esperar. Aunque me parece, que esta fué la señal reportada por mi hace ya cierto tiempo. Atte: (José Elías Díaz Gómez, Venezuela, July 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) But the 6140 outlet has been missing for several weeks. Don`t they know this in the studio? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA. 6010.1, La Voz de tu Conciencia, 0650-0730, 18-07, locutor habitual de esta emisora con comentarios religiosos. Por detrás, ocasionalmente, se escuchan canciones en español, probablemente Radio Mil, con señal muy muy débil. 24222. [v. MEXICO] 6035, La Voz del Guaviare, 23-05-2315, 14-07, locutor, comentario "Programa de desarrollo". canciones. Mala modulación. 24222 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, España-Spain, escuchas realizadas en Reinante, costa del Mar Cantábrico, 90 Km. N. de Lugo, Grundig Satellit 500, antena de cable, 10 metros, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA [non]. STRONG LOSES JOB AS U.N. ENVOY --- CONTRACT EXPIRES, NOT RENEWED --- Concerns raised in oil-for-food probe EDITH LEDERER, ASSOCIATED PRESS Jul. 19, 2005. 01:00 AM http://tinyurl.com/7jyp8 UNITED NATIONS --- Canadian businessman Maurice Strong lost his job as the top U.N. envoy to North Korea amid questions about his connection to a suspect in the U.N. oil-for-food scandal, the world body said yesterday. The decision not to renew Maurice Strong's contract follows criticism that he gave his stepdaughter a job at the United Nations and concerns over his ties to a South Korean businessman accused of accepting kickbacks from Saddam Hussein's government. Deputy U.N. spokesperson Marie Okabe said in response to a question that Strong's contract expired last week "and it has not been renewed." She initially gave no reason, but said later "if he is cleared of any involvement in the oil-for-food program, the secretary- general will consider availing himself of Mr. Strong's expertise on an informal basis." Strong, 76, denied he had been terminated, saying he told U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan when his contract was renewed for six months in January that he did not want another extension because "I'm at an age and stage where I can't go on forever." "As arranged long before any of these other questions had arisen, my understanding was that I would complete my assignment and would continue to be available to provide any further advice, but could not continue in the more operational role that I had had," he said in a telephone interview. Strong, who had been the U.N. pointman on six-party talks aimed at persuading North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons programs, took temporary leave from his part-time post April 20 during an investigation of his ties to businessman Tongsun Park. The next day his stepdaughter, Christina Mayo, resigned after a U.N. review discovered she had worked at the U.N. for her stepfather for two years. U.N. staff regulations in most cases prohibit the hiring of immediate family members. Park, a native of North Korea and citizen of South Korea, was charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office in April with allegedly accepting millions of dollars from Saddam's government to lobby illegally for Iraq in the United States on behalf of the oil-for-food program. Strong said Park had advised him on Korean issues, but he again denied any involvement with the $64 billion (U.S.) humanitarian program in Iraq. He has pledged to co-operate with an oil-for-food inquiry led by former U.S. Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker who is expected to issue three more reports by the end of September. Prosecutors say Park met an unidentified U.N. official in an apparent effort to influence the design of the oil-for-food program and invested $1 million in a company run by the official's son. Strong acknowledged that Park invested money in an oil company, Cordex Petroleum, in which he and his family had a significant interest. Strong had been involved in U.N. environment and development issues since 1970 and in January, 1997, was appointed a senior adviser to Annan on reforming the organization. Strong, who was born in Oak Lake, Man., is former president of Power Corp. of Canada (Toronto Star via Carlos Coimbra, ON, DXLD) shorter version, with portrait: http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2005/07/19/strong-un050719.html?ref=rss (via Carlos Coimbra, DXLD) ** CUBA. Not much time for DXing lately, but I was listening to some nice Sunday evening Cuban music on 6000 kHz with decent reception. That was from about 0240 UT with music, and then after a brief break at 0300 into news on tape at fast speed, reminding me of Alvin and the Chipmunks, and unintelligible due to the speed. After 2-3 minutes I tuned out. I wonder how long it took to discover this mistake? (Roger Chambers, NY, July 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I`ve caught this happening before on RHC; if it was more than double speed, the tape was probably fast forwarding or not properly locked between pinch roller and capstan. Remember those? Some old reel-to- reel machines allowed you to keep the tape next to the heads in rewind or FF for cueing purposes (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. Re 5-117, HCJB DRM. Could be that 15370-15380 really is a PTP service, from Pifo to Elkhart for the benefit of HCJB engineers fiddling with DRM in Indiana. In that case it should be in a fixed band. Heard again as late as 1350 July 19. Just listening to DXPL for July 16 at minute :10, Allen Graham quoted my correxion to the 17765 RCI logging of last week, so kudos for that. BTW, the July 23 DXPL will be a special --- one of those generic ones they have run over and over, I expect --- with the 4th-Saturday-of- the-month features delayed until the 5th (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. 15190 at 1915 21 May, Radio Africa. Fair. Looking for Radio Pilipinas but blocked by this with religious programs in English (``Truth for the World`` and ``Ledbedder Bible Broadcast``) with nice ID at 1929 during program change giving radioafrica @ myway.com address to write to station and they will forward to program producers (Richard A. D`Angelo, PA, July NZ DX Times via DXLD) Vanished since. I should have pointed out in 5-116 that the printed schedules claimed 15190 was on the air only in the mornings, and on weekends afternoons, and 7190 only in the evenings. So maybe they are really on 7190 now in the 17-22 period? (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1281, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUINEA. 7125, R/TV Guinéenne; 0834-0846 July 19, good signal, right on frequency with French man, into highlife vocals (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, WORLD OF RADIO 1281, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HONDURAS. 4820, HRVC, La Voz Evangélica, Tegucigalpa. As a follow- up on my remarks in DX-Window no. 275, I contacted HRVC and they gave me an account of how they have been off shortwave for 2 or 3 years. They have had bad final amplifier tubes and although they knew where to get the parts, they did not have enough money to replace them. But God provided, so the tubes have been purchased and already are en- route to them. The station should be back on the air in about a month. In the meantime, they have been expanding their MW network, but they never abandoned the vision of spreading the Good News to the nations via a shortwave transmitter. Should any news develop these days, the DSWCI will be the first one to know! I will keep an ear out for them! (Élmer Escoto, Honduras, Jul 05, DSWCI DX Window July 13 via DXLD) See also UNIDENTIFIED ** HUTT RIVER PROVINCE. Re Hutt River Radio - shortwave station planned --- I don't see it being too big --- the place is half a dozen buildings on a farm. I met the Prince when I was there a couple of years ago. Anyhow may be another country coming up (Wayne Bastow, Australia, ARDXC via DXLD) I can`t imagine DXCC recognizing this if the Commonwealth of Australia does not (gh, DXLD) ** INDIA. BBC program Locomotion --- CBC Radio One show Spotlight (one of two shows with that name...) played a BBC show called Locomotion last night, about a train trip across India, and it was spectacular. Certainly the best show I have heard in a while. I have not tried the listen again feature, but it looks like it can be accessed from this URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/indianlocomotion.shtml from the website: Sir Mark Tully follows in the wake of the legendary Raj train, the Imperial Indian Mail. On a unique 2000 kilometre journey from Bombay to Calcutta, Sir Mark Tully celebrates the 150th anniversary of Indian Railways with the drivers, caterers, ticket collectors, attendants and a thousand fellow travellers taking a modern trip in the shadow of the Imperial Indian Mail (Eric Flodén, July 19, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) Enjoyed one of them (gh) ** IRAN. After receiving an obviously tampered-with envelope with only a QSL card and FM/Internet schedule in May, a letter and another schedule came separately about 6 weeks later. The letter confirmed that "enclosed [in the previous envelope, presumed] is some reading material we hope you find interesting." There was also an invitation to reply, giving my phone number for a phone interview. I have thought of pursuing this with postal authorities, but would likely get no satisfaction, and conceivably cause myself more problems (Roger Chambers, Utica, New York, July 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. A pesar de los anuncios frecuentes sobre la suspensión de las emisiones en onda corta de la emisora ``La Voz de Israel``, ésta sigue transmitiendo en esas ondas. Fue anunciado que emitirá en onda corta al menos hasta finales de agosto (Rumen Pankov, R. Bulgaria DX via Dino Bloise, dxldyg via DXLD) Don`t recall hearing before of the end of August being another possible closedown (gh, DXLD) ** ISRAEL. "Right-wing radios for sale" --- Pirated and outlawed radio station Arutz 7 to market personal gadgets that play the station's internet stream; station official says hundreds have already ordered device By Ynetnews TEL AVIV - Good moooooooorning, right-wingers! Popular pirated Zionist radio station Arutz 7 plans to market Japanese-made personal devices solely designed to play its internet broadcasts after an almost two-year-old government ban on its radio frequencies. The station, established in 1988, broadcasts right-wing and pro- settler commentary and was taken off the air waves in 2003 after years of warnings and calls to disband. Critics of the Arutz 7, the most popular pirated radio station in Israel, have called its broadcasts propaganda and have said its messages are inciting against the government and the courts. The station has for the past two years broadcast solely on the internet. A new hand-held device will allow it to be heard over large frequencies without interrupting radio signals, said marketing director Hezki Baruch. "It looks like a radio, but it broadcasts only one station - Arutz 7," he said. "It works by internet but does not require a computer. There are people from the religious and Haredi sectors who don't have computers and internet and are a target audience of the station. " Baruch said Japanese manufacturers created the device especially for the station, which plans to market them this week for NIS 580 apiece. He said more than 1000 people have already ordered one. (07.18.05, 15:39) (Via Mike Brand) http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3114510,00.html (via Mike Terry, BDXC-UK via DXLD) Why do they call it ``pirated``? The term is ``pirate``. So how does it really work, WiFi all over Israel now? Seems to me this would still be verboten to the ultra-orthodox (gh, DXLD) ** KURE. K7C --- The K7C DXpedition to Kure Atoll [425DXN 722] will make use of a number of "Relay Stations". They will be similar to "Pilot" stations in that they will generate information to be passed to the team on Kure, and also disseminate information from the team. But unlike a normal pilot station, the Relay Stations will capture audio clips, spots, and other information, and forward it to the central server site for inclusion in the DXA web interface. DXers will be able to use their browsers to watch the status of the DXpedition, updated every minute or so. Additonal details about how the Relay stations will operate, as well as about DXA and any other aspect of the Kure Atoll Expedition, can be found at http://www.cordell.org/htdocs/KURE/index.html (425 DX News via Dave Raycroft, ODXA via DXLD) Sometime in Sept-Oct (gh) ** LATVIA. WHEN WE SAY WE PLAY ROCK MUSIC WE REALLY MEAN IT! PAN-EUROPEAN BROADCAST SUNDAY 14th AUGUST 2005 9290 kHz SHORT WAVE 3.2 MILLION WATT SIGNAL! 09:00 - 17:00 UT 10:00 - 18:00 UK TIME 11:00 - 19:00 CET See `Short Wave Reception` page for more information. Alice’s Restaurant Rock Radio: http://www.rockradio.eu.com Info courtesy of Tony King. Their website contains an online reception report for QSLs. No postal address available at this time (July NZ DX Times via DXLD) 3.2 megawatts! Gee, that must be ERP toward Brazil. Little of it gets to OK (gh) ** LIBERIA [non]. Very pleased to have heard what seems to be Liberia on 11965 at 2145 with a SINPO 25342. Conversation about agricultural issues and interview with a chicken farmer by the name of Victor Colon(?) in what us plainly that kind of African English very alike to our Caribbean style of Limón or what they call "Da King's English" based upon British colonialism on both sides of the Atlantic. The strange thing is that they didn't mention the word Liberia not even once, and as I was waiting the TOH ID, abruptly cut the transmission from, I'd guess, Ascension (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, July 17, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Good guess! (gh) [Later:] Confirmed: Radio Star Liberia, 11965, opened at 2100 sharp, no interval signal, and ended exactly 60 minutes later. That's giving us a clear idea of the time they hired from Ascension. Transmission began with the news by woman, followed by some notes of sports by male voice. Some other program came next but I wasn´t paying much attention while I was preparing a cold tea after my "ceviche" made with pieces of swordfish meat in lemon juice plus onion, pimentos and cylantro. How do you call this in English? [Ceviche --- gh] After a short musical break and mentions by woman, a similar program as the one I heard yesterday about scientific topics. This time about moskitos and "falaria" --- well at least that´s the word I heard instead of malaria. But this was interrupted briefly and came some rules about rights and punishments if you break the laws. 2155 a short bulletin with news in French abruptly cut two minutes before TOH. Some distant T-storms make reception hard at 2100, but the signal improved after 2130. It's nice to have an African station back on the 25 mb for this time slot since Côte d'Ivoire left in the 70s; I think they were on 11920 (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, July 18, ibid.) Right I was also listening to part of the Monday July 18 broadcast on 11965 from Star Radio. Tuned in at 2130 in time to hear them cut off at 2130:40 but were back after only 10 seconds; there was another similar transmission breakdown a few minutes later. ID at 2131 and later mentioned Monrovia and FM and SW but never the exact frequencies. Then a few minutes of Messages for Liberians, including someone in Nigeria, so not sure if this is inward or outward or both. 2136, Ask the Expert, about medical problems. Reception was fair, also marred by T- storms in the next county, but that, combined with the accents made listening less than easy, so back to VOA music on 15445, which BTW, IIRC was once a VOA Monrovia frequency (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBERIA [non]. 9525, ASCENSION ISLAND, Star Radio; 0829-0834 July 19, excellent with Pidgin English man babbling about a medical library and medical education plans in Liberia. 11965, ASCENSION ISLAND, Star Radio; *2100-2115 July 18. Opening with female news, "You are listening to [a] news broadcast from Star Radio. We are broadcasting from Liberia." (Lie.) Man with sports from 2109. http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/fromthefield/218498/11211206490.htm (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, DX LISTENING DIGEST) That`s the original story about adding SW (gh) ** MEXICO. Noise level was down a bit July 18, checking for XEXQ 6045, SLP, at 1335: Mozart piano concerto, but at this late hour still another carrier underneath, Inner Mongolia? Producing a rapid ripple, a fast SAH --- too fast to count, too low to judge the audio frequency, somewhere around 20 Hz. XEXQ music still audible at 1400, about 2.5 hours after sunrise here. Same 23 hours later, with music running past 1300, into PSAs and news a couple minutes later. XEOI Radio Mil, 6010 also audible with equivalent signal July 18 at 1340 check talking about Lázaro Cárdenas --- it`s a few hundred km further than XEXQ but nominally 4x as powerful. I wonder how reception of these two is closer in, say in central Tejas --- audible all day? (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Solar-terrestrial indices for 17 July follow. Solar flux 74 and mid-latitude A-index 18. The mid-latitude K-index at 1200 UTC on 18 July was 3 (36 nT). Space weather for the past 24 hours has been moderate. Geomagnetic storms reaching the G2 level occurred. Solar radiation storms reaching the S1 level occurred (SEC via DXLD) Only the strongest signals were making it thru on 15 MHz, and hardly any on 17 MHz (gh, DXLD) ** MEXICO. 6010.0, Radio Mil, 0555-0700, 15-07, Canciones presentadas por locutor. A las 0613 menciona varias veces "México" y "Ciudad de México". Señal muy débil; a veces se entremezclaba con La Voz de tu Conciencia, extremadamente débil está última, también. A partir de las 0700, la señal de la colombiana, con predicaciones religiosas, prevalecía sobre las canciones de Radio Mil, ambas muy débiles. Se aislan mejor amba señales en USB. La Voz de tu Conciencia en 6010.1. 12221. [see also COLOMBIA] 6010.0, Radio Mil (probable), 0607-0715, 17-07, Hoy solo se escuchaba una latinoamericana en 6010, que parecía ser Radio Mil, canciones románticas latinoamericanas y españolas, canciones de Victor Manuel "Sólo pienso en tí" y de Lorenzo Santamaría. Cada dos o tres canciones, locutor. La Voz de tu Conciencia parecía hoy fuera del aire, lo mismo que Marfil Estereo en estas horas de la mañana, si bién estuvo activa a las 2300 UT en la noche anterior. La señal era aceptable, pero la BBC World Service en 6005, desde Ascensión, con 250 kW causaba interferencia y distorsión, así que lograba escucharse mejor desplazándose a 6010.5 ó 6010.6 y a pesar de todo, los comentarios del locutor resultaba muy difícil poder entenderlos. 23222 4810.0, XERTA, Radio Tra[n]scontinental de América, 0452-0605, 17-05, locutor, comentarios religiosos entremezclados con canciones religiosas. "Este es el camino de la verdad". "Palabra de Dios". Mucho ruido en esta frecuencia; sólo es posible aislar la señal de la emisora mexicana en LSB, pues en AM normal, sólo se escucha ruido. Recordar que esta emisora sólo transmite por onda corta los fines de semana. 24122 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, España-Spain, escuchas realizadas en Reinante, costa del Mar Cantábrico, 90 Km. N. de Lugo, Grundig Satellit 500, antena de cable, 10 metros, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. LA VOZ DE LOS CAMPESINOS DE VERACRUZ [XEJN 2390 kHz] A las siete en punto de la mañana, un micro robot pegado a la pared del cuarto de sistemas de Radio Huayacocotla, la voz de los campesinos, enciende los aparatos de transmisión y comienza a llegar - -- estén o no estén los operadores --- a todos los rincones de la Sierra Norte de Veracruz en mexica, masapijni, ñuhú, y castellano. Por separado, Pancho Ramos, Alfredo Zepeda y Eugenio Gómez, los jesuitas que acompañan los procesos de "reconstitución de los pueblos", orgullosos comentan: "tenemos el único reloj automático del mundo que da la hora en ñuhú". Y es cierto. En forma aleatoria, da también la hora en castellano. Al finalizar la jornada, a las once de la noche ("hora de Dios, no del gobierno") el micro componente apaga en automático todo el equipo. Sí, Radio Huaya, fundada en 1965 como escuela radiofónica y que años después comenzaría a transmitir a ese rincón del mundo donde "las vacas tienen más y mejor tierra que los campesinos y en vez de trabajar están sentadas sobre su comida", cumplió años y como desde hace siete, lo celebran los pueblos de ese rincón de la Huasteca veracruzana con lo que ya se conoce con fama como el Festival de la Sierra. Esta vez el acontecimiento reúne a cuatro mil personas en La Florida, muy cerca de la cabecera de Texcatepec, municipio de oposición hace once años y que gobiernan la Unión Campesina Zapatista y el Comité de Defensa Campesina (con registro del PRD). Este partido pesa poco: como dice mucha gente: "aquí las opciones políticas son el PRI, que se queja mucho de la gestión municipal de los compañeros, y la organización". Los pueblos están que gozan. Bandas de música, tríos huastecos, grupos de danza y ni más ni menos que los voladores totonacos de Papantla. El espacio donde ocurre el festival es una suerte de anfiteatro natural "que ni mandado hacer": un semicírculo de terrazas escalonadas que sirven de asiento al público que disfruta el encuentro desde arriba, sobre el pasto y las piedras, contemplando la terraza inferior más amplia (el escenario), con la barranca en frente. Más allá, la sierra se mira como un tendido de lomas y macizos. El centro de tal escenario se reserva al poste que servirá en la danza de los voladores. La reunión comenzó unos tres días antes cuando mexicas (nahuas) masapijni (tepehuas) y ñuhú (otomíes) cortaron un árbol de unos quince metros, muy derechito, que sirviera de poste desde donde los voladores totonacos bajarán volando para reinaugurar el sueño de vitalizar la luna y la lluvia, la siembra y la fertilidad. Durante dos días, cuarenta personas arrastraron el poste unos once kilómetros. La mañana del 31 de mayo la gente que se va congregando en la terraza se organiza para hacer un hoyo, de unos dos metros de hondo, como asiento del poste. Ayudados por una pala mecánica y tirando de cuerdas, unos ochenta hombres levantan el poste hasta "sembrarlo" encima de una gallina negra, ritual, que espera su sino al fondo del hoyo. El ceremonial previo a la volada se completa tendiendo en torno al poste un caracol de elotes, adornados con hortensias y albahaca. El caporal de la danza comienza a tocar un tamborcito y una flauta y los cinco danzantes entran al caracol para trepar al poste. Los cohetones que silban en el cielo y se disuelven tronando en humos azules anuncian que la danza comienza. Después de zapatear sin dejar de tocar tamborcito y flauta sobre el tambor de 30 cm de diámetro que corona el poste, "hablando así a las cuatro esquinas del mundo -- aquella donde nace el frío, luego a la contraria por donde nos viene el calor, luego a donde sale el sol y después a la esquina por donde se va a dormir dejando su lugar a la luna" --, el caporal se asienta en las alturas para cuidar de sus compañeros: las cuatro águilas humanas bajan volando, atadas con cuerda, en las 13 vueltas rituales hasta rozar el piso. Nadie aplaude. La solemnidad del momento recorre la piel de los presentes. Desde la "cabina de transmisión", un tenderete de ramas con el equipo de sonido necesario, se explica para los presentes: La cercanía con poblados mestizos, y algunas instituciones como el ini, nos han metido la idea de que nuestras danzas son para que los mestizos y los funcionarios se diviertan. Ellos nombran "folklor" a nuestras danzas y nuestra música. Nos han puesto a concursar y competir entre nosotros. [...] Para nosotros, pueblos indígenas, la danza es sagrada. Así acariciamos a la Madre Tierra, y platicamos con la lluvia, el viento y el sol. Por eso pedimos a todos que respeten nuestras costumbres. Ante lo sagrado no se aplaude. Seguirán las bandas, primero todas juntas (cada quién con una pieza diferente) y luego por separado, y por turnos los tríos huastecos y las danzas de los distintos pueblos y comunidades durante dos días completos. Pero el impulso que los mueve a reunirse no es sólo la celebración del arte tradicional y contemporáneo de la sierra. Celebran la radio y como tal su resistencia (política, territorial, cultural). Por los altavoces se escucha: ...Somos los abuelos de nuestros hijos. También seguimos resistiendo. La guerra ahora se nos presenta como eso que llaman neoliberalismo. Esa guerra sorda en que se desconoce a nuestras autoridades. Ya no podemos tratar los asuntos en colectivo, ya nuestras autoridades no son reconocidas por las leyes mestizas. Ahora cada una de las mujeres tiene que caminar a recoger sus centavos de Progresa (Oportunidades). Los hombres tienen que correr por todos estos cerros para inscribirse y luego recoger su Procampo. Tenemos que encontrar el camino para entrar en los secretos de todos los abuelos. Encontrar esos secretos que los llevaron a seguir viviendo con la fuerza de la comunidad; esos secretos que lograron conservar sus territorios a pesar de la Ley Lerdo que se los prohibía. Esos secretos que nos han mantenido en la lucha por defender y recuperar nuestros territorios mexica, masapigní y ñuhu. Nuestras nietas y nietos tendrán que ver en nosotros las mismas señales de resistencia que nosotros buscamos en los secretos de nuestros abuelos. Para dejarles una vida mejor a nuestras hijas y nuestros hijos nos hemos reunido muchas veces en la casa de todos: el Congreso Nacional Indígena. Junto con todos los pueblos indígenas de México hemos nombrado nuestras demandas pero que son las tareas que tenemos que hacer nosotros mismos. La fuerza cohesionadora de El Festival de la Sierra es Radio Huayacocotla que, impulsando la comunicación y la música de diversas partes del país y América Latina, basta para que los pueblos de la sierra tengan un referente para nombrar los problemas que les aquejan, como el incumplimiento gubernamental de los Acuerdos de San Andrés, la noción de que todos los derechos humanos de estos pueblos se violan sistemáticamente, aparte de la represión ejercida por el gobierno de Miguel Alemán, mediante programas como Procede (impuesto bajo la presión de la Procuraduría Agraria), que insiste en que la tierra ejidal y comunal se registre individualmente abriendo la puerta a la venta particular, algo que han resistido los pueblos de la región, por "la individualización del trato". Al igual que el programa Oportunidades, antes Progresa, estos programas centran su objetivo en dividir a las comunidades y, en casos, han logrado pulverizarlas. Los programas de salud permiten hoy la práctica privada de los médicos, lo que tiende a desmantelar los antiguos servicios de salud del Estado. La homogenización educativa y cultural se conjuga con la negación del derecho indígena a la comunicación. Siendo Radio Huayacocotla la única radio permisionada de la sociedad civil en el país dirigida por indígenas y que trasmite en nahua, tepehua, otomí y castilla, "está parcialmente amordazada en frecuencia de onda corta por la negativa del gobierno a otorgar el permiso de transmisión en onda media, a pesar de que llena todos los requisitos técnicos de la actual legislación". De http://radio.espora.org/article.php3?id_article=22 (via Conexión Digital July 16 via DXLD) ** MEXICO [and non]. Dios quiera que este huracán se aleje de las costas mexicanas y no cause daño a nadie en ninguna parte ni en ningún otro país. ¿Sabrá algún colega alguna frecuencia para monitorear algo? De todos modos invito a escuchar la frecuencia 27455 en usb en banda de 11 metros donde de repente es posible escuchar a colegas oncemetristas mexicanos informando sobre lo que sucede. Atte: (José Elías, Venezuela, who also transmits on that frequency, July 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEPAL. QSL: RADIO NEPAL, Full detail QSL CARD received on Julio 11th, 2005. Showing "Annapurna Ranges, Pokhara". RTP sent on August 16, 2002. Frequency: 5005 at 1030 UT. V/S R. S. Karki. It was a nice surprise to receive this long awaited QSL card. I really gave up with this rare station (CESAR PEREZ DIOSES, CHIMBOTE, PERU, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEW ZEALAND. RNZI, 6095, Mon July 18 at 1342 during Mailbox, Bryan Clark was talking about how KMIK-1580 Phoenix is audible almost every evening; must get the audio archive of entire show (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU? En frecuencia 4475 kHz en modo LSB a las 2240 UT pude escuchar a varias mujeres hablando de medicinas, viajes, etc.; para mí son monjas o misioneras. De acuerdo a lo escuchado, las mismas se encuentran en el estado Amazonas y todos los días forman una rueda para saber de las distintas congregaciones; dos las mismas se identifican como Ayacucho y Altamira. También pude oir que una de estas mujeres se encuentra muy mal; luego otra dijo, que la estaban esperando con mucho cariño y que todo saldría bien para la gloria de Dios. Atte: (José Elías Díaz Gómez, Conexión Digital July 16 via DXLD) This item did not have a country heading, but from the place names, I assume it concern Perú. OTOH, Amazonas is an Estado in Venezuela, while it`s a Departamento in Perú (gh, DXLD) ** SAMOA AMERICAN. 580, KJAL-AM was off-air for 5 months with cyclone damage, returned to air early June 2005 using reduced power of 2.2kW. Presumably this has also delayed move to 630. 648, WVUV-AM has been on-air during 2004-2005 with very low power. Application for STA in 2004 was lost by FCC, so WVUV has asked for reinstatement of move to 720 and existing call letters. ------- WVUV-AM ------- [1] NZ DX Times [July 2005 issue] carries article on current WVUV situation and some background on the station as well as station logos. [2] 'This is WVUV' is an article featuring recollections from WVUV DJ and available on-line now at http://www.radioheritage.net in 'more articles' section index. [3] Memorabilia, photos, airchecks etc of WVUV-AM wanted. To help create on-line story of the station [original studios burned down in 1998 with all old records], both WVUV and Radio Heritage Foundation welcome all available materials. Email: info @ radioheritage.net or PO Box 14339, Wellington, New Zealand. Warm regards (David Ricquish http://www.radioheritage.net July 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Cf. Recent item that 648 would be going off the air. Minor point, but a frequent mistake, mainly in the trades which ought to know better: there is no such thing as an -AM suffix in US callsigns. If you want to make a point of a station being on AM you can add (AM) (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) :Re 5-115: WVUV AMERICAN SAMOA ARISES FROM THE ASHES? RECENT REPORTS OF DEMISE Compiled by David Ricquish Recent reports that WVUV American Samoa may have finally disappeared from the Pacific airwaves for ever, aren’t yet the end of the story. The DX press has carried news that the application to move to 720 had been dismissed and the call letters deleted. If true, this would be a sad end to what was once one of the most popular radio stations in the South Pacific. WVUV has been on air However, according to Larry Fuss, WVUV’s owner, it’s all because the FCC wrongly thought the station had been off-air for more than a year. Not so, says Larry. In fact, WVUV has been broadcasting on 648 with a very low power, and the FCC had lost their application for an STA [Special Temporary Authority] to broadcast! WVUV has since petitioned the FCC for reconsideration of the decision to delete the call letters and dismiss the application for the move to 720. Started life as 50 watt USN outlet WVUV started out as a small 50w station operated by US Navy personnel in Pago Pago in 1944, was later handed over to the American Samoan government and with a 10 kW transmitter, became a household name around the South Pacific. It was later sold to private business interests, and is now owned by Larry’s South Seas Broadcasting Co. Fire destroyed studios and records According to Larry, the building and old records of WVUV were destroyed by fire in about 1998. The future of WVUV-AM is now linked to Larry’s highly successful ``KHJ-FM`` which broadcasts from modern studios in Pago Pago. ‘This is WVUV’ on-line You can read `This is WVUV` a personal recollection of broadcasting by one of its former DJ`s at http://www.radioheritage.net where it`s indexed as story #8 on the ‘More Stories’ index page. Call for memorabilia to reconstruct heritage If you have airchecks, old WVUV memorabilia or copies of QSL letters and cards from WVUV, the Radio Heritage Foundation would like to hear from you. WVUV and ourselves are keen to see what we can reconstruct from those ashes as regards the stations heritage. Contact details: Either email info @ radioheritage.net or write to us at PO Box 14339, Wellington, New Zealand. Warm regards, David Ricquish (NEW ZEALAND DX TIMES JULY 2005 via DXLD) ** SAUDI ARABIA [non]. SAUDI OPPOSITION TV RESUMES BROADCAST; OFFICIAL MOCKS US ASSET-FREEZING | Text of report by Ahmad al-Masri in London entitled "Hiwar satellite channel is launched to escalate opposition against Saudi Arabia" published by London-based newspaper Al-Quds al- Arabi on 16 July The satellite channel of the Movement for Islamic Reform [in Arabia, MIRA] (a London-based Saudi opposition group) resumed its regular transmission yesterday under a new name, Hiwar [Arabic for dialogue], on two satellites: Hot Bird, on a frequency of 11785 and horizontal polarization ([SR] 27500) [FEC] 3/4 and Nilesat, on a frequency of 11580 and vertical polarization ([SR] 3100) [FEC] 1/2. In a telephone conversation with Al-Quds al-Arabi, the movement's official spokesman Dr Sa'd al-Faqih said that the transmission would be stable and would not be affected by any political pressure or jamming by the Saudi government. The transmission on Nilesat is expected to embarrass the Egyptian government. Al-Faqih added: The material that was expected to be transmitted yesterday had originally been images, but the authorities in the country where the movement is transmitting its programmes (which Al- Faqih declined to name) confiscated the video images, claiming to act at the request of the British government. The former Al-Islah [reform] channel had a broad audience among the Saudis until the end of December, when the transmission stopped because of jamming, according to Al-Faqih. According to Al-Faqih, the transmission of his satellite channel has been suspended over ten times either for political or legal reasons for as a result of jamming. He hopes this time that the transmission will continue. Al-Quds al-Arabi asked Al-Faqih about the US Treasury's recent decision to freeze the movement's assets and the effect of this decision on the group's activity. Al-Faqih said: This is not new for us. A stronger decision was issued by the UN. The new decision will neither affect me personally nor affect the movement in general. The movement will continue its reform agenda until the aspired change in Saudi Arabia is attained and the corrupt symbols of the regime are removed. Al-Faqih ridiculed the US government's decision to freeze the assets of the Movement for Islamic Reform. He noted that he had neither assets nor ties to the Al-Qa'idah Organization. Washington is targeting him because of the threats that he and his movement pose to the Saudi government, an ally of the United States, he added. He added that his movement sought to overthrow the ruling family in Saudi Arabia through peaceful means. Al-Faqih continued: First of all, there are no assets to freeze. This is a symbolic decision and the justifications for it are nonsense. He added that he would like the US government to prove that the movement's website is used by Al-Qa'idah Organization or that he is a spokesman for Al-Qa'idah. Al-Faqih expressed surprise to see a country that is supposed to be a respectable super-power speaking like a despotic government in the Middle East. On Thursday, the US administration froze the financial assets of the Britain-based Saudi opposition Islamic Reform Movement, which the United States says is providing support for Al-Qa'idah Organization. US Treasury Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Affairs Stewart Levey said that Al-Faqih was using the Movement for Islamic Reform to provide Al-Qa'idah with men and public relations support. Source: Al-Quds al-Arabi, London, in Arabic 16 Jul 05 p 1 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** SEYCHELLES. S7. Just a reminder that DDr. Karl, OE3JAG, is expected to be active as S79JAG from Mahe between July 22nd and August 7th. This will be a DX holiday style operation, and Karl will be using a FT-817, running QRP, with random wire and dipole antennas. Look for activity on the following suggested frequencies: CW - 14020, 18070, 21020, 24890 and 28020 kHz SSB - 14190, 18140, 21190, 24940 and 28190 kHz RTTY - 14080, 18100, 21080, 24920 and 28080 kHz PSK - 14070, 18100, 21070, 24920 and 28070 kHz. QSL via OE3JAG: DDr. Karl Jungwirth, Adalbert Stifter Strasse 25, 2232 Deutsch Wagram, AUSTRIA - EUROPE. Further information can be found on Karl's Web site at: http://www.oe3jag.com/ (KB8NW/OPDX/BARF80 via Dave Raycroft, ODXA via DXLD) ** SLOVAKIA [and non]. With reference to Radio Slovakia, Scott Walker wrote: ``The program included a feature on a Dobro guitar festival held in the town where the inventor of the dobro guitar lived. They interviewed American bluegrass star Sam Bush. I didn't realize the dobro came from Slovakia.`` Sort of --- the Dopera Brothers, who invented the instrument, were Slovak-Americans (Saul Broudy, Philadelphia, PA, USA, July 18, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) ** SOMALIA. Re a Galkayo station being closed: According to WRTH 2005 there are two radio stations in Galkayo: R Galkayo on 6980 (not 6890) and 79.5 MHZ FM, and R Daljir on 90.9/103.9 MHz FM. The former is known to support the present President, so I wonder, if it is the latter station that has been closed down? (Anker Petersen, DSWCI DX Window July 13 via DXLD) ** SRI LANKA. 15747.78, (Tentative) SLBC, 0124-0144, July 15, English, OM poking thru the static with pop ballads and talks between selections. Heard TC's, mentions of "Colombo, Sri Lanka" and tentative frequency/ID announcements. Unsure of the exact frequency as I tuned up to avoid some sort of noise blob (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH-USA, R75, 200' Beverage antennas, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKEY. The V. of Turkey 1230 broadcast on Thursdays carries the Live from Turkey phone-in programme rather than features previously listed. LFT is just as live as the programme on Tuesday [at 1850 on 9785]. On Thursday you have two 500 kW transmitters at your service [15225, 15535, presumably from 1250]. There are not enough callers to the LFT programmes. I have no explanation, but it is easy to get on the air and you can talk for 20 minutes if you want to. You will not be asked what you are going to talk about. VOT will pay for your phone call: you call them briefly and give your phone number; they will call you back and you can broadcast. This is far better than being a pirate (David Crystal, Israel, Radio Waves, July Contact, World DX Club via WORLD OF RADIO 1281, DXLD) ** UGANDA. Yesterday's mail brought an interesting item from Radio Uganda. In 1984, I began an initiative to verify said station. Over the years, I sent countless followup letters and ploys used in the hobby, and eventually confirmed the station in 1995. To my surprise, yesterday I received a letter from Radio Uganda. I immediately recognized my airmail SASE, and the font from an old IBM electric typewriter we use to have, plus some Ugandan mint stamps (which I probably furnished in one of the many letters). The letter was from Jingo Francis Kibirige, a staff journalist with the station. He said he'd been going through some station letters, and found one I had written to the station engineer, oh, and "by the way do you still get us?" The gist of his letter was how poor he is, as well as Uganda being one of the poorest countries in Africa, and the station he works for is "one of the worst paying radio stations." He is a graduate of Makere University with a BA in Mass Communications, and "I am very enthusiastic to get more skills in my broadcasting career and I hope you can help me attain my dreams." Of course, I knew some sort of appeal was coming as I started the letter, but it's been quite some time since I'd received one of these. I use to receive quite a few of these sorts, from men in third world countries desiring to be my "houseboy", including one military officer who was "looking for a nice American girl to have a meaningful relationship with." My husband just loved that one! He sent me his snail and email address, and is "resting for the next time when you reply to my letter." Looks like these letters are still going on, and I would just want to warn other hobbyists how "friendly" some of these appeals can be. It certainly adds to interesting talk at the office water cooler and I plan to add it my "collection" of letters (Gayle Van Horn, W4GVH/Monitoring Times, July 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. BIG CHANGES AHEAD AT BBC WORLD SERVICE? Take a good look at the small print in the BBC World Service Annual Report 2004/5 http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/us/annual_review/2004/index.shtml There is currently a review going on into the range of language services broadcast by the BBC World Service, and reading between the lines, the following could be deduced: 1) The BBC and the British Government both want the BBC to launch an Arabic Television Service 2) The BBC wants the Government to fund it with extra money 3) The Government does not want to pay for it on its own 4) The BBC desperately wants to start it up as soon as possible, and is looking for significant savings in its current radio output to pay for some of it - hoping that the Government will pay for the rest 5) So watch this space - expect an announcement in the months ahead regarding cuts in language services the BBC no longer feels committed to - e.g. the many East European languages. 6) In the part of the Annual Report shown on the website, look at the Year in Review section - hardly a mention of the European services. When you carefully read the two extracts from the Annual Report (below), you don't have to be a genius to see what's on its way. What a shame if the BBC were to reduce its radio broadcasts to some of its closest neighbours in their mother tongues to pay for a TV News service in Arabic. Quotes from BBC World Service Annual Report: 1) From: Chairman's Introduction "Looking further ahead, the UK government's Green Paper on renewing the BBC Charter makes it clear that the BBC must review its priorities constantly to ensure it is responding appropriately to changing audience needs. We feel those needs would be well served by the launch of a BBC Arabic television service. The UK Government decided against funding this in the 2004 spending round and the BBC is currently considering what can be done from within existing resources. The BBC welcomes the opportunity presented by the Green Paper to review the present portfolio of 43 language services with a view to significant change." 2) From: Priorities for 2006-2008 "The harder challenge is achieving the right balance of investment, at a time of finite resources, across the multiple platforms that populate the global media landscape. There is now a strong case for a television presence in languages other than English in markets where radio is being superseded as the main means of receiving information, and where new media still has limited impact. The rapid growth of regionally-based news satellite channels threatens to weaken the BBC's current position, especially in the Middle East and wider Islamic world. Our internationally based competitors in the USA, France and Germany have reacted quickly to these new opportunities. In the 2004 Spending Review, the BBC proposed the creation of a television news channel in Arabic to complement the presence of BBC World in this top priority market. No funds were allocated to this proposed service. BBC World Service continues to believe that it is vital to develop such a television presence if our influence and impact in the Middle East is to remain strong. As was signposted in the UK government Green Paper, a key milestone in the debate about the future of the BBC, we are currently engaged with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in re-examining our current spending plans to see if, and how, a television service in Arabic could be funded." (Martin Levene, London, July 18, WORLD OF RADIO 1281, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [non]. BBCWS via Thailand, 17760, was not making it during the 1300 hour the past few days with MUFs depressed, but back again July 19 at 1350 check, fair and fluttery. Hope it will build up to premium strength again as flux goes up (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Geophysical Alert Message # Solar-terrestrial indices for 18 July follow. Solar flux 72 and mid-latitude A-index 29. The mid-latitude K-index at 1200 UTC on 19 July was 2 (11 nT). The mid-latitude K-index at 1500 UTC on 19 July was 2 (11 nT). No space weather storms were observed for the past 24 hours. No space weather storms are expected for next 24 hours (SEC via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. VOA Korean service, 11740, puts a very good signal into CNAm most mornings, and apparently not jammed, e.g. July 18 at 1347 talking about Korean-American culture, mentioned Honolulu, J. K. Rowling. This is Tinang, Philippines, at 1300-1500, 250 kW at 21 degrees, so carrying on to NAm far beyond the target area. Also very good July 19 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. KTBN missing again July 18: nothing on 7505 at 1350 check, nor on 15590 later in the day. 7505 still missing 24 hours later. It supposedly operates 24 hours and is always on one frequency or the other. O, how I miss it. O, I can get the same thing on channel 14 with the added benefit of moving pictures in color to glory in Mrs. Crouch`s marvelously high hair and professionally painted face! (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1281, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WRNO`s on-air goal has been pushed back to September. The previous late-June date was thought to be a required deadline, but this was not the case (George Thurman, TX, July 19, WORLD OF RADIO 1281, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WBCQ Schedule Update - July 16, 2005 My apologies for not keeping the schedule up to date. This is a big update; if you see anything I might have missed please let me know via wbcq at zappahead dot net. Schedule updates as follows: - Herald of Truth gone from Monday 0415 on 7415. - World of Radio now 0415 Monday on 7415. [0417 this week --- gh] - World of Radio moves from 2200 Wednesday on 17495 to 2300. - EVM Jewish Radio Network gone from Thursday 0100-0400 on 5105. This was apparently a one-shot broadcast in June. - EVM Jewish Radio Network adds Thursday 2200 on 7415, replacing a repeat of Allan Weiner Worldwide. - Squad 51 gone from 5105 Saturday at 0300. - The RMF Show gone from 9330 Sunday at 0330. - Good Friends Radio Network replaces Word of the Cross Sunday at 2200 on 9330. - Good Friends Radio Network replaces Financial Survival 2100 Mo-Fr at 2100 on 17495. - Good Friends Radio Network adds 2200 Mo-Fr on 17495. - Good Friends Radio Network replaces Christian Sabbath Bible Study Friday at 2200 on 9330. - Good Friends Radio Network replaces Christian Sabbath Bible Study Saturday at 2100 on 9330. - Good Friends Radio Network adds Saturday at 2200 on 17495. The following broadcasts originate live from the M/S Katie in Boston, relayed by WBCQ, until the end of the summer: - Good Friends Radio Network Mo-Fr 1800 on 7415 - Good Friends Radio Network Tu-Sa 0200 on 5105 - Good Friends Radio Network Sa-Su 1600-2000 on 9330 It is not uncommon for 5105 and 7415 to run past their scheduled closing times with unannounced programing originating from the studio in Monticello or from the M/S Katie in Boston. Radio Six International will be leaving 5105 at the end of July, 2005. The Overcomer Ministry will be leaving 17495 at the end of July 2005. (Larry Will, WBCQ Annotated Program Guide, http://www.zappahead.net/wbcq via dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) WOR again appeared at 2330 UT Tuesday July 19, Extra 58 (gh) ** U S A. AS CLEAR CHANNEL ENTERS THE FRAY, ONLINE RADIO LOOKS TO BE COMING OF AGE --- By BOB TEDESCHI Published: July 18, 2005 AFTER giving its Internet competitors a huge head start, Clear Channel is ready to play catch-up. . . http://tinyurl.com/dm87a (NY Times via Jim Renfrew, NY, DXLD) ** U S A. "CONNECTION" CUT IN WBUR SHUFFLE A few years ago, it looked as though eastern MASSACHUSETTS could become a major production center for public radio - not just the weekly entertainments of "Car Talk," but also a significant amount of daily news and talk programming. Over at WGBH, the joint partnership with the BBC that produced "The World" is approaching its tenth anniversary. But it was Boston University's WBUR-FM (90.9), under former GM Jane Christo, that harbored visions of serious national glory, launching Chris Lydon's "The Connection" into national distribution not long after its 1993 local debut, followed a few years later by "On Point" in the evenings (an outgrowth of WBUR's 9/11 coverage) and "Here and Now" in middays. We know, of course, what happened next: the heated departure of Lydon and the team that created "The Connection" (now ensconced at WGBH and producing "Open Source"), followed a few years later by the ouster of Christo herself. And last week, WBUR interim GM Peter Fiedler announced a series of cuts that promise to bring WBUR's production load more in line with its slimmed-down budget. The most notable change is the cancellation, effective after the August 5 broadcast, of "The Connection." While Lydon's eventual replacement, former CBC host Dick Gordon, was doing a capable job with the program, it faced a crowded field of competitors for a finite number of daytime slots in a public radio universe where many stations are still trying to balance news and music on a single signal. (We find that, in the end, across NERW-land "The Connection" was being heard only on WNED(AM) in Buffalo, New York's North Country Public Radio and WPNI(AM) in Amherst, as well as on WBUR's own network.) On August 8, "On Point" will move from its 7-9 PM slot (an even tougher one in which to find affiliates; across NERW-land, it was heard only on WNED(AM), WNYC(AM) in New York and WQLN in Erie, as well as WBUR/WRNI itself) to the 10-noon slot held by "The Connection." Changes are also coming to "Here and Now," which started as a strictly local show but soon got caught up in the push for national syndication and relevance. WBUR says the program will hire additional staff and sharpen its focus on New England arts and culture. (Around the region, it's now carried on New Hampshire Public Radio, the WSHU(AM)/WSUF combination in Connecticut and Long Island and WHYY in Philadelphia, along with WBUR/WRNI; we'd expect that WHYY will likely drop the show when it refocuses itself on New England.) For local listeners to WBUR and its satellite stations, the 7-9 PM slot will be filled by rebroadcasts of "Fresh Air" and the first hour of "On Point." Fiedler is also promising listeners a reduction in the number of on-air fundraisers (four, rather than six, a year) - and, perhaps most welcome for those who've been following WBUR's recent crises, a balanced budget. NEW YORK's Mohawk Valley will continue to hear classical music on 97.7, but the commercials will be going away soon on what's now WBKK (97.7 Amsterdam). Rotterdam-based public broadcaster WMHT (89.1 Schenectady) says it's paying owner GEM Associates $1.5 million for the class A signal that rimshots the Albany market. Beginning August 4, the classical service supplied by Boston's WCRB will be replaced on WBKK by a simulcast of WMHT's classical programming; WMHT says it has plans to create a separate classical service on 97.7, and while they're not coming right out and saying so, we suspect at least some of the classical music on WMHT's main FM service might yield to something else (news/talk?) once the new service takes root (Scott Fybush, NE Radio Watch July 18 via DXLD) ** U S A. THE LAST DANCE --- rfb SIGNS OFF WITH 7TH BIRTHDAY PARTY July 18, 2005 By KIM SMITH DEDAM Southern Vermont Bureau DJs and broadcast believers at radio free brattleboro celebrate after blowing out the candles on the cake. Photo: KIM SMITH DEDAM / RUTLAND HERALD [caption] BRATTLEBORO — Radio free brattleboro did a final live broadcast, blasting music into the breeze from a gazebo in the park. The independent radio station was shut down June 22 when federal marshals seized equipment from its downtown studio. But disc jockeys played through giant speakers anyway Sunday in celebration of rfb's seventh birthday. . . http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050718/NEWS/507180382/1002 (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) rfb members still celebrating By MIKE KALIL Reformer Staff Article Published: Monday, July 18, 2005 - 2:15:13 AM EST BRATTLEBORO -- Members of radio free brattleboro say they know the end is near. The details of that ending, however, are anyone's guess. Whether the federal government allows radio free brattleboro, also known as rfb, to go back on the air or demands that it stays off, station members say another station like it -- licensed, this time -- will take its place as soon as late this year. They hope, however, they can return to the airwaves before the new station goes live, so there can be a changeover. The matter is still pending in federal court and it's unclear when a resolution will come. . . http://www.reformer.com/Stories/0,1413,102~8862~2970170,00.html (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) UNLICENSED STATION CELEBRATES LAST BIRTHDAY Boston Globe July 18, 2005 http://www.boston.com/news/local/vermont/articles/2005/07/18/unlicensed_station_celebrates_last_birthday/ (via Ray T. Mahorney, DXLD) ** U S A. 1610, UNIDENTIFIED, unknown DOT, TIS or MIS here, 0913+ July 19, fairly short female loop mentioning "... update... traffic... WWW- dot..." In the mix with the Haitian pirate and at least two male voice TIS's, neither seemingly the Tampa International male voice. 1610 FLORIDA (PIRATE) R-C-H, Homestead; presumed, 0926+ July 19, bubbling up at times with Kreyol lipsy man, right on frequency. (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W Visit my "Florida Low Power Radio Stations" at: http://home.earthlink.net/~tocobagadx/flortis.html DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. Managed to get a few hours DX at the Mangawhai (Northland) site on Saturday afternoon. Snugly set up in our motor vehicle with the AOR7030+ on 12 volts, the 185m BOG wire running northeast, and despite incessant heavy rain outside and the windows steaming up, the DX conditions inside were surprisingly good. There were North American or Mexican signals on most 10 kHz channels but I elected to spend most time on the X-Band this time, with a few surprises. It took me a while to work out that the new Catholic format station on 1660 is a format change for Florida. Now that 1530 is a clearer channel here (New Plymouth gone to 918, and Napier not a problem), the dominant signal is Texan KGBT in Spanish. Will be back at Mangawhai again next Friday/Saturday for some more! Here are my listening highlights from 16 July, times in UT. 1530, KGBT Harlingen TX with ranchera music format dominant 0545, ident as SS as "AM-15-30" 16/7. Over co-channel US station in EE with promo for the B.I.G Network and EDT [!] timecheck at 0600. BCM 1570, UNID with Ranchera SS format pushing through XERF 0613 16/7. Possible ident on tape. BCM 1620, WDHP St Croix US Virgin Islands good with BBC news 0803 over Catholic mass (presumed KSMH). On checks at 0600 and 0700, WDHP was on continuous music format, 16/7. BCM 1650, KWHN Fort Smith AR presumed the one with "Good News" slogan and crossing to "Coast to Coast" at 0611 16/7 (unless KCNZ still has C-to- C?) BCM [transmitter in Oklahoma] 1660, KTIQ Merced CA with energetic SS talk 0630, ident 0635 as "Radio Visa", mixed KXOL 16/7. BCM 1660, KXOL Brigham City UT taking its turn on top 0659 with "The All New True Oldies Channel" format, otherwise mixed with KTIQ, WCNZ, an unid Sports station, even tentative KXTR on classical music 16/7. BCM 1660, WCNZ Naples FL overall the best signal tonight with new Catholic talk format from 0602 tune-in, end-times, early church history, phone callers, ident as "This is Relevant Radio" at 0802 16/7. BCM 1670, KNRO Redding CA with sports talk 0726 mixing KHPY Radio Católica in SS. ESPN ident 0737 16/7. BCM 1680, KAVT Fresno CA presumed the strong Radio Disney outlet 0711, rock music, numerous idents & promos 16/7. BCM 1690, KDDZ Arvada CO with Radio Disney idents 0556 and 0757 over co- channel SS (KFSG?) 16/7. BCM 1700, XEPE Tijuana BCN strong relaying XEPRS EE sports 0551, promos for "the Mighty 10-90" 16/7 (Bryan Clark, Mangawhai, New Zealand - 36 07 South, 174 36 East, greylinedx via DXLD) ** U S A. U.S. SET TO EXPAND DAYLIGHT-SAVING [sic] TIME --- As Part of Energy Bill, Extra Hour of Evening Sun Would Run March-November By JOHN J. FIALKA Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL July 19, 2005; Page D1 As a step to save energy, Congress appears poised to extend U.S. daylight-saving time for two months, starting it earlier, on the first Sunday in March, and ending it later, on the last Sunday of November. The move was first approved in May as part of the energy bill by the House. The idea has now been agreed upon by House and Senate committee staffs, with the approval of both Republican chairmen and ranking Democrats. That means it is likely to be approved by the full House- Senate conference committee, which begins squaring the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill this week. [Cast Your Vote] Should daylight-saving time be extended by two months as a way to save energy? Participate in the Question of the Day. Assuming the president signs the bill, the measure would take effect immediately, extending the current daylight-saving time by one month this fall. Daylight-saving time, by requiring everyone to shift their clocks forward one hour, extends the hours of available daylight deeper into the evenings. Polls show that daylight-saving time is popular. And it has been a hallmark of summer nights, allowing families and businesses to extend their activities later -- with less need for artificial light. Currently, daylight-saving time begins at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday of April and ends at 2 a.m. on the last Sunday of October. "The more daylight we have, the less electricity we use," said Rep. Ed Markey (D., Mass.), who co-sponsored the measure with Rep. Fred Upton (R., Mich.). The pair cited a government study that estimated the additional energy savings at the equivalent of 100,000 barrels of oil a day, or about half of 1% of the nation's daily oil consumption. Most of the energy saved, however, will be in the form of electricity because lights would be used less in the early evenings. [photo] Some parents complain daylight-saving shifts sunlight from the mornings when kids go to school Daylight-saving time has had its critics. Some parent groups have been opposed to it because it can mean sending children to school when it is still dark. And the change would throw U.S. international schedules further out of synchronization with Europe, where daylight-saving time starts on the last Sunday of March. The Air Transport Association, which represents major U.S. air carriers, says the move would cost the U.S. airline industry $147 million and cause "significant disruption" in overseas passenger travel. According to the association, U.S. airlines risk losing "slots," or established landing times at major European airports if they can't maintain existing schedules. Although the theory of daylight-saving dates back to Benjamin Franklin, it was first used by Germany and Austria in April 1916 to conserve energy during World War I. The U.S. adopted it in March 1918, but repealed it a year later because the measure wasn't popular with rural America. Daylight-saving time was readopted from 1942 to 1945 in the U.S., where it was called "War Time." From then until 1966, when Congress attempted to standardized its use, some states used it and others didn't. Parts of Indiana and Arizona still don't participate. (WSJ via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. FEDS WILL LISTEN TO COUNTIES ON TIME CHANGE By Mary Beth Schneider The federal government has turned down Indiana's request for a series of hearings statewide on where the Central and Eastern time zone line should be, and instead said counties should individually request hearings. A state law passed this year moving Indiana to daylight-saving time included a provision requiring Gov. Mitch Daniels to petition the federal Department of Transportation, which determines time zone boundaries, to hold hearings on the issue. Daniels asked Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta to hold eight to 10 hearings in population centers around the state to get public input on where the time zone line should be. Mineta replied in a letter to Daniels dated Friday and which was released this afternoon. The letter says that the issue will be left to the counties. . . http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050718/NEWS01/50718013 (via Steven Cline, IN, DXLD) ** UZBEKISTAN. /USA: TRIAL OF US-BASED MEDIA NGO BEGINS | Text of report in English by UN regional information network IRIN on 19 July Tashkent, 18 July: Two local staff from the US-based media NGO, Internews, went on trial on Monday [18 July] in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent following a year-long campaign to halt the work of Western- funded pro-democracy organizations in the country. As the trial opened in Yakkasaroy district court, the judge ordered representatives of foreign organizations and journalists, who wanted to monitor the trial, to leave the courtroom. "This is a violation of judicial procedures," Fyodor Kravchenko, a lawyer with Internews, said. "The other news for us was when the public prosecutor declared that the representative office of Internews in Uzbekistan must be liquidated, and I think it is imminent," Kravchenko added. The Uzbek government has accused 'Internews Network' - as the programme is known locally - of "conspiracy to engage in productions of videos and publications of informational materials without the necessary licences" earlier this month, charging two local staff, former Internews director Kholida Anorboeya and an accountant, Olga Normatova. The accused could go to prison for six months if found guilty. Pressure on international organizations working in Uzbekistan to support local democracy, free speech and a free press, have escalated following popular uprisings in Georgia, Ukraine and in March, in neighbouring Kyrgyzstan. The popular revolts have toppled long- standing Soviet-era leaders in these post-communist republics. Uzbekistan's authoritarian president Islam Karomov and his counterparts in Central Asia are worried that a little liberalization will result in them being swept from power. In August 2004 Internews Network's bank accounts in the country were frozen. In September last year, three months before parliamentary elections, the court closed the local office for six months. Internews is the latest Western organization to have come under pressure recently in Uzbekistan. Last year Uzbek authorities expelled the Open Society Institute, a project of the US billionaire George Soros, who has been working to foster democracy in the former Soviet Union. The Open Society Institute had been particularly active in the education and media sectors in Uzbekistan. Source: UN Integrated Regional Information Network, Nairobi, in English 19 Jul 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) See also AFGHANISTAN ** VIRGIN ISLANDS US. 1620 as heard in New Zealand: See USA [and non] ** ZAMBIA. I reported music by Eric Clapton heard on a Christian station in Zambia, and the GM wrote back to say that they had reprimanded the late night DJ for departing from the format (Jim Renfrew, NY, NRC-AM via DXLD) Hmm, wonder what station it could be? ** ZAMBIA. 5915, 2005-2035, 11-07 ZNBC, Lusaka temporarily here, ex 4910 Vernacular talks, but heavy QRM from Kol Israel Arabic Service on 5915. 32332 AP-DNK 4910, 2015-2020, 14-07 ZNBC, Lusaka back on this frequency after a week’s stay on 5915 which no longer was heard, Vernacular announcement, Afropop 35333 AP-DNK (Anker Petersen, Denmark, @tividade DX via DXLD) ** ZANZIBAR [and non]. ZANZIBAR, CHINA RADIOS AGREE ON INCREASED COOPERATION | Text of report by Zanzibar radio on 18 July Voice of Tanzania - Zanzibar and China Radio International have agreed to strengthen relations and open up four new areas of cooperation. The decision was reached during talks in Beijing, China between the Chinese deputy information minister, Zhang Fan [phonetic] and the state minister in the Office of the Chief Minister, Hon Ali Juma Shamhuna. The new areas of cooperation agreed to by the two sides are for Voice of Tanzania - Zanzibar to allocate two hours of airtime to China Radio International to air its programmes through 5 FM [as heard]. The China Radio International broadcasts will be aired in Swahili for an hour as well as in English for one hour. The two sides have also agreed to renew the arrangement for Voice of Tanzania - Zanzibar to send its broadcasters to China to present on the Swahili Service of China Radio. The agreement will also include training workers, journalists, presenters and technicians to improve their skills. Source: Voice of Tanzania - Zanzibar, in Swahili 1600 gmt 18 Jul 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) You`d think they would have mentioned the new transmitter on 11735 as part of this, if in fact Chinese aid was involved (gh, DXLD) 11735, Radio Tanzania-Zanzibar; 1945-2100* July 18, highlife vocals, some Islamic-influenced, single tone and Radio Tanzania ID at 2000, flutes and vocals from 2002, female in presumed Swahili at 2012, etc. Recheck at 2058, last of closing announcements, tone, then off. Clear and fairly good copy. Spot on frequency, reportedly thanks to recent work by ChiCom engineers (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 4830, 0702, Jul 02, Spanish. Christian songs. Lots of noise and QSB. When the signal weakens due to QSB, a heterodyne becomes audible. But noise is too high and could not positively ID this one. 22222. Who can it be? (Élmer Escoto, Honduras, Jul 05, DSWCI DX Window July 13 via DXLD) It looks mostly like R Litoral, Honduras. (DSWCI Ed) ? I thought they had been off the air for a long time (gh) UNIDENTIFIED. In early July 2005 Euronet Radio submitted an application for the issue of a shortwave broadcasting licence. At this stage we are unable to reveal the country where our transmitter is planned to be located. We anticipate being able to issue a full statement sometime in the New Year, when we will learn if our application has been successful (Euronet Radio Yahoo Group via Mike Barraclough, UK, July 19, DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ I haven't sat down to listen to any broadcast in years! I love to record and then load the mp3 player up and listen at work or wherever I might be. Last week I heard WOR while riding the mountain bike along the Trans Canada Trail. Take care 73 (Alex Draper, June 19, forum at http://www.dxprograms.net via DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ PODCASTING A PASSING FAD I work for a company that is growing obsessed with "buzzword of the month", AKA Podcasting. I love the way streaming and downloadable audio has been around for ten years, but it wasn't until it got a fancy name that every moron with the capacity of speech suddenly went "HEY! I'm gonna have my own radio show!" The entire Podcasting phenomena will collapse within two years due to the inexorable weight of garbage it generates. Just the view of someone sadly stuck in an industry that dies of excitement every time someone comes up with a new fad (Steve, dxldyg via DXLD) POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION GIVES THUMBS DOWN TO BPL The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) strongly believes Broadband over Powerlines (BPL) should not interfere with existing and future radiocommunication services. The ABC in a submission to the Australian Communications Authority expresses fear that BPL interference is highly likely in some circumstances to annihilate broadcasting services. Australia's national broadcaster said the evidence available to it indicates that BPL is highly likely to interfere with existing broadcasting transmissions. It said ". . .permitted emission levels under all existing and proposed BPL standards would be of sufficient level to cause interference and loss of service to broadcasting signals in rural areas, and, under worse case conditions, in suburban areas." The ABC submission to the ACA discussion paper on the Management of Interference from Broadband over Power Line Applications, also notes that BPL interference with broadcasting services could potentially disrupt emergency information broadcasts. And has the potential to affect Digital Radio Mondiale services currently being considered as a way of delivering digital radio to rural and regional Australia. "Broadcasting is a protected service," it said. "The ABC is strongly of the view that obligations should be placed on BPL operators to alert the public when a BPL service is commencing and/or operational and that interference may occur." The ABC describes as "a major concern for HF broadcasting" the fact the BPL emissions are likely to propagate via the ionosphere and have the potential to interfere with receivers thousands of kilometres away. It told the ACA that "In such circumstances, it is likely to be difficult to identify the source of interference, let alone take action to have it suppressed." The ABC also commented on In-house BPL and radiation from it causing interference to broadcasting. While such systems may work overseas, it said, they can cause problems to Australia’s unique frequency allocations. The bottom line is that the needs of radiocommunications services should take precedence over BPL with its unplanned by-product emissions. (Source: Amateur Radio Victoria) # posted by Andy @ 08:30 UT July 15 (Media Network blog via DXLD) CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ MERCHWEILER SWLCS 2005 DX CAMP Have you posted any news about the Merchweiler swlcs 2005 DX Camp in July? They usually have lots of stations visiting, a la Kulpsville Try searching on http://www.google.sh for 3 terms: Merchweiler swlcs 2005 (Dan Say, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Here`s a regular Google result: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Merchweiler+swlcs+2005&btnG=Google+Search The top one includes a lot of photos, QSL cards, etc. It took place July 15-17. There are 175 more hits, tho many probably concerning previous years. Now, why would Google have a Saint Helena-specific site, and why would one go there to search this out? Exactly the same number of results as regular Google (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ The geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to severe storm levels. The period began with quiet to active conditions at the middle latitudes, while unsettled to major storm periods were observed at the higher latitudes, as effects from CME activity that occurred on 07 July were still geoeffective. By early on 12 July, unsettled to active conditions at middle latitudes, while active to severe storm conditions occurred at high latitudes, as CME activity from late on 09 July became geoeffective. Activity levels were further enhanced due to the arrival of new CME material from activity that occurred on 10 July. These conditions were maintained through late on 14 July. From late on 14 July, through midday on 17 July, quiet to unsettled conditions were observed at the middle latitudes, while an isolated period of minor storm conditions was observed at high latitudes early on 16 July. By midday on 17 July, unsettled to active levels were observed at middle latitudes, while minor to severe storm conditions were observed at the higher latitudes through late on the 17th, as effects from the X1 related CME activity arrived at Earth. By the end of the summary period, geomagnetic conditions were unsettled to active at all latitudes. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 20 JULY - 15 AUGUST 2005 Solar activity is expected be very low to low through 28 July. Isolated M-class activity is possible after from 28 July through 11 August due to the return of old Region 786 (N10, L=055). Thereafter, and through the end of the forecast period, very low to low levels are expected. A greater than 10 MeV proton event is possible with significant flare activity after the return of old Region 786 on 28 July. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at high levels on 23 ? 27 July, 31 July ? 02 August, and 07 ? 12 August. The geomagnetic field is expected to range from quiet to major storm levels. A recurrent coronal hole high speed wind stream is expected to produce active to major storm levels on 20 ? 22 July, while a smaller coronal hole wind stream is expected to produce unsettled to active conditions on 28 ? 29 July. Otherwise, expect quiet to unsettled conditions. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2005 Jul 19 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 Jul 19 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2005 Jul 20 75 30 5 2005 Jul 21 75 15 3 2005 Jul 22 75 15 3 2005 Jul 23 75 10 3 2005 Jul 24 80 5 2 2005 Jul 25 85 5 2 2005 Jul 26 85 5 2 2005 Jul 27 90 8 3 2005 Jul 28 95 15 3 2005 Jul 29 105 15 3 2005 Jul 30 110 12 3 2005 Jul 31 115 8 3 2005 Aug 01 120 8 3 2005 Aug 02 120 7 2 2005 Aug 03 120 7 2 2005 Aug 04 120 7 2 2005 Aug 05 120 10 3 2005 Aug 06 115 10 3 2005 Aug 07 110 10 3 2005 Aug 08 105 10 3 2005 Aug 09 105 12 3 2005 Aug 10 100 7 2 2005 Aug 11 95 7 2 2005 Aug 12 85 7 2 2005 Aug 13 80 5 2 2005 Aug 14 75 5 2 2005 Aug 15 75 7 2 (http://www.sec.noaa.gov/radio via WORLD OF RADIO 1281, DXLD) ###