DX LISTENING DIGEST 5-119, July 21, 2005 Incorporating REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING edited by Glenn Hauser, http://www.worldofradio.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits For restrixions and searchable 2005 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1281: Wed 2200 WOR WBCQ 7415 [first airing of each edition] Wed 2300 WOR WBCQ 17495-CUSB Thu 1000 WOR World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.2 Thu 1600 WOR WBCQ after hours Thu 2030 WOR WWCR 15825 Thu 2300 WOR World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.2 Fri 0000 WOR WTND-LP 106.3 Macomb IL Fri 0200 WOR ACBRadio Mainstream [repeated 2-hourly thru 2400] Fri 1600 WOR WBCQ after hours Fri 2000 WOR RFPI [repeated 4-hourly thru Sat 1600] Fri 2105 WOR World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.2 Sat 0800 WOR WRN to Eu, Au, NZ, WorldSpace AfriStar, AsiaStar Sat 0855 WOR WNQM Nashville TN 1300 Sat 1000 WOR WPKN Bridgeport CT 89.5 [also WPKM Montauk LINY 88.7] Sat 1730 WOR WRN to North America (including Sirius Satellite Radio channel 115) Sat 1730 WOR WRMI 7385 [from WRN] Sun 0230 WOR WWCR 5070 Sun 0300 WOR WBCQ 9330-CLSB Sun 0330 WOR WRMI 7385 Sun 0630 WOR WWCR 3210 Sun 0730 WOR World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.2 Sun 0830 WOR WRN to North America, also WLIO-TV Lima OH SAP (including Sirius Satellite Radio channel 115) Sun 0830 WOR KSFC Spokane WA 91.9 Sun 0830 WOR WXPR Rhinelander WI 91.7 91.9 100.9 Sun 0830 WOR WDWN Auburn NY 89.1 [unconfirmed] Sun 0830 WOR KTRU Houston TX 91.7 [occasional] Sun 1200 WOR WRMI 7385 Sun 1300 WOR KRFP-LP Moscow ID 92.5 Sun 1730 WOR WRMI 7385 [from WRN] Sun 1730 WOR WRN1 to North America (including Sirius Satellite Radio channel 115) Sun 1900 WOR RNI Mon 0230 WOR WRMI 7385 Mon 0300 WOR WBCQ 9330-CLSB Mon 0330 WOR WSUI Iowa City IA 910 [NO week delay] Mon 0415 WOR WBCQ 7415 [usually closer to 0418-] Mon 1600 WOR WBCQ after hours Mon 1800 WOR RFPI [repeated 4-hourly thru Tue 1400] Tue 1600 WOR WBCQ after hours Tue 2330 WOR WBCQ 7415 [occasional] 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 WORLD OF RADIO ON WSUI, Iowa City IA, UT Mondays 0330-0400 on 910 AM and webcast via http://wsui.uiowa.edu will from July 24 be the current edition, rather than one week delayed. The end of an era, as gh ceases mailing tapes, and all stations get WOR by downloading! 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): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1281h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1281h.rm WORLD OF RADIO 1281 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1281.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1281.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1281.html WORLD OF RADIO 1281 in true SW sound of Alex`s mp3: (stream) http://www.dxprograms.net/worldofradio_07-20-05.m3u (download) http://www.dxprograms.net/worldofradio_07-20-05.mp3 WORLD OF RADIO 1281 downloads in studio-quality mp3: (high) http://www.obriensweb.com/wor1281h.mp3 (low) http://www.obriensweb.com/wor1281.mp3 WORLD OF RADIO PODCAST: www.obriensweb.com/wor.xml (currently available: 1277, Extra 57, 1278, 1279, 1280, Extra 58, 1281) WORLD OF RADIO NOW LISTED ON iTunes ! World of Radio is now listed on iTunes' podcast directory. So, people surfing for podcast may encounter the programme. By the way, I am not sure if it is their software or my smaller file size, but tonight when testing the podcast or WOR1281 using iTunes software, I downloaded 1281 in 6 seconds! (Andy O`Brien, UT July 21, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) How did it get on iTunes? (Glenn, ibid.) I submitted it (Andy, ibid.) ARCHIVING DX LISTENING DIGEST. Here`s a tip for anyone who has not thought of it. If you would like an html version of each issue with hotlinks, and perhaps easier to read type, all you have to do is copy each issue as published at dxlatest onto an e-mail message and send it to yourself --- preferably a new free account set up for nothing but DXLD archiving, e.g. at yahoo. Then you will also have its very good search funxion also available (gh) ** ALASKA [and non]. Re: [radioescutas] Mais uma nova arma de destruição em massa usando RF? Caro Ivan, Obrigado pela informação. A historia do HAARP é como historia de disco voador; tem gente que acredita e tem gente que não acredita. Há muita fantasia sobre o assunto. Eu pessoalmente trabalhei em tres observatorios do projeto HAARP. Um deles perto de Lima no Peru, chama-se Jicamarca e transmite na frequencia de 49.92 MHz perto da faixa de radioamadores (6 metros). O sinal é tão forte que qualquer receptor com um simples pedaço de fio recebe esse sinal, ver no Google ``Observatorio Jicamarca``. Trabalhei também no Observatório de Kiruna no norte da Suecia, 200 km ao norte do círculo polar ártico (terra do Sol da meia-noite) e também trabalhei no Observatório da Groenlandia (muito frio por lá). O que eles fazem? Pesquisas ionosfericas. Saudações (Junior Torres de Castro PY2BJO, radioescutas yg via DXLD) Amigos, A estação HAARP tem (ou teve) um belíssimo QSL. Veja em: http://geocities.yahoo.com.br/rudolfwgrimm/5800haarp.htm 73s, (Rudolf Grimm, São Bernardo, SP, BRASIL, ibid.) ** ARGENTINA. 5400/LSB, unID relay; 0158-0208+, 20-July; M&W in Spanish; ID? spot at ToH mentioning kHz and Argentina, but no copy of station ID. All talk with a few music bumpers. Occasionally copyable at QRN level. Haven't heard 15820/L relays in several months (Harold Frodge, MI, MARE Tipsheet via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. ABC'S RADIO NATIONAL INCREASES PODCASTING As of July 9th, an additional eight Radio National programs were added to their podcasting trial: Books and Writing, Ockham's Razor, Spirit of Things, Health Report, Law Report, Religion Report, Media Report and Sports Factor. This brings the total list to the following: All In The Mind Background Briefing Books and Writing The Deep End Late Night Live The Law Report Life Matters The Media Report The Night Air Ockham's Razor The Religion Report The Science Show The Spirit of Things The Sports Factor Street Stories The stated intention of RN's podcasting initiative is to continue to expand the service as bandwidth and infrastructure requirements allow. See http://www.abc.net.au/rn/podcast/default.htm My overall take on international broadcasters' use of podcasting is that the only real impediments appear to be rights issues regarding whole pieces of music and narrated works. The technology side doesn't appear to pose any problems (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA, July 21, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) ** BELARUS [non]. Re: ``Er, how about RFE/RL? (G. Hauser-USA)`` Nice try, Glenn. But the EU Commission will certainly not support a US- American station (M. Schöch, Germany, Clandestine Radio Watch July 15 via DXLD) THE NEXT RADIO FREE (INSERT NAME OF COUNTRY HERE). "Radio Free Belarus is likely to start broadcasting from Polish territory shortly now that the European Parliament supported the idea of sponsoring an independent radio station, realizing the urgency of providing uncensored news to the Belarusians." Polskie Radio, 19 July 2005 http://www.radio.com.pl/polonia/article.asp?tId=25199&j=2 (kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 5952.48, R. Pio Doce (Presumed), July 20, 0209-0232*, Happy Birthday sung in Spanish, mostly woman announcer taking. At sign -off listed frequencies and clear mention of Bolivia, but was tough reception due to strong splatter from 5950 (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, RX340, with T2FD antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 5980.28, R. Guarujá (Presumed), July 20, 0239-0300*, in Portuguese, man announcer with phone-in program, weak (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, RX340, with T2FD antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. BRAZIL CLOSES DOWN 200 PIRATE RADIO STATIONS EVERY MONTH | Excerpt from report by Vitor Abdala: "Government shut down 200 radio stations per month this year, Anatel announces", published by Brazilian news agency Agencia Brasil website Rio: The National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) expanded, this yeat, its work cracking down on radio stations that it considers to be clandestine. In the first half of 2005 alone, transmissions by 1,199 stations throughout Brazil were blocked, that is, an average of 200 per month. The figure is greater than that for last year, when 1,807 stations were shut down from January to December, that is, 151 per month. [Passage omitted] Source: Agencia Brasil web site, Brasilia, in Portuguese 2119 gmt 20 Jul 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) WTFK? ** CANADA. Bill Westenhaver was surfing vancouver.cbc.ca and sent you this CBC News story with the comment: "A strike wouldn't greatly affect RCI's own programming, but certainly would affect CBC/Radio- Canada programming which we rebroadcast. 73- Bill Westenhaver" STRIKE VOTE AT CBC 87 PER CENT The CBC's largest union has voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike if its negotiators can't get a deal with the corporation. The Canadian Media Guild (CMG) announced Tuesday afternoon that its members had voted 87.3 per cent to support taking strike action, if necessary. The union said 67 per cent of employees turned out to vote. The CMG represents about 5,500 technicians, journalists and administrative staff in most parts of Canada, except the province of Quebec and the city of Moncton, N.B. "This is very strong support for the Guild and a flat rejection of the corporation's vision of the future," said CBC branch president Arnold Amber in a news release. "Most voters agreed with our vision of the future," said chief negotiator Dan Oldfield. "Ongoing work must be performed by permanent employees." The union says the main issue continues to be the CBC's insistence on a new contract that will allow it to hire most new employees on a casual basis. Contracting out, employees' right to reassignment in the event of downsizing and compensation for overtime are other key issues that remain unresolved. In a statement to employees, the CBC's chief negotiator said the vote result was not unexpected and that they shouldn't assume it will inevitably lead to a labour disruption. "None of us want a strike or lockout because the impact would be bad for our audiences, our employees, our programming, and for our reputation," said Michelle Sparling. "We are committed to reaching a negotiated settlement ...The time for rhetoric and posturing is over. It's time to get serious and conclude a negotiated deal," said Sparling. The two sides have resumed bargaining. The earliest date for a strike or a lockout would be Aug. 15. Copyright © 2005 CBC All Rights Reserved (via Westenhaver, DXLD) See also SWEDEN [non] ** CANADA. CBC APPLIES FOR SERIES OF "DROP-IN" TRANSMITTERS The CBC wants to add FM transmitters in Edmonton and Saskatoon to supplement existing AM signals. It uses the same explanatory paragraph to explain why they are needed: "The CBC cites urban growth, the construction of high-rise concrete and steel buildings, increased electrical noise from overhead wires, large and small appliances and portable radio transmitters as impeding the ability of its current AM transmitters delivery of reliable and high quality signals. These factors necessitate the use of a drop-in FM transmitter." I wasn't aware of any portable FM radio transmitters causing interference on the AM band. (If anything, the CBC gobbling up more FM frequencies makes it more difficult to use said portable transmitters. Oh well.) "The licensee proposes to add an FM transmitter at Saskatoon to broadcast the programming of CBK in order to improve service to the populations of Saskatoon, Warman, Dalmeny, Martensville, Cory, Clavet, Vanscoy and Dundurn Camp. (...) "The transmitter would operate on frequency 94.1 MHz (channel 231A) with an effective radiated power of 4,100 watts (non-directional antenna/antenna height of 68.2 metres)." (...) "The licensee proposes to add an FM transmitter at Edmonton to broadcast the programming of CHFA [NOTE: this is the French Première Chaîne service] in order to improve service to the population located in the Edmonton urban centre. (...) "The transmitter would operate on frequency 101.1 MHz (channel 266A) with an effective radiated power of 3,931 watts (non-directional antenna/antenna height of 123.7 metres)." (...) "The licensee proposes to add an FM transmitter at Edmonton to broadcast the programming of CBX in order to improve service to the population located in the Edmonton urban centre. (...) "The transmitter would operate on frequency 93.9 MHz (channel 230A) with an effective radiated power of 3,931 watts (non-directional antenna/antenna height of 123.7 metres)." The full listings can be found at: http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Notices/2005/pb2005-69.htm * * * I am continually baffled as to why the CBC didn't employ the same strategy (using an FM supplemental frequency for an urban-core service, that is) when they decided that AM Radio One service to Montreal and Toronto was suffering from interference problems. In both cities, the CBC has gone to enormous lengths to build FM translators in the new fringe areas to give service *back* to towns that received a lower-quality signal after the shift to FM. Retaining 690 and 940 in Montreal, and 740 in Toronto, would have allowed the CBC to retain the long reach of an AM signal for outskirts while providing a more robust FM signal for downtown and suburbs (Ricky Leong, Calgary, Alta., July 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Why not go for more than 4 kW ERP??? (gh) ** CANADA. NEW AM STATION APPROVED FOR VANCOUVER http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2005/db2005-338.htm 2005-338 I.T. Productions Ltd., Vancouver, British Columbia. APPROVED – New commercial AM (ethnic) radio programming undertaking at Vancouver at 1200 KHz with a transmitter power of 25,000 watts. The licence will expire 31 August 2011. (...) Ethnic AM radio station in Vancouver In this decision, the Commission approves the application by I.T. Productions Ltd. for a broadcasting licence to operate a new ethnic AM radio station at Vancouver at 1200 kHz. The applicant proposed a service that will be directed predominantly to Vancouver’s South Asian communities. (...) The applicant --- 3. I.T., a corporation incorporated in British Columbia, is effectively controlled by Ms. Shushma Datt through her ownership of 100% of the corporation’s issued voting shares. I.T. has provided a programming service (known as Radio Rim Jhim) to ethnic audiences in Vancouver for the past seventeen years via the subsidiary communications multiplex operations (SCMO) facilities of CJJR-FM Vancouver. The applicant has an existing staff of more than 25 announcers, producers and administrative personnel who are to be employed in the operation of the new station. (etc.) (via Ricky Leong, AB, July 21, DXLD) ** CUBA. Power failure at RHC, July 21 at 1325, missing from 11760, 11800, 12000 and 9550, tho a few minutes earlier they were going as I tuned by 9550. At this moment the CRI relay on 9570 was uninterrupted, with usual lower modulation; at 1326:45, 9550 cut back on for a few seconds, and off again. At 1329 RHC IS audible on 6000 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. IMPRISONED JOURNALIST "ON HUNGER STRIKE" - WATCHDOG | Text of press release by Paris-based organization Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF) on 20 July Reporters Without Borders voiced alarm today about the fate of imprisoned journalist Mario Enrique Mayo Hernández [hereafter: Hernandez], who has announced in a message to the organization that he began a hunger strike on 14 July and will starve himself to death if he is not released soon. The editor of the Felix Varela news agency, a small independent agency based in the eastern province of Camagüey, Mayo Hernandez has been in prison since March 2003. "We take his warning seriously and the Cuban government would be well- advised to do so as well," Reporters Without Borders said. "Must the government wait until one of the 21 journalists held since the Black Spring of 2003 dies before it finally agrees to release the others?" The organization added: "By committing himself to an indefinite hunger strike, Mayo Hernandez is representing all of his fellow-journalists and other dissidents who have been convicted without cause and pushed to their limit by more two years of detention in filthy prisons. His desperate act calls for an urgent pardon for him and all the Black Spring's other victims, even if this means pardoning innocent men." Mayo Hernandez's wife, Maidelin Guerra Álvarez, yesterday sent Reporters Without Borders the following message from her husband: "I will not wait until the government deigns to grant the release of 20 detainees because they are ill or because Fidel Castro needs to improve his international image. I have even less intention of waiting 10 or 20 years (...) [ellipsis as published]. "I was imprisoned just for freely saying what I think and for practicing independent journalism on this island. I have never lied about human rights violations in Cuba. This is why I will maintain my hunger strike until I obtain my freedom or I die. If death is the price to pay, I am ready to pay it, but I want the world to know that nothing short of freedom will now be able to stop me." Arrested on 19 March 2003, Mayo Hernandez was sentenced on 4 April 2003 to 20 years in prison for "threat to the state's independence or territorial integrity". He has been transferred from prison to prison four times since his arrest and has been in Kilo 7 prison in Camagüey since 21 June. He has had several spells in prison infirmaries or hospital because of his many ailments, which include pulmonary emphysema, high blood pressure and inflammation of the prostate. He already went on hunger strike for a month in November to protest against prison conditions and mistreatment by guards. Source: Reporters Sans Frontières press release, Paris, in English 20 Jul 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. RUSSIA(non): New day, time and frequency for Voice of Delina in Tigrina: 1800-1900 Sun on 12130 ARM 250 kW / 188 degrees to E Africa, ex 1500-1600 Sat on 15660 Tentative frequencies for B-05: 1800-1900 Sun on 7590 or 7560 or 7530 ARM 250 kW / 188 deg to EaAf (Observer, Bulgaria, July 21 via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. U.K.(non): Radio Mustaqbal via VT Communications left SW: 0630-0700 Mon/Tue/Thu on 15530 DHA 250 kW / 225 deg to EaAf in Somali 1130-1200 Mon/Tue/Thu on 15530 DHA 250 kW / 225 deg to EaAf in Somali (Observer, Bulgaria, July 21 via DXLD) ** EUROPE. Re 5-118: I have also received a note from an anonymous someone who claims to be the operator of Mystery Radio: ``This is bad info, nobody is authorized to confirm reception report for Mistery Radio anywhere. Please correct in next issue`` (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) More reaction from Mistery Radio: ``I know nobody is allowed to confirm any Mistery Radio reception reports, no address, no mail ... only a ghost station with a few watts from somewhere! I think Mistery Radio broadcasts will disappear soon, and we will forget anything. I laugh about LHH's 500 Euros [reward], it is a behaviour like if they were authorized to broadcast on 6219 kHz. We are pirates, not BBC or DW!`` (via Martin Schöch, dxldyg via DXLD) One who might shed some light on this issue is Stefan Printz, Swedish DXer with known connections to the Free/Pirate radio world. After all, the stated P O Box 4580 has earlier been used by Printz's "Pirate Connection"... For example, see: http://koti.mbnet.fi/~tapanih/rwr/artikkelit.php\?id=31 It is also the address of Printz's Swedish company EmComDotNet. Official data from the Swedish company registry (kind of SEC) shows it is a loss running IT consulting company created in 2001. Official contacting details given as EmComDotNet AB, Box 4580, 20320 MALMÖ, Orgnr.: 556617-8405, Telefon: 040-6111775. Its web site http://emcom.net/ in some sort of "hold" state -- some other related details might be found on the web at: http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/SalsaManiac/message/38 All info from available Web sources as well as other stated sources. Besides this I have no first hand info as I never have had the time or interest for this pirate radio stuff (Hermod Pedersen, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GAMBIA [non]. Voices of the Diaspora, 9405, July 2 at 2000 open carrier came on. This lasted about 40 seconds and program suddenly started with talk already in progress. Man in English who gave ID as above and identified himself as Chairman of the Save the Gambia Democracy Project. He said the program was coming from the United States and could be heard from 8 to 8:30 PM every Saturday. He then spoke at length about developing Gambia economically. He stopped at 1910 and a man started speaking in another language I could not identify. Fine signal, no interference as long as I stayed with a 3 kHz bandwidth. Certainly much better reception than I had in Florida earlier this year. Cora music at 2020 with talk in language resuming in less than a minute. Off in mid-sentence at 2030. [heard via DX Tuner Ireland] (H. Johnson, FL-USA, Jihad-DX via CRW via DXLD) See also listing below under GERMANY ** GERMANY. Updated summer A-05 for DTK T-Systems. Part 2 - non-daily transmissions: Adventist World Radio (AWR): 0500-0600 5965 JUL 100 kW / 115 deg Daily EaEu Bulgarian 0900-1000 11775 JUL 100 kW / 145 deg Sun SoEu Italian 1900-1930 15245 JUL 100 kW / 200 deg Daily NoAf Arabic 1930-2000 15245 JUL 100 kW / 200 deg Mon/Wed NoAf Arabic 1930-2000 15245 JUL 100 kW / 200 deg Thu/Sun NoAf Kabyle 1930-2000 15245 JUL 100 kW / 200 deg Tue/Fri/Sat NoAf Tachelhit 2000-2030 15245 JUL 100 kW / 200 deg Daily NoAf French RTBF: 0500-0715 17580 JUL 100 kW / 160 deg Mon-Fri Af French 0500-1000 17580 JUL 100 kW / 160 deg Sat/Sun Af French 1000-1130 17545 JUL 100 kW / 160 deg Daily Af French 1500-1805 17570 JUL 100 kW / 160 deg Mon-Fri Af French 1500-1705 17570 JUL 100 kW / 160 deg Sat/Sun Af French Trans World Radio (TWR): 0530-0545 7210 JUL 100 kW / 100 deg Mon-Fri CeEu Slovak 0830-0845 6105 JUL 105 kW / 105 deg Tue-Sat CeEu Hungarian 0830-0845 7210 JUL 100 kW / 100 deg Tue-Sat CeEu Hungarian 1030-1100 7225 JUL 100 kW / 105 deg Sat CeEu Slovak 1030-1100 9490 JUL 100 kW / 100 deg Sat CeEu Slovak 1810-1840 5910*JUL 100 kW / 130 deg Mon-Sat EaEu Serbian 1810-1840 5910*JUL 100 kW / 130 deg Sun EaEu Slovene * till July 31, 2005 Hamburger Local Radio: 0900-1000 6045 JUL 100 kW / non-dir Sat CeEu German Evangeliumsradio Hamburg: 0900-1000 6045 JUL 100 kW / non-dir Sun CeEu German Christian Science Monitor: 0900-1000 6055 JUL 100 kW / 115 deg Sun CeEu German 1700-1730 13750 WER 125 kW / 210 ged Tue NWAf French 1700-1730 13750 JUL 100 kW / 160 deg Thu CEAf French 1800-1900 9655 JUL 100 kW / 085 deg Sat EaEu Russian Evangelische Missions Gemeiden: 1030-1100 6055 WER 125 kW / non-dir Sat/Sun CeEu German 1100-1130 11840 NAU 250 kW / 020 deg Sat FE Russian 1500-1530 11610 WER 250 kW / 060 deg Sat EaEu Russian Missionswerke Arche 1100-1115 5945 WER 250 kW / non-dir Sun CeEu German Free People's Mission Krefeld Inc: 1100-1130 5945 WER 500 kW / non-dir Sat WeEu German 1630-1700 11865 WER 250 kW / 105 deg Sat ME English Universal Life (UNL): 1130-1200 6055 JUL 100 kW / non-dir Sat WeEu German 1100-1200 6055 JUL 100 kW / non-dir Sun WeEu German 0100-0130 9485 JUL 100 kW / 090 deg Sun SoAs English 1600-1630 15640 JUL 100 kW / 175 deg Sun NoAf French 1800-1830 15675 JUL 100 kW / 160 deg Sun EaAf English 1900-1930 13820 JUL 100 kW / 115 deg Sun ME English Mecklenburg Verpommern Baltic Radio: 1200-1300 6015 JUL 100 kW / 060 deg Sun* WeEu German * 1st Sunday only Radio Traumland: 1300-1415 5925 JUL 100 kW / non-dir Sun WeEu German Radio Solmal or Radio Soomal: 1330-1400 17550 JUL 100 kW / 130 deg Fri EaAf Somali from July 22 TDP Radio: 1400-1600 3955 JUL 040 kW / non-dir Sat DRM WeEu Dance Mx Radio Rhino International Africa from July 1: 1500-1530 17870 JUL 100 kW / 145 deg Wed/Fri EaAf English (ex Mon-Fri) Voice of Democratic Eritrea: 1500-1530 15690 JUL 100 kW / 130 deg Sat EaAf Tigrina 1530-1600 15690 JUL 100 kW / 130 deg Sat EaAf Arabic 1700-1730 15670 JUL 100 kW / 130 deg Thu EaAf Tigrina 1730-1800 15670 JUL 100 kW / 130 deg Thu EaAf Arabic Bible Christian Association/BCA/: 1530-1600 6015 JUL 100 kW / 070 deg Sun SEEu Polish Pan American Broadcasting (PAB): 1530-1545 11610 JUL 100 kW / 060 deg Wed EaEu English 0030-0045 9740 JUL 100 kW / 090 deg Sun SoAs English 1430-1445 15650 JUL 100 kW / 090 deg Sun SoAs English 1400-1430 15650 JUL 100 kW / 100 deg Sat ME Persian 1430-1600 15650 JUL 100 kW / 100 deg Sat ME English 1545-1630 15650 JUL 100 kW / 100 deg Sun ME English Voice of Ethiopian Salvation: 1600-1700 15670 JUL 100 kW / 130 deg Sun EaAf Amharic Radio Huriyo: 1630-1700 15670 JUL 100 kW / 130 deg Tue/Fri EaAf Somali Voice of Oromo Liberation (Sagalee Bilisummaa Oromoo): 1700-1800 15670 JUL 100 kW / 130 deg Tue/Wed/Fri/Sun EaAf Oromo Radio Reveil Paroles de Vie: 1830-1900 15675 JUL 100 kW / 160 deg Thu Af French Voice of Democratic Path of Ethiopian Unity: 1830-1930 15565 JUL 100 kW / 130 deg Wed/Sun EaAf Amharic Save the Gambia Development Project - Voices from the Diaspora: 2000-2030 9405 JUL 100 kW / 210 deg Sat WeAf Wolof/English Radio Cimarona: 2200-2300 9480 JUL 100 kW / 220 deg Sun/Mon SoAm Spanish Bible Voice Broadcasting Network (BVBN): 0715-0800 5945 JUL 100 kW / 290 deg Fri WeEu English 0800-0815 5945 JUL 100 kW / 290 deg Fri WeEu Urdu 0815-0830 5945 JUL 100 kW / 290 deg Fri WeEu Punjabi 0700-0815 5945 JUL 100 kW / 290 deg Sat WeEu English 0700-0845 5945 JUL 100 kW / 290 deg Sun WeEu English 1800-1830 9435 JUL 100 kW / 210 deg Sun SoEu Spanish 1815-1830 6015 JUL 100 kW / 060 deg Mon-Fri EaEu Russian 1800-1830 6015 JUL 100 kW / 060 deg Sat EaEu English 1830-1900 6015 JUL 100 kW / 060 deg Sat EaEu Russian 1800-1830 6015 JUL 100 kW / 060 deg Sun EaEu English 1830-1900 6015 JUL 100 kW / 060 deg Sun EaEu Russian 1900-1930 6015 JUL 100 kW / 060 deg Sun EaEu English 1900-1930 9430 JUL 100 kW / 170 deg Sat CeAf English 1930-2000 9430 JUL 100 kW / 170 deg Sun CeAf English 1930-2000 9430 JUL 100 kW / 200 deg Sat WeAf English 1630-1700 13810 JUL 100 kW / 130 deg Mon/Tue/Fri EaAf Amharic 1700-1730 13810 JUL 100 kW / 130 deg Mon/Tue/Fri EaAf Tigrina 1630-1800 13810 JUL 100 kW / 130 deg Wed EaAf Amharic 1630-1730 13810 JUL 100 kW / 130 deg Thu/Sat/Sun EaAf Amharic 1615-1730 9430 JUL 100 kW / 115 deg Mon/Wed/Fri ME Arabic 1700-1730 9430 JUL 100 kW / 115 deg Tue/Thu ME Arabic 1700-1800 9430 JUL 100 kW / 115 deg Sat/Sun ME English 1730-1800 9430 NAU 250 kW / 125 deg Tue ME Hebrew 1815-1900 9430 NAU 250 kW / 125 deg Fri ME Arabic 1800-1900 9430 NAU 250 kW / 125 deg Sat ME English 1800-1915 9430 NAU 250 kW / 125 deg Sun ME Arabic 1800-1830 11965 JUL 100 kW / 100 deg Fri ME Persian 1800-1815 11965 JUL 100 kW / 100 deg Sat ME English 1815-1845 11965 JUL 100 kW / 100 deg Sat ME Persian 1845-1900 11965 JUL 100 kW / 100 deg Sat ME Dari 1800-1900 11965 JUL 100 kW / 100 deg Sun ME Persian 1540-1615 13590 JUL 100 kW / 115 deg Mon-Fri ME English 1630-1700 13590 JUL 100 kW / 115 deg Tue ME English 1700-1715 13590 JUL 100 kW / 115 deg Tue ME Russian 1615-1630 13590 JUL 100 kW / 115 deg Tue/Thu ME Hebrew 1700-1800 13590 JUL 100 kW / 115 deg Wed/Fri ME English 1630-1645 13590 JUL 100 kW / 115 deg Thu ME English 1545-1830 13590 JUL 100 kW / 115 deg Sat ME English 1545-1800 13590 JUL 100 kW / 115 deg Sun ME English 1630-1715 13600 WER 250 kW / 120 deg Tue/Wed ME Arabic 1630-1730 13600 WER 250 kW / 120 deg Mon/Thu/Fri ME Arabic 0845-1015 17565 WER 125 kW / 135 deg Fri ME Arabic 1500-1600 17510 JUL 100 kW / 090 deg Tue SoAs Urdu 1500-1600 17510 JUL 100 kW / 090 deg Sat SoAs English 1530-1600 17510 JUL 100 kW / 090 deg Mon/Wed/Thu SoAs English 1530-1600 17510 JUL 100 kW / 090 deg Fri SoAs Punjabi 1530-1600 17510 JUL 100 kW / 090 deg Sun SoAs Hindi 1600-1630 13800 WER 250 kW / 090 deg Mon-Fri SEAs Hindi till July 15 1530-1600 13800 WER 250 kW / 090 deg Mon-Fri SEAs Hindi from July 18 (Observer, Bulgaria, July 21 via DXLD) ** GUATEMALA. Dear Friends: May I inform you that our short wave transmitter [4052.5v] collapsed last Friday night (July 15, 2005), after a bad thunder storm. Today I changed conduction cables, but I was not able to finish the task due to another bad storm, and we were left without electricity after a very dangerous accident, when our antenna contacted a 35,000 volts wire, and it was held by the hands of one of our workers, but, Praise God, he got no harm at all. It was a miracle. We had not realized that the electrical company had just installed that new line, right in our antenna`s path. I will now require them to insulate it to avoid more danger. I am planning to finish installing the new antenna tomorrow morning and, then, I will repair the transmitter, which has one power transistor burned out. I hope to return on the air tomorrow afternoon, God willing. About an hour ago, electrical fluid was restored. Thank you for your prayers. Yours in Our Lord Jesus Christ (Dr. Édgar Amílcar Madrid, Director and Manager, R. Verdad, via Jihad-DX via bclnews.it July 21 via DXLD) Date? ** INDONESIA. 9524.90, VOI, July 18, checked intermittently between 0852-1001. English till 0900, then Indonesian programming, good after Star Radio signed off at 0900. Noted // to 9680.0 the whole time, also with a strong signal. Checked July 19 & 20, about the same time period and did not heard 9680, only 9524.90, so maybe just a one-time thing (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, RX340, with T2FD antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL. I had the 7/7 attacks very much in mind when I wrote this week's commentary, and today's news just makes it all the more pertinent: Closing the loopholes At least one of the political groups that hire airtime on high power shortwave transmitters appears to be connected to one or more of the groups that openly support terrorist actions in the west. Surely it's time to examine ways of closing the loopholes that allow this to happen. . . http://www2.rnw.nl/rnw/en/features/media/swb050721.html?view=Standard (Andy Sennitt, Media Network newsletter July 21 via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. XM INVESTS $25 MILLION IN RIVAL WORLDSPACE By Annys Shin XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. yesterday said it has invested $25 million in WorldSpace Corp., a privately held District-based satellite radio provider in West Africa, the Middle East and India that has said it intends to go public. The move could broaden XM's reach, and help turn satellite radio into a global service similar to satellite television, said analysts. As part of the deal, the two companies agreed to work together to develop products, such as receivers, and to strengthen relationships with distributors such as automakers and sources of programming. WorldSpace, whose initial backers included prominent Saudi investors, programs four channels for XM. "We look forward to becoming a strategic investor in WorldSpace's worldwide satellite radio system and advancing satellite radio technology and reach through our cooperative efforts," XM Chairman Gary M. Parsons said in a news release. On the heels of the XM announcement, WorldSpace's underwriter raised the projected IPO share price from $16 to $18 per share to $18 to $20, according to the company's filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It plans to use the money to expand its business in India and possibly move into China and Europe. XM, also based in the District, charges its more than 4.4 million subscribers $12.95 a month for access to more than 150 channels of news, entertainment, music and sports. Its only direct competitor is New York-based Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. The Canadian partners of both companies recently received licenses to begin to offer services there. WorldSpace provides a similar service outside North America, though it has only 63,000 paid subscribers. The company wants to add subscribers by appealing to newly affluent consumers in each of its target markets. In India, for example, WorldSpace officials estimate about 35 million households could afford their service. To date, the company has more than 26,000 subscribers in India who pay about $40 per year to receive 38 channels of news, music, sports, and entertainment programming. WorldSpace also provides services to government clients. Since 2002, it has won more than $8 million worth of contracts, according to documents filed by WorldSpace with the SEC. Former secretary of housing and urban development Jack Kemp sits on its board, as does former Republican Maryland senator Charles McC. Mathias. Analysts said the investment is a good move for XM, which a few days ago said it bought additional U.S. broadcast spectrum, allowing it to carry more programs. "The bottom line is what XM is trying to do is not only be the leader in North America but to evangelize the satellite radio industry. They're saying, 'We could be like the [satellite television] industry. Satellite radio could be a world service,' " said April Horace, an analyst for Hoefer & Arnett Inc. WorldSpace was an early investor in XM and licensed the technology on which XM's network is based. But in 1999, the company sold its stake in XM for $75 million after the United States bombed a factory in Sudan owned by a WorldSpace investor, Salah Idris, that U.S. officials suspected of making chemicals used by terrorists. WorldSpace said in an SEC filing that the allegations against Idris "have never been substantiated." Idris filed suit against the government in U.S. federal court over the bombing. Other initial WorldSpace backers, including Saudi investors Khalid Bin Mahfouz and Mohammed H. Al-Amoudi, also have been "the subject of allegations that they and/or charities they were involved in have supported terrorism," the company noted in recent SEC filings -- an allegation they have denied in court and in the media. None of the men, including Idris, any longer own shares in the company or have any voting control, the company reported. Chance Patterson, an XM spokesman, said the company has no lingering concerns over WorldSpace's backers. "We're obviously comfortable moving forward," he said. Judith Pryor, senior vice president of corporate affairs for WorldSpace, declined to comment, citing the quiet period before the public offering. Last year, WorldSpace reported revenue of $8.5 million, down from $13 million for 2003, according to SEC filings. It posted losses of $577 million in 2004 and $217 million in 2003. © 2004 The Washington Post Company (via Jim Moats, July 20, DXLD) Not much left for XM to acquire. I cannot believe anyone in Europe is subscribing to Worldspace now the free to air stuff has gone dark. And don't those satellites need to be replaced soon? (Jonathan Marks, 07.20.05 - 5:40 am, Media Network blog via DXLD) ** IRAN. IRAN LAUNCHES DIGITAL RADIO | Text of report by Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) web site The first phase of test broadcast of digital radio has started on the AM (DRM) band on the 1350 kHz frequency. The two-hour-long test broadcast is transmitted from a transmitter in Tehran from 1000 to 1200 hours [local time] everyday. The deputy director for project and development [at the Iranian radio-TV organization] told ISNA: This programme could be received on standard digital receivers. He said that the project has reached its objectives. In the next phases of this project, all of the analog transmitters currently in use will be digital-enabled. The Iranian radio-TV organization is to decide on the time for the official launch of digital radio across Iran. Source: ISNA web site, Tehran, in Persian 0600 gmt 20 Jul 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) TFK! ** ISRAEL. There is no English broadcast at 0330 UT from IBA (Israel Broadcasting Authority or "Voice of Israel") on 9345. On this frequency they continue in Hebrew at 0330. You may check this yourself. I use Grundig YB400 portable receiver and MFJ1020B indoor active antennae, and reception on 9345 is generally good in my area @ 0330 UT (22:30 local time). There is no propagation on 11605 & 17600 at this time in my area. For some reason, 9345 at 0330 UT is listed for English broadcast in IBA's schedule http://www.israelradio.org but, in fact, there is no such broadcast for very long time now on 9345 kHz. If I am wrong, please advise (Alex Balagur, Winnipeg, MB Canada, Primetime SW newsletter July 20 via DXLD) I haven't heard any change for 9345. In September they are scheduled to change from 11605 to 7545 per IBA website (Daniel Sampson, ibid.) ** LATVIA. A relay of Radio Tatras International http://www.rti.fm on 1350 from Kuldiga with 50 kW started today on 20 July. The relay is provided by the Riga-based company Krebs TV. Krebs TV also runs Radio Nord in Riga on 945, and was issued a rebroadcasting license for 1350 by the Latvian Broadcasting Regulatory Authority in early July. The transmitter in Kuldiga is leased from LVRTC, the Latvian state transmitter operator. The antenna facilities at the Kuldiga site were damaged in a winter storm in January 2005, and have now been repaired (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, July 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hours? Right now somebody transmits on 1350 kHz oldies and jazz/swing songs back to back. No spoken word whatsoever noted within 20 minutes. Above Radio Orient here, but signal not particularly strong (Kai Ludwig, Germany, 07.21.05 - 12:34 am, Media Network blog via DXLD) ** LITHUANIA. Radio 390 on 1386 kHz: see UK [non] ** MEXICO. XEXQ, 6045, still audible at 1329 July 21 with Strauss waltz, lots of T-storm noise. XEOI 6010 also audible (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA [and non]. Pirates change their favored frequency every few years as QRM creeps in. For many years in the 80's, 7415 was THE frequency. Broadcasters moved in and pirates moved to 6955. Peru & ute QRM pushed them down to 6925 for the past few years. Pirate pile- up on 6925 has spawned a new phenomena for a few months now--use of many frequencies. You can now find pirates spread over 6800-7000, plus numerous other frequencies are now being reported for use and testing. These include: 4000-4050, 5400, 7500, 8000 & 9290-9320. On occasion, you also might find something on or about 11400, 13900, 15800 & 21800. 6200-6350 remains the favored area for Euro pirates. For a change, it'll take some real DXing to catch a lot of SW pirates! FM pirates generally hang out near the bottom end of the FMBCB (Harold Frodge, MI, MARE Tipsheet July 21 via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. KOSU has changed its RDS display. Now it shows KOSU / OKLAHOMA / PUBLIC / RADIO / NPR-NEWS / 91 7. If the signal is a bit weak on the ATS-909 whip antenna, the display sticks on one of those (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PARAGUAY. R. Nacional was on late and coming in well, July 21 at 0545 on about 9736.9 with a conversation in Spanish, then some harp music; trouble is, somewhat stronger signal from DW on 9735.0. In a case like this I try the ICF-SW07 which has sync detexion, but with nothing but the active antenna in the window, it would not stay locked onto Paraguay. Better results on the unmodified FRG-7 with longwire, slightly side-tuned to minimise het (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. HAARP on 49920 kHz: see ALASKA [and non] ** PERU. UNID on 1610.34 kHz --- I heard this station some days ago on 1610.34 kHz. Probably from Perú and I believe there is an ID after a few seconds (Jan Alvested, Europe? RealDX with clip via DXLD) 1610.34 kHz, Radio Haquira, Haquira, Cotabambas, Apurímac, Perú. "Radio Haquira contigo para siempre". You can find exactly the same ID on my ID-site at "Archive" - 9/8 2004 (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, http://www.malm-ecuador.com ibid.) ** POLAND. Radio "Blyskawica", Warsaw (7042 kHz) - f/d QSL-card, 2 PZK-sticker, after 6m for eRR. Special re-transmission of the polish clandestine radio station of the Warsaw Uprising in 1944, as part of the 60 years celebration, on 8.8.2004. using the original equipment. Mode: AM. v/s Wieslaw Paszta, SQ5ABG, Brazvliiska 13A/24, 03-949 Warszawa, Poland (T. M. Rösner, Germany, Jul 4, 2005 for CRW July 15 via DXLD) So I guess this was a ham ``broadcast`` (gh, DXLD) ** SLOVAKIA. RADIO SLOVAKIA INTERNATIONAL SAVED --- Radio Slovakia International has published the following report on its website: Last week, the public broadcaster announced its intention to close down its shortwave foreign language service and to downsize the staff of the radio station by 84 people. The management decided to take this radical step to cut costs. By this step it intended to compensate revenue shortfalls in concession payments and payments from the state budget. Due to the restrictive measures taken by general director of Slovak Radio Jaroslav Reznik, the Radio Council, a radio supervisory body, was summoned for a special meeting on Tuesday. Its members appointed by Parliament have agreed to bind the director to continue the shortwave broadcasting of Radio Slovakia International. Shortwave broadcasting will not be stopped, Jaroslav Reznik confirmed for Radio Slovakia International. Nevertheless, he added he could not say for how long this status will be possible. According to him, it is now up to the state authorities to express clearly whether they are interested in a foreign broadcast service. The supervisory body of Slovak radio agrees with the General Director in the point that the foreign service should be financed from the state budget not from the concession fees. That is why the financial sources should be provided by the government. Nevertheless, neither the Culture Ministry nor the Foreign Ministries seem to be interested in allocating sufficient means from their budgets. The European standard is to support a foreign radio broadcast from the budget of the Foreign Ministry. The law dealing with Slovak radio states that finance should be provided from the state budget for foreign service broadcasting. However the current Culture Minister questions this part of the law. Due to an allegedly unclear interpretation of lines defining financing foreign broadcasting, Culture Minister Frantisek Toth has initiated a legal analysis of the respective lines. The position of state authorities leaves the financing foreign broadcast on the reserves of the Slovak radio. Zuzana Mistrikova, the head of the media section at the Culture Ministry. The Slovak Republic represented by the government thinks it is something that the Slovak Republic needs to have and to have it in high quality and then to decide how it will be financed and if it will be financed directly from the state budget or if the system of financing of Slovak Radio will be so well managed that it will be able to finance broadcasting like this. Despite the fact that the foreign broadcast on short waves will not stop, there will be restrictive measures taken in Slovak Radio. According to the Radio Council, these cannot be affecting the production and broadcasting of the program. The supervisory body consists of members appointed by the parliament. The head of the council Michal Dzurjanin concluded that now they have to wait for Parliament and the Government to solve the current deficit of over EUR 8 million for the Radio. # posted by Andy @ 15:00 UT July 20 (Media Network blog via DXLD) Same if not verbatim: http://www.slovensko.com/news/2326 (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** SLOVAKIA [non]. Tatras on 1350: See LATVIA ** SOMALIA [non]. Radio Solmal or Radio Soomal: 1330-1400 17550 JUL 100 kW / 130 deg Fri to EaAf Somali from July 22 (Observer, Bulgaria, July 21 via DXLD) From and duplicated in sked under GERMANY above ** SPAIN [and non]. STILL ON AIR --- Reports have confirmed that the Spanish Madrid [TV channel] E2 transmitter is still operating despite rumours that it may have closed earlier this year, or was running on reduced power; its switch-off date is now scheduled for September 2005. Madrid may have been switched off temporarily last January to flush out viewers still relying on its broadcasts. This technique may have been used when the Izaña (Tenerife) E3 outlet suddenly went off the air in December 2003, but was later reported operational again. The UK used similar techniques when digital ERP levels were ramped up as an experiment to establish how far levels could be raised without degrading co-channel analogue broadcasts. The viewer complaint level was used to assess its impact and, more crucially, accurately identiy the geographical locations affected (Keith Hamer & Garry Smith, DX Television, July Short Wave Magazine [UK] via DXLD) ** SWEDEN [non]. R. Sweden, via Sackville, 15240, July 21 at 1335 with ID, technical difficulties apology, and nondescript pop music fill, which continued for the rest of the semi-hour. 15735 direct inaudible so could not compare with that. Feed from Stockholm to Sackville must have been interrupted at some point. If I were such a station, I would have a backup feed available for instantaneous switchover, e.g. web stream. Routing for usual feed unknown, but would not be surprised if it goes thru Merlin master control in London, where the second spate of bombings, or rather reaxion to them, could somehow have disrupted operations. I would also make the most of such outages by playing something better than nondescript pop music, such as Swedish folk or classical music, or just for fun something totally off the wall, like Japanese music! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SYRIA [non]. RUSSIA/MOLDOVA(non): Arabic Radio in Arabic left SW: 0330-0400 on 7510 SAM 250 kW / 188 deg to ME 1500-1600 on 7470 KCH 300 kW / 150 deg to ME 1500-1600 on 12085 SAM 250 kW / 188 deg to ME (Observer, Bulgaria, July 21 via DXLD) ** U K. The BBC Proms Player is at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/proms_promo.shtml with all these past week`s concerts available on demand. I was watching the kbps rate when I punched up #5. It started at 125 kbps, then steadily went down, till at 4 minutes in it had reached only 36 kbps. This was not obvious to the ear, especially since the music had not started, but can anyone explain this strange behaviour? Same thing happened on several subsequent plays. My newer computer and broadband connexion can certainly support 125 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. Programmes I Like (# 5) --- "World Business Report" -- BBC World Service: It's not just "business as usual". The best in international broadcasting, "World Business Report" is an 8-13 minute feature on financial topics around the globe. It starts with the usual billboard, after which the listener is presented with several feature items. Some of these are interviews with people in the economic and business fields, or BBC correspondents. Others are packaged reports from those same correspondents. Topics chosen are those from the worlds of business, finance, and economics. But because these areas affect all aspects of life, the features have a more generalist appeal. For example, stories covered may also discuss the social, cultural, political, and legal sides of the issue. Thus, there is much more than stories of specific companies, and market numbers. In addition, some features deal with the fiscal and monetary policies of various countries. Although reports from various equity, currency, and commodity markets are given, as is the norm in programmes of this genre, there is little news from the fixed income markets. Lastly, slots are handed over to regular commentators to provide their views on specific topics (e.g. the workplace). "World Business Report" is truly global in scope, with the listener being given at least a taste of a broad range of the world's issues. Website : http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/default.stm E-Mail: world.business @ bbc.co.uk (Peter Bowen, Canada?, July 20, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) ** U K [non]. Radio 390 on 1386 --- Steve Groome on http://www.anoraknation.com spotted this; I checked the online test programmes and when I listened they were a tape of US station WLNG. 1386 would be the Lithuanian transmitter (Mike Barraclough, DX LISTENING DIGEST) http://www.radio390.org/ Radio 390 Unit 118 Fifth/Allende Avenue Harlow Essex CM20 2AG Radio 390 Is Back After 40 Years, We Are Online, And On Test! (1386 kHz 500 kW Watch This Space) Our mission at Radio 390 is to offer entertainment and information to you the listener, and offer a background online radio service. Whether you're at home or at the office, it's music that's designed to be unobtrusive and a pleasant companion to other activities. What your hear on Radio 390 is described as Adult Pop Standards (APS) with light, easy, beautiful...relaxing music. Enjoy instrumentals and vocal music from yesterday and today! We invite you to relax as we blend the music to create an enjoyable, long time spent listening experience, for this was the music when you were young and your eyes were full of sparkle and your head was full of dreams. When people held each other and danced cheek to cheek. It was a world more gallant, more romantic, and certainly more predictable than the one we live in today. Our music at Radio 390 format is a dazzling Kaleidoscope faceted with the inspirations of great performers and truly great songwriters. Our programes will be starting in August 2005 (via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) Doubts over claims of new station planned on 1386 kHz Bernd Trutenau in Lithuania, who works professionally in the telecommunications industry, writes on the mailing list of the Medium Wave Circle: In regard to the frequency 1386, the anoraknation forum http://www.anoraknation.com/threads/4570.html is currently discussing a statement about an allegedly planned relay of "Radio 390" on 1386 with 500 kW from August made on the website http://www.radio390.org pointing at the (500 kW) transmitter in Sitkunai, Lithuania. Radio Baltic Waves International is the sole licensed owner for this transmitter on 1386, and the company denies that it has been contacted about such a relay. A relay via the Bolshakovo transmitter on 1386 in the Kaliningrad area appears unlikely, since it is authorized to operate only between 1500-1900 and is carrying Voice of Russia at this time. The scheduled power of this transmitter is 1200 kW (Source: Bernd Trutenau via Medium Wave Circle via Media Network via Mike Barraclough, BDXC-UK via DXLD) Anyone notice the foundation date for this Radio390 as given on the website. Is there a clue there perhaps. Located on Red Sands Tower off Whitstable in the Thames Estuary. Radio 390 opened September 25th, 1965. Closed down on July 28th, 1967. 40 years on Radio 390 opened April 1st 2005 (Paul Francis, 07.21.05 - 10:09 am, Media Network blog via DXLD) ** U S A. Coming up: US transmissions to Venezuela, to counter ``anti- American`` TeleSur: see VENEZUELA [non]. No doubt this will be called ``Radio y TV Bolívar``. Dammit, another name with an accent Anglos will be leaving out and mispronouncing (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) US CONGRESS APPROVES SPECIAL BROADCASTS TO VENEZUELA An amendment to the State Department finance bill for 2006/2007 passed yesterday in the US Congress authorizes the Broadcasting Board of Governors to initiate radio and television broadcasts to Venezuela for at least 30 minutes a day of balanced, objective, and comprehensive news programming. In response, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez has called the amendment another "desperate attack by the imperialists." Chávez said that Venezuela's government would "jam the signal" of any broadcasts from the United States. It isn't yet clear whether the Bush Administration will request the BBG to intitiate such a service, which appears to be similar in concept to the BBG's service to Cuba, Radio & TV Martí. posted by Andy 1524 UT July 21 (Media Network blog via DXLD) HOUSE MEMBERS APPROVE BROADCASTS TO VENEZUELA http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/world/12188867.htm By Nancy San Martin, The Miami Herald, Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News, Posted on Thu, Jul. 21, 2005 Jul. 21 -- WASHINGTON - Underscoring rising concern over Venezuela's leftist President Hugo Chávez [hereafter: Chavez], House members Wednesday approved a proposal for broadcasts to Venezuela similar to the Radio and TV Martí [hereafter: Marti] programs to communist-ruled Cuba. Florida Republican Rep. Connie Mack, who sponsored the amendment, said it was intended to provide news and other information as well as to promote democratic principles in Venezuela. The proposal comes as a new Latin America-wide television station based in Caracas, financed largely by Chavez and criticized by some as promoting anti-American sentiment, is set to hit Latin American airwaves on Sunday. "Chavez has clearly gone astray and doesn't believe any more in freedom and democracy. He has said that he is on a march to socialism," Mack told The Herald. "What we are saying to Chavez and his cronies is that we're keeping an eye on him." Mack said the broadcast idea stemmed from concern that Chavez appears focused on expanding his influence beyond Venezuela by pushing socialist ideals like those supported by Cuban leader Fidel Castro while criticizing U.S.-endorsed democratic principles often labeled as imperialist. He cited Chavez's recent purchase of military equipment, newly enacted laws restricting media freedoms, repressive acts against political opponents and alliances with Cuba, China and Iran as reasons for growing concern. He also said that the Caracas-based Telesur television station could be used to spread anti-American sentiment across the region. "Chavez is clearly a negative influence on the hemisphere," Mack said, adding that he is working on a similar text to be approved by the Senate. "I think this is the right way to go, and I am confident [the U.S. broadcasts] will reach the people of Venezuela." The White House did not immediately react to the Venezuela broadcast proposal, passed by voice vote as an amendment to a bill authorizing other U.S.-funded broadcasts such as Radio and TV Marti. The text did not specify the broadcasts' funding or home base. Venezuelan Ambassador Bernardo Álvarez Herrera said his country respects a free press and that "any other signal going to Venezuela will have no problem." He defended Telesur as "another voice" and in a sarcastic tone added that instead of creating a new broadcast for Venezuela, U.S. lawmakers should focus on getting the U.S.-funded Voice of America radio rebroadcast by the country's predominantly anti-Chavez private media. Copyright © 2005, The Miami Herald (via Joe Greenlagh, Marion, IL, USA, DXLD) Can't wait to hear more bubble-jammed radio. Cheers, (Joe Greenlagh, ibid.) MORE at VENEZUELA [non] ** U S A. RFA FOUNDER RICHTER RETIRES, LIBBY LIU IS INTERIM SUCCESSOR | Text of press release by Radio Free Asia on 19 July Veteran journalist Richard Richter will retire 29 July as founding president of Radio Free Asia (RFA) after more than a half-century [working] in print, broadcast, and electronic media. The bipartisan Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) chose Richter, a longtime executive producer with ABC, CBS, and PBS television, to launch RFA in 1996, shortly after the U.S. Congress authorized its creation as a "surrogate" broadcaster providing news and information to those East Asian countries that lack free media. "Few people in the history of international broadcasting have served with the intellectual honesty and the essential decency as Dick Richter," BBG Chairman Kenneth Y. Tomlinson said in a statement. "He is a good man, and he has been a terrific leader. Journalistic excellence has been the hallmark of Radio Free Asia under Dick Richter." Award-winning programming Under Richter's leadership, RFA has launched and continues to expand round-the-clock, award-winning news broadcasts to the closed countries of East Asia in Burmese, Cantonese, Khmer, Korean, Lao, Mandarin, Wu (Shanghaiese), Tibetan, Uyghur, and Vietnamese. Also under his leadership, RFA maintains an award-winning website in nine languages at http://www.rfa.org, as well as a number of toll-free caller hotlines that reach listeners in Mandarin, Cantonese, Khmer, Tibetan, and Uyghur. "For all my years in the news business, I have felt a great sense of responsibility to deliver information and to get it right - to use my privileged position as a journalist to enrich readers, viewers, and listeners," Richter said. "But my time at RFA has been the most fulfilling - to hear from listeners that RFA is 'a lighthouse and a beacon of hope,' that our broadcasts are like 'the drinking water of life or a spirit of freedom.' What could be better than that?" "Initially, repressive governments reviled RFA, because we were letting people know what was going on in their own countries - providing information that their own leaders would suppress. Other news organizations were skeptical too, but not anymore, because time after time RFA has managed to break news that no one else had. Now we're recognized as an exceptional source of accurate news about Asia." RFA reporters broadcast to their homelands using their native languages and dialects, he said, and knowing that they are reaching "people starved for honest, responsible news." Positive listener feedback Listener feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, Richter said, citing a recent caller from China's Jiangxi Province who said: "I love you, Radio Free Asia. You have given me the courage of life [and] brought hope to the future of China...[You] have taught me the true value of life." Richter also cited a recent letter from a North Korean man hiding in China who wrote: "For those who can ask no help... RFA is a lifeline...I have informed other defectors about your radio and urged them to listen. I tell these refugees to lie low, hold onto their hopes, be patient, and listen to RFA." The BBG has named RFA's Vice President for Administration and Finance, Libby Liu, as acting president of the corporation, effective 1 August, pending final selection of a new president. An award-winning career Before founding RFA, Richter worked for 25 years at ABC News and CBS News as a producer, senior producer, and executive producer for news and documentaries. At ABC Evening News, Richter served as executive producer and was a founding senior producer of "Good Morning America." As senior producer of the ABC News Close-up series, he worked on 64 documentaries that won virtually every major national and international award. Richter worked as executive producer for the Public Broadcast Laboratory, a two-year experiment in public television, which preceded the creation of PBS, before joining ABC. From 1989-94, Richter was at Washington, DC PBS affiliate WETA as executive producer of news and public affairs. He managed production of "Washington Week in Review," news specials, and other documentary programs and series for broadcast on PBS. Richter began his career as a reporter for Newsday and went on to work as a writer and editor for The New York World-Telegram and The Sun. He received a B.A. in English from Queens College in New York. He also was the recipient of the CBS News Fellowship at Columbia University for the study of African affairs, and from 1963-67 he served on the Peace Corps staff in Washington and Kenya. RFA is a private, nonprofit corporation that broadcasts news and information to listeners in those East Asian countries where full, accurate, and timely news reports are unavailable. RFA adheres to the highest standards of journalism and strives for accuracy, balance, and fairness in its editorial content. RFA is funded by an annual grant from the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG). Source: Radio Free Asia press release, Washington, in English 19 Jul 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** U S A. WJIE, 7490, pretty reliable lately as far as keeping on the air with fairly strong signal, even as late as 1334 UT July 21 with preacher, but constant crackling on undermodulated audio. I really can`t imagine any listener putting up with this, and whether the problem is in the STL or in the rickety transmitter itself (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. KTBN was ON the air when 7505 checked at 1335 UT July 21. You never know from one day to the next whether it will be missing (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 5446-USB, AFRTS. 17 July 0400-0406. ID at 0403 as ``You`re listening to the Armed Forces Network.`` Baseball game between the Seattle Mariners and Baltimore Orioles. Ads for local restaurants. Fair. (Joe Wood, Greenback TN, MARE Tipsheet via DXLD) AFRTS used to cut out all commercials. Does this no longer matter? (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Came upon an Army MARS net, Wed July 20 at 1410 on 5118-SSB. Mostly chit-chat about the weather, sinking water table, etc. Calls logged were AAT7WE, AAT7DQ, AAA7NE, AAR7AL. Nine stations had checked in, one of them said. Everyone seemed to know where everyone is located, but this was never mentioned, altho ``over in Cedar Rapids`` was referred to. Seemed to secure at 1420. Later searching found some locations for these: AAT7WE in SE Nebraska, per WUN log archive; AAT7DQ in Leavenworth KS, and AAR7AL in Georgia, per http://www.chace-ortiz.org/umc/mil/army/usamars.txt A lot more calls and frequencies are there, and the WUN log mentioned a net at 0000 on 5255 on 5 April 2002. AA7NE is State Director in Nebraska Emil Pierson per http://www.txarmymars.org/states/ne.htm and you can look up other State Directors --- and flags of each state --- via http://www.txarmymars.org/states/ As you can see, this is part of the Texas Army MARS website http://www.txarmymars.org which has a lot of info altho I could not find any actual net times or frequencies. Most states` Army MARS have their own websites, linked from this map: http://www.txarmymars.org/websites.htm However, some are dead links, like Iowa, Oklahoma! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. DAYLIGHT-SAVING EXPANSION PLAN IS RIPPED BY AIRLINES, CHURCHES --- By JOHN J. FIALKA Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL July 20, 2005; Page D2 Facing objections from the Bush administration, church groups and others opposed to extending daylight-saving [sic] time, House and Senate conferees on the energy bill postponed a decision on the proposal until tomorrow. Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D., N.M.), the ranking Democrat on the Senate Energy Committee, said yesterday that he wants further talks with the House sponsors of the measure before any vote is taken. "The senator has concerns," said Bill Wicker, a spokesman for the senator, who said committee members have been fielding protests from several other groups, including airlines, utilities and farm groups opposed to the proposal, which would extend daylight-saving time one month in the spring and fall. In a letter to the chairman of the House Energy Committee, Joe Barton, Energy Secretary Samuel W. Bodman said the Bush administration "strongly urges" the House and Senate conferees to drop the proposal. Mr. Bodman said that expanding daylight-saving time "would raise serious international harmonization problems for the transportation industry." The Air Transport Association has asserted that its members, long- distance American airlines, could lose millions of dollars because of schedule disruptions that the proposal would cause by throwing U.S. arrivals at foreign airports out of synchronization with European schedules and Europe's system of awarding "slots," or landing rights at airports. Some large church groups also oppose extending daylight-saving time into the early spring and late fall, because it would require children to wait for school buses in the dark. "Without the light of day, they are more susceptible to accidents with school buses, or other motorists, and the darkness also provides cover for individuals who prey on children," said the Rev. William F. Davis, deputy secretary of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, in a letter written to the House sponsors of the measure. Dr. John Holmes, a spokesman for the Association of Christian Schools International, which, he said, represents nearly one million students in evangelical schools, said he agreed with the Catholic bishops' statement. "Please oppose this ill-advised change of the American clock," he wrote House members (WSJ via Mike Cooper, DXLD) Nice try, but North America has already been for years, a week out of synch with Europe in spring, and that seems to be no problem for the airlines (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. PAUL DUKE, VOICE OF 'WASHINGTON WEEK,' DIES By Joe Holley, Washington Post Staff Writer Wednesday, July 20, 2005; B06 Paul Duke, 78, a veteran newsman who for 20 years was the calm and mellow-voiced moderator of "Washington Week," the longest-running news program of the Public Broadcasting Service, died July 18 at his home in the District. He had acute leukemia. Mr. Duke was already a respected Washington journalist when he took over as host of the program in 1974. He had worked for the Associated Press, the Wall Street Journal and NBC, but at PBS he developed something akin to a cult following as he presided every Friday night over a thoughtful, good-humored discussion of the week's news with four respected journalists. Mr. Duke set the tone for the print professionals who appeared on the show, then called "Washington Week in Review." They were -- as they are today -- men and women who didn't shout, didn't pontificate and didn't take sides. "Paul is very serious about journalism," former longtime panelist Charles McDowell told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on the occasion of Mr. Duke's 1994 retirement. "Like some people care about religion, he cares about journalism. To him, the end of the world is to hear good journalists screaming at each other, playing to the camera." Mr. Duke often lamented the noisy intrusion of show business into the news business. "I'm a rather old-fashioned journalist in that I believe we lay it out but are not judgmental," he told the Post- Dispatch. "Now a lot of reporters are judgmental. I'm not sure this is a healthy trend." Mr. Duke's easygoing nature became something of a running joke in Washington. At a 1987 dinner in honor of "Washington Week in Review," then-Senate Minority Leader Robert J. Dole observed: "Paul Duke had a mild case of charisma, but as you can plainly see, he was able to shake it off." Paul Welden Duke was born in Richmond, where he began publishing his own handwritten neighborhood newspaper at age 13. He was delivering newscasts for a radio station at 16 and had his own 15-minute nightly sports show at 18. Despite that early experience, he once wrote that, as an English major at the University of Richmond, he had no idea what he would do after graduation. "I had no burning ambitions, no consuming goals," he recalled in an article for the university's journalism department. Also, his mother looked askance at his becoming a journalist. "Back in the 1940s, journalists had the image of being drunks and bums and ne'er-do-wells," he recalled in a 1994 Washingtonian magazine story written by Ken Adelman. He took a basic journalism course his senior year simply because he needed the credit. Taught by legendary professor Joe Nettles, the course hooked him. After Mr. Duke graduated in 1947, Nettles helped him get a job covering sports for the Associated Press in Richmond. A year later, he was writing a weekly "Virginia Sports Reel" column, but reporting on Virginia's civil rights battles began to take more and more of his time. It also won him a promotion to AP's Washington bureau in 1957. The civility and professionalism that Mr. Duke embodied did not prevent him from being an aggressive reporter. In 1994, Washington Post columnist and occasional "Washington Week" panelist David Broder recalled that at the Wall Street Journal, Mr. Duke was part of a trio of congressional reporters -- along with Alan L. Otten and Robert D. Novak -- that, in Broder's words, "may have been as strong a team as any news organization has ever had on that beat." Mr. Duke covered Congress from 1959 to 1963 as well as the 1960 presidential campaign. In 1963, he moved to NBC, where he covered Capitol Hill for 10 years. Eager to do live broadcasts about the political news of the day, he switched to public television in 1974. Hosting "Washington Week in Review," seven years old at the time, was part of the deal. During his tenure, the show's average audience increased from 1.5 million to 4.6 million. It won both an Emmy Award and the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award for outstanding journalistic achievement. Mr. Duke contributed articles and opinion pieces to numerous publications, including Reporter magazine and The Post, and won an American Film Festival Blue Ribbon for a documentary on Harry Truman's surprise victory over Thomas Dewey in 1948. He also made documentaries about the Berlin Airlift and John F. Kennedy's campaign for the presidency. The Watergate scandal, he said, was the most emotional story he ever covered, but it wasn't "the greatest story." That, he told Adelman, was a story about Lady Wonder, a horse in Richmond who told fortunes, found missing objects and helped solve love problems. After his retirement from "Washington Week" in 1994, he lived for nearly two years in London, where he contributed special reports to "Washington Week" on European political matters and news analysis for the BBC. He also provided a weekly "Letter from London" to WETA-FM in Washington. In 1999, he came back for a short stint as moderator of "Washington Week" after his successor left in a dispute with PBS. Mr. Duke liked to tell of a letter he received in 1992 from a man accusing "Washington Week" of outrageous bias. Mr. Duke sent him a one-line response: "Biased which way?" The viewer came back with his own one-line response: "Biased both ways!" His marriage to Janet Johnston Duke ended in divorce. Survivors include his wife of 20 years, Janet Wachter Duke of the District; a son from his first marriage, Paul F. Duke of Los Ángeles; a stepdaughter, Amy Rider of Richmond; and a step-grandchild (c) 2005 The Washington Post Company (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. Remember that Al Gore TV venture? It's Current TV and it has a website: http://www.current.tv/index.php (Clara Listensprechen, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Launch scheduled for August 1, but already funxioning online it seems with blogs, etc. Bet we don`t get it on basic cable here (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** URUGUAY [non]. Radio Cimarrona: 2200-2300 9480 JUL 100 kW / 220 deg Sun/Mon SoAm Spanish (from DTK schedule above under GERMANY, Observer, Bulgaria via DXLD) I thought this one had been off for months; are they really back? (gh) ** VENEZUELA [non]. CONGRESO DE EEUU APRUEBA ENMIENDA CONTRA TELESUR La iniciativa busca contrarrestar el "antiamericanismo" de la cadena de TV --- El presidente Chávez calificó el acto de "descabellada acción imperialista" http://www.eluniversal.com/2005/07/21/pol_art_21148AA.shtml Washington. La Cámara de Representantes de Estados Unidos aprobó ayer una enmienda que permite el inicio de transmisiones de radio y televisión para ofrecer a los venezolanos información "precisa y objetiva" y contrarrestar "el antiamericanismo" del futuro canal Telesur. "Chávez es un enemigo de la libertad y de los que la apoyan y la promueven", declaró el representante republicano de Florida, Connie Mack, que presentó la enmienda aprobada a mano alzada por la Cámara, informó su oficina de prensa, según AFP. "Es una amenaza para Estados Unidos y trata de minar el equilibrio de poderes en el hemisferio occidental", añadió Mack, quien se declaró satisfecho de que "Estados Unidos enviara hoy (ayer) un claro mensaje" al presidente Chávez de que "no cerrará los ojos". La enmienda "autoriza al Gobierno estadounidense" a "iniciar transmisiones de radio y TV que ofrezcan a los venezolanos una fuente de noticias precisa, objetiva y completa", subrayó el comunicado. La iniciativa "se produjo cuando Chávez está listo para lanzar su propia red de televisión, siguiendo el ejemplo de Al Jazira, para difundir su retórica antiamericana y contra la libertad", añadió el representante del Partido Republicano, del que forma parte el presidente de EEUU, George W. Bush. Lamento reiterado La Televisora del Sur (Telesur) es un proyecto de televisora regional que prepara Venezuela con varias naciones. Funcionará con un aporte venezolano de 51%, argentino de 20%, cubano de 19% y uruguayo de 10%. El canal saldrá al aire el 24 de Julio, dos meses después de estar a prueba. El vicecanciller de Colombia, Camilo Reyes, lamentó en una reunión de la Comunidad Andina encabezada por Chávez que "entre 44 millones de colombianos de bien, Telesur escogiera a Tirofijo (jefe de las FARC) para sus primeros segundos de transmisión". Sin embargo, el jefe de Estado venezolano disminuyó la observación y reivindicó la libertad de expresión, tal como días atrás lo hizo su ministro de Comunicación e Información, Andrés Izarra, para responder las críticas del diario El Tiempo de Bogotá. Descabellada acción El presidente Hugo Chávez calificó la decisión parlamentaria como "descabellada acción imperialista que no debe extrañarnos para nada porque sabemos de lo que es capaz el Gobierno de Estados Unidos". Chávez dijo que la medida contra una televisora que aún no ha salido al aire es un gesto desesperado. "Y no hay nada más peligroso que un gigante desesperado. Han tratado de aislarnos pero los resultados son contrarios. Nuestras propuestas avanzan como nunca en el escenario internacional", expresó durante una inesperada intervención telefónica en un programa de VTV. El Presidente indicó que el Gobierno analizará el punto para tomar la mejor decisión, pero si EEUU intenta invadir el espectro radioeléctrico venezolano, "tomaremos las medidas para neutralizarlos y habrá una especie de guerra electrónica". La Embajada de Venezuela en Washington repudió la medida mediante un comunicado. Copyright @ Diario El Universal C.A. 2004 (via Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, DXLD) CÁMARA DE REPRESENTANTES APRUEBA MEDIDAS PARA CONTRARRESTAR A TELESUR El Senado norteamericano deberá ratificar esta propuesta http://www.el-nacional.com/Articulos/DetalleArticulo.asp?idSeccion=84&id=63874 La Cámara de Representantes de Estados Unidos aprobó este miércoles una enmienda que permite el inicio de transmisiones de radio y televisión para ofrecer a los venezolanos información "precisa y objetiva" y contrarrestar "el antiamericanismo" del canal Telesur. "Chávez es un enemigo de la libertad y de los que la apoyan y la promueven", declaró el representante republicano de Florida, Connie Mack, que presentó la enmienda aprobada a mano alzada por la Cámara, informó su oficina de prensa en un comunicado. "Es una amenaza para Estados Unidos y trata de minar el equilibrio de poderes en el hemisferio occidental", añadió Mack, quien se declaró satisfecho de que "Estados Unidos enviara hoy un claro mensaje" al presidente venezolano de que "no cerrará los ojos". La enmienda "autoriza al gobierno estadounidense" a "iniciar transmisiones de radio y televisión que ofrezcan a los venezolanos una fuente de noticias precisa, objetiva y completa", subrayó el comunicado. Álvarez: Medida es absurda Respecto a tal medida, el embajador de Venezuela en Washington, Bernardo Alvarez, consideró que si el propósito es contrarrestar la nueva televisora regional hubiera sido preferible para los norteamericanos hacer que la señal La Voz de América la tomaran los canales venezolanos, pues sería "más económico para los contribuyentes estadounidenses". En declaraciones a Venezolana de Televisión (VTV), señaló que la cobertura de Telesur alcanza Estados Unidos, otro elemento que a su parecer "ayuda a no verle mucho sentido al impulso de la referida medida" Álvarez catalogó la acción como una medida "efectista, publicitaria, propia de un congresista joven como es Mack, presto a complacer los intereses de la comunidad cubano-americana en Estados Unidos". Enfatizó el funcionario diplomático que en Venezuela hay absoluta libertad de expresión, por lo que si la enmienda fuera aprobada en el Senado del Parlamento estadounidense, la futura señal de radio y TV se transmitiría en el país. Además, a juicio de Alvarez, los medios audiovisuales venezolanos mantienen mensajes de oposición al Gobierno de forma permanente, como clara evidencia del ejercicio de la referida libertad de expresión, por lo que no percibe como muy necesaria la iniciativa de la Cámara Baja del Congreso de Estados Unidos. AFP (via Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, DXLD) NOTE FOLLOWING: Chávez vows to ``pulverize`` any attempt by US to broadcast to Venezuela. What is he afraid of? (gh, DXLD) See also USA! VENEZUELA ANUNCIA BLOQUEO DE TRANSMISIONES CONTRA EL PAÍS ABN 21/07/2005 Caracas http://www.abn.info.ve/go_news5.php?articulo=13045&lee=4 El presidente de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela, Hugo Chávez Frías, advirtió a Estados Unidos que dará una respuesta contundente si inicia transmisiones de radio y televisión contra Telesur. Tal declaración presidencial, dada la noche de este miércoles, obedece a la aprobación, este 20 de julio, de una enmienda en la Cámara de Representantes de EEUU la cual da luz verde al inicio de transmisiones de radio y televisión como contraparte del canal Telesur, medio audiovisual propuesto por Venezuela como herramienta integracionista. Al ser entrevistado vía telefónica desde la sede de Venezolana de Televisión (VTV), Chávez Frías aseguró que Venezuela tendrá que responder si el Gobierno norteamericano sigue adelante con esa iniciativa. El representante republicano de Florida Connie Mack fue quien presentó la enmienda aprobada a mano alzada por la Cámara Baja. ``Se acabó el tiempo en que nos callábamos, nos replegábamos y poníamos la otra mejilla, como decía Cristo. Luego del golpe de Estado de abril de 2002 nos pusieron la dos mejillas moradas``, expresó el Mandatario venezolano. ``Nuestro Gobierno tendrá que responder si el Gobierno estadounidense se atreviera a tomar alguna acción, cualquiera que ella sea, por ejemplo, si lanzaran señales muy potentes, pues habrá una guerra electrónica``, enfatizó. Para ilustrar sus argumentos el Jefe del Estado venezolano citó a Cuba y la manera como su presidente, Fidel Castro, neutralizó las transmisiones de radio y televisión norteamericanas contra la isla, y aseguró que Venezuela también pulverizará cualquier señal. ``Habrá que ver hasta dónde serán capaces de llegar. Se arrepentirán porque la respuesta sería más poderosa que la acción y generará más conciencia en América Latina``, advirtió el Jefe del Estado venezolano. En su opinión, una agresión de ese tipo demostraría una vez más que Estados Unidos ``es un gigante que atropella, no respeta la libertad de expresión y apoya terroristas. La agresión electrónica contra Venezuela le quitaría la máscara al imperio y lo colocaría de rostro y garra entera delante de nuestro pueblo``. Tanto el Presidente de Venezuela como su ministro de Comunicación e Información, Andrés Izarra, atribuyeron el nuevo ataque a que Telesur, aún sin salir al aire, ``está tocando llagas`` y preocupa mucho a Estados Unidos y sus intereses. ``Tendrán que lanzar señales a Brasil, a Argentina, a ellos mismos, allá en Estados Unidos``, dijo Chávez Frías, quien recordó que en todos esos países transmitirán la señal del nuevo canal de alcance regional. ``El gigante imperialista está entrando en etapa de desespero``, expresó el Presidente y subrayó que los ataques de Washington, lejos de aislar a Venezuela, han hecho que sus propuestas avancen. En torno a esa estrategia unitaria regional citó la integración de Petrosur, con Brasil y Argentina; Petrocaribe, con 13 Estados caribeños; y la aprobación de Petroandina en la Comunidad Andina. Izarra consideró que la amenaza de EEUU no es un ataque aislado, sino que forma parte de una ``renovada ola de acciones políticas contra Venezuela``. Sobre este aspecto refirió, entre otros casos, que la congresista republicana norteamericana Ileana Ros-Lehtinen también impulsa otra resolución en el Congreso de su país contra Venezuela. Asimismo, señaló que Mack, el congresista de Florida ya mencionado, dio apoyo político al terrorista de origen cubano Orlando Bosch, quien fue indultado por el ex presidente de Estados Unidos, George Bush, padre. Bosch, en sintonía con Luis Posada Carriles (de origen cubano y nacionalidad venezolana), es responsable de numerosos ataques terroristas contra Cuba y otras naciones del continente. Entre las acciones terroristas de autoría intelectual Bsch-Posada Carriles esta la explosión, en pleno vuelo, de una avión de Cubana de Aviación, el 6 de octubre de 1976, frente a las costas de Barbados, hecho en el que murieron sus 73 ocupantes. A juicio del ministro de Comunicación e Información. ``Mack habla como un imperialista que no tolera la democracia ni la libertad. Así habla la gente detrás de la lógica de la invasión a Irak``. Frente a toda esa agresión foránea subrayó que en Venezuela ``estamos decididos a ser libres``. El director general de Telesur, Aram Aharonian, reiteró que la señal del canal saldrá al aire el 24 de julio, como está previsto, sin aceptar censura de ningún tipo. Funcionará con un aporte venezolano de 51%; argentino de 20%; cubano de 19%; y uruguayo de 10% (via José Elías Díaz Gómez, Venezuela, DXLD) Heated words (gh) ** VIETNAM [non]. I received a QSL card from Radio Hoa-Mai via KWHR on 11555. The full-data [except site] black-and-white card shows a map of Vietnam and a lotus and mentions their "efforts to the cause of restoring democracy and human-rights in Vietnam." The card was received 2 weeks after sending a report to Miss Ngoc-Anh Trinh at P.O. Box 4175, Garden Grove, CA 92824. Miss Ngoc-Anh signed the card. This was for a logging in Bao Loc, Vietnam, which is 188 km northeast of Ho Chi Minh/Saigon (Wendel Craighead, KS-USA Jul 12, 2005 for CRW July 15 via DXLD) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. We have been commenting here clashings between radio stations and in some way rising our voices and protesting when a broadcaster with more resources than other comes on the air without considering --- at least that´s what appears to be --- the presence on a given frequency for so many years of a weaker station. You know how this been going lately with LRA 36, Antarctica and Radio Mil, México. Now, how come that from dusk to dawn WWCR gets into 7466, despite Radio Nacional de la República Saharawi, has been there, altho for not so long. Is it because being sort of a clandestine doesn't mean a great deal for DXers? Why not WWCR better look for another channel, avoiding themselves to change 1 kHz up to escape from a het? (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, July 21, dxldyg via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE. Unidentified African on 6612 --- Today 20 July Jim Solatie (Finland) phoned me and told he heard last night around 0100 an African station on 6612. Program was vernaculars with one timecheck in English giving UTC+2. This might be Zimbabwe harmonic (or badly mistuned transmitter) from 3306. I've been hearing them on 6612 all evening but no definite station ID heard. Mentions of Zimbabwe heard couple of times. I can hear only a weak carrier on 3306 that could be anything. I'm writing this around 2000 UT (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Quito 20/7 2005 *** Late Wednesday evening edition: *** Recording of unID 6612.010 kHz - Zimbabwe?? (harmonic 2 x 3306??) All evening with OM talk and music. Very weak signal. 0302 UT national anthem(?) followed by drums so I thought it was close down but the music program went on with better signal strength after 0300. French? Is there a "Zimbabwe" at "1:03"?? Logged as unID by Finnish DXer and also audible in U.S.A. I checked the frequency after reading a mail from the Finnish DXer Jari Savolainen Comments, photos and recordings at: http://www.malm-ecuador.com (Björn Malm, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi there from Zimbabwe, I monitored 6612 this morning 21 July at 0530 and report that it is Radio Zimbabwe from a transmitter site in Gweru in Central Zimbabwe. Checked the local Harare FM programming of Radio Zimbabwe to confirm this. Programming in local vernaculars, Shona and Ndebele languages, no English programming. Not a harmonic of 3306 as this frequency is currently not in use by this station. [8 minutes later:] Hi once again, Went back and checked 3306 at 0545: there is a very weak signal of Radio Zimbabwe on this frequency so indeed what we are hearing on 6612 is a harmonic of this frequency but the harmonic is far stronger than the intended transmission (David Pringle-Wood, Harare, Zimbabwe, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi David and many thanks for the confirmation. As 6612 is 2 x 3306 I believe the transmitter is mistuned and pushing most of the power out on 6612 (Jari Savolainen, dxldyg via DXLD) Checked again this evening 21 July at 1630, Radio Zimbabwe on 6612, a harmonic of 3306, in vernacular can be heard here in Zimbabwe with a fair signal. Also to mention that 3306 seems be have been reactivated on a 24 hour basis as the FM network also runs 24 hour programming. It is a bit of poor engineering (and power wastage no less) to have 3306 on air during the day in Zimbabwe as this frequency does not propagate locally in daylight. DXers in Europe can check 6612 from around 1700 until around 0400 to monitor this strong harmonic frequency of Radio Zimbabwe, broadcast from State facilities in Gweru in the centre of Zimbabwe. The orginal 3306 is broadcasting with perhaps 200 kW so the harmonic may even be the same level. Hi Jari, Yes, you are correct about the mistuning of Radio Zimbabwe on 3306 which is heard on 6612, Confirmation yes, DXers, but don't even try to get a reply from the Zimbabwean government. 73 (David Pringle- Wood, Harare, Zimbabwe, July 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Thanks for your continued editoring. SW Radio Africa ended on SW July 8th, 15145. 1700-1800. R. Zimbabwe airs on 3306 with harmonics 6612, 24 / 7 days. No gas/fuel in Zimbabwe (David Pringle-Wood, Harare, later July 21, ibid.) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. U.K.(non): SW Radio Africa in English left SW from July 9: 1700-1800 on 15145 WOF 250 kW / 140 deg to Zimbabwe (Observer, Bulgaria, July 21 via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 9525 at 2002, R. Kitia?, 43443 (Rhoderick Illman, location unknown but likely UK, Kenwood R500, July Short Wave Magazine via DXLD) No further details. Sounds like the Russian name for China, Kitay, (like Cathay). Let`s look at HFCC A-05: 9525 1900 2100 28,29 QIQ 500 314 1234567 270305 301005 D CHN CRI RTC 9525 1905 2020 47,52 MAN 100 343 1234567 270305 301005 D LIN/FRN SWZ TWR So TWR Swaziland is also on there, but most likely CRI, especially if this broadcast be in Russian (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 9915, what sounded like DRM noise, 1315 July 21, not very strong and an analog 9920 FE language hymn was still audible. Nothing in the three different online DRM schedules, and nothing on this frequency (or 9910, 9920) in the DRM fora (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ You provide a tremendous service, and I'm just happy that I can help support it in a small way (Dave White, W4UVH) Who provides the bandwidth for our aural and visual archives as well as dxlatest (gh) Glenn, Great WOR this week!! 73s, (Artie Bigley, July 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ ITU COUNTRY CODES I try to weed these out of DXLD, since they are illogical, such as some 3-letter, some 1-letter, and some of them are based on languages other than English with the name of the country not even starting with the same letter. Nevertheless, they are often unavoidable in other DX publications and references. So here is a website key to them, mentioned in the July Short Wave Magazine: http://www.geckos-haunt.org/LMS (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) PRIME TIME SHORTWAVE NEWSLETTERS The Prime Time Shortwave newsletters have been moved from Topica to Yahoo! Groups. I have been looking at moving the newsletters for some time due to the frequent downtime at the time the newsletters are usually sent. Also the irregularities of the management system for the moderator. I believe this will be a big improvement for distribution of the newsletters. The newsletters will operate the same as before where only I can send them out and the membership list is kept confidential. With the newsletter you can expect one file per week and with the ASCII text file you can expect two per week. The newsletters are now found at the following locations. primetimeshortwave - PTSW newsletter http://groups.yahoo.com/group/primetimeshortwave ptsw - PTSW ASCII text file schedules http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ptsw At Prime Time Shortwave you will find up-to-date English shortwave schedules sorted by country, time and date as well as a DX media program guide (Daniel Sampson, Prime Time Shortwave http://www.primetimeshortwave.com dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) A lot of the PTSW data comes from DXLD (gh) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ AUTEK AUDIO FILTER QF-1A DATABASE APPLICATION Glenn, I pulled out my old QF-1A Autek Audio Filter a few weeks ago to use with my R390A. I discovered after a few hours of use that every time I returned to a previous intercept, I would need to retune the QF-1A to eliminate interference that I had already figured out before. Well I thought this was a nuisance and decided to write a database application where I could keep track of the filter's settings for each frequency or Radio Station. The results turned out better than I had anticipated. Since then, I thought it might be welcomed if I offered the application to whomever wanted it, free of course. If they go to the following URL and follow the instructions http://www.orchidcitysoftware.com/IMAGE43.HTML they can download it. There's a screen shot of the application's forms, at that link which can be viewed before downloading. Would it be possible for you to let your readers know about this? I sure would appreciate it. Thanks (Chuck Bolland, FL, July 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) AFFORDABLE 7-INCH TAPE MACHINES? DXLD/gh wrote: ``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`` I've got some old 7-inch tapes I made in the 60s or 70s gathering dust in the closet. Assuming they haven't disintegrated --- anyone know a reasonably priced machine that would play them? (Ed Stone, NY, DX LISTENING DIGEST) BLINKX -- SEARCHES WEB AUDIO VIA SPEECH RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY One of the problems with audio files is that you can't search them in Google. An outfit called Blinkx, http://www.blinkx.com searches video and audio files for text strings / subjects of interest. Clearly the technology is stone age today, but it would be an interesting tool to search out programs with subjects of interest (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, July 20, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) FIRST ATTEMPT AT DIGITAL TV DXING I had been longing to try digital TV DXing for quite some time, the price of over-the-air digital tuners held me back. Today the $87 US Digital HDTV tuner on-sale at my local Wal-Mart was too good a price to resist. My interest in digital tv reception is in two areas, 1. assessing whether the "all or nothing" concept of receiving the signals would improve on the VHF/UHF non-digital poor reception that my Buffalo and Toronto locals normally provide. Non-digital signals at my fringe location usually average about 40-50% "snow" and some networks are zero reception. 2. Using my Lake Erie location to DX digital signals along the great lakes, although my move from a major hilltop with a clear line of site from Toronto to Detroit, to a deep valley probably limits any success I might have. I plan to set up some mobile TV digital DX eventually. Anyway, the $87 device works very well. My first few scans using flimsy rabbit ears produced zilch. Next I pressed in to action a $20 Radio Shack UHF roof antenna, laying on a bed in the upstairs bedroom! I pressed the scan stations button and it picked up 5 stations. I was very pleased with the signal quality, perfect! So, it is true --- the "all or nothing" concept of digital reception produced a perfect picture whereas higher powered non-digital signals from the same antenna towers produce poor to fair signals. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the digital service provides a channel guide and program information similar to satellite TV services. I have not got the antenna outside yet, nor have I experimented with different directions. No sign of CBC TV or other Canadians yet but that will be my major goal in the next few weeks, I will be very pleased if I get CBC with high quality video. Stations monitored so far 23-1 WIVB-HD Buffalo 23-3 WNLO-S Buffalo 26-1 WNYB DT Arkright, NY ? 29-1 WUTV-H Grand Island, NY 29-2 WUTV-S Grand Island 29-3 WUTV-E Grand Island (No content) Nice to get WNLO well, since they have a useful news program at 10 PM that I could not get via Dish Network or over-the-air non-digital. Hopefully will get NBC and ABC networks from Buffalo after some playing around (Andy K3UK O`Brien, Fredonia, NY, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) DTV DX is covered by WTFDA, also its topica list IBOC COMMENTS FLOOD INTO FCC The deadline for filing IBOC Comments with the FCC was Monday, July 18, as mentioned earlier in the CGC Communicator. Thankfully, comments have been flooding in, and there are almost 900 available via the following web address. The address is a bit humorous because "dx" is what you won't get with IBOC, with all the noise generated by the FM and especially the AM sidebands. Reply Comments are due August 17, 2005. As said earlier, we are a bit concerned that the record is being closed so soon, before more stations have had an opportunity to experience the effects of IBOC firsthand. Seems like broadcasters either need an extension of time for filing comments, or a future comment window needs to be opened. After all, the de facto Beta Test of IBOC technology is just getting started. http://tinyurl.com/dx7eq (CGC Communicator July 20 via Kevin Redding, ABDX yg via DXLD) WATCH OUT FOR CERTAIN DEVICES TACKED ONTO ATM MACHINES There are two gadgets that can be attached to an ATM machine to capture your ATM card data and your PIN number. This press release from the University of Texas at Austin Police Department shows exactly what these easy-to- spot devices look like, and how they work. http://www.utexas.edu/admin/utpd/atm.html (CGC Communicator July 20 via Kevin Redding, ABDX yg via DXLD) A sesquiyear old, but never too late for heads up (gh, DXLD) ###