DX LISTENING DIGEST 5-134, August 10, 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 Extra 59: Wed 2200 WOR WBCQ 7415 [first airing of each edition] Wed 2300 WOR WBCQ 17495-CLSB 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 Thu 2330 WOR WBCQ 7415 [occasional] 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 0000 WOR ACBRadio Mainstream 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 & 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 [suspended for 2 weeks; maybe 0400?] 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 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 WRN ON DEMAND [from Fri]: 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 Extra 59 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/worx59h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/worx59h.rm [WOR 1283 low, minus WOR opening is same as CONTINENT OF MEDIA 05-05] WORLD OF RADIO Extra 59 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/com0505.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/com0505.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/com0505.html WORLD OF RADIO Extra 59 in true SW sound of Alex`s mp3 [anticipated]: (stream) http://www.dxprograms.net/worldofradio_08-10-05.m3u (download) http://www.dxprograms.net/worldofradio_08-10-05.mp3 WORLD OF RADIO Extra 59 downloads in studio-quality mp3 [from UT Thu]: (high) http://www.obriensweb.com/worx59h.mp3 (low) http://www.obriensweb.com/worx59.mp3 WORLD OF RADIO PODCAST: www.obriensweb.com/wor.xml (currently 1277, Extra 57, 1278, 1279, 1280, Extra 58, 1281, 1282, 1283, soon Extra 59) WORLD OF RADIO ON WBCQ: Allan, I noticed that WOR was not on Saturday night at 11 on 9330, but instead GFRN. Is this a permanent change? Tom offered to play WOR at midnight instead. Still at 11 pm on Sunday night. What`s the latest on WOR scheduling? 73, (Glenn to Allan Weiner, Aug 8, via DXLD) Dear Glenn, No, this is just for the next two weeks. Then you will be back on Saturday nights. Cheers, (Allan to Glenn via DXLD) 0300 UT Sun ** ANTARCTICA. Aug 9 at 2055 tuned in 15476 (not 15475) and could hear occasional bits of music and talk, no doubt LRA36, and it went off at 2102. Tantalizingly weak signal, just waiting for enhanced trans- equatorial propagation, dehanced noise level; tnx to Voz Cristã for clearing the frequency (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Solar-terrestrial indices for 09 August follow. Solar flux 83 and estimated mid-latitude A-Index 10. The mid-latitude K-index at 2100 UTC on 09 August was 2 (16 nT). No space weather storms were observed for the past 24 hours (SEC via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. MORE LONG LOST AUSTRALIAN RADIO STARS SHINE AGAIN The Radio Heritage Foundation has released the second in a series about forgotten Australian radio stars at www.radioheritage.net. Mildura's 'Sunraysia Station' 3MA features Val Anderson [also former announcer for Australian forces Radio Levant in Syria and joint Australian/US forces radio 9PA in Port Moresby], night announcer and vocalist Charles Weymouth, and Doreen Sarah ['The Sunshiners' evening children's session]. 'First Station in the State' 5DN Adelaide includes Alan Sanders [also ex-3AW], breakfast announcer Mel Cameron ['New Dawn Patrol'] and Matt Hynes [Sports Editor] as well as other personalities. 7LA Launceston 'The Original and Feature Station' includes Jean Cleary [7LA Women's Association], JS Forward ['7LA Sunday Choruses'] and photos of the 7LA Boys Club gymnastic team amongst others. These stories are the second in an ongoing series about Long Lost Australian Radio Stars at http://www.radioheritage.net and come in the same month as 4BC, 4GR, 7NT and 7HO amongst others celebrate significant anniversaries. More radio heritage stories and materials are being added almost daily and the The Emporium Radio Heritage Store is now open at http://www.radioheritage.net A non-profit organization sharing the stories of Pacific radio (David Ricquish, Radio Heritage Foundation, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BAHAMAS [and non]. 810 ZNS3 (C6B3) Freeport, 1700 EST [sic, surely EDT = 2100 UT] 8 Aug. After weeks of extremely low audio, today when I checked they seem to be off the air. I can not hear even a carrier from what is usually a medium to strong station here in south Florida (W. Curt Deegan, Boca Raton, (Southeast) Florida, NRC-AM via DXLD) 810 ZNS3 (C6B3) Freeport, back on the air, but still with low audio. 740 WSBR Boca Raton, FL, IBOC is still off for another glorious day (W. Curt Deegan, Boca Ratón, (Southeast) Florida, 1745 UT Aug 9, IRCA via DXLD) ** BELARUS [non]. Glenn, I read this this morning from RFE/RL Newsline. No indication of whether on MW or SW, though: WARSAW ALLOCATES NEARLY $300,000 TO FINANCE INDEPENDENT BELARUSIAN RADIO. Polish Prime Minister Marek Belka on 8 August decided to earmark 950,000 zlotys ($290,000) for the Polish nongovernmental organizations planning to create an independent Belarusian-language radio, Polish media reported quoting official sources. Last week the Polish Foreign Ministry confirmed that Warsaw has been conducting negotiations with Brussels and Washington on financing a radio station for Belarus that would broadcast from Polish territory. JM (via Walt Salmaniw, BC, DXLD) MINISTER UNAFRAID OF EU-FUNDED RADIO'S IMPACT ON BELARUSIANS | Text of report by Interfax-Ukraine news agency Minsk, 9 August: Belarusian Information Minister Uladzimir Rusakevich thinks that plans to establish an EU-financed radio station broadcasting to Belarus are fruitless. "The world information machine is so powerful today that the creation of small radio stations will practically have no impact on the state of mind of Belarusian citizens," Rusakevich told Interfax on Tuesday [9 August]. This is how he commented on the statements by the European Parliament representatives that radio broadcasts will be organized to the territory of Belarus soon. The minister said that "all those in Belarus who want to receive information from the world's leading TV and radio broadcasters have this opportunity". One in every three residents of Belarus also have access to Internet resources, he said. Besides, the minister described the Polish government's decision to allocate 300,000 dollars for setting up a radio station that would broadcast to Belarus as "populist". "I am surprised at the fact that elementary provisions of the international law are being violated and separate states demonstrate disrespect for this international law," Rusakevich said. At the same time, he stressed that the Belarusian side "will not create any curtains". "Let them broadcast, we have enough possibilities to tell the truth to the people living in Belarus and abroad by means of Belarusian state-controlled and most of private media outlets," the minister said. He also said that "we will not act like our opponents and will not conduct counterpropaganda in response to their propaganda". Source: Interfax-Ukraine news agency, Kiev, in Russian 1549 gmt 9 Aug 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** CANADA [and non]. Re 5-133, O'Reilly on Advertising CBC Radio Tonite --- But I note, after paying careful attention to the credits this week, that this program appears to be outsourced to a private radio production firm in Toronto. I can understand outsourcing for TV, where more substantial expenses are involved, but is radio not cheap enough for CBC to produce on its own? I wonder if this is a first for CBC English Radio (Ricky Leong, Calgary, Alta., swprograms via DXLD) The BBCWS outsources several radio programs. In today's outsourcing- happy world, it isn't absolute cost that makes a difference -- it's percentage savings. So radio is a candidate even though it's much cheaper to produce than TV (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA, ibid.) It's his own company. Yes, it seems outsourced but then you think that the CBC would want to take all the rights action and so on. ----------------------- Linkname: Pirate Radio and Television: Terry O'Reilly URL: http://www.pirate.ca/bios/oreilly.html ----------------------- Wander around the above to see his agency and awards etc. They, the CBC, may have approached him for the program and asked what Terry O'Reilly would do. The CBC radio networks have not accepted advertisingsince 1974. So I thought that a show on radio advertising might be odd to long-term CBC listeners who may not have heard of some of them. http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/networks/networks_CBC_Radio.html [ see 1974 ] O'Reilly on Cannes MIFED? and radio advertising http://www.strategymag.com/articles/magazine/20050701/cannesoreilly.html Linkname: TURN TO PAGE ONE of a Mohawk College speech on radio advertising as a preface to a new-talent contest. URL: http://www.ihaveanidea.org/radio/oreilly.html And his prognostication of ruder, bolder, scatological, sexual advertizing on the new XM and Sirius radio as it is not regulated by the U.S. FCC. Linkname: The 'New Wild West' of Radio URL: http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/search/article_display.jsp?schema=&vnu_content_id=1000929868 Awards, and scripts from last year in one of Canada's advertising business magazines. Linkname: Marketing Magazine | Radio Campaign URL: http://www.marketingmag.ca/magazine/current/marketing_awards/article.jsp?content=20040329_63045_63045 and his 13 year career with the Boston Bruins Linkname: The life of O'Reilly URL: http://www.canoe.ca/Slam021025/col_garrioch-sun.html ... just kidding (Daniel Say, BC, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) "Never before the advent of radio did advertising have such a golden opportunity to make an ass out of itself. Never before could advertising be so insistent and so unmannerly and so affront its audience." William J. Cameron, director of PR for Ford Motor Company, 1938 (via Johno Wright, Aug Australian DX News via DXLD) ** CANADA. CALLING AND CLICKING LIKE NEVER BEFORE --- By SIMON AVERY Wednesday, August 10, 2005 Updated at 9:01 AM EDT Globe and Mail For the first time, the Internet has eclipsed radio in popularity among wired Canadians -- and tops television in the key demographic of 18- to 34-year-olds. It is a sea change that experts say sets the course for a major shakeup in the world of advertising. . . http://www.globetechnology.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050810.gtinternet10/EmailBNStory/Technology/ (via Doug Copeland, MB, DXLD) ** CHINA. CRI, 13460, 1827 July 13, in English about students cannot pay fees, SIO 444 (Richard Thurlow, Ipswich, Suffolk, HF Logbook, Aug BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) I would suspect a typo in frequency, but with CRI this far OOB could really happen (gh, DXLD) ** CHRISTMAS ISLAND. NDB CHANGES: Consideration is being given to closing down the Christmas Island NDB. It would appear that, for some reason, the locals want it removed, it is some 30 years old, somewhat rusted and operating on reduced power. The estimated costs of replacement is quoted at $200,000. It would seem the major airlines say they could do without it providing a GPS - NPA service is provided. This matter is still under consideration (Airservices. WA. JV, Utility DX, Aug Australian DX News via DXLD) WTFK? ** CUBA. Thought I would pass on this problem. It is impossible to contact Radio Havana. All email is blocked. This email address is useless 'rhc@radiohc.org' --- any idea on how I can send a message to Yolanda Fisher or the news department at Radio Havana? Thanks, a Grundig 800 user (Roy Berger, Canada, Aug 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The radiohc.org site is admittedly hosted in New York, and looks like it has not been updated in years. The `real` site is http://www.radiohc.cu but is often inaccessible. Try changing an address to .cu or look on that page for specific addresses (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [and non]. La Rosa de Tokyo para el próximo domingo 14 de Ago La Rosa de Tokyo, el programa de comunicaciones de LS11 Radio Provincia de La Plata en el cual colabora el GRA-Grupo Radioescucha Argentino, se irradia en el horario habitual de las 13 a 14 LU de los domingos (1600-1700 UT).- La emisión correspondiente al domingo 14 de Agosto de La Rosa de Tokyo estará dedicada a revisar la historia y el presente de la onda corta en Cuba. El programa incluye un análisis de tres emisoras que, desde distintos ángulos han marcado la historia de la radiodifusión local: Radio Rebelde, Radio Habana Cuba y Radio Martí. Colaboraciones especiales de Rubén Guillermo Margenet y Arnaldo Slaen. No se lo pierdan!!!!!!!! El programa se irradiará en su horario habitual de las 1300 a 1400 hora local (1600 a 1700 UT) y podrá escucharse en los 1270 Khz de amplitud modulada, con 56 kw y en Internet, haciendo "click" en http://www.radioprovincia.gba.gov.ar (Arnaldo Slaen, condiglist via DXLD) ** ECUADOR [and non]. HCJB, 12005, received letter form Karen Pederrsen stating that they now require 1 IRC or $1.00 for a reply. Also said they did not broadcast in Arabic on 12025 as stated in the NASWA Journal (Marlin Field, MI, QSL Report, Aug NASWA Journal via DXLD) O, yeah? A few lines from HCJB`s distributed A-05 schedule: ``Note: HCJB's shortwave broadcast schedule also includes these programs transmitted from these locations. Arabic 2100 2230 12025 250 150 N. Africa 1111111 U.K. Mailing Address: HCJB World Radio, 17-17-691, Quito, Ecuador S.A. Frequency Manager: Douglas Weber, E-Mail: dweber @ hcjb.org.ec FAX: +593 2 226 4765`` It`s apparently true that the program is produced by some other broadcaster, and you may never hear HCJB ID or address mentioned during the sesquihour, but HCJB obviously has something to do with this transmission, which has been going on for a few years, switching sites between Sackville and UK seasonally. Faked out depending on OD audio from DXPL: As of Aug 9, the last two shows, July 30 and August 6 are still not available, the latest being July 23, at http://www.hcjb.org/dxplaudio.php However, they are at http://www.dxprograms.net/ recorded from 5070 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello Mr. Hauser --- Well, we got to enjoy a couple weeks of QRM-free DX Partyline on HCJB's Saturday 1230Z airing on 12005, but now the 'partyline' is over. Havana wasn't coming on until 1300Z on 12000 for the last two weekends in July, but now they're back all over DXPL at 1230Z again. Even the sync and narrow bandwidth settings on the rig don't help. RHC supposedly was going to vacate 12000, but I guess somebody forgot. HCJB is going to have to move somewhere if they hope to retain their audience; plus the 12005 frequency is starting to fall off after 1200Z anyway. Best regards (Ben Loveless, WB9FJO/ex-WPE9JLQ, Michigan USA, Aug 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FAROE ISLANDS. Utvarp Foroya, Akraberg, 531 kHz, June 27-28 at 0558 jingles, sign-on, news in Faroese, hymns and sermon; and heard all day over sea path (David Ansell, Sea Palling, Norfolk, UK, Lowe HF 125, Wellbrook Loop on caravan floor, MW Logbook, Aug BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** FRANCE. Re 5-134: Media Network adds: According to the RFI website, the additional frequencies were actually introduced on 5 August, and are as follows: 0600-0700 UTC on 13695 kHz 0900-1100 UTC on 15315 kHz 1500-1600 UTC on 15605 kHz 1900-2100 UTC on 11615 kHz 2100-2200 UTC on 9485 kHz # posted by Andy @ 13:43 UT Aug 9 (Media Network blog via DXLD) French ** HAITI. FM DX to FL Panhandle: see JAMAICA [and non]. Listings: http://lakoulakay.com/world_haitian_radios__tvs.htm (Randy Zerr, WTFDA via DXLD) ** INDIA. Re: AIR Siliguri back on air after theft --- Contrary to the report, this was not "an unprecedented theft". DX-India carried a report in November 2003 about an identical incident at the station (Hansjörg Biener, Germany, Aug 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) There is something wrong with this report as one of my contacts in Siliguri informed that no such theft took place this year. May be Khaleej Times put the old info in their website. Regds (Alokesh Gupta via Biener, DXLD) Dear DXers, The report is not true at all, the website by mistake or fakely reproduced last year`s incident. The report is same as last year. No thieving occurred in AIR Siliguri as said the website. The November incident was first and last known thieving incident at AIR Siliguri. Regards, (Partha Sarathi Goswami, Siliguri, Dist.- Darjeeling, West Bengal, India, dx_india via DXLD) Re 5-132. The story is still up at Khaleej Times, dated 7 August 2005 (Glenn Hauser, Aug 10, 2005, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. Voice of Indonesia, 15149.82 kHz; momenteel met S9 + 12 AR 7030 12 mtr + MLB (Jan van der Aa, Netherlands, 1736 UT Aug 9, BDXC via DXLD) Het signaal is inderdaad verrassend sterk - en de uitspraak van het Spaans en Duits van de omroepers is ongelooflijk ... alleen de man die de Duitstalige airchecks uitspreekt, begrijpt waarschijnlijk wat hij zegt (komt vermoedelijk uit Duitsland)... Een paar jaar geleden hoorde ik wel eens een Spaanstalige omroepster (ook bij de VOI) die klonk alsof ze een beetje in de lorem was - maar dat zal wel niet het geval zijn geweest (of misschien is ze er nu daarom niet?). Blijft evengoed leuk om de uitzendingen zo goed en ongestoord te horen! (Frank van Gerwen, Castricum / Netherlands, BDXC via DXLD) The signal is surprised indeed strong - and the pronunciation of the Spanish and German by the omroepers is unbelievable... only the man that the Duitstalige airchecks pronounces, understands probable what he says (comes presumable from Duitsland). Did a few year ago I hear sounded once in a while a Spaanstalige announcer (also by the VOI) that as if was will be been is they a little bit in the lorem - only that well not the case (or perhaps they it now about that not?) Remains just as amusing the broadcasts so good and undisturbed to hear! (via http://ets.freetranslation.com via DXLD) talige = speaking ** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET. This week's commentary is based on something I happened to see last night on TV: More talking, less listening --- These days, a billion people have the opportunity to communicate directly with the rest of humanity via the World Wide Web. Yet, in the 10 years since the Web explosion, many of the world's problems seem to have got worse. So are Web users really communicating, or just making a noise? http://www2.rnw.nl/rnw/en/features/media/www050810.html?view=Standard (Andy Sennitt, Media Network newsletter via DXLD) see also CANADA ** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET. Stealing your neighbor's Net --- The spread of wireless is opening lots of opportunity to log on for free, but experts urge caution. August 9, 2005: 5:24 PM EDT By Steve Hargreaves, CNN/Money staff writer NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Forty bucks for high-speed Internet access? Not a bad deal. But how does free sound? To a growing number of Internet piggy-backers, it's the sweet sound of pirating their neighbor's wireless network. . . Find this article at: http://money.cnn.com/2005/08/08/technology/personaltech/internet_piracy/index.htm?cnn=yes (via Brock Whaley, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM [non]. R. Spaceshuttle International, logs on July 10: at 0905 on 15810-usb, with 50 watts, 1037 QSY, then heard at 1045 on 13808-usb with pop, English, 50 watts; and at 1107 on 15800 with Finnish music (Robertas Petraitis, Lithuania, Alternative Airwaves, Aug BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. BBC RADIO 1 TO LAUNCH THIS WEDNESDAY EXCLUSIVELY ON SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO NEW YORK - August 8, 2005 - SIRIUS Satellite Radio, the content leader in radio, will launch the acclaimed BBC music channel Radio 1 in America starting this Wednesday at 9 am ET during the channel's popular Chris Moyles Breakfast Show. SIRIUS' broadcast of BBC Radio 1 will bring its subscribers their first opportunity to listen to the most influential and highly acclaimed music channel from the UK. BBC Radio 1 will provide SIRIUS subscribers with a cutting-edge mix of pop, rock, R&B and hip-hop music. Radio 1 is also internationally recognized for its support of up-and-coming British artists, its unique in-studio performances and interviews, its extensive coverage of the international music scene, and its engaging and informative hosts and entertainment information. "BBC Radio 1's global popularity and its importance in the world of music can't be underestimated," said Scott Greenstein, SIRIUS President of Entertainment and Sports. "SIRIUS music channels and Radio 1 are both focused on the listener, and now SIRIUS subscribers will have the unique ability to enjoy this exceptional addition to our service." BBC Radio 1 will be heard 24 hours a day on SIRIUS channel 97. The channel will be time-shifted by 5 hours so Americans can enjoy the channel's lineup as it was intended- Chris Moyles in the morning, Scott Mill's show in the afternoon, and kicking off the weekend with Pete Tong's Friday night Essential Selection. To find out more about BBC Radio 1's programming, visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1 For more information about SIRIUS, visit http://www.sirius.com (via Andy O`Brien, dxldyg via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. The loop on Sirius channel 97, where BBC Radio One will be, has been updated, announcing it will start on August 10. Here's part of the text from http://www.sirius.com/BBCRadio1 SIRIUS will launch the acclaimed BBC music channel Radio 1 in America starting tomorrow at 9 am ET on channel 97 during the popular Chris Moyles Breakfast Show. Playing an irresistible mix of today's best pop, rock, R&B and hip- hop, Radio 1 also features interviews with a distinctive British flair, extensive coverage of music events from around the world and exclusive live performances by some of the hottest artists on the international music scene. The Radio 1 schedule will be time-shifted by 5 hours for American audiences, so you'll be able to enjoy the lineup as it's heard in the UK - including The Chris Moyles Show in the morning, Scott Mills in the afternoon, and kicking off the weekend with Pete Tong’s Friday night Essential Selection. Visit the BBC Radio 1 website for the full broadcast schedule, music news, special features and more. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/index.shtml?logo (via Steven Cline, IN, DXLD) My opinion, they should time-shift it by 6 or 7 hours; otherwise Chris Moyles' morning show (which will start at 7 AM Eastern time after the 5-hour shift) will be at 4 AM on the west coast. Later, (Steven Cline, Indianapolis, IN, Aug 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. Problems with MLB feeds on XM: see USA ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. TeleSur problems: see URUGUAY ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. The ADXN Satellite Radio & TV news is also available in a larger extended edition online at http://www.satdirectory.com/--adxn.html (August ADXN via DXLD) For August as well as July, June. Some excellent illustrations (gh) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS. CMF Radio One, 9133-USB, 1512 June 26, Asian music, web address, pauses possibly between different languages, SIO 232 (Robertas Petraitis, Lithuania, HF Logbook, Aug BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) near BAHRAIN ** ITALY. The next edition of MediaLine Radio will air on Saturday 13 August. The show is now on summer break (kind of); however, please tune in at the usual times to hear some interesting sci-tech and old- time radio features. Also, please visit the website (where you can hear on-demanD audio of the current edition of the programme) at the new address: - http://medialineradio.com Airtimes: Saturday 13 August, 1330 UT, http://mp3.nexus.org Saturday 13 August, 1930 UT, http://mp3.nexus.org and 5775 kHz Saturday 20 August, 1330 UT, http://mp3.nexus.org Saturday 20 August, 1930 UT, http://mp3.nexus.org and 5775 kHz (Henry Brice, Aug 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAMAICA [and non]. Exotic FM Es continues --- Mix of Spanish, French, Jamaica up to 107.5, many have severely distorted and very very mono audio, AC humm (Randy KW4RZ, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, 0058 UT Aug 10, http://www.geocities.com/kw4rz WTFDA via DXLD) Jamaican FM with RDS!! 89.9 KLAS-FM Jamaica actually overpowered WJTF Panama City, FL, a local, same direction as Jamaica, and keyed the RDS on the Denon TU-1500RD with "KLAS-FM" as the ID and talk radio at the time. Jamaican accents of course. Es seems to have subsided now, or moved out into the Gulf. Was up to 107.5 for some time with a French sounding station first, then Irie FM Jamaica. Anyone else catch this Es?? (Randy KW4RZ, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, 0127 UT Aug 10, ibid.) Exotic FM DX Haiti, Jamaica, etc. This was a nice opening just over an hour long on the evening of Aug 9 with a few new loggings including 107.5 Radio Solidarité in Haïti with a good ID, 104.5 presumed Galaxie FM in Haïti with French talk and music, (no other Haïti on that frequency), 103.7 Radio Lakansyel, Port-au-Prince, Haïti again, no other on the frequency. 89.9 KLAS-FM in Jamaica overpowering a local and keying RDS. This is the first I've heard of RDS in Jamaica. Many relogs including Jamaica 89.3, 92.7 "Radio 92 FM", 94.3, 94.7 "RJR 94 FM" 103.9 Jamaica, 107.5 "Irie FM" and others. Several unid'ed Spanish up to the top of the band. I managed to get a few audios but few ID and just go song to song. TV DX started with multiple ch 2 in Spanish, CCI on ch 4 and then a good logo id on ch 2 for Tele-Antillas, Dominican Republic. FM came alive at 6:50 pm [CDT = 2250 UT] with French on 89.3 and 89.7 most likely RFI Haiti and 4VVE Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Commonly heard on Es. Some of the Spanish stations were highly distorted. Some with severe monotone audio. I suspect Cuba and or Dominican Republic but perhaps some of the Haitians are Spanish. The French are surely Haiti. Es seemed to move westward with Jamaica getting stronger as Haiti and most of the Spanish faded. The last signal was on 91.9 with Seals & Crofts "Summer Breeze" which could have been Radio Cayman 2 but it faded before the song was over. Argg (Randy KW4RZ, Fort Walton Beach, FL, WTFDA Forum via DXLD) ** JORDAN. Hello to the list, I've been lurking out here for a while and envy some of the rare catches you guys and gals? pick out of the air and wonder if anyone in the Northeast of the U.S. has heard either Radio Poland or Jordan? It might just be a quirk of living in the Berkshire Hills and 200 miles (124 kilometers) inland but I've never heard either and current conditions guarantee it! I have a 90' random wire at 35' above grade to an ATU and my Realistic DX-150B to give you an idea for comparisons sake. Regards, (Scott Plantier, Pittsfield, MA, Aug 8, HCDX via DXLD) You should have a much better chance at these than I do here in OK, but as reported in DXLD I did have R. Jordan a few days ago around 1600 on 11690 (avoiding RTTY 2-3 kHz lower). Trouble is they were in Arabic instead of the usual English. Is this still the case? Some of their other frequencies, all Arabic, are easier to get. 73, (Glenn Hauser, Enid, ibid.) Re this message from Glenn === "Radio Jordan, 96.3 FM" is currently heard as I type at 1530 on 11690 in English with a mix of western and ME pop music. Maybe the Arabic broadcast had something to do with events in Saudi? And BTW - I would guess that the RTTY is operating from the western side of the pond. There is no trace of it here. And re cross-pond propagation on 11 MHz at this hour - there doesn't appear to be anything exactly beaming eastwards on that band from the west but a quick check of WHRI 12020, WEWN 11645 & WYFR 11615 (11725 11740 11830 & 11855 are blocked) reveals no signals audible (Noel R. Green [NE England], ibid.) Yes, RTTY pretty constant so figure it is NAm (gh) ** KOREA SOUTH. WEB SURVEY RESULTS LEAD AFN KOREA TO FINE-TUNE RADIO SHOWS, MUSIC MIX By Teri Weaver, Stars and Stripes Pacific edition, August 10, 2005 YONGSAN GARRISON, South Korea — American Forces Network Korea has added a weekday request show and is trying to diversify its music playlists after studying results of an online survey from earlier this year, according to AFN officials. . . http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=30847 A third of the survey participants said they don't receive the AM broadcast, according to the survey. But Griffin said he's unsure whether they really don't receive it or simply don't realize it's available. Either way, it's a signal that more people need to know what the AM stations offer, he said. "We felt that we didn't promote our AM radio as well as we should have," Griffin said (via Andy Sennitt, dxldyg via DXLD) Per WRTH 2005 there are about 18 bases with radio stations, most with both AM and FM, generally low powered (gh, DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [non]. V. of Mezopotamiya, 11530, finally audible after months of not propagating, Aug 10 at 1340 with lengthy interview between YL in studio and OM on phone. His comments were declamatory and for a few minutes seemed to be reciting a poem. At 1352 she was talking and he kept interrupting with ``allo, allo?`` which she apparently was not hearing. Finally at 1356 a bit of music, brief pause at 1400 uncovered some hum, then ``Denge Mezopotamiya`` IDs four times by M & W alternating, with reverb and music. A bit of talk, news? But 1403 back to music, instrumental, which is what I really enjoy from this station. G signal with flutter but now starting to weaken. Site is believed to be Moldova (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Solar-terrestrial indices for 09 August follow. Solar flux 83 and mid- latitude A-index 11. The mid-latitude K-index at 1200 UTC on 10 August was 5 (104 nT). The mid-latitude K-index at 1500 UTC on 10 August was 5 (70 nT). Space weather for the past 24 hours has been minor. Geomagnetic storms reaching the G1 level occurred (SEC via DXLD) ** LIBERIA [non]. According to Chinese DXer, Mr. Shifeng Zhang, E-mail addresses of Star Radio are as follows; Liberia direct; starradio_liberia @ yahoo.com replier Mr. James Morlu, Hirondelle; vpham @ hirondelle.org replier Mr. Viem Pham (Takahito Akabayashi Tokyo, Japan, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBYA [non]. Re 5-112 a month ago: Still hearing a continuous tone on 15205 during the 1900 hour, such as 1937 check August 7, presumably V. of Africa via Issoudun, France, as previously researched. Someone has money to burn (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. XEXQ-OC, SLP, 6045, just about the best I`ve heard it yet, 1305 Aug 10 with news mostly by woman with annoying stingers every few minutes. Good on peaks, and over the co-channel Asian station with SAH. It`s always a borderline case between these two, and on the average, Asia will gain as equinox approaches, except during propagation disturbances (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MOLDOVA. Observed usage of the 1000 kW transmitter on 1548 kHz: 0400-0800 VOR ``Russkoye Mezhdunarodnoye Radio`` in Russian 1200-1300 VOR WS in Russian 1300-1500 VOR ``Kanal Sodruzhestvo`` in Russian 1500-1530 VOR in Albanian 1530-1700 VOR in Serbian 1700-1800 CRI in Romanian & Serbian 1800-2000 TWR in various Balkan languages 2000-2130 VOR in Serbian (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, 10 July, MW Report, Aug BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) see also KURDISTAN [non] ** NEPAL. NEPAL THREATENS TO CLOSE PRIVATE RADIO STATION KATHMANDU: Nepal’s royalist government threatened on Thursday to close down a private radio station if it continued to ignore a ban on broadcasting news. Independent radio station Nepal FM has been broadcasting news since last month despite a ban since February 1 when King Gyanendra fired the government and seized power. Only state radio is allowed to broadcast news in Nepal --- private stations can only broadcast entertainment. The information and communications ministry said Nepal FM could lose its licence in a week’s time for defying the order. ``This is against the spirit of press freedom,`` Binod Dhungel, a Nepal FM official said. ``We`ll fight against the government decision and if necessary challenge it in court,`` Dhungel said. Press freedom in Nepal remains curbed since the king suspended civil liberties and banned private radio stations from broadcasting news. Gyanendra has eased some restrictions on the media but journalists are not allowed independent reporting on the anti-monarchy insurgency. Gyanendra has said he took power to crush the increasingly deadly Maoist revolt in which more than 12,500 people have died. Kathmandu has remained peaceful since the king`s move but violence has not abated in the countryside where the Maoists have a strong presence. The guerrillas want to overthrow the Hindu monarchy and install a communist republic in Nepal, tucked between Asian giants China and India. Web posted at: 8/6/2005 3:35:27 (Source ::: Reuters via Jaisakthivel, Ardic Dx Club, India, DXLD) NEPAL FM RECEIVES OK FROM SUPREME COURT TO BROADCAST NEWS The Nepal Supreme Court today ruled that the government's notice forbidding Nepal FM 91.8 to broadcast news was illegal. Nepal FM had continued broadcasting news despite receiving the notice, and the Ministry of Information and Communication had threatened to revoke its licence, claiming that the broadcasting of news was beyond the rights granted by the licence. The station's owners, Rainbow FM Pvt Ltd, decided to seek a ruling by the Supreme Court, which has now found in their favour. (Source: The Himalayan Times) # posted by Andy @ 13:22 UT Aug 10 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. DUTCH CHURCHES GUILTY OF MISUSING BROADCAST LICENCES The Radiocommunications Agency of the Netherlands say that many churches are contravening the terms of licences which they have been given to broadcast church services. Since the beginning of this year, churches have been able to broadcast their services legally using low power transmitters in the frequency ranges 148.40-149.14 and 153.00- 153.74 MHz. However, the licence conditions clearly state that the transmitters have to be switched off at all other times, but the Radiocommunications Agency says many churches are not obeying this instruction, and are playing CD's or relaying choir practice. The Agency says there are more than 250 such licences, and many more expected to be issued, and that it's important for everyone to stick to the rules, so that the various transmitters don't interfere with each other. posted by Andy @ 09:49 Aug 9 (Media Network blog via DXLD) TFK! But is this really `broadcasting`? (gh, DXLD) {Yes} see 5-135 Weird that Radio Bloemendaal http://www.radiobloemendaal.nl is able to hang onto its medium wave channel - presumably by just lying low and pointing to a licence issued in the 1920's for Sundays only transmissions (Jonathan Marks, 08.09.05 - 6:21 pm, ibid.) {WTFJ? 1116} ** PERU. Radio Uno 4568; R. Atahualpa 4820; R. Nuevo Amanecer, R. Súper Sensación 6895 and 6675; and R. Cutervo 6691 --- all reports were sent back by the Peruvian PO stating that the stations no longer exist or the address was no good (Marlin Field, MI, QSL Report, Aug NASWA Journal via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. A stunning QSL card [illustrated] from the RWM time and frequency service in Moscow heard by Jim Parker on 9996 on 22 Feb 2005. RWM is on air 24 hours a day (apart from down periods for maintenance) on 4996, 9996 and 14996 kHz (QSL Gallery, Aug BDXC UK Communication via DXLD) The obverse is entirely in English, with three different callsigns: RBU Moscow, RWM Moscow, RTZ Irkutsk, and Russian Standard Frequency and Time Radio Stations, overlaid on part of a clock face at an angle with Roman numerals plus a bunch of UFOs floating over it, perhaps fragments of nuts? Some look like pecans (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWEDEN. SAQ, Grimeton, VLF 17.2 kHz, 0816 July 3, annual test of the old Alexanderson alternator; CW message to listeners with IDs ``SAQ`` and V`s. Plagued by TV QRM unfortunately, even at this time on a Sunday! Had to rotate loop nearly broadside to Sweden to null RM. Also heard at 0915, 1215, 1315 UT. Used home-brew converter 17.2 to 317.2 kHz and small one-foot square loop with Sony ICF-2001D; SIO 322. Word of this in July Communication arrived just in time for a frantic search of the loft for the old home-brew VLK loop and converter. Used to listen with this to submarine stations around 16-30 kHz, but after a while the novelty wore off as I had no idea where they were coming from or what they were saying! Also, Criggion and Rugby have now gone from this part of the band. Website http://www.alexander.n.se is interesting and gives a list of reports on the transmission (Nick Rank, Buxton, Derbyshire, MW Logbook, Aug BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** TIBET [non]. V. of Tibet, relay via Uzbekistan, 17520, in listed Tibetan, 1447 June 15, regional music without any talk from sign-on to abrupt sign-off at 1515; occasional bubble jammer QRM but steady signal (William Brown, Independence MO, International Band Loggings, Aug NASWA Journal via DXLD) ** TURKS & CAICOS [and non]. I helped WBZ, and furnished them with a recording; was the "Carribean Beacon" that decided to move from 1020 to somewhere in between 1020 and 1030. I made Mark Manuelian a 90 minute recording of the station. They violated international law by having programs giving USA toll free numbers, and that indicated they were trying to cover the US. OH, the radio used for the recording? Hallicrafters SX-28. A little chat with said governments and the station moved back to 1020 which caused far less interference. The split caused horrible interference in the local area of WBZ (Powell E. Way, III, W4OPW, Aug 8, NRC-AM via DXLD) Historical, not recent (gh) ** U K. Some BBCWS August previews: ``Pacific Footsteps`` is a four-part series that commemorates the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II. The program examines the battles and investigates contemporary life in four countries touched by the hostilities in this region: Wednesdays, 0805, 1205 and 1805 (live webcast and Europe shortwave); Wednesdays 0905 and 1405, plus Thursdays 0005 and Saturdays 2205 (Africa); and, Wednesdays 1405, Thursdays 0005 and 0505, and Sundays 2105 (Americas shortwave and XM satellite radio), beginning August 10th ``Heart and Soul`` begins a new four-part series entitled ``What’s in a Name``: We have the names that are given to us at birth, others that are adopted at the time of religious conversion and some we conceal because of bias and prejudice. Louise Williams explores the complex relationship between names and faith, including Catholic and Jewish perspectives, plus observations from those who have had to change their names when they convert to a new faith: Wednesdays, 0945, 1445 and 1945 (live webcast and Europe shortwave); Wednesdays 1045 and 2245, plus Thursdays 0145 (Africa); Wednesdays 1545 and 2145, plus Thursdays 0145 (XM satellite radio), beginning August 17th ``One Planet`` begins a two-part series, ``Drowning in Plastic``, with Producer Fiona Ledger looking at the attempts by local authorities in Lagos, Nigeria and Accra, Ghana to manage an overwhelming proliferation of plastic bags caused by discarded drinking water containers – they use bags for drinking water where we in the USA tend to use bottles: Thursdays 0905, 1405 and 1905 (live webcast and Europe shortwave); Thursdays 1005, 1605 and 2205, plus Fridays 0105 (Africa); Thursdays 1505 and 2105, plus Fridays 0105 (XM satellite radio), beginning August 18th ``Place Your Bets`` is a new four-part series that takes a look behind the scenes of the glitz and glamour of gambling. Gambling now accounts for over two trillion US dollars revenue a year worldwide. It’s an increasingly significant part of many countries` economies and its dynamism shows no sign of stopping as people`s leisure time grows, international gaming companies expand their operations to new markets and the Internet gets in on the game. The program will also be available for online listening: Mondays 0805, 1205 and 1805 (live webcast and Europe shortwave), Mondays 1405 (Africa) and Sundays 2205 (Africa); Mondays 1405, 1905 and 2305, Tuesdays 0005, 0505 and Sundays 2305 (XM satellite radio), all beginning August 22nd (Rich Cuff, Easy Listening, Aug NASWA Journal via DXLD) ** U K [and non]. Re 5-133: How dare you suggest there's an agenda in the BBC's programming! If you keep it up, you'll send certain of the list members into a frothing fury! My favorite was a BBC newsreader using, in a news story in the five- minute news at the top of the hour, using phrasing similar to, "The bombing, which [the] Americans claim shortened the war,...." The sentence sounded as though it had been shoehorned into the report with the intention of trying to direct the listener into thinking the bombing was wholly wrong (Ted Schuerzinger, swprograms via DXLD) Like most things, one's perception of bias is usually informed and influenced by one's own particular bias(es)... (That goes for liberals, conservatives, moderates, libertarians, communists, fascists.....) And, incidentally, when is bombing ever right? Under certain circumstances it might be justified, I suppose--even "necessary". But "right"? I think never (John Figliozzi (not experiencing anything close to frothing fury; and never have here) |g|, swprograms via DXLD) You're right that I was imprecise with my language. But I still contend that the BBC were engaging in unnecessary editorializing in their news bulletins.) – (Ted Schuerzinger, ibid.) Like most media, the BBC thrive on conflict & crisis. They also interviewed several sons of servicemen during Talking Point, all of whom felt the tactics were sound. That's why the RNW "Vox Humana" program I mentioned is so compelling -- even though a survivor of Hiroshima was interviewed, he doesn't "blame" anyone (Richard Cuff, PA, swprograms via DXLD) Just to set the record straight, General Paul Tibbets, the pilot of the Enola Gay, is still alive and (reasonably) well at 90 years old in Columbus, Ohio. He was the subject of a recent interview in the Columbus Dispatch, where he discussed dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. For more information, see: http://tinyurl.com/7hwh9 (Larry Cunningham, Gahanna, Ohio (just outside Columbus), dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [non]. BBC RADIO 1 TO LAUNCH THIS WEDNESDAY EXCLUSIVELY ON SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO --- see INTERNATIONAL VACUUM ** U K. Reference book on commercial radio: see PUBLICATIONS ** U S A. RFA`s Richter retires --- Richard Richter, the founding president of Radio Free Asia, has retired. RFA was created in 1996 to provide the communist countries of East Asia with news about their own countries. This was based on the incorrect premise that VOA was not already doing this. I think US international broadcasting to East Asia would be better if its resources were not divided between two stations that compete with each other. Nevertheless, RFA has established itself as an important player in international broadcasting, and Mr Richter can take credit for that (Kim Andrew Elliott, Kim`s Column, std disclaimer, Aug NASWA Journal via DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. AFRTS QSLs? Has anyone received any veries from any of the AFRTS stations and/or Globe Wireless stations within the last year? If so, please let me know the details, including a verie signer. I've sent numerous reports and followups to both, and have yet to get a QSL. 73, (J. D. Stephens, Aug 8, HCDX via DXLD) None received here either, in the last year, or two (Konnie Rychalsky, ibid.) I've tried since 2002 without luck (Wayne Bastow, Australia, ibid.) AFRTS never were big USA QSLers. If you were out of country or military you have a great chance of getting a card. Other than that, good luck. Do they not respond on email requests either? It has been a few years since my last report to them (Bob Combs, New Mexico, ibid.) Perhaps in AFRTS' heyday in the 60's and 70's they were not good QSLers for U.S. DXers, but when they returned in recent years with their SSB transmissions, they were excellent QSLers for a long time - whether a DXer was in the U.S. or not. They used to send QSL e-mails, but even that seems to have dried up in the last few years. 73 (J. D. Stephens, ibid.) I've tried e-mail and postal reports (including return postage) to AFRTS several times in the past 2-3 years but no response to any of them. Same with reports to VOA in the past couple of years. Last year I received an out-of-date VOA Guide in response to one report, but still no QSL (Dave Kenny, UK, ibid.) I tried several times years ago and never got a reply. When I heard they were shutting down in the US, I phoned them. I talked to the engineer and I asked if I could get a QSL. He said they were not really into QSLing US requests, but since I called they would reply to the report when I sent it. I got two different frequencies QSL'd. Really beautiful cards with the US seal on them. 73, (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, HCDX via DXLD) Not sure when your QSL attempt occurred, but when AFRTS returned in recent years with their SSB transmissions, they were excellent QSLers for a long time - whether a DXer was in the U.S. or not. Thanx for your response! 73 (J. D. Stephens, ibid.) Those AFN/AFRTS relays via Navy transmitters were promptly verified via qsl @ mediacen.navy.mil a few years ago. I don't know if that works anymore (Jari Savolainen, ibid.) Last time I tried it bounced - I think that address has been retired (Wayne Bastow, Australia, ibid.) http://myafn.dodmedia.osd.mil/radio/shortwave/ (Reijo Alapiha, Joensuu, Finland, ibid.) ** U S A. Dear Glenn: anoche escuché tu programa World of Radio en inglés via WBCQ por los 7415 kHz a las 0430 UT de hoy lunes 8 de agosto del 2005. Te escribo por que quiero conseguir QSL CARD de WBCQ ya que no tengo de esa emisora y quiero que me ayudes en eso, por favor. No sé si te puedo mandar a ti el informe de rececpción ya que el E-mail de ellos no funciona, todos los mensajes "bounced". Via attached file te envío mi foto para que me conoscas en mi lugar de escucha "my radio shack". Thanks in advance (CESAR PEREZ DIOSES, CORREO CENTRAL, CHIMBOTE, PERU to gh via DXLD) I put his shack photo in the dxldyg; meanwhile asked Allan Weiner about this: (gh, DXLD) WBCQ QSL policy? Allan, I received a request from a listener to WBCQ and WOR in Peru who wants to QSL WBCQ. What is your policy on this? His e-mails bounce, he says, but I don`t know what addresses he tried. Will you verify with a QSL card for reports by E-mail, or how should reports be submitted? 73, (Glenn to Allan Weiner, Aug 8, via DXLD) Dear Glenn, We report by mail with return postage. Cheers, (Allan Weiner to gh, via DXLD) Don`t use the old Kennebunk address which is no longer valid: website says: Please address general programming inquiries and requests for QSL verification cards to: WBCQ - The Planet 274 Britton Road Monticello, Maine 04760-3110 USA (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also top for WOR changes ** U S A. Opening up the CIA --- In what experts say is a welcome nod to common sense, the CIA, having spent billions over the years on undercover agents, phone taps and the like, plans to create a large wing in the spookhouse dedicated to sorting through various forms of data that are not secret -- such as research articles, religious tracts, Web sites, even phone books -- but yet could be vital to national security. Senior intelligence officials tell TIME that CIA Director Porter Goss plans to launch by October 1 an "open source" unit that will greatly expand on the work of the respected but cash-strapped office that currently translates foreign-language broadcasts and documents like declarations by extremist clerics. [The Foreign Broadcast Information Service - FBIS] http://edition.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/08/08/opening.cia.tm/ (via Andy Sennitt, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U S A. KYNO-1300 Way Off Frequency --- 1300, KYNO Fresno, CA with their Spanish religion format was creating a strong het at 0105 PDT [0815 UT] 08/09/05. It is still there on 1299.7053 kHz as of 1420 PDT [2120 UT] (Albert Lehr - Livermore, CA, Allied A-2515 receiver Homebrew external sync detector, frequency measurement system, Two 35 ft. Ewe antennas at 218 and 293 degrees, outdoor 6 ft. loop, Aug 9, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. Stoopid radio trick, stoopid enforcement --- WQHT was, you will recall, the same radio station that came up with the offensive parody of "We are the World" after the Tsunami disaster. Spitzer slaps down 'Smackfest' THE ASSOCIATED PRESS August 8, 2005, 5:01 PM EDT A New York City radio station has agreed to stop its "Smackfest" promotion, in which women slap each other for prizes, under a $240,000 settlement announced Monday, said state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer. WQHT Hot 97's parent company, Emmis Communications, agreed to pay a settlement equal to the maximum fine it faced, Spitzer said. Spitzer and the state Athletic Commission stated that the hip-hop and rhythm and blues station held 24 "Smackfest" contests from April 2004 to January 2005. Young women took turns "violently slapping" each other for concert tickets and as much as $5,000 in cash, Spitzer said. Images of the slapping then ran on the station's Web site. "This agreement should be a wake up call to all those in the entertainment industry who think outrageousness is a clever marketing strategy," Spitzer said. "The law establishes set boundaries that cannot be crossed to protect our community's health and safety." Spitzer investigated the case as a potential violation of state law regarding the promotion of a combative sport. [...] http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local/queens/nyc- slap0809,0,5869526.story?coll=nyc-manheadlines-queens (via Joel Rubin, Queens, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) ** U S A. MORE WILLIS LICENSES TO GO AWAY? http://www.fcc.gov/eb/FieldNotices/2003/DOC-260411A1.html http://www.fcc.gov/eb/FieldNotices/2003/DOC-260034A1.html http://www.fcc.gov/eb/Orders/2004/DA-04-1694A1.html The third link details a Consent Decree entered into by Willis Broadcasting and the FCC. In point 16, Willis agrees to certify compliance with FCC Rules every six months. Their inability to do so could result in an Order to Show Cause why the station's license should not be revoked. The first two links are Notices of Violation against two Willis stations in Windsor, North Carolina: - Against WBTE-990, for operating at 230% of authorized power during daytime and 139 watts at night. (WBTE is a daytimer with no night power) Among several other technical and non-technical violations. The NoV also suggests there may have been an unauthorized transfer of control of WBTE. - Against WURB-98.5, for operating at 141% of authorized power and failure to maintain control of the transmitter, among other technical and non-technical violations. Given the past record of this company and the contents of the Consent Decree I would not be surprised to see these stations revoked. Should that happen, the 990 frequency would likely go dark permanently (as no new daytimers are being licensed). The 98.5 FM allotment would stick around but the FCC has been VERY slow to process applications to replace revoked licenses (several applications for interim operation on AM and FM frequencies abandoned by revoked stations in Indiana and Missouri were denied just today). -- (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66, http://www.w9wi.com Aug 8, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. Re: Cardinals dump KMOX --- Randy, The driving reason behind Infinity offering, what on the surface, was a lowball offer is Major League Baseball's quick (and immense) cash grab of rights fees from XM Radio. It's currently affecting ongoing negotiations for the Mets and Yankees on Infinity stations here in New York. This is starting to devalue the exclusivity that stations like KMOX paid the big rights fee for in the past. It has the potential of hurting the cross promotion of teams with their metropolitan areas. And, as I've mentioned in the past, the Phillies and Tigers went for the quick cash grab in leaving 1210 and WJR in the past when switching to a weaker local outlet. (The Phils have since returned to 1210.) (Bob Galerstein WB2VGD, Morris Plains, NJ, Aug 8, NRC-AM via DXLD) Anybody know how much $$ MLB teams are getting from XM on the average? This has probably been publicized somewhere, but I don't recall seeing figures (Randy Stewart, Springfield MO, ibid.) If I remember correctly, it was somewhere like $40 Million for 3 or 4 years. I listen to the games often when a game I'm interested in is on when I'm computing or not on TV (DirecTV Extra Innings usually has somebody's feed, but sometimes a game isn't televised by either team). There are problems, however, with some of the feeds. Several, namely from Washington, Philadelphia, Florida, and Tampa Bay, which I've listened to lately had a tendency to cut out ever so often. Sometimes the 'break' was a minute or so, when XM jumps in with a promo. This is very irritating. Others I have heard had none of this cutting out, so I suspect the problems are in the way the feed goes from the originating station to XM (BILL Hale, TX, ibid.) Bill, What you describe is one reason I was sorry to see the Braves move from WSB to WGST. The spring training coverage by WGST had such poor audio, it was at times unlistenable on MLB.com. Even after the regular season started the bad audio persisted on MLB.com and XM. The automatic gain control seemed to be set such that all but the loudest speech was cut off. The bursts of audio when the announcers spoke, if they did so loud enough, mixed with dead silence, were enough to send one to the aspirin bottle. A couple times it seemed someone found a pot they didn't know controlled the XM feed and began turning it up and down trying to see what changed. Apparently someone eventually stopped them -- or they got bored -- and the game audio continued. On one occasion the feed disappeared, and after an endless parade of XM spots, they came back on with the opposing teams coverage, unable to reestablish the feed from WGST. Other times, as you say, they filled until the feed was finally back. It would be interesting to know if the radio network stations have as much trouble with the feed as XM seems to, since I doubt WGST is any more familiar with supporting that, than they are the satellite. Lately they seem to have it more together. It's just a shame they didn't spend some effort to get it right in the beginning. None of the bad audio problems occurred on MLB.com when WSB carried the games -- or even earlier when WSB streamed the audio themselves. There were interruptions because of the Internet, but not the atrocious audio quality (W. Curt Deegan, Boca Raton, (Southeast) Florida, ibid.) ** U S A. ENDLESS SUMMER By MICHAEL DOWNING Cambridge, Mass. The New York Times August 9, 2005 http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/09/opinion/09downing.html?pagewanted=print CONGRESS has an amazing new scheme to cut crime, automobile fatalities and energy consumption. There is one hitch. We have to stay in bed until sunrise during the first week of November - lights out, televisions and radios off and please stay away from that coffee maker. Of course, doing so might interfere with breakfast, school attendance, morning workouts and jobs. That's because during that week, the sun won't rise until 7:30 a.m. at the earliest. If you live on the western edge of your time zone, expect darkness until 8:30 a.m. Sorry, Boise. Good night, Grand Rapids. Congress has extended daylight saving time by four weeks: In 2007, our clocks will spring forward on the second Sunday of March and fall back on the first Sunday of November. And frankly, there may be another hitch or two in the plan. First, the trick of shifting unused morning light to evening was intended to exploit long summer days, when sunrise occurs between 4:00 and 5:00 a.m. Standard Time - hours of daylight that do not exist during the short days of March and November. Second, after nearly 100 years, daylight saving has yet to save us anything. The idea of falsifying clocks was proposed by the British architect William Willett in 1907, but the Germans were the first to try it in 1916, hoping that it would help them conserve fuel during the First World War. Then Britain and America gave their clocks a whirl. The fuel savings never materialized, and daylight saving was so unpopular here that Congress repealed it before officially declaring an end to the war. That most Americans still believe we save daylight to help farmers tells you something about the quality of debate on this perennial controversy. In fact, farmers hated daylight saving. They needed morning light to get their dairy and crops to markets, and they were powerful enough to rally popular opinion against the law. For that reason, except during the Second World War, Congress did not dare to pass a national daylight saving policy for almost 50 years. It was New York City that kept the practice alive, and it did so by passing a local daylight ordinance in 1919. This served the powerful department stores, which wanted evening light to tempt working people to shop on their way home. Wall Street profited, too; fast time preserved one hour of overlap with London traders, whose clocks sprung forward every year. By 1965, 71 of the largest American cities practiced daylight saving and 59 did not. One airline reported 4,000 calls a day from customers asking what time it would be in their destination cities. The United States Naval Observatory dubbed the nation "the world's worst timekeeper." And so in 1966, Congress passed the Uniform Time Act, which gave us six months of Standard Time and six months of daylight saving. This wise compromise has since been compromised out of existence. We now face eight months of daylight saving. Before we bargain our way into a permanent, year-round policy, we should know whom we have to thank for saving us nothing. Richard Nixon infamously mandated year-round daylight saving in 1974 and 1975. This decision did not soften the blow of the OPEC oil embargo, but it did put school children on pitch-black streets every morning until the plan was scaled back. A Department of Transportation study concluded that Nixon's experiment yielded no definitive fuel saving. It optimistically speculated, however, that daylight saving might one day help us conserve as many as 100,000 barrels of oil a day. Based on that projection and the hope of reducing street crime, in 1986 and again this year Congress extended daylight saving by a month. But there has been no corresponding reduction in oil consumption or crime. The new four-week daylight saving extension won't save fuel or lives, but it will put our clocks seriously out of sync with Europe's, costing airlines $150 million a year. It will foul up clocks in computers, confuse trade with our continental neighbors and make it impossible for many Jews to recite sunrise prayers at home. Sure, later sunsets will encourage Americans to go outside - to the mall or the ballpark - but this will only put more cars on the road for more hours of the day. The petroleum industry recognized daylight saving's potential to increase gasoline consumption as early as 1920. And it is a sweet deal for retailers: candy makers have long lobbied to extend daylight saving past Halloween. In 1986, the golf industry told Congress the extension would boost fees and retail sales by as much as $400 million annually. The barbecue industry saw a $150 million bonanza. And 7-Eleven convenience stores stocked up for a $50 million rise in sales. I am a fan of long summer evenings and of social policy that promotes conservation. But I can't promise I won't turn on a light until 8:30 in the morning. Come November, wouldn't it make more sense for Congress to leave the clocks alone, ask us to turn down our thermostats at night and maybe spring for a pair of flannel pajamas? Michael Downing is the author of "Spring Forward: The Annual Madness of Daylight Saving Time." * Copyright 2005 The New York Times Company (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) I am seriously considering again blowing off CDT in my personal life and keeping my clox on CST (or even LMT 32 minutes earlier), or UT and ignoring DST. It would be a lot easier if I weren`t so involved in catching programming organized by DST (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, which by longitude ought to be on MST UT -7 yearound, DX LISTENING DIGEST) OF HUMAN INTEREST --- DST bill may cause electronics setback Ticktock: An energy bill may put VCRs and cell phones an hour behind. "It wouldn't be a society-wide catastrophe, but there would be a problem if nothing's done," said Dave Thewlis (above), director of the Calendaring and Scheduling Consortium. -- Shaun Walker / Associated Press [caption] By Anick Jesdanun, Associated Press http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050808/NEWS06/508080422&SearchID=73216773152310 NEW YORK -- When daylight-saving time starts earlier than usual in the United States come 2007, your VCR or DVD recorder could start recording shows an hour late. Cell phone companies could give you an extra hour of free weekend calls, and people who depend on online calendars may find themselves late for appointments. An energy bill President Bush is to sign today would start daylight time three weeks earlier and end it a week later as an energy-saving measure. And that has technologists worried about software and gadgets that now compensate for daylight time based on a schedule unchanged since 1987. "It is unfortunately going to add a little bit of complexity to consumers," said Reid Sullivan, vice president of the entertainment group at Panasonic Consumer Electronics Co. "In some cases, depending on the product, they may have to manually increase or decrease the time." The upcoming transition evokes memories of Y2K, the Year 2000 rollover that forced programmers to adjust software and other systems that, relying on two digits for the year, never took the 21st century into account. Newer VCRs and DVD recorders have built-in calendars to automatically adjust for daylight time. Users would have to override them, switching to "manual" to ensure shows continue to record correctly. Computers with Microsoft Corp.'s Windows operating systems would need to obtain updates. Though most affected applications would likely be taken care of by the Microsoft fix, calendar systems would need to be checked to ensure that appointments already entered get properly adjusted. Some electric utilities have advanced meters to adjust rates based on peak and non-peak hours, and studies would be required to determine if any modifications are needed. The telecommunications industry, meanwhile, must ensure that its clocks are properly adjusted to bill customers correctly. Adding to the complications is the fact that many computer programs now treat U.S. and Canadian time zones as the same. If Canada doesn't adopt the new dates, too, Windows, calendars and other software would have to learn additional zones. The daylight-saving transition will be at most a mini-Y2K, with the impact of any failure far less reaching. Many systems have means for self-correction. Video recorders can synch with time signals sent over PBS broadcasts and through electronic programming guides. Some watches from Timex Inc. can adjust times based on radio signals from the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology and other government sources. The digital clocks on cell phones are generally synched with the service provider's network clock. Operating systems from Microsoft, Apple Computer Inc. and Cisco Systems Inc. can be configured to check periodically with Internet-based "time servers," though such servers tend to use Greenwich Mean Time and leave daylight adjustments to local machines. Joe Tasker, senior vice president for government affairs at the Information Technology Association of America, points out that daylight time already varies around the world, and some parts of the United States don't observe it at all. "We already are used to having a system in place that specifies all the information that we need" for a particular region, Tasker said. "It's just a question of changing the effective date." Americans have largely become complacent and expect many clocks to change automatically because dates have been set for two decades, said Lauren Weinstein, a veteran technologist. "Missiles won't be launching, but it's still going to cause a lot of hassle," he said. Risks grow when "things advance to the point where you expect things to happen automatically, and you expect it to be correct." (via Steven Cline, IN, DXLD) BTW, no new info about Indiana's DST situation, although I saw on a local TV newscast that the city of Fort Wayne in NE Indiana wants to be on Eastern time once DST goes into effect (Steven Cline, Indianapolis, Aug 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** URUGUAY. ENTREVISTA CON ARAM AHARONIAN EN LA CX36 "eso es una gran frustración para mí, que TELESUR teniendo todas las posibilidades no pueda verse masivamente en mi país, en Uruguay, es una gran frustración, una gran bronca también y realmente no tengo respuesta para eso, la respuesta la tiene que dar el Ministerio de Educación, la dirección de Canal 5 que son las contrapartes lógicas de este acuerdo y no hemos tenido respuestas" Aram Aharonian director de TELESUR. Toda la entrevista aquí: http://www.radio36.com.uy/entrevistas/2005/08/010805_aharonian.htm Opina el comentarista Nelson Bocaranda, en El Universal sobre esta entrevista: TELESUR. La página de Rebelión da cuenta del hecho. Uruguay vetó la señal del canal de la propaganda trasnochada siendo uno de los integrantes de la directiva. La entrevista que le hicieron en radio Centenario de Montevideo al director de Telesur, Aram Aharonian, dio cuenta del caso: "Eso es una gran frustración para mí que Telesur teniendo todas las posibilidades no pueda verse masivamente en mi país, en Uruguay, es una gran frustración, una gran bronca también y realmente no tengo respuesta para eso, la respuesta la tiene que dar el Ministerio de Educación, la dirección de canal 5, que son las contrapartes lógicas de este acuerdo y no hemos tenido respuestas". Esperan que Chávez lo arregle con su contraparte. La primera queja fue de la pobreza programática... Fuente: http://opinion.eluniversal.com/2005/08/04/opi_art_04108L.shtml Bocaranda se refiere al sitio http://www.rebelion.org/noticia.php?id=18490 donde también se puede leer la entrevista (/Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, Aug 9, condiglist via DXLD) Para un director de una televisora internacional debe ser doloroso decir lo que dijo el Sr Aram Aharonian. Yo creo que los directivos de Telesur deben actualizar la programación urgentemente si quieren contar con audiencia. Como dije anteriormente en un escrito, muestren las dos caras de América, la buena y la mala; pónganse en contacto con las televisoras y pasen todos los noticieros, los que están a favor y los que están en contra para que cada quien pueda sacar sus conclusiones. Hay muchas cosas que mostrar en América, pero los amigos de Telesur la están encasillando en el tiempo; la televisión que están mostrando es de hace unos cuarenta años. Lamentablemente, si estos señores de Telesur no se ponen las pilas, les va a pasar lo mismo que a Chacumbele, "ella misma se mató" ó mejor dicho, ellos mismos la mataron (José Elías, Venezuela, ibid.) V. also: ** VENEZUELA [and non]. Who needs shortwave? Maybe radio listeners in Venezuela who would like to hear something other than Venezuelan music. Venezuela`s national assembly has passed a law requiring that radio stations in that country broadcast no less than 50% of Venezuelan origin. According to the Washington Post report, Venezuelan traditional music does not sell well in local music stores. So some Venezuelans might rediscover the SW bands on their radios to get more diversity in their music. An enterprising international radio station might consider a program of non-Venezuelan music, say nightly 10 to midnight [0200-0400 UT]. Look for something like Radio Bolívar and TV Bolívar to parallel Radio/TV Martí. Maybe even on SW. Perhaps the news will be accurate, objective, etc. But the creation of such a station sends this not-so- objective message: Venezuelans, we don`t like the leader you elected and we`d like to see him go. And, besides, Radio/TV Bolívar WILL DUPLICATE THE EFFORTS of the VOA Spanish Service. Better to enhance VOA`s Spanish broadcasts. Crank up the amount of news about Venezuela, but don`t brand it as a broadcast specifically for Venezuela. There will be slow news days in Venezuela, so more information about other countries can be used those days. And there might be some listeners outside of Venezuela who should not feel unwelcomed by the name of the program. Decision makers of US international broadcasting must also determine which medium, or combination of media, is best to reach the Venezuelans who care enough about news to seek more of it from a foreign source. Perhaps SW is still useful for this, or maybe a website would serve more effectively. TV would probably require satellite reception and is a 24-hour content commitment, unless the VOA Spanish news program can be included in the schedule of another satellite channel (Kim Andrew Elliott, Kim`s Column, std disclaimer, Aug NASWA Journal via DXLD) See also URUGUAY ** ZIMBABWE. 6600, R. Zimbabwe: In tuning to hear if/why NY Volmet was off on 6604, came across some African highlife music on 6600 (exactly) around 0215 Aug 3. My guess is that Zimbabwe's harmonic has shifted down from 6612. However, not hearing anything on either 3306 or 3300, so it's only a guess. Seems to be at about the same level as what was heard on 6612. Talking was not English at ToH, and then into lengthy anthem at 0300. -- Later: Back with programming at 0304, then a R. Zimbabwe ID and FM frequencies given in MHz, so it's the same pattern as I heard on 6612 when I reported it on July 20 after seeing the posts on DXP then. I heard kHz also, but could not hear if they were announcing 3306 or not (John Sgrulletta, NY, DX-plorer via DXLD) Well, Zimbabwe was jamming SW Radio Africa on 3300 for a while (gh) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ READING INTERNATIONAL RADIO GROUP, England, August 20, October 15 Meetings will be held in Meeting Room 3, Reading International Solidarity Centre, London Street, Reading, from 2:30 to 5 pm BST. Further info from Mike Barraclough mikewb @ dircon.co.uk (August NASWA Journal via DXLD) Participants can meet at the RISC Global café-bar at 2 pm, moving to Meeting Room 3 at 2:30 pm. Mike`s phone is 01462 643899. RISC website: http://www.risc.org.uk (DX Diary, Aug BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) B05 HFCC VALENCIA, AUGUST 22-26 Glenn: I know you had a short item about the upcoming HFCC Conference on your issue 5-093, but there is more detail here. http://www.hfcc.org/valencia.html (JOHN BABBIS, Maryland, Aug 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) EL DÉCIMO PRIMER ENCUENTRO DIEXISTA MEXICANO (in memoriam John Killian) 2005 Después de un breve viaje de 22 horas por autobús, llegué a mediodía del día del inicio del Encuentro DX, el viernes 29 de julio, a Tampico, Tamaulipas. Poco antes de llegar contacté vía telefonía móvil con Javier Miroz, hermano del organizador, nuestro amigo Juan José Miroz Lozano, recibiendo yo la noticia de que había sido cambiada la sede del Encuentro. Esto se debió a que el Hotel Posada, lejos del centro, a última hora no prestó el salón de eventos en donde se planeó originalmente que se iba a realizar el encuentro. Esto fue por que no se totalizó una cantidad mínima de huéspedes en ese hotel que participarían en el Encuentro. De cualquier forma para muchos de nosotros el hotel en cuestión presentaba a pesar de un importante descuento, una tarifa elevada para cada día de hospedaje, y con menor cantidad que la correspondiente a un día, ahí pudimos pagar tres y algunos hasta cuatro días en otros hoteles con baño, TV con cable y aire acondicionado en el centro de la Ciudad, en donde de antemano al menos yo pensaba hospedarme. Así, la sede se cambió a la Universidad Interamericana del Norte, un lugar que me pareció muy adecuado para nuestros eventos. Sobre la Avenida Hidalgo, misma en donde se localiza el Hotel Posada, pero casi en el centro de la ciudad, yo tomaba un autobús urbano y llegaba a la Universidad en un viaje de pocos minutos. Inclusive me fui una vez caminando, llegando en menos de veinte minutos desde mi hotel a la sede. La ciudadana rectora de la Universidad nos atendió amablemente. Durante la inauguración del Encuentro, guardamos un minuto de silencio en honor a nuestro querido hermano John Killian, quien cada año venía desde Virginia, EUA, y nos acompañaba en nuestros Encuentros. En la inauguración estuvieron presentes estudiantes y profesores de la Universidad. Después de la inauguración nos fuimos a cenar, y luego nos encontramos en una orilla de la Laguna del Carpintero, en el Parque Metropolitano a unos minutos del centro de la ciudad, para hacer la primer noche diexista. Inicialmente nos fue un poco mal, las condiciones de recepción no nos favorecían y teníamos que resistir el ataque de los mosquitos. (mejor dicho y si me lo permiten, de "las mosquitas" ya que los machos no chupan sangre, y al igual que las hembras se alimentan de savia de las plantas, pero las hembras requieren de proteína animal para encubar, y la sangre es la fuente más fácil de obtenerla). Así, me fui a caminar y a unos metros de en donde estábamos, había numerosas tortugas de buen tamaño y no lo podía creer: también unos cocodrilos. Inmediatamente me puse a hacer unos cálculos de cuántos platos de sopa de cada tortuga y cuántos pares de botas podían salir de cada cocodrilo pero la mirada un poco terrible y directa que me dirigieron unos turistas ecologistas presentes me hicieron devolverme a la mesa en donde estaban los radios. En ese momento, comenzó a soplar un refrescante y agradable viento que hizo descender la temperatura, se llevó a los mosquitos y casi simultáneamente se fueron abriendo un poco las condiciones de propagación. El sábado 30 fue de gran actividad. Tuvimos tres conferencias, sobre Diexismo en televisión, recepción de fax meteorológico y emisoras piratas, impartidos respectivamente por Juan José Miroz, el incansable experimentador diexista Rafael Grajeda de Veracruz, Ver. y Darío Monferini de Milán, Italia, quien es un diexista mundialmente conocido y editor de Play DX, y que estuvo celebrando el XXX aniversario de su boletín con un viaje a México. En las tres conferencias los ponentes nos entregaron material impreso para facilitar la comprensión del tema. Yo repartí paquetes conteniendo un impreso para difusión del diexismo, una golosina, engomado de mi estación de radioaficionado XE2ITX, tarjeta de presentación y folletos turísticos de Chihuahua, Nuevo México y Arizona. Darío y Roberto Pavanello nos obsequiaron engomados de emisora europeas. Posteriormente se sortearon algunos regalos, como un receptor donado por nuestro amigo Catarino de México DF, un Manual Mundial de Radio y TV cortesía de Darío Monferini, y dos obsequios que trajo Kathy Killian, viuda de John: su álbum de QSL y un receptor Grundig Yachtboy, portátil y de gran calidad, que por cierto gané yo, y buena falta que me hacía un receptor de estos. Después de comer, fuimos de nuevo al Parque Metropolitano; estuvimos ahí desde media tarde hasta las 8 de la noche, con los receptores. Esta vez las condiciones fueron mejores, hasta pudimos recibir guiados por Rafael Grajeda, radioemisiones meteorológicas en fax con varios receptores y veíamos los mapas recibiéndose gradualmente en dos computadoras portátiles. Igualmente hicimos barridos en diferentes bandas de ondas cortas empleando varios receptores simultáneamente enfocados; así podíamos comparar la calidad de nuestros radios e identificar más rapido las emisoras que escuchábamos. No obstante teníamos deseos de seguir con esta actividad, así que después de cenar, y de visitar una gran tienda en donde César Fernández de Veracruz, Ver., encontró accesorios para construir alguna antena, nos encontramos en el Hotel Posada, de donde partimos en el vehículo de Adolfo Murrieta de Guanajuato, Gto. a la playa, en donde tuvimos muy buenas condiciones de recepción. Seguimos recibiendo fax meteorológico, emisoras VOLMET --- servicio meteorológico para aviones en vuelo --- comunicaciones de aviones a sus empresas, escuchas excepcionales en 49 y 41 metros, etc. Darío Monferini sintonizó emisoras de FM de Texas, situadas a cientos de kilómetros de donde estábamos, mientras que yo podía captar TV de Monterrey y Texas y con color en una TV de bolsillo. En todos los casos únicamente empleábamos las antenas de látigo o telescópicas propias de los receptores, esto es, no usábamos antenas exteriores como de tendedero, L, dipolos o Yagi. Una agradable sorpresa nos la dio KBS Radio Corea, al mencionar en la sección de aniversarios del programa "Antena de la Amistad" el día 2 de agosto como Día del Diexista Mexicano. Estuvimos hasta las tres de la mañana en esa actividad. En estas jornadas diexistas siempre había más receptores que personas para operarlos. Por ejemplo, llevé yo dos equipos de bolsillo, uno de ellos un transceptor ICOM IC-T90A scanner que emite en bandas de 6, 2 y .75 metros de radioaficionados pero que también recibe de .5 a 999.995 Megahertz, y otro ICOM IC-90 que recibe desde .5 hasta 2500 Megahertz, tanto en radio como video y TV a colores, además del Grundig que acababa de ganar en sorteo. Por primera vez en nuestros encuentros, las hora-diexismo superaron y con mucho, a las horas restantes correspondientes a conferencias y otras actividades. Comentamos sobre la posibilidad de hacer una acampada diexista en algún lugar cercano a Perote Ver., antes de finalizar este año, y de que los próximos encuentros también tengan este tono más bien práctico que teórico. Sin desechar totalmente las conferencias y otras actividades, claro, pero se enfocarían más bien a la práctica diexista. No quedamos en ningún acuerdo para escoger la sede del XII Encuentro Diexista, aunque yo presenté nuevamente las candidaturas de Ascensión, Chih. y Cd. Delicias Chih.; esta última sería por el diexista, radioaficionado, locutor y muy bien relacionado amigo Jesús Araujo con mi apoyo. En el caso de que sea elegida Ascensión, Chihuahua, organizando por su amigo y servidor quien escribe este texto, pues el plazo para que acepte yo para que tomemos el acuerdo de que mi ciudad sea sede, sería a más tardar el último día de octubre próximo. [ya se informó que escogieron Ascensión --- cuidado, no comprar boletos para el Atlántico Sur --- gh] El domingo 31 en la mañana nos reunimos en Restaurant Sanborns también ubicado sobre la Ave. Hidalgo. En el desayuno que sirvió de clausura al evento, platicamos de algunas experiencias y ahí se despidieron la mayoría de los participantes. En la tarde en compañía de Kathy, César, Leonardo de Oaxaca Oax. y mi nuevo amigo Luis Pineda de Playas de Rosarito B.C., recorrimos algunos puntos de la ciudad. Fuimos a comer, a Catedral, a comprar algunos recuerdos en el mercado de artesanías y conocimos la histórica aduana portuaria y observando también el movimiento de grandes barcos en el Río Pánuco. Nos despedimos y finalmente en la noche tuve una reunión final de intercambio de impresiones con Juan José y Leonardo en una de las plazas del centro. Después, una triste despedida, salí de Tampico en la mañana siguiente, permanecí unos días en León Gto. Y posteriormente en un pueblo cercano a Cd. Delicias, Chih. en donde pude probar tranquilamente mi nuevo receptor Grundig, en donde me sorprendió recibir a las dos de la tarde y con buena señal a Radio Mil y a Radio Universidad de San Luis Potosí. En Cd. Delicias, moderna y tranquila ciudad, centro económico de un próspero valle y rodeada de otras ciudades pequeñas y numerosas poblaciones rurales, y situada al sur de Cd. Chihuahua a la que se comunica una moderna autopista libre, visité al gran amigo Jesús Araujo, quien me reafirmó su interés de efectuar dos Encuentros Diexistas más bien prácticos, primero uno de carácter regional --- sin exceptuar a interesados de otras partes del país y del extranjero que deseen participar en este evento --- en los primeros meses del próximo año 2006 y posteriormente un Encuentro Nacional, en cuanto los clubes diexistas le demos la oportunidad. Por cierto, Jesús arregló y me entregó en ese momento mi receptor Panasonic RF 3100, que es mi primer receptor digital comprado allá en 1983, y al que ya había dado yo como perdido por irreparable. Aquí bien vale como término de esta crónica analizar algunos detalles de este XI Encuentro. Si bien el repentino cambio de sede molestó en serio a algunos participantes, debemos reconocer que estuvo fuera de la responsabilidad del organizador, que rápidamente encontró un muy buen lugar para hacerlo. Sin embargo, es necesario evitar repetir hasta donde sea posible una situación así. En realidad es costoso para quien cubre sus propios gastos, llegar a un hotel de esta calidad, quizá eso desalentó a muchos de los posibles participantes para asistir al evento. Y es que fuimos muy pocos los asistentes, personalmente extrañé a muchos de los que habitualmente asisten. En verdad que Tampico está en el noreste, fuera del área en donde se han llevado los Encuentros Diexistas, o sea en el Centro del País, y Tampico está a unas cuantas horas más de viaje, pero me resisto a creer que esta fue la causa de la ausencia de tantos y tantos amigos, y de las radiodifusoras: no estuvo presente ni siquiera una. ¿O tal vez en los Encuentros ya no encontramos lo que queremos encontrar? ¿Existe otro motivo? Estimado oyente de ondas cortas y diexista mexicano... ¿Cuál es tu opinión? Un cordial saludo de su amigo norteño Miguel Ángel, ese mismo que ha viajado en total más de setenta mil kilómetros en carretera para ir a los Encuentros. Prof. Miguel Ángel Rocha Gamez (Chihuahua) Para visitar tu grupo en Internet, ve a: http://mx.groups.yahoo.com/group/clubdiexistamexico/ (via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ 2005 COMMERCIAL RADIO POCKET BOOK [UK] Now available as pdf download at http://www.crca.co.uk If you are not a broadband user bear in mind it is a 72 page document. Website does not support Firefox or Netscape, only seems to load properly with IE (Dave Kenny, UK News, Aug BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) Hard copies are available by emailing lucy @ crca.co.uk Commercial Radio Companies Association is the trade body for commercial radio companies in the UK. It is a voluntary, non-profit- making body formed by the first radio companies when Independent Radio began in 1973. Details of its annual Commercial Radio Awards can also be found at the website (Mike Barraclough, Nigel Watkinson, Webwatch, ibid.) POWERLINE COMMMUNICATIONS +++++++++++++++++++++++++ "IT SEEMS TO US . . ." BETTER BPL? By David Sumner, K1ZZ, ARRL Chief Executive Officer, August 1, 2005 Editor's note: Typically, only ARRL members get to read the "It Seems to Us ..." editorials that run each month in QST. We're posting this editorial that appears in the August issue of QST in the hope that both ARRL members and nonmembers might appreciate it and find it informative. http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2005/08/01/1/?nc=1 Regular readers of this page know that --- to put it mildly --- we are not big fans of providing broadband connectivity to consumers via the power lines. Conceptually, so-called Broadband over Power Line (BPL) technology is a step backward. Unless you intend it to radiate, putting radio frequency energy (for that's what a broadband signal is) on an unshielded, unbalanced conductor is a bad idea. Early cable television engineers weren't dummies. There were good reasons why they had to use coaxial cable in their systems, and the reasons are as valid today as they were then; the laws of physics haven't changed. Having said that, it also must be said --- as we've done many times before --- that the ARRL is not opposed to BPL. We are opposed to BPL interference. If it were possible to send broadband signals down power lines without causing radio interference, we would have no objection to BPL. Indeed, we have no objection to the Corridor Systems approach, which uses the power line as a surface-wave microwave transmission line and does not fall within the FCC definition of "Access BPL." There is no Access BPL system that is inherently free of radio interference concerns. However, on May 23 Motorola announced the first system incorporating design features that should reduce the probability of interference to radio amateurs down to a level where it is reasonable to address the remaining interference on a case-by-case basis. There is no magic to Motorola's approach, which they call the Powerline LV Solution. It's simply better engineering. First, they have taken the eminently sensible approach of entirely avoiding the medium-voltage (MV) lines. Other BPL schemes use the MV lines to bring the broadband signal from the fiber or wireless backhaul to the power transformer outside the customer's home; instead, Motorola uses its Canopy wireless broadband system. So, those long, un-shielded power lines that run alongside the road and through the neighborhood never enter the picture. Second, Motorola uses HomePlug modems --- which avoid all of the ham bands except 5 MHz --- on the low-voltage (LV, hence the system's name) line between the transformer and the customer's home. Third, they have added hardware filtering to provide additional protection against both egress and ingress. And finally, if there is still interference --- to shortwave broadcast reception, for example --- the BPL hardware can be removed and a wireless link installed in its place. We have not yet seen Motorola's Powerline LV system in operation. However, the ARRL technical staff was consulted during the system design and our concerns were addressed. Motorola is now working on its first test deployment and has invited amateur participation in the tests. We're looking forward to seeing and hearing (or better yet, not hearing) the results. While Motorola is the first (and so far, the only) company to offer an Access BPL product after consulting with the ARRL, the approach being taken by Current Technologies is also worth noting. Current has avoided putting high-frequency (HF) energy on the MV lines by using low-band VHF (30-50 MHz) instead. Then, like Motorola --- but without adding hardware filtering --- they use HomePlug to get from the transformer to the house. So far, Current's BPL deployment in Cincinnati --- which despite all the hype about Manassas appears to be the largest BPL installation in the country --- has proceeded without major interference problems. Does this mean we should quit worrying about BPL? The answer is an emphatic no! Corridor, Motorola and Current apparently agree with us that MV lines are no place for HF energy. NTIA personnel have said the same thing -- - not only privately, but also in public. The HF radio spectrum is a unique natural resource that provides global communication without any infrastructure whatsoever. If we allow this precious resource to be squandered for the sake of a short-range broadband link that can easily be provided by other means, there is nothing that can replace it. Yet, other BPL companies continue to put HF energy on the MV lines, paying little heed to the havoc that would be wrought on the HF spectrum by widespread deployment of their wares. Even worse, the FCC thus far has made no effort to separate the sheep from the goats, choosing instead to extend the existing Part 15 emission limits --- intended for narrowband, short-duration emitters --- arbitrarily to broadband, continuous BPL emissions. Motorola's Powerline LV announcement shows that the Commission's rules could provide the protection that radio services deserve, without precluding BPL. The FCC has one last opportunity to set things right as it considers the petitions for reconsideration of its BPL rules. The Commission's new leadership must take a fresh and unprejudiced look at the issue of BPL interference. If only they will take the time to read and understand them, the Commissioners will find that the FCC's own technical studies verify the seriousness of the problem. If they carefully review the record they will discover that their Report and Order is dead wrong in stating that "The 0 dBµV/m limit suggested by the ARRL is typically below the noise floor in the HF and low VHF bands." They will find ample justification for much more stringent limits on BPL emissions. The previous FCC Chairman was a self-described and unapologetic cheerleader for BPL. Chairman Martin has the opportunity to demonstrate that there is more to leadership than cheerleading (ARRL via radiointel.com via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ METEOR SHOWER OF THE WEEK Welcome to the "Meteor Shower of the Week". No, this isn't a contest, although you can make it a contest if you want to :-) There are multiple minor showers during the last five months of the year. This list contains the 'hand-picked' best showers of the week. This list is provided to give you something to work on with your meteor scatter dxing, when there just ISN'T any tropo or eskip happening. Actually, the Perseids is kind of like the Hall of Fame game of meteor showers, to get the fall and winter meteor shower season off and running. So just for a little fun, let us know how you're doing, if you follow the list. Meteor Shower of the Week Date / Day / Meteor shower / Pings / 1st peak / 2nd peak 08-12-05 Friday Perseids** 80 ne/se 0600-1000 ne/sw 1400-2000 08-14-05 Sunday Delta Aquarids N 10 ne/sw 0500-0800 nw/se 0900-1200 08-26-05 Friday Iota Aquarids N 10 east (wide ne to se) 0400-1300 08-28 through 09-03-05 off week+ 09-05-05 Monday Piscids** 10 ne/sw 0500-0800 nw/se 0900-1200 09-15-05 Thursday II Orionids 7 ne/sw 0800-1100 nw/se 1300-1600 09-21-05 Wednesday Mu Perseids 6 nw/se 0600-1100 ne/sw 1500-2000 09-25 through 10-01-05 off week 10-08-05 Saturday Draconids** 10 ne/sw 0200-0500 nw/se 1700-2100 10-11-05 Tuesday Eta Cepheids 22 ne/sw 0400-1000 nw/se 1900-0100 10-21-05 Friday Orionids** 35 ne/sw 0800-1000 n/s 1300-1600 10-23-05 Sunday Epsilon Arietids 12 n/s 0200-0600 n/s 1000-1300 10-30 through 11-05-05 off week 11-09-05 Wednesday Cassiopeides++ 120 ne/sw 0500-1100 11-17-05 Thursday Leonids** 10 n/s 0900-1100 n/s 1500-1800 11-26-05 Saturday Mu Ursa Majorids 10 n/s 0800-1100 n/s 1500-1900 11-27 through 12-03-05 off week 12-10-05 Saturday Zeta Taurids 10 n/s 0200-0500 n/s 0900-1200 12-14-05 Wednesday Geminids** 80 n/s 0400-0700 n/s 1100-1400 12-22-05 Thursday Ursids 15 e/w 24hrs day of peak 12-25-05 Sunday Theta Geminids 9 n/s 0200-0500 n/s 0900-1300 1-03-06 Tuesday Quadrantids** 120 nw/se 0900-1300 ne/sw 1800-2200 Date is PEAK DATE of shower. Pings is PINGS PER HOUR. 1st and 2nd Peak indicate best antenna bearing and times to monitor. Times are UT. + Off week indicates meteors are at a minimum. ** Indicates annual reliable showers, whether producers of great numbers or not. ++ Cassiopeides is a strong, periodic shower, meaning that it doesn't occur every year. Astronomers feel that it is scheduled to make a showing during 2005 (Jim Thomas - wdx0fbu, Milliken, CO - 40 mi N of Denver, 40.22.830'N 104.59.500'W, Aug 8, WTFDA via DXLD) MAJOR METEOR SHOWERS IN 2005 by Wes Stone Wes Stone is an astronomer who lives about 120 miles South of me. His site has a wealth of info on all major (and many minor) showers, as well as some good links http://www.skytour.homestead.com/met2005.html (via Jim Thomas, CO, ibid.) As usual, I can`t find anything obvious on his website about where he actually lives (gh, DXLD) The geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to severe storm levels. The period began with active to minor storm conditions as effects from the X1 CME, which was observed on 30 July, became geoeffective. By late on 01 August, geomagnetic conditions were generally quiet to unsettled. At middle latitudes, these conditions persisted through early on 06 August. The higher latitudes observed an isolated period of major storm levels midday on 02 August, and an isolated period of minor storm levels midday on 04 August. By 06 August, activity increased to active to minor storm levels at the middle latitudes, while the higher latitudes saw active to severe storm levels, as a recurrent coronal hole high speed wind stream became geoeffective. By midday on 07 August, the geomagnetic field relaxed to quiet to unsettled, and remained so through the balance of the summary period. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 10 AUGUST - 05 SEPTEMBER Solar activity is expected be at very low to low levels. No greater than 10 MeV proton events are expected. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at high levels on 10 - 12 August, 17 - 22 August, 26 - 27 August, and 02 - 05 September. The geomagnetic field is expected to range from quiet to minor storm levels. Recurrent coronal hole high speed wind streams are expected to produce active to minor storm levels on 16 - 17 August, and again on 23 - 26 August. Otherwise, expect mostly quiet to unsettled conditions. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2005 Aug 09 1923 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center # Product description and SEC contact on the Web # http://www.sec.noaa.gov/wwire.html # # 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table # Issued 2005 Aug 09 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2005 Aug 10 80 10 3 2005 Aug 11 75 8 3 2005 Aug 12 75 8 3 2005 Aug 13 75 12 3 2005 Aug 14 70 12 3 2005 Aug 15 70 10 3 2005 Aug 16 70 20 4 2005 Aug 17 75 25 5 2005 Aug 18 75 12 3 2005 Aug 19 80 5 2 2005 Aug 20 80 5 2 2005 Aug 21 85 8 3 2005 Aug 22 85 8 3 2005 Aug 23 85 15 3 2005 Aug 24 90 25 5 2005 Aug 25 95 20 4 2005 Aug 26 100 15 3 2005 Aug 27 105 8 3 2005 Aug 28 105 12 3 2005 Aug 29 105 12 3 2005 Aug 30 100 10 3 2005 Aug 31 100 12 3 2005 Sep 01 100 10 3 2005 Sep 02 95 12 3 2005 Sep 03 90 12 3 2005 Sep 04 85 8 3 2005 Sep 05 85 10 3 (http://www.sec.noaa.gov/radio via DXLD) ###