DX LISTENING DIGEST 5-167, September 23, 2005 Incorporating REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING edited by Glenn Hauser, http://www.worldofradio.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits For restrixions and searchable 2005 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn NEXT AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1288: Fri 0200 WOR ACBRadio Mainstream [repeated 2-hourly thru 2400] Fri 2000 WOR RFPI [repeated 4-hourly thru Sat 1600] Fri 2105 WOR World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.2 Fri 2115 MR WWCR 15825 [Mundo Radial, nueva edición, 23 de sept] Sat 0400 WOR VoiceCorps Reading Service, WOSU-FM subcarrier, cable 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 1600 WOR R. Veronica 106.5 Sat 1600 WOR CJOY INTERNET RADIO plug-in required Sat 1730 WOR WRN to North America (including Sirius Satellite Radio channel 115 [from October 1, channel 140]) Sat 2100 WOR WRMI 7385 Sat 2300 WOR Radio Studio X 1584 http://www.radiostudiox.it/ Sun 0230 WOR WWCR 5070 Sun 0300 WOR WBCQ 9330-CLSB 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 [from October 2, channel 140]) 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 1300 WOR KRFP-LP Moscow ID 92.5 Sun 1400 WOR WRMI 7385 Sun 1730 WOR WRN1 to North America (including Sirius Satellite Radio channel 115 [from October 2, channel 140]) Sun 1900 WOR RNI Sun 2345 MR WRMI 9955 [maybe not every week; likely jammed] 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] Mon 2115 MR WWCR 15825 [Mundo Radial] Tue 1600 WOR WBCQ after hours Tue 2330 WOR WBCQ 7415 [usually but temporary] Wed 0930 WOR WWCR 9985 Wed 1600 WOR WBCQ after hours Latest edition of this schedule version, with hotlinks to station sites and audio, is at: http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html WRN ON DEMAND: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL]: http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html or http://wor.worldofradio.org WORLD OF RADIO 1288 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1288h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1288h.rm WORLD OF RADIO 1288 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1288.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1288.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1288.html WORLD OF RADIO 1288 in true SW sound of Alex`s mp3 keep checking http://www.dxprograms.net WORLD OF RADIO 1288 downloads in studio-quality mp3: (high) http://www.obriensweb.com/wor1288h.mp3 (low) http://www.obriensweb.com/wor1288.mp3 WORLD OF RADIO PODCAST: www.obriensweb.com/wor.xml (1282, 1283, Extra 59, 1284, Extra 60, 1285, 1286, 1287, 1288) ** AFGHANISTAN. AFGHANISTAN/USA: AMERICAN MILITARY LAUNCH RADIO RASUL | Excerpt from US Department of Defense News About the War on Terrorism on 21 September Radio Rasul, an Arabic word meaning "message," is a mobile radio station operated by the 82nd's 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment and the 44th Signal Battalion that broadcasts music, news, public service announcements and other information provided by the Wardag provincial government to the local population. The radio station gives the government a way to promote itself and its programmes to the local people, the majority of whom don't read and don't have access to televisions, said American army Lt. Col. David Anders, Commander, 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment. "(Radio Rasul) is for the benefit of the people of Wardag, to get the word out to a populace that is mostly illiterate," Anders said. The radio station made its first broadcast September 16 and has been running from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day since then. It broadcasts over the FM bandwidth and has a range of 40 to 60 km. The station is totally mobile and can be used anywhere as long as it has a power source. The programming is pre-recorded and then beamed out over the airwaves in a continuous loop. Its format is a mixture of music and news. Traditional Afghan songs are interspersed with news updates, weather information, religious programming and messages from government officials. One of the first officials to record a message for Radio Rasul was the provincial governor, Abdol Jabar Nami. Having a radio station in Wardag has long been a top priority of his administration, Nami said. Before becoming governor, Nami had been one of Afghan President Hamed Karzai's most successful campaign managers. His experiences in politics taught him that a big factor in building support for the government is keeping the populace informed of its activities, he said. "(Through the media), the people can be made aware of the government and the activities of the government officials. They can even be made aware of the mistakes of the government," Nami said. But when he became governor, Nami found there was no reliable method of informing the people of Wardag about the government's programmes. There was no radio station, no television and no newspaper. And the effect of their absence was obvious, he said. "When I first arrived, there were people in some districts who were not aware of whom the governor was, who the coalition soldiers were. They were far away from modern life," he said. He thought a radio station could help change that. A poor farmer who can't read or write who listens to the radio all day can become as informed as a college graduate, Nami said. "In a way, they're much better educated than a person with a PhD in Kabul. They're (government) analysts," he said. When the 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment began operations in the area in July, Nami presented the idea to Anders. Anders said he would do his best to make it a reality. "I promised the governor I would get him a radio station before the September 18 elections," Anders said. Anders made a special request to have the equipment and a team from the 44th Signal Battalion brought in to install the antenna at the Falcons' Forward Operating Base. It took only seconds for Radio Rasul's first broadcast to reach radios all over Wardag, but the process of creating the programming took a bit longer. It began with Sergeant Jennifer Hahn, her recording equipment, and a cramped, little room in the basement of the governor's office in Wardag. Inside, Hahn, FM radio team chief, 44th Signal Battalion, and Captain Jeffrey Giltzow, Red Falcon civil-military operations officer, supervised the recordings of minute-long news and information segments by a parade of government officials and religious representatives. "Without an interpreter it was like a three-ring circus in there. But we worked it all out," Giltzow said. The recording session was an occasionally surreal collision of modern technology and tradition. At one point, a young cleric dressed in a turban and robes sang verses from the Koran into a microphone attached to Hahn's high-tech computer. His verses and the other statements were saved into the computer to be replayed later. At 7 a.m. September 16, those verses from the Koran were the first messages transmitted out of Radio Rasul's 45-foot high antenna inside Forward Operating Base North. The radio waves reached out all over the province, including to areas where battalion paratroopers were busy conducting support operations for the provincial elections. Although it is too soon to know what the lasting effects of the radio station will be, Nami has high hopes for the role it can play in Wardag's future. "It can be a voice of the people," he said. Source: US Department of Defense in English 21 Sep 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) WTFK? ``Took only seconds`` to reach radios? How do they get radio waves to travel at less than the speed of light??? (gh, DXLD) NOW COMPETING WITH THE VOICE OF AMERICA: THE U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT In Afghanistan, "Radio Rasul, an Arabic [sic] word meaning 'message,' is a mobile radio station operated by the 82nd's 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment and the 44th Signal Battalion that broadcasts music, news, public service announcements and other information provided by the Wardak provincial government to the local population." U.S. Department of Defense Defend America website, 21 September 2005 http://www.defendamerica.mil/articles/sep2005/a092105tj2.html (kimandrewelliott.com Sept 23 via DXLD) Same story as above, but illustrated, and still WTFK? Lots more new stuff posted today at Kim`s site http://www.kimandrewelliott.com (gh) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. TALEBAN WEBSITE DISAPPEARS --- BBC Monitoring has observed since 19 September that the Taleban website called Voice of Jihad (Pashto: Da Jehad Zhagh; Arabic: Sawt al-Jihad) and located at http://www.alemarah.com has disappeared. Instead, accessing the URL now brings the reader to the home page of Satco Enterprises, an Islamabad-based company specializing in the installation of air conditioning and heating systems. (The Voice of Jihad website was first observed by BBC Monitoring in June 2005. It said it was run by the Cultural Commission of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.) Source: BBC Monitoring research 19-22 Sep 05 (via DXLD) ** ALASKA [and non]. When I started DXing in 1968, I avidly sent reports to stations so that I could get QSLs. I got several hundred, and there were a few stations that ignored me no matter what. The number of responses became less and less over time, and by 1990 by I stopped sending reports. The investment of time, the rapidly escalating postage costs, the frustration of not getting a reply --- they all played into it. In 1995, I got incredible armchair reception (from the next room) of KCBF/820 in Alaska. I had never heard them before and was shocked to hear the quality of the reception. I sent them a 1-hour long report, and even told them in the report that my reason for the report was to verify what I considered to be by far my best reception of Alaska. No response, even after two follow-ups. That cemented in my mind that I would not waste my time with that anymore. Now, I just listen and log my receptions. There's probably a lot of DXers like me who have stopped sending reports (Mike Hawkins, IRCA via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. R. Nacional, 15345.06, 0055-0120+ Sept 18 [UT Sun], Spanish talk, 0101 ID, 0107 into Spanish ballads. Weak but in the clear. R. La Red, 8098-LSB, 0630-0640+ Sept 18, Spanish talk, 0632 ID, Spanish ballads; earlier at 0200 had play-by-play fútbol coverage (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. Re 5-165, David Hodgson's log of ABC Western Australia relayed on 7875. Today 22 Sep at 1815 it is audible here with strong signal. At 1830 a brief mention of ABC Perth. Plays oldies like Ray Charles and Fred Astaire (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7875.4 USB, 2045 September 22nd, ABC Western Australia with phone in programme being heard at fair strength (Nick Sharpe, Staines, Middlesex) First reported by David Hodgson in Tennessee in DXLD 5-165 (Mike Barraclough, worlddxclub via DXLD) ABC local radio heard again here on 7875 USB. So, I guess my reception on the 18th wasn`t an isolated event. What could this be? Ute, a feeder, or something else. I have not been able to find a listing for this frequency yet. 7875 USB, ABC Local Radio, 1110-1215, Sept 23, Sport phone in program with 1-300-222-774 given as number to call. Mentions of ABC local radio. Lots of discussion on the AFL Grand Final as the contest between The Swans and Eagles draws near. News and weather from 1200 to 1210. Tony Delroy? "Night Line" followed the news. I did not hear a break away from the feed for ABC Western Australia ID this time, just the generic "ABC local radio." Good signal (David Hodgson, TN, Sept 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Solar-terrestrial indices for 22 September follow. Solar flux 84 and mid-latitude A-index 8. The mid-latitude K-index at 0900 UTC on 23 September was 4 (45 nT). The mid-latitude K-index at 1200 UTC on 23 September was 2 (16 nT). No space weather storms were observed for the past 24 hours (SEC via DXLD) David Hodgson logged in DXLD some days ago ABC Western Australia relay on 7875U. I managed to hear the same station on 22 Sep at 1815 and onwards with strong signal. ABC Perth 720 ID's and I guess the program presenter was Greg Hayes. Any ideas who operates this transmitter? (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, Sept 23, dxing.info via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. Programmes I Like (# 11) "The National Interest" -- Radio National: Another example of a fine programme from down under, "The National Interest" is a 54-55 minute show about Australian national affairs. Hosted by Terry Lane (a sort of Michael Enright of the ABC), it presents a series of interviews about newsworthy topics from that fascinating country. Each edition opens with the usual menu, though a short one, as this programme has few features. Then follows a 3-5-minute slot of "mini- news", in which Terry reviews news of the past week that probably didn't make it into the headlines. These stories have an interesting or off-beat angle, and are embellished by Terry's quirky and dryly humorous take on them. Then come the interviews. In fact, the bulk of the programme is comprised of them, about 2 or 3 in each show. There are no reports or packages here, just Terry interviewing various Australian or foreign politicians, academics, scientists, and journalists. They tend to be lengthy (a 30 minute one is not unusual) and thus provide real depth to the topic. All have a relevance to a recent event of national interest in Australia, and cover all manner of things political, scientific, economic, cultural, etc. The questions thrown at politicians are thoughtful and critical; the tone is respectfully cheeky and irreverent. Non-political interviewees are also put through their paces, though the tone tends to be more searching, and probing, than critical. In all cases, Terry engages in a conversation with his guests, rather than an interrogation -- his tone, personal comments and observations, assure that. Website: http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/natint/default.htm E-Mail: nationalinterest @ your.abc.net.au (Peter Bowen, Canada? Sept 20, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. AUNTY WILL KEEP THE AUSTRALIA CHANNEL CREDIBLE September 15, 2005 THE federal Government is moving to impose its control on Australia's highly successful television "window to the world", the Asia-Pacific channel supplied to 158 overseas platforms by the ABC. After cabinet's decision in June that the service should be put up for grabs, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has called for tenders from interested parties. At a briefing in Canberra yesterday it appeared the tender will be a two-horse race between the ABC and Sky News Australia. In its proposed contract, DFAT insists that it have the right to instruct the tender winner not to broadcast any program or advertising that it considers to be against Australia's interests. It also demands that the channel be re-branded and given a name . . . http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,16606356%255E12280,00.html (via Martin, Sept 22, ARDXC via DXLD) ** BIAFRA [non]. Voice of Biafra International, 7380, in progress Sep 21 2102 with 3 canned English IDs, All hail Biafra, priest praying for a free Biafra and condemning Nigeria. 2108 News. Fairly strong (F. Krone, Denmark, Sep 21, 2005 in DXplorer-ML via CRW via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. Wednesday evening edition: 4845.18, Radio Norteño Caranavi, Departamento de La Paz. Two days ago I received information from Rogildo F. Aragão (Bolivia). He says that "Radio Municipal" now has the ID "Radio Norteño". I have been trying to make a recording of this new name but the reception is very poor for the moment. I managed to get an ID one hour ago - low quality recording but two clear "Radio Norteño" ID´s. Thank you very much Rogildo for your information! A very short recording just to show the "hard proof"! Comments, photos and recordings at: http://www.malm-ecuador.com 73s (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 4716, R Yura, Yura. Replied in 40 days with a rare, standard non/data letter plus two colour photos and a very nice pennant in new printing. V/s: Omar Flores (Director). After three reports not answered, I sent a total of 3 IRC's and stickers from some Italian radiostations. Sr. Oman Flores informs about the following transmission schedule: 1030-1330 and 2200-0100. Address is the same as mentioned in WRTH 2005. Donations to the station are appreciated, but it is better to send them in a registered letter to: Omar Flores, Radio Yura, La Voz de los Ayllus, Yura, Potosi (Roberto Pavanello in PLAY-DX, Sep 12, via DSWCI DX Window Sept 21 via DXLD) ** CANADA. "CBC'S MANAGERS LOOK LIKE TWERPS IN THIS FARCE" Re 5-166, Several sites get around media registration blocks. This, http://www.friends.ca/News/Friends_News/archives/articles09200503.asp has the full text of John Doyle's comments you excerpted (Dan Say, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: Down the street from where I'm writing this, some locked-out CBC workers are walking outside the CBC building in the pouring rain. They traipse around and around. They're not exactly doing it with enthusiasm. There's no conga line dancing merrily around old Fort Dork. The workers look stoic, contained, determined. The thing is, they might as well have a conga line going because, after thirtysomething days, they're winning. It's CBC management who look like twerps, not them. In the public-relations and psychological war that is the CBC lockout, the locked-out workers are winning, hands-down. The CBC situation is now a farce of epic proportions. In the last week, there was the ludicrous attempt to film a CBC-TV special about the anniversary of Terry Fox's Marathon of Hope and the bizarre management plan to attempt to broadcast the investiture of the new Governor-General. In the latter farce, it finally dawned on the dopes in Fort Dork that the new Governor-General is, actually, a former CBC journalist. She might not, you know, be amenable to crossing a picket line of locked-out CBC employees. Then, of course, Prime Minister Paul Martin, in a rare moment of decisiveness, announced he wasn't crossing a picket line. A squall of knowledge struck the CBC managers and now CBC is not going to cover the investiture. In all coverage of the lockout, the talking points now focus on the ineptitude of management. Further, the locked-out workers can be seen and heard doing their jobs in any way they can - on campus radio, through podcasts and blogs. All anyone has to do is read Shelagh Rogers's blog about her cross-country caravan and they'll know that many of CBC's on-air stars are devoted to doing their jobs, even in the most difficult circumstances. The lockout has also had one unexpected result. Far from being fatigued by the lockout or engaging in in-fighting, the workers have been galvanized. For some, it's matter of rediscovering their backbone. There is authentic rage at management. On-line, investigative work is being done about the shenanigans surrounding the training of an army of managers at the Niagara Institute, a sort of boot camp for Fort Dork bosses. And it has been realized that what CBC management is offering as news programming during the lockout is pathetic and a disgrace. News reporters and producers have been reminded that what they do, in normal circumstances, is important to Canadians. Now they are watching CBC stumble and crumble before their eyes, and they're angry. [...] (via DXLD) "CBC: It's time for a switch" The CBC's current paralysis has displayed to the whole country a profound management ineptitude of which the industry at large has been aware for a long time. It is interesting but not surprising to find that millions of citizens are relatively indifferent to the absence of CBC television: It has been so busy behaving like, and competing with, the private sector that for most of us it was often difficult to know when we were actually tuned to the allegedly public service. Old American movies in prime time on Saturday evening -- movies that you can rent cheaply at your local video shop -- are a prime example of the network's attitude toward public service. And the French network's recent replacing of the 6 p.m. news with a popular sitcom is an indication that the ratings-and-revenue-driven mentality isn't confined to the English television service. . . [subscription required] http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20050922/COCBC22/TPColumnists/Email (via Doug Copeland, DXLD) GUILD TABLES OFFER OF SETTLEMENT Click here for news on the lockout from coast to coast to coast On September 22, the Guild's negotiating team tabled a comprehensive offer of settlement in response to the slow pace of talks. The offer addresses all of the issues that remain unresolved at the bargaining table. Highlights of the proposals include: a standard workweek of 38.75 hours for all employees except those engaged in the former Unit 3 whose hours will remain at 36.25 overtime beginning at the end of a regular work day or the end of a regular work week a layoff and recall process that preserves the seniority based system and provides increased opportunities for many employees to retain employment during downsizing better rights and fees for freelance workers improved annual leave entitlements multilingual compensation for employees who must work in two or more languages Click here to read the offer of settlement. . . [More and links at} http://www.cmg.ca/cbcbranchnegsupdatesn.asp (via DXLD) PLEASE BRING BACK THE CBC by Sarah Bissonette - Wednesday, September 21, 2005 http://www.parrysoundnorthstar.com/1127331626/ Copyright © 2005 Parry Sound North Star (via Brock Whaley, DXLD) ** CANADA [and non]. "I produced and narrated two 3-hour radio documentary series for CBC Ideas in recent years: When the Machine Awakes (2003), about the meeting ground of science and spirituality, retracing a walk I made across Europe as a young man, and Sahara (2004); on treks in the burning sands from Nouakchott, Mauritania to Timbuktu, Mali. I wondered whether anyone has heard these series outside of Canada and the United States. I would be interested to know if public or university broadcasters in other countries (e.g. Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Britain...) picked them up. Thanks, George Tombs, Montreal" Please reply to me and I will forward to George. The Sahara series was excellent; I made a point of hearing it (gh, DXLD) ** DENMARK. See KURDISTAN [non] ** ETHIOPIA. V. of Tigray Revolution, 6350, *0356-0415+ Sept 18, sign- on with flute IS, 0400 vernacular talk. Weak-poor in noise and ute QRM; better on // 5500 (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EUROPE. Pirate, Mystery Radio, 6220.03, 0130-0220+ Sept 18, continuous pop music, 0216 canned ID caught. Poor-fair in noisy conditions. I had not heard Mystery Radio for some time (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. Peter Beck reports that SWR sold the Rohrdorf shortwave transmitter to Madagascar. This transmitter was built in 1982 for Radio Bremen (6190), in 1997 taken over by SWR, thoroughly refurbished and afterwards used as new main transmitter for 7265. Actually the people from Madagascar were interested in the shortwave antenna as well, but too late: It had been already scrapped by a demolition crew, together with two of the four mediumwave masts at Rohrdorf (I assume the directional array, so 666 should be always non-directional now). No new home has been found for the ex-6030 transmitter yet, but apparently SWR engineering considers this quite new rig as too valuable for the junk yard as well. Re. ``177 Germany just went fully DRM, which means that there must be a lot of DRM radios over there or they wouldn't have made the switch, right?`` --- The only available DRM radio is still the power-hungry and deaf Mayah set for 800 Euro. Actually 177 was already for quite some time a frequency with a very small audience. In fact it was supposed to go dark by the end of 1991, but finally the transmissions continued with only a third of full power (250 instead of 750 kW). In 1994 these 250 kW were further reduced to 100 kW, and one had to get the impression that the end is near. But a few years later Deutschlandradio decided to keep 177 and agreed with Deutsche Telekom to again use 500 kW and to install a new transmitter. In eastern Germany, the area well reached by 177, Deutschlandradio Kultur has a very good FM coverage, so there is no need for a longwave service. They have only a few FM frequencies in other parts of Germany, but in these areas 177 is only a poor signal and/or buried in the 183 splatter. For these reasons hardly any domestic audience for the Zehlendorf longwave transmitter existed anymore. One could imagine that there were still listeners in Poland or at sea (there 177 is a good signal as well), but apparently they are subject to ``sorry, tut mir leid`` (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Sept 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. I was hearing German with such a funny accent on 15650 at 1345 Sept 23 that I figured it must be Yiddish from Israel --- but looking it up later, that would be the semihour in real German scheduled on V. of Greece (while Greek is on 15630); they were talking about Indonesia, and at 1348 ``Nachrichten aus der Budesrepublik Deutschland`` --- could that be a relay of some other station as ERT is known to do in some of its Fremdsprachenaussendungen? Is the term BRD used much any more since there is only one Germany? For real Yiddish one must listen to Kol Israel on 15640 at 1600-1625, per EiBi A-05 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUAM. Hello, I am a licensed ham operator and frequently travel to Guam. I have been to KTWR, AWR shortwave and was curious just where does your station transmit from on Guam. Is it on Baragada Hill or some other location, and can I view the site. Thanks, (Larry Fields, n6hpx, Sept 13, to AFN, via DXLD) Larry, we don't have an affiliate there anymore. The base there is served by Guam Cable. They transmit AFN to our troops there. You can reach them at 671-477-8266 or 1885. I think the company may have changed its name to Marianas Cable (SFC Gary L. Qualls, Jr., Affiliate Relations NCOIC, AFN Broadcast Center, via Fields, ibid.) That`s kinda of funny as many of my friends and I hear `em on 13362 kHz upper sideband and they come in quite loud into parts of the Pacific (Larry, n6hpx/mm, Fields, DX LISTENING DIGEST) More evidence that AFN HQ has little knowledge of these SW relays (gh) ** GUYANA. 3291.1, Voice of Guyana, September 22nd, 0445, relay of BBC WS; O=3 (Michael Schnitzer, Germany, HCDX via DXLD) ** INDIA [and non]. AIR Chennai has changed to 7270 (ex 7275) at 0025- 0430 due to interference from SLBC Sri Lanka which suddenly appeared on 7275. However 7270 is also used by BBC at 0100 in Hindi, 0130 Urdu --- and so it has also to be sorted out. The address of the New Broadcasting House in Delhi is 27, Mahadev Road, New Delhi. AIR Imphal is noted sign on now at 0000 (ex 0030) on 4775. 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, dx_india via DXLD) AIR Chennai is noted back on 7275 at 0025- 0430 (Jose Jacob 0355 UT Sept 23, ibid.) ** INDIA. AIR is now accepting on line Reception Reports. For more details please visit: http://www.allindiaradio.org/recepfdk.html 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, dx_india via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM. Voice of the Caliphate by Nick Grace September 23, 2005 Al Qaeda today launched "Voice of the Calpihate" (Sout al-Khilafa), a weekly video magazine that promotes the group's aims to establish a global caliphate. Clandestine Radio Watch (CRW) Middle East monitor Marwan Soliman first noted the appearance at: http://soutgimf.s5.com The site, which is hosted on a free server, encourages visitors to download the first program via the free file sharing host YouSendIt.com. http://s62.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1GXNGEUJTU68M2S6KU6ATQW0XG The Windows Media file is 16 minutes long and consists of a masked "anchor" reading the news and commentary behind a copy of the Kor`an and a machine gun on a tripod. The machine gun is pointed at the camera. The "anchor" reports on Gaza, Iraq, and the hurricane Katrina, stating that the news developments are a gift from God. The program contains heavy coverage of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, including excerpts of his speeches, and video clips of terrorist activity in Iraq. In addition, the music that is played at the end of the program is a popular chant among Zarqawi's AQ wing. The song, in fact, was often broadcast on Radio al-Tajdeed - the London-based satellite program that caused caused a stir last month when its support for terrorism was revealed. A short "advertisement" for the film "Total Jihad" is played towards the end of the "newscast." Developing (Nick Grace C., Clandestine Radio Watch Sept 23 via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS. 6125 USB only, Information R (R Maluumaati) via Naval Ships of Coalition Maritime Forces in waters around Saudi Arabia, around 0100, Sep 09 and 12, talks in Arabic, Farsi, Dari and Pashto, various Middle East music, Iran was mentioned several times during the Farsi programme, 22222. Checked each night, but not audible every night! (Bjarke Vestesen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Sept 21 via DXLD) SW reception generally has been poor the past two weeks, but nonetheless a 250 watt Coalition Maritime Forces Radio broadcasting from a ship near Bahrain has been audible 3 times here in Denmark on 6125! Also heard 0100-0159, Sep 19 with same type of programme. First 24332, squeezed between Urumqi in Uighur on 6120 and Lhasa in Tibetan on 6130, but they quickly faded out. Then deep fading and varying between 15211 and 23211 with intermittent utility conversation in Serbo croatian (?) off frequency. Drowned at *0159 when REE Cariari signed on in Spanish with QSA 2. Heard again from fade in 0135 to 0220 fade out, Sep 20 with similar programme; in one message Kurdistan was mentioned, 14222, REE QRM from *0159. Thanks to Bjarke for the tip! Early broadcast on this frequency! (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Sept 21 via DXLD Dear friends, Tonight Information R, Coalition Maritime Forces on 6125 USB is stronger than usual. It was audible already at 0009 and now at 0125 it is heard here in Denmark with 34333. Middle East songs and messages in various local languages. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, Denmark, UT Sept 23, HCDX via DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. Voice of Iranian Revolution [NOT]. Re: ``V. of .Iranian Revolution was noticed Sep 13; 1715 on 3880.4/4395.7/6391.2 kHz, at 1719 3880.4 jumped to 3871.0 others stayed. Again listened in 1805 to hear them on 3880.6/4365.1 kHz. Nothing but jammer on 6 MHz (on 6420.0). In latest reports I've seen it should not be there at this hour? Going strong since 1983. (F. Krone, Denmark, Sep 13, 2005 in DXplorer-ML)`` V. of Iranian Revolution --- I mix a bit up these days, hi, should be the other communist operation Communist Party on same transmitter. Just wanted to establish in which range they transmit now. Please correct. Tried 1425 but found Rev (should be) frequency 6420 kHz covered by heavy jammer. Others not propagating yet at this hour (Finn Krone, Denmark, Sep 16, 2005 in DXplorer-ML via CRW via DXLD) ** IRAQ. See KURDISTAN ** ITALY. A possible merger between Raiway (the RAI transmitters' managing company) and Telespazio (the Italian satellite service company) is positively commented by high ranking official of the Italian state radio-tv and the Ministry of Communications. Raiway operates RAI over 3,000 terrestrial frequencies ranging from FM to TV and MW and SW throughout the country and it is a subsidiary company of RAI. Telespazio operates in the satellite up and downlink services since over 30 years and it is also a state-owned company. Some years ago Raiway was separated from RAI and a sell-out of the company to international investors also believed as possible. The new merger may instead streghten the Italian presence in broadcasting services (Luigi Cobisi, Italy, Sep 07, DSWCI DX Window Sept 21 via DXLD) ** ITALY. ITALIAN OM PIRATES NET. Sept 22, 2115-2120 UT on 4870 AM, good with QRM; "RIPRENDE LA 2-GIUSEPPE" 1 - LUCIANO, 2 - DELTA INDIA. From northern Italy I presume. Technical talks about transceivers and antennas (Francesco Cecconi, Sept 23, HCDX via DXLD) ** JAPAN. Re 5-165, the CIA piece on the end of WWII in Japan: http://www.cia.gov/csi/studies/vol46no3/article07.html Link just worked for me (Mike Barraclough, UK, 0759 UT Sept 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) And for me at 1959. Fascinating story, especially the role of KSAI on Saipan, and high-speed printing presses turning out megaleaflets (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KURDISTAN [non]. Voice of Independence of Iranian Kurdistan - NOT: Reports of the birth of a new Kurdish clandestine have been greatly exaggerated, I believe! I've listened to the station on 4400 kHz at 1500-1600 UT (and 0200- 0300) and hear it identifying as "Aira Dengi KHABATI [not Sarbakhoye] Kurdistani Irana", so therefore "Voice of the Struggle [not Independence] of Iranian Kurdistan" and not a new station. Given jamming and poor reception such a mishearing is understandable; if that doesn't seem so listen here, recorded earlier this week: http://www.intervalsignals.net/khabati.ra However, what I believe is a new development is that the station now seems to broadcast 50/50 in Persian as well as in Kurdish. Until recently I've only ever heard them in Kurdish with maybe the occasional ID in Persian, which is: "Seda-ye Khabati Kurdistan-e Iran". The station appears to have an associated website at http://www.khabat.org/ run by "The Revolutionary Khabat Organization of Iranian Kurdistan" according to the heading banner. The English section of the website mentions their radio station in passing, but without giving the name or any other details apart from the fact that it started broadcasting in April 1985. Incidentally, I also hear Voice of Independence on 4160 occasionally (or elsewhere within the 4158-4163 kHz range) at 0200-0300 UT, but more often than not there's no trace, it only seems to come out to play when the weather's nice. Regards, (Dave Kernick, UK, Sept 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also IRAN [non] ** KURDISTAN. IRAQ: Mauno Ritola informa el pasado 19 Septiembre que La Voz del Pueblo del Kurdistán, que emite desde Al-Sulaymaniyah en el Norte de Irak, en los 4025 kHz variable, ha finalizado sus emisiones de onda corta, emitiendo ahora solamente en 1206 kHz onda media (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Argentina, RN Radio Enlace Sept 23 via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [non]. DENMARK/TURKEY: REQUEST FOR CLOSURE OF KURDISH TV STATION TURNED DOWN | Text of unattributed report, "Denmark refuses to ban Roj TV", published by Turkish NTV television's NTV Online website on 21 September The Turkish embassy in Copenhagen has lodged a formal complaint with Denmark's Radio and Television High Council, which turned down the request on the grounds that Roj TV had not violated Danish laws. Following an initial investigation, the council announced that Roj TV had not infringed the Danish Radio and Television Act and, therefore, its broadcasting license would not be revoked. Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen has said that he was not aware of Roj TV's broadcasts until he had been informed by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a meeting they held in the sidelines of the UN summit in New York. He noted: "It was, therefore, not possible for me to make a decision regarding the accusations levelled against us." In response to Erdogan's suggestion that the broadcasting license of Roj TV, which is airing pro-PKK [Kurdistan Workers' Party] programmes, should be revoked, Rasmussen said that any media establishment based in Denmark could broadcast programmes reflecting its own views unless it violated the laws. Source: NTV Online website, Istanbul, in Turkish 21 Sep 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** KURE ATOLL. 24/09/2005: A multi-disciplinary expedition to Kure Atoll (IOTA OC-020, the northernmost Hawaiian atoll, will be carried out between September 22th and October 9th (Operation between September 24th-October 6th). The expedition team is an international group of highly experienced radio amateurs and field scientists. They will activate Kure for radio amateurs worldwide, using the callsign K7C, and also implement an innovative satellite-internet system (DXA) for real-time display of the expedition activities. In addition to the radio operations, the team will carry out a variety of projects in support of the wildlife sanctuary on Kure, including a study of invasive ants, documentation of shipwrecks, and collection of representative specimens of marine organisms. The expedition team consists of the following: Expedition Leader/DXA development - Robert Schmieder/KK6EK; Co-organizer/Antennas - Garry Shaprio/NI6T; Co-organizer/Satellite Link - Alan Maenchen/AD6E; MESS (Medical, emergency, safety, sanitation) - Alan Eshleman, K6SRZ; European operations - Franz Langer, DJ9ZB; Equipment/Logistics - John Kennon, N7CQQ; Radio Equipment - Mike Mraz, N6MZ and Ward Silver, N0AX; Information - Ann Santos, WA1S; Electrical Power - Charlie Spetenagel, W6KK and Relay Stations - Steve Wright, VE7CT. QSL Manager is Tom Harrell, N4XP. QSL Route: K7C KURE DXPEDITION 2005, K4TSJ, Box 1, Watkinsville, GA 30677. [Tnx OPDX] (Dave Raycroft, I.C.P.O. Calendar (Sep 22 - 30, 2005) Islands, Castles & Portable Operations, ODXA via DXLD) ** LATVIA. 9290 kHz relays This weekend Sat September 24 Radio Six 0600-0700 UT Sun September 25 Radio Six 1100-1200 UT Radio Starship 1300-1800 UT Good Listening (Tom Taylor, Sept 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBYA [non]. It`s fascinating to observe how ``localized`` openings on the 13m band can be. I`ve been wanting to monitor Libya`s only full hour in English, at 13-14 on 21675 and 21695 via France, but usually this is inaudible or barely audible. Sept 22, however, I tuned in too late at 1348 to find equally good signals on both frequencies, somewhat better than RFI itself in between on 21685. At that time, with the exception of Ascension on 21470, the Libyan program had the best signals on the band, eclipsing Spain on 21570, 21610, and Saudi Arabia on 21640, i.a. Unfortunately the programming was about the most boring imaginable, and I wonder if it is typical of what this service offers: the announcer was reading a script about the structure of the Libyan Jamahiriya government. It cut off abruptly in progress at 1400 sharp, when TDF turned off the transmitters. Yet another station unable to coordinate ops between studio and transmitter. Afterwards, the Spain and Saudi signals began to build up. 24 hours later, no sign of Libya (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MADAGASCAR. See GERMANY ** MEXICO. Community radio station in Hermosillo, R. Bemba, 95.5, to be officially inaugurated Oct 3, with an AMARC conference leading up to it: see CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES (gh) ** NEPAL. 5005.37, R Nepal, Khumaltar, 2340-2350, Sep 19, Nepali announcement, folksongs, low modulation, QRM timesignal station, 34332 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Sept 21 via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS [and non]. R. Nederland en español --- No ha sido diferente esta noche de miércoles (jueves 0256 UT) escuchar a Radio Nederland cerrando emisiones en 7325 y 9590 e invitando a seguir la transmisión a las 0300 por 9890. Así lo estipula el esquema de transmisión que agradezco me recordara Jaime Báguena a través de DXLD- 5166. Y así se había venido cumpliendo hasta hace un par de semanas. Pues bien Jaime, anoche una vez más RN retomando su servico en castellano desde las 0300 apareció en 6190, algo que no encuentro estipulado en el esquema que me enviaste, razón de más para sospechar que debe haber un problema desde supuestamente Flevo, o acaso esta transmisión está siendo auxiliada desde Bonaire? Valdría la pena cotejar con los ingenieros ahí. De paso que por estar frente al ordenador, no tengo ahí antena exterior, así que me la jugué con la telescópica de mi ICF 7600GR y es curioso que Ascensión 7325 estaba pegando más fuerte que Bonaire 9590. Creo que ambas manejan la misma potencia. Saludo cordial (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, UT Sept 22, dxldyg via DXLD) Hola Glenn, Informe recibido, para incluir en el programa de la próxima semana. Te comento que durante todo el mes de octubre, en lugar de Radio-Enlace, se transmitirá una serie titulada "VOCES LIBRES" sobre emisoras de radio populares en América Latina y la ayuda holandesa. Una mirada a la puesta en práctica del ejercicio de la libertad de expresión en cuatro estaciones: Radio Pío XII de Cochabamba, Bolivia Radio Yaraví, de Arequipa, Perú Radio Izcanal de El Salvador y Radio La Voz de Atitlán de Guatemala El viernes 4 y domingo 6 de noviembre regresa Radio-Enlace con una duración un poco reducida: 25 minutos. Así que esperamos tu colaboración para el jueves 3 de noviembre. Pasando ahora a otro asunto, efectivamente, a las 03 UT los F9890 han sido reemplazados por los B6190. La Oficina de Frecuencias olvidó enviarme una copia del esquema actualizado y el Memorándum donde se hacía referencia a este cambio. Error involuntario. Te agradezco el envío de la copia del amigo Raúl. Curiosamente estoy recibiendo varias cartas y correo-e de oyentes quejándose de no escuchar nada por los 9890 kHz. Fue gracias a la ayuda de ustedes que me informaron directa e indirectamente del cambio! Para el buen orden, vuelvo a detallar el esquema correcto. ESQUEMA DE EMISONES EN ESPAÑOL DE RADIO NEDERLAND VALIDO HASTA EL 30 DE OCTUBRE 1100-1127 CUBA B6165, PAS 3 / Telstar 12, internet 1130-1157 NORTE DE SUDAMERICA B6165, satélite: PAS 3 / Telstar 12, internet 1200-1227 NORTE DE SUDAMERICA, MEXICO, CENTROAMERICA B9715, B9895, satélite: PAS 3 / Telstar 12, internet 2300-2357 SUDAMERICA F9895, PAS 3, Telstar 12, internet 0000-0157 SUDAMERICA y CARIBE A5995, F9895, B15315, ASTRA, PAS 3, Telstar 12, internet 0200-0257 SUDAMERICA (NORTE), MEXICO B6165, F7325, B9590, ASTRA, PAS 3, Telstar 12, internet 0300-0357 CENTROAMERICA y CARIBE B6190, ASTRA, PAS 3, Telstar 12, internet F: FLEVO B: BONAIRE A: ASCENSION Radio-Enlace se transmite a las siguientes horas: VIERNES 1330 Satélite: Astra / PAS 3 / Telstar 12, internet 1920 Satélite: Astra / PAS 3 / Telstar 12, internet 2328 F9895, satélite: PAS 3 / Telstar 12, internet SÁBADO 0128 A5995, F9895, B15315, satélite: Astra / PAS 3 / Telstar 12, internet 0328 F9890, satélite: Astra / PAS 3 / Telstar 12, internet 0530 Satélite: Astra / PAS 3 / Telstar 12, internet DOMINGO 1230 Internet 1533 Satélite: Astra / PAS 3 / Telstar 12, internet 1849 Satélite: Astra / PAS 3 / Telstar 12, internet 2125 Satélite: Astra / PAS 3 / Telstar 12, internet LUNES 0009 A5995, F9895, B15315, satélite: Astra / PAS 3 / Telstar 12, internet 0209 F7325,B9590,F9890, satélite: Astra / PAS 3 / Telstar 12, internet 0458 Satélite: Astra / PAS 3 / Telstar 12, internet 0631 Satélite: Astra / PAS 3 / Telstar 12, internet Aprovecho también para darte a conocer el esquema B05 ESQUEMA DE EMISONES EN ESPAÑOL DE RADIO NEDERLAND VALIDO DESDE EL DOMINGO 30 DE OCTUBRE HASTA EL 26 DE MARZO 2006 [ADVANCE B-05 SCHEDULE, NOT YET IN EFFECT!!!:::] 1100-1157 NORTE DE SUDAMERICA B6110, satélite: PAS 3 / Telstar 12, Intelsat Américas 5, internet 1100-1127 CUBA B6165 1200-1227 NORTE y CENTROAMERICA B9715, satélite: PAS 3 / Telstar 12, Intelsat Américas 5, internet 2300-2357 SUDAMERICA B15310, PAS 3, Telstar 12, Intelsat Américas 5, internet 0000-0157 SUDAMERICA y CARIBE M9895, A11900, ASTRA, PAS 3, Telstar 12, Intelsat Américas 5, internet 0200-0357 NORTE y CENTROAMERICA, CARIBE, SUDAMERICA (NORTE) B6165, M9895, ASTRA, PAS 3, Telstar 12, Intelsat Américas 5, internet M: MADAGASCAR B: BONAIRE A: ASCENSION Con este nuevo esquema Radio-Enlace se transmitirá a las siguientes horas: VIERNES 1030 Satélite: Astra / PAS 3 / Telstar 12 / Intelsat A5, internet 1330 Satélite: Astra / PAS 3 / Telstar 12 / Intelsat A5, internet 1708 Satélite: Astra / PAS 3 / Telstar 12 / Intelsat A5, internet 2005 Satélite: Astra / PAS 3 / Telstar 12 / Intelsat A5, internet 2331 B15310, satélite: PAS 3 / Telstar 12 / Intelsat A5, internet SÁBADO 0131 M9895, A11900, satélite: PAS 3 / Telstar 12 / Intelsat A5, internet 0331 M9895, B6165, satélite: Astra / PAS 3 / Telstar 12, internet 0725 Satélite: Astra / PAS 3 / Telstar 12, internet DOMINGO 0931 Satélite: Astra / PAS 3 / Telstar 12 / Intelsat A5, internet 1230 Internet 1432 Satélite: Astra, internet 1530 Satélite: Astra / PAS 3 / Telstar 12, internet 1927 Satélite: Astra / PAS 3 / Telstar 12, internet LUNES 0011 M9895, A11900, satélite: Astra / PAS 3 / Telstar 12 / Intelsat A5, internet 0211 B6165, M9895, satélite: Astra / PAS 3 / Telstar 12 / Intelsat A5, internet 0431 Satélite: Astra / PAS 3 / Telstar 12 / Intelsat A5, internet 0620 Satélite: Astra / PAS 3 / Telstar 12 / Intelsat A5, internet 0806 Satélite: Astra / PAS 3 / Telstar 12 / Intelsat A5, internet 0910 Satélite: Astra / PAS 3 / Telstar 12 / Intelsat A5, internet (Jaime Báguena, Director Artístico, Depto. Latinoamericano, Radio Nederland Werledomroep, Sept 23, http://www.informarn.nl DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn: Bien por las aclaraciones oficiales de Jaime Báguena. Como que RN en español ha decidido cambiar antes de final de A-05 su presencia desde 9890 a 6190 para su programa a las 0300. Solo que antenoche (Sep. 21 local) salieron tarde al aire y anoche (Sep. 22) ni siquiera aparecieron en su diz que nueva 6190. Saludos (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, dxldyg via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS [and non]. BIG L - RADIO LONDON STILL OFF THE AIR ON 1395 KHZ Tempers seem to be getting frayed over the length of time it's taking for Big L - Radio London to return to the air via the Dutch mediumwave transmitter on 1395 kHz. The station itself has never made a clear statement about the real reason it went off the air on Monday of last week, preferring to tell its listeners that "we're working on a solution" and making claims that it will be back in couple of days, which doesn't happen. Now Dutch licence holder Ruud Poeze, who rents airtime on 1395 kHz to the British station, has today posted a message on the station's own message board in which he says that "Nozema never ever got a penny paid." Mr Poeze also makes some accusations about Nozema's behaviour, but concedes that non-payment is "a good reason for switching it off." He goes on to make a plea: "The two parties have to sort it out; and they had better do it fast: every day 1395 is down costs ALL parties money - Nozema, BigL and me." # posted by Andy @ 15:24 UT Sept 23 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. No trace of RNZI on 6095, UT Fri Sept 23 around 1353, tho RA`s weak 6080 was audible besides 6020. Another extended maintenance break, I suppose (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. 1520, 0925, KOKC Oklahoma City, OK. Poor with Air America talkback show. July 20 [no credit but probably like its neighbours, Craig Edwards & Dave Onley, Coorong SA Dxpediton], (Sept NZ DX Times via DXLD) KOKC with Air America?? Certainly not on current affiliate list at http://www.airamericaradio.com/stations I suppose KOKC could have picked up one AA program in the middle of the night in July, but which one was it? I rather doubt this. To my knowledge, AA has never had an affiliate in OK, and probably never will (gh, DXLD) ** OMAN. 15140, R Sultanate of Oman, Thumrait, *1401-1500, Sep 15, s/on a little late with ID in Arabic, news in English and pop-music. Heard for the first time after regular listening in many days. 44444 (Bjarke Vestesen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Sept 21 via DXLD) ** PARAGUAY. En DeRadios.com se informó el pasado 10 de Septiembre que el presidente de la República del Paraguay, Nicanor Duarte Frutos, destituyó por corrupto al titular de Radio Nacional, Flaviano Díaz, quien fue acusado por la Contraloría General del Estado de malversación de fondos. En su reemplazo, el Poder Ejecutivo nombró al periodista deportivo Carlos María Franco Patiño, quien inmediatamente fue presentado en Palacio de Gobierno. Ron Howard ha escuchado a la emisora en la frecuencia variable de 9737 kHz entre 0842 y 0916 con noticias y comentarios (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Argentina, RN Radio Enlace Sept 23 via DXLD) ** POLAND. Commemorative QSL CARD celebrating 80 years of Radio Poland 1925 – 2005. Verifiying Reception Report sent by postal mail on April 24, 2005. Date: April 23rd, 2005. Frequency: 7285 kHz. Hour: 1700 UT. V/s Rafal Kiepuszewski / English Service. I also received program schedule, stickers and a beautiful Warszawa post card, in 5 months; letter sent to the following QTH: Radio Polonia, English Service, Al. Niepodleglosci 77/85, 00-977 Warszawa, POLAND. September 22nd, 2005 (CESAR PEREZ DIOSES, CHIMBOTE, PERU, DX LISTENING DIGEST) That was quite a catch getting Poland on 41m at midday (gh, DXLD) ** SAIPAN. See JAPAN ** SAUDI ARABIA. Holy Qur`an Station reciting with reverb, good signal on 15380 around 1325 Friday Sept 23, but with edgy QRDRM from HCJB 15375. Ditto previous remarx about this clash (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SENEGAL [non]. Remember WADR, which made a big splash a month ago with a week of tests on SW? Not so big in NAm where it was the middle of the night. They were supposedly going to have their website going by Sept 20, if not regular SW broadcasts, but as of Sept 23 it`s still under construxion: http://www.wadr.org/ It`s a rarity indeed when any new operation actually meets its target date (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SERBIA & MONTENEGRO [non]. Saludos cordiales, si algún compañero de la zona de Sudamérica puede confirmar que está sintonizando a R. Serbia y Montenegro a esta hora de las 1900-1930 UT por los 7200, sería importante para confirmar lo que publica la emisora. Parece que emiten con más potencia, ya que esta emisora no es normal que se la escuche como ayer y hoy, pero no se puede confirmar que haya aumentado la potencia de emisión (José Miguel Romero, Spain, Sept 22, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) José Miguel, déjame decirte que en ese horario (1900) y en esa frecuencia (7200), jamás vamos a escuchar en América Latina, al menos en Tiquicia, ni empleando 1000 KW, a ninguna emisora de Europa Central. Creo que los colegas uruguayos o argentinos lo lograrían con demasiada suerte, algo fuera de serie. Por algo es que los servicios latinoamericanos de España, Portugal o Inglaterra, por mencionar algunos, saben que para el efecto deben dirigirse a través de frecuencias en los 19 o 16 metros. Las emisoras europeas saben (no creo que lo ignoren) que para pegar bien en esta parte del charco, al menos en 41 m como Serbia- Montenegro, deberían esperar a mínimo las 2200 UT. Un abrazo (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, ibid.) Saludos cordiales, Raúl, estás en lo cierto, pero creo que ha sido una forma muy sútil de eliminar la emisión hacia Sudamérica, anunciando en ese horario y frecuencia para Europa y Sudamérica; con eso se evitan decir que han eliminado la emisión para Sudamérica. Hacía tiempo que estaba anunciado el cierre; lo que me sorprende es que continúen en español para Europa, sabiendo de los problemas económicos que está padeciendo. Creo que si mantienen este servicio, es porque están a espensas de la integración plena en La Unión Europea; ya veremos lo que ocurre una vez lo consigan (José Miguel Romero, Burjasot (Valencia), España, ibid.) ** SLOVAKIA. Saludos cordiales, desde que se anunció la posible eliminación de las emisiones en OC en R. Slovaquia Internacional, en su página web hubo dos links que trataban el tema, uno donde se iban colocando las noticias que se producían al respecto y otro donde colocaban las cartas de los oyentes con mensajes de apoyo o protesta por el posible cierre. Pues bien hoy mismo han sido eliminados ambos accesos; se desconoce el motivo. Lo mismo ocurre en todas las secciones de R.Slovaquia Internacional http://www.slovakradio.sk/rsi/ 73 y buen DX 23/09/05 Atentamente (José Miguel Romero desde Burjasot en Valencia (España), dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOMALIA [non]. 12130, R Horyaal, via Samara, *1732-1733, Sep 07, strong carrier at tune-in 1724, test-tones, delayed sign-on, Somali program to Somalia with usual initial music and many clear IDs, frequencies, 1733 into Kor`an recitation. http://www.horyaal.com Strong (Finn Krone, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Sept 21 via DXLD) ** SOMALIA [non]. 17550, R Waaberi, via Julich, Germany, scheduled Friday 1330-1400 in Somali according to updated WRMI website. Address: Waaberi Broadcasting Services, Radio Waaberi, 5529 Walnut Blossom Dr # 5, San Jose, CA 95123, e-mail: info @ radiowaaberi.org web: http://radiowaaberi.org Waaberi Broadcasting Services is nonprofit, nongovernmental international communication service broadcasting from overseas in Somali via shortwave to East Africa and the Middle East and of course via the internet to the worldwide diaspora. The founder, Mr. Ali Gulaid, has experience in finance, accounting and auditing in the government sector and international financial development institutions. Mr. Gulaid has an accounting degree from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is a certified Public Accountant with over 20 years experience in the fields of accounting and auditing. Mr. Gulaid is currently a senior financial accountant with a local governmental agency in San Jose, California. Prior to that, Mr. Gulaid has held various positions, namely principal finance officer with the African Development Bank and Auditor with Santa Clara County, San José, California. Waaberi Broadcasting Services (R Waaberi) is a nonprofit and non-governmental educational organization set up for the following with the ultimate goal of empowering the Somali speaking people (via Finn Krone, Sep 16, DSWCI DX Window Sept 21 via DXLD) ** SUDAN [non]. Voice of Liberty and Renewal has new url, http://selfi-democracy.com/?p=4&l=e (F. Krone, Denmark, Sep 7, 2005 in DXplorer-ML via CRW via DXLD) ** SWEDEN [non]. DRM Tests Extended --- Good news, Radio Canada International is kindly extending our current DRM tests to Europe through September 31, at least. Posted at 08:57 am by gwood (Mediascan blog Sept 22 via DXLD) Does that mean forever? (gh, DXLD) Re DRM tests via Canada previously on 15120: Not particularly enjoyable "White noise" heard with QSA 3, 1815 Sep 17 on my analog AOR AR7030Plus (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Sept 21 via DXLD) ** TATARSTAN. RUSSIA, 15140, Tatarstan Wave. Sept. 19 at 0411(IS)- 0500*. SINPO 25432. ID & ID in Russian at 0411 as "V efire programa na volne Tatarstan." Mainly talk by a man. ID was heard at 0430 again, followed by talk & folk songs (Iwao Nagatani, Japan, Japan Premium via DXLD) ** TIBET [non]. MADAGASCAR, 17550, V. of Tibet via Madagascar, Sep 19 *1400-1411, 35433, Tibetan, 1359 c/on, 1359 sign on with R. Nederland's IS, frequency announce, 1400 V. of Tibet sign on with opening music, 1401 Opening announce, Talk, No Jamming (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan Premium via DXLD) Hmm, I was under the impression, and was it not reported as such, that this broadcast was from Central Asia? But the 14-1430 & 1530-16 VOT transmissions on 17550 do show on the RN transmission schedule as Madagascar, 250 kW, 45 degrees, with DVOB in between at 1430-1530 on 17625, 55 degrees. Yes, we are reminded of the Observer, Bulgaria report of a quite different site for this, via DSWCI DX Window Sept 21: ``via Dushanbe, Tajikistan, 100 kW / 131 degrees, *1354-1427* and *1527-1600*``. How could this be so detailed and so wrong? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKEY. See KURDISTAN [non] ** U K. BBC DISCOVERS IT HAS BEEN UNDERPAYING SOME STAFF FOR 7 YEARS About 11,000 BBC employees have received extra pay this month that many of them didn't know they were entitled to. A single member of staff discovered by chance that the Corporation had not been applying a rule that came into effect in October 1998 under EU working time legislation, which states that those employees who work "unsocial hours" should receive slightly more holiday pay. The BBC admits that it has unintentionally miscalculated the amounts due, and has now rectified the error and backdated it to October 1998. Some employees working on permanent night shift have gained between £3,000 and £4,000, though the BBC says the average is about £250. This would mean a total of £2.8 million across the Corporation. It's thought other large employers in the UK may also be in the same position. (Source: Media Guardian) # posted by Andy @ 09:09 UT Sept 23 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** U S A. 5085, 0025 19/8, WWRB (Manchester, TN) Heard all over the dial with song ``Calling.`` Followed by OM preacher in Appalachian accented English stressing the finer points of the KJV. Mentions of Books of Deuteronomy, Samuel, and Timothy. Good. // 5050 // 5015 // 5120 (Joe Wood, Greenback, TN, DX 390 and whip, Sept NZ DX Times via DXLD) Fundamentals 5050 and 5085 mixing at 35 kHz intervals on 5015 and 5120 (gh) ** U S A. WWCR mixing product with WNQM again heard on 8765, mixing with some ute beeps which probably do not appreciate it, Sept 23 at 1356. Peaked around S9, but level varied depending on modulation. That`s 7465 plus 1300 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. It took a while, but by early UT Sept 23, the WWL website http://www.wwl.com/Article.asp?id=114239 had changed the SW schedule to match the WHRI website, 7-9 am on 5835, 9am-3pm on 15285 --- trouble is, neither was in use on Sept 22! After 2000 UT, however, 15285 was on the air with WHR programming (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) They just can`t get their act together from Bâton Rouge to South Bend to Cypress Creek. Missing on Sept 22, but on Sept 23, URBONO is back, not on 5835, as supposedly scheduled still on the WWL and WHRI websites, but on 11785, which has been the frequency all along (when not missing) in the 12-14 UT bihour. On when checked at 1240, and past 1300 until 1358 when off for switch to 15285 from 1359, which was also back on today. Feed is now running only about a minute late, with CBS News at 1301- 1304 --- Surely it is still 5 (or 6?) minutes long on the network, but WWL dumps out of it after only 3 minutes, to run several minutes of those really, really stale PSAs/ads about what to do, how to avoid getting blown up or electrocuted. Please! Enough already. At least do some new versions of them. Some of the produced spots refer to ``United Broadcasters of New Orleans`` --- o, no, that would be UBONO! But live anchors still refer to ``United Radio Broadcasters of New Orleans``, whew, URBONO. This time the WHRI ID did not interrupt them until 1305. Judging from the super signal, 20 over 9, WEWN still puts in here on 5850 before 1400, I am sure 5835 would work just fine from SC that long before noon, and one can only wonder whether this is still under consideration, or simply a mixup in time conversion or something; and whether there will really be no SW relays on Sat & Sun as both websites also now claim (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) URBONO on 15285 going strong at 1410 right now (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Sept 23, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Some people on this list have asked why WHRI is/has been simulcasting WWL on shortwave. Well, from the Philadelphia Business Journal it appears that the shortwave signals are being used to enable other Entercom radio stations in New Orleans to relay the news: http://tinyurl.com/b3lh2 "WWL-AM has remained a source of news in the hurricane-ravaged area, and five of the six stations are simulcasting news feeds through a shortwave radio frequency." I guess they cannot pick up the Internet stream at the moment (Andy Sennitt, dxldyg via DXLD) Don't think so. The reference to "shortwave" is probably only reflecting the ignorance of the writer. This feed has been continuously uplinked via AMC-3 C-Band Satellite since August 30, and is still up as we speak (Sept. 23 at 1127 UT) (GREG HARDISON, CA, ibid.) Must agree with Greg about this. But since we get a one-minute delay on SW, internet must be involved before or after the satellite feed, or WHRI is not using the satellite for this (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. TECHNOLOGY SUCCEEDS, SYSTEM FAILS IN NEW ORLEANS: "GOVERNMENT TECH CLUELESSNESS" cited By Andrew Cantor, Cyberspeak USA TODAY Thursday, September 08, 2005 EXTRACT: "Government tech cluelessness - Good Web sites are designed to work with a wide variety of browsers. Web designers are careful to try to make their sites work with everyone. But not FEMA. If you want to file a claim for disaster assistance, you can only use a Windows machine running Internet Explorer version 6. No Macs or Linux machines. (You can use them, but only after installing special software to trick FEMA into thinking you're using IE6.) And no blind folks. You need to type in a special code that appears in an image on the screen. Oh, you can also call an 800 number to have a claim packet mailed to you. But the evacuees don't have homes anymore, and the shelters aren't getting mail." Before and after Hurricane Katrina, technology played a vital role. Unfortunately, it was the government's inability or refusal to use it that cost so many lives. Let's start with the information technology provided us with beforehand. . . [MUCH MORE] . . .In the end you can't escape that this is just the thing we have government for - to help us handle those things that are too big for us to tackle as individuals. We pay billions for that protection. And it wasn't there. http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/andrewkantor/2005-09-08-katrina-tech_x.htm (via Paul David, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U S A. At 8:25 pm EDT I'm listening to WTNI Biloxi [1640] relaying a local FM station 96.7 with a Country Oldies format. The signal is much weaker than normal and I presume that they are on lower power than 1 kW and maybe a makeshift antenna?! 73 & GUD DX, (Thomas F. Giella, KN4LF Retired Meteorologist & Space Plasma Physicist Lakeland, FL, USA, Sept 23, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. This site is a good one for streaming audio and video for the coverage of Hurricane Rita. http://www.weatherserver.net/hurricanecenter/ (Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) As for monitoring MW stations directly, Houston is the largest city in the country without a ``clear channel`` station. KTRH 740 with a newstalk format comes closest with 50/50 kW but a very direxional pattern, and there are plenty of other stations at night on 740. Maybe it will go non-direxional as an option or of necessity when Rita hits. But with major coverage areas from other TX cities are WBAP-820, KRLD- 1080 and WOAI-1200. I`m really getting tired of dealing with this kind of DX news (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) KTRH/740 was evidently on the day pattern last night (21 SEP 2005) since it was blasting into Dallas, even with local KKDA/730 on the adjacent frequency (Bob Nelson, Radio-info TX board, Sept 22, via DXLD) Tonight, KTRH is normal signal and their nulls are on pattern. Must be on their night pattern (I am 65 miles from their site and the signal is at its normal level; if they were on day pattern, it would be blasting here) (CW, Sept 23, ibid.) Checked 740 around 0500 UT Sept 23; no sign of KTRH, just KRMG Tulsa which is not so strong here at night and KTRH should have cut thru it with Tulsa nulled, if it were ND. And also check the Houston board at radio-info.com: http://www.radio-info.com/mods/posts?Board=houston (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) Unless Houston took a direct hit like NO did, I think it is unlikely KTRH will stay with its daytime pattern at night. It has to protect Canadian allocations at night as well as some US stations on 740 and the FCC and Canada would have to agree to it. CC has announced that KTRH's audio will be carried on its FMs as well so I doubt they plan to keep KTRH on day pattern at night. KTRH's site is just SW of Dayton and wont be in a major damage area so I doubt they will run day pattern at night (UNLESS they get an emergency STA from the FCC to do so). Anything IS possible, but the situation is different than what happened in NO. I suspect the rimshots on the South and MAYBE East side of Houston will likely go dark depending on the electrical service to their towers (CW, Sept 22, radio-info.com Houston via DXLD) FCC allows emergency operations with day or non-DA facilities in case of emergency, with no authorization required. In this mode, it is not permitted to run commercials, though (David Eduardo Gleason, ibid.) KGBC 1540's antenna transmitting site [Galveston] is not protected by the famous seawall, so the antenna tuning dog house will be swamped rather quickly. BBBZZZAAAPPP!!! 73 & GUD DX, (Thomas F. Giella, KN4LF Retired Meteorologist & Space Plasma Physicist, Lakeland, FL, USA, who went thru a previous hurricane in Galveston, ABDX via DXLD) This once proud local station is now an EWTN affiliate, more concerned with the ``next`` world than this one (gh, DXLD) They will be out of commission before the hurricane gets there by the storm surge. Best for them to shut down and leave with everyone else (Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. KPFT & The KKK --- Found this while looking for some coverage on Hurricane Rita; on the way, I found this which I thought might be of interest. Note the last paragraph. The nearest we got to this happening in New Zealand occurred a number of years ago when a young Dunedin guy set fire to the 4XD Dunedin transmitter building because they were interfering with his reception of 3ZM Christchurch. How KPFT got started --- KPFT was founded by journalist Larry Lee, who convinced Pacifica to establish an independent listener-supported station in Houston. Lee felt it was important for the Houston community to have an alternative voice to standard radio fare and, as a realization of this vision, KPFT first took to the airwaves on March 1, 1970. The first sound to emanate from 90.1 FM was the song "Here Comes The Sun" from the then-brand-new "Abbey Road" album by The Beatles. Just two months later, however, on May 12, 1970, the KKK blew up the KPFT transmitter, and the station was off the air for a few weeks until repairs could be made. Several months after returning to the air, on October 6, 1970 - the transmitter was bombed again! This time the damage was more extensive, and KPFT was off the air for more than three months! The full history can be found here: http://houston.kpft.org/site/PageServer?pagename=About_KPFT (via Paul [Ormandy?], NZ, HCDX via DXLD) ** U S A. Hey Folks: Here's another one from the Shameless Self Promotion Dept: I am happy to say that my piece on the Shortwave Numbers Stations that originally aired as part of NPR's Lost and Found Sound series, will be featured on Re:Sound, a program produced by the The Third Coast Audio Festival. The TCAF celebrates the work of independent radio producers with a yearly conference and this program. Re:Sound airs in Chicago on WBEZ 91.5 FM this coming Sunday September 23rd at 5 pm Central Time [2200 UT]. WBEZ streams on the net at http://wbez.org On Monday it will be online at http://thirdcoastfestival.org The theme of the Re:Sound this week is post-consumer radio (David Goren, Sept 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. CPB TO ELECT NEW CHAIR SATURDAY From the Democracy Now website at http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/09/22/1334204 The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is preparing to elect a new chairperson on Saturday to replace Ken Tomlinson, whose tenure ends that day. Broadcasting and Cable reports two of the top candidates are Republican board members Gay Hart Gaines and Cheryl Halpern. Gaines is a member of the Heritage Foundation while Halpern, like Tomlinson, also serves on the Board For International Broadcasting, the government's propaganda/international news service arm abroad (via Clara Listensprechen, DXLD) A coalition of media reform groups called on CPB to completely open its board meetings, the best parts of which are generally off-limits to the press and public, and otherwise encourage openness and transparency http://www.commoncause.org/site/apps/nl/content2.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=810365&content_id=%7bAEFBF25E-8499-4075-8D2E-3862EDC9C2EB%7d¬oc=1 (via Current Sept 16 via DXLD) DEPARTING CHAIRMAN OF PUBLIC TV DEFENDS ACTS By STEPHEN LABATON The New York Times September 23, 2005 http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/23/politics/23broadcast.html?pagewanted=print WASHINGTON, Sept. 22 - As the board of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting prepared to announce his successor as chairman, Kenneth Y. Tomlinson defended his tenure on Thursday, saying he had no regrets in trying "aggressively" to balance what he said was overly liberal programming in public television and radio. Board members, who plan to meet Monday in Washington, said this week that the leading candidate to become the corporation's next chairwoman was Cheryl F. Halpern, a Republican fund-raiser and former chairwoman of the Republican Jewish Coalition. Ms. Halpern, a resident of Livingston, N.J., who has been on the corporation's board since 2002, has been critical of National Public Radio's Middle East coverage, saying it was slanted against Israel. Her family has business interests in Israel. At her Senate confirmation hearing two years ago, she suggested that journalists in public broadcasting should be punished for editorializing. Andi Sporkin, a spokeswoman for National Public Radio, declined to comment specifically about Ms. Halpern. "Our hope," Ms. Sporkin said, "is that the next chair recognizes the support public broadcasting has from Congress and millions of Americans, and wants to restore the C.P.B. firewall that kept ideology and agenda out of public broadcasting's balance, objectivity and integrity." Mr. Tomlinson has come under heavy criticism from Senate Democrats, who say he has injected politics into programming. He is the subject of an inspector general's examination into several issues, including the propriety of a contract he signed with a researcher to monitor the political content of "Now" with Bill Moyers, and other contracts Mr. Tomlinson signed with Republican lobbyists. The corporation provides money for public radio and television stations from the $400 million it receives annually from Congress. This week conservative House Republicans proposed eliminating the taxpayer support for the corporation as part of a broader cost-cutting effort to pay for repairing the damage from Hurricane Katrina. Under the corporation's charter, Mr. Tomlinson cannot remain chairman when his term expires next week, though he will stay on as a board member. The board, whose members are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate, selects the corporation's chairman. People involved in the inspector general's inquiry said that it had recently been expanded and that its conclusions, some of which were to be presented to members of Congress this week, had been delayed. Appearing before the Media Institute, a research group supported by major news media companies and devoted to free-press issues, Mr. Tomlinson said Thursday that there was nothing substantive he would have done differently as head of the corporation. "If I threatened the cozy atmosphere of public broadcasting over the failure to balance the liberal advocacy journalism of Bill Moyers, so be it," he said before a luncheon sponsored by the institute. "This thing of balance is not rocket science, and that is why I had so little tolerance for public broadcasting's inability to achieve balance. Let the record show that I gave as good as I got." "I am highly skeptical of so-called nonpartisanship in public broadcasting because that appears to mean the same old liberals making the same old decisions," he added. * Copyright 2005 The New York Times Company (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. Blogger Rex Sorgatz has temporarily stopped selling T-shirts that say "A Prairie Ho Companion" after receiving a cease-and-desist letter from Garrison Keillor's lawyers. "[I]t annoys the living hell out of me that Garrison Keillor thinks he can bully me," says Sorgatz. (St. Paul Pioneer Press article.) http://www.mnspeak.com/mnspeak/archive/post-733.cfm [includes a huge forum discussing the issue] (Current via gh, DXLD) ** U S A. This afternoon, SEP 21, Ed Schultz announced on his program, heard here on Air America, that he has replaced Bill O'Reilly on KSL in Salt Lake City. Ed, who usually gets things right, misnamed the station as "KLS". (Jim Renfrew, Byron NY, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. KNSD OWNERSHIP EXPLAINED --- Last edition, we published a letter from a CGC Communicator reader questioning who owns KNSD-TV, San Diego. This week, KNSD responds as follows: ".... our corporate office confirms the following: KNSD is majority- owned by GE (General Electric), under a partnership agreement with LIN Broadcasting. KNSD is operated by NBC, a division of GE, and is treated as an GE/NBC O&O station (owned and operated) for all operational purposes. All our filings with the FCC have stated that KNSD is operated by NBC, and the FCC treats GE as the owner for attribution purposes." The CGC Communicator does not normally cover legal issues, but the ownership question slipped through the cracks. We regret putting the good folks at KNSD through the hoops of explaining the ownership details (CGC Communicator Sept 19 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. KLSD, 1360, San Diego, applies to increase day & night power levels to be U4 50000/50000 from the 6-tower site of KSDO-1130 at N32- 51-04, W116-57-51. The peculiar part of this move is that the proposed power increase will result in little overall coverage improvement for KLSD in populated areas, and some coverage loss, according to the coverage contours as filed with the FCC. Ordinarily, a dramatic transmitter move like this one would be expected to pay large, handsome dividends. The only argument heard in favor of the move is that building penetration will improve because of increased power density, but any studies along those lines have not been presented (Bill Hale, Applications from Existing Facilities, AM Switch, NRC DX News Sept 19 via DXLD) ** U S A. Re 770 TIS application: Glenn, People really should read the material they're commenting on: The application for a 770 kHz TIS by Los Angeles World Airports is for the Ontario International Airport (also operated by the LA airport authority) NOT for LAX. I haven't seen the original CGC Communicator, but knowing Howard Fine - who's had years of frequency coordination experience - I'll bet he gave the actual location in his comment. Ontario airport does not now have a TIS - in fact there are none in that area of the LA basin. There is another 770 TIS over in S. El Monte, more than the minimum co-channel separation distance away. (We did the engineering for this, of course, as we did for the 100 watt power increase for WNHV296 at LAX itself.) (Ben Dawson, WA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** URUGUAY. RADIO SARANDÍ EN EL DIA DEL PATRIMONIO Radio Sarandí, emisora pionera en tantas actividades radiales de Uruguay, ha decidido acompañar con todo la celebración del Día Del Patrimonio dedicado nada menos a su relator que desde 1946 a 1974, izo punta en relato de fútbol tanto desde Uruguay como desde el exterior, Don Carlos Solé. En tal sentido la emisora está abierta al público el sábado y domingo además de una serie de actividades con la unidad móvil desde la Peatonal Sarandí y otros lugares de Montevideo y el Interior de la República. En lo referido a la transmisión estarán en estudios personalidades de la radio de fuerte contexto histórico en la emisora recreando con su testimonio diversos momentos vividos en la Sarandí. Siendo de particular interés que durante la emisión desde la mañana a la noche además de testimonios habrá una cuidada selección de programas, publicidades, identificaciones e informes especiales vinculados a la historia de la radio en Uruguay y de Radio Sarandí especialmente. En el edificio único construido en su momento en América Latina para albergar una radio con todas las características técnicas pero también logísticas, incluyendo un bello jardín y mucha luz natural, donde hoy también se encuentran además de Sarandi 690, Sport 890, Futura FM 91.1 y Disney 91.9, estará abierto al público una exposición con equipos históricos de la propia radio, muy variados con piezas únicas como el micrófono con el cual Sole transmitió la Final del Mundial de 1950, en Brasil donde Uruguay obtuvo su cuarto título mundial, dos por Olimpiadas y dos por los Mundiales de Fútbol. He tenido el alto honor de ser designado en mi carácter de Diexista y como Historiador de la Radio, pero muy especialmente por ser columnista y amigo de la casa desde 1994, por la Directora de la Radio Dra. Ligia Almitrán, como coordinador del Archivo Sonoro Sarandí, motivo por el cual he trabajado junto a más de diez periodistas y técnicos, en el rescate de audios históricos que se estarán poniendo al aire, durante el fin de semana, originados desde 1950 en adelante, así como en la selección y recuperación de las piezas museológicas de la radio únicas, como consolas, accesorios, souvenir, incluso un estudio de de otras épocas, recuperando lo mejor de una historia que se originó en 1931, y que se apreciarán en el fin de semana dedicado al Patrimonio "Paisaje sonoro: el relato deportivo, homenaje a Carlos Solé". Además estaré brindando charlas a grupos de visitantes y estaré al aire los dos días con informes especiales basados en el trabajo de investigación y recuperación de la memoria sonora de la radio uruguaya. Quedan desde ya invitados desde las 09 hasta las 17 horas a visitar la emisora y vivir la radio en Enriqueta Compte y Riqué 1250, Montevideo - Uruguay. Más información por la central telefónica 208 2612 o directamente por la Web http://www.sarandi690.com.uy Un fuerte abrazo y los esperamos --- por que la radio es mucho más que palabras al aire --- ---------------------------------------------- Dia del patrimonio 2005. Una guia completa para que sepas donde pasear. Montevideo Portal. http://www.montevideo.com.uy/patrimonio (Gabriel Gómez, Montevideo, Uruguay, Diexista e Historiador de la Radio. Telefono: (05982)924.14.24 gabrielgomez @ montevideo.com.uy Web: http://es.geocities.com/archivoradio/gabrielgomez.html Sept 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UZBEKISTAN [and non]. Czech Republic/USA: RFE/RL PROTESTS AGAINST UZBEK CORRESPONDENT'S IMPRISONMENT | Excerpt from report in English by Czech news agency CTK Prague, 22 September: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (FRE/RL) today protested against the imprisonment of its correspondent Nosir Zokirov in Uzbekistan. Zokirov was sentenced to half a year in prison for having allegedly insulted a member of Uzbekistan's National Security Service and his appeal was rejected. RFE/RL says that Zokirov's trial was not just and that the result of the Appellate Court in Namangan, Uzbekistan, was known beforehand. RFE/RL Director Thomas Dine said in a statement for CTK today that "the decision on the appeal confirms that the current Uzbek justice system stands outside internationally accepted legal norms". He suspects the case to be politically tinged. "The imprisonment of Nosir Zokirov on such an absurd charge marks a new low in an intensifying campaign waged against him and other RFE/RL correspodents, as well as other international media that tried to report the truth about the Andijon massacre (during May antigovernment protests)," Dine writes. Zokirov has worked for RFE/RL for eight years. He was accused on the basis of a phone he made to security police in Namangan in August, in which he protested against attempts to pressure a local poet, Khaidarali Komilov to lie about an interview he gave Zokirov. Komilov wrote a poem against President Islam Karimov and his authoritarian policy. Zokirov used a part of the poem in a programme which RFE/RL broadcast in August. Uzbek authorities then forced Komilov to say that Zokirov only used the poem in the context and that by itself, the poem does not target Karimov. Komilov, however, rejected the authorities' attempts and did not speak against Zokirov. Dine said that at least eight other native Uzbek correspondents for RFE/RL's Uzbek Service have been subject to harassment by Uzbek state authorities. [Passage omitted] Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 1552 gmt 22 Sep 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** VANUATU. This info comes from an engineering source in Vanuatu. Only one out of three Radio Vanuatu's shortwave transmitters is working at the moment. It was off for couple of days since 16 September due to fault in the exciter power supply, but should be on the air by now. Transmitter is rated 10 kW but runs around 8 kW. The schedule is (times UT) 3945 1900-2100, 0500-1100 7260 2100-0500 The switch-over times from one frequency to another are "about" as there is no remote control system functioning and station's tech has to go to the transmitter site (10 km from the town) and manually change frequency and antenna system. Audio might be a bit undermodulated due to audiofeed link problems. 73 (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZANZIBAR. Nice signal today. RTVZ 11735 at 1801 tune in with English newscast from "Spice FM" with ID at three past the hour. Back to local language at 1808 UT. Super signal. 544 Sept 22/05. Just as strong long path as direct! (Mickey Delmage, Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada, Rx: Collins HF-2050, Ant: 7-30 MHz Log Periodic, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Solar-terrestrial indices for 21 September follow. Solar flux 86 and mid-latitude A-index 4. The mid-latitude K-index at 1800 UTC on 22 September was 2 (17 nT). No space weather storms were observed for the past 24 hours (SEC via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE. 6612.0, R. Zimbabwe, Sept 21, 0220-0434, wide range of music (highlife, pop western music, jazz, African choral (almost like religious singing), M. announcer in African language, 0323 clear ID for R. Zimbabwe (but this was the only ID I could make out), after 0331 seemed to be phone conversations, poor-fair, but the music was enjoyable. Sept 22, at 0135 already heard with African music and will probably be better in a few hours (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, RX340 + T2FD antenna, dxldyg via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE [and non]. Media Monitoring Project Zimbabwe has published another weekly review on Sept 23, quoted by BBC Monitoring. I went looking for it on their own website, but the latest edition currently is Sept 5-11: http://www.mmpz.org.zw/html/weekly.htm I assume they will eventually get around to posting two more issues. The latest does refer five times to SW Radio Africa, but not once to V. of the People (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. 7120, Voice of the People, *1700, Sep 06 and 07, drums and IDs (to Zimbabwe). Not at all a good signal, but no jamming made it to Denmark (Finn Krone, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Sept 21 via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 6175, Cf. DX-Window no. 280. I really doubt that Namibia has been reactivated. During my last few band scans recently, there certainly was no Namibia on 6175. I would also normally hear Voice of Vietnam here at that hour, and I am surprised that it was not the same in Madagascar. Perhaps some small local Madagascar station? But that would be a pure speculation, I really have no idea what it was (Vaclav Korinek, Sep 06, DSWCI DX Window Sept 21 via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 13530, very strong clear and steady hi-pitched tone until about 1345* UT Sept 22. I scan this area just about every day around this time and have not run across it before. It`s not so hi- pitched as the one on 17450. Spreads pretty wide, and BFO revealed it was not a pure tone but multiple carriers. What in the world is it? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ CÓMO HACER PARA ESTAR SIEMPRE ACTUALIZADO Llevo diez lustros haciendo DX con mayor o menor intensidad. Para estar al tanto de lo que sucede en la onda corta me he valido de los loggings publicados en las publicaciones de dos o tres clubs "de cabecera". Además me he servido del WRTH y, durante algunos años, del PWBR. Fuera de esto, mucho me sirvieron, en su época, las entregas semanales de Sweden Calling DX-ers, legendario programa DX de Radio Suecia, y cuando éste se dejó de emitir, el programa World of Radio, de Glenn Hauser. Hoy en día, el internet ha hecho más rápido el proceso. Hay que moverse para descubrir "la chiva". No exagero si digo que puedo pasar de la mayoría de las listas e informes publicados en internet salvo uno, el DXLD, también de Glenn Hauser. No necesito revisar ninguna otra lista, Hauser todo lo nuevo lo descubre y me lo sirve en su DXLD. Lo único que necesito es estar al acecho del boletín que se publica dos o tres veces a la semana. Hauser respeta la noticia tal como fue publicada y la atribuye a la fuente original. Tanto es así que muchas noticias las publica en el idioma original, ya sea sueco, francés, portugués u otro. Como editor del WRTH LA Newsletter durante algunos años aprendí la importancia capital de referir las noticias a la fuente original. Ojalá muchos más descubran el valiosísimo cúmulo de datos que encierra el sitio http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/ (Henrik Klemetz, Suecia) CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ [Infobemba] Sin tregua! RBfm 1º de octubre Hola a tod@s nuestr@s galopantes amigos y amigas, solidarios todos de la Radiobemba, después de 4 meses de obtener el reconocimiento del gobierno mexicano y 16 meses del temporal OFF de nuestra incomoda señal, motivada por la aspiración al permiso, les damos la noticia de la "rompida" del OFF. Desde el viernes 30 estaremos recibiendo aquí en Hermosillo a nuestras hermanas radios nuecledas en la Asociación Mundial de Radios Comunitarias, AMARC quienes vienen a testimoniar y adherirse a nuestro inicio, ese mismo día queremos hacer un acercamiento con todos aquellos solidarios de nuestra radio, por lo que a los que estén en Hermosillo les invitamos a que nos inviten unas caguamas, estaremos desde las 9 de la noche listos para recibirles, en la casabemba. El Sábado 1 de octubre haremos un pequeño recordatorio de seguiremos conectados a la calle, por lo que tendremos un pequeña manifestación con música desde la Plaza Zubeldía hasta la casa bemba ubicada en Tamaulipas 123 y cinco de mayo, la salida es alas 6pm, para a las 7pm tronar un poco la calle con tres grupos en vivo. La dinámica nos detiene para que el Lunes 3 de octubre a a las 10AM presentemos en sociedad a la Radiobemba, esperamos contar con la participación de tod@s en la misma casabemba. Se me pasaba --- la radio empezará a sonar el sábado 1 de octubre en el 95.5 MHz. Anexamos invitación (via Dario Monferini, DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING ++++++++++++++++++++ The reception of DRM is not really all that hard, even with your current rig and some free software to load on a laptop. Check out Mark Fine's web page, or go to the website of some of the SWL Clubs. They have software info there. I test new equipment for manufacturers like Ten Tec (it was my idea to outfit the RX 320 with DRM capability as it already had the proper last IF). I also test for AOR and a few others but the receiver market has all but dried up. The real reason for the lack of new SWL receivers is that all of the manufacturers see the oncoming of digital modes and they see the end of SW. I hate to be a pessimist but technology does move on. Check out the Ten Tec web site as they also have some DRM info. About a year ago I was given a Beta Sangean receiver that was set up for DRM. In fact, it was only a Sangean 818 modified. All it received was analog SW and DRM. Here in Ohio I could easily receive the DRM transmissions from Canada, and a lot of foreign broadcasters rent time on R. Canada's transmitters for broadcasts to N. America. I was only using the built in whip at first; then I went to a 66' RF Systems MK- ll. It sounded like BCB FM! Look around; you'll find a way to receive DRM with your own rig on the regular HF Bands. It is really the use of the computer`s power to run the special codec that translates the digital DRM to an analog signal. PS, Whatever happened to the Sangean idea for use of the modified ATS 818, I can't tell you(?) It worked well enough that I would have purchased the beat-up rig they loaned me. 73 (John Wagner, Ohio, IRCA via DXLD) See also GERMANY, SWEDEN IBIQUITY SEEKS TO "GLOBALIZE" IBOC/HD RADIO http://futureofradio.typepad.com/the_future_of_radio/2005/09/ibiquity_seeks_.html In a surprising development, Ibiquity has announced Perry Priestley will head up efforts to expand IBOC/HD to international markets. http://www.billboardradiomonitor.com/radiomonitor/news/business/digital/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001178995 DRM has a commanding lead in digital AM/FM internationally, and it's hard to understand why Ibiquity is devoting resources to international expansion when, by Ibiquity's own admission, they are doing a terrible job of promoting IBOC/HD in the United States. Ibiquity has even admitted it is up to individual stations and not Ibiquity to promote IBOC/HD radio. And now they're planning to expand IBOC/HD to foreign markets? It's like a high school kid who's flunking algebra talking about how much money he's going to make when graduates from Harvard. . . . . At any rate, I hope you enjoy jousting with those windmills, Perry, and be sure to tell Sancho I said hello. Posted on September 22, 2005 (Harry Helms, Future of Radio blog via DXLD) CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING ACCELERATES HD RADIO™ CONVERSIONS The US Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and iBiquity Digital Corporation, today announced an agreement that will accelerate the conversion of over 800 AM and FM CPB-funded stations to iBiquity's digital HD Radio broadcasting. Under the agreement, CPB will purchase a group licence that will allow more than 400 CPB-funded public radio stations to acquire iBiquity's digital HD Radio technology. This group licence will also cover costs associated with the technology's advanced services such as multicasting and datacasting. Previously, CPB provided funding to approximately 400 local public radio stations for their digital conversions. "This historic agreement will give the overwhelming majority of public broadcasters the resources they need to pursue digital HD Radio broadcasting and leverage the full range of capabilities made possible by the system," said Patricia Harrison, CPB president and CEO. "For the millions of public radio listeners, this will mean dramatically improved sound quality and a greater variety of music, news and information choices on their favorite public radio stations." "CPB has long demonstrated itself to be an advocate of new technologies, and it played a critical role in helping early public radio station pioneers secure the funding needed to pursue a digital future," said Robert Struble, president and CEO of iBiquity Digital Corporation. "With today's announcement, CPB has taken that commitment to another level and ensured that most of the nation's public radio listeners will be able to benefit from all of the exciting services made possible by digital HD Radio technology." # posted by Andy @ 16:06 UT Sept 22 (Media Network blog via DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ SONY SCRAPS 7% WORKFORCE http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4270302.stm I've said it before in other public forums, Panasonic - but especially Sony - are becoming dinosaurs in many sectors of the consumer electronics and broadcast industry. It is the smaller companies that are perceived as innovative. Sony showed in IFA Berlin that it has seriously lost its way. Like the buttons on some of the PSP controllers, they are stuck. In Berlin, Sony chucked some technology into a darkened room and hoped that the public would find a context for it. They sure don't understand it. Sony has persisted with its own in-house standards like ATRAC audio compression, when the outside world was screaming MP3. I'm keeping their fall 2005 catalogue as an example of how NOT to get concepts over to the public....every "new" technology feature is given its own brand name. People do not write this down and then go to the store with a list of techno brand names. In the broadcast world, Sony has been a very traditional production company concentrating on television. They are very poor at integrating their solutions with other platforms - like new media and radio. They are much too expensive for what they deliver. Their only contribution to radio was the Sony Pro cassette recorder and a great pair of closed headphones. Sony Minidisc has been a great example of a fragile consumer technology misused by freelancers to try and work to professional standards. If you have Minidiscs, make sure you copy off the contents to another media (e.g. hard-disk) as soon as possible. Ten years from now you are not going to find a minidisc player to play this stuff back. Remember 5 1/4 inch floppy discs? By stating that the new Walkman Phones will not support ATRAC music formats, Sony effectively killed the Minidisc in March of this year. BBC reports that Sony shares have lost two thirds of their value. In Thursday's trading, its share price fell 2.2%. I am curious to see what Sir Howard Stringer will do to put them back on the map - like no other. posted by Jonathan Marks @ 9/22/2005 09:37:00 AM (Critical Distance blog via DXLD) SELCAL Selcal, or Selective Calling as it is more correctly known, is an automatic recognition system that is operated by a two tone signal. The equipment is connected to the HF radios on aircraft and monitors for a call even when the squelch is turned up, and the pilots can hear nothing. This enables the pilots to have some aural peace when crossing the Pacific or other oceans as HF radio can be very noisy. Selcals are made up of a four letter code and when heard have a distinctive bing-bong sound. As a flight enters an Oceanic FIR, a Selcal check is made the signal activates the on board Selcal receiver which alerts the pilots with a flashing warning light and an audible alarm. Selcal checks are often heard from aircraft prior to departure. Selcals are issued to airlines by the ARINC (Aeronautical Radio Inc) in USA, and with a total of only 10920 available codes, duplications are possible. This problem is overcome by allocating duplicate codes to aircraft operating in different parts of the world, so in theory they should never be working on the same frequency. If however, duplicate Selcals appear on the same frequency the problem is generally resolved by moving one of the flights to another frequency. The Selcal is made up of two pair of tones, the first pair being transmitted for approximately 1 second, with the second pair transmitted for the same duration following a 0.2 second pause. The individual tone frequencies are designated by letters A - S excluding the letters ``I`` and ``O``. A typical Selcal code is AB-CD, which indicates that the frequencies designated by letters ``A`` and ``B`` would sent followed by the frequencies designated by letters ``C`` and ``D``. Duplicate letters are not permitted in either pair, since simultaneous transmission of two tones of the same frequency would not be distinguishable by the aircraft`s Selcal decoder. Also, the same tone is nor permitted to be used in both the first and second pair (Sept NZ DX Times via DXLD) ###