DX LISTENING DIGEST 5-174, October 3, 2005 Incorporating REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING edited by Glenn Hauser, http://www.worldofradio.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits For restrixions and searchable 2005 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn NEXT AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO Extra 61: Mon 1800 WOR RFPI [repeated 4-hourly thru 1400 Tue] Tue 1600 WOR WBCQ after hours Tue 2330 WOR WBCQ 7415 [usually but temporary] Wed 0000 WOR CJOY INTERNET RADIO plug-in required [ex Sat 1600] 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 Extra 61 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/worx61h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/worx61h.rm [Extra 61 is same as COM 05-07; high version adds WOR opening] WORLD OF RADIO Extra 61 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/com0507.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/com0507.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/com0507.html WORLD OF RADIO Extra 61 in true SW sound of Alex`s mp3 (stream) http://www.dxprograms.net/worldofradio_09-28-05.m3u (download) http://www.dxprograms.net/worldofradio_09-28-05.mp3 WORLD OF RADIO Extra 61 downloads in studio-quality mp3: (high) http://www.obriensweb.com/worx61h.mp3 (low) http://www.obriensweb.com/worx61.mp3 WORLD OF RADIO PODCAST: www.obriensweb.com/wor.xml (currently: 1284, Extra 60, 1285, 1286, 1287, 1288, Extra 61) CONTINENT OF MEDIA 05-09: (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/com0509.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/com0509.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/com0509.html [pending] DXLD YAHOOGROUP: Why wait for DXLD? A lot more info, not all of it appearing in DXLD later, is posted at our yg. Here`s where to sign up http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dxld/ ** ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS. 4760, 17.9 1730, AIR/Port Blair with an ID indicating that the Asian conditions might be coming. S 2-3. BEFF (Björn Fransson, Sweden, SW Bulletin Oct 2, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also INDIA ** AUSTRALIA [and non]. RADIO AUSTRALIA REVIVES NEWS SERVICE IN FRENCH The Age reports that Radio Australia has resurrected its French news service, which was axed eight years ago as a result of budget cuts that. The service has been re-started in an audio file format and sent to radio stations in New Caledonia, Tahiti and Vanuatu and beamed to the region's 500,000 French-speaking inhabitants. "There has always been a demand for it but budgetary constraints meant that we couldn't respond to that demand," Radio Australia head Jean- Gabriel Manguy told the newspaper. "This little initiative is part of a current strategy of relays and re-broadcasts in Asia-Pacific and came after we were left with no transmitters from severe budget cuts." About 160 stations in areas such as Indonesia, Cambodia and Papua New Guinea relay Radio Australia's programmes. "We are using new technology such as short wave and audio files and other ways of delivering content," said Manguy. Radio Australia's French website says that "24H dans le Pacifique" is the name of the new French news service, and is broadcast by RFO New Caledonia at 0300, 0400 and 0500 UTC on 666 kHz mediumwave and 89.9/99.3 MHz FM. # posted by Andy @ 11:59 UT Oct 3 (Media Network blog via DXLD) Can French resuming on RA SW be far behind? Yes! (gh, DXLD) ** BAHRAIN. Radio Bahrain audible on 9745 upper sideband at 2355 September 29th with Arabic music; HCJB was just making its closing announcements. Bahrain was weaker but clearly audible, drowned out by CRI signing on at 0000 [via Bonaire] (Mike Barraclough, UK, Oct World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** BELARUS [non]. GERMAN BROADCASTER LAUNCHES EU-FUNDED RADIO PROGRAMME ABOUT BELARUS The German international broadcaster, Deutsche Welle, will start broadcasting its information and analytical radio programme about Belarus, called "Belarusian Chronicles" on 3 October, the Belarusian news agency Belapan reported today, quoting Deutsche Welle's Belarus bureau. The objective of the programme is to fill in the information gaps that came into existence in the country following the closure of independent newspapers, the news agency added. The Belarus bureau of Deutsche Welle said in its statement that the programme "will not be a mouthpiece of the opposition, will not call for overthrowing President Lukashenka and will not be involved in exporting revolutions", Belapan said. The European Union has allocated 138,000 euros for the Belarusian broadcasting programme this year, Belapan added. Source: Belapan news agency, Minsk, in Russian 0751 gmt 3 Oct 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) WTFK? Schedule previously published, anyway (gh) ** BOLIVIA. 4682.91, Radio Virgen del Remedio (presumed), Tupiza, 2320-2355, Sep 30, Spanish, Religious News, Relaying Radio Católica Mundial, 24232 (Nicolás Eramo, Lat:34º34'49S, Long:58º32'26W, Villa Lynch, Prov. Buenos Aires, Argentina, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. Re R. Illimani webpage showing 6020: Thanks Glenn. I have not noticed the mistake, but if you look at the start page of the same WEB page, the frequency is written OK. So it is JUST a printing mistake (Dario Monferini, Italy, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. Caros amigos: Eu e o Moura, estivemos segunda-feira passada, dia 26 na ECA/USP (Escola de Comunicações e Artes da Universidade de São Paulo) em um evento sobre o dia do rádio, graças a divulgação do colega da lista o Flávio Archangelo. Uma das pessoas presentes foi a jornalista Márcia Detoni (ex- BBC), diretora do serviço de rádio da Radiobrás, que de maneira muito educada e profissional conversou conosco. Entre as informações que ela nos passou, foi que a Radiobrás não está mais transmitindo em ondas curtas com destino ao continente africano , por problemas técnicos e o mais triste é que provavelmente não voltará a transmitir para nossos irmãos africanos. Outra notícia é que a atual direção está procurando colocar programação da Radiobrás em emissoras africanas nos moldes do que a BBC vem fazendo aqui no Brasil com a CBN e outras emissoras. Entre outras informações temos a destacar o incentivo e apoio por parte da emissora Radiobrás, da criação de um grupo de 9 emissoras na região do Alto Solimões, porque nesses locais a questão da comunicação é muito precária e o rádio tem uma penetração mais fácil e barata. As emissoras terão uma espécie de conselhos que dirigirão a emissora, no sentido de impedir seu uso político. Outro assunto debatido, foi a questão do programa radiofônico obrigatório A Voz do Brasil, que segundo a jornalista, não é uma responsabilidade do executivo, mas do legislativo. Ele informou ainda que as pesquisas apontam que o Estado que mais repudia o programa A Voz do Brasil é São Paulo, mas há Estados que não são tão contrários ao programa. Com relação as emissoras que pertencem a Radiobrás, minha surpresa, foi saber que a emissora do grupo que transmite de Brasília, a Rádio Nacional, é a segunda colocada no "ranking" das mais ouvidas na capital federal, perdendo apenas para uma emissora evangélica. O José Moura perguntou a Márcia sobre os QSLs, que muitos reclamam não receber e a Márcia disse que essa reclamação existe e que espera poder conversar com os responsáveis sobre isso, mas tudo depende de verba. Por último a notícia mais importante é que o atual governo pretende transformar a Radiobrás em uma emissora pública nos moldes da Rádio Canadá Internacional, deixando de ser uma emissora do governo, ou seja uma estatal. Dessa maneira, nós que ouvimos emissoras internacionais, sabemos que emissoras assim, não estãoa serviço de nenhum governo que esteja no poder, mas do país. Ela citou a RCI, porque no Canadá, como acontece no Brasil, não se paga para ter um aparelho em casa, como acontece na Inglaterra, que tem a BBC. Programa Encontro DX, Rádio Aparecida sábados ás 22:00 horas UT, 5.035 , 6.135, 9.630 e 11.855 kHz, 18 anos no ar (Cassiano Alves Macedo, Oct 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. BRASIL - A Rádio Difusora AM, de Macapá (AP), que transmite em 630 e 4915 kHz, voltou a funcionar normalmente, após 180 dias de interrupção com sua programação. A emissora investiu R$ 337 mil na compra de novos equipamentos e reforma de estúdios. Alguns equipamentos haviam sido danificados por um raio. As informações são do sítio http://www.radioamapaense.com A dica é do biólogo Paulo Roberto e Souza, de Tefé (AM). BRASIL – Até o próximo dia 20, todas as emissoras de rádio do Brasil são obrigadas pela legislação eleitoral a veicularem dois espaços com propagandas sobre o referendo que determinará a proibição da venda de armas no país. Duas Frentes Parlamentares ocupam nove minutos da programação das emissoras nos seguintes horários: entre 7h e 7h09min [das 1000 às 1009 UTC] e das 12h às 1209min [das 1500 às 1509 UTC]. Além disso, todas as estações já estão veiculando 20 minutos diários de inserções de 30 segundos. O referendo será a maior consulta popular no mundo totalmente informatizada. Mais de 122 milhões de eleitores irão às urnas para responder sim (tecla 2) ou não (tecla 1) para a seguinte pergunta: o comércio de armas de fogo e munição deve ser proibido no Brasil? BRASIL – Está prevista para novembro a inauguração da freqüência da Rádio Educação Rural, de Coari (AM), em ondas médias. O interessante é que, até agora, a estação sempre emitiu apenas em ondas tropicais, em 5035 kHz, o que demonstra a importância das ondas curtas naquela região brasileira. A freqüência será 560 kHz. Em 5035 kHz, a emissora pode ser sintonizada entre 0950 e 0100. Contatos: Rádio Educação Rural, Praça São Sebastião, 228, CEP: 69460-000, Coari (AM). Email: radiocoari @ portalcoari.com.br As informações são do biólogo Paulo Roberto e Souza, desde Tefé (AM). (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX Oct 2 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 17814.9 kHz, R. Cultura, São Paulo SP, 02 Oct 1155-1241, talks (seemingly a news-like feature); 14441, adjacent QRM. Also on 17815, 01 Oct 1744-1814, Braz. music; 15341, yet improving despite adjacent QRM /1800; Rated 14442 at 2045 on same day, when also noted // 9615 kHz at 44444 later at 2245 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. Caros: Mais duas figuras dos sinais em OM da Band e da Gaúcha. A BAND não está ainda transmitindo com o IBOC, apesar de ocupar 20 kHz com a modulação normal. A figura em http://py.qsl.br/band2.gif mostra o sinal da BAND (USB), a portadora da Rádio Clube 850 KHz (Rio Claro). Escutada com 44444 eu diria. Mas isso com receptor com AM-Síncrono e filtro na banda lateral superior. Com AM convencional, sem chance. A figura em http://py.qsl.br/gaucha2.gif mostra o sinal da GAUCHA (LSB), a portadora da Rádio Atlântica 590 kHz (Santos). Escutada com 32242 creio. Isso por que como a Gaucha está transmitindo o sinal digital além dos 20 kHz do canal centrado em 600 KHz) ela interfere no sinal LSB da Atlântica com o IBOC e no USB com as bandas laterais naturais do sinal de AM 600 KHz. Abcs (Marcus, PY3CRX/PY2PLL, radioescutas via DXLD) ** CANADA. Re 5-173: Oops: Mystery article is from the Globe and Mail. 73, (Ricky Leong, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. CBC, UNION COME TO AGREEMENT --- Rather than retyping everything, I would like to refer you to a site maintained by Tod Maffin, a locked-out CBC Radio presenter. http://www.cbcunplugged.com/ Among the top items currently on his site are a press release by the CBC regarding the statement of agreement with its union, and an article from the Globe and Mail. Maffin also has an audio interview he did with the head of the Canadian Media Guild, which represents the locked-out CBC workers. Of course, since Maffin's site is a blog, many people have left comments for your reading pleasure (Ricky Leong, Calgary, Alta., Oct 3, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) CBC, staff reach deal CBC employee Amanda Putz walks the picket line outside the CBC building in Ottawa Monday. (CP PHOTO/Jonathan Hayward) LOCKED tape over mouth OTTAWA (CP) - A memorandum of agreement was reached early Monday between the CBC and more than 5,000 employees who have been locked out for seven weeks. The basic concepts behind a tentative agreement were reached late Sunday under the supervision of federal mediators, but both sides will continue to work out the details and language of the deal, said Canadian Media Guild spokesman Arnold Amber. While the agreement will be signed Monday, it was not immediately clear when the CBC workers would return to work because both sides must still work out a return- to-work protocol. In a statement released late Sunday, the union said picket lines were still in effect until further notice. . . http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2005/08/22/1183862-cp.html (via Bruce MacGibbon, Oct 3, DXLD) This is an Oct 3 story, despite the 2005/08/22 in the URL! (gh, DXLD) "CBC, UNION HAMMERING OUT BACK-TO-WORK PLAN" Two sides meeting Monday to put together plan to get employees back on the job, hockey's return adding urgency, observers say . . . http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20051003.wcbc1003/EmailBNStory/National/ (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** CANADA. On Oct 3 around 1350 for Out Front, RCI was on 9515 synchronized on 13655, but nothing on 17800 tho Solh from UK was audible on 17700 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHILE. The address given in WRTH for Voz Cristiana is incorrect; it should be Castilla 395, Talagante, Región Metropolitana, Chile (Allen Dean, Lancashire, UK, Oct World DX Club Contact via DXLD) Casilla? = P O Box. WRTH says ``Castilla 490-3``, so maybe it really is Castilla, as the name of a street. But HQ is in Miami (gh, DXLD) ** CHINA. REPORTERS SANS FRONTIERES VIEWS "PROPAGANDA" ROLE OF XINHUA NEWS AGENCY | Text of press release by Paris-based organization Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) on 30 September On the eve of the 56th anniversary of the People's Republic of China, Reporters Without Borders releases a report of an investigation into the role of the news agency Xinhua News Agency in the system of propaganda and censorship put in place by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). With less than three years to go before the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, the worldwide press freedom organization calls on the Chinese government to reform the state-run media. Although it is more and more regularly cited as a credible source - nearly one third of the news reports on China selected by Google News originate from the agency - Xinhua, the head of which has the rank of minister, is the linchpin of control of the Chinese media. Successor to the agency Red China that was founded by Mao Zedong, Xinhua adopted its current name in January 1937. Since October 1949, this state-run news agency has been completely subordinate to the CCP. The Reporters Without Borders' report includes accounts from several Xinhua journalists who agreed, on condition of anonymity, to explain how the control imposed by the CCP's Propaganda Department operates on a daily basis. With the help of a former French journalist on Xinhua, Reporters Without Borders exposes the distortion of facts, hatred for its enemies (particularly the United States and Japan) and its support, through the treatment of international news, for the world's worst regimes. Despite a certain economic liberalization of the media sector, Xinhua remains the voice of the sole party. Hand-picked journalists, who are regularly indoctrinated, produce reports for the Chinese media that give the official point of view and others - classified "internal reference" for the country's leaders. After being criticised for its lack of transparency, particularly during the SARS epidemic, Xinhua has for last few months been putting out news reports embarrassing to the government, but they are designed to fool the international community, since they are not published in Chinese. The full report, in English and French, can be viewed on the Reporters Sans Frontieres website, http://www.rsf.org Source: Reporters Sans Frontieres press release, Paris, in English 30 Sep 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. Saludos amigos diexistas, Desde hace algunos días que no escucho a Marfil Estéreo en 5910 kHz y pregunté al Sr. Russell Martin Stendal si habían dejado de emitir por esta frecuencia. Adjunto su contestación: "Estimado José, Seguimos emitiendo en 5910 con la programación de Marfil. Lo que pasa es que hicimos cambios en la orientación de la antena. La 6010 esta en la posición que ántes ocupaba la 5910 y vice versa. Todo esto para tratar de minimisar interferencia a Radio Mil en Mexico." Saludos y buenos DX's 73 (José Bueno - Córdoba - España, HCDX via DXLD) Holo José, yo creo que Marfil Estereo está bastante fuera del aire. El otro día, realizando escuchas en Friol, la estuve escuchando un rato con bastante buena señal y de repente desapareció del aire sin que pudiera escucharla de nuevo. Otras veces observé lo mismo. No entiendo esos cambios. Si Marfil Estereo se escuchaba muy bién por aquí, y no interfería a nadie, ¿por qué se tienen que hacer ajustes en Marfil, cuando deberían ser sólo en La Voz de tu Conciencia? O sea que, el problema con Radio Mil era de La Voz de tu Conciencia y ahora la emisora que no se escucha es Marfil Estereo. Ese mismo día, en Friol, pude escuchar La Voz de tu Conciencia, más o menos como siempre, cuando la propagación no es muy, muy buena, o sea con SINPO 22222 variando a 24322, ya que a ratos era interferida por emisoras internacionales. Le escribí al Sr. Stendal para contárselo y esto fue lo que me contestó: "Muchas gracias. Es que cambiamos la posición de la antena tratando de minimisar interferencia para Radio Mil." Lo cierto es que en ese momento estaba interfiriendo a Radio Mil, pues apenas se reicibán, por detrás de La Voz de tu Conciencia, canciones en español, con señal muy, muy débil, probablemete Radio Mil. En fin, que yo creo que Marfil está por largos periodos de la noche fuera del aire. Un abrazo. (Manuel Méndez, Spain, Noticias DX via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA [and non]. Re 5-173, Radio Líder. Verdad o fraude? Caro Henrik e demais amigos, Sou uma das 'vitimas' da Radio Líder. Realmente há uns 2 ou 3 meses enviei a eles um informe de recepção me dando por satisfeito de tê-los ouvido em São Bernardo, plena região metropolitana da grande cidade de São Paulo. Na semana que passou, também foi ouvida aqui em minha região num horário normalmente incompatível com as recepções da Colômbia. Anotei o logging, publicando-o inclusive. Continuo no aguardo da resposta deles, dado que nem sempre emissoras colombianas chegam por aqui. Da mesma forma como continuo no aguardo da confirmação da Radio Santa Helena, que mesmo recebendo o meu US$ 1.00, até agora, passados muitos anos ainda não se dignou a responder. Fico interrogado se houve interesse monetário neste caso por detrás disso, ou se é pura desorganização mesmo. Mas, continuo no aguardo, mesmo enviando follow-ups a Santa Helena. Afinal, sempre foi conhecida como emissora séria. Quanto a você ter organizado uma lista para uma outra emissora, acho uma excelente idéia. Se você elaborar alguma lista para a Radio Líder, pode colocar-me nela, se possível eu lhe envio em separado o informe de recepção que enviei para eles. Um forte 73 a todos, e boas escutas. (Rudolf Grimm, São Bernardo, SP, BRASIL, Oct 2, condiglist via DXLD) Estimado amigo, he enviado ya dos informes de recepción a la radio y tampoco he recibido hasta el momento ninguna respuesta. En mi programa de radio ya he hecho comentarios al respecto, sobre el aprovechamiento que hace la radio de los radioescuchas en el mundo. Para que no digan luego que no han prometido nada, en mi archivo sonoro personal, guardo la promoción donde dicen que enviaran un fabuloso premio a quien les indique la ciudad y la hora donde han escuchado la radio. Atte: (José Elías Díaz Gómez, Venezuela, ibid.) Radio Líder ya está ausente hoy 03/10, en los 6139.76 kHz, a las 0034 UT. Por cierto, no es mala idea lo de la iniciativa de "presionar" a la gente de Radio Líder para enviar los fulanos regalos que prometen. La primera tarea por realizar es confeccionar una lista de todos los que hemos caído en la "trampa" y hemos quedado -como dicen por acá- como la antena parabólica: por fuera y mirando para arriba. Yo voy de primero (Adán González, Catia La Mar, Estado Vargas, VENEZUELA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CONGO DR. According to USAID's August report on the DRC, "The Transition Awareness and Participation (TAP) program installed 40 radio listening clubs in the Kisangani region and 13 listening clubs in southern Ituri. The TAP team is installing an additional 87 radio listening clubs in Maniema and Orientale Provinces. Community members listen to Radio Okapi shortwave broadcasts [via South Africa] and have facilitated discussions about political transition issues in the clubs. Information and opinions are posted on a community information bulletin board (Hans Johnson, Florida, Jihad DX via Oct World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. 5054.58. Faro del Caribe, semi-normal audio when heard Sep 30, a little low and sometimes swallowed up by the carrier, but better than usual. Hrd at 0845 with mostly talk, ID 0859, still there at 1015 (Jerry Berg, MA, NASWA Flashsheeet via DXLD) 5054.6. Faro del Caribe, 0051-0115 Sep 28, man with long Spanish talk followed by light instrumental music at 0057, more talk and a vocal to 0100 ID. Next program was mainly vocals hosted by a man and woman. Poor to fair (Rich D'Angelo, PA, ibid.) ** CUBA. Lo siguiente fue escuchado esta mañana en el programa "En Contacto" de Radio Habana Cuba. "Y ahora tenemos dos informaciones para ustedes; la primera es que la frecuencia de 11800 kHz que teníamos en la mañana, fue sustituída por los 11805 kHz. Las demás, pues continúan igual, o sea la de 11760 y 12000 kHz banda de 25 metros, así como los 9550 kHz en 31 metros, los 15230 kHz en 19 metros y la de 6000 kHz en 49 metros. La siguiente información es más bien para los oyentes aquí en Cuba, a partir del 10 de Octubre, Radio Habana Cuba transmitirá también en FM en los 106.3 MHz de 12 de la noche a 7 de la mañana hora de Cuba". La promoción donde anuncian la transmisión de Radio Habana Cuba en FM desde el 10 de Octubre la tengo grabada y a la orden para los colegas que la soliciten. Atte: (José Elías Díaz Gómez, Venezuela, Oct 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 0400-1100 UT, most of which time RHC has not been on the air on SW at all, so with what programming? From what city? (gh, DXLD) ** CUBA. Radio Havana is using new 5055 for English programs, noted 0603 to 0615 September 29th (Manuel Méndez, Spain, Jihad DX, via Oct World DX Club Contact via DXLD) More than once? (gh, DXLD) ** CUBA [non]. BBG SEEKING POSSIBLE NEW SATELLITE OUTLETS FOR TV MARTÍ The US Government's Broadcasting Board of Governors, International Broadcasting Bureau, Office of Contracts is conducting a market survey to determine the existence of sources who have available leased time on Direct TV Satellite, Latin America that is not transmitted to the United States. The Government contemplates awarding a firm fixed price contract with a Base Year and four renewable yearly options that are subject to the availability of funding. The results of this market survey will be used to determine which sources will be included in a competitive acquisition. The Government is interested in sources that have the capability to provide the following: 1. Time on the Direct TV Satellite, Latin America feed, for the broadcast of Office of Cuba Broadcasting (OCB) produced TV Martí programs consisting of news and discussion programs, 2. Have one or more hours per day during the following timeframe: Monday through Sunday; 7 AM thru 12 Midnight EDT [sic] for the period October 1, 2005 through September 30, 2006. More details http://www.fbodaily.com/archive/2005/10-October/01-Oct-2005/FBO-00906304.htm # posted by Andy @ 15:04 UT Oct 3 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. Radio Bata en 5004.97 kHz, captada el 02/10 a las 0541 UT, con música religiosa y hombre que hablaba en lengua vernacular. Muy buenas condiciones hoy (Adán González, Catia La Mar, Estado Vargas, VENEZUELA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA. 9704.2 kHz, R. Ethiopia, Gedja Jewe, observed during the 3rd Oct eclipse, 0941-1015; very faint by approx. 1040), Vernacular, talks; 35443 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) More eclipse obs of this and other stations under PROPAGATION ** GAMBIA [non]. 9405 (TENT) GERMANY, Save the Gambia Project (presumed) via Juelich, 2014-2030* Oct 1, man talking in English mentioning Gambia numerous times and talking about suffering and the future of the people of Gambia. Switch to UNID language at 2022 and off suddenly at 2030. Poor to fair. (D'Angelo-PA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** GERMANY. NEUE FREQUENZEN UND ZEITEN FUER NORDAMERIKA, MORGENS UND ABENDS Dear Mr Hauser, I just finished being interviewed on the Deutsche Welle's FORUM program where they were asking what I thought about their "Program Reform" wherein their German language broadcasts have been reduced to Two-hour blocks from Four-hour blocks. The big positive change is that (as you can see below) DW will have 2 morning blocks for North America, from 1200-1400 and 1400 to 1600 UT. I told them that this innovation was great for those of us who want to hear German news in the morning before going to work. Supposedly there will be no new job cuts as a result of the shrinkage. I also told them that having no English to North America is really bad considering how outstanding their English programs are and how difficult it is to find local FM stations who broadcast any DW programs during the regular broadcast day. It might be different in the larger cities but out here in central Illinois we have the local university broadcaster running Inside Europe at 6 am on Saturday. I hope my plug for English gets to the right people. Thanks for your World of Radio as you approach # 1300. Best wishes, (Martin Gallas, Jacksonville, IL, Oct 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Thanks! And Martin appends correspondence about this: Guten Tag! Ich habe von Ihrem Kollegen Ms Charles, erfahren dass ab Okt. 30 neue Sendezeiten und Frequenzen eingefuehrt werden. Ich wohne in Nordamerika Zentral, kann aber Ihre Programme fuer Ost und West auch empfangen. Koennen Sie mir bitte mitteilen was die neuen Frequenzen und Zeiten sein werden? Vielen Dank, Martin Gallas, Jacksonville, ILLINOIS 62650 USA _____________________________________ Sehr geehrter Herr Gallas, ab dem 30. Oktober dieses Jahres gilt die neue Winter-Sendeperiode, und wie immer aendert sich dabei auch der Frequenzeinsatz. Ab diesem Datum gelten folgende Zeiten und Frequenzen: Nordamerika 0000-0200 UT 6135, 9545, 9655 (endet 01:55) kHz 0200-0400 UT 6100 (endet 03:59), 6145, 9875 (endet 03:55) kHz 1200-1400 UT 12035, 15320, 17710 (endet 13:57) kHz 1400-1600 UT 15445 kHz Das neue Programmschema koennen Sie der Oktober-Programmvorschau entnehmen, die ich Ihnen per Post zu-schicken werde. Mit freundlichen Gruessen (Silke Broeker, Kundenservice / Technische Beratung, silke.broeker @ dw-world.de Sept 28, to Martin Gallas, via DXLD) ** GUINEA. 1385.9, Radio Rurale, Labe SEP 25 2214 --- Decent signal with man in African language (not French). Played lively ``hi-life`` music and mentioned Labe a few times. Nice ID caught at 2228 (Niel Wolfish, Miscou Island, New Brunswick DX-pedition, AOR-7030+ mostly using a EWE antenna, IRCA via DXLD) ** GUYANA. 3291.1 kHz, GBC, Sparendaam, logged on 30 Sep 2214-2224, English, music; 33332, adjacent utility QRM (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HUNGARY. SW site Diosd closed in March 28, 1999. Concerning Diosd: They have not used this site in the outskirts of Budapest for a couple of years now. Today there is a museum at Diosd, located "in the former broadcasting room", cf. http://www.postamuzeum.hu/english/muzeum/diosd.html But I think Diosd was still on air after 1995, I think until 1999 or so. So I assume that this does not refer to the room with the two Brown Boveri SW transmitters. So what's the current status of this (former?) site? All the best, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Oct 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) All for ``DIO`` site: [HISTORICAL] 5965 1630 1700 28 100 120 1234567 251098 280399 D Rumanian HNG 7135 1200 1300 27,28 100 ND 1 251098 280399 D Hungarian HNG 7165 2030 2100 28 100 ND 1 251098 280399 D Serbian HNG 7230 2100 2200 27,28 100 300 1234567 251098 280399 D Hungarian HNG 7260 0500 0530 28 100 120 1234567 251098 280399 D Rumanian HNG 9870 0630 0700 28 100 ND 1234567 251098 280399 D Serbian HNG 25700 1100 1200 55,58,59 100 090 1234567 251098 280399 D Hungarian HNG 25700 1200 1300 55,58,59 100 090 1 251098 280399 D Hungarian HNG (Wolfgang Büschel, Oct 2, 2005, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HUNGARY [and non]. Re 5-173. The Hungarian operator Antenna Hungária (AH) confirmed that also in B05 some transmissions of Radio Budapest will be carried by the Rimavská Sobota site in Slovakia instead of Jászberény in Hungary. AH relocated both the transmitters and antennas from the closed site in Székesfehérvár to Jászberény. The transmitters are ready at the new location, but the antenna works still require some more time (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, Oct 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Previously, I think, 6025 was the frequency partly from Slovakia, partly from Hungary (gh, DXLD) 7250, R. Budapest (Jaszbereny), 2145-2159, escuchada el 2 de Oct en español a locutora con reportaje cultural y segmento de música clásica, ID "Están escuchando el programa cultural de Radio Budapest", en paralelo por 6025, ambas emisiones sufren un zumbido grave de fondo; terminan con una pieza del Concierto para piano de Schubert, 55444 (José Miguel Romero Romero, Spain, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA [and non]. 4760, 27.9 1545, AIR Leh with English news in parallel with Port Blair (which was stronger) but with slight difference in sound. Separate programs after 1545 where Leh was in parallel with Srinagar. After 1630 also Yangiyul. After 1700 was TWR Swaziland the strongest. QSA 2.3. JE (Jan Edh, Sweden, SW Bulletin Oct 2, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 3951v, ibl, 1520. RRI Palu often with phone-in program. Very unstable signal making sudden frequency hops of up to 0.2 kHz. The transmitter has a lousy balance between the sidebands which causes distortion. Sept 23 mostly near 3952.3 and Sept 29 near 3951.4. Closedown just before 16 UT with Rayuan Pulau Kelapa and call ``Inilah Radio Republik Indonesia, Palu, programa nasional``. 1-3, SA (Stig Adolfsson, Sweden, SW Bulletin Oct 2, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. Re 5-173: Regarding the recent terrorist attacks in Bali: received an e-mail from Mr. Alwi Budi Satmaka indicating that the staff of KGRE and IALF (Indonesia Australia Language Foundation) are okay (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Ron. See you have become a regular reporter of RRI 4 transmissions on 9680 around 1300 to 1400, which I enjoy the same for their music, so I´m not alone on this. Frankly, this is currently the best signal I receive on the 31mb a this hour, even better than decreasing Radio Australia on 9580 (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, Oct 3, dxldyg via DXLD) Only poor signal here; can`t enjoy the music (gh, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM. EDITORIAL ANALYSIS: WEBCAST NEWS GIVES AL- QA'IDAH VIEW | Text of editorial analysis by BBC world media correspondent Sebastian Usher on 30 September Radical Islamists have started webcasting their own weekly news bulletin. It is the latest effort to use cyberspace to get their anti- American and anti-Western message across, bypassing mainstream media outlets. The webcasts have been posted on a variety of forums on Islamist websites - the customary mode of getting news and video material across to its intended audience. They have been produced by a group calling itself The Global Islamic Media Front, which wants to act as a clearing house for the many communiques coming from Islamic extremists linked to or inspired by Al-Qa'idah. The first bulletin featured a masked newsreader, with a video screen showing news footage in the background. "First, the Sawt al-Khilafa team sends its best wishes to the Islamic nation for the defeat of the Zionist occupation in the land of Palestine," he says. Aside from the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the other stories featured in the bulletin are the latest militant attacks in Iraq and statements from the man believed to be behind many of them, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. "Wrath of Allah" The third item is on the hurricanes in US, with the newsreader openly gloating over the suffering of Americans, calling Hurricane Katrina a "divine punishment". "Broken and completely humiliated, George Bush, a fool who is being obeyed, announced his obvious incapability of dealing with the wrath of Allah that visited the city of homosexuals." The producers of this and a subsequent shorter broadcast say they will produce them weekly. An advertisement for The Voice of the Caliphate on Islamist websites shows the logos of news channels such as CNN and Fox News in flames alongside those of Arab broadcasters like Al-Arabiya. The slogan reads: "An accurate word in the face of injustice". Exposure Neil Doyle, a British analyst who studies Islamist websites, told the BBC what he believed to be the aim of the group behind the broadcasts, the Global Islamic Media Front. "They have decided to wrap up all the different communiques and videos from radical Islamic networks in a weekly broadcast." It is not clear where the group is based, though there are suspicions that it may be operating from Western rather than Arab countries. It remains difficult for intelligence services to trace the source of such videos, although in recent weeks a number of the sites hosting extremist material appear to have been targeted and closed down. Beyond its immediate audience of radical Islamists, the Voice of the Caliphate appears to be trying to appeal to the wider Muslim community. But the editor of the UK-based magazine Muslim News, Ahmed Versi, told the BBC that he did not believe that they would succeed in this. He said their key aim, though, was to get publicity for their views and in this - thanks to a number of articles about the site in the Western media - they had been more successful. Source: BBC Monitoring research 30 Sep 05 (via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM [non]. WorldSpace Executive/Corporate Global Headquarters are now at WorldSpace Incorporated 8515 Georgia Avenue Silver Spring, MD 20910 USA Telephone: 1-301-960-1200 Fax: 1-301-960-2200 http://www.worldspace.com/about/worldwideoffices.html (Mike Terry, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS. Information Radio (Radio Maluumaati) via Naval Ships of Coalition Maritime Forces in waters around Saudi Arabia --- I listened to the station on 9133 upper sideband for three hours September 27th, 1830-2130. The entire program was Middle Eastern music. A woman gave occasional announcements in Arabic and a man did the same in Farsi. No other languages were heard. The woman in Arabic mentioned the station's frequencies and gave the identification as Coalition Maritime Radio. There was also the usual announcement of the Rewards for Justice program. Some of the announcements were repeated over time as there was only about four different ones (Hans Johnson, Florida, Jihad DX via Oct World DX Club Contact via DXLD) Coalition Maritime Radio 9133 upper sideband heard with good strength here 1730 September 29th, Arabic music and announcements (Mike Barraclough, UK, Oct World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** IRAN. VOICE OF JUSTICE, 9495 at 0208 tune in. Nice ID at 0209 and then a review of the US Press. They seemed to emphasize the problem the US government had with hurricane Katrina. AT 0222 New headlines to s/off announcement at 0225 UTC. Music to 0300 then a short IS, ID and Anthem. Very good reception. 454. Sept 30/05 (Mick Delmage, Collins HF2050, 7-30 MHz Log Periodic Antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL [non]. Kol Israel via WRN on WRMI --- As of the October 2005 schedule, Radio Miami International (WRMI) is currently relaying a WRN rebroadcast of Kol Israel English news. It is being broadcast daily at 0500 UT (1 AM Eastern) on 7385 kHz, aimed to North America. This WRN broadcast is recorded from Kol Israel's broadcast earlier in the day. WRMI is relaying WRN overnights, to fill in for a previously dropped show. WRMI also has a live web feed. WRMI's website is: http://www.wrmi.net This information based upon Glenn Hauser's DX Listening Digest http://www.worldofradio.org (Doni Rosenzweig, Oct 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. NEW SHORTWAVE BROADCAST TO NORTH KOREA IS PLANNED JAPAN --- According to one of the major Japanese newspapers "Sankei Shinbun", ``Investigation Commission on Missing Japanese Probably Related to North Korea``, a civil organization who investigate the information on more than a hundred missing Japanese citizens kidnapped by North Korea, is planning to start 30 minutes a day shortwave broadcast, consisting of the names of the missing persons and the messages from the bereaved families, to North Korea in October at the earliest from some foreign transmitter site. In North Korea receivers are generally fixed to the government frequency, but some people are said to alter the receiver to listen to foreign broadcasts such as VOA or RFA. One report says 70% of refugees from North Korea listened to foreign broadcasts in the country. In April North Korean government blamed Radio Free Asia for slandering the socialism system and scattering the corrupted way of life of capitalism. Also, despite the control by the government, many low- priced Chinese shortwave receivers are secretly brought into North Korea. The organization says there will be some possibility to bring information by shortwave into the country (Takahito Akabayashi, Japan, Oct 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KURE ATOLL. K7C KURE ISLAND DXPEDITION. As this was being typed Sunday morning, the DXA Web reports that the DXpeditions QSOs count is over 37000. Operations will last through October 6th with tear down on October 7th. News from their Web page (as of October 1st) reports: "K7C has focused much of their attention on making European contacts over the past 24 hours. Judging by a sharp rise in emails thanking the operators for their efforts, many more contacts there are being made. Solar conditions for the weekend appear stable, but weak with the SFI at 72, but no storms predicted. Weather conditions on Kure are very very hot. The operating tents have been described as ovens during the middle of the day as the blazing hot sands reflect a lot of heat. Preventing dehydration is a primary concern for KK6EK who imposed a mandatory break yesterday due to extreme conditions." Visit the K7C Web page for more details and pictures at: http://www.cordell.org/htdocs/KURE/ (KB8NW/OPDX/BARF80 OPDX News Oct 2 via Dave Raycroft, ODXA via DXLD) ** KYRGYZSTAN. 6030, 27.9 1515. Radio Maranatha, Bishkek played among others "Joshua fit the battle of Jericho". A Chinese and after a while another station which could be India but I got the impression it was Pakistan(?) disturbing. JE (Jan Edh, Sweden, SW Bulletin Oct 2, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Maranatha tentatively heard 1505 September 18th on 6030, definite identification not yet heard, sign on usually 1455 (Mauno Ritola, Finland, Jihad DX, via Oct World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** LESOTHO. 1197, WYFR relay, Maseru SEP 26 2244 - On top of frequency with religious phone-in program. Spanish station began to appear and ruin things around 2258. + SEP 28 2146 ? Noted weak with religious programming (Niel Wolfish, Miscou Island, New Brunswick DX-pedition, AOR-7030+ mostly using a EWE antenna, IRCA via DXLD) ** LIBERIA. Mauno Ritola and I worked together and found out that WJIE has sold its FM/SW combination in Liberia to Rock Church International http://www.rockchurchinternational.com The station is Liberian Christian Broadcasting Network. The FM outlet is on the air on 102.3. Church officials in the USA were unsure about the status of the shortwave, but WJIE had a lot of trouble keeping the unit on the air when they had it. Anyone hearing the station can contact Rosetta Cox at duly6 @ yahoo.com (Hans Johnson, Jihad DX via Oct World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** LUXEMBOURG. Re: 5-173. R. Luxembourg on SW Well, for classic rock fans it`s real good news that Radio Luxembourg is back on SW on 7145 tho for the American continent listeners isn't a good choice. Anyway, would somebody, kindly PLEASE explain to me who`s gonna listen to such DRM transmission, but the guys in the studio? (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) See http://tinyurl.com/bzc5w for the answer :-) (Andy Sennitt, ibid.) DRM Forum reports ** MALAYSIA. 7295, the new TraXXfm (formerly Radio 4) (RTM), Oct 2, has been noticeably absent over the past week, during my daily checking around 1300-1400, the time period when I last heard Radio 4 here, several months ago. Can only hear them now via their web site: http://www.traxxfm.net/ which does not list a SW frequency (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. EN OPUS 94.5 CULMINÓ UNA ETAPA DEL PROGRAMA LA OTRA VERSIÓN Durante 8 años puso a consideración del público la música de concierto en Opus 94 Ante el asombro de radioescuchas, culminó una etapa del programa La otra versión --- Protestas vía telefónica por la salida de Javier Platas, fundador de esa emisión Con una sesión dedicada a las Seis Suites para Violonchelo Solo de Johann Sebastián Bach, la noche del martes llegó a su fin, ante el asombro del numeroso público radioescucha por las condiciones en que ocurrió, una etapa fundamental del que era considerado mayoritariamente como el mejor programa de la radio cultural en México: La otra versión, creado hace ocho años en la estación Opus 94, especializada en música de concierto, por Javier Platas. . . fuente: http://www.jornada.unam.mx/2005/09/29/a06n1cul.php (via Gustavo Fernando Durán, condiglist via DXLD) ** NEPAL. ¿Radio Nepal?: he sintonizado este 03/10, a las 0038 UT, en los 5005.30 kHz, a un locutor en una lengua extraña. Música estilo hindu como intermedio con el presentador. Insistente mención de "Nepau" o algo por el estilo. ¿Hay alguien que haya medido a Radio Nepal en 5005.30 kHz? Agradeceré alguna pista. 73s y buen DX (Adán González, Catia La Mar, Estado Vargas, VENEZUELA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) R. Nepal heard now on 5005.3 afternoons and evenings but weak strength and undermodulated (Mike Barraclough, UK, Oct World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** NIGERIA. 1026, Jigaawa Broadcasting Corporation, Dutse, SEP 28, 2143 - African drum music heard over/under Spain. Male announcer in unknown language. Seemed to go off the air at 2204 after a possible call to prayer and also the National Anthem. No ID heard, but clearly it was the Nigerian anthem that we heard. It sounded familiar to me and also matched up with the anthem posted at http://www.intervalsignals.net (Niel Wolfish, Miscou Island, New Brunswick DX-pedition, AOR-7030+ mostly using a EWE antenna, IRCA via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. KCSC/KBCW Programming Notes October 2005 Kent Anderson kanderson @ kcscfm.com [CDT = UT -5] http://www.kcscfm.com/news/news_main.asp The coming of fall means new seasons for orchestral concerts. The NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC returns to Mondays at 8:00 p.m. for another 39 weeks of outstanding broadcasts. ``International Night`` continues on Tuesdays, with a series of 13 concerts from Austria. Some of this series will feature the remarkable VIENNA PHILHARMONIC, and others will feature various ensembles performing as part of the annual SALZBURG MOZART WEEK. I hope you enjoy the variety. Also, with music director Neeme Jarvi rounding out his long and successful tenure in Detroit, we are bringing back the DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA for a 26-week series. It will run on Saturdays at 9:00 p.m., as the KCSC Keyboard Concert takes a hiatus. Kent Anderson, Program Director (via John Norfolk, dxldyg via DXLD) ** PERU. Quito, 3/10 2005 Monday edition: 4965.829, Radio Nacional del Perú, Lima --- Is this really Radio Nacional del Perú, Lima (this ID at second 35) or another station with relay of Radio Nacional. Anyone knows?? Comments, photos and recordings at: http://www.malm-ecuador.com 73s (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [which adds:] The DJ says that Radio Nacional from monday 26th has "nuevos programas, nuevos horarios..." - new programs, new transmitting schedule. He also says that Radio Nacional has 39 stations relaying their program. "Radio Santa Mónica" 4965 kHz has been off air quite a long time, they were close to nominal frequency 4965 and with low sound quality so it does not sounds like a reactivation of Santa Mónica. I cannot find any clues in Klemetz` "Perú List" or Mohrmann`s "LA List". I listened this Monday morning to a news program around local sunrise here in Quito and the signal was fading away. 4965.829, Radio Nacional del Perú Lima (Perú), 1115 UT (Björn Malm`s site via DXLD) ** SINGAPORE. 9V, SINGAPORE. The Singapore Amateur Radio Transmitting Society (SARTS) is pleased to announce that as of September 29, 2005, the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (iDA) approved the allocation of the 7.1-7.2 MHz band for Singapore amateurs with immediate effect on a secondary use basis. This supplements their existing allocation 7.0-7.1 MHz (KB8NW/OPDX/BARF80 OPDX News via Dave Raycroft, ODXA via DXLD) Tamil Network scheduled on 7170, 17 hours a day, will still have priority; BBC Kranji relay uses 7135 and 7160 at times (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN [non]. Voice of Sudan, Eritrea, heard here 1535 October 1st on 7999.3, quite weak with man in Arabic, best in LSB (Mike Barraclough, UK, Oct World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** TANZANIA. 1377, Radio Free Africa, Mwanza, SEP 25, 2238 -- Fair signal mixing with France. Woman in Swahili talking on phone and some lively African music heard. + SEP 26 2136 -- Better than previous day. Poor with no sign of France. Man in Swahili playing soul/R&B music. IDs heard at 2147 and again at 2200 after some kind of flute music was played (Niel Wolfish, Miscou Island, New Brunswick DX-pedition, AOR- 7030+ mostly using a EWE antenna, IRCA via DXLD) ** TURKMENISTAN. 4930, 22.9 1643, Turkmen Radio with a news cast in English. Who sits on a good QSL-address for this station??? 2 CB (Christer Brunström, Sweden, SW Bulletin Oct 2, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. I spoke to Riz transmitters at IBC. They are supplying a total of three of their 1 kW HF transmitters complete with their DRM modulators for testing in London. Three different companies are applying to Ofcom for testing (Phil de Cadenet, UK, Anorak Nation via Oct World DX Club Contact via DXLD) Presumably 26 MHz, including WRN ** U K. BBC PRODUCERS' PLANS FOR RADIO OUTPUT REVEALED By Simon Baker, PA Proposals in the 1970s to give each BBC Radio station an "individual entity, with its own strong flavour" were today revealed in a set of documents released by the National Archives. A group of BBC producers made the suggestion in a memo to the Committee On The Future Of Broadcasting in 1975 and set out how the then four stations should be run. Radio 1 would become "not just a continuous DJ show but a network with wide appeal to the young" the memo explains. It continues: "It would include first-rate, hard-hitting journalism, some modern serious music, plays of relevance and interest to teenagers, children's programmes." The memo tells the Committee that Radio 2 would be "more Johann Strauss and 'pop' classics than at present" while Radio 4 "should continue with its present emphasis on news and current affairs". However, the memo warns Radio 4 that it will "have to stop being obsessed with the counting of heads and remember that the quality of listening is in the long run more important than the number of mere 'hearers"'. Arguably the only station that today does not reflect the advice given by the producers, who included former head of drama John Tydeman, is Radio 3. The memo suggested that "freed from the incubus of being 'the music programme' (it) can then become what those who have worked for it have always wanted it to be, an all round arts and science programme." Members of the public are able to view the document, which has been released at the National Archives in Kew, south west London (From PRESS ASSOCIATION (Britain) via Dave Alpert, CA, DXLD) ** U K. ANNIVERSARY OF MUCH-LOVED DJ'S DEATH SEES LEGACY GROW By Terry Kirby, Chief Reporter Published: 01 October 2005 http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/music/news/article316357.ece The late, lamented John Peel may have been famed for his love of both obscure Japanese thrash metal and punk standards like the Undertones' "Teenage Kicks", but among his most treasured records of all time is one particularly odd piece of vinyl. It is a recording of Bill Oddie, now the nation's favourite twitcher, singing the Yorkshire folk song, "On Ilkley Moor Bah 'Tat" in the raucous style of Joe Cocker's "With a Little Help From My Friends". Peel kept it in a battered box alongside more than 100 other favourites by artists as varied as Status Quo and the White Stripes. The novelty album was released on Peel's own short-lived Dandelion record label in 1970 with Oddie backed by Cocker's legendary Grease Band. It was, say Peel's friends, simply typical of the man's eclectic tastes. The disclosure of the contents of the box of Peel's favourite records - to be featured in a Channel 4 documentary - is one of a number of events, including concerts, records and broadcasts, over the next few weeks to mark the anniversary of the disc jockey's death and which cements his position as a national treasure. Peel died aged 65 from a heart attack while on holiday in Peru on 25 October last year. The scale of the commemorations is unprecedented, particularly for someone renowned for being enormously self-effacing. "I think John would have been both very embarrassed and thrilled by all that is happening,'' his former manager and friend, Clive Selwood, told The Independent. "John always suppressed his own celebrity status; he would have been sitting there saying 'Oh, come on...'." Many of Peel's friends and fans have also raised a cynical eyebrow at the way in which Radio 1, with whom the disc jockey often had a fractious relationship, is now devoting so much time to celebrating his life, declaring 13 October to be John Peel Day. The station is sponsoring a concert at the Queen Elizabeth Hall the night before and dedicating six hours of programming to Peel on the day itself. Hundreds of live gigs are taking place. One friend said: "He often had a difficult relationship with them when his programme was moved all around the schedules and sometimes felt he was being ignored. They would only wake up and realise what they had when he won yet another award.'' Similarly, there is amusement that it is the right-wing Daily Telegraph that has bought the rights to serialise Margrave of the Marshes, the autobiography begun by Peel before his death and completed by his widow, Sheila Ravenscroft. The book is being published on 17 October. Peel was said to have been "deeply embarrassed" about the £1.5m advance paid by publishers Transworld. He finished a large section of the book, but lost about 70,000 words when his computer crashed. The book details his early life, time at Shrewsbury School and his national service. It is being kept under wraps, but there has been speculation it will include details of his alleged sexual abuse at the school as well as his visit to Dallas on the day of the Kennedy assassination, when he was said to be one of the last people to speak to the President. Transworld said: "You can hear the unique Peel voice in every sentence - rarely, if ever, before has a voice been so successfully transferred to paper." The publishers say the second section, written by his widow, is an "intimate portrait" of life with Peel. Booksellers are banking on the autobiography, which is also being serialised on Radio 4, to boost sales before Christmas. Two unauthorised biographies released after his death last year both sold respectable amounts. The title, said Selwood, is typical Peel: "He stuck to it despite resistance from the publishers. The word "Margrave" means "count" in medieval German and the marshes, of course, was where he lived in East Anglia." He added: "What can you expect from someone who once wanted to call his radio programme Stenhousemuir 2, Cowdenbeath 2, in honour of the lower reaches of the Scottish football league." The Channel 4 documentary focuses on a mere fragment of his vast record collection, accumulated over more than four decades. No decision has yet been taken by the family about its future and it has not yet been fully catalogued or valued. The British Library, which had informal discussions with Peel several years ago about acquiring the archive, remains keen to open talks. In celebration of a legend * 12 OCTOBER John Peel memorial concert at Queen Elizabeth Hall, featuring New Order, The Fall, Super Furry Animals, Laura Cantrell * 13 OCTOBER John Peel Day. More than 300 gigs around the country and abroad, with artists such as KT Tunstall and Bloc Party taking part. BBC Radio 1 broadcasting six hours of Peel-related programming * 17 OCTOBER Publication of Margrave of the Marshes, by John Peel and Sheila Ravenscroft. Warners releases a double CD of some of Peel's favourite tracks, approved by his family and including Lonnie Donegan, T Rex, Pink Floyd and Captain Beefheart. Part of the profits will go to charities supported by Peel * 22 OCTOBER A special edition of Radio 4's Home Truths, which Peel presented for several years, will be broadcast from Peel's family home in Suffolk * 24-29 OCTOBER Margrave of the Marshes is Book of the Week on BBC Radio 4. Sheila Ravenscroft's parts will be read by the actor Carolyn Pickles, but the actor who will read Peel's sections has not yet been chosen * 14 NOVEMBER Channel 4 broadcasts John Peel's Record Box, an examination of the box of his 140 favourite records. The show was researched by one of his sons, Tom. * 21 NOVEMBER Release of a version of the Buzzcocks classic "Ever Fallen in Love" - one of the records in Peel's box - recorded by Roger Daltrey of The Who, David Gilmour of Pink Floyd and others as a tribute. Profits will go to Amnesty International. Peel will be inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame on the same day (via Tom Roche, DXLD) ** U S A. WBCQ forum on Michael Ketter`s recovery: http://www.wbcq.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=167 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 5835, 9.9 0455, WHRI with URBONO Radio (United Radio Broadcasting of New Orleans) from WWL, New Orleans. CBS-news and lots of discussions about the situation in New Orleans. A report to WWL resulted in an automatically generated ``thank you for the mail``. S 3. BEFF (Björn Fransson, Sweden, SW Bulletin Oct 2, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) While 5835 was back on the air after 0500 UT Sat and Sun, it was silent again on UT Monday Oct 3. Once again on Monday 11785 until 1358, then 15285 from 1359 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Hi, Glenn, Believe it or not, this is not the first time WINU-AM 870 Shelbyville has been on the air after midnight; back in February of 2005, I had noted a station playing Christian AC under WWL; by twisting my receiver and finding a slight null in the signal of WWL, I was able to determine that it was WINU; this was maybe during the 2 AM hour or so. And as Curtis Sadowski noted, they do identify several times an hour; after every couple of records or so, IIRC. I sent them a report, along with a tape of what I heard, that morning --- and still have yet to hear anything back from them. So my guess is they probably aren't very QSL-friendly. Take care, (Eric Berger, Detroit, MI, Oct 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Religious huckster on WINU AM 870. I had a chance to listen to the man Jim heard out there in New York State yesterday via DX. My, he IS a polished one! Part of the show was devoted to a high-pressure money plea Reverend Ike would have been proud of, with part of a typical pitch going "THERE IS A NEED, AND THE NEED IS GREAT, BROTHER!!!". About the only thing he left out was asking for prayer requests on the backs of specific denominations of currency. After he got settled in, he hawked Gospel music CDs, pretty good stuff judging by what he played on the air. It was a masterful piece of work, very entertaining (and yet I have no intention of sending him any money). (Curtis Sadowski, Paxton, Illinois, Oct 2, WTFDA-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. Some likely HSFB cheats last night [Friday night high-school football, UT Sats] 960 KFLN MT Baker Spartans. These guys seem to cheat for all HSFB games and also stay on day power almost every night for at least an hour too late (sometimes several hours) 1080 KYMN MN Northfield Raiders they cheat for most HSFB and sometimes other nights but not recently except for HSFB. 1320 KOZY MN Grand Rapids way too strong and I think left day pattern on. 1150 KASM MN Albany I think likely on day power and they also sometimes cheat in evenings with a polka format in general. 950 KOEL IA Oelwein likely on day power for HSFB as much too strong and dominant. 920 KDHL MN somethings up here as way too strong for either day or night pattern. 1020 KJJK MN Fergus Falls flagrant cheat for every Twins game and also almost every night lately (I can't recall whether had HSFB or nor last night) simply clobbering KDKA. 1550 KICS NE Hastings, ESPN 1550 with St. Cecilia Bluehawks HSFB probably on day power and logged for first time generally over a big mess on 1550. 1570 KTVK SD Vermillion has mostly been on day power for several years (have monitered across sunset) and was strong with some local HSFB. 73 KAZ Barrington IL hoping someone who needs these will catch them next week (Neil Kazaross, Oct 1, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. Any letters to the FCC are automatically public record unless the commissioners explicitly state otherwise in the course of the proceeding. They're not automatically posted on CDBS, but they can be retrieved through a FOIA request. Letters to radio and TV stations have to go in the public file, but only for commercial stations. There is no requirement for noncommercial licensees to retain correspondence from the public or to make it publicly available. s (Scott Fybush, ibid.) Scott, I didn't know this. Do you know how non-commercial radio stations got the exemption? It would seem to me that a radio station supported by taxpayer money or donations would be required to meet a higher standard. Or is there some sort of double-jeopardy here, where the public record of a non-profit organization is covered under different laws? (Bruce Conti - Nashua NH, ibid.) I don't know, to tell you the truth. It's just the way the public file rules are written. It may well be that if you wrote a letter to WXXI, just for instance, that someone would be able to then file a FOIA request against the licensee, the WXXI Public Broadcasting Council, to get at it. I'm not a lawyer, and I'm not sure. That said, of course, the truth of the matter is that letters written to public files usually end up filed and never looked at again. I know, having some experience with the Alternative Inspection Program that's meant to prepare stations for FCC visits, that as long as there's a folder in the public file designated for letters from the public, the FCC doesn't make that any sort of a priority when it does inspections. I can't recall any citations in the last few years for that particular aspect of a public file being missing. (The FCC will crack down for other public-file violations - generally either refusal/inability to make the file as a whole available to a member of the public, or other missing documents such as issues lists or their inane and outdated "The Public and Broadcasting" brochure.) Nor is there any evidence that the FCC has ever (at least in the current deregulatory era) looked at the content of any station's public-file correspondence. In other words, it's my considered opinion that on a practical level, writing a letter to a station's public file may help the letter-writer feel better, but it otherwise has no practical impact. There are more useful ways to make one's voice heard, especially filing comments during the public comment window on specific docketed issues, like the thousands that were filed on 99-325, the IBOC docket. The fact that the FCC still hasn't approved nighttime AM IBOC use suggests that some of those comments may have been listened to. We'll see. s (Scott Fybush, NY, ibid.) If a public station can't get money to operate, that IS their gauge of public support. A commercial radio station being granted a license is assumed to be in the public interest unless otherwise proven by public comment. Therefore the FCC makes them retain any correspondence that may reflect how they are doing in the "public interest" department. If you don't want a noncommercial station, then you DON'T pay up to the station in pledge drives and you comment negatively to the FCC during their license renewal period. But if you don't want a commercial station, you quit supporting its advertisers until they don't get ad revenue while commenting on their performance. That's why it is so much trickier to affect commercial stations - everyone goes to the store anyway to buy Mylanta or Ovaltine, has Geico insurance, or has purchased a Chevy or BMW --- get the picture? (Darwin Long, CA, ibid.) ** U S A. RHODE ISLAND HIGHWAY ADVISORY RADIO Found this while looking at web cams http://www.tmc.state.ri.us/har.asp 73 (Mark McMillan W7MEM DN17NT Idaho, IRCA via DXLD) Viz.: Tune to 1630 AM --- Get up to the minute traffic information while driving. There are currently seven highway advisory radio transmitters along the Rhode Island State Route and interstate network. These are listed below. Current HAR Broadcasts --- Click the antennas to listen and/or read the latest advisory (via McMillan, ibid.) Thank you for the link. Very timely for me as I heard what I assume was the RI DOT on Wednesday evening in Miscou on 1630. Many mentions of Interstate 95 and 195 and calls that sounded like "WCBF925" (actually WQDF925). Actually sounded like two TIS stations in there and no sign of any X-Banders yet. This was at 2309 UTC/2009 ADST (Niel Wolfish, Toronto, ibid.) ** U S A. The New York Philharmonic weekly broadcast concerts are back, and the website is again active: http://newyorkphilharmonic.org/attend/broadcasts/index.cfm Presumably about two concerts at a time will soon be available on demand. Last season`s timings on numerous affiliates are still shown on MONITORING REMINDERS CALENDAR and there may have been some changes. Mondays 8 pm CDT on KCSC-FM OK, see OKLAHOMA; but not until next week?? Since NYP site shows initial broadcasts on Tue Oct 4 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. RADIO ANNOUNCEMENTS, SPIRITUAL AWAKENING, WISDOM RADIO, RADIO VERONICA, RFPI Hi Glenn, World of Radio: I have a new radio website with a broadcast schedule page, and archived shows at: http://www.spiritualawakeningradio.com Changes (all times Eastern) [DT = UT -4] I am adding Radio Veronica this week, on my website updating RFPI's times based on the actual time the show gets played, and announcing -- - the Wisdom Radio Network soon changes to "LIME". Wisdom becomes Lime and will move from Sirius satellite radio channel 132 to 113. I think they are slightly behind schedule and, not being a satellite radio listener (I get them via the website) I can't confirm the move has taken place yet. Soon to be ---- LIME, ch. 113: Formerly known as WISDOM RADIO (ch. 132), Lime presents programs for women focusing on "healthy living with a twist." See articles below. New: Radio Veronica Saturdays 1:30 PM, Sundays 5:30 PM, and Tuesdays 7:00 PM Website: http://www.radioveronica.us Listen: http://www.radioveronica.us/live.htm If their listen live icon doesn't work, paste the following url in the Windows Media Player: http://68.80.228.244:8080 (some kind of technical issue with some winamp users) RFPI Schedule --- I notice Spiritual Awakening begins a few minutes past the hour, so the actual times on RFPI are more like: Sundays at 2:07 PM Eastern Time, repeated again every 4 hours: 6:07 PM, 10:07 PM, 2:07 AM Mondays, 6:07 AM Mondays, 10:07 AM Mondays, Also Tuesdays at 4:07 PM, 8:07 PM, 12:07 Midnight, 4:07 AM Wednesdays, 8:07 AM Wednesdays, 12:07 Noon Wednesdays. Other Stations that Broadcast Spiritual Awakening (I have links to these on my website. They all do streaming online except WHSN.) WNMC in Traverse City, MI, 90.7 FM, Sundays at 8:05 AM Eastern: WNMC WOMR in Provincetown, MA, 92.1 FM, Thursdays, 5:30 AM: WOMR CHSR, 97.9 FM, Fredericton, NB, Thursdays, 4:00 PM, Eastern: CHSR WHSN, 89.3 FM in Bangor, ME, Sundays at 10 AM The Wisdom Radio Network Becomes "Lime" "Spiritual Awakening" with James Bean explores the world of spirituality, comparative religion, books, websites, and music from around the world. "Spiritual Awakening" can be heard on the WISDOM Radio Network/Lime Sundays at: 9 AM Eastern (8 Central, 7 Mountain, 6 Pacific) and repeated: 9 PM Eastern (8 Central, 7 Mountain, 6 Pacific) Articles on the changes at Wisdom Radio Case to Relaunch Wisdom as Lime --- July 26, 2005 By Anthony Crupi America Online co-founder Steve Case is shifting his focus to a new venture that will reach out to healthy living enthusiasts across an array of multimedia platforms, including a linear cable network, a broadband platform and a satellite radio station. Case`s private holding company, Revolution, has acquired the Wisdom Media Group, a small cable venture based in Bluefield, W. Va., that was founded by the late Bill Turner in 1997. Revolution will relaunch Wisdom TV as Lime in the fourth quarter of 2005, targeting an ever- growing, yet sketchily defined, demo of consumers interested in healthy lifestyles and environmentally friendly goods and services... http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/search/article_display.jsp?schema=&vnu_content_id=1000991735 http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/television/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000990629 http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050908/nyth170.html?.v=17 http://www.swedespeed.com/news/publish/Industry_News/printer_636.html (Sept. 29th was the original date of the changeover and re-branding as "Lime" according to the articles, but the streaming audio as of today sounds the same: still Wisdom radio, but soon as in "Fall" it will be launched.) (James Bean, ME, Oct 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. *Armstrong Fans;* *WA2XMN will be on the air from the Armstrong Tower on Sunday, 9 October from 5:30 to 7:30 PM.* [EDT = 2130-2330 UT] This broadcast will originate at the Audio Engineering Society Convention at the Jacob Javits Center in New Your City with an STL to the transmitter site in Alpine, NJ. The program will include a live panel discussion honoring the accomplishments of Edwin Howard Armstrong. See http://www.wa2xmn.ar88.net/ for details. -- *Al Klase - N3FRQ WA2XMN IT Department, Flemington, NJ http://www.skywaves.ar88.net/ (via Ken Kopp, dxldyg via DXLD) ** VIETNAM. VOICE OF VIETNAM, 9725 kHz at 1717 UT tune in English with station ID and then a program of Vietnamese traditional music. At 1727 this program and the English transmission ended with a brief announcement and ID. Dead air until 1730 with anthem and s/on in presumed Vietnamese. Very good reception with log pointed towards Europe. 353 Oct 1/05. 73 (Mick Delmage, Collins HF2050, 7-30 MHz Log Periodic Antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [non] Since this is relayed from Austria (gh) UNIDENTIFIED. 1547.36: see PROPAGATION below UNIDENTIFIED. 1710 kHz, weird music, Sunday nite? Presently hearing weird music on 1710, 10:10 p.m. PDT [0510 UT Oct 3]. Slow fade up and down, medium at times, then fades away, then back, 30 second or so cycle. Spacy-type flute, occasional vocals. Hard to describe what this "music" is, but very odd, weird. Anyone else hearing this?? Right now, 10:13, the vocal part is up, now flute. 10:14, song seems to have ended, or I'm into a longer fade. [Later:] Now 1710 has some type of talking, dialogue, can't quite pull it in strong/clear enough to tell much, 10:30 p.m. PDT. This followed the flute/vocal weird music. (East Coast LF beacons are booming in, too, right now.) (Steve Ratzlaff, NE Oregon, IRCA via DXLD) Naturally one suspects the Lubavitcher pirate in faroff Brooklyn NY (gh, DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ RADIO STATION E-MAIL ADDRESS LIST, PDF OR ZIP You can download the new email-list by H.-F. Dumrese: http://www.email.dxer.info (Klaus-Dieter Scholz, http://www.dxer.info via José Miguel Romero2, dxldyg via DXLD) Includes some obsolete stations CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ READING INTERNATIONAL RADIO GROUP, ENGLAND, Saturday Oct 15 The next meeting will take place on October 15th. All are welcome, a £1 donation for room hire is asked for. The meeting will be held in Meeting Room 3, Reading International Solidarity Centre, 35-39 London Street, Reading. We will be in the Global Cafe/Bar from 1400 and move into the meeting room at 1430. The meetings last about 2 and a half hours. The meeting rooms are at the back, the entrance is via a small passage just behind the RISC shop or ask for directions in the shop or cafe. RISC has a website with location at http://www.risc.org.uk Before and after the meeting members can be found at the Great Expectations next door. A meeting has also been booked for December 3rd. For further information email mikewb @ dircon.co.uk or phone me on 01462 643899 (Mike Barraclough, Oct World DX Club Contact via DXLD) COMMENTARY ++++++++++ DAVID CRYSTAL: WHY I AM A SHORT WAVE LISTENER AND RECEPTION REPORTER I wrote this a few years ago, when George Jacobs was still active. George Jacobs is not active now. This has never been printed. I did read it aloud in the Voice of Turkey program, live from Turkey. The question in, "The Shortwave Guide" is: Why listen to shortwave radio" For me, listening and reporting reception go together. The full name of my hobby is, short wave listener and reception reporter, I admit, it is too long. When I began listening to shortwave radio, it was to hear the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation International Service and to satisfy my curiosity about what else I could hear. This listening alone is not enough to serve as the center of my life for decades. Every person needs to help other people and to receive help from these same people. Normal people make friends with people they meet. Then they go to a cafe and enjoy coffee and cake and one person pays the bill, pretending to be generous. This person knows that next time, another member of the group will pay the bill for all, and in the end each member of the group will pay what amounts to a fair share of the expenses, but the pretense of giving and getting help is there. I am not a normal person. I do not make friends with people I meet. Two months ago I visited the best cook in this village, a very nice lady who lives nearby, and she taught me a lot in an hour or so. I could use some additional advice, and I would like to report results and maybe give her some advice on baking. I have what I want to tell her all arranged in my imagination, but I have not visited her again. I do not say this behavior of mine is good or wise. I only say, this is and has been my behavior. But I still need to help other people and to receive help from these same people. I can do this if the other people are far away. Relatives abroad will not do: I can't help them and they can't help me. Short wave listening and reporting reception solves the problem. I am not unique. Most short wave listeners and reception reporters are just like me. We may not be generous, but our help is genuine. Short wave broadcasters need reception reports for two reasons. The main reason is to show there are listeners. The announcers in the studio are performers. If they were on stage they would get applause. If they were broadcasting to the local audience their neighbors would give them feedback. But as they are broadcasting to far away, they need letters to be convinced they have an audience. Sure they would like each listener to be a drama critic, but since all we listeners can do is to write simple reception reports they make do with us as we are. The second reason why short wave broadcasters need reception reports is technical - to know how their broadcasts are received. No broadcaster has enough technical monitors, and professional monitors use very fancy receivers and antennas. A broadcaster wants to know how it is received by ordinary people with ordinary equipment. Even a single reception report from a listener, provided it has all the proper details, is welcome. The relationships between listeners and broadcasting stations are very like relationships between people. After all, a broadcasting station is a group of people. - a snub. The listener sends a report. The station does not reply, or replies very slowly without a QSL card and with only a partial schedule. I leave these stations alone. Other people don't. After all, the British Broadcasting Corporation is such a station, - a nodding acquaintance. The listener sends a report, and the station sends a QSL card and a proper schedule. This is a getting-to-know-you process. It could be that the station is interesting but the listener cannot pay it more attention because of lack of time, - normal friendship. The listener sends reports from time to time, The station QSLs and sends any giveaway it may have, and may put the listener on its mailing list for its schedule. If the listener has reported regularly for some years, the station may take the trouble to answer a technical question in detail. - warm friendship. The listener spends several hours a week listening and reporting. The station gives the listener a more elaborate schedule, pays postage, and gives the listener a basic need - World Radio TV Handbook - and an interesting gift. This is after the station has learned to trust the listener. This is Deutsche Welle. - best friends. The listener spends many hours a week listening and reporting, every week, during many years. The station does the best it can for the listener. An extreme example in the 1970s I monitored the Voice of America and George Jacobs was Chief of the VOA Frequency Division. I needed a receiver badly, George Jacobs bought a Drake SW- 4A with his own money and sent it to me. George Jacobs will deny this, but it is true, The Drake SW-4A remained my favorite receiver even after VOA sent me a Collins 51J-4 in perfect condition, I am at still monitoring for George Jacobs today. So here you have the reason why I listen to shortwave radio. For me, and I am an abnormal person, it fills the need for human contact, mutual help and real friendship. It is also true that short wave broadcasts are of high quality, whether they are informative or entertaining. The best people seem to gravitate to short wave. This true description of a short wave listener and reception reporter being an abnormal person solves several mysteries. I. There are more radio amateurs, or hams, than short wave listeners. Ham radio is less interesting than short wave listening and reporting reception. It is far harder to become a ham than to become a short wave listener and reception reporter. But there are more hams because hams are normal people - they congregate together a lot and teach one another - and short wave listeners who report reception are abnormal people. II. Short wave receivers are selling well, yet the number of members in DX clubs for short wave listeners who report reception is going down, All kinds of people buy shortwave receivers, both normal and abnormal. Normal people do not write to radio stations. Ask your neighbors! When you do not write down program contents, you pay far less attention to what is being said, Normal people may even treat a shortwave broadcast like they treat an fm broadcast and use it as background noise while washing dishes! Normal people may decide short wave broadcasts are uninteresting. And then when the clocks are changed, everything becomes topsy turvy in the new season, and they just give up, Abnormal people have their troubles too. Radio stations no longer teach their listeners. In the late 1960's when I began short wave listening, I got along very well for two years with only guidance from the stations, without even knowing of any material that could be bought. Today in Israel, you can buy Passport to World Radio via your bookstore, but it is extremely expensive and it will arrive out of date. Many countries are like Israel. Listeners in North America have their hazards too. In all North America there are no more than ten shops which can take care of listeners. They do not advertise in newspapers but only in electronics magazines. A new listener may fall into a so-called ham radio outlet, where they know nothing about short wave listening and will persuade the listener to buy things he has no use for. It is the same danger everywhere; new listeners can not obtain guidance. The stations do not help them. Short wave listeners who report reception are abnormal people who do not know how to contact new listeners to help them. III. There is very little competition for leadership positions of DX clubs. Fortunately for us, there are a few normal people in our DX clubs, and they do the leadership work. We short wave listeners who report reception need the services our clubs provide, but most of us do not even want to participate in the club bulletin. IV. Many short wave listeners and reception reporters have internet and use it for e-mail, and they know very well that most short wave radio stations can be received well and easily via internet, but they still use short wave - because the internet does not need reception reports. (DC 2527) (David Crystal, Israel, Oct World DX Club Contact via DXLD) Excellent feature, David. Readers will note how much still holds good in today's radio world (Arthur Ward, WDXC ed, ibid.) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ QRX FOR A NEW LEAP SECOND! If you can hang on for a second, this may be just the time to do it Ditching leap seconds would interfere with celestial observations Science Notebook by Anjana Ahuja http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,20909-1808771,00.html THE COUNTDOWN to 2006 will seem a trifle longer this year, and not just because of the champagne. A leap second will be added at the end of 2005, the first for seven years. We should savour the last leap second in history. Next month the International Telecommunications Union, the body governing time signals, will discuss whether to abolish leap seconds because of the trouble they may be storing up for global positioning satellites. The proposal has brought protests from astronomers, who believe that the abolition would serve only a small, self-interested group and mess up astronomical observations. At the heart of the clash lie the two competing methods used to measure the passage of time. The first relies on the rotation of the Earth, which determines night and day. This is called Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC), and is the source of everyday, or civilian, timekeeping. The tides and the gravitational pull of other objects, however, can make the Earth spin slower or faster. This is where leap seconds come in — they haul UTC back into line with the position of the Sun in the sky. If you abolish leap seconds and fast-forward hundreds of thousands of years, then, according to clocks running on UTC, day will have turned into night. The second, and scientifically preferred, way of keeping time uses atomic clocks, which tick off seconds according to the decay rate of caesium-133 atoms (International Atomic Time, or TAI). This decay rate is virtually set in stone — the best atomic clocks should tick for 20 million years without losing a second. TAI started in 1958; its unrelentingly regular march, measured by around 200 caesium clocks around the world, means it is now 32 seconds ahead of UTC. At switch-on in 1980, global positioning systems, which have an atomic clock on each satellite, were synchronised to UTC. They do not, however, correct for leap seconds and now lag 13 seconds behind UTC. The increasing role of satellite navigation in such systems as air- traffic control has led to concern about the time gulf opening up between GPS and UTC clocks. The pro-leapers argue that there is no credible evidence that Heathrow will go into meltdown because of leap seconds, and that society should be consulted if civilian clocks are no longer to keep pace with sunrise and sunset. Ditching leap seconds would also interfere with celestial observations, which are timed according to the Earth’s rotation. The Royal Astronomical Society, based in London, wants to save the leap second. ``We need [everyone[ to work together to improve current timekeeping for everyone’s benefit and not just for one group,`` says Mike Hapgood, of the RAS (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING ++++++++++++++++++++ IBOC [see also BRAZIL] It takes more than wasting electrons on this list and elsewhere to institute change. Some suggestions for those who continue to spin their wheels over IBOC: 1. Write a personal letter to Kahn in support of his efforts. 2. Write a letter to your representatives in Congress and the Senate outlining your concerns about IBOC interference issues and the licensing monopoly. Refrain from political mudslinging. Do some research to present an intelligent, concise, logical letter of concern. 3. When the opportunity for public comment on FCC docs is open, take the time to respond in an intelligent manner. 4. Personally talk to local radio station owners and engineers about IBOC. Let them know about the issues and your concerns. Try organizing a grassroots campaign supporting the Kahn alternative. 5. When IBOC interference is observed, write to the radio station affected by the interference, with copies to the offending radio station and the FCC. 6. Buy a radio station. Build a business. Buy more radio stations. It's a lot of work in terms of formulating a business plan, obtaining the financing, and operating a business, but if you believe that you have the secret to operating a successful radio broadcast business then how could you go wrong? The point is to do something more than spinning your wheels on ABDX or other e-mail forums, because spinning your wheels burns energy but gets you nowhere. One final note: The wife of a DXer on another list once made this observation about DXing; "It's the only hobby where people spend more time talking about it than actually doing it!" (Bruce Conti - Nashua NH, ABDX via DXLD) I wouldn't invest a dime in conventional AM/FM broadcasting today, but there are some great opportunities in emerging technologies such as internet radio, cellphonecasting, podcasting, etc. The barriers to entry into conventional broadcasting (such as FCC regulations, amount of capital required, etc.) will be minimized with these new technologies; it will be wide open for creative and innovative people. If Clear Channel, etc., think satellite radio is a threat, they haven't seen anything yet. We're in for some exciting times in the next couple of decades! (Harry Helms, W5HLH Smithville, TX EL19, ibid.) MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT DRM FROM AN INSIDER AT SINES Caros amigos, segue abaixo alguns emails que recebi do amigo Carlos Mourato, especialista em radiotransmissão e colaborador no desenvolvimento do DRM, que trabalha na estação relé da Deustche Welle, em Sines, Portugal. O email é extenso mas contém informações importantes sobre transmissão digital, mais especificamente sobre o DRM, padrão adotado na Europa há mais de 10 anos. É a palavra de quem colabora desde o início no desenvolvimento do padrão DRM. Um grande abraço, (Renato Lopes, Divinópolis, MG, radioescutas via DXLD) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Estimado Renato, Depois de ler o seu comentario no boletim da ARLA, cabe-me enviar-lhe o seguinte e-mail: Fico muito satisfeito em saber que o Brasil já inciou os testes em transmissão digital, pois isso representa não só uma economia em termos de energia como tambem uma mais valia em termos de qualidade de audio. O sistema que vão ai testar eu não conheço muito bem, porque o standart mundial é o DRM e é à volta desse formato que actualmente desenvolvo a minha vida profissional. O DRM já se utiliza em muitos países não só da Europa mas como do mundo. Pessoalmente eu faço parte da equipe de tecnicos e operadores que começou a desenvolver e a testar o DRM, na epoca em que todos os parametros eram introduzidos manualmente, e que tinhamos que ter sempre o analizador de espectros ligado ao emissor e estar constantemente a alterar parametros para que o "shape" do espectro estivesse sempre dentro das normas. Todavia hoje em dia tudo é automatico e as transmissões já se processam de uma forma completamente automatizada. As transmissões efectuadas pela estação onde trabalho, que é considerada uma estação laboratório, e talvez a mais avançada do mundo, comportam transmissões em HF em estereo parametrico, com multiservice (4 programas diferentes no mesmo TX e na mesma QRG), alem de fotos e ainda o chamado jurnaline que é uma opção multimedia que atraves do PC permite navegar por varias paginas como se fosse a internet. Temos conseguido com 100Kw em DRM assegurar escutas na Nova Zelandia de 2 horas sem interrupções e em estereo. É claro que a propagação está má e isso não ajuda a broadcasting internacional, mas a nossa rede de receptores remotos que temos espalhados por varios paises da Europa, indicam-nos que a viabilidade do DRM na Europa, coberta pelas estações de Portugal (DW-Sines)e da Alemanha (DW- Wartachtal) é sempre superior a 95%, mesmo com as desfavoraveis condições de propagação. Desta forma e pelo que eu conheço do Brasil, Um transmissor de 100Kw em Belem, outro em Brasilia, e outro em Santa Catarina, todos sincronizados, trabalhando em SFN (single frequency network) cobriam o Brasil completamente, com som de alta qualidade, podendo trabalhar por exemplo a 11 kbps nas noticias e a 17 kbps para musica estereo. tudo isto em onda curta. Quanto à onda média, temos feito testes na Europa com transmissores de 300 watts em DRM que em condições favoraveis de propagação podem ser escutados de uma forma excelente a 300 km de distancia. Na onda média um emissor de 100 kw em DRM é capaz de abranger um raio de 200 a 300 km., em estereo parametrico com uma eficacia de 99%. transmitindo num BR de 21 kbps. Mais alguma informação estou à sua disposição no que me for possivel informar. (Carlos Mourato, CT4RK, Especialista em radiotransmissão e colaborador no desenvolvimento do DRM, Estação relé da Deustche Welle - Sines - Portugal, Oct 1 via Renato Lopes, ibid.) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Caro Renato, O mail que eu usei para lhe enviar o escrito foi este mesmo, e estava publicado no boletim da ARLA, Associação de Radioamadores, do Litoral Alentejano, porque a ARLA publica quinzenalmente um boletim em que conta com a colaboração de clubes de radioescuta e DX do Brasil e também com a colaboração de radioamadores daí, e foi certamente nestes moldes que o que escreveu apareceu no boletim. Quanto à publicação pode com certeza. Não tem problema e naquilo que eu puder ser util cá estarei QRV. Acerca da largura de banda do IBOC ser de 20 kHz, em relação ao DRM é o dobro. No DRM apenas usamos 10 kHz de largura de banda. O "noise side band" ruido lateral fica a 50 db abaixo e a 10 kHz só se escuta se o sinal for realmente muito forte. Eu moro a 15 km da estação onde trabalho e por exemplo a emissão de 15440 KHz em DRM ecuta-se com mais e menos 5 kHz, isto é : desde os 15435 e até aos 15445 kHz, sendo que 1 ou 2 KHz depois já praticamente não se escuta o "data stream". Claro que isto só é possivel com o emissor devidamente ajustado e optimizado para uma intermodulação de 3º ordem minima; de outra forma pode provocar um ruido tremendo ao longo de muitas dezenas de KHz. Como eu disse eu não tenho experiencia de IBOC, mas em DRM nós so eventualmente usaremos 20 kHz em VHF, quanto a UIT se dicidir a substituir o actual FM por DRM e com o espectro rigorosamente controlado. Quanto ao fim do DX essa é uma realidade que não podemos ignorar, pois a UIT tem como meta de migração das estações de AM convencional para o formato digital, o ano de 2010. No entanto não pense o prezado amigo que isso tambem me agrada. Apesar de ser o meu batente e de ser o meu sustento, eu é com tristeza que vejo cada vez mais estações a deixar o AM, e aquelas que não vão para DRM, pura e simplesmente encerram as emissões. Quanto à vivencia entre o AM e os sistemas digitais é realmente complicado, pois não foi definida uma fronteira entre elas. É portanto de prever algum QRM entre as estações trabalhando em diferentes modos, não só o AM ser interferido pelo sistema digital, como tambem o digital ser completamente aniquilado pelo AM. Para terminar, quero informar que os sinis de transmissões digtais não se prestam para DX pois ou se escuta como se estivesse a escutar um CD ou entra em cortes e não vale a pena ter ligado. A maneira de receber as emissões de DRM é bastante simples e com um pequeno conversor que transforme a FI do RX em 12 kHz ou se o RX já tiver uma saida de 12 KHz (a maioria dos DSP trabalham com 12 kHz) basta ligar à carta de som de um PC e com o software "DREAM" que está na net gratis pode escutar as emissões de DRM. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Caro renato, Não consegui mandar no outro mail os anexos que agora envio. Trata-se do boletim da ARLA em que tem a sua informação, e tambem da imagem do espectro dos nosso emissores quando estão a transmitir em DRM. Quero salientar que esse espectro é de faz 2 anos quando ainda todos os ajustes eram manuais. Agora o ruido de banda lateral "noise side band" chega aos -50dBs em vez dos -40dB que estão na imagem. Veja a imagem do espectro aqui: http://www.realbyte.com.br/renatolopes/espectro28-03-red.jpg Queria ainda informar que aqui fazemos uma emissão, dirigida para o Brasil, mas em Alemão. Essa emissão é feita em 11865 KHz a partir de 22 UT. Eu costumo fazer ferias durante um mes no Brasil e sempre levo o meu radinho de onda curta e essa emissão chega muito forte a todos os lugares onde estive. Este ano estive o mes de Setembro em Maceió e os 11865 chegavam que nem estação local, salvo alguns dias em que não havia propagação. 73 from CT4RK, Carlos Mourato, Sines - Portugal -- BPL/PLC ......No thanks!!! Best 73 from: regards from: CT4RK, Carlos Mourato, Sines - Portugal (via Renato, ibid.) see also LUXMEBOURG ANALOG SWITCHOVER CHALLENGE Hello everyone. I was alerted to this one at work. If you want to play the BBC Switchover Challenge click on the link below: http://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/projects/switchover-game/switchovergame.swf I have to say that I have not really understood the game, but you may get further than me! (Andrew Tett, BDXC-UK via DXLD) It's all a game anyway --- as soon as we get everyone to buy new digital boxes and/or digital TVs, then we'll roll out "HD" which will obsolete all these digital boxes and get people to buy new again (Mark Hattam, ibid.) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ ANNULAR SOLAR ECLIPSE Solar Eclipse Oct 3rd, in Germany 0745-0935 UT, in W Europe 0845-1220 UT. Please check the mediumwave band! http://www.lcm.tuwien.ac.at/scs/sofie.htm http://news.astronomie.info/sky200504/thema.html 73 wb df5sx (Wolfgang Büschel, BDXC-UK via DXLD) While best observed along a somewhat narrow path ranging from the NW Atlantic to Southern Somalia, there was still an occasion here in the capital, Lisboa, when the sunlight decreased quite a bit and during which I had the chance of making a few brief observations, chiefly on MF: kHz UTC ITU stn, site SINPO 765 0909-0915 SUI RSR, Sottens 35433 1368 0857-0910 G Manx R, Douglas, IoM 45433 1377 0901-0925 F R. France-France Info, Lille 45443 1404 0903-0921 F ditto, sev. sites 44443 1548 0912-0930 G Capital Gold, London 55444 The 2nd time is the fade-out time. France Info program at 1377 kHz even started the 0900 UT newscast with info on the eclipse; on 1404 kHz, the same program was heard, but with some QRM from at least one co-channel station that's also used for local/regional programs. Many stations from E[spaña] also noted with unusually strong signals. Seemingly no affect on the LF band (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re 5-173: Solar Eclipse Oct. 3 for Europe, Asia, Africa "If you be anywhere in Europe, Africa or parts of western and southern Asia on Monday, Oct. 3, you will be treated to a solar eclipse." But absolutely no phenomena seen - heard - during this total eclipse [70% at my place] today !!! Stuttgart Germany was the wrong place to see the ring eclipse, due of dark rain fall weather this morning. Nothing to compare with the tremendous observations of eclipse on August 11, 1999 here in Europe. Main shadow path via Madrid, Valencia, and Mallorca, Baleares Islands in western Mediterranean. Only three Spanish stations noted on mediumwave around 0930 UT: 1224 various, 1296 Valencia, 1413 kHz Mallorca. A little bit above threshold during 25 minutes in peaktime 0900-0925 UT, signals of Milano 899, Italy 1575, Tunis 630, Zagreb 1125. Absolutely no signals from the Algerian powerhouses. Monte Carlo Fontbonne stations 1350 and 1557 kHz on usual morning signal level. Two UNID whistle carrier on 676 Bengazi-LBY or SCG?, and on 691.2 kHz Radio Jamahiriyah-LBY?, -- noted at same time span. The only increased signals on shortwave: [see also ETHIOPIA above] 9703.64 kHz ETH? at around 0920-0950 UT, and a second carrier whistle nearby from Niger? Nothing audible from Sana'a Yemen 9780. Also 15400 BBCWS Ascension Isl was stronger today, despite easterly beam. On 1547.36 kHz noted an UNID station, around 0800-0825 UT of course. From Boel's MW Guide list - : G - BBC Radio Bristol, Mangotsfield (5) - 0600-???? local programmes, ????-0600 BBC World Service; on Sun local programmes start at 0700 G - Capital Gold, Saffron Green (97.5) - 24h; great time music station hits from the 60s, 70s and 80s, sport, local & national news G - Magic AM, Skew Hill (Sheffield) (0.740) - 24h; easy favourites, soft adult contemporary, local news & information G - Magic Liverpool, Bebington (Liverpool) (1) - 24h; a soft music- led station with news and sport G - Forth AM, Colinswell (Edinburgh) (2.2) - 24h; classic hits, adult contemporary music, news and information, sport I - Radio Star, Vicenza (1) I - Radio Cuore, ? (?) SCG - Radio Podgorica 2, Bar (1) - 24h SCG - Radio Stara Pazova, Stara Pazova (1) Seemingly one of the UK Stations is on odd channel. Any suggestions? 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Oct 3, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###