DX LISTENING DIGEST 6-006, January 8, 2006 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 2006 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html For restrixions and searchable 2005 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid5.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 For latest updates see our Anomaly Alert page: http://www.worldofradio.com/anomaly.html NEXT SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1300: Mon 0400 on WBCQ 9330-CLSB Mon 0515 on WBCQ 7415 Wed 0030 on WBCQ 7415 Wed 1030 on WWCR 9985 Full schedule, including AM, FM, internet, with hotlinks to station sites and audio: 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 WOR 1300 summary: http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1300.html [not yet] WORLD OF RADIO PODCASTS: www.obriensweb.com/wor.xml DX/SWL/MEDIA PROGRAMS Jan 8: http://www.worldofradio.com/dxpgms.html ** AFRICA. AFRICA BROADCASTING INTERESTING LINKS African Communications Satellite African Language Radio & T.V. Broadcasts Arabic Language Radio & T.V. Broadcasts Arabic TV in the US ARRL DX Bulletin BBC Arabic Language Broadcasts BBC Schedule Address Burkina Faso STN Report Channel Africa and Other SABC Frequencies Channel Africa Schedule Christian Science Monitor Schedule Computers and Communications in Africa Magazine Deutsche Welle T.V. DX Hotline for Africa DXCC Country List Ethiopia: Seven Days Update European Satellite List Foreign Newsgroup Archives InterNews Publications Investment Channel sked Learning Link K-12, Wisconsin News Networks Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin ORT du Benin Parallel Architectures Group PC World Africa Phone Line as SW Antenna Radio Bamakan, Mali Radio Canada International Radio Gatashya in Rwanda Radio Moscow Service to Africa The Radio NEWS Radio Nigeria Radio South Africa/Channel Africa to North America RTTY SATNews- Satellite for South Africa SCDX Africa News Schedule of Meyerton Transmitting Station, S.Africa SCOLA Schedule Shortwave Radio in Botswana Shortwave Radio in Eritrea Shortwave Radio in Somalia South African Radio Stations SpeedX Radio Bulletins SWL Station Addresses Telepassport International Calling Telephone Area Codes of Africa UseNet News- IP Access Sites VSAT Nets World Telecommunication Development Report WSHB Africa Antenna Power Tests World Wide Web: Shortwave & Radio Catalog Issue #10 ZSC Radio in Cape Town All from http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Electronic/menu_Electronic.html (via Víctor Castaño, Conexión Digital Jan 8 via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. R. Nacional, 15344.8, with classical music, Sunday Jan 8 at 2320, 20:20 TC, yak yak; back with operatic/vocal music at 2347 recheck, but losing out to Martí/Delano splash from 15330. However, according to the 870 schedule at http://www.radionacional.gov.ar/emisoras/progradios.asp?id=1 Fútbol Nacional was supposed to last until 2400, so maybe this was just fill taken from one of their other networks. But I see Ron Howard was also hearing operatic music exactly one week earlier, when it was on 15344.55 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. FELIZ 2006... CON VARIAS NOVEDADES DE AM Amigos de la Lista: Movido fin de año tenemos por estas tierras... Según me lo manifestó por teléfono el amigo Norberto Pugliese, es posible que retorne al aire a la brevedad AM 530, LA RADIO DE LAS MADRES, emisora operada por la Asociación Madres de Plaza de Mayo, ya que desde hace un par de días se escucha una fuerte portadora activa por debajo de la frecuencia que viene utilizando RADIO REPUBLICA (AM 530 KHz) de San Justo. Según nos informa el colega, la RADIO DE LAS MADRES emplea el transmisor de 10 KW que pertenecía a RADIO TROPICANA (AM 1620 KHz), el cual fue vendido a las madres por el dueño de esta emisora, el Pastor Genuario Rodríguez Almeida. Además, se están ultimando algunos ajustes técnicos en la antena de RADIO COOPERATIVA (AM 740 KHz) a fin de permitirle a la Radio de las Madres emitir a través de las facilidades de esta emisora propiedad del Sr. Adrián Amodio.- Por otra parte, el mismo Norberto informa también que RADIO REPUBLICA (AM 530 KHz) empezó a escucharse en paralelo, en la frecuencia de 1380 KHz, lo cual lleva a pensar que los dueños de esta emisora estarían evaluando la posibilidad de cambiarse de frecuencia ante la irrupción de la RADIO DE LAS MADRES en su frecuencia de 530 KHz, donde han operado desde hace años.- Vale recordar que en 1380 KHz, comenzó a emitir hace poco más de un mes, RADIO G.B.A., desde algún lugar desconocido del Gran Buenos Aires; razón por la cual no se descarta el hecho de que esta emisora esté retransmitiendo ahora a su colega RADIO REPUBLICA ante la eventualidad mencionada (Marcelo Cornachioni, Lomas de Zamora, Argentina, Conexión Digital Jan 8 via DXLD) ** ARMENIA. Powerhouse signal from Voice of Armenia/Public Radio of Armenia on 9965 at 1927 UT 1/7, in English. 4810 was also present. All the best (Christopher Lewis, England, DX LISTENIG DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. Todo parece indicar que en diciembre pasado concluyó la reparación de los tres transmisores en la provincia de los territorios Septentrionales australianos. Señales emitidas por esos transmisores fueron captadas en la capital de Bulgaria a las 20.00 el pasado 17 de diciembre. Lo particular de esas emisiones es que se transmiten por la banda de 120 metros, en las frecuencias de 2310, 2325 y 2485 kilohercios y son muy raramente captadas en Europa. Por Rúmen Pankov Versión al español: Mijaíl Mijailov (Espacio Diexista, R. Bulgaria, Jan 8, via José Miguel Romero2, DXLD) Cf. 6-004 ** BANGLADESH. BB: Eid Special --- Holy Eid-Ul-Azha: A Day of Supreme Sacrifice, A Special Composite program on the occasion of the Holy Eid Ul Azha. Details: UT: 1815-1900 (Eu), 1230-1300 (S. and SE Asia) Frequency: 7185 kHz Date: January 11, 2006 Program Details: 01. Intro : A short description on the religious siginificance of Holy Eid-Ul-Azha in the individual and social life. (Writen by the Compiler) 02. Song : Az Dil Diye Dao Kurbani (Bengali Chorus with the gist in English). 03. Talk : Teaching of Holy Eid-Ul-Azha – by Md. M. Rahman, Senior Vice President, Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd. 04. Recitation : Poem ``Kurbani`` Written by Kazi Nazrul Islam, The National Poet of Bangladesh. Read by Gulam Mustofa. (The Theme translated in English will be followed) 05. Songs: (Bengali) Compiler: Mohiuddin Babar, Narrator: a) Laily Mawla b) Shahnawaz Ahmed Producer: Akramul Islam. (via Ashik Eqbal Tokon, Jan 7, dxldyg via DXLD) ** BELARUS. ======== Radio Belarus UTC / kHz / kW / Azimut 0200-0400 / 5970 / 250 / 252 0200-0400 / 7210 / 75 / 270 2000-2300 / 1170 / 800 / 244 2000-2300 / 7125 / 250 / 252 2000-2300 / 7340 / 75 / 270 2000-2300 / 7440 / 150 / 246 Radio Kultura, 0500-2200 kHz / kW / Tx 1008 / 50 / Grodno 1008 / 7 / Smetanichi 1008 / 50 / Slonim 1008 / 25 / Bobruysk 1026 / 7 / Brest 1026 / 7 / Pinsk 1026 / 5 / Mshery 1026 / 50 / Mogilev 1026 / 25 / Myadel 1125 / 150 / Minsk 1197 / 40 / Vitebsk 1197 / 5 / Braslav 1197 / 5 / Borisov 7265 / 5 / Grodno Belarusskoe Radio UTC / KHz / kW / Tx / Azimut 0400-2300 / 279 / 500 / Sosnovy / ? 0500-0700 / 1170 / 800 / Sosnovy / ? 1000-1100 / 1170 / 800 / Sosnovy / ? 1600-1800 / 1170 / 800 / Sosnovy / ? 0400-2300 / 1278 / 10 / Brest / The not directed aerial 0400-2300 / 6010 / 5 / Brest / The not directed aerial 0400-2300 / 6040 / 5 / Grodno / The not directed aerial 0400-2300 / 6070 / 5 / Brest / The not directed aerial 0400-2300 / 6080 / 150 / Kolodishche / 127 0400-2300 / 6115 / 75 / Kolodishche / The not directed aerial 0400-2300 / 6190 / 5 / Mogilev / The not directed aerial 0400-2300 / 7110 / 5 / Grodno / The not directed aerial 0400-2300 / 7145 / 5 / Grodno / The not directed aerial 0500-0700 / 7175 / 250 / Kolodishche / 72 0400-2300 / 7235 / 5 / Mogilev / The not directed aerial 1600-1800 / 7255 / 250 / Kolodishche / 72 1000-1100 / 11960 / 250 / Kolodishche / 72 (Alexander Mazgo, Vitebsk, Belarus, Rus-DX Jan 8 via DXLD) ** BELGIUM [non]. 11900, DRM, CANADA, TDP Radio, 1/7 [Sat only], 1638 Dance music; poor reception, less than 5% intelligible, S/N ratio varying wildly from 9-22 dB, but not good enough to provide sustained audio for this 21 kbps transmission; finally getting sustained audio after about 1647 until 1657, when signal stayed synched, but there was no audio (Ralph Brandi, Middletown, NJ, AOR AR-730 Plus + DRM Drake R8, 300' Mini-Beverage, T2FD, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 5580.31, 6.1 0120, Radio San José with a religious program in PLATT DEUTSCH! [Low German] Obviously there is a great German speaking minority in Santa Cruz. The program lasted until 0216 when an ID for Radio San José was heard. Then into modern music. Quite strange to listen to a German program from a Bolivian local station. 2-3. Very stable signal. CB (Christer Brunström, Sweden, SW Bulletin Jan 8, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. BRASIL – Ao lado do Na Beira da Mata, Goiás Caboclo é um espaços da Rádio Brasil Central, de Goiânia (GO), que apresenta, ainda, no rádio brasileiro, a verdadeira música de raiz. Vai ao ar, nos domingos, entre 0900 e 1400, em 4985 e 11815 kHz. Tem regular sintonia, no Sul do Brasil, pela segunda freqüência. É um dos poucos espaços do rádio que ainda conta com a participação de duplas ao vivo nos estúdios (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX Jan 8 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL [and non]. Horrible clash on 11830, Jan 8 at 2330: two stations with a constantly warbling het around 150 Hz, indicating at least one of them has an unstable transmitter. I`ll bet I know which one: the stronger station in Portuguese would be R. Anhanguera, and the weaker station, only so because it`s skipping over here, nor aimed this way, would be WEWN in Spanish which for some reason uses 11830 for only one hour between 15745 the hour before, and 11870 the hour after (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BULGARIA. 7600, Radio Varna, UT [Sunday only] JAN 01, 2157-2240. Disco at tune in and pips at the hour. Female announcer with Radio Varna ID at 2207, followed by much pop music and ballads, and OM ID at 2224. YL with presumed news at half hour, and back to music at 2239. Strong signal throughout, with mild-moderate static, and good steady audio. A Spanish speaking station became increasingly strong though it never seriously challenged Varna for the frequency. I don't know if this was a harmonic, a legal station, or a pirate station underneath Varna, but it did not sound like a ute or the fishermen on 6925. At 2313 recheck Varna still strong, with interfering station apparently gone (Ross Comeau, Andover MA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** CAMBODIA. Re: ``Voice of Democracy, WTFK? Not in the list on page 159 of WRTH 2006 (gh, DXLD)`` Hi Glenn, I believe that Voice of Democracy is not a radio station as such, but rather a production outfit whose programmes air(ed) on Radio Beehive in Phnom Penh on 105.0 MHz. Unless, that is, they've obtained their own frequency recently. Best regards, (Alan Davies, SE Asia, Jan 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. SPECIAL 8TH ANNIVERSARY CHWO QSL CARD TONIGHT ONLY Reminder about CHWO 740 Toronto, 50 kW non-direxional: Brian Smith, QSL manager says the station is issuing a special QSL card to mark its 8th anniversary. "I'm taking anything up to 0500 UT January 9." That means EARLY tonight... Send to Brian Smith: am740 @ rogers.com Provide your mailing address. At least 10 minutes of specific program material (name of announcer, advertising, news items, songs, etc...); a signal sound report; type of receiver and antenna and other equipment (via Saul Chernos, ON, IRCA via DXLD) ** CANADA. CBC Radio changes? From the lead of a story in the Globe and Mail (Jan. 7): http://makeashorterlink.com/?A16B22E6C "On Monday, CBC's The National will begin with a new five-note introduction -- a mnemonic, as the CBC likes to call it -- that will ring in all of its major TV and radio newscasts." That is the first and last mention of CBC radio in this news story about imminent changes to the CBC television news. 73, (Ricky Leong, Calgary, Alta., Jan 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I liked the old one (gh) Cross-Country Checkup was about, what else, the election, on CBC and squealing RCI 15180, Sun Jan 8 at 2245; I tuned away briefly and when I got back at 2253 it was over already, with RCI harmonica fill music. I thought maybe the last 5 minutes were now turned over to electioneering, but none such shown yet on the CBC program guide http://www.cbc.ca/programguide/radio/ (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DGIEST) ** CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC. New, 5035.0, 0525-0610 fade out, 08-01, R. Centrafrique, Bangui (tentative), French conversations, 0557 pop music, 0602 talk (news scheduled); 24131, intermittent CWQRM. Station reactivated on this frequency! AP-DNK (ANKER PETERSEN, SKOVLUNDE, DINAMARCA, AOR AR7030PLUS with 25+40 m longwires, @tividade DX via DXLD) ** CHILE. 21500, DRM, Voz Cristiana, 1/5 2049. Talk in Spanish, Christian rock en Español, IDs as "La Voz" at 2055, Spanish language toasting, canned ID mentioning the variety of music they play, ID as "CVC, La Voz", then several more IDs, into news; S/N ratio about 16 dB, sufficient for steady reception of this 11 kbps broadcast; special broadcast for duration of Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas (where they can demonstrate for the attendees the crappy sound that 11 kbps produces); 15 kW (Ralph Brandi, Middletown, NJ, AOR AR-730 Plus + DRM Drake R8, 300' Mini-Beverage, T2FD, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** CHINA. Re 6-005: ```CHINA. Re: ``CRI Russian was very strong on (new?) 6020, which is unlisted and went off at 1100.`` Meanwhile we saw it listed as Xi`an 500 kW, amongst other additional CRI outlets. So this must be another new transmitter complex, just put on service like the new Beijing facilities. I think Xi`an was previously known as site of various 120 kW transmitters (the ancient Russian design)? (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Jan 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST)``` ----- Actually this one (6020) is in Chinese. Russian was an error from my side, incorrectly copied from my notes (Olle Alm, Sweden, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. 6060, 30.12 1345, Chengdu, Sichuan most likely the nicest logging during Christmas. Fast programmes with many ``Happy New Year!`` and ``phone-in``. Must have increased effect, was heard with S 3 and sometimes even better. Ought to be some sort of ``city service``. BEFF (Björn Fransson, Sweden, SW Bulletin Jan 8, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also PNG [non] ** CHINA. CHINESE CAPITAL SETS UP SECURITY COMPANY TO MONITOR INTERNET CAFES, WEBSITES | Text of report entitled: "Beijing sets up its first cyberspace security company to monitor and control the municipality's 900 Internet cafes", carried by Hong Kong-based news agency Zhongguo Tongxun She Beijing, 6 January: A company responsible for monitoring and controlling Beijing's Internet cafes, websites, and anti-virus companies - the Beijing Municipal Internet Security Company - was officially inaugurated on 6 January. It is the first Internet security service company set up in China that focuses on cyberspace security and protection. A responsible person of the company said: The number of criminal cases involving the Internet has been increasing rapidly nowadays. Criminals have been using Trojan programmes and virus-carrying emails to illegally acquire other people's bank and brokerage account numbers and steal their money. Some have gone as far as producing bogus bank web pages and lure the uninformed account holders to log in and put in their passwords, thereby enabling criminals to intercept their login information and steal large sums of money from their accounts. The first group of cyberspace security guards, numbering 500, officially took up jobs in the city's 942 Internet cafes and websites as well as more than 3,800 Internet service providing units. The company's responsible person said their security guards do not have law enforcement power, and their main job is to monitor Internet traffic and promptly remove harmful information for their clients. Upon discovering that criminal suspects are trying to engage in cyberspace fraud or spread Falun Gong or other reactionary information, the security guards will immediately report to the Internet supervisory department, the responsible person said. It was learned that at least three security guards will be assigned to every Internet cafe in Beijing. The municipality is expected to recruit more than 4,000 Internet security guards. Because of the large number of vacancies, vocational high school graduates with computer and Internet skills are in great demand. Source: Zhongguo Tongxun She, Hong Kong, in Chinese 6 Jan 06 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. I see in WRTH 2006 that the new name planned for 5910 is Garita Radio. But still heard as Marfil Estéreo, when checked around 0600 Jan 7 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. In case you haven`t noticed, the 2006 patriotic slogan is ``Año de la Revolución Energética``, as mentioned in passing on the RHC Venezuelan service, Jan 8 at 1428 on 11875. We may really look forward to 2009y if it last that long (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [and non]. While writing this at 2315 Jan 6, I listen to R. República on 6135 with 45343 and they just announced their schedule to be 2200-2400 on 6135, 0000-0200 on 6010 and 0200-0400 on 7110. Direction finding points at a transmitter in the UK or the Florida area. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DX LISTENING DIGEST) DF from where, at what approx. azimuth? If we can get a few of these, we can triangulate and pin it down. Same on all three frequencies? Same jamming situation 24 hours after my last report, UT Jan 7 around 0130 on 6010, and also still jamming RHC on 5965 (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Dan, Is Okeechobee by any chance carrying Radio República to Cuba, on 6135, 6010 and/or 7110? If not, do you know what site is? Tnx, (Glenn to Dan Elyea, WYFR, Jan 6, via DXLD) That's not WYFR, Glenn. Don't know who is carrying that (Dan Elyea, WYFR, Jan 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Good Night to all of you! Unfortunately, I'm hearing jamming on 6010, intended to Radio República. This makes Mexican DX even more difficult to enjoy at my QTH. Very sad! Be the good DX stuff with you! (Bogdan in Pierrefonds-Montreal Chiochiu, 0050 UT Jan 7, HCDX via DXLD) The jamming-free period since Radio República switched from 5965 to 6010 would seem to be over. The jamming on 5965 continues even though only Radio Habana Cuba remains, and at 0110Z Jan 7 I don't see anything else on the channel to jam. Here in southeast Florida the bubbles are easily outdone by R. Rep., but RHC doesn't do so well against its own friendly-fire (W. Curt Deegan, Boca Ratón, FL, HCDX via DXLD) Radio República, 1/7/05, 6010, 0132-0159. Cuban music, Spanish speaking house music, and ballad, talk by man and woman announcers (including one section ending "We love your man" in English), Usual ID, address, and slogan sequence at 0156, start of a talk, off mid sentence. The Cuban jammers found RR, which was still easily dominating the frequency here, with occasional breakthrough of another Spanish station with talk and music (maybe Radio Mil?). As of now (0205), the jammer is still on jamming Radio Sweden in Swedish. Clearly another subversive shortwave voice to the Cuban government that their people should not hear. :-) Speaking of jamming subversive shortwave voices, the Cubans were jamming the subversive Radio Habana Cuba in Spanish on 5965 at various checks between 0115-0150. Off now (0205), with talk about Chavez & Venezuela. (Is this jammer on a timer?) Radio República on 7110 at 0200 sign on was met with Cuban jamming also (Mark Taylor, Madison, WI, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) The channel hopping scheme of Radio Republica seems to be working. The jammers which found 6010 tonight, stayed there beyond 0200Z and failed to come up on 7110 when R. Rep. made the switch. Instead the jamming continued against whatever followed on 6010 -- I missed the English ID at 0230Z which was followed by news in English, but the signal was fading and difficult to hear under the jamming. The Cubans did stop jamming themselves on 5965 when they went off at 0200Z. Radio Republica is pegging the needle on 7110, loud and in the clear. [Later:] At 0330Z the jamming of Radio República on 7110 kHz can now be heard. I don't know for sure that it just started, or that it is only now noticeable as the R. República signal is slightly less overpowering and experiencing a bit more fading. It is only in the fades the bubble jammer can be heard; much like when R. Rep. was on 6010 earlier. These are huge signals into southeast Florida, some of it has to be getting through the jamming to the target audience. For reasons unknown, jamming continues on 6010, against whatever is there, considerably weaker and with heavier fading than the previous R. Rep. signal. So far UNID, but with English news on the bottom of each hour (Curt Deegan, Boca Raton, FL, UT Jan 7, HCDX via DXLD) That`s R. Sweden via Sackville, which has already been on 6010 after 0200. Collateral damage; Cuban SW jammers are not known for their precision in scheduling. Better to run over than under the required time. Previously there has been no significant delay in starting the jamming on 7110 at 0200 (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** CUBA [non]. CLANDESTINA, USA???, 9955, Radio República, 0945-1006, 07-01, locutor: "Alternativa, un programa para todos Vds.", identificación: "En la banda de 31 metros, Radio República, con fe en la victoria". 25322. [9955 is an always has been via WRMI] También en 6135, 2230-2300, 07-01, locutor, entrevista con un joven dominicano sobre la democracia en Cuba. A las 2259 identificación: "Radio República, Voz del Directorio Democrático Cubano les presenta: la Cuba que queremos". 44444 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Grundig Satellit 500 y Sony ICF SW 7600 G, Antena de cable, 10 metros, orientada WSW, Escuchas realizadas en Friol, 27 Km. W de Lugo, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. As of January 2006, Radio Prague listeners can look forward to a new series of QSL cards. Listeners who send in reception reports get a QSL card on the theme of ``Czech Scientists and Inventors`` in return. For further information, visit the Radio Prague website: http://www.radio.cz I received a brief note signed by Jana Babiczova to pass that information on, along with samples of eight of the cards in question. Each card has a nice photo of the scientist in question, with a smaller photo of some aspect of their work, and brief information on their contribution to Czech science and technology. This is a very attractive set of QSL cards (Roger Chambers, Utica, New York, Jan 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DIEGO GARCIA. 4319(USB), AFRTS/AFN, Jan 8, starting to fade-in about 0055 and fading-out fast about 0110. Now about six minutes separate DG sunrise from my sunset, for Grayline reception. Spot for ``One Minute of American History,`` ToH ``Westwood One`` NFL pre-game coverage of the Patriots/Jaguars game. 0108 start of the game. Weak and the reception was not as good as in December but still clearly here. I checked the programming with // 10320 (Hawaii). Could not hear DG on Jan 7, so conditions seem to vary a lot from day to day (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, RX340 + T2FD antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Carlos Gonçalves points out that the island was named for a Portuguese explorer, Diogo Garcia; thus no accent is required (gh) ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. Hi Glenn, The unID on 2280 reported by Steven in DXLD 6-005 may be the station I heard back in early September. See below. The ToH announcement at 0300 mentioned ". . .cientos cuarenta AM, AM", so I guess this is the harmonic of some station on 1140 that I hope to ID when I stop recording. Seemed to cut broadcast at 0301 in mid-song, but carrier still on at 0305 UT Sep 9th for the record. Then later, I listened to the tape I made Sep 9 (UT) and have determined it is Radio Anacaona (1140 kHz) from San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican Republic from an ID on the recording. They were not heard last night, so definitely a harmonic. I have heard them many times since, including right this minute (0150 UT on Jan 7) with an S8 peak on the NRD-515. Very nice music whenever I tune them in. 73 (John Sgrulletta, Mahopac, NY, DX LISTENING DIGEST) O yes, previously reported in DXLDs 5-211, 5-206, 5-179, easily located by searching on 2280 in one`s DXLD stash (gh, DXLD) ** EUROPE. HOLANDA, 15076.3, Radio Alfa Lima International, 0844-0900, 08-01, música rock, identificación por locutor: "Radio Alfa Lima International from Holland". "This is Radio Alfa Lima International from the Netherlands". A las 0900 se cortó la transmisión. 45444 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Grundig Satellit 500 y Sony ICF SW 7600 G, Antena de cable, 10 metros, orientada WSW, Escuchas realizadas en Friol, 27 Km. W de Lugo, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EUROPE. 12257, 11.12 1200, Wreckin’ Radio International, pirate making a come-back. S 1-3. BEFF (Björn Fransson, Sweden, SW Bulletin Jan 8, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FINLAND. 11720, Scandinavian Weekend Radio, 1203-1610, 07-01, comentarios en finlandés, identificación a las 1204 en inglés "This is SWR", dirección, e-mail, música rock. A las 1300 ocultada por AWR en la misma frecuencia con programa en mandarín hasta las 1600 y a las 1600 horas ocultada por D.W. con programa en ruso, también en 11720. Hasta el momento de ser interferida SINPO 24322 variando a 14321 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Grundig Satellit 500 y Sony ICF SW 7600 G, Antena de cable, 10 metros, orientada WSW, Escuchas realizadas en Friol, 27 Km. W de Lugo, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11690, 7.1 1102, Scandinavian Weekend Radio with announcement in English. Mostly in Finnish. 3 CB (Christer Brunström, Sweden, SW Bulletin Jan 8, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5980, 1245-1455 Sat 07-01, Scandinavian Weekend Radio, Virrat, Finnish/English talks, Finnish pop songs, international evergreens, clear channel until Voice of Turkey signed on at *1455; 35333, heard // 11720. 6170, 1130-1155 Sat 07-01, Scandinavian Weekend Radio, Virrat, Finnish/English talks, Finnish pop songs, 23333 QRM from Croatia on 6165. 11690, 1130-1155 Sat 07-01, Scandinavian Weekend Radio, Virrat, Finnish/English talks, Finnish pop songs, 31331, covered by Deutsche Welle in Turkish. 11720, 1245-1305 Sat 07-01, Scandinavian Weekend Radio, Virrat, Finnish/English talks, Finnish pop songs, 35434 until *1300 AWR occupied the channel (ANKER PETERSEN, SKOVLUNDE, DINAMARCA, AOR AR7030PLUS with 25+40 m longwires, @tividade DX via DXLD) ** FRANCE. FRANCE'S CHIRAC WANTS TOTAL SWITCH TO DIGITAL TV BY 2011 | Text of report by French news agency AFP Paris, 5 January: President Jacques Chirac announced today a reform of the 1986 law on broadcasting, to be tabled in September, to adapt France's legal framework and allow the switch, within five years, from analogue TV to digital. The French president was speaking during his New Year's greetings to associations, unions and employers. He called for people to be "pioneers in the development of digital TV and of technologies with great potential". According to Chirac, this is a question of "developing mobile broadband access to the Internet, and deploying TV on mobiles and in high definition between now and mid 2007". This requires "freeing up the frequencies used today to broadcast analogue television. The aim is to switch from analogue to digital television progressively over the next five years", the president continued. "A committee will be set up to this effect, to look into digital coverage of the country," he said. "It will have to make sure that none of our fellow citizens are left behind, excluded from the benefits of digital. From this year, full-scale trials will be carried out in certain regions." These changes, Chirac observed, "require a concrete strategy to be defiant on the use of frequencies in view of the upcoming international deadlines. They also require our legal framework to be modified: a reform of the 1986 law on broadcasting will be tabled in September". Source: AFP news agency, Paris, in French 1235 gmt 5 Jan 06 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** GABON. (Tentative) 4777, RTVG, 0542-0606, Jan. 3, French, OM and YL with talks between music bits. Afropops and ballads. Tentative ID at 0554. Fair (Scott Barbour, NH, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re: [DX] Gabon 4777 on late --- Today they signed on at 1559, so they don't seem to be on all day on this frequency. 73, (Mauno Ritola, Finland, Jan 7, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Heard them until 1900 UT Jan 6, but already off by that time Jan 7 (Chris Hambly, Victoria, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [non]. Escutado hoje entre 1300-1359 UT a Deutsche Welle em DRM, 15440 kHz com 90 % de decodificação do sinal digital de 14.56 kbps EEP AAC Mono 16/16 QAM, 1 canal de audio e 0 de dados Entre 1400-1559 também a Deutsche Welle, 17800 kHz, 19.96 kbps EEP AAC+ STEREO 1 canal de audio e 2 de dados: journaline e slide show. http://paginas.terra.com.br/lazer/py4zbz/hamdream/rxdrm.htm (Roland M. Zurmely, PY4ZBZ, Jan 8, radioescutas via DXLD) Via PORTUGAL ** GERMANY [and non]. Here in Germany criticism on the DRM operation from Croatia on 594 rises, since it ruins reception of co-channel Hessischer Rundfunk outside the Frankfurt area. It was definitely no DRM detestor who wrote today that they should fire up the old Siemens gear again to let the brute force of 1000 kW making the point (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Jan 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Diplexing & triplexing: see RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM ** GREECE [non]. Hellenes Around the World had been missing for two weeks, 12/24 and 12/31, so was expecting it back 1/7 at 1500 via Delano on 9775 --- but no, continued in Greek. The website http://www.voiceofgreece.gr/en/omogeneia_ekpompes.asp?catid=148 only has a generic description of the show. Maybe next week? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) An ERA 4 program was on at 1500-1600 UT on Voice of Greece today; "Greeks Everywhere" program will probably be back on next Saturday. Epiphany was on January 6 and it ends the holiday season; everyone should be back at work with a full schedule on Monday (John Babbis, MD, Jan 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREENLAND. 3815, 25.12 2100, Grönlands Radio with Greenlandic and a strange audio noise. Was not heard on 650 at this time! S 2-3, when clean from the noise. BEFF (Björn Fransson, SW Bulletin Jan 8, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) 3815.0, 3.1 2110, KNR, Greenland with relay over Tasiilaq. Greenlandic at this time. USB. Quite often heard. Often QRM from Russian military. SA (Stig Adolfsson, Sweden, ibid.) 3815 USB only, 2058-2210* 04-01 KNR, Tasiilaq, Greenlandic until 2200 then Danish. First talk and folksongs, 2130 and 2200 KNR News Jingle and news, 2141 U.S. pop songs including Johnny Cash. Danish news were produced in Nuuk and not a relay of the news from Denmark on DR P1 and 4. Some Danish words caught: ``Velkommen til den sene radioavis... forvaltningen i Ammassalik Kommune... arbejdspladser... fritid... grønlænderne... dermed er der lagt op til... omkommet og mere end hundrede begravet ved et jordskred i Indonesien... hjemløse....`` . 2209 Weather in Greenland and abrupt off. SINPO varying 24222 to 24333. // 650 MW was not heard. AP-DNK (ANKER PETERSEN 1, SKOVLUNDE, DINAMARCA on the AOR AR7030PLUS with 25+40 m longwires, @tividade DX via DXLD) ** GUYANA. 3291.17, V. of Guyana, 0948 Jan 5, booming in at this hour with scripture reading by Brother Leroy Smith closing with gospel song "I Start My Day," then 70s-sounding disco music bridge into English program for Hindu community. ID by M at 0950, "This is the V. of Guyana. It is 5 hours 50." Surely VOG has some of the most eclectic programming on shortwave (John Herkimer, Caledonia NY, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** INDIA. 9425, "FM Rainbow," Bangalore; 1728-1750, 8 January. Presumed the domestic service with Hindi film music, accented man "And with that we come to the end of... good evening." Into more Hindi man at 1730, more Indian vocals, anthem-like orchestral piece at 1740, more talk and music in Hindi. Clear and fair, but no clear ID (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. 337 NEW FM RADIO STATIONS PLANNED http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=67543&version=1&template_id=40&parent_id=22 Published: Thursday, 5 January, 2006, 10:50 AM Doha Time MUMBAI: India will invite bids for more than 300 new FM radio stations, sparking a rush of global broadcasters to enter the country`s liberalised radio sector, officials said yesterday. The information and broadcasting ministry will launch the process for 337 radio stations tomorrow in a new stage in the opening of the sector started in the late 1990s. ``There will be financial bids for 337 FM radio stations in 91 cities on January 6,`` a ministry official said, asking not to be named. Global broadcasters have landed in the Indian capital New Delhi to submit bids before the closing date in February. ``Our top officials are in New Delhi for the next few days in connection with the bids,`` said a Mumbai executive with Asia`s Star TV. Some foreign broadcasters have already formed joint ventures to bid for the licences spread across the whole country of more than 1.1bn people. BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC, and India`s Mid Day Multimedia have formed a joint venture to operate locally under the name of Radio Mid-Day West and run its existing FM channel, Go 92.5. ``This is a very exciting and pivotal time to enter the Indian FM radio market,`` said Mark Young, managing director of BBC Worldwide in a statement. ``With liberalisation of this sector offering unprecedented opportunities in FM radio, and Mid Day Multimedia`s wealth of experience and expertise, our new partnership is well on course to establish a leading national radio business across India,`` Young said. Mid Day hopes to benefit from BBC`s global experience. ``With access to one of the world`s most respected media organisations, we expect to establish a network of radio stations where producers can use the BBC`s radio expertise to develop and inspire their programming on a local level,`` said Mid Day Multimedia managing director Tariq Ansari. India`s Foreign Investment Promotion Board approved the venture recently and the British Broadcasting Corporation will invest around £4mn in the project. – AFP- (via Zacharias Liangas, DXLD) ** INDONESIA. Re 6-005: HI, Harry Bauer, I reported in DXLD 6-002 that RRI Spanish service at 1700 was coming surprisingly well to Costa Rica as never before. It this happens so in my case, imagine the kind of signal you are suppose to get, while this transmission is intended for Europe, basically Spain. Or must be as I was commenting, that they might have changed the antenna azimuth, who knows. Regards (Raul Saavedra, Costa Rica, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. At the KGRE website, under their ``Listeners` Letters,`` http://www.kangguru.org/englishmagazine.htm#Listeners'%20Letters note ``Overseas Listeners`` (towards the bottom of the page). They show their nice looking full data QSL card. I am anxiously waiting for mine to arrive. They even list my name there as a listener. Can I now consider this as a ``Web-QSL,`` hi? (Ron Howard, CA, Jan 7, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Should be: http://www.kangguru.org/englishmagazine.htm#new%20website (Ron, slightly later, ibid.) Axually, both work for me. Drag the little `roo around the screen (gh) ** INDONESIA. 3344.807, 24.12 1350, RRI Ternate with quiet Christmas program. Often heard at this time of the year. O= 2-3 SA (Stig Adolfsson, Sweden, SW Bulletin Jan 8, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) PNGs to three decimal places: q.v. ** INTERNATIONAL. Con la metà del mese di gennaio la NATO rinnova le proprie frequenze radio; ne sei già in possesso. Grazie (Walter, Italy, Jan 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM [and non]. Re 6-004: Karl Zuk's feelings echo my own about satellite radio; I like it not because it's "satellite" or "digital" but because it's damn good radio. And soon satellite will be joined by cellphonecasting and streaming audio over 802.16e and 802.22 wireless broadband networks. The "golden age" for radio listeners is still in the future! The challenge facing terrestrial AM/FM/shortwave stations is how they can compete with new radio sources that are offering listeners --- in Karl's wonderful phrase --- "everything, all the time." Since terrestrial stations can't offer that sort of variety and choice, just what are they going to offer to combat satellite radio, cellphonecasting, and internet radio? Terrestrial radio desperately needs some new creative, entrepreneurial thinkers like Bill Gavin, Gordon McLendon, Alan Freed, and Bill Drake to re-invent the medium before it becomes a permanent also-ran. Can the executives at media giants like Clear Channel allow the next generation of innovators the freedom they need to flourish (and that "freedom" includes the freedom to take big risks and fail)? Or will such talents naturally gravitate to satellite radio, cellphonecasting, and other new broadcast media? (Harry Helms, Future of Radio blog http://futureofradio.typepad.com/the_future_of_radio/2006/01/from_glenn_haus.html via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [non?]. 9133.0, 31.12 1320, Maritime Coalition Forces in USB with program in different languages, among others Arabic. Seldom strong. 2 SA. 9134.5, 23.12 1600, unID with ``Family Radio Theatre``. The station was on this frequency until Dec 27 and is not heard there after that date. Distinct British accent. No call heard despite several hours of listening. Presumably the same station as on 9133 which was not heard at all during the above mentioned period. USB 2-3 SA (Stig Adolfsson, Sweden, SW Bulletin Jan 8, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ITALY. Sunday seems to be classical music day on stations which don`t play much of it --- see ARGENTINA, just as Saturday is for jazz. Jan 8 at 2351, Rai on 11800 played Valse Triste by Sibelius; good signal but lo-fi, the highs clipped, the mid-ranges boosted. If only they were in high bitrate DRM! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAMAICA. RJR is using the slogan Refreshing Jamaica Radio, heard this late rainy afternoon around 2300 with good signal on 720. This can't be achieved in our Tiquicia Central Valley at this time. Talks about reggae music becoming their first exportation product as far as Japan or Australia, no exception here in Caribbean Costa Rica. Later around 0000 the issue was about the legacy of black leader Marcus Garvey, who was a worker even for the newly/late XIX century founded United Fruit Co. in this Banana Republic (Raul Saavedra, Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica, Jan 6, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN. 1071, Obihiro, JOWM, 5 kW, received full detail QSL card, personal letter, sticker, program sked, etc. in 80d for CD report with $2 US rp. V/S: Y. Matsuzaki-Technical Section. Really a nice letter with a lot of info on Obihiro and area too. Address: The STV Radio Broadcasting Co, Ltd; Nishi 8 - chome; Kita 1 - jo; Chuo-ku; Sapporo; 060-8705, Japan. Also a really nice QSL showing all of their station locations on a map on the front. I have heard several of them through the years. Japan MW QSL #111; I am really pleased with this (Patrick Martin, Home of the 2006 IRCA Convention, Seaside Oregon! IRCA via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. In the web page http://www.nkradio.com "Open Radio for North Korea" gave their correspondence address as follows: 3901 Fair Ridge Drive, Fairfax, VA 22033, U.S.A. (Takahito Akabayashi, Tokyo, Japan, Jan 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LATVIA. 9290, Radio Joystick, 0940-1000, 07-01, música pop, comentarios en alemán. A las 0954, identificación y dirección en alemán e inglés. 45444. 9290, Radio Casablanca, 1102-1201, 07-01, canciones alemanas, comentarios en alemán, identificación: "Radio Casablanca". Fin del programa a laas 1201. 45444. 9290, Radio RTN, 0900-0921, 08-01, programa en alemán, música pop. Identificación: "Radio RTN International". 45444 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Grundig Satellit 500 y Sony ICF SW 7600 G, Antena de cable, 10 metros, orientada WSW, Escuchas realizadas en Friol, 27 Km. W de Lugo, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MADEIRA [non]. PORTUGAL. O programa dominical Abraço da Madeira, irradiado pela RDP Internacional, é um elo entre a Ilha da Madeira e principalmente os portugueses que estão em outras paragens. No especial de Natal, em 25 de dezembro, entre 1310 e 1400, em 21655 kHz, o segmento apresentou reportagem externa, onde o jornalista entrevistava pessoas que estavam no mercado de Funchal. Alguns passavam o Natal e Ano Novo na Ilha da Madeira, mas residem atualmente na Venezuela, como é o caso de Rui de Souza. É o rádio fazendo o seu papel! (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX Jan 8 via DXLD) ** MALAYSIA. 6024.95, Voice of Islam via RTM, Jan 7, 1640-1700*, in Bahasa Malaysia, pop music, ID ``Suara Islam,`` reciting from the Qur`an, choral Anthem, fair (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, RX340 + T2FD antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MAURITANIA. 4845.0, 2020-2120, 05-01 R Mauritanie, Nouakchott Arabic/French talks about Iraq, mentioned Nouakchott - back on the air! 35333 AP- DNK (ANKER PETERSEN, SKOVLUNDE, DINAMARCA, AOR AR7030PLUS with 25+40 m longwires, @tividade DX via DXLD) How long had it been off? ** MEXICO [and non]. 2. Definitivamente no pretendemos que Radio Mil sea la "exclusiva" de esta frecuencia en el mundo [6010], pero he de decirte que no tuvimos mayor problema con nadie hasta que aparecieron estos señores de "La Voz de Tu Conciencia"; teníamos informes de recepción de todo México y de 23 países, aproximadamente 20 por mes. Cuando aparecieron estos señores los informes se redujeron a uno por mes. Con tristeza comprobamos que incluso por meses aquí en la Cd. de México nos tapaban con su señal, y la información de nuestros amigos aqui en el país era que prácticamente R. Mil ya no se escuchaba. 3. Radio Mil emite desde 1990 con 1 kW y tiene una antena omnidireccional. 4. En el caso de aumentar potencia, esto no resolvería el problema; la interferencia sería lo suficiente como para alterar la transmisión de R. Mil. 5. Hace unos 6 años la RAI emitia en los 6010 kHz hacia nuestra área (Norteamérica); nos reunimos con su representante en México y en 6 meses dejaron de emitir en esta frecuencia por la interferencia que nos causaban. 6. En febrero del año pasado en la reunión de la HFCC en México (a la cual pertenece R. Mil y no así LVTC) conversé con la gente de la BBC, quienes hacían pruebas de transmisión digital en 6010 y causaba un ruido muy fuerte; dejaron en 6 meses estas pruebas. 7. Iniciamos contactos con Radio Suecia y están evaluando su presencia en los 6010 hacia Norteamérica. No es la "ley del más fuerte"; debe ser la ley del respeto, y los Srs. de La Voz de Tu Conciencia no lo han tenido a pesar de los supuestos cambios que han hecho. Acabo de llegar de unas vacaciones en Nayarit (noroeste de México) y "La Voz de Tu Conciencia" termina tapando a Radio Mil a partir de las 0400 UT que deja de emitir Radio Suecia. Incluso por propias palabras de Martin Stendal, han tenido problemas con alguna sudamericana en los 6010 kHz sin especificar cual; nosotros nunca tuvimos problemas con emisora alguna que emite en los 6010 kHz en todo el continente. Confío en los buenos oficios del gran amigo Jeff White para resolver el problema con esta "Radio República" de la cual sabe poco o nada. En lo particular me tienen sin cuidado los mensajes que tanto "La Voz de Tu Conciencia" como "Radio República"; sin embargo tengo respeto por quienes quieran escucharlos. Aquí cabría nuevamente mencionar a Benito Juárez, presidente mexicano: "entre los hombres como entre las naciones, el respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz" Radio Mil tiene mas de 50 años en el aire en esta frecuencia; nunca tuvo un problema como el causado por "La Voz de Tu Conciencia", problema que aniquiló parte del proyecto de onda copra [sic] de Radio Mil y tiró siete años de trabajo que teníamos laborando en él; así de fácil, y eso que es una emisora "cristiana" y que dice llevar un mensaje de "paz", como se los he dicho "Escuchen a su conciencia". Hay derechos que se ganan a través del tiempo, de la presencia, del trabajo y de la promoción en este caso por la onda corta como lo ha hecho R. Mil. Y sí con firmeza te digo que hemos ganado ese derecho en los 6010 kHz. Somos como los boxeadores mexicanos que nunca se dan por perdidos o algo que les sorprende a los jugadores sudamericanos que vienen a jugar foot ball a México; el futbolista mexicano nunca da un balón por perdido. Así estamos en Radio Mil onda corta: no nos vamos a rendir, la razón nos asiste y no vamos a claudicar (Julián Santiago Díez de Bonilla, Encargado. Proyecto de Onda Corta, XEOI Radio Mil, NRM Comunicaciones, México condig list via DXLD) Con respecto a las otras emisoras de gran potencia que usan esta misma frecuencia (6010 kHz), como es el caso de la BBC, la RAI, etc... Si tomamos como referencia el Passport, nos daremos cuenta que esas transmisiones están dirigidas principalmente a Europa, a África o a Asia, y verás que lo hacen a horas adecuadas para la transmision a esas áreas (tarde-noche), mientras que en América en esos mismos horarios es pleno día y la propagación de esta frecuencia es baja. Por eso Julián Santiago en su viaje a playas del Pacífico mexicano, durante el dia escuchaba espléndidamente a Radio Mil, porque las transmisiones de las emisoras de gran potencia no están irradiando sus ondas a este continente; sería además un gran derroche de dinero por consumo de energía. Pero que pasa al atardecer, la propagación mejora hasta al anochecer; por eso, después de las 18:00 horas del Centro de México, entran a interferir "Radio Republica", La Voz de Tu Conciencia y también por lo menos en el período pasado Radio Suecia y que se ha estado negociando con esta última emisora a través de la HFCC que utilicen otra frecuencia (Héctor García Bojorge, DF, condig list via DXLD) ** MONGOLIA. 12085, Voice of Mongolia, 1000-1010, 07-01, inicio programa en inglés, locutora "Welcome to the Voice of Mongolia in English to South East Asia and Europe on 12085 kHz.". Noticias. 24322 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Grundig Satellit 500 y Sony ICF SW 7600 G, Antena de cable, 10 metros, orientada WSW, Escuchas realizadas en Friol, 27 Km. W de Lugo, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. 15525, DRM, NETHERLANDS ANTILLES, R Netherlands, 1/5 2101, Newsline, news of Israeli PM Sharon's stroke, attacks in Iraq. S/N ratio about 23 dB would support much better audio than this 14 kbps broadcast is capable of providing. Another lousy sounding DRM demonstration broadcast for the attendees of CES (why aren't they using more bits?) (Ralph Brandi, Middletown, NJ, AOR AR-730 Plus + DRM Drake R8, 300' Mini-Beverage, T2FD, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** NIGERIA. Hello Glenn, Voice of Nigeria, in English on 15120 at 1920 on 1/7 with Nice signal (Christopher Lewis, England, DX LISTENIG DIGEST) Now a more or less stable pattern, since Xmas: 0630-0700 15120 English (sign-on seems to be variable, but often off until past 0600) 0700-0800 15120 French 0800-1000 7255 Hausa, Fulfulde 1000-1500 7255 English 1500-1630 7255 Kisuaheli + more African Languages 1630-1700 15120 Arabic 1700-2100 15120 English 2100-2200 7255 French 2200-2300 7255 Hausa (Thorsten Hallmann, Münster, Germany, Jan 8, dxing.info via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3204.97, R. West Sepik, Vanimo. 1/03 1242 Music better than audio, Tok Pisin. Poor (George Herr, CA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) 3204.996, 24.12 1320, Radio West Sepik, Vanimo with talk. Extended transmission due to Christmas Eve? 2-3 SA 3234.998, 26.12 1340, Radio West New Britain, Kimbe probably overtime due to holidays. Unusually strong, nearly QSA 3. SA 3304.991, 29.12 2020, unID but surely Radio Western, Daru with typical music. Faded away to be gone completely at 2040. Also heard Dec 31 at the same time. No other signs of other PNG. 1-2 SA 3325.028, 26.12 1355, unID and my guess is Radio North Solomons, Kieta. Closedown 1400. The station was so weak I could not identify the language. Normally this should not be a tip because it might have been RRI but Kieta is in favour. Someone heard a positive sign of Kieta lately?? 1 SA (Stig Adolfsson, Sweden, SW Bulletin Jan 8, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also INDONESIA ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA [non]. 7120, 23.12 1100, Xinjiang blocking between 1030-1230, which means the PNG station can't be heard any longer. The easiest to ID is to check // 9705. Kyrgyz-language. S 3-. BEFF (Björn Fransson, Sweden, SW Bulletin Jan 8, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PORTUGAL. Since I have to complain from time to time about the bad audio quality of RDPI, I am pleased to report that the quality was good, Jan 8 at 2221 on 15540 despite it being play-by-play of some silly ballgame, and equally good on weaker // 11825 checked at 2251 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also GERMANY [non] ** RUSSIA. QSL: 7480, Family Radio via Komsomolsk-na-Amure. Full data '3 decades of Faithful Service' ( with site) Card, with schedule, religious material, and Postcard of San Francisco in 39 days (Edward Kusalik, Alberta, CANADA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SINGAPORE. BBC Via Singapore, 1600-1700 on 9740. Super strong signal in English, all 5's on SINPO. Have sent a report to station in Singapore; maybe I'll get lucky! Regards (Christopher Lewis, England, Jan 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SINGAPORE [non]. Chris Hambly, Victoria, tells me he heard AWR Wavescan again, and once again it was rubbish; probably on the 1730 UT transmission, and yes, it was on UT Saturday (Glenn Hauser, Jan 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) New 9530, 1530-1558* UAE Su 01-01 AWR, Singapore via Dhabbaya, English. New ``Wavescan`` presented by Rhoen Catolico with introduction of the team from Japan SW Club. Scheduled Sundays; 55555 AP-DNK (ANKER PETERSEN 1, SKOVLUNDE, DINAMARCA on the AOR AR7030PLUS with 25+40 m longwires, @tividade DX via DXLD) So the 1530 broadcast was on UT Sunday, even tho that was after local midnight on GUAM (1400 UT), contrary to what Bob Padula reported; but Chris Hambly had the 1730 broadcast on UT Sat. So WHEN does the Program Day really start at AWR?? Or does it overlap depending on the transmitter site? Is it too much to ask for AWR to provide the explicit UT days and times for each airing of Wavescan? (gh, DXLD) ** SWAZILAND. Another Radio Liberty! Observed via DX Tuners web receiver sited at Johannesburg, RSA, fading in around 1600 UT 6 January 2006 and going out around 0010 UT the following day: The station broadcasting on MW 1377 kHz from Sandlane, SWZ, formerly known as Radio Cidade International, was observed variously identifying as "Liberty Radio" or "Radio Liberty, 1377 k of love" [yuk!]. Programming continues to be in Portuguese and English, with lots of music - including a show presented in Portuguese called "Cidade Tropical" - spiritual messages and some religious programming. Reception varied from poor to fair. A Google search only turned up one reference to the station - "Liberty Radio 13.77 AM" - with a programme guide, which didn't seem to bear much relation to what I was hearing, even allowing for local time (UT +2). This is on the website of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, at http://www.uckg.org.za/radio_programs.htm An audio clip of both Liberty Radio and its predecessor Radio Cidade International can be heard at the Interval Signals Online website at http://www.intervalsignals.net Regards, (Dave Kernick, UK, Jan 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TATARSTAN [non]. Hello Glenn, As mentioned previous, have been listening to Tatarstan on 11915 (0900-1000 UT). The past couple days the audio has not started till around 0911, even though the transmitter was on since 0845 or so. Anybody else know if this is their usual startup time, or a problem? (Christopher Lewis, England, Jan 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKEY. Programma in Italiano INASCOLTABILE qui nella PADANIA !!!!! Ciao! La Redazione Italiana della VOT ha così "reagito" al mio messaggio: Gentile signore Monferini, abbiamo parlato di questa problema con i nostri capi; prima o poi risolveremo. Abbi pazienza :) Saluti dalla redazione italiana (via Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) Referring to the collision with Vatican on 6185 at 1730 (gh) ** U K. Re 6-005: January MT BBC-in-NA Guide --- As the author of the article, perhaps an explanation is in order. I spent several weeks in November monitoring various BBC frequencies. During that time, though usually audible, both 15565 and 17640 were consistently weak. The (admittedly subjective) criteria I set for inclusion in the listings was a level of signal strength that would make it likely that the frequency would be heard on portable radios without need for an external antenna. Of course, we all know that shortwave conditions change with the season and as we have gotten deeper into winter in NA, signal quality on both 15565 and 17640 has significantly improved. Also, my experience in the US northeast undoubtedly differ from that of listeners in other regions. Live and learn! These BBCWS listings will be a regular feature of the column, appearing perhaps twice a year. I'd welcome input from dxld readers in North America, so the next one will better reflect reception conditions throughout the continent. Hopefully, all of you are subscribers to Monitoring Times or soon will be. I think it's important for those of us who appreciate radio to support sources like MT and dxld to the best of our capability (John Figliozzi, Programming Spotlight column editor, Monitoring Times magazine, Jan 8, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. YOU CAN WAGGLE THE AERIAL STILL ... Digital radio: crystal clear sound, 170 stations, the best music going. Our new radio critic ventures into the future of broadcasting Miranda Sawyer, Sunday January 8, 2006, The Observer A Dab radio: the one digi-age Christmas present even grandparents can get to grips with. It's just a radio, Nan, with more stations. Oh, and a strangely old-fashioned scrolling text display that tells you about the channel you've tuned into. Let's try Passion, shall we? The display tickertapes its info. Passion consists of 'news and interviews focusing on health and environment, with music from around the world'. Oh dear. Magic, here we come. . . http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,,1681346,00.html (Guardian via David Cole, OK, DXLD) ** U K. HOSPITAL BROADCASTING IN THE UK All over the UK, patients can hear music, news and information from their local hospital radio service. There are also a handful of hospital television services. The Hospital Broadcasting Association is the national body, representing around 260 local stations. Hospital radio aims to provide comfort and entertainment to patients in hospital with a special mix of music and chat. The service also keeps patients in touch with their family and friends with music requests and local news items. Hospital TV programmes, where they are provided, report on events in the community and keep patients informed. . . http://www.hospitalbroadcasting.co.uk/ (via Víctor Castaño, Conexión Digital Jan 8 via DXLD) WTFK? Carrier current? ** U S A. WWCR DX Program changes --- WWCR has added a new time and frequency for WORLD OF RADIO, at least temporarily: Saturday 1700 UT on 12160. This should provide good coverage of much of North America, and I hope, Europe. 73, (Glenn, Jan 6, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Meanwhile, the January program guide reveals that Cyberline is gone, and Ask WWCR Sunday 1100 moves 15 minutes earlier to 1045 on 5070 (John Norfolk, ibid.) According to the pdf Jan 1 schedule, Cyberline is replaced by Into Tomorrow with Dave Graveline, a technology show, which is on a lot of domestic stations too. WWCR sked says 0400-0600, while show page shows 0400-0500 only: http://www.graveline.com/ (Glenn, Jan 7, ibid.) Regarding WoR: Listened yesterday at 17 UT on 12160 kHz. It was received with a weak signal in Copenhagen, around O=2-3. Today there was no reception at 0930 on 7385 kHz (as usual). 73, (Erik Køie, Denmark, Jan 8, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) WOR is no longer at 0930 Sunday on 7385, anyway. Pleased to note that modulation was good from WRMI, 7385, during both airings of WORLD OF RADIO, Sunday Jan 8, after 1400, and 2229 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 7415/9330, Hour of the Time via WBCQ. Xmas Card (with verification statement), verifying my report, mentioned I would be getting QSL certificate from the USA Address. Canadian address for reports: 2446 Bank Street, Ottawa, Ontario, KIV 1A8 Web site: http://www.hourofthetime.com (Edward Kusalik, Alberta, CANADA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. 6220, 26.12 1400, Voice of Joy finally with its program for the American Army somewhere. Was heavily disturbed by Mystery Radio, but the fragments I heard were Military marches in a bad mix with Christian choir music. What types of soldiers ``over there`` will listen to such? Dec 30 was the strength much better, no transmission from Mystery. The same ``odd`` format. S 3-4. BEFF (Björn Fransson, Sweden, SW Bulletin Jan 8, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) And continues Saturdays only via FSU {so that should read Dec 31} ** U S A. Re WTOP/WTWP: Don't forget that Bonneville International Corp. is a part of the humongous Mormon investment empire. Although their official site seems to be quiet about that http://www.bonnint.com/ This media holding company also runs a "public service" agency that is responsible for Mormon PR in the secular media worldwide --- see http://bonneville.com/ LDS has always paid special attention to influencing and infiltrating the US federal government structures in Washington, DC. It's not surprising to see them developing a news station there. But I'm surprised that The Washington Post would get involved so closely with Bonneville (Sergei Sosedkin, IL? Jan 6, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Shame WTOP is leaving 1500 kHz. Easy to hear in the metro D.C. area. Had car radio button set to hear traffic reports when needed. Would listen when getting ready for work in the morning to hear traffic, weather and any train problems. Also, able to hear when I traveled to Indiana, Tennessee and Pittsburgh, PA. Nice way to "check in" with happenings/events before returning. From the info I read about Washington Post radio, doesn't sound like programming will be the same. More NPR type reporting. Was listening to WTOP in December 2004 around sunset. Heard a buzz and signal lost for a few seconds. Thought something in my house might have caused QRM. Continued to listen to WTOP around the same time for several days and experienced the same results. While listening to WTOP at work they were commenting on listener questions. One listener asked about the buzz and signal loss. I quickly turned up the volume to hear the answer. The official WTOP reply: FCC makes us change power at night. The buzz and signal loss are due to complying with FCC request. We're working to eliminate the brief signal loss. Interesting. This was in December 2004 and unsure if still applies now. 73, (Kraig, KG4LAC, Krist, VA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re the various comments concerning WTOP with thanks to Glenn, Andrew O'Brien (yes Andrew - we think the same about the NW of England too!!), Andy Sennitt and Sergei S. The station has since been heard announcing/talking about the various changes in frequency and format. The Washington Post and Bonneville International Corp. sounds an "interesting" combination! As regards the actual transmission on 1500, I assumed the full 50 kW was going out night as well as day according to the various listings, but it is a surprise to read that most of the signal is going towards the southeast from Washington, and it isn't in my direction. But the vagaries of long distance MW propagation are very complex and the use made of directional antennas in NoAM adds to this. Stations using much lower powers than 50 kW are audible, if not identified, on frequencies where 5 kW or less is listed - 1470, 1400 and 1390 are just three of them - as well as in the X band, so it isn't all down to power that determines what is heard. As it happens there are very adjacent channels using 50 kW from the north-east area of the USA - WTOP 1500, WWZN Boston 1510, WWKB Buffalo 1520 and WDCD Albany 1540 but they all give very different reception results, presumably due to that mentioned above. Thanks for the feedback. 73 from (Noel R. Green, Blackpool, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) A look at WTOP`s night pattern, standard disclaimer; the day pattern is about the same tho of different dimensions. http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WTOP&service=AM&status=L&hours=N So there is a little lobe toward NW England, I guess (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) ** U S A. FM STATIONS TRY TO TALK THEIR WAY OUT OF TROUBLE By Marc Fisher, Washington Post Staff Writer Sunday, January 8, 2006; N01 Last week's demise of Z-104 is another sign that radio in the era of listener empowerment is becoming a chattier, newsier medium. Commercial broadcast radio is fighting the emergence of iPods and Web radio not with more musical choices but with less music altogether. When Bonneville International Corp. juggled its lineup of radio formats in the Washington market Wednesday, bolstering its offerings of news and talk while diminishing classical music and eliminating its rock station, the company acknowledged two eternal truths of popular culture: One, every time a new technology comes along, threatening to rock the old media right out of this world, the old media tend to take on new roles rather than die. And two, if you can't fight 'em, join 'em. . . http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/06/AR2006010600337_pf.html (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. WJDM soon to be WNYG --- Neal Newman wrote that WJDM is diplexed with WNSW, not with WZRC. Quite so, AND Mr Liu now appears to be taking the next clever step in upgrading WNSW. WJDM will be turning in its license (a step long overdue, since what is now WWRV 1660 was supposed to co-exist with WJDM for only five years). By now (and WITH FCC approval) the 1530 and 1660 stations must have been on the air together for 10 years --- or close to it. However, the 1530 signal from the Union site is not going anywhere. The calls will simply change to WNYG, which is applying to move to Elizabeth using the current WJDM facilities (maybe with a small power increase during noncritical daytime hours). The 1440 signal in Babylon IS going away, though, as Multicultural had announced it would maybe five years ago, when it bought the Long Island station with the express intent of taking it dark to upgrade what is now WNSW. The plan at that time was to move WNSW to the WPAT site and to increase WNSW's power to 50 kW-U. I don't know how all that would work out. Would there be prohibited overlap of the 5 mV/m of WCTC 1450 and that of a 50 kW WNSW operating from the top-loaded towers in Clifton that turn out to be exactly 225 degrees at 1430? And can WNSW deliver the requisite 5 mV/m by day and an NIF signal by night to 80% of Newark from that rather far-north site? If it works out, the New York metro will get yet another 50 kW-U AM, which will cover the five boroughs and a lot of northern NJ very nicely. Having grown up in the northwest Bronx, where 1430 is barely audible (it was better before the site move -- within Union -- maybe 25 years ago; the current skirt-fed towers are much shorter and less efficient than the old ones), I would see such a move as a big improvement. WPAT is far from the strongest 5 kW Meadowlands signal in that part of the Bronx (970, which has applied for 10 kW-D and 1330, which is 10 kW-D are a lot stronger), but the 930 signal is OK there, and I imagine that 1430 operating with 50 kw from the same site would be at least as good. -- (Dan Strassberg, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. Re 1710, Radio Moshiach and Redemption: Similar programs have been heard in the past on 1630 kHz in Brooklyn, but not in //. However there is now a repetitive loop tape from a NY State DOT TIS on that frequency, presumably located in Staten Island, so I have no way of checking from my home QTH near the Raritan Bay. I will have to check again this week when I am in Brooklyn. Also... Russian FM Pirate -- At my home QTH, there is a very strong Russian FM pirate on 87.7 MHz. It is commercial and very professional. I suspect that it is also from the Brooklyn, which is a few miles across the bay. Does anyone have information on this one? (Dan Srebnick - Aberdeen, NJ, Jan 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 650, TENNESSEE, WSM, Nashville; 1904-1915 UT, 7 January. Surprised to hear this one coming in clear and good, early afternoon, with Country songs, lots of canned IDs (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WGN 720. This Classic Chicago A.M.er is the most northerly signal I have receive from the U.S. through many years of DXing. And is possible if you set you portable's ferrite antenna perpendicular to signals from North America, especially while you are in a place like Costa Rica's Puerto Viejo, after sunset, even better after 0300 UT. Otherwise you'll probably get RJR Jamaica most of the time. WJNS [see below]. 640 Oldies Radio from South Florida. Heard before 0500 UT playing Only You by the Platters, followed by Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye by The Casinos. Later California Dreamin`. Fair to poor signal and some interference from co-channel unID station. A new one for me. KAAY. Little Rock, The (Real) Mighty 10-90, as I knew it back in the mid 1960s with a kind of young-adult Top 40 playlist, before becoming a Christian channel. Has anybody got news if they are still on the air. Got a tremendous signal here in the past, but no more (Raúl Saavedra, Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica, Jan 7, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) AFAIK, still on. Night pattern is a tight figure-8 NNW/SSE, which should be just right for an ERP way over 50 kW toward Tiquicia. We don`t hear much of it in OK, which is fine with me (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) Raul, That's WJNA on 640 (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston, Florida, ibid.) ** U S A. History of Beloit College Radio 1907-94 in Beloit, {WBCR} Wisconsin. It's a long read and a bit dated now (1994), but still loaded with great information and pictures. These days it's still a 100 watt FM station on 90.3 MHz. link: http://www.beloit.edu/%7Elibhome/Archives/papers/ether.html (Dave Zantow, WI, Jan 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. KGLP 91.7, public radio in Gallup NM has just made a huge power increase, from 100 to 880 watts, and added ``digital``, they say. I tuned in for the monthly Art Crawl show, during the 0200-0300 hour UT Sun Jan 8 when they were getting phone-in reception reports about their increased coverage. 880 may not seem like much, but they were already on Gibson Peak, 2414m above sea level. For some reason the new FM Atlas lists them at 60000 watts ERP, but radiolocator.com confirms they had a CP for 880 to replace 100 from the same site. I had no idea they were running only 100 watts, on my trips thru Gallup on I-40, and once visited the studios. There is also a webcam at http://www.kglp.org (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, thanks for calling to my attention the KGLProblem. I have no idea how the wrong parameters made it onto p. 216, but I have made the correction. Interestingly, the coverage at 33 km is correct as shown in Part I of the Station Directory. Good to hear from you, and have a great 2006 (Brucey Elving, MN, FM Atlas, Jan 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Do you know what became of KUTX San Angelo TX? Used to have separate programming from KUT; now I can`t find any mention of it even as a full-time satellite on the KUT website, tho kutx forwards to there (Glenn to Kevin Kelly, via DXLD) I do remember that, back around the start of the war in 2002, they launched a news-and-information format on KUTX. They were even streaming it and recommending the stream to their Austin listeners. It seemed like they were heading towards a dual-signal operation -- I imagined they might even try to get an Austin translator for KUTX. But this lasted less than a year, then they went back to simulcast. I know that KUT also launched its local news operation in 2002, so maybe they decided they had to direct their resources towards that rather than KUTX. As far as I can tell, KUTX still exists simulcasting KUT. It's still on the NPR station list, still on radio-locator as owned by the University. But the complete lack of mention on kut.org is surprising. Assuming it still exists, it must be seen as an insignificant part of their operation. Even so, how hard would it be to say "90.1 in San Angelo" in the fine print somewhere? (Kevin A. Kelly, publicradiofan.com Jan 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Glenn, I remember you mentioning your disappointment on a COM that KING FM - Seattle had moved Roger Sherman's Organ Loft out of its usual Sunday night slot to an unpredictable location. Good news!! I heard yesterday that it's back on at 10:00 PM PST, 0600 UT following the Compline Service program. Apparently, KING FM replaced the senior management person (program director, I think) that was responsible for so many to the unwelcome (to me) changes in the format and replaced him with the one of the veteran KING staff members. Anyway, presumably you listen to the station via its web broadcast so if you have time, check it out. Since I live just east of Seattle, I listen via FM. Regards, (Bruce Burrow, AB7WH, Snoqualmie, WA, Jan 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Bruce, Tnx for letting me know about that. I`d about given up on trying to keep up with KING programming. As a matter of fact, Brian Lowe, the new PD/old staffer is also a WOR listener, I understand. Looks like he is making some changes for the better. However, I then looked at today`s playlist http://www.king.org/nowplaying/Schedule.asp?DATE=TODAY and see that altho there is one short organ piece at 0600 right after Compline, that`s it for organ. So I wonder if the change goes into effect later? Or they do different stuff on their stream than they do on FM? (Glenn to Bruce, via DXLD) ** U S A. UNCERTAINTY HANGS OVER KGY RADIO HEADQUARTERS --- LEASE EXPIRES IN 2009; PORT WANTS TO USE SPACE FOR NEW DEVELOPMENTS BY JIM SZYMANSKI THE OLYMPIAN OLYMPIA - The fate of KGY radio, a 92-year Olympia tradition, is a mystery as the new year begins. Though station owners want to remain at their scenic Port of Olympia location, port officials would like the station to move from the spot it has occupied since 1960 to make way for potential new development. The station's lease with the port for its NorthPoint peninsula location expires in 2009. Whether station owner Barbara Kerry can afford to move could determine whether the station winds up going off the air before the end of the decade. She said she hasn't yet figured out the finances of a possible move. "We don't have a lot of money," Kerry, 71, said during an interview last week. "I know the port doesn't want us here. We're in the way." Port staff and station management have been privately trying to work out a solution for more than a year, but not much progress seems to have been made. . . http://159.54.227.3/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060108/BUSINESS/60108019/1003 (via Kevin Redding, Jan 8, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. WNAX, 570, Yankton SD, currently being heard with excellent signals in Memphis, dominant on frequency and well over Radio Reloj. They may have left their daytime power on (Jim Pogue, Memphis, TN, 0508 UT Jan 8, IRCA via DXLD) WBCA-1110 Cheating --- 1110, WBCA, AL, BAY MINETTE, 2230 07/01/06, AD FOR WALLY'S BBQ "WHEN IN YOU`RE IN LOWER ALABAMA, STOP BY WALLY'S, RIGHT NEXT TO THE POLICE STATION, ON HIGHWAY 98." I believe this station is cheating, as they are covering WBT, Charlotte, NC. Are listed as a day-timer. They have some type of talk show on and are talking how the media dropped the ball on the West Virginia miners story. Lee Freshwater's list shows they are southern gospel, so could also be a format change (Willis, WB5KHD, Monk, Old Fort, TN, IRCA via DXLD) I'd like to ban the term "cheating" from the slang of DX'ers. It presumes guilt, as in, this station is broadcasting at their day time power in order to increase their listening audience and make more money. I prefer the term "malfunctioning" which is a better way to describe a broken or misprogrammed automation system, human error, or other unintentional happenings. Obviously some stations do "cheat", but I'd rather give our friends in broadcasting the benefit of the doubt. That sound you hear is your broadcast test coordinator getting down from his soapbox. :) 73 and Good DX, (Les Rayburn, Birmingham, AL, ibid.) As one DXer who will take the other side of what I hope won't become the usual flame war when this topic has been discussed, I must comment. Last night and many others provide a perfect illustration between "cheating" and "malfunctioning". As long as 10 years ago, WBCA was one of the first daytime only stations that I observed to be habitually on at night. This wasn't every night, but it was more than a few and more likely on Fri/Sat night when they might expect more listeners. This wasn't a case of a station with a PSSA operating at 500w maximum (most are lower power) for up to 2 hours after sunset, it was a case of them operating on full power for at least several hours after sunset and sometimes AN. WBCA was warned by the FCC and I believe fined at least once and had been behaving most of the time for the last couple of years. Was last night an unintentional mistake? If so then it is in the same category with someone who has 3 DUI's and drives home with a B.A.C. of .23 (almost 3 times most states` limit for DUI) WNAX, on the other hand, and assuming they were on day pattern (noting they are 5 KW day and night) is likely a case of malfunctioning. I don't see what they have to gain by leaving day pattern on at night and strongly suspect some kind of error that will be corrected shortly. Perhaps they have a temporary STA to use only 1 stick due to a problem or need to work on the antenna array? Anyhow, there is a big difference between the first time (basically) a station is noted almost certainly on day pattern and one that has been on night with 10 KW when it is supposed to sign off at sunset! 73 KAZ hoping this is his only comment on this issue, but expecting it won't be (Neil Kazaross, IL, ibid.) Kaz's point is valid. My concern is that DX'ers are in the habit of using the term "cheating" as a generic adjective to describe any station running on day power after their authorized hours. Frankly, I don't see how either situation is a bad one for DX'ers. A malfunction or deliberate "cheating" results in the chance for us to log a station that wouldn't be receivable otherwise. Obviously if a station does it every night for months and months, the argument could be made that they are preventing the reception of weaker stations --- but I maintain that prolonged operation outside allowable power levels is the concern of the other stations on that frequency who might be receiving interference, not the concern of hobbyists. As someone who deals with broadcasters nearly every day trying to arrange tests, I'd rather we err on the side of presuming innocence, rather than guilt. Least we end up biting the hand that feeds us. 73, (Les Rayburn, N1LF, NRC/IRCA Broadcast Test Coordinator, ibid.) ** U S A. 96.7 MHz, FLORIDA (PIRATE), unidentified, Pinellas County; I noted a huge, local stereo signal on 96.7 MHz from my Pinellas home (Clearwater/Largo area) today, Sunday, 1745-1803 UT, 8 January. All- Urban, mostly lighter stuff (Usher, Alicia Keys, etc.) seemingly via a CD-shuffle source, as about 3-5 seconds gap between songs, no voice announcements during my listen. The signal (using the closest- available radio, a GE Super Radio III with whip antenna) looped either towards Largo/High Point or NE St. Petersburg, or downtown Clearwater (suspect the latter, being that the signal was equally good to my NW). The transmitter was abruptly cut at 2:03 p.m., not to return through this typing, and not located on any alternate channel. This is NOT the same station as the 96.7 St. Petersburg Old School/Urban pirate, which has seemingly been inactive for a few months now (and was never very strong at this location, when active). Of course, I will continue to monitor for any possible reappearance. 107.9 MHz, FLORIDA, WPFM-FM, Panamá City; 1810+ UT, 8 January. Current Urban/dance hits, slogan always "107 Point 9, PFM", and trouncing semi-local 107.9 WSRZ-Sarasota (BTW, why do they sometimes use "107 Point 9, Oldies 108" drops? How dumb to use two "frequency" refs). Mostly fairly good, and making it in on the car radio stereo pilot light (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, Visit my "Florida Low Power Radio Stations" at: http://home.earthlink.net/~tocobagadx/flortis.html or: http://www.geocities.com/geigertree/flortis.html DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. I've been bleating in this space for months, in one way or another, about the yawning gap between the MSM's orgy of self- congratulation over its Katrina coverage and the pathetic actuality of that coverage. Tonight on New Orleans public television station WYES, the local pundit yak show came back on the air after a K-enforced absence, so this was these guys' first crack at the whole subject. John Hill, who covers the state capital in Bâton Rouge for Gannett newspapers, was acidic in his assessment of the national media's performance. "They didn't know what they were talking about." He contrasted his first-hand reporting at the Superdome, where he saw groups of families taking turns sleeping so as to care foe each others' kids, to the view on his TV at home to Baton Rouge -- Anderson Cooper talking about rapings and killings that turned out not to be true (the "families" angle was seconded yesterday by an African- American acquaintance who was here during the ordeal). Concluded Hill, who, remember, works for a major newspaper owner: "I'll never trust the cable networks or the network news again unless (they're reporting about) their own city." Meaning we can believe what they tell us about --- New York, Atlanta, and Secaucus? [replies:] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/harry-shearer/its-not-just-me_b_13404.html (Harry Shearer, Eat the Press blog, Huffington Post via DXLD) ** URUGUAY. Sonidos de la peluquería de mi barrio --- Un viaje sonoro por el dial de los viejos tiempos de la radio montevideana está en: http://members.tripod.com/webon/pelu.htm Los archivos están en realaudio streaming. Primera vez que recupero el audio de la vieja Radio Artigas, CX34, que después de su cierre dejó un hueco en el dial; ninguna emisora en Montevideo la reemplazó (Horacio Nigro, Uruguay, condig list via DXLD) ** UZBEKISTAN. Is Radio Tashkent still on shortwave at all? I just received a message that recently the German program on 5025 was missing, and the reply to a subsequent enquiry was described as vaguely stating that Radio Tashkent has been abandoned shortwave, referring listeners to the just introduced Internet stream (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Jan 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Nothing here at 0100 UT Jan 8 on 7160 7190; went to http://ino.uzpak.uz/index.html --- Clicked on ONLINE RADIO INO1 and the English broadcast was 30 seconds in with a lady saying to listen to English on the internet at 0100, 1200, 1330 and 2030, perhaps also said 2130 but was not recording and did not have a pen handy (Mike Barraclough, UK, dxldyg via DX LISTENNG DIGEST) [Later:] Following a tip off from Kai Ludwig in DXLD it seems Radio Tashkent has left shortwave. I went to http://ino.uzpak.uz/index.html and clicked on the ONLINE RADIO INO1 link at 1157. At 1200 there was the Radio Tashkent Interval signal followed by an announcement saying that from January 1st 2006 the programmes of Radio Tashkent would be on the internet site including English at 0100, 1200, 1330, 2030 and 2130; followed by the regular English programme (Mike Barraclough, World DX Club via DXLD) To add proper credits to the chronicle: It was Helmut Matt who first noted that Radio Tashkent has abandoned shortwave. The German service today also announced only the website as "frequency". Here is a recording of the programme opening on the streamed audio circuit #2: http://www.radioeins.de/meta/sendungen/apparat/060107_A1.ram Please see two further comments in Andy's weblog. Good night, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Jan 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Indeed, just checked the 1200 broadcast and the last said that "from 1st January 2006 you will be able to listen to Radio Tashkent online" and gave times as below (including 2130). No shortwave frequencies were mentioned in the announcement (Andy Sennitt, Netherlands, Jan 8, ibid.) This is Bizarre. Tuned in channel 1 at 1520 UT to hear interval signal from Radio Tashkent. Seems this has lost all its meaning! (Jonathan Marks, 01.08.06 - 4:45 pm, Media Network blog via DXLD) Well, they put out a 1 kHz tone on the Web for at least 25 minutes prior to the 1200 UT transmission. Then, indeed, signed on with the interval signal repeated twice as they always did on shortwave. So apparently nothing has changed in the control room so far (Andy Sennitt, 01.08.06 - 5:58 pm, ibid.) Tried to hear their English at 2030 UT on 7185, but nothing on the frequency (Erik Køie, Denmark, Jan 8, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA [non]. 11670/11875/13680/13750/17750, CUBA, "Aló Presidente" (via Radio Habana Cuba); 1705-1722, 8 January. The usual Sunday-only patched Venezuelan political talk, though not by Hugo in this listening period. All channels near local level except for 17750, which was fair. No other channels located (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also CUBA UNIDENTIFIED. Bonker on 5070 again. I'm beginning to think this is some sort of jamming as it seems to be repetitive and does not contain any varying information (Lou Johnson, Atlanta GA, 1212 UT Jan 7, to Ask WWCR, cc to DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 9270.106, 27.12 1410, unID in AM, the same station I reported earlier, then in American, this time an unID language. 1 SA (Stig Adolfsson, Sweden, SW Bulletin Jan 8, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Glenn, been listening to you for years but for some reason rather enjoying this week`s show more than in the past. Keep up the good work --- shortwave needs all the friends it can get! 73s (Bill Bergadano, KA2EMZ, UT Jan 8) RADIO PHILATELY +++++++++++++++ CHANGES IN USPS POSTAGE As has been announced in earlier posts today, the second ounce went to 24 cents. So that is still in line with the new one ounce rate from Canada/Mexico (63 cents). Before the rate increase, 2 oz. in the US was 60 cents (37 + 23), same as one oz. from Canada/Mexico, so one 60 cent stamp served two purposes. Now a 63 cent stamp, when available, can be used for 2 reasons, just like before the increase. That USPS is always thinking of us consumers. International goes to 84 cents everywhere for 1 oz. but the second ounce is split different ways depending on country --- anywhere from $1.65 to $1.80 are the new values for 2 oz. [what I don`t get is how the 2nd ounce can now cost MORE than the first oz. Might as well break it up and send two separate letters; Yes, I know, that would also involve two envelopes --- gh] Global Priority Mail (which I use at times rather than registering a letter) goes from $5 to $5.25 for the small envelopes and the larger envelope goes from $9 to $9.50. To Canada, it goes from $4 to $4.25 and $7 to $7.25 respectively. IRCs went up a dime to $1.85, no-value letter registrations went from $7.50 to $7.90 and return receipts also went up a dime to $1.85. http://www.usps.com already has all the new rates entered on their website. As for Canada, rates within Canada: It goes from 50 cents to 51 cents on January 16, 2006. To the US, the rate goes up from 85 cents to 89 cents, so a dollar should still cover it. The international rate goes from $1.45 to $1.49. http://www.canadapost.ca has the info there. 73- (John Sgrulletta, Mahopac, NY, Jan 8, NRC-AM via DXLD) BTW I was told by our local P-Off that if you have a lot of 'old' stamps you can return them as payment toward the new denominations (Mark Durenberger, ibid.) I haven`t asked recently, but the policy used to be, no way can you return stamps --- I suppose because the stickum could be contaminated, and the resale customer might lick an unknown germ. Now that everything(?) is self-adhesive, that is no longer such a concern. I now get my tapioca fix from --- tapioca (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ DIAL LIGHT THERAPY When Lauren was a baby, some of my DXing involved what I termed "dialight therapy". If she was upset and wouldn't go back to sleep, I'd scoop her up in my arms, take her down to my cozy shack in the basement, and with the lights off, fire all the receivers that had good diallights or displays up, with the volume down except for one which I'd tune in some DX with a low volume. The HQ-129-X with its warm audio and big tuning and bandspread knobs was ideal. First time my wife said, just coincidence. After it worked a dozen or more times, she realized its genetic... :) Seriously, a warm cozy shack, a relaxed parent, soft lighting, warm soft audio, pleasant music or chat really can work to relax a wee one... Baby we were born to DX... [apologies to Bruce Springsteen] (Phil Rafuse, PEI, Jan 6, ABDX via DXLD) DI- and TRI-PLEXING Is a non-directional antenna, carrying a 250 kW and a 20 kW signal 12.9% apart, worth a mention? If so: 693/603 at Zehlendorf, featured on the website of Bernd Waniewski as well. This is an entirely new mast, built to move the mediumwave operations from the Uhlenhorst site inmidst Berlin out to Zehlendorf. The longwave antenna uses the original mast of the antenna system that was in use on 177 kHz until December 1991. Back then 177 was supposed to go dark, but at short notice transmissions continued via the Königs Wusterhausen aux. After some time Zehlendorf resumed service on 177 with reduced power (250 kW) via the backup antenna. The main system had to be rebuilt because the bandwidth of the backup was insufficient for DRM. Well, at least they now have a nice AM system. Berlin-Britz was a diplex as well, but I understand that now one mast runs 855 and the other one 990. The cross dipole no longer exists; it had been dismantled quite recently after transmissions via this antenna were forbidden already for a decade. And a few years ago they just barely managed to avoid a similar ban against the folded dipole of the 20 kW shortwave transmitter. Otherwise 6190 would have to go dark by then. Are triplexed systems seldom enough that each one is worth a mention? If so I can throw in a now defunct one: Berlin Stallupöner Allee, with 567 (100 kW), 810 (5 kW) and 1449 (5 kW). (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Jan 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) These seem to be nice examples of the always excellent Brueger and Waniewski work, but not all that remarkable by comparison to some of the ones in your original correspondent's list (Ben Dawson, Jan 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) DIGITAL BROADCASTING DRM Logs: BELGIUM, CHILE, GERMANY, NETHERLANDS ++++++++++++++++++++ DIGITAL RADIO, HD RADIO QUESTIONS I believe RDS simply relates to the data stream (e.g. scrolling text with artist, what's playing, weather, traffic) that currently can be implemented in analog broadcasting. In the USA, at least, not that many stations implement RDS. HD -- which, in North America, is the same as IBOC -- is entirely different. IBOC allows non-audio data to be sent along with the signal, like RDS. It cannot be received on regular radios. IBOC, DRM, and DAB (which was trialed in Canada and Europe but only seems to have stuck in the UK) are all incompatible digital radio technologies. Interestingly, the encoding scheme for DRM is approximately the same as Sirius satellite radio uses -- AACPlus. Howver, the frequencies for satellite radio are vastly higher than terrestrial broadcasting. Whether or not digital free-to-air radio becomes viable will, in my opinion, depend on the content provided. If digital free-to-air (HD / IBOC) radio provides only the same content as analog radio, I don't think it will stick, because I doubt many people would invest in the new equipment required to receive the HD signals. Satellite radio seems to be feasible because people will pay for the diversity, portability, consistency, and quality of content (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA, ODXA via DXLD) KTSA-550 still on IBOC; WOAI-1200 off Further listening today confirms KTSA-550, San Antonio, is still running IBOC days. But WOAI-1200 has stopped running IBOC; 1190 and 1210 were clear and digihash-free today (Harry Helms, W5HLH, Smithville, TX EL19, Jan 7, ABFX via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ SB PROP @ ARL $ARLP001 ARLP001 Propagation de K7RA ZCZC AP01 QST de W1AW Propagation Forecast Bulletin 1 ARLP001 From Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, WA January 6, 2006 To all radio amateurs Average daily sunspot numbers for the past week (December 29 through January 4) were nearly 22 points below the previous period. Average daily solar flux was about the same. Average daily mid-latitude geomagnetic indices (A and K index) were exactly the same, and the planetary A and K index were slightly lower. For the near term expect sunspot numbers and solar flux to stay around the same levels (low), but gradually rise to a short term peak around January 15-16. The A and K index should also stay quiet, with a returning active patch of Sun causing unsettled to active geomagnetic conditions around January 16 and again around January 23-24. January 10-12 should have very quiet, stable geomagnetic indicators. Those forecasts are from the U.S. Air Force, via NOAA. Geophysical Institute Prague expects quiet conditions for January 9-11, quiet to unsettled today, January 6, and again on January 12, and unsettled conditions January 7-8. Currently our Sun is quiet, and the interplanetary magnetic field points north, both indicators of quiet geomagnetic conditions. Now that we have the solar flux and sunspot numbers for all of 2005, it is time for a review of annual averages. Average daily sunspot numbers for the years 1999 through 2005 were 136.3, 173, 170.3, 176.6, 109.2, 68.6 and 48.9. Average daily solar flux for the same years was 153.7, 179.6, 181.6, 179.5, 129.2, 106.6 and 91.9. The steady decline over each calendar year since the 2000-2002 period should continue through the end of this year. Two years from now we should know when trends turned around. David Greer, N4KZ of Frankfort, Kentucky reports more surprising short lived 10 meter propagation in the form of an opening toward Europe on December 31. Last Saturday morning he heard many strong European stations on 12 and 15 meters, so he went to 10 meters and called CQ at 1427z with his 3-element Yagi pointed toward Europe. I5KAP answered with a weak but readable signal. Dave reports, ``Seven minutes later I heard F5LIW calling CQ and worked him too. Again, signals were weak but readable. After we signed, he began calling CQ again but with no takers from what I could hear. At 1439z, I heard IK4GRO calling CQ. At S7, he had the strongest signal. We exchanged reports and he began calling CQ again but no takers from what I could hear. Then the signals were gone.`` Dave runs 100 watts on 10 meters. Felipe Ceglia, PY1NB of the state of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil passes word that he has a web site for DXers, which can be found at http://www.dxwatch.com/ He carries this bulletin, along with spotting services. Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA sent in an interesting piece that he wrote for this week`s bulletin in response to an email exchange with Red Haines, WO0W. It is titled ``The T Index and SSNe.`` Carl writes, ``Due to the day-to-day variability of the ionosphere, our propagation prediction programs use a monthly median model of the ionosphere. Thus the prediction outputs (usually MUF and signal strength) are statistical over a month`s time frame. We have a monthly median model, as opposed to a daily model, because the developers did not find a satisfactory correlation between what the Sun was doing on a given day and what the ionosphere was doing on the same day. The proper correlation was between smoothed sunspot number (or smoothed solar flux) and monthly median ionospheric parameters (foE, foF2, hmF2, etc).`` He continues, ``In order to get a better picture of what the ionosphere is doing `now`, two similar methods have been developed: the T Index and SSNe. The T Index comes out of Australia`s IPS (Ionospheric Prediction Service), and is named after its developer Jack Turner. SSNe (equivalent sunspot number) was developed by the US Air Force Global Weather Central organization, and is available from Northwest Research Associates. The websites are, http://www.ips.gov.au/HF_Systems/4/2 and http://www.nwra-az.com/spawx/ssne24.html respectively.`` Carl goes on to say, ``Both of these methods basically vary the sunspot number in a F2 region model of the ionosphere to force the model to a best fit to current foF2 data from worldwide ionosondes. Note the phrase `best fit` - it`s not a perfect fit, as the ionosphere does not necessarily track at all locations. For example, the F2 region ionization over the Millstone Hill (MA) ionosonde may increase at a given hour, while just 400 miles away the F2 region ionization over the Wallops Island (VA) ionosonde may decrease at the same time.`` He ends by saying, ``What does using the T Index and SSNe buy us? Neither gives us a daily model of the ionosphere due to the issue cited in the previous paragraph. Nor does either take into account D region and E region issues. But with respect to the F2 region, they close the gap between the heavily averaged smoothed sunspot number and short-term increases or decreases in sunspot activity (they also can show the effect of geomagnetic storms). An example of this is late December 2005. The official smoothed sunspot number for December 2005 will come in somewhere between 10 and 20, but the increased sunspot activity at the end of the year indicated that using a sunspot number of 40 in your favorite prediction program (from the SSNe website) would have given you a better `now` prediction.`` Thank you, Carl! If you would like to make a comment or have a tip for our readers, email the author at k7ra @ arrl.net For more information concerning radio propagation and an explanation of the numbers used in this bulletin see the ARRL Technical Information Service propagation page at http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html An archive of past propagation bulletins is found at, http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/ Sunspot numbers for December 29 through January 4 were 77, 67, 62, 41, 37, 39 and 25 with a mean of 49.7. 10.7 cm flux was 90.3, 89.9, 87.4, 87.4, 84.5, 84.9, and 84, with a mean of 86.9. Estimated planetary A indices were 8, 7, 9, 4, 5, 3 and 2 with a mean of 5.4. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 7, 6, 9, 5, 5, 3 and 1, with a mean of 5.1. NNNN /EX Page last modified: 10:10 AM, 06 Jan 2006 ET Page author: w1aw @ arrl.org Copyright © 2006, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved (via John Norfolk, dxldyg via DXLD) ###