DX LISTENING DIGEST 6-011, January 16, 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 SW AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO EXTRA 64: Days, times strictly UT Wed 0030 WBCQ 7415 Wed 1030 WWCR 9985 Full schedule, including AM, FM, satellite and 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 Extra 64 summary: http://www.worldofradio.com/com0510.html WORLD OF RADIO PODCASTS: www.obriensweb.com/wor.xml CONTINENT OF MEDIA 06-01, Jan 12: (download) http://www.dxing.com/com/com0601.rm (stream) http://www.dxing.com/com/com0601.ram (summary) not yet available DX/SWL/MEDIA PROGRAMS Jan 16: http://www.worldofradio.com/dxpgms.html ** AFGHANISTAN. US SOLICITS FOR 200 KW TRANSMITTER ON 621 KHZ Document Type: Presolicitation Notice Solicitation Number: BBGCON3606S5854-KSH Posted Date: Jan 13, 2006 Original Response Date: Jan 30, 2006 Current Response Date: Jan 30, 2006 Original Archive Date: Feb 14, 2006 Current Archive Date: Feb 14, 2006 Classification Code: 58 -- Communication, detection, & coherent radiation equipment Naics Code: 334220 -- Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing Contracting Office Address Broadcasting Board of Governors, Associate Director for Management, Office of Contracts (M/CON), 330 C Street, SW, Room 2500, Washington, DC, 20237 Description The U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) intends to negotiate a non-competitive commercial item contract with Harris Corporation, Broadcast Communications Division, 3200 Wismann Lane, P.O. Box 4290, Quincy, IL 62305 for the fabrication, shipping and installation of a Medium Wave broadcasting system and ancillary equipment for installation at a remote location in Afghanistan. It is expected that a 200 kW, containerized system operating at 621 kHz will be ordered. The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition that is applicable to this procurement is 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1), ``Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.`` The contract being announced herein is a non-competitive commercial item acquisition of a 200 kW containerized medium wave (MW) transmitting system for deployment/installation within Afghanistan. The Contractor shall provide all personnel, design, equipment, materials, supplies, documentation, training, fabrication, assembly, packing for overseas shipment, shipment, installation and all other items necessary to ensure delivery of a highly efficient and highly reliable commercially available solid-state medium wave (MW) transmitting system. The transmitter system will be composed of a 200 kW, all solid-state, air-cooled, MW transmitter; a properly sized, suitable, environmentally controlled shelter to house the transmitter and support electronics; audio processing equipment; antenna/tower system specifically designed to reach the target area; transmission lines and accessories; appropriately sized generator system, fuel tanks, and accessories suitable for the environment. On-air is scheduled for approximately September 15, 2006. The Radio TV Afghanistan (RTVA) staff at the Pol-e Charkhi Transmitting Station has been thoroughly trained in the operation of the Harris DX MW transmitters and have successfully operated two (2) each Harris 400DX MW transmitters for over two (2) years. In addition, the RTVA staff has also installed and operated ten (10) Harris FM transmitter systems throughout the country. The RTVA Management has specifically requested that the BBG provide only Harris Corporation transmitter equipment to meet this requirement. It is particularly noteworthy that the urgent establishment of a MW broadcasting capability in the border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan is a top U.S. Government priority. Experience has proven that Harris Corporation is the only known firm capable of meeting this requirement. Interested firms may respond to this Notice by stating their, capabilities and actual proven demonstrated in completing same or similar requirements, pertinent experience, and their ability to operate in Afghanistan with or without U.S. Government support, to meet the BBG's requirement cited in the notice. The BBG's determination not to compete this proposed contract, based upon responses to this Public Notice, is solely within the discretion of the BBG. Interested firms must submit documentation that is sufficient in detail to allow an evaluation without the need for requesting them to provide additional information of their capability and demonstrated experience in meeting this requirement. The BBG must receive all documentation by 2:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time (EST), January 30, 2006. Any questions regarding this Notice shall be submitted via email or facsimile to Ms. Karen S. Harper, Office of Contracts (M/CON/CR), kharper @ ibb.gov or via fax to (202) 260-0855 by January 27, 2006. Telephone responses of a firm's statements of interest, capabilities, and pertinent experience will not be accepted by the BBG. This Public Notice is not a RFP, IFB, or RFQ. Point of Contact Karen Harper, Contracting Officer, Phone 202-205-9030, Fax 202-260- 0855, Email krose @ ibb.gov - Herman Shaw, Contracting Officer, Phone 202-205--8412, Fax 202-260-0855, Email hshaw @ ibb.gov (FedBizOpps Jan 13 via Aaron Zawitzky, DXLD) WRTH 2006 shows there is already a 7 kW station on 621 in Gardez, Afghanistan; will this replace that? Plus plenty of other 621s in AfroAsia, such as a megawatt in Egypt (gh, DXLD) Original source: http://www.fbodaily.com/archive/2006/01-January/15-Jan-2006/FBO-00966138.htm (Media Network blog via DXLD) AFGHAN GOVERNOR URGES IMPROVEMENT IN RADIO, TV BROADCASTS | Text of report by Afghan state-run newspaper Etefaq-e Eslam on 15 January Alhaj Sayed Hosayn Anwari, the governor of Herat, met heads of departments and staff of the provincial administration yesterday. Deputy Governor Mir Abdol Khaleq was also present at the meeting. At this meeting, which was held at the provincial administration headquarters yesterday morning, the governor briefed officials on the result of his visit to Kabul and meetings with the central government officials. He also ordered the officials to improve administrative affairs. Among other issues, the governor ordered officials to improve the quality of media sources in Herat, including Herat TV, newspapers and other sources. The governor also had a critical view of Herat TV and radio broadcasts and urged the related officials to involve religious scholars and social foundations to commission programmes, particularly on the occasion of religious, national and historical events. He added that the officials should broadcast programmes in line with religious values, the country's constitution and national and religious glories. Source: Etefaq-e Eslam, Herat, in Dari 15 Jan 06 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 6135 kHz, Radio Santa Cruz, 0959 UT, with talk, ``seis de la mañana,`` giving high and low temperatures for La Paz, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz with extended weather forecast. Into nice regional music. Fair on Jan 16 (Radio Líder on 6140 was present but no significant QRM). 4902 kHz, Radio San Miguel, 1010 UT Jan 16, male talking, Time Checks as ``a las seis y diez minutos,`` rather poor, much weaker by 1024 (Roger Chambers, Utica, NY on Grundig YB 400 PE with a long wire attic antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. BRASIL – Ao que tudo indica, a programação que vai ao ar, pela freqüência de 4975 kHz, canal que pertence ao grupo CBS de Rádios, de São Paulo (SP), fica ao bel prazer do operador de plantão. Em sete de janeiro, às 2353, o colunista captou, em Porto Alegre (RS), a programação sertaneja da Rádio Terra. Um dia depois, por volta de 0110, a programação era da Rádio Mundial que, aliás, ocupava nos últimos tempos a freqüência. BRASIL – A Rádio Brasil, de Campinas (SP), deixou de retransmitir a programação da Rede Jovem Pan Sat. As informações são do Leandro Renato, de Paulínia (SP), editor do sítio Só Rádio. A Rádio Brasil possui uma freqüência ativa em ondas curtas: 4785 kHz. De acordo com Renato, a emissora já está emitindo, pelo menos no horário da tarde, a programação da Super Rede Boa Vontade de Rádio (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX Jan 15 via DXLD) ** BULGARIA. See ITALY [non] ** CANADA. RCI missing again from one of its frequencies, Jan 15 at 1400, nothing on 9515, and still nothing when Sunday Edition was about to start at 1411, so I gave up and tuned to 13655 which was on. Michael Enright made a number of gaffes in his intro piece, said ``sorry``, and started over, as if the editor forgot to take these out before airtime! Or was the show really airing live for the first time? Were these fixed for the 3 repeats to westerly timezones? Hmmm, this was already one hour delayed. First piece was about the problem of Jamaican gangs in Toronto as well as Jamaica. At 1442 recheck, 9515 was finally on (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHILE. MOCHA ISLAND --- Hy Glenn; Te saludo afectuosamente desde Santiago de Chile. Te cuento y a los amigos Diexistas cazadores de QSL especiales, que entre el 1 y el 5 de Febrero próximos, el grupo DX de Radioclub Villarrica CE6RCV, miembro de FEDERACHI, activarán por primera vez para el Lighthouse World Wide DX Contest el FARO ISLA MOCHA, con el indicativo CE6M, en modos SSB, CW, y digitales, en todas las bandas. Los Operadores serán: Gladys CA6TBB, Vicky CA6UFZ, Cristián, CE6UTZ, Esteban XQ7UP y Carlos CE6AMN. QSL Manager de la Expedición es: Carlos Montecinos, CE6AMN, Casilla 591 - Villarrica, Chile (Hector Frias, Secretario Federachi, Jan 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA. Noticed the Bogotá FM frequency list with interest - lots of 500 kHz spacing, so operations on even 100's of kHz, unusual in ITU Region II (except for a few pirates) and not always receivable on modern digitally tuned receivers (except for some made for worldwide distribution that tune in 100 or even 50 kHz steps). Does anyone have a pdf of the Colombian FM technical regulations? If so I'd like to have a copy. (I've dug thru the CRT website and haven't found them.) (Ben Dawson, WA, Jan 14, DFX LISTENING DIGEST) There was a discussion not too long ago in DXLD last year about the historical reasons for strange FM spacing in Colombia. Yes, in 5-027, followed up in 5-028 at least. Actually, it`s 600 kHz (gh, DXLD) ** CONGO DR [non]. SUDAFRICA, 11890, Radio Okapi, 1616-1630, escuchada el 14 de enero en francés a locutora con entrevista a invitado, ID "Radio Okapi", correo electrónico action @ radiookapi.net segmento de música afropop, SINPO 55454 (José Miguel Romero, EA5-1022, Burjasot (Valencia), España, SANGEAN ATS 909, Antena RADIO MASTER A-108, Noticias DX via DXLD) ** CUBA. Caught RHC closing their morning broadcast Jan 16 on 12000 at 1457, still claiming to be on 11705 among others for the afternoon broadcast! Also ``Territorio Libre en América`` but no ``Patria o Muerte, ¡Venceremos!`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 5025, R. Rebelde, noted Jan. 14 as early as 1955. TS and ID. "Ésta es R. Rebelde, en la República de Cuba" at 2000 UT, but with very weak signal at this time (José Turner, northern Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. Good Evening to Glenn and all of you! Tonight, there is a big outage of electricity in Santiago and the east of Cuba. There were extensive special reports of this around 0127 UT, instead of the usual Nocturna program. En esta noche, Santiago y el este cubano tienen una enorma pana [?] de electricidad. Yo esucho un programa especial de noticias a la 0127 UT. Normalamente, esta emisora tiene el programa musical adulto contemporáneo "Nocturna". ¡Tiene hermosas captaciones con usted! Be the good DX stuff with you! (Bogdan Chiochiu, QC, Jan 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Maybe this caused some diminution in jamming? What station? (gh, DXLD) 890, CMDZ, Radio Progreso, Chambas, JAN 16 0126 - Noticias sobre una gran pana de electricidad en Santiago y el este Cubano. Muy bueno; SIO 434 (Bogdan Chiochiu, QC, HCDX via DXLD) ** CUBA [non]. USA?? 7160, R. República, 2324-0003, escuchada el 13 de enero en español a locutor y locutora con programa de música latina, ID "Radio República, voz del Directorio Democrático de Cuba", locutor con el programa "Entrevista a fondo" entrevistando sobre "La lucha cívica no violenta", programa "Recuento informativo", anuncian emitir los sábados a las 12:00 (Hora Local?) por 670 y 1550 de AM, cuña de la WRMI anunciando 9955 kHz, SINPO 55544 (José Miguel Romero, EA5-1022, Burjasot (Valencia), España, SANGEAN ATS 909, Antena RADIO MASTER A- 108, Noticias DX via DXLD) Via Germany: see below CLANDESTINA, Radio República, seguimiento de sus programas durante la noche aquí en España. 6135, Radio República, 2200-0030, 14-01, se comienza a escuchar por esta frecuencia a las 2200 con bastante buena señal, aunque al acercarse al final de la transmisión a las 0030, se va deteriorando. 2200-2229 programa "Despierta Cuba" despiertacuba @ radiorepublica.org identificación: "Esta es Radio República, voz del Directorio Democrático Cubano, con fe en la victoria". 2230-2258 programa "Entrevista a fondo, un programa del Directorio Democrático Cubano, presentado por Javier de Céspedes". 2258-2358 progama "Recuento informativo, con Rafael Artigas y Julio Torino". Noticias. 2358-0030 programa "Barrio adentro, una hora compartiendo nuestros problemas". A las 0030 desaparece la señal en 6135. SINPO 34333. 6010, Radio República, 0025-0158, 15-01, se comienza a escuchar, aproximadamente a las 0025 por 6010 0025-0057, continúa el programa "Barrio adentro". Identificación: "Radio República, voz del Directorio Democrático Cubano, transmitiendo para Cuba con fe en la victoria". 0057-0158: programa "Sencillamente mujer, un programa dedicado a la mujer cubana". A las 0158 desaparece la señal en 6010. SINPO 32322. 7110, Radio República, 0200-0357, 15-01, se comienza a escuchar a las 0200 por 7110. 0200-0257, programa "Recuento informativo", noticias. Identificación: "Radio República, voz del Directorio Democrático Cubano, transmitiendo para Cuba con fe en la victoria". 0257-0357, "Barrio adentro, un programa de Radio República, les invito a compartir una hora caminando por los barrios de Cuba". 0357 fin de la transmisión en 7110. SINPO 24322. A partir de ese momento no logro escuchar la emisora por ninguna de sus frecuencias habituales. Durante todo este tiempo no se escucha en 5965, ocupada la frecuencia por Radio Habana Cuba y, también a las 0200 por AWR con programa en turco. Radio República interfiere, primero, en 6135, entre las 2200 y las 0030, haciendo imposible su escucha aquí en España, a Radio Santa Cruz, Bolivia y a Rádio Aparecida de Brasil, causando más daño a la primera, pues 6135 es su única frecuencia en onda corta, resultando ya, de por sí, bastante dificil de escuchar aquí en España, siendo la hora óptima de escucha entre las 23 y la 0100, cuando las condiciones de propagación son muy buenas. Ahora prácticamente imposible poder escucharla. Radio Aparecida se escuchaba habitualmente en esa frecuencia y en ese horario, si bién, esta emisora religiosa puede sintonizarse también en 5035 y 9630 kHz. Radio República interfiere también, entre las 0025 y las 0200 aproximadamente, a las emisoras que transmiten en 6010, principalmente a Radio Mil, si bién es cierto, que a esta hora es muy difícil sintonizar a la emisora mexicana en España, siendo la hora óptima al amanecer (Manuel Mendez, Grundig Yacht Boy 400, antena telescópica. Escuchas realizadas en el casco urbano de Lugo Spain, Jan 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I checked again UT Jan 15 into 16: at 2357, 6135 was wrapping up and frequency change announcement to 6010. 6135 went off at 2359:30 and 6010 was up by 0000 in time for the start of the next program Barrio Adentro; so the 0030 switch Manuel noticed must have been an anomaly. Nothing on 7160 UT Sun into Mon either, but probably back UT Mon into Tue (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Republica, as you have no doubt guessed, is now transmitting Monday-Friday evenings from 2300 to 0400 UT on 7160 kHz via T-Systems. That's brokered by RMI, and has nothing to do with the transmissions on the other frequencies. Regarding your comment about the amateur band [``how can you condone broadcasting to Region 2 on the ham band?``], T-Systems says: "Based on our National Regulation Authority, transmissions from Germany in the 7 MHz band only are allowed between 7105 - 7345 kHz. In Region 2 (NAM) and Region 3 (SAM) the 7 MHz band is defined from 7305 kHz upwards. The announced target area of the transmission on 7160 kHz is CIRAF 17 (Iceland) which is belonging to Region 1 and therefore allowed." (Jeff White, WRMI, Jan 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) O, Come on! ** DIEGO GARCIA [and non]. 4319U, AFRTS, 2044-2105, Jan 9. English, "Ed Shultz Show" re government surveillance. AFRTS promos re DOD broadcasting regulations and for Air Force base in Hawaii. AP Radio News and Sporting News Flash at 2100. Poor (Scott Barbour, NH, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) So I recheck the program schedule at http://myafn.dodmedia.osd.mil/radio/afn/schedule.asp and see that Ed Schultz is scheduled at 2007-2100 UT M-F. My earlier item about the time for Al Franken was wrong, since I took the 1706 Pacific time to be UT. He is really at 0106-0200 UT Tue-Sat. This also corrects a mention on WOR 1298 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR [non]. Henrik, I keep expecting that Björn Malm`s website will one day vanish just as he has, whenever it is due to expire. Is anything being done to preserve it? (Glenn to Henrik Klemetz, via DXLD) A mirror of Björn Malm´s site can be found at http://malm.hard-core-dx.com/ thanks to Risto Kotalampi. Thomas Nilsson, SWB, has also preserved the site (Henrik Klemetz, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Björn Malm memorial site --- As you can remember, Björn Malm passed away some time ago. One of his recent projects was to collect audio clips from Latin America stations and sharing those on his web site. Losing all this work would be a huge loss. In anticipation of his web site going down one day http://www.malm-ecuador.com/ we have created a memorial site with a copy of the current web site. This web site can stay up years to come and keep his work available for the rest of us and be the memorial site for this great DXer. Please see http://malm.hard-core-dx.com/ 73! (Risto Kotalampi (W6RK), Hayward, CA, Jan 16, HCDX via DXLD) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA ECUATORIAL. 5005, Radio Nacional, Bata, 2244- 2258, 14-01, escuchada con canciones africanas, identificación, himno y cierre de la transmisión a las 2258. 24322. Esta emisora varía mucho sus horarios, tanto de inicio como de cierre de sus programas. Hace un par de meses estaba cerrando a las 2400. Algunos días no sale al aire (Manuel Méndez, España, Grundig Yacht Boy 400, antena telescópica, Escuchas realizadas en el casco urbano de Lugo, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GABON. 4777, R.TV Gabonaise noted Jan. 10, at 1837-1850 UT with fair signal, so closing later then usual (José Turner, northern Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. Classified information? The transmitter site for the 0900 transmission in French on 12025 must not be disclosed. We had better not, I read in an email just in from Geneva, Switzerland. Mind you, we are broadcasting for Moslems in North Africa, the email explains. The belated answer – I wrote to them over a week ago – refers to a website which I had checked already and discarded for being out of date, http://www.voixdelesperance.com Fortunately, just a few days later, the transmitter site and schedule could be found in DXLD 6-007 (ominous number, huh). The email for the North African service of the AWR is radiogeneve @ yahoo.fr and their pmail is La Voix de l`Espérance, Case Postale 503, 1211 Genève 12. They do not seem to have a QSL-card of their own. Certainly things have changed a bit of late, haven´t they? (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, Jan 16, dxldyg via DXLD) i.e. this from Observer, Bulgaria; you mean 0900 CET?: 0800-0900 on 12025 JUL 100 kW / 200 deg Daily to NoAf in French If these Christian infidels were not always trying to convert the heathen Moslems to a no less wacky but still Abrahamic variant, they would not have to fear the transmitter site being attacked (gh, DXLD) ** GERMANY [non]. Re German national anthem as a Christian hymn: Glenn, I'm amazed you have only just discovered this. I was brought up as a Methodist, and we frequently used to sing the hymn "Glorious things of Thee are spoken" to the same tune. According to http://www.cyberhymnal.org : Words: John New­ton, Ol­ney Hymns (Lon­don: W. Ol­iv­er, 1779). Music: "Aus­tria (Haydn)," ar­ranged by Franz J. Hay­dn, 1797, pos­si­bly from a Cro­a­tian folk mel­o­dy (MI­DI, score). Historical Note: Haydn orig­in­al­ly adapt­ed "Austria" for a pa­tri­ot­ic song, "Gott, erhalte Franz, den Kaiser," first per­formed for the em­per­or`s birth­day, February 12, 1797. It is still used as the tune of the Ger­man song Das Deutsch­land­lied. Be­cause of the as­so­ci­a­tions the first stan­za ("Deutsch­land, Deutsch­land über alles…") de­vel­oped with the Nazis, the third stan­za ("Einig­keit und Recht und Frei­heit/Für das Deutsche Va­ter­land") is the one now used for the Ger­man na­tion­al anthem (Andy Sennitt, dxldyg via DXLD) This is odd: Andy`s posting did not have the syllabification visible, but when I copied it onto my MS Word editing file, the hyphens showed up! What is going on? An odd service of the cyberhymnal site? Ac-tual- ly, I was vague-ly a-ware the tune had been used for hymns, but di- dn`t know the de-tails (Glenn Hau-ser, DX LIST-EN-ING DI-GEST) [and in this final text version of DXLD, I see the the hyphens inserted in Andy`s are a different character than I inserted below it] ** GREECE. Dear Glenn, The British Greek lady featured in the Saturday broadcast was honoured by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth; it was the MBE (Christoher Lewis, England, Jan 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUYANA. In going over the past month`s DXLDs to select some items for Monitoring Times, I find more and more mistakes I overlooked before, such as two different transpositions for the sole SW frequency here. In 5-222 it says 3921.17 and in a previous issue 3219.17. Rest assured, GBC is really 3291.17! Altho I do my best, you can obviously not depend on me to fix your mistaxe, so please try hard to avoid them in the first place. Proofreed, proofrede, proofread (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ICELAND. Islandia. Con señal muy débil fue captada la Radio de Islandia en la frecuencia de 13865 kilohercios. El programa se inició a las 1215 horas con la frase ``Útvarp Reykjavík`` y continuó hasta las 1300. La emisora tiene tarjeta QSL muy hermosa que puede ser solicitada a la dirección: Radio de Islandia, Reykjavik 150, Islandia (Rumen Pankov, R. Bulgaria DX Jan 15 via Dino Bloisse, dxldyg via DXLD) ** INDIA. AIR GOS, English on 9690, Monday Jan 16 at 1440 with mailbag program making clear that for QSL, return postage in the form of IRCs or cash is NOT wanted or needed. They are ``not for sale``. AIR is quite happy to pay the freight (and I imagine it could be considered insulting to send a bit of money to a major world government-sponsored broadcaster). Reports may also be sent to spectrummanager @ air.org.in (not sure if any punxuation missing). 1444 concluded Weekly Mailbag Program, and into Film Songs. I still want to know all the airtimes for the Mailbag, but will just enter this one on Monitoring Reminders Calendar (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. After listening to India on 9690, at 1445 Jan 16 I tuned to 9680, where RRI was playing some nice gamelan music. Trouble was, QRM from some wailing vocal music, which I assumed was China. Thus I was astounded when at 1449 both stopped simultaneously, and a spirited discussion among several people ensued in Indonesian. 1452 this music mix resumed, making clear that the seemingly unrelated wailing was intentionally accompanying the gamelan performance (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL. SHORTWAVE VS THE INTERNET, AND OTHER MEANS OF TRANSMISSION. --- By Christopher Lewis While putting together a DX report program a few days ago, I was going through my audio archive. This has been built up over the past 8 years. I selected a number of recordings to use. While putting together the clips, I counted the number of stations that had left shortwave in favor of the internet, or other means of transmission, or for other reasons. Six Was the number of stations that had left. Swiss Radio, Radio Moldova International. VOM Malta, Radio Danmark, Radio Norway and most recently, Radio Tashkent International. It is, I suppose, not too surprising that there are many new ways to get radio albeit programs to an international audience, but as an diehard supporter of shortwave, it saddens me. It's important to enjoy shortwave for what it is --- radio as it should be, over the air and into your radio. I pass many regular stations that are on the shortwave bands every day, some every hour, but sometimes I won't listen, and just tune right past them. But when they have left the bands --- I don't half miss them. I really do miss them, a strong sense of loss. I still have the memories in audio and on paper QSL cards, and my minds serves me well, but right now it's just nice to tune in your favorite shortwave station, and to know it's still there (Christopher Lewis, England, 20060114, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM [non]. A FAMILY AFFAIR: In a story that my fellow Fathers can relate to, Howard Stern's 22 year old daughter Emily has pulled out of doing a nude scene in an off-Broadway show, which has apparently forced the production (titled, "Kabbalah") into the ashheap of History. Many NYC rags report Howie begging his progeny to remain fully-clothed, noting his apparent fears of the PR-disaster that would result from such a move. Many are crying "hypocrisy" over the apparent issue, although I sure as hell wouldn't want my daughter up there in the buff --- would any sane Father?? Nobody ever credibly accused Howard Stern of being stupid --- or of being a lousy Dad, for that matter. However, a publicist for the ill-fated show was heard to mutter: "Here is Howard Stern afraid of people doing to his daughter what he does to other people's daughters."...surely proving there is at least one issue out there with two clear sides (Broadcast Band Update Jan 15 by Greg Hardison, via DXLD) Full UD appears in DXLD yg ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS. Caroline engineer to be interviewed on BBC Essex --- Following his successful Radio Caroline talk on the 3rd January at the Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society, Carl Thomson G3PEM was invited to appear on the BBC Essex Drive Time radio show. Carl G3PEM was Chief Radio Engineer onboard Radio Caroline in the mid 1960's. This year is the 40th anniversary of Radio Caroline running aground on the Essex beach, an event Carl remembers well. He will be interviewed live by Ray Clark at 18:30 on Thursday 19th January. BBC Essex broadcasts on 95.3 and 103.5 MHz, 729, 765 and 1530 AM and on the web at http://www.bbc.co.uk/essex/ (Click on the Listen Live button) CARS Radio Caroline Talk pictures: http://www.g0mwt.org.uk/pastfold/past06-jan-jun/index.htm PDF of report on Caroline Talk: http://www.g0mwt.org.uk/pastfold/past06-jan-jun/report-2006-01-03.pdf CARS Amateur Radio Training page: http://www.g0mwt.org.uk/training (Trevor M5AKA, Monitoring Monthly via Mike Barraclough, WDXC via DXLD) ** IRAN. THE MAIN IRANIAN NEWS AGENCIES: JANUARY 2006 The following is an overview of the five principal Iranian news agencies. Despatches from these agencies are used extensively by the national press in Iran. IRNA (state-controlled)), Mehr (affiliated to the Islamic Propagation Organization) and Fars (affiliated to the Judiciary) currently cover reports from a conservative angle. ISNA (partially funded by the University Jihad) and ILNA (affiliated to the Workers' House) generally report from a pro-reform angle. In January 2006, the London-based electronic newspaper `Rooz' reported that the Ministry of Information and the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance had banned ISNA and ILNA from covering reports concerning arrests or trial of dissident journalists, political activists and students. It said the said ban was prompted by a recent UN human rights resolution against Iran, which had relied on reports carried by the two news agencies. All the five agencies cover a comprehensive range of political, economic, social, cultural and sports news and interviews (IRNA, Fars and Mehr also carry commentaries and anlyses). Their material is accessible on the internet without registration or subscription. They also contain archive, search facilities and photo sections. But access to IRNA archive requires subscription. IRNA The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) is Iran's official state-run news agency. It was established in 1934 by the then Foreign Ministry and subsequently other state institutions under the name of Pars News Agency. After the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the Majils passed a bill changing the news agency's name to IRNA. It remains government-funded and operates under the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. IRNA's news coverage has taken various directions since the revolution to reflect the political tendencies of its managing directors. Under one of its earlier directors, Fereydun Verdinezhad , the agency adopted a pro-Khatami line and was considered close to the reformists. As a result, it became embroiled in legal battles with the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), which was then run by the ultra- conservative secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani. Verdinezhad, who resigned as IRNA chief in 2001, is currently Iran's ambassador to China, although his imminent dismissal was speculated by the national press (when he and a number of other Iranian envoys were recalled by President Ahmadinezhad in October 2005). In January 2006, `Aftab-e Yazd' quoted a Tehran public court judge as saying that Verdinezhad was facing prosecution on "several charges". Judge Hoseynian did not give any details of the charges. Verdinezhad's successor Abdollah Naseri-Taheri ran IRNA from 2001 until his resignation in August 2004. Unpopular with the conservative media and described by hardline daily `Kayhan' as "close to the (pro- reform) Organization of the Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution", he is currently facing court charges. The charges are in connection with a complaint lodged by Ahmadinezhad's presidential campaign HQ on the grounds of alleged biased reporting by IRNA in the lead up to the second round of the June 2005 presidential elections. His deputy, Gholamhoseyn Eslamifard took over as caretaker until IRNA's current chief, the conservative Ahmad Khadem ol-Maleh, was appointed to the post in September 2005. Khadem ol-Maleh, who had held various senior posts in IRNA for 25 years, including its bureau chief in New York, is, according to `Farhang-e Ashti' daily, close to Ahmadinezhad and had been briefly engaged in his campaign headquarters. He accompanied Ahmadinezhad during the president's visit to New York in September 2005, According to a report by `Rooz', however, Khadem ol-Maleh is currently at loggerheads with the new hardline culture and Islamic guidance minister, Mohammad Hoseyn Safar-Harandi over the management of `Iran' daily. "The internal struggle between the ministry and Khadem ol-Moleh has gone so far that even Ahmadinezhad's intervention has not resolved the issue," the paper reported in January 2006. According to IRNA's guidelines (updated October 2004), its principal objectives include securing the Islamic Republic's national interests, promoting Islamic culture and "encountering the cultural onslaught of enemies of the Islamic Revolution". In addition to Persian, IRNA also carries reports in English, Arabic, Russian, Chinese, French, Spanish Turkish and Serbo-Croat. It should be noted, however, that the agency's Persian-language reports do not always appear on its other languagae sites, and vice- versa, as they are aimed at different audiences. Moreover, its Persian-language reports are generally more detailed. IRNA currently publishes seven dailies and periodicals. They comprise the Persian-language daily `Iran', the English-language `Iran-Daily', Arabic-language `Al-Vefaq', a Braille newspaper `Iran Sepid', a sports daily `Iran Varzeshi', a youth weekly `Iran Javan', a monthly interior design magazine `Iran Azin' and an annual publication `Iran-e Saal', which carries a chronology of the country's most important events. IRNA's website is http://www.irna.ir Mehr Mehr news agency was officially launched on 22 June 2003, to correspond with the anniversary of the Islamic Propagation Organization (IPO), which owns the agency. Although the IPO was established on the orders of Ayatollah Khomeyni on 22 June 1981 as a "non-profitable and independent legal entity", it is, in effect, a conservative institution acting in parallel with the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, as one of the ministry's affiliated agencies. The IPO director is hardline secretary of the Guardian Council, Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati. According to the IPO website, the organization's main objectives are to promote the Islamic principle of "propagating virtue and prohibiting vice", and "counter anti-Islamic and anti-revolutionary ideas". http://www.iranculture.org/en/nahad/tabligh.php The managing director of Mehr news agency is Parviz Esma'ili, who also runs the conservative English-language `Tehran Times' daily. In October 2005, the Islamic Republic of Iran's Association of Muslim Journalists (AMJ) elected Esma'ili as its new secretary-general. Addressing the AMJ afterwards, Esma'ili said: "We desperately need Islamic journalism the kind that focuses on the propagation of sublime truths, justice, ethic and faith, while at the same time observes professional standards thereby eliciting praise and awareness from society." (IRNA, October 2005) According to Mehr's mission statement, the agency's aim is to "provide accurate and up-to-the minute information to the public, with an emphasis on news about Iran and the rest of the Islamic world". In addition to Persian, Mehr also carries reports in Arabic, English and Urdu. Its website is http://www.mehrnews.com Fars Fars news agency received its licence in November 1998, but was officially launched in February 2002 to correspond with the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. On its website, Fars describes itself as the first privately-owned news agency in the country, but it is close to the Judiciary. The managing director of the agency is Sa'id Nowbari, a disabled veteran of the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war and former head of the public relations office of the conservative- controlled Tehran Justice Department. Other individuals associated with Fars News Agency share a similarly conservative background. Managing Editor Mehdi Faza'eli, for one, is the former editor-in-chief of `Javan' and political editor of `Farda' dailies (Farda was closed down owing to financial difficulties). He is also the spokesman of the Association of Muslim Journalists, which is headed by Mehr news agency chief Parviz Esma'ili. On the website, Nowbari has described the objective of the agency as "promoting the principles of the Islamic revolution and safeguarding national interests". In addition to Persian, Fars also carries reports in English. Its website is http://www.farsnews.com ISNA The semi-official Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) was set up in December 1999, a few months after the wave of student demonstrations. Partially funded by the University Jihad, a state-backed student' organization, ISNA received its permit from the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance during former President Mohammad Khatami's first presidential term. The aim of the agency, as described by University Jihad Chairman Dr Ali Montazeri, on its first day of operation, was to provide coverage of cultural, social, political and scientific news about universities throughout the country by a staff of generally young students. The agency has since expanded its coverage to include a comprehensive range of reports divided into several sections such as "nuclear energy" and "webloggers". While taking a reformist view of events, ISNA has managed to remain politically independent. It has, however, maintained its loyalty to the former president and carries a section devoted to "Khatami's perspectives". ISNA's former Director-General Abolfazl Fateh was summoned to court on several occasions. According to his lawyer, the charges included "reflecting remarks by the wife of [dissident journalist] Akbar Ganji and publishing a statement issued by Iran's Journalists Association". (IRNA, August 2005). Fatech was also summoned to court by the prosecutor-general for reporting remarks by the Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi. In June 2003, Fateh complained that he had been beaten by police after he confronted them for throwing stones at students. In September 2005, `Aftab-e Yazd' reported Fateh's resignation and named ISNA's head of political and international news, Mehdi Nad'alizadeh, as his successor. A month later `Farhang-e Ashti' reported that Fateh was leaving Iran for Britain "to continue his study in the field of communication". On the agency's website, Nad'alizadeh says that "despite financial difficulties" the agency will remain politically independent and maintain its "politically moderate" coverage of events. He notes that despite low salaries and lack of resources, their student staff provide a dedicated, timely and professional coverage. Nad'alizadeh does, however, acknowledge that the agency has had and continues to face many obstacles by the government. Although ISNA currently offers a Persian-language service only, it is generally viewed as a very reliable source and its reports are widely used by Iranian and foreign media. Moreover, the agency offers free access to its photo archive. The agency's website is http://www.isna.ir ILNA Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA) was formally launched on 24 February 2003. It is affiliated to the Workers' House (Khane-ye Kargar), Iran's main labour organization. According to its managing director, Mas'ud Heydari, ILNA does not receive any financial backing from any centres and operates under the supervision of the Labour Higher Education Institute. When ILNA started its operation, Heydari, as reported by IRNA, said that the agency would focus on workers' demands. But the agency's coverage has since extended to include the same range of news as the other main news agencies, although it continues to devote a section to the workers. ILNA's founding members are all affiliated to labour organizations, including the secretary-general of the Workers' House and former pro- reform Majlis Deputy Alireza Mahjub. Its website is http://www.ilna.ir Source: Iranian briefing material from BBC Monitoring in English 15 Jan 06 (via DXLD) ** IRAN [and non]. IRANIAN TV REPORTS ON CNN'S "MISINTERPRETATION" OF PRESIDENT'S PRESS CONFERENCE | Text of report by Iranian TV on 15 January [TV announcer] A thought-provoking point in the communication and information dissemination world. CNN's explicit misinterpretation of yesterday's statements of the president. Whenever Ahmadinezhad talked about "peaceful nuclear technology", America's CNN interpreted it into "nuclear weapon". [Reporter] It is interesting. Today, we understood what CNN has intentionally done. CNN, whose correspondent was also present at yesterday's press conference of the president, misinterpreted Ahmadinezhad statements. CNN's interpreter said "nuclear weapon" [the two previous words in English] whenever the president said "peaceful nuclear technology", and this was repeated several times. CNN is quite specialized in changing "is" into "is not" and vice versa. But its misinterpretation of "peaceful nuclear technology" into "nuclear weapons" shows that it has either considered its audience ignorant or is having its head in sand. [Video broadcasts the part in question] Source: Vision of the Islamic Republic of Iran Network 1, Tehran, in Persian 1730 gmt 15 Jan 06 (via BBCM via DXLD) Disturbing if true; if anyone see a CNN response to this, please forward. Should run the original by Christiane Amanpour. I heard later that she was indeed present, but asked her questions in English. I am not sure how fluent she is in her family`s native Persian (gh, DXLD) CNN APOLOGIZES FOR MISQUOTING IRANIAN PRESIDENT'S REMARKS | Text of report in English by Iranian news agency IRNA website Tehran, 16 January: Cable News Network (CNN) has officially apologized for misquoting the remarks of Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinezhad at a press conference held Saturday [14 January]. The president, talking to more than 200 domestic and foreign reporters, said Iran had the right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy which it cannot be denied of. CNN, in its website Sunday [15 January] evening, said that due to a translation error, CNN incorrectly quoted Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinezhad as saying in his speech on Saturday that "the use of nuclear weapons is Iran's right." In fact, what the Iranian president said was that "Iran has the right to nuclear energy," CNN clarified. It said that the TV channel "takes this matter very seriously and apologizes for the error." It may be said here that CNN aired its wrong translation of the president's remarks a number of times and that among the many news agencies that were represented in the news conference, including those of the West, it was the only one which made the error. Its chief correspondent, Iranian-born Christiane Amanpour, who knows the Persian language well, was present at the press conference. Ahmadinezhad, in the conference, remarkably defended Iran's position by saying Iran is a nation "rich in culture, civilization and history" and would have no need for nuclear weapons. Source: IRNA website, Tehran, in English 1040 gmt 16 Jan 06 (via BBCm via DXLD) IRAN BANS CNN | Text of report in English by Iranian news agency IRNA website Tehran, 16 January: Iran took punitive measure against Cabled [sic] News Networks (CNN) on Monday [16 January] invalidating press cards of CNN reporters in Tehran. Foreign Press Department of Ministry of Culture and the Islamic Guidance said that it will not extend permit to reporters of CNN for violating "professional ethics". The Foreign Press department said in a statement that press cards of CNN reporters are being invalid and CNN reporters will not longer be granted press cards. "Any revision in the decision depends on performance of Cabled News Networks in future," the statement said. The decision was made in reaction to misquoting President Mahmud Ahmadinezhad in his press conference in Tehran on Saturday. Ahmadinezhad said Iranian nation enjoy great civilization and longstanding culture and they do not need nuclear weapons. CNN reporter Christian Amanpour who is of Iranian origin and knows Persian as a native Iranian reported from Tehran that Iranian president said Iran would proceed with production of nuclear weapons. Source: IRNA website, Tehran, in English 1505 gmt 16 Jan 06 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. USA (non) Re 6-010, about R. Farda. Checked today Jan. 16 on several times and frequencies: 0805-0820 UT on 9585 via Lampertheim (SINPO 34443), 15295 via Udon Thani (SINPO 24433) and 11845 via Iranawila (under RFI). 0833-0845 UT on 13680 via Iranawila (SINPO 34444) and 15690 (SINPO 44444) also via Iranawila (SINPO 44444). 1100-1125 UT on 17595 via Udon Thani (SINPO 42442) under REE same QRG. 1420-1450 UT on 15410 via Woofferton and 9435 via Kavala both with SINPO 44444. 1845-1910 UT ON 7580 via Iranawila (SINPO 54444). I did not note any jamming, but it's possible that I'm unaware of it. Best 73's from (José Turner, northern Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Another jamming-free, as far as I can tell, R. Farda frequency, 9435 before and after 1500 UT Jan 16. We know they do jam MW and satellite (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRELAND. IRLANDA, 3910, Reflections Europe, 1912-1915, escuchada el 15 de Enero en inglés a locutor con comentarios, SINPO 34332. IRLANDA, 6295, Reflections Europe, 1922-1930, escuchada el 15 de Enero en inglés a locutor con comentarios y música de los años 50, SINPO 34332 (José Miguel Romero, EA5-1022 Burjasot (Valencia), España, SANGEAN ATS 909, Antena RADIO MASTER A-108, dxldyg via DXLD) ** ITALY. ITALIA, 6060, RAI Notturno Italiano, 2300-0400, 15 y 16-01. El programa Nocturno Italiano, que lleva más de 30 años en antena por los 6060 kHz, se transmite todos los días entre las 2300 y las 0500 y es un buen programa de acompañamiento para aquellos que tengan que trabajar en horario nocturno o por cualquier otra causa tengan que trasnochar y puedan escuchar la radio. Se transmite por onda corta 6060 y por onda media, 900 Milán, 1107 Roma y 657 kHz Nápoles. Entre las 2300 y las 2335 transmiten el diario de la media noche con noticias de italia y del mundo, deportes, etc. y anuncian el contenido de lo que será el programa Nocturno Italiano. A las 2335 está en el aire el programa "Onda Verde", noticias sobre tráfico, y luego comienza ya la música del Nocturno Italiano, que sólo será interrumpida por los boletines de noticias a las horas. Música clásica, de piano, y algunas canciones. A las horas noticias en italiano, francés y alemán. 0000-0009, 0100-0109, 0200-0209, 0300- 0309, 0400-0409 según el siguiente esquema: 0100-0103, noticias en italiano 0103-0106, noticias en francés 0106-0109, noticias en alemán. Desparecieron las noticias en inglés, que antes eran dadas junto con las noticias en italiano, francés y alemán. La señal en 6060 es normalmente buena, SINPO 33333, con ligera interferencia de Radio Habana Cuba con programa en español en la misma frecuencia. También escuchada en 900 kHz Milano, con peor señal, incluso por momentos se desvanece totalmente y a ratos con interferencia de las emisoras españolas de la COPE que transmiten en esa frecuencia (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Grundig YB 400, antena telescópica, en el casco urbano de Lugo, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ITALY. Re Italian TV "anchor" --- ``From the text at the side, I gather he was named ``Man of the Year``. Perhaps some of our native Italian readers can give us their reaxions`` Glenn, The Man of the year part was obviously a joke. Commenting on this Google Video upload, an anonymous reader writes: "He has been elected 'Man of the year' here at my office" (speaking about his or her workplace, of course). As you're rightly assuming, the clip is just a patchworks of shorter excerpts captured *off air*, most likely via some microwave/satellite studio feeder, or possibly from someone at the TV station. Nothing of that actually went on the air. I hope. I might be mistaken but we're having to do with an authentic gentleman from Verona, here. I've read somewhere that Germano Mosconi, who also was or still is a sport commentator for the Gazzettino, a Venice daily, works as sports anchor for Telenuovo, a local station based in Verona, too. While extremely strong, the video is also exhilaratingly funny for an Italian native speaker. Mr. Mosconi's expletives and blasphemies are considered very badly, even by those who normally can tolerate the foulest language. Don't forget that blasphemy in Italy used to be prosecuted as a criminal offense. I don't think we're still going that far, but one usually avoids offending the divinity so explicitly, out of respect for so many believers. A well known actor uttered one of Mosconi's expressions on nationwide RAI 1 channel years ago and was seen on TV again only 10 or 15 years later. Clips like this one have become quite popular here, since when many TV 'trash' shows started using bloopers and other off the air recordings for comical effects. They try capturing abnormal behavior or words from famous actors and actresses, sport stars or politicians. Gaffes are abundant even on live television, of course. Mosconi's unreligious rap started spreading last October and has become something of a... cult. Please consider he speaks with a strong accent from Veneto, a region which is strongly Catholic and notorious for its colorful dialect (celebrated by Goldoni's theatre) at the same time. When blasphemy is at play, however, no one can surpass the literal fantasy and linguistic flourishes of inhabitants from Tuscany. In one of his most unforgettable cameos on our TV, the Academy Award actor and director Roberto Benigni (hosted by a very popular singer and showgirl, Raffaella Carrà) made the whole nation cry with laughs at his declamation of some fifty alternative ways to call the female sexual apparatus. Mosconi would be using one word only and indeed you can hear him saying "mona", even if in his context "mona" is used to define a very dumb person. (In case you're asking, "mona" does not give way to any kind of confusion here because in Italian we say "Monna Lisa", Monna, with a double N, being a contraction of Madonna, or "mia donna, dama".) Curiously, here in Milan a very dumb person would be called with a dialectal noun, "pirla", corresponding to the male sexual organ. 73s (Andy Lawendel, Italy, Jan 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ITALY [non]. How about checking out 9385 between 01 and 02 tonite UT Jan 16 only? That`s the IRRS special, European Gospel Radio, and as usual the site is not given. I hear it weakly, with discussion in American English, and I think it features music. At least it`s not Brother Scare. Can someone get the program name, address, speculate on the site? 73, (Glenn, 0106 UT Jan 16, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Not bad here. Interview with some Christian rock musician and playing his songs. Talking about how reality TV is cheapening of relationships, sex etc. We will continue to monitor and get right back (Mick Delmage, Lamont AB, 0124 UT Jan 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [Later:] After the program Keeping Reaching Out, ID for IRRS signing off from Milan, Italy. Address for reports given and then N/A (not sure whose --- Italy I would presume). Then at 0134 "Talk Nation Radio" about Ann Cloture's [Coulter?? Gag] appearance at UCONN. AT 0200 abrupt off mid sentence, no further announcements. Hope this helps. 73 (Mick Delmage, ibid.) Also heard the IRRS test transmission on 9385 at 0100 UT [Jan 16 and/or 15?], a SINPO of all 5. They say they will QSL this test (Christoher Lewis, England, Jan 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, Thanks for the tip. Jan 16, heard them from 0126-0200* UT, with programming in English; contemporary (pop) Christian songs, BoH gave address to write to: IRRS, P.O. Box 10980, Milano, Italy (could not make out all the address, but this portion was fairly clear), repeated address again, said something about putting "IRRS Short Wave" on the envelope; church choir singing, into program with man and woman having a discussion about American politics (could only make out a few words: far left, political, liberal, Kennedy, culture, liberal Democrats, students polarized), at start of program gave P.O. Box address for listeners to write to but unable to make it out (was not the IRRS address), reception was weak. Could not hear an ID for European Gospel Radio or a program name, only the clear references to IRRS. Thanks again! (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, RX340 + T2FD antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, TO BE IN DOUBT about Milano transmitter site usage! BULGARIA [tentative 100 kW Kostinbrod-Sofia, 250 kW via Plovdiv] IRRS-Shortwave tests on Jan. 15/16, 2006 Heard the end of the program for approx. 20 minutes. Endless discussion on American Student politics, about conservative and right wing matter, - for foreigners a little bit confused to follow US internals ... No ID, no address given so far in last 20 minutes program, 0140-0200 UT. Cut off the tx at Plovdiv-Bulgaria suddenly midst on the sentence word ... Seems to be another test series of IRRS brokered usage of Bulgarian state owned shortwave transmitters. Supposedly a diffuse action. See the NASB report of the HFCC Valencia Spain conference last year. Two (formerly Ham radio operators) Bulgarians attended the conference for the first time. There are also DRM mode entries in B-05 HFCC registration file under 'BUL NEW NEW'. On WRTH 2006, p447, see tiny SPACELINE LTD Broker entry. Had also managed a test series from Kostinbrod-Sofia-BUL towards Africa for 'Christian Voice' a year ago. I had a look into the BUL B-05 HFCC entries. Kostinbrod-Sofia is off for SW at this time span of the night. So, test series shift to Plovdiv facility at night, where some 250/500 kW combined units are available. In 0100-0200 UT slot there is break of R BUL usage on 9400 kHz: 7500 0000 0300 12-16 PLD 250 258 BUL RBU BUL 9400 0000 0100 29-32 PLD 250 45 BUL RBU BUL << 9400 0200 0300 10,11 PLD 250 295 BUL RBU BUL << 9500 0000 0300 12-14 PLD 250 245 BUL RBU BUL 9700 0000 0400 4,7-9 PLD 500 306 BUL RBU BUL At this time of the year, no propagation from IRRS Milano into southern Germany on 5 and 9 MHz. But - when compared - at 1-2 UT, all Bulgarian outlets on 7500, 9400(before 0100, after 0200 UT), 9500, and 9700 kHz signals had the same strong 45444 level like the 9385 signal yesterday night. This UT Jan 16 morning: only Plovdiv-BUL; Kavalla 9680, 9735; MRC 9575 and 9585; as well as GRC 9420 kHz were available on 31 mb with such a strong signal level (wb, wwdxc BC-DX Jan 16) 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGST) What Milano transmitters anyway? The once famous 10 kW Siemens transmitters were put on sale shortly after they abandoned their previous 75 and lower 41 metre band frequencies. So why should we believe that they operate any shortwave transmitters within Italy anymore? By the way, I heard about this statement about the current transmitter site: "East of Milano." Well, that's apparently true (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Jan 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also SOUTH CAROLINA ** ITALY [non]. MediaLine Radio: Current edition (14 January 2006) The current edition of MediaLine Radio for the two weeks beginning 14 January 2006 is now available on-demand at http://medialineradio.com . This edition includes: * Information about Europe's new global satellite navigation system. * The Mars rovers continue their mission. * News from the world of international radio broadcasting. * An episode of The Whistler from 1948. The programme will air next as follows: * Saturday 21 January, 1400 UTC, http://mp3.nexus.org * Saturday 21 January, 2000 UTC, http://mp3.nexus.org and 5775kHz The programme also airs on WorldFM http://www.worldfm.co.nz (Henry Brice, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN. Some months ago, I heard almost an hour of Chopin music on R. Japan, Bonaire relay, UT Sat after 2300 on 17605, and wondered if it was really fill music from the transmitter while the feed was lost. Apparently not. UT Sat Jan 14 at 2305 there started on 11665, direct from Japan, a Japanese-language program presenting the music of Chaikofsky, so this may be a regular weekly feature. 17605 was barely audible on this occasion (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA SOUTH. The Korean numbers station carrier was on 6215 already at tune-in 1428 Jan 15, conveniently demodulating perfectly some 2-way SSB on the same frequency, one of whom by accent at first sounded like Defunct Gene Scott. They apparently gave up trying to communicate, knowing what was coming. From 1430, a Korean song, and starting up the YL 5-digit numbers at 1434 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KUWAIT. KUWAIT BEGINS 40 DAYS OF MOURNING FOLLOWING DEATH OF EMIR The state of Kuwait has begun a 40 day period of mourning following the death Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber al-Sabah, the Emir of Kuwait, who passed away earlier today. Radio and TV services have suspended normal programming. When checked at 1100 UTC, all the radio channels were carrying the same output. Radio Kuwait audio streams http://media.gov.kw # posted by Andy @ 11:13 UT Jan 15 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** LAOS [non]. Checking Hmong Lao Radio, Sun Jan 15 at 1400 on 11785 via WHRI, they were playing some really rustic ``barnyard`` music, followed by talk mentioning Jakarta, Indonesia! I can imagine list- loggers concluding this was VOI on its actually dormant frequency (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 6185 kHz, Radio Educación, 1059 UT with anthem, into near Eastern music with flutes and minor keyed strings, fair on January 16. They are heard pretty well here some mornings 0930-1200, usually in the clear, with a nice eclectic mix of music (Roger Chambers, Utica, NY on Grundig YB 400 PE with a long wire attic antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS [and non]. Re 6-010: WHAT! Does that mean if the only Radio Netherlands program I listen to is Amsterdam Forum that's OK, but if the only Radio Netherlands program I listened to was Media Network, then that's not OK? As for Happy Station... Larry Wayne... Sweden Saturday... Well, try listening to about 5000 Podcasts! BTW if you are a NASCAR fan or just want to hear the best coverage of a sport, try the 'Rowdy Racing' Podcast. Programs with personality are not evil!!! (Larry Nebron, CA, Jan 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEW ZEALAND. RADIO NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL DRM TEST ON THURSDAY Radio New Zealand International advises that it will be testing its new DRM transmitter on Thursday 19 Jan from 1420 NZDT (0120 UT) for approx 45 minutes on 15720 kHz. (Source: RNZI via Chris Mackerell on DRM-L mailing list). # posted by Andy @ 21:05 UT Jan 16 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** NORWAY. Re 6-010: Glenn, Don't think that the Wikipedia photo is the antenna of MW Norway 1314 - photo of the MW antenna is on the first page of Bernd Waniewski's site: http://waniewski.de/id208.htm Nice place for a high power MW facility. Amazing list of loggings on Ydun's website (Ben Dawson, WA, Jan 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Wikipedia photo looks like the towers are supporting curtains between them, and obviously a log-periodic in the middle. May be the Kvitsoy SW site near the MW site. Tho the text refers to horizontal elements for the MW antenna?? (Glenn to Ben, via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. 1000.00, 0655 2006-01-12, USA, KTOK, Oklahoma City OK, "This is K-T-O-K Oklahoma's...", talk, Oklahoma weather, Temperatures, news 22542 (DX183, multi-beverage DX site in Denmark, Ydun`s MW News via DXLD) Nite direxional pattern is no help at all (gh, DXLD) ** PERU. 5015 kHz, Radio Altura, 1026 UT, male talk, female nasal vocals, ``cinco de la mañana y treinta y tres minutos,`` nice regional music, ``Radio Altura`` ID at 1047, more talk, ads. Fair on January 16 (Roger Chambers, Utica, NY on Grundig YB 400 PE with a long wire attic antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ROMANIA [non]. "Espacio Diexista" para hoy domingo 15 de enero: http://www.bnr.bg/RadioBulgaria/Emission_Spanish/Theme_DX_Programme/Ma terial/15+enero+2006+dx.htm Argentina y Rumania. Todo parece indicar que Radio Baluarte, que transmite en la frecuencia de 6215 kilohercios y es captada frecuentemente también en Europa ha cambiado su nombre por el de Radio Armonía. Hay una emisora con idéntico nombre también en Rumania que emite programas en onda corta los sábados desde las 1700 hasta las 1730 horas en las frecuencias de 6205 y 6245 kilohercios (Rumen Pankov, R. Bulgaria DX Jan 15 via Dino Bloisse, dxldyg via DXLD) What`s this? There is no Romanian SW station by that name. Per EiBi, R. Armonia is really a Romanian program of TWR transmitted via Russia; unfortunately, one of the frequencies collides with R. Liberty via Kuwait in Turkmen: 6205 1700-1730 Sa USA Trans World Radio RO EEu /RUS-sp 6205 1600-1800 USA Radio Liberty TK CAs /KWT 6245 1700-1730 Sa USA Trans World Radio RO EEu /RUS-a a-Armavir/Tblisskaya/Krasnodar 45N00-40E49 sp-St.Petersburg (Popovka/Krasnyj Bor) 59N39-30E42 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. Your Update despot had the rare pleasure of several phone chats with Joe Adamov, through the last few early-'90s years producing the Ray Briem Show on KABC/790. Ray would ask me to call Joe a good two hours before planned airtime of the interview, fully knowing that my own conversation with him would take an hour. Joe bellowed with laughter when I told him of hearing him via Shortwave as a kid, then having the urge to dig a backyard Fallout Shelter, after ingesting his pronouncements about the doomed West and the evils of Capitalism. Joe had a huge sense of humor, and was known to be quite popular with the local ladies well into his later years. Though he made at least one visit to the United States after the Soviet breakup, I will always regret never having the chance to meet him in person. Until the next, Peace and Prosperity (GREG HARDISON, Broadcast Band Update Jan 15 via DXLD) Full UD in the dxld yg ** SINGAPORE [non]. Checking out AWR for signs of Wavescan, UT Sat Jan 14 at 2229: carrier came on 11655 via Guam, but show was a mixture of advice on child wrangling, bible verses, and misc. preaching, originating with Voice of Hope in Pune, India, with Indian-accented English; off at 2259. Good signal tho, 34433, with flutter. Should be another good time for Wavescan 24 hours later on UT Sunday. I also checked 11960 just before 2200, and that was as expected, a heavy collision with Star Radio via Ascension to Liberia. AWR with music went off half a minute before SR, and then the frequency was clear. Then on Sunday Jan 15 I checked 12065 again at 1600, but reception was much worse this date, and could barely ascertain that the program was Wavescan. Also checked other frequency 9585, but not until 1627 when it seemed to be slightly better. One more try: UT Sunday Jan 15 at 2230 on 11655 from KSDA, Guam: this time, good strong reception with some flutter. I made a detailed log of the entire show, for the record, in minutes and seconds, approx. from start: 00:00 Opening, introduxion 02:15 Unnamed Singapore Correspondent with basic history and demographics of Singapore, with constant musical background. Did not go into death penalty policy 09:25 asking for reception reports to get special Singapore QSL; address later 10:05 EDXP News read by anon. with non-Oz accent. Items included: Three KBS World transmissions as heard in Melbourne; Iran frequency change in Hindi, and frequencies for three English broadcasts; NHK Warido new frequency at 17 in Japanese, 12045 via Singapore; totals 65 hours per day in 22 languages, including 11 hours in English; Rome QSY for sports on Sundays to Africa 1345-1730, 17570 ex-21710; new frequency for English at 2025-2045, and for Arabic? EDXP 10th anniversary QSL, address. (The DX news was a bit hard to copy due to speed, accent, no repetition, but look who`s talking! I taped it, but none of this is news to us, anyway; and adjacent channel interference from IS and Arabic on 11660 at 2243 until I retuned slightly lower.) 14:35 ``Inside AWR``, naming new staffers at studios in Philippines, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Guam/Singapore --- mercifully short since the names would mean nothing to listeners. 16:15 Feature on Singapore`s national anthem, introduced incongruously with Vivaldi`s ``Spring`` underneath; there was a change in the official arrangement in 2000y to make it more ``solemn and inspiring``, and tho there are 4 official languages, the NA must be sung only in Malay. Vivaldi fortunately faded out in time for: 17:42 the National Anthem itself (instrumental) 18:48 DSWCI News report, from DX Window 289, again delivered by an anonymous voice, but I doubt it`s Anker Petersen. Here there were severe lapses in choice of items, which I expect were made at the studio. Please engage brain in future. First, the Eid special program from Bangladesh which WAS on Jan. 11; V. of EZLN resumed SW Fri 2100 on 6.0 MHz, WITHOUT any qualification, as we have pointed out repeatedly, never confirmed as existing; R. Free North Korea accepting free messages to Kim, an offer which I think has also expired; Minivan off the air item, which I think was attributed very quickly to DXLD without explaining what DXLD is; then, most incredible of all, the special URBONO QSL offer made by IRCA. I wasn`t clocking this segment, but must have spent at least two minutes listing all the eligible stations, mostly FM, by call, frequency and location. Now how many listeners in Asia would have possibly heard any of them except WHRI, and if very, very lucky, WWL itself? NEGLECTED to mention the DATES this applies to, and the ADDRESS!! Why bother to waste so much airtime on this item, then? 25:00 about a DX contest in March; could not catch details 25:30 ``Listeners Write`` segment, from Nepal and Bali 27:05 asking for reports, to AWR Asia-Pacific Regional office, 798 Thompson Road, Singapore 298186, Republic of Singapore. This was repeated once, but I am still not sure of the street address and have not tried to look it up elsewhere; or radio @ awr.org 27:45 wrapup by Rhoen --- does not give last name, as ``Catolico`` would be confusing, since he is presumably an Adventist! 28:10 closing music: ``Moon River`` in a sorta Asiatic arrangement 29:00 carrier off There was no trace of any input from Adrian Peterson, we are sorry to note (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15110 a 1220 15/01, AWR-Al Dabbiya, inglés, DX, CX, 33333. Rx: Sony icf7600D +Hilo 50mts (Rubi (BCN) España, ADXB-OE, Noticias DX via DXLD) Confirming another Wavescan airing on Sunday (gh) 1201 UT, AWR UAE, 15110 khz Wavescan program, History about Singapore and its people, a place I love a lot. 45555 (Larry Fields, n6hpx/mm near Pakistan at sea, swl at qth.net via DXLD) Have been listening on Jan. 1 and 8, but not on the 15th, and Wavescan was like a local here in Copenhagen at 1530 UT on 9530 kHz. Have reported to radio @ awr.org, but no reply - yet. 73, (Erik Køie, Denmark, Jan 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SLOVAKIA. R. ESLOVAQUIA INT, SIN CANDIDATOS DEFINITIVOS PARA EL PUESTO DE D.G.R.E. --- Noticia via RSI: http://www.slovakradio.sk/rsi/ Todavía no se conocen las candidaturas definitivas para el puesto de Director General de la Radio Eslovaca El presidente del Consejo de Dirección de la Radio Eslovaca, Michal Dzurjanin, analiza la posibilidad de presentar su candidatura al puesto de Director General de la Radio. Hoy 16 de enero se vence el plazo de presentación por los interesados. La participación en esta nueva ronda de elecciones para el puesto fue confirmada por el antiguo Director General, Jaroslav Reznik, quien de acuerdo a sus declaraciones al rotativo Pravda, se presentará en esta ocasión con un nuevo proyecto. Reznik participó, sin éxito, en la segunda ronda donde obtuvo sólo seis votos de los diez necesarios para salir vencedor. El Consejo de Dirección de la Radio está integrado por quince miembros cada uno con derecho a un voto. Si la candidatura de Dzurjanin se convirtiese en una realidad el Consejo contaría con una voz menos. La Directora Económica de la Radio, Hilda Gajdošová, quien además funge como Directora estatutaria hasta tanto no se nombre al Director General también analiza las posibilidades de presentar su solicitud. El cuarto posible candidato está reperesentado por Luboš Machaj, dramaturgo de la television estatal STV, quien en las dos vuelta anteriores contó con ocho de los diez votos necesarios. Esperamos en el transcurso del día conocer quienes finalmente se decidieron a optar por este tan atractivo puesto de trabajo. José Mas (via José Miguel Romero, dxldyg via DXLD) Re 6-010: There was some doubt about the date when RSI published the news item about a shortwave close-down being unavoidable: The German service broadcast it last Friday (Jan 13). (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Jan 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOMALIA. Does anyone have a schedule for Radio Hargeisa broadcasts on 7530? If no time schedule is available, can anyone suggest the best/most likely times to try for them on this frequency? 73, (J. D. Stephens, Hampton Cove, AL, U.S.A., Jan 16, HCDX via DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. Ran across the unmistakable intonations of Brother Scare, Sun Jan 15 at 1359 on 11510, but he was cut off abruptly at 1400* Whence? There is no mention of it at http://www.overcomerministry.org/content/blogcategory/22/42/ nor in EiBi B-05. Searching recent DXLDs for that frequency, it appears in the Russian relay schedules, including Radio Free Asia via Kazakhstan, but only until 1330. 11510 is also used by the Yerevan site at various other times, but no hits on 11510 for DTK/T-Systems, which AFAIK is the only current overseas relayer of BS. A mistake, or a new addition, or a test? Strangely enough IRRS shows no tests at this time, despite their recent publicity, at http://ww2.nexus.org/NEXUS-IBA/Schedules/IRRS-SW_tests.html Recall in 6-010 that European Gospel Radio ITALY [non] was going to test during that hour on 9385, which is now occupied by WWRB with Brother Scare! So I bet that is a last minute change, tho nothing to be found about it on the IRRS or EGR websites. Meanwhile, I checked new 9385 for BS via WWRB, at 1440: still with the IBB severe co-channel previously reported, but now accompanied by distorted spurs circa 9403 and 9367, the latter bothering WTJC 9370. By this date, former 9320 had disappeared. On Jan 16 at 1544 check, it was impossible to enjoy the gospel music on WTJC with the hash on the low side from WWRB spur, which was also distorted on 9385 itself. It seems that IBB usage of 9385 until 1500 was a change a sesquimonth after B-05 began, as reported back in 5-218, so maybe those picking 9385 for WWRB and IRRS were not aware of it, not consulting DXLD: ``Frequency change for Voice of America in Korean: 1300-1500 NF 9385 TIN 500 kW / 325 deg, co-channel R. Pakistan Urdu from 1330, ex 15250 (Observer, Bulgaria, Dec 20 via DXLD 5-218) Tinian`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST 6-011) ** SWEDEN. Saludos cordiales; como se venía anunciando, Radio Panorama, el servicio en español por la FM de la Radio Sueca ha desaparecido hoy día 16 de Enero, junto a otros servicios, cómo se puede apreciar en la web de la emisora: http://www.sr.se/international/index.stm Ya no está el servicio en español (José Miguel Romero, Spain, Jan 16, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Como afirma el colega José Miguel Romero ya han descolgado la página de español en la WEB de Sveriges Radio pero aún se puede escuchar el último programa PANORAMA del pasado domingo 15 de enero a cargo de la colombiana Cecilia Mora, muy distendida en su anunciada despedida. Busquen: http://www.sr.se/rs/red/ind_spa.html Su presentación final consistió en números musicales latinoamericanos durante aproximadamente 24 minutos, después de la bellísima canción "Garota de Ipanema" interpretada por Elis Regina y Carlos Jobim, Cecilia se despidió con estas palabras: ``...Y ya que estamos hablando en proverbios, dichos y en frases comunes, tengo una frase cliché que me he preparado y que me viene muy bien en este momento, Cecilia Mora no les dice Adiós sino hasta luego y los invita a que escuchen el Canal 1 de Radio Nacional de Suecia, allí encontrarán toda la información necesaria para poder arreglárselas en este país. En cuanto a música latinoamericana habrá que acudir al Canal 2 y con suerte podrán escuchar allí a cantantes como Chavela Vargas, hasta luego», terminando este programa final con la canción de la mencionada Vargas "En el último trago". Habrá que pedirle al colega Heinrik Klemetz que nos dé unas clases de sueco en varias semanas... Permítanme que yo también descargue un poco de ironía como lo ha hecho Cecilia, seguramente muy apenada como nosotros. Cordiales saludos! (Rubén Guillermo Margenet, Argentina, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN [non]. RTI Listeners meet at New Delhi, Kolkata & Dhaka Information for listeners in India and Bangladesh Radio Taiwan International will hold Listeners' Club Meetings in Delhi, Kolkata (Calcutta) and Dhaka. We welcome you to take part in this event, but we would like you to register with us first. Only those with valid RTI passes will be admitted. The application process for an RTI pass is as such: 1. The registration deadline is January 22, 2006 2. RTI passes will be sent on January 26, 2006 3. Scheduled meeting dates are as flows: February 18, 2006 at 11:00 AM in Delhi, India February 19, 2006 at 12 PM in Kolkata, India February 21, 2006 at 12 PM in Dhaka, Bangladesh 5. Venues will be announced on January 26, 2006 on the RTI English web page 6. RTI will accept applications by email and fax only. Our email address is rti @ rti.org.tw and the fax number is +886-2-28867088. 7. For each email or fax, please state the SUBJECT (CHOOSE ONE of the following): APPLY DELHI (if you wish to attend the meeting in Delhi, India) APPLY KOLKATA (if you wish to attend the meeting in Kolkata, India) APPLY DHAKA (if you wish to attend the meeting in Dhaka, Bangladesh) Best wishes and we look forward to seeing in February! (RTI Website via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, dx_india via DXLD) Geez, what control freaks (gh, DXLD) ** U K. BBC STRIKE AVERTED AFTER TALKS WITH UNION LONDON, Jan 13 (Reuters) - The BBC, Britain's publicly funded broadcaster, has averted another strike after agreeing to a temporary moratorium on layoffs announced by Director General Mark Thompson last year. Three BBC unions held a 24-hour strike last May, forcing the broadcaster to cancel or curtail most of its live radio and TV programming, including the World Service. Thompson "said the BBC would look again at whether it was feasible to reduce the number of compulsory redundancies through better inter-divisional co-ordination," according to a joint statement issued by the BBC and the unions. The unions have warned that any compulsory redundancies are "unacceptable." (RTw 01/13 1335 via Mike Cooper, DXLD) BBC AND UNIONS REACH AGREEMENT ABOUT PLANNED LAYOFFS LONDON (AP) -- The British Broadcasting Corp. and unions representing its employees have reached an agreement about planned layoffs that could avert a possible strike, officials said. The unions representing journalists and technicians had warned that industrial action was "inevitable" unless the BBC could achieve its target of cutting thousands of jobs by voluntary means. Talks with BBC Director General Mark Thompson ended Thursday night with an agreement that the corporation's managers will "redouble" efforts to minimize any compulsory job cuts, officials said. The three unions -- Bectu, the National Union of Journalists and Amicus -- said they believed the BBC should be able to achieve its job cut targets without the need for compulsory redundancies. The agreement "does not mean that industrial action is abandoned entirely, but there is now a clear commitment to avoid compulsory redundancies," said Gerry Morrissey, Bectu's assistant general secretary. The BBC still must find 250 volunteers to complete its planned layoffs, the unions said, but more talks with network officials were planned (APws 01/13 0646 via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. US STATEMENT ON RESIGNATION OF MIDDLE EAST BROADCASTING MASTERMIND PATTIZ | Text of press release in English by US Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) on 10 January [see also 6-009] Washington, DC, 10 January 2006: Mr Pattiz first came to the board five years ago, in October 2000, bringing with him an incredible enthusiasm for public service and for the foreign policy mission of the agency. The timing of his appointment to the board could not have been more fortuitous. His energy and private sector broadcast expertise led to the creation of the BBG's vibrant, modern Arabic- language radio service, Radio Sawa, that would be just the first phase of a dramatic surge in both television and radio broadcasts to the Middle East sponsored by the US after 9/11. With his business acumen and drive, Mr Pattiz built on the success of Radio Sawa to create Al-Hurra Television, the first American television in Arabic to the Middle East. Together, these broadcasts formed the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, broadcasting 24 hours a day to audiences in the Middle East. The BBG and US public diplomacy have been fortunate to have the benefit of the skills and commitment of Norm Pattiz. Although serving on a part-time board of governors, Mr Pattiz became immediately engaged in the need to reach out to the Arab world. Prior to 9/11, he devoted himself to overseeing the design and research that a new broadcast effort would require, and remained dedicated to these programmes until they were solidly established and recognized. Mr Pattiz continues to chair Westwood One, and is a member of the University of California Board of Regents, where he is taking on increased responsibilities. As his home and core business interests are on the West Coast, it is becoming increasingly difficult for him to dedicate the time necessary to come to Washington to oversee the networks and other programmes of the board. The Board is proud of what it has been able to accomplish to modernize and reinvigorate US international broadcasting in recent years. We know that many of the broadcast resources and initiatives now available to the BBG and the nation would not exist without the efforts of Mr Pattiz. As the BBG's Chairman, Ken Tomlinson, has often stated, "Norm Pattiz is a builder. He knows how to get things done and this nation owes him a great debt for building a state-of-the-art broadcast operation." The Board sincerely wishes to thank Norm for his dedication to US international broadcasting over the last five years. The BBG is an independent federal agency which supervises all US government-supported non-military international broadcasting, including the Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL); the Middle East Broadcasting Networks (Al-Hurra TV and Radio Sawa); Radio Free Asia (RFA); and Office of Cuba Broadcasting (Radio and TV Marti). Through its broadcast services, the BBG provides the United States and its leaders direct and immediate access to a worldwide audience of over 140m people. Nine members comprise the BBG, a bipartisan presidentially appointed body. Current governors are Chairman Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, Joaquin Blaya, Blanquita W. Cullum, D. Jeffrey Hirschberg, Edward E. Kaufman, Norman J. Pattiz, and Steven J. Simmons. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice serves as an ex officio member. For more information, contact Joe O'Connell in the Office of Public Affairs at (202) 203-4959. Source: Broadcasting Board of Governors website, Washington, in English 10 Jan 06 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** U S A. Subject: your note about QSLs Dear Mr. Lay: Thank you for your note of earlier this month. I apologize for the delay in getting back to you. I apologize also for the fact that we have not been responding to reception reports with QSL cards. We are working right now on remedying that and hope to be back in business very soon. The gentleman who was handling the QSLs unfortunately and suddenly passed away several months ago, and filling his position has been delayed due to budget reductions. Again, I apologize for taking a couple of weeks to respond to your note, and I thank you for sharing your concerns about this matter with us. We agree with you and should be back in business soon. Sincerely, Joe O'Connell, Director, Office of Public Affairs [IBB] (via Russ Lay, Nags Head NC, Jan 16, DXLD) ESTADOS UNIDOS – A Voz da América não está enviando os solicitados cartões QSLs. Eles estão em falta na Redação de Língua Espanhola, segundo informou a apresentadora do Programa Club de Oyentes, Mercedes Antezana, a Antônio Avelino, de Gravatá (PE). Ela também informa que já solicitou ao departamento responsável para que os cartões de confirmação sejam confeccionados (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX Jan 15 via DXLD) ** U S A. And speaking of disasters, shortwave is also a good way to hear a lot of good old fashioned American ignorance. Like in this first clip. WBCQ - Creation Nation 10-09-05 (download MP3 here) This is a fairly new show on WBCQ, one of the few stations (I think there`s one other one) that ISN`T a Christian outfit. However, they have to pay the bills, and while there`s some cool programs on WBCQ, sadly there`s been plenty of ignorance, hate and stupidity broadcast from their Maine transmitter over the last few years. Sometimes American shortwave is like the worst open-mic night on Earth. I didn`t make out the name of the host of ``Creation Nation,`` but it doesn`t seem that important. But you have to wonder what inspires this character do a whole show about how much he and the good lord really hate homos. And what is that accent? Philly? Sounds to me like a high school drop-out who got in a bunch of trouble and somehow found Jesus. A dry drunk perhaps? Or maybe he`s just an extremely closeted self- hating kind of guy. It wouldn`t be the first time. ``Creation Nation`` is where ``intelligent minds meets intelligent design.`` And how does that happen? Well, it`s simple. He tells you ``what immorality is like, and how not to follow it.`` In fact everything he says is simple. He`s a simple man. And hey if this guys nasal recitation of passages from Leviticus does inspire any homosexuals to turn away from their abominable misdirected lifestyle, all they have to do is say out loud: ``Jesus I`m a sinner.. Forgive me, make me new again,`` and crap like that and POOF that queer desire is gone forever. Christianity is SO easy. And then, in a compassionate moment he asks his listeners to pray for the non-listeners, you know, the whole world. But he wants us to especially pray for the hurricane victims and the ``old people who are going to freeze this winter`` because they can`t afford heating oil. He doesn`t mention if the prayers will warm them up any, but maybe a few more will get into heaven or something. And remember, this station is heard around the world. It`s SO sad that there are the types of Americans who shortwave listeners in other countries actually hear on the radio. Time on WBCQ is quite cheap from what I`ve heard. Hey, if you want to do worldwide radio, call Allan Weiner! (Former radio pirate and the boss over at WBCQ) If a bunch of fans of WFMU bought time on WBCQ the shortwave landscape in this country would be noticeably improved. AND you can sell advertising! What the hell. Think about it. You could even make money. Change the world! The possibilities are endless. (I have no financial interest in WBCQ) From Adventures in AM, part 5 [much more] http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2006/01/adventures_in_a_1.html (via Ken Kopp, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U S A. 9265 NF, WINB, 2333-2350, Jan. 13, English, Rambling OM preacher, with heavy Irish accent, re interpersonal expressions of love. Recited Harry Chapin's "Cats in the Cradle". Fair with occasional fades (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, 200' Beverages, MLB-1, LDG-DTS4 antenna switch, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Very weak here; MUF too low at nite (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. In re: KJES. I had also been trying for KJES the last couple weeks as I had not had time to monitor SW much the last couple years due to work. Their signal was always "fair" here in NE Ohio and I wanted to see if they had improved/upgraded. In short, I have not heard them here at all given random checks on their assigned frequencies the last two weeks (Lee Silvi, Ohio, January 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. RIDERS` RADIO THEATER is still running on a few public radio stations, tho you`d never know it from their website http://www.ridersinthesky.com/ which is up-to-date with appearances at the Grand Ole Opry, etc. This is one of our favorites, a unique kind of entertainment. PublicRadioFan.com shows only 9 known webcast airings; if it`s on the way out, suggest you don`t delay: Scheduled Broadcasts, UT days and times Sa 0030-0100 KAXE [MP3] (i) Sa 0330-0400 KCHU [WM] (i) Sa 1200-1230 WLNZ [MP3] (i) Sa 1430-1500 KGLP [MP3][MP3][aac+] (i), KSUT [MP3] (i) Sa 1600-1630 KANZ [MP3] (i) Sa 2130-2200 KMXT [MP3] (i) Su 0100-0130 WOJB [Real] (i) Su 2000-2030 KRCC [MP3][MP3] (i) We have not reconfirmed all of these, but did listen to the KRCC broadcast Jan 15, rudely interrupted in the middle during some music for a voice-over Colorado College promo. Good 96K sound, tho unseems stereo like the player claims. I suspect the show is no longer in production with the demise of WVXU, but RRT is really timeless and can go on forever. If you get a chance to see them perform in person, don`t miss it. I discovered that following it on KRCC is a companion show, rather less sophisticated: BUCK HOWDY'S COW PIE RADIO ON KRCC SUNDAY 1:30PM [2030 UT] Buck Howdy`s Cow Pie Radio. A simple concept…Buck Howdy wants kids to be able to hear wholesome, fun, ``family-friendly`` music on the radio. Nothing more – nothing less. http://www.cowpieradio.com/cowpie.html But this show website link goes nowhere. Instead, the website announced is http://www.buckhowdy.com/cowpie.html which claims it is on the air in a number of states, but PRF.com has it only on KRCC. HQ shown as San Diego but announced address in Virginia (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. `24` gets cut off in last 10 minutes --- TV FANS HIT THE ROOF WHEN LOCAL NEWSCAST BEGINS BEFORE SHOW ENDS By ADAM BEAM Staff Writer Midlands fans of the FOX show ``24`` are used to cliffhangers — but nothing like what happened during the fifth-season premiere Sunday night. WACH-TV, Columbia`s FOX affiliate, cut away from the last 10 minutes of the blockbuster show to start its 10 p.m. newscast — leaving fans in the Midlands hanging. ``Somebody has lost their mind,`` said Steve Arnold, a fan who was watching the show at his Irmo home. . . http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/13635789.htm (The State, Columbia SC via Brock Whaley, DXLD) ** U S A. THE PERSONNEL DEPT.: Ted Koppel is not out of work for long, having signed a pact with NPR for commentaries, et al., airing about once each week. Ted returns to Radio roots here, having done time at NYC's WMCA/570 before inking with ABC in 1963. He's a busy guy, tho, having also signed on with Discovery Networks as a Host/Producer, and with "The New York Times" as a columnist. Nice work if you can get it. SOME NEEDED HELP: Trickling in for "Chicago Ed" Schwartz, longtime overnight vox on WGN/720, among others. Last month we mentioned the health and financial woes plaguing this goodguy. "The Chicago Sun- Times" ultra-pen Robert Feder reports that fans and ex-WIND/560-co- workers Clark Weber and Dave Baum are rallying to Ed's hopeful-rescue with a possible celeb-tinged Radiothon, and a trust fund has been set up to collect donations from those concerned. Send help to: The Eddie Schwartz Fund, c/o The Private Bank And Trust Co., 10 N. Dearborn, Chicago, IL 60602 (Broadcast Band Update Jan 15 by Greg Hardison, via DXLD) Full UD appears in DXLD yg ** U S A. Some of you are engineers. Perhaps you can tell me whether the FCC has actually required any of the Extended Band licensees to choose between the original (540-1600) license and the "new" Ex Band license after the dual-operation (five year) period? I don't remember hearing of any; and remember being surprised when 1530, Elizabeth, was able to sell 1660 to another owner (Brian Goodrich, Greensboro, NC, ABDX via DXLD) 1530 Elizabeth is a special case. The 1660 signal was not created under the same rules that govern most of the X-band. John Quinn, the owner of WJDM, got a "custom" bill passed in Congress that created an automatic X-band preference for any daytimer that was the only licensed service to a community of 100,000 or more people. Three stations ended up getting X-band outlets as a result - WJDM (1530/1660), KDIA Vallejo CA (1190/1640, with a temporary move to 1630) and 540/1650 Costa Mesa CA. (The 540 eventually went dark, and the 1650 is now KFOX Torrance.) Those three stations have no five-year sunset provision, as do the other X-banders. The sunsets are being enforced - look at 1180 Omaha getting ready to go dark next month, for instance. (There are a few cases where the sunset appears to be getting overlooked; the FCC will catch up with those at renewal time, since it should be impossible to renew both the parent and the X-band offspring.) (Scott Fybush, NY, ibid.) ** VIETNAM [non]. Radio Free Vietnam: this one seems to be a victim of hurricane Katrina, as they were based in New Orleans. They are no longer listed on the TDP or WHRI websites and their website domain is for sale (H. Johnson, USA Dec 16, 2005 in Jihad DX via CRW via DXLD) This predates another item on this subject we already published (gh) ** ZIMBABWE. 6612 [2 X 3306], Radio Zimbabwe at 0005 tune in with male announcer taking calls from listeners. Music, IDs and ads in English. French also noted. Nice IDs and some sort of addresses and phone numbers at 0034 UT, Jan 15/06 SIO 252. Noted very weak on 3306 kHz. New Country for me! Should have been armchair copy for anyone with good equipment on the East Coast. [The next afternoon:] It's 2055 UT Jan 15/06 and we are hearing ZBC on 6612 kHz with pretty decent level and building. We are DXing at the Moman antenna farm near Lamont, Alberta, Canada. Just wondering if anyone can give us a signal report from the Eastern part of North America and beyond. Not bad for harmonic. s-9 at the moment. Radio Zimbabwe ID and drum IS at 2100, presumed news by YL. [Later:] It's 0045 and they are almost gone now. We noticed a couple of times they had a big ID and frequency announcement with many FM frequency and city names and also mentioned the SW frequencies of 6045 49 meters and 3306 90 meters. Did notice a very weak het on 3306 but that is it. Have over 2 1/2 hours on tape, though a faulty switch made for some low audio on some of it; go figure. 73 (Mick Delmage, ve6idx @ 3web.com DX LISTENING DIGEST) Mick, Fair amount of audio here in Merlin Ont., 2223 UT, sunset nearing. Good catch (Jerry Coatsworth, ODXA via DXLD) I could hear the 6612 carrier on the portable in the yard around 0000 UT Jan 16 as I was checking on R. República (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. I'm a new member here, though I've been interested in radio for more than 40 years, and I do a lot of DXng on the AM broadcast band. I'm looking forward to reading what you all have to say here, and maybe getting some help now and then when I have a station I can't identify. For example, this one: earlier today, I picked up an unfamiliar station on 540 kHz, averaging about an S3 signal at my location near Syracuse, NY. I listened for nearly 3 hours, beginning at about 1950 UT, and heard no station ID. Nor were there any interruptions for commercials, just a constant flow of music. The music was a mixture of classic rock, folk, country and pop. Any ideas about this one? Maybe somebody new, not formally in operation yet? (wolfpaws04, Jan 16, dxhub yg via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 6060, possibly Radio JSV, Huanuco, Perú. Argentina dominates, at least on weekdays, at 0900-1000+, on 6059.96. On several days lately I have hrd another station coming on the air arnd 6060.9, one day arnd 1000, another day 1035. Frequency drifted down to around 6060.83. Mediocre level overall, fadey with peaks, definitely Spanish, mostly fast talk, a little music, has a Peruvian feel to it. Not Tupi, which is on 6060.0 but well on its way out by 1000. Henrik Klemetz points out that R. JSV used to operate in this area, last reported in 2000 per Mark Mohrmann list (where it was reported on frequencies varying from 6060.29 to 6060.9). (Jerry Berg, MA, NASWA Flashsheet Jan 15 via DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ I haven't yet figured out how to navigate Glen[n] Hauser's listening digest. I get it as a part of one of the mailing lists on one of the groups I've joined, and I see it, but I don't yet know what to do with it. There it is. Sitting there. Looking Impressive (Beca Sunshine [newbie], VA, Shortwave-SWL-Antenna yg via DXLD) Glenn's listening digest is generally a whole bunch of stuff that's happened or been printed recently concerning radio. It covers pretty much all aspects of radio. You'll find frequency and schedule announcements, listener reports, all sorts of stuff. Like any newspaper that covers a wide variety of topics, much of it will probably be of little interest to you (though of great interest to someone else). Right now you'll probably be most interested in the frequency change announcements (Jay Heyl, ibid.) CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES see TAIWAN [non] +++++++++++++++++++++++++ DIGITAL BROADCASTING ++++++++++++++++++++ Jonathan Marks speaks the truth as painful as it is --- DRM DOOMED In Jonathan Marks` Critical Distance Blog, he wrote: At the same time, it becomes crystal clear that the DRM digital radio standard hasn't got a hope in hell of being successful in the short term. It has nothing to do with the delay to the chip-set, meaning that the promised DRM radios won't be on the market until the first half of this year. It has everything to do with the fact that there is no clear programming message that salesman in places like Media Market can repeat to potential customers. It has been the programmes that have convinced several million people in the US (and now Canada) to subscribe to a satellite radio system -either XM or Sirius. Even then, I think it is just a matter of time before the two platforms merge. At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, we can see evidence that major manufacturers like Pioneer understand how to integrate a portable satellite radio with an MP3 player (of course they couldn't demonstrate it working INSIDE the exhibition hall, but still). A similar case for the DRM camp is still a long way off. DRM's biggest problem is the total lack of recognisable "stars" and "unmissable" content on the HF part of the spectrum. Scan the 49 metre shortwave band at any time of day and ask yourself if this content is a serious proposition for any customer in an electronics store. If it is, I really want to hear the pitch. I am listening to the current output in several different languages and comparing the quality to satellite TV and what's on the web. My conclusion is simple - I'm afraid it is a total non-starter (Jonathan Marks blog via Larry Nebron, DXLD) ###