DX LISTENING DIGEST 6-012, January 18, 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 1301: Days, times strictly UT Thu 2130 on WWCR 7465 Sat 1700 on WWCR 12160 Sun 0330 on WWCR 5070 Sun 0400 on WBCQ 9330-CLSB Sun 0730 on WWCR 3215 Full schedule, including AM, FM, satellite and internet, with hotlinks to station sites and audio: http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html WRN ON DEMAND [from Fri]: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL] http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html or http://wor.worldofradio.org WORLD OF RADIO PODCASTS: www.obriensweb.com/wor.xml DXLD YAHOOGROUP: Why wait for DXLD? A lot more info, not all of it appearing in DXLD later, is posted at our yg. When applying, please identify yourself with your real name and location. Here`s where to sign up: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dxld/ ** ALBANIA. 6215, R. Tirana, 2359-0008+, Jan. 17, Albanian; looking for R. Armonía, Argentina but instead heard R. Tirana IS blasting in, then sign-on announcement with several IDs followed by newscast with soundbites. Booming signal. // 7455-poor. Is this a new frequency or did I miss something? (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, 200' Beverages, MLB-1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I see it mentioned in DXLD 5-184 for B05, but not shown on current EiBi sked (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, ibid.) ** ASCENSION. NO PLACE LIKE HOME --- THE U-TURN ON ASCENSION ISLANDERS' RIGHTS SHOWS THAT MILITARY WISHES MEAN MORE TO THE FOREIGN OFFICE --- Isabel Hilton, Friday January 20, 2006, Guardian Bringing democracy to parts of the world that cruise missiles never reach is a long job. As the new century dawned it was gratifying, therefore, to see democracy reach Ascension Island, one of the last relics of the British empire. Ascension is 35 square miles of clinker, lying just south of the equator and 750 miles from St Helena. The Portuguese discovered it in 1501 but took little further interest. It has served the British well, though, since 1812, when the Royal Navy first occupied it to stop the French using it as a base from which to rescue Napoleon Bonaparte from St Helena. The other "users" of the island are Cable & Wireless, which uses it for satellite communications; Merlin, which runs a satellite-tracking station for the European Space Agency; the BBC World Service, which has a relay station there; the RAF, which refuels Falklands flights there; the US military, which built an airstrip in the 40s; and the Composite Signals Organisation, part of GCHQ. Life on Ascension is not to everybody's taste, but it has its attractions: chances to rub shoulders with operators of some the world's most sophisticated military electronics, to spot sooty terns and masked boobies, and to watch green turtles laying eggs on the beaches. Then there are the US missile-testing nights. "As missiles reach their sell-by date," said a former administrator of the island, "they put them in a submarine off Florida and fire them at Ascension." The missiles are targeted to fall short, which, so far, they have. The timing of the tests is top secret, except to the well-informed local schoolchildren, who look forward eagerly to the fireworks. What has this unusual community to do with the promotion of democracy? The population is about 1,100, of whom 350 are British or American. Most of the rest are originally from St Helena and came to the island for work. But now there are many native Ascension Islanders who consider it home, despite the fact that under present rules they must leave the island on retirement. For most of its history, Ascension was run as a company island: even Foreign Office administrators had to beg funds from the users, who frequently refused. But in the 90s the FO decided to move towards a public-finance model. Ascension offered a chance for Britain to show that the lamentable treatment of the islanders of Diego Garcia, forcibly dispossessed by the UK in the 60s so the US military could use their homeland undisturbed, was a thing of the past. Ascension would be neither Diego Garcia nor a company island. Taxation was introduced and representation followed. A seven-member island council was elected on November 1 2002 and has run the island's affairs well. With democracy came more promises from the British government - that the right of abode and the right to own property would be enshrined in new legislation. Delighted long-term residents spent money on their houses and invested in local businesses. Ascension set out gaily towards constitutional democracy and began to plan for tourist development. But last month, without consultation, the Foreign Office announced that it no longer considered it "appropriate" to grant right of abode or property rights. This U-turn came after a visit to Ascension at the end of November by Foreign Office and MoD officials. In a statement of which Sir Humphrey would be proud, the FO acknowledged that the decision would not be "universally welcome", but said it was in the best interests of the island as a whole. The island council furiously disagrees. Which of the island's many military and intelligence interests has blocked the rights Britain promised the people of Ascension has not been revealed. But for the UK government, it seems, the choice between the wishes of the military and democratic rights has been very easy. Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2006 (via Dan Say, BC, via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. R. Australia reception has taken a dive, at least in the 14-16 period when I have been looking for it. Nothing to be heard on 5995, 6080, 7240, 9590, so I wonder if this is just a propagational anomaly, or are they doing some maintenance with lower power or missing transmissions? No hint of the latter on their website, but that is neither here nor there (Glenn Hauser, OK, Jan 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, this indeed happened here in Tiquicia in the wee hours of Jan. 17. I woke up around 0930 UT (0330 a.m. local) and no trace of Australia 9580 nor R. New Zealand 9885. I thought they were off the air, while RRI 9525 and 9680 were there with fair to good signals. Australia finally appeared but too poor around 1030. Conditions were generally poor as Radio Ulan Bator 12080 [12085?] was equally inaudible at 1000 and Papua New Guinea 4890 was imperceptible (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, dxldyg via DX LISTENIG DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. Hi Glenn, just been talking to Nigel Holmes, Head of transmission of Radio Australia. 11880, ABC Darwin via Shepparton: Still on air as Broadcast Australia still revamping and refurbishing the outback HF transmitters. They should have been finished a month ago; however still more to do. A time frame for completion is hard due to the remote areas and the climate at this time of year changing in the "Top End" of Down Under. A bigger job than expected. Thus the 11880 will continue. Reports of reception are gratifying for the top end, and other places were not anticipated; will continue as long as Broadcast Australia have any of the sites down for maintenance. Thanks Glenn; as always enjoy the Digest. Cheers (17th January 2006, John Wright, Australian Radio DX Club, WORLD OF RADIO 1301, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Johno, Very good. Appreciate your checking on this. The original timing was 2330-0800 UT for the NT relay. Is that still correct? 73, (Glenn to John via DXLD) It seems to vary, as I have them up to 0900, Glenn. Regards (John Wright, ibid.) 11880 at other times is regular R. Australia (gh) 2485 kHz, VL8K, Katherine NT, audible on 13 Jan 1924-1934, English, talks, news 1930; 25331; \\ 2310 kHz while inaudible once more on 2325 kHz (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRIA. (non): Frequency change for Adventist World Radio in Turkish from Jan. 13: 1500-1530 NF 15160 MOS 300 kW / 120 deg Daily to ME, ex 15150 (Observer, Bulgaria Jan 17 via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 5952.40, R. Emisora Pio XII, 1051-1102 Jan 18. Noted a man in Spanish comments until 1056 when a woman with canned ID. Signal was buried in the noise until trying to us the NR function (Noise Reduction) on the NRD545. This reduced the noise and allowed the audio to come up. Still the signal was threshold. Even though conditions seemed to be bad this morning, and it's raining here, and my new rolled metal roof on my mobile home is vibrating to "beat the band" over my head, and I am afraid it might blow away at any moment, I really enjoyed DXing this morning with my new laptop hooked up to my NRD545 using the remote control application. This means less RFI which was the problem with my desktop computer (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston, Florida, 20 miles South of the lake, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BURKINA FASO. Unusual opening as early as 2230 Jan 17 for reception in the 60 mb from West Coast Africa. Burkina Faso 5030, was literally booming by 2300, overcoming the usual splatter we got here from R. Rebelde 5025. Characteristic format with high life music and DJ interventions for a SINPO 34443 (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CAMBODIA. Radio station chief freed but still facing charges http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=16180 Reporters Without Borders welcomed the release from prison today of Mam Sonando, head of radio station Sombok Khmum (Ruche FM 105), two human rights activists, Kem Sokha and Pa Nguon Teang, and trade unionist Rong Chhun, but called on prime minister Hun Sen to drop defamation charges again them that could bring year-long jail sentences. The organisation said an interview done about a border dispute by Mam Sonando, whose health deteriorated in prison, had not slandered the prime minister and that the journalist had simply been doing his job. The radio station is one of the country’s few independent ones. The four men were greeted by a crowd of about 100 well-wishers as they emerged from Prey Sar prison, near Phnom Penh, soon after a city court had released them on bail at Hun Sen’s request. The prime minister acted after a meeting with visiting US assistant secretary of state Christopher Hill. A government official said the move was ``a present for Mr Hill to mark the opening of the new US embassy`` in Phnom Penh. The US had criticised the arrest of the four. Mam Sonando was arrested at his home on 11 October 2005, 20 days after broadcasting an interview with Sean Pengse, head of the French-based Cambodia Borders Committee, which opposes handing the islands of Phu Quoc and Krachakses to Vietnam. Hun Sen had said he would sue anyone who dared to suggest he was giving away Cambodian territory (via Zacharias Liangas, DXLD) = Beehive? ** CHILE. DRM transmissions from Christian Voice via Santiago as of Jan 16: 1800-1900 on 17640, 1900-2000 on 17645 (and this programming is certainly the ultimate selling point for DRM). Source: http://forum.mysnip.de/read.php?8773,376361 (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Jan 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also DIGITAL BROADCASTING CVC COMMENCES DRM TRANSMISSIONS FROM SANTIAGO Christian Vision (CVC) has started a period of regular daily DRM transmissions in Portuguese (Voz Cristã) from Santiago targeting Brazil: Time: 1900-1200 UT [sic; is this correct, all night?] Frequency: 17645 kHz Power: 15 kW Broadcaster: Voz Cristã Language: Portuguese Bearing: 45 degrees Target: Brazil CVC has also announced a period of regular daily transmissions in Spanish from Santiago targeting northern South America, Central America and Mexico. Coverage may also extend in the western USA. Time: 1800-1900 UT Frequency: 17640 kHz Power: 15 kW Broadcaster: CVC (CVC- La Voz) Language: Spanish Bearing: 340 degrees Target: northern South America/Central America/Mexico DRM technical parameters of both services will vary (Source: Andrew Flynn, CVC, in DRM Software Radio Forum) # posted by Andy @ 10:20 Jan 18 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** CHINA. More and more additional frequencies for China Radio International: 0000-0057 Mongolian 11875 BEI 500 kW / 318 deg 0300-0457 English on 15120 BEI 500 kW / 322 deg 0200-0257 Russian on 17640 XIA 500 kW / 292 deg 0400-0457 Russian on 17640 XIA 500 kW / 292 deg 0500-0657 Chinese on 15120 BEI 500 kW / 322 deg 0600-0657 French on 15220 KAS 500 kW / 308 deg, additional 0600-0657 Italian NF 15620 KAS 500 kW / 294 deg, ex 15220 0600-0657 Spanish NF 15135 KAS 500 kW / 294 deg, ex 17680 1200-1257 Chinese on 15110 URU 500 kW / 270 deg 1500-1557 Russian on 5965 BEI 500 kW / 055 deg (Observer, Bulgaria Jan 17 via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. Ciao! L'emittente del Costa Rica che opera anche su 5055 kHz in modo irregolare ha alcune foto nella sua pagina WEB http://www.farodelcaribe.org/casanueva.html del nuovo edificio della radio attualmente in costruzione. The Radio Station Faro del Caribe operating on 5055 kHz quite irregularily has some interesting photos in his WEB page showing the new radio house (Dario Monferini, Italy, Jan 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA [non]. FOR THE SOUNDS OF THE INDIAN SOIL http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/jan132006/she1654362006112.asp It is an unusual case of an exotic land enchanting a foreign tourist. Jean Parker, visually challenged though she may be, has now adopted India and works in the radio industry here, writes L Subramani. January 13, 2006. Deccan Herald - Bangalore, India. For ardent listeners of Radio Netherlands or National Public Radio, her voice would be reminiscent of reports on developmental and human rights issues. Often, she would describe situations in South Asia on a noisy backdrop. The sonorous feminine voice would even provide vivid descriptions of the physical environment, to which subjects of her reports and documentaries mostly belong. Indeed, those listening to Jean Parker, 45, would never believe that she is visually challenged, someone who manages life and profession in a place far away from her native United States. "I've lots of friends here and during one of my trips, I simply decided to stay back." This may sound like a fair enough reason, but it conceals the challenges Jean faces, such as learning about things around her and staying prepared to function in unfamiliar situations. Indeed, for Jean, thoughts about home kindles memories of childhood, escapades in New Hampshire and 21 years of life in Denver, Colorado. An accident before birth may have denied her eyesight, but it didn't dent her spirit. "I studied in a special school up to my fifth grade and then moved over to a public school," Jean says about her early education. During her certificate course at Costa Rica's Institute for Progressive Communications, Jean got opportunities in radio and a few voice works. "Choosing radio journalism is something that came to me by accident," she says. As one of the International Board of Directors for 'Radio For Peace International' (RFPI) based in San Jose, California [sic], she became the producer of 'Disability Radio', a series of programmes broadcast through Short Wave across the world. "As the name explains, disability rights was one of the major topics of the programme, apart from which we also handled subjects like religious extremism. As it was aired through the Short Wave, we used to get letters from around 120 countries," Jean recalls. Gaining more experience as a journalist, she decided to work independently from her new home in India. "This (India) is a diverse country and therefore, perceptions about disability would be varied as well," Jean explains about her experience. "Considering that India has very few role models who're disabled, the wide spread ignorance about the capabilities of a disabled person is hardly surprising. You can't say things are entirely unfriendly though. Using the public transport, for instance, is more common here than in the US, where you are an exception if you don't have a car." Jean reveals that broadcasting and radio journalism ask for skills different from newspaper/magazine work. "I sometimes envy print journalists, because they don't have to handle gadgets as I do. Nonetheless, what I do is far less complicated than those in the film industry," she says. While she uses Braille for reading and writing, a computer with speech output helps her record the reports. Though she reports mostly on India, her work doesn't exclusively deal with Indian situations. "Lately, I've also started doing business stories, which has made me understand how different groups get to experience the same event," she says. Apart from Radio Netherlands and NPR, Jean files stories for World Vision Report (USA), Women's International News Gathering Service (Canada), the German International Service and BBC Radio 4. "The way things ancient and modern blend in Indian culture is fascinating. But, I often feel irritated about the noise - blaring TV sets, honking horns and so on. This makes things difficult for me, as I need to observe the environment through the sounds," she says. As far as adopting India as her permanent home, Jean says: "Looks like it will be the case!" (Blind World Magazine via Paul David, dxldyg via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA [and non]. Re: 6-009. Silly ball games -- Hi fellas. Of course this isn't DXing, but silly ball games are all over the world on SW and you can bet that even our planetary system is a kind of Our Creator's ball game. I knew from the very first time I heard GH on WOR using the expression "silly ball game" that he doesn't like sports associated with it. Exactly the same happened to me when I was a kid in my Puerto Limón back in the 1950s: while all kids were running behind a ball in any patio or little square, I was inside the Northern Railway Co. yard, because trains are one of my lifetime hobbies; so silly or stupid from the viewpoint of those who maybe like gambling, fishing, motor racing or what have you, I could say even DXing. After have moved to San José, there was a time when my dad and my brothers, went to watch the fútbol (soccer) games on Sunday and what about me? I stayed at home just listening to music because I didn't like silly ball games by then. All changed for me when my home town team Limón F.C. went into our First Division back in 1964. What must have been? Nostalgia, for the land I left behind? Now I enjoy several sports, basically baseball and fútbol, but tennis, basketball and the so-called "American" Football are all silly ball games as well. You guys there, must have a joke I have heard the same here dealing with ball games: why don´t they give a ball to each one of the players, so they could go home so happy, and wouldn't have to fight for just one ball in the middle of a game? Being that way there won't be more hooligans, fanatics and even "envenenados", that is, poisoned fans that love their teams even more than their families. All stadiums would be torn down and in their places many parks, play- grounds or huge SW stations will be installed. So silly must be fútbol games that just bear in mind the class of world window that will represent for tourism towards this tiny banana republic named Costa Rica, the honor to open the next World Cup in June, playing against the home team of Germany. For a World Cup, the first and last matches are those expected for a world wide population, despite language or time zone. And be prepared for the great media display this event is gonna have from T.V., for which satellites play a big role, besides newspapers and even many SW stations from Africa and Latin America, not only giving you the final score but full narration of those games. Regards (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, Jan 14, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I have to agree about most sports being time-wasters, unless I am playing them. I follow baseball out of life-long habit but find it frustrating. Why are sports so popular? In an article in the current NY Times about Strat-O-Matic board games (simulated baseball), this explanation resonates with me about sport in general: "Guys just don't call up other guys and say, 'I'm lonely, let's chat,'" said Trip Hawkins, the founder of Electronic Arts, the pre- eminent sports video-game maker, who still regularly plays Strat-O- Matic with friends. "It's really helpful to have something to talk about." (Eric Flodén, BC, ibid.) ** CUBA. Making a daily check for KJES on 11715, Jan 17 at 1445 I heard some music in Spanish, but not what you would expect from The Lord`s Ranch. Yes, this weak signal just turned out to be that mixing product of RHC 11805 and 11760, 45 kHz below. Seems the ``Cuba Campesina`` show is celebrating its 35th anniversary (along with RHC`s 45th) and this calls for another contest! I zoned out on the details, but of course it`s essay-style, which means there is no objective judging nor any random drawing. Deadline is mid-May and results in November. No doubt the details will be published in every weekly issue of Conexión Digital for the next several months (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. Has R. Republica finally moved off 6010? Did not check any of their frequencies UT Jan 17 until 0140, but nothing heard on 6010, nor anywhere else in a quick scan of 49m; nor is 7110 on early either. Possibly bad propagation from UK? Website still claims 5965, never showed 6010? Please look around for it before 0200. Tnx, (Glenn, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) The answer is no, not yet; on Jan 17 I was monitoring from 2355 on 6135, and the frequency change announcement referred to 6010, which did come up just before 0000 Jan 18 as usual. These frequencies are consistently stronger than non // 7160 from Germany. 6010 also still going UT Jan 19 (Glenn, ibid.) I checked Radio República on 7160 and 7110 between 0230 & 0300 Jan 18. There was an S7 bubble jammer, but no discernible signal for RR. There was hardly any signal (S1) for Russian International Radio on 7125 (Grigoropol, Moldova) and Voice of Russia on 7150 (Simferopol). Did a quick band scan to see if RR may have jumped frequency, and found virtually no stations from Europe anywhere on the 49 or 41 meter bands. DX Toolbox was predicting the chance of signal getting from Europe to North America was extremely low. I`d say it`s far more likely that RR isn`t propagating tonight rather than having gone off (Mark Taylor, Madison, WI, ibid.) ** DEUTSCHES REICH [non]. Other - GERMANY - HISTORY Gray and Black Radio Propaganda Against Nazi Germany http://libraryautomation.com/nymas/radioproppaper.htm This is a paper presented by the author, Robert Rowen, to the New York Military Affairs Symposium on April 18, 2003. It is fairly concise, but contains worthwhile introductions to some of the well-known wartime broadcasting operations, including Gustav Siegfried Eins, Atlantiksender, Soldatensender Calais, the Aspidistra transmitter, and others. It is based principally on the work of Sefton Delmer. A biography at the end contains suggestions for further reading (via J. Berg, MA-USA Jan 15, 2006 in DXplorer-ML via CRW via DXLD) ** DIEGO GARCIA. AFRTS. Since Jan. 13 (after reading reports in DXLD) I have been tuning in to AFN on 4319 USB each day shortly after 2200 UT but made out only a few words each time for 20 minutes or so. But today, Monday Jan. 16 I tuned in at 2130 to hear a strong signal. News to 2135 followed by a talk show that started with comments re the danger of doctors and interns working such long hours without a break. Gradually became less and less intelligible but still there for news at 2200. Amazingly it was still there at 0150 with football (presumably the same game when I checked on 5446.5 USB from Florida). According to the January/ 06 BDXC "Communication" received today, 4319 USB is on from 1500 to 0300 and 12579 USB from 0300 to 1500. I found this catch most exciting, a first time for me I think. Thanks to DXLD for enabling us to get these catches. The US Coast Guard is next door on 4316 USB at around 2200 with weather (Bernie O'Shea, Ottawa, Ontario, DX LISTENING DIGEST) AFRTS Heard again today Jan. 17 (but earlier than yesterday) on 4319 USB at 2030 UT tune in and reasonably clear by 2100. Definitely parallel with 12133.5 USB (Florida), maybe 1/2 second between them. An audio break on both frequencies at about 2106 for a couple of minutes. Still good at 2100 (Bernie O'Shea, Ottawa, Ontario, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. Già dal 20 dicembre è presente un mirror del sito di Björn su bclnews http://www.bclnews.it/malm-ecuador --- non mi sembra comunque opportuno pubblicizzare queste iniziative fino a quando il sito originale è disponibile (Roberto Scaglione, bclnews.it via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Additional unregistered frequencies for Deutsche Welle in German: 0900-1000 on 7115 (45554) and 1300-1400 on 9715 (55444) (Observer, Bulgaria Jan 17 via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Re 6-011, CUBA [non]. T-Systems frequency selections: It appears to me that Bundesnetzagentur is quite reluctant to permit frequencies outside the broadcasting bands. The range below 3955 became taboo when some military user objected to transmissions on 3945. The range below 5905 appears to be taboo as well now; attempts to clear a frequency there for HCJB German failed (from hearsay, again due to military users), leading to fruitless attempts within the 49 metre bands and finally another airtime on 75 metres. Another taboo is the range above 9900 as we learned years ago when the Montsinéry station was struck by fire, also affecting the now defunct SRI on 9905: Jülich was not able to step in because the frequency was verboten for them. Issoudun was not able either because the software of their transmitters did not accept this frequency, so SRI ended up in using Sottens for 9905 while Issoudun took over the 9885 transmission from Sottens. Has T-Systems ever used a frequency between 7350 and 7600? I cannot remember any such transmissions, so I tend to assume (but of course I don't know at all) that this is yet another forbidden fruit. If so it is no surprise at all that they stay within the European 41 metre band, strictly observing the orders of the authority. Perhaps I am not surprised because I am a German: This way to strictly observe official regulations is a common approach in Germany today. Again, this is widely speculation. But if I am correct the situation appears to be similar to the current problems of shortwave broadcasters in the USA (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Jan 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. Re 6-011: Deutschlandlied: An even more important cause for its first stanza being a no-no today are the very first words: "Von der Maas bis an die Memel, von der Etsch bis an den Belt." In case a search on a map remains fruitless: The Memel is called Neman in Russian and Nemunas in Lithuanian (the town of Klaipeda is in German called Memel as well), while non-German maps will show the Etsch more likely under its Italian name Adige (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Jan 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. QSL CARD FROM SVO, OLYMPIA RADIO, ATHENS, GREECE: 12 dd, v/s I. FLITOURIS, MANAGER OF OLYMPIA RADIO. ADDRESS: 153 42 AGIA PARASKEVI, ATHENS, GREECE SENT: MY SWL QSL-CARD, 1 $. YOU CAN SEE THE PIC ON: http://swli05639fr.blogspot.com/ (Francesco Cecconi, Italy, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREENLAND [and non]. 3815 kHz, Groenlands R via Tasiilak R, Anmassalik, logged on 14 Jan 2149-2214*, Vernacular, very few talks, songs, jingle or IS, Danish, frequency announcement (tentatively), talks (news?), same jingle/IS 2210, music; 34342, QRM de amateurs; Danmarks R 243 kHz Kalundborg not parallel... and putting a worse signal than the Greenlandic coastal stn!!! (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUINEA. RTG Conakry 7125 (Thorsten, excuse my 7215 typo last week) a regular here after 2200, improving as sunset approaches, tho not heard some days, caught my attention in the sense they were playing a Spanish recitation. I guess they played only because it is well performed, but I wonder how many people for whom this transmission is intended got the meaning of those words (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, Jan 17, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. GMT lives in space! A 1-minute educational feature on NASA TV, Jan 18 at 1930 UT explained that to know what time to have breakfast, spacefarers go by GMT, which is one of [only!] 24 timezones on Earth. No reference to UTC, or all the additional odd timezones. Let us dearly hope that NASA achieves a bit more precision when it comes to O-rings and tiles. This was apparently aimed at children, who NASA apparently feels could not be expected to care about such details (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN. IRANIAN PRESIDENT REMOVES BAN ON CNN AFTER APOLOGY | Text of report by Iranian radio on 17 January In a letter addressed to the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, President Ahmadinezhad announced that CNN network may continue its activities in Iran. In his memorandum, the president stressed that distortion of news is against media's mission to protect people's right of access to information, but because this network has apologized, its office in Tehran may continue its activities. This American network had blatantly distorted the president's statement during his press conference on Saturday [14 January]. This network had misinterpreted the president's statement that all nations should be given the right to access "nuclear technology" into their right to access "nuclear weapons". Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance had announced that because of CNN's unethical and unprofessional practice in recent years, as well as for distorting Iranian president's statements, the CNN correspondent's activity in Tehran is banned. In a declaration published in Atlanta, CNN apologized to Iran and announced that it is really sorry for the decision made about this network. In its declaration, CNN stressed that it has apologized in all its networks including the International CNN, the American CNN and CNN.com for its mistake. It also said that it has submitted its apology to the government and the Iran's mission at the UN. Source: Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Tehran, in Persian 0430 gmt 17 Jan 06 (via BBCM via DXLD) IRAN'S PRESIDENT AHMADINEZHAD AND CNN Following President Mahmud Ahmadinezhad's press conference on Saturday 14 January 2006, which was broadcast live by Iranian television and a number of international media, the Iranian government on 15 January announced a ban on the activities of the American rolling news channel, CNN, for what it described as "distorting the president's remarks". The ban was lifted after CNN apologized. Although the government at first rejected the apology, it was accepted after President Ahmadinezhad personally intervened in the matter. CNN was the first major international medium to interview Ahmadinezhad after his election as Iran's president in June 2005. This was the first time CNN had operated in Iran since being banned by the previous government. The honeymoon between Ahmadinezhad and CNN did not last long. A few days before the 14 January press conference, CNN had announced that its reporter, Christiane Amanpour, would be accompanying President Ahmadinezhad on his tour of the southern province of Hormozgan. Both Amanpour and the Iranian government later denied the report. However, it turned out during the press conference that Amanpour had in fact been in Hormozgan during Ahmadinezhad's visit. The CNN reporter told Ahmadinezhad that some people in Hormozgan Province were worried about the government's ability to improve the people's financial situation. Ahmadinezhad replied that he doubted if those people were among "tens of thousands of those who welcomed [him] in Hormozgan". Amanpour also asked another question about the impact of Ahmadinezhad's remarks on how far the West trusted Iran in the nuclear talks. The day after the press conference, Iranian radio broadcast a report saying that CNN's interpreter had "misinterpreted the term 'peaceful nuclear technology' as 'nuclear weapon'." Later that day, Iranian TV expanded on the theme: "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." On 16 January Iranian radio and television announced in several news bulletins that CNN had apologized for misquoting Ahmadinezhad's remarks. The 1030 gmt news bulletin of the TV's first channel also included a commentary on the issue which said: "What CNN did was part of the West's propaganda policy against Iran." Later that day, the Iranian news agency IRNA reported "Iran took punitive measure against Cable 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 head of the department told Iranian radio that although CNN's apology was "a positive step", the network's past performance had led the ministry to believe that the action might have been deliberate. The ban would only be lifted once it could be sure CNN's future coverage would be "sincere". He further told channel 2 of Iranian TV that evening that Iran would file a complaint against CNN if the network was proved to have misquoted the president with "ill intentions". However, the ban did not last long enough for CNN's output to be tested. According to the Iranian News Network television in an early morning bulletin on 17 January, "In a letter addressed to the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, President Ahmadinezhad announced that CNN network may continue its activities in Iran ...The president stressed that distortion of news is against the media's mission to protect people's right of access to information, but because this network has apologized, its office in Tehran may continue its activities." The unnamed editorial writer of hard-line Jomhuri-ye Eslami newspaper probably did not know about the latest development when he or she criticized the CNN reporter in a strongly-worded piece which appeared in paper's 17 January issue. This was not the first case of its kind in the Iranian government's dealing with the media. Ahmadinezhad had complained about the translation of a question raised by the same reporter in his first news conference before the election. (Iran daily newspaper, 19 June) and the moderator of another news conference told Amanpour that she was making too much noise during the question and answer session. (Iran daily newspaper, 26 June). This time, the Iranian government was quick to ban CNN's activities in Iran and the Iranian president was equally quick to lift the ban. This could be an indication of President Ahmadinezhad's administration being more hard-line than the president himself. While an unforgiving administration failed to accept an apology which was made some 24 hours earlier, Ahmadinezhad found it fair enough and, in a move which could improve his hard-line image, ordered the ban to be lifted. The Iranian government can hardly afford to fall out with international media outlets ahead of the campaign over the probable referral of its nuclear case to the UN Security Council. Source: Iranian briefing material from BBC Monitoring in English 17 Jan 06 (via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. It`s hard to find the Israel Radio SW schedule from their main website. Last October Doni told us: The full Winter 2005-2006 Kol Israel schedule in PDF form is now available from a link on: http://www.iba.org.il/reception/ Go to the "shortwave" section and then there is a link on the top of the page. The direct URL is: http://www.iba.org.il/doc/shortwaves.pdf The pdf page is still there, but I can`t find any link to it now from the Reception page. I was checking up on the recent new frequency 13855. The pdf says 13850 (not 13580 as previously reported) is an alternate for the deep-winter period mid-Dec to end of Feb. And it is shown only for Persian at 1500-1625 (Fri & Sat to 1600), apparently instead of 9985 rather than a higher frequency as would be expected. So this pdf schedule is not completely accurate (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ITALY. ITALIA. Ayer reportaba la escucha del programa de la Rai "Notturno Italiano", que se puede sintonizar todos los días entre las 2300 y las 0500 UTC en onda corta, 6060 kHz. y en onda media 900 kHz Milan, 1107 kHz Roma y 657 kHz Nápoles. Comentaba que el programa tenía más de 30 años de antigüedad, pues yo recuerdo escucharlo allá por los años 70 en esa misma frecuencia de la onda corta y consiste en música y canciones italianas, con noticias multilingües a las horas. Pues bien, visitando la página web del programa http://www.international.rai.it/notturnoitaliano/ leo con sorpresa y admiración que lleva en antena nada más y nada menos que cerca de 54 años, ya que el primer programa salió al aire el 1 de Julio de 1952, así que debe de ser uno de los programas más antiguos y con más solera de la radio mundial. Merece la pena hacerle un homenaje escuchándolo y tratar de conseguir una tarjeta QSL de dicho programa. El informe de recepción es muy fácil de enviar, pues se puede hacer cubriendo un formulario en la siguiente página web que sierve para todas las transmisiones de la RAI: http://www.international.rai.it/radio/qsl/qslform.php (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, WORLD OF RADIO 1301, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ITALY. Ciao! New verification got from Radio Verona 1584 kHz. Reply with QSL LETTER full detailed text with color logo, Visit card and 2 stickers. Reply in 35 days for an email Report! radioverona@radioverona.it V/s: M. Puliero (Direttore) correct new address is: Radio Verona, Via della Scienza 25, IT-37139 Verona (VR), Italy. WEB: http://www.radioverona.it Please up to date my informations in the WRTH 2006 Italian pages. (Dario Monferini http://www.playdx.com Jan 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ITALY [non]. e-QSL - European Gospel Radio/IRRS Greetings from Monterey, Please note DXLD 6-011 (January 16, 2006), for Wolfgang Büschel's informative observations under ** ITALY [non]. I received the following in 6 hours. Alfredo requests reception reports be sent to: reports @ nexus.org -----Original Message----- Subject: Short Wave Reception Report of European Gospel Radio via IRRS Dear Ron, It's really good news, this is indeed the first reception report we receive from California since we started in 1988. What you heard was part of a special test tranSmission using 250 kW beamed to North America over the last week-end. We are mailing you a QSL today. Thank You for tuning in. Hope you can try again in the future and in the meantime check our online services i.e. streaming radio and information on our activities. And now a few notes on our QSL policy: We do acknowledge your reception report for our special test broadcast, and we will answer soon by QSL if you have included youR mailing address. In case you mention any particular program, we will forwarded your reception report to the programmers that you heard for verification. They may also reply to you with a QSL or verification letter. If this is not acceptable, please let us now by return email. Due to budget constraints, we are unable to reply to all QSL requests or send information, stickers, pennants, schedules or gadgets by regular mail. However we do confirm by QSL when: 1) we run special broadcasts that are announced over our mailing list of on the air, and you request a QSL by sending us your full mailing address. 2) we receive detailed comments on the content of our programming (good or bad, not just on the technical side). This is extremely useful to our program producers and, help us all in improving the quality and content of our broadcasts. We do however take special efforts in answering to your questions and confirming your reports by email when you write to reports @ nexus.org Please check our web site at http://www.nexus.org for more information on our broadcasts and our association. Our latest schedules are available at: http:/www.nexus.org/NEXUS-IBA/Schedules/ Our broadcasts can also be received 24/24 and 7/7 over the Internet at: http://mp3.nexus.org You may also subscribe to our low-noise mailing list to receive information on schedules or test broadcasts at: http://mailserv.nexus.org/mailman/listinfo/irrs-listeners Best regards, Alfredo [Cotroneo] NEXUS International Broadcasting Association Toll free: 1-888-612-0039 (11PM-2PM PST, 2AM-5PM EST) Outside the US: Phone: +39 02 2666971 - Fax +39 02 70638151 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (via Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) But don`t count it as ITALY. And Alfredo is not going to tell you how you should count it! QSLs need to be returned to station as invalid when lacking transmitter site. Hard to believe they never had a report from California in 18 years, at least under abnormal conditions (gh) ** IVORY COAST. IVORIAN STATE BROADCASTER PROTESTS AGAINST STUDIO INVASION | Text of report by Ivorian radio on 17 January Concerning the situation in the country, here is an information from the general management of the Ivorian Radio and Television Company [RTI]. At 1300 on 16 January 2006, a group of young people burst into Studio A and brutalized David Mobio, the news presenter, thus interrupting the television newscast. These young people wanted to come to the newscast platform whilst it was suggested that their statement should be read as was the case with the minister of interior who also came to read a government statement. The RTI general management vehemently protests this type of intrusions that disturbs the functioning of its services, creates a climate of insecurity, and prevents its personnel from performing their duty to the public. The RTI general management reminds all and sundry that its services are always open to all political parties and civil society movements and calls for respect for the internal regulations governing its operations. The RTI general management makes it a point to draw the attention of the government to the seriousness of these acts and the need to take the necessary measures to enable its workers accomplish their mission in total calm. Source: Radio Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan, in French 1900 gmt 17 Jan 06 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** IVORY COAST. IVORIAN TV UNDER "PATRIOTIC CONTROL" | Excerpt from report by Gabonese Africa No 1 radio on 18 January Today, Ivorian President Gbagbo's supporters took to the streets for the third consecutive day to impose their rule. They are currently even holding the premises of the RTI television station. Correspondent Jean-Claude Perkekali reports from Abidjan. [Perkekali] The RTI television station is henceforth under patriotic control, according to the phrase used by the patriots themselves, and the students. Early this morning, they occupied the site, saying they had thus foiled the rumoured coup attempt against President Laurent Gbagbo. They are also protesting the decision adopted at the recent meeting of the International Working Group annulling the ruling of the Ivorian Constitutional Court extending the term of the Ivorian parliament. This morning, Abidjan was a ghost city with barricades and burning tyres at major accesses of districts such as the Plateau administrative district; Cocody; Yopougon; the stronghold of the Ivorian Popular Front; and other areas in the capital. At the French Embassy, the situation has not changed as Charles Ble Goude, chairman of the Alliance of Young Patriots, along with several thousand demonstrators are still occupying the area, and intend to remain there until they die. Certainly, another day of extreme of tension has begun in Abidjan with the patriots both angry and galvanized in their struggle by reports that made the rounds in Abidjan and the interior of the country according to which forces of the UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire stationed in Guiglo, in the western part of the country, had reportedly killed five Ivorians, and wounded about 10, following the statement of the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan calling on the impartial forces to remove all barricades erected by the demonstrators. [Passage omitted] Source: Africa No 1 radio, Libreville, in French 1200 gmt 18 Jan 06 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** KASHMIR. 6100, R. Sedaye Kashmir via Delhi 1433-1445+ Jan 8. VG signal, best in a long time, topping the Korean with Qur'an, then M&W in upbeat talks to 1438, then sub-continental music; back to chat at 1444, but by then the North Korean had taken over. Kanggye has been right on 6100 for some time, after being "6100v" for a long time (John Wilkins, CO-USA Jan 8, 2006 in DXplorer-ML via CRW via DXLD) 6100, R. Sedaye Kashmir (via Delhi) *1429-1444+ Jan 10. 1000-Hz tone to 1430, then nice ID, followed by a minute of music, a brief announcement, then more music at 1433. Best on LSB to avoid RTM below; good at tune but fading away slowly; no sign of N. Korea today, but Malaysia noted on 6099.72 with fair signal (John Wilkins, CO-USA, Jan 10, 2006 in CDX-ML via CRW via DXLD) ** LUXEMBOURG [non]. See DIGITAL BROADCASTING ** MEXICO. KASH 1700 AM talked about in a Nov. DX report has a web site at http://www.cash1700.com Signal comes in pretty clear evenings in Las Vegas, NV (R. Fuss, Las Vegas, NV, Jan 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 1700, XEPE, Cash 1700, Tijuana, 32-32 N, 116-59 W, Dec 4, 0400 EST, ``Cash 17-Hundred, where money talks`` (Nancy Johnson, Billings MT, NRC International DX Digest via DXLD) ** MEXICO. 5999.97, Radio Insurgente --- I have been trying for their listed 2100 UT Fridays only broadcasts since they announced resumption of SW transmissions a few weeks ago. I had not heard anything until today! Got off the phone at 2107 and figured I'll go through the motions and try. Turned on the rig and could heard two stations, one of which was in Spanish. Once the guy started mentioning "compañeros" and "trabajo político" my ears really picked up. Reception was not that good and the co-channel station and there was splash from a third station. I'd say 3/3/3 or 3/2/2. Once the man finished speaking there was a single male vocal song. Then a woman came on and IDed in Spanish as "Aquí Radio Insurgente, la voz de los sin voz." She talked a bit more and then there was another song. An impassioned man then came on at 2122, mentioning "pueblo Chiapas." He only talked a bit and then a woman came on. They went back and forth with one talking then the other, with the guy mentioning "compañeros" and "Marko" [sic --- Marcos] a few times. There was then a canned ID by a woman with the same text as above (minus the Aquí) and mentioning a frequency of 6 MHz. All the announcers talked calmly and slowly. While their signal was weak, their modulation sounded fine as did the program production. The transmitter was quite steady as well. When the station was peaking around 2120 it did not seem to make a difference which antenna I used but it was definitely best on 240 degree antenna instead of the 180 after 2130. The station faded quickly though and I didn't have much signal to work with by 2140. Radio Habana's carrier popped on at 2146 and killed the whole thing. It was an open carrier so if I cranked the audio up all the way I could still hear Insurgente and the other station but figured I was going to lose my hearing if Habana suddenly started putting out audio. I was very happy to get this one and most especially that I had the tape recorder running. It is real nice that this thing is really on SW, we need all the stations we can get (Hand Johnson, FL-USA Jan 13, 2006 in JihadDX-ML via CRW via WORLD OF RADIO 1301, DXLD) At last confirmed as on the air! No doubt low power, low frequency, daytime, so it helps to be as close to Chiapas as possible, in SW Florida (gh, ibid.) ** NIGERIA. 7255 kHz, V. of Nigeria, Ikorodu, observed on 14 Jan 1312- 1346, English program, interview, African pops; 24443. Very tough English accent often sounding like some local Vernacular (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORWAY [and non]. Re 6-011, Kvitsøy: 1314 kHz and shortwave are the same site, but the Wikipedia photo indeed shows only shortwave antennas; to the left a high-band curtain (the tower on the edge of the picture supports also a low-band curtain out of view), to the right a rotatable antenna (Telefunken standard model, installed at least at Moosbrunn as well). Here is a view of the entire site from a different angle, with the mediumwave tower to the left, some distance away from the shortwave antennas: http://home.online.no/~tjabauge/radio/pictures/kvitsoy/All.jpg More pictures: http://home.online.no/~tjabauge/radio/pictures/kvitsoy/ A detailed description of the 1314 kHz antenna in English (including a picture of the rather long coax cable from the transmitter building) is available as well, starting at http://waniewski.de/id278.htm Re: ``Modulation has traditionally not been high for the high powered Euros --- don't know if that's still the case``: Definitely not so in the case of 1314 kHz. They use a really aggressive audio processing with lots of dynamics compression, a considerable presence (2...4 kHz) boost and a brickwall cut-off at 4.5 kHz. Not identical but quite similar to the former AM transmissions on shortwave from the same building (I assume 1314 kHz uses Optimod 9100, shortwave 9105, judging from interior pictures showing the unmistakable dark-brown housings). The high power LW/MW transmitters in the CIS are indeed not that loud, but only as much as it is the case when not using a cranked Optimod but retaining some dynamics. Still, they are not undermodulated. All the best, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Jan 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also DIGITAL BROADCASTING ** PERU. 5700, RADIO TRIPLE SH. San Ignacio. 0148-0232* Enero 15 !!! Frecuencia reactivada. Nuevo Nombre !!! Ex-Radio Frecuencia San Ignacio, Reactivación con nuevo nombre y al parecer nueva administración. Presentado largas tandas de música variada. Con algunos comunicados. Muchos anuncios comerciales: Ferretería Señor Cautivo, Confecciones Peña, Multiservicio Karol, Renovadora de Calzado El Diamante. Menciona transmisión en "triple" frecuencia: 99.6 FM, 1200 kHz OM y 5700 kHz OC. "...somos Triple SH..." "...mantenga la sintonía con Triple SH para más comunicados" "...Desde esta provincia fronteriza de San Ignacio, Tierra del café, transmite su Radio Triple SH." A pesar de monitorearla, no capté su dirección postal (Rafael Rodríguez R., Bogotá, condig list via WORLD OF RADIO 1301, DXLD) ** POLAND. Other - POLAND - HISTORY --- Warsaw Uprising 1944 http://www.warsawuprising.com/paper/radio.htm This site is about two clandestine Polish radio stations, military "Lightning" and the civilian Polish Radio, that broadcast from the German-occupied territory during World War II. The "Lightning" broadcast in Polish, English, and German was on the air four times a day between August 8 and October 4, 1944. Typical programs included reports from embattled Warsaw, appeals for assistance, the Home Army's combat communiqués, and patriotic songs and poems. "Lightning" was heard as far away as New York. The site contains witness accounts of these efforts as well as photos and recordings (via J. Berg, MA-USA Jan 15, 2006 in DXplorer-ML via CRW via DXLD) ** ROMANIA: Updated B-05 schedule of Radio Romania International (#Saftitza 50 kW) ARABIC 0730-0756 11710 11905 15280 15330 1500-1556 9655 15235 AROMANIAN 1600-1626 6175# 1800-1826 7130# 2000-2026 6045# CHINESE 0500-0526 15160 17870 1400-1426 9720 11755 ENGLISH 0100-0156 6150 9615 0400-0456 6115 9515 9690 11895 0630-0656 7180 9690 15135 17780 1300-1356 15105 17745 1800-1856 7120 9640 2130-2156 7145 9650 9755 11940 2300-2356 7105 9610 9640 11730 FRENCH 0200-0256 6045 9615 0600-0626 7170 9650 1100-1156 15255 15315 17790 17845 1700-1756 7135 9690 2100-2126 7260 9715 GERMAN 0700-0726 7160 7275 9655 9690 1200-1256 7160 9610 9690 11940 1900-1956 6140 7140 ITALIAN 1630-1656 6175# 1830-1856 7130# 2030-2056 6055# 7205 ROMANIAN 0100-0156 6040 9690 >>>>> new time 0200-0256 6080 9640 >>>>> new time 0800-0856 15370 15430 17745 17810 Sunday "Curierul romanesc" 0900-0956 15380 15430 17745 17775 Sunday "Curierul romanesc" 1000-1056 15260 15380 17735 17825 Sunday "Curierul romanesc" 1300-1356 7120# 15170 17825 1500-1556 9595 11970 1700-1756 7195 9790 1800-1856 7140 9625 1900-1956 7125 9640 RUSSIAN 0530-0556 7210 9690 1430-1456 9720 11755 1600-1656 7195 9685 SERBIAN 1530-1556 7105# 1730-1756 6035# 1930-1956 7260# SPANISH 0000-0056 5960 9525 9665 11960 0300-0356 5960 6080 9635 9765 2000-2056 9620 11940 2200-2256 9575 11940 UKRAINIAN 1500-1526 6145# 1700-1726 6135# 1900-1926 6135# (Observer, Bulgaria Jan 17 via DXLD) ** RWANDA. 6055, R. Rwanda in French at 2045 UT Jan 14, with African and English pop and reggae music. Lots of voiceovers by male DJ. Bid au revoir at 2100 UT Sign-off without fanfare, SIO 444. Heard again Jan 16 from 2030 after Slovakia left frequency, in French, ID given, talk through 2100 sign-off, 343. 73 (Mick Delmage, AB, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAINT HELENA. Radio St. Helena situation --- I just received the following from Robert Kipp in Germany concerning resurrecting Radio St. Helena SW broadcasts. I do hope one day that this will come to pass. Maybe all that would be needed is a donation of a decent HF transmitter!" Radio St. Helena : An Update Back in September we requested email support for the famous RSH international, multi-media, interactive shortwave broadcasts. Many many thanks to one and all who sent their opinions. World DX Club [sic] (USA) (Rich D'Angelo), Jerry Berg (USA), several individuals in USA, DSWCI (Anker Petersen) (Denmark), New Zealand Radio DX League (Mark Nicholls), North Otago Branch of NZRDXL (Peter Grenfell), Australian Radio DX Club (John Wright), J. Palmer in the Western Cape (South Africa), W. Salmaniw in British Columbia (Canada), British DX Club (Dave Kenny), Benelux DX-Club (H. Poortvliet), and individuals in Germany, Spain, and Chile. Those are just the ones who copied their emails to me; I assume that several more sent their emails only to RSH. Ralph Peters, the station manager of RSH; showed / read many of these emails at the Board of Directors meeting at the end of September. Ralph and the Board were "amazed and very pleased" with the world-wide support for RSH. At the Board meeting on 28. November, the issues were again discussed in detail. On 15. December, Mr. Vernon Quickfall, the CEO of RSH, wrote to us on behalf of the Chairman of the Board of St. Helena News Media Services (the owner of RSH). The international SWL- community was thanked for all their support and efforts. The Board would welcome our "Project", but the economic situation on St. Helena is such that the Friends of RSH around the world would have to finance the "Project" entirely on their own. Therefore, it is now up to all the many Friends of RSH to try to put St. Helena back on the shortwave map of the world. Our "Project" to try to revive the RSH broadcasts on shortwave has really just started. RSH needs a great deal of help from all of us! More soon. Robert Kipp RDC-Roberts-Data @ t-online.de (via Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Jan 18, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAUDI ARABIA. BSKSA HQS, 15435.2v, Jan 17 at 1505 with Qur`an but interrupted by spoken comments; // 15315.0 was weaker but stable (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SINGAPORE [non]. My European DX report will be airing on Wavescan as of next week`s show. I tried hearing Wavescan via Skelton, Guam, but had no luck. Cheers (Christopher Lewis, England, Jan 18, WORLD OF RADIO 1301, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SLOVAKIA. RADIO SLOVAKIA INTERNATIONAL WILL CANCEL SW BROADCASTS SW transmission will stop in a near future (no date was given), It has been officially announced by the Slovak Radio. Here's the French announcement: "Hier, le chargé des relations publiques de la Radio Slovaque a fait part aux Agences de presse du prochain arrêt des retransmissions en ondes courtes des émissions de son département international /RSI/. Il a présenté comme un nouveau projet alternatif la retransmission via internet et le satelite par World Radio Network. Le chargé des relations publiques a justifié cette décision pour des raisons économiques, faute à l’Etat d’avoir prévu dans son budget allouè à la Radio, le financement nécessaire au plein fonctionnement de RSI. La Directrice financière de la Radio, Mme Gajdosova a fait ressortir que cette interruption des émission sur des ondes courtes ainsi que la supression de la rédaction espagnole conduirait à une économie de 35 millions de couronnes sur le budget de 55 millions, nécessaires pour assurer la pleine activitè et diffusion des èmissions de RSI." (via JM Aubier, France, Jan 18, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1301, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOMALIA. Re 6-011: Radio Hargeisa broadcasts: 0300-0600 Somali, 0900-1200 Somali, 1500-1900 Somali, 1900-1920 Arabic, 1920-1940 English, 1940-2000 Amharic. (Via EiBi). I was able to hear them for a few days near the end of November between 1900 and 2000. QSL address: Konsularische Vertretung Somaliland Baldur Drobnica Zedernweg 6 D-50127 Bergheim Germany I received the QSL in 13 days from Baldur Drobnica, the v/s (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, USA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I've done random checks for R Hargeisa 7530 during UT afternoons for several months. All I have heard is China and Pakistan, etc. Maybe I haven't been there at the right very moment. I used to hear them a couple of years ago, at times "well" and I recall they had a Transmitter with suppressed carrier, but I don't remember which sideband was used, I'd say upper. 73 (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, HCDX via DXLD) Yes, it was USB (Harald Kuhl, ibid.) Tonight there was a very weak carrier on 7530.04 kHz until 2001 UT. R Pakistan signs off a few minutes after 1900 and R Tirana is on this frequency between 1945-2000. 73, (Mauno Ritola, Finland, Jan 17, HCDX via DXLD) Radio Hargeisa always was quite strict concerning sign-off time, leaving the carrier on air for another minute or so. So, your observation fits very well. I will try to catch them during European mornings. Maybe the frequency is less blocked then. Concerning their schedule: WRTH 2006 says 0330-0600, 0900-1200, 1500-2000 UT. Klingenfuss 2006 Shortwave Frequency Guide says 0300-0600, 0900-1200, 1500-2000 UT. Passport 2006 says 0330-0530, 1000-1200, 1430-1900 UT. BDXC Africa on Shortwave (January 2006) says 0300-0600, 0900-1200, 1500-2000 UT and states "schedule subject to confirmation". Regards, (Harald Kuhl, ibid.) ** SPAIN. REE continues to chop off the last 5 minutes of its 1400 UT shows, such as on Tuesdays`, ``La Bañera de Ulises``, at 1455 UT on 17595 so that target changes can be made. This is the END of the morning service to North America, to resume at 1900(?) on 9630, so they have to play the IS over and over and pretend that we can`t hear them for 4 hours. The trouble is, 17595 makes only a slight change in azimuth toward Central America, and resumes programming at 1500 with almost as strong a signal here. Meanwhile, I had to retune to much weaker 15585 to hear the rest of Ulises. Time was when we could also try 21540, 21570 or 21610, but not with the SF below 80. Music played was a bit far afield, admittedly from India, but as the host said, the Med. Basin is more of an `alma` thing than a strictly defined geographical area. This interruption on 17595 is totally unnecessary. If they have to turn off the transmitter briefly to make the antenna change, fine, but don`t waste 5 minutes of programming talking about it. Another triumph of theory over reality. Of course, REE also imagines that the Costa Rica relay can`t cover all of North America, so there is no point in putting English or French on it (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN [non]. Monitored SRS`s opening announcement in English Jan 17 at 1500 on 15575 via UK. Schedule included 7120 and 9525 in the mornings, but the only evening frequency mentioned was 15575, no 11705, which has been running at 1700-1800. Also I thought they gave 15575 for only one hour instead of two starting at ``6 pm``, but it continued on the air, no longer in English, past 1600, tho now with Cuba on the 15570 side. Website still shows 11705, which had been colliding with V. of the People, for Zimbabwe. So is that transmission off the air, or merely overlooked? And what about VOP? With their staff arrested, is RN still transmitting old programs or have those transmissions been suspended? [Later:] SRS still very much on 11705, inbooming at 1711 with ID in English amidst vernacular; can`t tell if VOP is also on there (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TANZANIA. 5050.1 kHz. R. Tanzania, Dar es Salaam, observed on 13 Jan 1940-1955, Swahili program, talks, African pops followed by Arab music; 45342; still putting the 2 spurs on 5037 & 5063.2 kHz (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TUNISIA. Re 963 being inactive: may have been temporary outage; Tunis International Radio heard Dec 31 at 1300 in English, good reception here (Peter Zerafa, Malta, via Dave Kenny, Jan BDXC-UK Communication via WORLD OF RADIO 1301, DXLD) ** UGANDA [non]. Other - UGANDA --- Radio Rhino International Africa On Jan 7, 2006 the German media magazine 'Markt & Medien' (every week 17:05 CET on DeutschlandRadio Köln (DLF)) carried a a report about Radio Rhino Int Africa. They mainly spoke about the aims of Rhino, only a few technical facts were mentioned (M. Schöch, Germany, Jan 7, 2006 for CRW via DXLD) Unzensiertes Radio aus Köln für Uganda --- Von Nina Gruntkowski Den vollständigen Artikel erreichen Sie im Internet unter der URL http://www.dradio.de/dlf/sendungen/marktundmedien/455892/ (via H. Biener-D Jan 9, 2006 for CRW via DXLD) Viz.: Unzensiertes Radio aus Köln für Uganda --- Von Nina Gruntkowski http://www.dradio.de/dlf/sendungen/marktundmedien/455892/ Ugandas Präsident Yoweri Museveni regiert seit über 15 Jahren mit rigider Hand. Neben den regierungseigenen gibt es zwar unabhängige Zeitungen, Fernseh- und Radiostationen, doch müssen Journalisten, die allzu regierungskritisch berichten, jederzeit damit rechnen, verhaftet zu werden. Frei von Repressionen hingegen produziert ein kleines Team in Deutschland ein Radioprogramm für Uganda. In seiner Wohnung in Köln sitzt Godfrey Ayoo am Schreibtisch. Die Kopfhörer auf dem Kopf blickt der Exil-Ugander konzentriert auf den Computerbildschirm - in einer Stunde muss die Sendung von Radio Rhino fertig sein. In dem kleinen Studio in der Wohnzimmerecke ist vieles improvisiert: Über dem Lautsprecher eines alten Telefons ist ein Mikrofon montiert, das die Interviews aufzeichnet. Per Telefon steht Godfrey Ayoo in ständigem Kontakt mit Journalisten und anderen Informanten in Uganda. Es ist zu teuer, direkt anzurufen, also benutzen wir diese Prepaid- Karten. Godfrey Ayoo spricht regelmäßig mit Andrew Mwenda, dem politischen Redakteur des "Daily Monitor" - der einzigen großen, unabhängigen Tageszeitung in Uganda. Angesichts der im März bevorstehenden Präsidentenwahlen ist die politische Lage angespannt: Als Ende letzten Jahres Präsident Yoweri Museveni den aus dem südafrikanischen Exil zurückkehrenden, aussichtsreichsten Kandidaten der Opposition, Kizza Besigye, verhaften ließ, brachen in der Hauptstadt Kampala Unruhen aus. Gleich darauf erfuhr Godfrey Ayoo per Telefon die Einzelheiten. Wer schießt auf die Demonstranten? Die Polizei oder die Soldaten? Die Soldaten. Seit heute Morgen wissen wir, dass Yoweri Museveni ihnen befohlen hat, kein Tränengas zu benutzen, sondern zu schießen, schießen, schießen… Diese und andere Informationen aus erster Hand verarbeitet Godfrey Ayoo zu Nachrichten. Die in der Wohnzimmerecke produzierte Sendung schickt er per Internet zweimal in der Woche zur Sendeanlage Jülich, die über Kurzwelle das englischsprachige Programm weltweit ausstrahlt. Seine ugandischen Informationsquellen legt Radio Rhino nicht offen, und schützt so seine Informanten vor möglichen Repressionen der ugandischen Regierung. Andrew Mwenda vom "Daily Monitor" weiß aus eigenen Erfahrungen, dass das Recht auf freie Meinungsäußerung in Uganda eingeschränkt ist. Die Gesetze in Uganda sind sehr unterdrückend. Trotzdem gibt es in der politischen Praxis eine Menge Raum für die freie Meinungsäußerung. Wir können sagen, was wir wollen, aber wir wissen auch, dass sie uns jederzeit ins Gefängnis werfen können. So wie sie mich einfach aus dem Blauen heraus verhaftet haben. Andrew Mwenda, der kein Blatt vor den Mund nimmt, steht momentan wegen 13 Anklagen vor Gericht. Jeden Tag muss er damit rechnen, erneut verhaftet und neuer Gesetzesbrüche beschuldigt zu werden. Auch Radio Rhino versuchte die ugandische Regierung mundtot zu machen. Das deutsche Außenministerium erklärte jedoch, das Programm verstoße nicht gegen die deutsche Verfassung. Und so hat das ehrenamtlich arbeitende Radio-Team in Deutschland größere Freiheiten in der Programmgestaltung als die professionell arbeitenden, ugandischen Kollegen. Es ermöglicht vielen Menschen, Dinge zu sagen, die sie sonst innerhalb Ugandas niemals öffentlich äußern würden. Und die ugandische Regierung kann Radio Rhino nicht schließen, weil es außerhalb ihres Einflussbereiches ist. Dieses Radio fördert die öffentliche Diskussion in Uganda, indem es anderen Perspektiven Raum gibt. Ein Beispiel: Im Bürgerkriegsland Uganda ist es verboten über die Rebellen und den Bürgerkrieg im Norden Ugandas zu berichten. Radio Rhino aber stellt schon mal eine Telefonverbindung mit den Rebellen her. So können sich die Hörer ein eigenes Bild von der Situation in ihrem Land machen. Godfrey Ayoo ist begeistert von den Möglichkeiten des Kurzwellen-Radios. Es gibt keine räumlichen Grenzen. Niemand kann sagen, hier setzen wir Grenzen. Und deswegen fürchten die tyrannischen Regime das Radio (DLF Jan 7, 2006 via M. Schöch, Germany for CRW via DXLD) ** U K. Worldservice program-audio problems --- Dear BBC people: I noticed some severe audio problems on the new "Discovery" program about ball-point pens. It was a great program and a fascinating topic and I congratulate you and the production team. But understanding it became very difficult due to constant audio drop-outs during the program. Note that this was NOT the sort of transmitter-signal cut- outs that have been plaguing various Merlin/VT or relay transmitters over the past year or so -- this was definitely audio defects WITHIN the "Discovery" program itself. The news and announcements and other programming before and after "Discovery" were NOT affected. I was listening on both 17640 and 15565 kHz at 1505-1530 GMT Jan 18 '06, and it was the same on both frequencies. The audio would drop to nothing and cause the omission of one to several words during the program. It seemed to get worse as the program went on. The interval between the dropouts varied; it was not regular. I suspect another of the "digital-system" problems you have mentioned on Write On several times as being the cause of this. I hope that you can track it down and eliminate it and prvent this happening in the future; your feature programming is far too valuable to be so mangled in transmission. Regards, (William Martin, Saint Louis, Missouri USA, to BBC Write On, cc to DXLD) ** U S A. Another squealing transmitter in need of modulation card replacement: 15665, Jan 18 at 1449 during preaching. That would be WHRA (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Have been keeping an eye out for reported logs of KJES, which appears to be inactive now. Here`s one: (gh) Dec 3 at 2041 on 15385, normal KJES faire [sic] with responsive prayers, in Spanish; fair to good (Joe Kenneth Wood, Greenback TN, Jan WDXC Contact via WORLD OF RADIO 1301, DXLD) ** U S A. NEW AIR AMERICA VP INTERPRETS HIS MISSION LIBERALLY http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/story/383244p-325349c.html DAVID HINCKLEY, DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER Felipe Luciano becomes vice president of news for the progressive radio network Air America with several premises. First, "All those years of talk about a 'liberal bias' in the media has pushed our national media to a right-wing slant. "What was once an independent voice has become afraid to take a stand. Everyone is afraid what happened to Dan Rather will happen to them. That's why we see almost no investigative journalism." To that timidity, says Luciano, Air America offers an essential alternative. Second, "You should never talk down to your audience, because they're much more interested and aware than people think. I grew up a black Puerto Rican at Third Ave. and 112th St., and people were always saying, 'Stay in your community.' But I was interested in the whole world. Most people are the same." When Luciano talks about media, it's not theoretical. He has worked at WNBC, WCBS and Fox News. He's hosted radio shows at WRVR, WLIB and WWRL. He's been equally busy outside the media. In the '60s, he was a founder of the Young Lords party and in recent years he has run for political office himself. This lifetime of activism would seem to make Air America an ideal spot for him. "One of the things I quickly found here is that the people are very smart," he says. "That means the newsmen like Bill Crowley and Wayne Gilman, the hosts and everyone else. You have to be informed and quick just to keep up." Among the things he's after in the news department, he says, are "important stories neglected in the major media" and "subjective objectivity," meaning accurate information "with a point of view. When you see the bias of Fox News commentators, why shouldn't we have a balance?" That lack of balance, he suggests, contributes to a dangerous and widening gap in America. "You have the incredible generosity of the American people and the incredible callousness of the American government. We need to close that divide." Luciano, who will also be doing on-air commentary, has an ambitious expansion of Air America's news mission in mind. "We're working on big plans," he says. "We'd like to have a speakers' bureau. We'd like to have a TV presence. This is the beginning of a new CNN." And yes, gypsy though he's sometimes been, he'd like to be around for it. "I always wanted to find a place," he says, "where my radical background was an advantage, not a handicap." (via Pete Kemp, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. RADIO PERSONALITY GLENN BECK JOINS HEADLINE NEWS Network Plans to Launch Prime-time Topical Talk Show This Spring Building on a year of massive ratings growth in 2005, Headline News will add Glenn Beck, a new topical talk show featuring radio personality Glenn Beck, to its prime-time line-up in April, it was announced today by Ken Jautz, executive vice president, CNN Worldwide. Hosted from Headline News' New York studios, the program will be an unconventional look at the news of the day featuring Beck's unique and often amusing perspective. With topics ranging from top stories to world events and politics to life's ordinary hassles and pop culture, the show will look at "water cooler issues" that are on people's minds. The one-hour program will include guests and produced packages. "When we revamped Headline News a year ago, we said we were eager to launch different types of programming, and this new show is the next step in that evolution," Jautz said. "Glenn is an incredibly entertaining personality and we're excited to embark on this collaboration. He will be a great addition to our Headline Prime line- up." Known for his quick wit, candid opinions and engaging personality, Beck has attracted a devoted following since hitting the airwaves in 2001. In addition to his new Headline News duties, Beck will continue hosting his daily radio show, The Glenn Beck Program, syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks. His radio show, currently heard on nearly 200 stations nationwide, is the third highest-rated national radio talk show among adults ages 25 to 54 according to Première Research / Arbitron. "Having tired of the predictable left-versus-right debates in cable news, I am eager to offer a different take for Headline News viewers," Beck said. "I hope that people will come away from our show not only informed, but also entertained, in a way they're not used to seeing on cable news." Headline News, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, updates viewers constantly, 24 hours each day, with a complete and concise national newscast every half-hour through the day and a compelling slate of legal, entertainment and news programs during Headline Prime at night. The "Need to Know" network delivers fast-paced, lively and engaging news, using the best resources of the CNN Worldwide. Headline News is designed especially for viewers who want relevant and comprehensive news in a way that suits the urgency of their schedules. CONTACT: CNN - Janine Iamunno New York 212-275-7960 janine.iamunno@turner.com Premiere - Amir Forester Los Angeles 818- 461-5404 aforester@premiereradio.com (via Loyd Van Horn, WWNC, via Gayle Van Horn, DXLD) ** U S A. HEADLINE NEWS ADDS CONSERVATIVE BECK By COTT LEITH The Atlanta Journal-Constitution http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/stories/0117cnnbeck.html CNN Headline News is continuing to bet its future success on opinionated chat shows, this time by hiring an up-and-coming conservative radio host for a new prime time program. The upcoming addition of Glenn Beck, who is heard on about 200 radio stations, is the latest of several major changes at Headline News. In a move away from its heritage of showing a nonstop succession of half- hour news updates, the Atlanta-based network is focusing on shows meant to keep viewers watching longer. The best-known and most successful effort has been the creation of "Nancy Grace," a legal debate show that launched in February 2005, starring a fiery former Fulton County prosecutor. Love her or hate her, Grace has nearly tripled Headline News' ratings in the 8 p.m. time slot. The network wants more of that sort of success and believes Beck, with his strong views, fits the Grace mold. Jim Walton, president of CNN News Group, said Headline News had the "best year in its history" in 2005, thanks to the changes. The goal, he said, is to continue luring an audience that is different from those who watch sister network CNN. Fox News Channel, meanwhile, has a highly successful prime time lineup that features several opinionated talkers, led by Bill O'Reilly (via Pete Kemp, NRC-AM via DXLD) But the winner, Ken Jautz, the president of CNN Headline News. Today he hired talk show host Glen [sic] Beck to put his own primetime show on TV. Jautz called Beck ``cordial,`` added that his show was ``conversational, not confrontational.`` I guess that`s why last September, Beck said of all the Hurricane Katrina survivors in New Orleans, ``The only ones we`re seeing on television are the scum bags. It is exactly like the 9/11 victim families. There are about 10 of them that are spoiling it for everybody.`` That`s cordial? Compared to who? Bill O`Reilly? Nancy Grace? Michael Salvage? Ken Jautz of CNN ``Headline News`` --- today`s ``Worst Person in the World.`` (Keith Olbermann, MSNBC Countdown Jan 17 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10907262/ via DXLD) Would it be too much to ask for CNN Headline News to provide --- headline news? For MTV to --- play music? For TV Guide channel to provide -- nothing but program listings? (gh, DXLD) ** VANUATU. Very big signal now on 3945, heard at 0900 UT Jan 17 (Chris Hambly, Victoria, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE [and non]. Re 6-011: None of the VOP staff are currently in custody. General Manager John Masuku is on remand but free to go about his business, and his next appearance in court is not scheduled until 30 March. Our Frequency Manager spoke to him today, and they are trying to get back the equipment that was confiscated during the raid. I don't know how difficult that will be, but they have a good lawyer. Once that's achieved, they will start producing programmes again. In the meantime I can confirm that Radio Netherlands is recycling old VOP programmes. It's very difficult to predict what will happen, but they're anxious to remain on the air as a matter of principle (Andy Sennitt, Radio Netherlands, Jan 17, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1301, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. UK/ZIMBABWE: EXILED ZIMBABWEAN JOURNALISTS LAUNCH WEBSITE | Text of report by London-based Zimbabwe independent Short Wave Radio Africa website on 16 January The Association of Zimbabwean Journalists in the United Kingdom (AZJ- UK) has launched a website http://www.zimbabwejournalists.com in a bid to bring together exiled journalists and other media practitioners outside the country. The association, which has 40 experienced journalists amongst its ranks, intends to help journalists in Zimbabwe expand the shrinking democratic space in the country. The website will provide an outlet for journalists home and abroad to get their stories published. The government using repressive legislation has shut down four newspapers and denied several media groups any broadcasting licences. This the association believes has created a need for a more diverse and vibrant mass media. Former Daily News reporter and coordinator for the project Sandra Nyaira told Newsreel they will seek to nurture media skills so badly needed in Zimbabwe and continue the fight for press freedom back home. The AZJ-UK intends to form alliances with the media in the UK and other parts of the world while also supporting those of their members who have been affected by repressive laws. This includes finding placements for journalists and securing opportunities for further training. The Association says it is independent of any political party and will work together with fellow colleagues who are scattered around the globe and have been rendered voiceless. Meanwhile the government using the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) has gazetted new application and registration fees for journalists and mass media houses. A Zimbabwean journalist working for a local media company will pay 250,000 Zimbabwean dollars while a local journalist working for foreign media will pay an application fee of 50 US dollars plus an accreditation fee of 1,000 US dollars. Foreign journalists who need temporary accreditation now have to pay an application fee of 100 US dollars plus an accreditation fee of 500 US dollars. Application for permission to operate a representative office for foreign mass media service or news agency will cost 2,000 US dollars and a 10,000 US dollar fee for permission to operate. Observers say the move is intended to either raise money for a cash- strapped government or discourage international media from covering Zimbabwe. Source: SW Radio Africa website, London, in English gmt 16 Jan 06 (via BBCM via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Re 6-011, 540 kHz: Welcome to the group! I would suspect one of three things you heard on 540 kHz. One, some station out of Canada [doubtful because most Canadian stations are good for IDing], Two, a high powered pirate within a 15 mile radius of Syracuse or Three, some low powered part 15 operation near you. Options 2 and 3 are the most likely to be the case here. The operation description makes it nearly impossible to call it a legit station, plus with a Clear Channel owned station licensed at 550 in the region, that would rule out the possibility for it to be anything licensed in central or western NY (Bob Carter - KC4QLP, NC, dxhub yg via DXLD) Thanks. It's definitely not a local or regional station I'm hearing on 540, so you're right about that. Doesn't really sound much like the pirate stations I've heard in the past, but I suppose it's possible. Sometimes, I do pick up WLIE from Islip, Long Island, NY on 540, but it's not them either (heard both the unidentified station and WLIE simultaneously for a while this afternoon). It could be from Canada; I recall CHWO 740 Toronto playing continuous music without an ID for a few days when they underwent their call and format change a few years back. There wasn't any dialog to speak of on the unidentified station; I did neglect to mention a time signal every half hour, using the Big Ben chimes and a male announcer giving the time (i.e., "it's eleven o'clock.") That was all the talk I've heard on this odd station so far (wolfpaws04, ibid.) CBGA-1 New Carlisle QC CHIC Chicoutimi QC CJSB Ottawa ON WFSH Rochester NY (college) (someone, ibid.) Subject: Re: 540 Near Syracuse --- Dunno what antique list you're working from, but only one of these stations exists. (CBGA-1). I'm pretty sure CHIC never existed in real life, and CJSB's been gone for at least a decade now. WFSH never operated carrier-current on 540, so far as I know; in any event, the current version of this St. John Fisher College station is cable-only. (Nazareth College, across the street, has "WNAZ," whose carrier-current signal on 1130 used to leak out well enough for me to hear at home, 5 miles away, but that was also many years ago.) I strongly suspect that whatever's being heard on 540 in Syracuse is NOT a licensed broadcast of any sort. It certainly doesn't fit with CBGA-1 or the most common 540 here in Rochester, 70 miles west of Syracuse, which would be CBEF Windsor. They're both Radio-Canada première chaîne affiliates, and while they do get into long blocks of music, especially at night, they also ID every hour with calls and news in French. At least here in Rochester, we have a 24-hour // for suspected première chaîne reception, since CJBC 860 is a local signal hereabouts. s (Scott Fybush, NY, ibid.) UNIDENTIFIED. The Spanish female numbers station continues to clash with WHRI (Cypress Creek) on 7520 at 0900 (and beyond). About a 50/50 mix in Atlanta (Lou Johnson, KF4EON, Atlanta, Jan 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Hi Glenn, I'm hearing a station with news/ sports news in North American format, on 9340 and it's all in USB. This is a new one for me --- have you any ideas? (Christopher Lewis, England, 1705 UT Jan 18, WORLD OF RADIO 1301, DX LISTENING DIGEST) No, but suspect it may be a new AFN channel. In which case there will be no local ID. Please keep monitoring. 73, (Glenn, ibid.) I did some more checking around, and then tried 7570, and the program seemed to be AFRTS. I don't know of the location, but maybe others can find out (Christopher Lewis, England, Jan 18, ibid.) UNIDENTIFIED. 9745, 1900 11 Dec, R. Elowa (sic), OM talk, ID, music jingle, talk, in vernacular, SINPO 44444 (Michael L Ford, Staffordshire, Jan WDXC Contact via DXLD) Guess that is Libya`s Iraq service in Arabic, scheduled 18-19; if not Bahrain (gh) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Contribution enclosed. I sincerely appreciate all of your radio related efforts. I still don`t know how you find the time to accomplish so much (Kraig Krist, VA, Jan 5) CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ OPEN FCC MEETING TO MULL STRATEGIC PLAN, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES (Jan 18, 2006 [REVISED Jan 18, 2006 13:15 ET]) When the FCC meets Friday, January 20 [TIME?], in open session, senior agency officials will focus their presentations on implementations of the Commission's strategic plan and a comprehensive review of FCC policies and procedures. Presentations will feature three panels: Panel One will feature the chiefs of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, the Office of Engineering and Technology and the International Bureau. Panel Two will feature the chiefs of the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau and the Enforcement Bureau. Panel Three will feature the chiefs of the Media Bureau and the Wireline Competition Bureau. The meeting, which will be the first for new FCC Commissioner Deborah Tate, will be broadcast live with open captioning over the Internet via the FCC's Audio/Video Events Web page http://www.fcc.gov/realaudio (via ARRL via Bill Smith, DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING ++++++++++++++++++++ Re DXLD 6-011 January 16: DRM IS DOOMED Glenn, Jonathan Marks is largely correct; one critical problem with international shortwave broadcasting is indeed the lack of compelling content and programming. But this is nothing new. Here is what I wrote back in 1991 in the first edition of my SHORTWAVE LISTENING GUIDEBOOK: "The improvement in transmitting facilities and SW radios have meant that the 'hardware' is no longer a problem in shortwave broadcasting. However, the 'software' --- the programming --- often still is. Too many countries have spent large sums on broadcasting equipment that will let you hear them without improving the programs enough so that people will want to listen. Programming all too often sounds as if it was produced by committees using formulas. Too many programs have no relevance to listeners in target areas, and the broadcasters don't seem to realize that what works in their home country or culture doesn't necessarily work with overseas listeners." If anything, I feel the situation is worse today. When I wrote those words, internet usage was in its infancy and restricted to text-based communication. Today, potential listeners in developed countries have myriad sources --- text, visual, and audio --- on the internet for information about what's going on in other nations. These sources range from official government web sites, to newspaper sites, to personal blogs; the de facto monopoly that many broadcasters had on information about their sponsoring nation back in 1991 is gone forever. Yet far too many broadcasters still act as if they are still the only source of information about a given nation available to listeners in Europe, North America, Australia, Japan, and other "internet intensive" nations. In 1991, potential audiences had little choice but to sit through material not of interest to them in order to glean the things they were interested in. Today, those potential listeners can do a Google search for web sites, including podcasts, having the information they seek. DRM is not only not the solution to the challenges facing international broadcasters, it's a dangerous distraction. What international broadcasters need more than anything else is to take a long, hard look at how they fit into the new "international information environment" and what (if anything) they can do better than competing sources available via the internet and satellites. Instead of DRM, international broadcasters should try some introspection (Harry Helms W5HLH, Smithville, TX http://futureofradio.typepad.com/ DX LISTENING DIGEST) Some leaked DRM registrations for A06: 5975 0600-1600 from Nauen, so far running AM only (and of course not being decommissioned). A lot of new registrations for Kvitsøy [NORWAY] were filed as well, including the RTL frequency 6095 1700-2300 (apparently an attempt to solve the issue of Junglinster skipping over Germany at night, but of course not making the poorish German RTL Radio any better). (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Jan 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also CHILE RIAA threat to H.D. Radio !! The following was submitted to another group by Jay Arnold: WOW! Should've seen this coming! The article below from the January 13, 2006 (interesting date) Radio Business Report... --jay N A B sees R I A A threat to H.D. Radio N A B President & C E O David Rehr has written to Mitch Bainwol, Chairman & C E O of the Recording Industry Association of America (R I A A), seeking cooperation on a way to address R I A A's concerns about content and copyright protection - without scrapping everything that's been done to date to roll out H.D. Radio. Rehr complains that some of the proposals put forth by R I A A would simply be unacceptable to broadcasters. "For instance, R I A A has previously suggested broadly empowering the F C C to mandate that all radio broadcasters encrypt their digital content at the source. This approach is antithetical to the concept of free, over-the-air broadcasting. No U.S. free, over-the-air broadcast service, analog or digital, has ever been required to encrypt its transmissions," the letter said. Rehr said mandatory encryption would likely render obsolete all H D Radio receivers already on the market and set back broadcasters who are broadcasting in H D or preparing to do so. But while N A B is strongly opposed to R I A A's encryption proposal, Rehr said there appear to be other possibilities for a technological fix that would satisfy R I A A's copyright concerns. He's asking that R I A A meet with members of the N A B's Audio Broadcast Flag Taskforce to try to work things out (via Dick W., ABDX via DXLD) The RIAA and MPAA are the broadcasting equivalent of the Flat Earth Society. If they ever dared to be fair and equitable, I would be shocked. I use a website called http://www.recnet.com which is trying to create a directory of LPAM and LPFM stations that can be accessed from their website. The information available to the general public will be pretty much limited to frequency/city/format. I sent them an email asking them if they could make more data available, as it would be beneficial to many. I explained my use for the data as a DXer, and explained what DXing was. The response was that they can't make much information available because RIAA had already been going after LP stations and Part 15 stations trying to get royalties. I wouldn't want to venture a guess how much of that money goes to lobbyists rather than artists. Of course, I have never been known to be the slightest bit cynical (Mike Hawkins, ibid.) CRUTCHFIELD CATALOG LACKS HD RADIOS Glenn: I usually don't cross post from this list, but I think you will find the comments by Mr. Wood to be interesting. I wonder how easy it would be to check this out in the Crutchfield Winter 2006 catalog. If the receiver manufacturers are not making HD (read IBOC receivers), how will it fly? (Bill Harms, Elkridge MD, Jan 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: A bit disappointed. Yesterday's mail brought Crutchfield's Winter 2006 catalog. The brand/model/features matrix for in-dash stereos listed 44 models. Eight of these had a check mark in the HD column, but in the individual product listings there was no HD logo and, in fact, HD was even mentioned only in a single Alpine description with the tag: "just add Alpine's HD Radio tuner; call for details." In short, there was not one radio in the catalog that would play HD right out of the box. Of course nearly all were tagged: "SAT Radio Ready," and most could play MP3, WMA and AAC files. These seasonal Crutchfield flyers are probably a good indication of what consumers are asking for. Bummer, dudes (Jim Wood, Brea, CA, BROADCAST list via Bill Harms, DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ DAYTIME SKYWAVE ON AM BROADCAST BAND With the very low solar activity we've been experiencing recently, low band shortwave and medium wave propagation has been quite good. The last few weeks I've been hearing fairly strong daytime skip on the AM broadcast band. Most of the stations seem to be in the 400-600 mile range. KXTR, 1660, Kansas, City, KS, 1840 Jan 18, Classical music format. Heard some promos then ID: "You're listening to Classical 1660 KXTR" then into music. Co-channel with another station fading in and out possibly from Iowa. On peaks KXTR was s8. Local time was 12:40 in the afternoon (David Hodgson, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) HFRADIO.ORG I need your support at hfradio.org! http://hfradio.org/sale.html If you can help, consider a donation toward our recent unexpected equipment costs, and the usual monthly fees. At http://hfradio.org/sale.html you can donate OR purchase propagation software, which will help fund the on-going costs of running the http://prop.hfradio.org service. Special propagation software details: One of the great ways you can directly help keep HFRadio.org and the Propagation eAlerts running for everyone is by purchasing one of the special software offerings at hfradio.org - And right now, to make it worthwhile for both of us, they are on sale! This will help with immediate costs for running the server, bandwidth, and so forth. 1) SWIM: Space Weather Information Monitor http://hfradio.org/swp_swim/ 2) Aurora Monitor http://hfradio.org/swp_stdaum/ 3) STD Space Weather and Propagation Educational Course http://hfradio.org/swp_course/ (this includes includes SWIM and the Aurora Monitor!) Buy any of these and you directly help me keep this service running. Please consider donating, or, shopping with hfradio.org - thank you! http://hfradio.org/sale.html By the way, most of you are reading this on your cellphone or pager, or some sort of wireless device. If you are on a mailing list, you might also be reading this, if someone has subscribed your mailing list to this service. THANK YOU TO EACH OF YOU WHO DECIDE TO HELP. AND, THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO ALREADY HAVE. 73, de NW7US http://prop.hfradio.org/ (via Stewart MacKenzie, swl at qth.net via DXLD) The geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to unsettled levels at all latitudes. Solar wind speed ranged from a high of about 430 km/s late on 15 January to a low of near 270 km/s late on 10 January. The Bz component of the IMF generally did not vary much beyond +/- 5 nT for the entire period. By late on 15 January, the IMF Bz began to fluctuate between -7 to +10 nT, wind speed increased from about 325 km/s to about 430 km/s, and temperature and density increased. These increases were all indicative of a co-rotating interaction region in advance of a recurrent coronal hole wind stream. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 18 JANUARY - 13 FEBRUARY Solar activity is expected to be at very low to low levels. No greater than 10 MeV proton events are expected. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at high levels on 24 January – 01 February. The geomagnetic field is expected to range from quiet to minor storm levels. Active to minor storm periods are possible on 23 – 24 January and again on 12 February, both due to effects from recurrent coronal hole wind streams. Otherwise, quiet to unsettled conditions are expected. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2006 Jan 17 1924 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center # Product description and SEC contact on the Web # http://www.sec.noaa.gov/wwire.html # # 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table # Issued 2006 Jan 17 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2006 Jan 18 85 5 2 2006 Jan 19 90 5 2 2006 Jan 20 90 5 2 2006 Jan 21 90 5 2 2006 Jan 22 85 5 2 2006 Jan 23 85 12 3 2006 Jan 24 85 15 3 2006 Jan 25 85 8 3 2006 Jan 26 85 8 3 2006 Jan 27 80 10 3 2006 Jan 28 80 5 2 2006 Jan 29 80 5 2 2006 Jan 30 80 5 2 2006 Jan 31 75 3 1 2006 Feb 01 75 3 1 2006 Feb 02 75 5 2 2006 Feb 03 75 8 3 2006 Feb 04 75 8 3 2006 Feb 05 75 5 2 2006 Feb 06 75 8 3 2006 Feb 07 75 3 1 2006 Feb 08 75 5 2 2006 Feb 09 75 5 2 2006 Feb 10 75 3 1 2006 Feb 11 80 8 3 2006 Feb 12 80 15 3 2006 Feb 13 85 8 3 (http://www.sec.noaa.gov/radio via WORLD OF RADIO 1301, DXLD) SPACE ENVIRONMENT CENTER USER NOTES The latest version of SEC User Notes is now posted on-line, available at http://www.sec.noaa.gov/user_notes (SEC Jan 18 via DXLD) ###