DX LISTENING DIGEST 6-017, January 25, 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 AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1302: Days and times here are strictly UT. Wed 2300 WOR WBCQ 7415 [first airing of each edition] Thu 0000 WOR WBCQ 18910-CLSB [started in progress at 0002 Jan 26] Thu 0905 WOR World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.5 Thu 2130 WOR WWCR 7465 Thu 2200 WOR World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.5 Fri 0030 WOR R. Veronica 106.5 Fri 0100 WOR WTND-LP 106.3 Macomb IL Fri 0200 WOR ACBRadio Mainstream [repeated 2-hourly thru 2400] Fri 2005 WOR World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.5 Fri 2100 WOR RFPI [repeated 4-hourly thru Sat 1700] Sat 0500 WOR VoiceCorps Reading Service, WOSU-FM subcarrier, cable Sat 0900 WOR WRN to Eu, Au, NZ, WorldSpace AfriStar, AsiaStar Sat 0955 WOR WNQM Nashville TN 1300 Sat 1100 WOR WPKN Bridgeport CT 89.5 & WPKM Montauk LINY 88.7 Sat 1530 WOR R. Veronica 106.5 Sat 1700 WOR WWCR 12160 Sat 1830 WOR WRN to North America [including Sirius Satellite Radio channel 140] Sat 1830 WOR World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.5 [from WRN] Sun 0000 WOR Radio Studio X 1584 http://www.radiostudiox.it/ Sun 0330 WOR WWCR 5070 [start varies 0325-0335] Sun 0400 WOR WBCQ 9330-CLSB Sun 0630 WOR World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.5 Sun 0730 WOR WWCR 3215 Sun 0930 WOR WRN to North America, also WLIO-TV Lima OH SAP [including Sirius Satellite Radio channel 140] Sun 0930 WOR KSFC Spokane WA 91.9 Sun 0930 WOR WXPR Rhinelander WI 91.7 91.9 100.9 Sun 0930 WOR WDWN Auburn NY 89.1 [unconfirmed] Sun 0930 WOR KTRU Houston TX 91.7 [occasional] Sun 1400 WOR WRMI 7385 Sun 1400 WOR KRFP-LP Moscow ID 92.5 Sun 1830 WOR WRN1 to North America [including Sirius Satellite Radio channel 140] Sun 1830 WOR World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.5 [from WRN] Sun 2000 WOR RNI Sun 2229 WOR WRMI 7385 Mon 0400 WOR WBCQ 9330-CLSB Mon 0430 WOR WSUI Iowa City IA 910 Mon 0515 WOR WBCQ 7415 Mon 1900 WOR RFPI [repeated 4-hourly thru Tue 1500] Wed 0100 WOR CJOY INTERNET RADIO plug-in required Wed 1030 WOR WWCR 9985 Full schedule, including AM, FM, satellite and internet, with hotlinks to station sites and audio: http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html WRN ON DEMAND [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/ However, at 0455 UT January 26, this and several other ygs were inaccessible (gh, DXLD) ** ALBANIA. Radio Tirana's Italian program as well as other foreign language broadcasts are still active, notwithstanding rumours about their closing down due to power shortages affecting Albania. Local sources confirm diplomats from Italian and Turkish embassies took initiative to preserve their respective language programs. Further reports state Parliamentary Commission responsible for media affairs assure the proposed reduction of Foreign Services to one or two languages (English and French) was not endorsed by the Commission and all seven languages are going on (Luigi Cobisi, Italy, Jan 22, DSWCI DX Window Jan 25 via DXLD) There were not merely rumors --- they did close down for a couple weeks in December, but fortunately came back (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** ALGERIA [non]. RTV Algeria back on SW in Arabic/French via Issoudun [FRANCE] 500 kW. Monitored schedule Jan. 20-24: 0600-0658 on 9885 / 194 deg to NoWeAF 0700-0758 on 9885 / 162 deg to CeSoAf 1200-1358 on 15255 / 194 deg to NoWeAF; 17840 / 162 deg to CeSoAf But no signal from Jan. 25!!! Tentative A-06 schedule: 0600-0658 on 11725 / 194 deg NoWeAF; 11860 / 162 deg CeSoAf 0700-0758 on 13620 / 194 deg NoWeAF; 13675 / 162 deg CeSoAf till Sep 2 0700-0758 on 11835 / 194 deg NoWeAF; 13675 / 162 deg CeSoAf from Sep 3 0800-0858 on 13620 / 194 deg NoWeAF 1200-1358 on 15255 / 194 deg NoWeAF 1200-1358 on 15465 / 162 deg CeSoAf 1800-1858 on 13775 / 162 deg CeSoAf; 13800 / 194 deg NoWeAF till Sep 2 1800-1858 on 11835 / 194 deg NoWeAF; 11860 / 162 deg CeSoAf from Sep 3 1900-1958 on 11860 / 162 deg CeSoAf; 13800 / 194 deg NoWeAF till Sep 2 1900-1958 on 9685 / 162 deg CeSoAf; 11835 / 194 deg NoWeAF from Sep 3 2000-2158 on 9885 / 194 deg NoWeAF till Sep 2 2000-2158 on 7325 / 194 deg NoWeAF from Sep 3 (Observer, Bulgaria, Jan 25 via WORLD OF RADIO 1302, DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. La Voz de las Madres, en 530 kHz. Desde la mañana de hoy, miércoles 25 de febrero, se reiniciaron las transmisiones de AM 530 La Voz de las Madres, bajo la tutela de la Asociación Madres de la Plaza de Mayo. Esta organización defensora de los derechos humanos en la Argentina; está conducida por la histórica dirigente Hebe de Bonafini. La emisora se identifica: "AM 530... La Voz de las Madres... Asociación Madres de Plaza de Mayo"; "AM 530... la primera de la izquierda"; "Estamos con vos...somos la voz... AM530..." La programación es musical aunque desde la fecha dos locutores dan a conocer datos y detalles de los temas escuchados, con las identificaciones y separadores de la nueva radio bajo la forma de clips grabados que se alternan en la programación. Desde varios días se escuchaba en esta frecuencia una poderosa señal portadora, bajo el formato de música popular latinoamericana, que llegó a tapar a las emisiones de Radio República. Esta radio transmite desde ayer en paralelo en 690 aunque sigue identificándose en la frecuencia nominal de 530. Cabe señalar que la fecha de la reinauguración de las transmisiones de La Voz de las Madres coincide con la realización de la 25 Marcha de la Resistencia, de 24 horas de permanencia en la Plaza de Mayo, en el centro de la capital argentina, donde se continuará con la demanda de investigación de sus hijos y familiares desaparecidos en el país durante la última dictadura militar (1976-1983), que significó la desaparición de 30.000 personas en el marco del más trágico terrorismo de Estado que se instaló en el país, y en las naciones sudamericanas limítrofes de Uruguay, Chile, Brasil, Bolivia y Paraguay --- además de otras naciones del continente latinoamericano. Entre las 18 de hoy y del día de mañana, se realizará un festival artístico con la participación de importantes grupos musicales, como León Gieco, Teresa Parodi y Víctor Heredia, entre los nombres más importantes. Se montaron dos escenarios donde habrá otras actividades, además de las musicales. Está programada la realización de debates, además de actividades especiales para niños con títeres, mimos y música. Así se cerrará un ciclo de 25 años ininterrumpidos de realizar año a año esta jornada de protesta de 24 horas en demanda de verdad y justicia. La titular de las Madres señaló a la prensa que las Madres seguirán con sus habituales rondas alrededor de la plaza todos los días jueves. La Voz de las Madres cubrirá estas alternativas en vivo desde la Plaza de Mayo (via CLAUDIO MORALES, Argentina, condiglist Jan 25 via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. Pursuant to our sporadic debates about the role of public broadcasting, a timely Australian perspective... REWIND --- by Ross Warneke January 26, 2006 LET'S hope the ABC board gets it right this time when it chooses a new boss for our national broadcaster. When it appointed Jonathan Shier it got someone with media experience but an agenda and a management style that appeared more suited to commercial TV and radio than to a broadcaster whose audience has particular and peculiar expectations and passions. When it chose Russell Balding as his successor, it got an accomplished bean counter and manager, with little media savvy or passion . . . http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2006/01/24/1138066797031.html (via John Figliozzi, swprograms via DXLD) Interesting article. Key point IMHO -- as I learn the more I spend time in the field -- is that public broadcasting heads need to have a commitment to public service broadcasting either from prior experience in public broadcasting or from other elements of public service. One would think that a development director for a private college or university might be a good prerequisite for a senior position in public broadcasting -- they are used to casting vision, and they're used to chasing funding (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, ibid.) ** AUSTRALIA. Thursday, January 26th, is ``Australia Day``. Look for Australian amateurs to use the AX prefix for 24 hours from 1301z Wednesday, January 25th, until 1259z Thursday, January 26th. The West Coast will start and finish 3 hours later than the East Coast as it runs from midnight to midnight in each state of Australia. Some VK9`s will start up to 3 hours earlier, and others will finish up to 3 hours after Western Australia does. John, VK6JB, states, ``Its a bit of a dogs breakfast but just keep listening and you will hear them come up.`` The AX prefix is usable by all VK amateurs during this period. John, VK6JB, states, that he will be working 40 meters SSB between 7040 and 7090 kHz. Many other operators will be on other bands working, so listen for your chance to get a special AX prefix card. John adds, ``Please remember that there are QRP operators who want a chance to get a card as well, so make sure you give them a go.`` (KB8NW\OPDX January 23\BARF-80 via John Norfolk, dxldyg via DXLD) ** BELARUS. 4855, military transmitter, 1725, Jan 10, Feeder from a broadcast station, 55444 (Klaus-Dieter Scholz, Erfurt, Germany, DSWCI DX Window Jan 25 via DXLD) ** BHUTAN. 6035, BBS, Thimpu, *0100-0140 fade out, Sat Jan 14 and Sun Jan 15, after transmitter warm-up tone, a Gong, national anthem, Buddhist choir and Dzongkha talks, deep fades, best as 33433, severe QRM from R Japan in English on 6030 and R Romania International on 6040 (Harald Kuhl, Germany and Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Jan 25 via DXLD) ** CANADA. MONTREAL: 940 has always been directional, even in the CBM days, with some slight protection to Mexico. But the information in the FCC's database about CINW and CINF [940 & 690] is WRONG WRONG WRONG. It reflects the old CBC site at Brossard, not the ex-CIQC 600 site at Kahnawake where the stations are now operating. That's a 4-tower array, and I have absolutely not the slightest clue how it's configured for 690 and 940. I know both signals are considerably weaker here in Rochester than they were from Brossard. The Kahnawake towers are much shorter than the Brossard towers, for one thing. As for the "ND2" records in the FCC's database, here's the explanation: The way the Commission now enters AM engineering data into its database requires a separate day and night record for each AM station, even if the operating parameters are identical. Older records that are in the system as "ND1" or "DA1" remain in the system that way, UNTIL any sort of application is filed for even the most minor of changes, at which point the record is updated with separate day and night information. Just another quirk from our friends at FCC-land... s (Scott Fybush, NY, ABDX via DXLD) I had wondered why both CINW and CINF have had so much better signals here in the last few years than they used to. Likely using 90 degree, or even 70 or 80 degree [or gasp, even 60 degree!] towers instead of some taxpayer funded CBC killer towers of greater than 90 degrees of electrical height. Result, more high angle skywave, less low angle. With the modest distance from Montreal to here, that would make for a stronger signal. Farther away, the opposite would be true. The story I heard was that with 740 CHWO Toronto, they lease the old site from the CBC. I had just assumed that it would be a lease arrangement for the Montreal stations. So, apparently Corus Entertainment has their own site for their English and French talk flagships. Good to know (Phil Rafuse, PEI, ibid.) The operative word here is "cheap." CHWO really had no choice but to lease the old site from the CBC. Their prior operation on 1250 was poorly sited to serve downtown Toronto, and since its multi-tower array remains in use for 1250 (now CJYE) and CJMR 1320, it would have been an expensive and complex triplexing project to add 740 to the site. (And since the Hornby 740 site was remaining active anyway, being home as well to CJBC 860, the CBC had a strong impetus to take on a paying tenant at what's probably a reasonable rate.) In Montreal, Corus had the old 600 site in Kahnawake sitting there with nothing else to do once CIQC signed off, whereas the Brossard (former CBM/CBF site) closed down completely once CBM and CBF were off the air. Corus would have had to pay the full freight to bring it back into operation and to keep it running once it was back on - so why not stick to the site they already owned? (Never mind, of course, that the towers are way too short to meet the efficiency standards the US would require for a similar Class A operation, especially on 690.) CBF 690 was armchair copy daytimes in Rochester. CINF is just barely there. CBW appears in FCC records as 50/46 kW ND-U. That's a paperwork thing between the FCC and Industry Canada. It's really 50/50 ND-U and has been since the late thirties. s (Scott Fybush, NY, ibid.) Why? ** CANADA. BRASH RADIO HOST TO SIT AS INDEPENDENT MP Last Updated Tue, 24 Jan 2006 15:57:32 EST CBC Arts When the next session of Parliament opens, a former shock jock from Quebec will be among the sitting MPs. Arthur will be the only sitting Independent MP when Parliament begins again this spring. Outspoken Quebec City radio personality André Arthur has been elected as the single Independent MP, representing the riding of Portneuf-Jacques-Cartier. The popular and controversial radio star, known to his fans as King Arthur, successfully courted voters disenchanted with the federal government during the campaign and won almost 40 per cent of the vote in his predominantly francophone riding. His closest rival was Bloc Québécois candidate Guy Côté, who won the seat in 2004. Arthur told CBC News that he is ready to be a "common-sense" voice for his constituents in Ottawa. "I think it's quite a challenge, and I think that all things considered, this is quite fun," the 62-year-old said. During the campaign, he said, members of the public told him "how fed up they are with rotten politics, and the disrespect they get from the political parties." Throughout his radio career, Arthur had been the target of several defamation lawsuits, as well as reprimands from the country's broadcast regulator, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. In 2004, he was included in the reasoning for the CRTC's decision to deny the licence renewal of radio station CHOI-FM. The CRTC cited offensive on-air remarks, including Arthur's statement that international students at Laval University were the children of wealthy "plunderers" and "cannibals" from the Third World. After the results were announced Monday evening, the federalist Arthur told reporters he would not censor himself just because he was headed to the House of Commons. "At 62, you don't change," he said, according to the Montreal Gazette. In addition to his duties as an MP, Arthur said he also plans to keep his job as a part-time bus driver and may even look for another gig in radio. "I think that any member of Parliament should have a real job," he told CBC News. "Maybe if they all had a real job, they would less sound like Martians when we listen to them." (CBC Arts via Dan Say, BC, DXLD) ** CHINA. Google self-censorship: see INTERNATIONAL INTERNET ** COLOMBIA. Ciao! PLAYDX collaborator from Colombia, Héctor Arboleda has compiled two more reports "MARCONI" about Broadcasting arts in Colombia and Medellín with many nice photos (also YL speakers....) you may see them all visiting & looking at : http://www.playdx.com/files/medellin73.doc http://www.playdx.com/files/medellin74.doc Good listenings! (Dario Monferini, Italy, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA. Here's some news for those of you with RDS and dreaming of getting E-skip to Central America. 99.5 TIDOS San José CR (20 kW) "Radio Dos" is the first station in Costa Rica to implement RDS. I read about this on a radio news page for Central America. Here's Radio Dos's weblink about their programming and services (which includes comments on RDS)- http://www.radiodos.com/paginas/radio_2.php BTW, I have a kinda curious question about skip to the Central American countries. Several FM radio stations in Central America have low power repeaters on the same frequency as the primary. Actually, there's a lot that do this. When you're receiving skip from one of those regions and a particular station has five or six repeaters on the same frequency and you're receiving them (part or all), isn't there a good chance the signals are going to be 'out of phase' and make the signal sound kind of crazy?? Just a curious question (Jim Thomas - wdx0fbu, Milliken, CO - 40 mi N of Denver, WTFDA via DXLD) ** CUBA [non]. Here are details of the newest R. República relay: GERMANY. B05akt_12 20.01.2006 Gesamtplan frq start stop ciraf ant azi type day from to loc pow broad 7160 2300 0400 17 101/00 285 217 23456 110106 260306 NAU 125 RMI (DTK, Jan 20, 2006 via Wolfgang Büschel, DXLD) FYI, Is this NAU Nauen entry on 7160 kHz towards Cuba 285 deg, approx. 8300 kms distance a NEW one? RMI brokered, started Jan 11, Cuban LT Mon-Fri only! (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Wonder why via Nauen instead of Jülich or Wertachtal (gh, DXLD) Radio República, as extensively discussed. Thought the site for this would be Wertachtal, as it was the case with the first test, but instead they settled at Nauen. Quite interesting (Kai Ludwig, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn: Heck, I thought it was Jülich. They routinely make these kinds of changes depending on availability of transmitters and appropriate antennas at any given time. I don't think there's any other reason for it (Jeff White, RMI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DENMARK. 243 LW, Danmarks R, Kalundborg, temporary off since Jan 20, because part of the antenna fell down due to heavy ice (Erik Køie, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Jan 25 via DXLD) Which part? When this happens to a longwave station, it is a rather notable event, since the towers are so high (gh, DXLD) ** EUROPE. SCANNING LONGWAVE --- Today January 25 I made a very quick bandscan on LW around 14 UT, local afternoon. Here`s a list of the stations I heard. No IDs, just checking from EMWG. Thanks to Herman Boel for good work! 153, DEUTSCHLANDFUNK, Donebach 500 Kw, some QRM by another station. 162, FRANCE INTER, Allouis 2000 kW. 171, R ROSSII, Bolshakovo (Kaliningrad) with 600 kW. 177, DEUTSCHLANDRADIO KULTUR, Zehlendorf 500 kW // 6005 kHz. 198, R MAYAK (various transmitters) and POLSKIE R 1/ R PARLAMENT, Raszýn (200 kW) with equal strength. 207, UKRAINSKE R, Kiyev (125 kW) with very strong QRM by DEUTSCHLANDFUNK, Aholming (500 kW). 216, R MONTE CARLO, Roumoules with 200 kW of power. 225, POLSKIEGO RADIA P. 1, Solec Kujawoski. 1200 kW. 234, RTL BEIDWEILER with 200 kW in French. 252, R ROSSII, Kazan (150 kW) with some QRM by RTE 1, Clarkstown. That`s it, Ten frequencies were heard. 73 de (Jouko Huuskonen, Turku FINLAND, Jan 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also IRELAND ** GERMANY. Re DTK T-Systems revised schedule Jan 20: What caught my attention at a first glance: Some transmissions of religious broadcasters are 500 kW now. Some transmissions of Voice of Russia and Hravtska Radio (perhaps other customers as well) were moved to Wertachtal, in the latter one case to Nauen as well. Hardly looks like a mere keep-Jülich-alive anymore. Good night (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Jan 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also CUBA [non]. Since the sked has only a few changes, I think, and not all of them are marked, and requires a lot of fixing up to fit in DXLD, I propose not to publish it entirely here (gh, DXLD) ** GIBRALTAR. R. Gibraltar, GBC, is now streaming, I see in Public Radio Fan listings: http://www.gbc.gi/ Not much of interest do I see on their programme schedule (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE [and non]. I heard the pirate 1305 kHz in Athens on Nov 30, 2005. Days later in Patras I listened to another pirate (very loud) about 1240-1250 kHz also daytime with Greek music (Luigi Cobisi, Italy, Jan 21, DSWCI DX Window Jan 25 via DXLD) ** GRENADA. 535 MW, GBN has been poor for the last few weeks; 0900 and 0100 (Robert Wilkner, FL, Jan 16, DSWCI DX Window Jan 25 via DXLD) ** ICELAND. 9340 USB, AFRTS, Grindavik, 1145-1725 fade out (in Denmark), Jan 15, 22 and 23, U.S. English mostly with conversations and phone in on issues like criminality, new frequency ex 9980, at best 35233 // 7590 (Noel Green, England; Erik Køie, Denmark; Anker Petersen, Denmark, and Roland Schulze, Stuttgart, Germany, DSWCI DX Window Jan 25 via DXLD) Roland normally reports from Philippines; back for a visit or moved? (gh, DXLD) American Forces Network on 9340 kHz USB noted today January 25 at 17 UT with signal strength S6-7. My opinion is, this is coming from Grindavik, Iceland. Reception was very good. 73 (Jouko Huuskonen, Turku, FINLAND, WORLD OF RADIO 1302, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. Re 6-016, Republic Day specials: Hi Jose, what's on 9595 kHz now at 1330 with non-stop Indian music? 73, (Mauno Ritola, Finland, Jan 25, dx_india via DXLD) ** INDIA. 4990 kHz, AIR Itanagar. Evening broadcast apparently starts earlier than other AIR stations, but I cannot clearly identify that moment. I've seen 1000 UT in reference sources, and it may be quite right, but propagation is not stable in such an early time. On 1 Jan I tuned in at 0955, and feel that the tuning tone was there (heard under the noise). Then something like the interval signal appeared (noted at 1003). And the broadcast undoubtedly was there at 1004 (open_dx - Vladimir Kovalenko, Tomsk, Russia via Signal Jan 26 via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET. Hi Glenn, thought this may be of interest. I have worked on issues with Reporters Without Borders previously and this is a communications issue that I feel deserves your listeners attention (and yours.) How ironic Google is fighting a subpoena here in the US while they quickly agree to self-censor with their proposed portal in Mainland China. I have written to Google to express my concern and displeasure and I urge your listeners to do the same. Many thanks for your previous support and best wishes! In Respect, (Maryanne Kehoe, GA, Mrs. Atlanta International 2006, Jan 25, WORLD OF RADIO 1302, DX LISTENING DIGEST) GOOGLE AGREES TO CENSOR RESULTS IN CHINA By MICHAEL LIEDTKE, AP Business Writer Tue Jan 24, 7:34 PM ET http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/sns-ap-google-china,0,6465576.story?coll=ny-leadworldnews-headlines (via Kehoe, DXLD) Maryanne did not provide a link to this story, so guess how I found it? And, more: (gh, DXLD) CHINA/USA: WATCHDOG CONDEMNS GOOGLE "HYPOCRISY" | Text of press release by Paris-based organization Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF) on 25 January Reporters Without Borders today [25 January] accused the internet's biggest search-engine, Google, of "hypocrisy" for its plan to launch a censored version of its product in China, meaning that the country's internet users would only be able to look up material approved of by the government and nothing about Tibet or democracy and human rights in China. "The launch of Google.cn is a black day for freedom of _expression in China," the worldwide press freedom organization said. "The firm defends the rights of US internet users before the US government but fails to defend its Chinese users against theirs. "Google's statements about respecting online privacy are the height of hypocrisy in view of its strategy in China. Like its competitors, the company says it has no choice and must obey Chinese laws, but this is a tired argument. Freedom of expression isn't a minor principle that can be pushed aside when dealing with a dictatorship. It's a principle recognized by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and features in the Chinese national constitution itself. "US firms are now bending to the same censorship rules as their Chinese competitors but they continue to justify themselves by saying their presence has a long-term benefit. Yet the internet in China is becoming more and more isolated from the outside world and freedom of expression there is shrinking. These firms' lofty predictions about the future of a free and limitless internet conveniently hide their unacceptable moral errors." The California-based Google announced on 26 January it would soon launch a China-based Google.cn to improve and speed up its service for Chinese customers. It admitted it would be censored in line with Chinese law but said that while such filtering was against its principles, it was much better that not providing any service at all. Up to now, Google has only censored its news site, Google News, by removing material from sources banned by the Chinese authorities. It has not censored its standard US-based search-engine, accessible at http://www.google.com/intl/zh-CN and is the last of the world's major search-engines not to have done so inside China. Yahoo! has been working with Chinese censors for more than three years. By offering a version without "subversive" content, Google is making it easier for Chinese officials to filter the internet themselves. A website not listed by search engines has little chance of being found by users. The new Google version means that even if a human rights publication is not blocked by local firewalls, it has no chance of being read in China. Reporters Without Borders wrote to Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin in May last year asking if they were going to censor their tool for the Chinese market and expressing concern at some recent Google decisions. In July 2004, the firm took a share in the Chinese firm Baidu, which operates a highly-censored search engine. Soon afterwards, Google was allowed to open an office in China under a conditional agreement with the authorities. Reporters Without Borders published six recommendations on 6 January for ensuring that internet firms respect freedom of expression when working in repressive countries. Source: Reporters Sans Frontières press release, Paris, in English 25 Jan 06 (via BBCM via DXLD) ANALYSIS: GOOGLE SELF-CENSORSHIP ESCALATES CHINA INTERNET DEBATE Editorial analysis by Peter Feuilherade of BBC Monitoring Media Services on 25 January The leading internet company Google intends to censor some of its content in China in order to gain greater access to the country's huge and fast-growing market of 111 million web surfers. Although Google has offered a Chinese-language version of its search engine for years, users have had to put up with government blocks on the site. Now Google is to set up a new site - Google.cn - which it will censor itself to satisfy the authorities in Beijing. Critics fear the self-censored version could restrict access to thousands of sensitive terms and websites. But the Silicon Valley- based web search leader argued that it would be more damaging to pull out of China altogether. Several of Google's international rivals, among them Yahoo and Microsoft, also obey censorship rules set out by the Chinese government and block searches on sensitive information. Last year Yahoo was accused of supplying data to China that was used as evidence to jail a Chinese journalist for 10 years. And the government itself maintains tight control over the internet and what users can access. Human rights groups note that in recent years, China has jailed dozens of dissidents who have published political criticism on the web. Google's "only option" Google argues that a restricted search engine is the only way it can offer any meaningful service to Chinese web users, as a fuller one would be blocked anyway. "While removing search results is inconsistent with Google's mission, providing no information (or a heavily degraded user experience that amounts to no information) is more inconsistent with our mission," a Google statement said. The company hopes its new address will make searches easier and quicker. Its e-mail, chatroom and blogging services will not be available because of concerns that the government could demand users' personal information. Google's senior policy adviser, Andrew McLaughlin, said its Chinese users would be told that information was being held back. "We think that by being very careful about which services we're putting into China, for example we're not putting our email service, our group service, our blogger service, on to Google.cn, and by providing disclosure when things have been removed from the search engine, that we will be overall able to provide more tools, more access to more information," McLaughlin said in remarks quoted by the BBC. Self-censorship "hypocrisy" - watchdog A survey in August 2005 revealed Google was losing ground in China to a Beijing-based rival web search company, Baidu.com. According to Rebecca McKinnon, of the Harvard Law School Centre on Internet and Society, Google's motive now is to secure its share of the world's second-largest internet market. "They've certainly taken a step away from their motto, which is 'Don't be evil.' What's interesting is that they seem to have revised their motto to 'Don't be any more evil than necessary.'," McKinnon commented. Google's move to avoid confrontation in China came less than a week after it resisted efforts by the US Department of Justice to make it disclose data on what people were searching for, global media freedom groups recalled. The Paris-based organization Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) on 25 January accused Google of "hypocrisy" for its self-censorship plans. "The firm defends the rights of US internet users before the US government but fails to defend its Chinese users against theirs. Google's statements about respecting online privacy are the height of hypocrisy in view of its strategy in China. Like its competitors, the company says it has no choice and must obey Chinese laws, but this is a tired argument. Freedom of expression isn't a minor principle that can be pushed aside when dealing with a dictatorship," the RSF statement added. Political sensitivity The furore over Google's decision to self-censor illustrates the enormous capacity of the internet to bring about change in China. A BBC correspondent, Jill McGivering, said the debate rekindled wider questions about China's development, and the dilemma faced by the West when that development is on terms it struggles to accept. "The internet has brought an expansion of knowledge and self- expression - and, as a result, a level of personal empowerment that was hard to imagine two decades ago. But the nature of the change is symptomatic of change in general in China. It's rapid, largely positive, on an extraordinary scale but also constrained when it comes to politics. The new openness comes to an abrupt halt when it hits issues of greatest political sensitivity for the authorities. They see that constraint as necessary in the struggle to maintain political control over their vast, rapidly changing country," McGivering commented. Source: BBC Monitoring research 25 Jan 06 (via DXLD) ** IRELAND. Lately, Ireland on 252 has been so good that I listen for upwards of an hour or so at a time while working in the shack. It has been almost like a local. I almost forget that I am listening to DX (Chris Black, Cape Cod, MA, 0214 UT Jan 26, IRCA via DXLD) ** JUAN FERNANDEZ ISLAND. Hy Glenn, Entre el 21 y el 28 de enero, se está activando la Isla Juan Fernández, IOTA sa 005 por un TEAM formado por 7 chilenos liderado por Guillermo XQ3SA, 3 norteamericanos, K4SV, N2WB, N6OX y 1 francés, F2JD. Esta información me la entregó mi amigo Pedro, CE3BFZ, con quien hice el contacto el 21 de enero 2006 a las 0139 en 7060, 40 metros. Más informaciones, fotos, log en línea, bitácora, se pueden obtener en el sitio http://www.ce3bsq.cl (Héctor Frías, Radioescuchas Federachi, Chile, Jan 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KURDISTAN [non]. 4405v, Voice of the Strugglers of Kurdish Iran, *1513-1625*, Dec 24, instrumental music until 1525 when the real program in Kurdish starts and last 60 min. ID: "Eira Dengi Khabatti Kurdestana Irana" (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, DSWCI DX Window Jan 25 via DXLD) On Jan 15 at 1515, I was only able to hear the Voice of Korea in English on 4405, but at 1540-1600 this clandestine was heard under jamming, 32332 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Jan 25 via DXLD) ** LIBYA [non]. CLANDESTINE RADIO WATCH 198 Extra B January 25, 2006 CRW is the biweekly online magazine for ClandestineRadio.com, the Web's only portal on clandestine broadcasting and subversive media. http://www.ClandestineRadio.com The full online issue can be read at: http://www.ClandestineRadio.com/crw/crw.php?id=279 ------------xxxxxxxxxx Breaking News xxxxxxxxxx---------------- LIBYA'S SOWT ALAMEL RETURNS DESPITE QADDAFI'S ATTACKS By Nick Grace, CRW Washington, January 25, 2006 Forced off satellite by a sophisticated and agressive jamming campaign orchestrated by the government of Libya, Sowt Alamel, Libya's Voice of Hope, returned to the airwaves today after weeks of silence. Response from listeners inside Libya, who were alerted in advance to the station's return through articles in the online Arabic-language press, has been positive. According to station director Jalal El Giathi, one listener wrote to say that the programs "are like fresh air that clears the pollution of the regime's propaganda." Independent media and the freedom of speech are not permitted in Libya. Journalists brave enough to counter the regime's lines are routinely imprisoned and, in many cases, murdered. In order to remain on the air, Sowt Alamel had to turn to short wave. Originally broadcast on satellite, its feed was intentionally jammed by Tripoli, resulting in widespread disruptions that affected BBC, ESPN, CNN and U.S. and U.K. diplomatic and military communications traffic sharing the same satellite. Sowt Alamel was removed from the airwaves by the satellite provider and placed on a different satellite, which also suffered from the jamming attacks. The station was then ordered to "voluntarily" suspend its programs. Intentional jamming of broadcast and communications traffic is a violation of the International Telecommunications Union regulations, which Libya is a signatory. Diplomatic efforts by Washington and London to bring Tripoli into compliance, however, resulted in no assurances that it would stop. "We must keep fighting," El Giathi said. "We cannot stop what we are doing because the regime does not want us on the air. That is exactly why we are on the air in the first place." The station's daily programs are broadcast from an undisclosed transmitter site between 1700 and 1900 GMT on either 17660 or 17720 kHz (Clandestine Radio Watch Jan 25 via WORLD OF RADIO 1302, DXLD) Saludos Glenn, por Valencia no se ha captado nada en esas frecuencias, sólo ruido; he chequeado toda la banda de 16 m y nada, parece cerrada por aquí. 73 (José Miguel Romero, Spain, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1302, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, that`s rather late to be using such a high frequency; must be from a site to the west of Libya (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) ** LIECHTENSTEIN. HB0. Members of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Contest Club (BHCC) will be active as HB0/homecall from here January 25th through February 1st. Operators mentioned are: Mario/T94DX (aka DJ2MX), Braco/T94JJ (a.k.a. OE1EMS), Danny/T93M, Ivek/T96Q and Boris/T93Y. The group's main activity is participation in the CQ WW 160m Contest as HB0/T94DX as a Multi-Single entry. However, look for them before and after the contest on CW, SSB and RTTY on 160-10 meters. They plan to have three stations active with vertical and wire antennas. QSLs for HB0/T94DX, HB0/T94JJ and HB0/T93M are via DJ2MX, by the DL Bureau or direct to: Mario Lovric, Kampenwandstrasse 13, D- 81671 Munich, Germany. QSL HB0/T96Q and HB0/T93Y via T93Y, by the T9 Bureau or direct to: Boris Knezovic, P.O. Box 59, BA-71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. More detailed information is available, including the online logs, at: http://www.t93y.com/hb0 (KB8NW/OPDX/BARF80 Jan 23 via Dave Raycroft, ODXA via DXLD) ** MALAYSIA. 7295, Traxx FM (RTM) ---- This appears to be a deliberate move to be off SW, but keeping the transmitter on standby for special occasions --- for how long? Sadly, no one knows but cannot be for long, could it? (Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, Jan 16 via Dxplorer via DSWCI DX Window Jan 25 via DXLD) ** MEXICO. Re 6-016: Hola, Ayer 24 de enero del 2006 no capté a la 94.1, ni tampoco esta mañana. Hay que estar atentos el viernes que es el día que anunciaron su mitin en la esplanada del Museo de Antropología (Héctor García Bojorge, DF, Jan 25, condiglist via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. (Experiment from PA!). On Thursday, January 26th (2300z) through Friday, January 27th (0530z), Peter/PA8A and Rob/PA3GVI will be active with a very special antenna system on SSB and CW. This experiment will take place on 7 MHz and the antenna exists of a 2x4 stacked dipole system between 2x 400 foot towers (Antenna-gain is +/- 22 dB and radiation angle 7 degrees). This antenna is fixed on South/Central America, and can be slewed towards the South Pacific and the USA slightly. They invite all operators to make a contact, and if possible, an audio-recording of the operation (especially from the aboved mentioned areas). Recordings (not bigger then 1 Mb) can be sent to: pa3gvi@hetnet.nl Look for them on +/- 7055/SSB and +/- 7010/CW. The transceiver will be an IC-7800 with 150 watt. Coverage and received sound files will be available (after the experiment) on: http://www.sitekreator.com/pa3gvi (KB8NW/OPDX/BARF80 Jan 23 via Dave Raycroft, ODXA via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. In a brief feature on OETA News Jan 25, it was revealed that Paul Aurandt, native of Tulsa, served only 14 months in the army in WW II, was discharged [not honorably???] for stealing an airplane. After that he went by his first and middle name only as he built a considerable radio career as Paul Harvey. Now you know ----- (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN. Hi Glenn, re the Lahore transmitter on 1332 kHz. I received a QSL in November for this transmitter heard on 31 October at Castle Rock, near Cape Town. The programme was 'English Hour' until 1700 UT (Graham Bell, London, England, Jan 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN. 4835 kHz, R. Pakistan, 1 Jan. Quite a rare frequency. Didn't hear it since 29 Nov, when broadcast end was noted at 1545. On 1 Jan tuned in at 1355, and listened until sign-off at 1401. The same closing music heard both times. And I guess the same music was reported on 5102 kHz (needs checking). (open_dx - Vladimir Kovalenko, Tomsk, Russia, Signal via DXLD) 4835 kHz - yes, Pakistan appears to be quite regular there. On 2 Jan I again noted its temporary sign-off at 14.01, while the next broadcast appeared at 1513 (interval signal) and lasted till 1545. (open_dx - Vladimir Kovalenko, Tomsk, Russia, ibid.) 5026 kHz, Radio Pakistan, local broadcast. On 1 Jan the frequency was shifted to 5026.5 kHz (open_dx - Vladimir Kovalenko, Tomsk, Russia, ibid.) see below 5080 kHz, Radio Pakistan, local broadcast. Heard 31 Dec at 0235, didn't note the frequency for a long time yet. (open_dx - Vladimir Kovalenko, Tomsk, Russia, ibid.) 5095 kHz, Radio Pakistan. Heard for the first time 31 Dec at 0157, then noted 2 Jan, sign-off at 0216. Usual news marker music was there at 0200. And also heard 3 Jan at 0056 (nothing here during my check at 0045). (open_dx - Vladimir Kovalenko, Tomsk, Russia, ibid.) See below 5095.0, R. Pakistan, Islamabad, 1605-1615, Jan 10, English program, 43443 (Klaus-Dieter Scholz, Erfurt, Germany, DSWCI DX Window Jan 25 via DXLD) Also heard 0220-0230*, Jan 15, Urdu (?) announcement, extended service probably due to muslim Haj holidays 24333 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, ibid.) 5033.6, R. Pakistan, Quetta, 0305-0410*, Jan 12, news in English // 4790; 0310 own program with Vernacular announcement and native songs. Drift from 5027, 24333 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window via WORLD OF RADIO 1302, DXLD) 5033.6 pretty far off nominal 5027. BTW, I keep seeing vernacular capitalized as if it were the name of a language itself, rather than a way NOT to specify the real name of the language (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 7120, Wantok R Light, Port Moresby, 0800-0845 fade out, Dec 30 and 31, English gospel songs, fair on free channel, English ID for Port Moresby (Christian radio). (Jean-Pierre Penaud, Asmières, France, DSWCI DX Window Jan 25 via DXLD) I guess that would be long path? (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** PERU. 4965.80, R Santa Mónica, Cusco, verified with a full data personal letter from Nicolás Córdoba Orozco, Gerente General in 21 days for US$1.00 return postage. Also, he signed, stamped my prepared card and sent a photo of an announcer at a satellite dish plus four business cards (Rich D'Angelo, Wyomissing PA, DSWCI DX Window Jan 25 via DXLD) 5070.69, Ondas del Suroriente, Quillabamba, 1030-1050, Jan 18, under the omnipresent Nahsville, ID: "sintonía... Perú... Suroriente" (Bob Wilkner, Pómpano Beach FL, DSWCI DX Window Jan 25 via DXLD) Quite an accomplishment to hear anything identifiable from Perú in that case. I wonder if, OTOH, it produces enough of a het to make listening to WWCR a problem (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** PERU. LISTADO CORREGIDO Y ACTUALIZADO ONDA MEDIA LIMA ENERO 2006 540 Inca (50 KW) 560 La Voz "sintonízate con la mejor, La Voz 560 am" 580 OAX4M - María 600 OBZ4W - Cora 620 Ovación 640 OAZ4K - Del Pacífico 660 La Inolvidable (paralelo a FM 93.70) 700 R-700 La Grande "la radio de tus recuerdos" 730 RPP - (50 kW) (paralelo a FM 89.70) 760 Radio Mar Plus (paralelo a FM 106.30) 780 Victoria 820 Libertad 850 OAX4A - Nacional (40 kW) (paralelo a FM 103.90) 880 Unión 900 La Mega (paralelo a FM 94.30) 930 Moderna - "Radio Papa" 960 Panamericana (paralelo a FM 101.10) 990 Latina 1010 América "en los 1010 amplitud modulada transmite América, la voz del Nuevo Mundo" 1040 (NUEVA EMISORA) "en señal de prueba" 1060 Éxito "Radio Éxito, la gran alternativa" 1080 La Luz 1110 OA4J - Antarki 1130 OAX4N - Bacan Sat (con nueva ID) "tu nueva propuesta, frecuencia modulada satelital" 1160 OAX4C - 1160 Radionoticias 1200 Cadena "Radio Cadena, tu fiel amiga" 1250 Miraflores 1300 Comas 1320 La Crónica 1340 La Luz (paralelo a 1080 kHz) 1380 Nuevo Tiempo (nueva) "Nuevo Tiempo, la voz de la esperanza" 1400 Callao (retransmite noticias y eventos deportivos de algunas emisoras internacionales) "Callao Super Radio, la primera emisora del puerto" 1420 San Isidro 1440 Imperial 2 1470 CPN Radio 1500 Santa Rosa 1530 Milenia (con nueva ID) 1550 OBX4P - Independencia (1 kW) 1590 OAZ4Z - Agricultura (R. Suárez, Jan 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RWANDA. 6055, R. Rwanda sent me on Jan 11 this e-mail QSL from radiorwanda @ yahoo.com --- "Dear Ashar, Nice hearing that you can get Radio Rwanda's signal all the way in Indonesia. For sure the signal you received is Radio Rwanda's signal. This is National Radio Station of the Republic of Rwanda. We do broadcast mainly in KINYARWANDA, the only local language spoken in Rwanda; then we also broadcast in French, English and Swahili. The News in English is always at 1830 GMT in the evening, and 0515 GMT in the morning. So if you can tune in at those mentioned times, rest assured to know what is taking place in Rwanda. Take care, Willy." (`Tony` Ashar, West Java, DSWCI DX Window Jan 25 via DXLD) ** SENEGAL [non]. WADR (West Africa Democratic Radio), via Ascension [sic] --- Finally I received a personal letter, schedule, QSL letter and a magazine from Mr. Abdou Lô, as he had promised via e-mail. He states in a handwritten note that they are working on a QSL card and soon it will be printed. Address: Box 16650, Dakar-Fann, Senegal. E- mail: wadr @ wadr.org Current schedule: 0700-0900 on 12000 and 0900- 1100 on 17860. In Dakar they broadcast on 94.9 MHz (Artur Fernández Llorella, Malgrat de Mar, Spain, DSWCI DX Window Jan 25 via DXLD) ** SIKKIM [non]. As I wrote at the previous e-mail, at the night of Jan 09 I heard a station on 4870 transmitting music and at 0330 I heard a ``gong`` followed by few words. One of them was a ``gangtok``. According to WRTH 2006, I considered that this station was AIR from Gangtok. I would like to apologize if this information was wrong and I caused problem (Kyriakos Dritsas, Thessaloniki, Greece, Jan 13, DSWCI DX Window Jan 25 via DXLD) ** SINGAPORE [non]. My Good friend Karl, the station engineer at AWR [KSDA?] sent me a message on QSL Address: Listener Relations, AWR Asia/Pacific region, 798 Thomson Road, Singapore 298186. E-mail address: AsPac-Listener @ awr.org Anyone who wants to send for a QSL card, the manager from Singapore forwarded this address to me, as I was curious on sending a report for the UAE station. 73's from (Larry Fields, n6hpx/mm enroute north again, swl at qth.net via DXLD) Re 6-016, AWR at 1522-1546 on 9530: Skelton-UK Cumbria site! Ex-UAE (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, we already reported that some time back, but this one slipped by me (gh, DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. I agree, Glenn that it would have been courteous to inform listeners about Stair's new relay via IRRS. I find much of the programming on IRRS quite interesting, but this was a nasty little surprise, which was not necessary. I checked yesterday at around 1350 ut and Brother Scare was there, on 13840. I have checked this morning, at 0932, but no Stair. [Later:] Brother Scare announced the following schedule. I have not included the frequencies that are already listed in the latest DXLD 7 Days 1100 + 1400 UT 9955 [sic – should be 9855 as before] 6110 [Germany] 7 Days 1900 9495 (didn't hear when this ended) [Germany] 1400-1600 13810 [Germany] 7 Days [all WWRB:] 2300-0500 3270 0500-1400 3185 1400-2100 9385 1700-2000 15250 Very Best Regards (Christopher Lewis, England, Jan 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) What about the Sabbath-morning-only broadcast on WWRB 11915? What about the new IRRS relays? (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** SRI LANKA [non]. 7315, IBC Tamil, via Wertachtal. I received a full-data e-mail 13 hours after sending an e-mail to Walter Brodowsky at Tsystems for a logging in Bao Loc, Vietnam. I had previously reported this direct to IBC-Tamil and sent a follow-up but received no response. Which is not surprising since IBC-Tamil never replied to any of the several reports I have submitted over the years for loggings in Kansas (Wendel Craighead in Dxplorer, Jan 10 via DSWCI DX Window Jan 25 via DXLD) When were they on 7315? Not lately (gh, DXLD) ** SWEDEN. SAQ 17.2 kHz WINTER TRANSMISSION FEB 19 0900 & 1300 UT! I just received word that VLF Radiostation Grimeton will run 2 special rare wintertime CW transmissions of SAQ 17.2 kHz on 0900 & 1300 UT Sunday, February 19, 2006. Each transmission will be about a half-hour in length. Remember to convert UT correctly to your own time so you don't miss the transmission [duh!]. SAQ is the world's only remaining operational Alexanderson Alternator Transmitter and this will be a great opportunity to try your luck receiving them in optimum wintertime conditions for VLF! So get your VLF loops or longwire antennas ready and brush the cobwebs off your R-389's, SRR-11's, RAK's, RBL's, RBA's, WRR-3's or whatever cool VLF receiver you might have available or one of your solid-state premium receiverss that will tune down to 17.2 kHz with good sensitivity. A battery operated receiver can be helpful to avoid ever-present line noise on VLF also. 73 (Todd WD4NGG Roberts, Jan 24, Premium-Rx Mailing List via Joe Talbot, DXLD) The Grimeton radio station in Halland County, Sweden was erected in 1922-24 as a link in the worldwide network of broadcast transmitters. With an aerial system of six impressive steel towers and an Alexanderson alternator, the transmitter symbolizes a crucial step in the evolution of modern wireless communications and is the only one of its kind still in operation. The need for rapid, secure communications between Sweden and the United States became increasingly evident in the early Twenties. Transatlantic cables had proven to be highly vulnerable, particularly in wartime. So the Swedish Parliament appropriated close to 5 million kronor in 1920 for construction of a major new radio station. Built by RCA and started up on 1 December 1924, the transmitter boasted of the latest technology. King Gustaf V officially inaugurated it on 2 July 1925. As one link in an international network of similar transmitters, it played a major role in transatlantic telegraph communications. Grimeton's pride, and the heart of the transmitter, is an alternating current generator dubbed the Alexanderson alternator. Its inventor was Ernst Fredrik Werner Alexanderson (1878-1975), a Swedish-American engineer and pioneer in radio and television engineering who obtained more than 300 patents during his lifetime. The Grimeton transmitter has the last complete Alexanderson alternator still in operation. The six 127 meter towers are awesome to behold. Spaced 380 meters apart, each tower has a 46 meter cross beam. Eight wires carry antenna current between the towers. A vertical antenna wire transmits from each tower. Adjacent to the towers are the station's buildings, still well preserved more than 80 years after their design by architect Carl Åkerblad. A little nearby village houses the staff. The Grimeton transmitter not only represents a major advance in the evolution of modern wireless communications, but is one of western Sweden's biggest structures and a unique historic monument. http://www.raa.se/varveng/grimetone.asp See also http://worldheritage.heindorffhus.dk/frame-SwedenVarberg.htm (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** UKRAINE. Radio Dniprovska Khvylia informs that since 7 Jan it plans to use quartz-stabilized frequency 5830 kHz, with 300 W power (open_dx - Alexander Yegorov, Kyiv, Ukraine, Signal via DXLD) ** U K. MPS PROTEST IN COMMONS AT AXING OF WORLD SERVICE SOAP http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/11324/mps-protest-in-commons-at-axing-of-world (via Kim Elliott, DXLD) Westway ** U K. Re BBC Radio 4 at 0530: The medley of British folk songs will be replaced by The Mohammedan/Moslem call to prayer Northern doggerel from Ian Williamson (that crap poet they have on Today with the ultra Yorkshire accent) A "poem" from Benjamin Zephaniah (OBE refused) that goes thus --- "Me no ged enuff dole for to buy me herb you see So Me hav commit Fifty burglaree" (fmm18332@, uk.media.radio.bbc-r4 Jan 25, via Mike Cooper, DXLD) Two British MPs have tabled motions in the House of Commons criticising the BBC's decision to scrap the early morning UK Theme on Radio 4. To hear the theme go to http://www.sterlingtimes.org/music_themes20.htm (Mike Terry, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Launches automatically MPs BATTLE TO KEEP RADIO 4 THEME --- By Chris Moncrieff, PA MPs today accused the BBC of political correctness which was detrimental to patriotism over its decision to axe the UK Theme - a medley of tunes from the British Isles - which heralds the opening of Radio 4 at 5.30 am each day. Now, two House of Commons motions have been tabled both calling on the BBC to reverse the decision and reinstate the medley. The medley, by Fritz Spiegl, includes Rule Britannia, Early One Morning, Greensleeves, Men of Harlech, Scotland the Brave, What Shall We Do With a Drunken Sailor? Londonderry Air, Trumpet Voluntary and Ye Banks and Braes. One of the motions, sponsored by Philip Davies (C Shipley) regrets that "political correctness has sparked the removal of the UK medley" and claims that such political correctness is detrimental to patriotism. The other motion, sponsored by John Spellar (Lab Warley), deplores the decision, saying that the theme symbolises the unity of the United Kingdom. The BBC has admitted that some people would regret the passing of the UK Theme, but added that the bulk of the audience would be better served by a pacy news briefing. The Prime Minister was urged at question time in the Commons to intervene on behalf of the popular medley. Tory MP James Clappison said: "Whether or not we are to have a Great Britain Day, will you at least do what you can do to help keep the UK Theme on early British morning radio?" To laughter, Mr Blair joked: "Obviously, my influence with the BBC is legendary." He added: "But I know they will be aware of the very strong feeling that is expressed by you and by many others, I am sure, in the House and across the country." end 251402 JAN 06MX01-25-2006 14:02UTC (via David Alpert, DXLD) COMMONS MOTIONS ON RADIO 4 THEME [excerpts] http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4644630.stm Two British MPs have tabled motions in the House of Commons criticising the BBC's decision to scrap the early morning UK Theme on Radio 4. The five-minute medley of English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish tunes will be replaced by a news bulletin. Tory MP Philip Davies and Labour MP John Spellar tabled motions with a third planned by Austin Mitchell. Station controller Mark Damazer has said he wants a better early news service for Radio 4. Mr Mitchell told the station's Today programme the BBC was "crazy" to want to drop the theme. "It's very cleverly welded together," he said. "For most people, it isn't an everyday experience. Each time it comes with a fresh joy, the shock of the new. It's lovely." Campaigner Tim Hatton, from Guildford, Surrey, had gathered over 4,600 signatures on his savetheradio4theme.co.uk website by 1200 GMT on Wednesday. "It's something that forms one of those idiosyncratic parts of what makes Radio 4 a great radio station," he told Today. "I appreciate Radio 4 has always changed but I am against change for change's sake - a lot of the comments I've had on the petition are aggrieved there doesn't seem to be any sort of consultation on this, it seems to be a done decision." Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman criticised the decision on his programme on Monday evening. "We've no idea what the head of Radio 4's playing at - we're thinking of using it every night," he told viewers, before the credits rolled to the theme. A BBC spokeswoman said Radio 4 had received about 100 complaints about the decision. "We hope that listeners will give the new schedule a try. This is not about political correctness, but about serving Radio 4 listeners the best way we can." (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U S A. KTBN is still missing from 7505 and 15590 as of Jan 25 (John Babbis, MD, and Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1302, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Surprise: no mention of the absence at the long forgotten http://www.tbn.org/index.php/2/21.html (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** U S A. HOW TO DEAL WITH CHEATING STATIONS Hello folks. I would like to relate to you an incident I had with a station that blatantly refused to power down after sunset. For purposes of professional confidentiality and to protect our clubs interests, Station A will be a local station I liked to listen to, Station B several states away will be the station that refused to acknowledge that they were cheating. I called station B to complain in a polite diplomatic manner about my problem. I asked for the chief engineer. The receptionist told me that there is no chief engineer at the station. She asked me what was my problem. I told her in a nice polite diplomatic way as to what was my complaint. She told me she was new in the radio business. Then she proceeded on telling me I don't know what I was talking about! Those who think they know-it-all truly annoy us who do know! I went to station A with my problem. They told me in so many words that they didn't want to bother with my problem. They gave me a FCC office address to complain to. In my letter to the FCC, I made no mention of DXing, IRCA, NRC, etc. to protect our club's interests. I stated just the pertinent facts. I kept it to myself that I went out to the FCC on station B. Playing cop is not the issue here. The issue is I don't tolerate rude behavior and I didn't like my listening pleasure of station A being ruined. I would never be a beggar or a servant to station just for a DX test and a QSL card. People with high self esteem avoid asking such stations for DX tests and a QSL card. When I have a problem with a station not powering down after sunset, I approach the station in a polite diplomatic manner. 90% of the time, I get results. In fact, a CE several states from me gave me his cell phone number to call up to 2230 if his station's automation didn't power down. Point here: radio stations are not doing us a favor by powering down after sunset. It is their legal responsibility to do so. We should be asking stations who are cordial and professional towards us for DS tests and QSL cards. A DXer told me as to what I did to station B was "playing cop, rude, harassing the station and a disservice to our hobby". This DXer also said to the effect that if a station is not powering down after sunset, turn a blind eye. I don't buy that. In this age of deregulation of the FCC, our hobby is under attack. More stations going on the air, stations knowingly cheating and the awful fact that the FCC might allow stations to run IBOC 24/7. If we turn a blind eye to this, our hobby will go away! A final note: I reemphasize: if you need to go to the FCC about a station, please don't mention the IRCA, NRC, DXing, etc. Just tell them the pertinent facts. You are trying to listen to a Spanish music station several states away and some station not powering down after sunset is blocking your listening of such station. Keep it to yourself. If you do all of the above, then it is your private business. It is none of any one else's business. Period. 73's (Mike Riordan, Salt Lake City, Utah IRCA Soft DX Monitor Jan 28 via DXLD) ** U S A. FCC ENFORCEMENT PRIORITIES Our guest speaker at the Philadelphia SBE meeting this evening was John Rahtes, head of the local FCC Enforcement Bureau office. Here's a brief summary of his presentation. When his staff make random inspections of broadcast stations, they focus on three things: 1) Public File 2) Tower 3) EAS The public file should include ALL required sections -- they now pay _particular_ attention to the issues-program lists. The tower(s) must be registered and have proper ID numbers posted unless exempted by the rules. Inspectors also want to see fencing, locked gates, RF warning signs, and general compliance with RF safety procedures. For EAS, they will check to see that the equipment is operating properly and that tests have been received, sent, and logged as required by the rules. Here's something to keep in mind: Instead of camping out in their trucks, the agents now set up remote monitoring stations, accessible on demand via the Internet, to check for EAS compliance, station IDs, proper sign-on/sign-off of daytimers, pattern changes, etc. These remote boxes are temporarily installed in US Post Offices, local police stations, or other government buildings near the transmitter of interest. If a licensee is found to be in violation of a rule, the bureau will usually monitor its activity for a while to verify that corrective measures have actually been taken. John also mentioned that his budget has never been higher than it is under this Administration -- he has more vehicles, staff and equipment than ever before. Be careful, Mark Humphrey, Jan 24, broadcast radiolist via Bob Foxworth, Tampa FL, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. WJJL hit hard --- Ya know, I thought they got down here pretty regularly --- now I know why! From RBR e-news: FCC LOWERS THE BOOM ON OVER-POWERED STATION In fall 2002, WJJL-AM Niagara Falls, among other things, was hitting the airwaves with 250% greater daytime power than its authorized 1 kW, and by more than 900% over its authorized nighttime allotment of 55 watts. Along with EAS problems, it led to an FCC hit of 10K on licensee M.J. Phillips communications. Phillips, which eventually came under bankruptcy protection, pleaded poverty to duck the fine, but failed to provide the tax info the FCC uses when deciding the yeas and nays of such issues. On its second try, with federal returns from 2000 through 2003, it convinced the FCC to grant a reduction, but only to 7K. In this case, not even a bankruptcy got the company entirely, or even 50%, off the hook (via Bruce Collier, Jan 24, dxhub yg via DXLD) WTFK? 1440 This was an open secret - heck, no secret at all - among the western NY broadcasting community. It was being heard here in Rochester, 70 miles to the east, VERY well at night for a while, even with the local splatter from 1460 a mile away. It will be interesting to see if they ever get the money together to build their new 4-tower array and change COL to West Seneca, which will make the station a fairly plausible Buffalo facility. I expect it will probably be the next owner once the bankruptcy sale happens (Hmm... maybe THIS is the 1440 Bruce really wants :-) s (Scott Fybush, NY, ibid.) ** U S A. Religious right and NBC --- NBC says it has dropped "The Book Of Daniel" from its schedule; ratings were declining and conservative Christian groups criticized the show's portrayal Of Jesus (From the wires via Brock Whaley, DXLD) And Andrea Mitchell is a witch! Burn her! (Brock Whaley, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Can`t say I`m surprised. Managed to watch one episode and found it mildly amusing and not at all offencive (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Is Sinclair about to pull the plug on its News Central operation for good? The Buffalo News' Alan Pergament reports that staffers at WNYO-TV (Channel 49) in Buffalo were told last week (unofficially, at least) that the 10 PM newscast, which has been soundly beaten by the WIVB-produced competion on WNLO (Channel 23) since both shows launched, may not be long for the world. Add that to the recent closures of News Central newsrooms in Rochester and Pittsburgh (where Sinclair outsourced its news operations to larger stations), and to similar rumors in a number of other News Central markets (Milwaukee, Las Vegas and Birmingham), and NERW can't help but think that the company's getting ready to shut down the centralized newsroom in Hunt Valley, Maryland, leaving a handful of its stations (including flagship WBFF in Baltimore) running standalone newscasts and the rest either outsourcing their news or doing no news at all. Given the low ratings that almost all the News Central offerings have garnered, not to mention the generally lukewarm reception viewers have given to getting their "local" weather and national news from anchors hundreds of miles away, it's unlikely the product will be missed much if and when it disappears (Scott Fybush, NE Radio [sic] Watch Jan 23 via DXLD) Sinclair in OKC, KOKH-25, recently added a 10 pm newscast to its News Central Hour at 9 pm. I have never watched it, so don`t know if it`s all- or any-local, but it goes head to head with the other 3 stations (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Tribune & CBS stations losing affiliations to merger [of UPN and WB. This is rather confusing, since the `CBS` stations below, at least, KTXA are UPN affiliates, do not carry CBS programming! --- gh] Tribune stations losing their affiliations: WPHL-17 Philadelphia (affiliation goes to WPSG-57) WATL-36 Atlanta (affiliation goes to WUPA-69) KTWB-22 Seattle (affiliation goes to KSTW-11) CBS stations losing their affiliations: WBFS-33 Miami (affiliation goes to WBZL-39) WUPL-54 New Orleans (affiliation goes to WNOL-38) WSBK-38 Boston (affiliation goes to WLVI-56) KTXA-21 Dallas (affiliation goes to KDAF-33) WTCN-CA West Palm Beach (affiliation goes to WTVX-34, probably) Tribune and CBS stations not affected: - Six Fox affiliates and ABC WGNO-26, owned by Tribune; - 21 CBS affiliates and independent KCAL-9, owned by CBS. (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66, WTFDA via DXLD) WTOG TO BECOME NEW CW AFFILIATE AFTER NETWORK MERGER Tampa Bay Business Journal - 4:10 PM EST Tuesday Programming on WTOG-44 and WTTA-38 will be noticeably different next September after CBS Corp. and Time Warner announced that their respective networks, UPN and The WB, will cease operations and merge into a single new network. The CW - which borrows the letter "C" from CBS and the "W" from WB - will replace the two networks that have both struggled in ratings and market share since they were first started in 1995. WTOG will become one of 12 CBS Station Group affiliates that will carry CW, CBS Corp. officials said in a release. Other television markets will include Philadelphia; San Francisco; Atlanta; Detroit; Seattle; Sacramento, Calif.; Pittsburgh; West Palm Beach; Norfolk, Va.; Oklahoma City and Providence, R.I. They will join 16 Tribune Co. stations across the country that will carry CW, bringing the network into the top 13 television markets, as well as 20 of the top 25 television markets in the nation with these two affiliate groups alone. The "instant" coverage of the country will be 48 percent, but once the remainder of WB and UPN affiliates in other markets are worked out, CBS and Time Warner officials said the total national market penetration will be 95 percent. The announcement was made Tuesday morning in New York by executives from both companies, who will have an equal 50-50 share in the new network. Dawn Ostroff, currently president of UPN, will become president of entertainment for the new network, and John Maatta, the current chief operating officer of The WB, will carry the same title for CW. The CW will incorporate The WB's current scheduling model, which consists of a six-night, 13-hour primetime lineup. It also will carry a Friday afternoon block from 3 to 5 p.m. and a five-hour Saturday morning animation block. Together, the network will program 30 hours a week over seven days for its affiliated stations. While WTOG will switch over to the new network beginning in September, it is unclear what will happen with WTTA. Stations losing their affiliate status in other parts of the country have been consistently announcing they will go independent. WTOG, which is owned by CBS Corp., has been a UPN affiliate since 1995. WTTA is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group, and became a WB affiliate after WMOR (then WWWB) ended its affiliate agreement with the network in the late 1990s. General managers from both WTOG and WTTA have not returned calls seeking comment. © 2006 American City Business Journals Inc (via Terry Krueger, DXLD) ** U S A. RW Beacon on 480 kHz --- There is a group of amateur radio operators in the US who have received a Part 5 experimental license to conduct tests on the former "Marine CW" band just below the broadcast band. Currently at least one of those stations is running a "DX Test". Details reprinted below. I'm aware of this beacon being widely received in the West and Mid-West, so if your receiver has a BFO, this might be fun to try for: The 'RW' Beacon (480 kHz) is back on the timer, sending 'RW' in CW at 20 wpm. Transmissions are one minute long and begin at the top of the hour and at the half hour (**00 minutes and again at **30 minutes synchronized with WWV). Running 100 W to a 30 foot vertical in Colorado. Please send reception reports to: Paul WA2XRM w0rw @ aol.com P. O. Box 6069 Colorado Springs, CO 80934 (via Les Rayburn, N1LF, Birmingham, AL, IRCA via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE. 6612, via dxtuners reflector --- This afternoon I tuned in Zimbabwe on 6612 at 0400z via the DXtuner site in Jo'burg. It is full scale deflection although some QSB. However nothing is coming through from the supposed fundamental of 3316. So we can deduce that 6612 is indeed the fundamental. Weird being able to hear Zimbabwe but of course no propagation directly here at this time here in northern Tasmania. I do hear a carrier on 6612 on my Icom around 1930z but no audio. No, don't think about claiming QSL's because it isn't my own receiver or the proper location but using receivers from remote sites is an interesting exercise and maybe the future if the local utility really expands the BPL service here in Tasmania. One friend I know cannot operate at all because BPL is 40 db over in Hobart (Robin L. Harwood, VK7RH Norwood Tasmania 7250, Jan 25, swl at qth.net via DXLD) Fundamental is not 3316, but 3306: did you actually try that? Appears on 6612 due to gross mistuning of the transmitter. That doesn`t necessarily make it the real fundamental (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE. GOVERNMENT TO CHARGE RADIO BOSSES | Excerpt from report by Namibia-based Media Institute of Southern Africa website on 25 January Leading human rights lawyer Arnold Tsunga will be charged with breaching Zimbabwe's broadcasting laws in his capacity as a trustee of the Voice of the People (VOP) radio station. Otto Saki, of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) chaired by Tsunga, said the Attorney-General's Office had confirmed that the police were still keen to interview Tsunga on allegations of breaching the Broadcasting Services Act (BSA). Saki told the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zimbabwe that his lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa, had on 23 January 2006, approached the AG's office where she had been told that Tsunga would face similar charges pressed against VOP director John Masuku and that he was likely to appear in court tomorrow. Masuku who is already on bail, was last week remanded to appear in court on 30 March 2006. Police officers from the Law and Order section on January 21, 2006, descended on Tsunga's house in Harare where they took away Anesu Kamba, a driver with the ZHLR and Tsunga's gardener, Charles Nyamufukudzwa. Kamba and Nyamufukudzwa are still in police custody for allegedly obstructing the course of justice and were still to appear in court. Tsunga and another VOP trustee Nhlanhla Ngwenya, were not at their respective homes on the day in question and were still to be interrogated in connection with the alleged offence. [Passage omitted] Source: Media Institute of Southern Africa, Windhoek, in English 25 Jan 06 (via BBCM via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 7120, 1244-1256, Jan 15, Vietnamese talk, 21111, R Romania Int. testing transmitter until audio came on at 1317 in Romanian (Anker Petersen, Skovlunde, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Jan 25 via DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ You should be a private investigator. Thanks for the postings on your 6-013 edition about my blogs, especially the nice plug on my QSL blog. I still have your QSL that you sent off on the special Radio Nederland broadcast in 1979 celebrating your anniversary on DX jukebox. Yes it`s me, Marty Delfín. I live in Madrid now where I own a cyber cafe and an doing a lot more DXing. Thanks again (Marty, Madridkid) CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ INVITATION TO EDXC CONFERENCE IN ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA Dear Radio Friends all over the World! The board of deputies of the EDXC has accepted the proposal made by Tibor Szilagyi to hold the next Conference in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Under the provision of Article 14 of the Statutes the proposal by Mr Tibor Szilagyi (Hungarian DX Club) having as local contact Mr Alexander Beryozkin (who also took part in the EDXC conferences in Pori and Prague) was accepted. Voting members expressed 146 votes, all voting "YES" as follows: HDXC (6 votes), DSWCI (30 votes), AIR (30 votes), RMRC (10 votes), Irish DX Club (10 votes), Swedish DX Federation (40 votes) and AER (20 votes). The EDXC proudly announce the next EDXC CONFERENCE to be held in St. Petersburg, Russia, Oct 19-22, 2006. You are all cordially invited to participate in this interesting event. Venue of the Conference: State Educational Centre of Russian Atomic Energy Agency ROSATOM in Saint Petersburg, Aerodromnaya street No. 4, 197 348 SAINT PETERSBURG, Russia, near Metro Station P I O N E R S K A Y A. Duration of the Conference: October 19-22, 2006. How to register for participation ?? There is a hotel at the Conference Centre. Room cost: EUR 46.00 / night o r USD 54,00 / night, including breakfast. You have to ORDER YOUR HOTEL ROOM by yourselves. You will use the following template : ATTN : MS. LJUDMILA S E M J O N O V A PASSWORD : EDXC CONFERENCE FAMILY NAME, CHRISTIAN NAME : YOU GIVE HER YOUR NAMES!! YOU STATE : SINGLE ROOM or DOUBLE--ROOM! DURATION OF YOUR STAY : YOUR ARRIVAL DATE, YOUR DEPARTURE DATE!! Ms. Ljudmila Semjonova has two E-mail addresses: slp @ graph.runnet.ru or scm @ graph.runnet.ru I always use both just to be sure that she gets at least one. She also has Fax -- number : + 7 812 394 50 06. You can see the Conference centre and Hotel with different room prices: http://www.graph.runnet.ru P L E A S E B O O K Y O U R H O T E L R O O M S A L R E A D Y N O W !!! THANK YOU !!! ******************************* Preliminary Conference Program : ******************************* October 19: Informal get together and registration October 20: EDXC Conference. These lectures are proposed: "Current sunspot activities". Alexander invites a Russian professor to hold a lecture on this subject. "Dxing and radio landscape in Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia" by Anker Petersen, who recently visited this exciting area. "Shortwave Broadcasting in Russia Today. Domestic listeners, listeners abroad. Leasing of broadcast time to foreign broadcasters." "EDXC matters". We had not enough time to discuss our common future in Prague. We will have more time for this in St. Petersburg. EDXC financial status. October 21: Final Conference Session; Sightseeing in St. Petersburg; Banquet Dinner During the two Conference days we will also have lunch, dinner and coffee breaks. More about this later ! The Conference Room Fee ( 1 and a half day ), Sightseeing in St. Petersburg and 3 course menu at the Banquet Dinner, approximately for the 3 activities : together EUR 80.00. October 22: Departure Tibor also informs us about Russian Visa. The general recommendation is to apply for Russian Visa in connection with Your purchase of flight ticket at Your usual travel agency. This is not a problem today. You should apply for a plain tourist visa. If You have questions please do not hesitate to contact me: T i b o r S z i l a g y i, Phone: + 46 8 622 13 09, new e-mail address: Tibor.Szilagyi @ ovako.com (Luigi Cobisi and Tibor Szilagyi, Jan 20, DSWCI DX Window Jan 25 via DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ LIFESPANS OF CD-Rs & CD-RWs - PART II Last week's quotation in CGC #722 from Kurt Gerecke, a physicist and storage expert at IBM Deutschland, attracted quite a few reader comments. Most readers questioned his claim that burn-your-own CDs would last only two to five years, as typified by this response from an Orange County FM broadcaster: "About five years ago, there was an article in the Los Ángeles Times addressing this same subject, once again with an expert saying the shelf life was short. I e-mailed the reporter telling her that we had audio CD-Rs that were 5 years old that still reproduced good audio here at the radio station. Those CD-Rs were burned in 1995. They still sound good in 2006...." Of course, the definition of disc failure is at the heart of the matter. A retired communications engineer who has looked into archive quality CDs through a "little Googling" notes that music CDs can play "pretty well" [or acceptably to some] with uncorrected bit errors, whereas those same errors might be catastrophic for other applications. For those interested in accelerated wear testing on CDs, check out the first URL below, and note the outstanding performance of "Silver+Gold, Phthalocyanine" CDs. This paper, from the Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (Sept-Oct 2004), also indicates that it is wise to store CDs in COOL/DARK/DRY places. In casting about the web, we discovered that that Kodak at one time offered gold and gold/silver phthalocyanine CD-R discs - see the second URL below. However, several calls to Kodak and a Kodak supplier indicate that these discs have been discontinued. The bottom line is this: The only way to be reasonably safe against both degradation and obsolescence is to copy your data to the latest media every now and then, use redundancy, have diversity in storage location and technology, and make COOL/DARK/DRY a rule of thumb for storage. http://www.itl.nist.gov/div895/gipwg/StabilityStudy.pdf http://www.kodak.com/global/en/service/faqs/faq1630.shtml (CGC Communicator Jan 24 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) WHAT KIND OF BATTERY FOR 12-VOLT POWER? I was thinking of using a car battery or two- or what ever makes it practical (Doug Pifer, KE6GMM, IRCA via DXLD) You might want to re-think the choice of a car battery for your 12 V power source. Car batteries are not designed for deep-cycle use and in as few as 12 full discharge cycles you'll have a shot battery. Grab a good deep-cycle battery instead. They are designed for the type of charge/discharge cycles you'll be using. Most of them have nice carrying handles on them too. I realize that you aren't going to be pulling a lot of power from the battery with just your receiver, loop, and a few accessories, but if you have to purchase the battery it might be lots cheaper in the long run to get a battery designed for your application. The price differential is almost negligible. You're probably not going to need to charge the battery during use. You should have plenty of battery capacity for your listening sessions. I used a setup similar to the one you're thinking about for years in a very remote listening location in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, way way off the grid. I charged the battery from the trailer connector charging terminal on the pickup truck on my runs into town. I got many days of use from a single charge. Now talk about a low noise floor... (Rick Kunath, ibid.) This is going to sound strange and counter to conventional thought here. I have a car battery yanked out of a totalled Ford Escort and a deep cycle marine battery. The deep cycle battery is a piece of crap and the car battery has run for years. The deep cycle battery lasts about a year and then it is dead. I will never buy another deep cycle battery for radios (Kevin Redding, AZ, ibid.) Sorry to hear about your bad experiences with a deep-cycle battery. I have several hundred of them (deep-cycle batteries) out in the field serving as battery backup for high-power 800 MHz trunked base stations. They do heavy duty service and last for years. Most of the time they are replaced on schedule, not because they have failed for some reason. I do buy (real) premium deep-cycle batteries, not a hybrids or worse. There's some really good reading on batteries here: http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Battery_FAQ.htm A car starting battery wouldn't last more than 5 or 6 cycles of full discharge in my work application. I buy the same batteries for my own use, and have yet to kill one. I have some lead-calcium stationary batteries serving as backups for my 600-channel analog microwave backbone. Talk about long life. They're amazing batteries. I wonder what type of battery you actually had? Maybe it wasn't exactly what you thought it was? If you barely discharge a starting battery, you won't kill it as you would with complete discharge cycles. And depending on the load, you may not see much difference between types. I can tell you for sure that when I tried using starting batteries for my long-term listening use, they just didn't cut it for me. The deep-cycle batteries worked out just fine, but as I mentioned, I knew I had the real thing, and a good solid battery. I use 100 Ampere-hour industrial-type batteries, and these should be available from any good battery supply outfit. You won't find them at a discount center or a Wal-Mart. Also, you want a decent charger that has the proper charging-curve for the battery type you have. They aren't expensive, as you don't need a super fast charge. Your battery supplier can help you with this. Batteries can be pretty confusing with all the different types out there and sometimes it's hard to know exactly what you've got. (Rick Kunath, ibid.) Yeah. 4 of them all made by Exide. They all lasted one year (Kevin Redding, Gilbert AZ, ibid.) Exide doesn't make an Exide branded AGM battery. Or anything else I'd recommend as a deep-cycle battery. They do have non-Exide branded products in their product family that are acceptable products. If you had an Exide branded battery, you didn't have a real deep-cycle battery, as far as I can tell from their current product catalog specifications. That might be why you had bad luck (Rick Kunath, ibid.) DIGITAL BROADCASTING ++++++++++++++++++++ RE 6-016: Red button & UHF spectrum. [UK] Forgive me but this item seems to have been badly edited in that paragraph 2 is cut short and para 3 and 4 seem contradictory. Paragraph 6 seems to say Ofcom have little concern, or even knowledge of the possibly hundreds of VHS recorders and satellite receivers which have RF output at around Ch. 36 or 38 (proposed for 'radar' and 'radio astronomy 'use whereby anything other than the shortest length of coax will pick up interference unless filtered (which often reduces signal/ bandwidth and therefore picture/sound quality); Many portable UHF sets are still being sold and often have only UHF RF signal input. If the government starts closing transmitters before 2012 I predict this together with the increased license fee will cause a lot of anger amongst ordinary viewers. Whilst many large screen sets are replacing older equipment many TVs, because of a great improvement of component quality, built in the early 90's and even late 80's are still giving good service rather than providing land-fill. The item states 14 channels 'freed up' for other use but doesn't say what band width these future channels will have or for what, DAB ?, mobile radio? As for 'radar' and 'radio astronomy' this would use far more bandwidth than present TV, and surely we should be told that some of the UHF spectrum will be kept 'clear' and 'clean' for RF signal transfer between black/ silver digital boxes and TVs with basic UHF coax input and no SCART or other connection (Rog Parsons (BDXC 782), Hinckley, Leics., BDXC-UK via DXLD) It seems the highlighting on the channel numebers did come out. The freed up channels to be stolen from broadcast use are 31 to 35, 37, 38, 39, & 63 to 68. What's the betting that in a few years time we'll hear the moan that there is not enough spectrum available to go high definition. Its happened many times before, the latest being no more spectrum for DAB expansion due to the theft of band 3 (Gareth Foster, ibid.) POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ BPL BITS ``ComTek did not realize the magnitude of the problem they were inheriting.`` -Allen Pitts, American Radio Relay League http://tinyurl.com/8chsq [Red Herring] In response to: http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060124/dctu051.html?.v=39 (via Ken Kopp, KS, dxldyg via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ DOPE - DOPPLER PULSATION EXPERIMENT em 4160, 5250, 5730 e 5260 kHz Prezados. A Universidade de Leicester, Reino Unido e a Universidade de Tromso, Noruega continuam realizando interessantes experiências para estudo do comportamento das frequências baixas, com reflexões a uns 300 Km na Ionosfera e a sua relação com a magnetosfera terrestre e o Sol, onde as chamada Auroras Boreais são os fenómenos mais visíveis. O DOPE (Doppler Pulsation Experiment) é um projecto constituído por 4 estações emissoras que transmitem uma série de impulsos com 40W em CW sendo estes posteriormente analisados na estação receptora de Ramfjordmoen-Noruega. As estações emissoras estão situadas em: 4160 kHz (Seljelvnes, Noruega), 5250 kHz (Seljelvnes, Noruega) 5730 kHz (Skibotn, Noruega) e 5260 kHz (Kilpisjarvi, Finlandia). A confirmação dos Informes de recepção pode ser conseguida em: University of Leicester, Radio & Space Plasma Physics Group Department of Physics & Astronomy University Road, Leicester, LE1 7RH, Reino Unido _\\|//_ ( o o ) ---------ooO-(_)-Ooo------ 73 de: (João Alberto Costa, Almada - PORTUGAL, radioescutas via DXLD) SUPERB MW CONDITIONS CYCLE On the four days January 11-14 the Solar Flux reached its lowest level of 77 and at the same time the geomagnetic A-Index was only 2 which gave quiet reception conditions on MW and SW. This has been the most quiet index reported by NOAA in 30 years. Our Danish member Bjarke Vestesen is able to hear a lot North American stations on MW including many never heard before, thanks to the good conditions. With the recurring solar events, this may happen again around February 06-09 (Anker Petersen, DSWCI DX Window Jan 25 via DXLD) TIPS FOR RATIONAL LIVING ++++++++++++++++++++++++ All who are unworried about many of the changing dynamics in the United States would be wise to acquaint themselves with the words of a great American writer, Sinclair Lewis. In 1935 he wrote: "When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in a flag, carrying a cross." (Tom Bryant / Nashville, Jan 25, WTFDA Soundoff via DXLD) ###