DX LISTENING DIGEST 6-027, February 9, 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 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 1304: Sat 0900 on WRN 15735 DRM via Bulgaria Sat 1700 on WWCR 12160 Sun 0330 on WWCR 5070 Sun 0400 on WBCQ 9330-CLSB Sun 0730 on WWCR 3215 Sun 1400 on WRMI 7385 Full schedule, including AM, FM, satellite and internet, with hotlinks to station sites and audio: http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html WRN ON DEMAND: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL] http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html or http://wor.worldofradio.org WORLD OF RADIO PODCASTS: www.obriensweb.com/wor.xml ** ALASKA. 1240 ???? AK, Seward, 1/28 2300 EST, ID by man "On KWVV Seward," into slow-paced discussion by two men. KWVV is listed at 103.5 in Homer, and has relays. Is this one, and what is call? My first Alaskan graveyarder in 48 years of DX'ing (Richard Wood, HI, IRCA Soft DX Monitor via DXLD) I can`t find ANY Alaskan listed on 1240; something new, or unlicensed? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ALGERIA [non]. Also heard in Denmark with Arabic talks and songs at 0645-0755, Feb 05, on 9735 with 35333 improving to 55555 and at *0700- 0755 in parallel on 12020 with 23232 improving to 33433 disturbed by noise which still could be heard at 1145, long after Skelton had signed off at 0800* (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Feb 8 via DXLD) via UK, now suspended (gh) ** ALGERIA [non]. No sign of RTV Algeria on 5985 (1900-2100 UT) or 7105 (2000-2200 UT) since the good reception last weekend (see DXLD 6- 023). Nothing heard on Mon., Tues. or Wed. this week. Have they changed frequency or was their return to SW only temporary? (Bernie O'Shea, Ottawa, Ontario, Feb 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Nothing of these tests noted this week (Feb 6 - 8). 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I guess this was a trial run via VT Merlin, just as via TDF the week before. They are probably evaluating which one to go with from A-06 (TDF version already registered) if not sooner (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. RADIO AUSTRALIA`S NEW BREAKFAST SHOW HAVING come close to extinction, Radio Australia is stronger than ever and about to start broadcasting a breakfast show into the Asia-Pacific region. It is believed to be the first time an international broadcaster has offered a specific "time of day" program in other countries. Eight years after the Federal Government sold all its transmitters and Radio Australia looked to be facing death, its survival is a remarkable story. It is broadcast by more than 160 radio stations in more than 40 countries and in languages including English, Vietnamese, Khmer and French. Station chief Jean-Gabriel Manguy has devised lateral and innovative ways of getting the content out. Radio Australia transmits its signal via satellite, enabling radio stations in places such as China, Fiji, Malaysia and Indonesia to pick it up and put it to air. Most recently the internet has provided new means of transmission. At 9.40 Monday morning local time, announcer Phil Kafcaloudes will broadcast his Breakfast Club program, a mix of breakfast banter, news, sport weather and finance into homes across the Asia-Pacific region. From his small studio in the ABC's Southbank headquarters, Kafcaloudes' show will be heard in locations such as Phnom Penh (five hours behind Melbourne) and Díli, which is two hours behind. Assisted by producer Adelaine Ng, who will sometimes partner him on air, Kafcaloudes says the idea is to mix fun and information with interviews. "We just have to make sure everything we do has to be of interest to the region," he says. Midway through breakfast the program will be interrupted with Radio Australia's version of AM, Connect Asia, a one-hour current affairs program hosted by Sen Lam. To Manguy, putting programs such as these to air is the next phase of his strategy to ensure the ongoing health of his station. "Content is king," he says, "it has to be because we are competing against the BBC World Service, Voice of America, Deutsche Welle and others." He is now looking to expand Radio Australia's availability in India and Sri Lanka and soon a station in Bali will broadcast hourly Radio Australia news bulletins. A Breakfast Club podcast is available from http://radioaustralia.net.au/breakfastclub (K. Ashton Mgr/ P. Ambler Editor/ J. Exton Webmaster, AussieSeek.com Search Engine(est-1994) and Australian Political Messageboard, Feb 9, dxing.info via DXLD) O come on! The Voice of America had a ``Breakfast Show`` for many years, timed for different target zones; remember? 73, (Glenn Hauser, OK, ibid.) ** AUSTRALIA. Re 6-026: Will, have you e-mailed RA with the error? I've found them genuinely interested when problems crop up with their services. Best way to reach them now is their web-based contact form at http://www.abc.net.au/ra/aboutus/contact.htm I believe the e-mail address english @ ra.abc.net.au should still work, but it's not posted due to spam frustrations (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, swprograms via DXLD) Follow-up on RA Science Show --- The program now airs after the 1600 UT news on Sundays. That is its sole air time on RA (John Figliozzi, NY, swprograms via DXLD) ==== ABC Science Updates, February 9, 2006 ================== Science Updates is a weekly email alert about recent online science coverage and upcoming TV and radio science programs from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). To subscribe to this weekly alert, visit http://www.abc.net.au/science/play/lists.htm (via Dan Say, ibid.) This is one of several ABC e-newsletters that are a good way to keep track of potentially interesting programs. To their credit, both the ABC RA website and Kevin Kelly's Public Radio Fan website show the correct 1600 UT Sunday airtime for the program. Great to see these resources kept up to date (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, ibid.) ** BELGIUM. RTBFi Web site says the station is now broadcasting from 0500 to 2300 (time zone not specified) on a single frequency of 9970 kHz beginning February 1, targeting Southern Europe and Central Africa (Mike Cooper, GA, Feb 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BHUTAN. 6035, BBS, Thimpu, *0100-0120, Jan 26, Dzongkha talks, Buddhist Choir, weird instruments, 22332, heard best in USB due to QRM from R Japan on 6030 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Feb 8 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 2490, R 8 de Setembro, Descalvado, SP. On Jan 26, I received this reply from Rafael Scapin at rscapin @ gmail.com --- "Right after receiving your email with the audio file, I sent it to our station manager, who listened to it and confirmed it was really Radio 8 de Setembro! He checked the audio records of that day and confirmed the details on the programation. Soon you will receive a QSL letter from our station!!! I am sure this will be a rare QSL on your collection, right? "If you can, please tell about Radio 8 de Setembro to your DXer friends in the US. It would be very nice to receive more reception reports (audio files or even a letter with the SINPO code) from your country! In order to prepare your QSL letter, please tell me the model of your receiver, antenna and your full postal address. "Thank you very much for listening to our radio and I hope you have enjoyed this experience on the tropical band! ;) Greetings from Brazil, Rafael". Rafael confirmed in another e-mail that the station is still at 250 watts and that next month, they should go to their new power (new transmitter?) of 1.6 kW (John Sgrulletta in DX-plorer, Jan 26 via DSWCI DX Window Feb 8 via DXLD) ** CANADA. It's annoying that quite a few Canadian stations make little or poor use of the web. I've lost count of those that don't bother with a programme schedule. CHUM network thinks it's more important to tell you about their executives than the stations they run. 73 (Steve Whitt, England, Feb 7, MWC via DXLD) ** CANADA. COMPLETE TORINO 2006 COVERAGE FROM CANADA'S OLYMPIC NETWORK In its 50th year of Olympic broadcasting excellence, CBC brings you more coverage of TORINO 2006 - THE WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES than any other network in North America. Our wall-to-wall coverage kicks off on Friday, Feb. 10 and runs through Sunday, Feb. 26 on CBC Television, CBC Newsworld, CBC Country Canada, CBC Radio and on the web at http://www.cbc.ca/olympics CBC.CA/OLYMPICS - CANADA'S OLYMPIC WEBSITE http://www.cbc.ca/olympics is your complete online source, 24/7, for everything you need to know about the 2006 Olympic Winter Games - delivering comprehensive, round-the-clock coverage including: *Breaking news, in-depth reports and live results as the action unfolds. *Medal counts for each country and each event, plus complete team standings. *In-depth coverage of Canada's Olympic team with interviews, bios and athlete diaries, and interactive features including Ask an Athlete and Hometown Heroes. *Full on-air broadcast schedules. *Olympic sport backgrounders and photo galleries. *Special interactives and downloadable features including Olympic quizzes, forums, the popular Three Stars hockey poll, CBC.ca's Olympic desktop news ticker and more. For full broadcast schedules on all CBC English networks, visit http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/broadcastschedules/ CBC RADIO ONE brings you Olympic Report - a series of updates airing every hour daily throughout the Games. CBC Radio's The Current, The Inside Track, The World This Hour and The World At Six will also follow Olympic issues and athletes. For Radio One schedules, go to http://www.cbc.ca/programguide/schedule/dailySchedule.jsp?network=CBC%20Radio%20One You are currently signed-up for CBC.ca's Events-and-promos newsletter (excerpted, skipping TV and other media, via gh DXLD) ** CHINA. Re: ``Have the Chinese left their jammers running on any more otherwise empty old-VOA frequencies? Could other correspondents perhaps check for signs of this. 73's (Dan Goldfarb, Brentwood, England, Feb 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST)`` So far the Chinese have not taken notice of VOA reductions. I have been checking the emptied frequencies for the 0700-1100 period and as of Feb 8 jamming persists unchanged. This concerns a.o. 15375, 12010 and 11825 (Olle Alm, Sweden, Feb 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [non]. As I was checking out the Libyan situation, q.v., Feb 9 at 1404 I came across CRI English news on 17630, plugging some podcast at 1406. No trace of Africa Number One, Gabon, supposedly on here until 1500 per EiBi, or 1600 per WRTH; and EiBi says CRI is via Mali. Another instance, I suppose, of Chinese broadcast imperialism muscling aside lesser players (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CROATIA. Re 6-026, Croatia DRM on 594 kHz: Hi Glenn! Still reduced DRM transmissions from Croatia. Observed operating times for the DRM transmissions from Croatia on 594 kHz are 0700-1500 UT. 73, (Patrick Robic, Austria, Feb 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. A routine check of R. República via Rampisham, 6135, Feb 8 at 2256, found them saying (in Spanish), stand by for our announcement of new frequencies. O boy, I thought, they will finally give us up-to-date info! No, they still claimed to operate on 6010 at 8-10 pm. They also plug incessantly the weekly one hour on two Miami MW stations as if that were important compared to all this SW time (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DENMARK [and non]. Dear friends, February 08, 2006, Two unexpected political events happened during the past two weeks. The first one was, that the Islamic Resistance Movement or "Harakat al Muqawama al Islamiya" (HAMAS) won the democratic general election in Palestine on Jan 25 and got 76 of the 132 mandates in the Parliament. Like the former FATAH Government they have no voice on SW, but most radio stations in the muslim world and elsewhere are spending much broadcast time on this historical event. Here in Denmark and in most countries abroad, the media are at present focussing on the democratic freedom of expression versus the freedom to publish caricatures with ridicule of political and religious persons. Four months ago, the independent Danish newspaper Jyllandsposten - naïvely - published 12 cartoons of the prophet Mahomet including one which insulted muslim terrorism. In January these were copied by a Norwegian weekly magazine. Some radical Danish muslims then showed these cartoons to some religious and political leaders in the Middle East together with a photo a Frenchman at a Pig Festival in France last August with an artificial pignose, claiming that this showed the face the prophet Mahomet. In the muslim world where most people do not share the western view on the freedom of the Press and the fact, that it is not controlled by our states, this suddenly has caused an extremely excited atmosphere against many democratic countries. In Damascus, uncivilized fanatics burned down the Danish, Norwegian, Swedish and Chilean Embassies on Feb 04 allegedly because of inflammatory messages including false rumours via SMS messages that their Holy Qur'an was going to be burned at a demonstration in Copenhagen on Feb 04. This did not happen! The next day about 20,000 fundamentalists demonstrated at the Danish General Consulate in Beirut, Lebanon, and burned it down as well, together with the Austrian Embassy and the Slovak General Consulate. On Feb 06 there were demonstrations with fire attacks at the Danish, British and Austrian Embassies in Tehran and attack on the Danish Embassy in Jakarta. On Feb 07 this was repeated together with a fire attack on the Norwegian Embassy in Tehran. In Afghanistan the Taleban issued a declaration of "Holy War against Denmark" and attacked the Danish Embassy in Kabul. In Northern Afghanistan, Norwegian and Italian NATO- troops were also attacked by islamic fanatics and the Norwegian troops had to open fire in self defence and some Taleban fighters were killed. At a press conference 1530 yesterday, the Danish Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs explained the Danish position live to TV- stations in the western and muslim world with about 500 million viewers. At the same time, moderate Danish muslims who are satisfied being citizens in Denmark, decided to make a counter attack by SMS to individuals in the muslim world and use internet chat rooms - new ways to communicate with the man on the street in other countries! All this is really an unpleasant way Denmark has come into world focus! Jerry Berg kindly wrote me yesterday: "It is shocking to see the Muslim reaction to those Danish cartoons, which, of course, any westerner would view as quite benign and well within the bounds of fair journalism. It is especially ironic, given Denmark's history of tolerance and helping other peoples in need. You will get through it, but it does make one wonder what the future holds in store." (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Feb 8 via DXLD) At 1330 UT Thursday on BBC Radio 4, Denmark at the Heart of the Cartoon Storm, presented by Malcolm Brabant, replaces whatever should have been on then (PAUL DAVID, Wembley Park, United Kingdom, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Malcolm Brabant travels to Copenhagen to investigate the origins of the dispute over the Prophet Mohammed cartoons. On the surface it looks like a question of freedom of speech versus religious issues, but there are more complex elements on both sides of the argument. As Malcolm Brabant learns, the reaction from the Muslim community has been fuelled by anger about the way immigrants have been treated in Denmark for decades. [audio on demand:] http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/denmarkcartoon/pip/vmmcz/ (via Glenn Hauser, DXLD) PROPHET CARTOONS ROW - MEDIA REPERCUSSIONS Editorial analysis by BBC Monitoring Media Services on 7 February The publishing of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad has lead to mass protests and deaths. The impact on the media in many countries is a consequence of what started as an exercise to see if cartoonists in Denmark were operating self-censorship. When a writer complained that no cartoonists dared illustrate his book about the Prophet Mohammad, Denmark's top-selling daily Jyllands- Posten appealed for cartoonists to undertake the work. Traditionally all representation of the Prophet is forbidden in Islam. On 30 September 2005 Jyllands-Posten published a series of 12 cartoons, including one which shows the head of Mohammed wearing a turban in the form of a bomb, the fuse of which is lit. In Denmark, Muslim religious leaders on 6 October called for the daily to withdraw the cartoons and make an official apology. Some 5,000 Muslims demonstrated in the streets of Copenhagen on 14 October, saying the cartoons were "provocative" and "arrogant" according to a report by the Paris-based media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on 17 October. The report continued that the newspaper's editor, Carsten Juste, revealed on 12 October that it was to hire security staff to protect the journalists working for him, after receiving several phone and email death threats following publication of "Faces of Mohammed". RSF condemned the death threats and said "It is unbelievable that one can make death threats against cartoonists in Denmark, one of the countries in the world that shows most respect for press freedom". A Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson on 7 November was reported by Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency to have strongly condemned the publication of blasphemous cartoons by Jyllands-Posten and described it an "act of Islamophobia.". Jyllands-Posten reporters banned On the 12 November the Danish newspaper Politiken website reported that Jyllands-Posten had been banned from Hizb ut-Tahrir's annual conference on 13 November, citing a direct quotation from the statsterror.dk website, which carried practical information about the conference. It is not the first time that Jyllands-Posten has been refused entry by the radical Islamic group. Jyllands-Posten editor-in-chief Carsten Juste took the paper's exclusion calmly. "I think this says a lot. It is highly characteristic of Hizb ut-Tahrir's view of the concept of freedom of speech - I have nothing else to say on the matter," he said. Per Knudsen, editor-in-chief of Politiken, a Danish daily newspaper, was more direct in his criticism of his competitor's exclusion. "It is completely unacceptable that the meeting is not open to all media. I would therefore urge Hizb ut-Tahrir to grant Jyllands-Posten access to the meeting so that the newspaper can ask critical questions like those that Politiken wants to ask. Hizb ut-Tahrir must understand that excluding media with which it disagrees is fundamentally at odds with the rules of a democratic society like Denmark's," he said. Further cartoons published In November a second Danish newspaper, Weekendavisen, the weekend version of the Copenhagen-based Berlingske Tidende daily, added to the furore when it published ten satirical pictures. The Islamic Faith Foundation directed strong criticism at Weekendavisen, a spokesman said "Weekendavisen has shown pictures worse than Jyllands-Posten. There is a campaign to ridicule Muslims in Denmark". Condemnation of the cartoons continued across the Muslim world and on 10 January 2006 newspapers outside Denmark added to the controversy when the Norwegian newspaper Magizinet, an Oslo-based Christian publication, printed pictures. Its editor Vebjorn K. Selbekk had taken this action, he said, to defend freedom of speech. Since then the cartoons have been repeated in a number of European countries, as well as amongst others Jordan, Yemen, Malaysia and Australia. On 8 February the issue was showing no signs of abating. A BBC report said that a French court has refused to prevent a satirical magazine from publishing more cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed on Wednesday 8 February. Several Islamic organisations had complained that the plans by the weekly publication Charlie Hebdo were an insult to their religion. But the civil court in Paris rejected the application on a technicality. The latest edition of Charlie Hebdo features all twelve cartoons of Mohammed that originally appeared in Jyllands-Posten. It also has a new front page drawing under the headline "Mohammed stressed out by the fundamentalists". Religions other than Islam are caricatured as well. Several French Muslim organisations applied for an injunction to stop publication, arguing that the edition amounted to a religious and racial insult. Effect on journalists France-Soir reprinted the cartoons and as a consequence on 1 February the owner of France-Soir, Franco-Egyptian Raymond Lakah, sacked his managing editor, Jacques Lefranc for allowing the publication of the cartoons. However on 2 February the publication stuck to it guns, its main headline being "Help, Voltaire! They've gone mad" and staff passed a resolution "demanding the retention" of Jacques Lefranc. Tunisian authorites seized copies of France-Soir on 1 February because of content deemed offensive to Muslims. On Friday 3 February the Moroccan Ministry of Communication prohibited the entry and distribution of El Pais because it reproduced on its front page the cartoonist Plantu's caricature of the Prophet Muhammad, published the same day in the French daily Le Monde. As well as El Pais, Rabat has vetoed the entry of many newspapers such as France's France Soir, Germany's Die Welt, Italy's Corriere Della Sera or Spain's ABC, for reproducing some of the cartoons. In Jordan two publications published the cartoons, the weeklies "Shihan" and "Al-Mihwar" and on 4 February both of the publications' editors-in-chief Jihad al-Mawmani and Hisham al-Khalidi were arrested on the order of the general prosecutor. And, according to a BBC report Arab Printers Company, the publisher of Shihan, also withdrew copies of the popular tabloid from news stands across the country and promised tough moves against those involved. On 4 February a South Africa court banned Sunday papers from publishing the cartoons and the South African National Editors Forum (SANEF) said several South African media houses were gagged from publishing the cartoons on Friday 3 February. But on Sunday 5 February SANEF announced that it is not to contest the Johannesburg High Court decision barring publication of the controversial cartoons depicting the Muslim Prophet Muhammad. SANEF has, however, expressed its reservations about the ruling. It says the order amounts to pre- publication censorship by the court. The Council of Muslim theologians was granted the interdict on Friday 3 February. The Yemeni news agency Saba website reported on 6 February that the authorities had issued a statement cancelling Al-Huriyah newspaper's licence. It also ordered the arrest of its publisher and chief-editor, Abd-al-Karim Sabrah, based on a law regarding the publishing of insulting images, which stipulates than no publication shall cause damage to the Islamic faith and its sublime principles, or degrade divine religions and human beliefs. In Malaysia an editor from the English-language Sarawak Tribune was reported to have resigned by the Malaysiakini website on 6 February, although on 7 February the same source said he was in fact "asked to leave". Malaysiakini website also reports on 7 February that the Information Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Kadir Shaykh Fadzir said the daily deserves the "heaviest punishment" over the cartoons. On 7 February the Croatian website Index.hr reported that a Lebanese cleric had issued a death sentence against all those who published the cartoons, including the publishers of the Zagreb-based Nacional weekly. Contest, in response In Iran the Tehran-based newspaper Hamshahri took a different line. In response to a number of European newspapers publishing the cartoons, which it said was on the pretext of freedom of expression, it is holding a contest to test the "West's freedom of expression". "Does the West's freedom of expression extend to subjects such as America and Israel's crimes and plundering or an event such as the Holocaust or is this freedom of expression only for the desecration of the sanctities of divine religions?", it asks. It has called on the artists of the world to use freedom of expression and to enter their illustrations on these subjects. Jyllands-Posten circulation static As for Jyllands-Posten, the newspaper apologized to Muslims for the cartoons of Muhammad. In an interview with Qatari-based Al-Jazeera satellite TV Jyllands-Posten's cultural editor Flemming Rose was asked whether the newspaper wanted to "test the limits of freedom of expression by offending Islam and Prophet Muhammad". Rose began by first saying "Let me first say that I am sorry if somebody in your country or in the Arab and Islamic worlds feels insulted by these cartoons. It was not our intention. We were really testing the limits of freedom of expression." Jyllands-Posten circulation figures have been unaffected by the cartoons row, although the newspaper directors believe the drawings will give the newspaper a distinct profile, but a PR expert doubted that this will be positive, according to a report on Danmarks Radio's website on 3 February. Source: BBC Monitoring research 7 Feb 06 (via DXLD) DANISH CARTOON EDITOR SENT ON LEAVE | Text of report by Danish radio website on 9 February; subheading as published: The editorial board of Jyllands-Posten has sent Culture Editor Flemming Rose on leave for an unspecified amount of time, the Online edition of Politiken [Danish daily newspaper] reports. This is happening after Flemming Rose said he would publish anti-Semitic and anti-Christian cartoons. Enormous pressure "The editorial board has told Flemming Rose to go on holiday because no-one can comprehend the pressure he has been under," Jyllands- Posten's Editor-in-Chief Carsten Juste tells Politiken. Yesterday he had to refute his culture editor's statements to both CNN and TV 2 in which Flemming Rose said that the paper would print anti-Semitic and anti-Christian cartoons. But a few days later Carsten Juste said that this would never happen. So today Flemming Rose was sent on leave. He would not comment on how long this would be for. Source: Danmarks Radio website, Copenhagen, in Danish 1718 gmt 9 Feb 06 (via BBCM via DXLD) Suggestion: witness protexion program; deep cover (gh) One place you can see the toons is http://www.humaneventsonline.com (Lou Dobbs, CNN, where the toons are not to be shown, Feb 8, via DXLD) ** FINLAND. 5980, Scandinavian Weekend R, Virrat, 1520, Sat Feb 04, Finnish, pop songs, 21331 QRM Voice of Turkey 5980 in Turkish QSA 5. No signal on // 11720. 6170, Scandinavian Weekend R, Virrat, 1020, Sat Feb 04, Finnish, pop songs, 23332. Poor SWR signal under (DRM Noise?) on 6170 + Croatia 6165 QRM. No signal on // 11690 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Feb 8 via DXLD) 11690, Scandinavian Weekend R, Virrat, 1051-1128, Sat Feb 04, Finnish announcement, English pop music, English ID: "This is Scandinavian Weekend Radio on short wave; send your reception report to SWR, P.O. Box 99, FI-34801 Virrat, FINLAND Web: http://www.swradio.net " Interference from HCJB in Spanish on 11690. From *1127 QRM DW, 22222. (Manuel Méndez, Spain, DSWCI DX Window Feb 8 via DXLD) ** GERMANY. History: Wiederau --- Until tonight it was my knowledge that Deutsche Welle abandoned the shortwave transmitter at Wiederau (about 20 km south of Leipzig, mostly listed as such) very soon after Oct 3 1990, i.e. some time in 1991. But not so, as this webpage reveals: http://janbalzer.gmxhome.de/wiederau/kurz.htm So shortwave from Wiederau existed as long as from Königs Wusterhausen, i.e. until autumn 1993. The hand-written original of the schedule for summer 1993 (beware of times in CET) leaves no doubt about this and also reveals which frequencies actually originated from Wiederau (I have never seen any frequency-specific site information for RBI). This took me quite by surprise because in spring 1993 (definitely not later than June 1993) I checked out the Wiederau station, also noted the rhombics but did not know that in fact the shortwave transmitter was still on air. So I also had no shortwave radio with me as I did on a similar trip to Königs Wusterhausen for a bit of listening to Deutsche Welle in typical GDR modulation as if my radio would be a modulation monitor in the transmitter hall (which I finally saw about three years later). Gist about Wiederau shortwave: Pre-1945 transmitter was in operation for many years on 9730, replaced in 1972 by a single 100 kW Funkwerk Köpenick with four rhombics. Another recently discovered Wiederau story: They transmitted DT64 on 102.9 three minutes longer than they were supposed to do. I just received an aircheck of this. Quite scary to hear off-air in stereo what was actually meant to be only on mediumwave anymore. Back to 2006, mentally-wise (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Feb 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUAM. Dear Glenn, For audio of AWR Asia from Guam, try http://www.awr.org/awr-asia/streaming/ I have not tried this, but maybe this steam will play Wavescan at the time of transmission. Best Wishes (Christopher Lewis, England, Feb 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) But that is dated for the A-04 season, and the single English broadcast listed is at 1600. Since that happens to be the time when I am checking this Feb 9, I try to run the embedded player, but it just goes from ``Connecting to Media`` back to ``Ready``. I think this is yet another dead and forgotten page at the AWR website (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, It doesn't work, I must confess I didn't notice the date. Also, the 1600-1700 UT transmission of AWR via Russia is totally useless here, which is a disappointment; there's QRM from 7475 kHz. I am yet to hear Wavescan from Singapore, but have only heard a small fragment. Did you catch any of my reports yet? (Christopher Lewis, ibid.) No, I haven`t. There was one week I did not hear it at all; maybe that was when you were on? Which weeks are you supposed to appear? (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) Hi Glenn, I am not entirely sure which weeks Rhoen uses my reports; I just mail them each week from here. I think they may be rotated (Christopher Lewis, ibid.) Has anybody heard him yet on the new Wavescan? (gh, DXLD) ** GUINEA. RADIO FRANCE INTERNATIONALE TO START GUINEA FM BROADCASTS "SOON" | Text of report by Amadou Toure entitled "Media: RFI to be on FM soon in Guinea" published by Guineenews website on 7 February Radio France Internationale (RFI) will in the near future begin broadcasting in FM throughout Guinea like it does in other countries in the subregion. A source at the Ministry of Information disclosed this to Guineenews this morning. For this reason, a technical team of this global radio is expected in Conakry this week with the aim of "localizing" the areas for the installation of the equipment pieces. "The issue is well advanced and at this pace RFI will be able to broadcast on FM in Guinea within the next two or three months", he explained. All that remains, before Guineans can begin to taste the early fruits of the liberalization of the airwaves "which is progressing slowly" is a matter of formalities. The RFI has to sign an authorization agreement with the Guinean state through the Ministry of Information. A second agreement has also to be signed with the General HQ of RTG [Guinean Radio and TV] whose masts the international radio will use in the cities such as Conakry, Labe, Kankan and N'Zerekore. This was discussed during the first visit of this radio's senior officer to Guinea some months ago. The BBC, whose application is said to have reached an advanced stage than those of [Gabon's] Africa No 1, the Voice of America or even the Mano River Union radio, is also said to be interested in Guinea. The decree on liberalization, which was much expected both by Guineans and the international community, came out on 20 August 2005, at a time when some developing countries such as Mali had gone beyond the euphoria mark. the laws stated that "foreign radio stations should sign an establishment agreement with the Ministry of Information acting on behalf of the government". According to the decree, "no radio station (commercial or community) should identify itself with a religion, region or political party" in Guinea. Source: Guinéenews website, Conakry, in French 7 Feb 06 (via BBCM via DXLD) Another local relay ripe for interruption (gh, DXLD) ** INDONESIA. INDONESIAN MEDIA REGULATIONS STIR UP CONCERNS OVER CENSORSHIP New broadcasting regulations have gone into effect in Indonesia. Critics say the measures are a setback for media freedom and undermine the country's democracy. The four government regulations cover allocating frequencies, monitoring programs and licensing broadcasting stations. They also limit foreign broadcast content, as well as foreign ownership of broadcasting outlets. This means, among other things, local broadcasters will no longer be allowed to air news packages from foreign broadcasters. The regulations also apply to foreign music shows featuring what the rules call "indecent performances" and foreign shows featuring "sadistic scenes." The new rules were approved in November, but after an outcry by media companies and lawmakers, the government and parliament postponed implementing them for two months. Critics say the regulations are open to a wide interpretation. The minister of communications and information, Sofyan Djalil agrees the law may be ambiguous. He says foreign broadcasts will be allowed, but limited and regulated. "Actually it is not forbidden for foreign broadcast to be relayed to Indonesia but I think just the limits, the duration, the time, and then also I think there is mandatory for a kind of delayed policy," Mr. Sofyan says. Heru Hendratmoko, the chairman of the Alliance of Independent Journalists, says the regulations stifle media freedom and should be abolished. "We insist that yes, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono have to abrogate these regulations, and number two, to remove the minister of communication and Information, Sofyan Djalil, and number three is to liquidate the Department of Communication and Information," Mr. Heru says. The information minister says the regulations will not hamper press freedom and some controls over the media are necessary to uphold the values of the country. "I don't have a problem for news from Voice of America or BBC because you propagate for instance democracy, rule of law, something like that," Mr. Sofyan says. "But what of, for instance, radio broadcasted from Mongolia or from North Korea and relayed in Indonesia? What they propagate is simply something contrary to the values and to the philosophy of the country." Many radio and television stations in the country carry news and current affairs programs from the British Broadcasting Corporation, the Voice of America, Duetsche Welle, and other foreign networks. Heru, from the journalists' alliance, says local journalists benefit from this. "I think that broadcasting journalists in Indonesia also have a benefit from foreign broadcasting because they can learn much from their colleagues abroad about how to produce news material, gathering information, and make a packaging as broadcast news," Mr. Heru says. The latest regulations are based on a 2002 broadcasting law. At that time, more than 100 television and radio stations had been operating without official control since the 1998 ouster of President Suharto, who ruled the country for 32 years. The Department of Communication and Information helped Mr. Suharto tightly control the news media, and it was abolished shortly after his downfall. It has been reinstated in stages over the past several years. Source: voanews.com (via Henry Brice, Feb 7, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. Re 6-020, 3579, RSPD Maluku Tengah (presumed), town of Masohi (also referred to as Amahai on some maps), island of Seram in the Moluccas, 1230-1430, Jan 28 --- A look back in old TBS and DBS shows that various private Indonesian stations have used 3580v during the past 20 years or more and that RSPK Ngada was heard on 2900v. RSPDT2 Maluku Tengah in Masohi (800 watts) appeared on 3578 from 1995 till August 1996, but has not been heard by DX-ers since then! In August 2003 RSPK Ngada moved from 2900v to 3517v, but moved back to 2899 in December that year as reported by member Roland Schulze then living in the Philippines. In May 2004 Roland reported that it now had moved from 2899 to 3578.7. It has been heard on that frequency as late as in October 2005 by DX-ers as shown on our Tropical Bands Monitor which now can be found at http://www.dswci.org/tbm The information about domestic stations in certain radio handbooks may not be fully up-to-date, so I really doubt that you heard RSPD Maluku Tengah (Anker Petersen, Ed., Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Feb 8 via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET. Serious medical event at the Doo Wop Cafe: Subject: [Doo Wop Café] UPDATE ~ BARBARA ANN (Circe) First off... thanx to all who expressed concern for Barbara Ann (Circe). She truly appreciates your concerns, well wishes and prayers. After two months of testing, it has been determined that she has a malignant tumor on her Adrenal gland and will start chemotherapy next week. As you know, Barbara Ann has not been online for the past two months. She misses everyone very much and looks forward to resuming the Member's Request Jukebox and Circe's Mystery Song contests. She sends her love to all of you. Please hold all e-mail until her return. I will continue to give you periodic updates. In love and harmony (~Renée~ Feb 8, doowopcafe yg via Clara Listensprechen, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [non]. FORMER OFFSHORE RADIO BOSS SYLVAIN TACK PASSES AWAY Sylvain Tack, the owner of the former offshore station Radio Mi Amigo, has been found dead in his house in Oudenburg, Belgium. The cause of death hasn't yet been established, but the police have not ruled out suicide. His life had taken a turn for the worse since the glory days of the 1970's, when Radio Mi Amigo was more popular in Belgium than other Dutch-language services such as Radio Veronica and Radio Noordzee. He was well-known as the man behind "Suzy Waffles", which were constantly advertised on the station. He moved to Spain to avoid arrest by the Dutch authorities, and continued to run Radio Mi Amigo from Playa de Aro. He was much appreciated by the local population for attracting Belgian tourists to the area. Sadly, the good times didn't last. After a falling out with business partners, and the closure of Radio Amigo in 1979, Tack started drinking heavily, and was also arrested for drug smuggling. He returned to Belgium, where he had some business failures, and was fined 750,000 euro for selling drugs disguised as an anti-smoking product. [illustrated] # posted by Andy @ 14:06 UT Feb 9 (Media Network blog via DXLD) Coming Saturday the internet station Mi Amigo 192 will have a special about the legacy of Sylvain Tack from 19h till 20h Dutch time. [1800- 1900 UT]. At 23h Dutch time [2200 UT] a historical program will be played with the speech of Sylvain Tack about Cash Casino with is originally transmitted on September 26th, 1976 (Peter Vrakking, Holland, 02.09.06 - 9:30 pm, ibid.) ** IRAN [non]. I got a prepared card in today's mail for a UAE Radio Farda 1575 reception on OCT 24 2005. The comment on the card: "Very strange, but correct" An additional note was also enclosed: "Just got your mail. Thanks for reporting Radio Farda Medium Wave reception. Wish Iranian people were able to receive it without jamming." Behruz Nikzat, News Director. Return address: Behruz Kikzat, Radio Farda, Suite 400, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036. This is the 46th country I have verified on medium wave, and my most distant reception (Jim Renfrew, Byron NY, WTFDA-AM via DXLD) Cool on the QSL from Farda! How did you report the details, audio clip or have you been secretly working on your Arabic? (Chris Black, ibid.) He must be. I can scarcely pronounce "Mahmoud Ahmadinejad" without stammering! (KKS--The Eloquent? Lansing, Michigan, ibid.) Arabic, what`s that? R. Farda is in Persian, which is quite different. That`s sort of like mixing up German and English. BTW Persian is closer to English, being Indo-European, than Arabic = Afro-Asiatic: Semitic in the SIL classification (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRELAND. IRISH CHRISTIAN BROADCASTERS SWITCHES OFF MEDIUMWAVE TRANSMITTER Irish Christian Broadcasters (ICB) announces on its website that it has turned off the 549 AM Transmitter in Monaghan that was heard across Ireland and much of the UK. The transmitter has been rebroadcasting UCB Europe for the past 5 1/2 years. ICB says plans are well advanced towards obtaining a national licence. This week, it had a visit from officials of the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) who instructed ICB to cease the mediumwave transmissions. Read the full statement Irish Christian Broadcasters http://www.gracefellowship.ie/silent.htm # posted by Andy @ 12:46 UT Feb 9 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** LIBYA [and non]. AMAL AND THE AFTERNOON VISITORS, FEB. 9: 17670: from tune-in 1325, Arabic talk or news mentioning Jamahiriya; 1340 discourse by one speaker, perhaps MQ himself, not in studio, with background noises but no audience reaction or applause; 1355 mentioning Darfur several times; 1400 continues without a break; 1430 recheck, finally some music here, oud mixed with Arabic talk mentioning Jamahiriya; 1457 recheck, only Cuban jamming audible on frequency despite Martí having vacated it some time ago. 17660: 1325, continuous Arabic music, somewhat weaker than 17670, in the clear, no QRM or jamming. Never heard any announcement, tho could have missed one as I was tuning back and forth. Stopped at 1359 sharp with open carrier for a few seconds and off. 17680: 1325, something under Voz Cristiana, Chile, SAH of about 4 Hz. When VC quit playing music itself and was talking, the station under seemed to be the African music jammer; 1346 it was hilife, and could also detect slight bubble jamming, but very strong VC always on top; 1400 new ID as ``CVC, La Voz`` and news. 1430 same situation continues, and SAH still visible on the S-meter at final 1532 recheck. It appears that the SPLAJ is trying to cover all the bases against Saut al-Amal, with the Arabic music jammer on 17660, one of its own overt services on 17670, and the African music jammer on 17680. I can only assume that Amal was buried on 17680 on this date, as there was no sign of it on 17660 or 17670, or anywhere in between. If this situation repeats on Friday Feb 10, Radio Waaberi will get blocked again if it is still on 17660. Seems to me they ought move further away from this nasty Libyan situation. I did not hear anything on 17650 during the 1330 semihour. It`s disadvantageous to be running a once-a-week broadcast, with nothing else on the same frequency other days of the week to keep it occupied. But who would pay for running DTK on 17660 other days of the week? Possibly some other client would have been amenable to such scheduling. Unlikely, but possible: the Arabic music being heard on 17660 could axually be DTK, doing just that, since Amal is not there any longer, anyway. Let`s see if there is a collision again this Friday (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Saludos Glenn, ¿respecto al posible emplazamiento de la transmisión de Al-amel, puede tratarse de Woofferton en el Reino Unido? En el 2004 se utilizó esa frecuencia y ese emplazamiento para Sudan Radio Service; por otra parte, tal cómo se escucha desde Valencia, mas bien parece provenir de allí y no de TDK en Alemania, pero es una suposición. EiBi.de.vu bcA.04 17660 1500-1800 Mo-Fr USA Sudan Radio Service Vn SDN /G-w Por otra parte la jammer de Libia con música árabe y que siempre está en la misma frecuencia, apostaría por Issoudun en Francia. HFCC B-05: 17670 1100 1230 37W,46 ISS 500 204 1234567 301005 260306 D Arabic F LBJ TDF 10168 EiBi.de.vu bcB.05: 17670 1100-1230 LBY LJB Voice of Africa A NAf /F Tal vez la Jammer de Libia con música afro-pop sea de Trípoli en Libia; para ellos es mas fácil mover la frecuencia desde allí. Es una teoría; no dispongo de conocimientos ni de datos que apoyen estas suposiciones. Atentamente (José Miguel Romero, Spain, Feb 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) José Miguel, No creo que el uso anterior de 17660 por VT para Sudán signifique mucho. Como vemos, los servicios pueden cambiar de frecuencia a menudo. No será DTK con Amel: recordar que comenzaron en conflicto con un servicio seguramente desde DTK, Radio Waaberi, ya en 17660 los viernes 1330-14. Siendo Amel la señal más débil que sus opositoras, como llegan acá, dudo que emane desde Reino Unido, sino del este de Europa o Rusia, países vecinos. Gracias por recordarnos del uso registrado de Libia/Francia en 17670. Parece así. 73, (Glenn to JMRR, via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Saludos Glenn, perdón por ser tan molestón; acabo de ver el ILG Radio, actualizado: 17660.0 VOICE OF HOPE 1200-1400 1234567 Arabic nAF MDA AM No sé si se referirán a la misma emisora. Por otra parte, lo que me dió de pensar en Woofferton fue que cómo Tarek desde Egipto dió un SINPO menor que yo en España, supuse que yo estaba más cerca del transmisor que él, pero quizas eso no tenga nada que ver. Un abrazo, y perdón otra vez, le saluda atentamente (José Miguel Romero, ibid.) ILG is certainly not the ultimate authority, but I think Moldova or vicinity would be very likely for Saut al-Amel, which of course, is no longer on 17660. Signal strength vs simple distance is not a reliable indication on SW. There are too many other factors, such as directionality and skip distance (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) ** MEXICO [and non]. Hace cuatro años antes de que llegará "La Voz de Tu Conciencia" nos llegaban reportes de Colombia y Venezuela. Al parecer apagan el transmisor de LVTC sábados y domingos a partir de las 0500 UT --- esto de acuerdo a lo que me dice Martin Stendal --- pudiera ser que escuches a Radio Mil aunque R. Inconfidência podría interferir a Radio Mil en Sudamérica. Saludos, (Julián Santiago Díez de Bonilla, Feb 8, condig list via DXLD) 6010 ** MEXICO. DTV BROADCASTS TO BEGIN SHORTLY IN MÉXICO Harris Corporation's Broadcast Communications Division has announced that Grupo Televisa SA, a leader in TV broadcasting throughout México, has purchased eight high-power DTV transmitters as the broadcaster prepares to complete its ATSC digital television launch in four metropolitan regions. The transmitters were delivered and installed during the fourth quarter of 2005. Televisa will begin transmission of DTV programming to populations in and around México City, Monterrey, Guadalajara, and Tijuana in early 2006. "The introduction of DTV services in Mexico is without any doubt an historical television milestone in Latin America and confirms Televisa as a leader in entertainment products for our audience and viewers," said Felix Araujo, vice president of Televisa Regional. México formally adopted the ATSC standard in October 2004 following years of DTV testing. The Mexican government last year issued an 18- year deployment table that lays out specific DTV transition plans for both public and private broadcasters over six three-year periods. The first three-year segment of this plan targets major cities, especially those closest to the US border, with private broadcasters launching ahead of public broadcasters. (Source: Harris Corporation) # posted by Andy @ 13:08 UT Feb 9 (Media Network blog via DXLD) Puff ** NETHERLANDS. Hello from Hilversum, As I mentioned last week, my new department (Strategy and Business Development, which we have shortened internally to SBD) had our brainstorming and team-building day this week. With all the doom and gloom surrounding international broadcasting generally - cuts at VOA, BBC and numerous smaller broadcasters - it was nice to share ideas with colleagues who care about what we do, and want to work together to ensure that Radio Netherlands retains and builds on the reputation that so many people have worked hard to achieve since 1947. I think the biggest strength that Radio Netherlands has is the collective enthusiasm, knowledge and skills of the people who work here, and we all came away with fresh ideas and a renewed determination to help make the most of what we have. I'm told that one of my new functions is to be the "eyes and ears" of Radio Netherlands - so I'm taking extra care not to break my glasses! NEW-LOOK RADIO NETHERLANDS WEBSITE NOW ONLINE Radio Netherlands has re-launched its websites with a new look. For the English site, the URL http://www.radionetherlands.nl is now operational. The media section will in future be focusing on news and background analysis. We have therefore "retired" a number of sections that have not been updated for several years, including the Receiver Shopping List. The focus of Radio Netherlands is now very much on reaching new, younger listeners who will access our material via new digital devices, not shortwave. We'll be adding information on these new ways to hear Radio Netherlands as they're rolled out. We're not giving up on shortwave, but for many people apart from the dedicated hobbyists, it's what Bill Gates would call "legacy technology". Will DRM revive its fortunes? For a long time, I hoped so, but with the disappearance of so much programming from shortwave, where's the content? (Andy Sennitt, Media Network newsletter Feb 9 via DXLD) Re above: I wonder how long it will be before they go the way of the BBCWS? 73, (Peter Bowen, Ont., Feb 9, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. 104.9 KRIG NOWATA, OK GOES IBOC [as in oil rig] HD radio technology improves station's sound quality Special to the E-E Wednesday February 8, 2006 http://www.examiner-enterprise.com/articles/2006/02/06/business/b911.txt Radio broadcasting in northeast Oklahoma and southeast Kansas is taking a giant leap into the 21st century. The vehicle is HD radio technology, and Real Country, 104.9 FM, KRIG, licensed to Nowata with studios in Bartlesville, is the locally owned station to launch HD radio. HD radio technology is destined to revolutionize the AM and FM broadcasting industry. The noise and interference that cause the static, hiss, pops, and fades heard on today's analog radios is virtually eliminated with HD radio digital broadcasting. In addition to crystal clear reception, HD radio technology dramatically enhances sound fidelity - AM has the clarity of FM, and FM will have the clarity of compact discs. [god, not this old saw yet again! gh] Equally impressive to the digital sound quality is that HD radio technology allows for new wireless data services to be delivered from AM and FM radio stations. Listeners will be able to see the name of the artist and title of the song on the radio screen as it's being played, or gain immediate local traffic updates, or view weather, stock and news information. According to Kevin Potter, general manager of KRIG, ``We're proud and excited to be in the forefront of bringing this new technology to our listeners. It will allow us to provide even better service and a stronger commitment to the community - not to mention a significantly improved audio product.`` Ryan Jones, analyst, Media and Entertainment Strategies for the Yankee Group said, ``Of all possible features offered by HD radio technology, consumers are most interested in its improved sound quality. Yet interactive digital features, like radio recording and on-screen information, will help fuel consumer demand.`` Another advantage, in addition to improved sound quality, is that a radio station can choose to broadcast another channel or even two other channels on the same frequency, which can be picked up and played only by an HD radio, called multi-casting. HD radio technology was developed by iBiquity Digital and approved in October 2002 by the Federal Communications Commission. For more information, go to http://www.bartlesvilleradio.com/krig for a link to HD radio technology (via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) Another fill-in-the-blanks press release in the iBiquity template (gh) ** OMAN. R. Oman audible for a change Feb 9 on 15140, at 1425 with rock music, British DJ, vs. WYFR 15130 splash; better at 1457 check, as DJ was apparently running a countdown show, mentioning #19 and #18; a syndie from UK? 1500 switch to a bit of oud, Big-Ben-like chimes but higher-pitched, one bong, Arabic ID, news theme, ID and news, still on at 1502 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN. USA/PAKISTAN: VOA REFUSES TO DISCLOSE NATURE OF DEAL WITH GEO | Text of report by Pakistani newspaper Daily Times website on 7 February The Voice of America has refused to disclose the financial basis of the arrangement whereby 30 minutes of programming it supplies five times a week is broadcast by Pakistani new channel Geo. The 30-minute composite programme called "Beyond the Headlines" is telecast in Pakistan during prime time viewing hours. In answer to a query by Daily Times as to the nature of the arrangement between VOA and Geo and how much the latter was being paid for carrying those 30 minutes, Joe O'Connell of public affairs wrote in an email message, "As you know, the Pakistan media market is intensively competitive, and information concerning rates for carriage is closely held by broadcasters. We would suggest that your questions be addressed to Geo TV". Asked if VOA had given Geo the right to edit or withhold some of the programmes it is supplied with, the VOA official said, "The Voice of America is an independent news organization. It has not given Geo the right to edit or withhold VOA programmes". However, on at least two occasions, programmes supplied by VOA for use in the 30-minute segment have not been shown by Geo, reportedly at the instance of official quarters in Pakistan. According to an official VOA publication, "Beyond the Headlines aims to be the premier carrier of news analysis from inside and outside Pakistan. Our goal is to take viewers past daily news headlines to explain how the story affects their world". The programme team is headed by Farah Ispahani, the executive producer, while Aneka Osman anchors the show. Source: Daily Times website, Lahore, in English 7 Feb 06 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** PALAU [and non]. Hi, Johan to Glenn and all: Since Palau became an independent (micro-)republic (population around 20.000) in 1994, the FCC can't have a jurisdiction there any longer, I suppose. WRTH 2006 says that the KHBN ID is still used now and then. Perhaps it's kept for some programs for sentimental reasons. Today Thu Feb 9 at 1025 UT, 9965 kHz is heard again but much more QRM- ed. I was wondering if there are any programs in English from this station. I shift to 13840 where it is listed in the WRTH 2006 and what have we got? Brother Scare! He is really steamed up, and the world is coming to an end any minute it seems. I can listen to him for comical reasons at times. At 1100 the signal was swallowed by QRM, so no ID was heard. Signal strength is just S1-2, and the transmitter sounds very remote. I am amused by your use of "x" for any "ks"-sound, as well as the coördinating spelling. But I have to think twice when I see "shrinx" and things like that. 73/ (Johan Berglund, Trollhättan, Sweden, AOR AR7030, 30 m lw, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Johan, sorry, but the FCC thinx it has jurisdixion; see KHBN in current schedule: http://www.fcc.gov/ib/sand/neg/hf_web/B05FCC01.TXT Doesn`t Palau still have some dependence on the US for foreign relations? 13840 with Scare would not be Palau, but IRRS/Bulgaria (Glenn to Johan, ibid.) OK, Glenn, I agree. My Webster says independent republic in 1994. The Webster is the College Dict., 4th edition, from 2000. I find it strange tho. A US federal agency with a jurisdiction over an independent republic. And I don't really care. Thanks a lot for your mail. I'll do some googling to learn more. 73/ (Johan Berglund, ibid.) ** PALESTINE. Radio Gaza --- Interesting video clip here. Radio Gaza --- The battle of the airwaves in Gaza as Hamas tries to pull the plug on Western pop. Last month's victory by Hamas in the Palestinian elections caused international alarm, because of the group's refusal to renounce violence and hard line stance on Israel. But there's also been concern about the result among Palestinians. Many non-Hamas voters fear that the group will now try to impose its version of Islamic law on The Palestinian territories, clamping down on anything considered 'haram' or forbidden. And as Inigo Gilmore reports now from Gaza, that doesn't just mean alcohol. . . Watch the report http://www.channel4.com/more4/news/news-opinion-feature.jsp?id=138 (via Mike Terry, BDXC-UK via DXLD) Yes, excellent report, runs 6:17. Repressive Hamas government is trying to ban all western music on radio stations; some have succumbed, such as Gaza FM, which on one sign says 100.9 and on another 101.0. Others, such as Fatah`s FM 105, are resisting (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 3172.65, Radio Municipal, Panao, 0950 to 1030 Feb 8, good flutes and rustic Peru music, om ID as "Radio Municipal". 3234.91, Radio Luz y Sonido, Huánuco, 0945 to 1020, Feb 8, "que linda que linda... Luz y Sonido" best in synchro on R75, held in well. Difficult audio. 3329.53, Ondas del Huallaga, Huánuco, 1050 Feb 8, noted with excellent signal, "música del Perú". 73's de (Bob Wilkner, Pompano Beach, South Florida, R75, Kiwa Drake R7, HCDX via DXLD) ** PETER I ISLAND. 3Y0X PETER I ISLAND DXPEDITION IS ON THE AIR! (February 8, 2006) --- The Peter I Island 3Y0X DXpedition http://www.peterone.com is out of the fog, on the island and on the air. Most, if not all, of the 22-member DXpedition team now are on the tiny island in the Bellinghausen Sea near Antarctica. Suggested frequencies for the 3Y0X DXpedition are SSB: 1842.5, 3750, 7093, 14,190, 18,145, 21,295, 24,987 (most likely listening down) and 28,475 kHz; CW: 1822.5, 3523, 7023, 10,103, 14,023, 18,073, 21,023, 24,893 and 28,023 kHz; digital: 10,135, 14,084, 18,108, 21,102, 24,928 (most likely listening down on 17, 15 and 12) and 28,092 kHz. Except as noted, the 3Y0X operators will be listening up. Do not transmit on the DXpedition`s frequency! The DXpedition expects to update its on-line log search once or twice a day. After waiting on the ship for fog to lift, the first helicopter load landed on Peter I Island at 1830 UTC on February 7. ``This is a beautiful place, but visibility is presently poor,`` the team reported in an update earlier today. ``We`ve seen the tops of volcanoes but only for a brief period.`` The 3Y0X team expects to have eight or nine operating positions QRV within the next 24 hours. The Peter I Island DXpedition was the recipient of a $7500 ARRL Colvin Award grant to help finance the team`s visit. The Northern California DX Foundation (NCDXF) has been a premier contributor to the major undertaking, estimated to cost upward of $500,000, making it the most costly DXpedition ever undertaken. Bob Allphin, K4UEE, and Ralph Fedor, K0IR, are the co-leaders of the 3Y0X effort (ARRL main page via John Norfolk, dxldyg via DXLD) So far no luck hearing 3Y0X; e.g., Feb 9 around 1400 checked the 7, 14, 18 and 21 MHz frequencies, but no trace. I figured 18145 should be propagating, with Chile inbooming on 17680. Not only no 3Y0X, but no signs of any other activity on the specified frequencies, which I suppose is a good thing, since other hams are urged to stay off them (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Solar-terrestrial indices for 08 February follow. Solar flux 74 and mid-latitude A-index 5. The mid-latitude K-index at 1200 UTC on 09 February was 1 (6 nT). No space weather storms were observed for the past 24 hours (SEC via DXLD) The Peter I Dxpedition team 3Y0X is now active, see http://www.southgatearc.org/news/february2006/peter_one_090206.htm 73 (Trevor M5AKA, monitoring monthly yg via DXLD) I guess Peter One would appreciate it if we look for updates at Southgate rather than their own site, to conserve bandwidth. Or here: (gh, DXLD) 9 Feb, 2330 UT: The visibility is still very poor and we were unable to fly the helicopter today. We saw the ship from the island twice for a few seconds; that's how "socked in" we are. Thankfully we're all drier today! The helicopter is loaded for the next run and, hopefully tomorrow our remaining three Team Members will be able to join us. The supplies we miss the most are ready to bring across: another generator, another radio, chairs and food. Presently we're on the air with only three stations. Fortunately today we were able to get the Battle Creek Special up so we'll be on 80 and 160 tonight. Our spirits are good, but we're disappointed we only have a third of the planned stations on the air. Hopefully we'll be at full strength by the weekend (both rigs and manpower). (via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Departures --- As 2005 came to a close, Joe Adamov, the most famous of Radio Moscow`s English-language broadcasters, died. I was surprised how little this was discussed in the hobby and general press. Anyone who listened to shortwave, especially from the 1950s through the 1980s, was familiar with Adamov’s colorful radio style amid the mostly dreary Radio Moscow fare. His perfect American English came from his attendance, as a child, in a school for American children in Moscow. Adamov was always loyal to the Soviet regime in power. But he broke with the anti-Gorbachev putschists when they held power, briefly, in 1991. I think Adamov savored the glasnost that allowed him, for the first time, to be frank and uninhibited in his answers to questions about life during the last years of the Soviet era (Kim Andrew Elliott, standard disclaimer, Feb NASWA Journal via DXLD) ** SERBIA & MONTENEGRO [non]. Re 6-026, You mean they were really transmitting two kHz off frequency? (gh) Saludos cordiales Glenn, respecto a Serbia y Montenegro en español a las 2000 UT, creo que emiten por 6100, pero para poderla escuchar con garantías hay que escorarase a 6102; otra emisora en chino la atora de tal manera que no se escucha nada en esa frecuencia, sólo un fuerte zumbido (José Miguel Romero, Spain, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Saludos José Miguel; Bueno, es importante siempre citar la frecuencia verdadera de transmisión, y explicar que se sintoniza al lado para evitar interferencia, etc. 73, (Glenn to José Miguel, via DXLD) ** SINGAPORE [non]. Wavescan discussion in this issue is under GUAM ** SOUTH AFRICA. Re ``702 Pretoria 100 (curtain array to SW)`` --- no one has replied to my query, but it has dawned on me that altho I assumed SW stood for shortwave when it was in the same phrase as ``curtain array``, maybe he meant to the southwest; but I never heard of a curtain array being used on MW. Is this correct? Moot now as that`s the transmitter which burned up, replaced by 540 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TUNISIA. Referring to DXLD 6-026 of Feb. 8, and Mike Cooper's question, here's their schedule that I monitored some time ago via the Hotbird Digital satellite (12149 V, right channel): (French except:) 0905-1000 German 1303-1400 English 1403-1500 Italian 1903-2000 Spanish 73, (Erik Køie, Copenhagen, Feb 9, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKEY. V. of Turkey, 15155, not much signal at 1330 Thu Feb 9, but fairly good at 1412 recheck when wrapping up a special report on the cartoons, back to Live from Turkey. Hosts were quite pleased to have two calls on this week`s show instead of zero, the second one being a Mr. Birch in London, who is a Christian married to a Moslem; said no one in UK had axually seen the toons, and while was for freedom of the press, he was against such depixions; from what the hosts let slip, I gather he was not a call-in, but a call-out, someone they already knew, and was a somewhat reluctant participant on the show. Before the closing they played an obligatory multi-lingual ID jingle for VOT, which must have gone on a couple minutes even including Albanian; not enough time left for one complete iteration of the VOT IS before transmitter cut off (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LSITENING DIGEST) ** U K. BBC RADIO PRODUCTION STAFF CALL OFF STRIKE TO CONSIDER NEW OFFER Hundreds of BBC radio production staff have called off their strike planned for February 15 and 23 to consider a new offer aimed at ending a row over jobs, the broadcasting union Bectu said yesterday. Luke Crawley, national officer of Bectu, said the strikes were being called off so that workers could be consulted on the new offer, which he added "addresses some of the issues that concern the unions." The union has been in dispute with the corporation over plans to merge a number of production jobs into a single role. (Source: AFP) # posted by Andy @ 10:58 UT Feb 9 (Media Network blog via DXLD) & updates an item in WOR 1304 (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. A source at VOA tells me that with the closedown of English radio, except for English to Africa and Special English, there will be no more newscasts, not even on the VOA Web site, and the English- language music channel(s) will end. Listeners are encouraged to write their representatives in the U.S. House and Senate and oppose the proposed cuts (anonymous, Feb 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see PAKISTAN ** U S A. Another departure that received little press attention – but this time, fortunately, not involving a death [see RUSSIA] – was the resignation of Norm Pattiz from the U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors. Pattiz, the billionaire founder of the Westwood Radio Networks, was the prime mover in the creation of Radio Sawa and Alhurra television. The creation of those two stations was accompanied by the demise of VOA`s Arabic Service, and for that reason, many VOA employees are not sorry to see Pattiz go. I think U.S. international broadcasting needed a bull in the china shop, like Pattiz, to shake it loose from its old, tired ways of doing things. And Pattiz seemed to be committed to the journalistic independence of the entities under the BBG. Pattiz occupied one of the Democratic seats on the bipartisan Board. It will be interesting to see what Democrat the Bush Administration nominates to replace him. (Kim Andrew Elliott, standard disclaimer, Feb NASWA Journal via DXLD) ** U S A. For fans of old-time radio history, there's a pretty significant story developing in the small town of Grove City, halfway between Pittsburgh and Erie. That's where one of the last vestiges of the early history of educational radio may now have breathed its last. WSAJ (1340) traced its history back to amateur station 8CO, which began operations in 1914. After being silenced by the war, Grove City College returned to the air in 1920 as 8YV, and in 1921, 8YV received a broadcast license as WSAJ, using a transmitter built by electrical engineering professor Dr. Herbert W. Harmon. For most of its existence, WSAJ shared time with what's now WOYL in Oil City, and even after WOYL went full-time (with a directional antenna), WSAJ remained at 100 watts, operating only two days a week from the very same wire cage antenna http://www.fybush.com/site-021024.html (rebuilt in 2002) from which it signed on in 1921. There's very good reason to believe that the antenna atop Rockwell Science Hall is the oldest AM transmitter site in the United States, predating by several years the KGFJ (KYPA) site in Los Angeles. Sadly, WSAJ's long run on the AM dial now appears to be over. The station added an FM service on 91.1 in the eighties, and the AM facility's been somewhat neglected ever since. Its 1950-vintage transmitter was out of service for a while, and the old cage antenna was damaged a few years ago. And while the antenna was fixed and a new LPB transmitter installed, WSAJ's management apparently lost interest in their historic little treasure somewhere along the way. Last week, word began circulating that there wouldn't be a renewal application filed for WSAJ(AM), and it now appears that the FCC has cancelled WSAJ's license and deleted the AM callsign. That's stirred concern among some NERW readers, who wonder whether it's possible to save this nifty little relic of another era of broadcasting. From what we've heard, there are engineers and FCC experts out there who are willing to take on the task of trying to get the license renewed and putting the AM 1340 signal back on the air - and there's apparently a closed-circuit student station on campus that would no doubt appreciate having the over-the-air signal, even with only 100 watts. (Students are heard for four hours nightly on WSAJ-FM, which runs satellite-delivered classical and jazz for the remainder of its broadcast day.) Does Grove City College http://www.gcc.edu/contact/info.htm know what it's on the verge of losing for good? And is it too late to do anything about it? (Scott Fybush, NE Radio Watch Feb 6 via DXLD) ** U S A. Yep, KB radio has switched; gone is classic WKBW, now "THE LEFT CHANNEL" http://www.kb1520.com/ (Daryl Rocker, Herkimer, NY, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UC ** U S A. Re CBS Network Channel 42 loop on 1480 --- Hi Glenn: This could have been from a couple of things. The Jim Bohannon show comes down the WWI sat and affiliates have to switch channels during the overnight hours. There could have been a foulup there. It wouldn't have been an NBA game, as ESPN has the rights nationally for those. It might have been a college basketball game as CBS runs a fairly extensive schedule of those. Either way someone was asleep at the switch or the automation was screwing up pretty badly. Take care! (Eric Loy, WDWS Radio, Champaign IL, Feb 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE. CRACKDOWN ON THE PRESS INTENSIFIES | Text of press release by Human Rights Watch on 9 February The Zimbabwean government has launched a new assault on the country's remaining independent press through a wave of criminal prosecutions and arrests, Human Rights Watch said today. Tomorrow in Harare, six trustees of Voice of the People (VOP), a privately-owned radio station, are due to appear in court on criminal charges. On 24 January, the authorities brought charges of broadcasting without a license against six of the station's trustees. VOP was one of the few alternatives to the state-controlled Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, the only broadcaster with a license to operate legally in the country. In addition, police in Mutare on 18 January arrested Sydney Saize, an independent journalist who had allegedly filed a story for Voice of America claiming that militants of the ruling ZANU-PF party had beaten teachers in the city. Saize faces possible criminal charges for practicing journalism without accreditation and publishing falsehoods punishable under the Public Order and Security Act of 2002. "The Zimbabwean government is using criminal charges to muzzle independent reporting and criticism," said Paul Simo, Africa advocacy director at Human Rights Watch. "This crackdown targets media that criticize government institutions, officials and the ruling party." Earlier in January, Zimbabwe's government-appointed Media and Information Commission (MIC) threatened to cancel the license of the Financial Gazette, a privately-owned newspaper, if it did not retract a story that had questioned the commission's independence from government. On 29 January, the commission refused to renew the accreditation of fifteen journalists working for the Zimbabwe Independent, another privately-owned newspaper, until the paper was forced to retract a similar story. Even individuals somehow associated with those involved in independent media organizations have been harassed by the police. Zimbabwean police arrested and detained four employees of Arnold Tsunga, one of the VOP trustees facing trial, for failing to disclose Tsunga's whereabouts to police. A lawyer representing two of the employees (who have since been released) told Human Rights Watch that a policeman repeatedly slapped one of the men around the head while in detention. A subsequent medical examination by a private doctor showed that the victim sustained a punctured ear drum during the assault. In December, police arrested three female employees of VOP and refused to release them, demanding that VOP's director, John Masuku, turn himself in to police. The women spent four days in custody and were only released when Masuku appeared at a police station in Harare where he was then arrested. The Office of the Attorney General refused to prosecute the employees due to a lack of evidence of any criminal offence. "The Zimbabwean government has detained innocent people to coerce others to surrender," said Simo. "This is a gross abuse of the criminal justice system". Source: Human Rights Watch press release, New York, in English 9 Feb 06 (via BBCM via DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Been working many days straight --- just picking up on the threads of the "discussion". The politics of it all --- as you say very clearly, you correct your mistakes and stand by your comments. It takes a lot of fortitude and strength to do this. At the end of the day people make their own mind up what they want to do, or who they believe. Also we know who the problem DXer is --- cause they are never wrong, self basing and cannot stand their own imperfections. Hence they keep quiet when they make blues. I must be getting old, as it`s like water off a duck`s back. As a by product I am scanning all the magazines of the ARDXC from 1965 to the present. I am up to 1971. I note you were with the forces in Thailand. Now I know where you get your knowledge from! I note some of the loggings --- streuth. Keep going son (Johno Wright, Australian Radio DX Club) LANGUAGE LESSONS ++++++++++++++++ A DISCUSSION HAS BEEN KICKSTARTED Ah, Carlos you have unmasked me! No, the name of course isn't Italian. My father was born in Warsaw, Poland. My mother's Italian and I was born in Milan (never left it, actually) and took high school studies both in Latin and old Greek. If I'm using "Andy" here it's because the original Andrea, one of the few male first names ending in "a" in my language, is often, and rightly, mistaken for a female name abroad (which BTW is a contradiction since Andrea comes from the genitive of Greek "Aner", meaning "Man"). A short note: "calciare" means kicking; "prendere a calci nel sedere" literally means "kicking one's butt", so "calciare la palla" is "kicking the ball". Latin's "calcare" was rare and somewhat different in its meaning: pressing (also with one's foot), treading, walking ("calcanda semel via leti" wrote Horatius, "only once the way of death will be walked on" a very approximate translation). Calciare would rather be "calcitrare", from which came our "recalcitrante", a person who doesn't easily make or accept a decision and so is dragging his or her foot! (Andrea (if you remember I'm bearded) Lawendel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) MUSIC ON PIRATE STATIONS I echo Tom Read's posting of praise for this month's Communication - indeed the generally high standard of the magazine for many years. I also welcome Axel Rose into his new role in editing Alternative Airwaves. But here I must say - at risk of sounding like a complete fuddy-duddy - that when reading the FM AAW logs each month I realise I don't have the necessary musical qualifications to contribute! Am I alone? Specifically, does someone have a handy guide to help one describe correctly the genre of music played on the various stations? I've no problem with reggae and rap. Similarly R+B, hip hop and soul present no difficulties - even drum 'n' bass. But I can't tell my old skool from my speed, or my bashment from my lover's rock!! Hold tights sounds fun - but what does it sound like? Is help available? Or is it just a question of either you know it or you don't? Or perhaps I should just ask my children? (Chris Greenway, UK, Feb 7, BDXC-UK via DXLD) Hi Chris, I couldn't help but raise a smile at this message - but I do understand completely! Even at the age of almost 23, I am finding it increasingly difficult to keep abreast of the latest styles, and the labels for these styles. When I was a teenager, the most popular up and coming pirate genre of music was primarily UK garage (practically unheard of in my home of North Ayrshire, mind), but these days it is now known as "grime". And the differences between each individual style, and period, is actually more technical than most would think. But you highlight a good point. Sometimes the genre of music that is being played can pinpoint exactly which pirate station is being logged, and which one it isn't. It might be an idea if someone could perhaps create an short introductory document, maybe with audio, to help ID the styles of music, and the talk that goes along with it. A kind of UK pirate radio glossary. I'm sure there is someone more qualified than myself, but I'm happy to put something together if others think it could be a good idea. Axel? 73s, (Stephen Howie, ibid.) CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ AIB REGIONAL MEDIA LEADERS FORUM, NEW DELHI, TUE 14 FEB There is now less than a week until the first AIB Regional Media Leaders Forum of 2006. Taking place in New Delhi, India on Tuesday 14 February, the Forum brings together a range of international speakers from Asia and Europe who will be examining the massive changes underway in broadcasting worldwide. Join us at Habitat World in central New Delhi on February 14 to learn about the way audiences now consume media content, and what changes are just around the corner that will significantly impact on broadcasting as we move from traditional means of reaching audiences to the new world that some commentators are describing as Broadcasting 2.0. As well as hearing from expert speakers, you will have the opportunity to network with speakers and with delegates who are joining this major meeting from as far as Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Taiwan and Fiji, as well as across South Asia. The AIB Regional Media Leaders Forum has been designed to be as interactive as possible, involving delegates as much as speakers – and we’ve kept the format we successfully introduced in 2005 with a half- day, intensive meeting enabling people to get maximum value while being away from the office for as short a time as possible. As well as leading speakers such as Dr. Madanmohan Rao of the Asian Media Information Centre, Jonathan Marks of Holland’s Critical Distance, Tim Suter, of British telecoms-to-media regulator Ofcom, and Jawahar Kanjilal of Nokia, broadcasters from across South Asia and other parts of the world will share their experiences and strategies in this major meeting. Our conference venue, Habitat World, is ideally placed for easy access and offers the first-class setting to allow excellent discussion and networking. I do hope you will be able to join us - if you haven’t already registered, now is the time to do so. Delegate fees are just INR1,950 for delegates from South Asia, and only £145 for those from outside the region. And of course AIB members – and those attending the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association General Conference benefit from reduced rates. Visit the AIB website http://www.aib.org.uk for full information and to register online or to download the registration form, or call us in London on +44 20 7993 2557, or contact our India-based representative Sanjeev Kapur on +91 (0) 98 11 639 274. Yours sincerely (Simon Spanswick, Feb 8, AIB, DX LISTENING DIGEST) SWL WINTER FEST, KULPSVILLE PA, MARCH 3-5 Just about one month `till the Fest! You have just a few weeks remaining to send your Fest registration in, if you want to qualify for the early registration discount and portable radio drawing. Here are the deadlines you should take note of: Registrations must be received by February 10th to qualify for the free portable radio drawing Registrations must be received by February 21st to qualify for the early registration discount Registrations must be received by Friday, March 3rd (at the Fest itself) if you want to join us for the meals on Saturday. Remember that you don`t need to purchase a registration with meals; you`re always welcome to join us for the lunchtime speakers and the Saturday raffle with the partial registration option. Check the Fest website http://www.swlfest.com for updates including the tentative forum schedule once it`s finalized. There is also a link there to the subscription page for the Fest e-mail list; check the link for Mailing Lists in the left margin of the Fest homepage. The Fest e-mail list is a great way to ask question of Fest veterans if you have never joined us but are thinking about it. Famous last words, most of the basic Fest preparations are complete, but you`re always welcome to check with co-chairs John Figliozzi or me once you`re there in case there are some things we need help with. The Fest is made possible through the support of many who contribute time, talent, and resources – and we thank each and every one of you for your help every year! Hope to see many folks at the Fest! (Rich Cuff, Easy Listening, Feb NASWA Journal via DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ RECEIVER SHOPPING LIST, RIP Radio Netherlands has removed this once-valuable reference from its website; see NETHERLANDS (gh) SOVIET MANUFACTURED SHORTWAVE RADIOS In World of Radio 1304 Glenn Hauser mentions (in an item about Radio Australia and the Keith Glover) the days when "distance was magic". I began to think back to the 1960's when I was first active in SWLing and also excited about receiving Radio Australia in the UK. While reminiscing, I began to think about a radio I bought and really enjoyed, I am sorry to say I have forgotten the name of it. Does anyone remember a Russian (Soviet) built portable shortwave receiver that was marketed in the UK around 1970 or so? All I recall was that it was a multiband portable that was very inexpensive compared to UK built radios, and I think was advertised in Practical Wireless. I may have bought it from a shop in Edware Road (London) or sent away for it, can't recall. It really worked well and I took it around Europe with me, I think I killed it a few years later while using it in the USA, something to do with the electrical system differences (Andy O`Brien, NY, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Selena, Vega and others. Here's a site that shows a few: http://www.sralph.btinternet.co.uk/russian_radios.htm (Steve Lare, MI, dxldyg via DXLD) ANOTHER RADIO SHACK SW RADIO Just happened to notice this in a Radio Shack sale flyer that came Monday: RS appears to be marketing their own version of a wind-up AM/FM/SW analog radio/flashlight/cellphone charger now, instead of just selling the Grundig/Eton ones they have been peddling. It's shown as "New" and lists at $39.99 and is model # 20-238. It differs from the Grundigs [Grundigen?] in that it is rounded instead of square and boxy. The SW coverage dial appears to be squeezed pretty tightly, so tuning SW stations will probably be touchy. The ad claims that "a short crank" will give "hours of use"; that I'll believe when I see/hear it... No info on whether it has internal NiMH batteries or what other power options are included. I cannot see what improvement this is over the Grundigs they've been selling in the same price range with similar features. Considering the bargains coming out of the Chinese factories in digital-readout SW sets, this seems a step backward to me, needlessly duplicating already-existing products. 73, (Will Martin, MO, Feb 8, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) MORE INFO ON THE KWZ30/2 DSP RECEIVER Hi all, Some more info on the planned KWZ30/2 has become available on the K+D website. =============== begin quote =============== The DSP Receiver KWZ-30/2 10 years ago Kneisner + Doering has brought out the KWZ-30. It was the first DSP-receiver for amateurs worldwide. Already at that time it was planned to build an improved successor. Finally now the development of a new receiver was started a half year ago. There will be a successor to the KWZ-30. The release date is still unknown, but we hope that we can present the receiver in 2006. What can be improved in a device that can do everything? The main RF properties like intercept values, dynamic range and sensitivity can hardly be improved substantially. Also the filters for the narrow band selection can not be improved. What is remaining? At first it is the comfortable control which can be improved. The controls of the KWZ-30 were designed very thrifty and the use was therefore partly complicated. On the other side there are now new components available which allow a different topology of the receiver with a higher performance. The technical equipment can be improved substantially. With this new performance level the receiver can also be used by professional users. The Concept --- Overview The DSP-Receiver KWZ-30/2 is like its predecessor a receiver for the frequency range 10 kHz to 30 MHz (optional to 60 MHz) using digital signal processing. It was predicted for a long time that the analog/digital converter moves closer to the antenna. This is the case too in the KWZ-30/2. The first intermediate frequency is 75 MHz as before. From there the signal is converted to 30 kHz using quadrature mixers. This second intermediate frequency is fed to the A/D-converters. Then follows the DSP-unit, which is equipped with a high performance DSP (32 bits). The Controls The controls of the KWZ-30/2 are much more comfortable than the controls of the predecessor, which intentionally were designed thrifty. The display is a colour display (quarter VGA) with a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels. On either side of the display are 5 programmable keys. So the current function of the key can be shown on the display. Besides the main encoder for the frequency tuning there are three more encoders with smaller resolution. One is dedicated for the volume control while the other two can be programmed for other functions. Of course there too is a key pad with the numerical block and other keys for the menu control and also for dedicated functions. The Circuitry The analog part of the set is a double conversion superhet with the first IF of 75 MHz and the second IF of 30 kHz. In front of the first mixer the signal is passed though a low pass filter, a switchable high pass filter and an amplifier/attenuator stage. The conversion from the first IF to the second IF is performed using quadrature mixers which secures a high mirror frequency attenuation. The mixers are followed by two A/D-converters with a dynamic range of 120 dB. From the A/D-converters the signal is passed to the DSP. It is a 32-bit DSP from Analog Devices. So there is an almost unlimited dynamic range available for the signal processing. In the DSP the selection and demodulation of the signal is performed as well as the other processing like notch filter, noise reduction, squelch and others. For the alimentation a switching power supply is used which accepts voltages from 90 to 240 Vac. With this unit no voltage selection is necessary worldwide. The set can also be run with 12 to 15 Vdc. Optional Equipment The frequency range can be extended to 30 - 60 MHz. This extension is performed using an additional front end module with filters and its own VCO. The spectrum display allows the display of the frequency spectrum in a range of +/-100 kHz from the current frequency with a dynamic range of 80 dB. The visible frequency range can be selected as well as the attenuation. DRM: it is our intention to use a module from Texas Instruments for the demodulation. At this time a sample unit is not yet available. In any case it will be a solution which will not need an external PC. =============== end quote =============== vy 73 + gd DX, (Michael Oexner, MWC via DXLD) MOBILE FM BROADCAST STATIONS NEXT? The XM interference issue (CGC #724) refers to what may be a default frequency setting (88.1) in some low-power removable cigarette-lighter FM-band transmitters being used to send audio to a car radio, whether derived from a satellite receiver or an iPod-style device in a moving vehicle. Most of these transmitters are capable of tuning over the complete FM band. Soon we may be seeing bumper stickers inviting others to "tune into our mobile broadcast station" [insert user- selected frequency here!]. Scott Stinson, KPBS, San Diego (CGC Communicator Feb 7 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) WARLOCK The massive interference to the AM broadcast band mentioned in CGC #722 may be related to the development of a military jamming system called "warlock." It is basically a portable, high power, wideband noise source; see: http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/Business/031605_pentagon.html (CGC Communicator Feb 7 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) JÜRGENSON FREQUENCY 1467 is very close to the "Jürgenson frequency" (see this concept in Google), and so I feel I cannot trust my own ears ;-) (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, RealDX via DXLD) e.g. http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=447445 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) DIGITAL BROADCASTING ++++++++++++++++++++ DRM: see CROATIA; FINLAND; NETHERLANDS; RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM IBOC RUMORS (ANONYMOUS REPORTS) FCC is rumored to be working on authorizing AM IBOC at night in chunks - letting certain stations broadcast at night at first, then certain others, etc. One engineer known to our office claims that his station expects to receive FCC nighttime IBOC authority by a certain date this year, that the FCC roll out plan is known to iBiquity and certain radio insiders, but is regarded as top secret. A final note says, "I have been noticing that several stations running AM IBOC have had problems turning it off at night." One of the stations mentioned was here in southern California (CGC Communicator Feb 7 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) see also OKLAHOMA CONGRESS GIVES OK TO DIGITAL TV SWITCH BY 2009y The US House of Representatives last week approved a $39 billion budget-cutting measure that requires American broadcasters to turn off their current analogue channels by 2009. The legislation was approved on a razor-thin 216-214 vote. A nearly identical bill passed the House in December, but it had to vote on the legislation again because Senate Democrats forced technical changes that the House needed to accept before the bill could be sent to President Bush's desk. Joe Barton, R-Texas, chairman of the House Commerce Committee, said that setting a February 17, 2009, date to end analogue TV transmissions signals "a great technical revolution that has been in the making for years will finally be complete." Barton has been one of the lead lawmakers in the push for a "hard date" for the transition to DTV. The Digital TV transition has been grinding along for decades. Under current law, broadcasters are required to vacate their current frequencies this year or when digital TV reaches 85% of the television audience, whichever is later. Critics have contended that the 85% threshold is unlikely to be reached. While about 16% of US television viewers do not get cable or satellite TV and depend entirely on over-the-air transmissions, there are millions more TVs (sets in bedrooms, kitchens etc.) that use only an antenna to receive programming. In order to prevent families from being cut off from their TVs, Congress has included a maximum of $1.5 billion for set-top boxes or other means to receive digital signals. Each family in the program would be eligible for up to $80 for the conversion. The National Association of Broadcasters estimates that there are 73 million TV sets operating nationwide. (Source: Reuters) # posted by Andy @ 14:16 UT Feb 7 (Media Network blog via DXLD) see also MEXICO! PROPAGATION +++++++++++ SPORADIC E VS TROPO ``It's probably basic info for the FM DXers on the list, but as someone who hasn't invested much time into FM DX until now, I'm wondering how you can tell the difference between Es and tropo?`` To grossly oversimplify things, tropo propagation is relatively stable, can last for hours or even days, typically involves paths of less than 1000 miles, usually involves slow fade-in/fade-out of signals, and is often somewhat predictable. For example, if there is warm air coming in from the Gulf and the morning is foggy here at sunrise, 90% of the time my semi-local KONO-101.1 in San Antonio will be overridden by WRR in Dallas, and that will last until the fog burns away later in the morning. Sporadic-E is almost "violent" in the way signals can vary in strength (there is often some distortion and flutter on them as well), often involves paths of 800 miles or more, signals appear and disappear rapidly and without warning, is unpredictable (although it peaks from early May through early August, and again around the winter solstice), and may not cover the entire FM band; depending on the MUF of the sporadic-E clouds, an opening might extend from 88 to, say, 102, MHz and then stop --- the lower part of the band will be packed with distant signals, but only locals above the "end point." Tropo and E-skip sound very different, and you'll soon immediately recognize the difference between the two. I've experienced some "mixed mode" FM openings (most in late May/early June when I lived in the Carolinas in the 1970s) and it's wild to hear tropo DX from 300-400 miles away abruptly replaced by E-skip from 1000+ miles away. Here's a summary I prepared back in 1997 that's still valid today: http://www.dxing.com/tvfmdx.htm (Harry Helms W5HLH, Smithville, TX EL19, http://futureofradio.typepad.com/ Feb 8 ABDX via DXLD) TIPS FOR RATIONAL LIVING ++++++++++++++++++++++++ SECRET FILES OF THE INQUISITION Following Gounod`s ``Ave Maria`` on KJES 11715, Feb 8 at 1505 I tuned over the RCI 13655, Sounds Like Canada, and heard this most interesting segment: ``David Rabinovitch became interested in the Inquisition in 1998, when he heard the Vatican was opening the Inquisition archives for a limited time. Guest host Jian Ghomeshi talks to David Rabinovitch about his new docudrama, Secret Files of the Inquisition. It will air on Vision TV every Wednesday and Thursday night for the next three weeks.`` [10 pm ET = 0300 UT Thu & Fri] That`s the synopsis on the SLC website, but no audio of it yet as of mid-day Feb 9; it seems only certain segments availablize audio. See if it show up under Feb 8 here: http://www.cbc.ca/soundslikecanada/interviews.html Vision TV is a Canadian-only satellite/cable network, I think, so when will this appear in the USA? Rabinovitch spoke from Seattle. Here`s the network website: http://www.visiontv.ca/ And the show: http://www.visiontv.ca/Programs/documentaries_Inquisition.html which includes a 30-second video promo. Is anyone streaming Vision TV, such as JumpTV? I think Vision has the reputation (or mandate) of really being ecumenical, unlike US gospel- huxter TV networks. Altho being truly objective about religion may be too much to expect (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###