DX LISTENING DIGEST 6-089, June 20, 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 SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1319: Wed 2200 WBCQ 7415 Wed 2300 WBCQ 18910-CLSB Fri 2030 WWCR 15825 Sat 0400 WRMI 9955 Sat 0800 WRN 13865 DRM via Bulgaria Sat 1430 WRMI 7385 Sat 1600 WWCR 12160 [or later] Sun 0230 WWCR 5070 [start varies 0225-0235] Sun 0530 WRMI 9955 Sun 0630 WWCR 3215 Mon 0300 WBCQ 9330-CLSB Mon 0415 WBCQ 7415 Mon 0500 WRMI 9955 Wed 0930 WWCR 9985 Complete schedule including non-SW stations and audio links: http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html For updates see our Anomaly Alert page: http://www.worldofradio.com/anomaly.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 DX/SWL/MEDIA PROGRAMS June 20: http://www.worldofradio.com/dxpgms.html ** AFRICA. RADIO FOR PEACEBUILDING, AFRICA Dear radio Colleagues, We have put several new exemplary radio programmes, in French, English and Swahili, in the ‘audio’ section the Radio for Peacebuilding, Africa (RFPA) website: http://www.radiopeaceafrica.org/index.cfm?lang=en&context_id=4&context=audio The following programmes are now available: - `Another Africa` series produced by RFPA. Each programme includes 3 elements from different African countries about one theme (such as youth radio, the role of religions in conflicts…). - RFPA Talk-show award winners - Other Search for Common Ground programmes - Other productions Reminder: We are currently conducting an evaluation of the project. If you are an African broadcaster or working with radio in Africa, your participation would be extremely useful. To fill in the survey online, go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=888012196108 or contact us so that we can send you the questionnaire. Completing the questionnaire should take only ten minutes of your time and by doing so you will help us improve the quality of the project. In advance, thank you for your participation! Yannick De Mol Radio for Peacebuilding, Africa Search for Common Ground http://www.radiopeaceafrica.org ------------------------------------------------------- Search for Common Ground (SFCG) http://www.sfcg.org European Headquarters: Rue Belliard 205, B-1040 Brussels, Belgium (via Sergei Sosedkin, DXLD) So not a station ** ALASKA. KTOO in Juneau, Alaska, is buying two FM stations to offer a wider selection of programming. It already operates one FM outlet -- the most listened-to station in Juneau, it says. The broadcaster will consult with listeners as it works out the stations' formats. posted at 10:09 AM EST June 8 (Current via DXLD) Viz.: A letter to our members --- On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff of KTOO, we'd like to share some very exciting news. After several years of looking for ways to bring you more of the programs you've been asking for, we have found a wonderful opportunity. On Tuesday, June 6, KTOO signed an Asset Purchase Agreement with White Oak Broadcasting to buy KSRJ-FM and KFMG-FM. If the FCC approves, the licenses will transfer this fall, and we'll be serving Juneau with three public radio stations: KTOO-FM, and two new "yet to be defined" public radio channels. This exciting development is in direct response to overwhelming listener demand for more programming. Over the years you've told us that your appetite for public radio is bigger than what we can satisfy in a 24 hour period. . . http://www.ktoo.org/more/members.cfm Now that`s the way to do it, not HD multicasting (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** ALGERIA [non]. Saludos cordiales, estoy escuchando con muy buena señal y excelente música árabe así cómo el canto de Suras a la emisora NO ID en 9765 y en paralelo por 12025 desde las 2037 a 2100 en árabe y en 7150 en paralelo por 9710 desde las 2100 a 2125. Canto de Suras, canciones árabes, locutor y locutora con comentarios, referencias a "Islamilla, Medina" y algo que parece "Argelia", SINPO 55555 (José Miguel Romero, Spain, June 18, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1319, DXLD) Via UK ** ARGENTINA. RAE (Buenos Aires). 11710. 29 Dec 2005. 0207-0304. Full data card, skeds, and a very nice personal letter in 5 months, 8 days for an English report, applause card, 3 IRCs and a local Christmas post card. I've been trying for over ten years for this one! It had five very nice stamps on it too. V/S Marcela Campos, RAE's Director, John Anthony Middleton, English Team Head, and Marian Turkula, English Assistant. Station addy: CC 555 Core Central [sic] C1000WAF Buenos Aires, Argentina (Joe Wood, Greenback TN, MARE Tipsheet via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. 15160, R. Australia. 06/10 0507-0517. 2 OM announcers with Australian rules football with the Kangaroos playing the Tigers. The Tigers were ahead by 14 points at half time. (As fierce as Kangaroos may be, I can't imagine one winning a fight with a tiger, so this makes sense :) Repeated mentions of the sartorial splendor of the umpire and the panache with which he wore his bowler. (Most men don't wear hats well anymore ... ) Good. // 15240 fair (Joe Wood, TN, MARE Tipsheet via DXLD) ** BARBADOS. The Voice of Barbados has news and some good photos at their website http://www.vob929.com/ --- you can listen online to programmes such as Tell It Like It Is and Down to Brass Tacks, which are a powerful force in Barbadian public life. A wide range of programming includes parenting, health, soap opera Afternoon Delight and various music shows including jazz, classical and ballads (Chris Brand, radio websites, June radiouser [UK] via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 4450, Radio Estación Frontera, Cobija. Easily the best catch, poor level with Spanish, Indian dialect and music, then a surprise ID at 1010 with fades. 17/6. A great and surprising find. [WRTH 2006: 250 watts, inactive] 4865, R. Centenario, Santa Cruz. Spanish dialect, talking on health and social issues 1015 17/6, Mentioned Santa Cruz at 1020 twice. Poor level (Cataract DX-pedition, NSW via John Wright, WORLD OF RADIO 1319, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see DX-PEDITIONS below for details ** BRAZIL. BRASIL – Estão na fase final os testes no modo DRM que a Universidade de Brasília está fazendo em 25885 kHz, na faixa de 11 metros. A UnB apresentou os primeiros resultados no dia 12 de junho. De acordo com o diretor da Faculdade de Tecnologia Humberto Abdala, a intenção em fazer testes para a faixa AM é torná-la competitiva com a FM. ``As rádios AM existem, mas poucas pessoas as ouvem por causa da qualidade inferior à da FM. Para o usuário, importa saber se a digitalização vai trazer qualidade na tecnologia do produto``, diz. Ele afirmou que o espaço para novas emissoras está congestionado, principalmente para a faixa de FM. Na avaliação dele, se após os testes o modelo DRM der certo, isso vai significar uma nova realidade para as rádios comerciais. ``As ondas curtas têm capacidade de colocar mais 20 rádios em uma cidade como Brasília. Se essa faixa for interessante ao final dos testes, estaremos disponibilizando mais 20 canais de rádio para cada região, para cada metrópole brasileira``, informou. As informações são da jornalista Milena Assis e foram publicadas na Revista Envolverde, em http://www.envolverde.com.br (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX June 18 via WORLD OF RADIO 1319, DXLD) ** CANADA. AMATEUR RADIO TO COMMEMORATE CBC TRANSMITTER SITE From QRZ.COM bio for calls VC2CBF and XM2CBF "Special callsigns VC2CBF and XM2CBF were issued by Industry Canada for this event. The exposition is held at the historical house (1794) ``Maison Lenoblet-du-Plessis`` in Contrecoeur (QC, Canada) from June 24th to September 4th 2006 as to commemorate the foundation of CBC / Société Radio-Canada 70 years ago, in 1936, and the operation of CBF (50 kW at 690 kHz AM frequency) transmitter and antennas in Contrecoeur for 42 years, from 1937 to 1979. Contrecoeur was also the site of the first Canadian public short-wave transmitter...." from http://www.qrz.com/callsign/xm2cbf VC2CBF authorized from June 24 - July 23, 2006. XM2CBF authorized from July 24 - August 23, 2006 per http://www.callsign.ca (Wade Smith, New Brunswick, June 18, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHAD. 6165 kHz, RD. Nationale Tchadienne, N'Djaména, heard at the unusual time of 1216-1255, 15 Jun, French program of African pops, phone-ins; 34333, QRM de HRV (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, June 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 9505, Radio Havana Cuba; 2105-2120 18 June. Fake names "Ed Newman" and "Yolanda Fisher" hosting the kickass, swingin' "Mailbag" program in English. Very good signal. Why aren't they on XM or Sirius? This could blow Stern away in a heartbeat. Are you reading, Arnie? "Yes, of course we broadcast in nine languages on Radio Havana..." per Eddie during this segment. Into Arniespeak ("Arnaldo" this time) regarding Cuba health care vaccination babble. Then, a segment about the Miami "Nuevo Herald" newspaper with references to "the rabid lapdog of Washington." Great script! Abruptly into a 'new' version of the interval signal X 1 at 2130 followed by Haitian Kreyol programming (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, June 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [and non]. Lucía Newman on her nine years as CNN Correspondent: LUCÍA NEWMAN: LA VIVENCIA DE NUEVE AÑOS EN LA HABANA WILFREDO CANCIO ISLA, El Nuevo Herald Lucía Newman, la ex corresponsal de la cadena CNN en La Habana, termina su estancia profesional de nueve años en Cuba con la certeza de que el país caribeño retorna a los tiempos de la centralización, el portazo a la apertura económica y el silenciamiento de las expresiones críticas que antes podían oírse en plena calle. . . http://www.miami.com/mld/elnuevo/news/magazine/14844555.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp (via Oscar de Céspedes, FL, condig list via DXLD) ** CYPRUS. 7210, CBC Cyprus 17/6. Sign on 2215; however when playing music then cut off air at 2222. Big level all three frequencies, clear for a change, lost audio, off at 2245, // 6180 and 9760. Only on Fri, Sat, Sun UT (Cataract DX-pedition, NSW via John Wright, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. 5005. This was IDing as ``Radio Malabo``. 2116 17/6 big level in Spanish, with a song ``My heels are pushing me down``! Great listening (Cataract DX-pedition, NSW via John Wright, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FALKLAND ISLANDS. Sr. Hauser, Ante todo le hago llegar un cordial saludo. Hace unos dias leí un reporte suyo en donde ponía en duda una información suministrada a través del programa "La Rosa de Tokio" en relación a la guerra de Malvinas. Por cierto que está usted en lo correcto que la onda corta de la FIBS no desapareció en 1999; simplemente fue un error semántico. Se debió decir 1989, que sí fue el año en que una muy fuerte tormenta terminó de destruir la planta transmisora donde se encontraba el transmisor que operaba en los 3958 Kcs. Sin otro particular me despido dejándole los mejores deseos (Daniel Camporini, Argentina, May 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FINLAND. Finland plans to close its MW transmitter on 963 kHz the 1st of January 2007, but 558 kHz will continue (Bernt-Ivan Holmberg, Möklinta, Sweden, MWC via Barry Davies, June 20, ABDX via DXLD) ** FRANCE [and non]. FRANCIA, Radio Francia Internacional está retransmitiendo el partido de fútbol del campeonato del mundo entre Francia y Corea en onda corta por las siguientes frecuencias: 9790, 11705, 11995 y 13695 (José Miguel Romero 2034 UT June 18, dxldyg via DX LISTENIING DIGEST) The frequency management wizards at TDF have done it again. June 19 at 1415, found equal mix of two stations on 17630, Africa Number One, Gabon, of course, with rap music, and something in French covering a silly ballgame, mentioning Congo, I thought. But if this was World Cup, Togo vs Switzerland was scheduled at that time. We know that RFI has been broadcasting WC, but why on ANO`s frequency? At least they were really zero-beat so it was at first hard to decide whether two audios were accidentally mixing from one transmitter. But there was slight fading independently. Same at 1458 recheck, but both gone at 1559 recheck. Perhaps this was just one more SNAFU outgrowing from the Libyan mess (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1319, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Solar-terrestrial indices for 18 June follow. Solar flux 73 and mid-latitude A-index 8. The mid-latitude K-index at 1500 UTC on 19 June was 0 (3 nT). No space weather storms were observed for the past 24 hours (SEC via DXLD) Saludos cordiales Glenn, hoy han empezado a las 1200 las emisiones de La Voz de África en 17660 y 17670, la emisión musical en 17665; a las 1210 cesó en 17670 y pasó a 17635. A las 1230 cesa en 17660 y pasa a 17630 atorando a África Nº 1 de Gabón; RFI en 17620 a las 1300 radió el partido de fútbol de Suiza y Togo. Ya no pude chequearla más tiempo y desconozco lo que ocurrió, pero si es como comenta, otra vez RFI colocó una de sus transmisiones para interferir a Sawt al Amal, fallo? O simplemente no dudan en utilizar todo lo que tienen, porqué Sawt al Amal busca esas frecuencias, su intención es destapar la participación de Francia? Algo a tener en cuenta. 73 (José Miguel Romero, Spain, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) SAA is over by 1400 so whatever happens after that is overrun, or should have nothing to do with it. Then I see this report on another time and frequency, that ANO is carrying WC, so it makes me wonder what I heard on 17630 was ANO with WC, and the rap music maybe an unnecessary musical jammer (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1319, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GABON. 15475, Afrique #1 (Moyabi). 17 June 1720-1731. OM announcer in French with a sporting event presumed to be fútbol and maybe the World Cup. Lots of crowd noise. VG (Joe Wood, TN, MARE Tipsheet via DXLD) This was apparently the case in Noel Green`s June 8 report in 6-085, before ANO would have been carrying WC: ``There is a very interesting situation today re the Afro-pop station. At tune in c1430 I found it operating on 17630 co-channel with and on top of Africa #1. So, if it is coming from Gabon (as we think) it seems that the engineers have to do what they are told - or haven`t they realised what is happening? I don't know where Al-Amal was operating earlier but maybe José Miguel will tell us eventually. 73 (Noel R. Green [NW England], ibid.)`` (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** GUATEMALA. 4780, R. Cultural Coatán. 1044 17/6 massive signal, 1058 ID. Had indigenous Indian music (Cataract DX-pedition, NSW via John Wright, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. Dear Sir, Still AIR Chennai broadcasts on 4920 & 7160 kHz only. But you mentioned that AIR Chennai changed their frequency to 7270 kHz in DXLD. Please change it (Jaisakthivel, Chennai, June 19, WORLD OF RADIO 1319, DX LISTENING DIGEST) OK, but surely the report from Jose Jacob that it was on 7270 was correct at the time. See 6-083 and 6-070. WRTH 2006 shows Chennai 50 kW on 7160, testing 100 kW on 7270 and 7275 (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) Dear Glenn Hauser, Last two week I monitor it. Surprisingly Jose also did the same mistake. Jose is the official contributor to WRTH, so the same mistakes take place there also (Jaisakthivel, Chennai, ibid.) Well, the original report was dated May 4, more than 6 weeks ago; also he was referring to the 100 kW transmitter, not the 50 kW transmitter on 7160: (gh) ``AIR Chennai has changed from 7275 to 7270 for the morning broadcast at 0025-0430. It must be due to interference from Singapore which has come up lately on 7275 (ex 7170). The full sked of Chennai 100 kW on 7270 now is: 0025-0430, 0700-1330, 1430-1740 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, May 4, dx_india via DXLD 6-070)`` ** INDIA. 10330, AIR "FM Rainbow", Bangalore; 1951-2100* 18 June. Tune-in to UK English-accented male DJ (the John Peel of India, based on his great voice and program content), mentioning Gwen Stefani, then into a Stefani (or was it No Doubt) track, other Western Urban/rap songs backed against Indian 'Trip-Hop' vocals. Mention of "... you're on 102.6 MHz..." at 2007. The Wallflowers "One Headlight" at 2012. Lots of brief patter between tracks, all in English by said DJ. Program seemingly called "The Wicked Hour" and he mentioned a totally impossible-to-copy email address, direct to him. Concluding at 2028 with The Beatles "Drive My Car" and into totally cool, recorded promo "... FM... in the morning or late at night... All India Radio, yes in stereo all the time on All India Radio... 102.6..." sung to the tune of the Doobie Brothers "Listen To the Music" then (without time sounders) into news by man in Hindi, 2030-2032. Then, canned "AIR [as in "air"], this is Rainbow" followed by Hindi pop vocals, Hindi DJ. Excellent copy. And indeed, it is "The Wicked Hour" per this page: http://allindiaradio.org/DTH-Radio/fmrainbow.htm So, I can only guess that I'm listening to "Non Stop Geet Sangeet" now. Certainly that would have been my first guess, if you asked me. Abruptly off at 2100 (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, June 18, WORLD OF RADIO 1319, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 3269, RRI-Gorontalo, Gorontalo. Song of the coconut islands 1158 ID in Indonesian at 1200, News relay from Jakarta, sign- off 1206. Good level 17/6 (Cataract DX-pedition, NSW via John Wright, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL. PREDATORS OF PRESS FREEDOM topped by Muammar Gaddafi, LIBYA: http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=13616 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL. NON-VHF DISTRESS FREQUENCIES kHz 457, avalanche rescue beacons 2182, international maritime distress, calling and safety, 2187.5, international maritime MF digital selective calling 2272, avalanche rescue beacons 3023, RCC [?] to ships and/or aircraft at scene of search 4340, NATO combined submarine distress 5680, RCC [?] to ships and/or aircraft at scene of search 8364, survival craft; international for intercommunication between survival craft, aircraft and ships (June radiouser [UK] via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET [and non]. A colleague along with his team, is conducting a world- wide Internet study about Audio and Radio Listening Habits. It's the first survey of its kind (as far as we know) so he's keen to make it a success. I invite you to join us by answering the questions at http://www.audiosurvey.de If you have any questions about the survey, send an e-mail to: info @ audiosurvey.de Why would you want to participate? Well, it helps him and his colleagues to serve the world with better radio programs, thus serving all of us. Plus, the questionnaire is interesting to do, and you might learn something about yourself and your listening habits! So please join us. And feel free to pass this message on to as many of your friends and colleagues as you like. Thanks a lot! (Michael of ADDX, NASWA Flashsheet June 19 via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. Dual XM/Sirius Radio Could Appear This Year June 19, 2006 --- Satellite radio enthusiasts who subscribe to both XM and Sirius may soon be able to consolidate both of their satellite subscriptions into one radio receiver. A company called Interoperable Technologies, a joint venture between Sirius and XM, is currently working to create interoperable satellite radio receiver technology that allows subscribers to access both services. Last year the company successfully completed the design of a radio capable of receiving both services, and now they have a timeline to bring a receiver to market this year, says Orbitcast.com. A message on the Interoperable Technologies Web site reads, "Having all XM and Sirius programming available together in a single radio can be quite the compelling experience. Or, for those consumers unsure of which of two great services to commit to, offering a choice between Sirius or XM - independent of purchased hardware - may lower entry barriers and further accelerate the adoption of this exciting new media. To these ends, Interoperable Technologies continues to develop dual-mode receiver technology able to receive either or both satellite radio services." (FMQB.com via Brock Whaley, DXLD) ** IRAN. 11855, Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran; Sirjan; *1721- 1750 18 June. Transmitter abruptly up at 1721 in unID language (actually, sounded Farsi), VOIRI chimes/there sounders 1730, into German external service. Hard to ID the language initially, due to very bad (presumably) Iranian accent. Very good, and parallel about equal 15085 (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, June 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I also noticed VOIRI in French at 1830 June 17 on 15085 (gh, OK, DXLD) Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The new frequency of 7540 (reported recently in DXLD) was heard here in Spanish from 2030 to 2130 UT, Tuesday 20 June. Signal strength was about the same as the parallel frequencies of 7300 and 9650. All were in the clear (Bernie O'Shea, Ottawa, Ontario, June 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ. SATELLITE SISTERS LAUNCH CAMPAIGN TO RAISE $100,000 TO KEEP BAGHDAD’S RADIO AL-MAHABA ON THE AIR Radio Al-Mahaba in Baghdad is the only means of mass communication for women in Iraq. Its sole purpose is to educate and empower women so they will be able to participate in the emerging society. Radio Al- Mahaba desperately needs help to continue this critical mission. Since its first days on air in March 2005, the staff has persevered in spite of death threats, a transmitter blown up by a car bomb, seriously thin resources, and recently, the failure of their rented transmitter. Satellite Sisters, which features the five real-life Dolan sisters, is leading a fundraising campaign to ``Keep Al-Mahaba Talking``. Their goal is to raise $100,000. The Dolans launched the campaign last night at the American Women in Radio & Television`s Gracie Allen Awards event in New York, when they accepted their seventh Gracie, this time for Outstanding Talk Radio Program, with a plea to America`s broadcasters to join the battle for Radio Al-Mahaba. ``It is critical that women`s voices be heard in the new Iraq,`` said Liz Dolan, one of five Satellite Sisters. ``The women of Iraq are at a critical time in their history. They need information, validation and community in order to succeed in a new and free society. That`s why Satellite Sisters is reaching out to Radio Al-Mahaba`s broadcast colleagues and friends here in the United States. They will not be able to continue their critical mission without our help.`` Radio Al-Mahaba is non-religious, non-governmental and non-sectarian. The station provides the only safe haven for women to call-in and talk to one another about their fears, experiences and opinions. Commentators and guests educate the audience about their rights as women and encourage them to take part in the political process. Contributions to ``Keep Radio Al-Mahaba Talking`` can be made at http://www.satellitesisters.com/ For more information about Radio Al- Mahaba visit http://www.okiinc.org/vow_radio.html About Satellite Sisters ABC Radio Networks` Satellite Sisters is broadcast on over 80 radio stations as well as XM`s Take Five channel 155. They are authors of Satellite Sisters` Uncommon Senses and produce the weekly e-letter, ``Sisterlogue``. They are the winners of seven Gracie Allen Awards from the AWRT including the 2006 Outstanding Talk Radio Program. More on this story [KUTR 820 SLC; WTFK? 96.0]: Links forged between radio stations for women in US and Iraq http://blogs.rnw.nl/medianetwork/?p=4944 (June 20th, 2006, 14:29 UTC by Andy, Media Network blog via DXLD) S.S. started out as a public radio program, then bolted for commercial radio (gh, DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. Re 6-088: 9855, Shiokaze, June 19 (Mon.), *1030- 1057*, on with slow tempo piano music, program entirely in English; ID, schedule (local times given: 5-6 AM & 7:30-8 PM), e-mail & postal address, mentions ``Investigating Commission of Missing Japanese Probably Related to North Korea``; news about North Korea, human rights, the U.N., etc., music between items; several IDs ``This is Shiokaze, from Tokyo, Japan``, gives names of several persons abducted, asking for information about them; editorial; profile of a person adapting to life in Japan after escaping through China, from North Korea, in 2003; off in mid-sentence; fair (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, Etón E5, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1319, DX LISTENING DIGEST) via Chita, Russia? ** LATVIA. Since 2002 various radio services have been relayed via the shortwave facilities of the LRTVC at Ulbroka. These relays were arranged via a Latvian Company (KREBS TV). Please note that KREBS TV no longer holds a shortwave broadcasting licence in Latvia. In late 2005 the Latvian Broadcasting Council invited Tenders for the establishment of a full commercial shortwave broadcast radio station. On Friday 27th January 2005, the Latvian Broadcasting Council announced that RNI had been granted a FULL commercial shortwave broadcasting licence. The RNI broadcasting licence is NOT a temporary relay licence, as used by previous operator KREBS TV. RNI is now the ONLY officially sanctioned shortwave broadcast radio station in Latvia. The website address is : http://www.rni.fm (radiostrike, June 20, shortwave yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1319, DXLD) ** LIBYA [and non]. See FRANCE [and non] ** MADAGASCAR. Radio Netherlands relay. 11655. 26 Feb 05. 1806-1817. Received a full data folder in 137 days for an English report. The folder showed an artistic map of Madagascar. The reply came directly from the relay site with nice stamps. V/S Rahamefy Eddy, Technical Department, Radio Nederland Wereldomroep Station Relais, BP 404, Antananarivo, Madagascar. Station addy: Radio Nederland Wereldomroep, PO Box 222, 1200 JG Hilversum, The Netherlands (Joe Wood, Greenback TN, MARE Tipsheet via DXLD) ** MALAYSIA-SARAWAK. Re 6-068: Hi Glenn, 6050 is Malaysia (RTM), but there is a question if it is Sibu returning to their former frequency here, or maybe it’s Kajang, near Kuala Lumpur, changing frequency from 6025 kHz. up to 6050 kHz. It has been a while now since I last heard Asyik FM via RTM and also their "Suara Islam" (Voice of Islam) program at 1400 UT, on 6025, due to some interference I have at that frequency, so I do not know what is happening there. In the past I heard them both fairly regularly. The expert on Malaysian stations, Alan Davies, is checking to see what the actual situation is. I do note that the Sarawak FM website http://www2.rtm.net.my/rtmsarawak/frekuensi.htm still lists Sibu for 6050, but who knows when the list was last updated. Alan`s e-mail is as follows: `` recently saw some updated RTM registrations suggesting that 6050 was planned for use from the Kajang site near Kuala Lumpur, replacing Asyik FM and Voice of Islam's old frequency of 6025; so maybe the transmission you noted was actually from Kajang rather than Sibu. I'll try to check.`` If I hear from Alan, will pass on any new information (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) This caveat too late for WOR 1319 ** MALI. 7283.4 kHz, R. Mali, Kati, observed on 15 Jun, 1212-1250, French, contemporary Malian songs; 45433; \\ 11960. 11960 ditto, 15 Jun, 1113-1215, Vernacular, traditional songs, French, contemporary Malian songs; increasingly stronger QRM de co-channel HCJB and adjacent frequencies (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, June 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 6010, XEOI, Radio Mil, Ciudad de Mexico, 19 de junio, 0525 - música romántica en español, regular con mucha salpicadura desde Havana-6000, pero podía conseguir un sonido bonito sobre 6012 con el filtro bajo de "AM Narrow". En mezcla con La Voz de tu Conciencia que tenía canto religioso. SINPO 32232 (Bogdan Chiochiu, QC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I read a lot of DX reports in Spanish and I have never seen a native speaker or anyone but Bogdan use the term ``salpicadura``. But how else would you say ``splattering``? My dixionary, not geared toward DXing, translates it as sprinkling, spattering [without the L], splashing. I also note that, oddly, LA DX publications seem not to be bothered by so many mistakes in Spanish, while DXLD has a higher standard of literacy and it would take me gobs of time to fix up such reports in their entirety to make them more presentable for publication here. Bogdan has had an ongoing dispute with the owner of the LatinMWDX yg who wants posts to be in English. Lately he ran the report from which the above item came, thru an online translation, and salsa dura came out ``hard sauce``, plus lots of other confounding results made worse by some incorrect Spanish words that could not be translated (gh, DXLD) ** NIGERIA. 6089.8 kHz, R. Nigeria, Kaduna, audible on 15 Jun, 2214- 2228, Vernacular, tribal songs; 54433 despite the adjacent QRM de DRM signal on 6090 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, June 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORWAY. Glenn, With the closure of 1314 Norway fast approaching, I spent some time researching the NRK website and stumbled upon a page that briefly describes AM and satellite channels. It includes coverage maps for 153, 630, and 675 kHz, along with a thumbnail tower photo. There's no mention of 1314 kHz. http://www.nrk.no/informasjon/nrk_i_utlandet/3694632.html (Bruce Conti - Nashua NH, June 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) If you SÖK on 1314 you will get a lot of hits, such as a 3-year-old program schedule, and irrelevant mentions of that number (gh, DXLD) Received an answer from NRK marketing and communication department today about the future of NRK Kvitsoy-1314. It will definitely be closed down the 1st of July, no plans of DRM or other services :-) (Bernt-Ivan Holmberg, Möklinta, Sweden, MWC via Barry Davies, June 20, ABDX via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. [Re http://www.audiographics.com/agd/061206-1.htm --- Robert Conrad`s comments on HD, which are also on the WCLV website; and see USA] Thanks Glenn, The article could not be any closer to the truth. Our HD-2 station in Lawton is working great and our audience is ready. However, we have only one home radio, the BA radio [Boston Acoustics], and a handful of after-market car radios, all expensive to the average listeners. I have stopped building out the HD radio station for the KCCU network until more radios are on the market. They double the price of running the HD station from an electric cost and also the cost of programming is not worth it with no audience (Mark Norman, Director of Broadcasting/General Manager, Cameron University 2800 West Gore Lawton, Oklahoma 73505 Office - 580-581-2425 Fax - 580-581-5571 KCCU Lawton 89.3 & 102.9 KLCU Ardmore 90.3 KOCU Altus 90.1 KYCU 89.1 Western Oklahoma KMCU 88.7 Wichita Falls Texas KCCU 100.1 Chickasha --- June 19, to gh, via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3385. 2GB [Sydney 873 kHz] via Rabaul. This is a relay. Easts v Wests or Roosters via Tigers. (Tigers ate the Roosters), Rugby League commentary 17/6 0750. Good level. Heard previous year. 4960, Catholic Radio Network, Vanimo. English teachings from 0802 thru to 0829 17/6 when Vatican Radio Interval signal! Then some local programming, with part of the Lord`s Prayer. Very hard to understand thru static and fades; usually faded down by 0900. First night 16/6 just barely audible. The 4960 Christian station in New Guinea was a funny signal at 0830 (6.30 pm local), with a Vatican Radio Interval signal, which would have been interesting had you just tuned in! (Cataract DX-pedition, NSW via John Wright, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 4950, Radio Madre de Dios, Puerto Maldonando, recibida tarjeta QSL con datos completos, no V/S en 100 días. Se acompañó 1 US $ junto al informe de recepción. Dirección: Radio Madre de Dios, Apartado 37, Puerto Maldonado, PERÚ En la tarjeta QSL se pude leer: "Somos una emisora cultural educativa del Vicariato Apostólico de Puerto Maldonado, fundada el 23 de Noviembre de 1957. Nuestro objetivo es unir y acompañar a una población muy diseminada en esta dificil y aislada geografía. Estamos en zona de selva tropical amazónica del Perú. Nuestro clima es caluroso y húmedo. La vegetación es exuberante y tropical. Le deseamos muchos y felices DX". (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, June 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Great! I have received the same card today, but in 43 days and without USD. Paz y Dx (Ignacio Sotomayor, Segovia, Castilla, España, ibid.) ** PERU. 4835, Radio Sicuani, Sicuani. Heard just a plain ol ID in Spanish at 1025 17/6, poor level. Others reporting the other Latin on this frequency, but no sign of that station. 17/6 (Cataract DX- pedition, NSW via John Wright, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Which other Latin, R. Marañón, also Perú? (gh, DXLD) 5460. La Voz del [sic] Bolívar. Andean music then at 1125 17/6 Spanish, discussing World Cup soccer of Argentina 6 thrashing Serbia- Montenegro [sic] nil. Also giving Brazilian soccer players` birth dates (Cataract DX-pedition, NSW via John Wright, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PORTUGAL. Sporadic E from Europe: Weak TV from Portugal on 48242 this morning before leaving for work. I'm curious how many DXers listen for higher propagation to Europe? Does anyone have equipment to listen for the FM broadcast band 65.8-74 MHz ? Has anyone heard / seen TV above 55 MHz? (Randy Zerr KW4RZ, Ft Walton Beach, FL EM60qk, June 20, WTFDA via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Les informo que la La Voz De Rusia cuenta ya con una muy nueva y renovada página web para su servicio en castellano. Para quienes quieran hacerle una visita aqui les va la dirección: http://www.vor.ru/Spanish/new/ Cordiales 73 (Dino Bloise, FLORIDA, EEUU, June 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Also has a New English page http://www.vor.ru/English/new/ Check the language list at http://www.vor.ru for any others that may be or become new. So are the OLD pages still available too? There is no standard format for the URLs to different language pages (gh, DXLD) ** SERBIA [and non]. Finally I found some pictures of Jabanusa and Stubline! Just follow a link ==> http://www.radioyu.org/main/serbian_main.htm First two pictures (right) are Jabanusa, the last two pictures (left) are Stubline. I've translated the following text: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Kratkotalasni centar Radio Jugoslavije (Radio Srbije) izgraden je je 1987. godine pored Bijeljine. Centar je bio opremljen sa 4 predajnika snage 500 kW i mocnim antenskim sistemom od 43 antene, projektovanim da pokriva ceo svet. Ukupna vrednost investicije iznosila je više od 20 miliona dolara. Ratna dejstva na teritoriji Bosne i Hercegovine 1992. uticala su na donošenje odluke o preseljenju dva predajnika sa pratecom opremom u kratkotalasni centar u Stublinama. U toku NATO bombardovanja Jugoslavije 1999. Uništena je glavna zgrada emisionog centra u Stublinama, sa svim predajnicima. Sa današnjim kapacitetima, Radio Srbija emituje cetvorosatni program na sedam jezika. vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv TRANSLATION: Shortwave center of Radio Yugoslavia (International Radio Serbia) was built in 1987 near Bijeljina. Center was equipped with four transmitters of 500 kW each and powerful antenna system of 43 antennas, designed to cover entire world. Total amount of investments was more than 20 million US dollars. 1992 war activities on territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina effected on designion to relocate two transmitters with their equipment in to transmitting station Stubline. During the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia the main building at Stubline was destroyed, with all transmitters. With today's capacities, International Radio Serbia transmits 4-hour program on 7 languages. PRONUNCIATIONS: Bijeljina-Jabanusa = Biyellina-Yabanusha Obrenovac-Stubline = Obrenovats-Stublineh P.S. Does anybody on the world knows where to find some pictures of recently closed IBB Kavala site? Best regards & many 73s! (Dragan Lekic from Subotica, Serbia, June 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Sorry, I don't believe, that the two pictures on the left are from old Stubline-Obrenovac site. Four transmitter control panels are seen on the dish. These are the four transmitter units once erected at 250 kW units at Bijeljina-Jabanusa. All four picture belong to Jabanusa site. The transmitter building seen on http://www.radioyu.org/main/serbian_main.htm is equal to the house seen on Google satellite picture of Jabanusa. Compare also the pictures after the US air force attack in May 1999, see attachments: also the .eml file on the Bijeljina matter of 2004: http://www.minel.com/elpr6.html Is a typical "German" BBC Mannheim installation, with a antenna star with three spikes/tines. 73 de wolfy (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SLOVAKIA. Radio Slovakia International. 7230. 02 Nov 05 0107-0127. Received a p/d card in 120 days for an English report, $1, and 1 IRC. The card featured St. Martin's Cathedral in the snow. My letter was read on RSI's mailbag program. Note on card said RSI would probably be off the air by the end of June, 2006 (Joe Wood, Greenback TN, MARE Tipsheet via DXLD) Too bad about RSI leaving SW. They always had interesting programs, and were a great verifier (Ken Zichi, MARE ed., ibid.) ** SOMALIA. 6960, Radio Shabele, Mogadishu. With the recent civil war, I would have thought that this station would be off air, but not so, Beautiful interval signal, sign off 2145 17/6, a surprise catch on Sunday morning (Cataract DX-pedition, NSW via John Wright, WORLD OF RADIO 1319, DX LISTENING DIGEST) SOMALI GOVT RESTRICTS SHABELLE RADIO OVER ETHIOPIA CLAIMS http://www.sudantribune.com/article.php3?id_article=16252 June 18, 2006 (MOGADISHU) — Somali transitional government on Sunday restricted transmission of a radio station and arrested two journalists after it broadcast a report claiming Ethiopian troops had entered the country, officials said. Gunmen loyal to President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed stopped transmission of the Shabelle radio station, the only Mogadishu-based channel that broadcasts in the temporary seat of government in Baidoa, about 250 kilometres (155 miles) from the capital, at about 10:00 am (0700 GMT) on Sunday, they said. The channel continued broadcasting to others parts of Somalia. Sources said the gunmen carried out the orders given by Agriculture Minister Mohamed Hassan Nur Shatigudud after the radio station aired the claims about Ethiopian troops. "We are demanding that the government allows our transmission in Baidoa and immediately and unconditionally releases our journalists," said Shabelle Media Network Chairman Abdulmalik Yusuf Muhamoud. "This is gross violation of human rights and it is an exercise that undermines freedom of expression in Somalia," he added. The government has taken measure to beef up its security amid fears that the increasingly powerful Islamic alliance, which has seized swathes of of southern Mogadishu, may target Baidoa. Joint Islamic Courts chief Sheikh Shariff Sheikh Ahmed has claimed that 300 Ethiopian troops crossed into southwestern Somalia early on Saturday to protect the government and counter his increasingly powerful group. But Addis Ababa denied the charge, saying it had instead boosted troops along the border because of the Islamists’ provocation (via Zacharias Liangas, WORLD OF RADIO 1319, DXLD) ** SPAIN [and non]. El Grupo PRISA y el Grupo GODÓ crean la mayor empresa de radio en el área de habla española 14 de junio de 2006 Javier de Godó y Jesús de Polanco El Grupo Prisa y el Grupo Godó han acordado agrupar sus participaciones en la Sociedad Española de Radiodifusión (SER), Antena 3 y Grupo Latino de Radio (GLR) para crear la mayor empresa de radio en el área de habla española. La compañía Unión Radio tendrá una facturación de casi 350 millones de euros anuales y estará participada en un 80% por el Grupo Prisa y en un 20% por el Grupo Godó. . . http://www.prisa.es/articulo.html?xref=20060614prsprsnot_2&type=Tes&anchor=priprenot (via José Miguel Romero, Spain, dxldyg via DXLD) ** SWEDEN. MIXED BLESSINGS FOR WORLD CUP VIEWERS There are mixed blessings for fans watching the soccer World Cup on television here in Sweden. All 64 games are being carried by either public broadcaster SVT or commercial rival TV4. But there are a few problems --- Sports Bars Originally SVT tried to stop sports bars from carrying the games for their customers, unless they paid a few of around 2000 dollars. But lawyers at the Ministry of Culture ruled that the public broadcaster had no right to do so, since both the bars and presumably their customers had paid for television licences. So SVT signed an agreement handing over the rights to TV4, which went to court. On Wednesday the Stockholm District Court ruled that TV4 cannot ban sports bars from showing the matches, but opened the door for demands for compensation. TV4 seems to want each sports bar to pay 20 or 40 dollars per match, depending on location. But a lawyer for the O`Leary`s sports bar says the court`s ruling only says there is ``probably cause`` for compensation, rather than coming right out and approving it. It is still uncertain why SVT and TV4 want to stop sports bars from showing the games, since they lose nothing, and gain viewers (especially for TV4`s commercials). Cable One positive note for viewers is that Sweden`s largest cable operator, Comhem, has forbidden its staff from doing any installations or maintenance work after 2:00 PM during the World Cup. Only emergency repairs will be permitted, in order to avoid any interruption of service. On the other hand, Sweden`s third largest cable operator, Tele2, is closing its network in Säljan, north of Stockholm, on the day the World Cup quarter finals begin. The cable company, part of the Kinnevik media empire, blames planned highway construction, but the TT news agency cites an anonymous source at the Swedish Road Administration, who rejects the argument. According to the source, Tele2 has installed a cable without permission. Tele2 has offered what it calls ``a very advantageous price`` for a package for its Viasat satellite TV service to the affected cable viewers. But the response has reportedly been less than overwhelming: ``I would have to pay four times as much as I pay today,`` comments cable subscriber Arne Sjölinder. HDTV In February SVT announced that (together with TV4) it would be carrying all World Cup games in a special high definition channel. And many HD sets have been sold here with marketing connected to the World Cup. Unfortunately, while the channel is happening, few Swedes will be able to see it. No Swedish cable operators are ready for HD, and broadcasts on the digital terrestrial network are limited to just four regions: Stockholm, Uppsala, Västerås, and the island of Gotland. On satellite, Viasat is not carrying the HD channel, but it is being relayed by its much larger rival Canal Digital. However, even if a viewer has purchased an HD-ready TV set, and has the right satellite operator or terrestrial location, they probably still won’t be able to see the games in HD….as very few of the necessary HD decoders are available. A few satellite boxes have been sold here, but the decoders for the terrestrial network are reportedly on a truck somewhere on their way from France (MediaScan/Sweden Calling DXers June 15 via DXLD) ** TURKEY [and non]. Ankara clashing with Cairo --- Cairo and Ankara are clashing on 7270 at 0300 in English to North America. At 0330 Ankara is alone on the channel (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, June 20, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Axually, Ankara on 7270 is to Asia and points east, which is probably why they thought this collision would work in the respective target areas. O, Cairo? Not coordinated anyway, I suppose (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) ** UGANDA. 4976 kHz, R. Uganda, Kampala, observed on 10 Jun, 1805- 1845, English, music, talks; weakish audio; 35342 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, June 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [and non]. Within two months of the USA`s entry into WW II, American troops had begun pouring into Britain. But the young Americans found life in this country utterly alien. In particular, they disliked the British radio programmes. They couldn`t understand the announcers, thought their manner stiff and starchy and deemed the music dull and the humour incomprehensible! What these homesick young people desperately wanted was the `home touch` --- their own kind of music, humor and news. Most of all they wanted radio programs presented in the familiar, lively American style. To prevent their troops from listening to enemy propaganda broadcasts, the American authorities had banned them from bringing radios into this country and confiscated all they could find. In their place they issued an inadequate number of sets that could receive mediumwave only. All they would bring in was the BBC (there was no independent radio here in those days), and a few unintelligible foreign stations on the Continent. For the bored young American, listening to the radio provided no pleasure or relaxation, they wanted their own radio service just like they had at home and General Eisenhower decided they should have one. When the American authorities put the idea of a totally American radio service to the British, it was met with strong resistance from the BBC. But, under pressure from the Government, they reluctantly accepted the proposal. For their part, the Americans promised that the new network would funxion as an auxilliary of the BBC and would take a substantial number of BBC programmes. They also offered the BBC first choice of the famous stars who would come across to entertain their troops as well as first pick of the top American shows. In return, the BBC agreed to provide the new service with a studio, landline and engineers. Matters did not turn out quite as the BBC envisaged as, when AFN was operational, it got the bulk of its material direct from the USA and virtually acted as an independent broadcasting concern. However, the BBC did receive the promised star US material with which to liven up its own programmes. . . (American Forces Network, beginning of an unattributed feature article in the June radiouser [UK], via DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. BBC World Service as surrogate broadcaster. "Kabul was an information black hole where you learnt about something that had happened a mile away days later on the BBC World Service." The Observer, 18 June 2006. http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,1800182,00.html?gusrc=rss This is an example of BBC as "surrogate" domestic broadcaster. Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty have billed themselves as unique in their role as "surrogate" broadcasters. But, in reality, all successful international radio stations provide the news that the domestic media of the target country should be providing if they were free, sufficiently funded, and/or competent. This includes BBC and VOA to many target countries, as well as Radio France International to francophone Africa, and Radio Australia to some Asia-Pacific countries. In the United States, the creation of a Radio-Free "surrogate" service in a certain language when VOA already broadcasts in that language is an imprudent exercise in duplication. And the comical aspect of this is that these "surrogate" services are usually proposed by self- described conservatives who profess to advocate small government. The solution is not the elimination of the Radio-Free stations, but a genuine consolidation of U.S. international broadcasting (Kim Andrew Elliott, kimandrewelliott.com June 19 via DXLD) ** U S A. Glenn, Have all WOR contributors to Yankee Doodle Project send materials to calltaylor @ isp.com for the time being (Charles A Taylor, Greenville, North Carolina, June 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. VOA museum or bike trail? West Chester (Ohio) Township officials must decide if $100,000 in hotel tax revenues will go to a bike trail or to repairing the "dilapidated" old VOA Bethany shortwave transmitter building that might become a museum. Cincinnati Inquirer, 19 June 2006. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060619/NEWS01/606190347/1056 (kimandrewelliott.com June 19 via DXLD) ** U S A. WWCR Disco --- Posted at 10:23PM on Friday, June 16, 2006 in hf. Saturday, June 17, 2006, 0215, 3185. Tuning around expecting to laugh at the bullshit to be found on the idiot Frank From Queens' "The Wrong Perspective" show on WWCR, and all that's on the channel is nonstop disco music - a dance mix that's going on seemingly forever, with Lipps' "Funkytown," "I Love the Nightlife," and other Studio 54 late seventies era music with a heavy dance beat. So this is what "world wide christian radio" is all about these days. I hate to admit it, but nonstop disco music is much more interesting that Christian Media Network and the Good Friends Radio Network over on WBCQ. YIKES! The singing, tone-deaf Yaaaa-shewww-uuuuuhhh guy on a phone patch cuts in at 0301. Time to rapidly spin the dial! (RFMA via DXLD) ?? 3185 is WWRB; you mean 3215? ** U S A. Re 6-084, WHRI Ángel #1 updated summer sked, they wrongly continue using 11785 that gradually begins to lose propagation around 1500 to where they are supposed to target, so I hardly can listen DXWC with a decent signal on Sunday. They got to see how they make that change to 15285 at 1500, and preferably at 1400. I don’t know how and why they quit using 15105, which has been their best daytime frequency to LAm. by far. Another nonsense move was to leave 7315, where WHRA had practically a local signal here at night (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, July 10, dxldyg via DX LISTNENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Glenn, I have been monitoring 7555 kHz for the past month, between the hours of 2330 and 0230 UTC. During these times, there has been some sort of interference present. It is not from another station interfering, but another source; perhaps electrically-induced. The interference can be reduced by using sideband reception (as on the Grundig Satellit 800) or eliminated with passband tuning (as on the Drake R8A). Unrelated to the interference mentioned above, last evening, while tuned to WHRI on this frequency of 7555 kHz in the 2330 to 0000 time slot, an announcement was made at 2355 UT as follows: "Thank you so much for watching the Harvest Show..." It appears that WHRI carries the audio portion of METV via shortwave at this time (Ed Insinger, June 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Following up the discussion under OKLAHOMA about changing methods of program distribution: Welcome to WCLV - Seaway Productions http://www.wclv.com/skin/blurb.php?sectionId=183&contentId=24251 A MESSAGE TO RADIO STATION AFFILIATES Advances in technology and the PRSS transition to Content Depot will result in changes in the way we deliver programs. The change will take effect July 1, 2006. Here are the details: We will continue to make orchestral series available via satellite (Content Depot stream) at the same times they have uplinked via Channel B 72.0 (San Francisco Symphony will stream Tuesdays at 2000 ET, The Cleveland Orchestra will stream Monday at 1300 and Friday at 2000, etc.). Orchestral programs will also be available via ftp file download and CD. PLEASE READ THE ATTACHED REGARDING WCLV`S NEW FTP SITE. Effective July 1, 2006, the following programs will be available only via ftp file download or CD: •Adventures in Good Music with Karl Haas •Weekend Radio with Robert Conrad •Cleveland City Club Forum (this change took place May 1, 2006) For information about other WCLV/Seaway programs that were formerly available via satellite, contact us. Program Listings and Cue Sheets for programs streamed on Content Depot will be available via the portal. Listings and Cues for all WCLV/Seaway programs will be posted on our ftp site, and we will continue to send program announcements via US Mail. We’ve also updated our email distribution list to make it easy to communicate with you regarding updates. We look forward to continuing to serve you with fine classical programs that enhance your station’s service to your listeners. . . (via gh, DXLD) WCLV also has a good forum in which Mr Conrad participates heavily, http://phorum.wclv.com/list.php?4 Such as this thread from last year: High definition radio Dear sirs; I am considering the purchase of a high definition tuner to add to my high resolution system. The most disconcerting aspect of the traditional analogue broadcast is the use of dynamic limiters on music that only reaches its expressive peak with outstanding dynamics. Your promotions of your broadcasts claims CD quality sound, which would preclude the use of limiters. Is this indeed the case? (Posted by: DaleKleve (IP Logged) Date: April 23, 2005 04:41PM) I'm sorry, but it would be impractical to not use audio processing equipment. WCLV is located between two highly processed rock stations, and without our processing, listeners would simply tune by without hearing us. Also, we have to take into consideration car listening which is noisy and needs an audio floor so that you can continue hear the music. We use a very sophisticated processor developed by Telos Systems here in Cleveland that makes few compromises with the audio quality, yet produces a signal that is loud during the crescendos when it has to be loud and soft, yet audible, during the pianissimos. I know of no classical music station that does not use processing. Although processing may not make some listeners happy, it is a necessary fact of life (Robert Conrad, April 23, 2005 07:54PM) Thanks. My worst suspicions were confirmed. I was hoping that high definition radio would primarily be a home based format that would cater to the serious listener and the analogue, with its necessary limiting, would be for the casual car crowd. When I am in my car there is little room for dynamics because the noise floor is so intrusive. I then celebrate limiters. I understand all the exigencies of commercial radio and am chagrined that the new format is more of the same (one can't change reality). This is analogous to Blossom proclaiming that the sound amplification system is as good as the live vibrations emanating from the stage (they can't change the cavernous reality of their setting either). If I want to listen to an amplification system, I'll stay home and listen to canned music on my stereo, otherwise you will find me in the first few rows of the pavilion. Conversely, if I want to listen to limiters, I'll get in my car and drive around. Back to my library of recordings to get my thrills. Continued success. You have been a great source of information and joy throughout my life. I remain a loyal, but limited listener (Kleve, ibid., WCLV Phorum via DXLD) ** U S A. I can`t help but notice that NPR News has a correspondent in Dakar reporting on events in Somalia, thousands of miles away. Can`t they get any closer than that, and if not, what`s the point of having one(?) stringer in Africa? Can she really report more effectively about the other side of the continent than someone reading wire copy in Washington? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. VERIZON SAYS TO UNVEIL TV DEAL WITH PBS ON FRIDAY Reuters Friday, June 16, 2006; 6:52 AM http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/16/AR2006061600309.html WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ.N) will announce on Friday an agreement to carry public television programming on its new subscription video service, the company said on Thursday. Verizon, the No. 2 U.S. telephone company, "will carry the full range of public television programming, including next-generation multicast offerings," according to a company statement. As broadcasters switch to digital, new technology enables them to use the airwaves for additional channels, known as multicasting. Executives from Verizon, the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and the Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) are expected to attend the news conference on Friday. APTS reached an agreement last year for cable operators to carry up to four digital channels of noncommercial programming offered by each public television station in a market. Verizon, which offers a suite of communications, Internet and wireless services, is expanding into subscription television to better compete with cable companies that have launched their own telephone and high- speed broadband Internet services. The Federal Communications Commission is scheduled on Wednesday to decide whether to require cable companies like Comcast Corp. (CMCSA.O) to carry multicast channels that broadcasters are planning to offer. Already some stations are airing news and weather multicast channels and there have been private commercial agreements by cable operators to carry some of the new channels (Washington Post via Clara Listensprechen, DXLD) ** U S A. There's a new community radio station in southern New Hampshire: Rick Ganley's put "Radio Derry" on the air from his home just outside downtown Derry. Operating as a "part 15" unlicensed broadcaster on 1700 kHz, Ganley (who's also the morning guy up at WPNH-FM in Plymouth) says his goal is to offer information on local events and low-cost ads for local businesses. Sounds good to us... (Scott Fybush, NE Radio Watch June 12 via DXLD) ** U S A. KTRB Farewell to Modesto This morning KTRB 860 is running a loop around 15 minutes long with a condensed history of the station... they mention that KTRB is scheduled to sign off from Modesto, CA 73 years to the day they signed on. Check out the website http://www.modestoradiomuseum.org as they say KTRB signed on June 19, 1933. They are signing off at 9 am on Monday, a half an hour from now as I write this. They also mention the coming of the new 840 KMPH facility (not KPMP as FCC list shows). The company also operates KMPH-FM (KTRB and KMPH once simulcasted) and on TV26 (Rich Toebe, Vacaville CA, June 19, IRCA via WORLD OF RADIO 1319, DXLD) This is interesting! The 860 license is, of course, moving to San Francisco. But when they sign it off from Modesto, that starts the one-year clock running to get it back on the air - or to lose it forever. And I don't think construction on the new 860 San Francisco has started at all. Rich, any way to get a recording of the last half-hour of KTRB? I'd love to hear the end of this historic station! A P.S. on this - that big FM signal on 107.5, licensed to Hanford, was sold to Univision Radio last fall and is now Spanish oldies "Recuerdo" as KRDA s (Scott Fybush, NY, WORLD OF RADIO 1319, ibid.) Scott, KTRB signed off at 9, complete with Star Spangled Banner. After I sent the last post, I went looking for my old cassette-radio combo and a cassette -- I taped the last 20 minutes or so. I'll see if I can convert it to an MP3 format or similar. I didn't keep up with the change to KMPH on FM 107.5; I hear KQPT in Colusa, which serves Chico. Thanks for the update. KTRB has also been running the audio for KMPH Fox 26 News at 10. One night last week I was listening to KTRB (Joey Reynolds show) while half asleep, so my memory may be faulty, but an announcement about the coming changes said that KMPH-840 would be signing on mid-July. I don't recall anything about when KTRB San Francisco would sign on (Rich Toebe, Vacaville CA, ibid.) The Modesto Radio Museum site claims that 840 will sign on June 25. I wonder if they can really have it ready that fast? s (Fybush, ibid.) Why would KTRB sign Modesto off without having the new set up already in place in the Bay area? I would think they would have had the new plant set up to go as they could throw the switch and be on their way. Now nothing will be on 860 for sometime. 73, (Patrick Martin, ibid.) Now maybe I can get some DX on 860! Anything would have to sneak through Tijuana and Troutdale though. I moved out of the San Joaquin Valley last fall, and I was always scrambling whenever I heard (what was then) KVBE if I remember the calls correctly. They called themselves "The Vibe". They were pretty hard to get in Tracy, though they came in much better 20 miles south. Colusa was always the station on 107.5. KTRB had been running promos for a radio history museum in Modesto, and claiming they were the first AM station in Modesto. I guess if you count only survivors, that would be true. They never did their homework well enough to know of the two stations in Modesto that preceded them. Way back when, they were on 740 kHz. I believe their move to 860 was coupled with KQW's move from 1010 to 740. I sincerely hope that KTRB does more to establish a presence in San Francisco than what they dwindled to in Modesto. They were once a well known and well respected station (Mike Hawkins, ibid.) Maybe they figure a one-day format change is just more of the same-old same-old. This way they can be a brand new station. Does it work? I don't know. - (Bob Foxworth, Tampa FL, ibid.) I think what happened was that the CP for 840 in Modesto was about to expire if it was left unbuilt. And of course you can't run 840 and 860 at the same time. This way, they know they don't lose the 840 CP, they still get another year to finish building 860, and in the very worst case it's just a minor-change application to return the Modesto facility to the current 860 setup if San Francisco can't be built in time. (More likely - they'll file at the last minute to build a makeshift low-power ND facility to get SF 860 on the air before that CP expires!) s (Scott Fybush, ibid.) Knowing the signal that KTRB puts out, I expect they will need one strong null to the SE to allow 840 to even exist. If they go IBOC, they'll kill the 840 signal. Oh God! I used that acronym. Fifty lashes with a short length of RG-58! (Mike Hardester, ex-Modesto, ibid.) I was born and raised in Modesto (home of former station KTRB), and recall it being an all-around community station (at least until 1972 when I joined the Navy. They served a varied community of listeners from Sacramento to Fresno to the Los Baños area (very high population of Portuguese) to the Sierra Nevada region. When those of us in the hobby mention formats we prefer, frequently it's mentioned that a format that serves the community is desirable. That was KTRB. My last time in Modesto, 1997, I checked out the band, and noted that the KTRB which I grew up with no longer existed. Although understandable in today's communication market, it was sad to see an integral part of the community gone. If anyone in the Modesto area is interested in the history of KTRB, try and locate Cal Purviance. He's retired from the station, but is probably the last person who knows the true history of KTRB. I should have a better knowledge of the station's history, as my cousin, Milt Hibdon (dec), worked there for years. Very 73 de (Mike Hardester, NC, ibid.) On a Monday morning in January of 1973, a DX test was scheduled from WSBS-860 in Great Barrington, Massachusetts from 1:30 to 2:00 EST. I listened until 1:40 or so, didn't hear it, and left, planning to return a few minutes before the end of the test. Today, of course, I'd spend the whole half-hour parked on 860, but in those days you were reluctant to spend too much time on one frequency on a Monday morning, for fear you'd miss stuff happening elsewhere on the dial. I returned to 860 around 1:55, and at 2:00, was treated to a sign-off from KTRB, including a mention of returning tomorrow morning at 5:30. I think XEMO in Tijuana was about the only interference. Never heard KTRB again, and still need WSBS. One of my best catches ever (only a kilowatt at night back then) - sorry to see it fade into history. (Steve Francis, Alcoa, Tennessee, ibid.) ** U S A. TIS updates and new additions: 940, FLORIDA, WPTI814, Pinellas County Emergency Management; Largo; inactive. Per a good source who works with the Pinellas County Sheriffs Office radio maintenance department, this (or these -- there are or were three transmitters in Pinellas County on 940) are being transferred to the "highway department" (unclear if county or state) and will be used for traffic information, emergency messages in event of hurricanes, etc. A drive past the Largo transmitter site today (9 June) confirms it's no longer running 24/7 open carrier that has been the case for several months. No word on when it may actually return to the air. [WINZ is no problem with 50 kW from Miami? --- gh] 1700, FLORIDA, WQEY255, City of Delray Beach; new, to activate by mid- to-late June, for emergency weather use of course. This per Russ Scotka. They'll be in for a rude awakening if the just reactivated (testing with Classic Rock sandwiched between Latin vocals) WJCC, Miami Springs, continues. 1700, FLORIDA, WQFA769, City of Coral Springs; noted this entry on the FCC's Wireless Telecomm Bureau site while checking for the City of Delray Beach call sign. Maybe this isn't new, and I just overlooked entering it to my page (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W Visit my "Florida Low Power Radio Stations" at: http://home.earthlink.net/~tocobagadx/flortis.html or: http://www.geocities.com/geigertree/flortis.html June 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Apologies for delay (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. FCC FORFEITURE WATCH - SELECTED ITEMS o Notice of Apparent Liability ($4,000) issued to KWYR(AM) for repeatedly operating with day power at night. http://www.fcc.gov/eb/FieldNotices/2003/DOC-265890A1.html o Warning to Louisiana pirate who allegedly took over and used the antenna structure of former broadcast station KTRY-FM. http://www.fcc.gov/eb/FieldNotices/2003/DOC-265898A1.html (CGC Communicator June 20 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE SAN DIEGO 106.9 MHZ PIRATE This information is from the San Diego Reader; scroll down to the second story, the one entitled "The FCC Will Do What the FCC Wants to Do." (The URL expires Wednesday.) http://www.sdreader.com/published/current/blurt.html (CGC Communicator June 20 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) Viz.: THE FCC WILL DO WHAT THE FCC WANTS TO DO A guy who identifies himself as Al operates a "punk, international hip-hop, and women's music" Internet radio station called http://www.radioactiveradio.org Al says an anonymous benefactor is responsible for broadcasting his programming over the airwaves, on 106.9 FM. Thus, the station is San Diego's second illegal radio station. "They went on in 2002," says Al about 96.9 FM, San Diego's first pirate station. He says 106.9 began a year later. "96.9 was all about freedom of speech. They would have hip-hop that would be derogatory against women. Freedom of speech is one thing, but being derogatory against women is another. Why do they have to be so hateful?" Not comfortable with the playlist, Al says he and some people left 96.9 to launch radioactiveradio.com. Now on the airwaves, 106.9 FM can be heard in South Park, Lemon Grove, downtown, SDSU, and National City. "We don't know who they are," says Al of the benefactor who elected to broadcast the programming. According to its website (www.1069FM.com), the pirate station is driven by 150 watts of FM power. The station was recently issued a "Notice of Unlicensed Operation" by the Federal Communications Commission, which indicates that the programming is broadcast from 1847 Klauber Avenue. Such letters usually precede a raid and equipment confiscation. The FCC also sent a letter to an Alan M. Conrad regarding 106.9 FM. But Al of radioactiveradio.com would not say he is Alan Conrad. Al did say that 106.9 FM was off the air for eight months and came back on "around Easter." He says the DJs on Radioactive/106.9 select their own music. "We had a fundraiser [on June 3] at Voz Alta with the Batwings, the Rabbits, and Hostile Combover." Regarding the FCC notice, Al says: "It just tells me the FCC will do what the FCC wants to do. They want to harass an unlicensed operator with fines or seizure of property. It is unfortunate that the federal government makes it virtually impossible for small, noncommercial stations to get on the air." -- Ken Leighton (via DXLD) ** U S A. VIDEO AND STILLS OF THE WFXL-TV/WALB-TV TOWER COLLAPSE CGC #741 reported on the helicopter-damaged WFXL-TV tower. The wounded tower was finally brought to the ground by a series of explosions orchestrated by Controlled Demolition, Inc., but a flailing guy wire from the WFXL tower apparently toppled the neighboring WALB tower, something that was anticipated as only a remote possibility. The entire incident was captured on video and in still images. For video (the best presentation), use the first URL and click on the tower thumbnail photo at page bottom, left side. (Thanks to Stephen Frick, N6QEK, of Bay City Television for the first two URLs.) http://www.walb.com/Global/story.asp?S=5002278 (Link to Video) http://tinyurl.com/zdp54 (Still Images) http://www.tvtechnology.com/dlrf/one.php?id=1303 (Doug Lung) (CGC Communicator June 20 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. FERMAT'S LAST THEOREM DISPROVED? Consider the equation 1782^12 + 1841^12 = 1922^12 (where 1782^12 means 1782 to the 12th power). This innocent-looking equation, if true, would disprove Fermat's last theorem and rock the world of mathematics. In the 1995 Halloween episode of the award-winning animated sitcom The Simpsons, two-dimensional Homer Simpson accidentally jumps into the third dimension. During his journey in this strange world, geometric solids and mathematical formulas float through the air, including the above equation. For the rest of the story, see: http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20060610/bob8.asp (CGC Communicator June 20 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. Is there a term in the radio business to describe a particular "voice" that is often used in canned IDs? It's not just one person, it's the entire genre the deep male voice with a lot of punch, sort of gives the impression that we're tough rock and rollers and so are our listeners. Just hearing it again on my tape of KJRV: "another thirty minutes of non-stop rock, on THE classic rock station, South Dakota's Big Jim, ninety three three". When stations order up one of these what term do they use to describe it? (Jim Renfrew, NY, June 9, WTFDA via DXLD) Among my voice talent acquaintances, that voice is generally known as "the puker." I've had some fun during WXXI pledge drives in the past, slipping into a "puker" voice for a few moments as an illustration of what public radio DOESN'T offer! s (Scott Fybush, Rochester, ibid.) OK, we can use that on club messages to describe programming. I'm not sure station personnel will know what I mean if I use it in QSL letters. Are there other terms that you can share with us, Scott? How about this one: "please, please, PLEASE, send in your pledge, or I will die a slow death before your eyes" (Jim Renfrew, NY, ibid.) I've heard the deep gravelly voice described as originating with or being in the style of the New York School of Broadcasting. But I know that, too, isn't the answer for what you are looking for in this case (Saul Chernos, ON, ibid.) One of the best, and most recognizeable voice talents in the country is Charlie Van Dyke. I grew up listening to him as a DJ on WLS, Chicago and CKLW, Windsor/Detroit. What a voice! He's the main voice guy for my local NBC station, WTHR. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Van_Dyke (Steve Rich, Indianapolis, IN, ibid.) I've only heard "puking" and "puker" as a term of insult and derision applied to the style of the 50s rock-and-roll DJ, as personified in George Carlin's "Wonderful WINO" routine. Some of the "ballsy" announcers may "puke," but most don't. It describes the wide-open- mouthed way of speaking that puts an exaggerated smile in your voice. Some people still use that style, thinking it adds something to their delivery. A program director who gets a tape sounding like that is likely to say, "I wouldn't hire him. He's a puker." Interestingly enough, I don't think I've ever heard a woman air personality do that, thus I've never heard a woman called a "puker" (Rick Lewis, AZ, WTFDA via DXLD) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. 1550 kHz, Tindouf (?), Algeria, Polisario Front observed on 16 Jun 0845-0900*, Arabic, traditional songs; 554454 [sic]; the 0900 s/off time is presumed as they were off just a few minutes after 0900 when I rechecked the signal. 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, June 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DX-PEDITIONS ++++++++++++ CATARACT, NEW SOUTH WALES Latest DX-pedition results from Appin, 50 miles south west of Sydney. Australian Radio Dx club. This will be in the July ADXN TRAIL. Cataract Dam Dxpedition. John Wright, Kevin Branch, Lewis Lagarto, Robert Fitzgerald and John Sanderson. Australian Radio DX club. Receivers were Icom R75 X 2, DX394, DX302 and an ICOM transceiver by Kevin Branch. Antennae were the John Smith made EWE antennae. Pointed anywhere from 20 degrees thru 120 degrees. The Cataract Dam Scout Camp Park DX-pedition was again a success. With 26 decent trail items, the experiment with the shortest day of the year coming up on the 22 June 06, proved a success. Kevin Branch was the local hero with his antenna erecting skills, with quite a few EWE antennae covering 20 thru 120 degrees. Lewis Lagarto joined the group for his first taste of a DX-pedition at Cataract; also John Sanderson and John Wright. The Friday night was calm till around 1030 or so when the Latin signals starting to arrive, although 3279 was a strong signal early on. The temperature was a barmy zero. Saturday a different story; Robert Fitzgerald joined the group, along for the afternoon Les Hill and Eric Gauja who demonstrated the DRM capable WIN Radio. The target station Guyana, 3291 was briefly noted but Saturday night was just a het. It was Lewis Lagarto who is Portuguese, now Australian, who really helped with the dialects, both Spanish and Portuguese. Lewis helped with many of the stations and the one he sorted out was the 4915 Brazilian. Lewis also bought along some East Timorese Coffee and Portuguese wine; it helped keep the balmy outside temp away. Thankgoodness John Sanderson had a backup 12-volt battery, as John Wright forgot his charger, and guess what, at 11.98 DC volts the ICOM R75 died! John Sanderson to the rescue. Otherwise it was going to be an early Saturday night. No short path Africans were noted, as the EWE were in the opposite direction. On the Sunday morning, two long Path Brazilians on the 31 mb were noted. The DX-pedition highlighted what was heard only 5 weeks ago at Site 3, (refer to June`s Trail), and many Latin stations were not heard from 5 weeks ago. I keep telling people its all about experimenting. For $20 a night it`s cheap entertainment away from home. Anyway I think that the next away meeting is at Bathurst in October. Well enjoy the trail, Cheers from Cataract (Johno Wright, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See: BOLIVIA, CYPRUS, EQUATORIAL GUINEA, GUATEMALA, INDONESIA, PAPUA NEW GUINEA, PERU, SOMALIA CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ GLOBAL CATHOLIC RADIO CONFERENCE, BIRMINGHAM AL, OCT 11-14, 2006 Includes tour of WEWN facilities: http://www.catholicradioassociation.org/radioconferencehome.htm (CRA via DXLD) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ WORLD AIRPORT CODES WEBSITE A fairly new website http://www.world-airport-codes.com gives a whole range of information including the airport codes, country, UT offset, runway elevation and lengths, detailed airport guides, local hotels and contact info. At present just over 9,500 airports are listed. The distance between airports is also quoted and giving Heathrow to Sydney as an example, the distance is 10,629 statute miles, which it claims would take 18 hours 43 minutes in an Aribus A340/Boeing 747, 20 hours in a business jet (we assume a refuelling stop has been added), a 74 hours, 36 minutes` ordeal in a Cessna 172 (!) and 84 hours in a Bell 206 LongRanger helicopter. There is also a useful link to each airport`s website where one exists (David Smith, airband news, June radiouser [UK] via DXLD) And what about radio frequencies? (gh) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ PARANORMAL SHORTWAVE LISTENERS Beware of guys with radios tuning the (increasingly) empty spaces between 3 & 30 MHz, looking for voices from the dead. Dead boring may be? No, these guys are serious, even though they don't own a spelling checker (Jonathan Marks, criticaldistance blog May 31, 2004 via DXLD) Viz.: . . .HOW TO MAKE A RECORDING OF PARANORMAL VOICES Out of several possibilities, we use the following method: we do not tune the radio to one particular station were a foreign language is spoken that we do not understand, but instead move the dial to and fro at a certain speed, touching briefly on a nember of stations without lingering. this way we are prevented from recording more than a single syllable from each station, which we might otherwise mistake for a paranormal voice later on. All frequencies necessary to "mold" a paranormal voice out of are presented in this way. Sometimes the voices can be quite loud and clear, often even audible directly from the speakers of the radio. Place the microphone about 10 to 15 inches away from the radio and set the recording volume to maxinum. Do noy play the radio too loudly, rather a little below the volume of your normaal speaking voice. Using this method we have received many clear voices. Some voices recorded by our groep will follow below. VOICES --- This voice was recorded with white noise only. Listen several times. It says: Herman is looking for God. http://home.hccnet.nl/h.a.m.baars/engelseversion.htm (via DXLD) PROMPTING & CAPTIONING Generally, the scripts for a newscast are written on a proprietary "word-processor" package. (that's part of a system specifically written for newsroom management) Copies are printed in a VERY large font and provided to the on-air talent. The teleprompter also has access to the text, and scrolls it also in a VERY large font. Finally, as the text is scrolled on the prompter, it's also fed through a RS- 232 serial line to the caption encoder, so you see it on the captions. (especially in larger markets, for at least some newscasts a court reporter "writes" the show while listening to it off the air; software in their computer converts the steno shorthand to text which is fed to the caption encoder. Not only is the spelling usually better (?!) but this way you can caption live interviews & other non-scripted material. In fact, I believe FCC regulations *require* live captioning for at least some newscasts in larger markets.) Anyway, yes, the spelling can be quite atrocious. The software does contain a decent spell-checker but people often can't be bothered to use it. (I suppose a decent feature might be to pop up an error message if you try to save a story containing a spelling mistake, forcing you to confirm you *really* want to spell it "reealy". Of course, then they'd probably just "enter through" the error box...) One day at WISC, a producer decided to play a joke on the anchor. I forget the exact wording, but she wrote something like: "The Miss America Pageant was held this evening in Atlantic City. Janet Lee Doe, Miss Oklahoma, won the T & A contest and the accompanying $100,000 scholarship." Yes, she wrote "T & A contest". Figured the anchor would get a chuckle out of it. Never figured she'd actually read it on the air that way. Oops. == (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66, WSMV, WTFDA Soundoff via DXLD) CES ON HGTV The HGTV cable network has one hour on the 2006 International Consumer Electronics Show, Las Vegas NV, Sunday June 25 at 2100; originally aired UT Monday June 19 twice. No SW or HD radios mentioned, tho there were Boston Acoustics speakers (Glenn Hauser, dxldyg via DXLD) HOMEPLUG INTERFERENCE Hi all, It is important to realise that Homeplug is a set of industry specifications being supported by a number of manufacturers: http://www.homeplug.com/en/about/members.asp In brief there are currently 3 different speeds: + 14 Mb - common (currently being pushed the most) + 85 Mb - not so common but rapidly replacing 14 Mb + 200 Mb - under development - due out this summer And there are now a number of different products built around the homeplug specs, e.g. audio versions, WLAN and homeplug in 1 unit. If you were to open up different makes you would find chips made by either: Intellon - http://www.intellon.com/ Conexant - http://www.conexant.com/ Maxim - http://www.maxim-ic.com/ Arkados, Inc. - http://www.arkados.com/ The following are useful reference links for homeplug: http://www.homeplug.com/ http://www.homeplug.org/ http://www.solwise.co.uk/net-powerline.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HomePlug http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_P1901 http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/1901/ http://www.intellon.com/company/pressreleases.php Like it or hate it homeplug is shortly going to be everywhere as most people forget that with Wireless you still need to eventually plug in somewhere. Regards (Richard L. James, UK, June 19, monitoringmonthly yg via DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING ++++++++++++++++++++ DRM DX MATTUTINO [see also BRAZIL; NIGERIA; NORWAY; DX-PEDITIONS] Ciao, stamattina a partire dalle 11 locali ho fatto un piccolo band- scan delle emittenti DRM LOW-Power e come potete vedere qui sotto sono riuscito a riceve tutti i segnali sui 26 e sui 15 Mhz. Ecco le stazioni ricevute: 15896, Bit eXpress - Audio ottimo quasi senza int. - 100 watt dalla Germania 25795, Radio Luxemburg - audio a tratti - 150 watt da Lussemburgo 26012, FH Nuerberg - audio ottimo - 100 watt dalla Germania 26045, ModellversuchDRM - audio a tratti - 40 watt da Hannove 25765, TDF Nr.1 - Audio a tratti + ID - 400 watt da Parigi 25695, DW + UBC Classic Gold - Solo ID - 100 watt da Londra Da segnalare che l'ultima stazione (DW + UBC Classic da Londra) la ricevo solo "invertendo" il segnale in ingresso nel pc dal convertitore (opzione Flip input spectrum su Dream ) come se il segnale DRM trasmesso fosse "al contrario" ?? E' la prima volta che ricevo un segnale simile. Saluti, (Andrea IW0HK Borgnino, Roma, June 9, bclnews.it via DXLD) We haven`t heard from the Wrath of Kahn lately, but here is a new opus at http://www.wrathofkahn.org/ NOT AFRAID OF THE DARK wrathofkahn.ORG Issue 31 June 14, 2006 A number of my best broadcast friends have asked me to respond to a really, really serious question: Can the Cam-DTM System Be Designed To Be an ALL DIGITAL system, i.e., be an incompatible system? That question is equivalent to asking a man who can press 200 pounds, can he press 20 pounds? Compatibility is the problem Bell Labs and other iBOCers have been unable to solve in over 12 years of effort and they have spent millions and tens of millions and hundreds?? of millions of other peoples money in trying. And we at KCI were lucky enough to lick the problem with about one million of blood, sweat and our own cash in one year. And don't think that luck isn't involved in the invention of brand new technology. It is much better to he lucky than smart when you research brand new concepts. Leonard, before you give us a headache with all the shouting... Get Real. What do you mean by "Compatibility" ... in plain English for a change? We have been through this before so obviously this shouting hasnt interfered with your sleep... Anyway there are a number of aspects to Compatibility: 1) Spectrum: a new system must fit into the same occupied bandwidth as do normal AM systems. Cam-D is actually narrower than conventional AM and therefore REDUCES EVEN FIRST ADJACENT INTERFERENCE, iBOC interferes even with 3rd Adjacent channel stations, wipes them out at night and even during daytime it really, really hurts them. 2) Compatible with the physics of skywaves so that the system can provide clear channel stations a platform to reach listeners a thousand miles, or more, away. Cam-D dramatically REDUCES FADING and thereby improves effective skywave performance. 3) Compatible with the coverage the FCC used in allocating stations to ensure all sections of America are served by free radio night and day. IBOC degrades 50 KW clears to local station coverage during daytime and makes them less than 1 KWs at night. Cam-D INCREASES COVERAGE TO, IN MOST CASES, OVER DOUBLE, EVEN WHEN USING CONVENTIONAL AM RADIOS AND MORE WITH SPECIAL HI-FI STEREO RADIOS with deep penetration DATA channels SOON TO BE AVAILABLE. 4) Thus, Cam-D is Compatible with the almost a BILLION RADIOS AMERICANS OWN and use to get news and music AND TO GET AN ALERT RE STORMS AND WARNINGS OF ATTACK. iBOCers want to make these radios obsolete so they can share in a form of "Death Tax" when American survivors buy ALL Digital Radios, which will, over a ten year period cost Americans A TRILLION DOLLARS! But Leonard get back to the question... Can Cam-D be designed to do ALL Digital? YES,YES, YES but with a big BUT... Not while Bob, Ira, Ray, Maria or Leonard or anyone living or dead at Kahn Communications controls matters, we will always make certain that we do not risk lives for more money. And that gets me back to our last months plea to you, dear American broadcaster friend, and old friends in Canada (CBC), Mexico, Brazil, Brits (BBC), Australia, Japan and numerous other broadcasters who value innocent lives. DON`T DESTROY OVER-THE-AIR RADIO BY STREAMING. Dear Broadcast friend, please do not endanger your Country, (the main target of the people who are willing to use their own children`s lives to attack us) by participating in a plan for a few bucks that can destroy lives, when the next storm hits or when those crazy people next attack. Please note that no one believes iBOCers are knowingly trying to hurt innocent human beings... They just have not paid attention to what is going on in the "Internet revolution" aimed at monopolizing all mobile communications that can OVERLOAD and thus fail just when it is needed to save millions of lives. Dont tell me that the brilliant people that KCI worked with at Bell Labs and my old friend the late Wm. R. Bennett head of data communications and chaired prof at Columbia University and his brilliant son at Bell who later was chaired Prof at Yale didnt know about system overload... They wrote the books. Just think about the real world and that YOU have to reach your pre- teenage child and his or her cell phone is dead due to OVERLOAD. Don't take the STREAMING blood money. This wonderful new cellular technology has A FATAL FLAW... It will kill people. I, Leonard R. Kahn truly believe the above stated facts and opinions are accurate and are not meant to mislead (via DXLD) "HD RADIO NEEDS WAKE-UP CALL" [see also OKLAHOMA KCCU; USA WCLV] Washington Post columnist Rob Pegoraro has had it with IBOC/HD radio, and in fact returned his Boston Acoustics IBOC/HD radio to the company. But he's not unhappy with the sound of the radio. Instead, he's fed up with the inability of Washington stations multicasting with IBOC/HD to keep their multicast channels on the air. . . http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/email/2005/03/30/EM2005033001399.html?referrer=email Posted on June 20, 2006 (Harry Helms, futureofradio blog via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ GREAT E-SKIP OPENING TO CENTRAL AMERICA, THE CARIBBEAN, MEXICO, TEXAS All were logged 9 June, 2006 between 1530-2200 GMT on the Alpine car radio in Clearwater, FL [gh is still catching up] 88.1, GUATEMALA, "Fabuestéreo 88.1"; "Fabuestéreo 88 punto 1" slogans, commercials, mentions of Guatemala. Not sure what city, but located this URL: http://sites.emisorasunidas.com/intraneteu/estatico/contactenos.htm 89.3, EL SALVADOR, YSLR "Cool FM", San Salvador; commercials with reference to San Cristóbal and El Salvador, mixing with the Guatemalan. 89.3, GUATEMALA, TGYC "Radio Estrella", Guatemala City; commercials, "Radio Estrella presente... la cocina..." Mixing with the Guatemalan. 90.9. UNID. "Radio Educación Culturaltiva" slogan ID at 1659 by M, into scratchy old blues song "Goin’ to Chicago, sorry that I can’t take you" lyrics. Long news story on economic issues and female actualities, references to pesos often, then a long list of "Radio Educación" affiliate FM frequencies and locations (Rio Grande, Tampico, Tamaulipas...). 93.1, MEXICO, XHAAA-FM, Reynosa, Tamaulipas; commercials including one for Chevrolet, another opening with "Atención Nuevo Progreso... en Progreso." Slogan "La Caliente" and "La Caliente 93-1" often. Huge signal. 93.7, JAMAICA, Radio Mona, University of the West Indies, Mona; tentatively the one -- no other Jamaican or non-religious Caribbean/Belize entry I can locate anyway. Tune-in at 2145 to heavily Jamaican-accented (definitely Jamaican) male host, callers, one guy mentioned "I own me home in Jamaica." Host used "Irie" as his closing salutation with each caller. Brief dancehall filler music between some calls. Lost before 2200. 93.7, MEXICO, XHAGT "La Mejor FM" Aguascalientes; slogan mentioned several times, mention of Aguascalientes, commercials mentioning Aguascalientes and México. Located this URL: http://www.lamejor.com.mx/index.php?id=plazas&element=83?=locutores 99.1, TEXAS, KFZO, "La Kalle 99-1", Denton; reggaetón and Latin techno dance vocals, lots of "La Kalle 99-1" slogans (I presumed it to be "Calle" but they spell it "Kalle" per their URL). Canned "Be, Be Unique. Be Kalle" and reference to "Dallas-Ft. Worth" in one promo. (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W Visit my "Florida Low Power Radio Stations" at: http://home.earthlink.net/~tocobagadx/flortis.html or: http://www.geocities.com/geigertree/flortis.html June 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) SPACE WEATHER CANADA 27 DAY MAGNETIC ACTIVITY FORECAST JUNE 15-JULY 11 http://www.spaceweather.gc.ca/forecast27days_e.php (via gh, DXLD) and you may need to change your bookmark PROPGATION OUTLOOK FROM BOULDER The geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to minor storm levels. Solar wind speed ranged from a low of about 330 km/s early on 14 June to a high of near 615 km/s late on 15 June. The period began with wind speeds near 420 km/s. The Bz component of the IMF was weak, not varying much beyond +/- 5 nT through early on 14 June. As a result, the geomagnetic field was quiet through late on the 14th. At about 14/2030 UTC, density sharply decreased while temperature and wind speed increased, and phi went from positive to negative, all indicative of a solar sector boundary crossing. Shortly thereafter, the IMF Bz began fluctuating between +/- 5 nT through the remainder of the 14th, and further increased its fluctuations to +/- 10 nT through 15 June. During this period, wind speed gradually increased to the period’s high of about 615 km/s as a coronal hole high speed wind stream became geoeffective. The geomagnetic field responded with unsettled to active levels at middle latitudes, while active to severe storm periods were observed at high latitudes on the 15th. By 16 June, the IMF Bz showed signs of weakening, not varying much beyond +/- 5 nT through the remainder of the summary period. Wind speed remained elevated with speeds varying between 500 to 600 km/s through late on the 16th. Geomagnetic conditions were quiet to unsettled at middle latitudes through the end of the period while high latitudes were quiet to active until early on 18 June when a sustained period of southward Bz caused minor to major storm levels. The period ended with a wind speed of 500 km/s. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 21 JUNE - 17 JULY 2006 Solar activity is expected to be at very low to low levels. No greater than 10 MeV proton events are expected. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at high levels on 04 – 17 July. The geomagnetic field is expected to be mostly quiet to unsettled for the majority of the forecast period. Recurrent coronal hole high speed wind streams are expected to rotate into geoeffective positions on 28 June, 03 – 06 July, and again on 12 July. Unsettled to active periods are expected on 28 June while active to minor storm conditions are expected on 03 - 05 July and again on 12 July. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2006 Jun 20 2153 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center # Product description and SEC contact on the Web # http://www.sec.noaa.gov/wwire.html # # 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table # Issued 2006 Jun 20 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2006 Jun 21 75 5 2 2006 Jun 22 75 7 2 2006 Jun 23 75 5 2 2006 Jun 24 75 5 2 2006 Jun 25 75 5 2 2006 Jun 26 75 5 2 2006 Jun 27 75 8 3 2006 Jun 28 75 12 3 2006 Jun 29 75 10 3 2006 Jun 30 80 5 2 2006 Jul 01 80 5 2 2006 Jul 02 80 5 2 2006 Jul 03 80 20 4 2006 Jul 04 80 20 4 2006 Jul 05 80 20 4 2006 Jul 06 80 15 3 2006 Jul 07 80 8 3 2006 Jul 08 80 5 2 2006 Jul 09 80 5 2 2006 Jul 10 80 5 2 2006 Jul 11 80 8 3 2006 Jul 12 80 20 4 2006 Jul 13 80 10 3 2006 Jul 14 75 8 3 2006 Jul 15 75 8 3 2006 Jul 16 75 5 2 2006 Jul 17 75 5 2 (http://www.sec.noaa.gov/radio via WORLD OF RADIO 1319, DXLD) TIPS FOR RATIONAL LIVING ++++++++++++++++++++++++ KIDNAPPING JESUS --- THE REPUBLICAN PARTY`S SHAME --- by Frosty Troy ``There is no end to the wanton misdirection of the Bush Administration which is determined to turn America into a theocracy even if it means kidnapping Jesus. The White House is paying down its political debt to the religious right (which is neither) by using billions of your tax dollars. . . ``If the man is a Christian, why would he grossly underfund mental health for the sickest and most vulnerable among us? If he is a Christian why would he propose abolishing all training programs for our youth and the after-school programs that keep kids out of gangs? Would Jesus oppose an increase in the minimum wage? . . . ``It`s a payoff to his 30 million fundamentalist supporters and the Catholic hierarchy. Like everything else he does, he thumbs his nose at the critics and dares them to do anything about it. Nice to know your tax dollars are going into their collection plates. ``If you think you don`t have a stake in this fight, guess again. Bush has put our country on the low road to a political theocracy --- precisely the kind of politics the Colonists fled. . . ``Bush has a lock on the Bible-thumping fundamentalists who would censor the internet and libraries, gut the arts and turn public schools into holy roller Sunday school classes, teaching kids the earth is only five thousand years old . . . ``We think we can`t lose this beautiful little experiment called America. We can and we are.`` Just a few graphs from the lead full-page editorial in the June 10 issue of The Oklahoma Observer. If you are a resident of Oklahoma and think you know what is really going on via the TV stations or The Daily Disappointment, or even the incomparably better Tulsa World, you owe it to yourself to subscribe to the OO. But as you can see from the above, it`s not just about Oklahoma politics. There are thought-provoking articles from a variety of writers including columnists Maureen Dowd and Molly Ivins. Anyone anywhere outside OK will also find it stimulating and informative. The OO is a twice-monthly tabloid published on the 10th and 25th of all months except July and December when the 25th is skipped giving Frosty and his wife Helen a breather. It`s 20 pages, only one of which is advertising. BTW, Frosty is a Catholic, and a Democrat, altho the OO is subtitled ``An Independent Journal of Commentary``. Democrats often get hit by Darts, as well as Bush and his ilk. I`ve just renewed my subscription, which is $30 a year (22 issues) by p-mail only. No, there is no website, altho Frosty is now openly using e-mail. A Google search got 879 hits including many other places articles have been quoted. The Oklahoma Observer, 500 NE 39th Terrace, PO Box 53371, Oklahoma City OK 73152-3371. Yes, the box and the zip do not exactly match; we double-checked. Frosty also has a weekly 4-minute slot on KOSU plus webcast, Fridays at 1235 and 2144 UT during NPR programs. He`s really an Oklahoma treasure, and I want to share him with you. This is an unsolicited testimonial from a very satisfied subscriber (Glenn Hauser, Enid) ###