DX LISTENING DIGEST 6-117, August 5, 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 NEXT SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1324: [Note: WRMI times are tentative as schedule is under revision] Sun 0230 WWCR3 5070 Sun 0630 WWCR1 3215 Sun 0832 WRMI 9955 [from WRN] Mon 0300 WBCQ 9330-CLSB Mon 0415 WBCQ 7415 Wed 0930 WWCR1 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 ** ARGENTINA. R. Nacional, 15345.4, G signal with slight rolling fades, Aug 5 at 2330 with ID promo listing dozens of cities where it has stations, ending with Arcángel San Gabriel --- I assume this refer to the currently inactive SW-only LRA36. Then news headlines with M&W alternating, ``Panorama`` until at least 2345; sometime after 2400, silly ballgame coverage. As would be expected, the het with Chile 15340.0 was slightly higher than the usual 5 kHz whine; Argentina was significantly stronger, but Chile is aimed at Brasil (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BAHRAIN. During major events in the Near and Middle East, Radio Bahrain broadcasts on 9745 in USB mode. It was received in Sofia between July 28 and 31 at different times and with best signal at 10 hours with news in Arabic and identification Idaatu Bahrain, which means Radio Bahrain. The station address is: Radio Bahrain, P. O. Box 702, Manama, Bahrain (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, R. Bulgaria DX program Aug 4 via John Norfolk, dxldyg via DXLD) I thought it was on all the time, more or less (gh, DXLD) ** BELARUS. May be it's "old" one I've missed during weeks of inactivity: 4955 BLR spur at 0400 UT on (Kultura & BR1 mixed, I think from HF bands transmitters). (Vlad Titarev-UKR, wwdxc BC-DX July 28 via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. MW DX in UK: see PARAGUAY ** BRAZIL. Pessoal, Tentem sintonizar a frequência de 5980 kHz da Guarujá e gire o VFO ou o ponteiro do rádio para frequências acima ou abaixo. Perceberão um forte ruído esparramando sinal pra todo lado. Tenho verificado uma série de emissoras cujos TX's estão "sucateados" em termo de funcionamento. A Gazeta de SP, a Guarujá de Florianópolis, A CBN/Anhanguera com áudio em frangalhos (Luiz Chaine Neto, Limeira SP, Aug 5, radioescutas yg via DXLD) ** CANADA. The summer version of CBC`s The House is not just cut in half, but in third, as Aug 5 via RCI 9515 it did not start until 1311 after an extended newscast, and ends at 1330 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. New stations granted: BC, Abbotsford, *88.7, 4 watts h, 13m, to broadcast 5 hours of religious programming per week, mainly worship services, Trinity Lutheran Church. It will exist on an adjacent frequency to CIVL *88.5 there (Aug FMedia! via DXLD) ** CANADA. CFCY-FM PARAMETER CHANGES APPROVED - 630 CFCY SOON TO GO DARK As a result of the following - see below - CFCY-FM (which hasn't taken to the air as yet) will soon be the most powerful commercial radio station on PEI. What the decision does not say - but the application was also for - is that CFCY-FM will broadcast with an omnidirectional pattern, rather than the directional pattern originally approved. The net effect of this change is much greater coverage across the water in Nova Scotia and slightly better coverage in part of PEI, slightly worse in another part [e.g. western PEI]. But keep in mind that MBS Radio also owns CJRW-FM Summerside, also a C&W station, so losing a tiny bit of coverage will not be a problem. C&W music is also available over much of PEI from CKTY-FM NS Truro "Kat Kountry". With the tower and panel antenna in place, MBS Radio will be able to get CFCY on the air pretty fast, likely this month. Then, 1 to 3 months later, 630 CFCY will go dark. Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2006-311 Ottawa, 24 July 2006 Maritime Broadcasting System Limited Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island Application 2006-0584-2 Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2006-67 29 May 2006 CFCY-FM Charlottetown – Technical change 1. The Commission approves the application by Maritime Broadcasting System Limited to change the authorized contours of the radio programming undertaking CFCY-FM Charlottetown, by increasing the average effective radiated power from 73,300 watts to 100,000 watts, by increasing the antenna height and by relocating the transmitter. 2. The Commission notes that the undertaking initially approved by the Commission in CFCY Charlottetown – Conversion to FM band, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2006-89, 24 March 2006, has not commenced operations. 3. Maritime Broadcasting System Limited has advised the Commission that the proposed changes will be the result of the antenna being co- located on a transmission tower on the site of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, which is located west of the licensee's initially proposed location. Consequently, the licensee will not need to erect its own transmission tower. 4. The Commission received interventions in support of this application. 5. The Commission reminds the licensee that, pursuant to section 22 (1) of the Broadcasting Act, this authority will only be effective when the Department of Industry notifies the Commission that its technical requirements have been met, and that a broadcasting certificate will be issued. Secretary General This decision is to be appended to the licence. It is available in alternative format upon request, and may also be examined in PDF format or in HTML at the following Internet site: http://www.crtc.gc.ca 1450 CFAB, a graveyarder in Windsor NS with a great signal, has applied to flip to FM: [already covered in DXLD]. In another two to three years, I suspect the only AM station left in the Maritimes [NS, NB, PEI] will be 1070 CBA (Phil Rafuse, VY2PR, PEI Canada, ABDX via DXLD) NEW LIFE FOR 920 CJCH --- With CHNS's oldies format ditched, and CHNS about to go dark, biding its time with a transition simulcast of "Hal FM" and its classic rock format on 960, it would appear that CJCH has ditched its restful, sleepy "yesterday's favourites" - a blend of soft oldies and NOS - with a bouncy, lively oldies format. Old 92/CJCH jingles are being used too. And, it`s no longer 920 CJCH - it`s 92 CJCH - just like in the 70s when CJCH was the perceived top 40 king of the castle in the Maritimes. Truth be told, CJCH and CHNS were usually neck and neck in the BBMs, while CJCB in Sydney NS was way, way out in front. As I recall, the spring 1977 BBMs went something like this for the four highest rated staions in Nova Scotia - total quarter hour audience - 8:00 a.m. Mon-Fri: CJCB Sydney - 39,000 CJCH Halifax - 23,000 CHNS Halifax - 22,000 CJFX Antigonish - 21,000 This was in an era before true commercial FM. In 1977, CIOO Halifax - CJCH's FM sister station - signed on with an album oriented rock format and proved that - oh my gosh, FM radio is no longer a hobby/tax right off proposition. Of course, now CIOO is the poster child for "Lite Rock" (Phil Rafuse, PEI, Aug 4, ABDX via DXLD) ** CHINA. Firedrake against Taiwan, 7445, Aug 5 at 1323, during a momentary lull with slow drumming, but crescendo; // 9780 but slightly ahead of it. Also VG on 15285 around this time against BBC (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Good Day Gentlemen, Guess the Chinese are back at it again, some signal on 14260 kHz. Monitoring report from K1IED. Hi, Yesterday Aug 4 at 1200Z they were on 18180 very strong and today Aug 5 now at 1000Z they are on 14260 59 + (Larry K1IED (located in Connecticut) Picked up the spectrum analyzer yesterday, was too hot in the shack to look into it, from the controls on the front it must have a way to transmit those frequencies as well as monitor them. I think those figures on the dial are actually SONAR frequencies. More later.... 73's (Bill WA4FKI, Aug 5, to Chuck, K0BOG, via Wolfgang Büschel, HCDX via DXLD) Unclear exactly what he is referring to (gh) You can't trust the Chinese... Dear Bill, dear Chuck, I was very happy that after my letter to the Chinese Embassy at Berlin on 18...-MHz- amateur radio frequencies (last intrusion was heard July 25 on 18160 kHz) the intrusions seemed to have ceased. SEEMED! Furthermore, on August 2, I had received a phone call from a Mrs Ju from the Press Department of the Chinese Embassy in Berlin. She told me that she had sent all my complaints to the relevant administrations in the P.R. of China. These officials of these bureaus had excused themselves for having caused interference to the Amateur Radio Service. Mrs Ju told me, that these intrusions had to do with "ionospheric conditions". (of course!-DJ9KR) And just now I have got your email re Chinese intrusions AGAIN. Right now I am hearing the transmissions on 14260 kHz myself with S 9 loud and clear in my radio station. It is only Chinese music with flutes, horns, gongs and violins. No spoken word, yet. BTW: 18180 kHz is NOT an Amateur Radio frequency. I will keep on listening and will ALERT again the Chinese diplomats in Berlin. You really can not TRUST the Chinese... Regards, Uli PSE SEND AN INTERNATIONAL COMPLAINT VIA YOUR NATIONAL TELECOMS. AUTHORITIES! Dear fellow intruder busters, "Radio China", or is it "China Radio" is back on the air: Today it has been transmitting all day long from 1000 onward till 1640 UT (and is still on) on the QRG 14260 kHz with loud signal. The BC always switches off at full hour (on the second) and comes back exactly 5 minutes later. There are no spoken words; it is just a music program with flutes, drums, violins and gongs, and the whole music is repeated each hour. Will you please contact your telecoms. authorities for an international Complaint? The more complaints, the better! Fraternally yours in the intruder spotting job, (Ulrich ("Uli") Bihlmayer DJ9KR / DL0IW, Vice-Coordinator of IARU-MS Region 1, and Coordinator of DARC-MS --- all via Wolfgang Büschel, hcdx via DXLD) ** CUBA. SATELLITE DISHES HELP LIFT CUBA'S VEIL OF SECRECY Cubans are using satellite TV dishes, which are outlawed by the government, to watch foreign newscasts about Fidel Castro's health. http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/7-0&fd=A&url=http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/15203699.htm&cid=1108407138&ei=lzPURPzbH5L2oAKwjNHVBQ Miami Herald Staff Report HAVANA - Atop a tattered Colonial-era building, the satellite dish received the signals for a Mexican soap opera on Univisión for relatives and friends in an apartment below. Then, a break: ''And now, from South Florida . . . '' an anchorwoman intoned as she read an update on the stunning announcement of Fidel Castro's turning over power to his brother after surgery for internal bleeding. Illegal but relatively widespread on this communist-ruled island, the TV satellite dishes are giving many Cubans some light relief and a view of the momentous events here very different from the government- monopolized media's propaganda. ''We watch the soap operas. We love Don Francisco, Sábado Gigante,'' said Jorge, a rail-thin 34-year-old. ``And on the newscasts, we get the other points of views.'' Such broadcasts are widely and easily received throughout Latin America, the equivalent of DirecTV in the United States. But in Cuba, TV satellite dishes are illegal without an almost impossible-to-obtain government permit. So people here build their own and often sell the signal to neighbors through homemade nets known as telarañas -- spiders' webs. The small electronic components usually are smuggled in from the United States, and the dishes are built here. If the signals are encoded, relatives abroad can pay for the service as though it were for their own use, obtain the proper decoding procedures and pass them to Cuba. While their exact number is not known because of the underground nature of the dishes, U.S. officials have estimated there are 10,000 to 30,000 -- an important source of outside information for Cubans in addition to the few Miami AM radio stations that can be heard here. Cuban authorities severely jam the U.S. government's TV Martí broadcasts, and to a slightly lesser degree jam Radio Martí's AM and shortwave radio broadcasts. These days, Cuban TV has been offering a mixture of sports shows, the nightly Round Table news program, a documentary on the revolution's late heroine, Celia Sánchez, and declarations of support for Fidel and Raúl Castro, the defense minister who temporarily holds the reins of power. But through their satellite dishes, some Cubans have been able to see images of Cuban Americans dancing on the streets of Miami's Little Havana, doctors speculating on what exactly ails Fidel Castro, and analysts wondering why Raúl Castro still has not appeared in public. Cubans say they pay $5 to $10 a month for the illegal cable hookups, a princely fee in a country where the average monthly salary is about $40, but a sum within reach of the many families that receive cash remittances from relatives abroad. Not surprisingly, most of the people gathered in the Old Havana apartment on this night were reluctant to talk about how the foreign newscasts have affected their view of Fidel's Castro health crisis. For a 25-year-old woman at the apartment, the criticisms of Fidel Castro she saw and heard on the TV were little match for the images of war in the Middle East. ''At least he takes care of us. . . . We could be living in a war zone,'' said the woman, who, like everyone else interviewed, did not want to be identified because of fear of government sanctions for watching the illegal TV. Only Jorge, the 34-year-old, agreed to talk a little bit about the satellite dish's impact on his viewing habits. On Thursday night, he said, he watched the Round Table program -- a tirade against anti- Castro exiles and the U.S. government -- and then switched to Univisión seconds later after the Round Table ended to catch the reaction in Miami. Ernesto, a 39-year-old man encountered in another part of Havana, said the Univisión news reports have gained importance by informing Cubans on the island during the tense days since the announcement that their leader was temporarily surrendering power. He said he watched excerpts of Juanita Castro talking to CNN in Miami about her very human concerns for her brother -- and was reassured about Miami. ''It made me feel good, like there I would have hope for my family,'' he said. But it's not all good news on the satellite dishes. A 38-year-old man named Raúl said he pays $10 a month for an illegal TV hookup and keeps the cable hidden under the dirt in front of his house. ''They'll take away your TV and your appliances if they catch you watching'' Univisión, he said. His brother Miguel, 27, says the punishment may be worse now that Castro's health is in doubt. ''And now, since this happened, they'll probably put you in prison,'' Miguel said (via Ken Kopp, Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** CUBA. FOREIGN JOURNALISTS REFUSED ENTRY AND DENIED VISAS FOR CUBA Reporters Without Borders has urged Cuba to let foreign journalists into the country ``so they can do their job freely and without restriction or aggression`` and said it was disappointed at the regime`s refusal to allow half a dozen of them into the country and the blocking of visas for others. A group of journalists, including Alvaro Ugaz, of the Peruvian radio station RPP, and Mario Antonio Guzmán, of the Chilean station Radio Cooperativa, were turned back at Havana airport on 2 August when they told interior ministry police they had come to report on the situation concerning President Fidel Castro`s health. The officials said they did not have a press visa and made them leave on the flight they had arrived on. They said all journalists arriving with just a tourist visa would not be allowed in. Guzmán said it would take up to three weeks to get a press visa and the journalists had decided to take a chance and see if they could get in on a tourist visa. ``The Cuban government, which is used to spying on the foreign press, has clamped down on access to the country,`` the worldwide press freedom organisation said. ``It is understandable that journalists should try to get in on tourist visas to do their job of reporting since it is so hard to get press visas. The present uncertain situation justifies the presence of the foreign media but the regime unfortunately seems to want to limit the number. But they must be allowed in. We are also concerned about independent journalists in the country who have been indirectly threatened by senior military officials and warned not to create confusion. We are also watching closely the treatment of the 23 journalists currently in prison in Cuba,`` it said. Other journalists, including reporters from the Washington Post and Miami Herald, were turned back at the airport. Juan Tamayo, the Herald`s chief of correspondents, said one of his paper`s journalists, who he did not name, had been put on a plane to Panama after presenting a tourist visa and saying he had come to work as a journalist. Since the announcement of President Castro`s illness, Cuban embassies have refused to issue visas or not responded to journalists` requests. The regime has only issued a few visas to foreign journalists in recent years and those working for media outlets considered ``dangerous`` to national stability are routinely refused entry. Dozens have been expelled from the country. (Source: Reporters Without Borders) (August 5th, 2006, 11:10 UTC by Andy, Media Network blog via DXLD) Andy Sennitt adds: Journalists from the Netherlands and Belgium have also been refused visas, according to reports here. One of the few ways of getting information from Cuba, Radio Havana Cuba, is also proving more difficult to receive than usual, though this may just be a coincidence. Radio Netherlands` Ehard Goddijn was unable to access the online audio last night, and the English transmission on 11760 kHz had low modulation at 2106 UT, though it improved three minutes later. Glenn Hauser in Oklahoma has also reported in DX Listening Digest that signals from Radio Havana have been weak or missing. DXLD also quotes a newspaper report that all amateur radio activity in Cuba may have been suspended, though this hasn`t been definitely confirmed. Update 1615 UT Aug 5: Ehard Goddijn reports that online audio from five Cuban stations was available at http://multimedia-radio.cubasi.cu/ (Media Network blog Aug 5 via DXLD) ** CUBA. Tho much better than recently, RHC 9550 still seems under- powered, and/or FE conditions are picking up, as Aug 5 at 1316 CCI was audible under (China/Vietnam), and SAH detectable during RHC fades (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also VENEZUELA [non] ** CUBA. QSL, QSL on the air, yes QSL on the air to the many listeners that have reported our new 11760 kiloHertz antenna system. Thanks amigos, and yes we are very happy with the results of this rather simple and rugged antenna system that provides almost perfect omnidirectional coverage of the first and second skip zones on the 25 meters band. We are now running a similar antenna on 5965 kiloHertz with our nightly Spanish language program from starting at 00 and until 05 UT (Arnie Coro, CO2KK, RHC DXers Unlimited Aug 5, ODXA via DXLD) Not a word about Topic F in his script, but we can`t really blame him (gh, DXLD) ** CUBA [and non]. R. Martí on 11775 after 0004 UT Aug 6, with silly baseball game, but the DentroCuban Jamming Command was determined to prevent its citizens from enjoying it. At the moment, here, RM was atop the jamming (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. See USA WRMI ** CZECH REPUBLIC. Google Earth Imagery. Uherske Hradiste LW 270 kHz, 600 kW. Low resolution. ??? 2 masts 1990 meters apart, at 25/205 degrees, at 49 01 48 N, 17 26 20 E or near Topolna? 49 10 N, 17 30 E registered at EBU (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX July 28 via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. HCJB`s English service, 11720, Aug 5 at 2346 with that language lesson show, this one on the topic of karate. VG signal and if I had listened 24 hours earlier am sure I would have heard no trace whatsoever of Scandinavian Weekend Radio underneath. After 2400 back into Spanish (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EGYPT. R. Cairo audible on three 25m frequencies, Aug 5. At 2346, 11755 with weak Arabic music, 2351-2355 talk, perhaps news, mentioning Lub`nan, 2355 back to music, 2358 announcement mentioned Qahira. Could not really catch ID beyond ``Idha`at . . . al Arabiyah. . .`` but Cairo`s Arabic service to C&SAm is scheduled here. Blasted away by RHC 11760 which opened at *0000. 11755 was not parallel the General Arabic program on 12050, which when checked at 2347 had good strength but very poor audio, breaking up, just the modulation peaks poking thru, same situation as usual and as noted several weeks ago. And at 2347, 11950 with English to NAm, opening a program in the format they always use, ``Radio Cairo presents. . .`` then a lengthy bit of theme music leaving us hanging, and finally the name of the program which I could not fully catch due to usual low and muffled modulation on otherwise SINPO 45444 signal. Recheck at 2404, 11950 was in Arabic spoken slowly and clearly by M as this was their language lesson. A minute later, W came on explaining the grammar and referring to page 86 of the textbook. By now the modulation level had improved, slightly. By 2419 they were into music again, so if there was news at 2415 I missed it (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA. Don't remember if this was already mentioned: Geja Jewe FS is partly on high resolution in Google Earth at 8 47 11n 38 38 40e. 73, (Mauno Ritola, Finland, Aug 5, SW Radio Station Transmitter Site Database & Archive yg via DXLD) ** GABON. The Moyabi Story - a comprehensive history of the high power short wave transmitter site at Moyabi, Gabon. (August 2006), by Tony Rogers [detailed chronology, 7 pages, illustrated]: http://www.users.waitrose.com/~bdxc/moyabi.pdf (BDXC via DXLD) ** GEORGIA. Abchasien(?) [ABKHAZIA]. MI[ttwoch], 02.08., zwischen 0440 und 0459 UT auf 9494.7 kHz - nur in LSB hoerbar, weil Bulgarien auf 9500 zu sehr stoerte - eine Station mit sehr duennem aber klarem Signal (O=1). Koennte GEO, Suchumi, gewesen sein. (Aug 2) Am DO[nnerstag], 03.08., vor 0430 UT (ab 0430 Bulgarien auf 9500) "Radio Republik Abchasien" mit O=3 in AM. Falls die Stationsansage (auch) "Radio Aqwa" lautet, so ist eine klare ID zu hoeren gewesen. (Herbert Meixner-AUT, A-DX Aug 2/3 via BCDX via DXLD) ** GERMANY. MV Baltic Radio on Sunday 6th of August 2006 at 1200 UT, 49 metres - 6045 kHz. Good Listening (Tom Taylor, Aug 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: 6045, MV Baltic Radio on Sunday Aug 6, 1200-1300 UT. MV Baltic Radio ist am Sonntag, dem 6. August 2006, um 14 Uhr MESZ im 49-m-Europa- Band, 6045 kHz wieder auf Sendung. MV Baltic Radio is on Sunday, 06th of August 2006, at 12 o'clock UT in the 49-m-European-Shortwave-Band, 6045 kHz on air again. Vorschau/Preview: Waehrend der Sendung spielen wir unter anderem Musik von Def Leppard und Ozzy Osborne, die auf ihren aktuellen Scheiben Coverversionen bekannter Rocksongs eingespielt haben. In unserem Special berichten wir ueber die Zappanale, ein mehrtaegiges Festival, das wieder tausende Zuschauer auf das Gelaende an der Galopprennbahn bei Bad Doberan anlockte. Die Zappanale ist eine Hommage an den amerikanischen Musiker Frank Zappa. Sie fand zum 17. Mal an der Ostsee statt. Kontakt ueber: R&R Medienservice, Roland Rohde, Seestrasse 17, 19089 Goehren, Germany E- Mail: info @ mvbalticradio.de (via Klaus Fuehrlich-D, A-DX Aug 4 via BCDX via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Re 1575 kHz, Oldiestar Radio: yesterday evening they carried Voice of Russia. Just now they had Oldies at 1200 UT, out of the blue switching to Russian, then back to Oldies and at 1205 the carrier went off completely. Back at 1210 in DRM. And at 1215 UT Oldies in AM. -- 73, (Martin http://home.wolfsburg.de/elbe/ Elbe, Germany, Aug 4, mwdx yg via DXLD) The website of this new German Radiostation can be found on http://www.oldiestar.de (Peter Kruse, Germany, playdx yg via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Google Earth Imagery. HR Frankfurt MW 594 kHz 250 kW, via (Frankfurt) Rodgau Weiskirchen, 2 masts in 60/240 degrees, 255 meters apart each other. Main lobe at 180 degr. Screened towards degrees/dB 000/10, 60/4, 120/15, 180/0, 240/8, 300/0, at 50 03 23 N, 8 51 56 E 50 03 19 N, 8 51 45 E and (Kassel) Hoher Meissner, MW 594 kHz, 90 kW, two masts in 25/205 degrees, 145 meters apart each other. 51 12 34 N, 9 50 45 E main mast 51 12 29 N, 9 50 42 E reflector WDR Langenberg, TX house, FM/TV tower at 51 21 22 68 N, 7 08 2 76 E MW 720/1593 kHz mast at 51 21 3 N, 7 08 17 7 E DLF Nordkirchen 549 kHz, two masts in 50/230 degrees, 137 meters apart. 51 45 19 04 N, 7 32 21 E 51 45 17 64 N, 7 32 16 E DLF Thurnau 549 kHz, single mast at 49 59 14 50 N, 11 22 36 E tx house at 49 59 11 N, 11 22 48 E T-systems Woebbelin [former GDR highpower 576 kHz site, minor transmission on 999 kHz] Two masts in 150/330 degrees, 123 meters apart each other. 53 23 43 N, 11 30 59 E 53 23 40 N, 11 31 2 E and TX hall at 53 23 43 N, 11 31 12 50 E MDR Wachenbrunn 882 kHz, 20 kW [former GDR highpower 693 kHz site] two masts in 30/210 degrees, 85 meters apart each other, at 50 29 34 N, 10 34 00 E TX hall at 50 29 26 N, 10 34 00 E and 800 kW super power Voice of Russia relay 1323 kHz, 4 mast array some 785 meters south/southwestwards of the transmitter hall, at 50 29 8 N, 10 33 30 E masts as quadrant standing on top, 70 meters away each other. DLF Donebach 153 kHz, 500 kW, two masts in 110/290 degrees, 600 meters away each other, of 360 meters height each. 49 33 36 N, 9 10 37 E TX hall at 49 33 46 N, 9 10 44 E DLF Aholming towards Ottmaring 207 kHz 500 kW, two masts in 55/235 degrees, 425 meters away each other. 48 43 45 N, 12 55 55 E TX hall at 48 43 39 N, 12 55 40 E (wb, wwdxc BC-DX July 28 via DXLD) ** GREECE. VOG, 15650, with Greek music, Aug 5 at 2335, fair signal and declining somewhat in next quarter hour. This is aimed at Australia (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Solar-terrestrial indices for 05 August follow. Solar flux 70 and mid- latitude A-index 3. The mid-latitude K-index at 0000 UTC on 06 August was 1 (8 nT). No space weather storms were observed for the past 24 hours. No space weather storms are expected for the next 24 hours (SEC via DXLD) ** HAWAII [and non]. Re Salem, HI vs CA --- Re Glenn Hauser's post of last night, and Ben Dawson's comments ("All of this comes about because Wang's method doesn't properly evaluate the double hop situation for distances greater than 3200 km, and is inaccurate in my opinion," etc.) Great example of how the FCC and its consulting engineers have NO clue about propagation at any frequency below TV channel 2! Well, maybe not VHF/UHF either, but they definitely haven't a clue about mediumwave frequencies! (Randy Stewart, Springfield MO, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** INDIA. 25th week commemorative sticker; All India Radio Chennai’s 30th week of Vanoli Ulagam --- Dear Dxers. All India Radio Chennai’s 30th week of Vanoli Ulagam (Radio World) program will broadcast on 07 August 2006 (Sunday). The Content of the program is like this: In the First, segment some details about the Cross Modulation Part II. In the second part, ‘Radio History’ contains History of radio in Lebanon with their Signature Tunes (Voice of Lebanon). In the third part ‘Radio Today’ contains, Voice of Armenia, Asian Broadcasting Union, Radio Japan, Radio Cairo, Radio TV Malaysia Fourth part with the DX Logging in English. The Fifth segment for DX Book review: In this week`s edition, we review the ‘Guide to World Radio’ by David and Johnson. In the six part of that day program, we give the detail review of the http://www.irkutsk.com/radio/jingles.htm web site Those who are want to get the special limited edition World Smallest QSL card (6x3.5 CM), and 25th week commemorative sticker send your Reception Report with 1 New IRC to the following address. Indian listener must send Rs. 10/- mint stamps for return QSL. N. C. Gnanaprakasam, Program Executive, Vanoli Ulagam Thiraikadal Adaivaram Thamiizh Naatham All India Radio Kamarajar Salai Chennai 600004 Tamilnadu, India The schedule of the Tamil DX Program ‘Vaanoli Ulagam’ (Radio World) is as follows: Sundays between 1115-1215 UT (for about 10 minutes) [probably 2nd half] To Sri Lanka: 1053 Tuticorin (200 kw) 15050 Khampur, Delhi (250 kw) 17860 New Delhi (100 kw) 7270 Chennai (Avadi) (100 Kw) To SE Asia: 13695 Bangalore (500 kw) 15770 Aligarh (250 kw) 17810 Panaji (250 kw) 73’s, (Jaisakthivel, Producer and Presenter, Chennai, 05-08-2006, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. VOI, which was on 9526 the day before, was missing Aug 5 at 1315 check (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. See CUBA ** ISRAEL. See LEBANON ** KOREA NORTH. Good conditions from FE Sat Aug 5, including at 1316, VOK on 9335, and at 1317, domestic service on 9665 with stirring revolutionary music (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH. 3560, feeder except 0400-0700 UT. Hourly transmissions: R Pyongyang 0000 and 0900 UT. VoKorea remaining slots, excluding Korean Central BS at 1200, 1400, 2000, and 2300 UT (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX Aug 5 via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. Shiokaze, 9485 via Taiwan, Sat Aug 5 at 1315 was in Japanese, with piano music rather than electronic stingers (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LEBANON * * * HISTORY * * * Wings of Hope QSL, 11530 kHz. Wenn ich mich recht entsinne, nannte man sich auf 6280 kHz King of Hope und auf 11530 kHz Wings of Hope (Patrick Robic-AUT, A-DX July 21) "King of Hope" war auch, lt. QSL Karte (vom Oct. 21, 1983) auf 6215 kHz aktiv. Broadcasting from Free Lebanon (Mit Zeder/DavidStern Abbildung). *"Bringing Peace to a Troubled World"* QSL Karte mit Voice of Hope Global Broadcasting Network Sendernetz: KVOH 17775 kHz \\ Voice of Hope 6280 u. 684 kHz \\ Voice of Hope 945 AM 50 kW Superstation und 104.5-105.1 FM \\ Wings of Hope for Europe/Russia/Africa 9960 kHz \\ KHBN Palau 15725 kHz \\ Voice of Hope Palau 9965 kHz \\ QSL Karte mit Funkhaus The Lebanese Broadcasting System, Beyrouth 5980 kHz 100 kW 11.12.1974 (Paul Gager-AUT, A-DX July 23) Das habe ich damals mitgeschnitten: Libanon D/E 11530 08.07.1993 - 20.58 Wings Of Hope Die Deutschsendung (Bibelmagazin der christlichen Medienproduktion) kam aus Klosterneuburg bei Wien. Senderichtung laut Stationsansage: "For all of Europe!" Dann folgte Dr.Gene Scott.... (Herbert Meixner-AUT, A-DX July 23) Voice of Hope, High Adventure Ministries. Nach der ersten Besetzung des Suedlibanon durch die Israelis gab es dann in der "Schutzzone" einen geduldeten Missionssender, der u.a. in AR und EE Programme lieferte und (wenn ich mich noch korrekt entsinne) auch auf 11580 zu hoeren war, QSLs soll es auch gegeben haben. Wenn ich den Namen der Station haette koennte ich selber suchen (Walter Eibl-D, A-DX July 23) The King of Hope, betrieben von der kalifornischen "High Adventure" Missionsgesellschaft, sendete mit etwa 15 kW auf 6280 kHz und 11530 (da bin ich mir jetzt nicht genau sicher, ob 11530 oder 11580 kHz). Ich scanne die QSL mal gerade und lade sie dann auf meine Webseite hoch (Martin Elbe-D, A-DX July 23) Die 6550 war ab circa 1997/1998 schon heftig von den Chinesen aus Peking als Feederfrequenz genutzt worden, da war nix mehr mit Falangistenprogramm. (wb) In a letter received here today, Voice of Hope, Lebanon tells that they bc on 9960, fr Marjayoun, Lebanon, 12 kW, and on 945, 13 kW. The tx 6280, was destroyed June 29th, 1997 by a fire. http://www.highadventure.org/voh_era.html (Holst via DXW, Dec 7, 1997; in bc-dx) 9960, Voice of Hope, b/cs from Marj Uyun in the Israeli- controlled "security zone" in So LEB, and was set up in 1979 by the late Maj. Sa'ad Haddad, leader of the Israeli-backed South Lebanon Army. Each tx uses a different name: "Voice of Hope" (on 684 and 945 MW; "King of Hope"/"Voice of Hope" (on SW); and "Prince of Peace" (on 104.5 & 105.1 FM). SW sked: 0400-0200 (En 0400-0800 [Dr. Gene Scott], 0800-1100, 1300- 1500, 1530-1630, 1900-2100, 2100-0200 [Dr. Gene Scott]). 6280 is still inactive (AGDX & NU, in bc-dx Jan 11, 1998) 11530 VoHope in Ru 1900-2100, Ar 2100-2200 and next day 0400-0600. (Rumen Pankov-BUL, Apr 16) At 1925 Ru on new 11530. (WB, bc-dx Apr 25, 1998) Und dann noch eine georgische Seifenblase die nur eine kurze Zeit hielt, da war G. Jacobs zu blauaeugig, im Aug 1998 ging man nach Juelich zu Jan Ulrich's Firma. Voice of Hope, High Adventure Ministries: Planned sked for W97 has been varied, for Tbilisi. New sked is: 1400-1630 12120 (ex 9310 1300- 1530) En to CIRAF 41 (IND), 1630-2200 on 6290 En to CIRAF 27/28 (WeEUR). The Indian service is known as "The Voice of Hope Indian Beacon"; the European service is "The Voice of Hope European Beacon". RR's for the Beacon Network should be sent to: PO Box 109, Hereford HR4 9XR United Kingdom. Reports for other Voice of Hope pxs should be sent directly to the sites in Palau (KHBN), California (KVOH), and Lebanon. The Ministry HQ address is: PO Box 100, Simi Valley, California 93965, U.S.A. (High Adventure Ministries/Bob German - George Jacobs and Associates HFCC, Nov 19, 1997) Noted at excellent level on 6290 with En 2000-2100. It was inaugurated in 1997 and until summer 1998 bc via txs in the Rep of Georgia. 1330-1530 En to AS 15715 1800-2200 En to EUR 6015 Addr: P.O.Box 109, Hereford HR4 9XR, UK URL: http://www.highadventure.org e-mail: voh @ broadcast.net (AGDX, Aug 20, 1998; via bc-dx) [ALL via BCDX Aug 4, 2006 via DXLD) Very sad to see the situation in Lebanon. Israel is gone mad. Is over embattled country by US air fighters, tanks and German Atomic rocket submarines. Israel should be protected from itself. A religious and habitat problem will last in coming centuries! (Wolfgang Büschel, BCDX via DXLD) ** LIBYA [and non]. Sat Aug 5 at 1329, African music jammer on 17695, SAH with a weaker signal (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAYSIA. Re 6-116: Don't quite understand the "link to VOM not obvious" comments. Links to all the live audio and video streams are there in the bottom right-hand corner of the home page. The page is sometimes slow to load though, and occasionally fails to download completely. The two VOM streams are to accommodate simultaneous broadcasts in different languages, as occurs at 1030 UT for instance. BTW, the 0600-0825 English is on "VOM1". Regards, (Dave Kernick, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Meanwhile I see that http://www.publicradiofan.com has added Malaysia, but only the TV streams; maybe the radio is too commercial?: http://www.publicradiofan.com/cgi-bin/statsearch.pl?country=Malaysia (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** MEXICO. 1510, XEQI La Sultana, Escobedo-Monterrey (23 43'N, 100 21'W), JUL 18, 0455 - PSA, "De acuerdo a la ley de representación democrática del Estado de Nuevo León..." into rock melody. 0458 romantic vocal, then full ID, "XEQI, La Sultana, 1510 kilohertz, Monterrey, Nuevo León." 0502 national anthem by a military band, 0503 male vocal. Good, traces of KGA. Night power not listed in IRCA Mexican Log, not shown in NRC Night Pattern Book. To judge by strength, night power is probably 50 kW, same as day (Richard E. Wood, HI, NRC IDXD via DXLD) Night power not listed in 2006 WRTH either, just 50 kW day, although 24 hour operation is indicated. The SCT list indicates daytime only operation. The FCC database lists 0.25 kW nights (Bruce Conti, ed., ibid.) ** MEXICO. MÉXICO: EL IMER EN MANOS DE DOLORES BÉISTEGUI (II y última parte) --- continued from http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/columnas/59402.html [part I] http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/columnas/59512.html [part II] Columna: Medios de por medio Por: Elvira García Publicado en el periódico: El Universal Martes 01 de agosto de 2006 --- Cultura Decíamos en la entrega anterior que aún había más que contarles respecto de la manera en que Dolores Béistegui ha dirigido el conjunto de emisoras públicas agrupadas en el Instituto Mexicano de la Radio (Imer) durante el gobierno del presidente Vicente Fox. La señora Béistegui ha dicho que el presupuesto anual de más de 100 millones de pesos que le otorga la Federación es insuficiente para dar una vida digna a las que 19 emisoras que recibió en 2002, de las cuales, como en el cuento de los perritos, nada más le quedan 17. La pregunta es, ¿por qué otros directores del Imer como Gerardo Estrada, Jorge Ruiz Dueñas y Carlos Lara, sí obtuvieron logros e hicieron avanzar técnicamente a ese instituto con el magro presupuesto que eternamente han tenido esos medios públicos? Tanto Dueñas como Lara Sumano entregaron un Imer con mejoras técnicas y avances en la producción de perfiles radiofónicos. No ha ocurrido así en esta administración panista. Es memorable todavía la expresión de doña Dolores cuando despidió --- de muy descortés manera --- a los analistas de la barra de opinión y a titulares de programas unitarios. Lo que más lamentaba --- dijo --- era tener que prescindir de un exitoso programa deportivo. El desmantelamiento del Imer es preocupante. Como dijimos, de las 19 emisoras hoy quedan 17, y si el tiempo se lo permite Béistegui se desprenderá de dos más, la de Campeche y la de Yucatán, con lo que culminará su administración entregando un Imer disminuido en todos los sentidos, pero, eso sí, con oficinas remodeladas. Ahora las instalaciones del Imer en Mayorazgo han perdido buena parte de su fisonomía emblemática, y lo que antaño fue el enorme Estudio A --- donde se llevaron a cabo conciertos transmitidos en vivo --- hoy es un achicado estudio que se utiliza para múltiples actividades. Además, el lobby está sufriendo modificaciones estructurales con materiales cuyo peso quizá perjudicará los sótanos donde hay bodegas de acervos fonográficos. El Imer en manos de Béistegui ha vivido muchas irregularidades, y una de tantas es que bajo su dirección Opus 94 ha tenido ¡cinco gerentes! Hoy, después de su más reciente baja, la de Amadeo Estrada --- hijo del compositor Julio Estrada ---, navega a la deriva, sin cabeza, e intenta ser coordinado por Alejandra de la Paz, la ¡tercera titular de la Dirección de Radiodifusoras!, el puesto más importante después de la dirección general. Alejandra, una mujer con experiencia en la cultura, pero ninguna en la radio, toma decisiones alejadas de las necesidades de las emisoras que están bajo su supervisión. Otra irregularidad que salió a la luz a finales del año pasado fue que la Secretaría de la Función Pública detectó malos manejos administrativos en el Imer, lo que obligó a la señora Béistegui a desprenderse de varias personas de su equipo más cercano. Hoy se desconoce de qué tamaño son los faltantes financieros. Hay muchas preguntas más en el aire. Por ejemplo, por qué en anteriores administraciones al Imer sí le era posible autogenerar 30% de sus ingresos. Por qué si el instituto arrastra tan graves problemas económicos, Dolores contrata personal y asesores que vienen de la radio y televisión privada, a los que paga entre 60 y 80 mil pesos mensuales; por qué tiene sueldos tan contrastados para productores, por ejemplo, mientras a Sergio Vela, titular de la Dirección de Música de la UNAM, le paga 8 mil pesos por cada emisión de una serie dedicada a la ópera, a compositores como Javier Platas, creador y conductor de la serie. La otra versión apenas le asigna 5 mil 600 pesos mensuales por cuatro programas. Y, finalmente, si como insiste en repetir a quien quiera escucharla, Béistegui no está en el Imer por que necesite dinero, pues su marido gana mucho, podría hacerle un bien a ese instituto donando la mitad de los 150 mil pesos mensuales que hasta el año 2003 cobraba como directora general. viragarcia1952 @ aol.com (via Roberto Edgar Gómez Morales, Mexico, Aug 2, Noticias DX via DXLD) ** MOLDOVA [or non?]. Glenn: In the latest DXLD I see such exotic DX- locations as Antarctica, Kurdistan, Tibet, Oklahoma, etc. Don't you think it would be only logical to file the news on R. Prindestrovie under Transdniester, and not Moldova? Another possible name: The Dniester Moldovan Republic. 73! (Sergei Sosedkin, IL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Sergei, I believe I did that for a while, but the pressure seemed to be in the other direxion; e.g. the clandestine and other relays from Grigoriopol are always referred to as ``Moldova`` by HFCC, etc. And this subject was previously discussed in 4-076: ``This is a bit of a misunderstanding: Transdniester is not a "country" but a break-away region in Moldova which unilaterally declared its independence, but is not recognized by any foreign state nor by the Moldovan authorities. The transmitter on 5960 is located in the high power transmitting centre in Maiac near Grigoriopol in the break-away region itself (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania)`` However, as you observe, with other examples, that would not preclude granting it ``DXLD country status...``. if I could just remember how to spell it... (Glenn, ibid.) ** MYANMAR. 5040.4, Myanma Radio (presumed), Aug. 5, 1312-1350, local music and songs/ballads, BoH into English lesson (slow English), reading something and then asking a number of questions, weak. Have noted English lessons before during this time period (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, RX340, with T2FD antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGER. With its new transmitter, most likely built with the cooperation of Radio Taiwan International, Radio La Voix du Sahel, Voice of Sahel, is now received in Sofia on 9705 kHz between 6 and 16 hours fairly well with programs in French and Vernaculars. The QSL address is: La Voix du Sahel, B. P. 309, Niamey, Niger (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, R. Bulgaria DX program Aug 4 via John Norfolk, dxldyg via DXLD) La Voix du Sahel on 9704 this Saturday at 0605 UT. News, talks (development in the country, foreign relations, sports...) 34443 (Jean-Michel Aubier, France, Aug 5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, noted LV du Sahel on 9704 on 4 Aug at 1935. 73, (Jari in Finland Savolainen, ibid.) 9705.0 --- Measured La Voix du Sahel between 1840 and 1855 UT Aug 5, noted Sahel/Saharan singer group. Transmitter is on exact 9705 frequency; no frequency offset today. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) ** NIGERIA. After years of planning and study, the dream of a new shortwave broadcasting center in Nigeria is coming true. Voice of Nigeria (VON) has contracted Thomson and its local partner for the supply of a DRM turnkey station close to the capital Abuja. The project will be implemented in two phases, whereby the supply of the first phase includes: 250 kW digital DRM transmitter, Thomson Type TSW 2300D; Cirrus, the Thomson DRM Multi-Program Multiplexer; Stratus, the Thomson DRM Versatile Modulator/RF Exciter; Thomson fix curtain antenna; New transmitter building, access and service roads, mains supply, fresh water supply, etc. The second phase will include two additional transmitters and a rotatable antenna system. With the implementation of this ambitious new project, VON will have a highly modern, efficient and fully flexible broadcasting solution at its disposal, thus re-instating its roll as a leading shortwave broadcaster in Africa (Thomson RadioNews, Summer 2006 [released August 2006], via Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, DXLD) RFI was previously reported to be getting involved somehow in Nigeria with Hausa programming, perhaps related to these plans. So will the new 250 kW be DRM-ONLY?? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA. NIGERIAN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CURTAILS FRCN KADUNA OPERATIONS The Abuja-based Daily Trust says that the Nigerian federal government has taken steps that may lead to the curtailment of the operations of Radio Nigeria, Kaduna with the deployment and transfer of all its correspondents nationwide to the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), headquarters in Abuja. A letter to that effect has been sent to all the over 30 Radio Nigeria, Kaduna correspondents across the country. The letter said that the correspondents will in future report to the Abuja national headquarters of the FRCN. This change took effect on 1 August. The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) Chairman, Kano state chapter, Alhaji Muhammad Sabo Nanono, told the Daily Trust that the government’s actions are an affront, not only to Hausa speakers in northern Nigeria but a deliberate effort to strangulate the positive impact of the radio station on the lives of millions of Hausa listeners in the West African sub-region. Sabo Nanono added that it was the same administration of Olusegun Obasanjo in 1978, that first attempted to curtail the influence of the station by proposing its conversion to mediumwave transmission. A former journalist with Radio Nigeria Kudana, Alhaji Ghali Sadiq, who now works for the All Nigeria Peoples’ Party (ANPP), said the decision to transfer all the Radio Nigeria Kaduna correspondents to FRCN, Abuja, is a deliberate and calculated attempt to destroy the north politically and economically. Recalling the positive role Radio Nigeria Kaduna has played in the socio-political and economic enhancement of the north and the country in general, Ghali Sadiq said FRCN Kaduna is the only viable station in the country today because of the collapse and mismanagement of other regional radio stations under the FRCN. He called on all well meaning Nigerians to resist the present attempt by the Obasanjo administration to limit Radio Nigeria, Kaduna to the status of a local radio station within Kaduna. The Director General of FRCN, Kevin Ejiofor, could not be reached for comments as he was said to be travelling, but the Director, Special Projects of FRCN, Mr. Tajudeen Akanbi, said as a member of the management staff, he was aware of the decision but added that it was not a decision restricted to Radio Nigeria, Kaduna, alone. ``You can go and cross check. All the other FRCN stations in Enugu, Ibadan are affected by the decision, it is not a deliberate affront on Kaduna station alone,`` he assured the newspaper. (Source: Daily Trust) (August 5th, 2006, 10:54 UTC by Andy, Media Network blog via DXLD) So is FRCN Kadula active or not on 4770, 6090? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGST) ** OKLAHOMA. McAlester, *91.9 KBCW-FM (ex-KBCW). KBCW TV is channel 44 San Francisco CA (Aug FMedia! via DXLD) That explains the previous item about why 91.9 added the -FM. Did money change hands? (gh, DXLD) ** PAKISTAN. 5023.58-.76, R. Pakistan (Quetta?) at 1655-1735, ID and news at 1700. Pakistani singing at 1733. Drifting QRG. Slight transmitter hum and distortion. S5-S8 signal (Vlad Titarev-UKR, DXplorer Aug 1 via BCDX via DXLD) ** PARAGUAY [and non]. Bolivia is not very easy at all on MW from the UK. As far as I am aware, my one and only logging of that country was of 1390 kHz CP3 in 1991 (since closed). Indeed, I believe there has only been one other logging of a Bolivian in the UK in the last 15 years. Paraguay is rather easier here in Clashmore, with 6 MW stations heard in the last few years. These have all been between February and November, with the best signals being in late summer and autumn. The easiest is 1020.1 kHz ZP14 - it's the one I've heard most frequently, and the offset tells you immediately if it's there or not; if it is, all you have to do is wait for an ID. 650 ZP4 and 970 ZP7 are heard less frequently, and 780 ZP70 and 920 ZP1 are the least often heard - for these you need a bad NA night, or an antenna that nulls out the Canadians on the channel. In my experience, there are a relatively small number of nights in the year when the Paraguayans are strong enough to overcome co-channel interference, and even then it may only be for a period of half an hour or so. Good DX! 73s, (Martin A. Hall, Scotland, MWC via DXLD) Thanks for this invaluable and detailed information, Martin. I hadn't realised it was quite so difficult - half hour windows, etc. Very interesting. I will look out for the 1020.1 offset. Thanks (John Faulkner, ibid.) ** PERU. Mi nombre es Pablo Alfredo Albornoz Rojas; laboré un tiempo en Radio Municipal en banda tropical de 90 metros 3173 khz, desde la ciudad de Panao, Provincia de Pachitea, región Huánuco. Por motivos de rotación de personal de la municipàlidad ahora estoy en ascesoría jurídica. Si logras sintonizar Radio Municipal, no dudes en enviarme informe de recepción. El horario de transmisión es hora peruana 6:00 pm a 9:00 pm [2300-0200 UT]; en las mañanas, siempre hora local de Perú, de 4:00 a 6:00 am [0900-1100 UT]. La dirección donde puedes enviar es: Pablo Alfredo Albornoz Rojas, Jirón Tacna 385, Panao, Pachitea, Huánuco, Perú (Albornoz, via Juan Carlos, Noticias DX via DXLD) ** SPAIN. REE, 15385, VG in French at 2343 Aug 5; also at recheck 0011 in English playing a nice YL vocal rendition of ``Guantanamera``, and 0012 into ``Visitors` Notebook`` about famous people who passed thru Spain recently, starting with Julio Boca, Argentine ballet dancer, who is on a farewell world tour lasting until the end of 2007y. Seems he is appreciated everywhere but back home in Buenos Aires. Accompanied by some nice tango music; 0017 next subject, a hard rock group which won the Eurovision song contest, so I tuned out (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN. 1296, SNBC, Reba, JUL 21, 0016 - Tentative; Arabic talk battling it out with COPE Spain. (Mark Connelly, MA, NRC IDXD August 5 via DXLD) JUL 21, 0140, Presumed; Kor`anic vocal under COPE Spain. Last positive ID during 2001 DX Clams at 0200 with interval signal (Bruce Conti, MA, ibid.) Try for possible 7200 kHz shortwave parallel, which is active and well heard here at 0400. Confusingly, the Arabic newscaster then does not speak with a Sudanese accent; has a soft j where most Sudanese have a hard g, e.g. Jumhuriya for Gumhuriya. It is now a commercial station with jingles (Richard E. Wood, HI, ibid.) ** TURKEY. 5562, TRT, Izmir, 6th harmonic of MW 927 kHz: 5562.038 kHz, 1750-1755 UT, Turkish mx, S5-S7, low modulation, strong static, poor (Vlad Titarev-UKR, DXplorer July 29 via BCDX via DXLD) Look for others ** U A E. New 800 kW transmitter on 1539 kHz -- UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. According to Thomson's "RadioNews", Summer 2006, Thomson Broadcast & Multimedia is going to install a third 800 kW transmitter at Dhabbiya, to operate on 1539 kHz with a 2-tower directional antenna system. The transmitter is planned to be operational at the end of January 2007. It is expected that also this new transmitter (like the transmitters on 1170 & 1575 kHz) will be leased by the International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB). (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, MWDX yg via DXLD) ** U K [non]. Hi, Glenn -- Had my first chance to check the new BBC morning frequencies to the Caribbean on Saturday 8/5 and tuned in for Newshour at 1200 UT. Here in Houston 9660 from Cypress Creek rather poor with lots of fading and English language QRM (didn't stick around long enough to figure out who.) Tuned up to 9750 Montsinéry which was pretty solid, although non-English QRM underneath (Malaysia?). 9750 slowly deteriorated throughout the hour, as I expected; but a recheck of 9660 around 1255 had that signal much stronger than an hour earlier. Probably should use 9750 for first 30 minutes of Newshour, then head down to 9660. Still, the old 11865 from Montsinéry provided a better signal for the entire hour. 9750 will probably do better after the Fall equinox. I suspect the co-channel QRM that I heard is probably not an issue in the target area, over two Megameters southeast of my QTH. A decent alternative for me is still 9740 via Singapore, consistent level with no QRM (Stephen Luce, Houston, TX, Aug 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9660 would be RCI in English to Asia via Japan at 12-13 (EiBi via gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Death of a colleague. Robert Wone, 32, recently appointed attorney for Radio Free Asia, stabbed in a townhouse near Washington's Dupont Circle. Washington Post, 4 August 2006. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/03/AR2006080301032.html The Post story refers to RFA as a "nonprofit group," but does not mention that it is funded by the U.S. government and supervised by the Broadcasting Board of Governors (Kim Elliott) Update: "The evidence we have found so far would lead us to believe Mr. Wone was not the victim of some happenstance. This attack was specific towards him." Washington Post, 5 August 2006. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/04/AR2006080401419.html See also Richmond Times-Dispatch, 5 August 2006. http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149189820256&path=!news&s=1045855934842 (Posted: 05 Aug 2006 kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) OBIT ** U S A. WRMI observations: UT Sat Aug 5 at 0510 check, 9955 had some Cuban Spanish program, replacing WORLD OF RADIO at 0500. WOR was still heard, however, Sat 1450 on 7385, starting at 1430. Previously at 1325, 9955 noted with no jamming and some other Spanish program with a phone conversation, 1327 closing mentioning R. Miami Internacional, 1330 ID in English and 1332 Wavescan. WRMI, 9955, during its newly added DX program, Monitor DX, Sat Aug 5 at 2350, was totally blocked by dentroCuban jamming. I hope it was doing better in SAm (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. CVC La Voz, 17680 via Chile, Sat Aug 5 at 1329 mentioning ``El Mundo del Arte``; maybe a promo for show at 1300-1330 the next day, tho no time heard. Checking the Sunday grid at http://www.cvclavoz.com/article/frontpage/49 this continues to be shown instead as as ``1300-1400 Arte y Cultura con Marisol Popovitz`` even tho we have confirmed the different name and shortened slot weeks ago (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. AIR AMERICA SWITCHES ITS NEW YORK FLAGSHIP TO WWRL (1600) AS OF SEPTEMBER 1. News Bulletin: Wednesday, August 02, 2006 Sure enough - the renewal announced last Spring to keep Air America on its original home (Inner City's WLIB at 1190) was a short-term deal that expires August 31. Now Air America and Access.1 announce that the progressive talk lineup is moving to WWRL (1600) in September as part of a new strategic alliance. There's immediate speculation about what will replace Al Franken, Randi Rhodes and other Air America talent on WLIB. They debuted there nearly 2-1/2 years ago - on March 31, 2004. Read the Air America/Access.1 press release: http://ftp.media.radcity.net/ZMST/AAR802.pdf via Inside Radio: http://www.insideradio.com/ (via Ken Kopp, dxldyg via DXLD) AIR AMERICA JUMPS TO WWRL-A/NYC AIR AMERICA RADIO and ACCESS.1 COMMUNICATIONS CORP jointly announced today that AIR AMERICA RADIO will begin broadcasting on WWRL-A/NEW YORK CITY, effective SEPTEMBER 1, 2006. WWRL-A will become the flagship station for the AIR AMERICA RADIO network in what the parties called a long-term "partnership,"; AAR currently airs in a similar time-brokered agreement on crosstown INNER CITY BROADCASTING CORP. WLIB-A. ALL ACCESS hears that the deal is for five years. "We are excited about our new affiliation and the platform this move will establish for AIR AMERICA in the years ahead," said AIR AMERICA acting CEO JIM WIGGETT. "We look forward to forming a long term and strong relationship with ACCESS.1 COMMUNICATIONS." "We are thrilled about our new partnership with AIR AMERICA," added ACCESS. 1 Pres. & COO CHESLEY MADDOX-DORSEY. "It is important that we partner in offering the nation`s largest radio market a strong, progressive voice." For now, WLIB-A's programming future remain uncertain, and exactly which hours will be covered by AAR programming is also unclear, although ALL ACCESS hears that morning drive may not be included in the arrangement (allaccess.com via Brock Whaley, DXLD) LEFTY NET OFF WLIB --- By JOHN MAINELLI August 3, 2006 – RADIO THE liberal Air America radio network is going to be harder to hear in New York. Next month, it is switching stations - to a weaker AM station, WWRL (1600 AM). Al Franken and his lefty colleagues are leaving WLIB (1190 AM) apparently because they couldn't come up with enough cash for the owners, former Manhattan Borough President Percy Sutton and his son, Pierre. Starting Sept. 1, Air America will be on WWRL, at the top of the dial where AM signals are weakest - especially at night, when greater FCC restrictions apply. As The Post reported last March, the ratings- challenged liberal network failed to renew its two-year lease with the Suttons. Relations between the Suttons and the network's execs were rocky from the start and only got worse after the network's shaky finances became known and a scandal broke out involving loans to Air America from a Bronx charity. WLIB's future after Sept. 1 is not known, although radio industry heavyweight Randy Michaels - the builder of 1,200-station Clear Channel - has expressed interest in leasing the station as a base for a new talk-radio network. Michaels declined comment yesterday and the Suttons didn't return calls (N Y Post story via Brock Whaley, DXLD) Did you know that "greater FCC restrictions apply"? That must explain less groundwave at 1600. LOL (Brock Whaley, GA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Same: http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/lefty_net_off_wlib_entertainment_john_mainelli.htm (via Don Thornton, Craig Seufert, DXLD) BTW, Glenn, I listened to about 10 minutes of Al Franken's show yesterday, and the majority of the time I listened he was playing taped excerpts of Limbaugh's show! If you can't beat them, join them? (Craig Seufert, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I think the point is to rebut Limbaugh and show what a fool he is, which is not at all hard to do; besides, he`s on at the same time as Franken, so it`s helpful to have the ``good parts`` excerpted on the show worth listening to during those two sesquihours (gh, DXLD) Isn't WWRL 25/5 kW - and isn't 5 kW on 1600 a lot better than 5 kW on 570? (Jim Renfrew, NY, NRC-AM via DXLD) He meant to say 25 kW on 1600 Nope, it's the other way around - for groundwave coverage, lower frequencies are better (Doug Smith, TN, ibid.) 5 kW on 570 is equivalent to 50 kW on 1600 (Paul Walker, ND, ibid.) Yes and no. All things being equal I'd much rather have 570 any day. (Russ Edmunds, Blue Bell, PA ( 360' ASL ), ibid.) All things being equal a 250 watt non-directional signal at 570 is about equivalent to a 5000 watt signal on 1600. The higher the AM frequency the less the groundwave coverage for the same amount of power. There have been lots of theories put forth for this phenomenon, but the most logical is this --- As frequency increases, wavelengths get shorter. A Wavelength at 570 would be about 1642 feet while at 1600 a Wavelength is about 585 feet. If a station on 570 and a station on 1600 both transmit 250 watts, the signal will only carry so many wavelengths before it weakens and becomes unmistakable. Since a wavelength at 570 is about three times as long as a wavelength at 1600, the same amount of power should give you triple the coverage. This assumes that both stations are using the same electrical-height towers (say, 1/4 wavelength), have similar ground systems, and operate over similar areas of ground conductivity. I hope this clears things up (Rene` F. Tetro, Chief Engineer, Salem Communications - Philadelphia, ibid.) ** U S A. 1090, WHGG KINGSPORT TN, This station is on all night for the last week. They are supposed to sign off at sundown. Would someone please call the FCC and get them to turn off their transmitter at sundown, AS THEY SHOULD DO!!!! They are blocking one of my favorite DX channels. Plus they are breaking the law!!! For some reason, laws don't mean anything in this country any more (Willis Monk, Old Fort TN, IRCA via DXLD) Hi Willis, it might be helpful to try and determine whether they are intentionally running programming at night (as if they had been auth'ed 24hr operation) or, whether they have some sort of malf'ing automation equipment, or just a careless operator-on-duty, maybe a highschool kid. What do you hear when they are supposed to be signing off? If there is a change in programming at their sked s/off time, as if they are then picking up an FM feed, then it sounds like just lack of oversight. (Do they even have a FM? You might want to listen for clues about this, as in - why are they even programming at night). However, IF it sounds like they _intend_ to run AM allnight, you should either verify their authorization to do so, or else you have a larger issue with which to get the attention of the FCC, not to mention WBAL, who are probably the only interested bystander in this case (not you, sorry). (Bob Foxworth, FL, ibid.) There are no operators. This isn't the first time. There likely is no one at the helm and they aren't paying attention or don't care. They have no night authority. IF they did it would be less than 10 watts. No FM to simulcast. I think it's off the bird (Willis Monk, ibid.) I have friends in the Atlanta FCC office, and they know about it. Actually they will call them and tell them what's going on before they GO over there and give them a nice little pink piece of paper. And if it continues someone will have to pull out their checkbook. [Later:] *I* called them. I do special listening and checking out of things in SC and neighboring states for them when they (Atlanta FCC office) asks (Powell E. Way III, SC, ibid.) WHGG has been on at night improperly at times for the last ten years and under a variety of formats and, maybe even calls (can't remember that far back). This isn't every night, but runs in spurts where it lasts a few days to a couple weeks. 73 KAZ (Neil Kazaross, IL, IRCA via DXLD) Bob, I am aware that at times things go wrong. Nothing made by man is perfect. Murphy`s law applies in this situation. HOWEVER, over the past two years on this list, WHGG has been mentioned as cheating some 50 times. That is not 'Murphy`s law'; that is willful disobeying the law and rules. I am tired of people tearing down this country by trashing our laws. Not just radio stations, but people running red lights, as well as cheating on their taxes. So I am a volunteer of one to put a stop to it. (That includes El Presidente not closing the border with Mexico and letting all the criminals into my country. He is not protecting this country as per the Constitution that he swore to uphold.) Wake up America, by cheating on the rules and laws you are only hurting yourselves, (and me). I am now stepping down from the soap box. Thank you for your time (Willis Monk, TN, ibid.) ** U S A. A new TIS has signed on here in Howard County as follows: 1700, WQCR505, MD, Clarksville. 8/4 1900. The transmitter is located at the Clarksville Fire Station, District 5, 5000 Signal Bell Lane, in Clarksville and is operated by the Howard County, Maryland Office of Emergency Management. They were running a loop tape with a male announcer instructing listeners to tune to 1700 for important safety and travel information. No call letters were given. There are at least six sites for this group according to the FCC web site, but located this site after driving around looking for it. They really get out well and is easily heard at my home some 12 miles away. A clip is available at http://philcobill.com/sounds/01700-20060804-1700-WQCR505-Clarksville.mp3 (Bill Harms - Elkridge, Maryland, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WIL, 1430, lost one of four towers at its Dupo IL site, south of KTRS. And an STL was affected by a fire. That took KMJM 104.9 Columbia IL and KSLZ 107.7 St Louis off for several hours during the storm (Aug FMedia! via DXLD) ** U S A. FL, Gainesville, WUFT-FM *89.1 has a classical music format, and thereby got into some trouble with a listener who complained to the FCC. George P. Reno told the FCC that the station continued to play music on Sept 11, 2001, and did not break away for news of the tragedies, denying Florida residents ``of access to necessary information.`` In denying Reno, the FCC mentioned the availability news on other outlets, and that programming decisions are left to the station. The protest caused a three year delay in the station getting its license renewed, and undoubtedly high legal fees (Aug FMedia! via DXLD) ** U S A. SC, Greenville, WEPR *90.1, gained a license renewal, but it`s about three years late. That`s because in October, 2003, Joseph Goldsmith filed an informal petition oi the FCC, complaining that the microwave relay that gets the program from the Columbia SC HQ goes out for ``extended periods of time.`` This is a threat to the upstate audience, which cannot get emergency weather info, such as during hurricanes. However, the FCC said its rules ``anticipate that there will be times when difficulties beyond the control of the licensee result in a discontinuation of service.`` (Aug FMedia! via DXLD) ** U S A. IL, Winnetka, WNTH *88.1, New Trier High School, won out against RB Schools, which wanted to share time. RB Schools claimed WNTH is operating less than 12 hours a day, allowing for share-time operation. The FCC rejected that and several other RB Schools` applications because it did not negotiate with the existing licensee first. None of the applications filed by RB Schools or Indiana`s Marty Hensley, which would have forced share-time operation, have been granted (Aug FMedia! via DXLD) ** U S A. VA, Hampton, WHOV *88.1, heard with what appeared to be actual commercials. Enhanced underwriting was for Queensbury Soul Café, downtown Hampton; Alpha Center dance classes; Mary Helen`s southern & Creole cuisine, Lady Neptune Seafood Haven (Aug FMedia! via DXLD) ** U S A. FCC NOT SURE WHEN FM TRANSLATOR STALEMATE WILL END --- I e- mailed, stating that a broadcaster asked me what the FCC is going to do with mutually exclusive FM translator applications. Do you foresee an auction, settlement agreements with monetary payouts, or comparative hearings? Might a point system for translators be devised? The broadcaster is noncommercial, and I think most of its opponents are also. Any timetable for when this process might begin? Dale Bickel of the FCC answered: ``Sorry, but I can`t speculate as to how or when the FCC might act on the translator applications. I don`t foresee any quick action, however.`` (Aug FMedia! via DXLD) ** U S A. [IRCA] WATD Fessenden special under way, webcast In case you didn`t mark your calendar when this was previously mentioned in DXLD, or on WORLD OF RADIO, WATD in Massachusetts has a special on Fessenden this afternoon; after some on and off, it really got underway around 1730 UT Sat and is supposed to run until 2100. http://www.959watd.com/Streaming.asp 73, (Glenn Hauser, OK, Aug 5, IRCA via DXLD) Thanks for the heads-up on the WATD broadcast. I've been listening for the last few hours and am enjoying it. This is great live and local radio. WATD is doing what a good local radio station should (Dave Marthouse, VA, IRCA via DXLD) Dave & Glenn --- Great to read your comments on one of my favorite semi-locals, WATD-95.9 Marshfield, MA. I often listen to this station while driving to work in the morning and greatly enjoy the local news and features. Long live local radio! (Marc DeLorenzo, South Dennis, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, ibid.) ** U S A. No daytimers in SE FL --- A few weeks ago I added info on power along with other details, to a daytime MW bandscan I had made previously. At the time it escaped my notice there were no domestic, daytime-only stations in that list. Only today when checking a printed copy did I realize this. I would have thought at least a couple stations in this area would be off nights, but there are none. Maybe this isn't that uncommon, but it seems unusual. If anyone is interested, the list in HTML format with links to web sites, antenna patterns and streaming audio, along with relevant details of each station heard at my location in SE Florida during day, can be accessed here http://ScooterHound.com/WWWR/radio/BandScan2.html (Curt Deegan, Boca Ratón, (southeast) Florida, Aug 5, IRCA via DXLD) ** UZBEKISTAN. UZBEKISTAN ON SHORTWAVE --- In the February 2001 edition of "Communication" we had a feature called "SW Around The World" which took a look at the shortwave radio scene in Uzbekistan. Over five years later the situation has changed with Uzbekistan's own domestic and external services no longer on shortwave, leaving relays of other international and religious broadcasters. Out of those using Uzbekistan's shortwave facilities in 2001, the BBC World Service, Radio Netherlands and Vatican Radio have been joined by relays of Radio France Internationale, Family Radio, FEBA Radio, CVC International, and Bible Voice Broadcasting, as well as the Vietnamese human rights "Radio Que Me" and the private Russian "Special Radio". Most broadcasts are to South Asia. TWR no longer relays via Tashkent. Here is a schedule of what is believed to currently come from Uzbekistan's SW transmitters for the A-06 season (updated July 2006): Time UT Days Station kHz kW Notes 0030-0045 ...fs. FEBA R 7375 100 Bhojpuri to South Asia 0030-0045 mtwt... FEBA R 7375 100 Bengali to South Asia 0030-0100 ......s FEBA R 7375 100 Hindi to South Asia 0045-0100 ...t... FEBA R 7375 100 Magahi to South Asia 0045-0100 ..w.fs. FEBA R 7375 100 Hindi to South Asia 0045-0100 .t..... FEBA R 7375 100 Oriya to South Asia 0045-0100 m...... FEBA R 7375 100 Chattisgarhi to South Asia 0100-0300 Daily CVC Int. 7355 100 English to S & SE Asia 0100-0400 Daily CVC Int. 12070 100 Hindi to South Asia 0100-0130 Daily BBC WS 13745 200 Hindi to South Asia 0300-0600 Daily CVC Int. 13685 100 English to South Asia 0400-1100 Daily CVC Int. 13630 100 Hindi to South Asia 1100-1400 Daily CVC Int. 13840 100 Hindi to South Asia 1200-1230 .....s. R Que Me 15385 100 Vietnamese to South-East Asia 1300-1400 Daily Family R 11520 200 Burmese to South-East Asia 1300-1400 Daily R Neth 12065 100 Dutch to SE Asia & W Australia 1330-1400 Daily BBC WS 9865 200 Bengali to South Asia 1400-1415 ....f.. Bible V 7485 100 Dzongkha to South Asia 1400-1500 Daily Family R 7510 100 Bengali to South Asia 1400-1600 Daily R Neth 9345 100 English to South Asia 1400-1700 Daily CVC Int. 9855 100 Hindi to South Asia 1400-1500 Daily BBC WS 9865 200 Hindi to South Asia 1400-1415 mtw...s FEBA R 9530 100 Urdu to South Asia 1400-1415 .....s. FEBA R 9530 100 Nepali to South Asia 1400-1445 ...t... FEBA R 9530 100 Urdu to South Asia 1400-1500 ....f.. FEBA R 9530 100 Hindi to South Asia 1415-1445 ...t... Bible V 7485 100 Hindi to South Asia 1415-1500 ....f.. Bible V 7485 100 Hindi to South Asia 1415-1500 mtw..ss FEBA R 9530 100 Hindi to South Asia 1430-1450 Daily Vatican R 12065 100 Hindi to South Asia 1445-1500 ...t... Bible V 7485 100 Nepali to South Asia 1445-1500 ...t... FEBA R 9530 100 Hindi to South Asia 1450-1510 Daily Vatican R 12065 100 Tamil to South Asia 1500-1530 Daily BBC WS 7430 200 Nepali to South Asia 1510-1530 Daily Vatican R 12065 100 Malayalam to South Asia 1530-1550 Daily Vatican R 12065 100 English to South Asia 1700-1800 Daily RFI 5995 100 Persian to Iran/Middle East 1700-1900 Daily Family R 9495 200 Russian to W & C Russia 1800-1900 ...t... Special R 6240 100 Russian to Western Russia Radio Tashkent International ceased broadcasts on shortwave on 31st December 2005 and went over to an Internet-only service. This was discontinued at the end of March 2006 and station is now completely closed (compiled by Tony Rogers, Aug BDXC Communication via DXLD) ** VANUATU. 7259.53, R. Vanuatu (presumed) 1143-1200+ Aug 2. Noted here today with talks & music, too weak to copy much. They had been on 3944.76 for the previous 5 days or more; apparently the 41 mb frequency is only used occasionally (John Wilkins-CO-USA, DXplorer Aug 2 via BCDX via DXLD) Vanuatu, 3945, 0858 03/08. R. Vanuatu Porto Vila English, fv ann programação 44434 (LOB) trecho de escuta em http://br.geocities.com/eefibra/cliprva0408060858.mp3 Trechos de escuta de aprox. 250 kb, 1 min. 73 a todos e bom fim de semana (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Brasil? Sony ICF SW40, dipolo 16m L-O, dipolo 18 m N-S, atenuador de antena, banco de dados ILG EIBI HFCC PTS, radioescutas via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA [non]. RNV found on a new frequency! 15250, Sat Aug 5 at 2338 with a patriotic song I knew I`d heard before somewhere; pretty weak and was hoping for something more exotic, but then ID with the PO Box they insist on giving, even tho mail keeps getting bounced from it, Apartado 3979, Caracas. Could this be from some other site than Cuba? No, it was // and in synch with 13680, altho it was hard to tell since that frequency was way under CRI via Canada in English. Nothing audible on 11760 or 9550 at this time, and 15230 had a weak mix of RA and RHC in Portuguese, I think (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 1225.00 kHz at 0015 UT Aug 5. Weak signal, impossible to identify it because of strong thunderstorm QRN. Talk + music Good DX, (Karel Honzik, the Czech Republic (Czechia), AOR AR-7030 80 m LW, MWC via DXLD) Very interesting! Sesquidecades ago there was probably a Costa Rican on 1225, but nothing known there now. 1225 is, of course, not a 9-kHz- bandplan channel, but 1 kHz off 1224 --- exactly 1 kHz, which implies this is no accident. WRTH 2006 does not show any Eu, Af, As or Pac stations on 1224 as variable. Nor would a mixing product of 9-kHz stations land on 1225 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 5010, 0124 31/07, unid mv tlks seguido de mx 23233 (LOB) trecho de escuta em http://br.geocities.com/eefibra/clipunid1.mp3 Trechos de escuta de aprox. 250 kb, 1 min. 73 a todos e bom fim de semana (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Brasil? Sony ICF SW40, dipolo 16m L-O, dipolo 18 m N-S, atenuador de antena, banco de dados ILG EIBI HFCC PTS, radioescutas via DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ FCC BOOSTS BPL, IRKING AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS August 04, 2006 By W. David Gardner, TechWeb Technology News http://www.techweb.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=191800584&cid=RSSfeed_TechWeb The Federal Communications Commission issued an order Thursday endorsing broadband over power lines (BPL.) The Memorandum Opinion and Order stated the FCC would also maintain safeguards against interference, but early reaction from some ham operators questioned whether the FCC action will be effective in sorting out interference issues. The memo specifically "denies the request by the amateur radio community to prohibit BPL operations pending further study and to exclude BPL from frequencies used for amateur radio operations." The most vigorous opposition to BPL has come from ham operators, who claim BPL interferes with ham radio spectrum. Noting that Thursday's memo generally reaffirms of the BPL rules it established in October 2004, the FCC said it will take "appropriate action" if harmful interference occurs. "In my opinion, the FCC didn't say much of anything in the memo," said George Tarnovsky, a ham radio operator in Manassas, Va. "We've been complaining for four years now and everything is still up in the air." Tarnovsky is an official of the Ole Virginia Hams, an amateur radio club with more than 100 members. The early battleground for BPL is being fought in Manassas, which inaugurated a citywide BPL deployment last October. BPL provider Communications Technologies (COMTek) maintains the Manassas installation will be a model for BPL, which it envisions as providing competition to cable broadband and DSL. Slow to get traction, BPL has recently been gaining momentum. However, opposition from different interests claiming interference issues has slowed down deployments. In addition to rejecting complaints from ham operators, the FCC also denied a request by the television industry to outlaw BPL from certain frequencies. In addition the aeronautical industry can't exclude BPL from some low voltage lines. The FCC also issued new measures for radio astronomy stations. But hams are likely to keep fighting BPL. Tarnovsky said he regularly uses his spectrum analyzer to test interference in the Manassas area. "Saturday mornings when the most people are on is the worst," he said. "I can't operate " period." The National Association for Amateur Radio has also complained that the COMTek BPL deployment interferes with ham transmissions. Another amateur radio enthusiast in Virginia, Woody Thompson, takes a more hopeful approach. Thomson talked up the contribution of ham radio operators in the wake of the Hurricane Katrina disaster. "I think the FCC has finally realized they have to protect this spectrum," Thomson said. In its latest memo on the subject, the FCC indicated it will try to resolve interference issues as they arise. FCC officials were not immediately available for comment (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) I wrote a heads-up QST article about radio wave exposure a long time ago: Jun 1978 QST page 11, How Safe Is Your Ham Shack? -- Part 1 Keywords: SAFETY RF EXPOSURE Leggett, Nickolaus, N3NL The full text of this article is available online on the ARRL web site at the URL: http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/pdf/7806011.pdf Now it looks like the extreme views of "safety" are coming on strong. Have a good day. 73, (Nick N3NL Leggett, DX LISTENING DIGEST) DIGITAL BROADCASTING ++++++++++++++++++++ WILL DRM BOOST THE SHORTWAVE MARKET? A new study by the Arthur D. Little consulting firm indicates a potentially promising future for shortwave and DRM. Arthur D. Little claims to be the world's first management consulting firm, founded in 1886 by an MIT professor of the same name. Recently Arthur D. Little released the findings of a study it has carried out about shortwave and DRM, specifically examining the question: "Will DRM boost the shortwave market?" The Paris office of Arthur D. Little, which conducted the study, says: "For this study, Arthur D. Little conducted a significant number of interviews with industry key players, from radio broadcasters, to tower companies, transmitter manufacturers, receiver manufacturers, experts, either officially pro DRM, neutral or reluctant to the technology in order to try to depict an objective view of the current trends. As part of its study, Arthur D. Little anaylzed data from the HFCC which shows that there are approximately 13,000 hours per day of shortwave broadcasts. The breakdown of target areas is as follows: Asia 41% Europe 23% Africa 17% South America 11% North America 8% The breakdown of geograpical areas that are transmitting shortwave programs is: Asia 42% Europe 32% North America 14% Africa 10% South America 2% Little concludes that "DRM is an attractive technology that could lead broadcasters to reconsider their position on shortwave and therefore may change AM's future." It notes that DRM combines AM coverage and FM sound quality. And it notes that "competing technology should not interfere with DRM's launch." Specifically, satellite radio will remain a subscription base (like XM and Sirius) targetting North America, and Internet will remain a complementary medium that will not take away listeners from traditional technologies in the near future. The study noted that most of the traditional shortwave broadcasters are interested in DRM, and that some new entrants could enter the shortwave market. However, "small radio stations seem less interested in turning to DRM and plan to wait for the complete shifting of major broadcasters' programs." Overall "DRM gives a new competitive advantage to AM, revaluing shortwave interest among broadcasters." The study says: "DRM is potentially interesting for historical shortwave players, as well as for new entrants willing to use shortwave and mediumwave in substitution of FM." The Arthur D. Little study points out the following advantages of shortwave DRM: - DRM improves sound quality to FM level - DRM permits mobile listening to digital radio, contrary to the Internet - 26 MHz DRM broadcasting is a credible alternative to FM broadcasting - SW DRM allows for transcontinental digital broadcasting - DRM radios will be able to choose stations by name instead of frequency - DRM is a non-proprietary norm - Data can be added to the radio signal Regarding satellite radio, the study says that current providers XM and Sirius are mainly for use in automobiles although they can be used in houses and together they offer more than 100 digital programs. Listeners, however, must pay a subscription fee of about $13 per month. The services were launched in 2001 without a huge initial success, but the subscriber base started to increase significantly in 2004 due to aggressive marketing campaigns and new programs. These companies are targetting the North American market, but "satellite radio success outside the U.S. is still to be proven." Little says a subscription-based satellite radio service "seems not really convincing in Europe." It says such a system can be justified when the availability of free programming is limited, but that "contrary to the U.S., the European radio program offer is complete, varied and without strong censorship constraints." It also claims that European and Asian cities are "not favorable" for satellite broadcasting because there are more buildings that interfere with satellite signal reception. In addition, "the language issue makes the European market difficult for satellite broadcasting...because of the multiplicity of languages." As for the Internet, it is "for complementary usage and should remain that way. Traditional players are using the Internet to complete geographical coverage or to address niche segments. New entrants use Internet due to FM frequency shortages." It notes that radio through the Internet is not as "user friendly" as traditional FM and AM. It says Internet does not allow real-time mobile listening, and the majority of listeners use Internet radio only when the program is not available on FM or AM or when they do not have an FM receiver. Also, "Internet streaming servers are limited in their capacity to provide streams economically. As a consequence, when the number of listeners increases significantly, the bandwidth becomes very important, leading to a huge increase in the operating costs." Arthur D. Little notes that there are currently around 600 hours per day of DRM programming available globally. "Most of the traditional shortwave broadcasters proved to be interested in DRM broadcasting" in order to increase and secure listener loyalty and because of the better sound quality. But it notes that "if the DRM launch is a certainty, the speed of its take-off remains unsure." It says that DRM success depends on two main factors: the availability of DRM radio receivers at an affordable price, and the availability of new shortwave programs. Little says that "DRM receivers should be quickly available at an affordable price, but the generalization of DRM technology in radio receivers may take 5 or 6 years." It predicts that DRM receivers will eventually reach a price of around 50 euros, and that the first receivers should be available in Europe and Asia during 2006. Regarding programming, the Little study says that major broadcasters will be the catalysts of the DRM launch by progessively switching their analog broadcasts to DRM and potentially creating new programs. Smaller broadcasters are not yet very active on DRM and are waiting for larger stations to switch before they decide to so do. Meanwhile, DRM transmitter sales are clearly increasing and "DRM is systematically considered, but the market seems to be still waiting for a strong signal." According to the study, there are some key questions which wil determine DRM's success: - Will a DRM module be integrated in universal receivers, enabling a large audience? - Will receivers quickly reach affordable prices? - Will current broacasters increase broadcast hours with new programs? - Will new entrants enter the market, increasing the number of programs? Arthur D. Little says the price for DRM receivers will first be high, but should quickly drop. Receivers will also pick up analog AM and FM broadcasts. Prices should be around 200 euros during the first year of availability, but they should go down quickly, just as DAB receivers have done. The Little study cites two possible scenarios: Scenario 1 - Only a minor share of receivers include DRM technology, and DRM receivers mainly target AM listeners. This means that shortwave and mediumwave broadcasters will continue to reach a limited number of listeners. Scenario 2 - DRM technology is included in a majority of receivers, meaning there will be no distinction in terms of band for the listeners. This will make SW amd MW programs easy to access, and will lead to a significant increase of potential listeners for shortwave and mediumwave broadcasters. Little concludes that "both scenarios are still likely for the interviewed players. However, the major spread of DRM receivers should happen in a 5-6 year period." Finally, the Arthur D. Little study looked at estimated commercial launching dates for DRM in different parts of the world, defining commercial launching as "the availability of receivers in the classic distribution channel or in mass distribution channels." For Europe and Asia, there is a "strong possibility" that the first receivers will be available during 2006, and most of the interviewees are confident about a commercial launch in 2007-2008. For the rest of the world, it will depend on the success of DRM in Europe and Asia. In North and South America, the commercial launching date will be 2009 at the earliest. Not all interviewees were confident about a real interest in DRM in the short term, although South America showed more confidence than North America. Africa would have the most distant commercial launching date (2011 at the earliest), and none of the interviewees there showed an interest in DRM broadcasting in the medium term. Thanks to Peter Senger of the DRM Consortium for making the results of this study available to us (July NASB Newsletter via DXLD) see also: GERMANY; NIGERIA KMOX IBOC AT NIGHT A while back there was some mention of KMOX (1120 AM) here in St. Louis, MO switching over to IBOC. I was wondering if anyone knew if it is ever authorized to have the IBOC on at night, perhaps as a test or for some reason? I ask because it WAS on at night earlier this week; I believe Wednesday (Aug 2nd). It was NOT on at night last night when I checked. I suppose that it could be left on due to error or carelessness if it isn't authorized. When I encountered the IBOC buzz obscuring 1100, 1110, 1130, & 1140 kHz, it was pretty disenheartening, especially on 1100, which I sometimes tune in to hear an earlier hour of "Coast to Coast" before it comes on here locally on KTRS (550). I've seen enough in DXLD on the effect of IBOC destroying the capability of BCB DXing to be somewhat resigned to its inevitability. But if it is only on in error, I'll feel free to try to call & complain. (Though I suppose I'll only be able to reach anybody who knows what I'm talking about if I call the next day.) Is this something worthy of an FCC complaint report? If so, I'll have to be sure to make accurate notes if I notice it again. 73, (Will Martin, MO, Aug 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I think I would wait until a second night-time appearance. Then complain to KMOX, and to the stations it interferes with. It`s difficult to know whether sporadic night-time IBOC is authorized testing or not. Maybe KMOX would even tell you if it is authorized. By all means, make accurate notes, which could be valuable later if not immediately. I doubt a complaint to FCC would do much good as they seem to be on the verge of authorizing night IBOC anyway (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) Once I called the technicians at KMOX for another reason. they promptly returned my call and were very knowledgeable of things so I would call KMOX and find out (Ron Trotto, IL, ibid.) More on this: KMOX Seems To Have IBOC On All Night Tuned across 1110, 1120 and 1130 a couple of times last night and this morning and it sounds like the KMOX IBOC is on. It is causing a racket on WBT [1110 Charlotte NC] and WBBR [1130 NYC]. (Tom Dimeo, Aug 3, NRC-AM via DXLD) Still running IBOC here at 4:55 AM [EDT = 0855 UT] 8/3. IBOC noise also noted on WBT and WBBR (Bill Harms, MD, ibid.) I would not be surprised if this was intentional, and measurements are being made. But ya never know (Bob Foxworth, FL, ibid.) The thought did enter my mind that some kind of testing might be occurring. Especially, since a couple of weeks ago WCBS had IBOC on for a few nights. Both stations owned by CBS (Tom Dimeo, ibid.) This is kind of strange, at 9:15 am [CDT = 1415 UT] on Wednesday while waiting for Grandpa to come out of the bank I was doing a quick band scan and noticed that KMOX's IBOC was off. It's 8:45 am Thursday and it's on (Pete Dernbach, St. Louis, MO, ibid.) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ UNDERGROUND RADIO ON VLF FOR RESCUING MINERS http://news.pajamasmedia.com/2006/08/01/9953764_Vital_Alert_Tech.shtml Los Alamos National Laboratory today announced that Vital Alert Technologies Inc. signed two exclusive license agreements with the Laboratory for Underground Radio(TM), a technology that will provide Through-The-Earth Communication(TM), (two-way voice and text) for first responders, rescue and security teams, underground miners and the public in critical emergency situations around the world. Underground Radio, originally developed by Los Alamos for the Department of Energy, is being commercialized by Vital Alert Technologies for use by emergency rescue crews in urban centers and by the mining industry. "The new technology is a breakthrough in digital and wireless communications," said Joe Miller, president and CEO of Vital Alert. "As a pre- and post- emergency warning, evacuation, and rescue communication system, it solves RF (radio frequency) radio failure problems and eliminates systems downtime complications in difficult environments such as subways, tunnels, skyscrapers, and mines. The new technology will also greatly enhance the ability of mining companies to protect their workers." Underground Radio is a through-the-earth communications mechanism that offers high-level security to critical government, industrial, military, commercial, and public infrastructure. It also can be used to respond to threats of terrorism and natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and fires. It uses very low frequency (VLF) electromagnetic radiation and digital audio compression technology to carry voice and text data. The VLF signals also can transmit tracking and location data for radio users in the case that they are unable to respond. "This is a technical solution to the problem of voice communication in underground areas. It is also inexpensive to build," said David Reagor, the principal investigator of the Los Alamos team who originally developed the technology. Given global concerns about terrorist attacks such as 9/11, the London subway bombings, natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, and underground incidents such as the recent Sago mining tragedy in West Virginia, there is a growing need for more reliable technology to provide through-the-earth communication, especially for those trapped underground or beneath rubble and other debris. Underground Radio provides two-way voice reception that can be used to alert individuals of underground conditions during blasts, fires or collapses, or to locate trapped miners. The technology provides convenient, portable underground communication and a data link to robotic machines. Funding for Underground Radio came from the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Industrial Technology and from Laboratory Directed Research and Development - a program in which a portion of the Laboratory's operating budget is used to fund outstanding, emerging or innovative science and technology. Los Alamos National Laboratory is operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration and works in partnership with NNSA's Sandia and Lawrence Livermore national laboratories to support NNSA in its mission. Los Alamos develops and applies science and technology to ensure the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear deterrent; reduce the threat of weapons of mass destruction, proliferation, and terrorism; and solve national problems in defense, energy, environment, and infrastructure. Vital Alert Technologies, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Vital Alert Communication Inc. As a technology and IP company, Vital Alert develops pre and post emergency, safety and rescue technology for the urban communications sector (commercial, government, industrial, military/defense and the public) and for the mining communications sector. The company's mission is to "save lives." For more information on Vital Alert, go to http://www.vitalalert.com Newstex ID: CCN-0001- 9953764 (LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABORATORY, A DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY - NATIONAL NUCLEAR SECURITY ADMINISTRATION LABORATORY, Communications and Government Relations Division Communications Office, tnx to a tip on the condig list of an AP story about this in Spanish, via Gustavo Fernando Durán, via DXLD) WTFK? PROPAGATION +++++++++++ HF PLUS LOW BAND VHF PROPAGATION UPDATE AND FORECAST And now amigos, as always at the end of the program, here is our exclusive and not copyrighted HF plus low band VHF propagation update and forecast, direct and from the source. Solar activity is very low and will continue to be very low for the next several days. Sunspot number is ZERO, yes, you heard it right, ZERO, a totally blank solar disk. Solar flux is at baseline level of 70 units and the A index, the geomagnetic disturbance indicator was also at very low levels, a confirmation that we are going trough the extended solar minimum of cycle 23, expected to last until at least the end of the year 2007. The probabilities of short skip sporadic E layer openings are moving down, something typical of the month of August, and once again, as I said earlier in the program, the best time for hunting for DX stations is starting just after local sunset (Prof. Arnaldo Coro Antich, CO2KK, RHC DXers Unlimited Aug 5, ODXA via DXLD) INDIA TO ILLINOIS ON 1566 I'm late to the discussion on this, having just caught up on this sad series of posts. I do hope we haven't chased a newly-rekindled DXer away, and thank you, Fred, for a superb post. I, too, have a few "I know what I heard, but I'll never know for sure exactly what/where it was" receptions, and they're part of what makes this hobby interesting. Congrats, Adam, and welcome back to the hobby. 73, BC (Bruce Collier, WKBO, NRC-AM via DXLD) That reminds me, someone sent us a Geoclock(?) .gif display of the terminator at the precise date and time of the alleged India-to- Illinois reception on 1566 kHz. It`s in the files of the DXLD yg, dated 7-21-06-2040-utc. Verbally described, it runs along the southeast coast of SAm, across Scotland, central Scandinavia, northern edge of Russian mainland south of Novaya Zemlya, across central China, etc. (Scale is such that it`s hard to make out greater detail). FYI. (Glenn Hauser, Aug 5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###