DX LISTENING DIGEST 6-133, September 4, 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 AIRING OF WORLD OF RADIO EXTRA 71: Days and times here are strictly UT. Wed 0930 WWCR1 9985 Latest edition of this schedule version, with hotlinks to station sites and audio, is at: 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 ** ALBANIA. Dear Drita: I listen to Radio Tirana on shortwave and wanted you to know I enjoy the broadcasts. I usually listen on 6115 and also heard 7450 last night. I always learn something about Albania because we hear nothing about your country in the American media. The music you play is very good too. I hope you will continue to broadcast on shortwave, unlike some European broadcasters who have left shortwave. In the 80s I could occasionally hear Radio Gjirokaster on 5020. I still have your QSL card from when I first heard Radio Tirana in 1982. Keep up the good work. Regards (Sheryl Paszkiewicz, WI 54220 USA, Radio is TV with imagination, Sept 4, via Drita Cico, R. Tirana, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANTIGUA & BARBUDA. Family Radio adopts ‘new baby’ Friday September 01 2006 La emisora latina une la familia Launched on 28 July, Family Radio Ltd., welcomed LatinFM to the airwaves. On the frequency 96.1FM, LatinFM is the newest 24-hour station owned and operated by Family Radio Ltd. Acknowledging the growth of the Latin community in Antigua & Barbuda, this station “was created to cater to their musical needs. … While some radio stations do have a few programmes for the Spanish population, there is presently only one other station which broadcasts Latin music 24 hours a day,” General Manager Terrence Dublin noted. “We believe that the Latin community deserves a choice of quality music and information from radio presenters who understand their needs and their culture.” Although they launched the station in July, next Saturday night will be the official “welcome to the family” party to celebrate this new station. Promising to be muy caliente, head down to Media Luna Disco at Perry Bay, opposite the Bargain Centre Supermarket at 9 p.m. In addition to the great music provided by La Happy Band and Ibis the Livest, there will be a fashion show and lots of door prizes to be won. A feature of the evening will be the dance competition. Couples must dance all five genres – salsa, reggaeton, meringue, and rock n’ roll. The winners will receive $1,000. Be a part of this exciting event next Saturday. Sponsors for the evening include: Identity Clothing, Media Luna, Figueroa Supermarket, Timeless Treasures, Flo’s Perfumery, TCM, Adults' Play Pen, Hadeed Motors and CDG Promotions. Tune in to 96.1FM for the hottest genres in Spanish music, as well as the popular English songs. Want more vybz Missed some hot shows and live competitions on VybzFM? Not a problem. Now you can hear your favourite shows live, and play old ones you might have missed when you log on http://www.vibzfm.com Now, you never have to miss an exciting moment or be clueless about upcoming events. The site is updated regularly, so you’ll never be left out of the vybz. (via Kevin Redding, Sept 1, ABDX via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. All three 120 mb Aussies back on, so 6080 should be ending. (2 Sept.) However, only 2310 and 2325 on the air today (Dave Valko, Dunlo PA, 3 Sept., HCDX via DXLD) 6080 being the temporary NT fill-in service via RA Shepparton, night frequency, 11880 day frequency. However, they STILL haven`t updated this special page about the situation since May 30: http://www.abc.net.au/reception/news/051006_shortwave_radio_services.htm mentioning only 2325, 4910, 6080 and 11880. The Northern Territory backup service via Shepparton does seem to be over, with all the 120/60 mb frequencies back on the air. Sept 4 at 1405 on 6080, the news from RA, not Darwin, was ending, and again // 5995, 7240, 9590 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Interesting. I was listening to 6080 earlier Sept. 4, around 0930, and they were definitely relaying the NT service then - ABC News bulletin with several local stories, Territory weather, "105.7/783" promos, etc. I wonder if they switch to Radio Australia later in the evening, or if I was listening to the final hours of the relay? (Mark Schiefelbein, Springfield, MO, ibid.) Saturday I heard 11880 with an Aussie football match not // 12080. On my way out so I couldn't stick around for a TOH ID but I suspect it was a relay of DS (Jerry Lenamon, Waco, Texas, ibid.) ** AUSTRALIA. Commies block RA on 9580: see CUBA ** BRAZIL. 6180, Radio Nacional da Amazônia, 1030-1103+ Sept. 4. Noted a calling tape [?] in Portuguese, which I had trouble IDing repeating over and over until 1050. At that time live program and ID as, "Radio Nacional da Amazônia ..." This followed by news. Signal was good until 1051 when a second station, which turned out to be Radio Nacional, Venezuela [q.v. via Cuba], came on the frequency with a much stronger signal (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston, FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. A Rádio Guarujá Paulista, de Guarujá (SP), continua anunciando para breve o início das atividades na freqüência de 9715 kHz. Em 27 de agosto, Cícero Andrade, apresentador do programa Big Parada de Todos os Tempos, que vai ao ar entre 2100 e 0200, atendeu telefonemas de vários ouvintes das freqüências em ondas curtas da emissora e prometeu que a Guarujá estará em breve também em 31 metros. BRASIL – Tem tido regular sintonia, no Sul do Brasil, nos últimos dias, a Rádio Inconfidência, de Belo Horizonte (MG), pela freqüência de 6010 kHz. No final das noites de domingos, oferece aos ouvintes uma excelente seleção de sucessos da música brasileira, italiana, francesa, entre outras. Vale conferir! (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX Sept 3 via DXLD) ** CAMEROON [and non]. The big news is that Cameroon`s Spectrum TV network has several transmitters operating in Band I. Paul Farley on the southeast coast [of England] detected a signal beneath Spain E2 on June 7, which finally took over revealing African dancing scenes. Paul has now received confirmation from Spectrum TV. Shortly after, Equatorial Guinea E2 was detected with its harsh-sounding video carrier (DXTV, Sept RadioUser via DXLD) ** CANADA. CBC can`t make up its mind whether the summer season is really over. Last week I checked the Radio One online program schedule for this week, and it still showed the half-hour strips of summer shows in the final half hours of The Current, Sounds Like Canada, and As It Happens. Today Sept 4 I check the same, and find TBA in many of those spots. However, listening before 1400 UT to 9515 and 13655, The Current had actually re-occupied that final half-hour at 1331, and SLC from 1405 was billed as the first show of its new season, even tho it`s Labour Day, and Shelagh Rogers is back from summer vacation. What other surprises will we find on the CBC schedule this week? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. 6030, CFVP - Calgary (relaying CKMX - AM 1060), Sept 4, 0453-0506 & 0540-0550, ``Canadian Countdown``, program of the top 10 C&W songs in Canada (#10 - Carolyn Dawn Johnson’s song ``Crybaby``, etc.), IDs for Classic Country AM 1060, ads for digital TV, weak but in the clear. Also heard // 1060. Hi Glenn, By 0815 was fair and still in the clear. Exceptionally good conditions (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, Etón E5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I also noticed CFVP around 0500. This is of course only possible during the UT Monday silent period of the Cuban jammers and Radio Martí. Propagation was rather strange, as WBCQ 7415 during WOR at 0415 was fluttery, while CHU 7335 was not; and look at this (gh) Solar-terrestrial indices for 03 September follow. Solar flux 77 and mid-latitude A-index 10. The mid-latitude K-index at 0600 UTC on 04 September was 6 (135 nT). Space weather for the past 24 hours has been minor. Geomagnetic storms reaching the G1 level occurred. Space weather for the next 24 hours is expected to be minor. Geomagnetic storms reaching the G1 level are expected (SEC via DXLD) ** CANADA. DX is really odd here tonight. I moved the WNW EWE a bit more to the NW again today. I managed to get about another foot. Tonight I could hardly hear any Vancouver/Victoria stations. Seattle was "OK" in signal, but anything North was poor to non existent for a time. Not a peep out of CKBD-600 or CKWX-1130 for a time. But CKSW 570 Swift Current SK was topping KVI. Mostly auroral conditions, it seemed like too, but why I was getting CKSW is beyond me (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, Aug 28, IRCA via DXLD) I think that the CKSW pattern has been out of whack for the past couple of weeks. Their pattern is normally (same day and night) directed to the NE from their six tower array. During the day here in Calgary their signal is always there but is rather weak, far below KMON-560. However for the past couple of weeks their signal here has been much stronger, equal to that of KMON. I have sent them a email via their website http://www.ckswradio.ca/ asking if they have made any changes - will post any reply received. If you need them, go get them before their array is fixed! 73, (Deane McIntyre, VE6BPO, Aug 29, ibid.) Hi, CKSW 570 Swift Current, SK is out of whack here too at Sandy Lake, MB. Normally WNAX 570 dominates here, but lately CKSW is dominating WNAX and comes in very strong like a semi- local (Kenneth Nawalkowski, ibid.) CKSW most definitely has to be putting substantial signal to the east. I'll look for them tonite, since last season I had both KNRS and KVI under WNAX on my westerly Phased BOG System. 73 KAZ Barrington IL (wondering if CKSW is running ND?) (Neil Kazaross, ibid.) [Later:] Of note and new is CKSW from SK with religious music and ads and stuff on 570 often atop WNAX. CKSW is being reported all over NW NAm and I think they may be only using 1 stick and thus ND. 73 KAZ // Barrington IL, R8A and Phased BOG System 531 ft vs 353 ft at 271 degrees fed into Quantum Phaser (Neil Kazaross, ibid.) I think they are running 1 stick as they are beating up WNAX for a new log here near Chicago. 73 KAZ Aug 29 (Kazaross, ibid.) Thanks, guys, for the update tip on CKSW-570 Swift Current SK. I just tried and found them under KVI/KNRS from 2155-2210 PDT with c&w music, ID etc., etc. First time they've ever made it this far. Will listen again around 11 pm for further info. KNRS was running about 3 seconds behind KVI, both with Coast to Coast. KVI was atop per their ID at 2205 (Don Kaskey, San Francisco, ibid.) 570, CKSW, SK, Swift Current. 8/30 0417. C&W and numerous branding IDs. "Today`s best country and your all time favorites, Country Music Radio, CKSW, five-seventy, Swift Current". New in null of WNAX. Drake R-8 and Kiwa loop (Patrick Griffith, Westminster CO, ibid.) With regard to the recent problems with the CKSW-570 array being out of whack, I received the following email from the station today in response to my query a couple of days ago --------------------------------------------------------- Deane, Thank you for your comments regarding CKSW. We inadvertently ended up transmitting using our omni-directional pattern for about a week. The problem has since been rectified and should not happen again. Dave Funk, Golden West Radio, 1-306-741-1224 --------------------------------------------------------- 73, (Deane McIntyre VE6BPO Aug 31, ibid.) I can confirm that CKSW is back to normal as WNAX is now the dominant station on 570 here (Kenneth Nawalkowski, Sandy Lake, MB, Aug 31, ibid.) ** CHINA. Firedrake on 14050 was JBA (just barely audible), Sept 4 at 1412 check. To be sure I have the exact frequency on the FRG-7, I zero-beat AIR on 15050 and shift one MHz down (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. Re: 7225.0, PBS Sichuan, Sept 1, 1114-1132, ... // 6060, which was under Argentina but getting stronger. . . (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, RX340, with T2FD antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, During my quick check for the //, had assumed QRM on 6060 was Argentina, but was not. On Sept 3, at 1105 noted ID for R. Nac. de Venezuela (via Cuba?). Today PBS Sichuan again noted // (Ron Howard, Sept 3, ibid.) [non] See CUBA ** CHINA. Hi Glenn, as to the 7270 mystery, look at the NDXC website and you will notice 7270 is indeed scheduled for Nei Menggu up to 1605 s/off so I suppose I was right! 7210 has been audible here too between 1430 and 1458. 73 (Martien Groot, Netherlands, Sept 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. CHINA ANNOUNCES DIGITAL TV STANDARD China has chosen a standard for terrestrial digital TV broadcasts, opting for a domestically developed system over foreign technology. The standard will become mandatory for Chinese broadcasters on 1 August next year, the China Daily said. China is the world’s biggest television market, with TV sets in an estimated 400 million households. Along with 3G mobile communications, the digitalisation of China’s broadcasting could be worth over 1 trillion yuan (US$125 billion). China began to develop its own terrestrial transmission standard in 2001. Proposals made by Tsinghua University and Shanghai Jiaotong University were later merged into a final draft proposal. The Shanghai version borrowed some principles from the US standard and is suitable for transmission in sparsely populated remote areas, while the Tsinghua proposal is based on the same modulation method as current and future mobile communication standards and has its own patents, which will cut royalty costs (Source: Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union) (September 2nd, 2006, 13:12 UTC by Andy, Media Network blog via DXLD) I see China have announced their Digital TV standard, one that's different from the rest of the world. Although it's called DMB-T it's apparently different from the DMB-T that South Korea uses. With the multitude of digital standards around I just hope that someone develops a single chip decoder that does the lot. http://www.cio.com/blog_view.html?CID=24411 http://www.southgatearc.org/news/september2006/china_digital_tv_standard.htm 73 (Trevor M5AKA, Sept 3, monitoring monthly yg via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. 6035, La Voz del Guaviare, San José del Guaviare, 2249- 0105, 02-09, locutor, español, comentarios, anuncios comerciales. Comentario sobre secuestros en Colombia. Noticias de Bogotá y Cali. Identificación: "La Voz del Guaviare". 24222 (Manuel Méndez, en casco urbano de Lugo, Spain, Grundig YB 400, antena interior, cable 4 metros, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Guaviare is a river, and department (gh) ** COSTA RICA. Missing Station logs: 11870, Univ. Network, (Cahuita), Lately nothing noted but nice OC here in local afternoons, around 1600-2200 UT. Today 9/2 again only OC noted with no crackly DGS programs 1700 UT. Nice waste of electricity! Have heard DGS's widow whining lately about lack of donations since his death, and threatening to take radio programs off air. If only, hi! 13750, Univ. Network, (Cahuita), Off air 9/2 1700 UT. Nothing heard on any of the C.R. frequencies today; 9725 also missing (Alex Vranes, Harper`s Ferry WV, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) See USA: KAIJ; SPAIN ** CROATIA [and non]. On Sat., Sep. 2, I tried to pick up Scandinavian Weekend Radio on 11690 kHz after 0600, but heard Glas Hrvatskej (Voice of Croatia) instead. The program was in // to 9470 until 0700, and sometimes in // to 9830 & 6165 (Croatian R. 1 directly from HRV). From 0656 - co-channel Voice of Turkey with approx. the same level. QRT at 1000. At the same time, nothing was heard on the scheduled 13820 kHz via Juelich. Did 11690 replace 13820 for Australia over the long path? HFCC-A06 lists 11690 as alternative: 11690 0600 1000 58-60 JUL 100 270 1234567 260306 291006 D D HRT DTK 12078 Tentat On Sep. 3 at 0600, a 3-minute English news bulletin was read. The followed frequency announcement (in Croatian) still mentioned 13820 kHz for Australia. 73! (Sergey Nikishin, Moscow, Russia, Sept 4, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Today, Sept. 4, I hear Voice of Turkey in Arabic on 11690 kHz 9-11 UT. I couldn't hear anything on 13820 when checking shortly. 73, (Erik Køie, Copenhagen, ibid.) ** CUBA [and non]. Got an email from Arnie Coro: Hurricane Watch Net on 14325 usb during local daylight hours. Frequencies for evening hours operation are on 40 metres, but not normally announced until it is required to move to the lower band when propagation on 20 goes down. Our own emergency nets operate on 40 meters starting on 7030 up to 7125 kiloHertz. Arnie is CO2KK Emergency coordinator International Amateur Radio Union Region II (The Americas), Area C Mexico and part of Caribbean (Nick Sharpe, Staines, sometime in August? Sept World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** CUBA. Hello, Was scared for a while this morning, I usually wake up to Radio Australia on 9580 that comes in very well here in Montréal. For almost 30 minutes at 1200-1230 UT CRI was on 9580 instead of 9570, completely washing out Australia then suddenly for no reason it returned to 9570 as usual. Probably some kind of error at the Cuba transmitter site (Gilles Letourneau, Montreal, Canada, Sept 3, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) AUSTRALIA / +Non. 9580, Radio Australia well heard at 1200; coming back at 1211 UT, dominated by presumed CRI (Cuba transmitter) in Chinese, very dominant SINPO 44444, while Australia was SINPO 22442+. Radio Australia again in the clear, SINPO 44444 when retuned just before 1300 (Roger Chambers, NY, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Once again the Cubans screwed up. The morning CRI relay is supposed to be on 9570, but they punched up the evening frequency 9580 instead. 73, (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) ** CUBA. 1600L EDT today, R. CadHab on four freqs - 1080, 1100, 1120 and 1140. 1120 as usual so badly overmodulated it sounds like fast food intercom in Beavis & Butthead. 1140 stronger than ever, newly back full time. Was 1100 wobbling? Was earlier today, one to watch. Music on secondary nets like Cadena Habana and Guamá 990 - 1000 - 1020 better of late. Or is it that since Comandante en Baggie put little brother in charge, once robust Progreso now plays commie anthems sung by barking bimbos intermixed with - yes, this is the truth - Barry Manilow. AAAAAAaaaaaggggghhhhh!!!!!!! It's 1975 all over again. I detested the 70's then almost as much as I do presently. Wasn't it ca. 1975 that 60 Minutes ran puff piece on kagasstro turning 50? Is don Fido in his dotage playing 'the music of his life'? So much yet to learn from this peaceful agrarian reformer. =Z.= (PV Zecchino, Manasota Key, FL, Aug 28, IRCA via DXLD) ** CUBA. Cuban call signs [prompted by a transposition typo in a log report from CMHL to CHML] Allowing that there was a mistake in the call sign listed in the posting that began this thread and acknowledging the common practice of using call signs in reports, I must say I do not see much reason to include call signs for Cuban stations, IMHO. Only a handful of Cubans even acknowledge call signs in their on-line web material, when it exists, let alone use them on the air. Reporting them therefore, is by definition a compromise if not a stretch. The only place Cuban call signs commonly appear is in the WRTH -- or lists derived therefrom -- and those are usually based on historical data not current realities. Even less meaningful are the entries in the FCC database because they are based on the official listings filed by Cuba, which has no interest in providing accurate information to international governing bodies. Since Cuban stations hop about on a whim, the only sure things are the frequency and network being carried, as are actually heard. Unless it has been DFed, even the location is a bit of an uncertainty, again most often based on WRTH entries. Though facilities move far less frequently than do frequencies and networks carried, Cuban broadcast facilities have been noted elsewhere from listed. Still, location as best determined, is a third valuable component for identifying stations received. Another largely meaningless piece of information is the power listed for stations. At best an historical presumption, since this also changes as the need arises, such as to blot out Florida and other SS stations. Witness the recent coming and going of powerful Cuban stations on 530 and 1620 to block Radio Martí. Not to take cheap shots at WRTH, most of it entries are as accurate as is reasonably possible. But call signs just don't mean anything in Cuba anymore. Using them is less meaningful than would be sequence numbers from some list. Since the same call sign may appear on more than one station listing, even using them for reference purposes is only marginally useful. But, if a call sign MUST be assigned, for 870 RR it would be CMDT. A call sign listed in the '06 WRTH, I would note, on two different frequencies, carrying two different networks, in two different cities, in two different provinces, in two different regions on the island. As I say, only the frequency and network as heard by the DXer are certain. In this instance though, the location has not been found to be substantially different from that listed in WRTH. Not to fault Robert either, everyone seems to fall into using listed call signs, doing this out of the expectation they mean something. It just isn't the case in the Castros' Cuba. As an example, if someone reported hearing Radio Reloj on 950, I too would ask for more detail -- since I can hear two at the same time -- and would have to accept the WRTH location as delineation since neither have a call sign listed at all. The only better reference would be something such as observed direction, were that available. And even that is only accurate enough to discern different stations when taken relatively near the source, not something DXers are generally able to do. My personal listing of Cubans is by frequency and network, with best estimate of location. Location either as shown in WRTH or when available, from directional observations by myself or the several far more experienced DXers located here in Florida, or the occasional results of cruise-by observations. I bring all this up by way of discussion for those who may not be aware of the vagaries of Cuban radio, rather than to argue about what is proper form for DXers in general, or to take issue with any particular report. Everything else aside, 870 RR Sancti Spíritus, is still a nice catch for Robert in Ontario (W. Curt Deegan, Boca Ratón, (southeast) Florida, Sept 2, IRCA via DXLD) And of course the network doesn't mean much when you have 3-4 on the same network on a frequency, when those change at whim, and when stations routinely relay other networks either overnight or otherwise. ``As an example, if someone reported hearing Radio Reloj on 950, I too would ask for more detail`` But from most of us, you wouldn't get it, because we couldn't provide it. I'm at the point now where I list the program heard, show it as CM?? and Cuba and that's about it unless it's one which has been historically stable as to program, call or location or is somehow unique, or as happens once in a while, one actually ID's. The combination of the Cuban government's secrecy and paranoia makes it virtually impossible to maintain any meaningful information, whether you're WRTH or anyone else (Russ Edmunds, Blue Bell, PA, ibid.) My point is that it may not be possible to have correct call signs for any Cuban stations. In my opinion, there are at this point in time few if any call signs which can be identified as associated with any Cuban stations. If the Cubans don't use them, then who is to say they are correct, or that the concept even exists for them? As a matter of personal preference, how one chooses to identify reception reports is clearly not for me to say. If all the other details are included and correct, then the call sign becomes more a matter of form than substance (Curt Deegan, Sept 3, ibid.) Furthermore, the late Ron Schatz in researching Cuban radio reported a good many years ago that there were two separate and contradictory side-by-side call-sign listings (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) A thrill during 80's to catch Cuban BCB's when lived in Pt. Judith, RI. Music enchanting. Last couple weeks during afternoon bayside hikes w/DX-398: Cuban AM's on/off. One moment 1140 Cadena Habana off air. Next, it's on. Is it off air today? This week? Forever? Just when you think it's off, it returns. Most reliable stations are Progreso 640, 660, and 750. Pro 730 was reliable until the spring, then it became intermittent. Progreso 880, 890 & 900 generally reliable but on/off also. Rebelde 670, 710 and 1180 generally on. Reloj 950? A rock. Period. Hurricanes, commie holidays, Fido BagBusts, always on. Cadena Habana stations on/off. Longstanding pattern with R. Guamá: 1000 & 1020 on air together. 990 Guamá returned few weeks ago after long absence. 990 always up. Formerly reliable 1020 drops off independent of 1000. Highly subjective observation: Since 'new management', music changed. Progreso 640 aired lively varied music all of which got the blood up. Since little brother grabbed the Bag from don Fido, more commie wailing YL ballads and, getta loada this, Barry Manilow. A lot of Barry Manilow both from 70's period and present. Why? Frightening to even contemplate. =Z= "It's best to stay away from a man when his blood is up." - Cpt. Dudley Smith, Det. Cdr., LA PD "L.A. Confidential" c. 1997 [Later:] Estimado Curt speaks with astonishing clarity. Occasionally I flop on beach with Benmar 555A RDF and shoot bearings or LOBS - Lines of BearingS - to Cubano BCB's. Occasionally shoot them from Miami area, cruise ship or remote spot in Bahamas. Even at local beach, impossible to null Rebelde 670 and 710. Year ago syncro or just plain second transmitters went on air from QTHs within hundred miles of original sites. Previously you could spin portable radio, null Rebelde 670 & 710 and hear Miami plain as Fido's baggie. Not today. Second Rebelde mitters placed 'just so', the way Fido likes it. Spin all you wish, you hear Rebelde. Miami at best a whisper beneath two badly sync'd and beating Rebeldes. Curt reports hearing two RR's on 950 whereas here on FL Guff Koast, one RR strong on 950 with another weak beneath. Isn't it fun to examine state controlled radio? Coming soon to a clear channel near us! =Z= PVZ manwhattagasbag key, fl bt (Paul Vincent Zecchino, ibid.) ** CUBA [non]. 0701 28/8, 9955.0, R. Cuba Libre/WRMI, USA, SS, ID OM. SF/MB! Dopo l'identificazione di WRMI alle 0659 si è sentito il nome indicato, ma all'ascolto pare essere più un programma informativo e non un'emittente vera e propria. Di programmi così WRMI ne manda in onda molti (Luca Botto Fiora, Rapallo (Genova), Italy, R7 Drake, bclnews.it via DXLD) ** DENMARK. I contacted Anker Petersen, Chairman of DSWCI, enquiring about the possibility of obtaining an interim verification for World Music Radio shortwave transmissions from Karup, Denmark during 2004- 05. He informed me that Stig Hartvig Nielsen stated that Verification (QSL) designing process for WMR transmissions is on its final stage. I hope Dxer¹s reported the reception of WMR transmissions would soon receive very precious QSL verifying Denmark (T. R. Rajeesh, India, Sept World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. Radio Senda 1680 AM, la emisora de la unidad cristiana, en período de prueba y con una potencia de 900 W. Pide que se les reporte la sintonía al teléfono +1 809 246 1680. También se le puede escribir a radiosenda@... [truncated] o a la Calle René del Risco Bermúdez 17 o al Apartado Postal 134, San Pedro de Macorís, República Dominicana. Datos conseguidos luego de efectuar una llamada telefónica al número indicado, el cual aparecía en una grabación hecha por Torolf Johnsson, Suecia, el 31 de agosto a eso de las 0300 UT (Henrik Klemetz, Luleå, Suecia, Sept 1, condig list via DXLD) NEW X-BANDER FROM THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Torolf Johnsson, of Upsala, Sweden, sent me an audio file dated 31 Aug with an unID Spanish speaker on 1680 interfering with WLAA (Que buena) and asking for reports on what they said was a test transmission. I snapped the phone number and rang them on Torolf´s behalf. I talked to Daniel Muñoz of Radio Senda, "la emisora de la unidad cristiana de San Pedro de Macorís", in the Dominican Republic. They have been testing on and off for some 3 months with a power of 900 W. The official Indotel data differ from the actual address info, which is Radio Senda, Apartado Postal 134, (or: /street address/ Calle René del Risco Bermúdez 17), San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic. Email: radiosenda @ hotmail.com Phone number +1 809 246 1680. Torolf received a prompt email reply from the station (Henrik Klemetz, Luleå, Sweden, Sept 1, MWC via DXLD) Listening to Radio Senda on 1680 via the San Antonio Venezuela DX Tuner - Just given clear ID at 2338. Good Signal with occasional deep fades (Tony Magon, VK2IC, Sydney NSW, ibid.) I recorded 1680 overnight looking for the new station on 1680, and it came up very quickly at 2353 UT: 1680, Radio Senda, San Pedro de Macorís; ``1680 AM ...en transmisión de prueba ?? llama (tel no). La emisora de la Unidad Cristiana desde San Pedro de Macorís`` Recording: http://tinyurl.com/r9pp5 W/F 2353 02/09 PC (Paul Crankshaw, Troon, UK, MWC via DXLD) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA ECUATORIAL. 5005, Radio Nacional, Bata, 2255- 2303, 02-09, música africana. Himno a las 2259 y cierre de la emisión a las 2303. 34333 (Manuel Méndez, en casco urbano de Lugo, Spain, Grundig YB 400, antena interior, cable 4 metros, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA. 6210 2/9 16.10 R. Fana - Addis Ababa Amarico talk OM // 6110 kHz suff. (Roberto Pavanello, Italy, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) So 6210 is still/again on the air! 6110 was thought to have replaced it, while 7210 replaced 6940 (gh) ** EUROPE. Besides numerous beacons on the LW band, look at all these still in the MWBC band! (gh) 514.5 2325 XU Námest, CZE 517 2113 ARD Arad, ROU 518 2115 TM Tomakivka. UKR 525 2125 HG Wroclaw, POL 554 2208 OG Russky Kameshkir, RUS 588 2305 SN Simferopol, UKR 595 2025 O Moscow-Vnukovo, RUS 595 2255 G Moscow-Vnukovo, RUS 672 2205 DT Swidwin, POL 705 2035 KP Kargopol, RUS 705 2035 PX Perm, RUS 705 2036 MN Manychsky, US 708 2045 UN Kurgan, RUS 730 2143 PO Pretorya, RUS 735 2115 KW Koviahy, UKR 760 2137 R Moscow, RUS 932 2140 KR Krasnoarmeysk, RUS 950 2135 LO Kotlas, RUS 995 1900 DW Nikolskoye, RUS 1046 2134 UR Vologda, RUS 1080 1805 AR Bozharovo, RUS 1112 2100 RL Zhiguli, RUS 1155 2150 LS Krasnyi Luch, UKR 1130 2200 AK Aleksandrovka, RUS [sic, out of order or typo?] 1290 2200 TU Bely, RUS --- all loggings made by your editor (Torre Ekblom, Finland, Aug-Sept DSWCI SW News via DXLD) ** FINLAND. SWR from Finland is currently audible here on 11720 kHz with a variable signal (1130 UT Saturday) - at times quite good. I've noticed before that SWR's signal on 11720 and 11690 often fades a lot and can vary from being inaudible to very good reception within a few minutes - so it`s worth persevering if you don't hear it at first. They are currently carrying the Tricky Trev Crazy show in English - scheduled until 1300 (Dave Kenny, Caversham, AOR7030 + 80 ft LW, Sept 2, BDXC via DXLD) And furthermore only on the first Saturday of each month, plus occasional holiday broadcasts (gh, DXLD) see CROATIA ** GABON. 4777, R. Gabon, Sep 4, 0508-0533, French programming, news, hi-life music, ID, BoH news headlines, fair-poor (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, Etón E5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. Re 6-132: Wertachtal transmitters in Deutscher Bundestag paper --- Just discovered that the referenced document also covers the matter of shortwave transmissions to North America: ´´The cost-benefit analysis for German-speaking listeners in the USA no longer works out due to the dramatically decreased importance of analogue shortwave in this target area. Hence it will be switched off for the German-language program of DW radio still in 2006.´´ Well, it seems they will not pull the plug altogether for now, but cut it back to a few hours for the East Coast only in B06: 1000-1200 via Sackville on 6040, 0000-0200 via Sines on 9545 and via Kigali on 9655, that's all that will be left to NAm. And it appears that DW will no longer use Bonaire at all. And here is a huge collection of Nauen pictures: http://www.senderfotos-bb.de/nauen.htm Current equipment as well as old transmitters on display (50 kW broadcasting, 20 kW and 5 kW utility). (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Sept 3, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also PORTUGAL ** GREECE. 6520.4, 3/9 2335 Pirata Greca - quarta armonica // 1630.1 kHz no R. Paucartambo!! MX suff (Roberto Pavanello, Italy, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** INDIA. AIR Thiruvananthapuram, 5010 heard here at 1215 Sept 3 in vernacular. English news bulletin at 1230 by a female reader. I was surprised to see the band holding up so late (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Steve, was this after sunrise at your end? (Jerry Lenamon, TX, ibid.) Yes, sunrise was at 1111 or so (Steve Lare, ibid.) ** INDONESIA. VOI, 9525, after some gamelan, and then harmonica music, Sept 4 at 1341-1348 was again playing Wagner`s ``Under the Double Eagle`` march underneath continuous Indonesian talk by M. I tried to figure out what this was about and tentatively conclude it`s a SE Asia sports roundup, as Bangkok, Thailand was mentioned, and also ``semi- final``. I expect this happens every day around the same time. VOI is also up to its old trix, leaving the carrier on after programming ends at 1400. But now, the CRI Russian service suffers from the carrier and hum, that having moved into the 1400 block on 9525 sometime this summer. At 1536 recheck there was a low het on the frequency but I am not sure from what to what (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISLE OF MAN [and non]. Re 279 kHz: ``Also, there is a Morse Code signal around that frequency, which could cause problems for the station, or the station could cause problems for whomsoever is operating the Morse Code signal.`` It's CHT and it's the Chilton aircraft beacon on 277 kHz, one of the few remaining beacons in the broadcast bands. Other such beacons have been closed down or moved in the last few years as new MW stations came on air. Guess the same will happen to this one (Gareth Foster, BDXC via DXLD) I think they're going to move that beacon, afaik. I wish Paul Rusling all the luck in the world but I believe the authorities will keep creating roadblocks and messing him around. Basically I think they don't want anything different that boring old GWR-owned local radio out there. It`s very sad; 279 is a recognised channel. I'm sure any reasonably new radio will cover it fine. All the best (Tim Bucknall, UK, ibid.) May I correct some of the misleading statements and misconceptions stated by Paul David on this forum - The web sites were always going to be abandoned in favour of the big new one with station's name as the URL. The new site is of course delayed to launch just prior to the LW transmission, but a "non-media background" director decided to let them lapse early. I was in Egypt when this happened (in June) and took action to re-instate them on my return. £600 p.a. is too much, but that doesn't mean IMIB couldn't afford it - what a twist on the statement! The fact is, that IMIB has spent £2.8 million to date and will be spending more than twice that in future. The company's existing assets are valued at several millions of pounds. It's ridiculous, vindictive and nasty to suggest that this fine plc with 140 very mostly wealthy shareholders is some kind of penniless basket case. Many MILLIONS of existing radios tune up to 279 kHz, a lot more than will tune to DAB. The reason that SOME LW radios only tuned to 255 or so is that the ITU's Atlantic conference decided to limit use of the upper 3 channels in some areas only for some years, as marine-mobile service beacons used some spot frequencies. At one time the LW band extended right up to 475 kHz. There are TWO low power aero beacons which are secondary users and which will be moved as soon as IMIB wishes to start transmissions. Hope those facts clear up the doubt and void the negative speculation (Paul Rusling, IOMIB, ibid.) ** ISRAEL. 0648 28/8, 15783.6, Galei Zahal, Israele, telefonata OMs. IN/SF. Ogni tanto si sposta dalla frequenza nominale, magari per surriscaldamento degli impianti (Luca Botto Fiora, Rapallo (Genova), Italy, R7 Drake, bclnews.it via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. Even though Kol Israel frequency changes were supposed to happen September 1, as of September 3 at 2100 UT, I still heard Reshet Bet (Hebrew) on 11585 and not 9400. I was not able to hear the 0330 UT English broadcast when I tried last night (September 3 UT) and tonight (Sept 4 UT), so I have no idea if the changes there have occurred or not. So, keep your ear on both the pre-Sept 1 and post Sept-1 frequencies for now (Doni Rosenzweig, NY, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I also checked at 0330 UT Sept 4, and could not hear any of the frequencies, old or new; K index 4 (Glenn, OK, ibid.) ** JAPAN. JAPÃO – A propósito dos cortes em algumas emissões e o término de redações por parte da Rádio Japão, Leônidas dos Santos Nascimento, de São João Evangelista (MG), acredita que os programas feitos para o público brasileiro ``continuarão do mesmo jeito``. Segundo ele, a NHK ``recebe muitas cartas e mensagens de brasileiros e os laços culturais e econômicos entre os dois países são muito fortes``. Leônidas opina com a autoridade de trabalhar como monitor da emissora há mais de uma década. Já o noticiarista da emissora Kan Shirai agrega que a emissora realmente passa ``por um período de contenção de despesas``. No Japão, agora, é período de férias. Assim, apenas os noticiários em português estão sendo feitos ao vivo. O restante da programação é preenchido com os melhores programas do ano de 2006 (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX Sept 3 via DXLD) They think that because of Japan`s close relations with Brasil, and many Japanese immigrants there, NHK`s programs for there will continue unchanged; altho new programming was curtailed in August for vacations (gh) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. INTERVIEW WITH DIRECTOR OF JAPAN’S SHIOKAZE BROADCASTING [illustrated] The Daily NK, a website devoted to news about North Korea, has interviewed Araki Kazhiro, Director of Shiokaze Broadcasting, which started broadcasts to North Korea in October 2005, and sends messages to the Japanese abduction victims in the country, clarifying its vision on North Korean democracy. The broadcasts are jammed by North Korea. Kazhiro says hew wants to cooperate with South Korean broadcasting companies, such as Free North Korea Broadcasting (Free NK), and Radio Free Asia (RFA) [sic]. ``If we collaborate with them, the quality of our program will be better.`` Read the interview http://www.dailynk.com/english/read.php?cataId=nk02500&num=1051 (September 3rd, 2006, 10:57 UTC by Andy, Media Network blog via DXLD) ** MEXICO. 4810, XERTA-Radio Transcontinental de América. Last year I could hear this one fairly regularly with a decent signal. Since mid- February, when they came back on the air after changing the location of their antenna, I have not been able to hear them above a threshold level. Anyone else notice a change in reception? (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO [and non]. Vemos como grandes emisoras se retiran del aire, pero esto mismo da oportunidad a emisoras pequeñas para poder ser escuchadas. Depende también del orden y respeto por la frecuencias, como ejemplo: XEOI Radio Mil en 6010 kHz la cual sigue al aire pero que prácticamente ha dejado de recibir informes "gracias" a la majadera e indebida interferencia de la irónicamente llamada "Voz de Tu Conciencia" que emite desde Colombia y que presume un mensaje de "paz", y seguro existen más problemas como éste. Habría que seguir apoyando a la HFCC en esta regulación y pedir a las emisoras como "La Voz de Tu Conciencia" tengan el mínimo respeto, Saludos, (Julián Santiago Díez de Bonilla, DF, Sept 3, Noticias DX via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. There is some fun in the way RNZI behaves, and sometimes you feel like DXing with it. No trace checking 7145 after 0800 this Sunday 3 and not even on 9615. As a mere coincidence I went to hear what was cooking on 49m. and surprise! A clear and strong signal [6095] and I wouldn’t expect BBC or RNW because of similar accent. Caught my attention at first the beautiful light orchestral music they had and then came this presenter with a story of a marble site and the use of the railway for carrying to Wellington. According to WRTH Summer 06 update you would expect RNZI using 6095 between 1650 to 1850, not analog but on DRM. So, where did DRM go? I not dare to assure they were on 7145 in the that mode (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7145 kHz, RNZI, from 0853 UT, September 2. News items on decreasing highway traffic in Auckland area, and corresponding increase in metropolitan rail and mass transit use, thought to be largely related to higher gas prices over recent months. A second item on a crackdown on reckless younger drivers, with a recent sentencing to 21 months prison of a young driver involved in killing another in a car accident. Absent on 7145 kHz on September 3 at this time to 1058 UT, having been heard almost daily over the past several weeks. Has there been a change? On 9870 kHz at 1200 UTC, announcing at 1258 UT the closing of this frequency and advising to retune to 7145 (Roger Chambers, NY, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, see 6-131 for new schedule in effect today Sept 3. 6095 is now overnight frequency in AM, with 7145 switched to DRM. 15720, when used, is only in DRM now. 13730 is our evening frequency in AM and well heard here (Glenn Hauser, OK, ibid.) ** NORTH AMERICA. WBMR Black Mountain Radio --- Estimados amigos: Reciban mi más cordial saludo, en estos momentos estoy escuchando aproximadamente en los 15015 kHz (2128 UT = 5:28 PM hora local de Chile continental), las transmisiones de WBMR Black Mountain Radio. La transmisión solo tiene música en inglés de hace quince o veinte años atrás, no hay interrupciones ni avisos, ni señal de identificación. Estamos en contacto, buenas escuchas y 73, agradeciendo su atención, les saluda con un gran abrazo (Patricio De los Ríos, Chile, Sept 3, Noticias DX via DXLD) Pirata, 6925usb, TAKE IT EASY RADIO. ??? USA. 0120-0200 Sept. 3 Canciones en inglés "You are listening to Take It Easy Radio on shortwave..." como en la anterior oportunidad que escuché esta emisora, el locutor parece estar borracho, a veces con comentarios sin sentido."...Take It Easy Radio broadcasting the good times... this is Take Easy Radio operating on free radio America`s frequency at 6925, holy good times..." Mencionan transmisión por el festivo Labor Day (Rafael Rodríguez R., Bogotá, Colombia, condig list via DXLD) ** PERU. 4940, RADIO SAN ANTONIO. Atalaya, Perú, 2330-2350 Sept. 2. pgm: Barra Deportiva. Con comentarios sobre el Partido por la copa Perú entre el Deportivo Municipal de Atalaya y el Sport Loreto de Pucallpa. "...barra deportiva en Radio San Antonio saluda..." 5039.1, RADIO LIBERTAD. Junin, 1124-1205 Sept. 2. Reactivación?? Música folclórica y anuncios de Agroveterinaria Gamarra, Centro Naturista El Paraíso. Dan la hora cada 10 minutos en voz femenina grabada; pero no ID. Varias menciones a la ciudad de Junín. Luego de las 1202 "Actualidad informativa en Radio Libertad de Junín..." No reportaba esta emisora desde Dicimebre del 2001. Durante el fin de semana no escuchada en otros horarios. 6047.1, RADIO SANTA ROSA. Lima. 1030-1048 Sept. 2. Retransmisión del Servicio Hispanoamericano de la Radio Vaticana. "..para el Perú y el mundo Santa Rosa Radio..." Luego anuncio de actividades por el 48 aniversario "...Estás sintonizando Radio Santa Rosa, la primera radio católica del Perú..." (Rafael Rodríguez R., Bogotá, Colombia, condig list via DXLD) ** PERU. A Rádio Altura, de Cerro de Pasco, foi sintonizada, em Navegantes (SC), pelo Ivanildo Dantas, em 23 de agosto, às 0245, em 5010 kHz, quando um apresentador enviava ``saludos`` aos ouvintes (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX Sept 3 via DXLD) ** PORTUGAL. 5925, Deutsche Welle Relay Sines in DRM mode, Sept. 2nd, 2245 UT in German with programme about Beethoven. Seems to be a new frequency. Reception quality O=3. Rx: AOR AR7030 Ant: MK-1 QTH: Leibnitz, Austria 73, (Patrick Robic, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. 3955 kHz, Buryatskaya GTRK, Sept. 2nd, 2131 UT with opera music and short announces; at 2156 a 4 minute long sung version of the Russian National Anthem, followed by Radio Rossii ID and news. SINPO 34333 Rx: AOR AR7030 Ant: MK-1 QTH: Leibnitz, Austria. 73, (Patrick Robic, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. Ms. Elena Osipova, in the correspondence department of Voice of Russia replying to my suggestion of printing a QSL honouring Joe Adamov will be taken in to consideration and will discuss the issue seriously with their colleagues. Mr. Joe Adamov was one of the greatest veterans over shortwave and was the host of Moscow Mailbag. (T. R. Rajeesh, India, Sept World DX Club Contact via DXLD) Very good suggestion (Mike Barraclough, ed., ibid.) ** SPAIN [and non]. Radio Exterior de España - Costa Rica Relay- Spanish language broadcast, on 3350 at 0500-0530 UT. Strong signals. QUESTION: Has anyone received a QSL out of Radio Exterior de España (any transmitter) in the last few years? (Bob Combs, NM, HCDX via DXLD) This appeared recently on the Brazilian radioescutas list; he got a reply by e-mail with partial data which he considers a QSL despite their no-QSL policy (gh, DXLD) Viz.: Olá amigos! Não sei se vocês sabem, mas a Rádio Exterior de España não mais envia cartões QSL confirmando informes de recepção, o que é uma pena. Bom, acontece que eu não sabia disso e recentemente enviei a esta emissora um informe de recepção. Eis que hoje recebi um e-mail de Pilar Salvador Marco, me informando que há anos a Rádio Exterior de Espanha não envia mais cartões QSL. Mesmo a emissora não mais enviando QSLs, a Pilar Salvador confirmou meu informe de recepção por e-mail, apenas colocando dados parciais do meu informe de recepção (freqüência escutada e código SINPO). Mesmo tendo recebido um e-mail partial data, me considero um vitorioso por ter recebido uma confirmação da minha escuta da Rádio Exterior de Espanha. 73s [viz.:] 15585 Radio Exterior de España - Noblejas - E - Recebido e-mail QSL partial data. Pouco menos de 1 dia. V/S: Pilar Salvador Marco (Relaciones con la audiencia). Obs: Informe enviado para o seguinte e- mail: audiencia_ree.rne@... . Outro e-mail é: ree.rne@... [truncated by yahooroups]. QTH: Apartado 156202, E-28080 - Madrid - Spain - RFP (Rubens Ferraz Pedroso, Bandeirantes - Paraná, radioescutas via DXLD) Hello Glenn, According to my records I sent a reception report with two IRC's to Radio Exterior Espana on July 9, 2005. I assume is was an English broadcast out of Madrid, according to EIBI. I monitored them on 15385 at 0039. I received a broadcast schedule from them in October, 2005. No QSL card (Rich Brock, Bridgewater, PA, Sept 4, HCDX via DXLD) ** SPAIN. ESPANHA – Mais uma dica de excelente programa da Rádio Exterior da Espanha! La Hora de Ásia é um espaço que fala do emergente mundo asiático. Na edição levada ao ar em 27 de agosto, foi enfocado o islamismo na China, com direito a entrevista com mulheres chinesas de Pequim que alcançaram altos postos na religião islâmica, naquele país. O programa pode ser conferido, aqui na América do Sul, nos domingos, às 1300, em 11815, 17595 e 21570 kHz. Neste mesmo horário, é transmitido para a Austrália e Filipinas, usando um relay na China, em 11910 kHz. Tal freqüência, no entanto, também pode ser captada aqui no Brasil (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX Sept 3 via DXLD) ** TAHITI [and non]. Right now at 1032z 9/4 I am getting two distinct carriers on 738. (737.9957 and 738.0005) (WOR as reference). The latter about 10-15 db stronger. I thought I had some audio, but the 740 hash is just too much. I think there is hope of getting some readable audio someday, but it would take extraordinary conditions, or just plain luck (Bill Harms Elkridge, Maryland, IRCA via DXLD) ** U K [and non]. BBCWS' Americas service via the web If your BBCWS listening schedule favors the Americas service, and you'd rather listen live than on demand, Kevin Kelly suggests checking out some Caribbean public radio stations that offer webcasts. These are generally overnight and weekend webcasts, and they aren't always 100% reliable (we can say the same about shortwave), but you might want to check a few of these out. Start here -- http://www.publicradiofan.com/cgi-bin/station.pl?stationid=1650 -- and prioritize your search by the number of program listings, since most of those are for BBC programs. Another BBC WS relayer worth checking out is Norway's national all-news service, http://www.publicradiofan.com/cgi-bin/station.pl?stationid=3370 The high-bandwidth MP3 stream was down when I checked, but others were available. This is the European service, not the Americas service, but may be worth checking out (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) BBCWS-Am via yahoo cancelled (gh) ** U S A. ESTADOS UNIDOS – A recente notícia dando conta de que o Serviço em Espanhol da Voz da América voltou a enviar o cartão QSL aos ouvintes coroou um trabalho de bastidores de pelo menos um ano feito pelo Leônidas dos Santos Nascimento, de São João Evangelista (MG). Segundo ele, foram várias as mensagens que enviou para a jornalista Mercedes Antezana, demonstrando a importância em valorizar o trabalho dos dexistas com o envio da confirmação QSL. Como resposta, a jornalista sempre informava que havia levado o assunto à direção da emissora e que cobrava da mesma um posicionamento em relação ao tema. Quem recebeu o QSL completo da Voz da América, recentemente, foi o José Moacir Portera, de Pontes e Lacerda (MT). O Leônidas sugere que todos continuem cobrando o QSL da emissora, especialmente do Serviço em Espanhol. Enquanto isso, os programas em português para a África continuam respondendo aos ouvintes que ``a Voz da América não envia mais o QSL``, conforme constatou, recentemente, o próprio Leônidas. O Leônidas também já entrou em contato com a Chefe dos programas em português, Ana Guedes, comentando sobre a importância daquele departamento também enviar o QSL aos ouvintes. As cartas enviadas para a programação em português para a África da VOA são respondidas aos domingos, nos dez minutos finais da emissão. Uma das emissões vai ao ar entre 1730 e 1800, em 9565, 9815, 12080 e 15730 kHz. A última freqüência tem regular sintonia, aqui no Brasil, conforme constatação do Leônidas dos Santos Nascimento, de São João Evangelista (MG). Nas emissões dos domingos universais, entre 0030 e 0200, a programação em espanhol da Voz da América também reserva um pequeno espaço para a música country norte-americana. Logo após o Club de Oyentes, Luis Facal apresenta sempre uma música ``campestre``, como chamam o ritmo, no idioma espanhol (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX Sept 3 via DXLD) ** U S A. VOA LAUNCHES NEW RADIO SHOW FOR AFRICA PRESS RELEASE - Washington, D.C., September 1, 2006 – On September 4, the Voice of America’s (VOA) English to Africa Service launches Inquiry, a 30-minute weekly discussion show that focuses on everyday life. ``Inquiry is a lively interactive show designed to provide a forum to discuss the many day-to-day interests of VOA`s African audience,`` said English to Africa Service Chief Sonya Laurence Green. Ghanaian- born host Akwei Thompson will examine everything from where to find the best African cuisine, to African comedy and storytelling, to the impact of cell phones on modern life. Inquiry will air each Monday at 1730 UT and also be available on-demand at http://www.voaafrica.com (via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) What does it replace? They never say (gh, DXLD) If you go to http://voanews.com and click on Programs, "Inquiry" is not yet listed in the A-to-Z program listings. At the English-to- Africa page, "Inquiry" is included in the alphabetical list of programs, but not yet in the program grid. The program grid lists 6080 and 15580 kHz for reception at 1730-1800 UT, but 15410 kHz is also available. "Inquiry" competes with VOA's English broadcast for Zimbabwe, also at 1730-1800 UTC, on 909, 4930, 13755, and 17730 kHz. Posted: 04 Sep 2006 (kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) ** U S A. 13815, KAIJ, 9/2/06, 1700+, in Spanish. Religious program heard. No scheduled DGS noted at this time. No longer on KAIJ? DGS only heard with usual crackly sound on 11775 (Anguilla) and 13845 (WWCR) at this time (Alex Vranes, WV, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) The station still IDs as KAIJ at ToH as of 9/1/06, although the programming is no longer (the late) Gene Scott whenever I`ve heard them lately either. It seems to be almost entirely by another preacher when I`ve made my brief stops (Mark Taylor, WI, Ed., ibid.) Had not paid much attention to them lately (and usually masked by Martí 13820 – an adjacent clash that should never have happened), and 13815 mostly skips over here some 300+ km away; but some months ago there was word that KAIJ was looking for other programming, including Spanish to LAm, so they finally found some. I wonder if these preachers are non-dead? Absolutely foolish to broadcast to Cuba 1) off the back of antenna, and 2) 5 kHz from jamming and Martí See their website http://www.kaij.org/index.html with a lot of verbiage but little in the way of specifics, no program schedule; the home page has a VOACAP-like coverage map showing major lobe to the NW and minor lobe to the SE, and indeed FCC A-06 shows 320 degrees for both 5755 and 13815. ``KAIJ plans to launch a radio beacon of hope for the Hispanic peoples of Central and North Americas, with a special emphasis on the needs of Cuban Christians, on the first day of the new church year, January 1, 2005.`` http://www.kaij.org/cuba.html (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, 2005 ** U S A. Today a Marine Radiogram verification came in the mail for KPH and KSM for their Night of Nights VII broadcasts. Third year in a row for me. I got "extra points for using the Collins." The MRHS group is great (Martin Foltz, Mission Viejo CA, ABDX via DXLD) I got mine a few days ago for the same night, signed by DA Stoops (the D stands for Denice) and if you look at the pictures on their web site, you'll find a picture of her batting out some copy on a chrome Vibroplex bug, which is authentic maritime class operation. As for me, I prefer using an electronic key and a Bencher paddle for CW work. Their op position featured a couple of high-end Watkins receivers. I remember at WSL around 1980-1982 they were using WJ 8718 HF rx's. Incidentally, DA is somewhat younger in appearance than one would surmise, given the long history of maritime CW. DA is her operator "sine" (ID). All of the other KPH ops appear to have served their time, earning the sobriquet "old man", as is common in radio work. (Any male ham over 6 years of age is automatically called "old man" where all women are a YL). As for me, I "got an A for my report" by repeating part of the traffic list of callsigns I copied, and among them was MGY. In my report to KPH, I mentioned " MGY (Titanic!! - no ans.?) " and they were pleased that some of us still remember the call sign of that ill-fated steamer from so long ago. Part of the transmission was a list of all coastal stations that have gone silent, it was a lengthy list. Sure would like to hear them on LF, here in Tampa it's pretty unlikely. I just hrd 4 to 12 MHz here. Receiver was a DX390, with 6 foot whip, indoors. Not a very optimum receiver, but with BFO and 1 kHz step tuning, it was usable (Bob Foxworth, FL, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. Sept 4 at 1402, came upon 6519-USB, robot YL (Perfect Paula?) with Caribbean tropical storm info, references to Miami. She correctly says ``millibars`` instead of ``megabytes`` for MB! So could this really be WLO? It`s a WLO frequency, per the ShipComm schedule in 6-114, but nothing shown for 1400. For WLO, 6519 is a transmit frequency paired with receive frequency 6218, to make ITU Channel 607, as in 5-097. BTW, 6519 was also reported in February as the frequency of Radio Paucartambo, Perú, as a search on 6519 in the DXLD archive turned up (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also GREECE ** U S A. Hello everybody!! This is to inform you that if you go to http://www.krsnam1490.com and click on the visit us at (etc..) line you should be able to hear KRSN AM 1490's live feed. If anyone has any problems please e-mail me at david@ [truncated] or call me at 505-663- 1490. Thanks for all your support and THANKS FOR LISTENING!!! David Sutton, Chief Operating Officer, KRSN AM 1490 (via Mike Westfall, Los Álamos NM, Sept 1, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. Without a doubt ``Music `til Dawn`` was the best radio shows ever. The theme song ``That`s All`` by Aquaviva was worth tuning in alone. That said, here`s something from KRLD¹s history page... http://www.krld.com/pages/8498.php?contentType=4&contentId=103201 KRLD History KRLD began broadcasting on Halloween Day, 1926 from a small second floor room at the Adolphus Hotel in downtown Dallas. Named after the Radio Laboratories of Dallas, KRLD broadcast (originally at 1040 on the AM dial) 6 hours a day, except on Wednesdays when the station closed down to make repairs and recharge the batteries. Since 1938, KRLD's 50,000-watt signal has been booming out over 100 miles in every direction, and can be heard at night in 38 states. In the summer of 1941, KRLD moved to 1080 on the dial. One of the original 16 member stations when the Columbia Broadcasting System was formed in 1929, KRLD has a proud heritage of innovation. KRLD was the first station to present live broadcasts of high school and college football games; the first to offer continuous election returns; and the first to broadcast "live" music and entertainment programs. In 1927, one of KRLD's original four employees, a young salesman named Clyde Rembert, conceived the idea for selling advertising "spots." Yes, it was KRLD that originated commercial announcements on radio. From the "Hillbilly Hit Parade" and the "Cornbread Matinee" of the '40's to our current award-winning news programming, KRLD has always provided timely, memorable and relevant programs to the community. In April, 1978, KRLD switched from a music-based format to become the first news and information station in Dallas/Fort Worth. In the years since, NewsRadio 1080 has been the station of choice for people who want to keep up with our changing world. === I listen to ``Texas Overnight`` with Charley Jones about 3 times a week on KRLD. It really is a very good station (Kevin Redding, Gilbert AZ, ABDX via DXLD) Kevin, Little unknown fact about KRLD: They tried television around 1930. The old flying spot scanner type. Most history about KRLD never include this story. Don't know what happened to it or how long it lasted (Willis Monk, Old Fort TN, ibid.) Music 'til Dawn was presented by Hugh Lampman (sp?). It was very original and well done. Lampman moved (in the 70's ?) to KVIL-FM in Dallas which was the most professionally presented station I've ever heard. They had an AC format with the emphasis on adult. Nothing at all to be ashamed of. Ron Chapman, Jack Schell and Hugh Lampman formed the air staff and were the top dogs in North Texas for a number of years. Each announcer had a live air shift for 3 or 4 hours, then Schell and Lampman voice tracked nights and overnights. This in an age of carts, 45s and LPs. Very tough to pull off well. KVIL was probably the station that cemented the transition away from AM to FM in North Texas. Lampman passed away not too long ago (Jerry Lenamon, Waco, ibid.) Jerry, Not sure of Hugh's last name. It may have been spelled wrong. Did meet him a couple times, in the early 80's. Knew his wife, and that all I will say about that topic. Yes, Ron and the boys were number one for many years. I remember Dallas radio of the 50's much better. Drove by the KLIF studios in 1960, when the were in downtown Dallas, in my 1954 Chevy, and couldn't here the station. All I would get was WOWO (Willis Monk, ibid.) 1190; KLIF very direxional (gh) ** U S A. Does anyone remember Dolly Holladay? 73, (Patrick Martin, OR, IRCA via DXLD) Sure, sponsored by Holiday Inns of America (when they were first starting and were actually motels). Had a network (à la Coast to Coast) of MoYL stations during the early a.m. hours. Logged Casper WY on 1400 when they were carrying Dolly. One of my best graveyard catches (Don Kaskey, CA, ibid.) Patrick, There's a name from the past. Dolly Holiday(sp?) was the voice on the overnight music program Holiday Inn's out of (corporate) Memphis placed on numerous 50 kW AM around the country in the late 60's. Do you remember when it ended? Lots of 101 strings with low key spots for Holiday Inn (Jerry Kiefer, Roswell, NM, ibid.) I think she went to the late 70s. By the 80s she was gone. KFBK I believe was one of the stations she was on. 73, (Patrick Martin, ibid.) Dottie "Dolly" Holiday This from http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/dolly_holiday Dottie was a pioneer in radio. She was the first general manager of the first "All-Girl Radio Station": WHER in Memphis. http://www.npr.org/programs/lnfsound/stories/991029.credits.html After leaving WHER, she went to work for Holiday Inns, which was at that time headquartered in Memphis (the founder of Holiday Inns, Kemper Wilson, had been an investor in WHER, and WHER's original studios were in a Holiday Inn). Dottie did an overnight syndicated radio program under the pseudonym of "Dolly Holiday" that played easy listening music and promoted Holiday Inns. Dolly was quite popular for that sort of a radio personality, and this album was released as a reflection of that. Dolly's life and activities after she stopped doing the Holiday Inns program is unknown. She is believed to be deceased. C 2000 - 2006 rateyourmusic.com s.2 (via Fred Schroyer, Freelance Science Writer / Editorial Consultant, Waynesburg, PA 15370, ibid.) ** U S A. Re: A Message from Scott Bailey, GM/CE WMRO-AM, Gallatin, TN ``What most folks don't know about the High School Football deal is this, the Commission knows that AM is in trouble, and on Friday nights, the FCC turns their heads on the AM stations running full power during the high school football ballgames.`` I personally don't complain when stations do run on the "HS football STA". It does give DXers a chance to hear something out of the ordinary. The old adage about one man's pest being another man's DX is quite true. However, claiming a moral right to that seems to be pushing things a bit. Maybe it's being equated to exceeding the speed limit, because "everybody does it" and "the road is posted too slow". By extension, that would seem to give some incentive to ignore any rule or law to which you disagreed, in the guise of morality and entitlement. Scott is wrong in this, though it's really a minor matter. I've been doing engineering work for stations big and small since 1970. While I've never owned a station, I can certainly understand what it would be like. But, when he bought the place, he knew what he was getting into - unless he didn't perform due diligence. If not, then that's his fault. He bought a high dial position, low power station that's on a clear channel, and not directly in a metro area with a high population density. A difficult scenario to show a profit by any measure. Nonetheless, no matter from what perspective you analyze it, it is still illegal to run over your licensed power except in a time of stated emergency. If a client were to ask me, I would tell them not to do it. If a client told me to be a party to it, I would walk away. For Scott to complain in a public forum is silly. All he's doing is calling attention to himself. I would bet a good lunch that there are FCC folks who monitor the Broadcast list, and probably the DX lists as well. Were I an enforcement official, these lists would be a gold mine of tips on who needs a visit. Heck, we have people here on a first name basis with FCC field engineers, and pass info to them all the time. Be all this as it may, I will likely never complain to the FCC about the HS football STA. My advice to Scott Bailey would be to never say another word about this - ever (Craig Healy, Providence, RI, IRCA via DXLD) I agree 101%. When he talked about "Be A Proud American" and allow illegal power for HS football, I would have thought it a joke to couple the two ideas but he was dead serious. As to the real bottom line (running full power until the Friday night football game is over), I have some sympathy for his desire to serve the community. If he can get his co-channel stations and the FCC to agree, great. If not, it's not his business to self-approve it and violate the rules. Would I turn him in? Not if he was interfering with "entertainment reception" and there were other channels that suited me just as well. Should he interfere with an EAS station that was my only EAS stations or one of only a few I could receive, you bet I would (Chuck Hutton, ibid.) It really is irrelevant what we think about that. It's what the FCC field guy thinks, or what the other stations on the same frequency think which then leads to the FCC. Would it be over the line for an owner to modify his station so all the meters read low power, yet it was at high power? Same offense, just better concealed. I read of a station in the mid-Atlantic that did just that. The only way they were caught was by an FCC field guy who used his meter as a portable radio, and didn't see a signal drop at the appointed pattern change. A follow-up visit showed everything hunky-dory with the readings, but the field meter told a different tale. It's the same offense. I'd bet that I could stuff a Gates 5 transmitter with Gates 1 badges and meter faces in at WNBH-1340 and it would never be noticed. It's a non-d station, so no monitor point readings would ever be taken. It's the same power day/night, so no power change would ever happen. If I ran it at 4 kw, it would double the field strength at any location. About a 3 db difference, and hardly noticeable. The noise on 1340 is such that after dark it wouldn't make much difference. If it were to be done, the first incremental power-up would be in June, and adding fifty watts per day. By the end of July, it'd be at 4 kw from 1kw. All under summer low-DX conditions. When DXers noticed the station more frequently in the fall, I could attribute it to "ground system work" or "tower work". Any number of plausible causes. Who would guess? Eventually it would just become part of the landscape and be ignored. And, that station participates in the alternative inspection program run by the state broadcast association. That essentially guarantees that an FCC inspection will never happen. I've been through these, and if the meters look right, it will breeze right by the inspector. Needless to say, I won't do this, even if the chances of getting caught are exceedingly remote. Legally there is no difference. The act of jazzing the meters to hide the offense does heap on some charges, but it's still the same infraction, running over power. I certainly can see the point of view that this is a nearly victimless crime. And, I have no personal vendetta against stations that do warp the rules. As long as it has little or no effect on me, I'm happy. I suppose the whole point was that it's just silly to brag about violating the rules, especially in a worldwide forum. It's also silly to grouse about DXers when they have absolutely zero impact on your bottom line (Craig Healy, Providence, RI, ibid.) ** U S A. (Part 15?) station in Chula Vista-Eastlake, CA on 1610 I have a new station on 1610 in my neighborhood. They run a loop of rather tacky fake news stories from "The Onion News", which I'm guessing is the daily podcast from http://www.theonion.com/content/radionews including ads for godaddy.com. It seems to be located somewhere near the intersection of Otay Lakes Rd. and Eastlake Parkway. There are no billboards out this way, but it has the same tacky content as you might expect to hear on a billboard station. They're not strong enough to be a pest, but they certainly qualify as a waste of electricity... 73, (Tim Hall, Chula Vista, CA, Sept 1, IRCA via DXLD) ** U S A. CONS AND PROS OF PIRATING Why tell the FCC? Let people get away with it. If I had the money to have a transmitter, I'd be running a pirate FM station off of my laptop right now (Adam Rivers, MA?, Aug 31, WTFDA via DXLD) If you really want to, just run a legal part 15 "station". See how that goes. They don't cost an arm and a leg either (Guy in Lockport, NY Falsetti, ibid.) And you would be exposing yourself to possible criminal action and/or civil penalty by the federal government, AND 1. Exposing yourself to a Copyright suit by various parties (this is the BIG one many pirates fail to understand), and, 2. Potentially exposing yourself to possible civil action by any licensed broadcaster with which you interfered, and 3. Potentially losing your ability to work for a licensed broadcaster, and, 4. Generating a Record that would seriously impinge upon your abilty to ever receive any future licensure from the FCC. All this, just so you can get your jollies by hearing Nelly a few miles down the road. It just doesn't make sense, quite apart from the moral issues (Peter Baskind, J.D., LL.M., N4LI, Germantown, TN/EM55, 901-624-5295, ibid.) The benefits of pirating Regarding an e-mail to Adam from Peter, I wanted to share another point of view regarding pirating. Some of this happened a few years ago and might not be as relevant now. Many respected broadcasters did get their start in their careers as pirates. Some have become station owners. I mention two that come to mind -- Bruce Quinn, former owner of WKLU 101.9 Brownsburg- Indianapolis, and stations in Monticello and Attica IN. He was the pirate using the name "Jolly Roger," or so he told me. He even used early editions of my "FM Atlas" to find frequencies to get the FCC to allocate. Allan Weiner of Monticello ME (FM-AM-shortwave broadcaster) continued pirating after he owned licensed stations. Several of my customers admitted to me they are pirates -- one an engineer, I believe, at WMT (AM) Cedar Rapids IA. As an undergraduate I helped KUMD (now 103.3 FM) get started as a pirate broadcaster (on AM!) at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. The FCC sent their "cease and desist" letter to KUOM *770 AM, because they had not heard of a University of Minnesota campus in Duluth. That was after the disgruntled engineer quit and "spilled the beans." I wrote an article about that experience, which was published in "Radio World" newspaper. I am mentoring some young people, but the advice I give them is to mention the possible penalties of running a pirate station. Trouble is, it's so easy to do with low cost equipment for transmitting and computer hard drives for programming. Even now, I am advocating for FM subcarrier reception, and have made available special radios for over 30 years. I have faced three lawsuit threats, but I think I have answered them all to the point where they have either gone out of business (not caused by my activities!) or completely backed off. I was also modifying scanners, such as the Radio Shack Pro 2004-2005-2006, when the circuitry could be altered for reception of (analog) cellular mobile telephones (now known as "cellphones'). Hey, it was being in the WTFDA and knowing people like John Ebeling and the late Dave Janowiak that has helped develop an interest in electronics. 73, (Bruce Elving, Ph.D./FM Atlas-Publishing & Electronics with website at http://members.aol.com/fmatlas/home.html ibid.) We have probably 3 dozen pirates on AM/FM here between Brockton and Boston. 90% of them broadcast in Haitian. Some of them have gotten notices of unlicensed operation from the FCC, but that does nothing at all. One of them has even gotten $10,000 fines at least once, maybe twice, yet they're still on the air, and I doubt they've paid. I really would like to see the FCC go and bust someone's door down and seize equipment, but the way things are going, that probably will never happen again. Things are getting out of control around here. If anyone's interested, here's all of the ones I've been able to track down on a map: http://local.live.com/?v=2&cid=96D532551CECE67F!101 It's already been sent to the FCC; they probably don't care (Jeff Lehmann, Hanson, MA, ibid.) I just went to eBay's new Express storefront (all new items, fixed prices) to look for ham transceivers. The first dozen or so listings were for 100-300 watt FM band transmitters. Some of these even offer RDS processors. Wild! Nothing in the listings about needing to have a license to run these (in the US) as many sellers of transmitters post (David Hascall, ibid.) Seems like the FCC and eBay management might be interested in knowing about this. I don't have an eBay account, or I'd let them know. I don't know if these are illegal, I'm not sure. But maybe they are illegal like a linear for CB is (or used to be). Some of these are pretty high priced but some are not very high priced and certainly put out enough power to be heard city wide. I'm pretty sure what I've been hearing on 93.9 is one of these in home transmitters instead of any pirate stations. I also think I've heard at least two different ones as well, a little different power to them each. They haven't been on very much though. I don't think this is a coincidence either, looking on Radio-Locator, their find a clear FM frequency tool for Denver shows 93.9 as the clearest FM freq to use. I imagine any other of the find a clear freq web pages would show the same. And 93.9 is the only freq I've heard these signals on as well. What I guess I don't really get is why these companies are selling in home FM transmitters with such high power. 300 or even 10 watts is ridiculous when 1/2 watt would do (Craig N0BSA, Denver, CO, ibid.) Here in the Washington, DC area the Caribbean community has popped up with pirates now and then. One stayed on an extra day after being ordered to shut down and IMHO made a pretty good case that their particular community was underserved by the existing conglomerate- owned local broadcast media. The view that LPFM and pirates are more damaging than IBOC and religious translators seems to get stronger as one's ability to finance (bribe?) Congressional campaigns increases. (Don't get me started...) Regards, (Fred Laun, Temple Hills, MD, ibid.) ** U S A. KATIE WATCH --- WHAT COURIC LEFT BEHIND Liz Cox Barrett Aug. 31, 2006 - 4:08 PM Hazing happens in many a fraternity -- journalism included. And, with five days until Katie Couric's debut as anchor of the "CBS Evening News," Couric's hazing at the hands of her peers (nit-picking inspections, dire predictions, unsolicited advice) continues apace... http://www.cjrdaily.org/behind_the_news/what_couric_left_behind.php (CJR Daily via DXLD) ** UZBEKISTAN [and non]. Tashkent is NOT closing at the end of the year --- One of the things that has emerged from last week's HFCC Conference is that the Uzbeks are NOT closing their shortwave relays of foreign broadcasters. RNW had been told that Tashkent would not be available, but that turns out to have been due to a business dispute between the Russians, with whom we deal, and the people in Tashkent. That dispute appears to have been settled. But it caused a lot of aggro for us, because those broadcasters who deal directly with Tashkent had received no information about a possible closure, and started asking questions. It just goes to show how dangerous it is to jump to conclusions (Andy Sennitt, Radio Netherlands, Sept 4, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA [non]. 6180, Radio Nacional Venezuela, 1051-1100 Sept 4. Noted this station in Spanish comments. Came on the air without ID at 1051. Continued to broadcast until 1100 when it went off the air with ID etc. Signal was good (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston, Florida, NRD545, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Overriding BRAZIL, q.v. 6060, CUBA. Radio Nacional de Venezuela, 1100-1112, 9/2/06, in Spanish. Woman announcer with IDs, address information, and program announcements over guitar music (Rich D'Angelo, PA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. ARGELIA, 7460, Radio Nacional de la República Arabe Saharaui, 2036-2140, 02-09, canciones en árabe. Identificación por locutor a las 2100: "Al Arabia Saharauia Democratia". Música y comentarios en árabe, locutor. 44444 (Manuel Méndez, en casco urbano de Lugo, Spain, Grundig YB 400, antena interior, cable 4 metros, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 0655 28/8, 7460.0, RN Saharaui, relay Algeria, mx locale. MB! (Luca Botto Fiora, Rapallo (Genova), Italy, R7 Drake, bclnews.it via DXLD) = VG! ** YEMEN. 2158 27/8, 9779.8, RTV, AA, mx locale. IN/SF! Anche il 28/8 prima della chiusura verso le 7 UT il segnale era molto basso. Ciò a livello propagativo non era comprensibile in quanto altri segnali afro-mediorientali giungevano benissimo. E' probabile che sia stata un'emissione a potenza ridotta o un trasmettitore di riserva? Qualcuno tempo fa aveva dimostrato che il cambio della frequenza a seconda dei giorni tra 9779.5 e 9780.2 dipendeva dall'impianto usato (Luca Botto Fiora, Rapallo (Genova), Italy, R7 Drake, bclnews.it via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. LA, 6142.61, 0940 2 Sept, program of just simple rustic ranchera music with M host in Spanish. Mention of "...los pueblo...". 0959 canned voice-over by M mentioning kHz but it was fading so couldn't copy. Seemed to be in news at 1002. Líder [Colombia] usually has quite a few canned IDs, so I don't know what this would be. Drifting down to 6142.56 by 1002, and 6142.48 by 1020. Getting some local noise just above on 6144 but fair signal and quite (quick) fady. Gradually fading out after 1005 (Dave Valko, Dunlo PA, HCDX via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. June 3 was a busy day with a grand 12-hour sporadic-E opening featuring most European countries. A mystery Arabic news programme on channel E2 (48.25 MHz) with a `slotted` logo in the top- left of the screen was monitored at around 0730 UT, returning in the early afternoon. It doesn`t appear to be Syria or Iran; Syria now sports a circular logo in the top-right of the screen and Iran has retained its broken diamond-shaped logos. The mystery station was seen again on the 15th on E2 and E3 and on the 19th (DXTV, Sept RadioUser [UK] via DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LANGUAGE LESSONS ++++++++++++++++ NAMES, PRONUNCIATION Good evening, Glenn! I've been reading several DXLD issues I couldn't read while down on the SW coast, and found quite a few interesting bits re. the (mis)use of Spanish names used north of the Mexican border. I wonder why many English speakers tend to think the Castilian j is pronounced like the English h, as in "harm", instead of pronouncing it like the German/Czech/Irish/etc. [ch]. I need not explain any details to you for you know the language. Consequently, any José and similar become Hosé, etc. And what drives me really mad is that every time they see / read such a name in other [Latin] language, they follow the same silly, ignorant procedure. An example: East Timor's minister José Ramos Horta. In the beginning, neighbouring R. Australia's speakers used to say [hoseh ramous hórta], then things got better; curiously, R. New Zealand's speakers pronounce it more correctly. The correct form is hard to describe here, but here it goes: [zhuzeh râmush órta], so probably not what many would imagine it could be. The same symptom is applied in our media when (in this case, German) names like Michael Schumacher turn as Michael Shoemaker. In doubt, a more neutral pronunciation should be followed or then simply pronounce it in a more naïve way adapted to our language, regardless of how silly it could be. Foreigners (particularly English speakers, and among these, Americans on top - sorry, Glenn) don't mind about that and simply "throw" the pronunciation they figure that suits. However, I think media personnel try to pronounce foreign names in more widely spread languages the way they think is right, and often slip to a silly effect like the one of the German (I think he's German, or then Austrian) formula 1 pilot. Boa noite e cumprimentos. (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, Sept 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ JEFF KADET`S TVDX/QSL GALLERY COMPLETE Mission Accomplished. All 1700+ tv dx photos/text IDs/QSLs posted on web. It's done, finished. Four months of arduous work and neglecting almost everything else in my life. The grid of channels slightly down from the top of the page has all the new links. Click a channel and see the pictures http://www.oldtvguides.com/DXPhotos/ 73, (Jeff Kadet, Macomb, IL, Sept 1, WTFDA via DXLD) QSL GALLERY The large collection of QSL cards (3600+) on Les Nouvelle DX's web site has been updated. Eight different galleries include cards for each of the 58 deleted DXCC entities (650+ QSLs), the ten Most Wanted DXCC Entities (120+ QSLs), obsolete prefixes (1300+ QSLs), Antarctic bases (500+ QSLs) & TAAF (Terres Australes and Antarctiques Françaises, 200+ QSLs), pre-1945 countries (200+ QSLs) and French Departments, USA before 1945. Several cards are still needed and your participation is encouraged - please visit http://LesNouvellesDX.free.fr and send your comments to LesNouvellesDX @ free.fr [TNX F6AJA] (425 DX News via Dave Raycroft, Sept 3, ODXA via DXLD) Ham QSLs only, I suppose (gh) DIGITAL BROADCASTING ++++++++++++++++++++ IBOC STATIONS PROVIDE FREQUENCY ACCURACY, AT LEAST Is the main AM carrier locked to GPS with IBOC, or is GPS used to set the subcarrier frequencies, spacing, guard time, etc? My impression is the latter, at least for the installed base of legacy equipment. I bet Barry McLarnon can verify that (Chuck Hutton, IRCA via DXLD) The answer to both questions is "probably". :-) In IBOC parlance, the key parameter is called "synchronization tolerance". There are two possible levels of this, called (surprise, surprise) Level I and Level II. If Level I is implemented, then all of the carrier frequencies (including the analog carrier) and digital timing are locked to a GPS reference. For the carrier frequency in AM IBOC, this means an absolute error of no more than +/- 0.02 Hz. If only Level II is implemented, then things are considerably looser, and the tolerance on the carrier frequency becomes +/- 2.0 Hz. The use of Level I specs is not mandatory, but it's recommended in the standard. Since it wouldn't be very expensive to implement in most cases, I expect that most stations would be Level I, so IBOC stations in general should make excellent frequency references - especially if they're groundwave signals. Alas, that's about the only thing IBOC signals are good for! BTW, if you're using skywave signals for calibration, it's best to avoid the periods near sunrise and sunset (or during propagation disturbances), when ionospheric Doppler shifts may introduce some errors (Barry McLarnon, VE3JF, Ottawa, ON, ibid.) IFA 2006 DRM report (German) and photographs [of receivers]: http://www.funkerberg.de/drm/ifa2006/index.htm (via Mike Barraclough, UK, Sept 3, dxldyg via DXLD) DRM: see also NEW ZEALAND; PORTUGAL DIGITAL LPTV COMPANION CHANNELS The FCC has released a (rather large) list of applications for LPTV companion channels. Only those that aren't mutually-exclusive with other applications are here; those that will require auctions will be listed later. "Companion channels" are for LPTV stations that wish to operate digitally and in analog simultaneously, like full-power stations. LPTV stations are not *guaranteed* a companion channel. They also have the option of making a "flash cut" to digital on their existing channel. (indeed, many LPTVs have already applied for, or been granted, this option; some have even completed construction and gone digital.) http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1748A1.doc =============================================== Also, the list of 3rd Round DTV channel elections has been released. With this release, DTV channel elections have appeared for all but twelve stations: - 4 stations: permits for new operations, not yet on the air, will probably sign on as digital and remain on their one existing channel. - 3 stations: may have fallen through the paperwork cracks - they have applications for digital channels on file but those applications don't appear in the channel elections lists. - 3 stations: recently signed on the air in digital on their one existing channel and will presumably stay there. Or, in one case, recently signed on in analog but will presumably flash-cut. - 2 stations: WABC-7 and WEDH-24 have both requested to stay on their existing DTV assignment of 45. WABC doesn't want WEDH on 45 and is fighting the assignment. Neither station's choice has been approved. (I haven't exhaustively investigated other stations on these channels but don't offhand understand why one station or the other isn't willing to revert to their existing analog channel. Especially WABC, for which returning to channel 7 would save a lot in utility bills...) -- (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66, http://www.w9wi.com WTFDA via DXLD) WEDH & WABC --- WEDH's digital channel is currently 32. They've been trying to get 45 moved from Norwich to Hartford (TX site unknown, the Farmington site move may not happen after all). (They are also trying to get Norwich to VHF 9). The problem with WEDH's channel 32, is that both Meredith and Tribune have fought this allocation with force (WFSB, Meredith on 33 and WTIC-TV on 31). It should also be noted that WUVN-DT 46 has also fought the WEDH-DT on 45 move as well. My gut feeling is 24 is too short spaced to WVTA-DT 24 in Windsor, VT on the top of Ascutney. In order to stay on 24 would force them to install a directional antenna and affect viewers in the northern tier of their audience. WABC is not going to 7 because of another short spaced V-Hi digital on channel 7 in Albany, NY (WXXA-DT). WXXA runs a full power, non directional VHF 7 from an amazing 434 meters AAT. WABC fought like hell to keep WXXA off of channel 7 but was denied (because of the spacing between analog and digital is less strict). WABC chose to stay on 45 rather than go on VHF 7, with a directional antenna aimed away from the rich counties to the north, or reduced power with less viewers all around (Necrat, WTFDA via DXLD) Who is necrat? Still don`t know, but she has a big website full of station tower photos in the northeast: http://www.necrat.com (gh, DXLD) DTV: see CHINA RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ QLOCK http://www.qlock.com/time (Gustavo Fernando Durán, Santa Fe, Argentina, condig list via DXLD) Pretty neat; on world map move cursor around and displays current time in many cities (but not Enid; suffice Tulsa/OKC/Wichita), along with zone in relation to GMT, constant but whether DST is in effect also noted. But I can still find fault with it: Kathmandu time shown as GMT +5.8 instead of 5.75, so that`s three minutes off! Guess it can`t handle two decimal places (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) STREETCAR NOISE IN BLACKPOOL This is particularly addressed to Noel Green. During visits to the former Royal National Institute of the Blind's Century Hotel on North Promenade I have noted considerable interference, particularly on the MW band. I am told this is caused by the power lines supplying juice for the promenade's trams, and can certainly believe this. Whilst I of course don't know whereabouts in Blackpool Noel Green actually lives, I wonder if he has experienced any of these problems, and whether they have in any way hindered his reception of radio stations (PAUL DAVID, Wembley Park, United Kingdom, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) It has been sometime since I have operated a radio in Blackpool but my past "DXing" from there never realised any obvious interference from the tram lines (Andy O`Brien, NY, ibid.) Almost certainly most of the noise you're hearing is caused by the tramway system. I used to live adjacent to one particular line that has now been dismantled and I can well remember hearing the electrical noise coming from it. I didn't own a communications receiver then and I guess that increased sensitivity over what I had would have caused listening problems, but not continuous ones unlike today`s 24/7 noise floor. Now I live inland about a half mile from the nearest system so I don't hear them. But, whenever I venture onto the Promenade in my car, where the trams are now confined to, there is electrical interference audible on my car radio whenever a tram is in the vicinity, but I find that the noise soon disappears when I leave that area. I don't think the problem is the power lines or power supply but the trams themselves. I'm not well enough informed to know how the system works but drivers appear to apply power, or otherwise, using a handle in a series of notches similar to control devices with which model trains are controlled. Electrical noise on the radio appears to vary in intensity and tone according to how the tram is being driven, and I assume comes from the controlling device and tram motor. Speeds are slow because they try to avoid killing visitors who don't know what trams are, and stops are frequent. Also, power collection is now by pantographs rather than by a rolling wheel as previously used, and I think that a carbon strip rubbing along a power cable will inevitably generate electrical noise. I'm sorry that I can't be more specific - maybe others can - but I hope it helps (Noel Green, Blackpool, ibid.) The vehicles in question apparently use electronic systems (thyristor etc.) to control the power feed to the engines. This technology has some similarity to the PDM and PSM modulation systems on current AM transmitters. Reminds me on an experience at Hoyerswerda back in 1992. At this time the short-lived trolleybus system there (shortly afterwards shut down after hardly more than five years of operation) still run, and as soon as we entered a street with catenary 1044 (a solid signal from a transmitter 70 km away, at this time running 250 kW) got entirely wiped out by an unbelievable noise floor of some singing kind. I think it was even still audible in the background on 999 where at this time the 20 kW transmitter at Zeißig, just 2 km away, was still on air. See the pictures section of the yg for this site, and see also: http://www.senderfotos-bb.de/studiocb.htm for pictures of the Cottbus broadcasting house in the seventies or eighties, with signs not only for Radio DDR (in both German and Sorbian) but also for the police station, dedicated to the protection this object (Kai Ludwig, Germany, ibid.) RFI FROM "LED" TRAFFIC SIGNALS - PART II In CGC #751, Don Johnson, an RF technician with Bext, identified certain traffic signals with light emitting diode ("LED") lamps as being potent sources of RFI. Although his comments concerned ham radio frequencies that were between the AM and FM broadcast bands, an observer in Poway linked the RFI to the FM broadcast band. If the FM broadcast band is affected, some TV frequencies (esp. Channels 2-6) could be impacted as well. Keep in mind that this research is in an early stage, and we should not assume that we are dealing with a large problem yet. The following e-mail from the FCC's Office of Engineering Technology reiterates Don's concerns, then recommends a specific course of action for reporting RFI. You can help by making field observations. http://earthsignals.com/add_CGC/Letters/LED_RFI.htm (CGC Communicator Aug 30 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) FLORIDA TEST TO DETERMINE TRAFFIC SPEEDS VIA CELLULAR STREAMS A two-week trial underway in Tampa, Florida will evaluate IntelliOne's ability to track traffic patterns and tie-ups in real time by interpreting the non-voice data streams generated by cellphones. Interest in the technology is high, and on hand to evaluate the test are representatives of the Department of Homeland Security, FEMA, the U.S. Department of Transportation, cellular carriers, FedEx and UPS. http://tinyurl.com/rw772 (CGC Communicator Aug 30 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) But not every driver is constantly on their walkie-talkie! (gh) VEHICLE INSTALLATION GUIDELINES FOR XM SATELLITE RADIO I was in Wal-Mart last week and noticed that near the XM display was a box of shrink wrapped ferrites and an installation guide which tells installers to install two ferrites [in a certain fashion] to "avoid interference with nearby radios." The two ferrites are the snap- together type.... I don't know if this is part of a negotiated agreement with the FCC to avoid mass recalls, but if it is, the publicity for it is very low. I looked all over XM's website and found absolutely no reference to any ferrite retrofit or anything at all about the excessive field strength problems. Anon. XM installation guide discovered at a Wal-Mart: http://earthsignals.com/add_CGC/XM_Install_Manual.pdf (CGC Communicator Aug 30 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) XM SAID TO BE MAKING PROGRESS WITH MINI-TRANSMITTER COMPLIANCE According to the Washington Post, an FCC decision last week cleared XM Satellite Radio to resume production of three popular hand held radio devices, alleviating one of a number of problems that troubled the company this year and dragged down its stock. According to an analyst quoted, "XM still has a long way to go before the company is completely in the clear" because other receivers still have mini-transmitter (FM modulator) issues. The FCC inquiry is said to have "only affected a couple of Sirius devices...." http://tinyurl.com/g8tly (CGC Communicator Aug 30 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ HARP vs. HAARP In CGC #757 [Letters to the Editor section], reference is made to the HARP project. I think the author means the HAARP project. HARP (one R) is Project HARP, short for High Altitude Research Project, a former joint project of the United States Department of Defense and Canada's Department of National Defence created with the goal of studying ballistics of re-entry vehicles at low cost. It is not, and was not related to HAARP, the HIGH FREQUENCY ACTIVE AURORAL RESEARCH PROGRAM that functions as an "ionospheric heater." (Mike Langner, CGC Communicator Aug 30 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) I already corrected HARP to HAARP when picking this up for 6-128 (gh) NEW FORECAST PAGE FOR MW CONDITIONS by Jari Vanhatalo, Oulu, Finland: http://kotisivu.dnainternet.net/mnbvc432/Keliennuste.htm Promises good transpolar conditions for the next weekend. 73, (Mauno Ritola, Finland, mwdx yg via DXLD) Lines up what happened 27 and 54 days ago, previous solar rotations, to anticipate what will happen next (gh, DXLD) WHY ALL THE REVISED A-06 SCHEDULES? Maybe I just wasn't been paying attention in past end-of-summer periods, or maybe you guys are just better at reposting these links, but why the whole bunch of revised A06 schedules from international broadcasters? There seems to be a lot lately on here and in DXLD. And this is before the coming flurry of B06 schedules that are to come. Just curious (Kevin Anderson, Dubuque IA USA, K9IUA, swprograms via DXLD) Kevin, Having just two SWBC seasons a year really doesn`t cut it, especially for stations with high-latitude paths to cope with (and other stations which have to cope with them). You know, there used to be four seasons, two months in spring and fall, and four months in winter and summer. But it got to be just too much bother to make all those changes, and was confusing to listeners. So altho there is no official S-06 season any more, a number of stations do make changes around this time of year. But I think you will find that most of them still wait until the end of October, often to their own detriment. Solar min also makes it necessary to go lower as winter approaches (in the north), and this may not have been anticipated seven months ago in A-06 frequency coordination. 73, (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) ###