DX LISTENING DIGEST 6-140, September 19, 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 FIRST SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1329: Wed 2200 on WBCQ 7415 Wed 2300 on WBCQ 18910-CLSB [can anyone hear this?] Fri 2030 on WWCR1 15825 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 DX/SWL/MEDIA PROGRAMS Sept 19: http://www.worldofradio.com/dxpgms.html ** ALBANIA. 1458 kHz: Checked that VoA outlet from Fllake, Albania, a week ago, when I was near Venice in Italy. Still on air and well heard in northern Italy. Also DW Albanian 1215 still on air around 0540-0600 UT (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re VOA relays on 1458: Sorry, my mistake, they are to continue until Sep 30. Beyond that detail, is Croatian amongst the VOA services that were to be eliminated in October, alongside worldwide English etc. Have these plans now really been postponed or will BBG go ahead and shut down what they want, no matter that some Congressman object these plans? I think it also remains to be seen if the Deutsche Welle relays will continue after yearend. They could consider them as part of the shortwave service, so to speak, and shut them down as well (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Sept 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also NETHERLANDS ** ALGERIA. ALGERIAN RADIO TO CREATE NEW INTERNATIONAL MULTILINGUAL CHANNEL | Text of report by Algerian radio on 18 September The director-general of radio, Azzedine Mihoubi, is at this very moment holding a news conference at the radio headquarters. The first official in charge of radio has said that the latter is still technically backward, a fact that hinders its news gathering activities. He also confirmed the news of the setting up of an international Algerian radio station of a regional dimension. A report by Mourad Atif: [Atif - recording] The director-general of the national radio, Azzedine Mihoubi, said that the radio is still technically backward and still operating with the analogue system instead of the digital. Azzedine Mihoubi said all national, regional and thematic radio stations will be on digital by the end of 2007. Mihoubi stressed the need for training the staff before engaging in international competition and expanding the broadcasting network. The director-general of radio confirmed the news of setting up an international Algerian radio channel before the end of the year with four working languages: Arabic as the main language, then French, Spanish and English, to raise Algeria’s international profile. The new channel will be allocated a significant budget, which has not been revealed. The Algerian international radio will exist alongside a sports radio channel and a semi-economics one, Azzedine Mihoubi said, adding that the new orientation of radio will enable provincial radio stations to expand their broadcasting airtime. A new development in national radio is also the creation of weekly forums held at the radio headquarters. The radio is also expected to move to new headquarters whose plans are currently being in preparation. (Source: Algerian radio, Algiers, in Arabic 1200 gmt 18 Sep 06 via BBC Monitoring) (September 18th, 2006, 17:31 UTC by Andy Media Network blog via WORLD OF RADIO 1329, DXLD) NO mention of shortwave in above item, so don`t get your hopes up (gh, WOR 1329) ** ANTARCTICA [non?]. Re 6-139, I should have caveated about the report from Argentina of nonstop music tests at 1800-1930 on 15476. Even there, Africa Number One, Gabon, is likely to dominate 15475, mostly music until its abrupt turn-off nominally at 1900*. If the log was really on 15476-CUSB and not 15475-AM, OK, it was probably LRA-36. If it was really on 15475, especially before 1900, it was more likely ANO, maybe running overtime a semihour (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARMENIA. Please confirm whether Armenia is still active on SW, scheduled 1830-1930 in French, German, English, 20 minutes each, on 9960. Tnx, (Glenn, some 2 hours in advance, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I checked it myself on the caradio, but not a chance here 5 kHz from WEWN 9955 (gh, OK, DXLD) Davide Tambuchi logged it in Como last Saturday: 9960 544 16/09 1925 UT, Public Radio of Armenia, talk in English + musica tradizionale + ID at 1929 .... audio distorto ma ... e' ancora viva :-) !!! (Roberto Scaglione, Sicily, ibid.) Glenn, Yes, Armenia is most definitely still on SW. The English broadcast at 1910-1930 on 4810 and 9960 is well heard here in the UK, especially on the latter frequency - very strong. Listening in Baku last week, 4810 was heard with good signals, but rather poor audio, throughout the day and evening. But I wonder if we will still hear Voice of Armenia after the end of October (Chris (UK) Greenway, ibid.) Hello Glenn, Voice of Armenia still on 9960 // 4810 this Monday at 1830 in French. Regards (JM Aubier, France, ibid.) 1830 UT French on 9960. Very strong in Copenhagen: 9+40-50dB. 73, (Erik Køie, Denmark, ibid.) Yes, 9960 just came on with French, // 4810 which was apparently on with some other programming already before 1830 (Kai Ludwig, Germany, ibid.) Saludos cordiales, hoy 18 de Septiembre La Public Radio of Armenia en 9960 inicia apertura a las 1828 con el final de transmisión en su servicio en árabe; las 1830 apertura con el himno nacional y locutora en francés con presentación y un boletín de noticias, desde Valencia con un SINPO 45444 (José Miguel Romero, Burjasot (Valencia), España, SANGEAN ATS 909, Antena Radio Master A-108, ibid.) V. of Armenia is still on air. Heard today Sept 18th, around 1815 UT when I switched on 4810 kHz in 60 mb, Arabic service program was still in progress, S=3 signal in southern Germany. Arabic program joined 9960 kHz midst in a sentence at about 1829 UT, ID in Arabic and mail address in Arabic language. Signal strength superb, S=9 +40 dB. 1830 IS, National Anthem, 1831 ID in French, 1832, news in French. Item on disputed Karabakh area. Talks between pres. Robert Chutscheran and former Bulgarian president today. (...) Concert of Charles Aznavour and Patricia Kahn singer from France, performing at Yerevan, when "Year of Armenia in France" opens on Sept 30th. 1841 UT music break by Armenian singer. 1849 UT closing announcement of French section broadcast, IS and Nat Anthem at 1850 UT. 1851:20 UT ID in German "Hier spricht Yerevan", scheduled 1850-1910 UT on 4810 and 9960 kHz. Followed by news till 1906:10 UT. e-mail address given, IS at 1910 UT. Followed by Nat. Anthem of Armenia. ID in English at 1911:25 UT ... satellite Hotbird newscast at 1150 UT. Closing announcement in English and postal address given at 1929 UT. 1930:10 UT ID in Armenian, program lasting til 2000 UT Sept 18 (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST)(and WORLD OF RADIO 1329) ** AUSTRALIA. Re 6-139: 16545 kHz VMC. The frequency as heard here and announced on air is actually 16546 kHz in USB. At 5 minutes to the hour gives identification and full list of broadcast frequencies. Schedule is VMC (Australia Weather East from Charleville) Daytime (7 am-6 pm EST) 4426 and 16546 kHz, Night-time (6 pm-7 am EST) 2201 and 6507 kHz, Anytime 8176 and 12365 kHz. VMW (Australia Weather West from Wiluna) Daytime (7 am-6 pm WST) 4149 and 16528 kHz, Night-time (6 pm-7 am WST) 2056 and 6230 kHz, Anytime 8113 and 12362 kHz. EST is Australian Eastern Standard Time [UT+ 10, but shifts to UT +11 summer?] and WST is Australian Western Standard Time [UT +8 yearound]. These broadcasts are from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Their schedule and be found on the web at http://www.bom.gov.au/marine/marine_weather_radio.shtml (Dene Lynneberg, New Zealand, Sept 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. 5049.93, 1941 18/8, ARDS Humpty Doo with multi-lingual discussion, children`s choir, later talk in English about illegal drugs in the community. Still fair signal at 2030 (Bryan Clark, Mangawhai Northland, New Zealand, AOR7030+, Alpha Delta Sloper, Sept NZ DX Times via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. Updated A-06 schedule of HCJB Australia: Bangla 0045-0100 on 15405 KNX 100 kW / 307 deg to SoAs Mon-Sat Bhojpuri 0100-0115 on 15405 KNX 100 kW / 307 deg to SoAs Tue 1300-1315 on 15435 KNX 100 kW / 307 deg to SoAs Tue Cantonese 1200-1300 on 15395 KNX 100 kW / 340 deg to EaAs Daily 2300-2400 on 15525 KNX 100 kW / 340 deg to EaAs Daily Chinese 0900-1000 on 15400 KNX 100 kW / 340 deg to EaAs Daily 1100-1200 on 15400 KNX 100 kW / 340 deg to EaAs Daily 2230-2300 on 15525 KNX 100 kW / 340 deg to EaAs Mon-Fri Chatisgarhi 0100-0115 on 15405 KNX 100 kW / 307 deg to SoAs Fri-Sun 1300-1315 on 15435 KNX 100 kW / 307 deg to SoAs Fri-Sun English 0000-0030 on 15405 KNX 100 kW / 307 deg to SoAs Daily 0000-0030 on 15525 KNX 100 kW / 340 deg to EaAs Daily 0145-0200 on 15405 KNX 100 kW / 307 deg to SoAs Wed 0700-0900 on 11750 KNX 050 kW / 120 deg to SoPac Daily 1000-1100 on 15400 KNX 100 kW / 340 deg to EaAs Daily 1000-1130 on 15540 KNX 100 kW / 307 deg to SEAs Daily 1130-1200 on 15425 KNX 100 kW / 307 deg to SEAs Mon-Sat 1300-1330 on 15400 KNX 100 kW / 340 deg to EaAs Daily 1300-1315 on 15435 KNX 100 kW / 307 deg to SoAs Wed 1330-1400 on 15435 KNX 100 kW / 307 deg to SoAs Sun 2330-2400 on 15390 KNX 100 kW / 307 deg to SoAs Daily Gujarati 0100-0115 on 15405 KNX 100 kW / 307 deg to SoAs Mon 1300-1315 on 15435 KNX 100 kW / 307 deg to SoAs Mon Hindi 0115-0145 on 15405 KNX 100 kW / 307 deg to SoAs Daily 1315-1330 on 15435 KNX 100 kW / 307 deg to SoAs Daily Hmar 0145-0200 on 15405 KNX 100 kW / 307 deg to SoAs Sun Indonesian 1200-1230 on 15425 KNX 100 kW / 307 deg to SEAs Daily 2300-2330 on 15390 KNX 100 kW / 307 deg to SEAs Daily Japanese 2230-2300 on 15525 KNX 100 kW / 340 deg to EaAs Sat/Sun Kuruk 0145-0200 on 15405 KNX 100 kW / 307 deg to SoAs Mon/Thu 1245-1300 on 15425 KNX 100 kW / 307 deg to SoAs Mon/Thu Malay 1130-1200 on 15425 KNX 100 kW / 307 deg to SEAs Sun Malayalam 0045-0100 on 15405 KNX 100 kW / 307 deg to SoAs Sun 1245-1300 on 15425 KNX 100 kW / 307 deg to SoAs Sun Marathi 0145-0200 on 15405 KNX 100 kW / 307 deg to SoAs Fri 1245-1300 on 15425 KNX 100 kW / 307 deg to SoAs Fri Marwari 0100-0115 on 15405 KNX 100 kW / 307 deg to SoAs Thu 1300-1315 on 15435 KNX 100 kW / 307 deg to SoAs Thu Nepali 0030-0045 on 15405 KNX 100 kW / 307 deg to SoAs Sat-Thu 1230-1245 on 15425 KNX 100 kW / 307 deg to SoAs Sat-Thu Santhali 0145-0200 on 15405 KNX 100 kW / 307 deg to SoAs Tue/Sat 1245-1300 on 15425 KNX 100 kW / 307 deg to SoAs Tue/Sat Tamil 0030-0045 on 15405 KNX 100 kW / 307 deg to SoAs Fri 1230-1245 on 15425 KNX 100 kW / 307 deg to SoAs Fri Telugu 0100-0115 on 15405 KNX 100 kW / 307 deg to SoAs Wed 1245-1300 on 15405 KNX 100 kW / 307 deg to SoAs Wed Urdu 0200-0230 on 15405 KNX 100 kW / 307 deg to SoAs Daily 1330-1400 on 15435 KNX 100 kW / 307 deg to SoAs Mon-Sat (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Sept 19 via DXLD) Once again this makes obvious the extremely weird situation at HCJB- KNX: with one exception, the 50 kW on 11750, all broadcasts are within a range of only 150 kHz, from 15390 to 15540, making us wonder if their antenna has some severe bandwidth limitations. Language-wise, vies with other gospel huxters to make its schedule as complex as possible (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BANGLADESH. Bangladesh Batar, Dhaka has been heard on varying 4753 kHz at 1345-1601* on 16 Sept. English news at 1530-1600 UT. http://www.ndxc.org/imgbbs/ No. 322 (NDXC-HQ, via controler S. Hasegawa, Japan, via wwdxc BC-DX Sept 18 via DXLD) ** BELARUS. Hi Glenn, I think you brought up the question what became of the nighttime transmissions of Radio Belarus. Well, here is their on-air program schedule: http://www.radiobelarus.tvr.by/eng/progwaves.asp Frequency info has been crammed into their general presentation, but it appears to be accurate and complete: http://www.radiobelarus.tvr.by/eng/station.asp So obviously no transmissions at night anymore (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Sept 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Night, i.e., e.g. 0200 UT to NAm. But there is a link to the program schedules on `air` in Belarusian, German, English, Russian (but all presented in English), in local time, ending at 2400 UT: http://www.radiobelarus.tvr.by/eng/progwaves.asp (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [and non]. 7270.0, PBS Nei Menggu (presumed), Sept 19, *0950- 1021, in assume Mongolian, on with Asian music, ToH 5 + 1 pips, playing mostly Asian music. Fair-poor, with no het heard, which is due to the change in their frequency. Believe this is the same station that started out at 7270.15 and has drifted down over the past month and usually causes a het. Very weak station also on 7270.0, under Nei Menggu, possibly Wai FM (Malaysia), which John clearly IDed at 1258 UT, on Sept 18. My observations are that Nei Menggu was the drifter. Wai FM always was steady on 7270.00 before the new Nei Menggu schedule blocked them. Many thanks to John Wilkins for his on-going help with monitoring this frequency (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, RX340, with T2FD antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. No Firedrake audible on 13970 or 14600, Sept 18 at 1312, but not on 15265 or 15285 either, as FE conditions were far below normal. FD was still making it thru on 9780 against Taiwan (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The mid-latitude K-index at 1200 UTC on 18 September was 4 (51 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) ** CHINA [non]. 14600, Sound of Hope at 1320 19 Sept, in the clear at fair strength outside the usual monitoring break of the jammers. Gone or faded by 1345. Female speaker with many mentions of Falun Gong. No jammers audible on 13970, 17330 or 18180 and thereabouts either. Possible weak SOH signal on 17350, but language unconfirmed. 14600 not heard at 1420 but noted again at 1520 with male and female voices and no jamming. Still active past 1610 with no jamming despite that they were on the air throughout the TOH monitoring period. The frequency of 14600 is slightly low. Earlier today the Firedrake jammers on 14600 and 17330 were synchronized, apparently operating from the same site, while 13970 was "echoing" when compared to the other two and also was operated in a different way (carrier and audio back much earlier after the TOH break), so apparently coming from a different site. The signal strengths of 14600 and 13970 were about equal, around S-5 (Olle Alm, Sweden, WORLD OF RADIO 1329, DX LISTENING DIGEST) So what, I wonder, does this mean, and at what time were the jammers withdrawn? The Chinese will surely not stop jamming SoH altogether just because a "group of amateurs" has protested, will they? And do they take notice of what anyone says - even other governments or radio regulatory bodies? It will be interesting to discover if "normal services" resumes tomorrow. 73 from (Noel Green, UK, ibid.) ** CHINA [and non]. 10200 kHz, unID Chinese Music 10200.0 kHz has double sideband AM traditional Chinese music (normal tinkly stuff, and with lots of good drumming), been on since around 1815 UT when I discovered it. Weak signal with rapid fading, better in ECSSB, gets up to maybe S4 on peaks here in Southern California. At 1900 top of the hour, there were 5 minutes of dead air where an ID would have been, had there been one. Still going at 1920. This is only noteworthy because broadcasting is not authorized in this band, and also it's an old Chinese numbers frequency. Somehow I suspect this is not entertainment, even though it's entertaining me. (Hugh Stegman, Sept 17, spooks via Steve Lare, WORLD OF RADIO 1329, DXLD) So Sound of Hope may be trying out a new lower frequency as fall approaches, 10200, outside a ham band, whew. Nice of Firedrake to keep track of that for us (gh, WORLD OF RADIO 1329, DXLD) ** CROATIA [non]. CROÁCIA – A Voz da Croácia voltou a apresentar o segmento Croácia Hoy, em espanhol, com um pouco mais de duração: cerca de 10 a 15 minutos. Consiste num boletim de notícias, com direito a informações religiosas, esportivas e a previsão do tempo em Zagreb. A locução, de alta qualidade, é de Mario Ostovich. Para completar os 30 minutos de programação em espanhol a Voz da Croácia apresenta belas músicas em estilo romântico. Confira, entre 2230 e 2300, em 9925 kHz. O sinal é via Jülich, na Alemanha (Célio Romais, Brasil, Panorama, @tividade DX Sept 17 via DXLD) ** CUBA [and non]. R. Rebelde very strong on 15570 in mid-day transmission, Sept 19 at 1604 with sports; something underneath causing SAH of about 6 Hz. That would be Vatican in Swahili. Cuba // 11655 also good (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5025, R. Rebelde, Sept 18, not on the air at 0917 (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, Etón E5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. 6030, R. Martí, Sept 18 (Mon.), 0910 noted with no Cuba jamming. China (CNR) heard under a strong Martí (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, Etón E5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. Glenn, during the last solar minimum (1996- 98, I think?) Prague used 22 meters to North America, on 13580; this should be a likely choice in the coming B06 schedule if 13 mb propagation doesn't cut it here (Joe Hanlon, NJ, Sept 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Referring to the 1400 UT broadcast usually on 21745 in B- seasons; also with second transmitter to ME (gh, DXLD) ** EUROPE. 6220, 15/9 1700, Mistery R. - ? English ID e MX, ottimo (R. Pavanello, playdx via DXLD) Frequency Time UT Station SINPO SWERT 6220.0 2045 15/9 Mystery Radio 44444 9+5dB 6220.0 1559 16/9 Mystery Radio 44444 8 6220.0 0701 17/9 Mystery Radio 44444 9 http://frlogs.dxradio.de http://www.freeradio.de RX: NRD 525 GF ANT: ARA 30 QTH: Detmold 5156 N 852 E (Achim Brueckner, Germany, bclnews.it via DXLD) 6217 17/09 08.45 MISTERY RADIO id EE suff 6217 17/09 19.40 MISTERY RADIO id EE suff (Annino Vitale, Grottaminarda (AV) - Italy, bclnews.it via DXLD) ** FRANCE [and non?]. Once again on Sept 18 at 0531, RFI on 7135 with a quick echo. Strongly suspect they have two transmitters going here, possibly from widely separated sites, a tactic they have tried before, such as Issoudun and Moyabi. But don`t they know the audio then has to be exactly synchronized? Note also recent report of same kind of thing on 11700 after 0700. I recall that 7135 had formerly been an RFI relay frequency via South Africa at an earlier hour, but not on the SENTECH A-06 schedule now at any time (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1329, DX LISTENING DIGEST) In B06 winter season as usual RFI French 11700 at 0600-0700 on two 500 kW units at 155[TUN, TCD, COG] and 185[ALG, MLI, BEN] degrees. At 0700-0800 UT on 185 and 204[MRC, SEN] degrees. Main back lobe travels around the world via northern Finland, northern Norway and via Greenland-Alaska into Pacific, Tahiti? and via Antarctic and Ascension back into Europe (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I've been tuning 7135, but an hour later than Glenn hears it. There is no audible "echo" at that time, but if there was a second transmitter on frequency from, say, Gabon or even UAE or MEY it would probably be too weak by then to have any effect at my location. RFI registers only one transmitter at ISS via 155 degrees 0400-0500, via 185 degrees 0500-0600 and via 190 degrees 0600-0700, but who knows. The printed sched I referred to previously also shows only one transmitter and the same beam headings except for 0600-0700 when the beam is listed as 204 degrees. Conditions have changed and propagation is again not very good and, as a consequence??? I don't hear an "echo" on 11700 after 0700 currently. The signal on 11700 is very poor today, so either condx are "not right" for an "echo", or if there is a second transmitter somewhere, it is not propagating. But it doesn't appear to be due to a "delay" at ISS. More observations are necessary (Noel R. Green (NW ENGLAND), Sept 19, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GABON. African music jammer on 17645, good Sept 18 at 1415 with kid song, and more music only past 1432; was not there before 1400 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. Bible Voice Broadcasting Network (BVBN) in English from Sep. 24: 1930-2000 on 9775 WER 125 kW / 195 deg Sun to CeAf, ex 1900-2000 (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Sept 19 via DXLD) ** GERMANY [non]. Frequency change for Deutsche Welle in Swahili from Sep. 20: 1400-1450 NF 11645 KIG 250 kW / 030 deg, ex 11810 (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Sept 19 via DXLD) ** GUAM. Haven`t looked for Wavescan in months via KSDA, but ran across the 2230 English broadcast Sept 18, fair on 15320, but too close to Bonaire 15315; 2231 ID as AWR, Voice of Hope (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUAM. Frequency changes for KTWR: Mandarin Chinese 1100-1500 Daily NF 7520 TWR 100 kW / 320 deg, ex 7455 Korean 1500-1630 Sun-Fri NF 7510 TWR 100 kW / 320 deg, ex 7455 1500-1700 Sat NF 7510 TWR 100 kW / 320 deg, ex 7455 (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Sept 19 via DXLD) Hmm, I wonder if they too had that RTTY problem on 7455. Some believe it is in New Caledonia (gh, DXLD) ** GUYANA. 3291.1, Voice of Guyana, GBC, Sparendaam remains off the air. When broadcasting often play ``Guyana You've been So Good to Me`` which is a recent popular anthem (Robert Wilkner, FL, Japan Premium Sept 15 via BCDX via DXLD) ** HUNGARY. Radio Budapest 9590 0100Z - detailed news and interviews about the public demonstration and takeover of Hungarian Public televison building. Progamme repeats at 0230Z on 9795. (Gary Bodnar, location unknown, Wednesday Sept 20, 2006 01:45Z, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. Both 9525 (VOI) and 9680 (RRI Jakarta) not heard Sept 17 & 18 during random checking (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, Etón E5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) VOI still missing from 9525, Sept 18 at 1323 check (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [non?]. FLASH: Naval ops off Lebanon. Hi, a number of Italian ships with NATO callsigns R1X, 0QP, V3N etc have set up a tracking net on 6442.5 kHz USB and pass tracks and info of various merchant ships, etc., near Lebanon coast. All tfc in English. Regards, (Costas Krallis, SV1XV, Greece, Sept 19 ``5:28 pm``, UDXF yg via Bert van Rij, BDX via DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. 6245, CLANDESTINE to Iran. R. Zamaneh, 9/11/06, 2030. Language sounded like Farsi. A new Iranian "youth" station. Heard as an unID from around 2030 tune-in Sep 11, ME (but not Arabic) music, vocals and instrumentals, also ME-stylized pop songs; pretty upbeat announcements, ID several times sounded like "Radio SAH-moh-neh." Brief audio drop outs here and there, through ToH with no particular ID, off at 2101:30. Very strong. It looks like this was their first day on the air (Jerry Berg, MA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) 6245, CLANDESTINE TO IRAN. R. Zamaneh, 9/16/06, 1935-2101*, in Farsi. Already in at 1935 with talk by man, some music bridges, slowly building in strength. Programming sounds professional; interviews at outdoor event, dramatic readings, etc. Closing announcements by woman at 2056, brief vocal music then suddenly off before song ended 2101*. Very nice level at s/off. Tnx Jerry Berg tip (John Herkimer, NY, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) RUSSIA, R. Zamaneh, 6245 kHz, muffled signal of S=4 from supposedly Samara, Russia, noted around 1700 UT. Signal was not as strong like Moscow and Armavir signals at same time, but increased later tonight. Channel was coordinated at HFCC conference in February to Irkutsk, Russia site, 250 kW, 290 degrees. But was later requested and coordinated to Bulgarian service of VOR at 1900-2000 UT, via Samara site. Latter service freed 6245 kHz in favor of Radio Zamaneh. And Bulgarian service settled down on 5965 kHz instead then, \\ 6000-S06 (x9470-M06) and MW 1413 via Maiac-Moldova (Wolfgang Büschel, Sept 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re: "New 6245, *1701-2100* Clandestine, 12+13+16-09. R. Zamaneh, Farsi IDs, e-mail: contact @ RadioZamaneh.com " --- Why is this station considered clandestine? See the article just published on our website that gives the background to this project: http://www.radionetherlands.nl/currentaffairs/rnw060918mc (Andy Sennitt, Radio Netherlands, WORLD OF RADIO 1329, DX LISTENING DIGEST) So they claim not to be an opposition station, but Zamaneh is not exactly welcomed by the Iranian government which ``may not allow it to broadcast``. I realise this is rather subjective, but it seems sufficiently ``clandestine`` to me. If they go on FM legally in Iran, I`ll reconsider (Glenn, ibid.) WRTH avoids the problem by calling such operations "target broadcasts". However, in my humble opinion this is just a politically correct term for the same thing, and the only way to save ventures like Radio Zamaneh from being called a clandestine would be to scrap this category altogether. May I also respectfully point out that it is not a correct simplification that RNW brought them in touch with "a Russian transmitting station". The party they are dealing with should be Radioagenstvo-M, and this agency sells airtime not only on RTRS facilities but also in other CIS countries. This means that 6245 is not necessarily a transmitter in Russia, as Glenn has already pointed out. The transmitter plants in Uzbekistan (after some trouble now still brokered by Radioagenstvo-M as Andy told us), Tajikistan and Kazakhstan would be other possible origins, besides Grigoriopol of course. And a really general remark: Incorrect simplifications are in my opinion the biggest problem of journalistic work at all. Here is a recording of Radio Zamaneh off satellite, yesterday at 1700, starting with the apparent opening of the shortwave transmission (as meant, not necessarily identical to the moment the modulation on 6245 had been switched on): http://www.radioeins.de/meta/sendungen/apparat/060916_A1.ram The original MP3 file in stereo is unfortunately too big for the yg I fear (5.4 MB). I'm not sure if the background whine is transmitted, but the constant crackling is (Kai Ludwig, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Quite correct; unfortunately this article was written and edited by non-technical people who so not understand these things. I noticed the error, but I was not in the office today, so I could not correct it. I do not actually know what site is being used, though I will try to find out (Andy Sennitt, ibid.) Either Maiac-Grigoriopol, Moldova, or Armavir, Russia?? (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) Zamaneh 6245, 1712 19 Sept, IDed with Radio Zamaneh with a song following. Talks by man at 1716, ID at 1719. At 1738 heard something about bombing on Iran? 1806 with a song program with short comment by YL in-between. Signal S30, 43444, sporadic QRM from FSK (Zacharias Liangas, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRELAND [non]. RTE was very good at 1300 on 17745 for the Gaelic football special at 1400 9/17, and later was QRMed by VOA-Kurdish (per EiBi listing) after 1600, while 21720 was poor throughout the broadcast and 15115 was only fair at 1430, rising to good level at 1645 check. 21720 likely was via Ascension; 17745 from a UK site, and 15115 was either from the UK or, as suggested, UAE or Cyprus (Joe Hanlon, NJ, Sept 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Geez, you`d think for a one-time special broadcast they would pick frequencies which would not be colliding (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) 15115, UNITED KINGDOM [sic]. RTE Radio 1 (Rampisham ?), 9/17/06, 1558- 1639. Coverage of All Ireland Championships with Kerry beating Mayo for the title. Post-game coverage with interviews and analysis, PSA's commercials, brief news program at 1620, extensive weather forecast, more post game coverage. Fair on the channel with // 17745 experiencing VOA QRM from 1600. No sign of the 21720 outlet (Rich D'Angelo, PA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) 17745, ASCENSION. RTE Ireland relay, 9/17/06, 1345. Fair at best with coverage of All-Ireland football finals, "Weekend Sports" program, Radio One promos, into fast paced play-by-play announcements. Blasted by R. Farda sign-on at 1400. Nothing heard on listed 15115 or 21720 (John Herkimer, NY, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) 17745, ENGLAND/ASCENSION(?). Radio Telefis Eireann relay, 9/17/06, 1450, in English, Kerry v. County Mayo football play-by-play, then halftime with commercial ads and "RTE Radio One" ID. Good signal despite heavy noise from t-storms in local area, // 15115 very weak, 21670 [sic] nothing (Schiefelbein, MO, ibid.) ** ITALY. Nestled between dentrocuban jamming, Martí 11845 and WYFR on 11865, found a series of songs in Italian, no announcements, 1610- 1617+ Sept 19. Per EiBi, Rai is scheduled in Italian to Europe: 11855 1555-1625 I RAI International I Eu And this is on a 330 degree beam favorable for CNAm. No sign of Brazil or Saudi Arabia also scheduled on 11855 at this time (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN. 5006, JG2XA Tokyo, 1235-1239 Sep 11. Noted with "JG2XA" Morse IDs in groups of three, followed by a pause; each cycle lasted about a minute. Fair signal (John Wilkins, CO, DXplorer Sept 17 via BCDX via DXLD) Were they also sending timesignals? (gh, DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. Shiokaze, 9485 via Taiwan, may have been the source of the barely audible trace of a carrier, Sept 18 at 1323 as FE conditions were sub-par (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Cland, 9785, Shiokaze, 2028 Aug 26, talks by YL in Korean, ID in Japanese by OM at 2030 but not heard clearly except ``hoso``. Many mentions of ``kochirawa ? hoso`` till 2035 with nice soft music background. Best in LSB as 334x3, then mentioning Yokohama by YL, Nintendo; after 2037 YL with weeping talks and exchanged talks by OM then YL. Heard ID at 2057 as ``Kochirawa Shiokaze``. Also on 27 Aug at 1307 [9485] with program in Japanese but very low signal QRMed by CRI Hindi on 9490 (Zacharias Liangas, Fourka, Chalkidiki, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBYA [and non]. 19 Septiembre. Hoy comienzo a chequear a las 1305 y me encuentro a Sawt al-Amal en la frecuencia de 17690 con sintonía y cuña de identificación; la señal es excelente, SINPO 55454. Sin embargo a las 1310 cambia inesperadamente a la frecuencia de 17695; en esos momentos con el canto del Corán, la señal se mantiene igual. A las 1315 se aprecia una débil señal tipo sierra de fondo, es casi inapreciable; a las 1323 se inicia emisión musical con música afro- pop, también se mantiene la señal de sierra, apenas consiguen atorar a Sawt al-Amal. La señal en esos momentos 54454. Dejo de chequear a las 1330 (José Miguel Romero, Burjasot (Valencia), España, SANGEAN ATS 909, Antena Radio Master A-108, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAWI. Re UNIDENTIFIED, 6-139: Radio Lakeland 9510 kHz. Can throw some light on this one. This was a station or program way back in the early seventies which broadcast via the facilities of the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation on 9510 kHz (100 kW). I heard this on October 11, 1972, but it took several follow up reports before I received a verification letter from G. B. Mkandawire, Acting Director of Engineering for Director General, of the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation. Reports sent direct to Lakeland Radio, Box 30211, Blantyre were not responded to. V/s mentioned that reports to Lakeland Radio were possibly received by the station manager but not passed on. Also mentioned "I confirm that the programme you were listening to were those of Lakeland Radio (Malawi) broadcast on 11th October, 1972." Verification letter dated 8 January 1974 and received here on 15 January 1971. Don't know how long Lakeland Radio operated via the MBC for. I've attached a copy of the verification for your interest. Best regards (Dene Lynneberg, 66 Sea Vista Drive, Pukerua Bay 5026, New Zealand, Sept 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Thanks very much to you both for clearing up the mystery. Lakeland Radio must have been quite short-lived, WRTH 1973 has details but there's nothing in the 1974 edition, or the 1972 summer edition, so Dene's QSL probably has some rarity value! Cheers, (Dave Kernick, ibid.) Yes, this was active around 1972/73. Located in Malawi and using. the 100kW transmitter of Malawi BC. A commercial operation beamed to S. Africa, couple of hours in the morning and in the evening. I recall it was rather short-lived operation. I heard them couple of times then here in Finland (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, ibid.) Re Lakeland Radio, 9510, unID in 6-139: Hi, did a little research on that and the one and only little clue I found was in Finnish: http://personal.inet.fi/kerho/kaidx/HIST2.html So maybe, Jari (you're the first Finnish person I found the E-Mail address of) can you translate this little paragraph for DXLD? 1973 (...) Gambian maapisteen olisi voinut raportoida suhteellisen helposti, sillä Radio Gambia 4820 kuului iltaisin ainakin eteläisessä Suomessa. Trans World Radio sai Swazimaan viranomaisilta luvan rakentaa uusi uljas SW-lähetinkeskus tähän eteläisen Afrikan maahan. Malawissa aloitti lyhytaalloilla uutena asemana Lakeland Radio. 73 (Thorsten Hallmann, Sept 18, dxldyg via DXLD) Hi Thorsten. Heh, a very brief mention at that website. It goes like this: "The country-point of Gambia could have been reported rather easily as Radio Gambia 4820 was audible during evenings at least in southern Finland. Trans World Radio got a permission from the Swaziland authorities to build a great new shortwave center in this southern African country. Lakeland Radio, a new station started in Malawi." I'll retype for you WRTH 1973 pp. 122 item of this station under MALAWI- ------- LAKELAND RADIO (Comm.) ADDR: P. O. Box 30211, Chicheri, Blantyre. Te: 31044. Cable: Lakelandrad - L.P: Dir: M. L. Woodhinger. St. Mgr: K.C. Kam'bwemba. STATION (G.C: 35.02E/15.42S): 9510 kHz 100 kW. D.PRGR. in English (to So. Africa): 03.30-04.30 and 18.45-21.00 (Sat. 22.00) using the tx of the MBC. Prgr: Modern popular music and rlg. prgrs. ANN: "This is Lakeland Radio operating in the 31 m.b. on 9510kHz" - INT-SIG: 8 note guitar sequence - V. by QSL-card. ------- So, as you see, this was not technically a "station" but leased airtime from MBC. Statistics show 4 QSL arrived to Finland, mentioning frequency 9760. I never received mine :-[ 73, (Jari Savolainen, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAYSIA. 7295, Traxx FM (RTM), Sept 17, 1450-1540, DJ playing oldies (``Sad Eyes``, ``Sign Of The Times``, etc.), ToH 2 pips, ``News roundup from RTM - Kuala Lumpur. From the news center in Kuala Lumpur``, IDs (many ``Traxx FM, experience the excitement`` jingles and one echo jingle ``T-T-T R-R-R A-A-A X-X-X FM-FM-FM``), fair (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, Etón E5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALI. On 17880, Sept 18 at 1353 a Chinese plucked stringed instrument, then closing announcements in French giving schedule including 1830-2230, followed by more Chinese music and off. Difficult to catch ID but this is CRI as scheduled 13-14 via Bamako at 111 degrees (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALI. RTMali, 5995, Sept 16 at 2137-2206+ UT (very weak \\ 4835 noted) YL vocals accompanied by string instrument played with a style similar to some music heard on RTM Mauritania and the RASD clandestine on 7460 from Algeria. Very strong signal, but achieved this with USB, as splatter from 5970 and 6005 wreaked havoc on this part of the SW bands. Still, by 2200, the AM signal was audible, but USB still strong, clear, and with fine audio. Brief OM announcement at 2204, followed by a more upbeat song with YL vocalist, and a banjo-sounding instrument (I have no idea what this instrument actually is --- does anyone know?) Brief OM announcement in French at 2208, with mentions of "programme," and "Malienne." Mauritania also found strong and clear on 4845 during brief checks (Ross Comeau, MA, DXplorer Sept 17 via BCDX via DXLD) ** MEXICO. Mixture of Eureka 47 and IBOC: see DIGITAL BROADCASTING ** MOLDOVA. [Radio PMR, now on 5965 at 1600]: Registration of MOL authority in winter season B06: 6205 1700-1740 to zones 28,37 KCH 500 kW 265 degrees (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MONACO [non]. TWR: 5940 1400-1500 28 MC 100 13 GER 5965 0930-1015 28 MC 100 13 GER 6230 0930-1015 28 MC 100 13 GER 6230 1400-1500 28 MC 100 13 GER 7160 0930-1015 28 MC 100 26 GER 7160 1400-1500 28 MC 100 26 GER 7270 1630-1700 28NW MC 100 10 [??, wb.] 9800 0745-0920 27 MC 100 324 ENG 5940 and 5965 are tentative registrations, for 6230 replacement, when affliction occur by foreign maritime stations (Wolfgang Büschel, BCDX via DXLD) I guess he refer to B-06? (gh, DXLD) The TWR interval signal is actually a part of the National Anthem of Monaco. I've heard it played by a military sounding band and it's a really lively tune. Greetings from sunny Blackpool (Noel Green, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MONGOLIA [and non]. FANTASTIC MORNING or have I moved to Asia? Greetings all, Well, the dial this morning reminded me of DX 20 years ago hearing so many Northern Asians. It was something else. The highlight of the morning was definite logs on both Mongolians on 164 and 209 kHz. Both were // and I stayed with them from 1300 to 1332 UT. I have had threshold reception of one or the other at times, but never well enough to ID the station. I got all sorts of Mongolian music (really nice) and lots of Mongolian chatter by a male announcer. For some reason this one eluded me for years. I have had tentatives on 990 and years ago. So I am pleased with this. Besides Mongolia, I had Russians on 153, 171, 189, 261, and 279 kHz. 279 was over S9+. Unbelievable signals. I haven't heard them on 171 or 261 kHz in many years. After 1332, I moved up to MW and found the band totally jumping. Where do I start?, I thought. 3 and 4 Asians on each channel. I thought, have I physically moved 4 thousand miles? Lots of Northern Asians, but little from the Philippines and South Asia. Koreans all over the dial . . . (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, Sept 16, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. Big L 1395 is back --- Just heard Big L back on the airwaves on 1395 at 2305 19 Sept. The signal is 10-20 dB over S-9 (Olle Alm, Sweden, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Various reports I saw in passing indicate that transmissions started today shortly after 1400 UT. Reportedly they first continued beyond 1800, when Fllaka with TWR programming starts on 1395, but finally left the air around 1815, away from a short appearance of an open carrier at 1838. I tuned in myself at 2100: Fllaka cut off, and within about three seconds Trintelhaven came on, as used to be the case when Nozema run this outlet (now it's apparently another transmission provider). Signal strength is more or less what I recall from last year when the power was 20 kW. The modulation sounds better than that of the former Nozema set-up though (Kai Ludwig, Germany, ibid.) Hi All, we are Pleased to say that our 1395 AM is back on from 10 PM (UK TIME). Thanks for all your support and reception reports and please be aware that these are classified as test transmissions at the moment. Regards Roger Davis (via Steve Whitt, MWC Sept 19, via DXLD) Big L is back on 1395 kHz !! http://blogs.rnw.nl/medianetwork/?p=6102 (via DXLD) 1395 --- it looks like always as an offence to me, that HOL authorities have got this 1395 kHz channel on the 1975/1978 MW ITU Geneva conference, due of the defencelessness of poor, small Albania country. 1395 was always an Albanian channel in past four decades. 73 wb df5sx (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGER. 9705: 1145 on 30/8 with QRM from XJPBS; therefore LSB is only solution though still much QRM. Talk by OM in possibly Amharic though not sure. At 1155 with talks in FF mentioning égalité. Drums at 1200, then heard many products measured in mm with names such as Magalia, mamaktu, ganna, mataane, etc. News or possibly medical reports at 1236 mentioning epidemiology, Niger? Society, saluting as Mesdammes et monsieurs and weights of commodities (?), then a very long list of currencies converted to francs; ``Vous écoutez RTV de (Niger?)`` (Zacharias Liangas, Fourka, Chalkidiki, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ZL had this under ETHIOPIA, apparently mixed up with that if there was something in Amharic, but French would surely be Niger (gh) ** NIGERIA. Some V. of Nigeria English programmes This message just came from Voice of Nigeria: "Encourage friends and fellow-DXers to listen to our music programmes: African Safari (Saturday 1805 GMT), Nigerian Popular Music (Friday & Saturday 1930 GMT), and VON Link Up (Sunday 1805)." Frequency 15120 kHz. 73, (Mauno Ritola, Finland, July 21, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) Do they still run "Time For Highlife"? I used to try to listen to that show, even though the audio was often atrocious. The presenter played lots of the classics from the highlife period and you could learn a lot from his commentaries, if you could understand them through the audio artifacts. The show is still listed on their schedule, but then again the program schedule on their web site has not been updated for TWO YEARS! (Scott Walker, New Cumberland PA USA, July 22, ibid.) I asked them and here's the late reply: ``... In answer to Mr. Walker's inquiry, Time For Highlife is (still) being broadcast on Wednesday 1130 GMT and Saturday 1330. ... Mike Oyesiji the presenter is a 73 year old veteran. He was honored earlier today along with VON athletes who won medals (and emerged first runners-up overall) at the recently held Nigeria Union of Journalists Media Games in Lagos. Mr. Oyesiji also presents Musical Heritage, a programme of Nigerian and African traditional/folk music. It's broadcast on Mondays at 1915 GMT on 15120 KHz 19m band, and on Sunday 1430, Friday 1130 GMT on 7255 KHz. I hope the information will be useful to Scott Walker and other friends." 73, (Mauno Ritola, Finland, Sept 18, ibid.) ** OKLAHOMA. KOCO reported last night that KFOR [4] and KAUT [43, recently acquired by 4] are up for sale. I don't really know the ramifications of that, but I bet it could get interesting. I believe the parent company is the New York Times. Maybe nothing will change under the new ownership, but then again, there is a lot of room for a big staff shakeup (drumsncode, okctalk.com via DXLD) Why would the NYT make staff changes now just because they're putting the station up for sale? Did I misunderstand? (writerranger, Sept 13, ibid.) Sorry about my initial post. I see where I was not clear so I edited it. I was thinking of changes after the new owners take over. It will be interesting, and if I knew how the current Nielsen ratings stood, it would be even more interesting. From my own standpoint, I know that KFOR is the station I watch the very least. I know they're all extremely competent, but there's just no "magic" to it. 2007 may be an interesting year in local news (drumsncode, ibid.) KFOR tends to be number 1 in the ratings for much of the daytime newscasts. KOCO occasionally squeaks out a 5 pm victory (Oprah spillover), but generally they are a distant third. KWTV is the 10 pm moneymaker winner and a strong second in the mornings, noon and early evenings, occasionally squeaking a victory here and there. KFOR and KWTV are the strongest stations in the city and two of the strongest affiliates for their respective networks nationwide, as far as ratings are concerned (soonerliberal, Sept 14, ibid.) Several reasons. Some people resign, some get fired, some (although rare) die. And the biggest reason? Ratings often equals a higher selling price (mranderson, ibid.) That surprises me that KFOR would have such strong ratings. I figure in the mornings people watching Today tune in and KFOR gets ratings from that spillover as for the rest of the day, I'm surprised. I remember KFOR went through a time in the '80s and '90s as being very sensationalistic and that turned me off and I think alot of others. (traxx, Sept 15, ibid.) KFOR, when WKY and KTVY was a very snobbish station. I had only met one of their people that was nice. Teri Cook. I use to see her all the time at the supermarket. The New York Times is selling several stations around the country. Not just ours. I presume they either want to unload their entire broadcast subsidiary or want to liquify some assets, which usually means major expansion. The higher the ratings, the more the station is worth. Just like a sports franchise that wins all the time. They are probably selling the highest rated ones --- If not all of theirs (mranderson, ibid.) NYT is selling off their entire television division (9 stations in 8 markets - only OKC is a duopoly). Officially, they want to concentrate on print and the Web (windowphobe, ibid.) The concept of "spillover" mentioned by SoonerLiberal and Traxx has always offended my logic. I have to acknowledge it, since I've heard it before, but it just sounds so ridiculous to think that just because a person's TV is on one channel, they don't have enough intelligence to press a button on the remote and watch their favorite newscast. Are the American people really that stupid? "Gee my TV is on Channel 4, but I'd really like to watch the news on Channel 5, what on Earth can I do?" If you're a guy, you live with the remote in one hand and maybe some snack food in the other. Heck, I basically watch two newscasts at the same time! (drumsncode, OKCtalk.com via DXLD) ** PERU. 1499.95, 0435 26/8, Radio Santa Rosa, Lima with religious program in Spanish from Vatican Radio (including interval signal) causing loud het on 1500 (Bryan Clark at Mangawhai Northland NZ with AOR7030+ and 100m BOG aerials running East and Northeast, Sept NZ DX Times via DXLD) 100 Hz het would be more noticeable than 50 (gh, DXLD) Hello all! This morning was a highlight in my long DX career. I never heard 3 Stations from Peru within 20 minutes. It brought me the first ever reception of Radio Santa Mónica from Cusco. I heard a clear ID shortly after I found the signal. Here my Log in detail: UT 18.9.06 0433 1499.90 R. Santa Rosa, Perú, Ave María prayers, weak-fair 0438 1370 R. Santa Mónica, Cusco, ID by OM, huaynos, weak-fair! 0445 1470 CPN Radio, Lima, preacher, excellent signal! Vy 73 (Hans Pammer, Loosdorf/Austria, RX: Icom IC R75, ANT: K9AY, MWC via DXLD) ** PITCAIRN. PITCAIRN ISLAND GETS MORE STABLE TELECOMMUNICATIONS, TV Text of report by Radio New Zealand International on 17 September [Newsreader] Residents of the remote Pitcairn Island are a step closer to the outside world with the introduction of a host of modern communications. Thanks to funding from the British government, all homes now have a private telephone and fast Internet connection, as well as live television broadcasts. Pitcairn's deputy governor, Matthew Forbes, says islanders previously communicated via unstable satellite phones and an intermittent Internet service. He says the changes are being met with enthusiasm by the island's 50 or so inhabitants. [Forbes] There was a big crowd round at the mayor's house watching as they were tuning in his telly for the first time, so I think they are also quite excited about all of this. They will be able to keep in contact with the outside world a lot more. They'll be able to see what's going on on the news, they'll have more entertainment. It will just, hopefully, make it more comfortable and a easier place to live. [Newsreader] Matthew Forbes also says a videoconferencing system has also been installed and will be used for contact with health practitioners in New Zealand and for educational purposes. Source: Radio New Zealand International, Wellington, in English 1000 gmt 17 Sep 06 (via BBCM via DXLD) Ham radio not even mentioned! (gh, DXLD) ** PUERTO RICO. 1429.95, 0445 5/8, WNEL Caguas putting big het on 1430 Latin, commercials with PR addresses, talkback, deep fades but tracked past 0511 5/8 – my best catch for August! (Bryan Clark at Mangawhai Northland NZ with AOR7030+ and 100m BOG aerials running East and Northeast, Sept NZ DX Times via DXLD) ** SAUDI ARABIA. BSKSA`s Call of Islam program in Arabic, Sept 19 at 1601 on 15435 in Arabic talk (not Qur`an recitation), with a big buzz. I shudder to think what may have been happening to the transmitter. A similar buzz by itself was audible around 15360 but not sure if it was a spur from this; nothing matching on 15510 but that was in skirts of RFI Guiana French 15515. 15435 // 15315 which was much weaker but clear of any self-inflicted buzz. Both are scheduled 1500-1700 from Riyadh; 15435 at 345 degrees favorable for us while 15315 is 295 degrees (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH AFRICA [and non]. On 7185, Sept 18 at 0534 heard some commercials mentioning ``HDMI`` with those letters pronounced in English. Then mentioned Zimbabwe and Zuid-Afrika. Must be Afrikaans, but it is less like Dutch than I thought, as not much was recognizable except proper names. This is Radio Sonder Grense, as scheduled with 100 kW at 275 degrees to the Northern Cape. RSG is axually the successor to Springbok Radio, the nationwide Afrikaans network of SABC/SAUK, but fortunately for us there must be a dead spot in FM coverage requiring this SW fill-in from Meyerton. Full schedule per SENTECH: 0530-0800 7185 100 Northern Cape, RSA Afrikaans 0800-1600 9650 100 Northern Cape, RSA Afrikaans 1600-0530 3320 100 Northern Cape, RSA Afrikaans At same time on 7240 there was co-channel interference with a SAH of about 4 Hz between Portugal and Channel Africa in English (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Solar-terrestrial indices for 17 September follow. Solar flux 78 and mid-latitude A-index 17. The mid-latitude K-index at 0600 UTC on 18 September was 4 (60 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) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. Brother Stair TOM in English via French Guiana from Sep. 16 1400-1500 NF 17810 GUF 250 kW / 323 deg, Sat only, additional txion 1500-1600 NF 17810 GUF 250 kW / 323 deg, Daily, ex 1800-1900 Sun-Fri on 17815 (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Sept 19 via DXLD) We already reported new 17810 for B.S. Pleased go see that DXMN has already headed this SOUTH CAROLINA(non) so all I had to do was change the non enclosure to brackets. TOM = The Overcomer Ministry (gh, DXLD) ** THAILAND. Anybody been able to pick up Radio Thailand today? Just heard a newsflash and apparently a coup has taken place there! (Ray Neeny, Canada, 1702 UT Sept 19, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: MILITARY COUP STRIKES BANGKOK From correspondents in Bangkok September 20, 2006 Heavily-armed troops backed by tanks took control of the Thai premier's office in Bangkok while Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was out of the kingdom. Forces loyal to sacked military commander Lieutenant General Sonthi Boonyaratglin took control of the building in what appeared to be a coup. An announcement flashed on all public television channels said police and military forces loyal to King Bhumibol Adulyadej had taken control of Bangkok "to maintain law and order". It was accompanied by patriotic music... http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20444238-1702,00.html (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) [later:] The Thai army took control of Bangkok today without a shot being fired, dismissed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, revoked the constitution and promised a swift return to democracy after political reforms. A government spokesman at the United Nations with Mr Thaksin telephoned a Thai television station to announce a state of emergency in an apparent attempt to head off the coup. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20444369-23109,00.html (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) Yes, the service in Thai has just started on 9680 at 1800 after gongs and usual ID. It's taking a 'beating' from stronger CRI in Chinese on 9685 so it's difficult to get any idea of what is being said, but it sounds to be a news bulletin. According to BBCtv News the Thai army is taking over government in a coup while the elected PM is away in the USA (Noel R. Green, (NW England), ibid.) Active on 9680 kHz at 1800 UT in Thai. Regards (JM Aubier, France, ibid.) As far as I know English to Europe is: 1900-2000 UT on 7155 and 2030- 2045 UT on 9680 (German at 20 UT) 73, (Erik Køie, Denmark, ibid.) Saludos cordiales, desde Valencia en España, Radio Thailand en 7155 kHz emisión en inglés sin problemas, SINPO 45444. 73 (José Miguel Romero, Spain, ibid.) Yes, but were they talking about the coup? There have been suspicions in the past that their ``news`` is somewhat delayed (gh, DXLD) No mencionan Golpe de Estado, si no "incidentes"; se pude ver amplia información con fotografías en yahoo.es http://es.search.yahoo.com/search/news?fr=nhp&c=news_photos&p=tailandia&ei=ISO-8859-1 He podido acceder a varias páginas webs de Thailandia sin problemas a excepción del web oficial del Gobierno, desconozco el motivo. 73 (José Miguel, Romero, WORLD OF RADIO 1329, ibid.) Absolutely nothing about it in the German program which just went out via Udon Thani as scheduled (2000-2015 on 9680). One has to wonder when this program had been recorded. Taking into consideration that their website is down one has also to wonder if this was actual output of their Bangkok studios or just something played out on the IBB station (Kai Ludwig, Germany, WORLD OF RADIO 1329, ibid.) You're right, Glenn. I remember the tsunami. The French broadcast (2015) didn't mention the present events (Jean-Michel Aubier, France, ibid.) I could not copy all of the news the English program started with on 9680 [at 2030], but what I heard indicates that it must have been the news from yesterday or so (Kai Ludwig, ibid.) Radio Thailand Website down --- http://thailand.prd.go.th (Mike Terry, 1948 UT Sept 19, ibid.) Or is there a more correct site for R Thailand? (Erik Køie, Denmark, ibid.) http://www.bclnews.it/a06schedules/thailand.htm (Roberto Scaglione, ibid.) Which he provides, but not Thai (gh) Here's their English schedule per http://www.hsk9.com/Schedule.html Unfortunately here in N. America it looks like the best chances aren't until this evening: 1900-2000 7155 Europe 2030-2045 9680 Europe 0000-0030 9570 Eur/Afr 0030-0100 5890 E. NAm [Greenville] 0300-0330 5890 W. NAm [Delano, and moved months ago to 0200! --- gh] 0530-0600 17655 Europe 1230-1300 9835 Asia/Pacific 1400-1430 9830 Asia/Pacific They don't seem to have any sort of a live feed (or even an audio archive) on their rather spartan website. Should be some interesting listening... (M. Schiefelbein, MO, WORLD OF RADIO 1329, ibid.) All ears on 5890 for R. Thailand relay in English at 0030: for at least the first two minutes all I hear on 5890 is a roar, like an open feed circuit. Wonder how long this will go on. Signal from Greenville not especially strong, either (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Thailand 5890 carrier on at 0028Z; normally programme starts at 0030 but on Wednesday morning, just carrier until 0035 then went into a instrumental music loop. English usually runs until 0100 then changes into a language that I do not understand [Thai!]. No information, news or programming - Listened until 0130 with no change in programme (Gary Bodnar, location unknown, Wednesday Sept 20, 2006 01:45Z, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi, I heard a tape loop from 0036, playing tinny classical music (Liz Cameron, MI, UT Sept 20, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Same overmodulated piano tune with frequent breaks continues past 0130 (Larry Cunningham, ibid.) It's 0105 UT here in East Central Indiana and I have been listening to a very strong S9+40 signal on 5890 since 0045. They are playing the same song over and over and over. It is over-modulated and at times broken (song stops and starts in the middle). (Jeff Imel, Muncie, IN (Icom-703, HamRadio Deluxe SOftware, 90 foot Vertical), ibid.) Nothing but the piano music with dropouts till abrupt sign-off at 0200. As the coup went down during the overnight hours in Bangkok, I imagine the programs heard in Europe were produced during the previous day (and perhaps even automatically fed to the transmitters). But now that it's morning, I suppose they've decided to pull their programming till the staff can figure out which way the wind is blowing, so to speak (M. Schiefelbein, MO, ibid.) We can’t ask for more, pals. Extensive coverage all along 9/19 about the Thailand coup from many sources mentioning time and frequencies, according to each one reception possibilities. Well, mine came at 0200 thanks to Delano site for Radio Thailand’s daily schedule, but I just have heard the same that most North Americans were allowed, just repetitive piano music and no word. Music was cut off by 0200 when I first tuned and rechecking by 0225 a slight brake, and more piano till 0300 (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, ibid.) At 0323 UT (5890 kHz) Thailand signed off mid-music with no announcements or ID (Jeff Imel, Muncie, IN, ibid.) ** THAILAND. Nobody calling Thailand. Amid an apparent coup in Bangkok, CNN, BBC, CNBC, and Bloomberg are all blocked on Thai cable television systems. CNN, 19 September 2006. The BBC Thai Service was taken off the air early in 2006, and was not restored despite pleas from Thailand's National Union of Journalists for its restoration. http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=41213 VOA Thai was slated to be discontinued in October, though its fate is still to be determined by Congressional appropriations action. But will VOA Thai be available through its usual FM affiliates in Thailand Wednesday morning? The much derided medium of shortwave radio might be helpful here. Posted: 19 Sep 2006 (kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) One would assume the IBB and BBC SW relay stations in Thailand are less visible locally and perhaps continue unabated? But should be checked out (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. Now it's your turn to record "This is the BBC in..." Now's your chance! The past two weeks, the BBC's "Over To You", which succeeded "Write On" as the listener contact program, announced that the BBCWS is soliciting listener-produced versions of the catchphrase used in the ID at the top of the hour. This is when you hear "This is the BBC in Brazzaville...This is the BBC in New York..." etc. So tune up your radio voice and give it a whirl. MP3s via e-mail can be sent to overtoyou @ bbc.co.uk --- you can also send audiotapes, CDs, or even vinyl records via mail to the usual Bush House address. No deadline was given; they had a few examples of people recording the phrase in last Sunday's edition of the program. I know I have suggested the BBC solicit user contributions for the ID in the past year, but I suspect others have too (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA, USA, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) ** U K [non]. BBCWS in Hausa, Sept 18 at 1352 on 17810 via Ascension, bit of rustic music, 1353 clip in English to be translated. This is scheduled 1345-1415 daily, so on Saturday when I heard Brother Scare via French Guiana after 1400 on 17810, there must have been a collision, tho BBC was inaudible underneath here (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. Just checked out 648: Yes, they cranked up the compression, and I find it also not very pleasing to listen to. Probably a new transmitter with new audio processing equipment? No idea since when 648 sounds that way, but it definitely did not so in 1999, judging from my recording of the farewell from the BBC's German service (Kai Ludwig, Sept 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Re: NY Times Editorial on BBG's Tomlinson Rarely have I seen a Times editorial expressing such a high level of disgust with a government official. Given his gross mismanagement of the CPB and the BBG, in addition to his ethical "lapses" (to put it mildly) one has to wonder how much lower Tomlinson would have to go for the Administration to show him the door. His tenure at CPB was characterized by ethical lapses that were so bad they were enumerated by an independent inspector general which forced his resignation. At BBG, as the editorial described, he used his government office to run his horse thoroughbred business all the while claiming -- in essence -- overtime pay and hiring and paying a friend without Board authorization. All that and we haven't even gotten to his systematic dismantling and defunding of the VOA, which all SWLs should decry. The only thing keeping him from indictment is a politically friendly Attorney General. Even the Senate won't vote to reconfirm him despite his renomination by the President, whose judgment must be called into question here given all that has gone on. So he continues on a technicality -- the lack of a successor. Then again, there's no allegation of sexual impropriety. But that appears to be the only indiscretion not on this sad resume (John Figliozzi, ibid.) ** U S A. BUREAU CHIEF NO LONGER ON RADIO SHOW By WILLIAM WEIR, Courant Staff Writer September 16 2006 http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-novoa.artsep16,0,4401683,print.story After questions were raised about his being paid by the government, The Courant's Washington bureau chief will no longer appear as a panelist on the Voice of America. As part of an arrangement approved by The Courant, Washington Bureau Chief David Lightman had appeared frequently on "Issues In the News," a weekly radio show on the U.S. government-sponsored Voice of America. For each appearance he received $100. According to the VOA's website, his most recent appearance was Sept. 3. "It can certainly be seen as a conflict, and that's why we're stopping it," said Clifford Teutsch, The Courant's editor. Teutsch said Lightman's editors had approved the payment arrangement several years ago. The stipend was considered fair, he said, because topics discussed on the show were often outside his reporting duties and required research and preparation on his own time. "We have complete confidence that he has handled these appearances with the same independent mindset that he brings to all his work," Teutsch said in a prepared statement. "However, we've decided it's best to end his participation rather than allow any question of a conflict to linger." Questions about the payments were raised earlier this week when El Nuevo Herald, a Spanish-language newspaper in Florida, reported that several well-known known journalists received government payments to appear on Voice of America. That article came out a few days after the Miami Herald published an article stating that three reporters from El Nuevo Herald had appeared on Radio Marti and TV Marti, which are financed by the U.S. government and broadcast programming to Cuba. Reporters appearing on the Voice of America named in El Nuevo Herald's article included Thomas M. DeFrank, the head of the Washington bureau for the New York Daily News, and nationally syndicated columnist Georgie Anne Geyer. The late Hugh Sidey of Time magazine and the late Peter Lisagor of the Chicago Daily News were also listed as having received payment for appearing on Voice of America. Kelly McBride, the ethics group leader for the Poynter Institute, a journalism think tank, called Lightman's situation an "approved conflict" because his bosses knew of the payments. "We all have conflicts of interest," she said. "When they arrive, we generally go to our bosses and examine what policies and procedures apply." Were it her decision, McBride said, she would not have allowed the payment. "That's not universal," she said, but probably the majority opinion among editors. Though Lightman appeared regularly on "Issues in the News," he did not appear every week, said Michael Regan, Lightman's editor. There has never been a question about Lightman's fairness as a reporter, Regan said, and to think that his integrity would be compromised by a $100 payment is "pretty far-fetched." He added that the same could be said for many of the other reporters who have appeared regularly on the show. But times have changed since Lightman's arrangement was approved, Regan said. In recent years, the Bush administration has become particularly aggressive in promoting its policies through the news media. "I wish we reviewed this a while ago, on our own," he said. Copyright 2006, Hartford Courant (via Dan Say, WORLD OF RADIO 1329, DXLD) The producers of "Issues in the News" and other VOA programs, who pride themselves as journalists, use these payments to attract print reporters who will make these programs more compelling. Indeed, "Issues" is a popular VOA program because of the caliber of the discussion. No one from any U.S. administration ever told VOA to hire this or that journalist to make this or that point in support of U.S. policy. So this story is more complex than just government paying reporters. Posted: 18 Sep 2006 (Kim Andrew Elliott, VOA, kimandrewelliott.com via WORLD OF RADIO 1329, DXLD) ** U S A. Hello, I see that a second suppressed FCC draft report on media ownership issues has been posted on the FCC web site home page. This is also in response to Senator Barbara Boxer. Have a good day. Direct link to Study text: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-267479A1.pdf Direct link to Additional letter to Senator Boxer: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-267475A1.pdf (Nickolaus E. Leggett, Sept 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: SENATOR SAYS MEDIA STUDY SUPPRESSED By JOHN DUNBAR The Associated Press Mon, September 18, 2006; 9:36 PM http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/18/AR2006091800917.html WASHINGTON -- Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin on Monday ordered a formal investigation into why two agency reports on media ownership were never made public. Martin was responding to a request by Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., who earlier in the day made public a second FCC study that she says was shelved by agency officials. Last week, Boxer released a draft of an FCC study that showed locally owned stations air more news than local stations controlled by outside owners. A lawyer with the FCC told The Associated Press last week that FCC managers ordered the destruction of that report; the lawyer is no longer with the agency. "I want to assure you that I too am concerned about what happened to these two draft reports," Martin stated in a letter sent Monday evening to Boxer. "I have asked the inspector general of the FCC to conduct an investigation into what happened to these draft documents and will cooperate fully with him." Martin added that he was not chairman at the time the reports were drafted, and that neither he nor his staff had seen them. Boxer released the second report Monday afternoon. The FCC Media Bureau report analyzes the impact of deregulation in the radio industry. The report states that from March 1996 through March 2003, the number of commercial radio stations on the air rose 5.9 percent while the number of station owners fell 35 percent. The intense concentration of ownership followed a 1996 rewrite of telecommunications law that eliminated a 40-station national ownership cap. The report, apparently prepared in 2003, was never made public, nor have any similar analyses followed, despite the fact that radio industry reports were released in 1998, 2001 and 2002, Boxer said. In a letter to Martin sent earlier Monday, the senator wrote, "This is the second report in a week that I have received that appears to have been shelved by officials within the FCC and I am growing more and more concerned at these developments." Martin joined the commission in July 2001 and became chairman in March 2005. He stated he would order his staff to update the radio study and include it in the record of the commission's ongoing media ownership review. In her letter, Boxer asked that the agency "examine whether it was then or is now the practice of the FCC to suppress facts that are contrary to a desired outcome." In June 2003, the commission voted to loosen rules in virtually all areas of media ownership, including cross-ownership limits on radio and television stations. But commissioners at the time were also concerned about the emergence of radio giant Clear Channel Communications Inc., which now owns about 1,200 stations. It decided to eliminate its existing system of measuring radio markets and use one favored by Arbitron, a private firm best known for measuring ratings. The commission decided not to force broadcasters to divest stations in markets where the new boundaries would push the broadcast companies over the limit. Most of the rules the commission voted on in 2003 were thrown out by an appeals court in Philadelphia. The agency is reconsidering them. Clear Channel is lobbying the FCC to increase the number of stations that can be owned in the nation's largest markets. Also on Monday, the FCC extended the period allowed for public comment on the ownership proceeding by a month, from Sept. 22 to Oct. 23. A public hearing is scheduled for Oct. 3 in Los Angeles. On the Net: FCC: http://www.fcc.gov/ (via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. WVON MOVING UP THE RADIO DIAL September 18, 2006 CBS Chicago http://cbs2chicago.com/business/local_story_261095203.html A Chicago radio powerhouse was preparing to move up the dial on Monday. WVON will move from its longtime spot at 1450-AM over to a new stronger signal at 1690-AM on Monday. For more than 40 years, WVON has been recognized as the voice of African Americans in Chicago. The Rev. Al Sharpton, who has a weekday radio show on the station, was expected to be on hand Monday for a news conference at the studios at 3350 S. Kedzie Av. to celebrate the move. The station is also home to radio personalities Cliff Kelly, Roland Martin, and Santita Jackson. (via Andy Sennitt, Mike Terry, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Updated and expanded: http://cbs2chicago.com/local/local_story_261175903.html (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) The move already happened Sunday as reported in DXLD! These stories don`t go into enough detail. FCC AM Query still shows WRLL as the call on 1690 and WVON only on 1450. It is probably only `WVON` programming that is now heard on 1690, VIA the still legally licensed WRLL, which would only be giving that legal ID on the hour and as inconspicuously as possible. Of couse, FCC may not have caught up yet with the latest developments. On 1450, the share-timer WCEV presumably now has access to the frequency 24 hours, but during the former WVON times may also have to give a legal ID as WVON. Local monitoring, please? (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1329, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The well-publicized change in Chicago radio has occurred. As I write this on 9/18 at 10:00 AM CDT, I am listening to "The All New" WVON Berwyn IL, with an Urban talk format. For just short of three years, this station was WRLL "Real Oldies 1690" with live DJs. The live DJs have been gone since August 15, and the oldies themselves ended at midnight CDT on 9/15. Over the weekend, the station played a long tape loop about the upcoming change, featuring messages from politicians, prominent Chicago African-Americans and station personnel. It continued to legally ID as WRLL during this period. Live programming began this morning, and the change to WVON was complete. WVON itself is a long-established station that was until today on 1450 and shared time with WCEV. It has an LMA with Clear Channel, owner of 1690 Berwyn, leasing the 1690 facilities 24/7 with an option to buy in 5 years. What has happened to the share time status on 1450 is unclear. I have seen from one source that the calls WRLL have moved to 1450, but as of this hour the FCC database still shows WRLL on 1690 and WVON on 1450. 73 (Bill Dvorak, Madison WI, Column Editor, NRC DX News, DDXD-West, NRC AM via DXLD) Bill, So what legal ID do you now hear on the hour on 1690? And 1450, but I suppose you cannot get that in Madison (Glenn to Bill Dvorak, via DXLD) Hi, Glenn! Great to hear from you! I can tell you that 1690 is legally IDing as WVON: heard an "You're listening to WVON Berwyn-Chicago" this morning at 0759 CDT. And you are right -- have probably heard WVON on 1450 less than 10 times over the past decade. 73 (Bill Dvorak, ibid.) Even if the WRLL call letters wind up on 1450, what will the programming consist of? Will the station that shared the frequency with WVON take over and have it full time? I guess that remains to be seen (Lawrence Stoler, NRC-AM via DXLD) ALL TALK, LOTS OF ACTION: WVON-AM/1690 USHERS IN A NEW ERA TODAY WITH 24-HOUR BLACK TALK RADIO FORMAT by Demetrius Patterson, Chicago Defender September 18, 2006 Judging by the flurry of activity inside of WVON's radio station headquarters on Wednesday, it was easy to assess that something major was happening at the Chicago landmark. But instead of a major dignitary or celebrity stopping by to chat with one of the station's talk show hosts, it is the changing status of the station that is the big story. Beginning today, WVON - known for years as the "Voice of the Negro" and the "Voice of the Nation" - transitions itself to the "Talk of Chicago" as a result of the station broadcasting 10,000 watts and 24 hours a day, seven days a week. . . http://www.chicagodefender.com/page/local.cfm?ArticleID=7023 (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) WVON'S 1690 VOICE CLEARER, STRONGER September 18, 2006 BY MIKE THOMAS Staff Reporter When the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was gunned down in Memphis on April 4, 1968, the story goes, his aide Jesse Jackson made two phone calls. The first was to King's wife, Coretta Scott King. The second was to WVON-AM (1450). Throughout its more than 43 years in business, the station -- one of few entirely black-owned and operated stations in the country -- has been a social and political powerhouse in Chicago, particularly within the predominantly African-American community it serves with political and social commentary, news and free-of-charge seminars on house- buying and personal finance. Now it will serve more of that community than ever before. Starting this morning, thanks to a deal struck months ago with Clear Channel Communications, the meager 1,000-watt shared signal that long stymied WVON's presence in the marketplace shoots to 10,000 watts (reverting to 1,000 at sundown). And that's not all. The dial position advances to 1690-AM -- the stronger frequency WVON will be leasing from Clear Channel. Also, round-the-clock programming begins, including syndicated shows from Al Sharpton, Michael Eric Dyson and "The Two Stews." . . http://www.suntimes.com/output/entertainment/cst-ftr-wvon18.html (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) & about concern CC has ulterior motives (gh) I think it's a bad idea to assume the timesharing arrangement in Cicero will be going away. The WVON 1450 license will remain valid, its owners free to sell to whoever they choose. I think you can reasonably assume WCEV will make an offer but you can't assume their offer will be the one that's accepted. 15 hours a day on a graveyard AM sharetimer may be very a very small piece of the revenue pie, but with coverage of a large swath of Chicago it's a REALLY BIG pie! (Doug Smith W9WI Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66 http://www.w9wi.com NRC- AM via DXLD) I have e-mailed WVON, to see if they could shed some light on Midway Broadcasting Company's (the owner of WVON) current/future plans for the 1450 sharetime license. No response so far, but if I do receive something, I will send it along to the list. I can also tell you that the one WVON legal ID I have heard on 1690 makes no mention of 1450, suggesting (but not proving) that they are not simulcasting. 73 (Bill Dvorak, WI, ibid.) ** U S A. WNJC 1360 Vineland, NJ DX Test --- WNJC received some damage to their directional array from Tropical Storm Ernesto. Their misfortune is our gain, as they will be doing some extensive testing of the repairs, and we've arranged for a DX test! Let`s start this season off right with lots of reports for this rare state. WNJC 1360 kHz Vineland, NJ DX Test Date(s): Sunday Morning (Late Saturday Night) October 1st, 2006 Time: Midnight until 4:00 AM Eastern Time [0400-0800 UT] Modes of Operation: Transmitter Testing. 4,000 Watts, Non-Directional Programming: Morse Code ID's, Sweep Tones, Voice ID. Notes: Transmitter testing following repairs to the array after Tropical Storm Ernesto. Station will test until at least 4 AM, and possibly later. Reception reports are desired via e-mail (first choice) and snail mail (only if e-mail is not available) Station would prefer to received recordings of the test (MP3, CD, or cassette). Submit reports to: les @ highnoonfilm.com Please put "WNJC DX Test" in the subject line. All standard mail reports should go to: Les Rayburn High Noon Film 100 Centerview Drive Suite 111 Birmingham, AL 35216 Thanks to John "Duke" Hamann and the staff of WNJC for this test! (Les Rayburn, N1LF, NRC/IRCA Broadcast Test Coordinator, Please call anytime 24/7 if your transmitter, will be off the air for maintenance. (205) 253-4867, Sept 17, WORLD OF RADIO 1329, DX LISTENING DIGEST) They suffered damage? They are still putting in a workable signal into central Delaware last I checked. I really haven't noticed much of a difference (John Cereghin, Smyrna DE, IRCA via DXLD) Good, but NJ is not a rare state. Many of the NYC AM blowtorches transmit from NJ, e.g. WOR 710 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. What`s going on at CBS? By now the ``season`` should have started with new material (well, at least one out of three) on 60 Minutes, but all the segments were repeats Sept 17, including Randy Ooney. Maybe they are paying Katie Couric so much they have to cut back on 60 Mins? BTW, I still haven`t watched a complete CBS ``Evening`` News with K.C. from start to finish, but I notice on my aux monitor that at least toward the end they had her and that feature guy on an elevated living room easy-chair set so they can show her sinewy calves, atop high heels of course, altho from a high angle. Is not wearing pants in her contract? O, Sept 19 she was in pants, I think, but above her ankles! BTW2, a Google search on ``sinewy calves`` first got 286 hits, including DXLD 6-126 in 67th place! Plus another one of ours in 72th. Then if you re-search to include those initially excluded, there is supposedly a total of 312, but these two move way down to 174 and 188 respectively. We`re not in very good company with a lot of the hits apparently leading to nasty erotic sites, many of them male! If you refine the search to ``sinewy calves`` Couric, you only get DXLD 6-126 so it appears we have a unique correlation there. This issue 6-140 will no doubt eventually be added. Also heard Bill Maher say that he was invited to appear on the ``Free Speech`` segment on the CBS show, but was disinvited when he said he wanted to talk about religion. So much for F.S. at CBS. Rush Limbaugh: no problem (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA [non]. Per 6-139, went after RNV`s 2000 UT broadcast via Cuba on 17705, Sunday Sept 17: tune-in at 1958, open carrier already on; 1959:30 IS, 2000:30 sign-on greeting ``usuarios y usuarias`` [is that the latest lingo for comrade?], announcements with nonfunxional Apartado 3979, Caracas 10-10 address. Lengthy program summary for a one-hour show, mentioned ``hoy 16 de septiembre``, only one day off. Initially good signal but started fading and almost inaudible by 2005, and still no transmission schedule given as they were about to start newscast and I gave up. Meanwhile, nothing found on former // 9550, 13680, 15230. At least 17705 is in the clear now that Greece/Delano is long gone (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15250 kHz, Sep 17, 2325 - ..., Venezuela, Radio Nacional, with IDs, experimental transmission, several Venezuelans musics, under side QRM from Family Radio. SINFO-43433. Rx: JRC NRD-545, BWC=4.5 kHz, PBS= - 1 KHz. Ant: Groove Mini-skyware. 73s (Djaci FRanklin Silva, Salvador, Brasil, HCDX via DXLD) As always, via CUBA, tho RNV will never tell you that. Other transmissions monitored by DXLD contributors: 1000 6180, 1100 6060, 2000 17705, 2200 11670, 2300 also on 13680 clashing with China via Canada. 73, (Glenn Hauser, Oklahoma, ibid.) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. 7460, 0602 27/8, ALGERIA, RASD Polisario Front station Radio Nacional de Sahara reactivated, good level opening with anthem & Arabic ident 27/8. Reference to Radio Nacional in an internet address. Qur`an from 0605. Also noted at 2005 26/8 till blocked by RFA at 2027: 7460, 2027, USA? Radio Free Asia strong opening abruptly 26/8 with pop music & English ident as "RFA Channel 2" to cover co-channel Radio Nacional de Sahara. At 2030 "This is Radio Free Asia, the following broadcast is in Korean" (Bryan Clark, Mangawhai Northland, New Zealand, AOR7030+, Alpha Delta Sloper, Sept NZ DX Times via DXLD) This stuff is partly wrong: "National Radio of the Saharan Arab Democratic Republic is back on SW frequency 7460.0 as follows: 0600-0800 in Arabic 1700-2200 in Arabic, co-ch Radio Free Asia in Korean 2030-2200 2200-2300 in Spanish, co-ch Radio Free Asia in Korean 2200-2230 (R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX Sept 5)" in so far as: a) the current sched. actually reads: 0600-0800 (0900 on Fri., but it may be other days too, so it varies a bit, e.g. on 07 Sep, 0729-f/out 0845 on 700 kHz \\ 7460 very strong) b) 1700-1800 Castilian, 1800-0000 Arabic c) it may be co-channel RFAsia in Korean 1700-..., but the only disturbance noted here *1700 till about 1800 is moderate~fair adjacent DRM QRM, so I usually use LSB. Then, much later, RFAsia via Mongolia is indeed noted, if not dominating on some instances, but that's typically closer to 2200 (on 09 Sep 2155-..., 7460 underneath RFAsia). 1550 kHz is sometimes the only active outlet, e.g. today when observed /0600-0800*, very strong; 7460 kHz was off on 17 or 18 Sep, and off too this morning, 19 Sep. Frequency announcement. As I put it on 12 Sep, at 1700 in Castilian they announced 1550 kHz & "74.70" MHz (they mean 7460 kHz) while at 1800 in Arabic they mention 2 wavelengths but 3 frequencies so my guess is that the last one is on the VHF-FM band (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, Sept 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** YEMEN. 6135, R. Yemen, 1430 Sept 2 with news by OM / YL and mention of Paraguay separated by music intervals ?agenda? at 1439, Arab songs with 31432, best in USB. The parallel on 9785 [sic; 9780v] is wiped out by an Amoy program. Nothing heard on 1500 Sept 2nd (Zacharias Liangas, Fourka, Chalkidiki, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE. ZBC, 6045 at 2115 UT Sept 18 with African vocals (Chris Hambly, Victoria, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. For some time I've been hearing a carrier on 928 kHz. Can anyone else hear this or know what it is? Tonight at 2200 UT it is interfering with an unusually good signal from Portugal on 927. Any ideas please. Thanks (Steve Whitt, UK, Sept 18, MWC via DXLD) 927.93 kHz, silent carrier causing a het with R. Renascença 1 kW Évora, & Belgium. Could this be RT Algérienne, Timimoun, testing? Rough DF both on the SW coast & here in Lisbon indicates SEast. It's been on regularly evenings since first observed on 06 Sep. (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, Sept 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I've been watching with Spectrum Lab with Belgium blasting in on 927. Nevertheless it sees a carrier 1012 Hz below 929 kHz i.e. 927.988 intermittently visible from 1850 UT (I was monitoring from 1745). It seems as if the signal is very variable in strength. I first noted this signal in my log on 8th Sept but I sure I heard it before then. 73s (Steve Whitt, UK, MWC via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Maybe I've missed some newsitems. On 19 Sep at 1755 on 6260 noted a station with possibly Hindi language talks and music. To me it sounded IDing like "The Voice". Continued past 1900. What's the transmitter site? Haven't noticed this one earlier. A Christian Voice relay from where? (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 6295, 2044 Aug 28, possibly religious program? Public applauding and music rock style, program in English, 23132, full of lightning. Pirate? 6295, unID, 2036 Sept 2 with a hard rock song, talks by OM in English. Music at 2128. Marginal at 13221 (Zacharias Liangas, Fourka, Chalkidiki, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED [non]. Re 6-139: Radio Lakeland 9510 kHz. see MALAWI ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Re gh`s broadcasting voice: A pal of me got such nice comments like her place would be in the editorial offices and not behind the mic, from the same side who states that they need voices with a boooom. I had the luck to get only well-meant feedback ("not so shy, just a little bit more presence"). But should we leave the airwaves to all the exalted, boooomy voices? By the way, to me it's obvious that WOR is not just the read-out of a script. Good night! (Kai Ludwig, Sept 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) DIGITAL BROADCASTING ++++++++++++++++++++ DRM [see also WESTERN SAHARA] A Korean DRM radio under the Morphy Richards brand was supposed to be available right now from the German T-Online Shop. Well, since today this online shop states that the product will be available in about four weeks. I already hear it: Sets will be out in time for Christmas, blah blah blah (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Sept 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Tried the DRM decoder yesterday and found I was able to decode 5 DRM broadcasts, here on the south coast in the time I was listening. I have put some short .wav files on the website, which are worth a listen if you have not heard DRM before; the direct link is http://www.mwcircle.org/page95.htm Strange to hear RTL Luxembourg in stereo and fade free on 1440 kHz. Regards (Tony Hudson, UK, Sept 18, MWC via DXLD) There are several DRM transmissions on MW [in EUROPE] Here the stronger ones with more than 10 kW: 693 kHz Voice of Russia 1296 kHz BBC WS 1440 kHz RTL 1575 kHz OldieStar Radio 1611 kHz Radio Vatican All DRM frequencies and times here: http://www.drm- dx.de/ (Friedrich Wuelfing Vorname.Nachnahme@t-online.de via alt.radio.digital via Mike Terry, MWDX yg via DXLD) DRM in onde medie 693, 0007 18/09, RAIWAY, DRM TEST, ottimo... E ci mancherebbe altro: è dietro l'angolo!!! Siziano (Milano) 1440, 0000 18/09, RTL Radio, DRM, segnale forte poco più su di OldieStar su 1575 ma più pulito e con audio regolare (solo qualche interruzione) 1485, 0014 SWR DasDing, Germania, DRM, segnale debole ma ogni tanto compare la scritta. No audio SWR è riportata con 420 W. Ci dovrebbe essere anche OldieStar con 1 KW ma non ne vedo traccia. 1575, 2350 17/09, OldieStar Radio, Germania, DRM, segnale forte ma audio solo a tratti, canzoni 1593, 2358 17/09, WDR Langenberg, Germania, DRM, segnale buono, ma solo id scritto sulla finestra di Dream. No audio Rx CiaoRadio + Dream. 73 (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italy, Sept 18, playdx yg via DXLD) ¿RADIO DIGITAL "MIXTA"? [MEXICO] ---- Por: Fernando Mejía Barquera Publicado en la Revista: Etcétera Sección: Días de radio Septiembre 2006 El 10 de julio de este año, el reportero José de Jesús Guadarrama, de El Financiero, publicó una nota según la cual el gobierno mexicano ya habría decidido el estándar técnico que nuestro país adoptará en materia de radio digital. Según la nota, México utilizaría simultáneamente dos sistemas: el europeo, conocido durante mucho tiempo como Eureka 147 y ahora simplemente como DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting), y el estadounidense IBOC (In Band on Channel), conocido también por su denominación comercial: HD (High Definition Radio). El IBOC o HD sería la norma técnica que operaría en el norte del país, en la zona fronteriza con Estados Unidos, mientras que el Eureka o DAB funcionaría en el resto del territorio nacional. DAB y HD Al momento de escribir este artículo, ninguna autoridad o funcionario había confirmado o desmentido la versión del "sistema mixto"; sin embargo, dada la complejidad que ha adquirido en nuestro país el tema de la "migración" de la radio analógica a la digital, no es improbable que en efecto se adoptara. Durante mucho tiempo se tuvo prácticamente la certeza de que por la enorme influencia económica y tecnológica de Estados Unidos sobre México, pero también por razones históricas (nuestro país siempre ha asumido los estándares técnicos de su vecino en materia de radio y televisión), el sistema de radio digital que las autoridades mexicanas adoptarían sería el IBOC o HD. Desde hace varios años, radiodifusores mexicanos cuyas estaciones se localizan en la zona fronteriza con EU, han manifestado que por ningún motivo aceptarán un estándar de radio digital distinto al de aquel país debido a que buena parte de la audiencia y de los anunciantes de esas emisoras se localizan en territorio estadounidense. Esta postura reforzó la idea de que la opción más viable para México sería el IBOC o HD, el cual tiene la particularidad de que las transmisiones digitales se realizan en las tradicionales bandas de AM y FM. En AM el audio es de calidad estereofónica, similar al que tiene actualmente la FM, mientras que en esta banda el sistema IBOC logra un audio con calidad CD. Sin embargo, durante las pruebas realizadas en México en materia de radio digital, el sistema Eureka 147 o DAB ha mostrado tener mayor calidad que el estadounidense. El DAB opera en un rango de frecuencias diferente a los de AM y FM, sus transmisiones se realizan en la llamada "banda L", específicamente en el segmento de 1452 a 1492 megahertz. En todas sus frecuencias es posible transmitir audio con calidad CD y servicios adicionales de tipo interactivo. Concesiones extendidas Si en México se adoptara exclusivamente el sistema IBOC o HD, sólo las estaciones de FM podrían tener audio con calidad CD y acceso a los servicios adicionales que son posibles con la digitalización. Las de AM tendrían que conformarse simplemente con mejorar su audio, pues el ancho de los canales en AM no sería suficiente para incorporar los servicios interactivos. Evidentemente, aquellos radiodifusores que sólo cuentan con estaciones de AM quedarían en desventaja respecto de los de FM. Esta desigualdad podría compensarse si los radiodifusores de AM recibieran frecuencias de FM --- las famosas "combo" --- pero ello ocasionaría un problema de distribución en aquellos lugares del país donde el espectro radiofónico está saturado. Para los radiodifusores de AM el sistema Eureka 147 o DAB tendría la ventaja de que podrían ocupar una frecuencia en el rango de 1452 a 1492 y transmitir desde ella señales digitales, incluidos los servicios adicionales interactivos. De esa manera ya no tendrían necesidad de "migrar" a FM. La base legal para adoptar cualquiera de los sistemas de radio digital, inclusive uno mixto, sin afectar los intereses económicos de los radiodifusores ya existe. La reforma a la Ley Federal de Radio y Televisión realizada en abril de 2006, conocida como "iniciativa paralela" así lo indica. El artículo tercero transitorio de esa iniciativa establece que "para llevar a cabo la introducción de nuevas tecnologías en materia de radiodifusión", la Cofetel, asignará "frecuencias adicionales al concesionario o permisionario, aun en una banda distinta de la originalmente concesionada o permisionada, que implique una mejoría técnica a fin de que la transición tecnológica no afecte la continuidad de los servicios de radiodifusión. La asignación de esta frecuencia operará como una adición al título de concesión o permiso". De esta forma, los actuales operadores seguirán como concesionarios o permisionarios en otra banda de frecuencias (via Roberto Edgar Gómez Morales, dxldyg via DXLD) POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ BPL This all depends on what frequencies are being asked about. BPL's frequency spectrum begins just below 2 MHz so medium wave types should be safe. And, in fact, some carefully monitored BPL deployments are not showing any energy in the MW band. That's to be suspected, not because they care about interfering with MW but rather because they were concerned with interference from powerful MW stations causing havoc with their BPL. SWL and ham types (and anyone else in the spectrum below VHF TV) are taking it on the chin and there have been a handful of pitched battles. So far, the hams are holding their own and earned a recent FCC ruling that a BPL installation be revised to not cause interference to amateur services (Chuck Hutton, Sept 15, IRCA via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ MORE LONG-HAUL TRANS-EQUATORIAL FM DX, CARIBBEAN TO SOUTHERN BRASIL ESCUTAS DE RUBENS FERRAZ PEDROSO, BANDEIRANTES-PR, BRASIL RECEPTOR SONY 7600G [in time order even tho frequencies shown first; presumably UT in local evening; with SINPOs. Unexplained why some frequencies are shown to two decimal places] GUADELOUPE 97.00, 0140 13/09 RFO, Basse-Terre, YL/OM, talks, FF 44333 89.80, 0142 13/09 R. Haute Tension, Basse-Terre, mx caribenha, FF 43343 MARTINIQUE 94.00, 0141 13/09 RFO, Trinité, OM, nxs, FF 34333 UNID 90.1, 0143 13/09 Unid, YL/OM, talks, EE ????? 107.00, 0149 13/09 Unid, OM, nxs, FF 35233 108.00, 0151 13/09 Unid, mx caribenha, FF 44243 108.00, 0218 13/09 Unid, mx caribenha, FF 44333 ANGUILLA 107.5, 0147 13/09 Heartbeat Radio, The Valley, OM, nxs, EE 35333 BARBADOS 90.7, 0220 13/09 BBS, Bridgetown, OM, nxs, EE 25232 (@tividade DX Sept 17 via DXLD) The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled the entire period. Solar wind speed ranged from a high of about 500 km/s midday on 13 September to a low of 310 km/s early on 16 September. The period began with the solar wind speed around 350 km/s while the IMF Bz fluctuated briefly between +8 to -12 nT. The geomagnetic field responded with quiet to unsettled conditions at middle latitudes with quiet to active periods at high latitudes through 11/1500 UTC. Thereafter until 17 September, the IMF Bz settled down, not varying much beyond +/- 5 nT. On 13 September, a prolonged period of southward Bz combined with a brief increase in the solar wind speed caused unsettled to active conditions at high latitudes. On midday on 16 September, a solar sector boundary crossing was observed followed by a slow increase in solar wind speed. By midday on 17 September, the IMF Bz began fluctuating between +/- 8 nT as a coronal hole high speed stream moved into geoeffective position. High latitudes observed unsettled to major storm conditions while middle latitudes were quiet to unsettled. The period ended with a wind speed around 490 km/s and increasing. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 20 SEPTEMBER - 16 OCTOBER Solar activity is expected to be at very low to low levels. No greater than 10 MeV proton events are expected. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at high levels on 20 – 25 September, 02 – 07 October, and again on 15 – 16 October. The geomagnetic field is expected to be mostly quiet to unsettled for the majority of the forecast period. Recurrent coronal hole high speed wind streams are expected to rotate into geoeffective positions on 23 – 24 September, 28 September – 01 October, and again on 14 – 15 October. Unsettled to minor storm periods are possible on 23 – 24 September, 28 September – 02 October and again on 14 – 15 October. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2006 Sep 19 2054 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center # Product description and SEC contact on the Web # http://www.sec.noaa.gov/wwire.html # # 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table # Issued 2006 Sep 19 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2006 Sep 20 75 8 3 2006 Sep 21 75 5 2 2006 Sep 22 75 5 2 2006 Sep 23 75 15 3 2006 Sep 24 75 12 3 2006 Sep 25 75 8 3 2006 Sep 26 75 8 3 2006 Sep 27 75 5 2 2006 Sep 28 75 20 4 2006 Sep 29 75 10 3 2006 Sep 30 75 12 3 2006 Oct 01 80 20 4 2006 Oct 02 80 10 3 2006 Oct 03 80 8 3 2006 Oct 04 80 5 2 2006 Oct 05 80 5 2 2006 Oct 06 80 5 2 2006 Oct 07 80 5 2 2006 Oct 08 80 5 2 2006 Oct 09 80 5 2 2006 Oct 10 80 5 2 2006 Oct 11 80 5 2 2006 Oct 12 80 5 2 2006 Oct 13 80 10 3 2006 Oct 14 80 15 3 2006 Oct 15 75 20 4 2006 Oct 16 75 10 3 (http://www.sec.noaa.gov/radio via WORLD OF RADIO 1329, DXLD) ###