DX LISTENING DIGEST 6-152, October 13, 2006 Incorporating REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING edited by Glenn Hauser, http://www.worldofradio.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits For restrixions and searchable 2006 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn NEXT SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1332: Sat 1300 WOR WRMI 9955 [ex-1230] Sat 1430 WOR WRMI 7385 Sat 1600 WOR WWCR3 12160 Sun 0230 WOR WWCR3 5070 Sun 0630 WOR WWCR1 3215 Sun 0800 WOR WRMI 9955 Sun 1530 WOR WRMI 7385 Mon 0300 WOR WBCQ 9330-CLSB Mon 0415 WOR WBCQ 7415 [time varies] Wed 0930 WOR WWCR1 9985 Latest edition of this schedule version, including AM, FM, satellite and webcasts 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 MUNDO RADIAL Octubre: (corriente) http://www.w4uvh.net/mr0610.ram (descargar) http://www.w4uvh.net/mr0610.rm (guión) http://www.worldofradio.com/mr0610.html (en el aire) domingos 1030-1045 en WRMI 9955 lunes y viernes 2115-2130 en WWCR 15825 ** ALASKA. See MADAGASCAR ** ALBANIA. Winter B-06 schedule of Radio Tirana: Albanian to North America 0000-0130 Daily 7425 SHI 100 kW / 310 deg Albanian to West Europe 0730-0900 Daily 1458 FLA 500 kW / 338 deg 7105 SHI 100 kW / non-dir 0900-1000 Daily 1395 FLA 500 kW / 033 deg 7105 SHI 100 kW / non-dir 1500-1630 Daily 1458 FLA 500 kW / non-dir 2130-2300 Daily 6110 SHI 100 kW / 300 deg English to North America 0245-0300 Tue-Sun 6115 SHI 100 kW / 300 deg 7465 SHI 100 kW / 310 deg 0330-0400 Tue-Sun 6115 SHI 100 kW / 300 deg 7465 SHI 100 kW / 310 deg English to United Kingdom 1945-2000 Mon-Sat 6130 SHI 100 kW / non-dir 7465 SHI 100 kW / 310 deg 2100-2130 Mon-Sat 7530 SHI 100 kW / 300 deg German to Germany 1900-1930 Mon-Sat 1458 FLA 500 kW / 338 deg 2031-2100 Mon-Sat 7465 SHI 100 kW / non-dir Greek to Greece 1645-1700 Mon-Sat 1458 FLA 500 kW / non-dir French to France 2001-2030 Mon-Sat 7465 SHI 100 kW / 310 deg Italian to Italy 2001-2030 Mon-Sat 6035 SHI 100 kW / non-dir Serbian to Serbia 1900-1915 Mon-Sat 5910 SHI 100 kW / non-dir 2115-2130 Mon-Sat 1458 FLA 500 kW / 004 deg Turkish to Turkey 1630-1645 Mon-Sat 1458 FLA 500 kW / non-dir (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Oct 12 via DXLD) ** BELARUS. 18240, BR1, Minsk (3 x 6080) 1350 UT Oct 12 (Tim Bucknall, Congleton, N/W England, Ic-736 + Wellbrooke ala 1530, harmonics yg via DXLD) ** BELGIUM [non]. Additional transmissions for TDP Radio dance music from Oct. 11: [DRM!!!] 0000-0100 Daily 9790 SAC 070 kW / 227 deg to NoAm 1500-1600 Mon-Fri 6015 ISS 035 kW / 060 deg to WeEu (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Oct 12 via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 5968.58v, Radio Nacional Huanuni, Huanuni, 1020-1035, October 12, Spanish Reactivated!!!!!! I listened the station on this local morning, with a information programme conduced by male and local and national news by same speaker, Good Signal. SINPO: 33322 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) It had been bombed off the air October 5; we have to hold over a couple long stories in Spanish about what happened (gh) ** BRAZIL. Re 6-149: Caro Glenn, Sim, Radio Bandeirantes tem um timesignal automático a cada 15 minutos; certamente você a ouviu nos 11925 kHz. 73 (Samuel Cássio, Brasil, Oct 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BULGARIA. Radio Varna. 7600, P/d 4x6 logo QSL card in 4 1/2 months for report including CD of my reception and mint stamps. V/s: Violetta Toncheva - Journalist/Public Relations. Clink on the links below to view this QSL: http://www.geocities.com/jdstephens_99/qsl/varna_front.jpg http://www.geocities.com/jdstephens_99/qsl/varna_back.jpg 73, (J. D. Stephens, Hampton Cove, AL, USA, HCDX via DXLD) Back has a link to info about a book she wrote (in Bulgarian) about Radio Varna (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. CHU, which has been putting in an excellent signal on 14670, and also on 7335, is making this announcement during the first half of odd-numbered minutes: ``From April 1, 2007, CHU needs to stop operating, change frequency, or re-licence. Contact radio.chu @ nrc.gc.ca or mail CHU Canada, K1A 0R6.`` As heard at 2021 UT October 13. And of course the equivalent in French on even-numbered minutes. Someone reported recently that 3330 was missing; it seems all three frequencies are somewhat irregular, but it would be a shame to lose CHU permanently. Here`s a CHU page but I don`t see anything about this threat, nor on the Important Notices link. http://inms-ienm.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/time_services/shortwave_broadcasts_e.html Is this not important? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) This would be a shame. CHU is much more reliable here in Central NJ than WWV for much of the day (Daniel Srebnick, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, What does CHU accomplish? Is a Canadian minute different from a US minute. Is it wider or deeper? Is a Canadian Hertz longer or greener or have longer fur? (Charles A Taylor, WD4INP, Grifton, North Carolina, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Charlie, Assuming you are serious, which is always a stretch, CHU does a lot more than send timesignals. Three convenient frequency markers for calibration; as propagation beacons from the sub-auroral zone; covers some areas better than WWV. See this page for the fancy stuff they send: http://inms-ienm.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/time_services/chu_e.html 73, (Glenn to Charlie, via DXLD) ** CANADA. Re: RCI Anomalies Oct 7 '06 -- Hi, all! I did hear the RCI relay of CRI a day or so later on 6190 during the 0500-0600 hour, and it then went off-air at 0600 UT as expected. What was odd about my initial posting was that the RCI transmitter was on the air with the interval signal only during that following 0600 hour on that day. I figured that if they could spend money & power transmitting during that period, they could do us all some good by putting some RCI programming on instead of just the intrval signal. I'd think that it would get some US West Coast listeners since it was coming in well here in the midwest, better than many "official" US-directed transmissions earlier in the evening from RCI. 73, (Will Martin, MO, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) see FINLAND, re RCI`s domestic future ** CANADA. THE CONCERTO ACCORDING TO MANNY PREMIÈRES ON CBC! http://www.sonybmgmasterworks.com/news/index.html#53207 There's no other concert experience quite like it. A gleaming Steinway Concert Grand, sitting center stage, surrounded by the orchestra. The conductor, on this occasion, is mostly hidden by the upraised piano lid. At the keyboard, the lead actor, the pianist. He unleashes thunderbolts, he weaves delicate filigree. He battles the orchestra. He becomes one with them. Gladiator, lover, magician. Tragic, Comic, tragic-comic. The Piano Concerto is a theatre of sound that has inspired some of the greatest music ever written. The guide is a man who has played the lead role for more than 30 years, pianist Emanuel Ax. A true virtuoso, combining brilliant technique with poetic lyricism, and a probing intellect with a great sense of humour. Join Manny and CBC Radio Two host Eric Friesen for 10 hours of conversation, in studio demonstrations and recordings. You can listen to this 10-part series LIVE on CBC Radio Two every Friday at 1:05 PM beginning on October 13th, or stream it live on the CBC website http://www.cbc.ca/listen/streams/r2_32.html For more information, check out the official "The Concerto According To Manny" website http://www.cbc.ca/pianoconcertos/ (via John Norfolk, dxldyg, via DXLD) Tnx for the tip without which I would have missed it. Seems this kis part of a 3-hour show, a show-within-a-show. First one on the CBC R2 ET stream axually ran from 1705 till about 1809 UT, more than an hour, so length may vary (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. Confirmed that CFVP 6030 Calgary is still on the air, tho you will never (hardly ever?) hear those call letters. Oct 13 at 1223, just as I tuned in, ``Classic Country AM 1060`` ID at fade-up vs residual dentroCuban bubble jamming still running after R. Martí closed, but still a mostly darkness path from Alberta, and at this time no problem from Asia (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I'll try and make a stop at radio station/studio (there on Macleod Trail) and try to get some details on their QSL Policy and any information that I can get from them. I know their radio towers are on Highway 22x (east) on the outskirts of Calgary. If you drive 'really slow' you can actually see the dipole vertical (the short-wave section) near the transmitter building. I remember Joe Talbot tried at one time to arrange a tour (for a number of us) of the transmitter site, but the C.E. was rather evasive in taking anyone out there. Maybe, this time I might have a chance to talk to him, if he is available (Edward Kusalik, Coaldale, ODXA via DXLD) ** CANADA. 720 CHTN update --- From speaking with a fellow ham radio operator, the CRTC has indicated that although CHTN-FM was launched on July 5, 2006 it was still in the testing stage and final approval was not provided by Industry Canada until August 3, 2006. Accordingly, the simulcast of "Ocean 100" on 720 CHTN will cease on or about November 3, 2006 and CHTN-AM will go dark - forever. This allows DXers some extra opportunities to DX 720 CHTN. It also allows the Fall BBMs [ratings] to be complete. It would not surprise me if October 31, 2006 would be the actual last day. Shortly after CHTN-AM goes dark, I will be trying for WGN and of course Greenland as well (Phil VY2PR Rafuse, Oct 12, ABDX via DXLD) ** CHINA. On 5420, Oct 11 at 1240 music and talk in uncertain language, and SSB QRM; 1248 sitar-sounding music, and I think I heard a bit of Russian, but this WOOB hour is scheduled as the CNR-8 minority service in Mongolian from Beijing (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [and non]. Oct 11 at 1302, on 10450 ex-10400, fluttery carrier but no modulation audible, presumably Sound of Hope. At 1304:30 carrier strengthened when jamming transmitter came back on, and must be zero-beat. 1305 starting up Firedrake modulation. At 1328 also a weak signal on 14700, presumably Firedrake ex-14600 as Olle Alm reported yesterday. At 1403 checked 10450 again, when the weak carrier with flutter had a bit of audio, and 1405 Firedrake resumed (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Firedrake jammer on 10450 at 1422 Oct 12 (Tim Bucknall, Congleton, N/W England, Ic-736 + Wellbrooke ala 1530, harmonics yg via DXLD) QRGS USED BY FIREDRAGON JAMMER FROM CHINA Dear Glenn, just a few latest informations re Firedragon [sic] Jammer from PR of China. The latter did only ("uff" [?]) show up on 2 ham radio frequencies during the past days: On 7130 and 7185 kHz. In Germany these QRGs are allocated to the Amateur Radio Service on a secondary basis since 1 September 2006. B4 there was no allocation, only 7000 - 7100 kHz. See my report! 10 October 2006 ******************** 1205 on: 13830, 14700, 17550 On 13830 there was // a program in Chinese language 11 October 2006 ******************** 1138 UT on: 13830, 13970, 14700, 17560, 21660 1745 UT on: 7130, 7185, 9355, 9680, 9905, 10450, 11795, 13715, 13625 12 October 2006 ******************** 0757 UT on: 17330 13 October 2006 ******************** 0750 UT on: 15250, 17350, 21705 On 15250 and 21705 there were // programs in Chinese language. All Music Jammers were strictly parallel without any time shift/ delay. Do they get their music via satellite or are they transmitting from the same transmitter site? Concerning 14050 and 14260 kHz the German telecoms authorities have sent complaints to the Chinese authorities via their HQ in Mainz. Result: No answer yet. *** Your reports and comments are always welcome via German Bandwatch: bandwacht @ darc.de *** Very interesting and useful homepage of the Monitoring System to click on: http://www.iarums-r1.org Fraternally yours in the ("IBB"), the Intruder Busting Business, (Uli DJ9KR, Coordinator of DARC-MS Intruder Watch and Spectrum Control and Vice Coordinator of IARU-MS Region 1, Oct 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA. 6008.5, 0325-0350, 07-10, La Voz de tu Conciencia, Lomalinda, Spanish conversation between two men, hymns, 23333 (Anker Petersen, AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres longwire in Skovlunde, Denmark, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) Wow, much further off frequency than before (gh, DXLD) ** CONGO DR. New 6210.0, 1702-1730* 04&06-10, R. Kahuzi, Bukavu. Swahili/French/Lingala, long talk, pop music, hymn, 24232. QRM 6210 spurious signal in Greek from ERA Thessaloniki 1044 MW, and British pirate on 6220 playing hard rock (Anker Petersen, AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres longwire in Skovlunde, Denmark, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) Wonder how 1044 ends up on 6210? 6 x 1044 = 6264 (gh) ** CROATIA. Croatia on 1134 was HUGE last night between 0330 and 0400 UT (10:30 and 11 pm Central) --- I'm talking nearly even in strength with 1130 and 1140 domestics. Strongest I think I've ever heard them, with Eastern European language (presume Croatian!) news-talk. At 0400 there were two fairly long -- well, I can't call them "pips" because they were nearly a second long each, so I guess I'll call 'em "tones" (1000 Hz tones), followed by a full-second tone, and as clear as can be, an ID of "Hvratski Radio" (huh-VRAHT-skee RAH-dee-oh). All this on a barefoot Sony 7600GR. (I seem to be doing nearly all my DXing these days after going to bed on the Sony portable, while my Yaesu FRG-100/Quantum Loop combo are gathering dust upstairs...) Folks in the Midwest & the Plains states: you won't get reception from Europeans like that EVERY night, but it CAN be done, and on simple equipment, at least for the -4 and -5 kHz splits like 1215, 684, 1134 etc. (The synchronous detector and selectable SSB on the Sony are helpful sometimes, but I didn't need them for the Croatian on 1134. There's only one IF bandwidth, but it's fairly narrow.) Anything less than that and you need narrow IF filters, single-sideband, and perhaps passband tuning to pull up audio. Like last year, this is looking to be a GOOD DX season for TA reception all over North America (Randy Stewart, Springfield MO, Oct 12, IRCA via DXLD) ** CUBA. CRI relay, 13740, open carrier already on at 1354 Oct 11; well, not exactly open, as accompanied by terrific squeal out to 20 kHz either side (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. Cuba Libre --- No, not rum and Coca Cola! But, Cuba before 1959, when Fidel Castro drove out the old dictator Batista, and formed the independent communist state in North America ( "Free Territory of America", as they like to call themselves on Radio Havana Cuba). Sometime after this, the melody "Bayamera" became the national anthem, and you can hear the opening bars in the interval chimes of RHC from time to time. However, those with a longer memory may remember the days when Cuban shortwaves contained several independent, low-powered stations, often heard around the low end of the 31 meter band. Such stations as COJK, Camagüey; COBZ, Radio Salas; COCQ, Red Nacional; and COBC, Radio Progreso; all in Havana. There were several others, in the 25 and 49 meter bands, which were often audible in England from about 2300 UTC onwards. Most of the announcements, naturally enough, were in Spanish, but an occasional ID in English might be heard. Much of the programming was of popular Cuban music and songs, but predominant U.S. commercial interests were very evident, with ads for General Electric and Philco being heard often. Most stations simply relayed their mediumwave outlet. In addition to the above-mentioned stations, there were transmitters in Santiago (COKG) and Santa Clara. Power outputs were low, of the order of 1 to 5 kW. All of this changed when Castro took over, with Radio Havana Cuba being the only station on the air, with high power. The one exclusion is Radio Rebelde, which continues to operate on 5025 kHz for local and regional audiences. In respect to the past, two stations stand out in my memory. COK on 11.6 MHz and COCQ on its various channels, relaying CMQ. This latter one used to sign off with the classic rumba melody "Sibeney", a song title relating to the Siboney Indians, one of the original groups of Cuba and the West Indies. COK on the 25 meter band had a powerful signal and was probably of higher power than the rest. I was never sure of its status, possibly a government operation, with programs in part from the National Sports Institute. Until next time! (Looking Back, Tom Williamson, [illustrated with QSLs from 1940s], Oct ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC [non]. English interview with Rt. Hon. Kim Campbell made me think this was RCI on 15350, tho not // CBC relay on 13655, Oct 11 at 1423, but program ended at 1425 with ID as R. Prague! There is no 1400 English broadcast on their schedule at http://www.radio.cz/en/frequencies#en except the WRMI relay from WRN on 7385, so trying out a new transmission, or relay site? VG reception, so could be Sackville, but no giveaway RCI IS before off at 1429* when the transmission schedule in Czech was rudely interrupted. This is the way they fill out the semi-hour starting at 1427. A small suggestion: would it not be more appropriate and useful to give the schedule in English following an English broadcast? And time it so it all fits in before cutoff. I will ask R. Prague what`s going on here: Hi Radio Prague, I was surprised to hear an English broadcast ending at 1427 UT today Oct 11 on 15350. Good signal, and NOT on your website schedule. In fact no English at 1400 shown except for WRMI 7385. Are you testing a new relay, from where? Or was this direct? Anyhow, it`s working, so I hope you keep it going, good time and frequency for us. And I wonder why you switch to Czech for the transmission schedule announcement during the last 3 minutes of the English broadcasts. And by the way, this was cut off before it finished, at 1429. Regards, Glenn Hauser, Enid, OK, USA (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The new R. Prague English transmission at 1400 on 15350 is via Sackville. Oct 12 I was monitoring 15350 with V. of Turkey music until abrupt 1355*. Then at *1400:35 open carrier came on, no clue from where, but 1401:45 into Claude Jardin/Garden harmonica fill music, which must be coming from RCI master control in Montréal! And we actually got to hear a couple of cuts all the way thru, one with piano accompaniment. But where`s R. Prague? Joined news in progress at 1403:30, and this time, ran past 1427 with something about Moravia instead of transmission schedule in Czech, but this too was cut off abruptly without any good-bye at 1429*. VG reception again. Perhaps on the third day they will get everything coördinated? And DX-Mix News Bulgaria now confirms it is Sackville, 250 kW, 285 degrees out toward the west coast (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: U.K. (non) Some VT Communications changes: Radio Prague 1400-1427 on 15350 SAC 250 kW / 285 deg to NoAm in English, new additional transmission (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Oct 12 via DXLD) 15350, 3 3 3 noise, intelligible English 13 Oct 1420-1422 UT (George Poppin, San Francisco, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello Glenn, It is nice to hear from you after quite a long time now - maybe from the time I was still being watched in the old Czechoslovakia. Good to know too that you like the experimental transmission at 1400 UT from Sackville. It is intended for the Western part of the North American continent. As you surely know it is quite difficult to get a decent signal into that area from Central Europe especially in the local morning hours there. Radio Prague IT colleagues probably skipped over this item but I will see to it that it is placed on the website. Actually you heard that particular SAC relay transmission on the third day after its inception only. And yes, the Czech announcement has been there since the whole half- hour in English from SAC is a cut-out from a whole stream of Radio Prague programmes and it is originally intended as an in-between or interval signal during the antenna switching and tuning breaks. Best greetings, (Oldrich Cip, Radio Prague, Oct 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) R. Prague via Sackville, 15350, Oct 13 started English on time at 1400, unlike previous days. Oldrich Cip tells me this experimental broadcast started October 9. 1427 cut to transmission sked in Czech (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CZECH REPUBLIC [non]. Hello Glenn, Starting Friday, Radio Prague will transmit its German and English programmes twice a week in DRM to Europe. They will use the Rampisham facility in the UK with 35 kW power (95 degree azim., towards central Europe). Here is the schedule: Friday 1330-1400 German 9505 kHz Friday 1400-1430 English 9505 kHz Saturday 1300-1330 German 9505 kHz Saturday 1330-1400 English 9505 kHz This was announced on the website of the German service of Radio Prague http://www.radio.cz/de/artikel/84074 and can already be found on the DRM schedule at http://www.drm.org Regards, (Stephane Veron (France), Oct 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DENMARK. See INDONESIA, strangely enough ** EGYPT. The FM band in Cairo is almost back to normal after fixing the transmitter problems in Mokatam, the only non-working network in the cultural program on 88.7 MHz. There was an ad in Al-ahram news paper a few days ago published by the semi-government radio stations Nougoom FM and Nile FM apologizing to the listeners about the technical problem taking place in the transmitter in Mokatam which caused the silence of the stations and that Nougoom FM will be temporarily on 98.8 MHz. now it's confirmed that the transmitter for both radio stations is located on top of Mokatam mountain in Cairo. All the best, guys (Tarek Zeidan, Cairo, Egypt, Oct 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FINLAND [and non]. In your Oct 10 issue someone referred to Finland and YLE in connection with the RCI domestic availability. In Finland there was never much of an administrative frontier between external and domestic broadcasting. Thus comparison with the situation of RCI is not applicable. Since 1980 external radio produced domestic newscasts in English. In 2002 a new unit within the TV news took over the role as the English unit of Radio Finland was phased out. The same arrangement applied to German, closed in 2002. In the local vernaculars, Finnish and Swedish, Radio Finland launched Special Finnish (slow speed and simplified grammer) in 1992. That has become an immigrant service available on FM as well. (In fact, you hear that on busses in Helsinki as well, Helsinki busdrivers (of foreign extraction) seem to listen to that.) Of course, the FM station Capital FM (that still carries CBC in Finland) was an operation by Radio Finland. In 2004 the name changed into YLE Mondo (Juhani Niinistö (head of international radio at YLE until 2005), Oct 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE [non]. After discovering RFI in English at 1400 on 6120 the day before, I tuned in earlier Oct 11, at 1356: a mix of at least two stations, one of which was surely Singapore`s Indonesian service. After 4-pip timesignal at 1400, RFI emerged in the clear, again with English, presumably via Japan, instead of previously scheduled Vietnamese. RFI, 6120 in English presumably via Yamata, Japan, rereconfirmed Oct 12 at 1401 check, poor signal today vs noise level (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6120, 4 3 3 noise, intelligible English 13 Oct 1420-1422 UT (George Poppin, San Francisco, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GABON. ANO harmonic, 19160, very poor Oct 11 at 1432 and could not even be sure it was // 17630. ANO second harmonic on 19160 was coming in well again Oct 13 from 2011 past 2103; average peaks 15 over S9 with slight fading, and more fading as the hour went on. Undermodulated but easily understandable in French, music, and // 9580. Reception was at least as good as the first time I caught it, also after 2000 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) More about this mixed in with GREECE and LIBYA [non] ** GREECE. Hi all, Today, Oct. 13th, at 1224 UT I heard RS Makedonias from Greece on 19870 kHz (2 x 9935) with poor signal strength. Also Africa No. 1 on 19160 kHz (2 x 9580) was audible at the same time. The 10 m ham band and the 11 m CB band were open at the same time. Sporadic E propagation? 73's (Juergen Lohuis, Luenen, Germany, harmonics yg via DXLD) ** GREECE. MUF actually worse now than earlier this year as I'm not even Hearing Olympia (maritime) Radio on 22746, Oct 12 (Tim Bucknall, Congleton, N/W England, Ic-736 + Wellbrooke ala 1530, harmonics yg via DXLD) ** GUAM. On 11880, Oct 11 at 1351 a ballad with Karaoke-style echo; at first I thought it was in Thai, but announcement by YL at 1357:30 seemed to be in Vietnamese, off at 1359* sharp. EiBi, however, shows this as KSDA in Khmer, on Wednesdays and Sundays only (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUATEMALA. TGLT 4780 and TGMI 4800 were audible as late as 1225 Oct 11 with Guatemalan music (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. Maurits van Driessche had AIR on 15040 at 1530, no language mentioned, as well as R. Farda. The latter seems unlikely unless a mixing product, and I have not monitored at that hour, but I also heard AIR on 15040, Oct 11 at 1313 playing some music with country and then jazzy elements; SSB QRM from 15035 Canadian forces, Trenton with usual weather broadcasts. At 1314:30 an ``All India Radio`` ID, and closing in Burmese; after a pause, from 1315 a YL in another language, Persian? Mentioned Afghanistan, so it is Dari as scheduled, but not on this frequency. Cut off abruptly at 1318:45; the Dari was just a runover. 15040 is not in the usual references at all, but AIR is definitely there at least for the Burmese broadcast. Checking Jose Jacob`s A06 schedules at http://www.qsl.net/vu2jos/es/language.htm We find: Burmese 1215-1315 11620(Kh) 11710(Ki) Myanmar and Dari: 1315-1415 7255(A) 7410(Kh) 9910(A) and no mention of 15040 However, at http://www.qsl.net/vu2jos/sw/freq.htm updated 6 Sept we do find: 15040 100 Delhi (Kingsway) 1215-1315 Burmese (Myanmar) but nothing else on that frequency. During all this time, BTW, AIR was running along with separate programming next door on 15050 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. Desde hace muchos días no se capta nada en 15150, emisiones de La Voz de Indonesia; ahora tampoco se puede acceder a la web de dicha emisora: http://www.rri-online.com y el servicio en español: http://www.rri-online.com/modules.php?name=SLN_Spanish (José Miguel Romero, Spain, Oct 13, dxldyg via DXLD) VOI ES gone for good? Surely not (gh, DXLD) ** INDONESIA. ``DENMARK`S KING AND PIGS`` COMPETITION ON RADIO RADIKAL FM KEDIRI --- Kartun Tandingan dari Kediri http://www.republika.co.id/koran_detail.asp?id?=267855&kat_id=3 KEDIRI -- Reaksi atas kembali munculnya kartun-kartun penghinaan terhadap Nabi mulai bermunculan. Radio Radikal FM Kediri, Jawa Timur, menggelar lomba lukis wajah raja Denmark bersanding seekor babi. Tajuk lomba itu adalah Denmark`s King and Pigs. Panitia lomba, Imam Mubarok, mengatakan, lomba yang diadakan radio komunitas itu terbuka untuk umum, tanpa biaya sepeserpun. Nama Radikal yang disandang radio ini merupakan akronim dari Radio Pendidikan Keluarga. Radio yang bermarkas di Kompleks Masjid Baiturrahman, Jl Mayor Bismo, Kota Kediri, ini membuka pendaftaran hingga 5 November. ''Kami menyediakan hadiah uang total Rp 5 juta dan hasil karyanya akan dikirimkan ke Kerajaan Denmark,'' kata Imam. Pengasuh Pondok Pesantren Lirboyo, KH Idris Marzuki, mendukung pelaksanaan lomba itu. ''Dengan cara ini bangsa kita merasa lebih terhormat daripada merespon aksi mereka dengan tindakan anarkis,'' katanya, kemarin. This information and some additional comment appeared in a South African newspaper: LISTENERS TO SKETCH 'DANISH KING AND PIGS' October 11 2006 at 12:29PM An Indonesian radio station is organising a contest to see who can draw the best sketch of the king of Denmark standing with pigs in response to the posting of a video degrading the Prophet Mohammed on the Internet, a local report said on Wednesday. The contest, titled "Denmark's King and Pigs," offers 5-million rupiah (548 dollars) in prize money to the winner, said Imam Mubarok of Radikal radio station in Kediri, East Java. "We will send the winning drawing to the Danish kingdom," he told Republika, a Muslim-oriented daily newspaper. It was unknown whether the contest's subject is the late Frederik IX, who died in 1972. Denmark's current reigning monarch is his daughter, Queen Margrethe II. . . [more] http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=126&art_id=qw116056062192B235 (via Henrik Klemetz, Luleå, Sweden, Oct 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Guess it makes them feel better, but also look stupid. Probably safe, too. Doubt the deceased king or current queen will try to get them killed in retaliation. Bring on the pigs! (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. UKRAINE(non), Updated A-06 schedule of Radio Zamaneh in Persian: 1700-2100 on 6245 SMF 300 kW / 134 deg to WeAs, from Sep. 11 0200-0400 on 7590 SMF 300 kW / 134 deg to WeAs, from Oct. 15 (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Oct 12 via DXLD) ** JORDAN. 1311 UT, R. Jordan, 11690. Pop music, continuous. Received some ute interference, got rid of that using synch USB, but even though signal was still quite noisy. So much so at 1320, tuned away as noise was too much and I could not get rid of it. SINPO 32232 (Ray Kelly, Nova Scotia, Canada, Oct 13, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH. A bit of Korean music, 1233 Oct 11, fair signal, from KCBS on 2850 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. Shiokaze, 9485 via Taiwan, Wed Oct 11 at 1307 was in English telling an abduction story, with music; fair. Could not hear it on Friday 13th (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) MINISTRY MIGHT ORDER NHK TO BROADCAST NORTH KOREA ABDUCTION PROGRAM 10/13/2006 --- The Asahi Shimbun http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200610130269.html In a rare and controversial move, the government is considering ordering Japan Broadcasting Corp. (NHK) to broadcast programs about the North Korean abduction issue on its international shortwave radio service. "(The government) can make NHK broadcast state-ordered programs," Yoshihide Suga, the internal affairs and communications minister, told reporters Friday. "As the new Cabinet has been installed, there is no mistake in saying that the abduction issue has become a top priority of the government." A citizens group since last year has been broadcasting a shortwave radio program to North Korea in the hopes that Japanese believed to have been abducted there can receive messages from their relatives. But the program has been disrupted by North Korean jamming. Under the current system based on the Broadcast Law, the communications minister has the authority to designate specific subject matter for international broadcasts. The international radio service run by NHK is the only service subject to such a ministerial order because part of the production funds for international programs are provided by the government. But it is unusual for the minister to ask the public broadcaster to deal with a specific subject. In fact, the ministry has refrained from giving orders to NHK concerning its programming contents because the government wants to respect NHK's independence. The government has only asked the public broadcaster to provide programs of public interest, such as "current events," "the government's important policies," and "the government's view on international affairs." That stance has allowed NHK to have more discretionary powers over its programs. But Suga, citing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's special office to deal with the abduction issue, indicated he would give specific orders to NHK for the program. The Investigation Commission on Missing Japanese Probably Related to North Korea has been airing a shortwave radio program called "Shiokaze" (sea breeze) to North Korea. The group commissioned a British broadcasting distribution company to air the program from a country close to North Korea. However, North Korea has jammed the signals, Abe said in May when he was chief Cabinet secretary. "If 'Shiokaze' says it wants a shortwave radio program (in a new frequency for international broadcasts), we'd like to formally apply to the International Telecommunication Union," Suga said. "We want to think positively to have NHK facilities used." Takaaki Hattori, a professor of broadcasting systems at Rikkyo University, said the government should be careful not to overstep the boundaries. "The government's involvement in the contents of broadcasting programs will go against the principles of Article 1 of the Broadcast Law, which stipulates political neutrality and freedom of expression," Hattori said. "The government should be careful when it comes to expanding the scope of state-ordered programs from the standpoint that NHK is basically operated on subscription fees."(IHT/Asahi: October 13,2006) (via NDXC-HQ, controler: S. Hasegawa, DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [non]. V. of Mesopotamia is starting to be heard well again, 11530 via Moldova with Kurdish talk about democracy, Oct 11 at 1437; also with music earlier in the hour (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KURDISTAN [non non] New 4890.0, *0230-0240, Clandestine, 07-10, Voice of Iranian Kurdistan, via Al-Sulaymaniyah, Iraq, Kurdish ID: "Aira dangi Kurdistani Irana", Kurdish songs, talk. Back on winters chedule! The Iranian jammers were active on 4860/4870 (in vain) and // 3970. 25333 (Anker Petersen, AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres longwire in Skovlunde, Denmark, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** LIBYA [and non]. Chequeando a Sawt Al-amal --- Saludos cordiales. 7 Octubre --- Empiezo a chequear a Sawt Al-amal a las 12:44 y la encuentro en 17620 con sintonía y cuña de ID, excelente señal, SINPO 44554. A las 1254 cambia a 17615 manteniendo excelente señal, SINPO 44544 y a las 1300 vuelve a cambiar a 17620; me mantengo a la escucha hasta las 1348, emisión libre de interferencias con excelente señal, SINPO 45544. 8 Octubre --- En el día de hoy encuentro a Sawt Al-amal a las 1201 en la frecuencia de 17670 con SINPO 55444, a las 1255 la chequeo nuevamente encontrándola en 17660 y las 1329 estaba en la frecuencia de 17665. 10 Octubre --- A las 1205 encuentro a Sawt Al-amal en 17630 con canto del Cor`án, ID y sintonía con un SINPO 45353 a las 1254 se aprecia una débil señal tipo burbuja que apenas consigue interferirla. A las 1300 cambia a 17640 con fuerte confrontación con la BBC en inglés y se mantiene hasta las 1320 que cambia a 17645. 11 Octubre --- A las 1200 otra vez Sawt Al-amal en 17630 hasta las 1228, fuerte confrontación con África Nº 1; de vez en cuando se escucha a una y otra emisora. A las 1254 se aprecia una fuerte señal de sirena en esta frecuencia y a las 1257 Sawt Al-amal cambia a 17620, manteniéndose en esa frecuencia hasta las 1304 que regresa a 17630. Aún presente a las 1315 en ésa frecuncia (José Miguel Romero, Burjasot (Valencia), España, SANGEAN ATS 909, Antena Radio Master A-108, dxldyg via DXLD) Afternoon visitor check Oct 11 at 1325 found ANO 17630 suffering co- channel QRM with SAH; 17670 had at least two signals with SAH, one of them in Arabic (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) There is a broadcast in French currently audible on 19160 at 1340 on Oct. 13, but the signal is too weak to catch an ID. Africa #1 is not operating on 17630 - instead there are non-stop Afro-Pops on 17625 mixing with another unid. station. If they are trying to jam Amal this is much higher in freqcy on 17680 - very loud and in the clear! (Noel R. Green (NW England), dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I know I heard an ANO ID on 17630 as I was tuning around before or after 1400 Oct 13, but did not log it and not sure of the time (gh, OK, DXLD) Las emisiones de La Voz de África que acompañaban a Sawt Al-amal con el fin de interferirla parecen haber retornado; hoy 13 de Octubre a las 1245 se observa emitiendo en árabe, identificándose a las 1300 en paralelo por 17610, 17625, 17670 y 17675. A Sawt Al-amal se la escuchaba con dificultad en 17675 y a las 1258 a cambiado a 17685; antes a las 1254 había cesado La Voz de África en 17670 y posteriormente se la escuchaba en 17685 intentando interferir a Sawt Al-amal. A las 1315 cambia a 17680. Saludos Noel, desde Valencia si se capta a África Nº1 en 17630, pero desde que irrumpió en 17625 esta emisión de música afro-pop es más difícil captarla, pero sí está emitiendo. En el día de hoy parece que han retornado todas las emisiones que intentan interferir a Sawt Al- amal, la musical y las emisiones de La Voz de África. Cuando son las 1430 en 17625 con un SINPO 44444. A las 1530 cesó emisión musical afro-pop en 17625, ahora ANO en 17630 se la escucha sin dificultad, en 9580 imposible, Radio Medi 1 en 9575 saturando y no permite escuchar nada en 9580, tampoco se escucha nada en 19160, sólo ruido. 73 (José Miguel Romero, Spain, Oct 13, dxldyg via DXLD) ** MADAGASCAR [and non]. CHRISTIAN BROADCASTER DALE R. WARD DEAD AT 62 Wednesday, 10/11/06 Tennessean http://www.gallatinnewsexaminer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061011/COUNTY09/61011025 FRANKLIN -- Dale R. Ward, who was leading a project to create an Arabic-language transmitter in Madagascar for World Christian Broadcasting, died on Tuesday, October 10, 2006. Ward was executive producer for the international Christian broadcasting company headquartered in Cool Springs. "I consider Dale not only a powerful force in our broadcasting efforts, but also a dear friend," said Charles Caudill, president of World Christian Broadcasting, in announcing Ward's death. "Dale and I have traveled together, worked and prayed together and planned great things for our company together. He has been a vital and central part of our progress toward spreading the Gospel over our short wave station KNLS and from Madagascar. He will be sorely missed on both a professional and a personal level." Since joining World Christian Broadcasting, in 1990, Ward has been responsible for overseeing the production output of all programming in three languages, English, Russian and Mandarin Chinese. The Arabic transmitter in Madagascar is under construction, according to the announcement from Caudill. Ward had a long career as a broadcaster in both secular and religious settings, an educator, and a pulpit minister. Dale Ward is survived by his wife Pat, a daughter Stephani Gail Ward, two sons, Dr. Stephen Dale and Thomas Eldred Ward and three grandchildren, Joshua, Karissa and Christopher Ward. His family has said that donations in memory of Dale may be made to The Dale Ward- Madagascar Fund, and sent to World Christian Broadcasting Corp., 605 Bradley Court, Franklin, TN 37067 (via Kim Elliott, DXLD) OBIT ** MALAYSIA. 6049.65, Asyik FM (RTM), Oct 13, 1347-1400 pop music, ToH 2 pips, choral anthem, into Suara Islam (Voice of Islam) program, reciting from the Qur`an, BoH 1 pip, many IDs for ``Suara Islam`` and several for ``Suara Islam FM``, pop and Middle Eastern music, Islamic religious service (from mosque?) and talk about Islam, ads, choral anthem again before 1700:17*, poor-fair (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, RX340, with T2FD antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MAURITANIA. 4845.0, 0255-0345, 11-10, R Mauritanie, Nouakchott, Arabic talk and Qur'an reading - All night broadcast during Ramadan, 45444 (Anker Petersen, AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres longwire in Skovlunde, Denmark, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** MEXICO. MÉXICO. Radio Insurgente ha colocado un nuevo programa en su web http://www.radioinsurgente.org/index.php?name=archivo con fecha del 6 de octubre. Lo anuncian como último programa emitido en onda corta; el anterior es del 28 de Abril. ¿Quizás regresó a la Onda Corta? (José Miguel Romero, Burjasot (Valencia) España, Oct 13, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Time to start checking around 1950-2100 UT Friday on 6000v (gh, ibid.) ** MEXICO. In light of suggested renewed SW activity of clandestine R. Insurgente, I dutifully looked for it Friday Oct 13 several times between 2005 and 2100 on 6000, and no sign of it, especially with my FRG-7 birdie on even MHz. For comparison, XEOI 6010 DF was not audible either, unlike around sunrise; traces of something on 6010 beginning to show by 2058 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. R. Mil, 6010, G signal much better than usual, at 1222 Oct 13 with newstalk discussion, commercials and promos. A lite het from something. I haven`t tried to measure it, but a recent report put XEOI on exactly 6010.0. XEXQ, 6045, 1225 Oct 13, poor compared to R. Mil, but piercing soprano certainly audible now and still several minutes later. Also: audible as late as 1402 Oct 11, with usual SAH (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 1700, XEPE, Mexico, Tecate, BCN, received full detail e mail QSL from Bill Lipis-CE of XEPRS/XEPE in 2 days for e mail report. XE QSL #29, MW QSL #2934. I am pleased with this as XE QSLs are not easy to get these days (Patrick Martin, OR, NRC-AM via DXLD) Patrick, By ``full detail`` did he by any chance indicate correct transmitter site with coördinates, day and night power actually in use, directionality, and correct callsign? Or did you ask about that? 73, (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) ** MEXICO. 690, XETRA, Tijuana (32 26'N 117 05'W), OCT 6, 1330-1430 - Here is the ID situation as observed in Hawaii, where the signal is very loud. ID on the hour is given in Mexican-accented English, "This is XERA (four letters) radio from Rosarito, Baja California, Mexico." Then in Spanish, "Esta es XETRA (five letters) seis noventa." During the show, many brief, informal IDs are given as "W Radio, en L.A., W Radio, W Radio 690 AM," etc. but the alleged callsign XEWR has not been heard here. I believe the long-established call XETRA is still the legal one. All commercials noted were directed to Hispanics in the U.S., e.g. for money transfers to Mexico. [Wood-HI] 1160, XEQIN, San Quintín BCN (30 34'N 115 57'W), OCT 6, 1350 - Report on folk festival, songs and dances. 1354, "XEQIN, faltan 6 minutos para las 7 de la mañana." 1355, "El pueblo... en el décimo segundo aniversario de la radio XEQIN invita al auditorio a participar en la celebración..." 1356 time check again, "Cuatro fiestas en cada mes. Flores, danzas..." Very good. This is an interesting, folksy, apparently non-commercial station. No Indian languages heard yet, but some listeners interviewed have Indian accents (Richard E. Wood, Keaau, BIHI, NRC IDXD via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. FRENCH GUIANA, DRM test of RNW in English to NoAm from Oct. 9 1600-1730 Mon-Fri 17810 GUF 150 kW / 323 deg, same time & frequency for B-06! (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Oct 12 via DXLD) ** NEWFOUNDLAND. QSL LETTER FROM GANDER RADIO 6604, GANDER RADIO. QSL letter in 8 months. Report send with 1 US$ to Gander International Flight Service Station, PO BOX 328, Gander NL, Canada A1V 1W7. The picture is available on http://swli05639fr.blogspot. com/ 73's (Francesco Cecconi, Italy, bclnews.it via DXLD) No details, no letterhead (gh) ** NEW ZEALAND [and non]. As predicted, RNZI is wiped out by Brother Scare`s Guiana French test on 13730, Oct 13 at 2004. In fact, could barely detect some audio under BS show, the latter mostly off-key singing, and that was running 8 seconds behind BS on WWRB 9385. VOA 13725 carrier was on several minutes before 2100, and sign-on at 2059 preceding Creole wiped out both 13730 stations, but as far as I could tell, BS went off at 2100. I can hear it now: RNZI won`t care because this is far outside their official target area (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re HCDX 13 Oct of Overcomer test on 13730. 13th, 1958 carrier on, then religious music. By 2030 signal had faded out and useless. Radio NZ on this channel, and good signal in South Is NZ, but this carrier and music covered them, by 2030 RNZI good and readable again (Ron Killick, Christchurch, NZ, HCDX via DXLD) See also SOUTH CAROLINA [non] ** OKLAHOMA. Since previous report about local Enid MW harmonics and mixing products, I have been able to hear 4170 = 3 x 1390 KCRC; and also around 2009 UT Oct 13 when no distant signals were coming thru yet on 49m, KCRC audio (only) on 6090. The math on this one works out to 2 x 960 = (1920) + 3 x 1390 (4170) = 6090. It`s just barely audible, but identifiable by // to 1390. Competition here, but far too little, for Defunct Gene Scott (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA [and non]. Another phantom radio station? Northwestern Oklahoma State University, Alva has had a `radio` station for some time, apparently on local cable, but also allegedly online, per display ad in the 9/28 issue of Northwestern News which says: listen live: http://www.nwosu.edu/knsu Cable Channel 7 Feel the Music Go to the website, and you find a dead link to the audio, also dead links to the KNSU homepage and even the MassComm university department! At 0320 UT October 11 there had been only 2600 visitors to the page, since when? The last three of which were me, plus two refreshes. I e-mailed them asking if KNSU really exists. No reply, but no bounce either, which is sort of a good sign. Anyway, the REAL KNSU is this station in Louisiana, per FCC FM Query: KNSU 218 A FM 91.5 MHz LIC THIBODAUX LA US BMLED-19970922KA - 48825 0.25 kW 45. m NICHOLLS STATE UNIVERSITY But its web links also seem dead. Was it a Katrina casualty? Why a non-broadcast station should need real-looking west-of-the- Mississippi call letters is beyond me. Guess they can`t think outside the box. They could make up any combination of letters and/or numbers, preferably something unique. How about KNWOSU, or even NWOSU? --- that would look like a US call (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. KSBI-52`s commitment to a local news hour at 5:30 pm, which just started this Monday, has been short-lived. Checked Friday evening at that time Oct 13, instead we are getting what looks like a Happy Days vintage rerun. Checking printed and online schedules, including the Titan TV one linked from KSBI`s webpage itself, we still see News scheduled for 5:30. However, I gather from promotion the night before that because of a stupid HSFB game Friday night at 7, KSBI would be doing a pre-game show before that, apparently combined with local news a bit later than usual? With these bozos, sports trumps all other programming --- or maybe they don`t have enough staff and equipment to do a studio show immediately followed by a remote. Yes, started up the pre-game-cum-news half an hour late and a semihour short. Yet another station which publishes schedules and then doesn`t follow them. Then at 6:30 back to regular scheduled program Mad About You (Glenn Hauser, Enid, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN. 4790.0, 2315-2345, 05-10, R Pakistan, Rewat, Islamabad Urdu, a cappella songs, 2330 talk, 2335 Muslim singing - Ramadan early programme, 44444 (Anker Petersen, AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres longwire in Skovlunde, Denmark, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** PHILIPPINES. VOA, English, 6160, Oct 11 at 1254 finishing report or commentary by André de Nesnera, with echo. Could well be both long and short paths (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** POLAND [non]. Re 6-151: FRANCE/MONACO [POLAND non] Radio Polonia B06 entries in German via Monte Carlo site, English via Issoudun. German for the first time via Monte Carlo site in France 7270 1630- 1700 100 kW 10 degrees. English: 5975 1300-1400 NAU 100 kW 359 degr 9525 1300-1400 WER 100 kW 300 degr 6015 1800-1900 WER 250 kW 300 degr and DTK via Issoudun France site 7130 1800-1900 ISS 250 kW 025 degr (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX Oct 10, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Achtung! Neue Frequenzen ab 29.Oktober 2006 ! Auf Deutsch. Sendezeiten und Frequenzen 29. Oktober 2006 - 24. Maerz 2007: (Alle Zeiten in UTC) 0700-0729 Satellite 1230-1259 5975 5965 kHz; Satellite 1630-1659 7270-MonteCarlo 6050 kHz 2030-2059 9640-GUF 11940-GUF kHz (R Polonia website, via wwdxc BC-DX Oct 11) German service ! DTK entries in B06 season: 5965 1230-1300 WER 100 kW 000 degr 5975 1230-1300 WER 100 kW 040 degr 6050 1630-1730 WER 100 kw 055 degr via Monte Carlo site in France 7270 1630-1700 100 kW 10 degr. via Montsinery-GUF towards NE EUR 9640 2030-2100 GUF 250 kW 035 degr 11940 2030-2100 GUF 250 kW 040 degr (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX Oct 10, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Quite interesting. German-language programming via Montsinéry for the very first time, and if I did not miss something it is a novelty, too, that this site will be used for transmissions to Europe in general. Wertachtal 100 kW? Presumably transferred Jülich transmitters, unless these are in fact 125 kW, just selled as 100. But this doesn't appear to be the case, since 125 kW (that's the lowest possible power level for unmodified 500 kW Telefunken transmitters) are shown as such for one of the Nauen outlets. It appears that Radio Polonia will not change the times for its broadcasts, so the remainder of the schedule (besides English and German) will be: 5935 2000-2030 WER 100 kW 60/90 - Russian 5955 1930-2000 JUL 100 kW 085 - Ukrainian 5965 1130-1200 WER 100 kW 300 - Polish 6000 1530-1600 WER 100 kW 075 - Russian 6000 1930-2000 JUL 100 kW 085 - Ukrainian 6035 1430-1530 WER 100 kW 060 - Belarusian 6050 1600-1630 NAU 125 kW 240 - Esperanto 6050 2200-2300 WER 250 kW 045 - Polish 6060 1730-1800 WER 100 kW 055 - Belarusian 6095 1900-1930 WER 250 kW 045 - Russian 6095 1930-2000 WER 100 kW 075 - Ukrainian 6105 2000-2030 WER 100 kW 60/90 - Russian 7180 1430-1530 WER 100 kW 060 - Belarusian 7180 1530-1600 WER 100 kW 045 - Russian 7275 1400-1430 WER 100 kW 060 - Russian 7285 1130-1200 NAU 100 kW 100 - Polish 7285 1600-1630 WER 100 kW 045 - Esperanto 7290 1900-1930 NAU 100 kW 230 - Esperanto 9660 2200-2300 GUF 250 kW 040 - Polish 13820 1200-1230 WER 100 kW 090 - Russian 15520 1200-1230 WER 100 kW 060 - Russian It should be also noted that Polskie Radio did not simply lease airtime free-hand; instead they put the shortwave transmissions on tender, with T-Systems apparently being the winner (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Oct 11, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Thanks to Andreas Volk forwarded the R Polonia B06 schedule. (wb) B06 Radio Polonia, via DTK Germany, France&MonteCarlo, French Guiana. Polish 5965 1130-1200 27 WER 100 300 D 7285 1130-1200 28NE,29W NAU 100 100 D Russian 13820 1200-1230 29S WER 100 90 D 15520 1200-1230 29 WER 100 60 D German 5965 1230-1300 28NE WER 100 ND D 5975 1230-1300 28NE WER 100 40 D English 5975 1300-1400 18 NAU 100 359 D 9525 1300-1400 27 WER 100 300 D Russian 7275 1400-1430 29 WER 100 60 D 11675 1400-1430 30N,31W WER 250 60 D Belarus. 6035 1430-1530 28NE,29W WER 100 60 D 7180 1430-1530 28NE,29W WER 100 60 D Ukrainian 6000 1530-1600 29S WER 100 75 D Russian 7180 1530-1600 29N WER 100 45 D Esperanto 6050 1600-1630 27S NAU 125 240 D 7285 1600-1630 18,19 WER 100 45 D Polish 6050 1630-1730 28NE,29W WER 100 55 D German 7270 1630-1700 28NW MC 100 10 MCO Belarus. 6060 1730-1800 28NE,29W WER 100 55 D English 6015 1800-1900 27 WER 250 300 D 7130 1800-1900 18 ISS 250 25 F Russian 6095 1900-1930 29N WER 250 45 D Esperanto 7290 1900-1930 37N NAU 100 230 D Ukrainian 6000 1930-2000 29S JUL 100 85 D 6095 1930-2000 29S WER 100 75 D Russian 5935 2000-2030 29S WER 125 90 D 5935 2000-2030 29N WER 100 60 D (2 x txs on 5935 !) German 9640 2030-2100 28NE GUF 250 35 F 11940 2030-2100 28NE GUF 250 40 F Polish 6050 2200-2300 28NE,29W WER 250 45 D 9660 2200-2300 27S GUF 250 40 F (via ADDX, Andreas Volk-D, wwdxc BC-DX Oct 11, dxldyg via DXLD) So they are even going to use French Guiana, but to serve Europe, NOT the western hemisphere. As for English, 300 degrees from Wertachtal at 13-14 should make it on poorly to North America in winter, altho mainly for UK. Certainly better than the same frequency direct from Poland has been. However, will collide with Voice of Indonesia if it ever comes back! Time to lobby R. Polonia for some services relayed especially to North America during our morning or evening (Glenn Hauser, Oct 11, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Slawek, Details about your upcoming relays are emerging, and I am very disappointed that there is not anything for the western hemisphere, even when you are using French Guiana. Radio Polonia could easily serve North America via Germany, France or French Guiana, if you would only schedule English transmissions at appropriate times and frequencies. I would be glad to make suggestions if there should be any possibility of this. Regards, (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, to Slavek Szefs, R. Polonia English Section, Oct 11, via DXLD) ** ROMANIA. Winter B-06 schedule of Radio Romania International: ARABIC 0730-0756 9690 11710 11905 15330 1500-1556 9655 15235 AROMANIAN 1600-1626 6175# 1800-1826 6015# 2000-2026 6175# CHINESE 0500-0526 15160 17870 1400-1426 9580 11755 ENGLISH 0100-0156 6150 9515 0400-0456 6115 9515 9690 11895 0630-0656 7180 9690 15135 17780 1300-1356 15105 17745 1800-1856 7120 9640 2130-2156 6055 6115 7145 9755 2300-2356 6055 6115 7105 9610 FRENCH 0200-0256 6045 9515 0600-0626 6055 7170 1100-1156 15150 15255 17790 17845 1700-1756 7135 9690 2100-2126 6055 7180 GERMAN 0700-0726 6055 7160 7175 9690 1200-1256 9610 9690 11940 1900-1956 6140 7125 ITALIAN 1430-1456 7280# 1630-1656 7135# 1830-1856 7130# ROMANIAN 0100-0156 6040 9640 0200-0256 6040 9640 0800-0856 11730 15370 15430 17775 Sun "Curierul romanesc" 0900-0956 15380 15430 17745 17775 Sun "Curierul romanesc" 1000-1056 15260 15380 17735 17825 Sun "Curierul romanesc" 1300-1356 9610# 11795 15170 1500-1556 9595 11970 1700-1756 6110 7220 1800-1856 7140 9595 1900-1956 7140 9595 RUSSIAN 0530-0556 6175 7210 1430-1456 9535 11755 1600-1656 6130 7195 SERBIAN 1530-1556 7105# 1730-1756 6035# 1930-1956 7260# SPANISH 0000-0056 5960 9525 9665 11960 0300-0356 5960 6140 9635 9765 2000-2056 7140 9620 2200-2256 9575 11940 UKRAINIAN 1500-1526 6145# 1700-1726 6130# 1900-1926 6135# # Saftitza 50 kW (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Oct 12 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Wed Oct 11 at 1256, just after tuning up from RNZI on 7145, surprised to hear the RNZI bell bird IS on 7165, via a VOR program in Russian, and then at 1257 a clip of rustic music mentioning Vientiane, Laos. Appears to be a DX program on Golos Rossii, here on SE Asia service in Russian via Vladivostok. What is the full schedule for it? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAUDI ARABIA. 21 MHz still open, BSKSA still wasting megawatts radiating a horrible noise on 21460 & 21505 completely destroying the Audio, Oct 12 (Tim Bucknall, Congleton, N/W England, Ic-736 + Wellbrooke ala 1530, harmonics yg via DXLD) ** SCOTLAND [non]. IRRS off the air and consequently radio six Due to a problem in Italy, we`re unable to transmit this weekend’s programming on 9310 or 5775 kHz shortwave. The scheduled programmes – including the October edition of DXtra – will be carried at the normal times on FM, Satellite and the Internet streams. We apologise for the inconvenience to listeners – IRRS are working to solve the problem that`s currently knocked them off the air (TONY CURRIE, Glasgow, radio six international, Oct 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Maybe back by Thursday for the final repeat at 1900 on 5775? Could the problem really be in BULGARIA? Note WRN DRM is also off (gh, DXLD) ** SOMALIA. Baidoa Somalia 6798 kHz --- Thu Oct 12, 2006 10:08 am (PST) [timestamp on message, so 1808 UT?]. Fair Audio, Not a bad signal, but lots of Hets on either side (Tim Bucknall, Congleton, N/W England, Icom-IC736 + Wellbrooke ala 1530, BDXC-UK via DXLD) Time? Details? How did you identify it? Are you talking about a broadcast station? (gh, ibid.) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. Brother Scare, on WWRB 9385, Oct 11 at 1306 was over-modulated, distorted, with cross-talk and splattering. Aside from that, superb transmission. Oct 12 at 1224 on WWRB 9385, distorted Brother Scare was going over his SW schedule, and said that from today there will be another test starting at 2000 UT on 13730 with 250 kW to Europe. I expect this is another Guiana French relay (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Collides with RNZI! See also NEW ZEALAND [and non] WWRB, 3185 kHz, October 13, 2006, 1130 UT, SIO 554, Brother Stair preaching about the end of the world. He is positive about the end of the world. Bro. Stair gave many of examples of unrest, famine, money, etc., in the world to support his claims. However, at 1145 UT he was asking for money to support the broadcasts. Hmm --- with him being so sure about the end of the world, why bother asking for money? We will all be gone soon according to Bro. Stair. Also, if money is evil, as he claims, he's being a hypocrite by asking for money. Shouldn't he be asking for something else? Divine intervention? Prayers? 73, (Kraig Krist, KG4LAC, Manassas, VA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN. Caught tail end of REE fanfare on 12015, Oct 13 to 2056* overriding RTTY which was then uncovered. This was a VG signal, but listed as Arabic to Mideast, and runs one hour later on weekends (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SURINAME. 4990, R. Apintie, 0031-0102, Oct 10, Dutch, Music program of ballads. YL with ID in passing at 0039. OM between selections thru tune-out. Fair (Scott Barbour, NH, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4990, 8/10 0549 Com música pop norte americana, dance, pop, rap sem identificações. Na freqüência é comum ouvir Radio Apintie do Suriname, mas como não é esta sua programação padrão, convém ficarmos atentos à freqüência. SINPO 44444 (SERGIO DÓRIA PARTAMIAN – Escuta realizada na zona rural da cidade de Mairiporã-SP, Brasil; Receptor: Degen DE-1103. Antenas Logwire 30 m e LOOP, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4990.0, 0325-0345, 11-10, R Apintie, Paramaribo, Dutch ann, pop songs - stronger than usual! 25232 (Anker Petersen, AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres longwire in Skovlunde, Denmark, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** TAIWAN [and non]. I remembered about an hour too late that RTI advertised a special live broadcast of the national day festivities, UT Tue Oct 10 at 0200 on the usual frequencies including WYFR relay 5950, 9680. Later checked Chinese around 0500 and that seemed to be similar coverage. Did anyone hear the English version? News reports say there were large anti-government demonstrations at the same time. Did RTI even mention those? They did not say they would repeat this on later English broadcasts, but might be worth checking the 2200 on 15600 via WYFR. And are they available on-demand, for how long? 73, Glenn Hauser, 0315 UT Oct 10, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TUNISIA. TÚNEZ. Los servicios internacionales de Radio Túnez Internacional que transmitían por OM en 963 kHz parecen haber desaparecido; desde Valencia a las 1700 y 1800 sólo se capta emisión en árabe. A partir de las 1815 aproximadamente irrumpe Radio Euskadi en la misma frecuencia y no me permite escuchar mas a aquella emisora (José Miguel Romero, Burjasot (Valencia), España, SANGEAN ATS 909, Antena Radio Master A-108, Oct 13, dxldyg via DXLD) ** TURKEY. VOT, 15450, Thu Oct 12 with Live From Turkey starting around 1250, first with a pre-arranged call to/from an academic at the Technical University commenting on the French parliament ruling that it is illegal in France to deny the Armenian genocide. This has upset the Turks, who see it as totally unjustified, and bound to harm relations with France and the rest of Europe. (And what about freedom of speech, even if wrongheaded, I ask??) It`s ``outrageous`` tho there is a possibility that historians and scholars will be exempted! They gave the phone number two or three times, but quickly, and still not often enough if they really want to get more calls. I think I copied it correctly: +90 312 491 2896. Then they call you back at their expense. After some disco-beat Turkish music fill, at 1309 on comes perennial David Crystal from Israel, who was required to comment first on this affair. Said most of what he knows about it comes from listening to VOT, but normally tolerant Turks may have gone overboard against peaceful Armenians, not just the Armenian `gangs` causing the trouble. Then at 1311 David managed to talk about what he really wanted to this week, the Israeli version of ``Wife Swap`` TV show, in one episode of which, a Jew and a Moslem pulled this off successfully (I assume despite the provocative title, just as in the US version, there was no sexual hanky-panky involved, or at least revealed. It`s more like ``Mother Swap``, a family thing). 1319, back to the show hosts who propagated the Turkish line on A.G. - -- there was no such genocide; only a few were killed in the disturbances. Armenians were merely deported for collaborating with the French and the Russians who had designs on Turkish territory as the Ottoman Empire was crumbling. And how ironic that at almost the same time, the Nobel Prize for literature was awarded to a Turk. Only one iteration of the VOT IS before closedown. Then I tuned down to 15380 for some beautiful qur`aning from BSKSA, and when that went into talk, further down to 15350 for TRT music in Turkish to 1355* And then to Czech/Canada, q.v. (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U A E. U.K. (non) Some VT Communications changes: TWR Africa 1730-1800 NF 9805 DHA 250 kW / 260 deg EaAf Tigrinya on Sat, ex 12035 1800-1845 NF 9895 DHA 250 kW / 240 deg EaAf Amharic Daily, ex 12035 (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Oct 12 via DXLD) ** U K [non]. Throughout this week the Beeb on 21470 have been booming in here on the east coast of Canada, although today signal not quite as strong (Ray Kelly, Nova Scotia, Canada, Oct 13, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Ascension; usually the best or only 13m signal here in mornings circa 1330 (gh, DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Deewa Radio, Oct 11 at 1345 on 11510 Sri Lanka had several mentions in passing of ``Voice of America``. Better than // 15645 Morocco, the latter with a het on the low side; 11510 was running 2 seconds behind 15645 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Haven't heard New York VOLMET in some time and a check of FAA Notices to Airmen confirm that all four frequencies are off the air: [ ] A2018/06 - NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL VOLMET FREQS 3485/10051 KHZ U/S WIE UNTIL UFN [ ] A1963/06 - NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL VOLMET FREQ 6604 U/S WIE UNTIL UFN [ ] A1497/06 - VOLMENT BROADCAST UNSERVICEABLE NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL VOLMET FREQ 13270 KHZ U/S 05 JUL 14:15 UNTIL UFN (Mike Cooper, GA, Oct 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) what does the U in UFN stand for if not until? (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. WWCR started playing last week`s WOR 1331 by mistake at 2030 UT Friday Oct 13 on 15825, but after a quick phone call, they switched to 1332 at 2032:45, and we appreciate their letting it play to conclusion at 2101:30; also new Mundo Radial started airing after 2115 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. RICH ADCOCK’S ROCK THE UNIVERSE Rich Adcock`s interests have been the ``R`s``, Rhythm and Blues, Radio and Rail Roads. His first radio show began in 1973 at Fordham University`s WFUV. It was called ``MJ`` after a recently torn down NY City elevated subway line. Although ``MJ`` started as an oldies show, it soon developed into an R&B collectors show. The torch was passed to him when WFUV`s legendary R&B Group Harmony program, ``The Time Capsule Show``, left the air. A few years later Rich then passed the torch again to another show on the station. After a year hiatus the ``Motorman of Memories`` became the ``Viceroy Of Vinyl`` when he revived the program as ``R&B Pioneers`` on WNYE as part of Medgar Evers College Community Radio, a time block on WNYE. He was the only white program host and the only historian of black music on the all black college`s radio service. An increase in air time costs ended the Medgar Evers program block but Rich remained with WNYE for a few more months before calling it quits again. 16 years ago Rich returned to the air on Shortwave station WWCR out of Nashville, TN. His ``Rock The Universe`` show still features R&B vocal groups but now also includes Gospel, Rock-A-Billy and a return of the old standard oldies which are now seldom played. During the late spring and summer of 2006, Rock The Universe was also heard on Long Island`s 740AM, WNYH, Huntington, NY. It is now our pleasure to provide studio facilities and to distribute Rock The Universe on the Internet on our live365.com station and the Doo-Wop Cafe. We currently present the show on Doo Wop Cafe Radio on Saturdays at 8 AM Eastern time [1200 UT]. Please check our A Different Kind Of Oldies Show live365 page for the additional R-T-U rerun schedule on live365.com. For more how to listen via the web information, go to the Different Kind of Oldies Show page by clicking below. Download this week`s show or Listen to any or all of the last 4 shows Current ``Rock The Universe`` air times. Monday 0605 UT 3215 kHz WWCR-1 Saturday 1305 UT 9985 kHz WWCR-3 Sunday 0905 UT 3215 kHz WWCR-1 The Doowop Cafe http://www.doowopcafe.net Saturdays 8:00-9:00 AM Eastern Time WWCR-3, 9985 kHz, Saturdays 1205 UT, 7:05-8:00 AM Central Time [from http://dkosmediaus.com/RTU.htm via Waterer, ODXA as below] I really like Rich Adcock`s show and have for years. He plays a lot of great, early rock, rockabilly and doo wop, that may not have charted high, or at all, nationally. Many regional hits and B sides. Great stuff (Fred Waterer, Programming Matters, Oct ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. GH, the new AWR B06 schedule is now out per bclnews.it; check this oddball broadcast planned for the winter season: 2030-21 in Mandarin to Morocco/Algeria on 9695 via Julich --- do they mean Arabic? Who would speak Mandarin Chinese in those Arab- speaking nations? That reminds me of your telling us, in a SW year-in- review, of that bad target/language match of a few years ago: Voice of Indonesia broadcasting in Arabic to the Pacific (Joe Hanlon, NJ, Oct 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Probably French, looking at A-06 sked at that hour (gh, DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Frequency changes for WYFR Family Radio: Gujarati from Oct. 9 1400-1500 NF 12055 SAM 250 kW / 110 deg, ex 12080 SAM 250 kW / 140 deg Urdu from Oct. 1 1400-1600 on 7510*TAC 200 kW / 131 deg, ex 1400-1500 * strong co-ch KTWR in Korean (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Oct 12 via DXLD) ** U S A. AFTER 20 YEARS IN US, DON FRANCISCO STILL RULES TV'S VARIETY SHOW --- LAURA WIDES-MUNOZ, Associated Press MIAMI - In the first sketch, the actors strip to their underwear. Then come the puma and alpaca. Cue the Tejano singers with the hip-hop dancers, then the Mexican pop rocker who's just done a TV movie with Disney. Finally, there's a surprise for an 11-year-old Honduran boy who sneaked across the U.S. border to find his mother - he won't be deported after all. And that's all before the first break in taping of "Giant Saturday," or "Sábado Gigante," as it is known to its 100 million loyal viewers. Even non-Spanish speakers stop channel-surfing for a peek when they see the show's dapper host Don Francisco, his pompadour slick, his grin malleable and his flock of beauties always nearby. The variety show marks 20 years in the U.S. this year and next year will hit 45 in Chile, where it originated. Yet those who would dismiss Don Francisco as a relic of the "Gong Show" era of television would be sorely mistaken. . . http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/breaking_news/15711024.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp (Miami Herald Oct 8 via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. AS MANY AS 6 SOUTH BROWARD CITIES TO HAVE THEIR OWN RADIO STATIONS -- By Nick Sortal, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, October 6 2006 Drive across south Broward County, turn the radio dial and learn about another municipality. Hollywood, Hallandale Beach and Pembroke Pines added short-range AM stations this year, and Davie might be next. They join Weston, which launched a station in 2002, and Miramar, which went on the air last year. The stations' signals have a five- to seven-mile radius, although reception varies because of atmospheric conditions and occasional interference from pirate stations. Most provide a recorded loop of community information and are prepared to inform residents in case of an emergency. One company that markets the stations, Highway Information Systems Inc., has launched eight stations this year in Florida and has had inquiries from about a dozen others, said Tony Coventry of the Raleigh, N.C.-based company. The reason: Lessons learned during last year's Hurricane Wilma. "Communities are trying to find any and all ways to prepare their residents, and to be able to respond when other methods of communication may be down," Coventry said. City officials from Hollywood, Hallandale Beach and Pembroke Pines cited the desire for another method to disseminate hurricane information as the main reason for the stations. That's also why Davie is exploring the option, town spokesman Braulio Rosa said. The town is gathering information, then would need council approval. "Everyone consumes information in different media. The more you can give them to access, the better," he said. Some cities, such as Weston, are almost square-shaped, so one well- placed transmission tower can blanket the entire area. Others, including Miramar and Pembroke Pines, are about 15 miles wide, so they must have up to three towers. Because of that, the cost varies: Weston paid $14,000; Pembroke Pines paid $178,294. The municipalities usually install the phones and necessary electricity and phone lines. Companies such as Highway Information Systems provide the software and apply with the Federal Communications Commission for the required license. Miramar also will use its station to broadcast Amber Alerts, in cases of involving missing children, Public Works Director Tom Good said. "We're still riding the learning curve and learning the value of programming and learning more of what to give the public," he said. "But we've found it to be one of the absolutely most impressive tools when we get into emergency management mode." (via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) WTFK?? X-band, but not necessarily (gh) ** U S A. 1040, TIS CA, Santa María 9/19 1430 unID TIS noted in Santa Maria area giving info on the city of Santa María, signal disappeared a few miles outside of town. 1610, KNEC996 CA, San Luis Obispo 9/19 1530 good while driving through San Luis Obispo area, with information from the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo University police on road conditions, etc. in area. Audible for at least 10 miles so good coverage. 1630, ``Radio Ranch`` CA, Santa María 9/19 1500 good signal while driving up 101 just north of Santa María with political discussions, talk about local politics, invitation to go to the Radio Ranch at http://www.radioranch.com Lost signal about 15 miles north of Santa Maria. Signal good near Madonna Inn along 101 (Robert Wien, DX’ing up the CA coast on way to convention, Ford Monte Carlo car radio, (IRCA DX Monitor Oct 14, via DXLD) ** U S A. AIR AMERICA RADIO FILES FOR CHAPTER 11 Oct 13 11:05 AM US/Eastern By SETH SUTEL AP Business Writer NEW YORK http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/10/13/D8KNQMG84.html Air America Radio, a liberal talk and news radio network that features the comedian Al Franken, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, a network official told The AP. The network had denied rumors just a month ago that it would file for bankruptcy. On Friday, Air America spokeswoman Jaime Horn told The Associated Press that the filing became necessary only recently after negotiations with a creditor from the company's early days broke down. The network will stay on the air while it resolves issues with its creditors, Horn said. In addition to Franken, the network also features shows from liberal talk show host Randi Rhodes and Jerry Springer. Horn declined to name the creditor with which talks had reached a logjam. The company will operate in the interim with funding from its current investor group. Air America also said Friday it had named Scott Elberg as its new CEO. Elberg, a former general manager of the radio station WLIB in New York, has been with the network since May of last year. The filing marked the latest turbulence at the liberal talk radio network, which went on the air two years ago. This April, Danny Goldberg stepped down as CEO and was replaced by an interim chief executive from a management consulting firm. "Nobody likes filing for bankruptcy," Elberg said in a statement. "However, this move will enable us to concentrate on informing and entertaining our audience during the coming months." Air America has struggled financially since its inception. According to documents filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, the company lost $9.1 million in 2004, $19.6 million in 2005 and $13.1 million so far in 2006. Air America also disclosed in the court documents that two directors departed in the last two months, Douglas Kreeger and Tom Embrescia. Gary Krantz also departed as president in June, and executive vice president Tom Athans and chief operating officer Carl Ginsburg both left in July (via Craig Seufert, Bill Harms, Paul Armani, DXLD) Update: More Details of Air America Chapter 11 Filing Surface Oct. 13, 2006 By Al Peterson In the wake of Air America Radio's announcement earlier today (Oct. 13) that it has filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11, details of the filing and a long list of those who are owed money by the network were posted at the "Smoking Gun" Web site. According to court documents, AAR lists assets of just over $4 million and liabilities in excess of $20 million. The list of creditors owed money runs 25 pages and includes a number of notable names, including AAR host Al Franken ($360,749.98) and RealNetworks founder Rob Glaser ($9.8 million). Others listed as owed money by Air America include former CEO and longtime music-industry executive Danny Goldberg ($133,333.32), former network president Gary Krantz ($245,641.06), AAR host Mike Malloy ($114,678.64), Randy Michaels-owned RadioActive ($37,500.00) and Arbitron ($161,345.26). Read the complete list of creditors owed by Air America Radio here. http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/1013062airamerica1.html (radioandrecords.com via Brock Whaley, DXLD) They are still on KPHX 1480 as we speak. If AAR crashes, I talked to one of the guys who owns Nova M, the ones who LMA 1480, and he says they are prepared to fill the day with liberal programming and not miss a beat (Kevin Redding, AZ, IRCA via DXLD) In most cities, Air America's ratings were comparable to the numbers garnered by Salem's conservative talk stations. That's kind-of an average. In some cities, Salem does a bit better, and in others, Air America wins. But it's about equal. There's an audience for both liberal and conservative talk, and it makes sense for even the staunchest supporter of either format to listen to opposing points occasionally to do a validity check on one's own views. I listen to both, but I do listen to Air America more. KPHX, the Air America affiliate in Phoenix, has revised their program schedule in favor of live talk, choosing not to run delayed programming from Air America on weekdays. Their New weekday schedule is: [MST = UT -7] Midnight to 3: Stephanie Miller (new addition, formerly on prior AA affiliate KXXT; 3 to 6 a.m.: Bill Press (live; new addition); 6 to 9 a.m.: Mike Newcomb (local, live) 9 a.m. to noon: Al Franken (Air America, live); Noon to 3 p.m.: Randi Rhodes (Air America, live); 3 to 6 p.m.: Peter B. Collins (live from northern Cal.) 6 to 7 p.m.: Ecotalk (from Air America 7 to 9 p.m.; Jon Elliot (from Air America (slot vacated by the firing of Mike Malloy; also recently hosted by Peter Werbe); 9 p.m. to midnight: Thom Hartmann (syndicated by AA, from Portland, OR). (Hartmann does a live morning show on KPOJ-620 and a separate program syndicated by AA.) I expect KPHX to carry Mike Malloy live when he resurfaces (Rick Lewis, AZ, ibid.) Just an observation: I'm from central MA and in my location there is one Airamerica station within normal listening distance until sundown. Since WLIB 1190 has switched from AA, there is no Airamerica in central MA at night as the new 1600 station does not penetrate well here even with my set up, and Massachusetts is supposed to be a "liberal" state. But I can find conservative talk shows up and down the dial any time of the day here, Rush, Savage, Reagan, Drudge, (the last three at night from NY) on and on. Most people that I know who would probably be part of Airamerica's target audience do not know of and have never heard of Airamerica. I just wonder if lack of publicity (read: money) could have something to do with their bankruptcy. I drove straight through NY city today on I-95 and could not receive the 1600 station until I was almost on top of Manhattan and lost it fairly quickly as I hit Connecticut. I am not going to offer any more opinions of its impending downfall as I think it had money problems right from the beginning and some of its programming was a little off the wall, but If they had had more great talkers like Lionel from WOR, perhaps they could have been be more successful. I still listen and think Al Franken is great and right on the money 99% of the time, also the same with Lionel on WWKB 1520 (Bob Young, Millbury, MA, ibid.) Personally, I can do without Lionel, (too much celebrity talk I can hear elsewhere, and which I'd prefer not to hear anywhere.) But the original Air America plan to broker the 24-hour-a-day format on big- city affiliates (most of them owned by Multicultural), was a ghastly mistake that almost doomed the network from its inception. It's a miracle they even got past that first month or so. It's also expensive to hire celebrities to do talk. Good for press buzz, but costly. Another important factor to consider is that the stations most likely to air an entirely new network 24/7 are ones with failing formats or weak signals. They've had a lot to overcome in their two-and-a-half- year history. On the plus side, AA and Ed Schultz have made liberal talk radio more marketable. There are many excellent liberal hosts now that have stronger shows and are syndicated in more cities due to the number of Air America affiliates that also look elsewhere for other programming (Rick Lewis, AZ, ibid.) ** U S A. State of Emergency: Buffalo NY. With the state of emergency in Buffalo, New York, several radio stations have been knocked off the air and some have shifted their operations. Several TV stations were off the air for part of today. At 8.00 PM today [0000 UT Saturday Oct 14], I heard WBEN 930 go off the air and a few minutes later come back with a pulsing tone and intermittent audio. The announcer was heard to say that they keep losing power and they expected it to be worse around 9.30 PM (why, he did not explain!). He suggested that people having trouble at 9.30 PM could switch to "our sister station WKBW on 1520" who would be simulcasting WBEN overnight. The area that many of the Buffalo stations are located received 30 inches of snow in the past 24 hours with many power lines down. Many motorists were trapped in cars/trucks for up to 12 hours. WBEN's mid- morning host stayed on the air with a women who had been trapped in her car for hours and was beginning to panic (Andy O`Brien, Fredonia NY, 0132 UT Oct 14, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA [and non]. RNV firma convenio de Integración con emisora argentina AM 530 La Voz de las Madres: see ARGENTINA ** VENEZUELA [non]. RNV via Cuba, 11705, Oct 13 at 1253 had a hum and modulation was low. Wiggle that patch cord! Previously had been loud and clear (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIRGIN ISLANDS US. WDHP-1620, an almost nightly powerhouse. Until recently, it carried BBCWS relays after midnight, USVI time (AST), but that easily-recognized format now seems to have been dropped. Luckily, its on-the-hour IDs are still lengthy and specific; announced //-WDDA- [sic, probably couldn`t make out handwriting for WRRA --- gh] 1290 is still unheard here. Such a clear, powerful signal for 1 kW, when even the super powered Cubans like 640, 670, 710 and 1180 are inaudible (Richard E. Wood, Keaau, HI, IRCA DX Monitor Oct 14 via DXLD) I then pointed out our recent DXLD items about this possibly running 100 kW tnx to R. Martí. No date on above report but obviously before the next one (gh, DXLD) 1620, WDHP, Frederiksted, St. Croix (17 43'N 64 53'W), OCT 5, 0606 - BBC relay, ID, "BBC World News." Very good. So the BBC World Service relay on 1290 WRRA and WDHP is back, if it was ever gone, perhaps an interruption in the satellite feed (Richard E. Wood, Keaau BIHI, NRC IDXD via DXLD) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. Hello DXers, Algeria --- 12/10/2006. Checking Radio Nacional De La R.A.S.D around 1830 UT on 7425 kHz, a religious program in Arabic with a long talk by OM about the Month of Ramadan, followed by a folk song, then a YL with ID. Then a series about prophet Mohammed (PBUH), followed by another folk song, 1900 news in brief by the same YL mentioning some names and Algerian cities followed by another program called "the rest of fasting" talking about how important it is to fast in the month of Ramadan. 1920 another folk song. Good reception on that frequency (Tarek Zeidan, Cairo, Egypt, Oct 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Hunting Harmonics with Hauser: 2200, Oct 11 at 1229 American-accented talk, fading just above and below the high local noise level. Very likely a domestic, 2 x 1100, at this late hour, rather than the Colombian or Venezuelan heard here in years past. A note to self to go after this one earlier before sunrise. Another to check out: a carrier on 2400 at 1232, but could not pull any modulation (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 10340, Oct 11 at 1404-1410* open carrier next to AIR which had VG signal on 10330. Just a note in case this turns into another broadcaster instead of ute (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 12560.5 ?? Very faint audio, OM talk, nothing heard on 6280 1417 UT Oct 12 (Tim Bucknall, Congleton, N/W England, Ic-736 + Wellbrooke ala 1530, harmonics yg via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 13900.5 ?? BC station, again low modulation, don't even know if it`s a harmonic, definitely not Firedrake, nothing heard 6950 1419 UT Oct 12 (Tim Bucknall, Congleton, N/W England, Ic-736 + Wellbrooke ala 1530, harmonics yg via DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ [SIC] (I love using [sic], a way of implying superior intellect without having to come right out and ask if everyone is aware of it. Especially useful when the item at issues is too trivial to justify discussion otherwise. But a well placed [sic] and everyone knows, "Whoa, that dude knows what's happ'nin'." Noted profuse use by one gh.) (W. Curt Deegan, Boca Raton, (southeast) Florida, IRCA via DXLD) Not exactly; while I sometimes explain why I sic something, usually it`s to flag something that is not exactly correct, on the assumption that readers will then also realize why it was sicced, without my having to bother going into it. I have a lot of editing to do. This also makes it clear the mistake or questionable info is not mine (gh) THE TINY TRAP +++++++++++++ Belize is ``a sliver of a country`` and ``tiny`` according to Nichelle Norris, on NPR All Things Considered, Oct 11, 2006 at 2050 UT introducing a piece on how Belize is coping with newfound oil wealth. Sliver? Take another look at a map. Now Gambia, there`s a sliver! At least they got it right that population is under 300K and area less than Massachusetts. So MA is ``tiny`` too? BTW, they also pronounce Belizeans ``Beleeshuns`` instead of ``Beleezhuns`` -- is that locally correct? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ EiBi skeds have been updated as of 25 September: http://www.susi-und-strolch.de/eibi/dx/bc-a06.txt I just checked the main page: http://www.eibi.de.vu/ and see that that is still currently showing 13 September but I expect that to be updated soon as well (Steve Lare, Holland, MI USA, Oct 12, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) FCC RULING ON AMATEUR RADIO SERVICE --- MOST INTERESTINGS NEWS! http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-149A1.doc [Tag:] See the NEW reviews of ACE-HF for Ham and SWL now on-line: http://hfradio.org/ace-hf/ 73 de (Tomas, NW7US, Heliophile http://propagation.hfradio.org/ dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ FIELD INTENSITY TRANSMITTERS What the HECK is a "field intensity transmitter? I've NEVER heard that term before (Paul Walker, NH, IRCA via DXLD) Papa Whiskey, It's a little transmitter for UFOs to home in on. No. It is a low-power portable transmitter that is usually tuned into a short tower (50 feet, for example) that provides a constant radiated signal. An engineer uses a field-intensity meter (a calibrated radio receiver) and goes out on a straight line from the transmitter and makes measurements of the FIELD INTENSITY (usually in milliVolts or microVolts-per-meter, but they could be in S-units) at specified intervals. Usually the straight lines, or "azimuths" are at stated degrees on the compass, and can be as few as one, or as many as 100 or more. Generally, the setup measures real ground conductivity along a path and gives a picture of how the signal will die out, or be "attenuated" as a function of terrain, buildings, vegetation, horse poop, etc. And it would likely be used when the FCC's published charts may be in doubt, as when someone wants to see if a short-spaced station will be authorized or some other wanted-to-unwanted signal ratio will be exceeded or not. As an area becomes populated, signal along a path through that area is attenuated more rapidly than the FCC's charts indicate. That is because anything metallic absorbs or reflects radio signals. Ask me about KSJ835-1500 50 watts, back in about 1962 in Indianapolis. It was set up to help (then) Radio One-Five Hundred get a CP for (then) WNDI-1500 when it was known that there would be overlap with WSVL-1520 Shelbyville, Indiana. The overlap was going to be in the country, so the FCC OKed the CP (Charles A Taylor, WD4INP, Grifton, North Carolina, IRCA via DXLD) He was hearing something like this on 1540, perhaps New Bern, NC construction permit? KAIDE KK-9 $1.80 SW RADIO The Kaide KK-9 is a very inexpensive AM/FM/shortwave radio. Apparently it sells in China for about US$1.80. I bought one to find out what kind of radio is at this price point. The results are available in my review: http://cobaltpet.blogspot.com/2006/10/kaide-kk-9-review.html (Eric Weatherall, CA, Oct 5, dxing.info via DXLD) Junk detailed DIGITAL BROADCASTING DRM: see BELGIUM; CZECH REPUBLIC; NETHERLANDS ++++++++++++++++++++ POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ ARRL PLANS FEDERAL COURT APPEAL OF CERTAIN BPL RULES http://www.southgatearc.org/news/october2006/arrl_plans_bpl_appeal.htm The ARRL Executive Committee is expected this weekend to ratify plans to appeal in the federal court certain aspects of the FCC's Part 15 rules governing broadband over power line (BPL) systems. Assuming the EC signs off on the strategy, the League will file a Notice of Appeal by October 22 with the US District Court of Appeals - DC Circuit. ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, said the League went forward with its appeal plans only after considering the effect on licensed spectrum users of letting the BPL rules stand. ''This decision was made after careful review of the FCC's October 2004 BPL Report and Order (R&O) and of the August 2006 Memorandum Opinion and Order (MO&O) that dealt with petitions for reconsideration,'' said Sumner. Several reconsideration petitions of the initial R&O - including one from ARRL - called on the FCC to strengthen rules aimed at protecting licensed radio systems from BPL interference. Instead, in a new rule only revealed after the FCC made the MO&O public, the FCC limited the extent to which an unlicensed, unintentional radiator has to protect a licensed mobile station. The new rule, 15.611(c)(1)(iii), provides that BPL operators only have to reduce emission levels below established FCC permissible limits by 20 dB below 30 MHz and by 10 dB above 30 MHz - even if that's not enough to resolve harmful interference complaints. Sumner contends the rule change contravenes the International Radio Regulations and the Communications Act of 1934. ''The FCC has, in effect, tried to redefine harmful interference,'' he said. ''It can't do that. The Commission doesn't have the authority to do that, and we're going to demonstrate that to the Court of Appeals.'' What the FCC has done with respect to licensed mobile services ''should strike fear into the hearts of those who rely on public safety communications,'' Sumner added, especially since the rule requires BPL operators to do even less above 30 MHz than at HF. The Commission also declined to adjust the 40 dB per decade ''extrapolation factor'' applied to measurements performed at distances from power lines other than those specified in Part 15. Sumner says this is an important technical point because the existing Part 15 rule causes test results to underestimate actual field strength. Petitions for reconsideration from the ARRL and others argued that a figure closer to 20 dB per decade was more appropriate. Sumner called the Commission's stand on the 40 dB per decade rule ''clearly, demonstrably and inarguably wrong.'' He said the principles that the FCC appears to be following for the first time - if applied generally - represent an abuse of licensees' rights. ''It's unacceptable that the FCC would reduce the rights of its licensees in favor of unlicensed, unintentional emitters,'' he said. ''Remember that 'unintentional emission' is just another term for 'spectrum pollution.''' Sumner made it clear that the League is not suing BPL providers for causing interference, nor suing the FCC for failing to enforce its own rules against harmful interference. ''We are not satisfied with the level of attention the Commission is paying to existing cases of BPL interference, but this is not the time to pursue that in federal court,'' he said. While the separate standard for what constitutes harmful interference to a mobile and the 40 dB per decade extrapolation factor issues precipitated the decision to appeal, Sumner said, the arguments the League puts forward in its court filing may touch on other matters as well. ''The court is not going to rewrite the rules,'' Sumner explained. ''The court can make the Commission go back to the drawing board and re-decide them, however.'' (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ HAMS TRY TO REPEAT MARCONI`S TRANS-ATLANTIC DX THIS WINTER See http://www.eham.net/articles/14962 May they have fun with this, but as any MW DXer knows, propagation at 850 kHz is quite different from 1960 kHz. Why don`t they just try DXing TA broadcast stations around 850 kHz? At midwinter over that northerly path, there is bound to be some skywave that early, which on the average will work much better on the higher frequency. 73, (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) SMOOTHED SUNSPOT NUMBERS Dan Ferguson, K4VOA, of Little River, South Carolina, corrected our description in last week's bulletin of smoothed sunspot numbers and how they are derived. The smoothed sunspot number can't ever be calculated for the current date. Because it needs data six months before and six months after any month to calculate the smoothed sunspot number for that month, it is always at least six months behind the current date. To calculate the smoothed sunspot number for March 2006, you need the monthly averages of daily sunspot numbers for each of the months from September 2005 through September 2006. You take half the value of the September 2005 average, add it to half the value of the September 2006 average, then add it to the full value of each of the intervening 11 months. Take this total and divide by 12, and that is your smoothed sunspot number for March 2006. You cannot know the April 2006 smoothed sunspot number until the last day of October 2006. The procedure is described on the National Geophysical Data Center Web site http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/stp/IONO/sunspot.html (The K7RA Solar Update via Bill Smith, DXLD) The geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to unsettled levels at all latitudes. High latitudes observed isolated intervals of active to minor storm levels midday on 02 and 08 October. Solar wind speed ranged from a low of about 300 km/s early on 07 October to a high of about 500 km/s late on 07 October. The period began under the waning influence of a high speed coronal hole wind stream. Wind speed was elevated, but decaying, at near 500 km/s, and the IMF Bz was weak, not varying much beyond +/-3 nT. These conditions persisted until midday on 07 October. By midday on 07 October, temperature, density, and wind speed increased, all indicative of a co-rotating interaction region in advance of a weak coronal hole wind stream. By late on 07 October, wind speed increased to near 550 km/s, while the IMF Bz fluctuated between +/- 8 nT. The period ended with wind speed decaying to near 425 km/s, while the IMF Bz was weak, not varying much beyond +/- 3 nT. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 11 OCTOBER - 06 NOVEMBER Solar activity is expected to be at very 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 15 – 20 October, 22 - 26 October, and 28 October – 03 November. 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 14 – 15 October, 21 October, and 28 October. Unsettled to minor storm periods are possible on those dates. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2006 Oct 11 0024 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 Oct 10 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2006 Oct 11 75 5 2 2006 Oct 12 72 5 2 2006 Oct 13 72 5 2 2006 Oct 14 70 15 3 2006 Oct 15 70 20 4 2006 Oct 16 70 10 3 2006 Oct 17 72 5 2 2006 Oct 18 75 5 2 2006 Oct 19 75 5 2 2006 Oct 20 75 10 3 2006 Oct 21 75 20 4 2006 Oct 22 75 10 3 2006 Oct 23 75 8 3 2006 Oct 24 78 5 2 2006 Oct 25 78 5 2 2006 Oct 26 78 5 2 2006 Oct 27 75 10 3 2006 Oct 28 75 20 4 2006 Oct 29 75 5 2 2006 Oct 30 72 10 3 2006 Oct 31 72 8 3 2006 Nov 01 72 5 2 2006 Nov 02 72 5 2 2006 Nov 03 72 5 2 2006 Nov 04 72 5 2 2006 Nov 05 72 5 2 2006 Nov 06 72 10 3 (http://www.sec.noaa.gov/radio via DXLD) AURORA WATCH (October 13 at 1800 UT) Earth is entering a solar wind stream that could spark a mild geomagnetic storm tonight. http://www.spaceweather.com (via Art Folsom, CA, IRCA via DXLD) ###