DX LISTENING DIGEST 6-160, October 27, 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 1333 Sat 1300 WRMI 9955 Sat 1430 WRMI 7385 Sat 1600 WWCR3 12160 Sun 0230 WWCR3 5070 Sun 0630 WWCR1 3215 [and 0730?] Sun 0900 WRMI 9955 Mon 0400 WBCQ 9330-CLSB Mon 0515 WBCQ 7415 [time varies] Wed 1030 WWCR1 9985 Latest edition of this schedule version, including standard timeshifts, and 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 ** AUSTRALIA. 5050, 0829 R. Darwin ARDS [sic], Poor/Fair English/vernacular, Aboriginal music, comments re Min of Aboriginal Affairs, land claims, reservations, ID 0845 18/9 KVB (Kelvin Brayshaw, Levin, R1000, 4.7 & 7.2 MHz dipoles, Oct NZ DX Times via DXLD) 5050, 0902, ADRS Humpty Doo fair in English and vernacular with talk and choir singing, noisy – CC 19/9 (Cliff Couch, Paraparaumu, ATS 803A, 60m horizontal loop, Oct NZ DX Times via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. HCJB WORLD RADIO - Australia B06 BROADCAST SCHEDULE (29 October 2006 - 25 March 2007) UT kHz kw Azi Target Days [from when to when?] ------------------------------------------------------- English 0730 0930 11750 50 120 South Pacific 1111111 0930 1000 15360 100 307 SE Asia 1111111 1000 1130 15430 100 307 SE Asia 1111111 1030 1130 15400 100 340 East Asia 1111111 1130 1200 15430 100 307 SE Asia _111111 1245 1300 15430 100 307 South Asia ______1 Japanese 2230 2300 15525 100 340 East Asia 1_____1 Mandarin 0930 1030 15400 100 340 East Asia 1111111 1130 1230 15400 100 340 East Asia 1111111 2300 2330 15525 100 340 East Asia 1_____1 Indonesian 1200 1230 15430 100 307 SE Asia 1111111 Malay 1130 1200 15430 100 307 SE Asia 1______ Bangla 1245 1300 15430 100 307 South Asia _____1_ Bhojpuri 1245 1300 15430 100 307 South Asia ____1__ Chhattisgarhi 1300 1315 15405 100 307 South Asia 1____11 Gujarati 1245 1300 15430 100 307 South Asia _1_____ Hindi 1315 1330 15405 100 307 South Asia 1111111 Hmar 1245 1300 15430 100 307 South Asia __1____ Kuruk 1300 1315 15405 100 307 South Asia _1__1__ Malayalam 1245 1300 15430 100 307 South Asia 1______ Marathi 1245 1300 15430 100 307 South Asia ___1___ Marwari 1300 1315 15405 100 307 South Asia __1____ Nepali 1230 1245 15430 100 307 South Asia 11111_1 Tamil 1230 1245 15430 100 307 South Asia _____1_ Telegu 1300 1315 15405 100 307 South Asia ___1___ Urdu 1330 1400 15435 100 307 South Asia 1111111 Mailing Address: HCJB Australia GPO Box 691 Melbourne, 3001 Australia. (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, Oct 27, dxldyg via DXLD) ** CANADA. Friday's (10/27) "Canada Today" features an interview with the new host of "The Link", Marc Montgomery. The program is available for download and streaming. Clearly part of the new remit for RCI, as we've discussed, is targeting newcomers to Canada, and this includes the English language programming (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) ** CANADA. Sadly, progress in the new station on 1200 --- this item from Northwest Broadcasters site http://members.shaw.ca/nwbroadcasters/recentnews.htm - *10/27/06 - CJRJ AM 1200 Vancouver has begun transmitter testing. The station operates with 25 kW with slightly different directional patterns day and night. The CRTC approved application July 21, 2005 by I.T. Productions Ltd. to operate a new ethnic station directed predominantly to Vancouver's South Asian communities. I.T. is owned by Shushma Datt, who has operated Radio Rim Jhim to ethnic audiences for the past seventeen years via the the subsidiary communications multiplex operations (SCMO) of CJJR-FM 93.7 Vancouver. * The entry on the AM page shows the transmitter in north Richmond, eastern part (Eric Flodén, BC, Oct 27, IRCA via DXLD) Ouch, a S9+ 30 signal here in mid-afternoon in Victoria --- darn, another good frequency bites the dust. Sounds very similar to the 1600 Indo-Canadian station with some splatter down on 1190 too :-( (Walt Salmaniw, ibid.) CJRJ 1200 is on this afternoon with a female with IDs in Hindi. Poor at best with terrible KEX IBOC hash. The skip is in this afternoon and it is hard to get a solid null on KEX. If it wasn't for the KEX IBOC hash, it would not be too bad. Vancouver has its 11th AM station, it looks like. 73, (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, Oct 27, ibid.) ** CHINA. Firedrake, still on 10450, Oct 27 at 1524, fair (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CONGO DR. Hi Glenn, A nice collection of background information for international observers in Congo DR can be found on the Web site of an Italian NGO, "Beati i costruttori di pace". Four information manuals, for the whole country and three provinces, can be downloaded from http://www.beati.org/iniziative/osservatoriRDC In each, an interesting section on active media outlets can be found. I've also found a similar guide for the capital town, Kinshasa, on a Canadian humanitarian organization, http://www.uaprdc.org/publications/Guide_de_Kinshasa_v2.2.pdf The full story, in Italian, on http://radiolawendel.blogspot.com/2006/10/congo-rd-elezioni-e-stazioni.html 73s (Andy Lawendel, Italy, Oct 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. 6000, 1130, R Havana very good in Chinese – DD 9/9 (Des Davey, Te Kuiti, FRG 7000, JRC NRD 535, Hallicrafters WR600, Alpha Delta SWL Sloper, Oct NZ DX Times) Altho these two comsymp nations are good buddies, I seriously doubt RHC would be heard in Chinese, unless it was a brief excerpt about to be translated into Spanish. R. Singapore International is scheduled on 6000 at that hour in Mandarin (gh, DXLD) ** CUBA [and non]. The spurious clicks from DentroCuban Jamming command transmitters on 11930 were easily audible Oct 27 at 1521 on 11880, bothering nothing, but the one matching on the high side, 11980, was causing severe interference to someone in English sounding like Carl Watts, talking about Japan; yes, V. of Russia is scheduled there. But do the Cubans care about such collateral damage caused by their battle against freedom of expression? Ask Arnie. Of course not (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. La Voz de los Andes has now made it through the entire B- 06 season announcing an imaginary frequency. Checked once again at 1359 UT Oct 27 on 9745, the ``Albert Einstein`` ID, which came on automatically at 1359:30 requiring the hymn in progress to be faded out, once again claimed that the frequencies in use were 11760 for South America, 9745 for Mexico; while in fact HCJB has never been on 11760 and would find a lot of QRM from Cuba if it were, but instead 11690. In B-06 9745 is replaced by 11960 which will require a new ID recording, but will they bother with updating it for that either, and if so, will they get it right this time? B-06: 1100 1500 11690 100 150 S. America 1300 1500 11960 100 324 Mexico (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. RADIO FRANCE INTERNATIONAL TO END TURKISH BROADCASTS Radio France International (RFI) has announced an end to its Turkish broadcasts. Speaking about the decision, Antoine Schwarz, the head of RFI’s board of directors, said RFI is planning on forming a forum for the discussion of Turkish-French relations instead of the Turkish radio programming. RFI programming in Turkish was launched in 1971, when broadcasts were aimed at Turkish immigrants to France who did not yet speak French. The programming provided the immigrants with news about social and cultural events, as well as information on daily life in France. (Source: Hürriyet) (October 27th, 2006, 13:48 UTC by Andy, Media Network blog via DXLD) Turkish? From France? On shortwave? No such broadcasts in WRTH 2006. Were they on FM in Turkey, or in France? (gh, DXLD) ** FRANCE [non]. RFI, 6120 via Japan, Oct 27 at 1400 with late timesignal, opening English with local timecheck as 4 pm, News Hour (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GABON. ANO harmonic, 19160, just barely audible with French talk, Oct 27 at 1509, 2 x 9580. If I had nothing else to do, it would be fun to track this all day long and see how the signal varies, exactly when it peaks (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [and non]. DW in German via Sackville, 15445, Oct 27 at 1515 was under an even bigger open carrier about 6 Hz away. My guess is Greenville, which is not supposed to come up on this frequency until 1900. VOA often runs OC tests hours before scheduled broadcasts for reasons unknown, testing or tune-up. It could hardly be warm-up, this much earlier. Just because a carrier is unmodulated does not mean it will not cause destructive interference against legitimate occupants of the frequency, and IBB could do such tests just as well on a nearby frequency which is really unoccupied (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [and non]. 1269 kHz transmitter damaged Deutschlandradio posted this message at http://www.dradio.de/dlf/sendungen/dlf-mw-lw/557046/ ``The Neumünster transmitter on 1269 kHz failed on Oct 26 at 00:27. Transmission equipment and the power distribution system are damaged and not ready for use at present. Employees of the transmitter manufacturer are already on site for stock-taking. Unfortunately a failure of several days must be expected.`` At least the transmitter is still off right now; 1269 is now a big SAH mess, with the COPE transmitters in Spain (apparently not synchronized) on top and some other weak signal (probably Novi Sad which once, when still running high power, used to overrode Deutschlandfunk here) underneath. The 1269 kHz transmitter is located near the village of Arpsdorf, some kilometres southwest of Neumünster. I did not hear about new transmitters being installed there so far, so probably still the two 300 kW Telefunken PDM transmitters (S4003 if I recall the model designation correct) from 1986 are in use. Originally these transmitters were combined to a single 600 kW, but today they are presumably on air alternately since just 300 kW are in use now. With 600 kW Arpsdorf was during daytime ND but had to maintain a null towards 105...145 degrees between 19:00 and 05:00 LT. However, this may have changed with the power reduction. 1269 carries not only the regular Deutschlandfunk program but also the sea weather forecasts at 01:05, 06:40 and 11:05 LT (during summer only also at 21:05 LT), hence Deutschlandfunk has a dedicated feed circuit for this transmitter (unless they changed it recently to a remote-controlled combination of satellite and ISDN dial-up, as it is in use for 177 at Zehlendorf). See also a description of the Deutschlandfunk AM transmitters from 1988 (549 and 756 kHz transmitters at both sites each were replaced by new equipment since but data for 153 and 207 kHz should still be fully valid): http://forum.mysnip.de/read.php?8773,450897,451113 (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Oct 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. THE VOICE OF GREECE (ERA S.A.) B-06 Short-wave Transmission Schedule (Effective from October 29, 2006 to March 24, 2007) UTC Avlis 1 Avlis 2 Avlis 3 0000-0100 12105/226º 7475/285º 9420/323º 0100-0200 12105/226º 7475/285º 9420/323º 0200-0300 12105/226º 7475/285º 9420/323º 0300-0400 12105/226º 7475/285º 9420/323º 0400-0500 12105/226º 7475/285º 9420/323º 0500-0600 12105/226º 7475/285º 9420/323º 0600-0700 *12105/226º *7475/285º 9420/323º 0700-0800 12105/182º 15630/285º 9420/323º 0800-0900 12105/182º 15630/285º 9420/323º 0900-1000 12105/182º 15630/285º 9420/323º 1000-1100 SILENT SILENT SILENT 1100-1200 #9935/285º 17525/105º 9420/323º 1200-1300 #9935/285º 17525/105º 9420/323º 1300-1400 #9935/285º 17525/105º 9420/323º 1400-1500 #9935/285º 17525/105º 9420/323º 1500-1600 #9935/285º *17525/105º 9420/323º 1600-1700 *#9935/285º 15630/285º 9420/323º 1700-1800 #7450/323º 15630/285º 9420/323º 1800-1900 #7450/323º 15630/285º 9420/323º 1900-2000 #7450/323º *15630/285º 9420/323º 2000-2100 #7450/323º 7475/285º 9420/323º 2100-2200 #7450/323º 7475/285º 9420/323º 2200-2300 *#7450/323º 7475/285º 9420/323º 2300-2400 12105/226º 7475/285º 9420/323º *Transmission ends 10 minutes earlier #ERT-3 Radiophonikos Stathmos Makedonias (Thessaloniki) (John Babbis, Silver Spring, MD, DX LISTENING DIGEST) We are still trying to confirm the B-06 times for the weekly one-hour English broadcasts, if they continue (gh, DXLD) ** GUAM. Re 6-159, AFN on 5765: I heard them with phenomenal signal two days earlier and at the same timeframe as your log, also with C&W music programming. I've noticed lots more music programming in general on AFN the last couple months. 73, (J. D. Stephens, AL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. The program feed mix infesting VOI/RRI 9525 the past couple days had been fixed on Oct 27; at 1311, one program in the clear with Indonesian talk. Rechecked at 1430, carrier was still on mixing with CRI in Russian. At 1525, still carrier, but a couple of weak audios were also to be heard, not sure from this transmitter or something else (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL. Christian Vision B06 schedule Effective from 29th Oct 2006 Latin America [all via CHILE --- gh] Spanish 1200-2400 9635 Southern South America 0000-1200 6070 Southern South America 0100-0800 11805 Northern South America, Central America & Caribbean 0800-1100 6185 Northern South America, Central America & Caribbean 1100-0100 17680 Northern South America, Central America & Caribbean 0100-0400 11970 Mexico Portuguese 0700-1000 6050 Brazil 1000-2300 15410 Brazil 2300-0700 11745 Brazil Africa English 0500-1500 6065 Southern/Central Africa [via ZAMBIA --- gh] 1500-0500 4965 Southern/Central Africa [via ZAMBIA --- gh] 0515-1545 9555 Southern/Central Africa (Via Sentech) 0500-0600 9430 Nigeria (Via Wertachtal) 0600-0700 11720 Nigeria (Via Wertachtal) 0700-0900 15640 Nigeria (Via Wertachtal) 1500-1800 15680 Nigeria (Via Wertachtal) 1800-2000 9490 Nigeria (Via Wertachtal) 2000-2100 7285 Nigeria (Via Wertachtal) Asia [some Darwin, some Uzbekistan, some ??? --- gh] Chinese (Mandarin) 0400-0600 15250 China 0600-1200 17635 China 1200-1500 13685 China 1500-1800 13695 China 2200-0200 15170 China Hindi 0100-0400 9570 India 0400-1100 13630 India 1100-1400 9500 India 1400-2000 6260 India Indonesian (Bahasa) 0400-1000 17820 Indonesia 1000-1300 15365 Indonesia 1300-1700 7245 Indonesia 2300-0200 15250 Indonesia CVC International English 0100-0300 7355 India (Via Tashkent) 0300-0600 13685 India (Via Tashkent) 0600-0900 15335 India/Indonesia (Via Darwin) 0900-1100 11955 Indonesia (Via Darwin) 1100-1800 13635 India/Indonesia (Via Darwin) 1200-1500 15715 Middle East (Via Juelich) 1200-1500 13830 Russia (Via Juelich) 1500-1700 11830 Middle East (Via Juelich) 1500-1700 11705 Russia (Via Juelich) (Rearranged from excel sheet received on 10/20, via Alokesh Gupta New Delhi, India, Oct 28, dxldyg via DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. Radio Zamaneh (clandestine) 6245 in Farsi directed to Iran heard here at 2045. Transmission is scheduled from 1700-2100 (per EiBi) from Armavir, Russia, but continues on past 2100 today. Clear 'Radio Zamaneh' ID by a female announcer at 2101. Transmission finally ended at 2107 (Steve Lare, Holland, MI USA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Zamaneh 6245 kHz 300 kW 134 degrees via Mykolaiv Luch at 46 48 54 N, 32 12 40 E - west of Posad-pokrovskote village, UKRAINE (Wolfgang Büschel, BCDX Oct 28 via DXLD) Clandestine to Iran. 6245, R. Zamaneh, a beautifully designed, full- data QSL-card received for an e-mail report with RealAudio recording. Card depicts a book with station logo on the right, listener's full- data details on the left, and a small "QSL-card depicting a microphone" clipped to the top of the left-hand page. I sent my rpt to both contact @ radiozamaneh.com and to station director Mehdi Jami at mehdi.jami @ gmail.com Jami replied with an e-mail of thanks, saying he would send a card. (He also translated my rerport into Farsi and posted it on their website at http://www.radiozamaneh.com/blog/2006/09/post_17.html Card was accompanied by a separate white card from Jami, "Dear radio- lover," thanking for the report. Received in 6 weeks from Holland, return addresses on envelope given as: Linnaeusstraat 35-F, 1093-EE Amsterdam, and Postbox 92027, 1090-AA Amsterdam. Very nice (Jerry Berg, MA, DXplorer Oct 26 via BCDX via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. Kol Israel in Persian, 15760, Oct 27 at 1511 with hum and whine, and a slight warble/instability of the carrier. Very good strength, but also undermodulated. Previously I thought there was Iranian jamming, but this time, it could just be defective transmission (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ITALY. Glenn, A story concerning the new Italian government plans for Rai International appeared yesterday on the conservative online newsletter "il Velino" (quite hard to translate, the "velina" as in "veil" is a kind of thin paper once used for mechanical typewriting: a "velina" used to be a memo coming from a political majority party, to "suggest" what domestic affairs reporters should say on public radio and tv channels. il Velino, an non-existent male form for velina, was founded by *Lino* Jannuzzi, a right wing journalist. Hence "ve-Lino", which may also recall "veleno", poison.). I wish to thank Roberto Scaglione's Bclnews.it, in a post to Radiorama mailing list which Andrea Borgnino has kindly forwarded, for reporting about it first. According to il Velino, the government will urge Rai International - which might change its name to "RaItalia" - to cut most of its foreign language newscasts, from 26 to 5. Also, shortwave transmissions should be reduced to a minimum or completely cut off, as from 2007. Please read the original il Velino rumor, in Italian, on http://radiolawendel.blogspot.com/2006/10/rai-international-spegne-le- onde-corte.html Andrea Borgnino, who works for Rai, comments: "unfortunately, and very sadly, true; here in Rai's Rome HQ you can hear voices about shortwave imminent demise in every corridor." 73 (Andy Lawendel, Italy, Oct 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, I wonder if that includes the local shortwave transmissions on 6060, Notturno Italiano? I will surely miss Rai International (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston, Florida, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH. V. of Korea, October 27, 2006, 11735 kHz, *0102–0126. "This is V. of Korea" by male. Repeated by female. Anthem. "Dear listeners, welcome to V. of Korea" by female. "Now, here is the news." by male. After news, long winded talk on the workers party revolution in Korea focusing on the 1980's. This was the 92nd installment. Then a commentary on workers. Beginning SIO 353. By 0126 SIO 252. My comment: Programming to help listeners quickly fall to sleep. 73, (Kraig Krist, KG4LAC, VA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. Shiokaze, 9485 via Taiwan, Friday Oct 27 at 1327 check was in Korean, not English; poor (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KYRGYZSTAN. Re 6-159, 6030: Hi Glenn, Maranatha is a TWR relay for central Asia (1467 kHz) that broadcasts every day the Tajik service. Really also in Kyrgyz two times a week, just on Saturday like October 21, but not at that hour. Probably it was not Tajik but Uighur, like TWR updated schedule; anyway, not Kyrgyz, I assume. Therefore the misplacement was not reinforced by the reported language (Roberto Scaglione, Sicily, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBYA [non]. V. of Africa, via France, Oct 27 at 1507 was audible on 21695 in English about African Union, one of their few favorite subjects, and hum, // 17850 also hummy and undermodulated (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBYA [and non]. Oct 27 at 1340, 17660 with African music; 17665 with Arabic music, SAH, presumably against Sawt al-Amal (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MOROCCO. MEDIA GUIDE OCTOBER 2006 ---- Overview The Kingdom of Morocco describes itself as a constitutional monarchy. It is ruled by King Mohammed VI, who succeeded to the throne on the death of his father King Hassan II in 1999. The king, rather than the government, controls the ministries of defence, foreign affairs and the interior, as well as numerous commissions and authorities. Morocco has a population of about 30 million, 35 per cent of whom are Berber speakers. Analysts see the economy as moving slowly towards liberalization. According to The Economist, an average growth rate of around 5 per cent over the past five years has done little to create jobs or alleviate the plight of the poorest. Measures to reduce Morocco's dependence on agriculture and boost economic growth are starting to kick in, but high unemployment will still not fall next year, the employment minister said in October 2006. Critics of the regime complain that Morocco's judiciary is excessively subservient to the crown. Parliamentary elections are due to be held in 2007. Media environment According to the Moroccan government website http://www.mincom.gov.ma there is one radio set for every three citizens and one TV set for every six citizens. An estimated 4.8 million TV receivers are in use. The government owns, or has a stake in, Morocco's two TV networks. An expansion of private TV and radio broadcasting is under way. After the establishment of the High Audiovisual Communication Authority (HACA) in August 2002, a decree in September 2002 abolished the state's monopoly on audiovisual services. The HACA is responsible for approving and granting licences to private TV and radio stations. In November 2004, parliament passed a law liberalizing the audiovisual sector. About half of the licence applications received for private radio stations are for generalist stations and the rest for thematic stations, many of which will focus on music. About 75 per cent of applicants want to set up local or regional stations. As of October 2006, aspirant broadcasters were still waiting for licences to be issued. Satellite dishes are widely used, giving access to a range of foreign TV stations. Newspaper readership is limited by low literacy levels (63 per cent for men and 38 per cent for women in 2004, according to UNICEF) and has been stagnating for several years. Competition for advertising is intense. Media freedom According to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Morocco's private press has grown bigger and bolder in recent years. But the monarchy, Western Sahara and corruption all remain sensitive topics. Morocco's press code allows imprisonment for offences such as undermining the institution of the monarchy, Islam or the country's "territorial integrity" (e.g. by advocating self-determination for Western Sahara). Judges can also send journalists to prison for defaming others or for publishing false information "that disturbs the public order". This makes self-censorship commonplace, while outspoken journalists have faced a string of criminal defamation suits brought by the authorities. In January 2006 the CPJ said it was alarmed by a recent series of criminal cases against the press, including criminal prosecutions of Moroccan newspaper editors and the imposition of excessive fines on independent publications. Washington DC-based Human Rights Watch expressed similar views in a briefing paper in May 2006 which said that politically motivated prosecutions of independent news publications were rolling back press freedom. "This series of suspended prison sentences and heavy defamation awards will have a chilling effect on the independent press," said Sarah Leah Whitson, director for the Middle East and North Africa at Human Rights Watch. While recognizing the right of defamed parties to seek reparations in court, Human Rights Watch noted that the courts did not bother to show how the damages they set corresponded to any harm actually suffered. Human Rights Watch noted: "Morocco's press code provides an arsenal of repressive tools, including terms of imprisonment for vaguely defined speech offences such as `undermining' the institution of the monarchy, Islam or the country's `territorial integrity', and `insulting' the king, foreign heads of state or diplomats. Judges can also send journalists to prison for defaming others or for publishing false information `that disturbs the public order'." Human Rights Watch urged the Moroccan government to introduce amendments to the press code that will abolish or drastically limit criminal penalties for speech offences; make libel a strictly civil matter; eliminate provisions that punish statements deemed "insulting" to Moroccan and foreign officials; abolish or narrow the scope of provisions punishing statements that are deemed to "undermine" the monarchy, Islam or the country's territorial integrity, or are judged to contain "false information" that "disturbs the public order". The US State Department annual human rights report released in March 2006 said, in part: "The government generally controlled the media through directives and guidance from the Ministry of Communication, subsidies, and advertising allocation. The government confiscated or indefinitely suspended publications judged offensive. The government censored newspapers directly by ordering them not to report on specific items or events. The government registered and licensed domestic newspapers and journals and used the licensing process to prevent the establishment of new publications or the publication of materials that exceeded its threshold of tolerable dissent. The Ministry of Communication controlled foreign publications by removing banned publications from circulation." Amnesty International noted in its 2006 annual report: "Continuing restrictions on freedom of expression were reported, particularly on issues related to the monarchy and the Western Sahara dispute. Several journalists from independent newspapers and magazines, such as Telquel, were sentenced to suspended prison terms or heavy fines in this regard. In an unprecedented move, the Moroccan authorities blocked access to the internet sites of several international associations advocating independence for Western Sahara. "Ali Lmrabet, a journalist and former prisoner of conscience, was banned from working as a journalist for 10 years in April and given a heavy fine after he was convicted of violating both the Penal Code and Press Code. The case arose from a report he wrote after becoming the first Moroccan journalist to visit the refugee camps run by the Polisario Front in south-western Algeria. He stated that the Sahrawis there were refugees, not held as captives as the Moroccan authorities had long contended. This led to his being accused of defaming the spokesperson of a Moroccan organization that campaigns for the `release' of the Sahrawis in the camps." Television The two main TV channels are government-owned Television Marocaine (TVM) and private French-backed 2M TV. Broadcasts can be received in most parts of Morocco without decoders or satellite dish antennas. Satellite dishes are widely used. The government does not block the reception of foreign broadcasts. The Société Nationale de Radio et de Télévision Marocaine --- SNRT - website http://www.snrt.ma --- is Morocco's national public broadcaster, which operates Télévision Marocaine (TVM). French television is popular with Moroccan viewers. According to a survey published by Sigma Conseil in June 2004, TV5 has about 5.4 million viewers, and about 10 per cent of the population watch French satellite channels every day. The main Spanish television channels can be received in northern Morocco via terrestrial overspill, and broadcasts from Spanish radio stations are also audible in the country. Télévision Marocaine (TVM) State-run station, launched in 1962; French and Arabic; carries commercial advertising; about 80 per cent of programming is in Arabic, followed by French (17 per cent), and Spanish and Berber languages (1.5 per cent each); domestic production accounts for about 60 per cent of total output. Director-general and director of television: Faycal Laraichi. Contact details: 1 rue el-Brihi, BP 1042, 1000 Rabat Tel: (3) 7766885 Fax: (3) 7766888 SNRT TV channels TVM National: general entertainment channel providing information, culture and leisure activities. Arrabiaa (also known as La Quatrième): Morocco's leading education and cultural channel, aimed at youth audience. Launched in February 2005. Arrabiaa broadcasts six hours a day during the week and 11 hours a day at weekends. Programmes cover education, culture and entertainment. TVM Laayoune: launched in 2004 and focused on the southern region of Morocco. Assadisa (Kor`an TV): Kor`anic TV channel launched In November 2005 with broadcasts in Arabic, Amazigh (Berber) and French. Arriadiya (sports channel): satellite TV channel focusing mainly on national sports coverage; launched in September 2006; Morocco's first thematic TV channel. TVM International: general entertainment channel for the Moroccan community abroad. Al Maghribiya: international satellite news channel operated by RTM and 2M (see below), aimed at the Moroccan community abroad. Programmes consist mainly of news programmes, variety and documentaries. 2M TV Founded in 1988, transmission commenced in March 1989. Owned partly by the state (in March 2001 Moroccan PTT bought a 68-per-cent share in 2M from the government) and also by private foreign stakeholders. 2M started as a subscription service but converted to free-to-air after it failed to achieve a critical mass of subscribers. Broadcasts are in French and Arabic. Managing director: Mostafa Benali. Contact details: Société d'études et de réalisations audiovisuelles, km 7.3 route de Rabat, Ain-Sebaa, Casablanca Tel: (2) 2667373 Fax: (2) 2667392 Website: http://www.2m.tv Television audiences A survey in 2006 by the Amman-based Arab Advisors Group found that although 75 per cent of households in Morocco own a satellite dish, 93 per cent still tune into terrestrial TV, indicating that local terrestrial channels still have a strong foothold in the country. News was the most-watched type of TV programme genre. The survey findings revealed that a majority of Moroccan households (77.9 per cent) tune in to terrestrial TV to watch films, while 66.6 per cent watch films on free-to-air satellite TV channels. Less than one per cent of households has pay TV. Radio Radio broadcasting started in Morocco in 1928. Satellite broadcasts began in 1993. All state-owned radio operates under the SNRT, which operates a national service as well as 10 regional radio stations. In general, all radio stations broadcast mainly in Arabic with some French segments. Programming on all public radio stations includes music and cultural programmes as well as news. A survey in 2006 by the Arab Advisors Group found that music remains the primary reason for listening to the radio. SNRT radio channels National Arabic Channel: general programmes in Arabic Koran channel Mohammed VI: readings from the Koran Radio Tamazight: general programmes in Amazigh (Berber) International radio channel: general programmes in English, French, Spanish Regional channels Dakhla - mainly Arabic Fez - mainly Arabic Laayoune - mainly Arabic and some Spanish Oujda - mainly Arabic Agadir - mainly Arabic Casablanca - Arabic and French Marrakech - mainly Arabic Rabat - Arabic and French Tangier - mainly Arabic Tetouan - Arabic and French Private radio As of October 2006 there were two private radio stations operating - Médi 1 and Radio 2M. Médi 1 - Radio Méditerranée Internationale This Tangier-based commercial station, established in 1980, was Morocco's first private radio station. It is privately owned by Moroccan (51 per cent) and French (49 per cent) investors; the French holding is through Sofirad (Société Financière de Radio - a French international commercial media holding). Programmes are in Arabic and French. Programming includes entertainment, music and news coverage. Médi 1 broadcasts from shortwave and longwave transmitters at Nador and is also relayed on FM in several Moroccan cities (Rabat on 97.5 MHz). Broadcasting coverage extends to the whole of the western Mediterranean basin, in addition to parts of Europe. The website http://www.medi1.com offers live streaming. Managing director: Pierre Casalta. Contact details: Radio Méditerranée Internationale 3-5 rue Emsallah, BP 2055, Tangier Tel/Fax: (3) 9936363 E-mail medi1 @ medi1.com Website: http://www.medi1.com Radio 2M Radio 2M is another private radio station, launched in March 1989 and affiliated with 2M TV. Programmes include variety programmes as well as news in Arabic and French. Western Sahara National Radio of the Saharan Arab Democratic Republic (Arabic: Al Idaa Al Wataniya li Al Joumhouria Al Sahraouia Al Dimoukratia) broadcasts in Arabic and Spanish in support of the Polisario Front, hostile to Moroccan policy on Western Sahara. The radio has been observed by BBC Monitoring since 1979, broadcasting on various mediumwave frequencies and occasionally on shortwave. According to the radio's website, it broadcasts from Bir Lehlu in a Polisario- controlled part of Western Sahara, about 200 km southwest of Tindouf, Algeria - although this has not been confirmed. Contact details: Polisario Front, BP 10, El Mouradia, Alger, Algeria Tel: +213 (0)49 92 35 25 Fax: +213 (0)49 92 35 25 E-mail: rasdradio @ yahoo.es Website: http://web.jet.es/rasd Radio Sawa - USA In May 2006 the HACA granted a licence to US government-funded Arabic- language Radio Sawa to operate in Morocco. According to the Radio Sawa website http://www.radiosawa.com the station is available in the following cities on FM (frequencies in MHz): Agadir - 101.0 Casablanca - 101.5 Fez - 97.9 Marrakech - 101.7 Meknes - 91.9 Rabat - 101.0 Tangier - 101.8 Press The government supports two semiofficial dailies, the French-language Le Matin and the Arabic-language Assahra Al Maghribia. It also subsidizes the press through price controls for newsprint and office space. The Maroc-Soir newspaper stopped publication in August 2006, reportedly because it was losing money despite being heavily subsidized by the state. Three newspapers were due to be launched in September 2006, among them an Arabic language weekly called Nichane (meaning straightforward in Berber) and an Arabic language daily called El Masaa (the evening). At the same time, the Arabic language weekly Assahifa would become a daily newspaper. Major newspapers --- circulation figures, unless otherwise stated, are from the Europa Middle East and North Africa Handbook, 2006 - http://www.europaworld.com Casablanca-based papers: Al Ahdath Al Maghribiya - website http://www.ahdath.info - founded 1998, close to the socialist party Al Bayane (The Manifesto); website http://www.albayan.ma founded 1971; organ of the Parti du progrès et du socialisme; circulation 5,000 Al Ittihad Al Ichtiraki (Socialist Unity); founded 1983; organ of the Union socialiste des forces populaires; circulation 110,000 Assabah - website http://www.assabah.press.ma - Arabic-language daily; claims a circulation of between 67,000 and 72,000. Assahra Al Maghribia Attajdid - website http://www.attajdid.ma - Islamist paper, affiliated with Justice and development Party (PJD). L'Economiste - business daily founded in 1991; website - http://www.leconomiste.com circulation 32,000 Liberation - private, daily; website http://www.liberation.press.ma founded 1964; organ of the Union socialiste des forces populaires Le Matin - semi-official daily; website http://www.lematin.ma circulation 100,000 Rissalat Al Oumma (The Message of the Nation); organ of the Union constitutionelle Rabat-based papers: Al Alam (The Flag); website http://www.alalam.ma founded 1946; organ of the Istiqlal party; circulation 64,000 Assyassa Al Jadida; organ of the Parti socialiste démocratique Al Maghrib; organ of the Rassemblement nationale des indépendants; circulation 15,000 Al Mithaq Al Watani (The National Charter); organ of the Rassemblement nationale des indépendants; circulation 25,000 An Nidal Ad Dimokrati (The Democratic Struggle)l organ of the Parti nationale démocrate L'Opinion; website http://www.lopinion.ma organ of the Istiqlal party; circulation 60,000 Main weeklies Le Journal Hebdomadaire, French Al Sahifa, Arabic Telquel, French La Vie Economique, French - website http://www.marocnet.net.ma/vieeco News agency The government owns the official news agency, Maghreb Arab Presse (MAP); founded in 1959; reports in Arabic, French, English and Spanish. Director-general is Muhammad Khabbachi. Contact details: Maghreb Arabe Presse (MAP) 122 ave Allal ben Abdallah, BP 1049, 10000 Rabat Tel: (3) 7764083 Fax: (3) 7765005 Email: mapweb @ map.co.ma Website: http://www.map.ma Internet and blogging The Internet World Stats website http://www.internetworldstats.com reports that there were 4,600,000 internet users in Morocco in September 2006. The government generally does not block internet access; however, in November 2005 the authorities began blocking access to internet sites advocating independence for Western Sahara, according to the Human Rights Watch organization. A survey in 2006 by the Arab Advisors Group found that Google is the most frequented search engine amongst Moroccan users, while Hotmail is the most popular email provider. According to "The View from Fez" blog http://riadzany.blogspot.com in September 2006, citing an article by Adam Mahdi for the online journal Magharebia in Casablanca, a growing number of Moroccan internet surfers have become bloggers in 2006 thanks to cheaper internet access, the general availability of ADSL and the launch of a number of local blog platforms. English-language blogs are still rare, however. Adam Mahdi's article stated, in part: "ADSL access has become cheaper and more available due to deregulation of the telecom sector. Morocco now has over five million internet surfers and more than 400,000 subscribers, with most using ADSL. The increased access has encouraged a number of Moroccan businesses to launch their own platforms. Blogjahiz.ma and Blogs.ma are the two major Moroccan platforms at the present. The immense popularity of blogs among young people has led to the recent launch of Marblog.com by Multimedia Studios. "The Moroccan blogosphere now has over 10,000 blogs, not including blogs set up on other international platforms or private blogs with personal domain names. The dominance of French in the Moroccan blogosphere is beginning to lessen as Arcanes Technologies' recently- launched Blogjahiz is the first Arabic-language Moroccan platform... "Blogs.ma is currently working to create an internet portal to provide news, a comprehensive subject directory, and a forum to create blogs, according to Tarik Essaadi, manager of Point Info, which is running this platform." Source: BBC Monitoring research 27 Oct 06 (via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. Re 6-157, RN`s secret frequency in Spanish 11730: Hola Glenn: Aha, qué buen detective eres!! Veo que miraste muy bien el esquema de programas 24 hrs que te envié y que encontraste el programa Ronda info. Aler. Efectivamente, Bonaire está efectuando pruebas por los 11730 kHz (hasta este próximo sábado se retransmite el audio de nuestra emisión en español vía satélite). A partir de este domingo será en holandés. Las pruebas eran necesarias para probar ciertas antenas orientadas hacia las Islas Canarias. En realidad la nueva emisión de la noche en holandés por los 11730 kHz de 2200 a 2257 UT tiene como área de cobertura el Norte de África y Canarias, pues resulta muy difícil realizarla desde Flevo en estos momentos. Los planeados 6 MHz no llegarían bien y está superpoblada, la única alternativa sería utilizar una frecuencia más alta... pero no desde Flevo. De ahí que surgió la alternativa de utilizar Bonaire. En el Radio-Enlace de la próxima semana hablaremos sobre este "secreto" ... pero ya resuelto. Por cierto, contamos con tu info regular para esa semana! 73 (Jaime Báguena García, Director Artístico Depto. Latinoamericano, RADIO NEDERLAND WERELDOMROEP http://www.informarn.nl Oct 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEW ZEALAND. RNZI, analog 7145 with good signal at 1333 Oct 27 playing some Jamaican music (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEW ZEALAND. An interesting e-mail came from Douglas Johns in Christchurch. He tried to verify Kiwi FM and the reply he got just about sums things up! Hi there, We`ve received a strange report from you and we can`t for the life of us work out what it`s all about. It`s a list of what happened on our station at certain times of the day, and a request for us to confirm that it`s correct. What is the point of this? Glad you tuned in though --- if you’re wanting to know more about our station check out http://www.kiwifm.co.nz Thanks Kirsty KIRSTY BOND | BREAKFAST PRODUCER | KIWI FM | +64 9375 7171 ext 708 | +64 21 233 0110 | FAX +64 9376 5499 | PO Box 47560 Ponsonby | Streaming on http://www.kiwifm.co.nz | Auckland 102.2FM | Wellington 102.1FM | Christchurch 102.5FM | nationwide on Sky Digital Channel 100 The moral of the story is to insert a small paragraph at the beginning of your reports to explain just what DXing is. I do this and find it is usually appreciated (``I`` is apparently the editor of the Mailbag column, Stuart Forsyth; Oct NZ DX Times via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. New Zealand AM News --- Expansion of the Radio New Zealand AM Network is expected to result in the following changes: 576 Hamilton NZ's Rhema to move here ex 855 657 Tauranga New, expected on air shortly. Will carry AM Network and Southern Star Network // Wellington 657 855 Hamilton ex NZ's Rhema, new arrangements TBA 1026 Invercargill NZ's Rhema to move here ex 1404 1314 Invercargill New, expected on air shortly. Will carry AM Network and Southern Star Network ex 1026 1368 Tauranga 1XT Village Radio expands hours to M-F 2100-0300 UT, Sat-Sun 2000-0400 UT. Power remains 1 kW. No DX tests outside these hours permitted because two currently silent stations are allocated 1368 as well. Go figure! 1404 Invercargill ex NZ's Rhema, new arrangements TBA 1494 Hamilton New, expected on air shortly. Will carry AM Network and Southern Star Network ex 576 This should leave 855 Hamilton and 1404 Invercargill silent, but these frequencies may be leased to other stations. The Pacific Asia Log and NZ @ A Glance Radio Guides will be updated as soon as possible with these changes once operating powers and dates of operation are known. Check http://www.radioheritage.net for updates (David Ricquish, Radio Heritage Foundation, Oct 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA [and non]. Remember the convoluted manoeuvering we reported in 6-134 and 6-136 on behalf of Chisholm Trail Broadcasting, Hiram Champlin of Enid? I haven`t gone back yet to wade thru FCC axions but WTFDA FM editor Chris Kadlec has; in the Nov issue of VHF- UHF Digest he shows that most of the proposals have been denied: Medford OK 99.9 NEW / PA, class C3, counterproposal to Ashland, Kansas 105.5, denied Mustang OK 99.7 KNID / PA from Alva, class C1 to C2, counterproposal to Ashland, Kansas 105.5, denied. Ashland 99.7 NEW / PA, class C3, counterproposal to 105.5, denied Ashland 105.5 NEW / PA, denied. Applicant did not express continuing interest. PA = proposed amendment change to FM allocation table Kinsley 105.5 NEW / GA, counterproposal to Ashland GA = granted amendment change to FM allocation table (via Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES. Radio Ng Bayan heard on 6170v. --- 6169.8, Radio Ng Bayan. Thanks Japan Premium tip, 1000 Sept 29 with fanfare and news by man. Short items with an almost constant fanfare heard in the background or between the items. There were a number of English words, such as ``area of responsibility,`` and ``recovery.`` At 1025 there was a long ID block giving the above ID a number of times as well Philippine Broadcasting Service. They seemed to be listing every station that is in this network, so there were a number of callsigns, such as DZRM, and locations given (Hans Johnson, Jihad DX via NZ DX Times via DXLD) Direct to WY or with DXTuner somewhere? (gh) Heard here quite well on Sept. 30, 0950 on 6169.8 khz exact frequency. Much better by 1025. Many Ng Bayan IDs (ED) (Ian Cattermole, Blenheim NZ, ibid.) 6169.83, PBS Manulas/Radio Ng Bayan? at 1132-1212 UT on Oct 21. Have been noting a carrier here all week, usually very weak but this morning was almost "fair" in strength. I think I heard snippets of audio (man talking) but may have been my imagination. Might have been able to make something out were it not for the S-8 noise level here. Carrier was going off between 1100 and 1130 UT but lately has been on past 1300 UT (John Wilkins, CO, DXplorer Oct 22 via BCDX Oct 28 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA [and non]. VOR, 15605, Oct 27 at 1513 in Hindi suffering buzz QRM from KTBN: see U S A. 11980 with QRM from jamspurs: see CUBA ** SAINT HELENA. Last Friday (20 Oct.) saw the completion of the new Short Wave Tower outside of Radio St Helena. This Thursday Robert Kipp made the very first Short Wave transmission from Radio St Helena since 1999. The test was made on low power using only 100 watts from a Yaesu FT897D Transmitter to an Opt Beam OB3-27 Antenna system. Local Radio Ham Tom Moyce at Thompson's Hill confirmed the test transmission which took place at 1212 GMT . Later on, Simon Oliver, Head of Energy, and Derek Richards, Head of Public Works, came to connect the Earth cable to the transmitter and Amplifier System and undertook other electrical work (News on http://www.news.co.sh via BCDX Oct 28 via DXLD) ** SAUDI ARABIA. Friday Oct 27 at 1507, BSKSA on 15435 with Qur`an and no buzz for the second day, quite strong. Also audible on 21460 at 1505 but with buzz, not so strong as to totally override the non // Qur`aning. 21460 is the Holy Qur`an Service, while 15435 is the Call of Islam service (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, came across the BSKSA Riyadh's Arabic service at 0555 - 0855 UT, both 17730[normally on odd x.30 kHz] and 17740 kHz were on even x.00 kHz, no buzz tone anymore - after at least 18 months broadcasting faulty audio! (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, wwdxc BC-DX Oct 27 via DXLD) ** SOMALIA [non]. R. Waaberi, 17550 via Germany, with ID just before closing at 1357 Oct 27, in its weekly semihour on Fridays, suffering from WYFR adjacency on 17555 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN. Enjoyed the final Nuestro Sello from REE, Friday Oct 27 at 1345 on 17595, and 1355 with Triumphal March from Aïda. The B-06 program schedule at http://www.rtve.es/rne/ree/OndaCorta/America.htm does not show any times at all for this title, altho there is something called Nuestra Música. BTW, altho an html page, the schedule grid looks like fuzzy jpg so I could only search it with my eyeballs (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN [and non]. Radio Taiwan International B06 UTC Days Target Freq Site Pwr Mandarin 0000-0500 daily CHN 11885 TWN 100 0000-0500 daily CHN 11640 TWN 100 0000-0400 daily CHN 15245 TWN 100 0000-0300 daily CHN 9660 TWN 100 0100-0200 daily SAm 15215 WYFR 100 0100-0200 daily SAm 11825 WYFR 100 0200-0500 daily CHN 15290 TWN 250 0400-0500 daily CHN 1008 TWN 600 0400-0500 daily SeA 15320 TWN 100 0400-0500 daily wNAm 5950 WYFR 100 0400-0500 daily CAm 9680 WYFR 100 0400-0600 daily CHN 15270 TWN 100 0500-0600 daily CAm 9505 WYFR 100 0900-1000 daily SeA 11635, 15525, 11520 TWN 100 0900-1000 daily NeA 11605 TWN 250 0900-1000 daily AuAs 11715 TWN 250 0900-1100 daily CHN 9415 TWN 100 0900-1400 daily CHN 6150 TWN 100 0900-1500 daily CHN 6085, 1422 TWN 300 0900-1600 daily CHN 11665 TWN 300 0900-1600 daily CHN 603 TWN 1000 0900-1800 daily CHN 7185 TWN 100 0900-1800 daily CHN 1008 TWN 600 1000-1200 daily CHN 1503 TWN 600 1000-1400 daily CHN 9780 TWN 100 1100-1200 daily AuAs 11715 TWN 250 1100-1300 daily CHN 11710 TWN 300 1100-1800 daily CHN 9680 TWN 100 1200-1300 daily NeA 11605 TWN 250 1200-1300 daily SeA 15465 TWN 100 1200-1800 daily CHN 1521 TWN 400 1300-1321 daily CHN 1503 TWN 600 1300-1400 daily SeA 15265 TWN 250 1300-1500 daily SeA 7445 TWN 100 1300-1800 daily CHN 1098 TWN 250 1400-1500 daily CHN 9720 Issoudun 500 1400-1800 daily CHN 7130 TWN 100 1400-1800 daily CHN 6145 TWN 100 1600-1700 daily CHN 1503 TWN 600 1600-1800 daily CHN 7365 TWN 300 1900-2000 daily CHN 9955 TWN 250 1900-2000 daily Eu 17760 WYFR 100 2200-2300 daily EU 3965 Issoudun 250 2200-2400 daily CHN 11710 TWN 300 2200-2400 daily CHN 11885 TWN 100 2200-2400 daily CHN 6105 TWN 100 2200-2400 daily SeA 11635 TWN 100 2200-2400 daily eNAm 5950 WYFR 100 2200-2400 daily WNAm 15440 WYFR 100 2300-2400 daily CHN 15245 TWN 100 2300-2400 daily CHN 9660 TWN 100 2200-2400 daily CHN 6150 TWN 100 Hokkien [a.k.a. Amoy] 0000-0100 daily NwAm 15440 WYFR 100 0000-0100 daily SeA 11875 TWN 100 0500-0600 daily SeA 15580 TWN 100 0500-0600 daily CHN 1008, 1422 TWN 100 1000-1100 daily SeA 11605 TWN 100 1100-1200 daily CHN 1206 TWN 100 1200-1300 daily NeA 11715 TWN 100 1300-1400 daily SeA 15465 TWN 100 1300-1400 daily SeA 11635 TWN 100 2100-2200 daily eNAm 5950 WYFR 100 Cantonese 0100-0200 daily SeA 15290 TWN 250 0100-0200 daily eNAm 5950 WYFR 100 0100-0200 daily wNAm 15440 WYFR 100 0200-0300 dialy SeA 15610 TWN 100 0500-0600 daily SeA 15320 TWN 100 0500-0600 daily cNAm 9680 WYFR 100 0500-0600 daily wNAm 5950 WYFR 100 1000-1100 daily SeA 15525 TWN 100 1000-1100 daily SeA 11635 TWN 100 1000-1100 daily AuAs 11715 TWN 250 1000-1200 daily SeA 15270 TWN 100 1200-1300 daily CHN 1206 TWN 100 1200-1300 daily SeA 11915 TWN 250 1200-1300 daily CHN 6105 TWN 100 2200-2300 daily Eu 5745 WYFR 100 Hakka 0000-0100 daily eNAm 5950 WYFR 100 0200-0300 daily wNAm 15440 WYFR 100 0300-0400 daily SeA 927 TWN 400 0300-0400 daily SeA 15610 TWN 100 1100-1200 daily CHN 6105 TWN 100 1100-1200 daily SeA 11635 TWN 100 1300-1400 daily SeA 15175 TWN 100 1300-1400 daily SeA 11915 TWN 250 1500-1600 daily SeA 11875 TWN 250 English 0100-0200 daily NeA 15465 TWN 100 0100-0200 daily SeA 11875 TWN 250 0200-0300 daily cNAm 9680 WYFR 100 0200-0300 daily eNAm 5950 WYFR 100 0300-0400 daily SeA 15320 TWN 100 0300-0400 daily SAm 15215 WYFR 100 0300-0400 daily wNAm 5950 WYFR 100 0700-0800 daily wNAm 5950 WYFR 100 0800-0900 daily SeA 9610 TWN 250 1100-1200 daily SeA 7445 TWN 100 1100-1200 Thurs CHN 747 TWN 250 1100-1200 Thurs CHN 927 TWN 400 1200-1300 daily NeA 7130 TWN 50 1400-1500 daily SeA 15265 TWN 250 1500-1600 Fri wEU 9770 Rampisham 35 1600-1700 daily SeA 9785 (11995 from 2007/2/25) Issoudun 500 1600-1700 daily CHN, SAs 11550 TWN 100 1700-1800 daily Af 11850 Issoudun 500 1800-1900 daily wEU 3965 Issoudun 250 2200-2300 daily EU 15600 WYFR 100 French 0700-0800 daily Eu 5745 WYFR 100 1900-2000 daily wEu 3955 Skelton 250 2000-2100 daily Eu 11665 WYFR 100 2000-2100 daily eNAm 15440 WYFR 100 2000-2100 daily Eu 9955 TWN 250 2100-2200 daily Af 7135 Issoudun 500 Spanish 0200-0300 daily SAm 15215, 17845 WYFR 100 0400-0500 daily CAm 6120 WYFR 100 0600-0700 daily CAm 5950 WYFR 100 2000-2100 daily Eu 5975 Nauen 100 2300-2400 daily SAm 9690, 11720 WYFR 100 German 0600-0700 daily Eu 5745 WYFR 100 1900-2000 daily Eu 6170 Skelton 250 2000-2100 daily Eu 11565 WYFR 100 2100-2200 daily wEU 3965 Issoudun 250 Russian 1300-1400 daily wRUS 15195 TWN 250 1700-1759 daily wRUS 6160 Wertachtal 125 1300-1500 daily wSiberia 15430 Issoudan 500 Japanese 0800-0900 daily NeA 11605 TWN 250 1100-1200 daily NeA 11605 TWN 250 1100-1200 daily NeA 7130 TWN 50 1300-1400 daily NeA 9635 TWN 250 1300-1400 daily NeA 7130 TWN 50 Vietnamese 0900-1000 daily SeA 15270 TWN 100 1100-1200 daily CHN 1521 TWN 400 1300-1400 daily CHN 1206 TWN 100 1400-1500 daily SeA 11875 TWN 250 2300-2400 daily SeA 9610 TWN 250 Thai 0600-0700 daily SeA 15270 TWN 100 1400-1500 daily CHN 747 TWN 250 1400-1500 daily CHN 927 TWN 400 1400-1500 daily SeA 15465, 11635 TWN 100 1500-1600 daily SeA 7445 TWN 100 1500-1600 daily SeA 1503 TWN 600 2200-2300 daily SeA 1503 TWN 600 2200-2400 daily SeA 7445 TWN 100 2300-2400 daily CHN 927 TWN 400 Indonesian 0400-0600 daily CHN 927 TWN 100 1000-1200 daily SeA 11520 TWN 250 1000-1200 daily SeA 11550 TWN 250 1200-1300 daily CHN 927 TWN 400 1200-1300 daily SeA 11635 TWN 100 1200-1300 daily SeA 7445 TWN 100 1400-1500 daily SeA 11875 TWN 250 1500-1600 daily SeA 1422 TWN 50 Code for Area and Countries --- Af-Africa CHN-China CAm-Central America RUS-Russia Eu-Europe TWN-Taiwan NAm-North America ENAm-North East America ME-Middle East SAm-South America SAs- South Asia SeA-South East Asia RELAYED VIA: WYFR, USA; Skelton, UK; Issoudun, France; Juelich, Germany AM KEBAR [sic] AM 1210 kHz, Sacramento CA, USA Mandarin: 2000-2300, Cantonese: 2300-2400, local time DRM English stream: 9770, Friday UT 1500-1600 via Rampisham, UK (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, Oct 27, dxldyg via DXLD) ** UKRAINE. I've been reading "Chernobyl: Confessions of a Reporter" by Igor Kostin, a Ukrainian photojournalist who shot the first photos of the reactor explosion on April 26, 1986 and continues to cover the aftermath. On p. 210 is a double-page aerial shot of what may be the Woodpecker OTH site that drove everybody nuts in the late 1970's through the late 1980's. It consists of two antenna arrays, one 150 meters tall and the other 90 meters high, and looks like one of those old DEW line stations in the Canadian Arctic. The caption for the photo says it was designed to detect ICBM launches, and shut down only a few hours after the reactor blew up. I recall that there was speculation at the time that the site shut down due to lack of power availability from the remaining three Chernobyl reactors, but Kostin's caption says it was radiation from the reactor explosion that fried the radar's circuits and permanently disabled the site. His book is well worth tracking down, as it is a compelling and moving account of the accident, the many people who lost their lives trying prevent the spread of contamination from the reactor, and the people whose lives are still affected by the radiation in the "forbidden zone" around Chernobyl (Chuck Albertson, Seattle, Wash., Oct 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. BBCWS in English, Oct 27 at 1518 had a big echo on 12095. Per EiBi, at this hour Woofferton is running two transmitters, one to Eu and another to EEu. HFCC does not show this until 1600, however, at 78 and 140 degrees. Let`s hope the echo is not due to the two transmitters being unsynchronized, but instead long and short path simultaneously (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Jackson Out at VOA --- Former Time Magazine reporter David S. Jackson is out as the VOA Director and has been replaced by former Wall Street Journal and Ottaway Newspapers executive Danforth W. Austin. Jackson announced last week that he was stepping down as VOA Director after a four-year term. He said he wanted to return to the private sector. Wednesday, the BBG met to decide and name his replacement. The BBG - which includes former disgraced CPB head Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, former Bush Campaign manager Karen Hughes (acting under the auspices of Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice) and conservative talk show host Blanquita Cullum - named Austin as Jackson's replacement. In the announcement, the Board - which oversees all U.S. international broadcasting, including VOA, Radio and TV Marti, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, Al-Hurra television and Radio Sawa - praised Austin, who served as Chairman and Chief Executive of Ottaway Newspapers, a community media subsidiary of Dow Jones & Company which publishes the Wall St. Journal. The Board also announced the appointment of Russell Hodge as the new director of VOA Television. Hodge is the President of 3 Roads Communications, and is an Emmy-award winner who has produced programming for HBO, PBS, CNBC - including the John McLaughlin show - and Fox, where he was responsible for putting current White House Spokesman Tony Snow on the air. He is also reported to be an associate of BBG member Blanquita Cullum. The move comes after a recently-published Booz-Allen report on VOA operations as well as a recent controversy over Board Chairman Tomlinson's use of government equipment and personnel for his horse racing business and his appointment of a personal friend to a lucrative contracting job. 1 Comments: At 11:02 AM, Anonymous said... What are Austin's credentials? How can a newspaperman be given the reigns to control broadcast media? There seems to be a disconnect somewhere (Save America`s Voice blog via DXLD) ** U S A. Here`s an interesting story about two recent ``stubborn`` verifiers. Having been away from the hobby for a long period of time, I was surprised when reception reports from the VOA and AFN went unanswered. I inquired from others on some Internet mailing lists, and discovered DXers across the world were not receiving replies from either station. In both cases, I went online to the station`s web sites, searched for contacts, and sent some emails to some likely contacts. I explained politely how the hobby worked, why both the VOA and AFN were important to listeners because of their ``exotic`` transmitter locations as well as the technical value of well-constructed reception reports. Finally, I pointed out that as an American citizen, I was concerned about the negative public relations we were creating overseas by not responding at all to listener letters. Both stations returned e-mails within days. In the case of the VOA, I discovered that only one employee was in charge of QSL`s, he had suffered a heart attack, and the supervisor was unaware that no one else had picked up the slack. Shortly thereafter, QSL`s began showing up on email lists, and my own arrived several weeks later. AFN was even more interesting. The contact I ended up corresponding with was a former verie signer at AFN-McMurdo! He was completely unaware that the Navy in Washington had ceased responding to letters. Although it took several months to implement, this person moved the operation back to March AFB, put a US Navy Sr. Chief in charge of the project, designed hard copy QSL cards (after asking me what DXers preferred) and set up snail and email addresses for reports. Although it took almost 9 months, QSL`s arrived this week for Iceland and Diego Garcia in my box! The new address is: Email: qsl @ dodmedia.osd.mil Address: Naval Media Center Detachment, Defense Media Center 23755 Z Street, BLDG 2730 Riverside, CA 92518 ATT: Officer In Charge The moral -- nice letters, polite tones, and persistence can (sometimes) turn lemons into lemonade!!! (Russ Lay in Nag`s Head, NC, USA, Oct NZ DX Times via DXLD) ** U S A. Most of the time, the KTBN transmitter on 15590 is accompanied by a huge raspy buzz out to at least 15 kHz on each side. This has been going on for years, and apparently has never drawn an FCC citation. Why should they care? Paul Crouch and Co. obviously have no respect for other occupants of the airwaves. Oct 27 at 1513, V. of Russia on 15605 was suffering from this QRM during their Hindi broadcast, and so was BBC on 15575 in Pashto. Something might be done if its victims complained, but why should they care either? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. KAIJ, 9975, with non-DGS programming sometime before 1400 Oct 27. I paid more attention at 1527 when the signal was very strong running hi-pitched tone tests, 7 kHz or so? KAIJ was even stronger than WWCR 9985, against which the tones could also be heard on the low side. 1532 played KAIJ ID, and 1537 bits of music intermittently, off sometime before 1600. Some sporadic E may have been causing the strong signal here in the skip-or-not zone, tho none is reported at http://dxworld.com/tvfmlog.html and apparently not reaching VHF. WWCR 15825 also had Es enhancement instead of its usual weak and marginal signal here one megameter away (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WWCR Winter (B06) Tentative Schedule Freq Time (CST) Time (UTC) Dates Transmitter #1 - 100 KW - 46 Degrees 9985 4:00AM-5:00AM 1000-1100 30 Oct 06-30 Nov 06 15825 5:00AM-4:00PM 1100-2200 30 Oct 06-30 Nov 06 7465 4:00PM-6:00PM 2200-0000 30 Oct 06-30 Nov 06 3215 6:00PM-4:00AM 0000-1000 30 Oct 06-30 Nov 06 Transmitter #2 - 100 KW - 85 Degrees 13845 7:00AM-7:00PM 1300-0100 30 Oct 06-30 Nov 06 5935 7:00PM-7:00AM 0100-1300 30 Oct 06-30 Nov 06 Transmitter #3 - 100 KW - 40 Degrees 9985 7:00AM-9:00AM 1300-1500 30 Oct 06-30 Nov 06 12160 9:00AM-5:00PM 1500-2300 30 Oct 06-30 Nov 06 5070 5:00PM-7:00AM 2300-1300 30 Oct 06-30 Nov 06 Transmitter #4 - 100 KW - 90 Degrees 7465 7:00AM-9:00AM 1300-1500 30 Oct 06-30 Nov 06 9985 9:00AM-1:00PM 1500-1900 30 Oct 06-30 Nov 06 9975 1:00PM-4:00PM 1900-2200 30 Oct 06-30 Nov 06 9985 4:00PM-6:00PM 2200-0000 30 Oct 06-30 Nov 06 7465 6:00PM-8:00PM 0000-0200 30 Oct 06-30 Nov 06 5765 8:00PM-7:00AM 0200-1300 30 Oct 06-30 Nov 06 [gh rearranged to group all transmitters above for imminent changes; later shifts as follows:] Transmitter #1 - 100 KW - 46 Degrees 9985 4:00AM-5:00AM 1000-1100 01 Dec 06-28 Feb 07 15825 5:00AM-3:00PM 1100-2100 01 Dec 06-28 Feb 07 7465 3:00PM-5:00PM 2100-2300 01 Dec 06-28 Feb 07 3215 5:00PM-4:00AM 2300-1000 01 Dec 06-28 Feb 07 9985 4:00AM-5:00AM 1000-1100 01 Mar 07-01 Apr 07 15825 5:00AM-4:00PM 1100-2200 01 Mar 07-01 Apr 07 7465 4:00PM-6:00PM 2200-0000 01 Mar 07-01 Apr 07 3215 6:00PM-4:00AM 0000-1000 01 Mar 07-01 Apr 07 Transmitter #2 - 100 KW - 85 Degrees 13845 8:00AM-6:00PM 1400-0000 01 Dec 06-28 Feb 07 5935 6:00PM-8:00AM 0000-1400 01 Dec 06-28 Feb 07 13845 7:00AM-7:00PM 1300-0100 01 Mar 07-01 Apr 07 5935 7:00PM-7:00AM 0100-1300 01 Mar 07-01 Apr 07 Transmitter #3 - 100 KW - 40 Degrees 9985 7:00AM-10:00AM 1300-1600 01 Dec 06-28 Feb 07 12160 10:00AM-4:00PM 1600-2200 01 Dec 06-28 Feb 07 5070 4:00PM-7:00AM 2200-1300 01 Dec 06-28 Feb 07 9985 7:00AM-9:00AM 1300-1500 01 Mar 07-01 Apr 07 12160 9:00AM-5:00PM 1500-2300 01 Mar 07-01 Apr 07 5070 5:00PM-7:00AM 2300-1300 01 Mar 07-01 Apr 07 Transmitter #4 - 100 KW - 90 Degrees 7465 8:00AM-10:00AM 1400-1600 01 Dec 06-28 Feb 07 9985 10:00AM-1:00PM 1600-1900 01 Dec 06-28 Feb 07 9975 1:00PM-4:00PM 1900-2200 01 Dec 06-28 Feb 07 9985 4:00PM-6:00PM 2200-0000 01 Dec 06-28 Feb 07 7465 6:00PM-8:00PM 0000-0200 01 Dec 06-28 Feb 07 5765 8:00PM-8:00AM 0200-1400 01 Dec 06-28 Feb 07 7465 7:00AM-9:00AM 1300-1500 01 Mar 07-01 Apr 07 9985 9:00AM-1:00PM 1500-1900 01 Mar 07-01 Apr 07 9975 1:00PM-4:00PM 1900-2200 01 Mar 07-01 Apr 07 9985 4:00PM-6:00PM 2200-0000 01 Mar 07-01 Apr 07 7465 6:00PM-8:00PM 0000-0200 01 Mar 07-01 Apr 07 5765 8:00PM-7:00AM 0200-1300 01 Mar 07-01 Apr 07 (from http://www.wwcr.com/wwcr_transmitter/wwcr_transmitter_schedules.html via Jerry Plummer, WWCR, DXLD) They have not taken into account the earlier shift to DST next year, second Sunday in March which will require time if not also frequency changes (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. [Re 6-159:] Hi all, yesterday, I heard KTRB in San Francisco at 860 testing yesterday with an open carrier, with an announcement by a female announcer stating, KTRB San Francisco, on the air for testing at low power. This must have apparently been a tape, because there was another one of those that they ran, where the announcement cut off during the first part, as it repeated twice, but if they were at low power from here in Oakland, that was one mighty fat spread across 860; it was almost as if I was in Fresno, hearing the 860 signal from Modesto, so I wonder what their full power signal sounds like. Incidentally, I think I heard them between 1 and 2 in the afternoon yesterday [PDT = 20-21 UT] (Marty, that was then, this is the Chinese smtp server, Rimpau, Oct 27, IRCA via DXLD) ** U S A. THE PROS SOUND OFF ON IMPACT OF NBC CUTS By Gail Shister Inquirer Columnist Posted on Thu, Oct. 26, 2006 http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/entertainment/columnists/15849364.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp NBC News can slash its budget many ways, but don't ask anchors and correspondents to give up the Benjamins, advises ex-CBS News chief Andrew Heyward. "It's very bad for morale. People take it very personally. When you actually pay somebody less, it tends to have a disproportionate psychological impact on the employee, in my experience." NBC News boss Steve Capus said this week that if enough on-air types took salary cuts at contract time, it could save jobs. NBC Universal plans to slash expenses by $750 million and cut 700 positions. Heyward weathered CBS cuts in the late '90s by "carefully and surgically" reorganizing his newsgathering infrastructure. "Not a single correspondent was let go." Maybe so, but Heyward and his deputies did look into reducing on-air salaries before vetoing the idea, he says. "They're too difficult to execute, even though in theory it's a good solution. Over time, you can flatten out salaries in terms of raises, and you can certainly readjust them when somebody changes assignments dramatically." Heyward wants it made clear that he's no expert about the situation at NBC, and that he feels Capus' pain. "Obviously, layoffs are bad for morale, too," Heyward says. Eliminating jobs "is a painful, difficult process. It was for us." Like Capus, however, Heyward says it's possible to see the glass as half full. NBC can maintain the integrity of its news operation even after serious cuts. No way, says respected NBC alum Marvin Kalb. "If it doesn't affect the quality of the product, Steve Capus will be a miracle man," says Kalb, Washington-based senior fellow for Harvard's Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy. Kalb was NBC's chief diplomatic correspondent and moderator of Meet the Press during his 1980-87 tenure. MSNBC didn't exist yet, so his primary reporting responsibility was to NBC Nightly News. These days, of course, NBC saves money by having correspondents do separate stories for Nightly, Today, MSNBC and MSNBC.com. With that heavy a load, quality inevitably suffers, according to Kalb. "You're not going to sleep at all. If you're doing a piece for Nightly, that's an all-consuming part of the day, if you're going to do it with absolute care, double checking, and a little class in the writing." Bill McLaughlin, a professor of journalism at Quinnipiac University and 25-year correspondent at CBS and NBC, agrees. "Of course it will affect the integrity of the news," he says. "NBC is already cut to the bone. The cuts will be painful. They will weaken NBC." Not necessarily, says network-news analyst Andrew Tyndall. Every year, technology costs go down, he says, with cameras getting more lightweight and satellite costs declining. "Technology will bail them out," he says. "Productivity gains from using the most modern technology." McLaughlin labels the NBC Universal-mandated cutbacks at NBC News as "cowardly. NBC is the best place right now for news coverage because it's able to amortize its correspondents over MSNBC and CNBC." At NBC, as well as other networks, McLaughlin predicts that cutbacks will result in fewer correspondents covering stories, particularly overseas, and the increased use of outside sources and freelancers. "All the networks are running scared," he says. "They've never figured out a way to not use people to cover the news. You need bodies.... The incompetence is amazing." After the election Nov. 7, expect to see a round of cutbacks "all over the place," McLaughlin says (via Brock Whaley, GA, DXLD) ** U S A. CLEAR CHANNEL PUTS ITSELF UP FOR SALE By James Politi and Joshua Chaffin in New York, Financial Times Updated: 1:10 a.m. PT Oct 26, 2006 URL: http://msnbc.msn.com/id/15420940/ Clear Channel Communications, the largest US radio broadcasting group, put itself up for sale on Wednesday night, potentially unleashing an auction for the company that could value it in excess of $16bn. The move follows serious talks that the Texas-based company has held with a number of private equity groups that have been studying a takeover of the group. This includes one consortium combining Providence Equity Partners, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Blackstone. In a short statement, Clear Channel said it was "evaluating various strategic alternatives to enhance shareholder value" and had hired Goldman Sachs as its financial adviser. To be successful, any bid for Clear Channel would need to gain some level of approval from the Mays family, which owns a 7 per cent stake in the company. Lowry Mays, the chairman, founded the company in 1972. Flush with cash, private equity groups have been swarming around traditional media companies as they struggle to adapt to the digital age. This week, a number of buy-out groups are expected to submit offers for Tribune, the owner of the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune. That deal could be worth about $9bn. On Wednesday, Clear Channel shares closed up 0.5 per cent at $32.35 and were up a further 6.7 per cent once the company released its statement in after-hours trading. Like other radio groups, Clear Channel has struggled in recent years as listeners have migrated to new digital options including Apple's iTunes, internet radio, and satellite networks, such as Sirius and XM. Private equity groups are likely to suggest that coping with these challenges will be easier as a private company. Earlier this month, Cablevision's controlling family, the Dolans, proposed to take the cable group private in a $17bn offer, including debt, with a similar rationale. Copyright The Financial Times Ltd. All rights reserved (via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO AUDIENCE IS GROWING By Lynn Arave, Deseret Morning News How many listeners tune in to National Public Radio stations? Arbitron doesn't include public and commercial radio stations in the same ratings list, but it does measure public-radio stations. In fact, the latest Arbitron report shows that NPR stations are up 1 percent nationally in their listening audience over the past year. Despite listener drops in news-talk radio, NPR's audience is growing. . . http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,650201928,00.html (via Zacharias Liangas, DXLD) ** VENEZUELA [non]. Contrary to a recent report, no sign of RNV on 11670 at several chex during the 2000 UT hour Oct 27; but it was on 17705 as usual, via CUBA (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** WESTERN SAHARA [and non]. See MOROCCO ** ZIMBABWE [non]. SW Radio Africa, 15145, e-QSL letter (F/D + power: 100 kW), in 3.5 hours after follow-up report for 2005 reception, ``Transmitter location is restricted for security reasons``. V/s: Keith Farquharson. Thanks to: Juan Antonio Arranz S., Spain, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD 6-159 (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Long gone from 15145 UNIDENTIFIED. 6005, re 6-159: Hi Glenn and all, I don't understand why you didn't think about Deutschlandradio Kultur which is more or less a local here. I enjoy this station a lot. Its programming is really a mix of cultural features from any place worldwide, not necessarily centered on Germany. Transmitter-site is listed as Berlin-Britz 100 kW, and I presume it's non-directional. Right now at 0906 UT, Oct 27 they are giving a the forecast of water levels and weather around the Baltic and northwest European coast. (Well, that doesn't matter so much for a "land-crab" like me, but we do have a storm with possible gale force winds right now in northweast Europe.) It's rather difficult for me to imagine how you hear 6005 in Enid, OK. Radio Habana Cuba must be very strong on 6000. Ciao / (Johan Berglund, Trollhättan, Sweden. AOR AR7030 and presently using a 30 m lw mixed with a K9AY, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RHC was fading down by then on a daylight path, no problem. But I would not expect to hear Germany on 50m when it is mid-day there, nor would I expect DLRK to be carrying Protestant programming. I gave the name of the hymn in German because I couldn`t think of what it is called in English, but it was instrumental (gh, DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LANGUAGE LESSONS ++++++++++++++++ PROPER NAMES OF COUNTRIES I agree with almost everything in the IRCA Countries List, compiled by Bruce Portzer, in DXM 10/6. However, I do think all countries should be listed under their political title when it differs significantly from the colloquial, or, even more so, the geographical title. Minor examples are Korea, North and Korea, South -- I use those myself; so do many, perhaps most, DXers. But do DXers say, or use, ``Chagos Islands``? No, the British dependent territory issues stamps inscribed ``British Indian Ocean Territory`` and all mail should be so addressed. This topic has been discussed in the American Philatelist (articles by Steve Pendleton). ``Chagos Islands`` belongs to the same category as ``Society Islands`` -- a cross-reference, at most, but don`t try addressing letters there! Malawi was never ``Nyassaland``. The only English spelling was Nyasaland. Nyassa was a province of Mozambique which issued stamps around 1900. On Page 14, the accent on Peru (accent over u) has slipped onto Peru (accent over e)``. But in English it isn`t necessary, or even correct. Same with ``Panama`` (accent over last a). Just write, Peru, Panama. It may be confusing, but the only official name of the country listed as ``Samoa, Western`` is one word: Samoa. Should be listed as Samoa (formerly Western Samoa). Once again, check the country`s postage stamps. Under South Africa, ``the homeland republics`` could be clarified by adding (former Bantustans). Correct spelling of the Dutch dependency is St. Eustatius (in Dutch, and in English, which is spoken there; the natives` affectionate nickname for it is Statia, again with a t). Under Taiwan, the current spelling of Quemoy is Kinmen, though Quemoy is historically acceptable. Finally, I believe loggings of the DPRK (N. Korea) ``from before the Korean War in the 1950s`` should be counted as DPRK, which was established in 1945. Also, among inactive and deleted countries, why is Wallis and Futuna, which I heard on 1189, omitted? (Richard E. Wood, HCR3, Box 11087, Keaau, Hawaii 96749-9221, IRCA DX Monitor Oct 28 via DXLD) I need to add that I can`t send my column using the accent marks and underlining because it is stripped out of the column when I convert it to a text format so that it can be read by Phil. Thus, my insertions of the comments showing where the accent marks belong without actually showing it (R C Evans, IRCA ed., ibid.) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ PUBLIC RADIO SEEKS RECALL OF FM DEVICES USED IN CARS --- By Frank D. Roylance sun reporter Originally published October 26, 2006 http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/bal-te.radio26oct26,0,1345449.story?coll=bal-home-headlines Citing widespread interference on broadcast frequencies used by its member stations, National Public Radio has asked the Federal Communications Commission to order recalls of millions of FM modulators that drivers use to play satellite radios and iPods through their car stereos. A field study by NPR Labs found that nearly 40 percent of those devices have signal strengths that exceed FCC limits, enabling them to break into FM broadcasts in nearby cars with unwanted programming. A separate investigation by the National Association of Broadcasters found that more than 75 percent of the devices it tested violated the power limits. In a filing this summer with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. acknowledged FCC findings that some of its modulators were too powerful. It also admitted that some of its employees had asked suppliers to ignore FCC rules in building the devices. The interference has spurred complaints from listeners whose favorite public radio and Christian broadcasts have been briefly interrupted by satellite radio shock-jock Howard Stern and other offensive fare. The illegal FM modulators "have contributed to ... unacceptable degradation of the audio quality of public radio stations," NPR's chief executive officer, Ken Stern, said in an Oct. 12 letter to FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin. A copy of the letter was obtained by The Sun. "Left unaddressed," he continued, "these modulators post a significant threat to the provision of public radio's free, over-the-air public and community service." He urged the FCC to look beyond satellite radio sets and conduct a "thorough technical review" of the most popular FM modulators on the market, and to pursue a recall of all those found in violation of FCC rules. The violations are so widespread, he said, that they raise "fundamental issues of misrepresentation" in the paperwork that manufacturers submit to the FCC to gain certification for their "low- power" products, he said. FM modulators, either built-in or add-on, take the original digital signal from the satellite radio receiver, or MP3 music player, convert it to an analog FM signal, and send it into the car's stereo. Some are wired directly to the FM receiver; others act as mini broadcast stations, transmitting to the car's radio antenna. FCC spokesman Clyde Ensslin would say only that NPR's request "is under review, just as this matter [of over-powered modulators] is under review." SEC filings by XM Radio - Sirius' chief competitor - also admit some of its modulators are out of compliance. Both companies said they have ordered suppliers to suspend production and shipment until their products comply with FCC rules. Both said they were working with the FCC and hoped to avoid supply interruptions to retailers. Meghan R. Henning, a spokeswoman for the Consumer Electronics Association, which represents 2,100 electronics manufacturers, said, "This is a serious issue and we're acknowledging it. ... It's well within the FCC's rights to speak to the wrong-doers." If the FCC ordered a recall of devices found by commission technical reviewers to be overpowered, Henning said, "the CEA would be fine with that." The problem first drew public attention in January when Howard Stern joined Sirius. Almost immediately, listeners who were tuned to public radio stations and some Christian stations broadcasting at the bottom of the FM dial began to complain about unexpected bursts of foul language and bad taste on their car radios. The stations forwarded the complaints to NPR or the FCC. Neil Hever, program director at WDIY-FM, 88.1 MHz in Allentown, Pa., called the complaints "alarming." Len Parkin of Palmer, Pa., was on a Saturday afternoon drive with his wife three weeks ago, listening to "World Rhythms" on WDIY, when the show was interrupted by obscene rap lyrics. He fired off an e-mail to Hever, saying: "Tell me why I shouldn't turn you in to the FCC." Hever explained the problem to Parkin, who redirected his ire to the FCC. But the angry notes keep coming. "The perception is that we're airing filthy material," Hever said. "I am just so tired of hearing this. ... I feel the FCC is very slow to help out stations like ours in the noncommercial band." WYPR-FM in Baltimore is another NPR member station broadcasting at 88.1 MHz. "We are continuing to hear complaints from listeners," and forwarding them to the FCC, said station President Anthony Brandon. Newer FM modulator models can be tuned to use any FM frequency, from 87.9 MHz to 107.9 MHz, posing a risk of interference anywhere on the FM dial. But most of the problem stems from older devices that offer consumers a choice of only a handful of frequencies below 89 MHz - a section of the FM broadcast band reserved for non-commercial radio. Some come from the factory tuned to 88.1. Unfortunately, says, Mike Starling, executive director of NPR Labs, that frequency is also used nationwide by about 80 public radio stations, and just as many religious broadcasters. If the units transmitted at the low power levels prescribed by Part 15 of the FCC's regulations, there would be little or no interference problem. But an independent study commissioned by the National Association of Broadcasters reported in June that, of 17 popular modulators tested, 13 exceeded Part 15 power limits, along with other deficiencies. "From the sample of devices tested here, it is clear that a majority of devices on the market are violating FCC rules," the NAB study concluded. NPR believes it's not enough to assure that new modulators comply with Part 15 rules. Millions of over-powered devices already in use also need to be recalled and replaced with legal devices, said Starling. "And we don't think it's just the satellite radio units," he added. In NPR's tests, "we can clearly hear flash players, and people listening to podcasts. We thought there should be a much broader inquiry." NPR Labs studied FM modulators at three sites alongside busy highways in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. At each location, radio engineers set up a radio listening station to detect FM modulators in passing cars, and measure their signal strength against FCC limits. The NPR test stations probably missed some devices. They were tuned to just two of the FM frequencies commonly used by FM modulators. In all, they detected active modulators in 99 passing vehicles during the roughly one-hour tests. Of those, 40 were operating at illegally high signal strength. On high-traffic routes the number of vehicles with out-of-compliance modulators radio listeners encounter can be high. At the test site along Route 50 in Arlington, Va., for example, noontime traffic averages 3,600 vehicles an hour in one direction. "A driver in the opposite direction could pass approximately 28 non- compliant modulators an hour," the report said - about one every two minutes. And that count omits interference from modulators moving in the same direction as the NPR listener. Manufacturers would have good reason to exceed FCC power limits, Starling said. Modulators at legal signal strengths can be vulnerable to static or "reverse" interference from licensed broadcasters - NPR leaking into Howard Stern's show. To avoid consumer disappointment with their devices, Starling said, "it may have been awfully tempting for manufacturers to say, 'Just a little more power would get us over that hurdle.' But it's interfering with public radio stations in particular." (via Harry van Vugt, ON, DXLD) FESSENDEN: WORLD'S FIRST BROADCASTER? A RADIO HISTORY BUFF FINDS THAT EVIDENCE FOR THE FAMOUS BRANT ROCK BROADCAST IS LACKING by James E. O'Neal, 10.25.2006 James E. O'Neal is the technology editor for TV Technology magazine and a Radio World contributor. . . http://www.rwonline.com/pages/s.0052/t.437.html (via Curtis Sadowski, WTFDA-AM via DXLD) A LONG but good read; you should start at the beginning, but here is the conclusion: What happened? --- At this point, all surviving evidence points to the conclusion that Fessenden's 1906 Christmas Eve broadcast did not happen. I really wanted to believe that Fessenden did what was claimed. Given the resources available to him in terms of an operational high- frequency alternator, methodology for AM modulation technology and an antenna system, he certainly could have done the broadcast. His Dec. 21, 1906 demonstrations proved that he could transmit speech and music. However, all evidence points to the Christmas Eve event as being a contrived story. Fessenden was no "shrinking violet." He was proud of his accomplishments, almost continuously writing about them for publication. He loved to blow his own horn. Had he made these seminal and historical transmissions, he would have made sure the world knew about them in detail, at the time they happened. He would not have waited a quarter of a century, and only months before he died, to do so. Now we enter into conjecture. Is it possible that in the last months of his life, Fessenden recalled the Dec. 21, 1906 demonstration of his system, unintentionally spread it into Christmas Eve and embellished it "just a bit?" This time Fessenden was not writing a letter to a magazine or newspaper editor. It was his assumption that only Kintner would read it. He could have had no idea that eight years later, his wife would reproduce a copy he retained and that this would be the basis for a wonderful tale about the first chapter in broadcasting. Or perhaps he wasn't concerned with the history books and what he revealed to Kintner was the product of a tired body and mind. Or our speculation may be wrong and some other explanation can be found for the utter lack of contemporary documentation to justify Fessenden's claim to history. Conclusion --- Let us summarize our reasons to doubt: No press reports at the time, or for a quarter-century after. No mention for decades by an inventor who knew how to promote himself and wrote hundreds of articles about his work. No mention in a contemporary log and no known logs elsewhere, whether official naval logs or otherwise. No commemorations 25 years later. No challenge to De Forest's published competing claim. No followup to Clark's finding that the year needed to be verified; no consensus as to the date among the group cited by Clark. No mention of 1906 once the year 1907 began to be cited. Any one of these objections can be explained away. Taken together, they form a powerful counterargument. The question of the year also might be considered a minor discrepancy except that the evidence seems to point to De Forest being first with what we would consider broadcasts in the spring of 1907. Fessenden was a great man. It is not my desire to discredit his many accomplishments. However, it appears his claim to this particular historic "first" hangs on a single letter penned late in his life, which laid out a story that has been parroted many times since. This should not guarantee automatic entrance into the "broadcasting hall of fame" and the title of world's first broadcaster. Perhaps somewhere out there, locked in a trunk, is a diary kept by Fessenden or one of his associates. Perhaps the Brant Rock station log survives in a second-hand bookstore. I leave it to future historians to find such evidence and prove me wrong (via gh, DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING ++++++++++++++++++++ BOSTON ACOUSTICS RECEPTOR HD [IBOC] We got in a shipment of these little guys at KSMU yesterday, and I took one home to try it out a bit last night. I actually spent most of the evening sitting around Springfield-Branson National Airport waiting for my wife to get back from a conference in D.C., but I did do an AM bandscan between 6 and 6:30 pm Central time [2300-2330 UT]. As it only has a pair of little spring-clip terminals for an external mediumwave antenna, and my Quantum QX Pro is strictly SO-239/PL-259, I ended up just hanging the Boston's little plastic AM loop over the end of the Quantum's loopstick housing like a Christmas-tree ornament and going the inductive-coupling route. Managed to get pretty decent signal strength that way, but this little radio suffers from beaucoups internally-generated birdies, not to mention local images (KLFJ-1550 shows up on 650, KGMY-1400 shows up on 1700 etc.). Of course, without being able to arrange for a proper external-antenna hookup it's hard to tell for sure, but I get the feeling no one could ever mistake it for a sensitive DX machine. (Also, its tuning is channelized in 10 kHz steps.) Tuning around after local sunset, of course, automatically limited my choices for seeking out IBOC signals -- none of my locals AMs are running IBOC yet -- but I did note the "HD" icon on the digital display flashing on and off on a few frequencies like 890, and KFAB- 1110 Omaha was still running their day pattern and HD signal, and as they're very strong here I thought it would be a good test to see how well the HD signal gets out. Based on everything I've read so far, I didn't expect much --- and the radio didn't deliver much. From what I observed, it would take about an S9+60 city-grade signal to consistently (and continually) activate the digital-audio circuitry! KFAB was strong enough for the "HD" icon to stay lit pretty much all the time, and to display the KFAB call letters. But it was never strong enough for the standard analog to switch over to digital, except for about 2 seconds' worth. And it was quite obvious when it did, as the sound definitely became more "FM-like". (Actually the analog-AM sound isn't bad, albeit limited to about 5 kHz on the top end. But the unit's little port-loaded speakers produce an amazing amount of real bass.) So -- the ID feature is one cool thing that might attract a DXer, but I'm afraid you need a pretty strong signal for that to activate. And you need a stronger signal than THAT to get the digital audio to trigger. The adjacent-channel hash produced by IBOC is a totally separate issue, of course -- I was merely trying to determine how well the radio worked receiving skywave signals. And the answer is: not particularly well. FM sensitivity seemed better, at least with the 7-foot-long wire dipole supplied with the radio (Randy Stewart, Battlefield MO, Oct 26, IRCA via DXLD) Today's NY Times, in the frequently-appearing ad for big-boys-toys, thanks to J&R Music World (p. C10) brings the news that the rebate for the BA HD Receptor has increased by $25 - but only for in-store purchases. The $50 mfgr's rebate is still in place. It is not clear who is paying for the extra $25 (if you are IN the store). Interestingly J&R listed this item under "portables" along with a Tivoli Model 1, a pocket FM/TV-audio receiver, sports binoculars, and a Grundig G4000A all-band portable for $99 (item GRU-G4000A). The Tivoli (at $119) looks nice, and it also qualifies for free ground shipping --- but does not need a rebate, apparently (Bob 1344 edt Oct 26 Foxworth, Tampa, ibid.) I do believe IBOC will still be a failed technology. NOBODY is buying the radios, even though Clear Channel is shoving HD Radio and their promos down the throat of their listeners; with TWO REQUIRED BY CORPORATE SPOTS every hour to play regarding HD Radio. When I worked at Clear Channel, I woke up to an email from somebody in Texas one day because I had deleted two of the HD Radio spots during one of my shifts, not knowing they were required. I was scolded for deleting them despite the fact that they were at 2 and 3 in the morning; and was told the next time it happened I'd be gone. I ended up gone anyway, but not for that. That's how tough CC is about this HD technology - they are monitoring their stations to see if the required promos are being played or not. And NO ONE has an HD radio. Give it 5 years, and we'll probably have our dials back again. It makes no sense to run failed technology, and they're going to eventually stop (Adam Rivers, Oct 26, WTFDA via DXLD) One of these units is on display at my local Radio Shack. It is fairly tiny and quite plastic. Obviously defective, there was no reception at all. Not even the tiniest analog peep AM or FM. I was really disappointed and will try to get the manager to open up another one this weekend (Karl Zuk N2KZ, ibid.) NON BROADCAST USE OF DRM U.K./NORWAY 9665/11860 VTC Sea Trial DRM Data Services. Midst on the broadcast bands, via UK or Kvitsoe Norway VT Communications sites? (Wolfgang Büschel, Oct 20, BCDX Oct 28 via DXLD) Es tummelt sich wieder einmal ein nur Daten-Service im DRM Modus mitten im Rundfunkband auf 11860 kHz mit s/on um 1330 UTC, s/off 1400 UTC. Dafuer gibt's doch eigentlich eigene Frequenzbereiche, oder darf jetzt in den Rundfunkbaendern alles senden solang es nur im DRM-Modus ist? Data Service MOT Broadcast Web Site VTC Sea Trial --- Bit Rate 18,24 kpbs EEP/ID 4097 Ich hab keine Ahnung wer da was sendet, ich kann nur weitergeben was Dream so an Info decodiert. Vor einiger Zeit hat ja das Fraunhofer Institut im 49mB sowas getestet, wer hinter der Sendung auf 11860 kHz steckt weiss ich nicht. Vielleicht steht VTC fuer VT Communications (Patrick Robic-AUT, A-DX Oct 20, ibid.) Digitale Sendung mitten im 25 mb Band. Ist das ein VTC-Merlin Communications Seefunkdienst Test ?? Digital Data-Service auf 11860 kHz. 11860 INS ist jetzt auf Sendung, heute am moslemischen Feiertag sehr spaet aufgeschaltet! Die Datenservices sagen mir nichts, weisst Du mehr? Sind das internat. Organisationen, Logistikunternehmen, Schiff-to-Land oder was? (wb, wwdxc BC-DX Oct 20, ibid.) 9665 kHz VTC Sea Trial DRM Data Service um 0700 UT (Patrick Robic, Austria, A-DX Oct 26, ibid.) see also TAIWAN WORLD OF HOROLOGY +++++++++++++++++ DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME YIELDS MASSIVE DAYLIGHT SURPLUS http://www.theonion.com/content/node/54363 WASHINGTON, DC --- Energy Secretary Samuel W. Bodman announced Monday that the country's seven-month-long effort to conserve sunshine has resulted in the largest national daylight surplus since October 2005. "We have built up over 200 hours of this precious, life-giving resource," said Bodman, noting that "the sun's rays are not going to last forever." "We have decided it would be most prudent not to squander this valuable daylight by distributing it to Americans, instead suggesting that they all just wake up a little earlier." Bodman said the surplus will be stored in the Strategic Daylight Reserve --- a system of opaque, sealed-off underground tanks located in Arizona --- and only tapped in the case of the sun burning out or a particularly rainy afternoon (via Eric Flodén, BC, IRCA via DXLD) ###