DX LISTENING DIGEST 6-179, December 4, 2006 Incorporating REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING edited by Glenn Hauser, http://www.worldofradio.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits For restrixions and searchable 2006 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn FIRST SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1339 Wed 2300 on WBCQ 7415 Thu 0000 on WBCQ 18910-CLSB Fri 2130 on WWCR1 7435 Latest edition of this schedule version, including AM, FM, satellite and webcasts with hotlinks to station sites and audio, is at: http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html For updates see our Anomaly Alert page: http://www.worldofradio.com/anomaly.html WRN ON DEMAND: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL] http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html or http://wor.worldofradio.org WORLD OF RADIO PODCASTS: www.obriensweb.com/wor.xml DX/SWL/MEDIA PROGRAMS Dec 5: http://www.worldofradio.com/dxpgms.html ** ALBANIA. Located east of Italy on the Adriatic, Albania is a little-known country of 3.2 million people inhabiting a rugged, mountainous landscape. Staunchly isolationist for much of the twentieth century, the country is slowly making the transition to a modern democracy, yet continues to have high rates of poverty and unemployment. Albanian Radio and TV (RTSh) is the public broadcaster, serving domestic and international audiences. Albanian Radio and TV (RTSh): http://rtsh.sil.at/ First, note that the RTSh website is actually based in Austria (.at), which indicates the current level of Internet presence in Albania. The website is quite simple in layout, and contains a mere six pages: the home page; About RTSh (in English); a Foreign language program schedule, listing broadcasts in seven languages; an Albanian language program guide (MW/SW to Europe, and SW to North America); Online (more in a moment); and contact information (by post, telephone, or fax – the only email address is for the webmaster). The Online page is home to two downloadable programs in Real Media format. While this appears quite progressive, the programs date from 9-12 July, 1999, and appear to be no longer available. Next month we’ll begin the column in full with a look at Argentina, Australia, and Austria. Have a safe and happy holiday season, and see you in 2007! (Paul E. Guise, St. John's, NL A1C 3X6, Canada, Click! [a new column about SW station websites], Dec ODXA Listening In via DXLD) And the schedule pages http://rtsh.sil.at/albanian.htm and http://rtsh.sil.at/foreign.htm are very out of date, also from 1999?! (gh, DXLD) Glenn, The Albanian Radio and TV (RTSh) web page: http://rtsh.sil.at/ was a project with a Dutch or Austrian foundation, as far as I remember from years 2000. This project was closed several years ago. From the end of June 2005 the ARTV web page is http://www.rtsh.com.al It might be out of date, too. As for access in the Internet nowadays in Albania, this is very easy on the streets at Internet café and everywhere in Institutions and many private companies of all kind of businesses (Drita Çiço, R. Tirana, Dec 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Drita, The .at page really should be taken down, or at least the outdated schedules. Right now I do not get any connection to http://www.rtsh.com.al (or without the www either). (Glenn, circa 1800 UT Dec 4, to Drita, via DXLD) ** ANGUILLA [and non]. Re 6-178: DGS Anguilla missing from 6090/11775. Also noticed this yesterday 12/2. Last night local/early morn. UT also noticed missing from 5030/6150/9725, which are all Costa Rica frequencies, I believe, but was on 5935, and also noticed mostly music the few times I re-checked (Alex Vranes, Jr., WV, Dec 3, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Defunct Gene Scott still missing, no signals from Caribbean Beacon at 0645 Dec 4 on 6090, nor on 5030, 6150, 9725, from Costa Rica but 7375 was on the air plus of course WWCR 5935. At 1445, 11870 CR was also audible. At 1514 Anguilla 11775 still absent. At 2004, 11775 still missing; 9725 on with OC, and DGS modulating when rechecked at 2012 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. I thought RA only broke away some frequencies for stupid ballgames at weekends, but UT Monday Dec 4 at 0637, 15240 was in cricket, not // 15160 and 15515 with regular programming (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glen[[n], regarding your comments about cricket, the same should also apply on 5 December. The remaining dates for the Australia- England series are: 14-18 December, 26-30 December and 2-6 January, with zillions of one-day internationals after that, and definitely not only at weekends. Why not tune in and get educated! (PAUL DAVID, Wembley Park, United Kingdom, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) They may be stupid ballgames to you, Glenn, but this is The Ashes. I will not go into details, but you obviously haven't been looking at the BBC Home Page in recent days :-) If you want to know more, check http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ashes/ (Andy Sennitt, Netherlands, ibid.) ** BANGLADESH. 7185, Bangladesh Betar, 1820, 11/16/06 in English. News and commentaries on Lebanon. Very poor (David Turnick, Reading PA, NRD-545, Sony 2010 & Alpha Delta DX Sloper antenna, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** BELARUS. Minsk 2340 (2 x 1170) --- this one is the strongest I've ever heard it tonight (2019 UT 4/12/06). (Tim Bucknall, Congleton, N/W England, Icom IC-736 + welbrooke ala 1530 outdoor loop, harmonics yg via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. BRASIL – Duas freqüências de emissoras do Brasil que estão inativas no momento são 9505 kHz, da Record, de São Paulo (SP), e 11805 kHz, da Globo, do Rio de Janeiro (RJ). A constatação é do Édison Bocorny Jr., de Novo Hamburgo (RS). BRASIL – A ótima performance da Rádio Gazeta, de São Paulo (SP), pela freqüência de 15325 kHz, também é notada no Nordeste do Brasil. Em Conceição do Coité (BA), Robson de Almeida Silva sintonizou a estação paulista, recentemente, às 1635 (Célio Romais, Panorama, @titivade DX Dec 3 via DXLD) ``Performance`` is a Portuguese word?? (gh, DXLD) ** BULGARIA. Europe Expands --- On January 1, 2007 Bulgaria and Romania join the European Union. This month, we`ll take a quick tour of the international broadcasts from these two nations and, of course, look at some seasonal favourites. Bulgaria was once the most loyal of Soviet satellites, marching in step with the Moscow party line. Radio Sofia, Bulgaria, as it was then known, was well heard, if a tad tedious listen. As has been mentioned in this space before, it was the first shortwave station I ever heard, and in 1978 or 79, I even won a minor prize in some essay contest they sponsored. (My prize? Of course, what every asthmatic non-smoker needs --- a marble ashtray and cigarette box, the latter broken of course in transit.) The Radio Bulgaria of today is largely different than the one of the Soviet era. It`s a much younger sounding station, and more western oriented, as befits a nation about to join the EU. Much of their programming consists of reports on the imminent accession of Bulgaria. In addition, they are celebrating an anniversary. Radio Bulgaria turns 70 ``Bulgaria started broadcasting to the world in foreign languages 70 years ago. This laid the beginning of the Overseas Service of the Bulgarian National Radio. ``Over the past seven decades Radio Bulgaria (formerly Radio Sofia) has been a radio of friendship, bridging different cultures and countries. At present it broadcasts daily in 10 languages: Bulgarian, English, French, German, Spanish, Russian, Turkish, Greek, Serbian and Albanian. ``Since May 2004 our output in text, sound and photos can be found online. The unique for this country and region website also offers information in Arabic. ``This jubilee program tells of Radio Bulgaria`s path through the years, of our present goals and the way we work. You will also hear congratulations upon the anniversary from radio stations, cultural and friendship societies, educational and other establishments and institutions on five continents, which have opted to receive discs of selections of our programs. ``To mark the 70th anniversary the English Language Service presents interviews with staffers, former and present, on what Radio Bulgaria and the English Section have amounted to in their careers and personal lives. We are opening a door on what it has been like to make good, English-language-speaking international radio in Sofia and prompting great numbers across the world to discover more and more about Bulgaria. ``The jubilee program has been initiated by Maya Daskalova and its general part has been authored by Veneta Pavlova. ``The English Section has been prepared by Margarita Dikanarova with the assistance of Daniela Konstantinova.`` http://www.bnr.bg/RadioBulgaria/Emission_English/Theme_70RB/Material/RBt70.htm The 70th anniversary program can be heard online at the page indicated. It`s not clear to me if it was actually broadcast on Radio Bulgaria on shortwave. Many of the people who appear on this program were broadcasters in the communist era, a time period they tend to gloss over, in my opinion (Fred Waterer, Programming Matters, Dec ODXA Listening In via DXLD) Continued at ROMANIA ** CANADA. Hi Glenn, Just heard the tape of this week's WOR and it cleared up why I hadn't heard RCI on their normal frequencies. I thought it was poor band conditions but after hearing the show I went to RCI's website and downloaded the current schedule. I wonder if this is the result of their affiliation with the satellite radio at CBC? I'd bet they were forced into some exclusive distribution scheme beyond the domestic, mainly FM, outlets. In any case it's a great loss to Canada as they become even more "invisible" to those in North America and elsewhere who are interested in knowing something about the country. I'll try for the Northern Quebec Service but they, as you pointed out on the show, are at best difficult to hear (Dale Rothert, OH, Dec 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA [and non]. Has RCI cancelled its transmissions via Sölvesborg-1179 [SWEDEN]? No mention of this frequency in their current schedules anymore. Unfortunately I did not remember to check until 2359 when I found the transmitter to be off, so I'm not sure if it just had cut off after an RCI relay or left the air already at 2330 (before 2330 some SR program in Swedish was on). Reading about all the recent changes at RCI I really wonder if there doesn't use to be a certain thing called RCI Action Committee? Do they all agree with RCI being reduced to a "come to Canada" outlet, after all their protest against other changes during recent years? Or are they silent because they know that this is the last chance for their station to escape a complete abolition, so just let it succeed or get fired? (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Dec 5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Re 6-179, Regarding CBK: http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2006/db2006-84.htm CRTC decision lists CBK's Saskatoon transmitter as 4,100 watts on 94.1 FM (Ricky Leong, Calgary, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Should I send a 1 USD bill to Canadian stations for return postage? No, I shouldn't! I've been asked to put some focus on this from one of our true friends in the radio business, Richard King at NewCap, Newfoundland. Richard takes care of reception reports to the stations in the VOCM network in NL. He often receives a 1 USD bill enclosed with written reports; however this is not enough to cover return postage! Please be aware that an overseas letter from Canada costs almost CAD 1.50, compared to USD 0.84 from the US. At the current exchange rate, 1 USD is 1.15 CAD. Obviously a 1 USD bill doesn't cover the postage. Here are our choices: Buy Canadian stamps and use a SASE. Buy International Reply Coupons (The preferred way) Email Richard! His email address is ckxg at vocm dot com (rephrased here to avoid spambots – do NOT publicize the exact email address). Emailed reports with small audio files is the easiest and fastest way for Richard to maintain his excellent service to DXers. From the world's northernmost DXer (Bjarne Mjelde http://www.kongsfjord.no weblog: http://arcticdx.blogspot.com Dec 4, Dxing.info via DXLD) But is US$1 enough for a reply to USA? (gh, DXLD) ** CAYMAN ISLANDS [and non]. Observations from Grand Cayman Of course there's no shortwave activity here in the Caymans, but Radio Cayman 1 runs the BBC World Service every night overnight, plus other BBC news and sportscasts and "Caribbean Report." That's on 89.9 FM on Grand Cayman. According to the local paper, Cayman Net News, these are the local stations here. (I have confirmed all of them except Ocean 95 on 95.5, and ICCI-FM on 101.1, which I can't hear where I am. Gospel 88 88.7 R. Cayman 1 89.9 Spin FM 94.9 Ocean 95 95.5 Cayrock 96.5 Heaven 97 97.7 Vibe FM 98.9 Z99 99.9 ICCI FM 101.1 (from International College of the Cayman Islands) Rooster 101 101.9 Hot 104 104.1 R. Cayman 2 105.3 Kiss FM 106.1 X FM 107.1 Cayman Weather Radio 107.9 Radio Cayman 1 also broadcasts on 93.9 on the "sister islands" (Little Cayman and/or Cayman Brac) and Radio Cayman 2 is also on 91.9 on the sister island(s). The local phone book also shows Westpoint Radio on 94.3 FM, but I can't hear it on Seven Mile Beach, just north of the capital George Town. So there is nothing at all here on AM. I think Radio Cayman used to be on AM, but no more. In the nighttime, I can hear lots of Cubans on AM of course, plus noted 670 AM from Miami, 1180 Radio Martí and 1620 from St. Croix. WRMI comes in great during the daytime hours on 9955, but seems to fade out after sunset. The jamming against 9955 is variable in the daytime -- sometimes moderate (but we're still listenable) and sometimes just some low-level bubbles in the background. At night, the jamming (as well our signal!) has been inaudible (Jeff White, Grand Cayman, Dec 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also CUBA [non] ** CHAD. 6165, Rdif. Nat. Tchadienne (N'djamena), 2234-2258, 12/2/06. Lots of hi-life vocals and occasional announcements in French; called this program "Saturday Night"; perhaps mixing with Croatian Radio; transmission from Chad in this time period on Sat. and Sun. only; blasted at 2258 by R. Nederland carrier and sign-on. Poor, sometimes peaking to fair (Jim Ronda, Tulsa OK, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) 6165, Radiodiffusion Nationale Tchadienne, N'Djaména, 1112-1330, 02 Dec, African pops, folk tunes; 33432, QRM de HRV [Croatia]. This catch is surely the result of having increased my CeAfr mini-Beverage from 80 to nearly 300 m on Fri, 01 Dec (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA. Our friend Hector Arboleda from Medellín has realized a new edition of his electronic bulletin of December 2006 with news and photos of the FM-AM stations of Colombia: http://www.playdx.com/files/medellin85.doc Enjoy ! (Dario Monferini, Italy, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA. Raúl, Do you remember Radio Casino, TIQ? I have a pennant from them, probably got it in the 60's (Jerry Lenamon, Waco, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Jerry, I'm replying you almost a week after, as I took some days to visit my homeland of Puerto Limón but with no Internet available in the farm where I was staying. But this was a second occasion to confirm what I reported here at the very beginning of this year when I spent a week in Puerto Viejo, South of Cahuita. TIQ Radio Casino is no longer on AM 1220, altho they announce it in their web site, http://www.radiocasinodelimon.com Most ticos are unaware that Radio Casino is the second oldest station in Tiquicia, just behind the evangelical TIFC Faro del Caribe. You can go and see the history of every TI active station on http://www.canara.org/ BTW, TIFC is not listed there as they are not associated with Canara. Enjoy! 73s. (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, Dec 4, ibid.) DGS: see ANGUILLA [and non] ** CROATIA. Croatian Radio (HRTV) have an excellent programme daily at 1205 UT on 9830 kHz playing non-stop 60's pop songs by English and American singers from that time. Mostly in English but sometimes sung in Croatian. On Friday after the Wednesday England lost the football match two-nil in Croatia they included the song Missus Robinson, can't remember the singer or the group who play it. The song was mentioned in the sports pages of the Thursday morning press. They certainly rubbed it in. Poor Mr Robinson (who missed his kick). (Making Contact, Dec World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** CUBA. A Rádio Havana Cuba trocou a freqüência que usa para transmitir em português para o Brasil? Em dois de dezembro, às 2311, o colunista captou, em Porto Alegre (RS), a emissora transmitindo pela freqüência de 11705 kHz, o programa O Mundo dos Esportes. Se mudou, foi para pior, pois o áudio estava um pouco distorcido, o que jamais ocorria em 15230 kHz, um excelente canal usado pela estação cubana (Célio Romais, Panorama, @titivade DX Dec 3 via DXLD) ** CUBA. Huge crackling noise covering roughly 11680 to 11860, Dec 4 at 1446 was centred around 11760; so distorted I could not be sure at first it correlated with RHC modulation on // 15370; then 11760 cut back on, momentarily in whack, then back out (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RHC to block reactivated XEYU: see MEXICO [and non] ** CUBA [non]. Checked again Dec 4 for reported R. Martí on 17660, this time during the hour it allegedly occurred, at 1618, but heard only WYFR in Portuguese, which is via Ascension. Could someone have mistaken that for R. Martí in Spanish?? Either that or RM made a one- off test of this frequency; PWBR ``2006`` listed 17670 as a winter frequency for them (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Latest sked of exile programs on WRMI: see U S A ** CUBA [non]. Quick check at about 0225 UT Tuesday from Grand Cayman: 9630, Radio República from Canadá extremely strong; no jamming audible 5970, Radio República from Germany much weaker than from Canadá, but still no jamming audible here (Jeff White, UT Dec 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also CAYMAN ISLANDS [and non] ** ECUADOR [and non]. Ricordo di Björn Malm --- Mercoledì scorso era il primo anniversario della scomparsa di Björn Malm, non mi sembra che in molti se ne siano ricordati. Björn è stato uno degli uomini che più ha dato al radioascolto negli ultimi anni, e il 29 novembre del 2005 un arresto cardiaco lo ha portato via. Ho fortunatamente fatto in tempo a salvare l'opera telematica di Björn, un mirror è disponibile all'indirizzo http://www.bclnews.it/malm/ Vi invito a farci un giro, precisando che questa parte del sito è priva di banner e non inserita in alcun circuito pubblicitario (Roberto Scaglione, Dec 4, shortwave yg via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. 9820, V. of Oromia Independence, 1715-1720, escuchada el 2 de diciembre en oromo a locutor con noticias, ID ``Radio... Oromo`` ``Radio ...Oromati``, SINPO 45554. 9485, V. of Oromo Liberation, 1710-1715, escuchada el [sábado] 2 de diciembre en oromo a locutor y locutora con comentarios y referencias a oromo; este servicio se anuncia sólo para jueves y domingos, ¿Cambio de fecha o emisión accidental? SINPO 45554. 9845, V. of Oromo Liberation, 1730-1735, escuchada el 2 de diciembre en amhárico, sintonía, locutor con comentarios y referencias a oromo, SINPO 44444 (José Miguel Romero, Sacañet (Castellón) España, Sangean ATS 909, Antena hilo de siete metros, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Is one of these frequencies transposed? DTK schedule shows 9485 during entire hour: 9485 1700 1759 38E,39S,48 209 140 216 134567 291006 250307 JUL 100 SBO = Sagalee Bilisummaa Oromoo (gh, DXLD) ** FAROE ISLANDS. Article about the 531 transmitter with mentions of 25 and 200 kW transmitters and some event in 1990 I absolutely can't interpret. Perhaps Erik can help with this? http://www.uf.fo/les_tidindi.asp?Id=30811 Here you can see the mast a bit better: http://faroeislands.dk/imags/Sumba/erikchristensen/4%20%20Akraberg.JPG Just tried 531 and got a mixture of Romania, Algeria and some station playing the Queen song "The show must go on" underneath, rather Burg than Akraberg I fear. So no success also in the absence of Beromünster here so far, but at least it appears to be much easier without the Swiss powerhouse (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Dec 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FINLAND. Hello from Finland! Scandinavian Weekend Radio (SWR) will be the only Finnish voice in the shortwaves after YLE has ended SW broadcasts in 2007. Now everyone should try to get YLE 963 kHz before it is too late. The good thing is that other stations on 963 and 960 kHz will be much easier to catch at least here in the Nordic countries. I started this DXing hobby in September 1979. The first report of reception was sent to YLE, and they replied to me: http://www.romppainen.net/VirtualQSLs.htm 73s (Hannu from Finland Romppainen, MWC via DXLD) + other rare QSLs ** GABON. ANU Le Buzz, 19160, Dec 4 at 1519 was audible but weak, fluxuating S3 to S8 peaks; at 1523 ANU on 17630 was atop a lite buzz or hum, but nothing like the roar on 19160; Afropop music jammer on 17660 had no such problems (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [non]. Forget about hearing DW in English to South Asia via Trincomalee, 9795 at 16-17 which is also aimed toward the US east coast: RCI has its DRM signal on 9800 during that time and it wipes out the DW signal. The RCI DRM signal on 9800 also splashes onto R. Taiwan Int'l via France, in English on 9785 at 1600 (Joe Hanlon, NJ, Dec 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HAITI [non]. Re CUBA: Jean-Michel, Is Creole similar enough to French that it can be understood by a typical French speaker? (Jerry Lenamon, Waco, Texas, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Jerry, I've been listening to the creole transmission on Internet. I understand most of the programme, but I have to listen very carefully. So, I can answer : "yes, a French-speaking person is able to understand Creole" (Jean-Michel Aubier, France, ibid.) ** INDIA. AIR IS with flutter, Dec 4 at 1513 on 15175, 1515 opening in language; that would be the Gujrati service via Bangalore. Once the droning IS stopped, it uncovered a low het on 15175, but I cannot find anything else listed at this hour; perhaps a spur from Cuban jammer, or something (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. Nominal 7410 kHz, AIR Delhi, 250 kW, 312 degrees, serves rather no audio tonight, only the carrier noted. 1730-2230 UT. BUT 4 TERRIBLE distorted signals like a garden fence noted nearby: approx. 27 kHz apart, the strongest 7379...7389 kHz. And also three others on 7331...7336, 7351...7363, on the lower side, and a single weak signal on 7437 kHz on the upper side. \\ 9445 kHz AIR GOS-IV English. Noted on three receivers, like E1 Radio, Sony ICF2010, and AOR 7030. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Dec 3, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. Saludos cordiales, tras varias semanas de estar fuera de servicio la web de La Voz de Indonesia, ya se aprecia activa: http://www.rri-online.com/ Parece que la página principal está renovada, no así la del servicio en español. 73 (José Miguel Romero, Spain, Dec 4, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Nor English, with the same old 2-year-old reception reports, and no overall SW transmission schedule that I can find. Heard 9525 once again today Dec 4 with Gam-Drake after 1530 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [non]. Re 6-178: Nothing QRM heard today, not even a whistle from 9494.75 kHz. Also nothing odd frequency heard also on yesterday and today mornings. So my guess is, that Sukhumi was contributing that -- bubble like -- oscillating sound on Dec 1st, and now tx equipment has "given up its ghost" totally ??? Glenn, Sukhumi v9494.75 seemingly produced that oscillating signal like a BUBBLE jamming against VoA Farsi on December 1st. No signal received anymore from Sukhumi on Dec 2nd and 3rd too. 73 wolfy (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Wolfy sent a clip of the ``jamming`` -- nothing like I`d ever heard before, and was certainly effective as jamming even if not intended as such (gh, DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. There she goes again. That music director at her computer in the recesses of the R. Farda HQ must have a thing for music in Spanish. A song outroed as ``La Camisa Negra`` ended at 1510 Dec 4 on 15410 via Woofferton, not to be confused with co-channel CVC Miami via Chile which also might play something like that, but at the moment was way under Farda (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN [and non]. NSB, Nagoya, 6115, again causing problems for CRI English via Canada at 0642 Dec 4 (that`s 1542 JST, and 49m already propagating in winter an hour or so before sunset). There was also a low het, but not between these two; probably Perú which is always slightly off 6115 when on (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KUWAIT [and non]. Quite melodic muezzin with high-register voice, Dec 4 at 1505 on 15505, presumably Kuwait. I guess he had to do it since it was around sunset; quite different from the Sa`udi Qur`an going simultaneously on 15425, much clearer than // 15435 which was weaker and buzzier (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBYA [non]. 17635, Sawt al-Amal, 1202-1210, escuchada el 3 de diciembre en árabe, sintonía, ID y canto del Cor`án, SINPO 45444. 17660, Sawt al-Amal, 1250-1255, escuchada el 2 de diciembre en árabe a locutora con comentarios, se aprecia fuerte colisión con emisora musical afro-pop, sintonía e ID, SINPO 53543. 17650, Sawt al-Amal, 1305-1310, escuchada el 2 de diciembre en árabe a locutora con comentarios, locutor con ID, SINPO 55544 (José Miguel Romero, Sacañet (Castellón) España, Sangean ATS 909, Antena hilo de siete metros, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LITHUANIA. There has been some confusion about the B06 transmissions of Radio Vilnius to North America, if to look at recent discussions in DXLD. According to the transmitting station in Sitkunai, the schedule is 2300-2400 on 7325 (2300-2330 Lithuanian, 2330-2400 English) and 0000-0100 on 9875 (0000-0030 Lithuanian, 0030-0100 English). (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, Dec 4, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAYSIA. Shortwave for domestic broadcasting lives, in Sarawak. Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) will install "two SW (short wave or R7) transmitters in Bukit Kayu Malam (Sarikei) and Bukit Sengalang (Sibu) for the radio broadcast." http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=234133 (Bernama, 4 December 2006. Posted: 04 Dec 2006, kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) Viz.: MORE RTM RADIO AND TELEVISION TRANSMITTERS FOR SARAWAK UNDER 9MP SIBU, Dec 4 (Bernama) -- Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) will build more radio and television transmitters in Sarawak under the Ninth Malaysia Plan. State Second Minister of Resource Planning and Management Datuk Seri Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said this was necessary for better quality broadcast and reception for listeners and viewers in the rural areas. "There will be two FM (frequency modulation) transmitters in Mukah and Kanowit and two SW (short wave or R7) transmitters in Bukit Kayu Malam (Sarikei) and Bukit Sengalang (Sibu) for the radio broadcast." "Similarly, there will be three television transmitters for better TV1 and TV2 transmission reception in Mukah, Bukit Sengalang and Song in the Kapit division." The transmitters were currently being installed, Awang Tengah, who is also the minister in charge of the Information Ministry in the state, said at the Sibu RTM Quality Day Awards presentation here last night. Earlier, in his speech, he said RTM, as the official agency to disseminate news, information and entertainment programmes, would continue to play a relevant and important role. -- BERNAMA (via DXLD) ** MEXICO [and non]. RADIO UNAM 9600 kHz --- Hoy a las 08:09 local (1409 UT) se encendió el transmisor de Radio UNAM en los 9600 kHz; por el momento solo se escucha portadora y un ruido de fondo con poca intensidad. Ayer a las 17:40 local (2340 UT) me llamó el Ing. Eusebio Mejía, encargado técnico de R. UNAM para informarme que había encendido el transmisor. Lo que escuché en ese momento en los 9600 kHz fué una emisora que emitía en Esperanto y posteriormente a Radio Habana Cuba, en ambos casos se percibía un ruido de fondo, mismo que, desapareció a las 18:10 local (0014 UT) cuando apagaron el transmisor de Radio UNAM. Hace unos minutos hablé telefónicamente con el Ing. Mejía y me hizo saber que estarían trabajando revisando la antena, la línea y el transmisor hasta las 12:00 local (1800 UT). Le pregunté si le interesaba recibir información de los amigos diexistas lo cual le agradó mucho (sin política QSL por el momento) y acordamos se le escribiera a su correo: emejiay @ servidor.unam.mx con copia a un servidor: jusadiez @ hotmail.com Ojalá que Radio UNAM pronto se escuche adecuadamente. Un buen inicio de semana y muchos 73's (Julián Santiago Díez de Bonilla, DF, 1436 UT Dec 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Says XEYU has been working on transmitter and antenna, and was on the air without modulation except background noise Sunday evening and Monday morning. Haven`t had a chance to check, but I assume this means the transmitter would NOT be on the air until 1800 UT Dec 4; after that, who knows? But look for a carrier or some noise at least when RHC is not on. Other users of 9600 at various times during the day include Botswana, Finland, China, Bulgaria, Russia, but per HFCC nothing is on there at 1800-2000, at least. The A-06 schedule still posted at http://www.radiohc.cu/espanol/frecuencia/frecuencias-espanol.htm shows 9600 in use by RHC daily at 00-05, and Sundays from 2330 in Esperanto to Caracas; the new tentative schedules in 6-167 agree, and add 11-13 on 9600. However, 9600 was heard on one occasion running until 0700 in English, and we know that once RHC has used a frequency it might pop up at any other time, especially if there is special revolutionary programming to be aired (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hola Glenn: por hoy el trasmisor estará prendido hasta las 1400 Central Time (2000 UT). Acabo de hablar con el Ing. Mejía y me informó que mañana, el miércoles y el jueves lo encenderán de las 08:00 a las 14:00 Central Time. En este momento solo escucho portadora con algo de ruido. El Ing. Mejía agradecerá mucho le informemos como se está escuchando. Saludos, (Julián Santiago Díez de Bonilla, DF, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Checked this out ASAP, at 1956 Dec 4, and found only a very weak carrier on 9600, obscured by what`s left of RCI on 9610. Not sure it`s XEYU, but a minute later at 1957 another station started up causing a het, with some modulation, but also quite weak. This turned out to be closer to 9599, tho I would have expected XEYU to be the one off- frequency. Still the same situation at 2013 when I quit. The only station scheduled to start at 2000 on 9600 is CRI in English to Europe, tho sources disagree about the site, Kashi or Urumchi (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) De acuerdo a lo que acabo de hablar con el Ing. Eusebio Mejía encargado técnico de Radio UNAM, se pondrá al aire el transmisor de onda corta en los 9600 kHz, los días martes 5, miercoles 6 y jueves 7 de diciembre de las 1400 a las 2000 horas UTC (08:00 a 14:00 tiempo del centro de México). El día de hoy solo se ha escuchado portadora y un ruido de fondo. Mucho agradecerá el Ing. Mejía le reportemos como se está escuchando Radio UNAM, ya que, estos días estarán realizando los ajustes pertinentes para una buena señal. Acordamos el Ing. Mejía y un servidor que los informes (sin política QSL por el momento) se le envíen a : emejiay @ servidor.unam.mx con copia para jusadiez @ hotmail.com 73's (Julián Santiago Díez de Bonilla, Dec 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Says they will be testing Dec 5, 6 and 7 at 14-20 UT on 9600, reports wanted, but they have no QSL policy at the moment. Presumably that means there will then be some modulation (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MOROCCO. 1638 kHz, RTM-"A", Rabat, 1057- 02 Dec, Arabic, talks, news 1100; harmonic of 819; 34443, QRM de harmonic (!) of R. Euskadi 819, Donosti, Spain (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEW ZEALAND. RADIO NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL TE REO IRIRANGI O AOTEAROA, O TE MOANA-NUI-A-KIWA P O Box 123, Wellington, New Zealand Phone: +(64 4) 4741 437 Facsimile +(64 4) 4741 433 E-mail address: info @ rnzi.com Web Address: http://www.rnzi.com Tuesday, December 05, 2006 FREQUENCY SCHEDULE ANALOGUE SERVICE Effective: 06 December 2006 -- 25 March 2007 UTC kHz Primary Target 1300-1550 5950 All Pacific 1551-1750 9870 NE Pacific, Cook Islands, Samoa 1751-1950 11725 All Pacific 1951-2259 17675 All Pacific 2259-0559 15720 All Pacific 0600-1059 9765 All Pacific 1100-1300 13840 NW Pacific, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, Timor DRM SERVICE 1300-1550 7145 All Pacific 1551-1750 9890 NE Pacific, Cook Islands, Samoa 1751-1850 11675 Fiji, Niue, Tonga Samoa, Cook Islands 1851-1950 15720 Fiji, Niue, Tonga Samoa, Cook Islands 1951-2050 11675 NW Pacific, Solomon Islands , Vanuatu 2051-2258 15720 NW Pacific, Solomon Islands , Vanuatu 2259-0559 17675 All Pacific 0600-1259 9890 All Pacific (via Barry Hartley, DXLD) Another week, another schedule. What do you bet there will be many more changes before 25 March (gh, DXLD) ** NIGER. 9705, La Voix du Sahel, Niamey, 2206-2227, 01 Dec, French, phone report, African pops; 44433. Midday reception is quieter - at least over here - than in the evening (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA. 7255, V. of Nigeria, Ikorodu, 1213-1228, 02 Dec, English, newscast, Business News 1217; 35443, hum in carrier. 7275, R. Nigeria, Abuja, 1215-1227, 02 Dec, Vernacular, pops; 15432. English heard at 1500 for newscast, when there was QRM de IND or SNG (t). (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. Oklahoma AM Sold --- SEAN KELLY's KELLY MEDIA, LLC is buying Talk KUSH-A/CUSHING, OK [1600 kHz] from DON KELLY's CIMARRON VALLEY BROADCASTERS, INC. for $50,000 in a ten year promissory note. The station's license has been cancelled but the station received Special Temporary Authority for continued operation in OCTOBER (Allaccess via Brock Whaley, Lilburn, GA, For: DXLD) Sounds like a bargain! (gh) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. I got up late, but the two Papua New Guinea beacons were heard at poor to weak levels around sunrise (1514 UT). With nothing else propagating that late, I continued to listen until they faded away. 1725 GA finally gone at 1533 UT; 1737 kHz KUT continued until 1610. This morning was not one where they were at good level, as has been heard in the past, so perhaps I could have heard them even later, then (Steve Ratzlaff, NE Oregon, R75, E/W longwire, 6 Hz audio filter for PNG beacons, Dec 3, IRCA via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 7120, R. Wantok Light, 1100, 11/30/06. ID at 1201 Wantok Christian Broadcasting Network. Best I've ever gotten them. Good close to local [quality?] (George Herr, CA, WinRadio g303e, R8B and NRD535, 50' wire and AmRad Antennas, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** PORTUGAL. 1035 kHz. R. Nacional, Belmonte, is off for quite a number of days now. I've found their site via GoogleEarth: 38º 52' 15.5" N, 08º 47' 30.85" W, so not between natl. road nº 10 & motorway A13 as I thought, but just on the north edge of the A13. It's simply not possible to get near the transmitter as its perimeter is a leased area within a (state owned) property (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ROMANIA. Europe Expands --- On January 1, 2007, Bulgaria and Romania join the European Union. This month, we’ll take a quick tour of the international broadcasts from these two nations and, of course, look at some seasonal favourites. [continued from BULGARIA] Radio Bucharest/Radio Romania International was always an interesting, if quirky listen. During the late 70s and early 80s when Romania was under the thumb of dictator Nicolai Ceausescu, Radio Bucharest was an orthodox communist broadcaster, but this country was always doing unusual things, pursuing a relatively independent foreign policy, not necessarily towing the Moscow line, and defying the 1984 East Bloc boycott of the Los Angeles Olympics. Nonetheless, Ceausescu maintained a Stalinist police state to the end, more in line with North Korea than Gorbachev`s USSR in the late 80s. Even as regimes changed and fell in surrounding states, he held on to the old ways. In December 1989, depending on who and what you believe, there was a spontaneous uprising, or an uprising staged as part of a coup by ``second tier`` Communist Party officials. The bottom line was that Ceausescu and his wife were deposed and on December 25, in a hastily convened trial, were found guilty and executed. I heard Radio Bucharest shortly after these events and it was one of the most interesting broadcasts I have ever heard. The radio building had been taken over, and the announcers spoke with great enthusiasm about the dawn of freedom, and appealed for aid from abroad, specifically for the basic necessities to run a radio station. I guess it was a pretty ``bare bones`` operation at best and much of the equipment had apparently been looted. Over the intervening years, Radio Romania International, as it became known after 1989, has evolved. Like most eastern European broadcasters, they tackle topics they never would have before 1989. There is a decidedly anti-communist tone, especially when talking about the past, but also a pan-European, pro-Western, capitalist outlook. News is dominated now by economic issues --- and not inflated tractor production figures as in the past. More typical is a discussion of workers from one EU state seeking work in another. Both Bulgaria and Romania broadcast on shortwave. Reception is spotty at times, Romania being the more difficult catch of the two. Both stations provide audio on their websites. Some Radio Romania programming is available via WRN. Late December and early January programming from both nations should be well worth hearing (Fred Waterer, Programming Matters, Dec ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** RUSSIA [non]. 7350 VATICAN STATE. Voice of Russia, 0412, 11/29/06 in English. Science Plus and Songs from Russia program. The Science Program was hosted by a woman with an English accent. This kind of detracted from the mystique of listening to the Voice of Russia as it was like listening to a BBC program. A program which features Russian science achievements should not be presented by a foreigner. My opinion only which I shared with VOR. Good (David Turnick, Reading PA, NRD-545, Sony 2010 & Alpha Delta DX Sloper antenna, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) So you would not approve of VOR with an American accent either, only Russian accents? (gh, DXLD) ** SAINT HELENA. R E P O R T F R O M I N D I A news, views and comment presented by T. R. RAJEESH November 2006 provided one of the great moments in my DX hobby. It was the experience of listening to Radio St. Helena revival broadcasts. I heard the Japanese beam with good reception. Hope many of the club members also had the same experience. I have written an article on the listening experience and excitement of logging Radio St. Helena and hope many others too share their views on RSH broadcast! ST. HELENA TURNS ME ON! ----------------------- OUR EXPECTATIONS AND DXPERIENCE OF LISTENING TO RADIO ST. HELENA Even in the wild dreams of the new generation Dxers here in India, (may be through out the world too!) we never imagined of hearing Radio St. Helena. Many of us still remember the announcement of final transmission of Radio St. Helena in the Wavescan Global DX Report segment by William Matthews during 1998. But none of us were able to listen that final broadcast due to the lack of good receivers. Years passed and many of us were able to obtain some moderate type portable receivers. Although we read information in WRTH under Future Plan of St. Helena (F Pl) is to procure new equipment and re-introduce the annual SW transmission from St. Helena, such plans never seemed to be work out. At least we believed so and settled with salivating a copy of QSL from Mr. C. K. Raman, an IBB monitor who logged St. Helena during 1992 broadcast. During the late 2005 many reports were coming about the attempts for reintroducing annual SW broadcasts from RSH via a new transmitter. An article by Robert Kipp of Germany on the Radio St. Helena QSL Project that published in various DX newsletters invited our attention to St. Helena one again. The efforts of Mr. Anker Petersen (DSWCI), Richard D'Angelo (WDXC & NASWA), NZ DX League and especially the greatest of all Mr. Toschimichi Ohtake (JSWC) along with Mr. Robert Kipp helped to raise the necessary fund and support for Radio St. Helena. The regular updates and reports about the RSH revival project, which appeared in the Contact magazine as well as in DSWCI bulletin DX-Window/SW News, provided lot of excitement for us. Once the broadcast schedule announced, we started preparing for celebrating the event. For us it was a must-hear situation of this revived station. I made regular contacts with fellow Dxers Mr. Alokesh Gupta in New Delhi, Swopan Chakroborty in Kolkata, Mr. Muhammed Shamim in Thiruvanathapuram, Kerala and Gautam Kumar Sharma in Assam preparing and exchanging the possibilities of logging St. Helena. I made an alert in the cell phone reminder at various time schedules as announced. In the beginning of November the excitement reached its peak. Most of my letters and e-mails to fellow Dxers included Radio St. Helena as an item. Club member Edwin sent his best wishes for logging St. Helena through his encouraging letter. On the first day of November reports of RSH test transmission on 11092.5 started arriving. At 1500 UT Jari Savolinen of Finland reported logging the tests with good reception. Alokesh and Gautam tried for the test transmission but heard nothing. It made a fear of not hearing the revival broadcast in India. I believed that the Japanese beam should provide some signals from the first hop of RSH signals that may reach India during its transmission (via long path) so that I can compile programme details for a report. On 4th November I came from office quite early finishing the work. Shamim went a step further by taking half-day leave from the afternoon work in order to sleep early and wake up just before the broadcast. When I called Shamim in the early evening his wife took the phone and told that he was sleeping! The first broadcast of RSH (New Zealand beam) at 1800 UT starts from 2330 IST (half hour before midnight!). By 1700 UT Alokesh was ready with his ICOM R-71 tabletop and headphone; Shamim with a Grundig YB-80; Gautam with his Grundig YB-400 and myself with the SONY ICF-77 and a 5 metre internal wire connected to the extended telescopic antenna were awaiting for the RSH signals. At 1758 UT some weak instrumental music started arriving on my receiver with unintelligible signals. After 1800 RSH broadcasts with very poor reception noted and even unable to take down programme details. Alokesh called me on mobile and checked the reception at my end through mobile. The situation was even worse in New Delhi. Shamim and Gautam heard nothing. Alokesh presumed that there is a greater chance of hearing the North American beam. It was right to assume it since the North American evening (early morning in India) beam of most shortwave broadcasters can easily be picked up here. We also believed that if RSH uses the long path via Africa to cover the Japan from 2000 UT there is even a better chance of hearing the broadcast. Shamim also called and indicated that he is very much depressed with the result of first broadcast. I continued checking for other SSB transmissions. There were MARLO broadcasts of U.S Navy fifth fleet in International Waters from Bahrain with fair signals on 9133 lsb. Cairo ATC was clear on 11300 usb and even Gander Airport from Newfoundland, Canada was audible on 10051 usb! What happened for RSH to cause such a poor reception? I assumed perhaps RSH might have used the short path via South America to reach New Zealand. I set alarm on the cell phone to wake up at 1950 UT, just before the Japanese beam. At 1950 I woke up and set the receiver on 11092.5 kHz. At 1957 some instrumental music started arriving in my receiver. By 1900 interval signal with very good reception noted and followed by station announcement. "This is Radio St. Helena broadcasting on 11092.5 kHz SW, and on 1548 kHz MW, 194 meters; we are beaming towards Japan from St. Helena in the South Atlantic, very Good morning to Japan". One of the most awaited moment arrived at last. The reception was 35443 and I started enjoying the broadcast. Suddenly I remembered Alokesh and Shamim and called both of them who were asleep!! My alerts awake them and they too enjoyed the broadcast. We also checked each other's reception through cell phone. Each moment of the broadcast was so thrilling. We heard the message by the Governor of St. Helena Mr. Michael Clancey followed by a pop song of the Beatles and so on. Later e-mail reports started acknowledging on air. Shamim called me at 2050 UT and told to send an e-mail to the station. I have not imagined about sending a report to Radio St. Helena. Without any hesitation I opened my computer and told them that 3 of us were listening from India and reception is so good here. I also requested to play a song dedicated to my DX friends listening and also to every World DX Club member in England. I mailed the message at 2100 UT exactly and by 2105 I am thrilled to hear my name mentioned from one of the remotest stations in the world. Nirvana!!! What more needed in the life of a Dxer? This itself is more than an official verification statement from St. Helena! The flooding of e-mails to the station only allowed them to mention my name and the reception location only. We continued monitoring and heard the name of our World DX Club mentioned by them. The highlights of the Japanese beam were the description about St. Helena and an interview with Toshi Ohtake of JSWC and reading listener's letters and airing their telephone messages. Japanese listeners participated actively as evidenced by the large number of e-mail reports from there. One of the employees in German Embassy of Vietnam also sent e-mail to RSH! The broadcast to Japan ended by 2147 UT extended than scheduled time limit of 2130. The reception was not good for the European beam and for the late North American beam. Final analysis with Alokesh Gupta indicated that the best reception was noted here in Kerala, at my location! Alokesh and Shamim also had fair reception. But our friend Gautam was not able to hear the broadcast on any of the beam in his location, Assam (Northeast India). We also heard one Ajith Krishnan's name but was unable to locate him. Mr. C. K. Raman with excellent receivers at the IBB office in New Delhi was also able to hear the revival broadcast beamed to North America. Further one Mr. Neil, VU2BGK in Tamilnadu also heard RSH Japanese beam with his Grundig Satellit 500 receiver and reported over next day's BCDX ham net on 7085 lsb. He mentioned that my name was heard over the broadcast! I really felt sorry for not recording the RSH broadcast. One of the surprise e-mail I received soon after the broadcast was the "Thank you" message from Derek ZD7CTO for participating in the worldwide transmission of Radio St. Helena. The three of us, Alokesh, Shamim and myself sent off reports with return postage to Radio St. Helena and DSWCI within the next few days itself for QSLs. But for me I already received the best verification from St. Helena first via on air acknowledgement and secondly via the great e-mail reply from Derek. Everything else is a mere formality as Dxing is a matter of internal happiness! [Compiled by T. R. Rajeesh (WDXC#2504) for the Contact Magazine, the monthly DX Digest of World DX Club in Northampton, England, Dec, via DXLD] ** SPAIN [and non]. REE with Radio Gazeta de Deportes, Dec 4 at 2014 on 9630, but CCI from something in English: that would be BBC Seychelles, due west toward EAf, but also a problem way over here, the main target area of REE (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TANZANIA. 1377 kHz, R. Free Africa, Mwanza, 1913-1924, 02 Dec, Swahili, African pops; 54433 (!), QRM de France but also de Armenia (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Not a clandestine ** U S A. After 0500 UT Monday Dec 4, I checked WRMI webcast for Global Crisis Watch as scheduled and ``currently playing`` per their homepage, but instead heard something in Spanish about Xmas in Venezuela. I asked Jeff White about that (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn: The new program grid on the website is completely up to date (at the moment). I replaced Global Crisis Watch with El Sonido de Miami this week because there is no new GCW, and we have run the last one a few times now (Jeff White, WRMI, Dec 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) http://www.wrmi.net/schedule.php --- So let`s pick out the programs not including gospel huxters, on 7385 or 9955, days/times strictly UT: DX PROGRAMS: WORLD OF RADIO, Sat 1330 7, Sat 2230 9, Sun 0900 9 MUNDO RADIAL, Sun 1130 9 WAVESCAN, Sat 1430 7, Sun 0930 9 DX PARTYLINE, Sat 1130 9, Sat 1545 7, Sun 0500 9 AVENTURA DIEXISTA, Sat 1145 9, Sun 0515 9, Sun 2315 9 MONITOR DX, Sat 1545 7, Sun 0045 9 LA ROSA DE TOKIO, Sun 0800-0900 9 NON-DX PROGRAMS: GLOBAL CRISIS WATCH, Mon 0500 9 [irregular] EL SONIDO DE MIAMI, Sun 2330 9 VIVA MIAMI, Sat 2200 9 [says Jeff, not shown on sked] RADIO PRAGUE, Daily: English 1000 9 & 1500 7; Spanish 0530 9 & 1030 9 WORLD RADIO NETWORK, M-F 1300-1500 7, 1530-1600 7 CUBAN EXILE PROGRAMS [all on 9955]: La Voz del MRR, Tu-Sa 0500-0530 Radio Cuba Libre, M-F 0800-1000 Foro Revolucionario, Sat 1200-1230 [¿shouldn`t that be Contra-Revolucionario?] Voz de Coordinadora, Sun 0030-0045, Sun 2300-2315 La Voz del Escambray, Sat 2330-2400 La Nueva Nación, Sun 0000-0030 Conversando entre Cubanos, Sun 0100-0130, Mon 0230-0300 Radio Oriente Libre, Mon 0130-0230 Trova Libre [music], Mon 0000-0030 Radio República, Daily 0600-0800, 1600-2200; M-F 1100-1300, 2200-0200 Tu-Sa, Tu-Sa 0400-0500, Sun/Mon 0300-0500 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn: Yes, Viva Miami is a mixed bag -- sometimes English, sometimes Spanish. And I think next week it will be Portuguese, with a DX program from Cassiano Macedo (rebroadcast of an Encontro DX). (Jeff White, Cayman Islands, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA [and non]. VENEZUELA HALTS TELEMUNDO'S ELECTION COVERAGE http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/4376202.html# Dec. 3, 2006, 5:08PM Telemundo: Venezuela Halts Transmission © 2006 The Associated Press CARACAS, Venezuela — Officials identifying themselves as members of a state regulatory agency forced the U.S.-based Spanish-language TV network Telemundo to halt transmission Sunday of its presidential election coverage. "We're surprised by this," said Pablo Iacub, a member of Telemundo's eight-person team, which arrived last week. "We only want to do our work," he said by telephone. At least six people who identified themselves as members of the National Commission of Telecommunications (CONATEL), which regulates electronic media in Venezuela, arrived Sunday afternoon at the hotel from which Telemundo had been transmitting since Friday, said Iacub. The officials said the network needed permission to transmit and lacking such could not, he said. Iacub said he was unaware of such a requirement but that the Telemundo journalists were accredited with Venezuela's national elections council. Iacub said the Telemundo team asked how they could obtain permission and, after an hour, were told that they would not be able to transmit. Telephone calls to Conatel offices seeking comment on the incident went unanswered. Telemundo Communications Group is owned by NBC Universal Inc., which is controlled by General Electric Co. It claims to reach about 93 percent of Hispanic households in the U.S. and also has viewers in Mexico (via Clara Listensprechen, dxldyg, and Brock Wyaley, DXLD) CHAVEZ BACKS POSSIBLE VOTE TO CLOSE PRIVATE TV STATIONS POSTED: 8:52 a.m. EST, December 1, 2006 CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez backed the possibility of holding a national referendum, if he's re-elected, on whether to shut down private television stations that he has accused of subversive activities. Chávez's comments late Thursday came amid rising tensions between the government and the country's largely opposition-aligned private media ahead of Sunday's vote. Chávez was asked in a televised interview if he would consider asking the nation whether the government should block certain channels from renewing their broadcast licenses next year. "That is perfectly possible," Chávez said. "It's perfectly possible that the country gives its opinion, including for how long." Chávez also said he regretted not having shut down the country's major private broadcasters right after a short-lived 2002 coup against him, citing four in particular: Globovisión, Venevisión, RCTV and Televén. Chávez has clashed with the country's private television and radio networks, which are often highly critical of his government and have favored the opposition in recent years. During the coup, several TV channels chose to broadcast cartoons and movies instead of his return to power by loyalists in the military amid a popular uprising. Many media outlets also supported a devastating 2003 strike that failed to unseat Chávez. In the run-up to Sunday's vote, Chávez has warned that he may refuse to renew their licenses, accusing them of fomenting conspiracies against his government, and also said he's ready to shut down any that try to disrupt the election. On Thursday, he threatened immediately to shut down any outlet that defies electoral rules prohibiting exit polls and other unofficial counts from being reported until after the National Electoral Council issues its preliminary bulletin. "You can be sure that they will be closed for breaching the law," he said. Just a day earlier, a top lawmaker from Chávez's ruling party told government supporters to take over private TV stations on Election Day if they report that opposition challenger, Manuel Rosales, is in the lead ahead of official results, alleging the channel may use rigged exit polls to mislead the public. "When they start to do that, we must take over the TV channels ... a peaceful takeover as we have always done at the doors of these TV stations," Iris Varela said. Asked about the possibility that closing private TV stations likely would provoke an international backlash, the Venezuelan leader said that was what held his hand earlier but declared the days of a "permissive Chávez" were over. "I don't care what the world says. I care about what happens in Venezuela," he said. "The world can say, 'Oh, dear!' but this is my country; I'm responsible." Local media executives -- joined by the United States and the Miami- based Inter American Press Association -- argue that Chávez has sought to limit freedom of expression since taking office in 1999. His government has passed a law restricting violence and sexual content over the airwaves, but critics call it a "gag law" that is deliberately vague so that the government can punish media outlets that oppose the administration. Chávez has denied taking excessive measures, arguing that he is not trying to stifle criticism but rather clamp down on those allegedly using journalistic activities as a front for illegal efforts to topple his government. Chávez was speaking in a joint interview with two state-backed and two private TV stations in the final hours before the end of campaigning (The AP via Brock Whaley, GA DXLD) ** VENEZUELA [non]. Tuned across 17705, Dec 4 at 2006, and heard a woman saying ``democracia`` over and over like a stuck record, for at least half a minute. What could be more appropriate for the day HCF is celebrating his re-elexion. Then after a sesquiminute of open carrier, program resumed without the sticking, elexion returns in the hundreds for various minor candidates. This is RNV via Cuba, not RHC as someone recently assumed (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. CLANDESTINE, 1550 kHz, Polisario Front, Tindouf, Algeria, 0816-0900*, 28 Nov, Arabic, talks, songs; ID+natl. anthem at s/off; 55444. Also at 2335- 02 Dec, Spanish, "boletín de notícias"; 55444; almost inaudible on \\ 7425 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE. 3396 kHz (NEW), ZBC, Guineafowl, 2339-0003, 02 Dec, Vernacular, phone-ins, tunes, Radio 1 of "R. Zimbabwe" ID at midnight; 53442, very good audio quality perceived in the middle of the utility QRM (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 1020 kHz :: Dec. 1-2 / 06 unID reported by Glenn heard here in Merlin Ont on Friday night and on Saturday night at the M.A.R.E. DXP. in Michigan. Very strong signal with KDKA listenable underneath (Jerry Coatsworth, Merlin Ont and Brighton Michigan, ODXA via DXLD) 1020 TONE: Dear friends, I heard this exact test tone here in Johnstown, PA at 0030 [EST?] on 12-02-06 also. it was giving KDKA 1020 a good run for its money. Most of the time, KDKA was "listenable" with the tone being very annoying. I would not have wanted to "have" to listen to the program with this 1k tone. There were times when the tone was very strong and made KDKA a garbled to non-existent mess. I monitored this for about 30 minutes. I am about 60 miles east of Pittsburgh and KDKA is a local at night and very easy to hear in the daytime also. I discovered this as I was sitting in the car searching for some NHL hockey games on the radio, being the fact that I could not be at home watching all of them on direct TV NHL center ice. Wife was shopping. I did not try it on the Kenwood with the longwire with buried ground counterpoise. Has anyone come to a conclusion to what/where it is coming from? (Steve Price, Johnstown, PA, Dec 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Tracking 1610 & Co. --- This 1610/1020/590 mystery is a lot of fun for us hobbyists. But I don't understand why it has to be a mystery. If Kent Winrich knows the story, then why doesn't everyone? What is so confidential about high-powered transmission tests on the broadcast band in the United States, for heaven's sake? That's about as public as testing can get, esp. when it is on the frequency of one of America's premiere broadcast stations (KDKA). We're not talking ultra- crypto paraphrastic modulation research on 19.7 tetrazinihertz here! Nor are we talking New World Order storm troopers with their 1610 KHz 10 KW backpack transceivers prepping for their assault on Bermuda! If it is "legal" testing, then the info must be posted somewhere, or available from the FCC. And in the normal course of business, stations likely to be interfered with would be given an advance email saying, "hey, sorry, but we'll be jamming your signal for a few nights, and then we'll go away, so lighten up." Approaching investigative reporters is a useful idea, because they like to run with off-beat stories like this, and they'll do the obvious: get on the phone & find out. They'll comb the net (search Google news today for "radio" & you'll find "Military test jams garage door openers"). They'll ask professionals in the field. As a science journalist, I'd love to do that research for my hobby, but not now -- I'm developing 3 science books, each a fulltime job. For my little contribution, I emailed the CE at WMBS-590 Uniontown, PA (a local for me), inquiring whether WMBS has received a notice of testing that might impact their signal this coming TUES-FRI, since they are on 590. That's a start. Others on the list, consider doing similar. Anyone have a good contact at KDKA? Hey, if we can direction- find, we can fact-find! (Fred Schroyer, Freelance Science Writer / Editorial Consultant, Waynesburg, PA 15370, Dec 4, IRCA via DXLD) Fred & IRCA Plumbers of the Mystery Hets - Thank you for point easily overlooked. Why the secrecy? FCC surely approved 1610. Surely not in this instance, but doesn't secrecy suggest sub rosa activity? Some, citing shared trait of non- forthcoming behavior, suggest testing is HD related. Truth, as ever, outs all. More DF'ng needed. Mighty Benmar 555A will be deployed by the black lagoon. The Creature may even try his hand - so to speak - at spinning the loop. "When a tone hitsa you eye Like a bigga pizza pie, Het's a myst'ry Whenna freq jump-a aroun' Like-a Bozo Red Clown, Het's a myst'ry.... - Vic H'Damone, "Het's Amore", c. 1953, (Het-Toon Music # B-8907) z (pv zecchino, manasota key fl, IRCA via DXLD) 1020 MAP AS OF SATURDAY NIGHT --- Gents: Sorry to say I will not be able to work on correcting the direction-finding map azimuth lines today. So I am posting what is "close nuff" for now. It should be obvious that the mystery station is surely not in Maine or Ontario or Kentucky! Last evening it overwhelmed KDKA here in the eastern end of Tennessee. By the time the station moves to 590 I might have the azimuth lines made precise. They are at least useful right now. Only the results from listeners over, say, 500 miles away, will have significant error. The map is indeed a polar projection. When the listener is in the center of the map the azimuth line will be exact (straight). As you go farther and farther away from center the line should curve but does not. All it takes to correct that is simple algebra and time. Right now I have to return to some work I have been doing on a project for the local museum. I come up for air every hour or so. As of about 2:05 PM Sunday the map is at: http://tonnesoftware.com/1020.gif [since updated several times] Oh yes. Sure would be nice to have someone in south-central Virginia or north-central North Carolina take a shot at the station. Better yes, eastern Virginia. Cheers! (JimTonne, Oak Ridge, Dec 3, IRCA via DXLD) This tone crusade is becoming a monumental undertaking. Question: How many DXers does it take to DF a tone? Answer: 200 and they still can't find it. Ciao (Chris Black, IRCA via DXLD) In honor of Jim and in recognition of all his plotting, we should official rename the thing "1000 cycle tonne." (Pete Taylor, Tacoma, WA, IRCA via DXLD) I have posted a map showing the 590 situation prior to any plotting. This is for night time, centered on Washington, DC. The stations on that channel in this area are mostly 1 and some 5 kW operations and so will get creamed. Go to: http://tonnesoftware.com/590.gif (Jim Tonne, TN, IRCA via DXLD) Gents: I just checked the "stats" for tonnesoftware.com and see that the file "1610.gif" has been downloaded 738 times. "1020.gif" has been downloaded 94 times. These are the numbers as of Saturday night at midnight. Of course (just have to say it again) there are downloads which are "just checkin" to see if the map was upgraded. So a lot of the downloads are what might be called repeats. Nevertheless, there is most assuredly an interest in this direction-finding task! (Jim Tonne, 0100 UT Dec 4, IRCA via DXLD) The map "1610.gif" was downloaded 784 times; "1020.gif" was downloaded 402 times. "590.gif" has been downloaded 62 times. To those that haven't gotten the word, the lines from listener to target are now correctly curved. http://tonnesoftware.com/1020.gif (JimTonne, TN, 1659 UT Dec 4, IRCA via DXLD) Glenn: Thanks to nudging by you and others, the lines showing the path from target to listener are now shown correctly! But let me tell you that although I scribbled in some changes to the code while watching TV, one misplaced parenthesis cost me about four hours! Damn rithmetic! http://tonnesoftware.com/1020.gif (Jim Tonne, 1710 UT Dec 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Jim, I hate to keep belaboring this, considering all the trouble you have gone to with the maps, but it seems to me the lines should be curving southward rather than northward. This is based on comparing a globe to a flat map. For example, if you aim due east (or west) from here by the time you hit the coast you will be considerably south of the same latitude. If you keep going on a 90 degree line, you will wind up in Central/South Africa rather than North Africa or Europe. Perhaps there are other factors with your base maps or methodology that I am not aware of. 73, (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, to Jim Tonne, via DXLD) Glen[n]: Those lines are not lines; they are a series of dots. Each dot has its location computed. Exactly the same algorithm is used to plot every item on the map. This time I am quite confident that we are doing it right! (Jim Tonne, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The map: http://tonnesoftware.com/1020.gif is centered on a prevously- used testing site. See the little green circle right in the middle of the screen. The lines are now drawn correctly. Things seem to fall into place here! (Jim Tonne, IRCA via DXLD) The first time I looked, the little green circle was in Maryland north of DC; then at 0140 UT Dec 5 it is in SE VA near Norfolk (gh, DXLD) Folks, I can't help but point out that the fellow who is apparently on the inside about this situation specifically identified it as "antenna testing", not "transmitter testing". That makes me wonder if this might be related to some sort of quickly deployable, low profile system such as the EH antenna. That would better explain the need to conduct the tests over a wide bandwidth (Patrick Griffith, Westminster CO, 0219 UT Dec 4, IRCA via DXLD) No tone on 590-1020-1710 tonite. May have been on 590 at SSS but very weak, may have been a HET. I was thinking may be on airplane which would explain the down times & wide range of direction BUT today`s map looks very tight. WBZ's IBOC on til 1900 EST today. I don`t know when they kicked the hash machines plug out of the wall on time happened last. WBZ is no Mickey Mouse outfit & I doubt it`s an accident or misunderstanding. I believe its a planned test of nite IBOC. There will be no complaints. NOBODY but radio people knows what`s going on & anyone bothered will just change stations. A few DXers will complain but I am sure all the names & postings about IBOC on DX lists are ready to discredit us. 73 (Tom Jones, Mason N.H., 0049 UT Dec 4, IRCA via DXLD) Let they try to discredit. Our reputations precede us. HD Gangstas now so craven, so dexprit, so greedstruck they clang about 'our inevitable digital present' - never mind future. Meanwhile, back in reality - HD reviews? For politeness' sake, shall we say 'rather mixed'? Turn this mess off. Or turn them off. Who needs 'em? Their programs? Dull. Announcers? Unrepentant screamers who beller like whisky-whacked bosun's mates to makes-a the RF go faster. S'what happens when standards go kaput. Digi-garchs will be their own undoing. To the victors go the RDF's. Go in pieces, Dr. Zecchino, g'As b'Ag "You stupid a--, you've killed us!" - Commie sub officer, "Hunt for Red October" c. 1990 (Paul Vincent Zecchino, FL, IRCA via DXLD) Folks: The tones on 1020 may actually be WIBG. I recorded them testing back on Oct 14, around 0100 EST, at various levels of strength (from faint to blasting KDKA off the frequency) and I'll assume some antenna directions as well. That was easy! (Konnie SouthernCT Rychalsky, IRCA via DXLD) Konnie, The tones and WIBG were heard simultaneously on Friday and Saturday during the day. Are you suggesting that WIBG was transmitting both the tone and their regular programming at the same time? Why would they do such a thing? (Marc DeLorenzo, South Dennis, MA, IRCA via DXLD) RDF's still useful for finding one's position and inversely for shooting lines of bearing - LOBS - to unknown sta's. Good BCB receivers as well - sensitive, selective, run forever on D/C cells, usually include 12V car/boat jack. Ebay and hamfests good hunting places along w/flea markets, junk shops. Best of lot here, Benmar 555A: tasteful late 70's beige & grey. Obtained alignment instructions via googling but no need. Dial accurate, sensitivity & dynamic range hot. RDF's include Beacon Band and 'Marine Band'- usually 1600 - appx. 4500 KHz. Many have BFO's from glory days of CONSOLAN sta's. Simpson Aqua Meter: 80's 'hi-tech' Blue & Black w/chrome paint knobs - Yow! Slightly less selective than Benmar yet DF bar ever so slightly sharper nulls. As w/Benmar, has BFO & RF Gain control. Portable, Bendix Navigator 400: no-bullshale industrial green: Sensitive, accurate, responds well to alignment, be sure to first position DF bar coils. Runs forever on 4 x AA's. As w/other RDFs, has real movement 'DF Level' meter and RF gain control. Nova-Tech Pilot II - Manufactured Bendix 400 as well. Preternatural Cold War Black case, includes VHF Aero band. DF whips allow you to shoot lobs to aircraft. Apelco a vintage hi-grade name, posters surely have others. Had Ray Jefferson ADF unit, sold some years ago. Motor drive automatically pointed DF antenna at station & nulled it. Cool. Ray Jeff's also hi quality. For perspective, yes, GPS is wonderful, requires no compass, surely beats RDF for accuracy, not to mention course/speed measurements - but not as a BCB receiver. As well, flea/hamfest prices usually $25 - 30, negotiable. RDF's value well exceeds present day cost. Every serious radioman should have at least one RDF. Were ours a just society, we'd long ago have been issued them. =Z.= (PVZ, Manadf Key, FL, IRCA via DXLD) The posting from Kent [Winrich] said that 1020 was due to go off at 0700 Sunday, and the 590 should be up from Tuesday thru Friday. So this helps confirm that the apparent schedule he gave is, at least nominally, being followed. It's not very clear what Kent's role is in all this. He's been getting a fair amount of sniping over on the AF list which is where all the BE talk moved. If he was in Fayetteville with a FIM-41, that's a clue right there. There are probably a bunch of other people doing that, but none of them post here or on any of the radio tech lists. (post here, and then you post from Club Gitmo ;-) The most plausible reason for the test that I can think of is that a rapidly deployable field antenna is being tested. I am not the first to think of this. One could guess that they need both a day and a night signal to determine skywave fade details. What is perhaps less clear is whether the signal varies in strength from one night to another because of changes in the antenna (and not just fade). This would require several days of testing. And a tone would provide the most constant "strength" indicator, amid a sea of varying carriers which make RF level measurement problematic. Then we try to figure out if they are trying to maximize, or minimize, skywave, groundwave etc. What they should have done is test on splits. Spread the pain around a bit, and get a better received level indicator. Probably couldn't get "authorization". (Bob Foxworth, Tampa FL, 2352 est Dec 3, ABDX via DXLD) As has been noted by others, the tone is now gone from 1020 (12/4 0930 EST). I haven't heard anything yet on 590, but I am keeping my ears open. I understand that is supposed to begin again tomorrow. 73. (Rene' F. Tetro, PA, IRCA via DXLD) Hi, I'm a DXer in Waynesburg. Has WMBS been notified of the following test? From approx 9:00 a.m. TUES 12/5 until 7:00 a.m. Friday 12/8, an antenna-testing operation, located in the DC area, will be running a 1 KHz test tone from a 10 KW transmitter. The tester is unidentified, but a Clear Channel engineer says that it is a planned test from non-commercial (government) facilities. Apparently, they are testing performance at the bottom, middle, and top of the broadcast band, as they are testing on 590, 1020, and 1610 KHz. This past week, they tested on 1020 KHz for several days, really trashing KDKA's nighttime signal! KDKA was virtually unlistenable over a large portion of the eastern US, including here in Waynesburg. The 1 KHz test tone at full modulation from a 10 KW transmitter only a couple of hundred miles distant may seriously interfere with WMBS's nighttime signal. I'm just curious: was WMBS notified of this test, and likely interference to your nighttime signal for a 3-day period? The testing seems to have caught everyone by surprise, making me think that neither the tester nor the FCC notified stations that would suffer serious interference. Thank you, (Fred Schroyer, Freelance Science Writer / Editorial Consultant, Waynesburg, PA 15370, via IRCA, DXLD) Reply from WMBS-590 CE re upcoming TT: "thanks for the info. We have not been informed about any tone test. Will be checking this out tho" So, there is one more little data point: one of the closest 590 stations to the DC area has not been informed of a test (Fred Schroyer, Waynesburg, PA 15370, IRCA via DXLD) Jim, Hi, this is Brian Mroziak, General Manager of WMBS 590 AM in Uniontown. How will this antenna testing affect us and why is it being done? What times will be affected? Please see the e-mail below [above] we received as well as this seemed to have a very negative impact on KDKA. Please provide more information. Thanks (Brian Mroziak, General Manager, WMBS Radio, 44 S. Mt. Vernon Ave. Uniontown, PA 15401, Phone: 724-438-3900 Fax: 724-438-2406 (via Jim Tonne, IRCA via DXLD) Brian: I have no more information than you! I have volunteered to do programming and other stuff to place on the internet a map showing where people think this testing is coming from. There seems to be a common thought that this is a test of some transmitting system to be deployed by our dear government somewhere. A map showing the current direction-finding results by several people is at: http://tonnesoftware.com/1020.gif The map is centered on a known previous testing site. I am sending this reply also to some other folks and perhaps someone will eventually "fess up" to what is really going on. The testing was originally on 1610 kHz, then moved to 1020 and is supposed to next move to 590. It appears that this thing is "authorized" and is the result of feeding 10 kW of power into a new antenna (Jim Tonne, ibid.) I notified Field Agent David Dombroski from the FCC and they are looking into it. Thanks Again (Brian Roziak, WMBS, via Jim Tonne, 1624 UT Dec 4, IRCA via DXLD) Dear Mr Miller: Would you please identify the source (location, licensee and any other available info) of the continuous tone tests which were running on 1610 kHz last week, and then on 1020 kHz Saturday? Numerous listeners have heard them, and they seem to come from somewhere along the eastern seaboard, perhaps in the Washington DC vicinity. In the case of 1020 they were interfering with KDKA Pittsburgh and other stations. Thanks, (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, World of Radio, to Norm Miller, FCC, via DXLD) This matter is being handled by the Enforcement Bureau, so I must respectfully decline to comment on an ongoing investigation (Charles N. "Norm" Miller, Electronics Engineer, Media Bureau, Audio Division Federal Communications Commission, Dec 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) What I find interesting about the map is that it looks like the majority of intersections seems to converge near Philadelphia, in Pennsylvania. Here's a military location I don't believe anyone mentioned: Willow Grove Naval Air Station! It's just north of Philly, and would seem to intersect perfectly with a lot of the direction reports. That would also explain why I was getting it with a 10 over S9 (Rene Tetro, Lansdale PA, IRCA via DXLD) Neither signal was that strong. I'm within about 6 miles of that facility. If it were from there I'd have never heard anything else on either channel. As it was I couldn't get a reasonable bearing on 1020 because I wasn't able to determine whether or not KDKA's signal was skewing the bearing by night or WIBG's by day. Again evidence that it was not from Willow grove (Russ Edmunds, Blue Bell PA, ibid.) Here's a trace of the 1610 kHz tone: http://www.21centimeter.com/21centimeter/images/1610-khz_0114-Local_12-01-06_Unid.jpg This signal was absolutely overpowering where I live in northern DE. As such, I could detect apparent harmonic tones as well. From the well known oldies band: Mister E. Tones and the Harmonics. Regards, (Pete Jernakoff, K3KMS, Wilmington, DE, IRCA via DXLD) ``I suggest that instead of using compass angles from your location use the deviation angle to a known station transmitter site instead.`` This has worked out very well indeed for the data supplied by Gil Stacy in Savannah, Georgia. He said the mystery station was precisely on the same bearing as WBZ. So I adjusted the "takeoff" azimuth so that it landed on WBZ's property and saw the noticeably revised curved line going up from his place to the Mystery place. And of course close-in fellows can submit the very best data. Sure would be nice to have someone in east-central Virginia give us a bearing (Jim Tonne, IRCA via DXLD) If any of you are in Virginia and have a bearing toward the "mystery station" on 1610/1020, please send to me your name, city and latitude/longitude along with the apparent bearing toward the station. Apparently someone in Virginia has heard it and commented about it but I did not record the info. Someone in central (better yet east- central) Virginia with a bearing on the thing would allow us to nail it within perhaps 5 or 10 miles. The latest available info has been compiled Monday at about 3 PM and is at "the usual place": http://tonnesoftware.com/1020.gif (Jim Tonne, 2337 UT Dec 4, IRCA via DXLD) Green target in middle of screen is near where I think the thing is. Lower-left corner shows latitude and the longitude of that target (Jim Tonne, 0027 UT Dec 5, IRCA via DXLD) 36.7 N, 76.41 W (gh) Look at https://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/oet/cf/els/reports/STA_Print.cfm?mode=initial&application_seq=30515&RequestTimeout=1000 This is the application BAE filed in July, 2005, for operation at Ft. A. P. Hill for 10 kW on 590, 1020, and 1600. It was denied/dismissed shortly thereafter, on 10/19/2005. BAE then reapplied for an authorization thru the Media Bureau, not Office of Engineering & Technology (OET), on 10/19/2005, for various powers/frequencies: 760/200 W, 1180/2 kW, 1410/500 W, 1630/10 kW. This was granted on Oct. 24, 2005 and expired on April 24, 2006. But has it been renewed? On 1610 all we find as previously reported is LBA's WC2XKX, also on 530 and 1040 for 400 watts within 24 km of Pactolus, NC. https://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/els/GetAtt.html?id=67551&x= So questions remain. Some excerpts from the OET page referenced above: ``Please explain in the area below why an STA is necessary: Required to complete full scale transmitter and associated equipment testing.`` ``Please explain the purpose of operation: Company is a govt contractor which is developing mobile broadcasting units which can be deployed worldwide in order to satisfy customers immediate military requirements. Broadcast operation encompasses use of AM band frequencies which are necessary to simulate overseas operating parameters.`` ``Location: Bowling Green, Virginia, North 38 7 59, West 77 19 49, Mobile: n/a Radius: 150.00`` Bowling Green is the town next to Ft. A. P. Hill, S of Washington DC. BAE Systems appears to be a major defense contractor; look at all the fields they are involved in at http://www.baesystems.com They have several offices in the Washington DC area. But we don`t know for sure they are behind the present tests (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) As we all wait for mystery transmissions on 590 kHz, I have an insight into the playlist during the broadcast. Of course I cannot reveal the source of my information, I can just post it, and appear to have "inside information" on these oddities. In fact, If I just said I have "inside information" and then not go any further, how would I truly serve the DX community? So, I will share mine. The artists on the predicted upcoming 590 kHz transmissions shall include "Tone Loc," "The Tone Temple Pilots," "Sly and the Family Tone," "The Rolling Tones," and of course, "Tone, Tone, Tone." Other selections that may be aired are "Let's go get Tonned" by Ray Charles, "Tonned Soul Picnic" by Laura Nyro, "Roll away the Tone" by Leon Russell," "And it Tonned Me" by Van Morrison, "Tone in love with you" The Delphonics, and the hook from Bob Dylan's "Rainy day Woman #12 and 35"-"Everybody must get Tonned." (Brock Whaley, Lilburn, GA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 15401.5 had a strong open carrier overriding BBC 15400, Dec 4 from 2009 for a few minutes, but it was off when rechecked at 2014 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ For up-to-date information on upcoming Christmas specials and any other programming for that matter, consult your on-line resources, or your favourite DX programs. Good places to start include the ODXA and DXLD yahoo groups. Listen to your favourite stations and programs, or check their websites, for announcements of upcoming shows. Every shortwave listener should know the name of Glenn Hauser. Whether you consult his DX Listening Digest yahoo group, his website http://www.worldofradio.com or his radio program World of Radio, they all will provide you with the most up to date and accurate information available (Fred Waterer, Programming Matters, Dec ODXA Listening In via DXLD) Fred has a lot of good tips in his column; remind me to pick some of them up as we get closer to Xmas. I am trying to resist extensive web research on holiday specials this year, very time-consuming and mostly duplicative from station to station. But see Advance Info Links at MONITORING REMINDERS CALENDAR http://www.worldofradio.com/calendar.html (gh) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ BROADCASTS IN ENGLISH - B06 (WINTER 2006) EDITION The Winter 2006-2007 (B06) edition of Broadcasts in English is now available from the British DX Club. It was compiled by Dave Kenny and includes details of all known international broadcasts in English on shortwave and mediumwave for the B06 schedule period, as well as selected domestic English-language broadcasts on short wave. As usual the 32-page booklet is in time order and covers all target areas worldwide. Transmitter sites are given where possible along with schedules for DX and Media Programmes, Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) and World Radio Network services in English to Europe. Copies are available at the following prices (postage included): United Kingdom - 2.50 pounds sterling Europe - 5 Euros or 6 International Reply Coupons Rest of World: 7 US dollars or 7 IRCs Sterling payments by cheque/postal order to "British DX Club" Dollar or Euro payments in cash or via Paypal. Orders to: British DX Club 10 Hemdean Hill, Caversham, Reading RG4 7SB UK Email / Paypal enquiries : bdxc @ bdxc.org.uk http://www.bdxc.org.uk (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ READING INTERNATIONAL RADIO GROUP The next meeting will take place on Saturday December 9th at 2.30 p.m. in Room 3, Reading International Solidarity Centre, 35-39 London Road, Reading and will include a Christmas quiz, audio of US Border Radio stations in the 1940¹s and 50¹s and a look at jamming past and present. 15 to 20 hobbyists attend these meetings, many stay for a drink and/or meal afterwards, all are welcome. For further details email me mikewb @ dircon.co.uk or phone 01462 643899 (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, Dec 3, worlddxclub via DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING DRM: see GERMANY; NEW ZEALAND ++++++++++++++++++++ IBOC TURNED OFF WTWP-1500 seems to have stopped using IBOC even in daytime. Perhaps it is a response to numerous complaints by listeners to Brunswick's WTRI- 1520 who have been upset with WTWP's IBOC slop-over hash on their favorite nostalgia station. Since Washington Redskins' owner Dan Snyder bought Alexandria's WXTR-730 that station has also dropped IBOC. It was one of the first Washington-area stations to try it under its former Mega owned Spanish-broadcasts. Maybe some IBOC buzzards are already coming home to roost? Regards, (Fred Laun Temple Hills, MD, Dec 4, WTFDA-AM via DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ THE INCREASE OF AM NOISE Fellow Hams and DXers, The following is the text of a message that I sent to our company's engineering email list concerning the increase of electrical noise on the AM band. I thought you might find it interesting. We hams and dxers are not the only ones who are concerned about the trend of increased electrical noise. Broadcasters are, as well, and have a lot at stake in doing something to see the situation is improved. 73, (Rene' Tetro, W2FIL, Lansdale, PA, Nov 29, dxhub yg via DXLD) Viz.: There's been a lot of discussion recently on various engineering sites and publications, and among radio DXers, about the deteriorating state of AM coverage. I would obviously concur with this (who couldn't?). The situation is evident to anyone who listens to AM radio, and it seems to be getting worse as time goes by. Laying IBOC and BPL aside for a moment, which have their own set of interfering dynamics, there are other issues that are becoming more predominant on the AM band. Most notably there has been a dramatic increase in electrical noise on the band in recent years. This is getting worse and is having the effect of dramatically reducing coverage in many cases. All of the latest electronic gadgetry seems to be the major cause of "dirty power lines" and other noise. Among the devices that seem to be most culpable are medical devices, computers, light dimmers, and - one of the biggest offenders - newly designed electronic, SCR controlled, traffic signals. There are so many other devices, they become too numerous to mention. What concerns me as an engineer is the effect this is having on listenership, as well as the practicality of continuing to use the 0.5 mV/m contour as an indication of normal daytime coverage. From listening to our stations and many others, it appears that a more realistic figure would be 2.0 mV/m or even higher in extremely bad situations - as much as 5 or more millivolts. I have had discussions with our general manager and many others over the past few years, including sales people, listeners, and others concerning this phenomenon. I get calls regularly from listeners who complain that they have great difficulty in hearing the stations because of "static." Be they managers, sales people, listeners, or others, they all say the same thing: "The station's coverage just isn't what it use to be!" And I have to agree with them. WNTP, for instance, does not have nearly the daytime coverage it had when I worked here in the early 80s --- even with one less tower and an loosened directional pattern. As far management and sales are concerned, and therefore from the standpoint of those who are largely non-technical, the first thing to come under suspicion is a change in the transmission system (either transmitter, or antenna, or both). When one performs a quickie proof on the antenna system, and checks the power/impedance/ etc, all is found to be normal. On WNTP, for instance, our Inverse Distance Fields on all radials are pretty much exactly what they were in 1986 when the system was built; but, electrical noise has reduced usable coverage by at least 1/3. I know that we are not the only stations who are experiencing such problems. And it is not just broadcasters. The problem also exists for hams and other users of the radio spectrum. It is evident across the nation. In a large market such as Philadelphia, the electrical noise can be incredible. For instance, attempting to listen anywhere near the electrified 25,000 Volt, 25 Hz powered commuter rail lines is next to impossible. This is especially evident on the Amtrak Pennsylvania main line near Downingtown and Thorndale, along which Business Route 30 runs for several miles. When such lines extend for great distances along heavily used roads, it becomes a major issue. Another example is a traffic light located about a mile from both our transmitter site and the site of KYW. Since new circuitry was installed a while ago, it is impossible to listen to either WNTP or KYW (both of which are 50kw) or WFIL (which is 5kw). The buzz from the light circuit creates a loud hum that overpowers the audio of these and other stations. "Buzzes" from other traffic lights are just as bad. I fear that all of this does not bode well for the future of AM radio. Electrical noise is reaching a point of being such a concern that IBOC and BPL, as issues, pale by comparison. I say all of this to ask a simple question: is there some way broadcasters can combat the encroachment of noise on AM? I the answer to that question. We, as a society, are too dependent on these new technologies to expect a turn-about. Will greater regulation on electrical devices solve the problem? Perhaps as a long-term solution; but in the short term I only see the situation getting worse. It seems to me that broadcasters, either through the NAB, SBE, or other organizations, (perhaps in cooperation with ARRL and other interested parties) need to band together to put a stop to the construction and deployment of electrical devices that pollute the airwaves. The FCC and other regulatory agencies must place more stringent requirements on devices so as to greatly reduce or eliminate unwanted electrical noise. If something is not done soon, we will have reached the point of no return, and broadcast AM will become a medium whose practical applications are forever relegated to history. Likewise, amateur radio and other users of the LW-MW-HF spectrums face a similar fate. For broadcasters, there is too much at stake from a business perspective to allow that to happen. As AM broadcasters, it is our duty not to go down without a fight. Rene' F. Tetro, Chief Engineer, Salem Communications - Philadelphia WNTP-AM / WFIL-AM 117 Ridge Pike, Lafayette Hill, PA 19444 Phone: 610- 828-6965 Extension 41 Fax: 610-828-6725 Email: rtetro @ pobox.Com (via DXLD) Rene, this is very well-written and goes to the heart of the matter. There are of course many other interference mechanisms, from the new 'bright' light bulbs to battery chargers. This is of particular concern to us here in Minneapolis. We're launching a Minnesota Twins-operated Radio Network and have made a change in local affiliates from WCCO 830 to KSTP 1500. While both stations perform admirably in signal efficiency, we've always had a concern about reception of ball games in noisy metro areas and downtown buildings. That's now exacerbated by the fact that there's a predictable difference in effective received power level when you move up the band by almost a full octave. I join you and others in learning from this dialogue (Mark Durenberger, ibid.) Rene, A very well written email! As Hams and DXers most of have seen first hand the effects of new technologies on our spectrum. I couldnt even begin to count the number of times I've turned off the radios in my car (both broadcast and Ham) because of the noise problems we are seeing on an increasing level. Areas that used to be relatively noise free are now so poluted that listening is almost impossible. This raises some pointed questions. What ever happened to the FCC's ability to regulate emitted RF noise levels from commercial and consumer electronic devices? Is compliance no longer a concern and/or are too many new technologies not subject to these regulations and standards? As some of you know, I have worked in the Mission Critical Power Systems industry for over 20 years. In that time I have conducted numerous tests on the effects of radiated RF on the operation of our equipment. Never have I ever been asked to look at the effects of radiated RF noise eminating from our equipment. Older SCR fired UPS systems were notorious for throwing incredible amounts of noise back into utility feeds. Now that most systems use IGBTs the problem is less severe. It is only in recent years that our industry has been concerned with improving and regulating the input power factor of our equipment. This has been done mainly for the purpose of increased electrical efficiency. However, improving the input power factor naturally reduces the harmonic content that is transmitted back into the utility feed, thus eliminating much of the noise that could create interference to radio equipment. Unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done on our part to improve the output power factor of our equipment. That is totally load dependent and would be up to the manufacturers of data processing and other equipment to correct. Over the years I have seen numerous situations in large corporate parks and office buildings where the noise levels on the utility feed created by numerous data centers, is so high that it not only effects radio reception but effects the power equipment itself. Perhaps its time that I conduct and experiment of my own. I am going to start taking a portable receiver with me on jobs so I can take a look first hand at the noise being eminated from different types of power and data processing equipment. I suspect that it will be futile since the noise levels will probably be so high that it will be almost impossible to discern which equipment the noise is coming from with just a radio (Larry - KB2BAF Tetro, ibid.) What is "IGBTs?" How can I be sure a UPS system I purchase uses it? Apparently I have one of the older SCR fired UPS systems. For five or six seconds a few times each day it makes an awful noise on the radio band. The DSL I had previously would have to resync every time the noise occurred. Now, I have DSL with another company and the DSL signal must be stronger because I don't have that problem. I wrote to Belkin to ask about one of their UPS systems and specifically asked about this problem and the person who answered my e-mail had no idea of what I was talking about. I wonder if companies in general even give radio interference a thought when they design and market a product? (Tom Dimeo, ibid.) Excellent piece. It is nearly impossible to purchase household electronics which do not emanate some noise. Anything which has a thermostat is an automatic suspect. Same for motors. Same for pretty much any photoelectric cell, and particularly those with their own wiring (garage door openers). TV's, standard CRT monitors, flashers, you name it! The FCC has no budget to inspect all of this stuff, and no budget for enforcement. They rely mostly on the integrity (?!) of the manufacturer. And most of those self-same manufacturers have lobbyists who schmooze our Congresspersons to keep the FCC de-clawed. I do not hold out much hope for anything which might improve the situation. This is just one of the nails in the eventual coffin of AM broadcasting, I suspect (Russ Edmunds, Blue Bell, PA ( 360' ASL ) [15 mi NNW of Philadelphia] ibid. DXHUB yg via DXLD) DIMMER SWITCH UPDATE Chris - Good electrical jobber will have RFI suppressed dimmers that work. We have light dimmers and fan speed controllers. Only time you hear noise is when you press radio against it. Re your hosed comments, concur. BigKorpseorate Fecal-kasters and their Feckless Chamberpot of Cronies rubber-stampers advise HD radios will end interference troubles. Disregard reports re HD even more vulnerable to interference than 'Antique Modulation', as glib HD halfwit cheerleaders term it. Given that HD sets can't even pull 50 Kw flamethrower six miles distant, unlikely they'll be affected by interference. Isn't it great the way they make it up as they go along? Some HD cheerleader in R/W recently said that 'if we redefine AM as a local service, the interference issue becomes minimal'. So, first we admit - after profuse overblown denials - that HD interferes. But - AM is local. Great. Where do we put people who 'redefine reality'? In the booby hatch, generally. Next, this author who 'redefines' AM will declare the Ionosphere null and void. Don't laugh. He probably will. z (Paul Vincent Zecchino, IRCA via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ MORE LONG-HAUL TRANS-EQUATORIAL FM DX, CARIBBEAN TO SOUTHERN BRASIL MARTINICA 94.0, 0111 28/11 RFO, Trinité, mx caribenha, FF 35233 GUADALOUPE 97.0, 0112 28/11 RFO, Basse-Terre, YL/OM, talks, FF 44243 SANTA LÚCIA 97.3, 0114 28/11 Radio Saint Lucia, Castries, YL/OM, nxs, EE 43343 97.3, 0242 28/11 Radio Saint Lucia, Castries, YL/OM, retx de noticiário da BBC de Londres, EE 44344 SAINT VINCENT & GRENADINES 99.9, 0118 28/11 WE FM, Kingstown, OM, nxs, EE 43343 (RUBENS FERRAZ PEDROSO, BANDEIRANTES-PR, BRASIL, Receptor: Sony ICF SW 7600G; Antena: LW de 12 metros acoplada a uma pequena bobina colocada na antena telescópica do receptor, @TIVIDADE DX Dec 3 via DXLD) ###