DX LISTENING DIGEST 6-181, December 7, 2006 Incorporating REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING edited by Glenn Hauser, http://www.worldofradio.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits For restrixions and searchable 2006 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn NEXT SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1339 Fri 2130 WWCR1 7465 Sat 1330 WRMI 7385 Sat 1700 WWCR3 12160 Sat 2230 WRMI 9955 Sun 0330 WWCR3 5070 Sun 0730 WWCR1 3215 Sun 0900 WRMI 9955 Mon 0400 WBCQ 9330-CLSB Mon 0515 WBCQ 7415 [time varies 0500/0520] 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 I have added a "medium" audio quality podcast of World Of Radio starting with WOR 1339. It is recorded with an 80 bit rate and is 16.5 megs in size. Those that want to try this file should point their podcast readers to http://www.obriensweb.com/worm.xml The popular smaller podcast version remains available at http://www.obriensweb.com/wor.xml (Andy O`Brien, Dec 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) DXLD YAHOOGROUP: Why wait for DXLD? A lot more info, not all of it appearing in DXLD later, is posted at our yg. When applying, please identify yourself with your real name and location. Here`s where to sign up http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dxld/ ** ALGERIA [non]. BTW, right after 6100 went off [UNIDENTIFIED], retuned to 6090 to see if DGS via Anguilla back. Wasn't, and caught what seemed to be sign-on of station in Arabic. Checked Eibi, and listed is Algeria via Rampisham. Nice signal, with some DRM slop, and QRM from another station underneath that I can't make out, possibly Russian or E. European language; M with Qur'an now at 0413 Dec 7 (Alex Vranes, Jr. Harpers Ferry, WV, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANGOLA. 4950, RNA-Canal "A", Mulenvos, 1854-1915, 01 Dec, Portuguese, fq announcement (945, 1088, 4950, 7245), IS, TS, news; 45333... so new transmitter at last? I observed this several times this day and Sat. 02 Dec, and there was always a silent carrier on top (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANGUILLA [and non]. Still no 6090 or 11775 at various chex UT Dec 6. Some have also found DGS missing from WWCR, but maybe that`s just propagation. Still there on 5935 around 0710 Dec 6, and on 13845 around 1445; and still Dec 7. Costa Rica frequencies always come and go irregularly (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) He was back on air via WWCR 5935 today (Dec. 6) at tune in 0730 past 0800 - so still not defunct! I could also hear him in parallel via Costa Rica 5030. (9725 and 7375 not on but forgot to try 6150). I seem to recall Glenn writing that he no longer appeared via KAIJ - I assume it was that station just audible on 5755 same time but mixing with RTTY making it difficult to copy who was doing the talking on there. Anguilla 6090 impossible due to adjacent DRM noise (Noel R. Green (NW England), dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also ALGERIA above ** BANGLADESH. 4750, Bangladesh Betar, Shavar, 1511-1538, 03 Dec, Bengali, talks, local songs, English for news 1530; 24342, QRM de China (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELARUS. Hi Glenn, not sure if this is even worth mentioning but I stumbled across R Belarus English service at 2020 on the 3rd December; 7420 kHz signal was strong but the announcers talk way too fast for it to be an enjoyable listening experience. Someone needs to tell them to slow down. I jotted down the website address but when I checked it out I couldn't see how to email them. I also heard R Sweden's tuning call underneath BLR at 2030. Programming on BLR was standard old school propaganda and lots of fawning over Russia. Listening to R Belarus is similar to being forced to listen to a girl talking endlessly about how great her no good boyfriend is! (Tim Bucknall, Congleton N/W England, Icom IC-736, Wellbrooke ala 1530, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 4716.8, R. Yura, Yura, 2331-2337, 01 Dec, Spanish, talks, songs, ID+fqs; 23331, utility QRM. 5952.5, R. Pío XII, Siglo XX, 2325-2247, 01 Dec, Spanish, chats & music, TCs, info, interview with a school headmaster; 33422. 5980.2, R. San José, S. José de Chiquitos, 2238-2246, 01 Dec, Spanish, local rhythms; 15331 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 4885, R. Club do Pará, Belém PA, 1920 (!)-..., 01 Dec, talks, news 1930, advertisements, youth program "Club da Tarde"; 24322, improving steadily. Fading in around 1845! 4915, R. CBN Anhangüera, Goiânia GO + R. Difusora, 1940 (!)-..., 01 Dec, one airing talks, the other with music; 23331, reciprocal & adjacent utility QRM. 5035, R. Aparecida, Aparecida SP, 1950-2007, 01 Dec, talks, prayer 2000; 13331; \\ 9630 strong but under QRM. 9615, R. Cultura, São Paulo SP, 2212-2236, 01 Dec, cultural feature "A Nossa Língua Portuguesa", program announcements, oldies program "Gramofone"; 55433. 17815, R. Cultura, São Paulo SP, 1850-1900, 02 Dec, Braz. jazz, program announcements; 25421, then blocked by adjacent QRM de RNW (via Bonaire) *1900 on 17810 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Out of his 24 logs, gh arbitrarily picked the 60m ones which were already audible before 2000 or even 1900 UT; and R. Cultura (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. Tried to be sure to listen to the Maple Leaf MailBag program this past weekend to hear what they would say about RCI's new programming lineup and drastic changes, and what I heard was an ordinary program with no mention whatsoever of the changes. Could this have been a repeat of last week's MLMB program? I heard parts of it that were distinctly familiar, and heard some phrasing that sounded like what I had heard the week before. They definitely were discussing the same thing I had previously heard (a contest based on geo-caching) as if it were brand new; the program tends to be so repetitive that it is hard to be sure what is new and what may have been said before. Also, they were far too happy-sounding to be speaking from what must be chaos and disintegration at RCI... Here's a suggestion: Since they went from 3 frequencies in the US morning to just the one 9610, that should mean that there are available transmitter hours. Use 13655 (the best of the formerly-used ones) and just simply relay CBC. No special RCI content at all, just CBC -- what better way to present Canada to potential immigrants? What about their service to the Canadian-nationals "snowbirds" wintering in Florida that they used to have? I thought they had a mission to supply Canadian news and info to that population. Is that commitment gone totally now? 73, (Will Martin, MO, Dec 6, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I don't know whether this is in any mission statement or "charter" to that effect, but CBC's presence on Sirius might be seen as filling that role now (John Figliozzi Halfmoon, NY, ibid.) RADIO CANADA INTERNATIONAL RCI`s revised schedules for the B06 broadcast season (27 November 2005 to 25 March 2007) have been posted on the ``Schedules and Frequencies`` page of our website at the following address: http://www.rcinet.ca/rci/en/horaires.shtml You will find not only our shortwave broadcast schedules, but also the schedules for our three 24-hour per day satellite channels on the HotBird satellite (Europe/North Africa/Middle East), and for the RCI Plus channel on Sirius Satellite Radio. Shortwave frequencies for the Americas were changed to cover our intended targets, and the retransmission of CBC and Radio-Canada programming was moved from shortwave to our website, as our domestic services are widely distributed by other means in North America, including Sirius Satellite Radio. Please note that the schedules are posted in PDF format. If you do not have the Adobe Reader software to read PDF files, you may download it free of charge by following the link given on the ``Schedules and Frequencies`` page. We welcome your comments on our programming and on our updated website. We wish you good listening in the coming season. Bill Westenhaver Audience Relations/Relations avec l'auditoire Radio Canada International http://www.rcinet.ca (also via Brian Crow, PA, DXLD) I expect the two liberated transmitters at 14-17 UT will now be available for rent to gospel huxters, commies and anti-commies, and, we can only hope, some legit international broadcasters in dire need of NAm relays (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) My thoughts: If you read between the lines of the message and look at the frequencies in use in North America, cities in the Quebec City- Windsor corridor have become part of the "intended targets" and the northeast U.S. is now simply a spillover zone. RCI would have done better to use a frequency in the 13 MHz or 15 MHz to properly cover the continent (Ricky Leong, Calgary, Alta., DX LISTENING DIGEST) RCI has been hard to hear in the northeast for some time now, especially in the evening and in winter. I suspect that the signal was a "flyover" and, more often than not, what was received was a groundwave when conditions permitted, not a skywave (John Figliozzi, Halfmoon, NY, swprograms via DXLD) My thoughts: If you read between the lines of the message and look at the frequencies in use in North America, cities in the Quebec City- Windsor corridor have become part of the "intended targets" and the northeast U.S. is now simply a spillover zone. RCI would have done better to use a frequency in the 13 MHz or 15 MHz to properly cover the continent. My observation on RCI's frequency choices are relating to daylight hours (Ricky Leong, Calgary, Alta., DX LISTENING DIGEST) My feeling is there's a big stink going around RCI about this change. Usually such large-scale changes are mentioned in the Mailbag programs. This is especially so for the French mailbag -- that particular host is usually less likely to gloss things over. Instead, not a word about this in either program this past weekend (shows taped Thursday, four days after the new skeds went into effect). In short: This whole things smells fishy and I wish somebody would put out the trash! 73, (Ricky Leong, AB, Dec 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) And what about the poor Haitians (in Haiti) who until now were blessed by being a specific target of RCI in English? (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) Another item of interest in the letter: "For those of you who previously listened to RCI to hear domestic programming from CBC Radio and Radio-Canada, these services are available at http://www.RCInet.ca on RCI Viva in the « Listen Live » section.". This is indeed reachable via the RCI Viva link -- it isn't directly on the RCI English page. The Radio One stream offered is an Eastern Time Zone stream from Toronto. The French Radio-Canada Première Chaîne is also offered (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, swprograms via DXLD) Re: DXLD-179 RCI Action Committee --- That's exactly what I tried to point out by writing that it "used to be" there. No obvious activities, although at least one of the former activists is involved in the production of the new "The Link" format. And Glenn already pointed out a "deafening silence" on the side of RCI contacts, indicating that it is pointless to send e-mail as an outsider anyway. Certainly others are in a better position to find out what's going on there, also since RCI abandoned the German audience already in 1991. Back then the farewell words were: "We have to take this decision and can only hope that one day it will be recognized as wrong. But presumably it is more likely that we will get bulldozed in this fast-paced media scene and fall into oblivion." Time will tell if history will be repeating (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Dec 6, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Things are certainly strange at RCI. I doubt very much that you will get any concrete comments about what is going on at RCI from the troops, even from those who have been outspoken in the past. Something is different this time. I would suggest that inquiries about what is happening should be directed at the following three people: Sylvain Lafrance, CBC/Radio-Canada’s Executive Vice-President, French Services. RCI’s Executive Director Jean Larin Audrey Schelling, Project Leader, RCI – Radio Communications audrey_schelling@radio-canada.ca I would also recommend that comments regarding recent developments at RCI sent to the above mentioned people should also be sent to the following Canadian Government Cabinet Ministers: Minister of Canadian Heritage The Honorable Beverley J. Oda e-mail: Oda.B @ parl.gc.ca Minister of Citizenship and Immigration The Honorable Monte Solberg e-mail: Solberg.M @ parl.gc.ca Minister of Foreign Affairs The Honorable Peter Gordon MacKay e-mail: Mackay.P @ parl.gc.ca It appears, at least in my opinion, that what RCI management is currently doing with RCI programming, services and target areas is, basically, a change to the mandate of RCI. Other than writing the cheque for RCI services, the Government's only involvement in the operation of RCI, under its current mandate, is to dictate the languages which the service would broadcast in, and the target areas they would broadcast to. The recent changes to services seem to me to contravene the current mandate of the service. Therefore it is necessary that the above mentioned government ministers know what RCI listeners are saying as I doubt that comments received by the above-mentioned RCI people will actually make it back to the Ministers. Hope this helps (Sheldon Harvey, Montreal, Dec 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. CHHA was supposed to have gone silent on November 30th, in order to relocate their transmitter site. See article below for more info on CHHA going silent: http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Notices/2006/pb2006-154.htm (J D Stephens, AL, Dec 6, IRCA via DXLD) They did not in fact go silent - possibly they've already relocated their transmitter, or they got an extension on the deadline to do so. As for their slogan, it was Radio Voces Latinas, but I haven't checked recently to see if it's still the same. They have also been significantly off frequency - on the high side, drifting slowly downwards, which could be an aid in ID'ing them. No groundwave signal from them here, but I'll try to check their carrier frequency and slogan tonight. [Later:] They're still using the Radio Voces Latinas slogan, and I measured their carrier frequency to be 1610.0216. Good hunting! (Barry McLarnon, VE3JF, Ottawa, ON, ibid.) ** CHAD. Date CORRECTION on this report sent yesterday, 05 Dec: the logging date is 3rd Dec, NOT 2nd: 6165 kHz, Radiodiffusion Nationale Tchadienne, N'Djaména, 1112-1330, 03 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) ** CHILE. RADIO DESDE EL FIN DEL MUNDO III: VISITA RADIO POLAR, PUNTA ARENAS. En el marco de marco del viaje a Punta Arenas, se hizo una visita de camaradería y entrevista a los encargados de Radio Polar, cuya casa central se encuentra en la ciudad de Punta Arenas. Ésta es una de las radios más conocidas de la región y cumple el rol de entretener, educar e informar a los compatriotas que viven en tan aislada región. Esta radioemisora transmite una programación variada, y continuada por 24 horas, con noticias locales y servicio de mensajería local para residentes en zonas rurales. Esta radioemisora es independiente, o sea no pertenece a cadenas radiales nacionales, lo cual le recalca su fuerte tendencia regionalista en una región, donde tienden a predominar muchas casas comerciales locales, las cuales son siempre mencionadas en los avisos comerciales de esta radioemisora. Esta radioemisora transmite en onda media en los 960 kHz con una potencia de 2 kW; esta frecuencia de transmisión data desde 1940. De igual modo, hay frecuencias de transmisión en frecuencia modulada en los 96.5 y 98.5 MHz, ambas con potencia de transmisión de 1 kW, y otro servicio en los 91.1 con 200 W de potencia. Se recalca que la frecuencia de 98.5 está destinada para las ciudades de Punta Arenas y Porvenir (isla de Tierra del Fuego) desde aproximadamente 15 años atrás, y la señal de los 98.5 transmite para la ciudad de Puerto Natales desde hace diez años. La transmisión en onda media ha podido ser escuchada a 1000 km de distancia en Comodoro Rivadavia (Argentina), esporádicas veces en Coyhaique (Chile), y muy raras veces en la décima región de Chile (Puerto Montt, Chiloé, Palena). Esta radioemisora tiene el sitio en internet: http://www.radiopolar.com el cual presenta señal permanente y libro de visitas. Agradecimientos: Gerente Radio Polar, Encargados Técnicos Radio Polar (Escuchas del Mundo, Dec, FEDERACHI via Patricio de los Rios, Dec 6, playdx yg via DXLD) ** CHINA. 6060, PBS Sichuan (presumed), Dec 6, 1033-1100, two DJs playing Chinese pop songs, 1045 possibly news, ToH 5 + 1 pips and then covered by sign-on of R. Nac. de Venezuela (via Cuba), unable to hear their usual program ID (“This is the Voice of Golden Bridge” - Life, Travel and City Service program), fair-poor. // 7225 poor to very poor (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, Etón E5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6090, CPBS, Geermu, 1035-1045 Dec 7. So far the Caribbean Beacon not on this frequency this morning, so China has a clear frequency here. Noted a man and woman in Mandarin comments with bridge music between seqments. Signal was good (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) CB remains missing, but was off 6090 anyway after 1000 (gh) ** CHINA. Haven`t looked for Firedrake lately against Sound of Hope, but still there Dec 7 at 1445 on 9200, fair (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 5025, R. Rebelde, Bauta, 0917-f/out 1140 (!), 01 Dec, Spanish, songs, talks, news; 55444 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. Radio Rebelde, monitoreada de: 1100-1400 en 9505 1200-1400 en 11655 (ambas en paralelo a los 5025) 1700-1900 en 11655 y 15570 2300-0100 en 6000 y 6180 (en // a los 5025) (Yimber Gaviria, Santa Marta, Colombia, Dic 5, 2006, playdxyg via DXLD) Much needed, since RR apparently does not publish any SW sked. I wonder if this is complete, tho; are they on anything but 5025 between 0100 and 1100? (gh, DXLD) ** CUBA [non]. Re DXLD 6-180 under ANGUILLA, Noel Green mentioned in passing R. Martí on 5890 after 0800, and I wondered if that was a typo for 5980, but no, in fact heard here on 5890 at 0710 UT Dec 6, VG signal, presumably Delano and no jamming audible; meanwhile heavy jamming against nothing on former frequency after 0700, 5980. Radio Martí still is not posting a B-06 schedule on its website http://www.martinoticias.com/frequencies.htm --- much less any updates to it. Also looked for 11750 at 1613 UT Dec 6, but unlike the day before, no signal from R. Martí, altho it could have been on before 1600. Cursory check of other frequencies in this and other bands did not find another anomalous RM frequency at the moment (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. Radio Martí, esquema monitoreado: 0000-0300 en 9725 ex-11775 0000-0400 en 7365 0300-0700 en 7405 0400-0700 en 9805 0700-1200 en 6030 0700-1300 en 5980 [but we heard on 5890 Dec 6, 7 at 0700+] 1200-2200 en 7405 [all day now? No: see below] 1300-0000 en 11930 1500-2000 en 15330 1500-0000 en 13820 2000-2200 en 9565 2200-0400 en 6030 (Yimber Gaviria, Santa Marta, Colombia, Dic 5, playdxyg via DXLD) 9515, Radio Martí, 2306. Programa con notas sobre Cuba. SINPO: 33322 (H. Pino, Temuco, Chile, Escuchas del Mundo, Dec, FEDERACHI via Patricio de los Rios, Dec 6, playdx yg via DXLD) No date on the log! In fact all the dates have been deleted in this apparently monthly publication. I have run across RM on unscheduled 9515 too, but not for several weeks. Many of the other logs appear to be pre-B06 (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** CUBA [non]. Dec 7 after 0700 checked out the R. Martí 50-meter situation. Last night was on 5890 free of jamming, but now heavily jammed. Also heavy jamming on former frequency 5980, and could not be sure whether RM was also on there. Still on jammed 6030 as always. Once again, no show for R. Martí on 11750 at 1502 check Dec 7, unlike 48 hours earlier. Contrary to the report from Yímber Gaviria, R. Martí is not on 7405 now continuously from 12 to 22 UT: Dec 7 at 1903 check, all I heard was an Army MARS net around 7404 in SSB, so 7405 is obviously not available all day to OCB, even tho in winter it might work well to the target from Greenville (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5745 1100-1400 GB 250 174 5980 0700-1000 GB 250 184 Tuesday to Sunday UT 5980 1000-1100 GB 500 184 5980 1100-1300 GB 250 190 6030 0000-0400 GB 250 205 6030 0400-1000 GB 250 205 Tuesday to Sunday UT 6030 1000-1200 GB 250 205 6030 2200-2400 GB 250 205 7365 0000-0400 GB 250 164 7405 0300-0400 GB 250 184 7405 0400-0700 GB 250 184 Tuesday to Sunday UT 7405 1200-1400 GB 250 183 9565 2000-2200 GB 250 164 9725 0000-0300 DL 250 100 9805 0400-0500 GB 250 183 Tuesday to Sunday UT 11930 1300-2200 GB 250 184 11930 2200-2400 DL 250 100 13820 1400-2000 GB 250 184 13820 2000-2030 DL 250 100 13820 2030-2400 DL 250 100 15330 1400-2000 GB 250 174 (via Wolfgang Büschel, DXLD) Tnx, another version, but does not take into account 5890, 9515, 11750 where it has been showing up (gh) ** CUBA [non]. Clandestina --- Radio República, emisiones monitoreadas: 2300-0400 en 5970 [GERMANY, M-F/Tu-Sa] 0000-0400 en 6185 [UK daily] 2200-0000 en 6135 [UK daily] 0200-0500 en 9630 [Canadá, Tu-Sa] 0300-0400 en 6100 [??? New one, Sackville too? --- gh] (Yimber Gaviria, Santa Marta, Colombia, Dic 5, 2006, playdxyg via DXLD) Glenn: No, we definitely do not have RR on 6100 from Sackville or anywhere else. I don't know where this could be coming from (Jeff White, RMI, Dec 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Not RR: see UNIDENTIFIED ** CUBA [non]. VIRGIN ISLANDS US. 1620 kHz, 2350-0000, 444, Radio República via WDHP, St. Croix, USVI, con programa HABLANDO EN SERIO, no en paralelo a 5970 ni 6135; a las 0000 UT con Identificacion por locutor "WDHP 1620 AM", luego por locutora, y seguido con World News de la BBC. La había reportado el 3 de Noviembre. Sin embargo visita la página y no tienen ninguna información sobre dicha emisión. http://www.reefbroadcasting.com/program%20schedule.html (WDHP 1620 AM PROGRAM SCHEDULE) (Yimber Gaviria, Santa Marta, Colombia, Dic 5, 2006, playdxyg via DXLD) ** CUBA [non]. IF CASTRO HAD A TALK SHOW, IT MIGHT SOUND A BIT LIKE THIS --- Francisco Aruca anchors a pro-Castro radio show in Miami, broadcast weekdays from 9:30 a.m to 10:30 a.m. [WOCN 1450] . . . http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/07/us/07cuba.html?ref=us (via Eric Flodén, dxldyg and Mike Cooper, DXLD) illustrated; 1430-1530 UT ** ECUADOR [non]. Did you know that HCJB's DX Party Line show has a toll-free number, US only, for reception reports and DX loggings to the show? It's 1-866-343-0791, per note in the addresses section (see ECUADOR) of PWBR '07'. [later:] Don't you believe the toll-free number for HCJB's DX Party Line, to contribute loggings, reports, etc., in the addresses section (under Ecuador) in PWBR-'07' -- when I tried to dial it there was an announcement saying the number was disconnected. So who came up with this idea for DXPL listeners? (Joe Hanlon, NJ, Dec 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EUROPE. December 6, 2006, 6220 kHz. Since checking at 2231 UT hearing unID station playing non stop disco/Euro pop type music. SIO 323 with QRM from digital/RTTY on 6220. Who is it? Still going strong 01 UT December 7th. 73, (Kraig Krist, KG4LAC, Manassas, VA, dxldyg via DXLD) Euro-Pirate, Mystery Radio. Heard here well most nights. gh has apparently had reports this is located in Italy, but hard to believe with decent signals it always puts in here. If QTH is Italy, must be at least 1 kW (Alex Vranes, Jr., WV, ibid.) ** EUROPE. Cupido Radio, pirate, 15070.23, 1405-1440+ Dec 2, US pop music, 1420 IDs, e-mail address. Very weak (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE [non]. Francia. Cinco de las ocho ediciones diarias de RFI Español son difundidas en onda corta. 1200 a 1230 TU: 15515 kHz, banda de 19m 1600 a 1630 TU: 17860 kHz, banda de 16m 1800 a 1830 TU: 17630 kHz, banda de 16m 2100 a 2130 TU: 17630 kHz, banda de 16m 0100 a 0130 TU: 5995 kHz, banda de 49m y 9800 kHz, banda de 31m http://www.rfi.fr/actues/articles/001/como_sintonizar_rfi.asp (Yimber Gaviria, Santa Marta, Colombia, Dic 5, 2006, playdxyg via DXLD) Typical of RFI, that appears to be out of date, and/or misleading. The B-06 pdf schedules previously quoted in DXLD, from http://www.rfi.fr/radiofr/statiques/ameriques_hiver2006-2007.pdf show 1200 is a full hour, 1600 is on 17630 like the other transmissions, and 0100 is on 5995 only now, to change to 9800 Feb 25. And all are via Guiana French (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. FRANCE 24 Webcaster Launches video Dec. 7: http://www.france24.com/live/ (Clara Listensprechen, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GABON. ANU Le Buzz, 19160 harmonic, inaudible for a change at 1612 check Dec 6; ANU was OK on 15475. Perhaps fundamental 9580 was off the air during this hour, or the solar flare has taken care of such HF propagation (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, I kept myself silent last week while vacationing in Limón and have waited for a few days to read all dxld postings I missed. I have noticed that almost nobody was aware that the Gabuzz from ANU 9580 had disappeared during two days last week, namely Thursday Nov. 30, observed by Thorsten Halmann on dxld 6-177. Buzz came back on Friday Dec. 1 and was off again on Dec. 2. I got a complete clear signal those two days mentioned at 2100 when propagation on 31 m is opened here in Tiquicia, and no buzz on 19160 harmonic. Probably they must have used another transmitter. That made me think like Thorsten that the problem was fixed, but Le Buzz has remained lately (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, Dec 6, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ANU Le Buzz, 19160, back in business Dec 7 at 1458, atop traces of voice modulation, 5 over S9 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [and non]. Hola Glenn, te informo y para todos los colegas radioescuchas del nuevo esquema de Deutsche Welle para América, recién llegado. Este es el nuevo esquema de frecuencia de Deutsche Welle para América Latina en alemán e inglés, emisiones correspondientes al período 1/1/2007 hasta 27/3/2007. Las zonas de destino son, Venezuela, Colombia, Brasil, Peru y Bolivia, originadas en África, Canadá, Rusia, Europa y su nuevo centro emisor en UK. EN ALEMAN: 0000-0200 UT 9545 kHz Sines 9655 kHz Kigali 11690 kHz Kigali 0600-0800 UT 9545 kHz Germany 0800-1000 UT 9545 kHz Germany 13780 kHz Sines 1000-1200 UT 6040 kHz Sackville 17770 kHz U.K. (Saturday and Sunday only) 17770 kHz Sines (Monday to Friday ends 1157) 11510 kHz Armavir 1800-1957 UT 11725 kHz Kigali 2000-2200 UT 9545 kHz Germany 2200-0000 UT 9545 kHz Germany 11690 kHz Kigali 11865 kHz Sines (ends 2355) EN INGLES: 0500-0530 UT 9755 kHz Kigali 0600-0630 UT 12045 kHz Kigali 2000-2057 UT 9830 kHz Kigali 2100-2200 UT 11690 kHz Kigali (via HECTOR FRIAS, COMISION DE RADIOESCUCHAS, FEDERACHI, CHILE, Dec 7, DXLD) I assume this comes from the DW monitoring department. In the case of English, and much of the German, these are for AFRICA, not AMERICA. Perhaps the MD still wants reports on spillover reception in South America. Why, with ever-shrinking resources, would they aim at SAm in the middle of the night? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. 3280 kHz --- Wie weet wat ik nu op 3280 kHz hoor? Groeten (Ton Timmerman, Dec 5, BDX via DXLD) Hallo Ton, Het is de tweede harmonische van de Griekse piraat op 1639.74 kHz 73, (Guido Schotmans, Belgium, ibid.) Dank je Guido, dat moet wel kloppen want bij het nameten van het signaal kwam ik op 3279.50 kHz. Groeten, (Ton Timmerman, ibid.) 4887.3, 2340, Greek Pirate (h 1629.1 kHz x 3) songs Good 03/12 5054.4, 2226, Greek Pirate radio (h 1684.8 kHz x 3), songs Good 02/12 rx: AOR 7030; SDR-14; CiaoRadio ant: Wellbrook LFL 1010 Ciao. my SW blog: http://radiodxsw.blogspot.com my MW blog: http://radio-dx.blogspot.com Ciao (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italia, logs from Bocca di Magra (La Spezia), Italy, HCDX via DXLD) ** GREECE. Hi Glenn, Thought you might like to hear the start of this new Greek service at 7 UT. Guess 15630 doesn't propagate to your QTH. 73, (Erik Køie, Denmark, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Tnx. It certainly does not, but the opening announcement claims it is on SW to Europe and North America! I still wonder just what is in the Filia program; they said on the half hour they would join BBCWS, which I guess they may also do in the other languages (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUATEMALA. December 6, 2006. From: "Radio Truth" = "Radio Verdad To: Many of our Friends = Muchos de nuestros Amigos (Véalo en Español más abajo) Sorry, we just went off Internet about 3 hours ago, and we may keep off for two or three days (?). It seems that the server did cancel our Public IP, as they had given it to us for two weeks, in order to make some tryouts. But, they took it away after one week. So, now we have to purchase a new Public IP, and then, we'll be able to be on the Internet again. Please keep in touch with our website, as we'll transmit again very soon. These days, we are going to transform our website, and put it up to date. We hope to hear from you as soon as you tune our signal. Dr. Édgar Amílcar Madrid, Radio Truth's Manager --------------------------------------------------------------------- Lo sentimos mucho, pero, acabamos de salir de Internet hace como 3 horas, y podríamos estar fuera por algunos dos o tres días (?). Parece que nuestrro servidor canceló nuestra IP Pública, aunque nos la habían prestado para 15 días para hacer las pruebas, pero nos la quitaron después de una semana. De modo que, ahora tenemos que comprar una nueva IP Pública, y entonces, podremos volver a estar en Internet. Por favor manténgase pendiente de nuestra página web, puesto que volveremos a transmitir my pronto. En pocos días, vamos a transformar nuestra página web, para actualizarla. Esperamos escuchar de usted tan pronto como sintonice nuestra señal (Dr. Édgar Amílcar Madrid, Gerente de Radio Verdad, Dec 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Still 4052.5 ** HAWAII. Just another day? December 7, 1941. --- Honolulu, Hawaii. - --- Very early Sunday morning. ---- KGU 750 kc/s -- operating with 2,500 watts and sharing time with co-channel station WJR. KGU is then owned by the Advertiser Publishing Company, Ltd. and a NBC carrier. The only other broadcast station in Honolulu is KGMB on 1320 with 1,000 watts fulltime with a 330 foot Bethlehem tower located on Kapiolani Blvd using all RCA equipment. KGMB carries both CBS and MBS programming and is owned by the Hawaiian Broadcasting System, Ltd. KGMB was granted a CP: to move to 590 and increase power to 5 KW -- but still remains on the 1320 channel. Just these two broadcast stations in Honolulu. The owners of KGMB also operate KHBC on 1200 with 250 watts fulltime from Hilo, using a 178 foot tower. -- Station KTOH is still just a construction permit on 1500 at Lihue, Hawaii with 250 watts days and 100 watts nights and will use a 150 foot tall Lehigh tower. Just an early Sunday morning. MTM (Mike McKenna, IRCA via DXLD) Zeroes homed in on KGMB signal (gh, DXLD) ** INDIA. Re 6-180, distortion and spurs from 7410: Got confirmation from station engineer today - transmitter is under repair. Reports appreciated (Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, Dec 7, dx_india yg via DXLD) ** INDONESIA, 9680, RRI Jakarta, Dec 6, (Wed.) 1006-1031, KGRE program #5302, same as heard Nov 1 (Wed.) and Nov 5 (Sun.); no sign of the usually heard WYFR. At end of KGRE program (1022), went to open carrier (strong audio hum) till 1028, into Bahasa Indonesia programming. Fair (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, Etón E5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM [and non]. Re: ``Think STS-116 is currently scheduled for launch this Thursday at 1535 GMT. Cheers (Sparky, UK?, Dec 4, monitoring monthly yg via DXLD)`` Huh? It's a night launch (if not scrubbed due to weather conditions), 9:35 p.m. ET. Why would he not go to http://www.nasa.gov to confirm, vs. propagating false information? (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, Dec 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 0235 UT Friday Dec 8 From the webpage http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/index.html You'll see that the details are as follows: Space Shuttle Mission STS-116 Orbiter: Discovery Mission: Space Station Assembly Building 12A.1 Payload: P5 Integrated Truss Segment Launch Date: Dec. 7, 2006 Launch Time: 9:35 p.m. EST (0135 UT [sic] 8 Dec 2006) Launch Pad: 39B Landing Date: Dec. 19, 2006 Landing Time: 4:35 p.m. EST [2135 UT] Mission Duration: 12 days In terms of listening to the prelaunch comms. These days the main UHF satcom frequency in use is 261.875 MHz there has been a fair amount of launch related traffic this afternoon on this channel. For this mission there has been lots of Inmarsat TAL traffic too, yesterday there was traffic on eight up to frequencies as there are four TAL sites being used including Istres, Moron and Zaragosa. Frequencies included 1541.100 1541.150 and 1535.75 and 1535.775 MHz from the AOR Inmarsat at 15.5W. For more information about L Band reception see MM August issue and http://www.uhf-satcom.com/lband you'll also find some sound samples of some previous shuttle missions at http://www.uhf-satcom.com/sounds If you have IRC capability, then take a look at the busy and informative #hearsat channel see http://www.uhf-satcom.com/irc/ for details of how to join the channel. On this channel you'll get live reports of actual frequencies being used. One the shuttle has left the pad, then to quote group member Graham Tanner, "about 15-20 minutes after launch the shuttle will pass over/near the UK, and it is possible to hear them on UHF airband. The comms are quite short, but it is definitely them! Typically, you will only hear one or two sentences, perhaps 10 seconds in total. Tune to 259.7 MHz AM, but don't expect to hear too much if you're just using a set-top rubber-ducky. They are only 'in range' for a few minutes, so don't expect to hear too much! - however, some listeners have reported hearing brief comms on this freq using simple equipment, so please try to listen just in case, you may be surprised. As the Shuttle flies across Europe after launch it only takes about 5 minutes to go from the western horizon to the south- eastern horizon, and they may only talk (on UHF) for a few seconds, so be patient. (from personal experience, I have heard them using just a small telescopic aerial on my Yupi MVT-7100 - so it can be done!). A secondary freq of 296.8 MHz AM is also available, if necessary." Here's looking forward to a successful launch. As I type this message there is renewed activity from KSC on 1535.750 MHz, Best regards (Kevin Nice, UK, Dec 6, monitoring monthly yg via DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. CLANDESTINE, 3879.1, V. of Communist Party of Iran, northern Iraq site? 1820-1833*, 02 Dec, Farsi, songs; drifted to 3878.06 at sign-off; 32341, jammed; \\ 4374.6 also jammed. 4374.6, V. of Communist Party of Iran, northern Iraq site? 1828-1833*, 02 Dec, Farsi, songs; 32341, jammed; \\ 3879.1v (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [non]. Re Spanish song on R. Farda: But Miami is correct here in another way: This is a song by Juanes who comes from Colombia but moved to Los Angeles in 1999 and later on to Miami. Indeed he sings in Spanish (unlike the ubiquitous Shakira), but otherwise there is nothing special about this song, it was one of the standard "hits" when it came out in last year; at least the AC stations here in Germany heavily played it (Kai Ludwig, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ITALY. RAI INTERNATIONAL: ADMINISTRATOR NEEDED FOR NEW COMPANY RAI's board of directors has tackled, and only partly resolved, the issue of RAI International. As expected, Piero Baldoni was appointed director of the body last Tuesday, replacing Massimo Magliaro (who is headed for the Paris correspondent's seat, according to some). But the issue of the New Co. RAI International SPA is turning out to be far more complicated. The firm is without a president, without a director- general, has just a ghost board of directors and a managing director whose mandate has been extended (like that of all the board) since 2005 just to keep the company afloat. Director-General Claudio Cappon would like the Institutional Relations Director Pierluigi Malesani as president of the company. Those being considered for the important post of managing director include the current TV programming and marketing head Carlo Nardello and RaiSat president Carlo Sartori. This conflict between the two "Carlos" has remained strictly inside the board, given that the pro-Prodian Badaloni will head the body. Cappon has sought to throw oil on troubled waters, advising the board that he will create (another!) working group to draw up a detailed business plan. And what is most important is not who heads the company but what it does and when it starts. And Nardello and Sartori are among those posing these questions. NewCo RAI International SPA, set up on February 28 2003, has capital stock worth a million euros (200 million shares of five euros each), all in the hands of RAI. It has no offices, no employees, a debit balance of 256,000 euros stemming from so-called "survival expenses". In other words, it is an empty box that has for years been waiting for a branch of the firm (RAI International, RAI Corporation, RaiMed or a piece of RaiTrade), without which it is a fictitious company. The firm was set up under a decision by an elite on the board, comprising Antonio Baldassarre and Ettore Albertoni, following a study by then director general Agostino Sacca. However, this was no mere fantasy exercise. The RAI elite merely anticipated the Gasparri restrictions under Article 17(e), stating: "RAI guarantees the creation of a company for the production, distribution and transmission of radio-TV programs abroad, aimed at educating and promoting Italian language, culture and business through programs and by spreading the most important productions from the national audiovisual panorama". (Gianluca Vacchio / Velino, via Robert Scaglione, Sicily, Dec 6, shortwave yg via DXLD) ** ITALY [non]. Gilbert Reid`s Italy: second episode was about Sicily: http://radio.cbc.ca/programs/ideas/features/italy/episode-2.html Originally UT Wednesday at 0105, 0205, 0305, 0405, 0505 on CBC Radio 1 timezone feeds, it did repeat at 1804 UT on KXOT. The five programs run day after day this week. 73, (Glenn Hauser, bclnews.it via DXLD) Yes... but stop with this stereotype Sicily = Mafia, it's only a metropolitan legend. Sicily and south Italy are less criminal that many other countries (Roberto Scaglione, Sicily, ibid.) v EUROPE ** KOREA NORTH [and non]. VOA UPS INFO ANTE AS PYONGYANG TRIES TO SQUELCH BROADCASTS --- December 6, 2006, By Tsukasa Arita and Kohei Murayama, The Japan Times, Washington http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20061206f2.html The Voice of America is expanding its Korean service aimed at the North Korean people, already isolated from the outside world and even more so since the country's missile and nuclear tests this year. Informing them about abductions of Japanese nationals by North Korean agents in the past "is one of the important issues," said Dong Lee, chief of the U.S.-affiliated radio broadcaster's East Asia and Pacific Division Korean Service. "Although we don't get much out of it right now since there is no bilateral movement between Japan and North Korea . . . we are paying much attention" to what the Japanese government might do, Lee said. Lee's comments coincide with the Japanese government's recent order that NHK air more content on the abductions in its shortwave radio service. It was the first time the government has issued a specific order to the public broadcaster, stirring media concerns about freedom of the press. The VOA's expanded Korean service begins at 9 p.m. North Korea time, with a "How are you" greeting from an announcer reaching the entire Korean Peninsula and continuing with a variety of programs, including news and music. "Koreans in America" is about the activities of the Korean-American community. "Looking at Northern Land" features defectors in South Korea describing the differences between life in North Korea and the outside world. "North Korean Odyssey" highlights diaries of North Korean defectors describing life in North Korea, China and South Korea. The programs also include "Window to Korea," offering news reports related to the peninsula, "World Today" international news, "U.S. Headlines" on Korea-related news and reports that appear in major U.S. newspapers, "English Today" for those studying English, "Weekly Economic News" on the U.S and world economies, and "The World of Music" providing a combination of Korean and American music, culture and current topics. When North Korea conducted its first nuclear test Oct. 9, the VOA changed its regular programs to give live news feeds. The VOA began working out an expanded Korean service after the U.S. Congress passed the North Korean Human Rights Act in October 2004 with a provision calling for boosting Korean-language radio broadcasts. In late October, the VOA expanded the service by 30 minutes, which had lasted only three hours a day. It plans a further phased expansion to five hours by next October. The expansion plan also includes doubling its Korean service staff from the current 20 in Washington and opening a new office in Seoul. In North Korea, radios are strictly controlled so only state-run broadcasts reach its people. According to defectors, however, many North Koreans modify their radio receivers and secretly listen to broadcasts from outside. The VOA said a U.S private research agency estimates that 36 percent of North Koreans listen to its programs at least once a week. "To us, it's a huge number," Lee said. "It's just one study, but I'm sure we're gaining more and more listenership despite of all those difficulties." VOA officials said even North Korean officials are listening closely. "You have a lot of attention," a senior North Korean government official was once quoted as telling a VOA reporter. "He listens to our program . . . he reads our stories from our Web sites every day," one VOA official said. Lee said. "Our mission as journalists is just to bring them balanced, accurate information. What we do is just bring the truth to the North Korean people." Lee said the North Koreans themselves are seeking such information. "I'm sure that people in North Korea are eager to get outside information," he said (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) What about R. Free Asia? As if it does not even exist here (gh) ** KOREA SOUTH [non]. December 6, 2006, 2220-2230* UT, 3955 kHz. Program in English with talk on arts project. "Goodbye everyone" by female at 2229 and into musicbox type music until signal gone at 2230. EiBi shows KBS Korean at this time and frequency. SIO 232 without amateur radio QRM. With QRM SIO 211. 73, (Kraig Krist, KG4LAC, Manassas, VA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Skelton ** LIBYA. LIBIA, 15235, LJB, Voice of África, 1115-1120, escuchada el 6 de diciembre en árabe a locutor con entrevista a invitada; se aprecia mala modulación y de fondo emisión musical, probablemente All India Radio en su servicio en tibetano, SINPO 34443. 15415, LJB, Voice of África, 1130-1138, escuchada el 6 de diciembre en árabe con tonos horarios, sintonía, ID, himno nacional, locutor con titulares y boletín de noticias, en paralelo por 15235; cesa emisión bruscamente en las dos frecuencias a las 1138, SINPO 34443 (José Miguel Romero, Burjasot (Valencia), España, YAESU FRG-7700, Antena Radio Master A-108, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) As reported recently here, these two are believed axually to be from Libya, not relays via France (gh) ** MALI. RTM, Bamako, 4835.39, 2310-0002* Dec 1-2, variety of African folk music, Afro-pop music, French pops, ballads. French announcements. 0000 march-style NA. Weak but in the clear. Stronger on // 5995 but with adjacent channel splatter. Also on 4835.39 at *0555-0616+ Dec 2, sign-on with IS, 0558 march- style NA, 0559 local music and French announcements, 0602 possible news, 0603 African folk music. Weak, poor in noise; stronger on // 5995 (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO [and non]. Looking again for XEYU in current testing: Dec 6 at tune-in 1440, 9599 now with modulation in Spanish, unlike the day before. Still weak and hard to copy, but seemed to be talking about Mexican politics; 1455 to classical music; 1459 a couple IDs sounded like Radio Universidad Nacional rather than Radio UNAM. There was a het until 1500 from something on 9600.0, and at 1517 back in classical music, XEYU measured like yesterday on 9599.4 or so. Also unlike the day before, after 1500 there was splash from a Chinese-speaking station on 9605; from phony enthusiasm of announcers (commercials?) I suspect it is CNR-1; must be something new as I don`t find it listed anywhere. The XEYU transmitter is presumably the last XERMX unit which was semi-funxional on 9705v before R. México Internacional was abolished, and it was donated to Radio UNAM. Hard to believe it is running as much as rated 10 kW (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) El día de hoy por fin se escuchó audio en los 9600 kHz. Reportan desde las 1400 horas UT. En lo particular, no pude monitorear a esas horas; sin embargo desde las 1730 pude escuchar audio muy claro aunque débil, tanto de programas musicales como noticiosos. Posteriormente a las 2015 y hasta el momento audio aceptable pero poca intensidad. Definitivamente XEYU R. UNAM onda corta 9600 kHz. A las 2048 parecería haber subido el nivel de la señal pero con ruido de fondo. En conversación telefónca con el Ing. Mejía me informó que la tarde de ayer realizaron los primeros ajustes y así continuarán, por lo que nuestros informes son muy importantes. Nominalmente están por el momento saliendo con 4 kW pero la señal no pareciera tener esa potencia por lo que, se abocarán a la revisión de la antena. El día de hoy estará al aire XEYU hasta las 0000 UT. 73's (Julián Santiago Díez de Bonilla, DF, 2058 UT Dec 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio UNAM BUEN AUDIO --- Hoy desde las 1500 hasta las 1700 UT he monitoreado a Radio UNAM en los 9600 kHz. Se escucha muy claro, el audio mejor que ayer, la intensidad ha mejorado un poco y hay menos desvanecimiento. Hasta el momento no recuerdo haber escuchado a XEYU R. UNAM onda corta tan claro en mis casi 25 años de diexismo, con excepción de la prueba que realizaron hace más de un año con este transmisor y antena pero cuando estaban todavía ubicados en la planta de lo que fué Radio México Internacional misma que se realizó cuando ya se había cedido el transmisor a R. UNAM y querían comprobar la frecuencia de 9600. Están realizando ajustes y esperemos pronto salga mejor la señal; en cualquier caso es una gran alegría escuchar en onda corta a Radio UNAM y comprobarle a la nefasta Sra. Béistegui, aún directora del IMER - muy a pesar de su premio como "mujer del año" de alguna despistada organización, que somos muchos los que escuchamos a la onda corta en todas partes del mundo. 73's (Julián Santiago Díez de Bonilla, DF, Dec 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Julián, también la escuché esta mañana con señal mejorada. Entonces ¿de qué lugar transmiten ahora y con qué tipo de antena? ¿Habrá más pruebas después de hoy 7? 73, (Glenn to JSDB, via DXLD) Hola Glenn: El transmisor y la antena se encuentran en la planta de la UNAM al norte de la Cd. de México (Ticomán); anteriormente el transmisor y la antena se encontraban en la planta de Radio México Internacional al este de la Cd. de México (Iztapalapa). La antena es omnidireccional. Las pruebas continuarán, así como los ajustes, de hecho, si notaste desde las 1710 UT el audio se disminuyó considerablemente; me comuniqué con el Ing. y me informó que siguen con los ajustes tanto al transmisor como a la antena, Saludos, (Julián, ibid.) XEYU, 9599.4, Dec 7 at 1430 in Spanish talk, usual het from something on 9600.0; Chinese 9605 was also already on but not such a problem as the day before. Listened across hourtop for ID, but discussion of Huajaca (¿why do they spell it Oaxaca?) continued. Modulation was best yet and het went off at 1501; signal 15 over S9, but still not easy copy. Hope they keep testing after today (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA [and non]. 15120, lo-fi audio in English, fair signal at 0647 UT Dec 7. Must be VON, but too late to stay with it and try to understand it. Unusual propagation on 19m, with ChAf also in on 15255, good signal, and no sign of Australia on 15160, 15240, 15515. This is why we no longer hear VON on 7255 at this hour (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. The Crystal Ship, US pirate, 3275.7, 0245-0255+ Dec 1, rock music, ID. Poor, weak in noise (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. Suddenlink Cable in Enid has made some changes in the way it is getting TV signals from OKC. There had been a satellite(?) delay of about 3 seconds on major stations, which is far too long to account for a single hop, but now there is no delay compared to off-air reception on KFOR-4 and KOCO-5. I also see some noise flex and slight ghosting which indicate these two are again being picked up with antenna OTA. KWTV-9, however, is still running 3 seconds behind OTA. KETA-13 has always been OTA and continues as such. I had thought they were available on some satellite feed, but the currently-running OETA special about HDTV mentioned that they are not, yet (even on standard def?). Whether or not $tereo audio comes thru the cable is also strange. Adding in the other OKC stations on cable here, this is the current situation (analog only): OKC Air Enid Cable source and channel 4 $ KFOR $ OTA-4 5 $ KOCO $ OTA-5 9 $ KWTV M Delay-9 13 $ KETA S OTA-13 14 M KTBO M OTA-3 M 25 $ KOKH $ Delay-8 30 ? KTUZ M ?-21 34 S KOCB M Delay-7 43 $ KAUT $ Delay-2 52 S KSBI S OTA-16 [BTW, the Enid translator on ch 45 is off again] 62 M KOPX M OTA-22 S = stereo pilot indicated, but no stereo content ever heard or confirmed. There is NO excuse for this, nor for Suddenlink deleting stereo from chs 9, 13 (Glenn Hauser, Enid, Dec 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OMAN. R. Sultanate of Oman, 15140, 1400-1501 Dec 2; 1400-1409 English news, ID and into US pop music. 1501 Arabic talk. Fair to good signal strength but with hum (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. R. Altura, Cerro de Pasco, 5014.38, 0300-0357* Dec 1. Spanish talk over OA flute music, 0331 ID, Spanish ballads, pops, announcements. 0356 ID and 0357 off. Poor, weak in noise (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. New 3955, 0045-0125 30-11, Buryatskaya GTRK, Ulan Ude Russian/Buryat news, orchestra music, time signal, 34343 AP-DNK (Anker Petersen, Skovlunde, Denmark on my AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metre longwire, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** SLOVAKIA. ESLOVAQUIA. Los audio de RSI están sin actualizar desde el 29 de Noviembre; adjunto mensajes enviados y recibidos de RSI sobre el tema: Enviado: Saludos cordiales Lada, espero te encuentres bien; permíteme que te haga saber mi preocupación, veo que los audio no están actualizados en la web de RSI, desconozco el motivo, pero las alarmas se nos han encendido. Espero que no sea nada serio, recibe un fuerte abrazo. Atentamente José Miguel Recibido: Querido José, has entendido bien. En la última reunión presenté mi "audit personal" donde conté todas mis tareas de una semana - son 25 y el tiempo mínimo para realizarlas supera 50 horas. Aquí parece se está tentando superar el récord de lo que una persona pueda soportar. Lo más triste es que la dirección nos presenta como personas encabezadas, rígidas que rechazan adaptarse a nuevas y modernas tecnologias --- y eso no es verdad por nada. Es que sinceramente me gusta aprender cosas nuevas y ser independiente; pero si el día continua a tener 24 horas, y nosotros solo dos manos y una cabeza --- aquí la mejor cosa sería aprender know how y pasar a otra emisora :-) Nada, tengo que empezar a trabajar :-), te deseo un maravilloso día y salúdame Luisa. Un abrazo, L. Recibido: Bingo! José, ahora mismo salió una noticia en intranet, de que tenemos que someternos a un examen psicológico, si somos capaces de trabajar bajo el estrés. Es que aquí parece que empiece el programa entretenido de Noche Vieja... (via José Miguel Romero, ibid.) Workers at least in the Spanish sexion of RSI are heavily overworked and stressed due to under-staffing. She has 25 tasks to accomplish in a week, which would take more than 50 hours. So things like the audio files are not getting updated (gh summary) ** U S A. VOA beefs up broadcasts to KOREA NORTH: q.v. ** U S A. I have a huge load of airchecks of WBCQ programming. I have just started to post Timtron's shows at http://johnlightning.com/wbcq I am planning to start rolling out Michael Ketter's material soon via worldmicroscope.com. Here's a good list of stuff we have online now: http://www.wbcq.com/index.php?option=com_weblinks&catid=31&Itemid=23 Regards, Lw (Larry Will, via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. Wanted to point you to a New Yorker article and on-line supplementary info from the 4 Dec 06 issue: About station WBAI (home of "Off the Hook" though they are not mentioned) and in particular one of its on-air personalities who seems to be a curent-day Jean Shepherd in some aspects. "Voice of the Cabal" by Marc Fisher, subject is Bob Fass (page 58). There's also a pointer to an audio segment on newyorker.com that has some vintage excerpts from Fass's "Radio Unnameable" program. I have no idea if these will be accessible for a while or if they only last a week; hope they're still there now! 73, (Will Martin, MO, Dec 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: http://www.newyorker.com/online/content/articles/061204on_onlineonly01 That Sixties Show --- Issue of 2006-12-04 Posted 2006-11-27 This week in the magazine, Marc Fisher writes about the WBAI radio host Bob Fass. Here Fisher talks about Fass and listens to clips from his show, ``Radio Unnameable.`` Produced by Alexandra Schmidt. Listen here (8:25), or right-click to download. PLUS: From 1966, Bob Dylan on ``Radio Unnameable.`` Listen here (93:15), or right-click to download (via gh, DXLD) ** U S A. The story of W and K calls in the US. http://earlyradiohistory.us/kwtrivia.htm (via Alan Furst, Round Rock TX, mwdx yg via DXLD) Extremely detailed, all you could possibly want to know about this (gh) ** U S A. FEMA TIS in Selma, AL --- Spoke with some very nice FEMA folks today in Selma, AL after getting some introductions from the EMA folks that we do ARES work with here locally. They were able to provide a lot of information. FEMA operates a large distribution site in Selma, similar to many across the country. Since Katrina, they've been a hub for the familiar "FEMA trailers". Hundreds of these trailers are stored on site, with contracted drivers coming into and out of the site daily to pick up the homes and transport them to the Gulf Coast. FEMA is testing the TIS system as a way to provide timely information to drivers as they approach the site. The license for Selma is short duration, because they are basically testing the system, which may be more widely adopted around the country. The unit they purchased contained two antennas, one (much larger) for 530 kHz and a smaller one for 1650. My contact there advised that they are testing right now on 1650, with no plans to operate on 530. I'll have to listen harder for them now, if I can null KWHN! If the test proves successful, we may all have more FEMA TIS's to listen for. 73, (Les Rayburn, Birmingham, AL, Dec 7, IRCA via DXLD) ** U S A. SPECIAL "WEST COAST VERSION" WNTP/WFIL DX TEST Rene` Tetro has agreed to another test of stations WNTP/WFIL, this time with West Coast DX'ers in mind. Instead of the usual Midnight to 2 AM tests of the past, this one will take place much later at night (0500 AM local, making it 2:00 AM on the West Coast). Having a 50 KW test this late at night should really give some folks out West the chance to put this one in the log book. Ditto for the lower powered WFIL. Details below, and our sincere thanks to Rene Tetro! WNTP 990 Philadelphia, PA DX Test, WFIL 560 Philadelphia, PA DX Test. Date: Sunday Morning December 10th, 2006. Time: 0500-0600 Eastern Time [1000-1100 UT]. One hour test. Modes of Operation: Transmitter Testing to check on improvements to the new audio chain. Programming: Morse Code ID's, Sweep Tones, Voice ID. Notes: Transmitter audio chain testing. With WNTP running daytime power for 1/2 hour (50 KW) this should present a real opportunity for DX'ers on the West Coast to log this station/state. WNTP: 0500-0530 50 kw Day Directional Pattern 0530-0600 5 kw Non-Directional WFIL: 0500-0530 5 kw Day Directional Pattern 0530-0600 2.5 kw Non-Directional Reception reports are desired via e-mail (first choice) and snail mail (only if e-mail is not available). Station would prefer to receive recordings of the test (MP3, CD, or cassette). Submit reports to: les @ highnoonfilm.com Please put "WFIL/WNTP DX Test" in the subject line. All standard mail reports should go to: Les Rayburn, High Noon Film, 100 Centerview Drive Suite 111, Birmingham AL 35216. Our thanks to Rene` Tetro for this "Third Annual Test". Seriously, Rene always thinks about the DX community when conducting transmitter maintenance, and manages to include test tones, Morse Code, etc. for our benefit. We're all very grateful (Les Rayburn, IRCA DX Monitor Dec 8 via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA [non]. Venezuela (via Cuba), Radio Nacional de Venezuela (via RHC), sus esquemas en español. 1000-1100 en 6180 1100-1200 en 6060 1200-1300 en 11705 2000-2100 en 17705 2200-2300 en 11670 2300-2400 en 136[8]0 y 15250 (Yimber Gaviria, Santa Marta, Colombia, Dic 5, 2006, playdxyg via DXLD) Matches our research (gh, DXLD) ** ZAMBIA. R. Zambia, ZNBC, 5915, *0241-0305+ Dec 2, sign-on with distinctive Fish Eagle IS, 0250 choral NA, 0252 vernacular talk, local choral music. Weak, poor in noise. Also heard a very weak Fish Eagle IS on 6165 at 0241-0250 under a strong R. Nederland but nothing else (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE. New 3396, 2258-0210 30-11 & 05-12, ZBC, Gweru, Vernacular announcement, Afropop - reactivated! 35333 AP-DNK (Anker Petersen, Skovlunde, Denmark on my AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres longwire, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 1610 and 1020 and 590 tones: While on vacation in the Tidewater area a year and a half ago, we visited the Cape Henry Lighthouse, which is located on a military installation. (Forgot which service branch.) Next to the lighthouse (which looks like a WW II V-2 missile with its paint scheme) is what appears to be a radio installation, with four fairly short "AM looking" towers in a square. A building was in the middle of this setup. Have a pix of it. Maybe this is where the signals are originating (Bob Galerstein, WB2VGD, Monroe, NY, Dec 5, NRC-AM via DXLD) Any swamp / salt-marsh / coastal site is going to have killer "get-out-ability". If I put a rig out in the middle of the Rowley, MA salt-marsh site near here, it would be extremely efficient. In Delmarva and the Tidewater region, there are many good sites such as this. The military has access to more than a few of them. We used to have active DXers Al Merriman in Chincoteague Island, VA (right near Wallops Island NASA); Richard Eckman in Hampton, VA (near numerous naval facilities: Norfolk-Newport News-Portsmouth); Elliot Strauss in Tom's River, NJ (not too far from Ft. Monmouth), and a couple of shortwave guys Harold Cones and Chuck Rippel (of R-390A fame): also near Norfolk, VA. They would all be superbly positioned to scope this thing out close- up. But I haven't seen logs from any of them in IDXD or DDXD-E for many years even though they were all top-notch DXers at one time. Maybe some of you know their e-mails or phone numbers and can summon at least a couple of them to the dials for us. While I expect to be able to log the tone on 590 tonight, local WEZE (about 12 miles south of here) will certainly muck up any attempt at a DF (Mark Connelly, WA1ION - Billerica, MA Dec 5, NRC-AM via DXLD) Bob Foxworth wrote: There is a posting by a DXer in southern Del that appeared on a limited circulation list today which describes in some detail the use of a H-P Network Analyzer with 30 Hz and 1 KHz modulating tones to do a swept impedance response test of such an antenna. This would explain the 30 Hz low level sidebands present in the 1 KHz modulating tone that has been heard by everyone, and the 30 Hz sidebands on the 1 kHz tone noted by a few DXers using Spectran (Bob Foxworth, FL, NRC-AM via DXLD) But doing a network analysis of the antenna would require that the tester be connected directly to the transmission line to the antenna, not to the modulator of the transmitter. In other words a network analyzer would apply only mW into the antenna. We are hearing KW of RF (Allan Dunn, K1UCY, NRC-AM via DXLD) I've seen several postings that mentioned "limited circulation lists" and also the "AF" list? I assume this are directed at broadcast engineering professionals? Can someone provide some insight into this area? I find it hard to believe that if the transmissions are military or even government contractor conducted that the stations would not have been notified prior to the test. KDKA didn't seem alarmed by the test, which might indicate some prior notice. It does seem that the 590 kHz stations have not been made aware of any pending tests however (Les Rayburn, Birmingham, AL 35216, NRC-AM via DXLD) I believe the 590 test isn't "supposed" to start until today, but I definitely heard it one night last week. Quite audible, even with my 5kW/1kW local (WVLK). I initially thought it was a carrier on 589, but I understand now it was a 1 KHz. tone on a 590 carrier. I reported this in the #mwdx chat room, but at the time, no one realized what it was. Did anyone else hear the 590 test "early"? (Chris, KU4A Dec 5, NRC-AM via DXLD) Yeah, I heard it also briefly last week, but also thought it was a het from a computer or something didn't really check it out very much, (Bob Young, Millbury, MA, ibid.) I heard the test tone on 590 last week as well (November 27 at 1907 EST). No test tones on 590 heard last night, only classical music from Radio Musical and French language programming from CKRS (Chris Rigas, Wood Dale, Illinois, ibid.) Happened to travel from Staten Island back to NJ late (2330-ish) the last two Tuesdays. Last week 11/28 was tuning the 1600's on SI because I'd been curious about months of a "Staten Island ATMS Recording" broadcast on one of the 16x0 frequencies (where the above is all they'd say). And heard the 1610 tone like a monster. Seeing the early speculation about its origin I was wondering if Carl McIntyre was firing up again off the coast of NJ, LOL. Didn't hear anything on 1020 at 1030am Sunday am. Speculated Fort Monmouth NJ is about 15 miles away (Paul Mount, Morganville NJ, Dec 5, NRC-AM via DXLD) Re 1610 & 1020, FCC no comment to gh: That reminds me of the response I got from the enforcement bureau back in February, 2001 concerning the 1140 station that was relaying a Las Vegas station. I'd bet anything that 1) this was clearly a government operation, and 2) nothing whatsoever will come from the enforcement bureau about this (Harry Helms, W5HLH, Smithville, TX EL19 ABDX via DXLD) Glenn, you have every right to contact the FCC about this. I believe you also have the right to a straight answer (Phil Rafuse, PEI, ibid.) Glenn, There are some who are in other clubs who are just plain weenies. They love to complain about EVERYTHING. You have the right as a citizen to ask the government to answer questions that are under their purview. The FCC knows what this is and they should tell you since you asked. Since we pay the bills and haul the freight for the government, you have every right to ask. I am sure they can tell you in a way that does not compromise national security should this have something to do with it. Personally, I am glad you asked. I would like to know what it is. We all have a good idea what is going on but it would be nice to know. I know we out west never got a real good answer on what happened on 1140 kHz some while back (Kevin Redding, ibid.) I have now heard from the BAE Systems person listed on the 2005 FCC application. This did expire in October of last year after a renewal, as their tests were not completed due to FCC objexions, and he was not aware of the recent tests, which must have been undertaken by some other party on behalf of the US military, or by the military itself. The experimental callsign on record for BAE was WB4XAE, which he says he would have been sure to run on the hour if he were doing it. I asked him, Could this call sign have applied to last week`s tests, altho apparently without your knowledge? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, The answer to your question is no. The call sign has expired and no tests, repeat, no tests were conducted under the authority of that STA. Any authorization given to the current testing could be granted through a different authority but BAE Systems currently has no license or approval for testing at this time. We went to great lengths and expense to insure the legality of any testing and if someone else decides to "fire up" with their own agenda, that's their business. Unfortunately, there are numerous agencies and contractors in the Washington, DC area who are anxious to meet deadlines and be paid accordingly. It's sort of like running a red light, maybe you'll get caught, maybe you won't. Regards, (Rick Young, BAE SYSTEMS to gh, via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Thus involvement of FCC Enforcement (gh, DXLD) Despite the denials from BAE Systems received by Glenn Hauser, I have reasons to doubt that story. In addition to my own sources, it's hard to deny that the STA requests mirrors the activity observed on the air in nearly every detail. It's possible that the engineer listed on the STA request is unaware of the current tests, as BAE Systems is a very large company with multiple government contracts. I wonder if Jim [Tonne] would be willing to produce plots of the DF bearings with the Bowling Green, VA location highlighted somehow? According to the original STA request submitted for BAE Systems, the transmitter location was to be: Bowling Green, VA, Lat: North 38 7 59; Long: West 77 19 49. Until I hear something to the contrary, I think this explanation is the best one (Les Rayburn, N1LF, Dec 7, IRCA via DXLD) Thanks to all re 590-1020-1610 episode --- Well, that was an interesting adventure, a mystery, a chance for DF, and a nice little tsunami waving thru the MW DX community! Particular thanks to Glenn Hauser for his detective work and getting the straight facts from the horses' mouths, and to Jim Tonne for his enthusiastic mapping (now in place for when something like this emerges in the future). So now we go from that excitement to a virtual BCB blotto tonight, with noise, SS, more noise, more SS, and 50 KW clears sounding like they are operating on 1 KW. Interesting hobby we have here, friends! (Fred Schroyer, Freelance Science Writer / Editorial Consultant, Waynesburg, PA 15370, IRCA via DXLD) Gents: Now that the "mystery site" has closed down could anyone tell us the latitude and longitude of it? Would be a kick to put an orange dot on my map to show folks how accurate they were! By the way, as of midnight last night the 1020.gif had been looked at 980 times according to my site stats. We know of course that there were a lot of "repeats" but nevertheless there is a lot of interest in direction- finding. Now that the techniques have been refined (for data entry, etc.) we can be considered to be all ready for the next time something interesting pops up. 590.gif and 1610.gif have been removed. 1020.gif is still there: http://tonnesoftware.com/1020.gif (Jim Tonne, TN, Dec 6, WB6BLD, IRCA via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 4695.2, S American (?) station, 2335-2347, 30 Nov, Spanish, talks; 25231; also 2335-..., 01 Dec, 4695.30 kHz, same SINPO rating (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. I got a rather strange channel last night in the early evening on 6100, playing Led Zeppelin, Bruce Springsteen, and Aerosmith. It was being jammed by a bubble jammer. Anyone know what it could have been? Not sure of UTC. The programming leads me to believe it is a pirate, but not sure why it would be jammed, or even if it was a pirate. It was coming in strong, but when the announcer was speaking the bubble jammer just kind of took over. Any ideas? 73 (Jason, Dec 5, ABDX via DXLD) Jason, Looking at the IRC logs, 6100 was first noted 0307 GMT, went off at 0400 GMT (Dan Ferguson, NASWA Tropical Loggings Editor, ibid.) I got that station about 2 weeks ago at 6100 kHz, around 2100 UT. It was playing The Eagles, I think. It was not real clear and there was No ID. It lasted about 30 minutes and then the frequency went dead (Paul Armani, CO, ibid.) Yimber Gaviria, Colombia, reports R. República now on 6100 at 03-04 UT, but that doesn`t fit in with relays on other frequencies via Canada, Germany, UK, WRMI, so what is the site? The 2100 log on 6100 would now be RCI; RCI is also on 6100 until 0200, or is it 0300? so could República on 6100 after 0300 also be Sackville? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See CUBA [non] I hope someone else was monitoring 6100 at 0300 Dec 7; if not, please hurry up and do so. At 0256 I could barely detect some Cuban jamming on frequency and nothing else; at 0259 the jamming started to build up rapidly, and at 0300 some station came on, but it certainly wasn`t Radio República. Aside from the jamming, its audio was very distorted, and I couldn`t be sure of the language, but unseemed Spanish or English, as M&W were talking for a few minutes. At 0304 thought I heard ``traffic report`` and into rock music. Maybe it is a pirate, or something relayed by mistake, but why would Cuba jam it? Maybe on a previous occasion some exile broadcaster such as RR did show up here (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, If you or if you know of anyone that has audio enhancement software to try to ID it, here is my file of the first 7+ of minutes: http://www.jasonrgardner.com/radio/6100UNID/ Unfortunately voices aren't to clear, but maybe clear enough after someone edits it. Played Guns N Roses, some other classic rock. However, it is a rather large file. It is a .WMA File (Jason Gardner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Now I think it is in (British) English; there may be something identifiable in minute 4 to 5, when they transition from the news to the music. After the music starts there is no more talk. Jason wasn`t getting all the jamming I was, just the distortion. Too strong for a pirate, I think (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi, Glenn! Yes, I forgot to check 6100 around 0300, but I saw your post and tuned in just before 0330. Heard some nice classic rock, including 'One of These Days' from Pink Floyd's 'Meddle' album (the one just before 'Dark Side of the Moon'), Lynyrd Skynyrd's 'That Smell,' and 'How Many More Times' from Led Zeppelin's first LP. Relay hammered by the bubble jammer, but a couple quick ID's sounded like 'Classic Rock.' 0359 W speaking, possibly an ad; it was hard to hear what she was saying, and went off without any fanfare right after that. Sounds like a domestic relay, but who? And why would it be jammed? M had British accent on ID's, so maybe a U.K. FM or satellite station called 'Classic Rock?' Anybody else hear this or is familiar with a service called 'Classic Rock?' (Alex Vranes, Jr. Harpers Ferry, WV, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Relistening to the file I put on my site, and adjusting some equalizer settings it sounds, to me-even though I don't hear too good- that they are either saying "Hilversum" (as in the Netherlands - even though the format doesn't make sense for it to be an international broadcaster), or they are possibly saying "Area Sixty One" which would make a little more sense (as in 6.1 megahertz) if it is a pirate. Whatever the case, it sounds like Cuba knows something about it, since they are jamming it. And Whatever the case, they have been on the past three nights from around 0300-0400 UT on 6100 kHz. With a format of 5 minutes news - possibly fake it is a pirate/possibly real if it is a messed up relay/or a legitimate broadcaster - and 55 minutes of music with occasional voice-overs. Just throwing out some possibilities, (Jason R Gardner, Meridian, MS, DX-398, ABDX via DXLD) Hilversum is the location for much domestic broadcasting in Netherlands too, not just RN. I was wondering if it could be some kind of parasitic from Bonaire 6165 in Spanish (gh) All right, everyone, I don't think I'm going to make forensics expert, but here is what I heard when I used a demo of some of audio enhancement software. It only allowed for very small clips, but what I could hear didn't make much sense, didn't seem to hear much "Hilversum" or "Area sixty one" in this clip. About 10 secs into a wave file I had to convert it sounded like: - what sounded like clips of a guy saying uhm (like if he were between thoughts and pausing out loud). -"...running still" Then... -(what sounded like a cow mooing) - "Chinamen besieged by Criminals" toward the latter part of the 45 sec. clip. Whatever the news program ... The accent did in fact sound European. I did not hear any definite ID, no interval signal, or anything at the beginning Perhaps they will be on 6100 tomorrow at 0300-0400 UT; I can try for better reception. Has anyone else tried any kind of software? 'cause I'm stumped. It seems pretty strong reception to be a pirate, but really sloppy audio to be professional grade. I dunno (Jason Gardner, ABDX via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Strong open carrier with intermittent tone tests on 15390, Dec 7 at 1453-1501* presumably Greenville testing; but why? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DIGITAL BROADCASTING ++++++++++++++++++++ DRM: ALGERIA; ANGUILLA [as QRM] ONLINE HDTV GUIDE While researching USB TV tuners/PVRs, I ran across TitanTV http://www.titantv.com Enter zip code to see all broadcasts in the area. Also has ability to only show HD broadcasts. Interesting. Appears to only work for US zip codes. Cheap way to check out HDTV without spending $$$$. Get a USB TV tuner and use with PC. Circuit City has one for $60 after rebates. 73, (Kraig, KG4LAC, Krist, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) TURNING IBOC ON? 670, KBOI ID, Boise was 5 Hz high for over a year. On 12/03/06 I noticed that they have moved to 670.00000 kHz. This may be a sign that they have installed IBOC equipment (Albert Lehr, Livermore, CA, IRCA via DXLD) Interesting that you should mention this, Albert. One afternoon last week I was getting a very good signal from KBOI and was hearing some hash around 680 and 660. KNBR 680 was enough to overpower the hash but there was a bunch at 660 and I couldn't tell if it was coming from 650 or 670. Frank in Boise could probably confirm if they've started running IBOC (Michael n Wyo Richard, ABDX via DXLD) WRATH OF KAHN --- WRATH NOVEMBER 5, 2006 A number of broadcasters have told me that I am the World`s Worst salesman. And they may be right, as I really don't like that part of my job. Why? Because so many broadcasters believe that they know more about KCI products than I do. Leonard, give us an example --- Almost every time I tell someone who has used our AM Stereo or our POWER-sideTM Systems that Our Cam-DTM Box will at least double the coverage of POWER-side and that Cam-D stereo sounds far better than Kahn/Hazeltine Stereo, they don't believe me... "Nothing could be better than POWER-side." I really don't enjoy not being believed because they think I am after their money (which I am). But now, when I try to save my Dear Broadcaster buddies` stations AND THEIR LIVES, they still do not believe me. And they continue to STREAM on the Internet and Satellite Radio to help KILL Over-the-Air Radio (WHY ARE SO MANY HUGE RADIO GROUPS SELLING THEIR STATIONS???) AND DON`T YOU KNOW THAT CELL PHONES WENT DEAD ON 911 AND DURING THE GULF STORM --- and that THE WEB SLOWS DOWN even when it just rains heavily. Since YOU GUYS aren't listening to me when I mention OVERLOAD, I will now quote from three top-notch professors, one who was head of the FCC`s Office of Engineering Technology, and all are real authorities on Digital Radio & its most successful technique, Spread Spectrum. This really annoys me as didn't I ever tell you that one of my early patents is supposed to be one of the first Spread Spectrum inventions that traded bandwidth for increased signal-to-interference, but nevertheless YOU AIN`T LISTENING. I Hope you will now listen as LIVES DEPEND UPON IT. There is an excellent article, (Spread Spectrum is Good-But It Does Not Obsolete NBC vs. US), in the current Fall issue of the Radio Club of America Proceedings; actually all three articles are superb. This is one of the articles of direct interest to Mr. Broadcast Owner and Engineer as it teaches in clear lay language the key concepts of digital communications that any intelligent broadcaster can understand. (If you weren't super intelligent, MOST OF THE TIME, you wouldn't be on this website.) Now why I am so enamored with this great article? Not just because I know one of the authors (Dr. Ray Pickholtz), a top notch engineer/ mathematician who was teaching at the same university as I was many moons ago, but because the Spread Spectrum article confirms the killer OVERLOAD problem of conventional digital systems... (NOT our hybrid Cam-D System), but the HYBRID iBOC system and certainly the super OVERLOAD sensitive Internet that threatens the safety of Americans all over our Country and proves it without using equations, just crystal clear logic. The article does not directly treat the iBOC System... the authors are treating normal (rational, state of the art) systems designed by engineers that are not under the control of management that does not respect engineers and the laws of physics. The entire overload concept is far more complex than the well-known power grid peak capacity or telephone system limited number of party usage overload theories. They also debunk the iBOC doctrine that since AM (& FM) signals already have at best say 60 dB of natural noise (lightning and power- line noise, etc.) and man-made to and adjacent channel interference, that it is masked by the noise. The theory is that if the added noise is below the current noise levels you have no problem. The article destroys this illogical theory with the following figures:   [garbled] Thus, the basic premise of the iBOC System is FALSE. You cannot hide their garbage under the normal spectrum. Thus the FCC was sold a phony theory and thus the Commission has NO BASIS for abandoning their rules that have protected AM Radio for over a half a century. May I now interrupt this commercial with my version of a Public Service Announcement and suggest that you join the Radio Club which is a blend of Engineers and Business-people. Major Armstrong and RCA`s Sarnoff were the stars of the Radio Club during the early days. RCA`s phone #(732-842-5070), email: info @ radioclubofamerica.org By the way I am scheduled to talk at the annual convention at the New York Athletic Club (uptown on 57th St. Central Park South) at 3:30 pm Nov. 17th about AM Radio and IBOC. Now as promised, may I say a few UNkind words about the deplorable state of the Press, the Forth Estate and what its SILENCE is doing to the Radio Industry and actually the defense of America from manmade (terrorists) attacks and natural (storms) disasters. As you know, I am involved in litigation and I have a real problem deciding whether or not I should keep quiet and allow the Press to keep SILENT while the big iBOC radio groups claim "crystal" clear reception and not even hint that iBOC dies at night. The Marketplace is NEVER WRONG --- But Leonard, what about AM Stereo? Sorry, that is one great example of the revision of history. Motorola and a number of their iBOC friends would like you to forget the big M convinced the FCC to drop the Marketplace when we had the support of all the big groups and more listeners than all of the other stations combined. Remember our AM Stereo increased coverage, was free of "platform motion" and was not Afraid of the Dark. The Marketplace was working too well, that's why Motorola ran crying to Father FCC. Again the Press hid the true story. Now let me quote from another gem of the article in this same issue of the Radio Club Proceedings one by a highly respected attorney who specializes in FCC practice, Mr. Robert H. Schwaninger Jr. As you know I have in earlier issues of the WRATH gotten very, very POLITICAL... Anyway, the first time I found a publication by a really courageous attorney confirming the fact that when dealing with Government Agencies, the LAW trumps ENGINEERING and POLITICS TRUMPS BOTH OF THEM. It took me about a decade for me to learn that Law was overruling my best efforts in engineering so I took, and passed, the Patent Bar Exam. And then to my great disgust it took about another two decades to learn POLITICS made a joke out of Law and Engineering. Lawyer Schwaninger penned a wonderful article giving you a case study demonstration of the Power of politics all WRATH readers will enjoy "Vetting RF Equipment in A Perfect FCC World." Dear Reader, you have no choice. Sign Up with the Radio Club and be at the talks on November 17th in New York at 3pm, where I plan to add an argument re the NBC vs. FCC titled case about compatibility and a COVENANT WITH THE PUBLIC. You buy radios and we the Government will not allow anyone to destroy their signals` compatibility nor interfere with other channels. And have you noticed that our Dear Friends at Radio World are putting out a brand new message on how to "Save" AM radio at night. As you & I knew when we were 12 year old Hams --- At night medium wave radio uses SKYWAVES. RW engineers have Just learned about Skywaves and that it is tough stuff and that iBOCers are stuck. But RW came up with a SOLUTION. RW would just sprinkle FM repeaters that feed AM transmitters wherever the local station is weak; I guess RW also never heard of INTERFERENCE. But not only is RW insulting real broadcasters by making such proposals, they also think we have all lost our memories. They now are the Champions of Local AM stations, the very stations RW targeted in their famous Thinning Out The Herd proposal. Any local and independent station that happens to be within +/-30 kHz of an iBOC Station. Remember the much more important problem. The failure of the general and trade press to do the Job the Founding Fathers expected the Forth Estate to do. Broadcasters are in a unique position to understand the problem, as they are now a major part of the Press and you would be surprised how my small firm has been damaged by the FREE? General Press, not to mention the trade press. Anyway, during these dangerous times it is not an exaggeration that the very future of America is at stake --- Serious Stuff (via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ RADARS, LOCAL QRM OR WHAT? Dear Glenn, In DXLD 6-131 Sep 1, colleague Des Walsh from the UK says: "I have been hearing a very widespread-pulse type interference across the shortwaves for nearly two years and wonder why I have not seen any reference to it anywhere, despite having written a few letters to magazines (Practical Wireless, RSGB Rad Comm and others) with little response. The pulses are about 5 per second, not unlike those heard on the Russian time/frequency station on 9996 kHz, and are some form of OHR (over-the-horizon radar), but what astounds me is that unlike the "woodpecker" of years ago with a limited bandwidth, this thing can be heard over all the frequencies of about 6.8 right up to 25 MHz at times, but more usually strongest around 7 to 9 MHz and 12 to 15 MHz. Usually it can be heard during the day but not exclusively, depending on propagation conditions. It cuts across BC, amateur, marine and aero frequencies and when strong can be heard as ta-tat-tat-tat-tat with signals and often equal in volume." Walsh continues: "I've heard it in South East Spain too, somewhat stronger and for longer periods. I suspect it is coming from East or SE Asia but cannot be sure. Certainly with strong Chinese and Australian signals it is strong at the same time. Last Sunday evening I was tuned to ABC at 2200 UT on 13620 and BBC 15400 when I noticed what I call the "clacker" pulse in the background. But suddenly after 20 minutes it suddenly disappeared; it's never done this before. I've even made a tape cassette of it and will put in on CD when I manage the technology to do so. To produce an RF pulse that covers nigh on 20 MHz of spectrum to be heard thousands of miles away takes some transmitter, aerial system and power --take my word. Yet so far I have not seen any reference to it as I have said and it puzzles me. One suggestion was that it is OTHR in Cyprus but I think not with the variation in signals heard over periods of time. Second source of noise is nearer to home; in fact is in the home(s). Modern switched- mode power supplies are now everywhere, especially as power/chargers for much electronic equipment, PCs, computer, cameras, DVDs etc. Some produce "white-noise" hash over LF & HF frequencies, other pulses of wobbly noise varying across wide frequencies and worst of all are the electronically switched small fluorescent bulbs we are being encouraged to install. The older heavier variety with choke/capacitor starting were no noisier than the tube variety but the (imported) new ones produce a terrible amount of HF hash right across all HF frequencies and wipe out weaker signals. It is getting more and more difficult nowadays to listen to shortwave with all the junk electronic equipment around producing more and more interference and no recourse in reality in having it quietened. If you complain you are treated as a nuisance at best and a nutter at worse by people who don't care. Yes, a dedicated shortwave listener's life is a difficult one." The very first impression I had when I read Walsh's text was he was wrong -- no OTH radar was the culprit but rather a switching-type PSU near by his receiver, since the poor present propagation conditions favoured noise against wanted signals. I kept such impression during October. But propagation worsened in November -- at least, as I could appreciate from my QTH in Madrid, Spain. So then I recalled Walsh as I started hearing a noise similar to described by him, more and more persistently but with a greater pulse rate -- about 10 per second. The audio profile of such a QRM was as if a helicopter was over the signal. I first heard it on the 25-m band at noon but I soon found it through the 49 meter up to the 19-meter band in daytime hours. Nothing by night. As days passed by, this helicopter-like interference, which was continuous, not on singular bandwidths, widened on the SW spectrum and raised in strength. On December 3, morning hours, it came to cover all of HF bands continuously from 3 to 22 MHz. There were occasions when I could even picked it on the lowest part of the commercial FM band. The noise can now interfere with the BBC World Service, conceal Radio Exterior-Noblejas completely, and emerge at whatever time, night and day. The position of my random-wire antenna seems having no influence at all. Then I decided to do some surfing on the net, and found that in Jindalee, Australia there's a 560 kW OTH radar in service since 2000. Note that from that year till now, solar flux did nothing but dropping. Was it possible for the noise to have been coming from Australia since 2000 and be now heard but not before? But, if so, why was Walsh the only one to have reported this noise among so many DXers? Anyone else but Walsh and me now? I also learned that the US Air Force keeps 6 OTH radars in a sort of stand-by mode both on the West and East coast, aimed at environmental purposes. When operative, total area coverage of these radars will be 90 million square kilometers in open ocean, as they admit. Total radiated power would be 100 MW covering 6 bands in the 5-28 MHz range. They say the waveform cycles about 10-60 times per second, in a 5-40 kHz bandwith. Would have they released these radars' stand-by state? Another information supporting the radar hypothesis was found in the Conexion Digital list of 22.10.06, referring DXLD of Oct 5 via John Norfolk: "Chinese OTH radar tears up lower ham bands. [...] IARU Region 2 Monitoring System Coordinator Bill Zellers, WA4FKI, says Amateur Radio stations on the West Coast and as far east as Arizona have reported hearing OTH radar signals on the low bands. VE7BZ in British Columbia recorded the radar's signal October 1, 1353 UTC, on 3795 kHz. The radar, apparently located on Hainan Island, People's Republic of China, has shown up on 160, 80 and 40 meters and sometimes is quite strong. "We're talking about signals 40 over 9!", Zellers told ARRL, adding that the radar is obliterating 160 meters in the Far East. On 80/75 meters it appears as high as 3.8 MHz, while on 40 meters, it's showing up on the lower 25 kHz or so. Typically there are about 50 seconds between signal pulses [...]". American hams also seem to be affected. An audio file with the sound of this QRM would be great, but no digital equipment is now accessible for me to do so. Maybe next time... Any kind of response on this issue will be highly appreciated. 73, (Joaquín Tavasanis (IN80DJ), Dec 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ Good morning all, I hope that I can make a contribution. I have been an avid DX'er for decades and have been a Ham for 25 plus years. Did any of you early risers and DX'ers notice conditions were a bit odd and downright lousy this morning?? The propagation forecasters were almost right. They have been predicting possible stormy conditions the past couple of weeks beginning tomorrow. Looks like it is a day early. Region 929 just spit out a X9 flare at 10:35UTC this morning. I believe this is the first X class flare since late October 2003. It was not directed at the earth, but this region is just now appearing and will be looking at us for 2 weeks. It might produce another one. As powerful as it was the disturbed region sometimes are multiple producers. What does this mean? Lousy HF for a while, but the potential for other facinating propagation such as TEP, Aurora and backscatter on the higher HF bands and definitely VHF (50 and 144 MHz). The last X Flare and associated CME in 10/2003 resulted in me (North Texas) working N.Carolina on 144 MHz CW Aurora and an hour later working SSB to Hawaii on 50 MHz and hearing everybody in the USA calling him on backscatter. Links: http://umtof.umd.edu/pm Solar Wind - know when the CME hits us. http://www.sec.noaa.gov/rt_plots/xray_5m.html X-Ray plots Keep your eye on all your favorite propagation sites. 73's (Art Jackson KA5DWI, near Fort Worth, TX, Dec 5, ABDX via DXLD) SOLAR FLARE RELATED RADIO NOISE ON THE HF REGION OF THE SPECTRUM If you notice a general background noise increase when the Sun is visible at your location, it may be coming from the solar active region 929. Another different type of noise is similar to gasoline engines ignition systems, and it may also be coming from the same source IF and WHEN the big sunspot produces a flare when it is located at a more effective position, we may witness a rare, for this phase of the solar cycle, MOSS- DILLINGER effect or total radio blackout. Scientists are now scrutinizing the solar limb with the best available radio telescopes in the hope of learning more about this sunspot active region, that MUST have a rather complex magnetic configuration in order to produce the X9 solar flare of Dec 5. For AM medium wave broadcast band Dxers in Canada and the US, activity related to this sunspot during the next few days may help to add quite nice new loggings to the SOUTH of your location. 73 and DX, (Arnie Coro, CO2KK, Host of Dxers Unlimited, Dec 5, ODXA via DXLD) X9.0 Class Solar Flare Some interesting goings on with space weather at the moment. The solar flux reached an unusually high 105 at 2200 UTC on Tuesday December 5, 2006. Emerging sunspot group 10930 produced a huge X9 class solar flare at 1035 UTC on Tuesday December 5, 2006 and I suspect that the solar flare was actually larger than an X9.0. A huge solar flare such as this is extremely rare near the bottom of a sun spot cycle. As the solar flare was not geoeffective (Earth facing), most of the energy released by the associated the Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) will miss Earth. However a glancing blow is expected and geomagnetic storming at some level is expected. More X and M class solar flares are expected in future days. Space weather goings on such as we are currently experiencing is anecdotal evidence that we are still not at the very bottom of solar cycle 23. My prediction for solar minimum continues to be June 2007. --... ...--, (Thomas F. Giella, KN4LF, Retired Meteorologist & Space Plasma Physicist, Lakeland, FL, USA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Space Weather Message Code: SUMX01 Serial Number: 62 Issue Time: 2006 Dec 06 1907 UTC SUMMARY: X-ray Event exceeded X1 Begin Time: 2006 Dec 06 1829 UTC Maximum Time: 2006 Dec 06 1847 UTC End Time: 2006 Dec 06 1900 UTC X-ray Class: X6.3 Optical Class: 3b Location: S05E61 NOAA Scale: R3 - Strong NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at http://www.sec.noaa.gov/NOAAscales (SEC via DXLD) Radio blackouts coming? http://dx.qsl.net/propagation/propagation.html (via John Babbis, DXLD) Geophysical Alert Message Solar-terrestrial indices for 07 December follow. Solar flux 96 and mid-latitude A-index 21. The mid-latitude K-index at 0000 UTC on 08 December was 3 (21 nT). Space weather for the past 24 hours has been strong. Geomagnetic storms reaching the G1 level occurred. Solar radiation storms reaching the S3 level occurred. Radio blackouts reaching the R1 level occurred. Space weather for the next 24 hours is expected to be strong. Geomagnetic storms reaching the G1 level are expected. Solar radiation storms reaching the S3 level are expected. Radio blackouts reaching the R2 level are expected (SEC via DXLD) ###