DX LISTENING DIGEST 7-007, January 16, 2007 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 2007 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html For restrixions and searchable 2006 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid6.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn FIRST SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO Extra 74 Wed 2300 on WBCQ 7415 Thu 0000 on WBCQ 18910-CLSB Thu 1430 on WRMI 7385 Fri 2130 on WWCR 7465 Latest edition of this schedule version, including AM, FM, satellite and webcasts with hotlinks to station sites and audio, is at: http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html For updates see our Anomaly Alert page: http://www.worldofradio.com/anomaly.html WRN ON DEMAND: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL] http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html or http://wor.worldofradio.org WORLD OF RADIO PODCASTS: www.obriensweb.com/wor.xml DX/SWL/MEDIA PROGRAMS Jan 16: http://www.worldofradio.com/dxpgms.html ** ANTARCTICA. Some HF which may be active this summer: McMurdo Station 4770 Ross Island and Dry Valley Field Parties 5100 Air-to-Ground 5400 Scott Base Field Parties 7995 Remote/South Pole 11553 Remote Field Parties Palmer Station 4125 Secondary USAP Field Parties 11553 Primary USAP Field Parties Communication between field parties and fixed-wing aircraft normally occurs on 9032 kHz. If a fixed-wing aircraft cannot be reached on that frequency, try 4770 or 11553 to contact MAC Ops at McMurdo (from Field Manual for the US Antarctic Program pages 4 and 16 at http://www.usap.gov/travelAndDeployment/documents/FieldManual-Chapt9FieldRadios.pdf via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. RAE bombardendo --- No he escuchado noticia alguna de que RAE haya aumentado su potencia en 15345, de modo que tengo que atribuir esta casi excelente señal a las 2300 del domingo 14 enero, a la magnífica propagación que he venido experimentando desde hace algunas semanas en direcciòn Sur-Norte. RAE practically inbooming here. These great propagation conditions in a South-North path observed the last few weeks must be good news for Northern Hemisphere colleagues for trying to log some rare ones. 73s (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, Jan 14, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. RA has changed its transmission schedule, apparently due to silly ballgames. Jan 16 at 0617, 9580 was already on much earlier than usual *0800 with cricket and tennis coverage intermixed (unless 6-love has something to do with wickets). Then at 1412, I found 5995 with Australian Open Tennis, apparently live even tho it was after 1 am local time. Maybe they are playing late at nite to avoid the heatwave. A bit earlier on the news at 1403 it was reported that there was a major power failure in Victoria and use of air-conditioners might have to be restricted (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Mister Hauser: Why do you denigrate the sporting interests (and by extension, culture) of a country where you do not reside, by describing what that country's international broadcaster presents to a wide audience, by changing its tx schedule "apparently due to silly ballgames"? This message is sent to your single, personal e-mail address but if you wish to reply to the open groups in which "GH logs Jan 16" appears, I'd appreciate that my whole query appears as well (Theo Donnelly, Burnaby, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Theo, If you had been paying attention you would know that I feel that way about ALL types of silly ballgames in all countries, including my own. I will not hesitate to refer to something from the US that way at the next opportunity. Sometimes I even call them stupid ballgames, but try to restrain myself. 73, (Glenn, to Theo, via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Puck games too, in deference to your country (gh) ** BANGLADESH. EXTERNAL SERVICES OF BETAR IN BAD SHAPE By Sheikh Arif Bulbon, Mon, 15 Jan 2007, 09:50:00 The external services of Bangladesh Betar, which are aired on short wave in Bengali and five other languages, are now in a miserable condition due to degradation of the quality of signals from its old short-wave transmitter. The poor transmission from Savar, where the old short-wave transmitter is situated, is the only responsible for above condition of the external services. But the external services were the most popular among the listeners of the South Asia and countries of the Middle East, said an official of Bangladesh Betar. The external services of Bangladesh Betar had become popular in India, Pakistan, Nepal and the Middle East during the War of Liberation of Bangladesh. Now it has lost most of its listeners due to its poor services, he added. "The quality of transmission has remained poor for two years. The signal has become too weak to receive. But the authorities are not willing to address the problem," said the official. The technicians, who are working at the transmission point, are not careful of maintenance of programme schedule and non-repetition or exchanging of the programmes, he added. It has also become difficult for Bangladesh Betar to run programmes of the external services, as it is difficult to find people who are expert in the communications in those languages, said another official. Generally Nepalese and students of Arabic Department of Dhaka University are engaged in the programmes of the external services in Bangladesh Betar. "Due to unavailability of artistes in foreign languages, we are facing problems to run the programmes," said the official. He also said that they were thinking to talk with the authorities to replace the present transmitter. News bulletins, commentaries, press comments, economic reviews, talk shows, weekly magazines, songs and advertisements on women and children issues are the main programmes of the external services of Bangladesh Betar. All these programmes are aired on short-wave band 41.75 in 7185 KHz between Bangladesh time 19:15, 23:30 and between 00:15 and 02:00. Source : The New Nation (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, DXLD) 1315-1730, 1815-2000 UT ** BOLIVIA. Caro Glenn, Ouvida ainda há pouco, entre 2250 e 2305 UT, Radio Logos, Santa Cruz de La Sierra transmitindo nos 4865 kHz. Ouvi programa religioso em inglês até as 2300 e em seguida a identificação em espanhol onde ainda é mencionada a freqüência de 6165 kHz. Provávelmente trocaram a freqùência, usando agora 4865 anteriormente ocupada pela Radio Centenario que já estava inativa há algum tempo. 73 (Samuel Cássio Martins, São Carlos, SP, Brasil, Jan 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Wayne, Tnx for your recent reply. Perhaps we should have asked R. Logos what frequency they are really using. Just got this from a Brazilian monitor (along with a tough to understand audio clip), heard on 4865, but still saying they are on 6165. We have also had an unidentified reported on 4865 before and after 2300 UT in German(?). Perhaps Low German, as for the Mennonites of Bolivia. Could that be Logos? Tnx, and 73, (Glenn to Wayne Borthwick, BC, via DXLD) No reply from him yet (gh) unID 4865 kHz again, 2257-2352, English, preaching, Low German (that's correct, Glenn!), 55433, but gradually deteriorating, and at 2350 a Brazilian station was very poorly audible, so couldn't this be some irregular relay of HCJB via one of the two listed B stations on 4865? (Carlos Gonçalves - SW coast of Portugal, 13 and/or 14 Jan, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL [and non]. RHC, 6060, had some pretty heavy CCI, Jan 15 at 0635; at first I thought it was Spanish. There was a pronounced SAH, so obviously from a separate transmitter. After 0700 in the clear with a screaming preacher in Portuguese, so no doubt the listed Brazilian here, R. Tupi, Curitiba, 24 hours (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Glenn: Regarding your DXLD 7-006 comment that Canada has 5 timezones (sic). Seems like there are 6 - Pacific, Mountain, Central, Eastern, Atlantic and Newfoundland's (Atlantic +:30) - time zones, not 5. (Mike Cooper, Jan 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, I realized that, too late. Altho in CBC scheduling terms there are only 5, which is what threw me off! Speaking of Canadian time --- (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. Some information about CHU in this month's report [ODXA Perspectives on HCJB DXPL]. An email from Raymond Pelletier at the National Research Council, sounded optimistic about the future for CHU as some 500 emails and letters of support have so far been received. His department is recommending that CHU be relicenced as a broadcast station, which would allow it to continue operations on 7335 kHz. However that doesn't address the need for eventual upgrade of aging transmitters, so the power-that-be still have to weigh the options whether to continue operations beyond April 1, 2007. 73, (Greg Schatzmann, ON, Jan 13, ODXA via DXLD) ** CHINA [and non]. Firedrake with VG S9+20 signal on 9200, Jan 15 at 1456. Recheck at 1503, it was off, and then back on a few seconds before 1505. Presumably vs Sound of Hope but nothing else audible here during the break. Also at 1514, // Firedrake on 9450 and this one mixing with some other audio, reported to be SOH from a higher-powered transmitter, and by now 9200 FD was much weaker. Then at 1612 something odd accompanying the FD on 9200. Another carrier was rapidly changing frequency back and forth roughly between 9195 and 9225, causing variable hets as it went past other signals, some of them utility. When it paused briefly on 9205 I could hear some indistinguishable audio. If this was SOH, it was not an effective countermeasure to the jamming (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. Glenn, I have been bothering just about everyone trying to find out who that Unident is on 6165 KHz? I finally found someone who was able to help me. He was one of the URL's you sent me, AsiaWaves.net Alan Davies took a listen to 6165 from his location, which I believe is Australia? And he sent me three MP3 attachments to listen to, which I did. The quality was really good and clear compared to what I was hearing here in Clewiston. I also placed three of my sound wav files on the internet so that he could listen if he wanted? They are at http://www.orchidcitysoftware.com/IMAGE51.HTML in case you're interested too? His MP3 attachments certainly sound identical in format to what I was listening although Alan recorded while Radio Nederland was up, so I wasn't able to identify the details exactly. Well, I have kept you at suspense long enough. According to Alan Davies, the station we are hearing is CNR6, Voice of Shenzhou, "Shenzhou Zhi Sheng Guangbo Diantai". Alan thinks that CNR6 changed their schedule for the 1000 UT opening. The fact that I was thinking this unident was from Vietnam because of the language, may have been caused by the language that is being used as Chinese, Amoy, and Hakka by CNR6 according to the WRTH 07 page 163. I was probably listening when they were using Amoy or Hakka which I don't know if they sound much different anyway? Anyway, got up late this morning, but will try and get a logging tomorrow and report it so we can get this official. I appreciate your help. I really like this part of DXing (Chuck Bolland, FL, Jan 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Later: 6165, CNR6, (Voice of Shenzhou), (Presumed) 1000-1045 Jan 15. Comes on the air at 1000 with musical fanfare type music. At that time, signal is poor and mixing with previous Chinese Station on this freq. By 1010, things have smoothed out and CNR6 continues with a good signal. The format from then continues with a popular Chinese(?) song and comments and intro by a female. At 1035 a canned English bit was heard as, "Number Seven!". At 1041 a second canned English bit heard as, "Number Five!" I guess I missed Number Six somehow? The Identification of this was made by Alan Davies of http://www.Asiawaves.net Sometime prior to 1100, Radio Nederland usually comes up with their carrier and blocks this frequency at my location (Clewiston, Florida, USA) for an hour until 1100. Today Radio Nederland's carrier came on at 1055. Until that time, the signal for CNR6 was good. This is presumably the unident I have been reporting on 6165 for the past week. Until I get a clear ID, I can't be certain? [Later:] Parallel frequency of 9170 comes on the air at 1100 UT and has some identical characteristics that occurred at 1000. First the fanfare music and second a brief segment of Beethoven's 9th Symphony, the Choral, performed by a singing group. Checking 6165 at 1155 when Radio Nederland ceased, both 9170 and 6165 were identical broadcasts with 9170 being the better signal (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston, Florida, NRD545, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re unID 6165: CNR-6 Voice of Shenzhou in Chinese (partly Amoy and Hakka) rtsp://211.89.225.1:554/encoder/cnr6?mode=compact&title=CNR-6 mms://211.89.225.101/live6 2055-0105 6165, 9170 0355-1805 6165(from 0900)/11905(to 0900), 9170(from 1100)/15880(to 1100) (S. Aoki via S. Hasegawa, Jan 15, NDXC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CONGO DR. Wed. 24 Jan: Praise God that many Chinese UN peacekeepers in Bukavu, DR Congo have heard the Gospel on Radio Kahuzi (Galcom Prayer Bulletin via DXLD) ?? Does that mean R. Kahuzi broadcasts in Chinese, and if so which Chinese? Or is hearing the Gospel in English or French sufficient whether you understand it or not? (gh, DXLD) ** CUBA. Dear amigos: Starting next Monday January 22 at 1100 UTC Radio Habana Cuba will be using 15190 kHz to Eastern South America ( the "Buenos Aires beam") replacing 15230 kiloHertz. This is the morning local time in Havana Spanish language broadcast that starts at 1100 and lasts until 1500 UTC. 73 and DX (Arnie Coro, CO2KK Host of Dxers Unlimited, HCDX via DXLD) That`s because for the past several B-seasons, 15230 has collided at 13-15 with China-via-Canada. It`s about time someone noticed and fixed this (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) ** CUBA. 15375, R. Rebelde, 1715 1/12/07. Good. // 11655. Conversation surprisingly criticising Cuba`s mail service and mail thefts. This frequency is not listed on their website (Victor C. Jaar, QC, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) Checked at 1723 UT Jan 16, this was on 15370, not 15375, VG signal // recently reported other new frequency, 17555, which was mixing heavily, almost zero-beat with WYFR, but Cuba atop. Why does Cuba come up on WYFR frequencies? Maybe retaliation for WYFR using 6000. Anyhow, Cuba has SW transmitters to spare in the RHC 1500-2000 break (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** CUBA [non]. R. República relay questions: see U K [and non]. VTC ** CUBA [non]. TV MARTI? Hi Glenn, I just wanted to let you know that yesterday, Saturday Jan. 13, while I was in Key West I saw "Fat Albert" (Cudjoe Key). Then today, when I returned home around noon, they had brought it down to ground level (still white in color). I don`t know if I am the first to inform you of this unless someone else has published it on the list. 73 (Dino Bloise, FL, Jan 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Had been out of service for a long time; wonder if really transmitting again, on what channel and time? (gh, DXLD) ** CYPRUS. Rather surprised to hear Arabic on 6030, Jan 15 at 1423 with BBC Extra English explaining the word ``mesmerised``. This is listed as Cyprus site aimed eastward (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CZECH REPUBLIC [non]. R. Prague via WRMI, 7385, Sunday Jan 14 at 1510 starting Insight Central Europe, and mentioning that it is only on certain ones of their Saturday broadcasts. Last I checked, this relay had the current day`s transmission, but now it seems to be one day late, like the Sackville 15160 relay at 1500 used to be. Maybe caused by WRMI no longer getting the audio thru WRN? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn: Yes, I think that is the case (Jeff White, WRMI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) And Monday Jan 15 at 1451, Mailbox, which is on their Sunday schedule, mentioning new 2007y QSL cards --- that broadcast started very early; at 1444 it had been Viva Miami in Spanish (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also UK [and non] for VTC relay questions ** DIEGO GARCIA. Dear Glenn, AFN 4319 usb, Nice copy of them this evening despite a few fades. Signal peaking S-5 to S-7 between 2330 and 0030. Nearly as good as Key West 5446 usb which peaked at S-9. Interestingly enough, the Diego Garcia audio was about one second delayed when quickly switching (VFO A/B) with Key West on 5446 (Stephen J. Price, Johnstown, PA, 01-13-07 + UT 1-14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Which postal address is a good one to QSL AFN Diego Garcia? The one in CA or DC? any particular one that any members have used and worked? I know about the email QSL address and may try it, but being an old fashioned guy even at age 36, I would like that postal QSL letter or card. thanks for anyone's help. BTW, nice copy of them this evening on 4319 at 2330 to 0030. Only few fades, otherwise, nearly as good as Key West on 5446. Key West 5446 had sideband peaks of about s-9. Diego Garcia on 4319 had peaks of s-5 to s-7 when not in a fade (Steve Price, Johnstown, PA, Jan 13-14, ODXA via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. Hey Glenn; I just stumbled into this while looking for 75m AM hams for audio wallpaper: HD2IOA (presumed) time signals with 1000 Hz time pips, shorter in duration than CHU's. Spanish time announcement 50 secs to top of minute, then longer 1000 Hz top-of- minute tone. Heard at 0322, January 17 Z on 3810; poor signals and severe ham QRM: 21232. Never listened for this one before, let alone knew about it. Heard on RME 45 and FT-817 receiver/xcvr with 75 meter dipole (Steven Zimmerman, Milwaukee, WI, K9QS, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA. ETHIOPIA [sic], 5100. ???. 1514 Jan 14. Heard music type horn of Africa. S7 over S3 noise level. At 5100 QRMed by local pirate. I think language today is Amharic/Eritrean at 1523 (Zacharias Liangas, THS Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EUROPE. European Music Radio this Sunday 21st of January 2007 at 1300 UT on 5965 kHz. Good Listening 73s (Tom Taylor, EMR, Jan 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Presumably one hour, and presumably via Germany; Tom always makes us guess about such minor details (gh) ** FRANCE [non non]. 11995 GABÃO: R. França Internacional, Moyaby, Gabão, FF, 0538, 14/01, Programação em francês para África e Oceania, 43343 (Adalberto M. Azevedo, radioescutas via DXLD) Adalberto e demais ouvintes, A RFI deixou de transmitir via Gabão. Segundo HFCC, tem emissões em inglês às 0500-0530 e 0600-0630 em 11995 via Issoudun na França mesma. Se houver francês às 0530 pode ser emissão errada. 73, (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) ** GABON. Afropop Music Distraxion, Jan 15 at 1452 was on 17685. Usually it`s below CVC on 17680. ANU also at similar level in French on 17630, S9+20. At 1454 found // ANU harmonic 19160, S9+12. Afropop music distraxion was on 17665 Jan 16 at 1458, G until 1530:30* Similar signal from ANU on 17630; also at 1500, 19160 harmonic, 2 x 9580, with news in French at S9 +10 level, but undermodulated (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. I heard English on December 31st which was a Sunday and again today at 0705 on 15630; also heard going into Spanish at 0900. Later at 1105 on 9420 17525 the Sunday music programme started; it is now called Greek in Style and was introduced as a programme featuring Greek music that has had success abroad. Different female announcer than last week, first name Annika, who I had heard earlier on the Radio Filia relay (Mike Barraclough, England, UK, Jan 14, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) GREEK IN STYLE -- Am listening to this show on webcast (convenient play link in MONITORING REMINDERS CALENDAR at 0030 UT Monday, soon to be moved up.) which started at 0011 UT Monday Jan 15. A Marina Xranzi (sp?) produxion, hosted this week by Andriana Petrato (sp?). Starts with orchestral music for Chariots of Fire, then more cinemusic. Yes, presented in English. Presumably also on SW 7475, et al.? Followed 0000 IS/IDs partly in English, NA, sign-on and news headlines in Greek; lasted until 0103, so a 52-minute show (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUIANA FRENCH. HEADS UP! Next week, from Montsinéry, we will perform special DRM transmissions to New York City on Monday 15 January and then to Dallas (DRM meetings in Continental) until Friday 19 January. Special DRM transmissions from Montsinéry, French Guiana with 150 kW into a 4/4 antenna: 15 January to New York City on 17875 kHz 1300 to 2020 UT 16 to 18 January to Dallas / Texas on 21620 kHz 1300 to 2020 UT 19 to 23 January to Mexico City on 21620 kHz 1300 to 2020 UT (-Christopher, Jan 11, drmna yg via DXLD) Big DRM buzz on 21615-21620-21625 at 1500 Jan 16, which is temporary test this week from TDF toward NAm. Demonstrates how this band is going to waste; analog stations from SAm, or anybody relayed via GUF could be broadcasting successfully to NAm on it (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUINEA. Hi Glenn; Just a note about the past weekend`s (Jan 12- 15th) listening session at Don Moman's with Nigel [Pimblett], Don and myself. Conditions were very good and changed daily. We did notice these notable absentees daily: 7125 Guinea . . . (Mick Delmage, Sherwood Park, Alberta, Jan 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HUNGARY. Noticed the following on Tuesday, January 16, 2007 at the R. Budapest website http://www.english.radio.hu/ Is R. Budapest setting the stage to leave SW? 73 (Kraig Krist, dxldyg via DXLD) Viz.: Dear visitor, The development of the on-line world has had an impact in all fields of life. As a result of its role in the speeding-up of the flow of information, the traditional forms of media must adjust to the expectations created for us by the ever more increasingly globalising social and information conditions. In Hungary, the number of Internet users is constantly increasing, even if this growth is not explosive. For this very reason, it is necessary to make the alternative, on-line radio broadcasting more popular, since the key to - and importance of - the experience of radio listening happens to be its being up-to-date. This also requires informativeness and speed from a public service radio station in the 21st century. The easily accessible, down-loadable material creates the possibility for Hungarian Radio, an institution with a grand history, to become - in this new dimension, the world of Internet - the intellectual centre for Hungarian cultural and public life, and the radio station of the nation paying attention to the needs of listeners. Hungarian Radio (via Kraig Krist, dxldyg via DXLD) ** ICELAND. Re 7-006: According to the Icelandic operator, the SW relays of the newscasts of Icelandic public broadcaster RUV will still continue "for a couple of weeks"; this applies both to the transmissions to Europe and to North America. They will be ended latest with the inauguration of RUV's satellite service which is due to happen during the spring (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. ALL INDIA RADIO TO START DRM TRANSMISSIONS Details at : http://alokeshgupta.blogspot.com/ (Alokesh Gupta, UT Jan 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: New Delhi, Jan 14: All India Radio will soon be joining the selected league of broadcasters having DRM capability. One of the high power transmitters at Khampur, Delhi D17 (Thomcast 53C3-3P53 250 kW code named D17) will be upgraded for DRM operation. Thalès Switzerland provided the equipment, technology & support for the upgradation of shortwave transmitter at an estimated cost of CHF 290870. DRM equipment reached Khampur on Jan 03, and the commissioning engineer from Thalès arrived on Jan 09. Installation is expected to be over by early next week and test transmissions expected by next week. According to sources this will be Thalès Skywave 2000 system which has been designed to enable existing AM radio broadcasting transmitter equipment to create, transmit, receive and analyze digital signals. As the AIR officials also admit the success of DRM depends on the availability of DRM capable radios in India at an affordable price. Hope this does not meets the fate of DAB which was tested by AIR R&D since last 6 years, being demonstrated in the broadcast exhibitions year after year but was never launched. Last time when I was at AIR headquarters, officials were talking about big plans to rollout DRM in phased way in India. Let`s hope for the best (Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, Jan 14, via DXLD) ** INDIA. Yesterday (Jan 15) morning Nigel [at Don Moman`s antenna farm] measured at least 11 channels in 60 meters with audio from India (Mick Delmage, Sherwood Park, Alberta, Jan 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. RRI Serui, 4605, presumed, Jan 16 at 1427 with song; best Indonesian on band, tho on 4870 there was a good carrier, but could detect no modulation (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn; Just a note about the past weekend`s (Jan 12-15th) listening session at Don Moman's with Nigel [Pimblett], Don and myself. Conditions were very good and changed daily. We did notice these notable absentees daily: no Indos noted on 60 meters any of the 3 mornings we had (Mick Delmage, Sherwood Park, Alberta, Jan 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL. Transcript of Kim Elliott`s appearance on Our World from VOA, Dec 30, 2006: ELLIOTT: "A shortwave radio can always pull in signals from far away places, whereas [with] international television you have to have a cooperating satellite system or a cable system that's carrying the channel." VOA's Kim Elliott, plus TV science guy Mr. Wizard, and more. I'm Art Chimes. Welcome to VOA's science and technology magazine, "Our World." […] It's been an interesting year in international broadcasting, and our guru of audience research, Dr. Kim Elliott, is here to recap some of the highlights. Kim, you and I are radio guys, but even we have to acknowledge that more and more international broadcasting means satellite TV. Just in the last two months of this year we've seen two new stations with all-news formats. France 24 launched in early December, just a few weeks after viewers around the world heard this on their TVs. MUSIC: Al Jazeera TV theme The news theme from Al Jazeera English. But Al Jazeera has had problems entering the U.S. market. Kim, what's happening there? ELLIOTT: Well, they are not on any cable systems yet in the United States, and that's what's really important because most people get their multi-channel television in the U.S. through a local cable system. Q: What do these two newcomers represent in terms of international broadcasting. ELLIOTT: Well, I think it represents the fact that 24 hour news channels are getting to be the mainstay of international broadcasting, and many organizations and countries want to have a 24-hour news channel to be a presence in international broadcasting. Just as having a shortwave transmitter was the way to do it back in the 1960s and 1970s. Q: I was going to ask, does this replace shortwave radio? That, historically, has been the centerpiece of international broadcasting, and the format seems to have been in decline for several years now. Did the downward spiral continue in 2006? ELLIOTT: Well, in some ways it does replace shortwave in that now people are turning on their television sets, either connected directly to a satellite dish or to a cable system, to get news from other countries. However, it doesn't completely replace shortwave in that a shortwave radio can always pull in signals from far away places, whereas [with] international television you have to have a cooperating satellite system and a legal dish, or a cable system that's carrying the channel. Q: There are, in a sense, choke points between the broadcaster and the receiver. ELLIOTT: The gatekeepers. Q: I got my first chance this year to listen to over-the-air digital shortwave. The DRM system does deliver some impressive quality for the listener. But the program offerings are, at this point, pretty meager. Is digital shortwave broadcasting going anywhere? ELLIOTT: The important thing about Digital Radio Mondiale, or DRM, the new digital mode for shortwave, is that the first consumer-level receivers are coming on the marketplace early in 2007, and we'll see. Now the thing about DRM, however, is it doesn't seem to perform very well under long distances. And some countries have to transmit that far to get to their target country. So it remains to be seen if DRM will actually work. Q: You know, if shortwave is in sort-of this declining period and DRM hasn't quite taken off, that suggests that rebroadcasting is the answer, this sort-fo middle ground. Where do we stand in terms of rebroadcasting at this end of 2006? ELLIOTT: Well, very popular among international broadcasters. Try to get an FM transmitter inside your target country, especially in the capital city, or to get onto an FM station inside the target country. But we have learned this year, as we've known before, that it's a precarious business, this rebroadcasting. For instance, Azerbaijan has taken off a station that would rebroadcast VOA and RFE/RL (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) and BBC broadcasts. But on the other hand, it's awarded FM licenses to BBC and VOA. So it kind of goes back and forth and you're neve entirely sure if you're going to be able to keep your license or your transmitter inside a target country. Q: So do you care to take out your crystal ball and look ahead to 2007 and speculate on what sort of issues we might be discussing when we have this conversation next year? ELLIOTT: I think in 2007 we will see how the international TV channels shake out. There are many of them. In addition to Al Jazeera English and France 24 you've got Russia Today. Sky News, EuroNews, Australian Network of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Channel News Asia, Fox News, DW Deutsche Welle TV. For radio, well we'll probably see a little more reduction in shortwave. But in a few places, countries are still buying shortwave transmitters for domestic broadcasting, like Malaysia. And in a few instances, some countries are going back onto shortwave, such as Slovakia. And then we have to look at the new digital media: not just digital shortwave but the Internet, and see how these have an increased role in international broadcasting. Q: For the listener, though, it sounds an unsettled period, it's a period of transition where we're always looking at a new technology that's just around the corner. ELLIOTT: Yes, I think some of these changes will be permanent, but the big question is which medium gets through under adverse conditions. Which of the media available for international broadcasting is the most difficult to block, and that's the key question. Q: That sounds like an endorsement for shortwave. ELLIOTT: It is an endorsement for shortwave because shortwave, because of its ability to transmit over long distances rather than short distances remains the least interdictable of the media available to international broadcasting. Q: Kim Elliott, thanks very much for coming in. ELLIOTT: Thank you (VOA via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. Re 7-006: Glenn, Some people really got it all wrong concerning Howard Stern's purported $83 million bonus from Sirius. Stern was paid in stock, not cash. It was a new issue of Sirius stock, and the real "payers" were current Sirius shareholders who saw their equity diluted as a result of the new issue. I haven't seen the SEC filing for the new issue, but the stock in most such transactions carries restrictions on when and how it can be sold. I strongly suspect Howard will realize far short of $83 million when he finally disposes of the stock. At any rate, Howard's bonus will have no impact on Sirius's cash reserves and ability to retain programming such as WRN. Such decisions will be based on the audience for such programming, and --- let's face it --- the audience for international broadcasters is, in North America, the very definition of a microaudience (Harry Helms, W5HLH, Smithville, TX EL19, http://topsecrettourism.com DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRELAND. Now I found this: http://www.irtc.ie/documents/ucb_7.pdf UCB Ireland already applied for 567, saying that it "becomes available at the end of 2008 when RTE Radio 1 ceases transmitting on AM", expounding plans to lease the Tullamore transmitter from RTÉ and use it with 100 kW. I think the wording of the document leaves no doubt that UCB had already talks with RTÉ about that, so it appears to be a matter of fact that RTÉ will indeed abandon mediumwave by yearend 2008, despite the denial sent out by an RTÉ staff member. Btw, IRTC's bid of tenders shows 549 with site Dundalk and a power of 35 kW as currently under coordination. So apparently ComReg still works on legalizing UCB's long-running pirate frequency. Btw2, what's the current output on 567? Sounds more like the 100 kW proposed by UCB Ireland than 500 kW here. And it seems that RTÉ uses 252 with just 200 kW, at least this power level had been mentioned as a matter of course at http://www.drmrx.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1586 (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Jan 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAMAICA. MEDIUMWAVE IN JAMAICA SET TO GO DIGITAL Industry rumours in Jamaica suggest that the Nationwide News Network (NNN) will shortly ink a deal with the RJR Communications Group for a long-term lease agreement of airtime to launch a brand new 24-hour station, Nationwide Digital AM, using RJR’s AM frequencies. Lester Spaulding, RJR chairman, would only confirm that ``we [RJR] are in discussion with lots of people`` about leasing airtime ``on both AM and FM frequencies`` but declined to comment on whether NNN boss Cliff Hughes was among those people. And Hughes said, ``We are in discussion with several parties to secure an agreement that will provide islandwide distribution outlet for our news and other radio content``. In recent years, RJR’s mediumwave transmitters have either been turned off or are operating on reduced power, as RJR has concentrated on FM. The plan is to broadcast digitally on mediumwave. But the Jamaica Observer says that the AM band is ``totally unknown to more than 50 per cent of the population.`` It`s not clear from this story which digital system would be used - HD Radio or DRM (Source: Jamaica Observer) (January 14th, 2007, 10:22 UTC by Andy, Media Network blog via DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH [non]. KBS World Radio (they pronounce the name in English even during Spanish broadcast), 6045 via Sackville, Tue Jan 16 at 0628 was closing program ``hasta el próximo lunes``. Therefore they are running the previous day`s program on these broadcasts for Europe. By 1500 Korean time, you`d think they would have the new day`s broadcast ready (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LATVIA. Please inform your newsgroups members The German free radio station KWRN-Nordland Radio will be back on air again. From Ulbroka - Latvia we bring our last programme for a long time on January 28th 2007 from 0600 to 0700 UT on 9290 with a power of 100 KW. Brand new QSLcards are printed - catch yours. Send your reports to: SRS Germany, KWRN, P. O. Box 101145, 99801 Eisenach, Germany. Please, don´t forget return postage (1$, 1EURO, 1IRC) For e-mail reports to kwrn @ freenet.de you will get our e-QSL. You can call us during transmission: 0049 1636227837 vy 73 (Felix Stein, operator, via José Miguel Romero, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LITHUANIA. Radio Baltic Waves (VsI Baltijos bangu radijas) Vilnius/Virsuliskes 612 kHz 100 kW ND 0345-0400 Radio Baltic Waves morning music 0400-0600 Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Belarusian 0600-0700 European Radio for Belarus, Belarusian 0700-0800 Radio Racija, Belarusian 0800-1000 Voice of Russia/Russkoye Mezhdunarodnoye Radio, Russian 1000-1400 Voice of Russia/Russkoye Mezhdunarodnoye Radio, Russian 1400-1600 Voice of Russia/Russkoye Mezhdunarodnoye Radio, Russian 1600-2200 Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Belarusian 2200-2300 Polish Radio/Radio Polonia, Belarusian Radio Baltic Waves International (UAB Tarptautinis Baltijos bangu radijas) Kaunas/Sitkunai 666 kHz 500 kW ND 1800-2000 Radio Racija, Belarusian (until October 31, 2007) NOTE: From November 1, 2007 the program of R. Racija at 1800-2000 UT will be transmitted on 1386 kHz. 1386 kHz 500 kW ND 2002-2100 China Radio International, Czech 2100-2200 China Radio International, English 2200-2300 KBC Radio, English (only on Saturdays) 1557 kHz 150 kW ND 1700-1800 Polish Radio/Radio Polonia, Polish 1800-1900 Polish Radio/Radio Polonia, Belarusian 1900-2100 China Radio International, Russian 2100-2200 China Radio International, Polish 2200-2300 China Radio International, Chinese All times in UT. NOTE: From March 25 all programs will be transmitted 1 hour earlier. Mailing address: Radio Baltic Waves, Svitrigailos Str. 11A, Office 211, Vilnius LT-03228, Lithuania Phone: +370-699-05074 Fax: +370-5-2652532 E-mail: Radio @ BalticWaves.cjb.net (Rimantas Pleikys, Lithuania, via Dr. Hansjoerg Biener, Germany, Jan 9, wwdxc BC-DX Jan 12 via DXLD) ** MALDIVE ISLANDS [non]. Re 7-006: Glenn: T-Systems confirmed to me that the Minivan Radio transmission was broadcast today Saturday (Jeff White, RMI, Jan 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Contrary to DXLD monitors; and did anyone hear it on Jan 14? 15? 16? 1600-1700 on 11800 via Germany (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** MEXICO [and non]. I keep monitoring 6045, which is almost certainly XEXQ-OC on an expanded schedule, testing? Jan 14 at 0604 during the half-hour KBSWR Spanish broadcast to Europe via Sackville (including DX program Antena de la Amistad at 0610, including fortnightly contribution from Rubén Guillermo Margenet), which happens to put a fine signal into CNAm too, I could hear classical music under, with a SAH. All set for it to be in clear after 0629, but instead the Sackville carrier stayed on well past 0635. I then noticed that the SAH rate was fluxuating slightly, just like I had months ago in the 1300/1400 period when XEXQ was mixing with some other station, indicating that XEXQ`s carrier is unstable, but not enough to notice otherwise. Checked again at 1448, I could hear classical piano music, now squeezed between two FE stations. Jan 15, another check of 6045, at 0632 no Sackville carrier, just short classical music pieces, and at 0650, Recuerdos de la Alhambra, on guitar, at the same time as several nights ago! So they must be playing the same music over and over; blocked after *0700 by CVC 6050. Another check the next morning at 1416 found some more classical guitar music, 1418 YL ID in Spanish but all I could definitely catch was ``250 watts de potencia``, and into flute music; still barely audible at 1523 with classical piano. XEXQ, 6045, presumed, Jan 16 at 0629 with Badinerie, in clear after KBS via Sackville went off; also just barely audible with piano at 1414 squeezed between FE stations (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. XEPPM, R. Educación, made another of its unscheduled daytime appearances on 6185. Jan 15 at 1521 found good signal during interview show about some ``obra`` being presented for 23 performances starting Jan 19 at Teatro de la Paz, Cozumel 33. I never caught the title of it, nor whether it was theatrical, operatic, musical, or what. 1537 mentioned ``en su casa`` and the title of the 9-10 am show, per playlist, is ``SU CASA Y OTROS VIAJES``. Steady 12 over S9 signal; when rechecked at 1550, it was gone. Did they forget to turn off the SW transmitter at 1200, or is this deliberate for some reason? Wish they would run more in daytime, free of QRM (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. XEYU is back after about 3 weeks of inactivity. Jan 16 at 0622 heard classical piano sonata on 9599.4, a dead giveaway it`s R. Universidad Nacional; no het at this time. Had not been heard at night in previous December tests; not to be outdone by XEXQ? Europeans should try for these now. Fair signal; not so good at next check 1424, discussion in Spanish re festivals; at 1530 piano concerto. Music does not match AM or FM at http://www.radiounam.unam.mx/htm/programa.htm (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Reinició pruebas el día de hoy en los 9600 kHz Radio UNAM. La señal aquí en la Cd. de México se escucha con aceptable audio pero con poca intensidad. Me comunicó el Ing. Mejía que pretenden estar al aire desde las 1200 hasta las 0000 UT y seguir corrigiendo los problemas técnicos que han encontrado, para de esta manera, tener una mejor señal. Cualquier información al respecto es bien recibida (aún sin política QSL) y ha de enviarse a: emejiay @ servidor.unam.mx con copia a: jusadiez @ hotmail.com 73's (Julián Santiago Díez de Bonilla, DF, Jan 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. MEXICAN RADIO AND TV BY FREQUENCY Fred Cantú, who is continuously improving his website on broadcasting in México, now has added a listing by frequency for AM broadcasting stations. http://www.mexicoradiotv.com/frec_am.htm He has also, for stations in Distrito Federal, cited powers for AM & FM stations. As with every list involving Mexican stations, Cantú is ahead on many listings ... for example, XECT-1190 in Monterrey now is "Contacto 1190" with a news/information format. I'm continuing the process of updating the list I produced a couple of years ago. I'm up to 900 kHz on the retype (fortunately, it's a re- edit rather than an absolute retype.) A couple of observations ... unlike in the United States, there have been virtually NO new medium wave stations in México in the past decade, but many, many frequency changes as stations move from the upper end of the dial to the lower end. Half the stations in México now below 950 khz. The FCC data base has undergone a wholesale revamping for México and has become useful again, though there are still many stations that haven't been updated and many more that have listings on both old and new frequencies (John Callarman, Krum TX, Jan 14, Corazon DX via DXLD) Since my post this morning, Fred Cantú has added a by-frequency FM list and a by frequency TV list. Access via his regular address http://www.mexicoradiotv.com (John Callarman, Krum TX, Jan 14, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** MEXICO. Low Tech Streaming Audio --- Here's an interesting phenomenon regarding internet streaming audio from México The identification of XEWF-540 Tlamanalco, Edo. de México, on Fred Cantú's website and my finding a link to XEWF's audio on the Radiorama website: http://www.radiorama.com.mx/secciones.php?sec_id=32 Scroll to Distrito Federal has prompted me to monitor this station on the web in hopes of finding address and telephone numbers for the Mexican station list I'm putting together. The first night I monitored I found a very weak signal that turned out to be audio from "W Radio." But WRTH-07 lists XEWF-540 using the former XEWF-1420 slogan, "Radio Poderosa," but reporting a s/off at 0100 UT. This morning (CST) I find XEWF "Colorín Colorado, Quinientos- cuarenta" streaming on the Radiorama link, record a number of IDs, and come back at 0100 UT to try to catch a sign/off. But it goes on until 10 p.m. CST (0400 UT), when the MxNA is played. When the anthem ends, there's open carrier with "W Radio" programming behind it. During occasional pauses in XEWF's operation, I could hear faint signal from another station, and I found the same situation on XECO- 1380, another Radiorama station in Mexico City ... a faint signal behind it. Radiorama, apparently, is streaming its audio not from the station control rooms but from an off-air feed! This seems a bit low tech to me, eh? By the way, "Colorín Colorado" uses pre-pubescent talent, with call and slogan and other announcements given by youngsters whose voices have not yet changed. Music tends toward what we used to call "bubblegum rock" 30 or 40 years ago. The sad thing about all this is the XEWF-1420 was located in Cuernavaca, Morelos before its move to Tlamanalco. The move leaves just 3 AM stations in Morelos -- XEASM-1340, XEJPA-1190, and XEART- 1520. Tlalmanalco is 12 miles from the Morelos border. WRTH-07 lists its power as 20 kW, so it would not be an impossible catch when conditions (and antennas) are right! (John Callarman, Krum TX, IRCA via DXLD) ** MICRONESIA. Tue. 5 Dec: Continue to pray for Pastor Norbert & Silvia Kalau, Micronesia. The radio station equipment has arrived and is ready for installation (Galcom Prayer Bulletin via DXLD) No mention of shortwave per se in this quarterly edition Dec-Feb, but I looked thru all entries for anything pertinent; see also CONGO DR (gh, DXLD) ** MYANMAR. I had some very nice audio in English from Myanmar yesterday on 5985.8 1445 UT tune in (Mick Delmage, Sherwood Park, Alberta, Jan 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS. (via International Vacuum) For a second week, all three R Netherlands audio feeds on IA-5 MPEG are distorted. Sounds like an improperly tuned link before IA-5 retransmission, not a problem with signal strength. Also RVI (Belgium) on adjacent audio transponder is fine. I e-mailed general RNW address last week to notify them, but no reply and problem is recurring (Mike Cooper, GA, Jan 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) {later: really a reception problem: see 7-008, INTERNATIONAL VACUUM} ** NETHERLANDS [and non]. Re 7-006, Network Europe: this makes it a lot easier for all participants to fill half an hour of airtime, since there are 10 of them, and on the average, each will only have to produce less than 3 minutes a week! Altho RN calls itself a `major` participant, so the majors may be responsible for more than the minors (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGER. Remarkable presence of La Voix du Sahel at 2230 with fair to good signal, Jan. 15 on 9705. AIR didn't appear at usual 2245, so I enjoyed hearing the Niger station after many days until with their vernacular music followed by Muslim worship, and NA sung by a children chorus at 2301 (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA [and non]. Public/classical music stations just plug into the satellite and run on autopilot instead of locally scheduled programming, during severe winter storm, presumably so staff don`t have to traverse the icy roads (but someone has to keep the dish clear of snow, ice and slush): KCSC 90.1 Edmond had WCME even at 2300 UT Sunday Jan 14, when its own Community Curtain Call is supposed to run; WCME is normally run only overnight. Earlier in Jan, or was it Dec, KUAF in Fayetteville AR was running the syndicated satellite-fed classical music service instead of its own Film Score Friday show at 1600, because the host couldn`t make it in (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA [and non]. Glenn, any stations on high power 24/7 for the ice storm in OK? (Kevin Redding, AZ, Jan 15, ABDX via DXLD) No, I am not aware of any, but can`t say I have been looking for them. Some clues to likely areas are on the OG&E (OK`s partial electric utility) maps at http://www.oge.com/systemwatch/ which as of 0211 UT Jan 15 show the major outage area is around Muskogee --- but hardly any AM stations are left there having been gobbled up by Tulsa. Perhaps this would be a good reason for KRMG-740 and KFAQ-1170 to stay on day facilities. Is 1170 being heard back east? 73, (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) [Later:] Have given a bit more thought to this, not yet based on monitoring. Some other possibilities to check for special coverage, maybe day facilities at night, assuming stations have generators or access to power in areas where a lot of folx do not: 1650 KWHN Ft Smith (really in OK) 10 kW instead of 1 kW ND; 1520 KOKC --- day facilities would get into hard-hit SE OK; 1150 KNED. McAlester was totally without power; may still be (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) Later did not hear anything unusual on those frequencies: no KNED, and KWHN, KOKC with usual signal and syndie talk (Glenn Hauseer, Enid, ibid.) Farther east, here in Springfield MO, KSGF 1260 has devoted themselves to wall-to-wall storm coverage and MAY be running on their 5kW nondirectional daytime pattern. They're the only AM station here I know of doing that sort of programming. Most local AM/FM stations have been next to useless for current info, continuing blissfully on with their satellite-fed programming, even though most of the city has been in the dark for days (our power just came back on after 2 days, and we're one of the lucky ones), and most people have nothing more than a battery-powered radio for news. So much for public service broadcasting in times of catastrophe. (M. Schiefelbein, UT Jan 15, dxldyg via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. Does anybody notice that KTOK's HD is not running? (Givers, 1654 UT Dec 30, radio-info.com OK board via DXLD) Although the CC guys have done a wonderful job of doing AM IBUZ, the real question of the day is does anyone CARE it's off? Daytime only IBUZ service only available in nearly perfect reception areas for a spoken-word format that actually damages the analog audio quality isn't really what people had envisioned when people were originally thinking about digital for AM. Our local guys have maximized what it is, but what needs to happen is a CHANGE. Let's think about switching AM IBUZ to the old 25-27 MHz RPU band nearly no one is currently using. Let's do it before it's too late (OKC Radio Guy, Dec 30, ibid.) ** OKLAHOMA. Angela Buckelew, a cute anchorette who quit KWTV-9 a couple months ago, has shown up on OETA, the public TV network as a new co-anchor for the Oklahoma News Report, UT Tue-Sat 0030-0100. Surprised this hasn`t been mentioned at the okctalk board; maybe they haven`t noticed yet. This was the initial report starting a long contentious thread: http://www.okctalk.com/art-books-film-tv-radio/7894-angela-buckelew-leaving-channel-9-a.html?highlight=buckelew#post72644 ``Angela Buckelew just announced on the 4 pm newscast, that today Friday October 27 will be her last day on the air at KWTV Channel 9. She said that after 12 years with KWTV, she chose not to renew her contract and that she planned on being a stay at home mom.`` Vacancy at OETA was caused by Dick Pryor, longtime anchor there, leaving to be press attaché or some such, to OK`s new Lt. Gov. Jeri Askins. Guess two months of being a SAH mom were enough; or is she just helping OETA out in a pinch? Ha, the latter must be. Buckelew was on the Friday night show, but on Monday night, that chair was occupied by George Tomek, another local commercial-station anchor from many years ago who has kept his face on the screen as a commercial spoxeman, hearing aids, I think. No explanation given. Maybe they are all trying out for the position, or just filling in. Ha! Tuesday evening, UT Jan 17, Angela was back. Looks like they are taking turns as part-timers? Looked around the OETA website; Pryor still shows up here and there, not including the ONR About page http://www.oeta.onenet.net/news/about.html but his bio is still available without a link, at http://www.oeta.onenet.net/news/BIODick.html And no bios yet of Tomek or Buckelew (Glenn Hauser, Enid, Jan 14-16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. KFOR and KAUT Sold! Anyone that's been paying attention knows that in mid '06, The New York Times announced they would be selling their television broadcast group (consisting of KFOR, KAUT and 7 other stations nationwide). Today it was announced that a firm named Oak Hill Capital has bought all nine stations for approximately $575 million. Could be some sweeping changes at both stations, especially KFOR. I do know that this firm does NOT own any other broadcast companies. The sale will now have to go through the channels of the FCC and the SEC before being finalized. I know most probably don't care, but more info can be found at http://nytco.com (SoonerBorn1973, Jan 4, okctalk.com via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. Hi Glenn; Just a note about the past weekend`s (Jan 12-15th) listening session at Don Moman's with Nigel [Pimblett], Don and myself. Conditions were very good and changed daily. We did notice these notable absentees daily: 4890 PNG . . . (Mick Delmage, Sherwood Park, Alberta, Jan 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 4790.2, Radio Visión, Chiclayo is here. Radio Atlántida may be long off the air. At 1040 on 8 January, gave the unhelpful ID as ``Radio Perú`` followed by a time check (Bob Wilkner, Pómpano Beach FL, playdx yg via DXLD) YES BOB I AGREE ATLANTIDA IS OFF THE AIR ALREADY FROM MANY MONTHES (Dario Monferini, Italy, ibid.) 4790, Radio Atlántida, 1/13 & 14/07, in Spanish. Music and chatter Most IDs for two ``stereo`` stations. VG (Mick Delmage, AB, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) We are not so sure about this; see recent discussion in DXLD. Did Mick hear an actual Atlántida ID or something connecting it with Iquitos? What FM stations, which might be tracked down? Was it on 4790.0 or as R. Visión is usually reported, above 4790.1 or as above even 4790.2? The two also allegedly have very different formats, Visión being religious and Atlántida not (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, Indeed I have found [checking recordings] several nice "Radio Visión" IDs. Too late to check for the split this time; the signal was so strong that night we just were trying to avoid CODAR with pass band tuning (Mick Delmage, AB, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SCOTLAND [non]. Radio Six International. Re: "88.5 MHz = very low power at Tawa, New Zealand, but where are 94.2 and 94.8? (Glenn Hauser, DXLD)" 94.2 MHz = Poprad, Slovakia (30 kW) 0000-0600 Tue-Sat 94.8 MHz = Kosice, Slovakia (15 kW) 0000-0600 Tue-Sat Our shortwave transmissions should resume in February from Ulbroka on 9290 kHz. The IRRS relay is still under discussion. The website was completely upgraded yesterday (13th January) so please be patient as some parts of the old site have yet to be transferred to the new. Anyone waiting for a QSL (and there were quite a few over Christmas) should not have long to wait since all Reception reports up to January 10th have now been acknowledged (TONY CURRIE, Programme Director, radio six international, Jan 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN. Radio Nacional (RNE) will broadcast a special series on its 70th anniversary coming this Saturday on its domestic service. I was told it will be repeated at a later date on REE. Here is the article (attached) that came out in today's EL PAIS English edition. Cheers Marty Delfin (Madrid, Spain) Viz.: FROM TOOL OF FRANCO TO VOICE OF DEMOCRACY --- Radio Nacional de España celebrates 70th anniversary with special historical program ROSARIO G. GÓMEZ, Madrid Seventy years old this month, Radio Nacional de España (RNE) was created by General Francisco Franco at the height of the Spanish CivilWar, and immediately became one of the military’s most powerful propaganda weapons. For the following 38 years until the dictator’s death in 1975, Spanish state radio held a monopoly on news bulletins. This Saturday, RNE begins a four-part series of its own history illustrated with archive material. In the first episode, journalist Elvira Marteles looks back on the station’s creation and its role during the war and in the 1940s. ``Programming was patriotic: there were lots of religious and military acts aimed at instilling in listeners the idea that the country was engaged in a religious crusade,`` says Marteles. Such entertainment as there was consisted mainly of adaptations of the classics of Spanish literature and theater. With the help of Dionisio Ridruejo, a poet and politician who was an aid to Franco, the new regime co-opted those actors and directors that had remained after the Civil War. Ridruejo tried to recreate La Barraca, the theater group set up by poet Federico García Lorca in the late 1920s. ``The actors the regime had at its disposal were sensational,`` says Marteles. ``RNE focused on classical pieces, whereas the other main station, Unión Radio (the predecessor to the present-day SER network) specialized in popular works.`` The second chapter of the series looks at the 1960s, when Spain opened up to the wider world, mainly through tourism. ``Because it was impossible to report seriously on what was happening in Spain, this period saw an increase in news from abroad, thanks mainly to a journalist named Victoriano Fernández Asís, who set up a network of foreign correspondents and the network’s flagship news program, España a las ocho (Spain at eight)`` says Marteles. In 1961, the decision was taken by Manuel Aznar Acedo (father of former Prime Minister José María Aznar) to no longer introduce news bulletins with a bugle call and an invocation to God and ``the fallen.`` Marteles says state radio was at the forefront of the push for greater openness and tolerance during the 1960s. RNE continued to push the boundaries into the 1970s, and journalists such as Carlos Tena and José María Íñigo often got into trouble with the authorities. By the spring of 1975, the year Franco died, Eduardo Sotillos hosted Última edición, a program that ``rather timidly sought opinions outside the regime,`` says Marteles. Because of its close association with the Franco regime, radio fell out of favor in the early years of the transition. But coverage of the failed military coup of February 23, 1981 won radio new credibility. ``The so-called night of the transistors gave it a legitimacy it had lacked until then,`` says Marteles. Marteles says the 1990s were characterized by ``the political pressure exerted on the media in general.`` Journalist Luis de Benito (left) conducting an interview for RNE. [caption] (El País Jan 16 via Marty Delfín, Madrid, DXLD) ** TAIWAN. Just wanting to nail down whether RTI is still part of CBS, I checked FAQ at http://english.rti.org.tw/customerservice/FAQSubject.aspx?sid=62 and found indeed: ``What do CBS and RTI stand for? CBS stands for "Central Broadcasting System" and RTI stands for "Radio Taiwan International". RTI is the call sign that is used by CBS to broadcast to the rest of the world.`` But what about the Broadcasting Corporation of China, which is being sold by the KMT, or GMD if you prefer, to a private broadcaster? Are CBS and RTI both part of that? WRTH 2007 says BCC is a private enterprise, and RTI is governmental; and adds this note under RTI: ``Formed in 1998 when the Broadcasting System of the Ministry of Defense was joined with the international section of the BCC. Schedule includes some CBS networks.`` But CBS does not have its own heading in the domestic or international section and you would barely know it exists (via Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TUNISIA. Both the Arabic service and RTCI are available on Ku-band satellite IA-5 MPEG. RTCI is predominantly French, but with an hour of English at 1300 and daily hours in Spanish and Italian. Sign-on is at 0400, sign-off is 2300 except 0100 Saturday nights and sometimes Friday night. Gotta like a station that runs the national anthem at sign-off (Mike Cooper, GA, Jan 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TUNISIA. 7275, Tunisian National R., 0503, 1/7/07, in Arabic. Fair to good. ID by man as National Radio (although this station has traditionally been called Radio Television Tunisienne, its French name). The new name has been noted several times in Arabic lately (Victor C. Jaar, QC, NASWA Flashsheet Jan 14 via DXLD) You mean, they use the English words ``National Radio``? Or what is that in Arabic? (gh) ** TURKEY. In recent discussion about VOT`s Spanish service, I remarked that the 1730 broadcast on 9780 is half an hour, while the new 0200 on 9865 is a full hour (minus 5 or 10 minutes). This was based on a Jan 1 VOT schedule circulated by Mustafa Cankurt, Turkey, on HCDX but not republished in DXLD. It is also the version archived at http://www.bclnews.it/b06schedules/turkey.htm However, the 1730 broadcast is axually an hour slot now, so there should be no difference between the two! Here is VOT`s own HF schedule page showing that correctly: http://www.trt.net.tr/voiceofturkey/high.htm and there could be other errors in Mustafa`s version which I suggest we not rely upon. While checking this out I also found a nice gallery of 14 TRT QSL cards at http://www.trt.net.tr/voiceofturkey/qslcards.htm but unfortunately they are not captioned; mostly antiquities (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dear Mr. Hauser and Dear Mr. Bueschel, Hi to every one, I received nice news from you. I'm DX'er from Turkey. First of all I want to inform all DXers about any changes here in TRT's external service. Here are the latest schedule of TRT Voice of Turkey. VOT - VOICE OF TURKEY B (2007) HIGH FREQUENCY BROADCASTING SCHEDULE 01 JANUARY 2007 - 25 MARCH 2007 Spanish to Europe 9780 kHz 1730-1830 UT Emirler Site 500 Kw Spanish to America 9865 kHz 0200-0300 UT Emirler Site 500 Kw Informations were based on the TRT's web page. Links as follows; http://www.trt.net.tr/voiceofturkey/high.htm Sincerely and kind regards (Mustafa CANKURT, HCDX via DXLD) 5960 2300 2400 5,8,9,11N,17,18,27 EMR 500 310 English 5965 1500 1600 29SE,39NE,40 EMR 500 90 Azeri 5980 1400 1630 27,28 EMR 500 310 Turkish 5980 1630 2200 27,28 EMR 500 310 Turkish 6020 0400 0500 3-5,7N,9N,17,18,27 EMR 500 335 English 6050 2030 2130 37,38,46 EMR 500 247 French 6055 1930 2030 27,28W EMR 500 310 English 6065 1500 1530 30 EMR 500 72 Turkmen 6080 1630 2200 29SE,39NE,40NW EMR 500 97 Turkish 6110 1900 1930 28S EMR 500 300 Bosnian 6120 1500 1700 38E,39,40W EMR 500 168 Arabic 6120 1630 2200 38E,39,40W CAK 250 152 Turkish 6135 1800 1900 19-26,29,30N,31N EMR 500 20 Russian 6140 1600 1630 29,30 CAK 250 32 Tatar 6185 1530 1600 28S CAK 250 313 Greek 6185 1730 1800 28S EMR 500 275 Italian 7105 1200 1230 28S CAK 250 313 Bulgarian 7155 2030 2130 27,28W EMR 500 300 French 7180 0200 0400 30,40,42 EMR 500 72 Turkish 7180 1700 1730 28S EMR 500 310 Cro-Serb 7205 1600 1630 30 EMR 500 62 Kazakh 7205 1830 1930 28 EMR 500 310 German 7240 0400 0500 38E,39,40W EMR 500 138 English 7295 1130 1200 39N CAK 250 205 Greek 9525 1430 1500 28S CAK 250 295 Bosnian 9525 2130 2230 39-41,49,54,55,58 EMR 500 105 English 9560 1000 1030 28E CAK 250 320 Rumanian 9560 1630 2000 55,58,59 EMR 500 105 Turkish 9585 1330 1430 40 EMR 500 105 Persian 9655 1430 1500 30 EMR 500 72 Kyrgyz 9765 0700 0730 28S CAK 250 280 Albanian 9780 1730 1830 37N EMR 500 290 Spanish 9840 0800 0900 29S EMR 500 72 Georgian 9840 1130 1200 28S EMR 500 270 Greek 9865 0200 0300 10S,11,12N EMR 500 290 Spanish 11735 1330 1430 40E,41N,49,50S,51,EMR 500 95 English 11795 0930 1100 39N,40NW EMR 500 105 Persian 11805 1300 1330 30 EMR 500 72 Uzbek 11835 0800 0900 29SE,40NW CAK 250 87 Azeri 11895 0900 0930 28S EMR 250 290 Macedonian 11910 1230 1300 28S CAK 250 313 Albanian 11925 0800 1000 29SE,39NE,40NW EMR 500 97 Turkish 11955 0800 1400 38E,39,40W CAK 250 152 Turkish 11980 1400 1500 19-22,29,30 EMR 500 20 Russian 11985 1300 1400 40,41N EMR 500 92 Urdu 12035 1330 1430 18S,27,28W EMR 500 310 English 12050 1200 1300 42-44 EMR 500 72 Chinese 13690 1000 1200 39 EMR 500 150 Arabic 13750 1000 1200 38E,39NW EMR 500 190 Arabic 13770 1100 1130 28 EMR 500 310 Hungarian 15160 0800 0900 40 EMR 500 97 Azeri 15195 1500 1700 37,38W,46 EMR 500 252 Arabic 15350 0800 1400 18S,27,28 CAK 500 294 Turkish 17605 1000 1400 55,58 EMR 500 105 Turkish 17690 0930 1100 39E,40 EMR 500 105 Persian 17700 1230 1330 28 EMR 500 310 German (Jan 1, 2007 via Wolfgang Büschel, HCDX via DXLD) ** TURKEY. Listened to Live from Turkey webcast, Tue Jan 16 tuning in late at 2000; hosts were talking about David Crystal. Apparently his comment some time ago that the show was no longer live came to their attention, but they assure us it is. They criticised how he just wants to say his piece rather than have a conversation or answer questions about Israel vs Palestine --- but nevertheless he is welcome to call every week. He did not this week, nor did anyone, at least not after I started listening (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKMENISTAN [non]. RFE/RL Turkmen service extended 18-20 on 7425, as discussed early this year, STILL has not been entered on their own schedule page http://www.rferl.org/listen/shortwave/shortwave-tu.asp as of Jan 13 at 1800 UT!! Or was it temp and now gone? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UKRAINE. Olexandr Yegorov mentioned on the Jan 13 Whole World on the Radio Dial that texts in English of that RUI DX program are now published on the Russian webpage http://www.dxing.ru/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=116&Itemid=85 --- Look for and click on WWORD and page down. On Jan 13, I found #132 dated 2 Dec 06 at http://www.dxing.ru/content/view/489/85/ as well as the current one, #133 dated 30 Dec, at http://www.dxing.ru/content/view/474/85/ which includes this announcement about same; text will not highlight but may select-all to copy and paste from: ``Scripts of our English language DX Programmes "The Whole World on the Radio Dial" recently have begun to be published on the Russian internet portal DXING.RU. The address of WWORD page is http://www.dxing.ru/content/category/5/34/156/ Then you have to choose a programme you want. Don't worry that this portal is in Russian, because the scripts of WWORD, as an exception, are published in English. So, if the propagation or audibility were bad, you can read the missed text of WWORD here.`` In #133 Olex also gives schedules for Ukrainian broadcasts from several other stations (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [and non]. B-06 of VT Communications Relays. Last update January 15, 2007 Radio Prague 0000-0027 11665 ASC 250 kW / 245 deg SoAm Spanish 1300-1327 6065 RMP 035 kW / 095 deg WeEu German Sat DRM 1330-1357 6065 RMP 035 kW / 095 deg WeEu English Sat DRM 1330-1357 9750 RMP 035 kW / 095 deg WeEu German Fri DRM 1400-1427 9750 RMP 035 kW / 095 deg WeEu English Fri DRM 2330-2357 6000 SAC 250 kW / 212 deg CeAm Spanish [confirmed 6000 with R. Praga at 2340 UT Jan 16; however, it is still colliding with RHC in Spanish, roughly equal level here! The former 2330 Sackville relay in English on 5990 is gone; that must have collided too with a Cuban transmitter, as the squealing CRI relay in English is again heard alone now. R Prague`s own website http://www.radio.cz/en/frequencies continues to show these as well as the defunct English relays at 1500 on 15160 and 0400 on 5990, both via Sackville –- gh] China Radio International 0000-0057 9745 BON 250 kW / 290 deg CeAm Spanish 1100-1357 15540 SGO 100 kW / 045 deg SoAm Portuguese/Chinese/English 1500-1757 6100 MEY 100 kW / non-dir SoAf English 1800-1857 6100 MEY 100 kW / non-dir SoAf Chinese 2100-2157 17645 SGO 100 kW / 045 deg SoAm Portuguese Gospel for Asia 0000-0130 6145 DHA 250 kW / 085 deg SoAs SoEaAs langs 1230-1500 15325 DHA 250 kW / 085 deg SoAs SoEaAs langs 1600-1630 9820 DHA 250 kW / 085 deg SoAs SoEaAs langs 2300-2400 6040 DHA 250 kW / 085 deg SoAs SoEaAs langs Bible Voice Broadcasting Network 0015-0030 6020 DHA 250 kW / 085 deg SoAs Hindi 0030-0045 6040 DHA 250 kW / 090 deg SoAs Bengali 0030-0045 6020 DHA 250 kW / 085 deg SoAs Telugu Sat 0030-0100 6010 DHA 250 kW / 085 deg SoAs Hindi Mon-Fri 0030-0100 5955 DHA 250 kW / 085 deg SoAs English Sat/Sun Voice of Vietnam 0100-0128 6175 SAC 250 kW / 212 deg NoAm English 0130-0228 6175 SAC 250 kW / 212 deg NoAm Vietnamese 0230-0458 6175 SAC 250 kW / 212 deg NoAm English/Spanish/Eng/Span 0430-0528 6175 SAC 250 kW / 240 deg NoAm Vietnamese 1800-1828 5955 MOS 100 kW / 300 deg WeEu English 1830-1928 5955 MOS 100 kW / 300 deg WeEu Vietnamese 1930-1958 5955 MOS 100 kW / 300 deg WeEu French 2000-2028 5970 SKN 300 kW / 110 deg EaEu Russian 2030-2058 3985 SKN 250 kW / 175 deg WeEu French 2100-2128 3985 SKN 250 kW / 175 deg WeEu German 2130-2230 7150 SKN 300 kW / 110 deg EaEu Vietnamese Adventist World Radio 0100-0200 15445 TAI 100 kW / 250 deg Asia Vietnamese Sat Moj Them Radio 0100-0130 15260 TAI 100 kW / 250 deg Asia Hmong Wed/Fri Hmong Lao Radio 0130-0200 15260 TAI 100 kW / 250 deg Asia Laotian Radio Solh/Radio Peace 0200-1200 11675 DHA 250 kW / 045 deg WeAs Dari/Pashto 1200-1500 15265 RMP 500 kW / 105 deg WeAs Dari/Pashto 1500-1800 9875 RMP 500 kW / 105 deg WeAs Dari/Pashto Sudan Radio Service 0300-0330 7280 SKN 300 kW / 140 deg EaAf En/Ar/Others Mon-Fri 0330-0500 7280 DHA 250 kW / 240 deg EaAf En/Ar/Others Mon-Fri 0400-0600 13720 DHA 250 kW / 240 deg EaAf En/Ar/Others Mon-Fri new fq 0500-0600 9525 DHA 250 kW / 240 deg EaAf En/Ar/Others Mon-Fri 0600-0630 15215 DHA 250 kW / 240 deg EaAf En/Ar/Others Fri >> canceled 1400-1500 9660 KCH 300 kW / 175 deg EaAf En/Ar/Others Wed 1500-1700 9840 MSK 200 kW / 190 deg EaAf En/Ar/Others Mon-Fri 1700-1800 9840 DHA 250 kW / 240 deg EaAf En/Ar/Others Mon-Fri RTA Radio Algeria 0400-0500 6125 WOF 300 kW / 172 deg NoAf Arabic Holy Koran sce 0400-0600 6090 RMP 500 kW / 190 deg NoAf Arabic Holy Koran sce 0500-0600 6025 WOF 300 kW / 172 deg NoAf Arabic Holy Koran sce 1900-2000 9825 SKN 300 kW / 180 deg NoAf Arabic Holy Koran sce 1900-2100 11815 RMP 500 kW / 190 deg NoAf Arabic Holy Koran sce 2000-2100 9455 WOF 300 kW / 170 deg NoAf Arabic Holy Koran sce 2100-2300 6055 WOF 300 kW / 172 deg NoAf Arabic Holy Koran sce 2100-2300 9850 RMP 500 kW / 190 deg NoAf Arabic Holy Koran sce Radio Okapi 0400-0600 11690 MEY 250 kW / 342 deg Congo French/Lingala 1600-1700 11890 MEY 250 kW / 330 deg Congo French/Lingala WYFR 0500-0600 3955 SKN 250 kW / 106 deg WeEu German 1400-1500 9855 DHA 250 kW / 090 deg SoAs Nepali(tent.), ex 7340 IRK 250 kW 1400-1500 15520 DHA 250 kW / 090 deg SoAs Hindi 1500-1600 12015 DHA 250 kW / 090 deg SoAs English 1600-1700 12010 DHA 250 kW / 090 deg SoAs English 1600-1700 17660 ASC 250 kW / 124 deg SoAf Portuguese 1700-1800 3955 SKN 250 kW / 106 deg WeEu English 1700-1800 9530 SKN 300 kW / 110 deg ME Arabic 1700-1800 21680 ASC 250 kW / 085 deg SoAf English 1800-1900 7240 SKN 250 kW / 090 deg ME English 1800-1900 9660 SKN 300 kW / 180 deg ME Arabic 1830-1930 17660 ASC 250 kW / 085 deg CeAf French 1900-2000 5965 RMP 500 kW / 105 deg ME Arabic 1900-2000 7160 DHA 250 kW / 330 deg WeEu English 1900-2000 9660 MEY 250 kW / 007 deg EaAf Swahili 1900-2000 9685 DHA 250 kW / 285 deg NoAf French 1900-2100 3230 MEY 100 kW / 005 deg SoAf English 2000-2200 15195 ASC 250 kW / 085 deg WeAf English 2030-2130 11985 ASC 250 kW / 027 deg WeAf French 2115-2315 11875 ASC 250 kW / 065 deg CeAf English Radio France International 0630-0658 9865 ASC 250 kW / 027 deg WeAf French 1700-1758 6045 DHA 250 kW / non-dir WeAs Persian 1700-1758 5995 TAC 100 kW / 255 deg WeAs Persian KBS World Radio [0600-0629 6045 SAC to WEu in Spanish is still heard, but not VTC? gh] 0700-0800 9870 SKN 300 kW / 110 deg WeEu Korean 1430-1500 9750 RMP 035 kW / 095 deg WeEu English Fri DRM 1800-1900 7235 WOF 250 kW / 074 deg EaEu Russian 1900-2000 7180 SKN 300 kW / 180 deg NoAf Arabic 2000-2100 3955 SKN 250 kW / 106 deg WeEu German 2100-2200 3955 SKN 250 kW / 175 deg WeEu French 2200-2230 3955 SKN 250 kW / 106 deg WeEu English Star Radio Liberia 0700-0800 9525 ASC 250 kW / 027 deg CeAf English West Africa Democracy Radio 0700-0800 12000 SKN 300 kW / 180 deg WeAf English 0800-1100 17860 WOF 300 kW / 170 deg WeAf French/English/French Radio Vlaanderen Internationaal: 0800-0857 9790 SKN 250 kW / 180 deg in Dutch 1900-1957 6040 SKN 250 kW / 180 deg in Dutch UNMEE 0900-1000 17670 DHA 250 kW / 240 deg EaAf English/Others Sun 1030-1130 17565 DHA 250 kW / 240 deg EaAf English/Others Tue Radio Free North Korea 1000-1100 9730 TAI 100 kW / 002 deg KRE Korean 1900-2000 9780 TAI 100 kW / 002 deg KRE Korean Eternal Good News 1130-1145 15525 DHA 250 kW / 085 deg SoAs English Fri Trans World Radio Africa 1300-1315 13745 KIG 250 kW / 030 deg EaAf Afar Fri/Sat 1730-1800 9745 DHA 250 kW / 240 deg EaAf Tigrinya Sat 1800-1845 7170 DHA 250 kW / 240 deg EaAf Amharic Radio Sea Breeze/Shiokaze 1300-1330 9950 TAI 100 kW / 002 deg KRE Korean Sun/Wed 1300-1330 9950 TAI 100 kW / 002 deg KRE English Mon/Thu 1300-1330 9950 TAI 100 kW / 002 deg KRE Japanese Tue/Fri 1300-1330 9950 TAI 100 kW / 002 deg KRE Chinese Sat 2030-2100 9645 TAI 100 kW / 002 deg KRE Japanese Radio New Zealand International 1400-1430 9750 RMP 035 kW / 095 deg WeEu English Sat DRM Open Radio for North Korea 1400-1500 7390 NVS 200 kW / 110 deg KRE Korean 2000-2030 9795 TAI 100 kW / 002 deg KRE Korean Little Saigon Radio 1500-1530 7380 TAI 100 kW / 250 deg Asia Vietnamese Radio Taiwan International 1500-1600 9750 RMP 035 kW / 095 deg WeEu English Fri DRM 1900-2000 3955 SKN 250 kW / 106 deg WeEu German 1900-2000 3985 SKN 250 kW / 175 deg WeEu French Leading The Way 1700-1730 7290 RMP 500 kW / 095 deg WeAs Persian Tue/Fri 1700-1730 7290 RMP 500 kW / 095 deg RUS Russian Sat/Sun HCJB 1700-1730 9805 RMP 500 kW / 062 deg EaEu Russian 2100-2200 12025 SAC 250 kW / 060 deg NoAf Arabic SW Radio Africa 1700-1900 4880 MEY 100 kW / 005 deg SoAf English United Nations Radio 1730-1745 7170 MEY 100 kW / 005 deg EaAf English Mon-Fri 1730-1745 9565 RMP 500 kW / 105 deg EaAf English Mon-Fri 1730-1745 17810 ASC 250 kW / 065 deg WeAf English Mon-Fri 1830-1845 7260 RMP 500 kW / 085 deg EaAf Arabic Mon-Fri 1830-1845 7260 RMP 500 kW / 168 deg NoAf Arabic Mon-Fri 1900-1915 5970 MEY 100 kW / 076 deg SoAf French Mon-Fri 1900-1915 15240 MEY 500 kW / 350 deg WeAf French Mon-Fri Eglise du Christ 1900-1930 7260 SKN 250 kW / 175 deg NoAf French Thu Voice of Biafra International 2100-2200 7380 MEY 250 kW / 340 deg WeAf English Sat Radio República 2200-2400 6135 RMP 500 kW / 285 deg Cuba Spanish 0000-0400 6185 RMP 500 kW / 285 deg Cuba Spanish 0200-0500 9630 SAC 250 kW / 176 deg Cuba Spanish Tue-Sat 0300-0400 6100 SAC 250 kW / 176 deg Cuba Spanish Tue-Sat (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Jan 16 via DXLD) We had thought that 6100 was from Rampisham, following 6185 which ended at 0300. Please check whether 6185 is really on during the 03-04 hour. Also, are 9630 and 6100 synchronized at 03-04? 9630 is RMI- brokered, while 6100 is supposedly not, so should be separate programming (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn: The only one I know anything about is ours via Sackville 0200- 0500 on 9630 (Jeff White, RMI, DX LISTENINNG DIGEST) And don´t forget 2300-0400 on 5970 WER 125 kW/285 degrees to Cuba in Spanish daily via T-Systems in Germany (Peter Kruse, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9630 and 5970 are brokered by RMI, one with VTC and the other with TS, so my question about 6100 remains; also, it ought to be 7 days like 6135 and 6185 if it is in fact the final hour of that span instead of 0300 on 6185 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) So I checked it out myself after 0300 UT Jan 17: there was nothing on 6185, no jamming or RR audible; in fact no XEPPM either at least on the portable in the iced-over yard. Both 9630 and 6100 were propagating, and they are not //, with separate RR Spanish programs, and both jammed. BTW, aside from the jamming, 6100 RR is rather distorted, much like Planet Rock was a sesquimonth ago. From this we still can`t be certain whether the 6100 site is now Sackville or Rampisham, but if it is Sackville, they are running separate RR transmissions on 9630 and 6100 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Now, that's what I can call "xtreme DX" on your part, Glenn! What I just detected was different streams for RR, but that one on 6100 was mixed with rock music more likely from Planet Radio, signed off by 0359. Can't seem to me Sackville doing this (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, UT Jan 17, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6215, 17/1 0245-0300* Radio República, site? Spanish, music and talks, great ID at 0259 and off at 0300, poor to fair. Is this a new frequency? Rx CiaoRadio H101, Ant T2FD by RF Systems. Ciao (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italy, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, must be, ex-6185? As I just reported, I was checking after 0300 but not before (Glenn, ibid.) ** U K [non]. Additional transmission for BBC in Bengali: 0130-0200 9560 SLA 250 kW / 085 deg 11995 SNG 250 kW / 285 deg (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Jan 16 via DXLD) ** U S A. Re 7-005: Re 7-004: Dear Mr. Glenn Hauser, VOA Talk to America now hosted by Erin Klein not Fleming. Thank you very much. Best regards, (Md. Azizul Alam Al-Amin, Rajshahi, Bangladesh, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Listening to the Kim show OD, at midpoint she re-introduces herself, and name is definitely not Klein; sounds like Grummit. No luck searching VOA News website on Erin, so may not be spelt that way; and she`s not in the Correspondents gallery. Kim? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) No reply so far ** U S A. "Tierra Prometida" es el título de un nuevo programa de inmigración que transmite WRMI, Radio Miami Internacional. "Nuestros oyentes hispanos en América Latina y en los Estados Unidos también nos hacen muchas preguntas sobre las políticas de inmigración de los Estados Unidos," dijo Jeff White, gerente de la emisora. "Quieren saber cómo venir a los EEUU para estudiar o para trabajar, o cómo hacerse ciudadanos. Algunos simplemente quieren viajar a este país como turistas, y otros quieren inmigrar permanentemente o pedir asilo político. Para nosotros que trabajamos en la emisora es difícil contestar este tipo de pregunta; no somos abogados. Pero ahora tenemos un abogado de inmigración que la gente puede consultar y donde puede obtener las respuestas definitivas." "Tierra Prometida" es producido por el Dr. Luis Negrón. Su oficina en Miami se dedica a las visas de negocio, visas para profesionales, inversionistas, y tramita visas religosas y visas de trabajo entre otras. Además da asesoría en casos de visas familares, de residencia, casos de deportación, casos de asilo y otras peticiones. El programa semanal del Dr. Negrón, "Tierra Prometida," trata todos estos asuntos de inmigración. Se transmite los sábados a las 2300-2330 UT (6:00-6:30 pm hora de Miami) en 9955 kHz, y en vivo por Internet en http://www.wrmi.net ("clic" en Listen Live). Los oyentes de WRMI también pueden contactar al Dr. Negrón a través de la emisora por e-mail a info@wrmi.net, o por teléfono directamente a su oficina de inmigración al +1-305-442-0515 (Jeff White, WRMI, Jan 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. After we pointed out that WINB`s website gave its own frequency wrong as 9625 instead of 9265, the site disappeared for some time. Now it`s back showing 9265, but the time conversions are still wrong, altho dated Dec 17, showing UT and EDT with a 4-hour difference! See http://www.winb.com/schedule.htm Glancing thru the program titles, only one looks marginally intriguing: Sat 10:00P / Sun-0200 Meat In Due Season So that`s UT Sunday 0200 or maybe 0300, on 9265, which is normally inaudible at night anyway, tsk2. Googling the phrase, it comes from Psalm 145, KJV, and/or Luke 12:42, so never mind (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WBCQ Anomalies and Recent Observations January 15, 2007 --- http://www.zappahead.net/wbcq/anomaly.php New show? ``The Night Time Radio Show,`` a show about truck drivers featuring truck drivers, observed at 0000 UTC Tuesday 1\16\07 in place of The Last Roundup. Heard ``Odin Lives`` Sunday 1\14\07 at 2000 UTC on 7415. Heard ``The Overcomer Ministry`` Sunday 1\14\07 at 1904 UTC on 7415. 7415 fired up at 1901, ran open carrier for 3 minutes, then joined Brother Scare in progress. Also, I noticed Brother Scare Saturday 1\13 \07 at 2000 UTC on 7415, so it appears he`s gobbled up the formerly ``available time slots`` on 7415 except as noted above. Allan Weiner tells us that the Good Friends Radio Network is now on from midnight to 6 eastern time (0500 to 1100 UTC) on 5110. Allan also clarified the EVM Jewish Radio Network schedule on 5110, which is currently running 5 to midnight eastern time (2200 to 0500 UTC) except during the Jewish Sabbath. During the Sabbath 5110 will usually simulcast 7415 (via John Norfolk, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. I must make a point of monitoring WBCQ starting UT Mondays at 0500 to make sure all is well with their final weekly airing of WORLD OF RADIO. UT Jan 15 I did not tune 7415 in until 0541, and there was open carrier for 5 minutes until 0546* Did anyone notice whether WOR 1343 aired in its entirety earlier than 0515? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WOR 710 radio towers demolished 11 Jan [WOR`s own video] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DKYFTOA_LY WOR better video [from Star-Ledger] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vOdyQoCyqo (via Steve Whitt, UK, MWC via DXLD) Actually, there is much better video on youtube [as above]: And WABC- TV has some spectacular video. The did a 3 camera shoot, one eye in the sky, one long shot, and one doing extreme closeup. http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=local&id=4926618 (Tom Ray, WOR, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. The KRBC 500 foot tower in Abilene [TX, channel 9] collapsed during an ice storm Sunday night. Photos of the wreckage are on their web site at http://www.krbc.tv/tower%20collapse.htm (Patrick Griffith, Westminster CO, Certified Broadcast Technician, KCKK / KJAC / KCUV http://community.webtv.net/N0NNK/ http://community.webtv.net/AM-DXer/ Jan 16, IRCA via DXLD) Thanks, Pat for the info. Nice pictures of the surrounding area. Did you notice the type of antenna they had? In the 4th row down on the right it shows they had 'bat-wings.' That may have been the first antenna they used when it came on the air. Interviewed for a job with KRBC back in 1972. Turned them down, not enough money to move out of Dallas. You wouldn't like Abilene, TX. It's a Church of Christ stronghold, or some have called a 'ghetto.' Thanks again (Willis Monk, TN, ibid.) Willis, in the photo just before the one with the batwing there is a closeup of a helical antenna sticking out of the debris pile. I presumed that the helical was probably at the top of the tower and the batwing was either an auxiliary or a temporary to get them back on the air. The batwing doesn't appear to have any damage so it probably was not on the tower when it came down. If it was where it is now when the tower came down it is a miracle that it didn't get hit. Hopefully the batwing isn't running any significant power since there will obviously be a lot of crews working in close proximity to it during the cleanup. I believe one of the stations on Lookout Mountain here has (or had) a single element batwing as an auxiliary antenna. It had huge wings so I am thinking it might have been channel 2. It was close to the ground and looked surreal all by itself since you usually expect to see them in multi-element configurations. The batwing is definitely a classic. Nothing makes me think of TV transmission more than a batwing in the sky (Patrick Griffith, Westminster CO, ibid.) ** U S A. CLASSIC MOVE: KFSD-AM Friday, January 12, 2007 by SDRadio. KSPA-AM 1510 in Ontario, will begin simulcasting on Escondido’s KFSD- AM 1450 next month. The station, owned by Art Astor, is ending the run of classical music programming. The station’s legendary call letters have been home for classical music, first on FM at 94.1, then transitioning to AM. The combined stations of AM 1450 and AM 1510 will be programmed from the Carlsbad studios and will feature music from Diana Krall, Carly Simon to Ella Fitzgerald. LARadio.com reports the stations will be known as AM 1510 & AM 1450 – The SPA. The SPA will offer traffic and weather reports for the Inland Empire, San Diego County, and Orange County. AM 1450 was previously known as KSPA and briefly as Fox 1450. Stay Tuned. (SDRadio.net Jan 12 via DXLD) ** U S A. A couple of years ago, Kansas City's WDAF went from 610 to 106.5 and went from classic country to young(ish) country in the process. 106.5 recently became "The Wolf" and is still country. At the same time, the WDAF calls have moved to 1660 http://www.kxtr.com which was KXTR. 1660 apparently will remain classical despite the WDAF heritage. Not sure what will happen to the KXTR calls, though. Stay tuned (Tim Kridel, Kansas City, Jan 16, IRCA via DXLD) ** U S A. Excellent synopsis of Dick Gordon's "The Story" from WUNC/America Public Media http://www.newsobserver.com/105/story/532154.html Excellent synopsis of the brilliance that is Dick Gordon's relatively new public radio show (Brent Taylor, Aurora, Ontario (not the Doaktown, NB Brent Taylor), Jan 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UZBEKISTAN. Vatican Radio IS on 9310, Jan 15 at 1429, Latin at 1430 but only for catch-phrase, into another uncertain language, but Hindi scheduled, aimed SE from Tashkent (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) VATICAN: see UZBEKISTAN ** VENEZUELA. UNIÓN RADIO NOTICIAS ES AHORA UNIÓN RADIO DEPORTES. Saludos cordiales queridos amigos diexistas. Espero que se encuentren muy bien. Hoy comenzó a escucharse la señal de Unión Radio Deportes en lo que antes era Unión Radio Noticias; muchos nos levantamos como siempre esperando escuchar las informaciones nacionales e internacionales, pero en cambio lo que oímos fue una programación deportiva en la cual se da cabida todavía a las informaciones tradicionales mientras la programación se ajusta de manera adecuada. Por el momento en la programación de Unión Radio Deportes hemos escuchado en su primer dia de transmisión un 90% de programación dedicada al béisbol y el 10% restante dedicado a otras actividades deportivas. Hay que señalar igualmente que el Circuito Unión Radio FM, Éxito FM, pasará a llamarse Circuito Radio Actualidad. Mientras tanto queridos amigos les invito a escuchar varias promociones que tuvimos la oportunidad de grabar para disfrutarlas junto a todos ustedes; las mismas estan puestas en mi sitio web: http://sintoniadx.multiply.com/ Atte: (José Elías Díaz Gómez, Jan 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Saludos José Elías, Entonces podemos contar aún menos en más emisiones de Sintonía DX, verdad? Lástima. Supongo que el cambio se debe a motivos políticos, un formato seguro evitando el riesgo de noticias... 73, (Glenn to José, via DXLD) I suppose that will make it even less likely to hear JE`s own DX program on Saturday evenings, which has already been pre-empted most of the time by béisbol. I expect there is a political motive for the change, to go to ``safe`` programming, and maybe not be nationalized (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Saludos Glenn. En cuanto a Sintonía DX debo decirte que el programa sigue al aire a traves de Unión Radio 640 los dias sábados entre 8 y10 de la noche hora venezolana [00-02 UT Sunday]. Los programas locales hasta ahora no han sufrido modificación y se siguen transmitiendo normalmente. Creo que hay Sintonía DX para rato y por ende para todos los programas diexistas que coloco en mi programa incluyendo el tuyo: Mundo Radial. Recibe un abrazo y cualquier modificación te informo. Querido amigo, en cuanto a lo que me comentas y se me pasó en el otro correo relacionado a que este cambio se debe a motivos politicos, te informo que pienso igual que tu, aunque ahora estos comentarios se mudan a la emisora que para tal fin está ubicada en la FM (José Elías, ibid.) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. CLANDESTINA, 6458, 14/01 2238, Radio Nacional Saharaui, Om em árabe, 24322. Um abraço a todos, (Samuel Cassio Martins, São Carlos-SP, receptor DEGEN 1103, antena fio 8 metros, radioescutas yg via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 6480, 2232, 1/13/07. Orchestral music noted here, weak. Could not listen longer. R. Korea International, Seoul has used this frequency in the past (Victor C. Jaar, QC, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) I could only find R. Altura, Huarmaca, Peru on 6479 listed in Passport as on or near that frequency at that or any time. Also checked EiBi, WRTH (2006), and the last 3 months of DX Listening Digest (Mark Taylor, Flashsheet ed., ibid.) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ I've tried to appreciate the "loggings" you've posted to that group [ODXA]. Frankly, I gave up trying to appreciate information on your DXLD group because of the unnecessary editorialising. I find the whole attitude of your politico/programo assessments to be inane and laughable. Basically, a great example of Ammuricans R Us. There's more than One Country in the World. TD (Theo Donnelly, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See AUSTRALIA. I think my point went right past him. He accuses me of being a chauvinist, while displaying that he is one (gh) For your dedication and devotion on behalf of those of us who still think radio is magic (Jim Wishner, MN, with a check to P O Box 1684, Enid OK 73702) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ CBC TECHNOLOGY REVIEW Should be a new issue (web only) any day now. It is semi-annual. http://cbc.radio-canada.ca/technologyreview/articles.shtml For 2006 All Articles [PDF]: June 2006 * IT Security - Basic Insurance to Protect our Business * JPEG 2000 The New Contender in Content Production and Transport * Inclusion of Foreign Bureaus in the CBC/Radio-Canada Wide-Area Network (WAN) * Cost Saving and Production Enhancements for the 2006 Winter Olympics * Computer Security: A Broadcaster's Challenge * First Canadian Encounter with the New Radio Transmission Technology * Aspect Ratio Terminology: Bilingual Glossary * What is DMB? January 2006 * Launching CBC Technology Review * Sensitivity and Noise in HD Cameras: Myths Versus Reality * MPEG Splicing: A New Tool for the Networking of Audio and Video * CBC/Radio-Canada: An Early Adopter of IP/MPLS WAN Technology Amongst Broadcasters * Enterprise Identity Management * DTV Performance Analysis - A Canadian Experience * Effects of Windmills on Television Reception (via Dan Say, BC, DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ FLOATING RADAR LEAVES HONOLULU KODIAK, Alaska » The sea-based radar considered a key to the nation's missile defense shield has left Hawaii for its home port of Adak, Alaska, at the end of the Aleutian Chain. The sea-based X-band radar, or SBX, is part of the Missile Defense Agency's $43 billion program and is used to track missile launches. It looks like a giant golf ball sitting atop a 27-story, partially submersible oil rig. The radar has been in Hawaii for repairs. It has never been to its home port. Continues --- http://starbulletin.com/2007/01/13/news/story12.html Earlier story --- http://www.mauinews.com/story.aspx?id=16250 (Paul ???, NZ, HCDX via DXLD) Not the expanded MW band, tho Europeans have been hearing a mysterious signal on 1680 kHz! This ``X-band`` terminology predates that. First article uses the term ``high frequency`` far too loosely; surely will not be bothering 3-30 MHz either, but WTFK? Where is the X-band, exactly, way up there in the spectrum? There is a difference of opinion: One source, http://www.adec.edu/tag/spectrum.html says: C-band 3600 MHz to 7025 MHz X-band 7.25 GHz to 8.4 GHz Ku-band 10.7 GHz to 14.5 GHz Another source, http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/X-/X-band.html says: Specialty Definition: X-BAND Domain Definition Aerospace: A frequency band used in radar extending approximately from 5.2 to 10.9 kilomegacycles per second. Science: A nominal frequency range from 12.5 to 8 GHz (2.4 to 3.75 cm wavelength) within the microwave (radar) portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. X-band is a suitable frequency for several high-resolution radar applications and has often been used for both experimental and operational airborne systems. Space: A range of microwave radio frequencies in the neighborhood of 8 to 12 GHz (via Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) DIGITAL BROADCASTING ++++++++++++++++++++ DRM NOISE PROBLEMS DRM noise continues to create lots of problems to adjacent channels operating with standard AM double side band plus carrier signals. In my opinion there is no doubt that the wide DRM transmissions have to do with poorly adjusted final amplifier stages of the transmitters, because DRM requires extremely linear amplification in and a very difficult to meet peak to average power ratio handling capacity of the transmitter driver and final amplifier stages. Let's hope that soon the DRM consortium will take corrective action regarding these problems as they are shedding a very dark image to DRM broadcasts, that again in my opinion, when properly done with adequate equipment should be more compatible with other users of the radio spectrum (Arnie Coro, CO2KK, RHC DXers Unlimited Jan 16, HCDX via DXLD) DRM: see also GUIANA FRENCH; INDIA; INTERNATIONAL; JAMAICA; UK IBOC: see OKLAHOMA KTOK PROPAGATION +++++++++++ I have run across this U.S. Lightning Strikes Map recently and find it has a better display of lightning strikes in the U.S. compared to other maps. You can get a pretty good indication of how noisy conditions will be on LF by seeing how intense the lightning activity is and how close it is to your location. For example on today, Friday 12/29 there is intense lightning activity across Texas. I can already hear the increase in QRN on VLF in the daytime and can pretty well predict the QRN will be bad on LF this evening 12/29 here in SC. Earlier this week there was no lightning activity across the entire U.S. lower 48 and condx were very quiet across LF and VLF even at night. 73 (Todd WD4NGG, Dec 29, LW Message Board via DXLD) http://www.weather.com/maps/activity/golf/uslightningstrikes_large.html?from=mapofweek I've noticed an additional site for world-wide lightning stroke display. It combines satellite weather photos, all in time-lapse. With this one, I can see where the atmospherics originate when the U.S. map is quiet. Brazil is quite impressive at VLF. http://webflash.ess.washington.edu/ Recent frequency spectrum displays from the detection sites are also shown, for frequencies up to 24 KHz (Ed, ibid.) Geomagnetic field activity was at quiet levels at middle latitudes, while mostly quiet to unsettled levels were observed at high latitudes with a brief period of active conditions observed midday on the 10th. ACE wind velocities varied from a low of about 300 km/s late on 08 January to a high of near 500 km/s late on 11 January. The Bz component of the IMF generally did not vary much beyond +/- 7 nT for the entire period. SPACE WEATHER OUTLOOK 17 JANUARY – 12 FEBRUARY 2007 Solar activity is expected to be at very low to low levels through the entire forecast period. No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at high levels 17 – 28 January, 30 January – 06 February, and 10 – 11 February. The geomagnetic field is expected to be at quiet to minor storm levels. Unsettled to active levels are expected 17 – 19 January and again on 10 – 12 February, while active to minor storm levels are expected 29 – 31 January. These increased levels are due to recurrent coronal hole high-speed solar wind streams. Quiet to unsettled conditions are expected for the rest of the period. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2007 Jan 16 2354 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center # Product description and SEC contact on the Web # http://www.sec.noaa.gov/wwire.html # # 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table # Issued 2007 Jan 16 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2007 Jan 17 75 15 3 2007 Jan 18 75 15 3 2007 Jan 19 75 12 3 2007 Jan 20 75 10 3 2007 Jan 21 75 5 2 2007 Jan 22 75 5 2 2007 Jan 23 75 5 2 2007 Jan 24 75 5 2 2007 Jan 25 75 5 2 2007 Jan 26 80 5 2 2007 Jan 27 85 5 2 2007 Jan 28 85 5 2 2007 Jan 29 85 15 3 2007 Jan 30 85 25 5 2007 Jan 31 85 15 3 2007 Feb 01 85 10 3 2007 Feb 02 85 5 2 2007 Feb 03 85 5 2 2007 Feb 04 85 5 2 2007 Feb 05 85 5 2 2007 Feb 06 85 5 2 2007 Feb 07 85 5 2 2007 Feb 08 85 5 2 2007 Feb 09 80 5 2 2007 Feb 10 80 10 3 2007 Feb 11 80 15 3 2007 Feb 12 75 15 3 (http://www.sec.noaa.gov/radio via DXLD) ARNIE CORO'S DXERS UNLIMITED'S EXCLUSIVE AND NOT COPYRIGHTED HF PROPAGATION UPDATE AND FORECAST Monday was a day when G2 class geomagnetic storms were happening, producing poor propagation at high latitudes. Solar flux is now stable around 80 units, and the A sub P index, the planetary geomagnetic disturbance indicator will continue to be above 15 units until tomorrow, when it will start to move down, as the effects of a recurrent coronal hole subside. Expect below average HF propagation for the next three days, with the best bands for daytime operation between 15 and 18 megaHertz, while during your local evening hours the segment between 5 and 10 megaHertz will be the best option (Arnie Coro, CO2KK, RHC DXers Unlimited Jan 16, HCDX via DXLD) SPACE WEATHER CANADA 27-DAY MAGNETIC ACTIVITY FORECAST JAN 12 TO FEB 7 http://www.spaceweather.gc.ca/forecast27days_e.php (via gh, DXLD) ###