DX LISTENING DIGEST 7-020, February 15, 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 NEXT SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1346 [repeats from last week] Fri 1130 KAIJ 5755 [NEW] Fri 2000 KAIJ 9480 [NEW] Fri 2130 WWCR 7465 Sat 1330 WRMI 7385 Sat 1730 WWCR3 12160 Sat 2230 WRMI 9955 Sun 0330 WWCR3 5070 Sun 0730 WWCR1 3215 Sun 0900 WRMI 9955 Mon 0400 WBCQ 9330-CLSB Mon 0515 WBCQ 7415 [time varies] Mon 1330 WRMI 7385 Latest edition of this schedule version, including AM, FM, satellite and webcasts with hotlinks to station sites and audio, is at: http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html For updates see our Anomaly Alert page: http://www.worldofradio.com/anomaly.html WRN ON DEMAND: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL] http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html or http://wor.worldofradio.org WORLD OF RADIO PODCASTS: www.obriensweb.com/wor.xml MUNDO RADIAL Febrero: Escuchar a pedido: (corriente) http://www.w4uvh.net/mr0702.ram (descargar) http://www.w4uvh.net/mr0702.rm En el aire: desde el 16 de febrero en WWCR 7465, viernes y lunes 2215 (desde el 12 de marzo a las 2115); en WRMI 9955, domingos 1130 y 2330; WRMI 7385, miércoles 1300. En segmentos por Radio Enlace de Radio Nederland los viernes/sábados y domingos/lunes. ** ANGUILLA. Dr. Gene, 6090 at 2203 sign-on 15 Feb. Dr. Gene uttered a few cuss words and then professed his love for Melissa, former porn star. I don't know if this qualifies as true DX but who cares (Liz Cameron, Metro Detroit, MI, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: He sez if you don't like the way he runs his church, get your ass out. So there you have it (LC 2/15, MARE Tipsheet via DXLD) ** ANTARCTICA. Re 7-019: Hola, alle 1930 on air 15476 kHz, LRA36 R. Arcángel S. Gabriel, ottimo segnale. Ciao (Mauro, Italy, Feb 14, JRC525nrd sloper eavesdropper 11 to 120 mt, bclnews.it via DXLD) Hi Glenn, I hear on 15476 Radio Nacional Arcángel San Gabriel, 2035 UT, music only. Very strong signal and good audio; Mode is AM. SINPO are 55444. RX: FT817-ND + dipole 18m (Denis, Curitiba, Brazil. 24 25' S . 49 16' W, Feb 14, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Strong with contemporary folk music, no announcements, to stay with open carrier from 1910. Didn't stick to their sign-off (Horacio Nigro, Uruguay, ibid.) Hearing traces of audio up here in NY in the blizzard (John Figliozzi, Halfmoon, NY, Drake R8B/Eton E1XM, A/D DX Sloper, 2102 UT Feb 14, ibid.) Adjunto el log de Ernesto Paulero: ATA: 13 Febrero 2007-2045 UT por 15476 KHz. LRA 36, Arcángel San Gabriel, Desde la Base Esperanza, Ejército Argentino. Esta emisora es la primera y única radio del mundo ubicada en el Sector Antártico. Desde su puesta al aire, la emisora quedó incorporada al Servicio Oficial de Radiodifusión. Receptores: Sony ICF SW 7600 GR. Philips D 2935 Sint. Antena: Walmar ZR 203. Antenas: Hilo largo de 17 metros de longitud a 10 metros de altura, Dipolo de 4.90 metros por lado a 10 metros de altura, Dipolo de 9.86 metros por lado a 10 metros de altura (via José Miguel Romero, ibid.) ANTÁRTIDA. En Valencia DX se puede escuchar un magnífico audio de la Radio Nacional Arcángel San Gabriel captada por Ernesto Paulero desde Argentina. Captación realizada el 13 de Febrero. Cortesía para Frecuencia DX yahoo groups. Audio: http://valenciadx.multiply.com/music/item/418 73 (José Miguel Romero, Spain, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Un nuevo audio de la LRA 36 está disponible en Valencia DX, grabación de fin de emisión de la Radio Nacional Arcangel San Gabriel por cortesía de Ernesto Paulero desde Argentina, grabación realizada el 14 de Febrero del 2007. Audio: http://valenciadx.multiply.com/music/item/420 73 (José Miguel, ibid.) Magnífico audio de la Radio Nacional Arcangel San Gabriel de 22 minutos de duración, cortesia de Ernesto Paulero, captación realizada el 14 de febrero. Audio: http://dxprogramas.multiply.com/music/item/388 73 (José Miguel Romero, ibid.) Can`t get last two to play (gh, DXLD) 15476, 14/2 1935, LRA36 San Gabriel, Antarctica, talks and later music, Spanish, poor, Drake SPR-4 & SDR-14 ant: T2FD, Ciao (Giampiero Bernardini, Italy, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) LRA36 was not present this afternoon (Horacio Nigro, Montevideo, Uruguay, Feb 15, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) COMENZO UN PROGRAMA DE RADIO DESDE LA ANTARTIDA ARGENTINA SE LLAMA PINGUINITOS AL AIRE --- LA UNICA EN LA ANTARTIDA. La Escuela n 38 Pte Julio A. Roca. La audición se realiza en el marco de la materia Lengua de la Escuela N 38, la única en toda la Antártida. Dura media hora y se emite todos los jueves, desde la semana pasada. Nervios y la emoción en el primer programa. RIO GRANDE - Las ganas y los nervios de los alumnos fueron los protagonistas de la primera emisión del programa "Pingüinitos al aire", que desde la semana pasada se transmite desde la Base Esperanza a través de LRA 36 Radio Arcángel San Gabriel y Radio Nacional. La audición fue ideada el año pasado por Graciela Lamas y Santiago Lobato, los docentes riograndenses que están a cargo de la única escuela en todo el Continente Blanco. Cuenta con varias secciones, que comprenden a los proyectos y las actividades de la escuela, un bloque dedicado a la lectura de mails, otro de preguntas y respuestas insólitas y la sección de adolescencia y música. "La ansiedad era mucha, los chicos estaban muy entusiasmados pero con muchos nervios" señaló Lamas acerca del debut radiofónico de sus alumnos y el suyo propio. En diálogo con la emisora Cadena Fueguina, la docente reveló que "el proyecto de la radio en el área de Lengua lo presentamos en noviembre, cuando expusimos nuestro plan de trabajo en el curso de adaptación a la convivencia antártica". Lamas y su marido, Santiago Lobato, tomaron a su cargo la escuela y "conversamos con los chicos para ver si les gustaba la idea de la radio, más allá de nuestra planificación; los chicos se entusiasmaron mucho y empezamos a trabajar". Para llevar adelante la experiencia, los docentes de la Escuela N 38 se contactaron con establecimientos de otras provincias y con la Escuela N 14 de esta ciudad, en la que funciona la FM "Chicos al Ataque". "A medida que fue avanzando el tiempo, las expectativas, la ansiedad y el entusiasmo fueron mayores, y el jueves de la semana pasada pudimos salir al aire con nuestro primer programa de radio, que se llama Pingüinitos al aire" enfatizó Lamas. Tras explicar que el nombre del micro lo eligieron los chicos y que el programa va de 15.10 a 15.40, Lamas señaló que "pusimos manos a la obra para trabajar el texto radial desde la materia Lengua". "Nosotros estuvimos trabajando la parte del lenguaje radiofónico, lo que tiene que ver con la oralidad, y también la escritura, porque los chicos fueron diagramando con nuestra orientación el micro radial" completó la docente. "Pingüinitos al aire" es un micro dentro del programa radial Color Esperanza, que llevan adelante tres mujeres de la dotación. La cortina musical es el tema de Mambrú "Cambiar el mundo", "porque pensamos que cambiar el mundo también es una tarea que la podemos realizar los chicos" señaló a este medio Julieta Lobato, una de las alumnas que participa del espacio. Solana Correa, de sexto año, señaló a su vez que la realización del programa "fue una experiencia nueva" y dijo que durante la audición "estuvimos un poquito nerviosos, pero lo llevamos bien". "Nos costó trabajo pero valió la pena" finalizó (extraído de Tiempo Fueguino.com.ar via Arnaldo Slaen, condig list via DXLD) Podrán encontrar fotos muy interesantes de LRA36 en http://www.ejercito.mil.ar/antartico/B_Esp_superior2.htm (Arnaldo Slaen, ibid.) Don`t you believe old sked mentioning 6030 (gh) ** ARGENTINA. Queridos amigos, estoy escuchando en 15820 kHz en LSB una transmisión argentina con el partido de fútbol entre Boca Júnior y Bolívar. Acaban de nombrar a Radio Continental; ¿alguien más la escucha en esta frecuencia? El juego está en pleno desarrollo. Son actualmente las 2210 UT (José Elías Díaz Gómez, Venezuela, Feb 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Además, es una buena frecuencia para intentar captar otras emisoras argentinas como, por ejemplo, Radio 10 (710 kHz) o La Cien (99.9 MHz) cuyas señales tambien son tomadas por LTA y retransmitidas hacia la Antártida e Islas del Atlántico Sur. 73 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, condig list via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. Las palabras del amigo y colega Argentino Marcelo Conachioni del GRA que unos anos atras puse esta perfecta explicacion del asunto: FEEDERS: Durante estos ultimos anos ha sido habitual reportar en onda corta, estaciones argentinas de onda media y frecuencia modulada de la ciudad de Buenos Aires, audibles en banda lateral (SSB). Las frecuencias mas conocidas en donde se han escuchado estas emisoras son las de 8098, 11133, 13361, 13363.5, 15780, 20276 kHz, y más recientemente por la de 15820. Alli es posible sintonizar las señales de Radio Rivadavia, Radio Mitre, Radio Continental, Radio América, Cadena 100, FM Hit, FM News, entre otras, inclusive se han llegado a reportar dos estaciones operando al mismo tiempo en una misma frecuencia pero en ambos modos de emision (USB/LSB). Sin embargo, cabe aclarar que este tipo de transmisiones no parten de las emisoras en cuestión. En realidad son generadas por una estación utilitaria argentina denominada LTA, Centro de Comunicaciones Fijo Buenos Aires, que es operada por el Batallón de Comunicaciones 602, dependiente del Estado Mayor General del Ejército. La finalidad de estas transmisiones por HF consiste en irradiar el audio de las emisoras de AM y FM locales, a fin de posibilitar su recepción en las distintas bases ubicadas en el Territorio Antártico Argentino. De esta forma, el personal que cumple tareas en estas bases tiene la oportunidad de mantenerse al tanto de la actualidad del país al recibir por este medio las últimas noticias, la música y los deportes del continente. Por otra parte, las emisoras cuya señal es retransmitida por OC desconocen este hecho, motivo por el cual generalmente no suelen verificar los reportes que, por decenas, reciben de parte de diexistas de distintas partes del mundo que son capaces de sintonizarlas. (Marcelo Cornachioni via Dario Monferini, PLAYDX yg via DXLD) ** BANGLADESH. 7185, Bangladesh Betar, 1235-1259* Feb 15. Noted a number of persons in English language comments. Audio was very poor. At 1250 local music presented until 1254 when comments continue. Difficult to copy due to the fact that China was using this freq too. China closed down at 1256 and Bangladesh improved. ID at 1259 by a woman. I think she was pinching her nose when she spoke, at least that's what she sounded like. Overall, signal was fair (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston, Florida, NRD545, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BENIN. TWR has received an official broadcast license from the government for its planned 100 kW MW on 1566 kHz. The new facility which is under construxion, is scheduled to begin broadcasting in March 2007. It will become TWR`s 15th major international transmitter location (TWR-UK Listening World, Winter 2007, via Dave Kenny, MW Report, Feb BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 4717, Radio Yura, the 3rd of January I received an e-mail from the Station with a verification letter and details and history of Radio Yura. In addition, the Manager, Sr. Omar Flores, he promise me that by snail mail he will send a present from the Station. I received yesterday a certified letter from Mr. Omar Flores, with 6 Bolivian stamps, containing letter thanking my report, a CD with images about the people from that zone of Bolivia and its organization and a pretty pennant of Radio Yura with the following inscription: Radio Yura, La Voz de los Ayllus 4715 kHz, onda corta, banda internacional de 60 m. Provincia Antonio Quijarro Municipio Tomave-Ayllu, Yura Calle Sucre nº 86 (Bolivar y Omiste) Telf: 082 24000, e-mail: canal18 @ cedro.pts.entelnet.bo POTOSI-BOLIVIA Another e-mail address is: radioyura @ hotmail.com BOLIVIA, 4717, Radio Yura. El día 3 de Enero recibí e-mail con verificación de esta emisora, junto con datos e historia de la misma. Además, el gerente de Radio Yura, Sr. Omar Flores, me indicaba que, por correo aparte me enviaría un "detalle" de la emisora. Pues bien, acabo de recibir una carta certificada del Sr. Omar Flores con 6 sellos de Bolivia, conteniendo carta de agradecimiento por el informe enviado, un CD con imágenes sobre la gente de esa zona de Bolivia y su organización y un bonito banderín de tela de la emisora con la siguiente inscripción: Radio Yura, La Voz de los Ayllus 4715 kHz, onda corta, banda internacional de 60 m. Provincia Antonio Quijarro Municipio Tomave-Ayllu, Yura Calle Sucre nº 86 (Bolivar y Omiste) Telf: 082 24000, e-mail: canal18@cedro.pts.entelnet.bo POTOSI-BOLIVIA Otra dirección correo electrónico Radio Yura: radioyura @ hotmail.com (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Feb 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. Brasil. A Radio Transmundial, Santa Maria- RS, 11735 kHz, há diversas semanas tem apresentado áudio com distorção. Em conversa telefônica com o senhor Samuel Matos, Diretor Técnico da emissora, recebi a informação de que o parque de transmissores, localizado em Santa Maria RS, sofreu uma descarga elétrica proveniente de um ráio e diversos equipamentos foram avariados. Em 11735 kHz a emissora está está operando com potencia reduzida - no máximo 10 kW- até os equipamentos serem reparados. Forte abraço e 73 de (Sérgio Dória Partamian, Brasil, Feb 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. CBI-1140 Sydney NS has applied to the CRTC to move to FM (97.1 MHz, 61.4 kW, 1229 metres): http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Hearings/2007/n2007-2.htm#3 Sydney, Nova Scotia, Application No. 2006-1166-7 Application by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) to convert radio station CBI Sydney from the AM band to the FM band. The new station would operate on frequency 97.1 MHz (channel 246C) with an average effective radiated power of 61,400 watts (maximum effective radiated power of 100,000 watts/antenna height of 122.9 metres). The applicant is requesting permission to simulcast the programming of the new FM station on CBI Sydney for a period of 12 months from the date of implementation of the new station. The applicant is also requesting, pursuant to sections 9(1)(e) and 24(2) of the Broadcasting Act, the revocation of the licence of CBI Sydney effective at the end of the simulcast period. CHVO-560 Carbonear NL (official city of license Spaniard's Bay NL according to Industry Canada) has reapplied (original application last year was withdrawn from the public hearing) to move to FM (103.9 MHz, 14 kW, 124.1 meters): http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Hearings/2007/n2007-2.htm#6 Carbonear, Newfoundland and Labrador, Application No. 2006-0523-0 Application by Newcap Inc. to convert radio station CHVO Carbonear from the AM band to the FM band. The new station would operate on frequency 103.9 MHz (channel 280B) with an average effective radiated power of 14,000 watts (maximum effective radiated power of 30,000 watts/antenna height of 124.1 metres). The applicant will continue to offer CHVO’s current Country music format on the proposed FM station. The applicant is requesting permission to simulcast the programming of the new FM station on CHVO for a period of 6 months from the date of implementation of the new station. The applicant is also requesting, pursuant to sections 9(1)(e) and 24 (1) of the Broadcasting Act, the revocation of the licence of CHVO effective at the end of the simulcast period. 73, (via Deane McIntyre, VE6BPO, Feb 15, DX LISENING DIGEST) ** CAYMAN ISLANDS [and non]. Here's a DX target for all Eastern Time zone DXers within "skip" distance of the Cayman Islands. The Cayman Broadcast authority notified me that a new FM radio station signed on the air January 1, 2007 --- 87.9 KY George Town ZFKP 2 kW "Praise 87.9" Christian programming. This will be in the upcoming edition of "Emisoras de FM", which has been expanded to include ALL of the Caribbean islands. At this writing, a release date for the new edition is still unknown. If you own a copy of the book, please make a note of this new station. Thanks and happy DX trails! (Jim Thomas - wdx0fbu Milliken, CO - 40 mi N of Denver, Feb 15, WTFDA via DXLD) It should be noted that in FM radio terms, channel 6 TV audio is only 33% modulated - so it won't "splash" nearly as much as a FM station would, and it is 1-1/2 FM channels away from an 87.9 station. (and I might remind folks that 87.9 is a valid FM frequency in the US as well, though there are only two stations using it)(legally) KSFH-87.9 Mountain View, CA 37-22-08N/122-05-02W 10w -75m K200AA-87.9 Sun Valley, NV 39-35-02N/119-47-55W 30w (the latter is pretty new. It's a satellator of KAWZ-89.9 Idaho.) (Doug Smith, W9WI, Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66 http://www.w9wi.com ibid.) ** CHINA. CNR-1: Dear OM, On 3500 kHz (Ham band) USB at *2000-0100+ (I¡¡_(Band +0800-1735*. Backup feeder? de (S. Aoki via S. Hasegawa, NDXC, Feb 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CONGO DR. La Voix du Peuple, Bunia, 5066.38, 0420 4 Jan, afro songs, vernacular talk, 0429 French ID; fair (Giampiero Bernardini, Italy, Feb BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** CUBA. According to Bruce Conti, 870 RR is located in Spiritu Sanctu [sic]. http://members.aol.com/nrcidxd/cuba.htm As to 530, you probably heard Radio Cadena Habana. A friend had recent correspondence with someone in the know in Cuba and was told the following: Radio Cadena Habana is the provincial station of La Habana Province that limits to the North with the City of Havana province, to the West with Pinar del Rio and to the East with Matanzas. Radio Cadena Habana has its main studios in downtown Havana, not far from Radio Havana Cuba building (that is shared with Radio Progreso and CMBF Radio Musical Nacional). Radio Cadena Habana has relays in 1080, 1100, 1120 and 1140 kiloHertz to achieve coverage of the province, to which recently 530 was added. He didn't give the precise location of the relay. This is pretty much the same info that is in Bruce Conti's article. Hope this helps. 73 (Gil NN4CW Stacy, IRCA via DXLD) ** CUBA. CUBAN MINISTER BLAMES US EMBARGO FOR LOW NUMBER OF CUBANS ONLINE Reporters Without Borders has taken issue with comments by Cuban communications minister Ramiro Valdés describing the Internet as a “tool for global extermination” and as a “wild colt” that needed to be tamed. Valdes also insisted that, if few Cubans were online, this was due to a US embargo that prevented Cuba from have decent Internet connections. Reporters Without Borders believes it is, in fact, due to the Cuban government’s desire to control the flow of information throughout the country. “The US embargo prevents Cuba from connecting to the Internet by underwater cable and this obviously does not favour development of the Internet, but we published a report in October that shows that the authorities deliberately restrict online access,” the press freedom organisation said. “It would anyway have been astonishing if a country that has no independent radio or TV station or newspaper did allow unrestricted access to the Internet,” Reporters Without Borders continued. “We await the creation of a better Internet connection via Venezuela, as the minister announced, and we will then see if the government finally allows its citizens access to an uncensored Internet.” Valdés made these comments, which were reported by the Associated Press, at the opening of a conference on communications technologies in Havana. He also accused the United States of using the Internet to “undermine the communist government.” (Source: Reporters Without Borders) (Media Network blog Feb 14 via DXLD) ** CUBA [and non]. ITU OFFICIAL SAYS US BROADCASTS TO CUBA ARE ``INADMISSIBLE`` “Radio and television transmissions broadcast illegally to Cuba from the United States are inadmissible, even more so if they are designed to promote internal subversion on the island,” said Fabio Leite, Radiocommunication Bureau Director of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). Leite is in Cuba attending the 12th International Convention and Exposition: Informatics 2007, representing ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun Touré. He said that upon returning to Geneva, he will personally denounce the “radio-electronic aggression” of the United States against Cuba. The ITU executive emphasized that this constitutes a violation of the organization’s Radio Communications Rules and Regulations, stating that commercial AM and FM broadcasting must be conceived as a national service of good quality within the geographical boundaries of the nation involved. (Source: Periodico.cu) Andy Sennitt comments: That may be so, but to single out one example is disingenuous when such cross-border broadcasting is going on all over the world. Here in Europe, it is impossible to prevent AM signals, and even FM signals close to the borders, from reaching neighbouring countries. What matters is whether such broadcasts are interfering with legitimate broadcasts in the target country. It will be interesting to see if Mr Leite does decide to make a public denouncement of the US broadcasts when he returns to Geneva, and if so on what grounds (Media Network blog Feb 15 via DXLD) US broadcasts for Cuba on whatever band pick frequencies or channels which are not occupied; why would they want to confront existing interference? Then DentroCubans put transmitters on the same frequencies or channels and claim the US is doing the interfering. Furthermore, if the US were to complain about RHC putting megawatts of SW ERP into the USA being subversive, it would be laughable (gh, DXLD) Marti: see U S A; VIRGIN ISLANDS US ** CZECHIA. R. Prague Sunday Mailbag programme stated that the statoin received 21,233 letters last year, 2000 more than the previous year. English sexion received 7361 (Edwin Southwell, UK, DX News, Feb BDXC- UK Communication via DXLD) ** DENMARK. Nice to hear DR on 243 kHz still is active. Regards, (Harald Kuhl, Germany, 2017 UT Feb 14, MWC via DXLD) DR Kalundborg 243 kHz went silent at 2304 14/2-2007, after the News at 2300. Carrier on frequency until 2315 UT. An 80-years era has ended! (Ydun Ritz, Denmark, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DEUTSCHES REICH [and non]. Hi Fred, Just wondering if you have seen anything further about the Zundel case since the story you picked up from Jan 26? 73, (Glenn to Fred Waterer, via DXLD) This article at iht.com suggests a verdict in the trial is due Thursday http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/02/09/europe/EU-GEN-Germany-Incitement-Trial.php No doubt to be followed by an appeal, if he is convicted (Fred Waterer, Ont., Feb 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ERNST ZUNDEL SENTENCED TO 5 YEARS FOR HOLOCAUST DENIAL Last Updated: Thursday, February 15, 2007 | 8:58 AM ET CBC News http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2007/02/15/zundel-germany.html A German court on Thursday convicted Ernst Zundel of 14 counts of incitement of racial hatred and sentenced him to five years in prison, the maximum allowed under German law for denying the Holocaust. The Canadian Jewish Congress said it is satisfied with the sentence, with chief executive Bernie Farber saying it sends a strong message around the world. The German-born Zundel lived in Canada for four decades, making frequent court appearances to argue for the freedom to express his anti-Semitic views in books and pamphlets, and on a website. He was deported to Germany in 2005 after a Federal Court judge ruled he was a threat to national security. He was immediately arrested upon arrival in his birth country and held without bail because German authorities considered him a flight risk. Several European countries have passed laws making Holocaust denial a specific criminal offence, including Germany, Austria, Belgium, Poland, Spain and France. In Canada, Holocaust denial can be prosecuted as a hate crime. In the closing statement at his trial, Zundel continued to deny the killing of six million Jews and said the German court should set up an international commission of experts to examine the Holocaust A well-known Holocaust denier, Zundel operated a Nazi propaganda publishing house from Canada and wrote for a website that espoused anti-Jewish sentiments and questioned whether six million Jews had died in the Holocaust. The author of such works as The Hitler We Love and Why, Zundel had been held in solitary confinement for two years in a Toronto jail under a national security certificate before being deported. In 2005, a Federal Court ruling that Zundel was a threat to national security because of his connection with white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups paved the way to his extradition. *** A GOOD INVESTMENT': COST OF SENDING HOLOCAUST DENIER ERNST ZUNDEL TO GERMANY: $130,000 Adrian Humphreys, National Post Published: Thursday, February 15, 2007 Tuesday, June 14, 2005 --- It cost the Canadian government about $130,000 to fly Holocaust denier Ernst Zundel to his native Germany, where he remains in prison. The cost of the forced removal, after Zundel was declared a dangerous white supremacist by a Federal Court of Canada judge, includes the chartering of a private jet for the March 1 flight, a $365 catering bill for the passengers, and hotel and overtime bills for three escorting officers, according to documents released to the National Post under the Access to Information Act. More at: http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/story.html?id=44edb0df-f9c6-49f0-85e8-ea02e78bfd72&k=0 (via Fred Waterer, dxldyg via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. Mike Agner corrects one of his logs from last week: My 4815 log of Ecuador from last week was in error - the freq should be 6049. [as corrected] 6049, ECUADOR, HCJB, 0201, 2/4/07, in Spanish. Looking for Perú, heard OMs in a very long winded talk, solid ID for HCJB 'Desde Quito' at 0201; heavily splattered on both sides (Mike Agner, Glen Burnie MD, Ten Tec RX320, Carpet Loop, Various homebrew helicals, NASWA Flashsheet Feb 12 via DXLD) ?? Have not noticed HCJB off-frequency from 6049, and explanation of R. Buen Pastor, 4815 relaying HCJB seemed reasonable to me. Guess refers to R. Santa Rosa, Perú, 6047v (gh, DXLD) ** ECUADOR. HCJB, 11960 in Spanish, Feb 15 at 1429 was giving their Western Union account number for donations, but natch, the automation cut if off for the mandatory ID break at 1429:30 as always giving the two wrong frequencies (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA [non]. ETHIOPIA [non] The following stations no longer are shown on the TDP schedule website: Voice of Eritrea (to ERI), Voice of Oromo Liberation (to ETH), Radio Voice of the National United Front (to ETH). (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, Feb 15, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA. On 14 Feb at 1558 noted Voice of Tigray Revolution, Mekele, Ethiopia on their second frequency 5980 in parallel with much better 9650. Turkey on 5980 is very strong here, usually overriding Ethiopia totally (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE [and non]. Not only are the NETHERLANDS ANTILLES getting reclassified, but so are Wallis & Futuna and French Polynesia, per a brief item on R. Australia news in English Feb 14 at 2204 on 15515: henceforth they are to be known as ``Overseas Communities``, which I suppose is originally ``Communautés d`Outre-mer`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GABON. Unlike the day before, ANU, 17630 did not break transmission around 1530 Feb 14. And 17660, Afropop music distraxion, closed as usual at 1531* I have not heard the 19160 harmonic for several weeks in almost daily chex around 1500, but Feb 14 I had the opportunity to look for it later, at 2140, and there it was, fair level of S9 + 7 but modulation below equivalent level; thought I heard some English words and then checked fundamental // 9580, which was much stronger; they were introducing some Lionel Ritchie music (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. TIME TO SAY GOODBYE --- SILENT KEY - WOLFRAM HESS, DL1RXA and DK0DX Wolfram suffered an apoplectic stroke and died on February 9th, 2007; just before the very last broadcast of Ham radio and SWL hobby program "World DX Meeting" on Deutsche Welle's English service mailbox program on February 25/26, 2007. Started his occupational career as hobby program presenter on former GDR external service "Radio Berlin International". After the collapse of the eastern block he was well known as presenter of "DX Aktuell" hobby program on Deutschland Radio Berlin broadcaster [former RIAS Berlin]. And was too, well known as "Sunspot Cycle and HF broadcast condition prediction 'Pope'" in the ham radio scene in Germany and and beyond. Listen to some DWL World DX Meeting programmes in .mp3 or .ra format: http://www.dw-world.de/dw/0,2142,9542,00.html click to: Current Solar and Ionospheric Weather Report and you will see a photo picture of Wolfram. 73 wb df5sx (Wolfgang Büschel, dx_india via DXLD) [quoting previous DXLD about playing ``Time to Say Goodbye``] Viz.: Wolfram, DL1RXA, ist am 9. Februar an der Folge eines Schlaganfalls verstorben, das wurde erst jetzt bekannt. OM Wolfram hat sich als Autor von hervorragenden Funkwettervorhersagen und intelligent- amuesanten Veroeffentlichungen ueber die Grundlagen des Funkwetters einen Namen gemacht. Auf besonders einmalige Weise hat er taeglich auch den Sonnen- und Ionosphaerenwetterbericht fuer den DARC e.V. erarbeitet und die Funkamateure in Deutschland aktuell informiert. (via Harald Kuhl, A-DX Feb 14 via Wolfgang Büschel, dx_india via DXLD) On a phone conversation we had just three weeks ago Wolfram said in regard to the World DX Meeting that "this will be the last DX I ever made in my life". There has to be a connection. His domestic broadcasting activities are presumably not so widely known outside Germany, so here's a summary: The run of the DX Aktuell show started one day in autumn 1990 when Wolfram found Alfred Eichhorn, the editor-in-chief of Radio Aktuell (the former Radio DDR 1) in a tape editing room. They talked about possible new programmes, Wolfram brought up the idea of a DX show, and so the first edition of DX Aktuell went out via the mediumwave frequencies of Radio Aktuell only a few days later. In spring 1991 all these mediumwave transmitters (including the 1000 kW on 783) were shut down and DX Aktuell moved to 177. By the end of 1991 The Facility (i.e. what used to be GDR radio) ceased to exist but the Deutschlandsender Kultur network continued on some kind of temporary status ("on behalf of ARD and ZDF"), and so DX Aktuell continued as well, but only after some dramatic confusion about the 177 transmitter (it was supposed to go dark altogether but finally 177 stayed on air via the Königs Wusterhausen 100 kW aux until finally the Zehlendorf transmitter had been reactivated with reduced power). It was basically the amount of listeners` mail that kept the programme alive for the following years. DX Aktuell also continued beyond yearend 1993, when Deutschlandsender Kultur merged with RIAS Berlin to the new Deutschlandradio Berlin, but finally came to an end in September 1994 together with a number of other former DS and RIAS programmes. This time listeners` mail was no longer of interest for the "decision makers", a meanwhile well-known phenomenon. For some time there was also a separate "DX-Report" on RIAS Berlin (855, 6005, FM Großer Waldstein 89.3 only), founded after complaints from listeners about poor reception of 177 in some areas of Germany. It was a separate show only because RIAS refused to simply relay the Deutschlandsender Kultur programme, simply because this was stuff from the former enemy's station. Here are pictures of a DX Aktuell production at Deutschlandradio Berlin, posted on this site because it so happened that the former RIAS 2 live studio had been used for this purpose: http://www.radiotreff.de/rias2/rias2_sehen_funkhaus_innen.htm A recording of the last DX Aktuell program from the Nalepastraße radiohouse, on Dec 31 1993 at 10 PM, just two hours before Deutschlandradio Kultur closed down altogether: http://www.radioeins.de/meta/sendungen/apparat/050820_A1.ram A reproduction of a special QSL card, showing the DX Aktuell authors behind the console of studio K1 (where these programmes were produced from 1990 til 1993) can be seen at http://www.asamnet.de/~bienerhj/0177.html Also spoken by Wolfram Heß: The opener of what was then a DX show, launched by DT64 when they were forced off FM ... http://www.radioeins.de/meta/sendungen/apparat/070210_A1.ram I have to add that DX Aktuell was especially valuable for bringing people in touch with each other. On the sad occasion of the very last edition I met somebody I would have otherwise never met due to perceived or real barriers, and this turned out to be decisive for me. I have also to add that during the last months, even just the last weeks, there were first signs of a trend that this programme could become much more than a "mere" DX show, a trend that had no chance to develop further here (in fact such a development happened with the above mentioned DT64 programme, the result received an award just yesterday). Here is the DARC obituary, with a recording of Wolfram's last ham radio read-out just 12 days ago: http://www.darc.de/user-cgi/user.pl?Aktion=langtext&Key=878 (Kai Ludwig, Feb 14, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) OBIT ** GERMANY. 6005, DeutschlandRadio-Berlin, 2325-2347, 2/12/07. Poor but readable in German with man and woman speaking in conversational tones; Deutschland mentioned at 2329; harder to copy by 2347. WRTH says this is now called DeutschlandRadio-Kultur. First time I've heard this since my time in the UK (Jim Ronda, Tulsa, OK, NRD-545, R-75, E-1 + Eavesdropper, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** GREECE. Checking out VOG via SVO, Feb 14 at 1430, 15630 was doing well but still some occasional audio dropouts. This is supposed to be only 10 kW on a log periodic at 310 degrees from Pirgos, which crosses: Brittany, Newfoundland, Montpelier, Nashville, Houston, Corpus, Monterrey, according to my National Geographic globe with geometer. (It was bothered by pulse QRM of about 10 per second peaking every 30 kHz from 15 to 19 MHz, which I soon traced to a new Toshiba TV set, turned off but plugged in, and had not caused such a problem before!) Checked 15630 for a few minutes Feb 15 at 1440, the experimental Olympia Radio relay; pretty weak but did not hear any breaks in carrier or modulation (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUINEA. A friend of mine in Ghana confirms that Guinea 7125 has been off for at least six months. It was certainly heard at the end of July 2006 but may have disappeared shortly after that. Guinea is now in turmoil. Martial law was declared on Monday. All private FM stations in Conakry are off the air after one of them (Liberté FM) had its studios trashed by soldiers. Radio France Internationale's local FM relay in Conakry has been off the air since Saturday (Chris Greenway, UK, Feb 14, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) IFJ CONDEMNS ATTACKS ON MEDIA, JOURNALISTS’ ARRESTS IN GUINEA 13/02/2007 http://www.ifj.org/default.asp?Index=4636&Language=EN The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today called on the authorities in Guinea to stop terrorising media after recent attacks on radio stations that took place even before the government’s declaration of martial law yesterday evening. Before martial law was declared yesterday, soldiers arrested two employees of a radio station and raided two stations and demanded that they stop broadcasting. Currently no private radio stations are broadcasting in the country, either because they have been shut down or are afraid of military attacks. “We are calling on the Guinean authorities for the immediate and unconditional release of two Fm Liberté employees,” said Gabriel Baglo, Director of the IFJ Africa Office. “We denounce this terror in the media instituted by the state of siege and invite President Conté to put an end to it without delay so that the journalists can work with complete freedom and in full safety.” Yesterday soldiers attacked FM Liberté, one of the four new private radios stations in Guinea. The soldiers destroyed some equipment before arresting journalist Mohamed Tondon Camara and technician David Camara. The attack followed a phone-in programme during which the listeners asked for the departure of President Lansana Conté. Similar programming, according to sources, prompted soldiers to raid another private radio station, Familia FM, and demanded it stop broadcasting. Fearing that they will also be attacked, the two other private radio stations in Guinea have decided to shut down. Yesterday evening President Conté declared martial law and said the country was in a “state of siege” after unions called a general strike and more than 10 people were killed. According to the President’s decree, the military authority “is entitled to take suitable measures to ensure the control of the press and publications of any nature, as well as radio or television broadcasted programmes.” The army also has the authority to control the postal, telegraphic and telephone correspondences. The IFJ fears for the safety of local journalists and correspondents for international media in Guinea, some of whom are now in hiding because they fear they will be attacked. Reporting in the field also presents enormous risks for them. One was already injured during demonstrations in Guinea in January when someone threw a rock at a car carrying journalists. For further information contact the IFJ: +221 842 01 43 The IFJ represents over 500,000 journalists in more than 115 countries (IFJ via DXLD) ** HUNGARY. Re Question about DXLD 7-016 --- Dear Glenn, Patrick and all, I established contact with the Hungarian Radio and they said that the studios in Szombathely and in Nagykanizsa have been closed. The remaining regional studios of the Hungarian Radio are: Szolnok, Szeged, Pécs, Nyíregyháza, Miskolc, Gyõr and Debrecen. The Hungarian Radio's Minority Programme (MR-4) program schedule is the following: (CENTRAL EUROPEAN TIME) Monday to Friday: 08.00-10.00 Croatian 10.00-12.00 German 12.00-13.00 Hungarian Popular Songs (nótaszó) 13.00-13.30 Slovenian (on Mondays), Ruszin (Tuesday), Bulgarian (Wednesday), Greek (Thursday), Ukrainian (Friday) 13.30-14.00 Gipsy minority programme ("cigány ország útjain" literal translation is: on the road of gipsy land) 14.00-16.00 Serbian 16.00-18.00 Romanian 18.00-20.00 Slovakian programme Saturdays: 08.00-10.00 Croatian 10.00-12.00 German 12.00-13.00 Hungarian Popular Songs (nótaszó) 13.00-13.30 Armenian 13.30-14.00 Polish 14.00-16.00 Serbian 16.00-18.00 Romanian 18.00-20.00 Slovakian Sundays: 08.00-10.00 Croatian 10.00-12.00 German 12.00-13.00 Hungarian Popular Songs (nótaszó) 13.00-13.55 In one homeland (egy hazában); language is Hungarian 13.55-14.00 Literature of the nationalities 14.00-16.00 Serbian 16.00-18.00 Romanian 18.00-20.00 Slovakian program Hopingly you can use this information. Sorry for being late! Sincerely, (Tibor Gaal, Hungary, Feb 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. AIR CONDUCTS TRIAL RUNS FOR DIGITAL SHORT WAVE, MEDIUM WAVE The first digital transmitter for All India Radio (AIR) on the short wave is already going through a successful trial run, officials say, adding that the pilot run for the medium wave digital radio too, will commence from May or June this year. Full story: http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k7/feb/feb195.htm How does using DRM reduce the skip distance? The DRM consortium themselves claim "near FM" quality and it is not full stereo. To achieve that you have to use low protection levels thus making the signals more susceptible to interference and fading. Can India use DRM with 18 kHz bandwidth on medium wave? Only problem there at the moment is that I believe the Morphy Richards receiver can't decode it (Mike Barraclough, UK, Feb 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. Tuned in to Sirius 140 tonight to hear my nightly fix of international broadcasters, but am hearing a continuous reel of sports promos. The channel banner reads "Sirius" where it used to say "WRN". The program screen does say "WRN" where it used to have the name of the broadcaster occupying that half hour. Sirius Customer Care doesn't appear to know anything about this. The Sirius.com web site has no explanation. A deeper check of the Sirius web site shows sports events (i.e.: "stupid ball games") now scheduled nearly every night and weekends on 140. Whether this means that WRN is now relegated to secondary channel status or is gone altogether I can't tell you at this point. (John Figliozzi, Halfmoon, NY, Feb 14, Very Disappointed Sirius Subscriber, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) The website mentions a "new channel lineup". WRN is listed in its usual spot in the PDF version of the channel guide, effective today. IIRC, aren't these promos what Sirius runs as a default when there are interruptions or other screwups in its feeds? Moral of the story: Sirius and XM will continue to tweak their channel lineups to maximize their attractiveness to their likely customer base. We remain at their mercy --- the only solution (other than shortwave) is, frankly, the unlimited-bandwidth world of live webcasting. 140 is now indeed shown for live sports many nights (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA, swprograms via DXLD) No, this is a departure. In the past, they had some canned WRN programming they'd run. It's bad enough that they're preempting for a sports event. But the game they preempted for has been over for two hours and they're running these useless promos over and over again. I suppose we shouldn't be surprised. Every time a new medium comes on the scene, there is much hope about attention to interests that usually are ignored by more established media. But there is always disappointment in the end as the new kids on the block inevitably (it seems) start to chase the lowest common denominator. For my part, I can't resist the urge to blame the fact that these new services always seem to turn to the same old tired warhorses that know the old media oh so well, but haven't a clue about how to reposition a new medium. Hear that, Mel Karmazin? (And if you're such a genius, why's the stock price approaching penny stock status?) It may be inevitable, but that doesn't make it any less disappointing. Looks like pretty soon I'll be canceling my subscriptions, selling my satellite radios and resorting to downloading podcasts and listening to my local NPR affiliate again. Ranting away with apologies, (John Figliozzi, ibid.) Since Sirius sunk so much of their $$ behind Howard Stern, it would seem they now need to emphasize whatever programming that keeps that demographic profile as subscribers when they get bored with Mr. Stern.. That is likely a white male, young demographic...probably the antithesis of a WRN / NPR / PRI / BBC listener. Thus, sports increasingly dominate the medium. Meanwhile, over on the domestic AM / FM chat boards, the trend is for less live sports on regular radio, more sports talk. Not sure which trend causes the other, but those interested in live sports are increasingly motivated to consider satellite radio. I will admit that, over the past six months, I have listened to satellite radio less, not more. I have a sufficient inventory of podcasts and captured webcasts to stock my MP3 player, and enough music of my own personal tastes to stock my CD player. As a result, the satellite radio is reserved for BBC and CBC news fixes and silly Buffalo Bills NFL games (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA, ibid.) Well, I was just listening to WRN via Sirius and it went to "Sirius Sports Preview at 7 pm EST (0 hours UT). I just sent another email to Sirius telling them I'm about to cancel all 3 of my subscriptions and that under Karmazan's leadership they are going down the toilet (Jim Strader, MA, Feb 15, swprograms via DXLD) WRN is working on the situation. Complaints by listeners to Sirius customer service will certainly help. 73, (Glenn Hauser, Feb 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I was about to say, that there was a Sirius channel change YESTERDAY, but it looks like WRN is still in the lineup: http://www.sirius.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Sirius/Page&c=FlexContent&cid=1158082411510 http://cdn.sirius.com/pdf/channelguide.pdf (Doni Rosenzweig, Feb 15, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DGIEST) ** IRAN [non]. UNIDENTIFIED. 7590, NO ID, saludos cordiales: desde las 1910 estoy escuchando una emisora sin identificar por esta frecuencia, comentarios, segmentos musicales y una especie de radionovela, SINPO 44343. Desde las 1830 hasta las 1900 se escuchó lo que probablemente era Radio Rojhelat, en idioma farsi y con muchas referencias a Irán, segmentos en inglés con traducción simultánea; según listados esta emisora acaba sus emisiones a las 1900 UT y no encuentro referencia a ninguna emisión posterior a ésta hora (José Miguel Romero, Spain, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) [slightly later]: UCRANIA, 7590, Radio Zamaneh, 1910-1945, escuchada el 15 de febrero en idioma farsi, ID, comentarios, radionovela y segmentos musicales, emisión en paralelo por internet: http://www.radiozamaneh.com/ SINPO 44343. 73 (José Miguel Romero, Spain, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ex-6245? (gh) ** JAPAN. On 9760, continuous jazz from 0715 Feb 14, weaker but separable from RNZI 9765. What could it be? Of course, was R. Nikkei, as IDed in Japanese about 0726 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LAOS. 7145, Laos National Radio, 22 Dec 0530 French, 0600 into English, SIO 453 (Don Rhodes, Chiang Mai, Thailand, Feb BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** MEXICO. 9599.27, R. UNAM, 2210, 2/10/07. Light classical music fare with piano-clarinet duet. Thin signal had slow fading. R. UNAM ID with emphasis on NAM at 2214:45 (Jerry Strawman, Des Moines, IA, 41.38N, 93.40W, R8A + 313e + NRD 545 + 60M Dipole + Mini-Whip, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) 9599.4, XEYU - Radio UNAM, 0250–0303, 2/4/07, in Spanish. Classical music seguéd, until ToH ID. Poor. 24332 (Mark Taylor, Madison, WI, R- 75, Sat 800, Sangean 909; 110’ random wire, Eavesdropper, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) Desde las 1920 UT (13:20 del Centro de México) se aprecia un aumento en la potencia de la señal de XEYU Radio UNAM 9600 kHz con audio aceptable. Sigue el período de pruebas de Radio UNAM onda corta y transmite por el momento las 24 horas en paralelo con su señal de onda media (860 kHz). Los informes de recepción son bien recibidos (aún sin política QSL) a : emejiay @ servidor.unam.mx con copia a jusadiez @ hotmail.com 73's, (Julián Santiago Díez de Bonilla, DF, Feb 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Does not sound any stronger here (gh, OK, DXLD) Muy buena noticia. Voy a intentar su escucha a pesar de los ruidos industriales y malas condiciones de propagacion. ¿Alguien la captó por el Sur de Sudamérica? Más al norte del subcontinente vi que la escuchó Rafael Rodríguez desde Bogotá pero desde debajo del Ecuador ¿alguien la pudo sintonizar? 73 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, condig list via DXLD) Arnaldo: al parecer el aumento de potencia solo fué un par de horas; sin embargo lo planeado es llevar el transmisor hasta los 10 kW. Efectivamente tengo conocimmiento del reporte de Rafael Rodríguez de Sudamérica y ni uno más de esa región. Tienen reportes de Estados Unidos, Canadá, España, Italia, Suecia, Inglaterra, Bélgica. Así como de Costa Rica. Ojalá pronto se escuche en Argentina. Saludos, (Julián Santiago, DF, ibid.) XEYU, 9599.2, was audible weakly with classical music at 0707 UT check Feb 15; usually it has been inaudible this time of night, but this is what it took: (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Solar flux 73 and mid-latitude A-index 16. The mid-latitude K-index at 0600 UTC on 15 February was 5 (77 nT). Space weather for the past 24 hours has been minor. Geomagnetic storms reaching the G1 level occurred. Space weather for the next 24 hours is expected to be minor. Geomagnetic storms reaching the G1 level are expected. (SEC via DXLD) ** MEXICO. XEXQ, 6045, at 0713 Feb 15 with flute and piano classical music, but at 0715 it was the Ritual Fire Dance. I never hear any announcements. Seems like they are playing some CDs of best-of classics, rather than seriously programming this (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. I posed the question about the Mexican National Anthem being aired at 2257 local time. The answer to the question is available here: http://www.radiomil.com.mx/v2/programacion.php?dia=0 which shows that XEOY Radio Mil were coming to the end of “La Hora Nacional”. A quick glance at XEEP’s site http://radioeducacion.edu.mx/ shows that they too are airing this programme. It seems possible or likely that many or all stations in Mexico must carry this and it ends in the NA at 0457 UTC on Mondays only. Potentially useful to know perhaps… I’m now trying to get a good ID on XEEP heard this morning. 73 (Andrew Brade, UK, Feb 13, MWC via DXLD) Andrew, From the CorazónDX webpage ... http://www.amfmdx.net/amdx/corazondx/MXNA.html The page has a link to the CIRT regulations governing the broadcast times for the Mexican National Anthem. 73, (Steve N5WBI Houston TX Ponder, http://setxdxer.blogspot.com/ ibid.) Which in turn leads to: http://www.amfmdx.net/amdx/corazondx/CIRT-NArules.html (via gh, DXLD) Thanks Steve. You might be interested to know that the internet XEEP schedule shows the NA at midnight and 0457 this morning, despite their transmitting programmes continuously in between! So the legal requirement must be seen as a minimum. I posed the question initially because I was surprised at hearing the NA at UTC-5h rather than the more familiar UTC-6h. The link you posted looks like it has some useful resources a bit higher up the tree! (Andrew Brade, ibid.) ** PERU. 4790.14, Radio Visión (Chiclayo), M with energetic preaching, 1034 different M calm talking, 1040 M talking apparently live in a large room (echo), 1052 announcement over flute (end of program or section) including ID, talk including 1102 ID, into another talk by different M before audience. Signal fair, but QRM from CODAR swishes made overall reception poor (Mark Taylor, Madison, WI, R-75, Sat 800, Sangean 909; 110’ random wire, Eavesdropper, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** PERU. I know this is a DX forum, but this is just an incredible story, if you hadn't heard about it already. On Monday, the "El Comercio Perú" newspaper ran a front page story of possibly the world's largest pirate radio sting in history. They released their numbers for "identified" AM, FM, and television pirate broadcasting operations in Perú - a whopping 1,277 illegal radio and television operations. The majority of the stations operate in the cities of Lima, Cusco, Piura, La Libertad and Arequipa. The numbers shake out like this: Lima - 154 Cusco - 141 Piura - 120 La Libertad & Arequipa combined - 97 The remaining numbers are distributed throughout the country in Peru. Most have been identified as a belonging to a clandestine organization. It took an unspecified amount of time to track down the pirate broadcasters, but, 5,100 technical inspectors are being deployed to make a countrywide sweep to shut down all of the known pirates. Each offense could be facing fines from $11,040 to $32,000 (US dollars), based on current conversion rates of the Peru Nuevo Sole currency (Jim Thomas - wdx0fbu, Milliken, CO - 40 mi N of Denver, Feb 13, WTFDA via DXLD) Probably includes a few on shortwave (gh, DXLD) ** QATAR. Question time: Rageh Omaar --- Ex-BBC reporter Rageh Omaar, 39, on the 'Scud Stud' label, switching to Al-Jazeera, and why he's fallen in love with Iran --- Hannah Pool, Thursday February 15, 2007, Guardian Q. In your new film, it's obvious that you really like Iran. You even describe it as Wonderland. Isn't that pushing it? A. No, it was like tumbling down the rabbit hole, discovering Iran for the first time. I think it is remarkable that here is an Islamic society ruled by a theocracy where drug addiction is openly discussed, there's rehab, there's HIV education. You wouldn't find that in most pro-western "democratic" Arab regimes. Here is an Islamic country that is being prodded and poked and held up to scrutiny by its own people. Q. What about the more troublesome parts of Iranian society? A. Yes, there is oppression, people being stoned and hanged and all that. . . http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,,329716343-103680,00.html (via Dan Say, BC, DXLD) ** ROMANIA. 3400, at 0440 10 Jan, RRI mixing spur. YL with English news and ID; weak. Was on 9515 and 6115 at same time, both good, and still audible 26 Jan at 0440, very weak // 6115 but 9515 not audible; SIO 241 (Nick Rank, Buxton, Derbyshire, Sony ICF2001D, ALA 1530 loop, Tropical Bands Logbook, Feb BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) Specifically, 9515 minus 6115 equals 3400 (gh) ** SURINAME. Sometimes the magic works! I am very happy with this one. I have been trying for years to get them to respond. They are a tough catch with a usually bad reception in a foreign language. Lucky for me they ran a long block of English music. SURINAM, Radio Apintie (Paramaribo). Freq: 4990. Date: 03/12/2005. Time: 0520-0537 UT. Received a full data letter in 702 days for an English report and $1. I had given up hope on this one! Station address Radio Apintie, Verlenge Gemenelandsweg 37, PO Box 595, Paramaribo, Suriname. V/S Charles Vervuurt, Director (Joe Wood, Greenback TN, MARE Tipsheet Feb 16 via DXLD) ** SWEDEN. My website about historical broadcast in Sweden is being updated. I will perhaps update the whole site this week. Right now the front side and the sides about Sölvesborg MW are updated. I thought after three years on the web with no or slight update it was time to renew it a bit. I will also start an English section with all the articles translated into English for those who don't understand Swedish. I will return with a message when the English part is done. http://hem.passagen.se/longwave/ 73's de Christian SM6VPU (via Dario Monferini, bclnews.it yg via DXLD) ** TURKEY. Another VOT transmitter/frequency screwup: Feb 14 at 1458, heard VOT IS interspersed with Arabic IDs, on 12035; 1500 six pips and opening Arabic service. Per printed schedule just received, this is supposed to be on 6120! 12035 was supposed to go off a semihour earlier following the English broadcast beamed NW. A few days ago I heard the other English frequency starting at 1330, 11735, also on the air half an hour late. Are they asleep at Emirler, or is something preventing the frequencies from being changed, so they are making do with the frequency they are stuck on? Since VOT program schedule in English is not to be found on their website, http://www.trt.net.tr/wwwtrt/tsr.aspx I will retype info from the printed schedule postmarked 30 January and received 13 February by P-mail. As usual the info is presented in an extremely confusing manner. There are four different columns for each day of the week, English I, I Term, II Term; English II, I Term, II Term. These ``Terms`` are not defined, but presumably refer to the first and second halves of 2007, Jan-Jun and Jul-Dec. The terms used to be quarters, but in recent years have been semesters. It turns out that there are only a few differences between English I and II, and Terms I and II. Since we know the days and times when Live from Turkey airs, Tuesday at 1950 and Thursday at 1350, we can conclude that English I and II refer to the broadcasts containing and not containing the live shows which pre-empt other programming on that day of the week. English I shows LfT on Thursday, so that means English I refers to the 1330 transmission, but if you want to know what is on all the other Thursday English transmissions, you should look at English II. Conversely, English II shows LfT on Tuesday, so that means English II refers to the 1930 transmission, and if you want to know what is on all the other Tuesday transmissions, you should look at English I. Is that clear??? Carefully comparing all the other programming listed on each day of the week, it is confirmed that LfT is the only difference between English I and II. // apparently means fortnightly alternating programs, as we know that is the case with DX Corner. John Norfolk keeps track of which weeks it`s on in DX/SWL/MEDIA PROGRAMS at http://www.worldofradio.com A couple of programs have (r) after them, unexplained, and omitted below. This probably means repeats from previous years, rather than repeats from earlier in the same week; namely, The Harem, and From History. So here is the program schedule as we have tried to make it more comprehensible and user-friendly, despite lack of exact timings of each show within the 50-55 minute transmissions. Since there are only two changes for the second term, July-December 2007, they are shown in brackets on Friday and Sunday. DAILY: News, Review of the Turkish Press; then::: MONDAY: From Turkey; Hues and Colours of Anatolia; Turkey`s Non-Governmental Organizations TUESDAY: Sports Round Up, on all; Live from Turkey at 1950 OR Agenda, Atatürk through his Memoirs, The Harem on the others WEDNESDAY: Review of the Foreign Media, The Middle East from Turkey`s Window; Letter Box THURSDAY: Agenda, on all; Live from Turkey at 1350 OR The Balkans // Eurasia, on the others FRIDAY: The Harem [July-Dec: New Dimensions of the Armenian Issue], Turkish Album, From History // Turkish Capital SATURDAY: Outlook, From Our Correspondents, From History // DX Corner, Masters of Turkish Pop Music SUNDAY: From the World, In the Wake of a Contest [July-Dec: Skilled Hands], Blue Voyage, Turkish on Radio, Turkish Music The folder also describes four of the programs; some may be new ones: EURASIA --- Bi-weekly [meaning fortnightly], focusing on the process of change in Central Asia and the Caucasus since the dissolution of the USSR. Attempts to illuminate the region`s energy-based conflicts, and its future. TURKISH CAPITAL --- bi-weekly [fortnightly], describing rôle of Turkish entrepreneurs in the market of a globalizing, ever-shrinking world. The creativity and potential of Turkish capital and entrepreneurship will be given an identity in this program. [are there any entrepreneuses in Turkey?] HUES AND COLORS OF ANATOLIA --- Weekly, continues to describe all the hues and colors of Anatolia, the cradle of civilizations. The history of universal cultures born in Anatolia will come to life in this program. HAREM --- Weekly in Jan and Feb on the VOT`s wide spectrum of programs you have become accustomed to over the years, ranging from culture to the arts, from news to music, offering something for everyone. [how`s that for explicitness; so not about harems?? And what replaces it in March? Not given] English transmissions: 1330 12035 Eu [but also C&ENAm], 11735 Au/As 1930 6055 Eu 2130 9525 Au/As 2300 5960 Eu/NAm 0400 6020 Eu/NAm, 7240 As/Af Another complication: 0400 repeats the previous day`s programs, altho I have not reconfirmed this lately. The transmission schedule is for B-06, effective only until 25 March. Then we know all broadcasts move one UT hour earlier, and most if not all frequencies will change for A-07, but this is not explained. The website is given, but no info about listening to webcasts; instead, all the pertinent info for listening to satellite broadcasts. We happen to know that webcasts carrying the English transmissions are in fact accessible at mms://212.175.166.3/RDVOT But why was I hearing German on that at 0022 UT Feb 15? Or try to figure out which button to press at http://www.trt.net.tr/wwwtrt/canli.aspx The printed program folder also has an article about Mevlâna, since 2007 is World Mevlâna Year (had you heard?), about Sufism, Whirling Dervishes, etc. And another about the 2006 Essay Contest with a group photo of the 10 winners of a 14-day tour of Turkey, including Volker Willschrey and Christopher Lewis. Enclosed with the program folder in the unsealed envelope was a nice little plasticized pocket calendar card commemorating 70 years of External Broadcasting, enabling one to learn the months in Turkish; February is Shubat, that is S with a cedilla (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Thanks; my head hurts just reading this much, let alone trying to untangle their printed materials. You know, this isn't rocket science, and it mystifies me why TRT has such hard-to-follow collateral (website, pamphlet). You'd think they could pick up an example schedule from a broadcaster like RCI or Radio Netherlands and then mimic their designs. And these stations wonder why listeners seem indifferent (Rich Cuff, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Live from Turkey, Thu Feb 15 at 1352 was much better on 11735 than 12035, the latter being weak and echoey, the former fair and steady, the opposite of what one would expect since 12035 is aimed toward us and 11735 is aimed east. This dichotomy varies from one day to the next, as if they are exchanging the antennas and frequencies at random; otherwise we can only blame it on the vagaries of propagation. But since VOT have also been caught on completely wrong frequencies for other languages, why not wrong antennas too? No callers this time either, so the hosts gabbed and played some music breaks. Among the topics, bungee jumping, Turkish film industry improving with some new ones lately, also a TV channel plays a lot of them; and this summer`s essay contest. To keep costs down it has been decided to have only 8 winners instead of 10 getting all-expenses-paid 2-week tours of Turkey in August/September. Both frequencies went off around 1425 after less than one iteration of the IS, so this time the 1430 languages were more likely to be on the correct frequencies (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [non]. BBC Mundo announces that it will be on SW to Cuba and the Caribbean in the mornings from Feb 19 on some strange new frequencies. Where can they be coming from? BBC above 6200 in the marine band would be a first. Reading this, you would never know that BBC already had a morning service in Spanish starting in mid-December AT 1000-1230 on several other SW frequencies (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/spanish/latin_america/newsid_6362000/6362867.stm ``Sintonícenos de lunes a viernes de 11:00 a 12:00 GMT en las frecuencias de 13.57 y 13.87 mghz [sic] en la banda de 22 metros, así como en 5100 y 6300 kilohertzios en la banda de 49 metros (via José Bueno, Spain, playdx yg via DXLD) ** U K. JOB CUTS EXPECTED IN BBC CHINESE SERVICE: Media Guardian Media Guardian reports that journalists at the BBC World Service are bracing themselves for job losses at its Chinese operation. Cutbacks are expected to be announced later this month at the Chinese service, which employs 37 people at London’s Bush House. The World Service’s Russian operation may also be cut back. Staff members said the cuts would be fiercely resisted, with a plan already in place to set up a “Save the Chinese Service” petition if they are severe. Media Guardian notes that, according to the most recent World Service annual report, the World Service’s reach in Beijing, Shenyang, Chengdu and Shanghai fell from 2.2% in 2004-05 to 0.3% in 2005-06. Media Guardian says BBC management will meet staff representatives over the future of the Chinese service on 22 February (Media Network blog Feb 14 via DXLD) ** U S A. EX EJECUTIVO DE TV MARTÍ SE DECLARA CULPABLE DE RECIBIR SOBORNOS [bribes] --- COPIADO DE El Nuevo Herald | 02/14/2007 | RUI FERREIRA El Nuevo Herald Un ex director de programas de TV Martí se declaró culpable ayer de recibir $112,000 en sobornos de una productora a la cual compró servicios, durante un período de tres años. La Fiscalía federal informó que José M. Miranda, de 51 años, alias ''Chema'' recibió 73 cheques de una productora llamada Perfect Image entre noviembre del 2001 y diciembre del 2004, después de ``aprobar pedidos ... para servicios de programación para TV Martí''. . . http://www.miami.com/mld/elnuevo/news/world/cuba/16692122.htm (via Oscar de Céspedes, FL, condig list via DXLD) ** U S A. Feb 14 at 2126, found RFI Spanish via Guiana French on 17630 with loud warbling noise severely interfering. At first I thought the Montsinéry transmitter was malfunxioning, but then I noticed that the noise was offset on the low side around 17629, and could be avoided by tuning to the high side. Oh, oh, it`s a spur from some other transmitter. On 16m the primary suspect is always KVOH 17775, and sure enough, that was the source, confirmed by comparing modulation peaks, as the audio was unintelligible. Several times in the past we have found very strong spurs at equal spacings both sides of 17775, and this was again the case, frequencies approximate: While 17775 was S9+20, the primary matching spurs on 17629 and 17921 were only slightly less strong, S9+15. The higher one had nothing to het against, and 17629 did not either after RFI closed at 2130. These are 146 kHz from the fundamental. So as in previous cases, I looked a further 146 kHz away from the above frequencies. Secondary matching spurs were indeed found on 18067 and 17483. These were much weaker and I did not attempt to get a strength reading on them. But are there more? Yes, a further 146 kHz away, distorted KVOH audio // 17775 could be detected on 18213 and 17337! Could there be even more? Yes, a further 146 kHz beyond the tertiary spurs, 18359 was just barely audible but I could not confirm anything on its mate which would be 17191. This old KVOH transmitter is in horrible shape and modulation is always distorted on the fundamental. Audibility of the spurs may have been enhanced by excellent propagation at the moment from Rancho Simi, California. I am never quite sure whether they are always transmitted at the same level, and my hearing them depends on propagation enhancement, or if the relative power emitted on the spurs axually fluxuates (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Speaking of unstable transmitters, here`s one that really is: WINB, 13570, Feb 14 at 1455 during preacher. Turn on the BFO and you can hear it warbling (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WBOH, 5919.63 at 2230 15 Feb with music. No sign of WTJC on 9370. The latter not always on and neither ever seem to be on frequency (Liz Cameron, Metro Detroit, Michigan, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. The daily change report that I get for 100000watts.com (generated from the FCC database each day) shows that 1660 has changed calls from WDAF back to KXTR, as of 2/12/07. Did someone at Entercom have second thoughts? Will the WDAF calls stay put on 106.5 in Liberty, even if it's now "The Wolf"? Beats me --- but there it is. s (Scott Fybush, NY, Feb 15, IRCA via DXLD) Website http://www.kxtr.com still mentions WDAF only in connexion with Thursday 8:35 am program, and still says it plans to broadcast in HD FM stereo --- on 1660? (Glenn Hauser, UT Feb 16, DX LISTNENING DIGEST) ** U S A. MEMPHIS PUBLIC RADIO SELL-OFF (SELLOUT?) Glenn, Here is a link to a story about our local Public Radio station (WKNO) and their recent decision to sell off two of the four stations they operate. It's a rather long piece from our alternative newspaper - the Memphis Flyer - but you may find it of interest and want to extract something from it. Needless to say, many of us who are "members" are not happy about this decision. It will be a while before I have an HD car radio and the ability to hear the streams that we will be losing. http://www.memphisflyer.com/memphis/Content?oid=oid%3A24103 73s, (Jim Pogue, Memphis TN, Feb 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Well done, except for this error: there is NO mandate for HD radio to take over in 2009, so the stations to be sold are NOT expendable in that way. HD radio is entirely voluntary, unlike DTV which does have a 2009 mandate. It is not appropriate to consider HD radio in the same way as TV. Please convey this to the author Mr Thompson as well as publishing the correction (Glenn Hauser, World of Radio, to Memphis Flyer editor, via DXLD) much more IBOC/HD: DIGITAL BROADCASTING below ** VENEZUELA. 5000, 14/2 0322, Observatorio Naval Cagical, pips, IDs and time in Spanish, fair. Drake SPR-4; CiaoRadio, ant: T2FD 73 (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italy, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA [and non]. More chances to hear "Hello President" Chávez's "Hello President" chat show is changing its schedule. The Sunday show is being dropped but instead there will be 90-minutes each weekday evening (2000 local - midnight GMT). On Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays it will be on radio. On Thursdays it will be on on TV. Starts tonight on TV (2000 local 15 Feb - 0000 GMT 16 Feb). (Chris Greenway, UK, dxldyg via DXLD) Actually fewer, as far as SWLs are concerned, I expect. Prime time may make it difficult for Habana to fit in, all its SW transmitters already in use. But tune around for it at 0000-0130. We`ll see (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIETNAM. 675 kHz, Hanoi, finally after report after report and e mails, I finally sent out two reports last Fall, one for SW (6175 [via CANADA]) and one for 675 Home Service in the same envelope. I figured I would at least get the SW QSL. Low and behold, I went to the post office today and enclosed was a QSL card with both frequencies, 675 and 6175 kHz. The time and date matches my 675 kHz Home Service (1559 UT Oct 23), so at least I can count it! This is not a new country for me QSL'd as I QSL'd them on 1010 kHz back in 1984. I think they are just not set up to verify Domestic MW reports I guess. They seem to QSL their regional services on SW and their FS on MW, as they did with the 1010 frequency. I still have a report out for 549 kHz. That remains to be seen if I get a QSL on that one. Maybe another dual report again, I might do. No V/S, and the address: 37 Ba Tieu, Ha Noi Vietnam (Hanoi, is spelled that way "Ha Noi" on the envelope, but Hanoi on the card. This took about 100 days. But I am sure pleased with this (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, Feb 14, IRCA via DXLD) Good work, Patrick. Ha Noi is actually two words, as is Sai Gon (Charles Taylor, NC, ibid.) Charlie, Thanks. I did not know that the Vietnamese consider the cities two words rather than one like we do. Interesting. On the envelope it has two words but on the card one word. Yes, I am very pleased. Now to get a QSL from 549 kHz. I dubbed off the cassette to a CD tonight. I will also send it with a SW report. Whatever works. 73, (Patrick Martin, ibid.) Congratulations, Patrick!!! I know that you are pleased with this one. Since my report (without a SW report included) went out about a week after yours, I'm going to do my Chickasaw ancestor's special dance around the campfire, rub my special DXer's Good Luck charm from the Cook Islands and say a few prayers --- maybe mine will come in, too. If not, a follow-up with a SW report and a copy of my VOV SWBC QSL from the early 80s will go out inna couple of weeks. GREAT GOING!! (John Bryant, Stillwater OK, ibid.) Thanks John. There probably is no policy for Domestic MW QSLs I would guess. The 1010 QSL from 84 was a FS, but they were in Vietnamese and Cantonese, if I remember correctly. I am going a follow up for 549 with a SW report too. 73, (Patrick Martin, ibid.) ** VIRGIN ISLANDS US. Re 7-019: as far as I remember, Radio Martí has been transmitting upon WDHP 1620 for nearly two years now. As I reported once I was surprised with that sometimes huge signal from St. Croix that made suspect if in fact would be WDHP, which doesn't seem to handle that power on their regular programming, specially on Saturday night when we have to stand that eternal and improductive bla bla bla from fuera-cubanos, preventing us to enjoy good Caribbean rhythms. 73 (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, Feb 14, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 2140 kHz, 2342-2359:12*, 9-Feb; M in Spanish with baladas, not tropicales. ID promo at 2358+, "Radio..."--ID had 4 syllables -- closest I can come to what I heard is Centenilla. Brief anthem (unfamiliar -- not Cuban) and off. Nothing // heard on 1070. Very weak at 2318, 10-Feb (Harold Frodge, MI, MARE Tipsheet via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. In 7-019, I see mentioning of Sudan or Uganda on 4750. I was surprised to hear anything at all on this frequency today, Feb 14 at 1545 UT. It`s a little hard to make out the language in use but it could very well be an Arabic or African language. Certainly not English (is the Uganda transmitter suppose to be in English?). End of transmission at 1600 (making it possible it would even be Bangladesh Betar? (Eibi)); after this an even fainter signal from another station which I can't even be sure of if it belongs at all on this freq. Netherlands, SINPO 24121, Philips D2999 with Mini-Whip (Jeroen Kloppenburg, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Jeroen, Yes, very confusing situation on 4750, but we have had no confirmation Uganda is on the air yet. No further info beyond what has been in DXLD including latest issue (gh) OK, curious to see whether anyone else can find out more. Will tune back to it as well and see if I can hear IDs :) (Jeroen Kloppenburg, ibid.) UNIDENTIFIED. DRM on 9720-9725-9730, with DGS Costa Rica analog right smack dab in the middle of it, 0709 UT Feb 15. DRM noise could be heard mixing with him, but louder on the adjacent frequencies, so it must have been centred on 9725. Nothing listed on any of them in the DRM online schedule (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LANGUAGE LESSONS ++++++++++++++++ ``TO TRIAL`` Re 7-018, UK: ```Seems to me that ``trial`` as in the headline or ``trialling`` just above is not acceptable as a verb in American usage. What do they say in Oxford? How does this differ from ``trying``? (gh, DXLD)`` My 1981 Oxford gives it as a noun. A later edition may perhaps have changed this as dictionaries reflect common usage. If you put trialling dictionary into google the first two hits are discussions of whether the word, and its usage is valid, the third is to an online dictionary listing it as a verb: http://www.wordwebonline.com/en/TRIAL and there are many more after I have not looked at (Mike Barraclough, England, Feb 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello Glenn, my dictionary gives several meanings of the word "trial", two of which are: 1) The act or process of testing, trying, or putting to the proof by actual or simulated use and experience (quoting useage as a trial of one`s faith) 2) A single complete instance of such testing, especially as part of a series of tests or experiments (quoting The new aircraft crashed during its third trial) I think either of these would be valid. The word ``trialling`` does not feature, but I have seen and heard it used. Possibly it's one of these "made up" modern terms? Maybe "trying out" would be better? The word try is quite complex but I think means something slightly different - I see 'to make an effort or strive'. Well, just maybe it would do? And when you look at your Websters??? again try to work out the difference between which and that. My Packard Bell corrects me most of the time if I write which and prefers me to use that! I may be English but I'm no expert, and my last English lesson at school was in the dim and distant past, I'm afraid. Colloquial English is often very different to what is written in a dictionary. 73 from (Noel Green, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ RADIOLICIOUS Weblog at http://www.radiolicious.co.uk/ --- all kinds of radio snippets, a lighthearted look at radio from a northwest-England perspective. And a fascinating sister site covering radio in Berlin including a breakdown of all FM stations in the German capital: http://www.radiolicious.co.uk/berlin (Chris Brand, Webwatch, Feb BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) IDENTIFYING DIGITAL MODES Queridos amigos, hay una página en la web donde podemos escuchar el sonido de muchas modalidades para decodificar y reconocer los sonidos (cw, rtty, pacquet, sstv, etc.). Podría alguno decirme cuál es esa página; la estoy buscando y no logro dar con ella. Desde ya muchísimas gracias (José Elías, Venezuela, Noticias DX via DXLD) Saludos José Elías: Otra dirección con estos sonidos: http://www.kb9ukd.com/digital/ Cordiales (José Bueno, Córdoba - España, ibid.) DIGITAL BROADCASTING DRM: see INDIA; UNIDENTIFIED ++++++++++++++++++++ DIGITAL TV COUPONS READY IN JANUARY? President Bush's new budget says consumers can ask for two converter box vouchers at year's end. By Phillip Swann Washington, D.C. (February 7, 2007) -- Americans can request two coupons for Digital TV converter boxes on January 1, 2008, according to President Bush's new fiscal budget. That's according to an article by National Journal. On February 17, 2009, the United States will switch from analog to Digital TV signals. At that time, if you don't have a Digital TV or a digital converter box, you will not be able to watch television. However, Congress has approved up to $1.5 billion in subsidies to help people purchase the converter boxes. John Kneuer, who heads the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, which is overseeing the Digital TV transition, said recently that a subsidy coupon will likely be worth $40 while the converter box will cost between $50 and $75. The converter box will allow owners of old analog TVs to continue to watch the new digital signals. It's unclear when the converter boxes will be introduced to the public. Cable and satellite operators are expected to provide set-tops that can convert digital signals to analog. So the 22 million U.S. homes that receive TV signals via off-air antennas will have the greatest need for the boxes. The NTIA is expected shortly to issue rules on coupon eligibility and procedures. But National Journal reports that the president's new budget says the coupons will be available upon request from January 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009. Each household will be eligible for up to two coupons. With an estimated 75 million analog TVs currently in U.S. households (including cable and satellite), the $1.5 billion in coupon subsidies is not expected to satisfy demand. But congressional Democrats, who are expected to hold hearings this year on the subsidy program, could eventually increase funding (Tvpredictions.com? via Kevin Redding, WTFDA via DXLD) IBOC status in Washington DC area 570 WTNT on 600 WCAO on 730 WKDL/WXTR off since call change 980 WTEM off 1450 WOL off 1500 WTWP off So, in the Washington, DC - Baltimore, MD area, four out of the six stations which have had IBOC are not using it as of 11 February. How does that compare to other areas? (Bill Harms, Elkridge, Maryland, Feb 11, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) IBOC status in Boston: I haven't paid too much attention to AM IBOC in Boston. The only AM radio stations I'm aware of currently broadcasting digital signals are 1030 WBZ and 1090 WILD. There might be others that I may not have noticed. On the other hand, FM IBOC is becoming huge in Boston. While working on an HD Radio update for Popular Communications, I found http://www.hdradioboston.com which highlights some of what's in- between the stations on HD2, including Old Skool Hip-Hop on 94.5 WJMN HD2, The Irish Channel on 96.9 WTKK HD2, and Nothin' But the '70s on 105.7 WROR HD2. By the way, Sangean has introduced two HD Radio receivers, a table top model and a component system tuner. Both can be viewed in the Universal Radio online catalog at http://www.universal-radio.com Just remembered one more. In addition to 1030 WBZ and 1090 WILD, 1260 WMKI "Radio Disney" continues to broadcast its digital signal. (Bruce Conti - Nashua NH, http://members.aol.com/baconti/bamlog.htm MWDX yg via DXLD) Hi Bill, KCBS is the only station in the San Francisco Bay area to have stopped using IBOC, though, KNBR was using it for a brief time, so I guess that makes 2 stations that have stopped using it, but if KTRB goes talk, they might start using it, as I heard them testing it on Monday morning last week (Marty Rimpau, CA, IRCA via DXLD) Other than the recent stories about 1340, in Philadelphia WIP-610, WPEN-950 and WDAS-1480 still run it. I get so much hash from WWDB-860 that I honestly can't tell if they're running IBOC or not. I don't believe anyone else in the market is running it on AM, and I'm also not thinking of any others who did but no longer do (Russ Edmunds, Blue Bell, PA, ibid.) How long has 1500 been off, Bill? I wonder what additional incremental costs there are to run IBOC vs. not running it. Anyone have a clue? I read recently that 1500 WTWP was at or near the bottom of the ratings list in DC (Russ Johnson, NRC-AM via DXLD) Russ: I heard them with it off two or three months ago, then they turned it on for a while (I am not sure how long). It is off again. I am not sure what is going on, or if this is temporary (Bill Harms, IRCA via DXLD) Russ, According to what I was told by a CE, once you turn the IBOC off the station does not have to pay the fees any longer. They do have the outlay of the equipment in the first place, but once the station turns it off, no more fees. I guess the fees are the same for each station in a market. In other words, what KCBS SF pays, KNEW pays the same. It doesn't matter what the station's ratings are. They charge the same. The fees do vary from market to market I guess though. KGO was testing IBOC a few nights, but is not using it. Maybe some of these stations want to be ready "if" the FCC okeys 24/7. That is my guess. Portland has 1190 & 1330 using it, but no one else so far. 73, (Patrick Martin, OR, IRCA via DXLD) Gentlemen: The only fee is the initial licensing charge --- which is the same all over the country. There are no additional "fees" associated with running AM HD. None. As in zero. I've been running it for 4 years and have yet to pay a "fee". Where are you getting this false information from??? (Tom Ray, WOR, ibid.) Tom, OK, I stand corrected. I either misunderstood what I was told or the info I was given was incorrect. Is the initial fee the same for all stations, or does it vary by market size? So in other words to run IBOC, you just pay the initial fee and then you are free forever. (Patrick Martin, ibid.) Tom, Just curious, from a day-to-day operating perspective - is it any more expensive (power, etc.) or difficult to operate. Thanks for the licensing fee info (Russ Johnson, ibid.) What Patrick states apparently *could* be, in part, construed from the information I found on Radio World. It appears stations would also pay fees based on revenues generated through IBOC's auxiliary data capabilities. Details here: http://www.rwonline.com/reference-room/iboc/rw-iboc-qanda.shtml "Ibiquity elected to use a percentage-of-revenue model to ensure that stations only pay a data royalty if the stations increase revenues through exploiting the wireless data opportunities that IBOC affords." I understand this covers data services only, not audio, and that the article is several years old and the actual terms may have changed. But I could see where this might be morphed into the idea that there is a "tail" on the fees owed due to running IBOC (Brett Saylor, Central PA, ibid.) Brett, It is possible that Ibiguity changed their rules too. They want more stations to consider IBOC. If the fees are low and "one time" then more stations would be willing to go IBOC. If they had to cough up money every year, that may make a difference. After all, the jury is still out on IBOC. Most feel it is not viable and I agree there. But some in the industry are not convinced. 73 (Patrick Martin, ibid.) Actually, this rumor has been floating around for a long time now. I haven't seen the latest schedule of fees, but the licensing fee is the same if you're in Market #1 or an unrated market. iBiquity claims there are no "discounts for quantity", meaning that each Clear Channel would pay the same as I would. With AM, you pay the one time licensing fee and you're done. If, however, you sell and are profiting from the excess data capacity, you would owe iBiquity 3% of the profit. With FM, you pay the one time licensing fee. If you add an HD2 or HD3 channel, and the station is making a profit from these channels, you would pay iBiquity 3% of the profit. Same if you sell the excess data capacity. The fees on the extra channel or selling the excess data capacity may be where this rumor started. But if you're only running one HD channel, you pay the licensing fee and that's it (Tom Ray, WOR NYC, ibid.) Tom, OK, thanks again. I guess Ibiquity wants as much IBOC as possible out there. But even a one time fee per station, the amount of money is staggering that could be made. 73, (Patrick Martin, OR, ibid.) I don't think the price of IBAC is the problem, what price can be put on slowly ruining the AM band (or quickly when and if night time IBAC is allowed by this rubber stamp FCC?). (Bob Young, Analog, MA, ibid.) Price of HD radio? Putrescent destruction of once pristine spectrum. Hole-i-garchs pimping off this criminal scheme with the supine complicity of the Feckless Chamberpot of Cronies know the cost of everything and the value of nothing. Look up 'hollow man' in The New Devil's Dictionary (c. 2007, Cold Warrior's Book of Verse, LLC/Bahamas). You'll see a picture of HD's BigKorpseorate backers. Aren't they goiterous, dripping with the sweat of avarice, jammed bile ducts, and suet-impacted cloacae? Aren't they nonetheless of regal bearing, seated, as they are, upon marble thrones of ease in hell's backhouse? That buzzing sound? For once isn't digital 'masking' ruining formerly useable signals, as many of us noted yesterday during an outing. It's the sound of doot-flies buzzing about KronyKasters' exec offices, spitting out yet more vapid false tales to succor an unsuspecting public into forfeiture of their airwaves - and pay well for the privilege. Recent reports bespeak of yet another HD triumph, an equal purchase/return rate. For every HD receiver purchased, one is returned by a disappointed customer. Most encouraging that not only will HD fail, but those polluting the airwaves with digital dross and refuse just as surely as slaughterhouses polluted our streams generations ago may yet fail. Cheerleaders whine endlessly that 'HD must work, HD will work, because of all the hard work we've put into it." Spare us. Everything, from constructing the Eddystone Lighthouse to a successful B.M. involves 'hard work' to some degree. Please, the 90s are long gone, why break one's arm patting oneself on the back? Hard work, my foot. Are the workers morons? Or mere connivers? Dr. Zecchino "Don't look to me for help, Dolores. All my money is tied up in cash." - Vera Donovan, "Dolores Claiborne" c. 1995, Castlerock Productions PS - As you might well gather, yesterday's delightful radio outing put the undersigned in a fine frame of mind, given over to yet refreshing and sunny insights, which I'm privileged to share amongst us. Of course, there will be more..... (PV Zecchino, T.D., Manalog Key, FL, IRCA, ibid.) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ The January 2007 issue of EBU Technical Review has now been published: http://www.ebu.ch/en/technical/trev/trev_home.html The articles in this edition are: * Editorial : HDTV on digital terrestrial transmitters? * A simple guide to radio spectrum * Implementation of the Digital Dividend * RFI - protecting the terrestrial broadcasting services from new interference sources * DRM - "digital rights" or "digital restrictions" management? * Laboratory evaluations of DVB-S2 state-of-the-art equipment * Software Defined Radio - the solution for multi-standard multimedia in the mobile environment (Steve Whitt, MWC via DXLD) NAB ASKS FOR FCC RECALL OF 'UNLAWFUL' SATELLITE RADIO DEVICES http://www.radioink.com/HeadlineEntry.asp?hid=136827&pt=todaysnews NAB President & CEO David K. Rehr has sent FCC Chairman Kevin Martin a letter citing a recent report from The New York Times on satellite radio interference with local radio signals and called on the Commission to recall all satellite radio devices that unlawfully interfere with free over-the-air radio frequencies. Rehr noted that over-the-air radio listeners are routinely subjected to explicit and undesired programming from satellite radio companies, notably the Howard Stern Show. Of particular concern are "FM listeners in their cars and listeners of public and religious programming on noncommercial stations typically located at the lower end of the FM band," the letter said. Last year, Rehr sent a letter to the heads of XM and Sirius Satellite Radio urging each company to "voluntarily withdraw and replace all noncompliant satellite radio devices in circulation." A 2006 study of 17 wireless devices commonly used to transmit audio signals from satellite radio devices and MP3 players to in-dash car showed that 13 of the 17 devices exceeded interference limits set by the FCC (via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) I saw an item about this radioink.com and swore I wouldn't go off on a rant about this, but I can't hold back any longer. The NY Times report was a perfect example of how lazy, halfassed reporting is killing a once great newspaper. (No wonder they lost $543 million last year.) The report was based solely on NAB/SBE sources, and the reporter clearly did not do the necessary background research to fully understand the issue and ask appropriate questions (like "Do you have anything to support your claims other than anecdotal evidence from broadcast industry sources with axes to grind?"). Has anyone seen any reports about this "Part 15 problem" from anyone other than the usual suspects at NAB, SBE, Radio World, etc.? Exactly who is supposedly complaining, and are such incidents anything other than extremely rare random events? Somehow the image of thousands of devoted Christian radio listeners being tortured by Howard Stern because of overpowered Part 15 transmitters doesn't jibe with my perception of objective reality. This supposed "Part 15 problem" is a pure invention of a terrestrial broadcasting industry terrified by new competition, whether from satellite radio, iPods, or anything else that threatens the comfortable, government-sanctioned oligopoly they have enjoyed for decades. A few stations --- like WLW --- "get it" and are offering their programming via XM and other platforms. New platforms, like mobile wideband and mobile phone services like MediaFLO, will offer once-in- a-lifetime opportunities to current and prospective broadcasters. But it seems like most terrestrial broadcasters are more interested in futile, quixotic efforts to stop change instead of embracing the future. It must be crappy to be in a business so terrified of the future and desperate to get the government to protect it from competition (Harry Helms W5HLH, Smithville, TX EL19 http://topsecrettourism.com ibid.) WAL-MART'S RADIO-TRACKED INVENTORY HITS STATIC By Gary McWilliams Word Count: 1,316 | Companies Featured in This Article: Target, CVS, Intermec Technologies, Motorola, Texas Instruments, STMicroelectronics, Best Buy, VF, Blyth, Checkpoint Systems Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s next leap forward in ultra-efficient distribution is showing signs of fizzling. A pioneer in low-cost practices widely copied by competitors, Wal-Mart has pushed its suppliers to use exotic radio-activated tags to chop labor and inventory costs anew. But tests using the tags aren't showing any savings, and suppliers forced to invest in the relatively expensive technology are grumbling. Wal-Mart once hoped to have up to 12 of its roughly 120 distribution centers using the Radio Frequency Identification, or RFID, technology by January 2006. But so far it has installed the technology at just five, plus 1,000 stores. ... [subscription required] http://online.wsj.com/article/SB117150681979009405.html?mod=todays_us_marketplace (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) Mentions that TX and OK are test areas for RFID by Walmart (gh) TIP FOR REEL LIVING Greetings Glenn; Fred Byers, of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) told me a secret about restoring old squeaky tapes. When they are placed in an oven at about 50C for 12 hours, they dry out and stop squeaking when played. I am in the process of copying my open reels to CD-Rs in MP3 format. Some tapes were made with a cheap binder which absorbed water and became tacky, hence the squealing when played. Heating them caused the water to be driven out and the tapes played long enough to be copied to the PC. I hope you pass this on to those folks who want to rescue old recordings Sincerely, (Bruce Atchison, AB, Feb 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ NAB AM DIRECTIONAL ANTENNA SEMINAR NAB Headquarters 1771 N St, NW Washington, DC • March 5-6, 2007 This two-day course is specially developed to instruct broadcast engineers on the fundamentals of maintaining an AM Directional Antenna system. Let the experts show you how to easily troubleshoot antenna problems and more importantly learn how to anticipate potential trouble before it occurs. http://www.nab.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Events1&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=8098 (Steve Whitt, MWC via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ E-Sporadic in Central Europe. To answer your question, Glenn. Every year, first week of June, while listening Swiss National Radios, suddenly the signal vanish then you start listening Arabic music, Arabic or French announcements. It means that is quite usual to catch Morocco, Tunisia, Libya on your car FM radio. I never had the chance to listen double hops E Sporadic, which could bring station from Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, etc. (Ferdy de Martin, Switzerland, Feb 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Tnx, Ferdy, but I was referring to Trans-Equatorial propagation, which is a different mode from Sporadic E. It seems to be one long hop of maybe 5 megameters, such as from Caribbean to Southern Brasil, so there might be something similar from southern Africa to southern Europe, if it reach that far, or maybe just to N Africa (gh) GEOMAGNETIC INDICES - GEOI Phil Bytheway - Seattle WA - phil_tekno@yahoo.com Geomagnetic Summary October 1 2001 through October 21 2001 Tabulated from daily email status Date Flux A K Space Wx 1/24 79 2 2 no storms 25 80 2 1 no storms 26 80 2 0 no storms 27 80 2 0 no storms 28 81 3 0 no storms 29 82 4 1 no storms 30 87 20 3 minor 1/31 88 23 3 minor 2/ 1 89 18 3 no storms 2 90 12 2 no storms 3 90 10 1 no storms 4 87 5 1 no storms 5 84 2 1 no storms 6 83 6 2 no storms 7 82 6 0 no storms 8 82 12 3 no storms 9 78 7 2 no storms 10 77 6 2 no storms 11 76 3 1 no storms 12 75 1 1 no storms 13 74 9 2 no storms 2/14 73 12 3 no storms ********************************************************************** (IRCA DX Monitor Feb 17 via DXLD)