DX LISTENING DIGEST 7-043, April 6, 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 1353: Sat 1330 WRMI 9955 Sat 1630 WWCR3 12160 [or canceled again? Not on last week] Sat 2130 WRMI 9955 Sun 0230 WWCR3 5070 Sun 0630 WWCR1 3215 Sun 0800 WRMI 9955 Sun 1500 WRMI 7385 Mon 0300 WBCQ 9330-CLSB Mon 0415 WBCQ 7415 [time varies] Mon 1330 WRMI 9955 WORLD OF RADIO, CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL SCHEDULE: 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: AFAIK, WOR is not currently available as podcast since the Obriensweb.com website has not been updated since #1350. A podcast-sized mp3 file of World of Radio 1353 is now available at http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1353.mp3 I`d appreciate some assistance in setting up a podcast feed on the WOR website. Preferably the correct template where I can fill in the blanks and update it weekly; that is, if anyone wants latest WORs as podcasts (Glenn) ** ABKHAZIA. RUSSIA. The 9495 kHz transmitter, officially located in Abkhazia, carries Radio Kuban, Krasnodar on Mon-Fri and Radio Sochi on Sat at 0610-0630 UT. Both stations speak only on one subject: the future Winter Olympics in Sochi in 2012y (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, April BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. 6130 and 7145 kHz, RTA Kabul AFG entries are a fake of the very same Vientiane Lao National Radio entries !!! - result of a technicians trainee action at Kabul? (Wolfgang Büschel, BCDX April 6 via DXLD) You`re right: show exactly the same time, target area, power, azimuth, etc. (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ALBANIA. Re: ``I believe the other major transmitter here, 1458, is also considerably off-frequency. I wonder what it would take to get these back on channel --- major surgery, new crystals, tweaking a pot, or no way without replacing the entire units? (Glenn Hauser, OK, dxld Apr 1)`` Measured with SpecLab software. Noted R. Tirana in Turk 1530, Greek 1545-1600 UT on 1457.984 kHz, Apr 3. Noted R Tirana in Albanian at - 0700 UT on 1457.985 kHz, Apr 4. Noted CRI in Esperanto at 1600 UT on 1214.592 kHz, Apr 3. Noted [tentative] CRI in English at 0700 UT on 1214.751 kHz, Apr 4. weak. Noted TWR in Hungarian at 1910 UT on 1394.799 kHz, Apr 3 (Wolfgang Büschel, BCDX April 6 via DXLD) 15-16 Hz off 1458 kHz ain`t bad at all, better than a lot of North American stations (gh, DXLD) ** ANTARCTICA. LRA36, 15476.2, tentatively at 1903 after Africa No. 1 shutdown with carrier noted first then wee bits of audio including Spanish music and possible talk - Very weak Apr 4 - I was using a Grundig Satellit 800 being fed with a 160 foot random wire pointing east/west. Signal was boosted with a Vectronics AT-100 active antenna. (Mark Coady, Editor, Your Reports/Listening In Magazine, Co-Moderator, ODXA Yahoogroup, Ontario DX Association, Bridgenorth, ON K0L 1H0, ODXA via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA [and non]. I monitored 15345 to check out the collision situation, April 4 at 2136 past 2200. There were three stations, two of them 2 Hz apart, one in Spanish and one in Arabic, taking turns dominating, along with a slightly varying heterodyne of some 200 Hz. One of them played some tango music. At 2155 I could make out the RAE IS and multilingual IDs including English. At 2157, from one of the others, ``Madrid para África, magazín de dos horas``. At 2200, a 6-pip timesignal familiar from hearing REE at other times, followed a few seconds later by about 8 pips, apparently Morocco. Now, RAE is starting to dominate, the het diminishes and is gone as both other carriers go off as scheduled, but not clear exactly when, English ID again, but opening Spanish broadcast. Here are the pertinent entries from Aoki A-07: 15345 1800-2400 .23456. 100 35 General Pacheco ARG 05822W3436 RAE a07 15345 1400-0300 1...... 100 35 General Pacheco ARG 05822W3436 RNA a07 15345 2000-0230 ......7 100 35 General Pacheco ARG 05822W3436 RNA a07 15345 1500-2200 1234567 250 110 Nador MRC 00255W3502 RTM 15345 1400-2200 1...... 250 92 Noblejas E 0327W3957 REE a07 15345 1700-2200 ......7 250 92 Noblejas E 0327W3957 REE a07 15345 1800-2200 .23456. 250 92 Noblejas E 0327W3957 REE a07 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, I've done like same around 2041 UT Apr 4th, and had a tiny faint signal only, just above threshold, narrowed to approx. 15344.93 kHz, so seemed like RAE Buenos Aires. RTM and REE skipped over my head. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. 15820, USB+LSB, LTA, Buenos Aires, 2120-2227, 02 Apr, telephone link heard on both L&USB thus causing QRM (!) over the R. Continental FM relay on LSB, music, agriculture bulletin; 25433, but barely audible by 2220 (Carlos Gonçalves, SW coast of Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARMENIA. 5880, Family Radio, Hindi to India via Yerevan. Full data (with site) 30th anniversary card with a large brown envelope filled with religious information in 90 days. Postal report to California address (Edward Kusalik, Alberta, CANADA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. R. Australia, English, on 11840 at 2214 April 6 // 15515 but 3 seconds behind it. 11840 is via CVC Darwin at 317 degrees but adequate even here (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. 13635, CVC, Christian Voice via Darwin. Full data (with site included) multi-colored Darwin site card with details plus schedule. This for an e-mail report posted on their web site http://www.cvc.tv They also replied via e-mail that a QSL was on its way. Reply in 21 days. v/s: nil (Edward Kusalik, Alberta, CANADA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRIA. At a ceremony in Vienna in December 2006, David Hermges [who died recently], received the Order of Merit for Art and Science (Bundesverdienstkreuz für Kunst und Wissenschaft) (April BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** BANGLADESH. Bangladesh Betar A07 (Effective from April 14, 2007) From the first day of Bangla New Year (April 14, Bangladesh) Bangladesh Beter going to switch over to Summer Schedule (A 07) Transmission. Here the details : Frequency: 7185 kHz. English : UTC 1230-1300 (S. and SE Asia) Nepali : UTC 1315-1345 (Nepal) Urdu : UTC 1400-1430 (Pakistan) Hindi : UTC 1515-1545 (India) Arabic : UTC 1600-1630 (M. East) Bangla : UTC 1630-1730 (M. East) English : UTC 1815-1900 (EU) Bangla : UTC 1915-2000 (EU) English : UTC 1745-1815 (EU) Voice of Islam 73 from (Ashik Eqbal Tokon, Rajshahi, Bangladesh, April 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Appears to be identical to the B-06 schedule (gh, DXLD) ** BANGLADESH [and non]. RoseDWLC Yahoo groups Exclusive: The Government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh has obstructed VOA FM Service all over Bangladesh, except the capital Dhaka FM Service. From April 01, 2007 no programs aired on FM Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet and Rangpur. (Perhaps VOA does not follow the proper way). 73 from (Ashik Eqbal Tokon, Luxmipur Greater Road, GPO Box 56, Rajshahi 6000, Bangladesh, April 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) AET also called into Kim on VOATTA April 5, with this news. Kim said VOA was never quite sure where it was being relayed in Bangladesh anyway. Then he referred to a BBCM story about how BBC`s audience in Bangladesh has increased significantly; unaware that BBCM had killed this rather detailed item for reasons unknown (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELARUS. 7105, Radio Belarus, 2105-2200, April 5, English news, commentary. ID. Local music. Poor in noise, muddy audio, some ham QRM & weak co-channel QRM (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELARUS. 6130.08, Belaruskaje Radyjo 1, spurious signal, 1315-1450, Apr 01, HS program // 6010, 6040, 6070, 6080, 6115 and 6190, Belarusian interview, folksongs, talk, 34444 with slight QRM from Xizang on 6130 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window April 4 via DXLD) Also heard in Stuttgart at 1455, Apr 01. I guess it is a spurious signal of fundamental 6115 kHz outlet, and should be symmetrical also on the lower side at 6099.92 (Wolfgang Bueschel, ibid.) The spurious signal was not heard around 1400 on Apr 3 (Petersen, ibid.) ** BOLIVIA. 6165, 4/4 2345, Radio Logos ? (presumed), slow long religious songs, stopped at 2358 by Radio Nederland via Sines (as they announced) fair Rx: CiaoRadio, SDR-14, TenTec/GW RX321 ant: T2FD Ciao (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RN not opening until 2358 gives this another hour window, if Croatia is off, and you aren`t hearing China or Vietnam (gh, DXLD) ** BULGARIA. BULGARIA TO AWARD DRM RADIO PERMIT FOR CITY OF SOFIA http://news.dnevnik.bg/?y=2007&m=4&d=6 Bulgaria's telecom regulator Thursday said it is ready to invite a sealed bid tender for one individual digital radio permit based on the Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) platform. The 10-year permit will cover the city of Sofia and the Sofia region as well as Western Europe and the U.S. The regulator said the companies interested in the permit include BTC, Space Line OOD and the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR). BNR director general Polia Stancheva confirmed for Dnevnik their interest in the DRM licence. Although DRM, an open standard digital radio system for short-wave, AM/medium-wave and long-wave, is a technology with certain potential, there still very few receivers in Bulgaria for this type of radio signal, said the regulator. The documents for participation in the tender can be purchased through May 11. The candidates should notify the regulator of their intentions to bid for the licence by June 1. The tender is provisionally scheduled for June 26 (Dnevnik) (via Mike Barraclough, DRM-L, via Roberto Scaglione, shortwave yg via DXLD) Strange they mix in ``WEu and US`` --- quite a different matter from local 26 MHz groundwave to broadcast high-power external SW on lower frequencies (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. This week`s episode of Afghanada was billed as the final episode (of the first season?). The Sgt. blames herself for the death of one of her soldiers and wants to go home. Have you heard what replaces Afghanada? Last episode I am listening to now Friday morning (Glenn to Ricky Leong, AB) According to CBC's online schedules, it the 6th annual Poetry Face-Off for one week, then Canadia 2056, billed as "a celestially funny comedy series set in the year 2056 starring Matt Watts," at least until the end of May. 73, (Ricky Leong, AB, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA [non]. KXOT, the offshoot public radio station in SeaTac of KUOW, continues to schedule Ideas from CBC Mon-Fri at 10:04 am local, 1704 UT, nominally repeating the previous night`s CBC show (or Fridays` on Mondays), but don`t depend on it. Time and again, they play the wrong episode (or even some other CBC show) or pre-empt it for something from NPR in WDC. I missed part 1 of a 3-parter on the Cold War this week. They were apologetic and said they would try to re-schedule it. But use the KXOT broadcast only as a backup to one of the 5 timezone-shifted feeds from CBC itself, not as primary if you really want to hear it (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. APPLICATIONS: 580, CKXR, BC, Salmon Arm - It seems this station’s switch to FM is being delayed as a couple of communities which were supposed to be served have complained that the new signal isn’t making the trip. So, CKXR has asked the CRTC to extend the simulcast period in order to give them time to install repeater stations to fill in the coverage gaps. In case you’ve erased the listing from your Logs, CKXR is U2 10000/1000 (Bill Hale, AM Switch NRC DX News April 2 via DXLD) ** CANADA. The application of CFDR-780 Dartmouth NS to move to FM (88.9 MHz, 21 kW) has been approved by the CRTC (note that the official city of license of CFDR is Dartmouth, not Halifax as stated: http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2007/db2007-106.htm (via Deane McIntyre VE6BPO, DXLD) ** CHINA. Firedrake on 9200 against Sound of Hope, coming in well April 5 at 1349; sounds the same as always (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA. Not much heard from the Americas around 1930 UT tonight, except only few WEWN, WWCR and YFR. Propagation will increase hopefully from tomorrow 5th. But came across of screechy sect pastor at approx. centered 13749.36 kHz around 1900-2000 UT. Scheduled 1800- 0200 UT. Couldn't center the carrier exactly, even with synchronous detection mode disappeared mostly on the upper flank. Lower side reception even on LSB mode was much better. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Two hours later noted same program on 9724.96 kHz (wb, wwdxc BC-DX Apr 4 via DXLD) Hi Wolfy, I'm getting them now at 0007 on 5 April UT. My best guess as to the frequency is 13749.38 now. Earlier this year I heard them on 13749.94 exactly, unlike tonight. 73/Liz (Liz Cameron, MI, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA [non]. 1560: Costa Rica o Panamá ??? He estado reportando a LA VOZ DE LA ESPERANZA en 1560 kHz con ubicación Costa Rica, pero al parecer esto es errado (?); estuve viendo una bitácora DX en la cual tengo la siguiente información: "data de 15 Noviembre de 1999, en los 1560 KHz, a las 0620 UT con música Gospel en inglés sin parar, al fin una identificación de la emisora a las 0640 UT por locutor "En nuestros estudios 12-43 minutos" (lo cual me hizo creer era Costa Rica, o sea -6, ya que Panamá es -5 igual que en Colombia), luego sólo con "LA VOZ DE LA ESPERANZA", otra identificación a las 0656 UT "Radio Adventista presenta ...Nuestra Promesa (mensaje corto) e identificación "en los 1560 te acompaña Radio Adventista, la Voz de la Esperanza". Ahora, la reporté 2 abril 2007, a las 0344 UT, nuevamente con música Gospel, y..."vía Satélite, La Voz de la Esperanza" --- de donde viene la señal satélite? Al fin Costa Rica o Panamá, alguién puede informarme algo al respecto. Encontré que en Panamá hay reportada 1560 kHz Radio Adventista (Corporación de la Asociación Panameña de los Adventista del Séptimo Día), área de cubrimiento: Provincia de Panamá, Lugar: Llano Bonito, Provincia: Panamá, Potencia: 10 kW). (Yimber Gaviria, Colombia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yimber, I think the SDA closed down all their CR broadcasting some years ago, as they also sold off Cahuita SW to Dr Gene Scott. WRTH 2007 does not show the CR station on 1560, but another one in Nicoya, while it does list the Adventist station in Panamá on 1560. However, they kept their production facility in Costa Rica for a while feeding to affiliates by satellite. This was relayed by Bonaire on SW for a season or two in Spanish, leading some to think they were picking up Costa Rica on 6165. I don`t know if they still operate out of CR (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. Re: Sobre (Radio República) ```Am not sure what he means by ``Antigua`` -- old? Certainly not the island, unless he knows something we don`t about what happened to the transmitters there. That would make a good covert site now, right?``` Ciertamente es OLD! y no me refiero a la isla, un pequeño error por mi parte al encerrar dicha palabra y colocarla en mayúscula la inicial, pero es correcto lo que dices Glenn, es antigua (o), pasado (a), viejo (a). Gracias por la observación. 73 de (Yimber Gaviria, Colombia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CZECHIA. RADIO PRAGUE ART COMPETITION http://www.radio.cz/en/html/easter07.html We are holding an art competition for the best Easter picture! Competition Rules: Make a traditional painted egg (which Czechs call a "kraslice"). You can either do this on paper or actually paint a real egg. Both options are possible. Another option for entering the competition is that you can draw a picture depicting Czech Easter traditions. Photograph what you come up with and send it to this email address: cr @ radio.cz All entries will be displayed in a "photo-gallery" on the Radio Prague website. We will pick the ten best items and give a prize to the people who produced them. In this competition, users of the Radio Prague website will also be able to vote for the competition entry that they like the best. Only pictures that are sufficiently large (at least 400 x 400 pixels) can be entered in the competition. Competition entries must also be of a quality suitable for publication on the Internet. Entrants must give their full name and address to be included in the competition. The competition closing date is 15 April. We will publish the results in the week after Easter (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** CZECHOSLOVAKIA. R. Prague signal vs R. Slovakia signal as per DXLD 7-040 --- I've noticed the same at my QTH. R. Prague is received better with the antenna running East - West. R. Slovakia is received better with the antenna running basically North - South. I've also noticed fluttery signal from R. Prague. This, in addition to better reception using antenna favoring signals from North and South, makes me think perhaps R. Prague signal crosses the North Pole (or close to it). Thoughts? 73, (Kraig, KG4LAC, Krist, Manassas VA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) This really doesn`t make sense, as the great circle routes from both are virtually identical, not near the North Pole to you. Possibly one is using a more favorable azimuth for you than the other. How about some specific times and frequencies you have noticed this? (Glenn, ibid.) I don't have a globe in front of me at this time. Was only a hunch as I thought fluttery signal usually indicates a trip over the pole. I've noticed during the 0100 UT broadcasts. Definite signal difference between the North/South and East/West antenna for R. Prague. I will check daughter's globe this afternoon. 73, (Kraig, ibid.) I suppose at 0100 English is the time to compare them: Slovakia: 5930 RSO 150 kW 305 degrees Prague: 6200 LIT 100 kW 310 degrees 7345 LIT 100 kW 290 degrees (Glenn, ibid.) Radio Slovakia International is coming in well on 5930 kHz as I type this (0110 UT). – (Ted Schuerzinger, UT April 6, swprograms via DXLD) And never gives his location I checked a globe and a pole path doesn't make sense. April 6, 2007 0100 UT did not hear the fluttery signal as I have in the past. Similar to having a car problem except when the car is in the shop. HI :) Anyway... 5930 kHz 133 foot antenna running N/S peak S9 +46.6 dB 43 foot antenna running E/W peak S9 +40 dB 9440 133 foot antenna barely heard 43 foot antenna not heard 6200 133 foot antenna peak S9 +40 dB 43 foot antenna peak S9 +40 dB 7345 133 foot antenna peak S9 +33.2 dB 43 foot antenna peak S9 +33.2 dB My conclusion. Both R. Prague and R. Slovakia somehow knew I'd be checking at 01 UT. Therefore, they both modified their signal to be received just about identical at my QTH. (only joking :) ) 73, (Kraig, KG4LAC, Krist, UT April 6, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I skipped 9440 as it is aimed at South America, but sometimes it may still have the advantage in NAm, when conditions be such that MUF/OWF trumps azimuth. Such as mid-summer when 5930 will be fighting a path much of which is not in full darkness, and also the lower frequencies fighting summer T-storm QRN (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DIEGO GARCIA. 12759-USB, AFN. Full data (with site) American Forces Radio & TV Service Logo Card. This for a e-mail report sent to: qsl @ dodmedia.osd.mil Reply in 15 days. v/s: Robert Winkler (Edward Kusalik, Alberta, CANADA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EASTER ISLAND. On my just-completed visit to Easter Island, I reviewed the local radio scene very closely and both visited and interviewed the management of the only staffed radio broadcasting station remaining on the island, 88.9 R. Manukena FM. The current listing in WRTH and in broadcasting industry sources is very badly out of date. The only staffed radio broadcasting station operating on Isla de Pascua, Chile (Easter Island) is 88.9 R. Manukena FM, a community- based, volunteer-staffed broadcaster owned by the municipal government of Hangaroa, the only settlement on Easter Island. 580 R. Manukena was established as an AM-only station in 1967 initially staffed by volunteers from the Chilean Air Force. At some point, a simultaneous broadcast was established on FM. In the 1990s, R. Manukena was acquired by the municipal government of Hangaroa and has been operated on a 24-hour basis as a community radio station ever since. The medium wave transmitter on 580 kHz was turned off in 2006, due to the lack of audience for the AM service and to the high cost of electricity on this very isolated island. The FM transmitter covers the entire island well from the combined studio and transmitter building housed in the municipal complex in downtown Hangaroa, and no return to medium waves is anticipated. The only other radio broadcasting presence on Easter Island is a totally automated, satellite-fed simulcast transmitter for R. Activa http://www.radioactiva.cl out of Santiago. It operates on 104.3 FM (John Bryant, NRC IDXD April 7 via DXLD) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. On Mar 30, I received a fully detailed letter written in Spanish from R Nacional Bata with regard to a reception report in Spanish also about a transmission I heard on Dec 25, 2005 on 5005 at 0636. The name of verify-signer is Julián Esono Ela. In my report I enclosed 1 US $ and a Christmas card. The address that was written on the envelope Is: Julián Esono Ela, Programa Cartas del Oyente de Radio Nacional Bata, Apdo 749, República de Guinea Ecuatorial (Kyriakos Dritsas, Thessaloniki, Greece, DSWCI DX Window April 4 via DXLD) ** FALKLAND ISLANDS. Falkland Island Invasion Hi guys, Have a listen to this amazing audio of the Falkland Island Invasion. Actual radio broadcasts from the studio as it was taken over. This is a Dutch site but the Audio is all in English and Spanish at times. http://geschiedenis.vpro.nl/artikelen/33516474/ (David Onley, MW/FM/Tropical Band Dxer, Rijswijk ZH, The Netherlands, http://home.casema.nl/onley/ April 5, ARDXC via DXLD) THE OTHER FALKLANDS WAR -- HOW RADIO PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE FALKLANDS WAR OF 1982 --- Andy Sennitt 05-04-2007 Falkland Islands (NASA EarthKAM photo) Britain and Argentina have been remembering those who lost their lives 25 years ago in the brief but bloody conflict over the Falkland Islands/Malvinas. It was also the first major international crisis covered by the Media Network radio programme, which had started the year before. Radio played a prominent role in the weeks that followed the Argentine invasion of 2 April 1982. As the battle raged on the islands, listeners around the world could follow the other war - the war of words. . . http://www.radionetherlands.nl/features/media/070405flk (Media Network newsletter via DXLD) Includes linx to audio clips; see also U S A: Talk to America ** FINLAND. FINNHITS RADIO TRANSMISSION --- Hello from FinnHits! We will be on the air in the coming weekend. If you have time please inform about your reception: FINNHITS RADIO TRANSMISSION SCHEDULE 7- 8 APRIL 2007 Frequencies SW: 6300 (6273) kHz and 15061 kHz Power: 100 W - Location: Finland Times UT Saturday 7th April 2007 1000-1015 15061 1100-1115 15061 1300-1315 15061 1400-1415 6300 1500-1515 15061 1600-1615 6273 (if free) 2100-2115 6273 (if free) 2200-2215 6273 (if free) Sunday 8th April 2007 0600-0615 6300 0900-1000 6300 1100-1115 15061 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- FinnHits Radio P. O. Box 85, 9410 AB BEILEN - Holland --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- finnhitsradio @ gmail.com (via Roberto Scaglione, shortwave yg via DXLD) But is it really in Finland? It`s also time for the non-pirate Scandinavian Weekend Radio for 24 hours from 2100 UT April 6, which is definitely in Finland. Details: http://www.swradio.net/schedule.htm (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. Radio Saa QSL. Radio SAA via Issoudun, 15180. From TDF, full-data (including transmitter site & power - and program name!) French/English "Alliss - Rotatable antenna in Issoudun" card in 16 days. Address on the card, which is approximately the one to which I mailed my report: TDF - Radio Business Unit, Shortwave Department, 10, rue d'Oradour sur Glane, 75732 Paris cedex 15, France. This is for the March 14 broadcast which consisted entirely of patriotic or national vocal music. Although there is now severe interference from the BBC in Arabic, based on the timings of the music, this TDP-brokered program to Nigeria seems to be re-running that same program (Wendel Craighead, KS, DXplorer Apr 3 via BCDX via DXLD) I was by their offices on Tuesday afternoon --- a class outfit there in Paris. If you ever get to Paris, go by their office, it's been fun for me several times (Dan Henderson, USA, DXplorer Apr 6, ibid.) ** FRANCE [non]. GERMANY, Radio France Internationale, Berlin, 106.0 MHz, ppc in 2 days. Addr.: Schiffbauer Damm 40, 10117 Berlin; rfi @ snafu.de and 3 days later the ppc (for a second report) from the „Rédaction allemande” of RFI at Paris arrived, a nice surprise as many attempts to get a RFI QSL for different transmitting sites had failed in the past years. And after 2 weeks another surprise: the “rédaction allemande” sent a handwritten QSL-card and a programme schedule, so it’s worthwhile to be patient (QSLs de Norbert Reiner, Karlsruhe, Germany, received between 27 November 2006 and 06 April 2007 via Dario Monferini, DXLD) ** GABON. Afropop music jammer, instead of 17660, April 4 at 1357, was on 17640, presumably because Sawt al-Amal was too a few minutes before closing. Another story about Libya buying Africa Number One indicates it is not a done deal yet: http://www.kimandrewelliott.com/?id=1277 [as below] ANU harmonic still exists, on 19160, checked April 4 at 2130 and JBA [just barely audible] with French music and talk // 9580 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GABON. Afropop Music Jammer, April 5 at 1346 was on 17633.0 (not 17632.5) presumably because Sawt al-Amel was nearby or on same, hetting Africa Numéro Un itself on 17630. Meanwhile, WHRA is now on 17650 at 12-16, interrupting all this with very strong signal here, and possibly affecting what goes on in Libya and vicinity (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GABON [and non]. Will Libya purchase Africa No. 1? Report that Libya may purchase the Gabon based commercial international broadcaster, partly to counter Chinese influence in Africa. Report is no longer accessible at Centrafique Presse, 2 April 2007, but before it disappeared I did get this translation via Altavista Babel Fish. Inaugurated in 1979, Africa No. 1 was a very popular pan- African French-language station, with its five 500-kilowatt shortwave transmitters. The station now also has FM relays in some African capitals. Its influence has declined in the face of increased domestic competition in most francophone African nations. (Kim Andrew Elliott, kimandrewelliott.com, Posted: 04 Apr 2007 via DXLD) Viz.: Centrafrique-Presse translated by Altavista Babel Fish. March 29, 2007 - the Panafrican radio Africa N 1, property of the Gabonese State and the French company Sofirad could pass to the hands of Libya. It is what the "Letter of the Continent" in its last delivery affirms. Kadhafi, via Libyan Arab Africa Investment Company, would have spent 5 million euros to treat to a radio, certainly very listened, but largely overdrawn since her beginnings. With its creation, Africa N 1 earned money thanks to the hiring of its transmitters in short wave ultra-powerful of Moyabi with RFI, VOA or the BBC. But the advent of the satellite era to put an end to substantial re-entries. According to the confidential letter, Gabon favours this deal in the condition which Libya preserves the 250 employees (journalists and technicians). However the "guide", Mouamar Kadhafi, would not be very hot with the idea. Africa N 1, established out of FM in the majority of the countries of Africa, also emits in Paris. Libya announced its intention to counter China in Africa economically. For this purpose, the country comes to assemble funds of 5 billion dollars managed from Paris and intended to take participation in African companies (SME, SME) The possible repurchase of Africa N 1 gives in Tripoli a media scene to popularize its ambitions. Posted: 04 Apr 2007 (kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) The original text in French: Africa N 1 aux mains des Libyens (Afrique centrale info) 29 mars 2007 - La radio panafricaine Africa N 1, propriété de l’Etat gabonais et de la société française Sofirad pourrait passer aux mains de la Libye. C’est ce qu’affirme la « Lettre du Continent » dans sa dernière livraison. Kadhafi, via la Libyan Arab Africa Investment Company, aurait déboursé 5 millions d’euros pour se payer une radio, certes très écoutée, mais largement déficitaire depuis ses débuts. A sa création, Africa N 1 gagnait de l’argent grâce à la location de ses émetteurs en onde courte ultra-puissants de Moyabi à RFI, VOA ou la BBC. Mais l’avènement de l’ère satellitaire à mis fin à des rentrées substantielles. Selon la lettre confidentielle, le Gabon est favorable à ce deal à la condition que la Libye conserve les 250 employés (journalistes et techniciens). Or le «guide», Mouamar Kadhafi, ne serait pas très chaud à l’idée. Africa N 1, implantée en FM dans la plupart des pays d’Afrique, émet également à Paris. La Libye a annoncé son intention de contrer économiquement la Chine en Afrique. A cette fin, le pays vient de monter un fonds de 5 milliards de dollars géré depuis Paris et destiné à prendre des participation dans des sociétés africaines (PMI, PME) Le rachat éventuel d’Africa N 1 donne à Tripoli un scène médiatique pour populariser ses ambitions. Published on various African news websites, e.g. http://www.afriquecentrale.info/central.php?o=1&s=0&d=3&i=290 (Bernd Trutenau, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GABON/LIBYA [and non]. Africa N.1 libyenne http://www.mamboundou2005.com/2007/03/africa_n1_lybie.html Kadhafi sur les ondes d'Africa nº1 - LDC 514 Le "Guide" de la Jamahiriya s'est ofert la radio Africa nº1 mais ne sait pas encore trop quoi en faire. C'est top secret : le colonel Kadhafi a racheté pour 5 millions € au président Omar Bongo la radio Africa nº1. Cette radio franco-gabonaise qui émet en Afrique et en France perd beaucoup de sous ces temps-ci. Une aubaine donc et une "belle culbute" financière pour le Gabon qui n'a payé l'année dernière à la Sofirad - la société financière de radiodifusion qui gère les participations de l'Etat français - que 700 000 € les 49% d'intérêts qu'elle détenait dans Africa nº1. L'opération s'est faite à travers la Libyan Arab Africa Investment Company (LAAICO) présidée par Bashir Saleh Bashir, le directeur de cabinet du "Guide" de la Jamahiriya. Le missi dominici du président Bongo pour boucler ce dossier est le Béninois Arnauld Houndété, patron de l'agence de communication Voodoo et du magazine Continental (voir Who's Who LC nº513). Mais il y a un petit souci: les Libyens veulent se débarrasser d'une partie des 250 employés de la radio. "Pas question" a dit le Palais du bord de mer --- On en est là. NDM2005: Pendant de longues années Africa a été une veritable vache à lait pour la Sofirad (l'ancien proprietaire français) et aussi pour sa direction gabonaise (ou même pour la présidence gabonaise (1)). Chaque année, par l'exploitation de ses émetteurs de Mo[y]abi, auprès des chaînes japonaises, entre autres, Africa dégageait une marge à faire palir d'envie les radios continentales de ce type. Ce trésor de guerre a été joyeusement consommé. Aujourd'hui, avec l'ère du numérique et du net les émetteurs de Mo[y]abi ne sont plus aussi créateurs de valeur qu'ils l'ont été de par le passé. En même temps la radio panafricaine a raté de faire les bons choix. Elle est toujours aussi peu presente sur le net. Son effectif est toujours aussi plethorique (250 personnes). Et surtout elle est redevenue très très gabonaise avec une dépendance inacceptable vis-à-vis des pouvoirs en place. Africa n.1, la Voix d'une certaine idée de l'Afrique, s'est resolue a n'être que la Voix d'Omar pour finalement bientôt devenir la Voix de Kadhafi. D'autre part, RFI en multipliant les bandes FM nationales a contribué à tuer (comme Air France a trucidé Air Gabon) cette radio des Africains par les Africains. Air Gabon, Africa n.1, Gabon Poste, Gabon Telcom, Mbanie, a qui le tour? Adieu Africa (1) Comme toutes les entreprises et administrations "vache à lait" évoluant au Gabon, la Présidence Gabonaise (ou même le ministère de tutelle) a toujours eu la possibilité de les ponctionner de manière totalement arbitraire en prélevant du cash pour satisfaire les besoins de nos dirigeants; un peu comme si pour payer un nouveau jouet pour votre fils, vous passiez récuperer de l'argent au distributeur du coin. Les entreprises evoluant au Gabon sont des guichets automatiques "potentiels" de billets de banque. J'ai personnellement vu les mouvements de fonds... En francais, ça s'appelle "abus de bien sociaux", "detournement de fonds" ou mieux RACKET (via Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, dxldyg via DXLD) ** GERMANY [and non]. Updated DW A07 schedules --- Some last-minute changes to the DW frequency schedules have been made prior to the start of the A07 season; they can be found at the following links: http://www.dw-world.de/popups/popup_pdf/0,,2091087,00.pdf (foreign languages) http://www.dw-world.de/popups/popup_pdf/0,,2091088,00.pdf (English) http://www.dw-world.de/popups/popup_pdf/0,,2091089,00.pdf (German) This schedule now also includes the changes to be in effect from May 1, when more VT relays will be in use (Joe Hanlon, NJ, April 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [non]. Re 7-042: I thought I had found one transmission still carrying A World of Music from DW on SW, UT Sat 0530, but taking another look at the DW program schedule at http://www.dw-world.de/popups/popup_pdf/0,,2052828,00.pdf it shows the 0500 broadcast on SW 9700, 5945 ends at 0530, as does this revised English transmission schedule pointed out by Joe Hanlon: http://www.dw-world.de/popups/popup_pdf/0,,2091088,00.pdf So DW prevents us from hearing this show on SW. BTW, from the home page, http://dw-world.de you can immediately click on a link for the TV program schedule, but you have to go thru several steps to get to the Radio program schedule! Under Radio, What`s On, is a dead end! Instead, you must click on Reception, and then Frequencies & Customer Service, and finally Programme Guide Summer 2007 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. THE VOICE OF GREECE (ERA 5) A07 PROGRAM SCHEDULE (Effective March 25 to October 27, 2007) [Greek language, u.o.s., titles translated to English by John Babbis] 0500-1000 on 11645 UTC EVERY DAY [except Tues maintenance period 0800-1000] 0500-0600 Albanian Language Program 0600-0700 English Language Program 0700-0800 French Language Program 0800-0900 Spanish Language Program 0900-0930 German Language Program 0930-1000 Russian Language Program 0000-0400 and 2300-2400 on 7475, 9420, 15650 0400-1000 and 1100-2300 on 9420, 15630 UTC SUNDAY 0000-0030 The Past Wonderful Years 0030-0100 The Third Bell 0100-0130 Money and Investments of Saturday 0130-0145 Know Sea Songs 0145-0200 Ecological Folklore 0200-0300 Hellenes Around the World (English) 0300-0305 News In Greek 0305-0315 Athletic Panorama 0315-0330 Know Sea Songs 0330-0400 True Word 0400-0500 Connection with NET 105.8 0500-0715 Divine Liturgy (Connection With NET 105.8) 0715-0900 Connection with NET 105.8 0900-0905 News in Greek 0905-1000 Greek in Style (English) 1000-1100 BREAK 1100-1200 Midday Radionewspaper (Connection with NET 105.8) 1200-1230 Greek Flavors 1230-1245 With Ilines, with Bilines 1245-1300 Know Sea Songs 1300-1305 News In Greek 1305-1900 Microphone at the Grounds (Connection with ERA SPORT) 1900-2300 Connection with ERA SPORT 2300-2305 News in Greek 2305-2400 Greek in Style (English) UTC MONDAY 0000-0005 Greek in Style (English)-Continued 0005-0015 From Where and Why and Music 0015-0030 With Ilines, with Bilines 0030-0100 Greek Flavors 0100-0130 Gains and Losses 0130-0200 The Songs of Today 0200-0300 Good Luck 0300-0305 News In Greek 0305-0400 Connection with Second Program 0400-0500 And However It Turns 0500-0600 Radionewspaper (Connection with NET 105.8) 0600-0750 Greek Coffee 0750-0752 Fellow-Countrymen Bulletin 0752-0800 Athletic Panorama 0800-0900 The Songs of Company 0900-0905 News in Greek 0905-0907 Fellow-Countrymen Bulletin 0907-1000 Traveling with Art 1000-1100 BREAK 1100-1230 Radionewspaper and NET on the Economy (Connection with NET 105.8) 1230-1300 Mailman 1300-1330 The Songs of Today 1330-1400 Shipping News 1400-1407 News in Greek and Fellow-Countrymen Bulletin 1407-1500 Hello Patriots 1500-1505 From Where and Why 1505-1600 Hello Little Greeces 1600-1700 Radionewspaper (Connection with NET 105.8) 1700-1900 ERA 5-Network Without Borders 1900-1905 News In Greek 1905-1915 Athletic Panorama 1915-2100 Live Line 2100-2300 Connection with ERA SPORT 2300-2305 News in Greek 2305-2307 Fellow-Countrymen Bulletin 2307-2400 ERA 5-Network Without Borders UTC TUESDAY 0000-0005 News in Greek 0005-0015 From Where and Why and Music 0015-0030 With Ilines, with Bilines 0030-0100 Greek Flavors 0100-0130 Gains and Losses 0130-0200 The Songs of Today 0200-0300 Good Luck 0300-0305 News In Greek 0305-0400 Connection with Second Program 0400-0500 And However It Turns 0500-0600 Radionewspaper (Connection with NET 105.8) 0600-0750 Greek Coffee 0750-0752 Fellow-Countrymen Bulletin 0752-0800 Athletic Panorama 0800-1200 BREAK 1200-1300 Radionewspaper (Connection with NET 105.8) 1300-1330 Know Sea Songs 1330-1400 Shipping News 1400-1407 News In Greek and Fellow-Countrymen Bulletin 1407-1500 Hello Patriots 1500-1505 From Where and Why 1505-1600 Hello Little Greeces 1600-1700 Radionewspaper (Connection with NET 105.8) 1700-1900 ERA 5-Network Without Borders 1900-1905 News In Greek 1905-1915 Athletic Panorama 1915-2100 Live Line 2100-2300 Awake (Connection with NET 105.8) 2300-2305 News in Greek 2305-2307 Fellow-Countrymen Bulletin 2307-2400 ERA 5-Network Without Borders UTC WEDNESDAY 0000-0005 News In Greek 0005-0015 From Where and Why and Music 0015-0030 With Ilines, with Bilines 0030-0100 Greek Flavors 0100-0130 Gains and Losses 0130-0200 The Songs of Today 0200-0300 Good Luck 0300-0305 News In Greek 0305-0400 Connection with Second Program 0400-0500 And However It Turns 0500-0600 Radionewspaper (Connection with NET 105.8) 0600-0750 Greek Coffee 0750-0800 Athletic Panorama 0800-0900 The Songs of Company 0900-0905 News in Greek 0905-0907 Fellow-Countrymen Bulletin 0907-1000 Civilization Eulogy 1000-1100 BREAK 1100-1230 Radionewspaper and NET on the Economy (Connection with NET 105.8) 1230-1300 Mailman 1300-1330 The Songs of Today 1330-1400 Shipping News 1400-1407 News in Greek and Fellow-Countrymen Bulletin 1407-1500 Hello Patriots 1500-1505 From Where and Why 1505-1600 Hello Little Greeces 1600-1700 Radionewspaper (Connection with NET 105.8) 1700-1900 ERA 5-Network Without Borders 1900-1905 News In Greek 1905-1915 Athletic Panorama 1915-2100 Live Line 2100-2300 Connection with ERA SPORT 2300-2305 News in Greek 2305-2307 Fellow-Countrymen Bulletin 2307-2400 ERA 5-Network Without Borders UTC THURSDAY 0000-0005 News In Greek 0005-0015 From Where and Why and Music 0015-0030 With Ilines, with Bilines 0030-0100 Greek Flavors 0100-0130 Gains and Losses 0130-0200 The Songs of Today 0200-0300 Good Luck 0300-0305 News In Greek 0305-0400 Connection with Second Program 0400-0500 And However It Turns 0500-0600 Radionewspaper (Connection With NET 105.8) 0600-0750 Greek Coffee 0750-0800 Athletic Panorama 0800-0900 The Songs of Company 0900-0905 News in Greek 0905-0907 Fellow-Countrymen Bulletin 0907-1000 Traveling with Art 1000-1100 BREAK 1100-1230 Radionewspaper and NET on the Economy (Connection with NET 105.8) 1230-1300 Mailman 1300-1330 The Songs of Today 1330-1400 Shipping News 1400-1407 News in Greek and Fellow-Countrymen Bulletin 1407-1500 Hello Patriots 1500-1505 From Where and Why 1505-1600 Hello Little Greeces 1600-1700 Radionewspaper (Connection with NET 105.8) 1700-1900 ERA 5-Network Without Borders 1900-1905 News In Greek 1905-1915 Athletic Panorama 1915-2100 Live Line 2100-2300 Awake (Connection with NET 105.8) 2300-2305 News in Greek 2305-2307 Fellow-Countrymen Bulletin 2307-2400 ERA 5-Network Without Borders UTC FRIDAY 0000-0005 News In Greek 0005-0015 From Where and Why and Music 0015-0030 With Ilines, with Bilines 0030-0100 Greek Flavors 0100-0130 Gains and Losses 0130-0200 The Songs of Today 0200-0300 Good Luck 0300-0305 News In Greek 0305-0400 Connection with Second Program 0400-0500 And However It Turns 0500-0600 Radionewspaper (Connection with NET 105.8) 0600-0750 Greek Coffee 0750-0800 Athletic Panorama 0800-0900 The Songs of Company 0900-0905 News in Greek 0905-0907 Fellow-Countrymen Bulletin 0907-1000 Civilization Eulogy 1000-1100 BREAK 1100-1230 Radionewspaper and NET on the Economy (Connection with NET 105.8) 1230-1300 Mailman 1300-1330 The Songs of Today 1330-1400 Shipping News 1400-1407 News in Greek and Fellow-Countrymen Bulletin 1407-1500 Hello Patriots 1500-1505 From Where and Why 1505-1600 Hello Little Greeces 1600-1700 Radionewspaper (Connection with NET 105.8) 1700-1900 ERA 5-Network Without Borders 1900-1905 News In Greek 1905-1915 Athletic Panorama 1915-2100 Live Line 2100-2300 In Concert 2300-2305 News in Greek 2305-2307 Fellow-Countrymen Bulletin 2307-2400 ERA 5-Network Without Borders UTC SATURDAY 0000-0100 Radionewspaper 0100-0105 From Where and Why 0105-0200 Greece in the First Person 0200-0230 Shipping News 0230-0300 Mailman 0300-0305 News In Greek 0305-0400 Connection with Second Program 0400-0500 The Song of the Greek Soil (Connection with Second Program) 0500-0600 History of One Week 0600-0605 News in Greek 0605-0615 Athletic Panorama 0615-0645 Money and Investments of Saturday 0645-0700 Ecological Pages 0700-0900 Connection with NET 105.8 0900-0905 News in Greek 0905-1000 Sing Along with Us 1000-1100 BREAK 1100-1200 Midday Radionewspaper (Connection with NET 105.8) 1200-1215 Folklore Program 1215-1230 Unknown Hellenism 1230-1300 The Songs of Today 1300-1305 News in Greek 1305-1400 Hellenes Around the World (English) 1400-1500 The People of the Week 1500-1900 Microphone at the Grounds (Connection with ERA SPORT) 1900-1905 News In Greek 1905-1915 Athletic Panorama 1915-2200 Live Line 2200-2300 Say It Freely (Connection with ERA SPORT) 2300-2305 News in Greek 2305-2400 History of One Week (Compiled by John Babbis, MD, for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. 15630 AM, Olympia Radio / SVO Relay of ERA-5 Broadcast. Received initially an e-mail statement thanking my report and that a verification was on its way. Fourteen days later, received a full data computer graphic QSL, depicting the studio/relay and transmitter site/map; this for e-mail report sent to: radiosva @ olenet.gr & olymprad @ otenet.gr Reply in 20 days. v/s: I. Fitouris, Manager of Olympia Radio (Edward Kusalik, Alberta, CANADA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) On Apr 02 I received this e-mail: "We finally fixed the audio clipping, and went on with some more tests that ceased on last Saturday. Avlis (ERA-5) transmitters have their own schedule which changed last Sunday (Mar 25). Thanks again for all your help. Best regards, George Stavropoulos, Telecommunications Engineer, Head of HF Stations Section, (Olympia Radio Coastal Station), Hellenic Telecommunications Organization S.A. (OTE S.A.), 27058 Epitalio - GREECE, e-mail: gshf @ otenet.gr gstavrop @ ote.gr (Jerry Berg, MA, DSWCI DX Window April 4 via DXLD) ** INDIA. 4810, AIR, Bhopal, 1918-1933, 02 Apr, Vernacular, talks on (cricket?) matches, advertisements, English, match report; 55343. 4910, AIR, Jaipur, 1925-1934, 02 Apr, same as for 4810; 55343. 4920, AIR, Chennai, 1919-1932, 02 Apr, same as for \\ 4810 or 4910; 55343 (Carlos Gonçalves, SW coast of Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. Received from AIR freq mgt: AIR in collaboration with DRM, ABU & Thomson is conducting trial of DRM transmission in New Delhi on Simulcasting in MW / SW Band. The project will comprise of the various modules including DRM field trial in 26 MHz HFBC band for local broadcasting. In order to find out clear frequencies in 26 MHz HFBC Band (25670-26100 kHz), request you to kindly provide your inputs (Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, April 3, dx_india via DXLD) ** INDIA. World Cup Cricket tournament in the West Indies brings me news of the cricket to my receiver. I hear a lot of AIR India locations on these frequencies: 4910, 4920, 4880, 4860, 4965, 5015, 5040 kHz, at 1822 UT till after 1900 UT. All SIO between 333 to 444. Mar 29. In English and Hindi. Commercials in between chit chat about the match. by two announcers. Good luck to South Africa in the cup (Costa Constantinides, Cyprus Greekish, [ex-RSA], March 31, wwdxc BC- DX April 6 via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 4869.93, RRI Wamena. Music program with phone-ins 1030- 1100, Interval signal 1101, into ID and local news. Mentions of both Wamena and Propinsi Papua. Played anthem 1104, then further mentions of Wamena. Fair strength & heard fairly regularly of late, 6 Apr. 07 (Craig Seager, Bathurst NSW, Australia (Dansk RX4000, Icom R75, Horizontal Loop), HCDX via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. VOI, 9525.0, at 1350 April 5 with Qur`an; from 1357 QRM de CRI musical prélude to Russian hour, but VOI also stayed on past 1404. KUNM beckoned so could not stay with it to see for how long more (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL. NAME THAT STATION, NAME THAT TUNE with Mark Savage Spring is sprung, the long-wires rise, at least here in the Northern hemisphere, and over the forthcoming Easter holidays, maybe you’ll be taking your portable radio out into the garden for the first time this year. You might find you have some competition for your aural enjoyment, mind you, as surely one of the most beautiful sounds at this time of the year is birdsong. My own favourite has to be the humble blackbird, whose joyful trills seem to echo the mood of this lovely season. Broadcasters too have often used birdsong for interval signals and signature tunes, and so this month I thought we’d take a look at three of the best examples, along with a tale or two (or should that be feathered tail?) along the way. On Radio Australia, for many decades the characteristic call of the laughing kookaburra was also the call to listen to serious radio. WRTVH 2007 reports this interval signal as still being in use for international services, though it seems to have been dropped for broadcasts in English. The emu, without Rod Hull, is actually the national bird of Australia, but the flightless one probably doesn’t make for such good radio so the kookaburra triumphs. It is a member of the kingfisher family, and also the ‘national’ bird of New South Wales state. The name is derived from the aboriginal Australian word guuguubarra, which was given by the Wiradjuri people because it sounds like the bird’s call. A rather more useful animal was the inspiration behind another even more famous sound of Australian broadcasting. Waltzing Matilda was very nearly chosen as the new national anthem of the country in 1974, but was pipped to the post by Advance Australia Fair . Nevertheless, Ozzie ‘mates’ across the globe often wipe a tear from their eye as they sing this semi-sad lament about an opportunist vagabond, originally composed by Banjo Patterson in 1895 but most popular today in the version written by Marie Cowan in 1903. Contrary perhaps to many people’s understanding, including my own, “Matilda” is not a kangaroo but a bedroll, and a jumbuck is a sheep. If you want to know more about this poignant song of the wanderer, and a glossary of its lyrics- point your mouse to: http://www.ausinternet.com/ettamogah/waltzing.htm Still in the Southern Hemisphere, the beautiful interval signal of the former Radio RSA from South Africa is still fondly remembered by many. For those of you who miss the distinctive call of the ‘Bok Makerie’ (the species heard according to the 1974 WRTVH), a similar interval signal can now be heard on the current external service, Channel Africa. In the 70s, the birdsong overlaid the first bars of a song called “Ver in die Wereld, Kitty” - perhaps, “Where in the world, Kitty”? - played very soothingly on a guitar, in contrast to the turmoil in the country at the time. The current ID of Channel Africa is slightly more formal in tone, mixing the birdsong with some bars of the South African national anthem, (Nkose Sikelele Africa/God Bless Africa) reports Dave Kenny. I think the bird used now though must be an excellent mimic; on the example given on David Kernick’s ever-useful resource at http://www.intervalsignals.net/ it sounds as though the bird is imitating a ringing phone, though thankfully not a mobile ringtone! The most familiar bird call to most international listeners still heard on the bands today, however, is that of Rai, Italy. But what is the wonderful warbler heard preceding the station ID and Italian national anthem - a nightingale, possibly? Perhaps any birders among our readers can supply the answer to Open to Discussion, or for our next delve into wildlife on the air - there’s plenty more where these came from. Meanwhile, I hope your waves don’t warble, and that you chirrup contentedly now that April’s here. Have a joyful Easter! (MARK Savage, April BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) Back in the good old days when WRTH included IS info, even musical notation, I believe this one was described as a mechanical nightingale (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) {No, IRAQ: see 7-044} ** IRAN. 15150 in Arabic, April 5 at 1330 with news theme and news, 1335 guitar music, 1337 lively music and talk about Iran, as this must be VOIRI as scheduled (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. Kol Israel 9400 heard here with English at 1900. I also checked their sked http://israelradio.org/sw.htm which shows them also on 11590 at 1900, but not heard here so I went looking and easily found them on 11605. Perhaps this has been noted before; if so I missed it (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, April 4, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Noted French at 1930 on 9400.00 and odd 9344.94 kHz, at 1945 UT English on same channels, and additional 11605.00, which is weak and tiny due of propagation tonight, skips over my head in central Europe. And will be much better on high summer season. Though latter replaced scheduled 11590 seemingly. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) On 11590 today at 1900. 5 April 2007 (Steve Lare, ibid.) ** JAPAN. Beginning A07 schedule, the duration of World Interactive program in which DX Express had been aired from Radio Japan was shortened to 20 minutes from 50 minutes earlier. So DX Express was omitted from the program until listeners voices become louder requesting the resumption of this program (Toshimichi Ohtake/JSWC, Kamakura, Japan, DSWCI DX Window April 4 via DXLD) We will miss your reports! (DSWCI Ed. Anker Petersen, ibid.) ** KAZAKHSTAN. 1440 kHz, Quazaq Radyosy, Qyzylorda, MAR 25 at 1500 - Time signal, man in Kazakh, "Qazaq Radyosy, Khabar." Alternating man/woman, items from Astana (the capital), Almaty, and Moskva. Good, new, no parallels noted. I consider this my best Asian catch (Richard Wood, Keaau HI; IC-R75, 1800-ft Beverage east, 300-ft longwires northeast and south/southeast, NRC IDXD April 6 via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH [and non]. JAPANESE GOVERNMENT REPORTED NORTH KOREAN JAMMING TO ITU --- JAPAN --- Asahi Shimbun on March 30 reports: Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications on March 30 reported ITU that North Korea violated the international radio regulations by transmitting jamming against "Shiokaze" broadcasting over Yamata transmitting site. They officially confirmed the jamming was transmitted from North Korea on March 29 and 30. As the jamming signal did not content call sign to identify the place of transmitting, they regarded it as a violation of international regulations. They also requested on March 29 the radio monitoring offices in China and South Korea to watch the jamming from North Korea. If ITU confirms the violation, the ministry will demand ITU an action to remove the interference (via Takahito Akabayashi, Japan, April 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) KJI is in big trouble now (gh, DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. 7390 A broadcast accident of Open Radio for North Korea, 1400-1431 Apr 5. 2007/04/05 1400:00~1431:44 UT 7390 ORNK transmitted nonmodulate carrier. 1431:44~1500:11 UT 7390 ORNK Normal sending out original program. Because it my guess sending computer error of broadcast sender VT's transmitter site (Seong Mun, Park, Vice President, Northeast Asian Broadcasting Institute in Seoul Korea http://cafe.daum.net/neabi DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. 9485, Shiokaze/Sea Breeze, via Taiwan by VT- Communication contract, Heard *1300-1345*, Mar 30, English with a long commentary about North Korea. On Mar 31, English was heard only at 1330-1345, then Korean till 1400*. Also noted 1317-1358*, Apr 01, Japanese to 1330, then Korean to 1358*. No longer closes down at 1330 as before (John Wilkins, CO in DXplorer via DSWCI DX Window April 4 via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. 9485 - UNID Clandestine? "RFC" station; who is this ? Formerly Open Radio for North Korea? see WRTH 2007 page 509. 1330-1400 and 2000-2030 in Korean. Wb (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dear Wolfgang, RFC is Radio Free Chosun. RFC is on the air at 1330- 1400 on 9485 kHz and 2000-2030 on 9785. Please refer the following web site. http://www.rfchosun.org/main.html (Toru Yamashita, Asian Broadcasting Institute, ibid.) Hi Wolfie, Ron and others, thanks for the info. I checked 9485 on 4 Apr 2007. After the Sea Breeze English closing announcement 1329 and piano music, at 1330 piece of orchestra music. Then female announcer in Korean with several ID's. I got those familiar words "Bangsong" and "Bangsong-imnida" but the preceding words aren't clear to me. They sound like "Hai Chu Sen" or "Hai Chosum". After a piano music bridge, male talks, also giving ID. The last 15 or so minutes sounded like radio-drama which used the "X-Files theme" as a music bridge. Off at 1359. I tried to open audio files from RFC website and also from http://cafe.daum.net/neabi for comparison of the ID, but no luck. Maybe someone could tell how the ID goes word by word. 73 (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, ibid.) and schedule too: http://www.rfchosun.org/sub.html?s=1_3 (Büschel, ibid.) The RFC is Radio Free Chosun (ex. Free Korean Central Broadcasting Station). 1330-1400 9485 kHz, 2000-2030 9785 kHz via VT Com.-Taiwan. http://www.rfchosun.org/main.html (Sei-ichi Hasegawa, Japan, NDXC Apr 5 via BCDX via DXLD)) ID at 1330 UT in Korean as "Sayu Chosun Pansong im nida" meaning "This is Radio Free Korea". According to Mr. Tohru Yamashita of Asian Broadcasting Insitute, the web site is (all in Korean) http://www.rfchosun.org/main.html This is a clandestine broadcast by South Korean human rights organization "RFC" (Radio Free Chosun) to North Korea. "Chosun" in Korean means Korea. In the web site broadcasting schedule are given as: 2000-2030 9785, 1330-1400 9845 (repeat). Both 9785 and 9845 kHz are listed as Taiwan 100 kW in A07 frequency list. The former name of the broadcast was "Sayu Chosun Chongyan Pansong" (Free Korean Central Brodcasting Station). (Takahito Akabayashi, Japan, wwdxc BC-DX Apr 5 via DXLD) Interesting: A whois query on the rfchosun.org domain finds this registrant with an address in Pyongyang, North Korea, but I believe it's actually some organization in South Korea doing this. Registrant Name: SangSig Kim Registrant Organization: SangSig Kim Registrant Street1: Sangsin Dong 17ban Registrant Street2: NA Registrant Street3: Registrant City: Susung District Registrant State/Province: PYONGYANG Registrant Postal Code: 150 Registrant Country: KP Registrant Phone: +850.85025211869 Registrant Phone Ext.: Registrant FAX: Registrant FAX Ext.: Registrant Email: sangsigi2006@yahoo.com (Sonny Ashimori, Japan, wwdxc BC-DX Apr 4 via DXLD) ** KUWAIT [and non]. IBB MOVES MEDIUMWAVE TRANSMITTER FROM RHODES TO KUWAIT The Broadcasting Board of Governors/International Broadcasting Bureau’s Office of Contracts intends to negotiate and award a non- competitive contract to Harris Corporation, Broadcast Communications Division, to re-commission and change the frequency of the Harris DX600 transmitter that IBB has relocated from Rhodes, Greece to Kuwait. Harris Corporation originally delivered and installed the same transmitter at Rhodes in 1995, and also provided three essentially identical (two were larger) transmitters at other IBB sites. The transmitter at Rhodes used to operate on 1260 kHz, but was taken out of service last year. In Kuwait, it will operate on 1386 kHz. (Source: BBG/IBB via FBO) (April 6th, 2007 - 14:56 UTC by Andy, Media Network blog via DXLD) FBO = FedBizOpps ** LAOS [non]. USA [non]. The recently appeared Suab Xaa Moo Zoo, brokered by TDP, is a religious program and produced by the Christian & Missionary Alliance, P. O. Box 35000, Colorado Springs, CO 80935- 3500, USA. More info: http://www.hmongdistrict.org Suab Xaa Moo Zoo is on the air in Hmong daily 2300-2330 on 11650 kHz (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) via TAIWAN ** LATVIA. Relays for Easter via 9290 kHz, UT Fri April 6th WCS/RWI 2300-0000 Sat April 7th German Caroline 0600-0800 Latvia Today 0800-0900 Radio Joystick 0900-1000 WCS/RWI 2300-2400 Sun April 8th Radio Joystick 0900-1000 WCS/RWI 1000-1100 Radio City 1100-1300 Latvia Today 1300-1400 Mon April 9th WCS/RWI 0900-1000 Radio Marabu 1000-1300 Good listening (Tom Taylor, April 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBYA [and non]. 17632.5 Sawt al-Amal y afro-pop fuera de frecuencia. 5 Abril: A las 1150 realizo un chequeo y observo en 17660 a la emisora afro-pop; por otra parte se aprecia una portadora sin señal en 17632.5. Posteriormente a las 1215 observo a Sawt al-Amal en esta frecuencia con muy buena señal pero acompañada de un molesto zumbido; entonces verifico que la emisora afro-pop ya no está transmitiendo en 17660, tampoco encuentro frecuencia de reemplazo, probablemente en la misma frecuencia que Sawt al-Amal y es la causante del zumbido. Posteriormente a las 1301 se observa a Sawt al-Amal en 17627.5 y la emisora afro-pop en 17632.5. Parece ser que la emisora afro-pop ha tomado el mismo sistema que Sawt al-Amal de emitir fuera de frecuencia. Con esta situación no se escucha a África Nº 1 en 17630. 73 (José Miguel Romero, Spain, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) See my report under GABON. Afropop was on 17633.0 when I tuned (gh) Sawt al-Amal, 6 Abril. A las 1126 cesa emisión en 17630 de África Nº 1 en francés, en esos momentos una locutora atendiendo llamadas de los oyentes. La transmisión cesa bruscamente, en 17660 sin emisión hasta las 1130 que inicia transmisión con música afro-pop. Observo que a las 1137 a regresado África Nº 1 con el mismo programa, locutora atendiendo llamadas de oyentes, ID, pequeños fragmentos musicales entre llamadas. Desde las 1155 se observa una portadora sin emisión en 17652.5 que consigue anular al servicio en chino de Radio Internacional de China en 17650. A las 1200 comienza la emisión en ésta frecuencia de 17652.5 Sawt al-Amal, identificación, sintonía y canto coránico. A las 1258 se escucha a la emisora afro-pop en 17653 y posteriormente se aprecia un fuerte zumbido por la colisión con Sawt al-Amal, emisora que por momentos resurge y por momentos es anulada por el fuerte zumbido. A las 1308 se observa que Sawt al-Amal cambia a 17647.5. Sin embargo a las 1316 cesa la emisión, tras varios minutos ausente reaparece a las 1329 en la misma frecuencia. A las 1338 chequeo otra vez a Sawt al- Amal; curiosamente la encuentro en 17649, compruebo varias veces esta circunstancia y en efecto la encuentro en esa frecuencia, ligeramente interferida por la emisora afro-pop que sigue emitiendo en 17653. 73 (José Miguel Romero, Spain, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Not much was audible in this range here April 6 around 1345, not even WHRA 17650 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also GABON ** MADAGASCAR. 7395, Family Radio English to Africa via Madagascar (Radio Netherlands). Full data (with site) 30th anniversary card, in 3 months. Postal Report to California address (Edward Kusalik, Alberta, CANADA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 6184.96, Radio Educación, Mexico City, 0740-0750+ April 6, Slightly off frequency with good, strong signal. Spanish ballads. // 1060-weak under KYW, Philadelphia (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [and non] I see that Vatican is currently scheduled on 6185 at 0205- 0500 & 0530-0715, to Europe but often plenty of signal here messing up XEPPM. Do they leave carrier on 0500-0530? Squeezing it from 6190 but at 05 to 06 only is China via Canada. Then on 6185 from 1000 there is Korea North per Aoki, and from 1100 Singapore in Chinese. 6180 is also a big problem from Cuba at 01-07, and from 1000. Brasil on 6180 from 0700, but exact time varies a lot (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MICRONESIA. PMA: Of particular interest at the moment is the PMA missionary station on Pohnpei, 4755 kHz, which is supposed to be starting up regular programming any day now, following a few days of tests more than a month ago. It was previously heard in Japan between 0700 and 1300 UT or so. You might be on the lookout for it (Glenn to Murray Lycan, via DXLD) I always enjoy looking for Pacific broadcasters, an area I like in particular and that has too few signals these days. At this moment (0608 UT), the frequency is clear as one would expect in the middle of the day, but I can check later after dark. A vertical antenna with 1 kW across water from that location (~1800 miles) should be audible fairly easily at night here. Assuming it is in English, I haven't noticed anything in that frequency range on recent evenings that I recall. PMA Pohnpei not audible on 4755 kHz up to 1245 UT (Murray Lycan, VE7HA, Togane, Japan, April 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MOROCCO. Thanks Mauno, update of the Nador schedule, wrong time slots given in BC-DX #801. As usual: There are two Nador (Medi I) site outlets of RTM Rabat in Arabic, 15340 0900-1500 UT, and 15345 1500- 2200 UT, both 250 kW via 110 degrees curtain towards NAf, NE, ME, - but side lobe makes it to Europe (Wolfgang Büschel, BCDX April 6 via DXLD) 15345 colliding with ARGENTINA q.v., SPAIN ** NEPAL. MAOIST FM RADIO TO BE LEGALIZED: Mahara Kantipur Report KATHMANDU, April 3 - The government on Monday said it would bring the five Maoist-run FM radio stations under the jurisdiction of existing broadcasting law. However, the government is not clear who will own the stations used by the Maoists to disseminate their propaganda during wartime. . . http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=105435 (via Zacharias Liangas, Greece, April 4, DXLD) A new, sensational Nepalese democratic Government has just been formed which includes six members of the former Maoist terrorist organization. A new constitution will be established and elections to the Parliament are expected later this year. The new Minister of Communications is a former Maoist rebel! (R Denmark Programme 1, Apr 02 via DSWCI DX Window April 4 via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. Re 7-042, a sample of Rob Greene when his views were sanxioned by RN: http://www.radionetherlands.nl/specialseries/insight/insight050409.html This happened to be linked from the award-winning One-Size-Fits-All condom story: http://www.radionetherlands.nl/currentaffairs/eu070401 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR [and non]. International Marconi Day - 28 April 2007 --- Details at http://www.gb4imd.org.uk/ (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA. 7275, R. Nigeria, Abuja, 1443-1456, 04 Apr, English, interview, phone-ins; 24432, increasing QRM de SNG or IND, but 44433 at 1620 still with program in English (Carlos Gonçalves, SW coast of Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7275, Radio Nigeria, Abuja, 0603-0615+ April 6, English news, commentary, Poor. Weak in noisy conditions, but at least no co-channel QRM (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA [non]. Radio Saa QSL: see FRANCE ** NORTH AMERICA. Pirate, 6925 USB, Maple Leaf Radio, *0116-0120+ April 6, Sign on with Canadian National Anthem, ID, pop music. Weak (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Pirate, 6876.16, The Crystal Ship, 0130-0140+ April 6, ID, pop music. Mentioned broadcasting also on 1710, but not heard here. Fair (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. Glenn, Commander Bunny mentions you, in his 42nd Anniversary program that he will air this coming weekend. Since Commander Bunny is known to lampoon pretty much everything and everyone in dx'ing and those of us he characterizes as "monkey-boys" in general, thought you'd get a kick out of this. The entire program is on Ragnar's site at: http://www.shortwavepirate.info/audio/OffAir/WBNY/WBNY.html It is rather remarkable that WBNY has been a pirate for 42 years. I don't know of any other pirate that has been around that long. Heck, I hardly know of any commercial stations that have stayed on that long, much less a pirate. Come by and visit us pirate listeners at http://www.frn.net/vines sometime (Pat Murphy, Administrator FRN, April 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA [non]. KGGF-AM RADIO TO BROADCAST K-STATE'S 'AGRICULTURE TODAY' SHOW --- Compiled By Staff April 4, 2007 KGGF-AM radio, based in Coffeyville, will add the "Agriculture Today" show to its regular schedule April 2. K-State Research and Extension is the hour-long show´s producer. It will air weekdays at 10 a.m. Hosted by Eric Atkinson, "Agriculture Today" features interviews with Kansas State University scientists and specialists on an array of production agriculture, agribusiness and agricultural policy topics. The show also features information on horticulture, wildlife management, 4-H and other rural youth programs, and Kansas weather. Listeners can tune in to KGGF radio at 690 AM. Its signal covers 24 counties in the southeast quarter of Kansas and a large part of northeast Oklahoma. The addition of KGGF allows "Agriculture Today" to be heard every weekday in 90 of Kansas' 105 counties, as well as in parts of southern Nebraska and the northern one-third of Oklahoma, Atkinson says. "As a longtime leader in ag broadcasting in southeast Kansas and northeast Oklahoma, KGGF is pleased to bring our listeners the 'Ag Today' program," says John Leonard, station manager with KGGF-AM. "Our association with Kansas State University will ensure that our listeners receive programming that is both current and pertinent to their lives." "Agriculture Today" is a broadcast service that dates back to the late 1920s, when it first aired as the "Farm Hour" program on Kansas State University station KSAC. The program can also be heard live, daily, on the K-State Radio Network Web site: http://www.kstateradionetwork.com and on KFRM-(550) AM. (Source? via Kevin Redding, AZ, April 4, ABDX via DXLD) ** PAKISTAN. The Saturday programme in English at 1530-1600 UT seems to have been dropped and replaced by talk in Urdu. News in English is heard at 1600-1614 on 4790, 5080, 6215, 7530, 11570, not heard on 5023v or any 16m channel (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, April BDXC UK Communication via DXLD) Mixture of domestic and external frequencies; this undated observation probably pre-A-07. As in 7-040, external frequencies at 1600 are now 9380, 11550, 11570 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. La Hora with transmitter problems? 4857v, 4/4 2311? Radio La Hora, Peru, presumed: talks, music, disappeared just while I was measuring the frequency at 2314, maybe transmitter problems. In fact later I observed it, at 0035, on air again with sport live in Spanish, no ID but mentioning Radio Nacional. Then off again at 0043! Other DXers observed it? Ciao (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italy, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 5120.3, R. Ondas del Suroriente, Quillabamba, 2245-2256, 03 Apr, Quechua, talks, Indian Tunes, references to the food industry; 45333. 5486.5, La Reyna de la Selva, Chachapoyas, 2240-2251, 03 Apr, Spanish, folk songs; 24331 (Carlos Gonçalves, SW coast of Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PORTUGAL [and non]. Just like last A-season, Portugal and Channel Africa are colliding on 7240, both scheduled at exactly the same time, 0500-0800 as noted here at 0504 April 5, 3 Hz apart and with Portugal on top at the moment. Neither of them considers it a collision due to different target areas. Perhaps by 0500 in broad European daylight, there is not much signal left from South Africa at 5 degrees, tho it is aimed in the same direxion into Europe as RDPI northeastward. It`s a shame we can hear neither of them well while other frequencies are open (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. (European) 5900, Family Radio, Gujarati to India via Samara. Full data (with site) 30th anniversary card, in 3 months. Postal report to California address (Edward Kusalik, Alberta, CANADA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. (Asiatic) 7165, Family Radio, English to Asia via Petropavlosk-Kamchatka. Full data (with site) 30th anniversary card in 3 months. Postal report to California address (Edward Kusalik, Alberta, CANADA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. I just received an e-mail from Alexey Giryuk nippy_38 @ inbox.ru Vladivostok at Radio Tickiy [sic] Okean. He notes that since March 25 the station can be heard on the frequencies 9765 and 12065 for summer time (Rich d'Angelo, PA, DXplorer Apr 3 via BCDX via DXLD) Time? 9765 / 12065 0830-0900 zones 34,35 VLD 250 kW 50 deg (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) 50 degrees favors NAm too (gh, DXLD) ** SAUDI ARABIA [and non]. 15250, Broadcasting Service of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. April 2 at 1102-1230 in English. SINPO 35333. VOA on 15250 signed off at 1100, then the signal came in with talk about topics of movie actors in US and popular music. News at 1200 (Iwao Nagatani, Japan, Japan Premium via DXLD) O my; in B-06 it was CRI on 15250 until 1100, now VOA; that would be Tinang 332 degrees; as previously reported, Romania is on there too, as well as China (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Just little more to A-07 anomalies in BC-DX Top News #801. On 11855 at 1530-1600 UT is heard 2nd program of BSKSA in Arabic with strong carrier and low sound level during all day. It is interesting that from v1537 to v1556 UT there is a common program on Holy Qur`an and Call of Islam program - it is a mass prayer, direct from the square in (?)Mecca, reported on April 1-5 on 15225 and 15435 for Call of Islam and Holy Qur`an on 13710 and 21460. During the prayer there are two different comments on both programs. 1500-1557 close down in French on 17660 kHz but where is a program in English from 1600 on same frequency? (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, wwdxc BC-DX Apr 5 via DXLD) However, in previous report, I meant to refer to 15435 // new 15225 as Call of Islam program, not Holy Qur`an! (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SERBIA. 6100, International R Serbia, via unknown site, Su Mar 26. On my new Lextronix "E1" I monitored the following A07 schedule (All programs of 26-28 minutes length except between 1630 and 1730): 1400 Spanish, 1430 (language unreadable), 1500 Russian (presumed = p), 1530 French, 1600 German, 1630 Albanian (p), 1645 Bulgarian (p), 1700 Hungarian (p), 1715 Greek (p), 1730 Italian, 1800 Russian, 1830 English, 1900 Spanish, 1930 Serbian, 2000 German and 2030 French. Signal strength varied from nil to strong. DRM splatter from 6095. This was not via Bijeljina (250 kW), but via an unstable transmitter (Roland Schulze, Stuttgart, Germany, DSWCI DX Window April 4 via DXLD) ** SOLOMON ISLANDS. Monitoring Solomon Islands 5020 in the wake of the quake/tsunami should be interesting. Also 9545 which has been inactive. 73, (Glenn to Murray Lycan, via DXLD) Not audible on either 5020 or 9545 kHz up to 1245 UT April 4 (Murray Lycan, VE7HA, Togane, Japan, April 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH AMERICA. 6307.5, Radio Piraña Internacional, 0955-1003, Apr 06, Spanish with English ID, musical program, reading reports of Moisés Knochen of Montevideo, Uruguay and others, 24332 (Nicolás Eramo, Argentina, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN. NEW SERVICE OF STATE RADIO STREAMING LIVE ONLINE BBC Monitoring observes a new radio service being streamed live online from Sudan Radio's website at http://www.sudanradio.info Broadcasting in Arabic and identifying as "Omdurman FM100", the service is described on the website as an experimental transmission. Programming is different to that of the broadcaster's General Programme, which is also streamed live from the same website. Sudan Radio is operated by the state-run Sudan Radio and TV Corporation, which has an Arabic/English website at http://www.srtc.gov.sd Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 03 Apr 07 (via DXLD) ** SURINAME. 4990 kHz. R. Apintie, Paramaribo, 2241-2254, 04 Apr, Dutch, phone-ins; 34322, CODAR QRM, but this is the first time I get so "good" a signal in quite a number of years (Carlos Gonçalves, SW coast of Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWEDEN. Club members who remember the Sweden Calling DXers programme may be interested to know that the original tune can still be heard on R. Sweden`s Russian service, on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday at 20 minutes into each broadcast in Russian. SCDX (in Russian) is compiled by the technical manager of Radio Sweden, well-known DXer Magnus Nielson. It features theory and rare DX catches in the tropical bands (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, April BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) Any script available? They could still be issuing a bulletin based on this. Any other languages doing it, unlike English? But Russian schedule not given. I finally found one at http://www.sr.se/cgi-bin/International/nyhetssidor/artikel.asp?nyheter=1&ProgramID=2103&Artikel=593232 1200-1230 15525 55 1300-1330 12075 85 1400-1430 12065 85 1700-1730 7475 85 1179 1830-1900 5840 70 1930-2000 5840 100 1179 Undated, so cannot be sure this is for A-07. However, it does not match WRTH 2007 B-06 schedule so maybe this is new; some transmissions are an hour earlier than before, some not (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) However::: SWEDEN CALLING DXERS was closed at the end of March 2007 due to the small interest among the listeners in Russia. It was reactivated after 8 years in February by Radio Sweden in Russian (with original signal from the past) and was on the air every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month in all Russian broadcasts of R. Sweden (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, wwdxc BC-DX Apr 5 via DXLD) ** TAIWAN. A frequency change --- On April 2nd, our broadcasts to Southeast Asia from 0300 to 0400 UT on 15320 will be suspended due to renovation projects (RTI web site via Swopan Chakroborty, Kolkata - INDIA, April 6, DXLD) ** TAJIKISTAN. 5865, Family Radio, Hindi to India via Dushanbe. Full data (with site) 30th anniversary card with a large brown envelope filled with religious information in 90 days. Postal Report to California address. 5865, Family Radio, Hindi test broadcast to India via Dushanbe. Full data (with site) 30th anniversary card with a large brown envelope filled with religious information in 42 days. Sent E-mail report for this to: intl @ familyradio.com & familyradio @ familyradio.org (Edward Kusalik, Alberta, CANADA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TIBET [non]. I followed a tip in your digest regarding Voice of Tibet. As reported, they are very strong with some interference from Chinese music on 17560 kHz +/- starting suddenly at 1057 UT and ending up on 17555 by 1145 with sign-off shortly after. Moving frequency seemed to get them away from the interference. 73, (Murray Lycan, VE7HA, Togane, Japan, April 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKEY. VOT, Live from Turkey on Thursday April 5 was listenable on 15450, which on worse days does not make it at all; from 1310 tune-in wrapping up call from/to Christer Brunström in Sweden, then studio guest talking about Hittite archaeology of 3 kiloyears ago near Izmir (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [non]. BBCWS via WHRI at 173 degrees, 13640, April 6 at 2205 found to have lite co-channel interference (CCI). This must be NHK Yamata even tho beamed 175 degrees from Yamata, neither favoring us, but NHK is on only until 2230 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Why did VOA close down the Dixon transmitter site and not the Delano site? The last time I was out at the Dixon site, (2002) the antennas and cement building were still intact. A few livestock in the fields. Those huge antennas where really something to look at (Dennis Vroomski, Vancouver, WA, IRCA via DXLD) Dennis, When I was out at VOA Delano, one of our techs ("engineers," in broadcasting terms) was transferred to Delano from Dixon. I know something of Dixon's operations. Main reasons are: 1. Decline in HF BC listenership. 2. Dixon used older, less efficient transmitters. Harder to maintain and repair. 3. Programming to target countries has moved to IBB Saipan, IBB Thailand and IBB Sri Lanka. 4. Delano has 4, 250-kW Brown-Boveri with solid-state switching modulators. It also has 2 of the older Collins 821A 250-kW Collins "auto-tune" transmitters with class B modulators (Same as RCI Sackville has). 5. Expensive US labor costs. All of IBB's new transmitter site are overseas, and IBB pays a labor scale closer to the host country. IBB Greenville's Site A has gone dead, too. Same reason as for Dixon, except that some of the old transmitters are very inefficient (Charles A Taylor, WD4INP, Greenville, North Carolina, ibid.) Charles, Thanks for the interesting information on VOA Dixon. The hosts countries labor rate explains a lot along with the older equipment. I will be in the Dixon area in May and will take some pictures of the site. Last time I was out there AT&T had some kind of transmitting site near VOA (Dennis, Vancouver, WA, ibid.) Ian, I have heard that there is an AT&T site near the old VOA Delano. Don't know anything more (Charles A. Taylor, NC, ibid.) See DXLD 7-042 Dennis, Go here for more info and pix on VOA Dixon: http://www.eham.net/articles/14253 If you go past there, please check to see if the substation still has the high tension lines running into it, or if there even is a substation there. That much substation indicates they're running a lot of juice into the plant: much more than needed if they are just running a few 100 kW just to power some commo transmitters. 73, (Charles A Taylor, WD4INP, Greenville, North Carolina, ibid.) Great photos of VOA site, Señor El Gato. I well remember driving past the antenna farm of Radio Veritas in Pampanga (Philippines). I now wish I'd stopped in and asked for a tour. Too late smart and too soon old. Same goes for FEBC and the domestic stations then on SWBC. 73s, (Jim Pogue, TN, ibid.) The [ex-]VOA transmitter site is about 6 miles East of Dixon. Take Pitt School road and head East and you will see the antennas towering over the corn fields. I remember the produce stand along with the Cattlemen restaurant down the road (Dennis Vroomski, Vancouver, WA, ibid.) ** U S A. FORMER VOA SPANISH CHIEF SAYS CUTTING ENGLISH-LANGUAGE BROADCASTING WILL SILENCE VOA “Anyone who cares about America’s deteriorating image in the world should be worried about what’s happening to our government’s leading international broadcaster”, writes Guy W Farmer, who supervised VOA Spanish to Latin America in 1977-79. Writing in Nevada Appeal, Farmer says “I oppose the transfer of more than $25 million from VOA English to pop music stations just as I oppose spending one more taxpayer dollar on Radio and TV Martí, which broadcast to Cuba.” Farmer concludes: “I hope my ex-USIA and VOA colleagues can save the Voice’s flagship English-language service but given the current toxic political climate in Washington, it may go silent - and that would be another great tragedy in the history of American public diplomacy.” Read the OpEd http://www.nevadaappeal.com/article/20070401/OPINION/104010089 (April 2nd, 2007 - 12:46 UTC by Andy, Media Network blog via DXLD) John Figliozzi Says: April 3rd, 2007 at 19:45 e I’m beginning to share Mr. Farmer’s sense of dread over this situation. It is indeed frustrating to say the least to see how little traction this issue has gained in Congress with the new Democratic majority. It’s as if the omnipresent debate/confusion over the proper role of the VOA as international broadcaster has served to stunt any effort to mount support for it–the charter (an Act of Congress no less subverted as any other by this President, by the way!) notwithstanding. It seems that those charged with custodian to this nation do not truly believe in the power of its ideals, for one only needs to look and listen at how they choose to communicate with the outside world in such a propagandistic fashion. “The news may be bad; the news may be good. We will tell you the truth.” are certainly not guiding words to the IBB or the BBG today. Most sad; most damaging (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** U S A. OLDIES BUT ABSENTEES Someone, most likely an aging baby boomer with sticky fingers, has been lifting CDs from the music library at the Voice of America, which uses them for its radio shows. Looks like an inside job. The library is open only to employees. The M.O. is that the person goes into the stacks and takes the CD but leaves the plastic case. The thefts were noticed recently when someone tried to check out a Judy Collins disc but found only an empty case. In fact, the entire Collins collection is gone. A check of other collections showed that Peter, Paul & Mary and Bob Dylan recordings were also missing. Ditto Elvis Presley, Sam Cooke, the Beatles and the Stones. "In the near future," the International Broadcasting Bureau said in an e-mail, "security cameras will be installed in the Music Library. If the theft problem continues, library procedures will be changed" so only library staff are permitted access to the collections. The VOA and the music library budgets are getting hammered, so there's not much money to replace the CDs. So "please return them at your first opportunity. No questions will be asked." (Al Kamen, In the Loop, Washington Post, April 3, via radiointel.com via DXLD) ** U S A. Kim Elliott`s seemingly monthly appearance on VOA`s Talk to America April 5: first half had guest Simon Spanswick of AIB; second half, clips of Calling the Falklands, Radio Atlántico del Sur, which yes, was on 9.71 MHz, ``Liberty``, and RAE at the time. First caller was off-topic, but it took a couple minutes to dump him and his heavy African accent (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See BANGLADESH ** U S A. In the mid-1960's, when FM was struggling, local WIVK-850 Knoxville would sign off at sunset with "For those of you with only half a radio, this concludes your broadcast day of WIVK. For those of you with a whole radio, you're invited to stay with us for continued good listening tonight on 107.7 FM." Daytimer sign-offs used to be lavish productions, with a religious message ("Be Still and Know" and "Day by Day with Jesus" were two of the more common ones), flowery comments ("If we have in some way enriched your day ..."), FM plugs ("For the best in news, weather and music until 10:00 this evening, we invite you to tune to [FM frequency]", and the Star-Spangled Banner or Dixie. Today, it seems automation equipment just ends the programming in progress and cuts the carrier (sometimes). (Steve Francis, Alcoa, Tennessee, IRCA via DXLD) The super-florid sign-off (and sign-on) is still occasionally heard on Latin American stations, outstripping any gringo version, but also on the way out there, I think. One used to hear much the same wording on different stations as if they were working from a style book. A pet peeve of mine is that altho they sign on and off numerous times a day on different frequencies, not a single US shortwave station, government or private, ever bothers to play The Star Spangled Banner (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Or Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean (Dan Ferguson, K4VOA, IRCA via DXLD) They may be afraid that RIAA will force them to pay royalties to someone (Michael Hawkins, IRCA via DXLD) It isn't just the short wave stations. Most, possibly 95%, of all domestic AM stations in the U.S. don't play the The Star Spangled Banner at any time during their broadcast day. Perhaps they are aware that it won't be too much longer, and their won't be any U.S.. as we know it today, left and therefore no reason to play the The Star Spangled Banner (Willis Monk, TN, K4APE, ibid.) ** U S A. TIS, HAR, Etc.: 530, WNXE619, NM, Lordsburg. 3/1 1100. TIS with recording by Ricardo Montalban about the movie Stagecoach and history of the area, call letter ID by a woman (Karl D. Forth, DXing from Lordsburg, NM, Sangean ATS-909, NRC DX News via DXLD) So at least one of these is still on the air. The Montalbán tapes are probably at least a sesquidecade old by now; there used to be 530 TISs like this all over the state, but the ones in E, N and NE NM I used to monitor on travels were already gone a few years ago. It seemed they were simply abandoned and allowed to deteriorate, eventually fail, e.g. the one by I-40 at Cuervo (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** URUGUAY. 9620.4, SODRE, Montevideo, 2131-2144, 02 Apr, talks, seemingly phone-ins and chats; 22441, QRM de DW in Arabic 9620 (Carlos Gonçalves, SW coast of Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VATICAN [and non]. A07 VR in English, daily u.o.s.: 0140-0200 5915 7335 As/Au 0250-0320 6100 7305 Am [see below] 0300-0320 15560-nv As/Au 0300-0330 9660 Af 0500-0530 9660 11625 13765 Af 0500-0530 4005 7250 Eu 0630-0645 4005 6185 7250 9645 11740 15595 Eu/AF/As/Au Mon-Sat 0630-0700 11625 13765 15570 Af 1130-1200 15595 17765 Af/As/Au Friday mass 1530-1550 12065 13765 15235 As/Au 1615-1630 4005 7250 9645 15595 Eu/Af/As/Au [15595 collides with KTBN --- Catholix vs Protestants!] 1730-1800 11625 13765 15570 Af 1950-2020 4005 5885 7250 9645 Eu 2000-2030 7365 9755 11625 Af (VR website via Dave Kenny, April BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) gh kept the SW info only; many programs end at least 5 minutes earlier than shown. The end-times are presumably guesses based on when the *next* language starts, since VR refuses to publish actual ending times. nv is the only relay site indicated, presumably Novosibirsk, tho we know that 6100 is Sackville, or rather was, since moved to 6040 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA. Observatorio Naval Cajigal suspendida desde el 20 de marzo 2007 --- Se le informa al público que la transmisión de la Hora Legal de Venezuela a través de la frecuencia de 5000 kHz se encuentra suspendida desde el día 20 de marzo del presente año hasta nuevo aviso, motivado a mantenimiento del local de transmisión. Diculpe los inconvenientes causados". http://www.dhn.mil.ve/ 73 de (Yimber Gaviria, Colombia, April 4, http://www.geocities.com/dxreport http://yimber.blogspot.com DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIETNAM [non]. 7250, Degar Voice via Taiwan, Apl 03 *1300-1329*, 53443-43443, Vietnamese, 1300 sign on with IS, ID, Opening announce, Talk, 1325 Theme song, 1329 IS, 1329 sign off --- This frequency Tue only. 7260, Degar Voice via Taiwan, Mar 29, 1300-1329*, 43443-33443, Vietnamese, Talk, ID at 1300 and 1316, Talk, 1329 IS, 1329 sign off -- - This frequency Thu only. 7350, Degar Voice, Mar 31, 1302-1329*, 43443-54444, Vietnamese, Talk, 1325 Theme song, 1329 IS, 1329 sign off --- This frequency Sat only (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan, Japan Premium April 6 via DXLD) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. CLANDESTINE: RASD booming in tonite on 6300 from 2300 to 2400 in Spanish. Talk, some short songs. 4 April (Liz Cameron, MI, probably means 5 April, dxldyg via DXLD) 6300, RASD, *0700-0730+ April 6, Sign on with National Anthem followed by Koran. Arabic talk at 0711. Local music. Fair reception but weak co-channel QRM by Cuban spur from 6060 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE. New SW station to launch by 18 April --- A report in the 6 April edition of The Herald (Zimbabwe government newspaper) says the new SW radio station oft-mentioned recently will go on air imminently, i.e. before Independence Day anniversary on 18 April. The information minister announced this after meeting the Iranian ambassador. Iran has assisted in refurbishment of studios (but the article made no mention of aid for transmitters). The report confirmed that the new service would broadcast from the Gweru (Guinea Fowl) SW transmitter site. Full article is at: http://www.herald.co.zw/inside.aspx?sectid=17298&cat=1 Observations welcome from our southern African friends!! Check 3306, 3396, 4828, 6045 (Chris Greenway, UK, April 6, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Or maybe some brand-new frequencies (gh, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 11965, UNID ARABIC program: came across of a very professional Arabic station on 11965 today April 5th, around 07-09 UT. Some gongs like Big-Ben at 0800 and news followed til 0804, items of Sahel zone countries, Sudan, Libya, Baghdad... It's a Libyan outlet? S=9+10dB. Stronger than Jordan 11960. regards de Wolfy df5sx (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi dear Tarek, "Ahwaz le enja-ad" was noted many times from 0804 UT. 73 wolfy (to Tarek Zeidan, BCDX via DXLD) Hey Wolfy, checking as I'm writing this. It's 0720 UT and I hear nothing on that frequency, but Amman/Jordan is booming in on 11965. Will keep an ear on that freq till 0815 to see if anything shows. All the best my friend, yours (Tarek Zeidan, Cairo, ibid.) Hi dear Tarek, yes, I checked 11965 and whole 25 mb too again today April 6th. That test was a SINGLE DAY operation on Apr 5th only - seemingly. But - yesterday - the signal was fairly strong, stronger than Jordan. So it was probably a transmission direct from Libya on a single signal hop. All "Gabon LBY/NHK" transmissions sound different as a 2 hop operation somewhat lowered suffering audio in the Sahara desert. Today is holiday Friday in Libya too. And I do not expect any further tests now. 73 de wolfy (Büschel, ibid.) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ It is with great sadness that I read in the latest update of John Norfolk`s 4/3/07 DX/Media program listing. The constant up-to-date information that he provided to a great many SWL’s will be greatly missed by all of us. We wish him the very best! (Stephen E. Foisey, KB1EWF, Stratford, CT) Glenn, I'm listening to your WOR audio. Very interesting and your report seems so detailed. I know from past decades of interest in SWLing that you've been around forever. Can't believe you're still reporting (Murray Lycan 7J1AQH, VE7HA Togane, Japan 108 Mile Ranch, B.C. http://members.shaw.ca/zk2boy/ham.htm http://www.qrz.com/callsign/VE7HA http://www.qrz.com/callsign/7J1AQH DX LISTENING DIGEST) LANGUAGE LESSONS ++++++++++++++++ TAIWAN`S WACKY SPELLINGS Min Xiong is in accordance with the PRC romanization spelling, which better represents Mandarin pronunciation. X represents an "s" pronounced with the tongue touching the lower teeth. "Apical s," I think it's called. Wades-Giles spelled it "hs," which is/was confusing. But the new romanization, I think, is not accepted on Taiwan. I.E. "Min Hsiung" Perfesser Charles (A. Taylor, NC, shortwavesites yg via DXLD) Thanks for your lesson on Guoyu (Mandarin Chinese) on the apical 's'. I hadn't heard the term 'apical' before - so still learning thank you. I'm not a big fan of the Pinyin representation of Chinese vowels & consonants - very difficult for us English speaking Westerners to get the pronunciations correct without studying the Pinyin system - but it is important to do so. The Lonley Planet phrasebook pocket guide to Mandarin uses its own simpler system of trying to pronounce Chinese words - which I prefer for learning. BTW The Lonley Planet guide to Taiwan does address the variation in romanisation of names in Taiwan. I've mentioned this before to others in this group that in Taiwan (or at least Taipei City & County) the romanisation of Chinese words is a mis-mash of Pinyin, Wades-Giles & 'anything goes' representations. Not uncommon to find up to 5 different spellings for some place (word).. What really had me pulling my hair out in Taipei was when trying to find Lossufou Road (see station 32 Taiwan in WRTH 2007) on the street map. It was later revealed that this street is also known as Roosevelt Drive (or some numbered Boulevard) - of course I should have known! All part of the fun of being a foreign tourist I guess. I believe Taiwan is trying to standardize romanisations of place names, but they're not there yet. What is important in learning Chinese is getting the tone right - its a tonal language. No one wants to call their mother a horse (ma) - do they? When I see so many different spellings of words over their or here I am often forced to speak the word out & hear how it sounds so I can match that word with all the other spelling variations. Still easier than learning either written simplified or traditional Chinese. Regards, An email exhausted 'Ian' (Baxter, shortwavesites yg via DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ ICOM R9500 NOTES Glenn, you asked if there were any of the new Icom 9500 receivers at Universal Radio -- as a matter of fact there was one receiver at the store last month but it was a demo that was used for display purposes. This receiver is expected to be in stock soon; the '9500-06 model is the version with the blocked cellular frequencies, to be sold in the US, while the unblocked version will be sold for export or for government use (Joe Hanlon, NJ, April 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) HAWAIIAN BEVERAGE PULLS IN THE MEXICANS I’ve built a Beverage beamed due E from my house in Hawaiian Paradise Park. Currently at 1000 feet, it is unterminated as there is room for at least another 500 feet. When finished, I’ll probably add a resistor, but ground rods will be impossible in the lava terrain. It is strung on trees at an average 8 feet to 10 feet above ground and uses #14 insulated stranded wire. It produces spectacularly loud, noise-free signals, and, as expected, it is highly directional to Mexico (I am at 20 degrees N, level with southern Mexico), the West Indies (my old listening favorite WDHP-1620 US VI is back at booming strength, also PJB-800 and several Cubans) and the U. S. East Coast (WFAN-660, WLW-700, WGY-810, CFRB-1010, KDKA- 1020, WBZ-1030, KYW-1060, WTAM-1100, WPHT-1210, WQEW-1560). Stations in other directions are heard, e. g. Brazil-1280 and some Asians, but undesired stations, especially Oahu and Maui, are mostly weaker or absent, e. g. XEW-900 often dominates KNUI, and Mexicans dominate several regional channels, such as 950 and 1250 and even 620 when XESS eclipses my local KIPA. Being a long antenna, this east Beverage shows much greater signal strength on the low end of the band, with new loggings on 530 and 540 and its greater directionality eliminating or weakening unwanted stations in the Pacific Northwest like KXL-750. Now I need an antenna phasing unit. If you have one for sale, please write. There is nothing more exciting than building a Beverage in 300- 500- foot daily increments and, that night, watching it gain in signal strength and directionality while losing man-made noise. The E. Beverage now stands at 1800 feet, and there is still room for more before I borrow a battery-operated soldering iron, add a 560-ohm resistor, and add a final quarter-length termination as suggested in the “DX’er’s Technical Guide”. People in Hawaii talk about the mainland, but if you travel due east from here, you reach Mexico, southern Mexico, not the U. S. (Hilo is at 20 degrees N). This due-east antenna proves that. Clear channels once existed, and the Mexican traditional clears are still the loudest here: 540, 690, 730, 800, 900, 940, 1050, 1220, and 1570. But, on the east Beverage, traditional U. S. clear channels now show a Mexican, often equal or superior in strength, to the U. S. station(s) there. Not all yet identified, they include 640, 660, 680, 710, 740, 750, 770, 810, 820, 830, 870 (I’m working hard on ID’ing that one, as everything listed is low-powered), 1000, 1010, 1030, 1060, 1070, 1100 (often drowning KFAC-CA), 1120, 1130, 1140, 1190, 1200 (where tiny XEPAS from a remote location on the west coast of BC profits from its water path to equal WOAI), 1510, 1530, etc. XE graveyarders, again not all yet ID’ed, often dominate some or all GY’s. As there are now XE’s on all channels from 540 to 160 and on 1630 and 1700, I should be able, sooner or later, to ID at least one Mexican on every such frequency, and I have already heard the Mexican anthem on most, e. g. 590. Now that Hawaiian and even Hilo locals are not a significant problem, likewise man-made noise, a quick check of certain frequencies shows prevailing conditions; 870 to check WWL (now one of my loudest mainland stations) vs. Cuba, 1200 for XEPAS v. WOAI, 1220 XEB vs. Rio, 1620 WDHP vs. KSMH-CA and WTAW-TX. For conditions favoring different parts of the U. S., I check 700 for KUSE-TX, WLW-OH, KALL-UT, or something else; 1100 for WTAM-1100 vs. KFAX-CA; 810 for WGY vs KGO; 1560 for WQEW vs. KNZR-CA. And for eastern vs. western Canada, my one beacon so far is 1010 for CFRB vs. CBR. So far I have heard nothing from Central America, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, or Puerto Rico. Perhaps adding the resistor and termination, improving directionality and possibly eliminating the northern or western U. S. mainland, will bring those much-wanted countries (Richard E. Wood - HCR3, Box 11087 - Keaau, HI 96749, Musings of the Members, NRC DX News April 2 via DXLD) THE PROS AND CONS OF WIRELESS HEADPHONES VS. FM TRANSMITTERS: Greetings, I am now sharing (happily) my apartment with someone who is not 100% willing to listen to radio programs, and attempts to DX Nibi- Nibi & other exotica. I am vaguely aware of wireless headphones that would enable me to walk around listening to "that noise" while not disturbing my new roommate. Any suggestions, either model/brand or features? Thanks ef (Eric Flodén, Vancouver BC, ODXA via DXLD) - Wireless headphones have much better range. Those small FM transmitters tend to be so weak that you can't go more than 20 or 30 feet from the transmitter before the signal starts getting weak and full of static. Not a good thing if you're trying to listen to faint DX. The transmitters for wireless headphones have much better range, and a much better quality signal (not surprising, since they're used by audiophiles for listening to music). I have a cheap wireless headphone set that I got at The Source. It operates in the 900 MHz band, and using it I was able to get a usable signal on the next city block from where I live. - The much better range of wireless headphones is also a drawback in one sense because any of your neighbours for a couple of hundred feet around you can also hear what you're listening to, if they are also using wireless headphones in the same frequency range. - Wireless headphones are a lot bigger and bulkier to wear on your head; a lot less comfortable over the long term than regular earphones or ear buds. - Wireless headphoes don't suffer nearly as much from interference as you'd get from using an FM transmitter. Especially if you're living in a large city, it may be hard to even find a clear frequency on which to use the FM transmitter. Good luck! -- (Greg Shoom, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, April 5, ODXA via DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING DRM: see BULGARIA; INDIA; SERBIA ++++++++++++++++++++ HD RADIO - MOVEMENT IN THE REAL WORLD --- News From Audio Graphics: Your HD Radio prejudice may be generated by either a radio industry paycheck or an affiliation with competitors such as internet or satellite radio. In the Audio Graphics audience, this could swing either way. [. . .] From my real-world experience, HD Radio is not only an aftermarket product, but an afterthought. http://www.audiographics.com/agd/040507-1.htm (via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ SOLAR MIN IN SEPTEMBER IPS in Australia is predicting the solar minimum to be reached in September. See http://www.ips.gov.au/Solar/1/6 (James Welsh, Propagation Report, April BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ###