DX LISTENING DIGEST 17-11, March 15, 2017 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 2016 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html [also linx to previous years] 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 WORLD OF RADIO 1869 CONTENTS: *DX and station news about: Afghanistan, Anguilla, Ascension, Australia, Barbados, Bougainville, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Cuba and non, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, France, Indonesia, Ireland, Kashmir non, Korea South, Kurdistan non, Madagascar, New Zealand, North America, Oklahoma, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Solomon Islands, South Carolina non, USA, Vatican SHORTWAVE AIRINGS of WORLD OF RADIO 1869, March 16-22, 2017 Thu 1130 WRMI 9955 6855 [confirmed] Thu 2130 WRMI 11580 [confirmed] Thu 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB Fri 2230 WRMI 5950 6855 11580 Fri 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB [confirmed] Sat 0730 HLR 6190-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio [confirmed Bulgaria] Sat 1531 HLR 7265-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio Sat 1930v WA0RCR 1860-AM Sat 2230 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB [confirmed] Sun 0310v WA0RCR 1860-AM [confirmed from 0323] Sun 1130 HLR 9485-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio Sun 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB [confirmed] Mon 0300v WBCQ 5130v-AM Area 51 [confirmed from 0301] Mon 0330 WRMI 9955 [JBA but confirmed on webcast] Mon 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB Tue 0030 WRMI 7730 Tue 1100 WRMI 9955 6855 Tue 2130 WRMI 15770 6855 Tue 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB Wed 1030 WRMI 5850 6855 Wed 1315 WRMI 9955 6855 Wed 2100 WBCQ 7490v Wed 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB 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 or http://schedule.worldofradio.org or http://sked.worldofradio.org For updates see our Anomaly Alert page: http://www.worldofradio.com/anomaly.html WORLD OF RADIO PODCASTS: Tnx to Dr Harald Gabler and the Rhein-Main Radio Club. http://www.rmrc.de/index.php/rmrc-audio-plattform/podcast/glenn-hauser-wor ALTERNATIVE PODCASTS, tnx Stephen Cooper: http://shortwave.am/wor.xml NOTE: Keith Weston says the WOR podcasts via iTunes, Googleplay Music and Feedburner will not be available for WOR 1869 and 1870 until a server crash can be fixed. The other two podcasts continue via http://shortwave.am/wor.xml and http://www.rmrc.de (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ANOTHER PODCAST ALTERNATIVE, tnx to Keith Weston: http://feeds.feedburner.com/GlennHausersWorldOfRadio NOW tnx to Keith Weston, also Podcasts via iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/glenn-hausers-world-of-radio/id1123369861 AND via Google Play Music: http://bit.ly/worldofradio OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO: http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html or http://wor.worldofradio.org DAY-BY-DAY ARCHIVE OF GLENN HAUSER`S LOG REPORTS: Unedited, uncondensed, unchanged from original version, many of them too complex, minutely researched, multi-frequency, opinionated, inconsequential, off-topic, or lengthy for some log editors to manage; and also ahead of their availability in these weekly issues: http://www.hard-core-dx.com/index.php?topic=Hauser NOTE: I have *resolved* to make DXLD leaner, more selective, as I seriously need to reduce my workload, much of which has been merely editing gobs of material into presentable form. This makes it even more important to be a member of the DXLD yg for additional material which may not make it into weekly issues (gh) DXLD YAHOOGROUP: Why wait for DXLD? A lot more info, not all of it appearing in DXLD later, is posted at our yg without delay. When applying, please identify yourself with your real name and location, and say something about why you want to join. Those who do not, unless I recognize them, will be prompted once to do so and no action will be taken otherwise. Here`s where to sign up: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dxld/ ** AFGHANISTAN. 6100, R. Afghanistan, Mar 14 1533-1633, 33333-33322, English and Urdu and Arabic, News and Afghanistan music, ID at 1558. -1558 English, 1558-1628 Urdu, 1628-Arabic (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC-R75, NRD-525+RD-9830, ANT, 130m Sloper Wire, WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AFGHANISTAN. IN AFGHANISTAN, A RADIO CALL-IN SHOW BRINGS ANSWERS, COMIC RELIEF --- By Pamela Constable, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/in-afghanistan-a-radio-call-in-show-brings-answers-comic-relief/2017/03/13/b4069a10-03f4-11e7-9d14-9724d48f5666_print.html KABUL -- The studio of Radio Arman lies behind a thick steel door, deep within a block-long bunker. Once a row of private homes, it is now a maze of production sets and tiny offices, barricaded against car bombs and gunfire. But when the station comes to life every morning at 7, it opens up a freewheeling, live conversation with the entire country -- sharing callers' concerns, putting officials on the air to respond, and offering sympathy and comic relief to a nation exhausted by poverty and war. The hour-long interactive call-in show, called "Cleaning Up the City," started 14 years ago as a sounding board and troubleshooting service for community issues, and it still performs that role, rotating among mundane daily themes such as education and utilities. But over time, it has evolved into something more. For an hour each day, the show creates a sense of community and shared problems across a nation that has long been divided by ethnicity, politics and forbidding geography -- but where today, listeners nationwide have access to cellphones. "People trust us. They see us as a source of help and pressure," says Massood Sanjer, 38, a hyperactive, irreverent journalist who has directed and hosted the show since it first aired in 2003. "I get 1,000 calls a day and I have a database of 10,000 phone numbers. We get answers, and we change people's lives." On a recent morning, the show's mood veered from sarcastic to solemn, as Sanjer juggled calls and switched gears constantly, often bantering with his co-host, Homayun Daneshyar. For some, calling in was mostly an outlet for frustration, a way to blow off stream. For others, it was a last resort. Sanjer's rapport with the audience was obvious. An assistant took notes on every call, and a second aide logged a deluge of texts, tweets and other messages. There were no commercials, only public service spots urging Afghans to join the army and Taliban insurgents to come in from the cold. A defense ministry worker complained that no one in his department had been paid in months. Sanjer placed a call to the relevant department head, who mumbled something about a technical delay but then confided in a burst of exasperation, "I'm a general, and I haven't been paid in six months, either." Several callers criticized President Ashraf Ghani as sitting in his palace and making money while ordinary people struggled, provoking sardonic comments in the studio. Sanjer later said that one frequent caller pretends to be Ghani, mimicking his high-pitched voice to the delight of listeners. (Ghani, actually an abstemious workaholic, has become a punching bag for public frustration about government divisions and drift amid persistent poverty and violence.) Police corruption came up several times; one man sent in a video of a traffic jam and said the police were demanding bribes to let drivers double park. He then invited Sanjer to ride to work with him. "If you don't believe me, come see for yourself," he said with a conspiratorial laugh. A more anxious request came from a young Afghan stranded across the Pakistan border, which Pakistan closed weeks ago after charging that militias were attacking from the Afghan side. The caller said he had missed a crucial entrance test at Kabul University and begged Sanjer to find out if he could have a second chance. Sanjer said he would try to help, then turned to his co-host. "We need a Trump who will seal the border completely," he said with a grin. There were grimmer calls that stopped the studio repartee cold. Someone said a woman had just burned herself to death in the capital over a family quarrel. A man said his brother-in-law had lost his eyes and hands in the war, and his widow was having problems obtaining his compensation payments. "You have to do something or his children will be begging in the street," the caller said in evident anguish. Sanjer solemnly promised, this time with no witty aside. After barely 20 calls, the time had run out. "Cleaning Up the City" is best known for holding public officials accountable, and Sanjer uses various tricks to get them on the air. When one diplomatic official did not pick up his phone, Sanjer just let it ring, while speculating to listeners that he was busy shaving and tying his tie. The embarrassed official finally called back. But the show has had far more meaningful accomplishments. Sanjer said its proudest moment came in 2014, when his team helped track down a gang of rapists in a Kabul suburb, aided by alert callers, including an emergency room doctor who had just treated several victims. The attackers were caught, convicted and hanged. After each show ends, Sanjer spends the rest of his day overseeing other programs on Radio Arman as well as three TV news and entertainment stations owned by the Moby Group, Afghanistan's dominant media company. But from 7 to 8 a.m., he is in his element and on top of his game. Although his style is more chatty than polemical, Sanjer clearly has an agenda that fits in with the larger mission of his pioneering employers: to encourage modern ideas and values, including democratic rights and freedoms, in a deeply traditional Muslim society. After years of civil war, communist revolution and extremist Taliban rule, freedom of expression has returned and blossomed in Afghanistan, although journalists still face a variety of threats, including Taliban attacks as well as accusations of blasphemy by conservative religious leaders. Women's rights, another one of Sanjer's priorities, remain much more controversial, with frequent reports of girls being murdered or sent to prison for eloping against their family's will. One show featured interviews with women in prison for such "moral crimes," which he described as a depressing experience. "There are so many shocking stories. You can be killed for love in Afghanistan," he said. "We are much better today than during the Taliban, but some things make me hopeless. In some ways we are still back where we were then." Sanjer's family never fled the country, as many middle-class Afghans did during its years of conflict and repression. His first experience with radio came during the five years of Taliban rule in the late 1990s, which he spent working for their official station, Radio Shariat. Today, with Taliban insurgents causing mayhem nationwide, Sanjer has plenty of reason to worry for his safety; in January of last year, the Taliban blew up a bus carrying workers affiliated with Tolo News, killing seven. But although he has sent his family to live in Turkey, Sanjer said he is committed to staying. "You can always be in the wrong place at the wrong time, but I don't feel scared to walk down the street," he said. "The country needs us." (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** ALASKA. Summer A-17 new frequency of KNLS The New Life Station http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/03/summer-17-new-frequencies-of-knls.html 0800-1000 NF 11885 NLS 100 kW / 285 deg to EaAs Chinese tx#2, ex 9655 in A-16 Other frequencies of KNLS remain unchanged from A-16 to A-17 0800-0900 on 11870 NLS 100 kW / 270 deg to SEAs English tx#1 0900-1000 on 11870 NLS 100 kW / 300 deg to NEAs Russian tx#1 1000-1100 on 9655 NLS 100 kW / 285 deg to EaAs Chinese tx#2 1000-1100 on 11870 NLS 100 kW / 270 deg to SEAs English tx#1 1100-1200 on 9655 NLS 100 kW / 285 deg to EaAs Chinese tx#2 1100-1200 on 11870 NLS 100 kW / 300 deg to NEAs Russian tx#1 1200-1300 on 7355 NLS 100 kW / 285 deg to EaAs English tx#2 1200-1300 on 11870 NLS 100 kW / 270 deg to SEAs English tx#1 1300-1400 on 9655 NLS 100 kW / 300 deg to NEAs Chinese tx#1 1300-1400 on 9920 NLS 100 kW / 285 deg to EaAs Chinese tx#2 1400-1500 on 7355 NLS 100 kW / 285 deg to EaAs Chinese tx#2 1400-1500 on 11765 NLS 100 kW / 270 deg to SEAs English tx#1 1500-1600 on 9655 NLS 100 kW / 300 deg to NEAs Russian tx#1 1500-1600 on 9920 NLS 100 kW / 285 deg to EaAs Chinese tx#2 1600-1700 on 9655 NLS 100 kW / 315 deg to NEAs Russian tx#1 1600-1700 on 9920 NLS 100 kW / 285 deg to EaAs Chinese tx#2 1700-1800 on 9655 NLS 100 kW / 315 deg to NEAs Russian tx#1 1700-1800 on 9920 NLS 100 kW / 285 deg to EaAs Chinese tx#2 (Observer, Bulgaria, March 14, via DXLD) See also MADAGASCAR ** ALBANIA. WHERE IN THE WORLD ZONE --- THIS MONTH – ALBANIA Flag of Albania Map of Albania C.I.A. WORLD FACTBOOK – ALBANIA https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/al.html WIKIPEDIA – ALBANIA https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albania THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE http://www.kryeministria.al/en The official portal of the government of the country ALBANIA-GO YOUR OWN WAY http://albania.al/ The official website for travel and tourism in the country RADIO STATION WORLD – ALBANIA http://radiostationworld.com/Locations/Albania/ This is a listing of radio services in Albania RADIO TIRANA http://rtsh.al/ The official state broadcaster which includes the international shortwave service “Radio Tirana, Albania” WORLD NEWSPAPERS - ALBANIA http://www.world-newspapers.com/albania.html A listing of newspapers, magazines and news sites in Albania E-MAIL: info@radiohf.ca WEB PAGE: http://www.radiohf.ca (March Radio HF Internet Newsletter, via DXLD) ** ALBANIA. Re Radio Tirana, BC-DX #1290, March 5. Sehr geehrter Herr Prof. Dr. Biener, wie ich gerade im BC-DX 1290 lesen konnte, haben Sie sich eingehend mit dem Auslandsprogramm von Radio Tirana beschaeftigt. Ich moechte zu den Monitoring-Beobachtungen noch folgendes anmerken: Da die englische Sendung im Zeitraum 22:00-22:30 MEZ/CET (ehemals 7465 kHz) laeuft und die serbische Sendung um 22:15-22:30 MEZ/CET (1458 kHz), ist auf dem Stream von "Radio Tirana 3" nur der Anfang des englischen Programms zu hoeren. Kurz vor 22:15 MEZ/CET wird der Stream auf das serbische Programm umgeschaltet. In voller Laenge ist das englische Programm erst nachts 03:30-04:00 MEZ/CET (ehemals 7475 kHz) zu hoeren; dies ist eigentlich als Zufuehrung fuer die Kurzwellensendung Richtung Nordamerika gedacht. Zu fuer Europa "vernuenftigen" Zeiten kann das englische Programm nur auf nachgehoert werden; hier werden Mitschnitte der zu der eben genannten Zeit vollstaendig ausgestrahlten Sendungen bereit gestellt. Im Zeitraum 22:30-24:00 MEZ/CET, bei Ihnen als "monitoring pause" bezeichnet, ist ebenfalls das Pausenzeichen zu hoeren. In der Sendung von Freitag, dem 3. Maerz 2017, wurde wahrscheinlich zum ersten Mal die Internetadresse genannt. Meiner Meinung nach sollte noch die E-Mail-Adresse des Senders genannt werden, damit es fuer neue Hoerer einfacher ist, die Redaktion zu kontaktieren. Kai Ludwig schreibt als Antwort zu Ihren Ausfuehrungen: "I think I noted already on earlier occasions that only the morning transmission in Albanian was a simple relay of the first program while the others are separate productions." Meiner Beobachtung nach handelt es sich bei der albanischen Morgensendung 0900-11:00 MEZ/CET (zweite Sendestunde auf 1395 kHz, ehemals beide Sendestunden auf 7390 kHz) ebenfalls um ein spezielles Auslandsprogramm, welches, wie auch die albanischen Programme um 16:00-17:30 MEZ/CET (1458 kHz) sowie 01:00-02:00 MEZ/CET (ehemals 7475 kHz), als "Radio Tirana per bashkeatdhetaret" (= etwa Radio Tirana fuer Auslands-Albaner Nationals) angesagt wird. Kai Ludwig schreibt ferner: "The additional playouts of programming at times when no transmitters are supposed to be on air could, in theory, be a preparation of possible test transmissions on 1395 kHz, provided they are really considered and not mere wishful thinking." Die zusaetzliche Ausstrahlung des deutschen Programms um 19:00-19:30 MEZ/CET gibt es schon laenger und hat wohl nichts mit einer moeglicherweise geplanten Mittelwellen-Ausstrahlung auf 1395 kHz zu tun, ebenso wie auch die zeitweiligen Uebernahmen des ersten Programms in den Zeiten ohne Auslandsprogramme. Diese zusaetzliche Internetsendezeit des deutschen Programms erfuhr bislang in den Sommersaisons stets eine Aenderung: Seit Jahren kommt es hier zu einem Tausch mit dem Sendeplatz in italienischer Sprache, der im Winter um 20:00-20:30 MEZ/CET laeuft. Im Sommer galt also die letzten Jahre: 19:00-19:30 MESZ/CEST Italienisch, 20:00-20:30 MESZ/CEST Deutsch (zusaetzlich). Ich hoffe, mit meinen Ausfuehrungen ein bisschen weitergeholfen zu haben. Mit freundlichen Gruessen (Alexander Busneag, via Prof. Dr. Hansjoerg Biener-D, March 5, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews March 12 via DXLD) ** ANGOLA. 4949.7, Rádio Nacional, Mulenvos. Mar 14, 2017 Tuesday. 0305-0313. Very poor reception. Weak at 0305, gone by 0313 although carrier was still there. Jo'burg sunrise 0408 (Bill Bingham, Johannesburg RSA. Drake R8E, Sony ICF2001D. dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANGUILLA. Right now, at 2350 Friday evening 10 March 2017, there is a blob of bad modulation centring on 6090 kHz. A woman's voice is speaking, presumably in English, but I'm really only catching intonations and rhythms rather than enough detail for actual words. The signal is very strong here in Eastern Newfoundland, with the VU meter pin near the top of its range, moving a little. Listening with Satellit 750 and an eight-metre wire out the window, but it is nearly as strong with the whip antenna. Is this the Caribbean Beacon in Anguilla? (Philip Hiscock, NL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) In all probability, yes. If you listen from mid-morning to mid- afternoon your time, you will note the same mess on Carib Beacon 11775 frequency relay of its all-day broadcast on [WWCR] 13845. Mushy audio; almost sounds like xmtr is FM'ing (Dick Tarr, Rio Rancho, NM, ibid.) It`s not a relay of WWCR, but both taking the same feed from TUN HQ (gh) Yes it is, and it's been this way for some time (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, ibid.) Thanks Walt, and Dick, for the confirmation of the Caribbean Beaconblob on 6090. I don't know why I had not noticed it before, but I think there must have been extraordinarily good conditions for my direction at that hour last night. I will watch for the eleven MHz parallel today. (I cannot remember exactly its posted azimuth, but it is just west of North, like about 325 degrees. I am just east of North of Anguilla, probably about twenty degrees. Normal reception should be pretty good here.) By the way, before I posted last night, I checked to see whether it was a harmonic or some kind of FM-y spur generated by local AM stations. (For the past couple of years VOWR on 800 kHz has been generating a bunch of spurs just above the MW band.) It didn't match of course. I am no broadcast techie. Does the fact that this C. Beaconblob is being broadcast on two frequencies suggest a *particular* problem in their transmitter, one that is diagnosable by listeners, and a solution for which could be given to the CB people in Anguilla? (Philip Hiscock, NL, ibid.) The Caribbean Beacon audio on 11775 kHz is also a distorted blob. It's been going on for at least one week. I presume that no station engineer is on duty, period. It's a big waste of electricity. 73 & GUD DX (Thomas F. Giella W4HM, Lakeland, FL, USA, 1813 UT March 11, ibid.) Both Anguilla frequencies have been this way for MONTHS (except for some periods off the air), as I have reported time and again. Altho not bothered to lately, as there has been no change. 73, (Glenn, March 11, ibid.) 6090, March 12 at 0721, Caribbean Beacon is free of distortion! Because there is no modulation at all, just dead air at S9+20, too long to be a mere pause for a dead DGS cigar puff. Maybe something to do with DST change in USA? But // 5935 WWCR is nominal, no problem there. 11775, how about day frequency from same transmitter? March 12 at 1751, ``improved`` so that PMS is audible at modulation peak spikes only, still a total loss (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6090, terrible audio, not easy to identify a woman voice prayer. S=9+30dB at 0623 UT on east coast units. 18 kHz wide audio. [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, 06-08 UT March 14, dxldyg via DXLD) ** ANTARCTICA. En estos momentos, 10 de marzo 2043 UT está en el aire con señales S7 a S9, AM pero con solo la banda lateral inferior. 73 (Alejandro LU8YD, condiglista yg via DXLD) ?? all other reports say it`s USB only, not LSB; did they switch? (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) Gracias Alejandro por tus comentarios y puedo agregar, que esta semana, las transmisiones han sido todas en horario, de lunes a viernes de 1800 a 2100 UT. 73 y buen fin de semana al foro (ce3BBC, Hugo López C., Santiago de Chile, op. cit.) ** ARGENTINA. Radio Nacional Rio Turbio. El Turbio, Provincia de Santa Cruz. 620 kHz. 0440 UT. Programa Tímpano del uruguayo Daniel Viglietti. (En Uruguay se emite por Radio El Espectador, 810 AM, Montevideo). 13/03/17. AM 600 desde la provincia de Neuquén, Argentina. 600 kHz. 0400 UT. Locutora leyendo correspondencia de oyentes y música Argentina. 13/03/17. Radio Nacional Ingeniero Jacobacci, desde la provincia de Rio Negro. 1370 kHz, 0423 UT. Nacional Folclórica anunciando nueva programación. 13/03/17. Radio Dolores. Desde Dolores, Buenos Aires. 1590 kHz. 0405 UT. Transmisión de la Fiesta Nacional de la Guitarra 25 años, actuando Los del Fuego y luego Rombai de Uruguay. 13/03/17. Radio Ciudad AM 1110, Buenos Aires. 1110 kHz. 0500 UT. Radio Ciudad AM 1110 kHz desde Buenos Aires, asi se escucha tu ciudad. Programa Proyecto Sonoria. Radio Argentina. Desde Buenos Aires. 570 kHz. 0518 UT. Radio Argentina, libertad de expresión en estado puro. Programa música folclórica. 13/03/17. Radio Universidad de la Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires. 1390 kHz. 0005 UT, Huella errante, siguiendo los carriles errantes del pasado. Difusión de la Fiesta Nacional del Chamame. 13/03/17 (Gabriel Gómez, CX7BI, Uruguay, receptor Degen 1103 y antena Loop para onda media, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ASCENSION. 6005 & 7415, March 10 at 0550, two defective transmitters with different programming radiate exactly the same pitch hum: 6005 with BBCWS, 7415 with Dandal Kura for Nigeria; third one on 7445, much stronger BBCWS, is humless (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. QSL: 2325 kHz (Tennant Creek), 2485 kHz (Katherine) and 4835 kHz (Alice Springs) verified an last day transmission sent by regular postal mail with a nice, long e-mail response from Ryan MacArthur who works in Master Control at ABC Darwin in 14 days. He attached a scan of their previous QSL card, since they no longer have any physical cards to send out. "Our presenters and staff enjoyed hearing from shortwave listeners all around the world. Most recently, we heard from a listener as far away as Finland. It is a shame that yours will probably be the last correspondence we receive, now that the shortwave service has ended." (Rich D'Angelo-PA-USA, March 5, DXplorer via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews March 12 via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. TRACEY HAYES SLAMS ABC DURING SENATE HEARING IN DARWIN GARY SHIPWAY, NT News March 10, 2017 2:00am http://www.ntnews.com.au/business/tracey-hayes-slams-abc-during-senate-hearing-in-darwin/news-story/4866b30b81144f79b2c98910bb218aab THE ABC has betrayed everything it stands for, the Territory Cattlemen’s Association told a Senate hearing in Darwin on Thursday. Chair of the Federal Environment and Communications Legislation Committee Nationals’ senator Bridget McKenzie described submissions by the Cattlemen’s Association and the NT Government at the public hearing into the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Amendment (Rural and Regional Advocacy) Bill 2015 as explosive. “These submissions are absolutely damning and cast doubt over every claim ABC management has made to justify its decision to axe short- wave services to remote areas of the NT,” Senator McKenzie said. NT Cattlemen’s Association CEO Tracey Hayes told the committee the decision by ABC management to terminate the broadcast of the local radio via short-wave “without consultation or without an adequate impact study” demonstrated a complete disregard for what could be considered as their most loyal listeners. “The decision is a betrayal of all the ABC should stand for and in no way aligns with its statement that the ABC is deeply committed to rural and regional Australia,” she said. “ABC claims that a small audience living and working in the Territory favour short-wave when accessing ABC services is further evidence of the total ignorance and lack of regard for people impacted by this decision. “The fact that short-wave is the only option available to this particular group of listeners is completely lost on ABC management.” In a damning submission by the NT Government, the Senate Committee was told that up to 50,000 people were impacted by the ABC’s decision and not the 500 as the management has claimed (via Artie Bigley, Mike Cooper, WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DXLD) See also: USA WRMI 9580 A-17 ** AUSTRALIA. JOBS GO AT TOP IN ABC SHAKEUP --- The Centralian Advocate (Alice Springs, N.W.T.) March 10, 2017, page 2 Still reeling from the heavy criticism it took for axing short-wave radio services to remote Territory communities, the ABC now says it will create [sic] 80 jobs in rural Australia by running the sword through its management. ABC national managing director Michelle Guthrie said the number of main ABC divisions would be slashed from 14 to eight, between 150 to 200 jobs would go and a fifth of its management would be cut (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. RADIO DECISION SLAMMED by Barclay White March 13, 2017 http://www.sheppnews.com.au/2017/03/13/78392/radio-decision-slammed Victorian National Party’s Senator Bridget McKenzie has grilled the head of the ABC over its decision to shut down shortwave radio broadcasting. The only regional-based Victorian senator has joined the growing criticism towards the national broadcaster after shortwave was shut down earlier this year following more than 70 years of broadcasting. The decision effectively mothballed the historic Shepparton shortwave broadcasting facility, which had sent Radio Australia programming across the pacific and the globe for decades. In the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, Ms McKenzie asked ABC head Michelle Guthrie what consultation was done before shortwave was switched off domestically and internationally. Ms Guthrie said extensive research was done before the shutdown of the service, but when speaking to The News, Ms McKenzie said it was another sign of the ABC being too focused on urban Australia. ‘‘It is a city-centric and Sydney-centric ABC,’’ Ms McKenzie said. She was concerned that the shutdown would harm Northern Territorians who relied on the shortwave ABC broadcast during emergencies, as well as weakening the voice of Australia internationally by making it more difficult for people to tune in to the Radio Australia broadcast. Currently the broadcast can be heard overseas only via digital services including webstreaming. ‘‘We are seen as a leader in the region and ensuring our voice and values are heard throughout the region is important,’’ Ms McKenzie said. ‘‘It is foolhardy to assume that everyone has the same access to digital services.’’ Although she was strongly opposed to the decision on shortwave, Ms McKenzie did not support South Australian senator Nick Xenophon’s push to force the ABC to bring it back. ‘‘Once we start going down the path of politicians overriding the decisions of independent boards it is a slippery slope,’’ she said. (Shepparton News via Artie Bigley, DXLD; also via Mike Terry, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA [and non]. Radio Edit: SHUTTING DOWN SHORTWAVE RADIO SERVICES HURTS OPPRESSED NATIONS --- By STEVE MARLOW, Kamloops This Week - Entertainment March 16, 2017 https://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/radio-edit-shutting-shortwave-radio-services-hurts-oppressed-nations/ On Jan. 31, the shortwave service of Radio Australia ended. Radio Australia is the latest in a growing list of shortwave broadcasters that have recently stopped sending out their signals to the world, following Radio Netherlands, Radio Bulgaria and our own Radio Canada International. In the past several years, many large shortwave broadcasters have scaled back their broadcasts, from the BBC in the U.K., to Voice of America in the United States and Deutsche Welle in Germany. Here in North America, we don’t rely much on shortwave. In addition, operating shortwave radio stations, which are powerful enough to broadcast across continents and over oceans, is fairly expensive. Most radio signals are easily heard over the Internet and on smartphone apps. There seems little reason to continue broadcasting via shortwave. But shortwave signals aren’t for the country from which they broadcast. They’re for the country they broadcast to. And many countries we broadcast to don’t have the luxury of owning a computer or smartphone. In Africa, for example, Internet access is a luxury. If you aren’t lucky enough to have a computer and Internet access at home, you have to go to a big city and pay for time at an Internet cafe. Cellphone access is similarly problematic. If you have a government oppressing its own citizens or in a state of civil war, such as in Zimbabwe or Somalia, how will you get information about the world? Consider China or North Korea, countries that monitor and censor the Internet. Where will Chinese or North Korean citizens get unbaised information without fearing arrest or even death from their government? This is where shortwave comes in. Radio knows no boundaries. Radio doesn’t suddenly stop when it hits a national border. It also can’t be easily monitored by a government. Radio is cheap, no apps are required and there are no subscription fees. It’s a basic and simple technology that works everywhere on the planet. You can even listen to radio without having electricity or batteries. Several companies make a wind-up shortwave radio that can easily be powered with a few hundred spins of a crank. And many of these countries distribute these radios for free throughout the Third World to ensure access to information. First-world charities have been formed to get these radios to oppressed people for free, as well. Where they aren’t distributed for free, they can be bought for just $20 in most cases. In a place like Canada, we may take access to information for granted because we have laws protecting freedom of the press, and media is pervasive. In a place without the luxuries of a First World country, radio is often the only way to get information. Shutting down shortwave services or shifting them online may not hurt our own country. It may even save us money. In poorer countries or outlying areas even within our own country, it may be someone’s only lifeline. In fact, the information in a shortwave broadcast could open a mind — or even save a life. Steve Marlow is the program co-ordinator at CFBX, an independent radio station in Kamloops. Tune in at 92.5 FM or go online to http://thex.ca (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. 11980, March 9 at 1400, RBA is S9+10 despite aiming 310 degrees toward S Asia, with Irish reel, 1402 traditional Chinese instrumental tune, 1405 finally signing on with a hint of kookaburra from Kununurra, but surely not Jacko, and into proselytizing. So the initial 1400-1405 with neat music is the best and only time to listen to RBA. In fact, Aoki shows the English span is 1405-1435, never mind the lead-up. Same every day? Long ago they emitted a different medley (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRIA. 6155, ORF OE1 program in German language from ORS Moosbrunn site, nice LONG PATH reception in downunder Pacific area. S=8-9 in east coast NoAM, and same in AUS/NZL target. At 0626 UT report of writer Communist Pablo Neruda in the 40ties, and went in underground in 1948 year. New novel "Labyrinth" film in Austrian cinemas [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, 06-08 UT March 14, dxldyg via DXLD) Strong signal of Radio Oesterreich 1, March 9 0600-0720 on 6155 MOS 300 kW / non-dir to WeEu German Mon-Fri 0600-0715 on 6155 MOS 300 kW / non-dir to WeEu German Sat/Sun http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/03/strong-signal-of-radio-oesterreich-1.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Should shift one UT hour earlier from March 26 (gh) ** BAHRAIN. Poor and weak signal of Radio Bahrain on March 7: 1400&1505 on 9745 ABH 010 kW / non-dir to N/ME Arabic CUSB http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/03/poor-and-weak-signal-of-radio-bahrain.html (DX RE MIX NEWS #998 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, March 13, 2017 via DXLD) ** BARBADOS. PROPAGAÇÃO TRANSEQUATORIAL DO DIA 08/03/2017 Amigos, nesses últimos dias a TEP tem feito presente bom boas condições aqui pela cidade de São Paulo, tenho postado alguns videos de escutas de emissoras do Caribe em FM no youtube: BBS FM - 90.7 Mhz - Barbados - Caribe - TEP - 08/03/2017 Life FM - 97.5 Mhz - Barbados - Caribe - TEP - 08/03/2017 Quality FM - 100.7 Mhz - Barbados - Caribe - TEP - 08/03/2017 Emissoras recebidas na zona oeste da cidade de São Paulo, bairro do Butantã entre 22:00 e 22:30 horário de Brasilia [0100-0130 UT] 73´s (Fran Jr, São Paulo SP, Sony XDR-F1HD, Antena interna Yagi 6 elementos, radioescutas yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DXLD) Distance: 4317 km = 2683 stmi ** BOUGAINVILLE. 3325, NBC Bougainville, 1057-1137*, March 9. Pop Pacific Islands song; in Pidgin/Tok Pisin with info about "very important document," "record of employment," "Bougainville Board of Education"; 1126 PSA about the upcoming elections in June; back to DJ with pop Pacific Islands songs till suddenly off in mid-song, so they did not make it through to their normal 1200*; better than semi- readable. Only very light QRM from RRI Palangkaraya, which at 1113 played the distinctive patriotic song “Bagimu Negeri” (For You Our Country), but was far underneath NBC. Seeing as PNG will be holding national and local government elections this coming June, we can expect many more PSAs and more info about the elections (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) see PNG 3325, NBC Bougainville, 1052-1134* & *1135-1138*, March 14. Almost fair; in Pidgin/Tok Pisin; pop song (Journey with "Don't Stop Believing"); long non-stop speech (political?); talk about "festivals"; briefly off for about a minute, but came back till finally cut off at 1138*; very light RRI QRM. Another day with an early closing, so no long with 1200* sign off? (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 4885.02, R. Clube do Pará Massive S9+20 signal at 0539 with live ZY Pops. Poor on the Pardinho web receiver and nowhere near as good as 4895 Novo Tempo or 4905 Relógio, but oddly just the opposite here. 0541 rooster and "bom dia" jingle. 0544 bom dia and Clube ID promo. 0551 full canned ID with frequencies and ending with QTH by M. 25 Feb. 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop and 1530 foot Delta Loop antennas, Hard-Core- DX mailing list via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 4894.925 approx., March 11 at 0224, music at S6 vs CODAR, so R. Novo Tempo is back; had not been able to detect it for a few nights, on signature off-frequency (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 4985.01, R. Brasil Central, "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" by Elton John. at 0616, and into ZY Pop. 0622 singing ID jingle, and canned announcements by M. Had to use LSB and notch out the lower RTTY but was still getting severe QRM. 25 Feb. 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop and 1530 foot Delta Loop antennas, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** BRAZIL [and non]. 6040.7, March 12 at 0100, Curitiba`s Rádio RB2 a weak signal all by itself, nothing to het! Since The Mighty KBC is back on 6145 only, after testing 6040.0 last week (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 6180, March 12 at 0122, RNA/RNB is off again, uncovering a VP other which would be CRI English from East Turkistan (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6180.027, RNA/RNB, Marina song, smooth female voice, song of amore and amigo. S=9+15dB at 0635 UT in North AM east coast \\ 11780.008 kHz fair S=7 at 0642 UT, at this hour but the only 25mb stn heard in central and northern USA [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, 06-08 UT March 14, dxldyg via DXLD) 6180, March 15 at 0132, RNA/RNB is on tonight at S9+35, while // 11780 is considerably weaker (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 9514.96, R. Marumby 0943 talk by M in Portuguese. Usual "Marumby" women singing jingle ID at 0946 before going into pleasant Portuguese song. Studio M DJ returned at 0950, and back to music at 0952. Quick QSB. Creating a het as it was off frequency, but audible over China. Oddly, only China noted on the Parinho Brazil web receiver. 7 March. 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop and 1530 foot Delta Loop antennas, Hard-Core- DX mailing list via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 9724v, March 15 at 0114, no signal from Rádio RB2, yet the other ZY variants are still detectable on 9818.86, R. Nove de Julho; 9674.9 with het and 9664.9 clear (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. Time Signal Station Observatório Nacional, Rio de Janeiro is now transmitting on 10010.0 kHz, out of its habitual frequency of 10000 kHz, maybe to avoid interference from other Time Signal Stations. 2120-2133, 15-03, 10010.0 kHz, time signals, female voice announcements: "Observatorio Nacional 17 horas, 32 minutos, 30 segundos. Very weak. 15321 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DXLD) 10010, PPE time station. Found on this possible new frequency, 2300, 0000, M with ID and time with time tick every 10 seconds. 3 normal +1 soft ticks between announcement and the ToH. Is carrier +USB. Fair signal. Video of reception can be found using this link https://youtu.be/YfDoFGPiY5w 12 March. 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop and 1530 foot Delta Loop antennas, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DXLD) Observatorio Nacional em 10010.00 kHz --- Será que ouviram a minha velha sugestão de não interferir em WWV? Agora o ON está em 10010.00 kHz, AM-USB, com ótima qualidade e sem o ronco de 60 Hz e seus harmônicos! Alguém tem uma informação oficial? 73 de (Roland PY4ZBZ, March 15, radioescutas yg via DXLD) Later: back to 10000 ** BRAZIL. 11764.65, Super Rádio Deus é Amor, Curitiba, 0859-0915, 12- 03, religious comments, ID. "Super Rádio Deus é Amor... ondas curtas, 25 metros, frequencia de 11765 kHz, 31 metros, frequencia de 9565 kHz, 49 metros, frequencia de 6060 kHz, en internet, superradiodeuseamor.com.br, seis e tres minutos". 24322. (Méndez) 15190, Rádio Inconfidência, Belo Horizonte, 1829-1840, 11-03, Portuguese, comments, ID. "Inconfidência". 14321 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Logs in Reinante and Lugo, Tecsun PL-880, Sangean ATS 909-X, cable antenna, 8 meters, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 11855.46V, March 9 at 0510, ghostly R. Aparecida with its varying signal just barely modulated. 11856.12, March 15 at 0144, JBA carrier, and none closer to 11855, so presumed R. Aparecida has varied up to here. It was also on the hi side of 11856 before, such as on October 23, 2015 at 11856.27 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BULGARIA. Central Intelligence Agency's Freedom of Information Act Electronic Reading Room. Items of 1950, 1953, ... some 50-60 years back Cold War radio era ... keywords: jamming, transmitters, map of jamming coverage in GDR, mediumwave, etc. {and in BULGARIA former Pleven Grivitsa MW 594 kHz 250 kW, station tx and masts type like GDR units at Koepenick, Burg, Wachenbrunn, Woebbelin; } GARA KOSTINBROD RADIO TRANSMITTING TELEGRAPHIC CENTER AND RADIO JAMMING IN BULGARIA. Otdel Na Sofyiski Radio Statsyi I Televisia. Sofia jamming site of June 1963. Most of the jamming organization details were known previously by DXers. But new item read on this CIA paper of 1963: Bulgarian Jamming Control Center address was 101 Boulevard Georigi Dimitrov in Sofia (1. on page 2) Soviet SNEG 4 x 50 kW transmitters in use at Kostinbrod, 3 x SW, and also 1 x MW 791 kHz against VoA Thessaloniki Greece bcast outlet. Covered an area of 40 to 50 kilometers radius around Kostinbrod Sofia target. Dead area 1 kilometer radius around Kostinbrod jamming broadcast facility, it was possible to listen to the western broadcast being jammed quite clearly. The former director of Sofia Kostinbrod radio station used to listen regularly to the VoA Programms, in spite of the jamming in progress there. Otdel Na Sofyiski Radio Statsyi I Televisia. The technicians were uninformed as to the type of program or nationality of the broadcast to be jammed ... JAMMING STATION NEAR PLOVDIV Okoliya of 1954 year. (SKETCH OF ROAD SHOWING LOCATION OF THE JAMMING STATION) Location at road Ploviv to Katunitsa Asenovgrad, at Yagodovo village, see G.E. 2003year image, all radio station installations are scrapped now at the location 42 07 01.94 N 24 50 59.17 E (via Roger Thauer-D, A-DX ng March 4 via BC-DX 12 March via DXLD) ** BURUNDI [non]. FRANCE, R Publique Africaine via TDF Issoudun Mar 9: 1800-1858 on 11550 ISS 250 kW / 145 deg to SoAf Kirundi, very good& 1830-1858 on 11550 ISS 250 kW / 145 deg to SoAf French, zero signal http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/03/radio-publique-africaine-via-tdf_9.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ?? How can it be both at 1830-1858? First one 1800-1830? (gh, DXLD) FRANCE, Radio Publique Africaine via TDF Issoudun, March 9/11 1800-1858 on 11550 ISS 250 kW / 145 deg to SoAf Kirundi, very good& 1830-1858 on 11550 ISS 250 kW / 145 deg to SoAf French, good Mar 11 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/03/radio-publique-africaine-via-tdf_9.html (DX RE MIX NEWS #998 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, March 13, 2017 via DXLD) ** CANADA. [Part of X-band survey: see also CUBA, U S A] — North American, 1610, CHHA, Toronto ON; 2338-2347+, 7-Mar; W in Spanish with variety Latino music; English ID as “…CHHA 16-10 AM Radio Voces Latinas”, then Spanish ID, “…es la radio de todo…”. Well on top with S9 peaks 1650, CINA, Mississauga ON; 2326, 7-Mar; Indian pop vocals; English ID “16-50 AM, This is Seena Radio” at BoH; English ad for Lavina Aurora(?) insurance; also LL [unknown language] ads. On top (Frodge- MI) 1670, CJEU, Gatineau QC; 0507, 8-Mar; Tune-in to end of EZL tune to “Radio Jeunesse” & more music. Over talker (Frodge-MI) 1690, CHTO, Toronto ON (presumed); 2322, 7-Mar; Greek music. On top except for brief fade to WVON Berwyn IL (Frodge-MI) (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, 5525 Whitehall St., Midland MI 48642- 3156, Drake R8B + 185' & 60' RW + 125' bow-tie, ----- All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! -----, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. 2749-USB, March 12 at 0152 UT, roboYL with maritime weather in English, S9+10 vs QRN level merely S9; VCS Halifax via Chebogue NS site scheduled starting at 0140 UT. Nothing heard on 2598 now, but see NEWFOUNDLAND earlier (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. 3330, 7850 & 14670, March 9 at 0537, CHU inaudible on any of its frequencies, but 0648 recheck, 7850-CUSB back on at S9+10, still no 3330 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Just heard from Bill Holger, an NRC technical officer and the guy who usually handles the CHU QSL requests. In response to my query when he expects the frequency to be back on the air, he said: "I am hoping for tomorrow [i.e., Friday], but it mostly depends on the weather." (-- Richard Langley, NB, March 9, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 3330 & 7850, March 10 at 0551, CHU missing from both frequencies again. Is being quite unreliable: Canadians may have to cross the border to find out what time it is, exactly. 7850-CUSB, March 11 at 0212, CHU is JBA at S5 = the background noise level, in degraded MUF; 3330-CUSB at 0233: OFF. 3330-CUSB, March 12 at 0127, CHU is still off, but 7850-CUSB is still on. 3330-CUSB, March 13 at 0510, CHU still AWOL – transmitter problem must be more serious than first thought. Still S7 on 7850-CUSB, but later faded to JBA (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DX LISTENING DIGEST) It's an antenna problem. They're working on it. More info as soon as I know it (-- Richard Langley, March 13, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC. This station is still on. Radio Maïngo now is what it is called. I will try and attach our latest video clip of this. Radio Maingo.mov https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0hFmDhS2AB1SUVYWmxhZ3lCOTA/view They usually run from 7 am to noon and then from 2 pm to 5 pm. We are working on our night time frequency now. Jim Hocking Founder cell 574.527 8920 | http://www.waterforgood.org (via Mauno Ritola, Finland, DXLD) Clip is 1:24, made up mostly of stills, music track only, English captions. UT+1, so UT would be 0600-1100, 1300-1600. Nighttime frequency had been 3390 (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) Thank you. I Cc: this to Glenn Hauser, the mailing list host, because this probably didn't make it to the list. That was a nice video. Please keep us updated, when the evening frequency will start testing. 3390 kHz again I presume? Best regards, (Mauno, via DXLD) Yes (Jim, Founder, Water For Good, Sent from my iPhone, 574-527-8920, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [Re 17-10]: Central African Republic on 6030, really? Seems that Ndeke Luka relay has been retimed to two hours earlier: 1500-1700. I did hear the station once some years ago via IBB Addis RMS, when Oromiya was off. I have tried to ask for update on the situation now, but no success. Best regards, (Mauno Ritola, Finland, March 10, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHILE. 5825. R. TRIUNFAL EVANGELICA. Marzo 6. 2249-2259 UT. Música y predicación. SINPO: 45333. Se nota una mejora en el audio. Sin embargo, existe mucho ruido ambiental y desvanecimiento de la señal. 5825. R. TRIUNFAL EVANGELICA. Marzo 8. 2319-2329 UT. Predicación. SINPO: 25232; solamente se escuchan 5 segundos dentro de 1 minuto (Claudio Galaz, RX: TECSUN PL 660; ANT: Hilo de 40 metros de largo, QTH: Ovalle, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) ** CHILE. 6925-AM. RCW Marzo 6. 0130-0150 UT. Programa “Actualidad DX” de RAE. SINPO: 45232 (Claudio Galaz, RX: TECSUN PL 660; ANT: Hilo de 40 metros de largo, QTH: Ovalle, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) 6925.10, 2213 UT, martes 13.03.17, comienza retransmisión de Radio Spuntnik, Moscú, en español, con EXCELENTE señal, 55544 (ce3BBC, Hugo López C., Santiago de Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) Se acaban de identificar, Radio Compañía World (ce3BBC, Hugo López C., Santiago de Chile, 2242 UT March 14, ibid.) ** CHINA. Shortwave 6115, 4940 and 4900 kHz. The nearest bigger Shortwave Fujian broadcast center is located at CHINA "SARFT 761" Sanxing Village, Xiaotao, Yong'an City, Fujian 25 44 25.05 N 117 10 45.48 E (Wolfgang Büschel, March 10, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews March 12 via DXLD) 4900, March 9 at 1350, Voice of Strait in Chinese music at S5-S8 on newish secondary frequency; same signal level in Chinese talk on 4940 original frequency; an hour after sunrise here, best Asian signals remaining on 60m (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) March 9, a day with Voice of Strait anomalies. Timeline: 1212 - both 4900 (Minnan language service) and 4940 ("Voice of Taiwan Strait News Radio") off the air. In the past, both had *1200 sign on times. 1248 - noted 6115 on the air (Minnan language service). *1248-1249* - happened to briefly hear 4940 come on the air and go off. 1314 - found 6115 silent. So is the switch from 6115 to 4900 happening now at 1300, instead of formerly at 1200? 1315 - heard both 4900 and 4940; both with strong OTH radar QRM (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re: Voice of Strait --- http://www.radio-asia.org/am/fm.php?itu=China®ion=FJ [what`s that circle R as in registered trademark doing in the URL? Fortunately it worx, then displaying as China®ionion --- gh] gives the location of the shortwave transmitters as Gutian/Xincheng. You can try to click on the map link there to start the search for the needle in the hay stack --- By the way, their recently reappeared 4900 kHz has been labelled a new frequency: Actually it is not, just was not in use for about a decade. The situation is such that this transmitter was since then always run on its day frequency 6115 kHz. Now they again switch at 1200 UT to the night frequency. Same story with 4940 kHz where the daytime counterpart is 9505 kHz. Not to forget the myriad of shortwave frequencies they used in the past, maybe even involving more than one site (Kai Ludwig, March 13, shortwavesites yg via DXLD) ** CHINA. 5979, Gannan PBS, 1318, March 9. Sounded like Chinese and played some EZL music; between 1401 and 1408, they went off the air. 7385, Firedragon (music jamming) & CNR1 jamming, 1413, March 9, which were to block RTI (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [and non]. 6045, THAILAND / CHINA. Voice of America and Firedrake / Firedragon jamming, 1251, 3/11/17. Music and talk by a man on VoA. Traditional Chinese music jamming loop under (Mark Taylor, Madison, Wisconsin, Perseus, SDRPlay, RTL2832 V3 dongle for SDR’s; E1, Satellit 800, PL 660, and various other portables for physical radios; 40 meters dipole, 100’ long wire, Mini whip, NASWA Flashsheet March 12 via DXLD) ** CHINA [and non]. 9450 TAIWAN & CHINA Radio Taiwan International and CNR-1 jammer at 2201 mixing at equal strengths, both with talk in Chinese. - Fair, Mar. 10 (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia. CommRadio CR-1a with 50ft wire antenna connected to Sony AN-1 active antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11555, CNR1 at 1253 // 9530, 11640, and 11660 in Mandarin jamming RFA (via Kuwait in Tibetan) with two men and a woman with excited talk – Fair Mar 13 11640, CNR1 at 1250 // 9530 and 11660 in Mandarin jamming RTI (also in Mandarin) with two men and a woman with excited talk – Fair Mar 13 11660, CNR1 at 1245 // 9530 in Mandarin jamming VOA (via Thailand also in Mandarin) with a number of promos then a woman interviewing a man at 1247 – Good Mar 13 (Mark Coady, Selwyn, Ontario, Kenwood TS440S 40 and 80 meter off centre-fed dipoles, ODXA yg via DXLD) ** CHINA. 9630, surprisingly heard LIVE English(!) on CNR1 Geermu Western China at 0238 UT on March 15. S=8 signal heard in remote Doha Qatar unit. Live press conference of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in progress, also CNR1 program use as China mainland jamming against IBB RFA Tibetan service from Dushanbe Orzu TJK at 01-03 UT on S=8 9670 kHz, \\ same English/Chinese live transmission at 02-03 UT on Kashgar outlet 9825 kHz [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, more logs of March 15 at 0230-0330 UT, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews March 15, 2017, dxldyg via DXLD) http://chinaplus.cri.cn/ [Live Now] Chinese premier gives press conference Chinese Premier Li Keqiang holds his annual press conference in Beijing on Wednesday. Chinaplus.cri.cn brings you a live broadcast of the event starting from 10 a.m. Beijing time on Wednesday, March 15. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. Poor propagation in 31 and 25 mb on northern hemisphere, B U T excellent propagation from Europe via LONG PATH at Azores Islands, Colombia, Easter Island, southern Pacific path into NZ and Australia, in 49 to 22 meterband though. CHINA 22 meterband, TERRIBLE signal mixture from both CHINA services on 13610 UT in 07-08 UT slot. Heard in remote Brisbane AUS unit: 13610 CNR1 Nanning in Chinese, 13610 CRI Cantonese sce from Xian, both equal S=9+5dB level in Queensland, 16 kHz wide audio signal. The 22 mb is empty at this hour, so many empty channels available though [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, 06-08 UT March 14, dxldyg via DXLD) ** CHINA [and non]. BBC in Uzbek blocked by CNR-1 and Firedrake/Chinese Opera on March 10 1300-1330 13865 SLA 250 kW / 010 deg CeAs Uzbek China National Radio-1 1300-1330 15510 DHA 250 kW / 020 deg CeAs Uzbek Firedrake/Chin. Opera 1300-1330 17780 SLA 250 kW / 010 deg CeAs Uzbek China National Radio-1 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/03/bbc-in-uzbek-blocked-by-cnr-1-and.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I say again and again, Firedrake is NOT ``opera`` which is above all, vocal music, and FD is NEVER anything but instrumental (gh, DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. Alcaraván Radio, 5910, at 0243 UT March 9 with Colombian music, good signal 4X4. La Voz de tu Conciencia, 6010 at 0244 UT on the same date, with religious talk by Pastor Stendal, poor signal 2X2. 73's from (HK3MIZ, Luis Hernando Cardozo, Bogotá, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6010.16v, March 9 at 0519, S9+15 tropical music, from The Voice of Thy Conscience. If it has a religious theme, not obvious. 5910.21, March 9 at 0519, S9+20 tropical music, very similar to 6010+ but not //, from Alcaraván Radio, sibling HJDH station, as usual stronger and sounding quite louder. This is enough to splash upon 5915, cf ZAMBIA. 5910.188, March 12 at 0724, Alcaraván Radio is talking rather than musicking at the moment, S9 to S7, this far off-frequency. 5910, March 13 at 0628, Alcaraván Radio is off, after having been active a lot lately, including vs Romania at 01-03. So I check the other HJDH, and find a poor signal from Voice of Thy Conscience, music on 6010.12V, i.e. varying as I listen with BFO (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5910.180, CLM S=5 poor this morning. Latin AM music at 0617 UT. 6010.022, BRA tiny S=4 on threshold level. 0620 UT, and co-channel 6010.139, CLM same poor signal level [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, 06- 08 UT March 14, dxldyg via DXLD) ** CUBA. 870, Radio Reloj. 1054 March 12, 2017. One of the three sites, wildly wobbling away like big cousin Radio Artemisa on 1000 kHz (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL, NRD-535, IC-R75, longwires, active loop, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. --- Latin American: 1620, Radio Rebelde, Cuba; 0118-0136+, 8- Mar; variety SS pop tunes with SS announcers; Slogan “Música Vida” repeated; not Rebelde’s usual fare & 5025 not on to check //; Heard “Musica vida” again at 0326; Cuban nat’l anthem at 0500+, into SS talk program & Radio Rebelde ID at 0558. Before 0500 may have been a different feed; Bayamo also reported here (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, 5525 Whitehall St., Midland MI 48642-3156, Drake R8B + 185' & 60' RW + 125' bow-tie, ----- All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! -----, DX LISTENING DIGEST) x-band survey; see CANADA; USA ** CUBA. 6270, Radio Habana Cuba; 0150, 0230, 5-Mar; M&W news in Spanish + ID. Poor-Fair; //s found were 6060 S20 & 9535 at S15; not // 5040! also in Spanish at 0150; 6165 was in English. Presume this is a mixer involving the 6 MHz frequencies which has been heard before. Not heard in quite a while. 6165 + (6165-6060) = 6270 (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, 5525 Whitehall St., Midland MI 48642-3156, Drake R8B + 185' & 60' RW + 125' bow-tie, ----- All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! -----, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6270, March 9 at 0525, RHC English at S6, leapfrog mixing product of // 6060 over 6165 another 105 kHz higher. Hadn`t heard this for months despite frequent chex, perhaps because the three had not been from same transmitter site. Maybe still not before 0500 when 6060 is allegedly in Spanish, but often off, and sometimes English. The opposite `frog should land on 5955, yet to be heard tho sometimes there is remnant jamming vs long-gone R. República, 5954 Costa Rica (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 5025, March 9 at 0512, R. Rebelde is S9+30 of dead air, still so at 0522. Meanwhile, 5040 RHC is nominal, but these two are no longer producing even a carrier on the 5010 & 5055 leapfrogs. Therefore, they are no longer from the same transmitter site, back to separate ones, as was the case until the spurs showed up again a few weeks ago. OR: they have managed to suppress the intermodulation, unlikely of any concern whatsoever, when they can`t even keep all their transmitters running and well-modulated where they are supposed to be. 5055 & 5010, March 10 at 0556, the leapfrog mixing spurs are back, denoting that 5040 RHC and 5025 Radio Rebelde, both in Spanish, are both from the same site again. Presumably they are swapping around transmitters trying to get one to work reliably on 5025, which is often silent. Rebelde programming now sounds like béisbol, if live, a very late, multi-inning game? and with distorted modulation on 5025. 5025, March 11 at 0222, R. Rebelde is off again, and so are the leapfrogs on 5010 & 5055 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5025, Radio Rebelde at 1055 in Spanish with excited Japan vs. Netherlands World Baseball Classic coverage and a “Radio Rebelde” ID at 1103 – Fair but noisy Mar 12 – I’m not surprised at this programming because the Cubans are baseball crazy! (Mark Coady, Selwyn, Ontario, Kenwood TS440S 40 and 80 meter off centre-fed dipoles, ODXA yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DXLD) ** CUBA. 11840, & 11830, 11850 spurs, Radio Habana – Bejucal, 1236, 3/12/17, in Spanish. RHC transmitter putting out strong spurs with ID sequence and nice Cuban music. 3 for the price of 1 (Mark Taylor, Madison, Wisconsin, Perseus, SDRPlay, RTL2832 V3 dongle for SDR’s; E1, Satellit 800, PL 660, and various other portables for physical radios; 40 meters dipole, 100’ long wire, Mini whip, NASWA Flashsheet March 12 via DXLD) ** CUBA. 6000, Sunday March 12 at 0722, no Esperanto from RHC, in fact no signal at all here or on any other 49 or 60-meter frequency. Check for next airing to have been earlied an hour? 11760, March 12 at 1501, RHC is still in Spanish, but wrapping up, and 1503 finally into Esperanto, ex-1600v during standard time. Opening mentions the times and frequencies for three broadcasts, but due to fading the only one I can copy translates to ``Sunday 0700 on 6000``. Unlike the middle emission, the first one nominally stays at 0700 yearound, but has been extremely unreliable as to which frequency and exact timing. Remains to be heard whether the third airing will remain Sunday 2130 on 15370, as shifting of other scheduling may affect that. Check the transmission sked linked from the Esperanto website: http://radiohc.cu/eo/interesantes/frecuencias and it`s *still* for A-16, as they never got around to putting up B- 16! Some times may be more matching again now, but don`t count on any detail to be accurate. 9820, March 12 at 1331, RHC with TC for 9:30, news headlines, so confirmed as a running dog of Yanqui Imperialism, Cuba has made the early switch to DST of UT-4 instead of UT-5. In case you think my characterization is unwarranted, there can be no other explanation for Cuba moving the date ahead from the first Sunday in April to the second Sunday in March, exactly following what the USA did several years ago. At least there will still be no disconnect between Miami and Habana local time, which is obviously what matters on the Communist Antille. As for any DST at all in Cuba, as a tropical country with less variation in SR/SS times (one sesquihour during the year), it makes even less sense there than in temperate zones. This means `En Contacto` and other Spanish (but not all language) programming should now be appearing one UT hour earlier: yes, at 1337 recheck it`s already underway from 1335 instead of 1435 Sundays, also on 9710, 9640, 11760, etc. Prof. Coro is talking about propagation, says their A-17 schedule is already prepared, but will not be implemented until 9 April (rather than 26 March everywhere else). For the rest of the program, it`s mostly Arnie to be heard. It seems he is now the co-host rather than a mere segment contributor. No sign of Manolo de la Rosa any more. ¿Qué pasa con Manolo; se ha jubilado? Marta Ríos continues as nominal anchor, as she lists credits ending at 1350, no mention of Manolo! DST shifts normally early the two repeats to 2240v instead of 2340v, and UT Monday 0135 instead of 0235 on lots of other frequencies. Normal DST changes include: English hour at 19 instead of 20, still on 15140? Yes, English at 1910 March 12 check, following Arabic at 1801. Next English should be at 23 instead of 22 (yes, later, instead of earlier) on 11880, re-becoming // 5040 at 23 instead of 00 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15370, March 12 at 2159, RHC in Spanish interview past hourtop 2200+, crossfade to song and pausing for ``5 minutos de noticias`` news but going to resume afterwards. Anyhow, I was checking 15370 whether with DST in vigor, Esperanto would still be appearing Sundays at 2130. Altho I tuned in too late, Spanish underway at 2159 implies not, so when and where now?? No point in trying to find info on far-outdated website. One might try listening to the latest Esp`o show online, opening announcing schedule, but don`t count on that to be accurate either. I do just that, and the 12 March show indeed doesn`t know when and where they really have been on, let alone are on: ``N/C/SAm at 1600 on 11760; SAm 2230 on 17730; NAm 0700 on 6000`` (Sundays only, of course). NONE of those are correct now, altho 6000 may be if they can manage to comply with it. 11880, March 12 at 2333 check, expected DST change of English hour confirmed, amid now, at 2300-2400 instead of 2200-2300 (yes, later, not earlier), and now // 5040 which has moved an hour earlier from 0000-0100. HOWEVER, there is a big problem: 5040, March 12 at 2333, RHC English now an hour earlier, but mixed audio feed at equal level with SPANISH, // 9710 et al.! Other English frequency 11880 is OK, no mix. There have been other reports lately of Spanish/English mixing on a single frequency. It`s always SOMETHING wrong, with RHC! 6100, March 13 at 0514, RHC is in Spanish instead of English! Probably more confusion caused by DST change. Spanish also on 6165 and 6060, talking about Cuba losing to Israel, of all teams, at a baseball championship ``this morning`` in Tokio. That would explain live(?) baseball games at very odd hours heard on Radio Rebelde or RHC. 6000 & 5040, March 13 at 0514 are the only English frequencies while there are supposed to be five at this hour. In DXUL, but Arnie is somewhat distorted on 6000, better on 5040. Recheck at 0626, 6165, 6100 & 6060 are still in Spanish, 6000 is dead air and 5040 is off. Supposedly, regardless of DST shifts, evening English to North America remains yearound at 01-05 on 6000 & 6165, 05-07 on those plus the other three, or maybe only one hour on 5040. 17580, March 13 at 1426, RHC is S9 of dead air, still at 1439; while managing to modulate Spanish music at 1426 are 17730 but only S8-S6, and 17750 at S7-S3 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) R Rebelde 5025 back on air --- The past week or so, whenever I have checked, there's been no sign of Radio Rebelde on 5025 kHz, at least not here in Eastern Newfoundland. This evening it is back. It is just after midnight UTC (Sunday evening going to Monday UTC) as I type this. Sadly, it's carrying some sporting event right now (Philip Hiscock, March 13, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Mostly it`s been off the air evenings, but on the air later overnight (gh, DXLD) No sign of them now at 0058. 5040 coming in at excellent level (Stephen Wood, Harwich, Mass. March 13, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 12 de Mar de 2017 9:28 pm [timestamp, zone?] -- Eu estava ouvindo há pouco a Rádio Rebelde de Cuba, em 5025. O sinal chegava como local, mas o som das vozes estava tão baixo que dei SINPO 2 à transmissão. 73's a todos, (Ian José Silva, Brasil, radioescutas yg via DXLD) 5025.000 exacta frecuencia. R Rebelde on air, talk in Spanish on R Rebelde and Radio Reloj, about football 'pelota' ... at 1230 UT on March 13, S=7 in Detroit Michigan. S=9+10dB in KY, NJ, and MA-USA remote SDR units in Perseus net. S=9 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada too, many thanks to Don Moman VE6JY Lamont-Alberta SDR and antenna installations. CUBA B-16 schedule of R. Habana Cuba, now on DST as summer time in northern Hemisphere since March 12th, like time change in Estados Unidos noted at 1250 UT on March 13: 1100-1400 9640 BEJ 050 / 125 SoAm Spanish S=4 in Alberta CAN S=7-8 in Detroit-MI S=9+10dB in NJ-USA 1100-1400 9710 BAU 100 / 010 ENAm Spanish S=6-7 in Alberta-CAN S=7 in Detroit-MI S=9+5dB in NJ-USA, but stronger audio modulation than 9640 & 9820 1100-1400 9820 BEJ 100 / 260 CeAm Spanish S=4 in Alberta-CAN S=9 in Detroit-MI S=9+10dB in NJ-USA 1100-1300 9850 BAU 100 / 340 WNAm Spanish S=9+10dB powerful to read S=9+15dB in Detroit-MI 1100-1400 11760 BAU 100 / n-d NCAm Spanish S=6-7 in Alberta-CAN S=9+15dB in Detroit-MI S=7 in NJ-USA 1100-1400 11840 BAU 100 / 010 NCAm Spanish S=6-7 in Alberta-CAN S=9+20dB in Detroit-MI 1100-1400 17580 BAU 100 / 160 SoAm Spanish S=8-9 in Detroit-MI S=9+35 in MA-USA powerhouse, backlobe into Massachusetts 1100-1400 17730 BAU 100 / 135 SoAm Spanish S=7-8 in Detroit-MI S=9+15 in MA-USA 1100-1400 17750 QVC 250 / 160 SoAm Spanish S=4-5 in Detroit-MI S=9+15 in MA-USA 1300-1400 9550 QVC 250 / n-d CeAm Spanish nothing in NJ-USA 1300-1400 15370 BAU 100 / 310 WNAm Spanish S=9+15dB in NJ-USA 73 wolfie df5sx wwdxc germany (Wolfgang Büschel, March 13, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ONLY EMPTY CARRIERS from Cuba noted in 06-07 UT time slot, except 5025 Radio Rebelde via Bauta site, music program. At 0610 UT: 6000 RHC Quivicán Titán site S=9+25dB in remote FL, MA, MI SDR units. 6060 RHC Bauta S=9 at 0622 UT. 6100 RHC Bauta at 0626 UT S=9+10dB signal in MA-US east coast. 6165 RHC Bauta empty carrier at 0635 UT March 14. S=9+30dB POWERHOUSE in MA and MI-US remote SDR installations [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, 06-08 UT March 14, dxldyg via DXLD) ** CUBA [and non]. 5025, March 15 at 0106, R. Rebelde is off again, but I still get a JBA carrier ever so slightly on the + side, perhaps R. Quillabamba, Perú. 5025, March 15 at 0617, R. Rebelde is now on, having been absent at last check 0106 (however, then I had a JBA carrier a smidgen above 5025.000, and I now see that Dave Valko had measured R. Quillabamba 3 Hz high, just right). At 0617, 5040 RHC is off, I guess nominally finishing English at 0600 now. 17750, March 15 at 1403, only RHC on 16m is a carrier here, with 17580 and 17730 already off. One can never be quite sure which of the trio will be operational at any time (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 15370, March 12 at 2159, RHC in Spanish interview past hourtop 2200+, crossfade to song and pausing for ``5 minutos de noticias`` news but going to resume afterwards. First story gets my attn, which I finally find on the website: http://radiohc.cu/noticias/nacionales/123921-canal-caribe-saldra-al-aire-en-cuba-el-proximo-martes ``CANAL CARIBE SALDRÁ AL AIRE EN CUBA EL PRÓXIMO MARTES 11/03/2017 Tomada de Cubadebate La Habana, 11 MAR (RHC) Caribe es el nombre del canal informativo que a manera de prueba aparecerá por la señal HD-1 a partir del próximo martes 14, día de la prensa cubana. El nuevo canal de televisión, en alta definición, transmitirá su programación desde las 8:30 de la mañana a 12 de la noche, hora de Cuba [1230-0400 UT]. La programación será en vivo, excepto algunos espacios que saldrán grabados. Se prevé que los conductores sean jóvenes, con un buen bagaje informativo que les permita una improvisación coherente y efectiva, que funcione como detonador para que el receptor del mensaje desee saber más y esté pendiente de la reiteración. Caribe es el sueño amasado por Ovidio Cabrera y otros ejecutivos de la televisión cubana, que trabajaron e incluso estuvieron en la fundación de TeleSur, quienes han elaborado un proyecto bastante abarcador para ese canal informativo, teniendo sólo una parte de la logística tecnológica que se necesita y contando con un grupo de profesionales capacitados. (Agencias de Información) Editado por Arlettys Guevara`` That is rather confusing; WTFK? On some DTV channel or network as an extra program, but they refer to it as HD-1 as if they were talking about FM radio subchannels! Here`s more about it (gh) CUBA TRIES TO REBOOT ITS CREAKY STATE NEWS APPARATUS By MICHAEL WEISSENSTEIN Associated Press Mar 14, 8:37 PM EDT AP Photo AP Photo/Desmond Boylan http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CB_CUBA_NEW_TV_CHANNEL?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2017-03-14-20-37-44 HAVANA (AP) -- The Cuban government is trying to reboot its Soviet-era style news programming with a high-definition current affairs channel staffed by young journalists. The Caribe channel is starting slowly, with 3 1/2 hours of offerings a night on a new channel available to a few hundred thousand viewers who have bought high-definition decoder boxes. Producers say they hope to eventually expand to nearly round-the-clock programming. That`s a niche currently occupied only by Telesur, a regional news channel financed by leftist Latin American governments. Caribe channel producers say their programming premiering Tuesday night will be less dogmatic and more openly critical than traditional Cuban state television, whose reporting rarely goes beyond repeating communiqués from government ministries. Cuban state media are facing increasing competition from more widely available online sources as internet access expands. "Now we`re going to be able to reflect the needs of the people in the news," said Karina del Valle, a 24-year-old presenter on a Caribe current-affairs show. Like many of the country`s state outlets, Caribe journalists will include many recent graduates eager to modernize official media that have become irrelevant to most young Cubans. But content remains almost entirely under the control of Communist Party ideological monitors and a crippling government cash shortage means the channel has few resources. "Our great challenge is really making this a reality," said Ovidio Cabrera García, director-general of Cuban television. "We don`t want to create great expectations." (via Mike Cooper, WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DXLD) ** CUBA [and non]. 7435, March 13 at 0502, dead air from R. Martí, 0503 finally comes to life with ID vs wall-of-noise jamming, but still R5. Not sure if RM will have made any sked changes for DST, or waiting until A-17. Anyhow, 13820 was still running Sunday daytime rather than 13605 as usual in A-seasons, including HFCC A-17, now available (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [and non]. 9490, March 15 at 0118, Radio República inbooming at S9+40 over wall of noise jamming, making me suspect it`s no longer via Issoudun, FRANCE; an RMI brokered broadcast moved to WRMI itself? Its known frequencies on different azimuths are weaker, 9395 S9+30, and 9955 only S8-S5. But Europrop is up, with 9420 Greece in at S9+25, so could really be France on 9490. Anyhow, DST must have forced the sign-on an hour earlier to *0100, ex *0200 as Richard Langley confirmed by nightly monitoring before DST began. By 0142, has weakened to only S9+25 and by comparison the jamming is worse (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. We looked several years for a 10 kW Solid State transmitter. Harald Kuhl is right: I visited Ampegon in Switzerland last year, but the funding is from our perspective impossible, now. Now we bought an "in-house" 1 kW TX. In-house: From the former HCJB technology center - now SonSet in Elkhart Indiana, USA. Because the altitude (4.000 meter ASL) and the equator (around 15 km) the 1 kW signal reaches amazingly even Europe. I will write a brief article (in German) for our Webpage and will publish some photos within the next days. Thanks for your patient! Greetings from Quito, Horst Aso. Vozandes Media in partnership with HCJB-Ecuador and Reach Beyond Aso. Vozandes Media en cooperacion con HCJB-Ecuador y Reach Beyond Casilla 17-17-691 Quito - ECUADOR, South America Tel: +593-2-5101770 Web: (Horst Rosiak-EQA, direct March 9, via BC-DX 12 March via WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DXLD) [later] We finished the test period, yesterday. Attached you find the actual schedule. We have not decided yet to extend the hours. The listenership is regional like the indigenous people in Ecuador, Peru and Columbia. They are getting up early and they are going to bed normally at 20-21 PM local time (EST) (Horst Rosiak-EQA, direct March 10, ibid.) (via wb, WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DXLD) 6050, HCJB with upbeat Jesus Pop in English & Spanish mostly. Occasional SS announcements by OM. An actual ID at 0700 "Radio Hatche Cee Jota Bee [sic]" & mention of "Sante [sic] Fe" as well as Quito? Per Don Moore, there was mention of a website, triple doble-v. The call was clear -- what else is going on here? Back on after equipment trouble had them off for some time. 34443+ with splatter from 6060 RHC & my local QRM bleeding through. getting stronger 44444 by 0700. 0555- 0705 5/Mar SB-310 + randomwire + ANC-4 (Kenneth Vito Zichi, Williamston MI, MARE Tipsheet 10 March via DXLD) 6050, March 9 at 0523, no signal from HCJB, so their 24-hour testing may be concluded (or during a 5-minute hiatus?). Ultimate operational schedule from new Pichincha transmitter as yet unknown, to be *0830- 0500*, as originally, or less, as lately? (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EGYPT. 9899.63, Radio Cairo; 2210-2218+, 6-Mar; Arabic vocal music to W in English with news 2214-2218 and ID at end. SIO=3+33- with minimal distortion & transmitter? buzz; QRN not helping; best in LSB (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, 5525 Whitehall St., Midland MI 48642- 3156, Drake R8B + 185' & 60' RW + 125' bow-tie, ----- All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! -----, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EGYPT. [A-DX] Sender mit katastrophaler Modulation auf 9425 kHz Auf 9425 kHz Bombensignal und ein unverständliches extrem verzerrtes Audio-Signal - mit einem Stör-Spektrum von 9400-9450 kHz. Die Sprache ist unverständlich. Ist das der KW-Sender aus Ägypten?? Ist mir schon öfters abends im 31 Meter Band aufgefallen. An manchen Tagen ist selbst All India Radio auf 9445 kHz total von diesem Störer überlagert. Um 1815 UT Zeitzeichen, dann Wortprogramm. Dieser Sender sollte stillgelegt werden. 73, (Gerald Kallinger, March 9 via Wolfgang Büschel, DXLD) 9420 kHz Radio Kairo Egypt, S=9+35dB in Mitteleuropa, in Russisch gelistet, um 1906 UT am March 9. Breitband Distortion-Signal 9383 bis 9441 kHz. auch ein Umschalten auf FM Mode bringt kein hörenswertes technisches Signal. 9425 kHz KRE Kujang Korea D.P.R. hat ein sauberes Signal, gehört in Ungarn, Indien und in Ost-Thailand bei Uwe's Schätzchen. 73 wb (Büschel, DXLD) Voice of Greece Problem with 9420 kHz Transmitter [1 Attachment] Signal on 9420 kHz weak this afternoon here in NB (at 2135 UT during football game) with noise on adjacent frequencies from 9400 to 9440 kHz. Transmitter problem or some other source of noise? Noise is quite clear on U. Twente WebSDR receiver waterfall; see attached. // 9935 kHz frequency providing better reception here (Richard Langley, NB, March 9, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DX LISTENING DIGEST) re 9420 kHz (9383 to 9441 kHz distortion covered in 31 mb at 19 UT.) Now distortion in 9396 to 9436 kHz range noted in remote units at Qatar, Europe and Michigan USA. at 2150 UT. I have no proof. Because the 'useful signal of Greece' can not be separated from the broadband noise signal, most likely from Cairo Egypt. In Qatar and Michigan heard the Voice of Greece live coverage of the European football soccer matches tonight, \\ 9935 kHz. We had reported a similar very strong much distorted signal on 9420 kHz in 18-20 UT time range, mentioned and reported first in Austria's A-DX ng. No program content could be traced, ... and we assumed it was a terrible Cairo Egypt signal. Broadband Distortion-Signal 9383 to 9441 kHz. also an switch to >>FM mode<< reception on Perseus SDR unit brought no program content identification at all. 73 wolfie (Wolfgang Büschel, WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Ditto on Richard’s report here in Southern CA on March 10 at 0021 – 9935 is SINPO 35433. 9420 is SINPO 3+5433+, so about 1-2 S-units better on the Perseus S-meter than 9935. Last night 9420 was much weaker in same time slot so assuming propagation to Europe much better today. No distortion or unusual QRM noted on either channel at this site (Bruce Churchill, CA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Thanks, Wolfy. I should not have cast dispersions on the VoG transmitter. 9420 kHz is in the clear at 0235 UT when checked using the U. Twente receiver (Richard Langley, NB, ibid.) 9974.5 - Radio Cairo at 1908. Tentative here running past Turkish listed close at 1900 with Arabic programming. Plenty of dialog With OM also distinct Egyptian music, YL vocals & instrumentals. Recognizable muffled audio but pretty good for them. Signal is only moderate S6 with plenty of fades and static. Very much up and down but, as I said, pretty good for them. Time pips at bottom of hour with Radio Cairo anthem (Stephen Wood, Drake R8B, 25 x 50 terminated superloop antenna March 11, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. 5005, R. Nacional Bata (presumed) 0548 choral singing, possibly religious. Fairly readable and frequency dead on 5005.000. 5 March. 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop and 1530 foot Delta Loop antennas, Hard-Core- DX mailing list via DXLD) 5005, Radio Nacional, Bata, 0530-0550, 11-03, songs, at 0700 Spanish, comments. Very weak, barely audible, best on LSB. 14321 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Logs in Reinante and Lugo, Tecsun PL-880, Sangean ATS 909-X, cable antenna, 8 meters, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA [non]. SECRETLAND, Good signal of BaBcoCk Dimtse Radio Erena via SPL [BULGARIA], March 9 1700-1730 on 11965 SCB 050 kW / 195 deg to EaAf Tigrinya Mon-Fri 1730-1800 on 11965 SCB 050 kW / 195 deg to EaAf Arabic Mon-Fri 1700-1800 on 11965 SCB 050 kW / 195 deg to EaAf Tigrinya Sat/Sun http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/03/good-signal-of-babcock-dimtse-radio.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. SECRETLAND, IRRS and Radio Warra Wangeelaa via SPL on March 11 1500-1530 on 15515 SCB 100 kW / 195 deg to EaAf Oromo Sat, not 100% modulation! http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/03/irrs-radio-city-and-radio-warra.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. FRANCE, BRB Radio Front for Independence of Oromo via TDF Issoudun is cancelled 1730-1800 on 17765 ISS 150 kW / 125 deg to EaAf Oromo Sun, nothing Feb 26; March 5/12 1700-1730 on 17765 ISS 150 kW / 125 deg to EaAf Oromo Sun in A17 but will be inactive 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) But registered just in case it can reactivate (gh) ** FINLAND. 3960.016, March 4, 0910, 3ABU Tampere audible until 0913 when the signal disappeared. Back at check 1450 but now on 3960.097 kHz with weak signal and Finnish tangos just after 1500. Also noted on March 5 at 1515 but then spot on 3960 (Thomas Nilsson, Ängelholm, Sweden, SW Bulletin March 12 via DXLD) Pirate? ** FINLAND. 25000, Time Signal Station Mikes, Espoo. During the last months I could not be able to receive this station and thinking maybe it's out of air, I sent an e-mail to the station's staff and here is the reply: "Dear Manuel: On 20 Jan. 2017 we had to turn the 25 MHz transmitter off due to disturbances it caused to some delicate measurements in our laboratories. At the moment I cannot predict the date of resuming the transmissions. Best Regards" (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, March 14, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. Dead air of Denge Kurdistan via TDF Issoudun 1500-1930UT, March 9: 1500-1600 on 11600 ISS 250 kW / 090 deg to WeAs open carrier, instead of Kurdish 1600-1930 on 7455 ISS 250 kW / 090 deg to WeAs open carrier, instead of Kurdish http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/03/dead-air-of-denge-kurdistan-via-tdf.html -- 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, Equipment: Sony ICF-2001D 30 m. long wire, dxldyg via DXLD) SEE Kurdistan [non] ** GERMANY EAST. Call signs Volga --- Radio Volga was created in 1945, for broadcasting on the territory of the Soviet occupation zone, later the territory of the GDR. The first transmitters were in Magdeburg and Stolpe, long waves were used. Since July 1945, a low-power radio station of 2.5 kW was used, at a frequency of 283 kHz, the station's power increased in 1948 to 20 kW. Since 1946, it has been used from time to time. Also, a 100-kilowatt radio station put into operation at 191 kHz., In 1952. This radio station broadcast regularly. Beginning on November 7, 1968, the Volga moved from Königs Wusterhausen to Burg. Listeners from the region recall a strong Harmonic of frequency, which made the Volga radio frequency 261 kHz (Burg), audible from 263 kHz to 526 kHz, in the mid-wave range. For the long-wave transmitter 200 kW. There was a side of the radio station houses, a mast 350 m, which ceased to exist in 1976, but the mast was 210 m. The target group of Radio Volga was GSOM servicemen, members of their families and the German public. Radio Volga, broadcast programs of the then Soviet radio, at noon German programs from Moscow radio and a few hours, in most cases in the evening, programs from social production. Beginning on October 6, 1991, the station informed German listeners. The main goal of the German edition of the radio station is that the German public would know about the processes and everyday life of the Western group of troops and inform the listeners about the withdrawal of troops. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFSZfflmA9w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuMmrUElQ5E (Ruslan Slavutskiy, Moscow region, Russia, RusDX March 12 via DXLD) ** GERMANY EAST. BULGARIA / VIETNAMs / GERMANY-GDR {Soviet Occupied Zone of Germany} Central Intelligence Agency's Freedom of Information Act Electronic Reading Room. Items of 1950, 1953, ... some 50-60 years back Cold War radio era ... keywords: jamming, transmitters, map of jamming coverage in GDR, mediumwave, etc. JAMMING STATIONS IN EAST GERMANY, of April 1954 year. Koenigswusterhausen jamming purpose item handled too. Despite late Peter Manteuffel, technician in Koe-Wu site from the 50ties to 90ties, denied oneself any jamming existence being occurred from that radio station site, -- or ever veiled Greek and Turkish Communist Party mysterious secret transmission on shortwave left the air there. JAMMING TRANSMITTERS AND INSTRUCTIONS IN EAST GERMANY. Jamming transmission and instructions report of CIA Berlin - Bonn Germany, two pages of May 1955 year, and GDR map attachment about jamming coverage issued by 'PFZ Post- und Fernmeldetechnisches Zentralamt', too. Training course to 'Hauptverwaltung Funk' technicians by Soviet Counter Intelligence at Beelitz center near Potsdam. Jamming mother stations were at Koenigswusterhausen, [Schwerin] Woebbelin, [Berlin] Koepenick Dammheide Uhlenhorst, [Leipzig] Wiederau, [Dresden] Wilsdruff, and Plauen. Later in the 60ties and 70ties up to 60 different low power radio jammers were on air in GDR, spread out widely on various post office buildings, Rat des Kreises und SED Kreis-Verwaltungen, Polizeistationen etc. {btw. my former hometown reception towards US RIAS Hof in Bavaria, even with magnetic ferrite direction antenna, was prevented by jamming installation transmissions on mediumwave band nearby from Leipzig- Wiederau, Merseburg-Leuna-Buna, Erfurt-Bindersleben, Gera-Weida, Plauen, facilities. But same happened on VoA Munich longwave 173 kHz channel in Russian and German languages, jammed from LW sites at Koenigswusterhausen-GDR, and Czech installation OMA/OLB/OLT at Podebrady east of Prague. My one-tube UEL-51 table set RFT Stern Berlin Kolibri, realized on Christmas 1954 at low cost of 95 GDR Mark. I could afford to buy only the cheapest receiver, on a monthly salary of 140 GDR Mark } LARGE POLICE RADIO TRANSMITTER IN HALLE JAMMING TRANSMITTER AT BREHM NEAR BURG (MAGDEBURG) FOREIGN RADIOBROADCASTING RECEPTION POTENTIAL IN EAST GERMANY {an excellent profound detailed radio report on GDR of 1955 year ... } Rather poor LW and MW equipment remained after WW II end in GDR / Soviet Occupied Zone of Germany, in 1945 to 1952 years. LW 750 {3 x 250} kW SL-2 tx was planned in 1952 at Oranienburg Zehlendorf Rehmate, but realized later in September 1959. Planned 'Twin Z-3 Zwilling, zwei Halbzuege transmitter' of 220 kW each of 1950 year, were under construction at Funkwerk Berlin Koepenick, and came on air with tests at location [Berlin] Koepenick Dammheide Uhlenhorst as Z3/I in July 1952 and regularly in May 1953, built up progress of the two final 250 kW SM8 and Z3/II units delayed til 1956/1959 year [Schwerin] Woebbelin single 220 kW unit SM1 came on air in October 1952. [Magdeburg] Burg Brehm two 220 kW units SM3 came on air regularly in Dec 1953. Could be combined as pair with 500 kW of power. [Dresden] Wilsdruff single 220 kW unit SM4 came on air regularly in May 1954. [Suhl Hildburghausen] Wachenbrunn single 250 kW unit SM8 came on air late in Oct 1959. [continued at BULGARIA](via Roger Thauer-D, A-DX ng March 4 via BC-DX 12 March via DXLD) ** GERMANY [non]. Deutsche Welle Football - Bundesliga on March 11 1425-1630 on 15355 ISS 500 kW / 170 deg to WeAf Hausa Sat, good 1425-1630 on 17570 ISS 500 kW / 165 deg to WeAf Hausa Sat, poor http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/03/deutsche-welle-football-bundesliga-on.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Continues very strange service. You`d think more German- or even English-speakers would care about Bundesliga than Hausans (gh, DXLD) Summer A-17 new frequencies of Deutsche Welle from March 26: http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/03/summer-17-new-frequencies-of-deutsche.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. Voice of Greece on 9420 kHz and 9935 kHz March 11 1800&1900 on 9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek tx#3 No signal on 9935 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg to WeEu Greek tx#1 From 1930 on 9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu NO SIGNAL! From 2025 on 9935 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg to WeEu Greek tx#1 No signal on 9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek tx#3 Sunday March 12 no signal of Orthodox Liturgy on 9420/9935 [c. 0600] http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/03/voice-of-greece-on-9420-khz-and-9935.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9420.005, Only single frequency channel operation. Voice of Greece Avlis heard with surprisingly S=9+25dB signal VIA LONG PATH on southern Pacific, at 0706 UT heard Greek modern pop music. Nothing noted on 9935 or 11645 kHz channels [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, 06- 08 UT March 14, dxldyg via DXLD) 9420, March 15 at 0120, Voice of Greece with Greek talk and music at S9+25, reception picking up but // 9935 is much weaker at S7 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Reception of Voice of Greece on 9420 & 9935 kHz, March 15 0700-0805 on 9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek*tx#3 & off 0700-0800 on 9935 AVL 100 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek*tx#1 & off * including 8 min news bulletin in Arabic & Serbian 0751-0759 UT. http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/03/reception-of-voice-of-greece-on-9420.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) See EGYPT : QRM to 9420 ** GUATEMALA [and non]. Yet another story about the ex-GM of La Voz de Atitlán, 2390 kHz, and his posthumous path to glory: http://www.enidnews.com/news/local_news/rother-beatification-will-be-sept/article_b34889bd-bc07-5c84-aa20-5f1add450163.html ROTHER BEATIFICATION WILL BE SEPT. 23 Enid News & Eagle Mar 13, 2017 OKARCHE, Okla. — The Rev. Stanley Rother, who was recognized as the Catholic Church's first U.S.-born martyr in history in December, will be beatified Sept. 23 in Oklahoma City. The beatification Mass will be 10 a.m. Sept. 23 at the Cox Convention Center. The announcement was made Monday by the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. "It is very exciting news. This is something we’ve been working toward for many years now, and have anticipated since Dec. 2 when Pope Francis declared Father Rother to be a martyr of the Catholic Church. Now that we have date, we can start planning in earnest for this once- in-a-lifetime celebration," said the Most Rev. Paul S. Coakley, archbishop of Oklahoma City. Pope Francis put the Okarche native and priest killed during Guatemala's civil war on the path to possible sainthood by signing the martyrdom decree Dec. 1, according to The Associated Press. Rother had been in Guatemala translating the New Testament into an Indian dialect. Rother was assassinated in 1981 while serving as a missionary in Guatemala, where he served as pastor of the parish of Santiago Atitlán. In June 2015, Rother was recognized formally as a martyr by a special Theological Commission at the Congregation of the Causes of Saints in Rome. This recognition is the final stage before canonization as a saint, something the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City's Cause to have Father Rother beatified has been working on for several decades. The positio on the life and martyrdom of Father Rother previously had been discussed and approved by a panel of nine theologians and more recently by a group of 15 cardinals and archbishops who voted affirmatively to recognize his martyrdom in odium fidei (in hatred of the faith). The positio refers to the volume containing the evidence that was collected from witness testimonies in both Oklahoma and Guatemala, and supporting documents during an inquiry conducted by a special tribunal of the Archdiocese created to carry out this investigation. The signing of martyrdom decree opened the way for his beatification, since an approved miracle is not required in a cause of martyrdom. However, in order for Rother to be canonized, an alleged miracle due to his intercession occurring after the promulgation of this decree must be recognized as having no scientific explanation and approved by the Vatican. Francis, history's first Latin American pope, has made clear that he believes priests killed during Latin America's right-wing dictatorships died out of hatred for the faith, including Salvador Archbishop Oscar Romero. “We’re just thrilled, and grateful to God and to all those who have worked to promote the cause of Father Rother,” Coakley said in December after the martyrdom decree was signed by Pope Francis. “The church needs heroic witnesses to advance the mission of Christ, and Father Rother was truly a heroic witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He gave his life in pastoral service to his people. I am looking forward to the celebration of his beatification.” Once beatified, the next step of Rother’s cause will require a verified miracle before he can be canonized as a saint in the Catholic Church. Rother arrived at Santiago Atitlán in 1968 at age 33. Before arriving in Guatemala, he previously had served in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Durant. He served in Guatemala while a 36-year civil war was being fought and, as a result, dozens of people went missing, were murdered and tortured every day. More than 200,000 people were killed during the civil war. Rother was placed on a death list in Guatemala, which prompted him to flee to the United States. He arrived in Oklahoma City Jan. 28, 1981. He returned to Guatemala several months later. Three gunmen, assumed to be a right-wing death squad, assassinated Rother on July 28, 1981, in the parish rectory, but the unknown killers have never been brought to justice. In the months to follow, the indigenous people of Santiago Atitlan, the Tzutujil, protested the return of Rother's body to Oklahoma. In a compromise, the Tzutuil kept the priest’s heart in a half-gallon jar while his body was flown for burial in his native Oklahoma. When his vital organ was relocated to a more prominent location a decade after his martyrdom, the blood had not congealed, according to eyewitnesses of the excavation reported in a 2006 Oklahoma Gazette cover story (via DXLD) Gross ** GUATEMALA. Raymie, sorry to bump your México TV-FM thread/forum, but the WTFDA DX forum has absolutely no other place to post FM news about Central America, which is obviously directly south of México. This is directly related to FM news in Guatemala. You recently posted info to me in an email regarding pirate stations in México. Well low and behold, the not-for-profit organization Cultural Survival (based in Massachusetts) recently posted on the internet the entire list of indigenous FM broadcasters located in Guatemala, represented on a map of Guatemala. That's more than 100 FM radio stations in that list. You can also click on the individual station listing and it expands to more information for that station. As I have worked on FM radio news for México and the Central American countries since 2003, I have had southern US dxers query me about the existence of non-licensed FM radio stations in Guatemala. For several years, Cultural Survival kept their locations quiet, because of political unrest in Guatemala. Many of the indigenous radio stations were being threatened, owners and operators were beaten, and in extreme cases, radio stations were burned to the ground or station owners were shot and killed. All by the police. In 1996-1998 the violence targeted at un-licensed broadcasters in Guatemala was at a peak. The UN finally stepped in and came down on the government of Guatemala with hard sanctions. Part of the UN's sanctions provisos was to get a TRANSPARENCY program in place and on the internet. That meant accountability for government - having documents available to the public for government showing all activities and actions, records of government income and government spending. Starting in 2012, websites from almost every department of the Guatemalan government appeared and documents are now being uploaded on a regular basis. I have come across several Guatemala government websites where they are doing that exact thing. You can download documents of tracked expenses and tax income from various entities. The only thing that seems to still be lacking is the Secretary of Telecommunications (SIT) absence of communications documents for TV and radio. Any type of radio licenses are currently not available on the internet. It's quite possible they are working on this and its just not on the internet yet. Anyway, with these major changes over the past several years with Guatemala, Cultural Survival has decided it is now safe to publicly advertise where the un-licensed indigenous FM broadcasters are located in Guatemala. They put up their map with the listings and have Google hosting the map. South of the border dx enthusiasts can find the map linked here. Cultural Survival Guatemala Radios Communitarias https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1wWL-cUhlimM0vAGfm8rqKRjXXWc&hl=en Last edited by Jim Thomas; 03-12-2017 at 02:23 PM (Jim Thomas, Springfield, MO, March 12, Raymie`s Mexico Beat, WTFDA Forum via DXLD) From time to time, I do post about other things here (there are a few DR posts and one about Panamá IIRC), and this is definitely material of interest, so it's fine by me! (Raymie Humbert, ibid.) ** INDIA. New transmissions from AIR Kota 1413 kHz MW During the last few days, I was observing some co channel interference on BBC 1413 kHz Medium Wave. I noted that it was the new transmission from AIR Kota. AIR Kota used to operate on 1413 kHz with 20 kW only on daytimes and with 1 kW on 1584 kHz in mornings/evenings/night. When I contacted AIR Kota, I was told that from 9 Mar 2017, they are using 1413 kHz for all transmissions as the 1 kW transmitter has become faulty. The best time to listen to clear signals of AIR Kota on 1413 kHz is at their sign on at 0025 to 0029 UT (5.55 to 5.59 AM IST) when BBC is off (BBC starts at 0029 UT). 1584 kHz in not listed in the recent official schedules of AIR issued from AIR HQ. The website of AIR Kota is: http://airkota.com/airkota.php Copy of my AIR Kota QSL: http://qsl.net/vu2jos/qsls/kota_1584.jpg Yours sincerely, (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio, March 12, dx_india yg via DXLD) Where is Kota? Wikipedia says ``Kota (Listeni/'ko?t?/) formerly known as Kotah, is a city located in the southeast of northern Indian state of Rajasthan.[4] It is located Around 250 kilometres (155 mi) south of the state capital, Jaipur`` (gh, DXLD) ** INDIA. AIR External Service Latest changes: Russian noted on 15140 at 1615-1715. English 7550 at 2045-2230 in AM Mode instead of DRM. Yours sincerely, (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio, March 13, dx_india yg via DXLD) ** INDIA. All India Radio in English again on unscheduled 15770 Mar 9 1000-1100 15770 PAN 250 kW / 120 deg SEAs in B-16 earlier on the air 0845-0945 15770 PAN 250 kW / 120 deg SEAs Indonesian All India Radio And again unscheduled English transmission of All India Radio, Mar 9: 0830-1135 11620 DEL 250 kW / 334 deg SoAs Urdu, as scheduled B-16 1135-1140 11620 DEL 250 kW / 334 deg SoAs English, unscheduled program http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/03/all-india-radio-in-english-again-on.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) By now it is so regular it amounts to being ``scheduled`` (gh) ** INDONESIA. 3325, RRI-Palangkaraya, Mar 14 1405-1425, 32332-33333, Indonesian, Local news and Indonesian popular song, ID at 1419. 3344.85, RRI-Ternate (Presumed), Mar 14 1335-1405, 35222-34332, Indonesian, Indonesian popular song, Announce by woman. 4869.92, RRI-Wamena (Presumed), Mar 14 1234-1335, 35333-35332-35232, Indonesian, Indonesian popular song and talk. 9524.95, V. of Indonesia, Mar 14 1514-1524, 34333, Chinese, News, URL announce at 1517, ID at 1523, Good for modulation (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC-R75, NRD-525+RD-9830, ANT, 130m Sloper Wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9524.96, VOI, 1311, March 9. Very poor reception, but was able to make out the start of "Today in History," during their English segment; better reception after 1402, in Indonesian (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET & VACUUM. Glenn: I don’t know if you are aware that the WRN webpage is back up. http://www.wrn.org/listeners/ I have updated my adobe software on my desktop browser, tried different browsers and have even tried listening on a flash compatible browser using my cellphone but I hear nothing. Are you able to hear WRN programming through the WRN browser? I have written to WRN but have received no response (Charles Harlich, NJ, March 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Charles, Yes, I know, altho you will note that the date on it is a year old. No, I don`t get it to play if you mean by clicking on the current program in the schedule with a speaker icon. Don`t need it anyway, since I have the working NAm stream bookmarked on my winamp player: http://shoutcast.wrn.org:8000/ Little by little, let`s hope they get website fully funxional and updated (Glenn to Charlie, via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [and non]. 7175-LSB, March 15 at 0600, NY0V/MM approaching Howland Island, in contact with much stronger LA8QQ/portable W4 in SC who has a good American accent despite being Norwegian. NY0V refers us to his qrz.com page and to http://nauticos.com for more info about this maritime expedition. Turns out to be concerned with search for remains of Amelia Earhart, Howland being one of the destinations on her flight. QRZ.com info: ``NY0V USA flag THOMAS N VINSON 31000 US 52 S. Chatfield, MN 55923 USA QSL: DIRECT, W0 BURO, LOTW The Eustace Earhart Discovery Expedition: NY0V/MM: From around Feb 20 through March 2017. Look for me from some rare grids as we sail from KH6 and be on station around the vicinity of KH1. (Sorry, no landing!) We will be conducting deep water SONAR surveys at 18,000 ft/5400 m below the surface as we search for Amelia Earhart's Lockheed L10E. Check out http://www.nauticos.com You can follow along on the expedition as we will be updating the expedition portal at: http://expeditionportal.nauticos.com/ I will add QSL info once I return. You can listen to the story of my radio history on "QSO Today" podcast on Eric, 4Z1UG's site: http://www.qsotoday.com/podcasts/NY0V This is podcast #111`` After this contact, LA8QQ calls CQDX on same frequency. Checking again March 16 at 0655, I find NY0V/MM on 7178-LSB working a ZL, both very poor (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [non]. Radio Payem e-Doost via BaBcock Grigoriopol, March 9 1800-1845 on 7480 KCH 500 kW / 116 deg to WeAs Farsi, very weak http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/03/radio-payem-e-doost-via-babcock.html Reception of Sedoye Bahar, V of Spring via BaBcoCk Grigoriopol March 9 1900-1930 on 7510 KCH 500 kW / 116 deg to WeAs Farsi Thu/Fri Voice of Spring, very weak: http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/03/sedoye-bahar-voice-of-spring-via.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) A-17 changes of clandestine broadcasts via BaBcoCk Sedoye Bahar Voice of Spring will be on air at new time and frequency 1700-1730 NF 7530 KCH 500 kW / 116 deg to WeAs Farsi Thu/Fri in A-17 ex 1730-18 on 7495 KCH 500 kW / 116 deg to WeAs Farsi Thu/Fri in A-16 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/03/summer-17-changes-of-clandestine.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRELAND. RTE Dublin website: RTE Radio 1 will continue on 252 LW until 2019 (obiviously due to protests) (Jon Collins, Birmingham UK, March 11, WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DX LISTENING DIGEST) viz: RTE LONGWAVE GIVEN FURTHER REPRIEVE UNTIL 2019: http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-radio-web/rt%C3%A9-s-longwave-radio-service-gets-a-short-reprieve-1.3005613 Regards, (Chuck Albertson, Seattle, March 13, WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DXLD) viz: RTÉ’s longwave radio service gets a short reprieve --- Service will continue until 2019 following protests from Irish community in Britain Fri, Mar 10, 2017, 16:08 Updated: Fri, Mar 10, 2017, 18:10 Hugh Linehan --- Wed, Mar 15, 2017 Dublin 12 c Campaigners against the shift to digital argued it would further isolate elderly Irish people in Britain who relied on radio to keep in touch with Irish affairs. Photograph: Getty Images [caption] RTÉ has agreed to change its plans to discontinue its longwave radio service following protests from representatives of the Irish community in Britain. The national broadcaster will extend the service until 2019 and then introduce a replacement using an enhanced form of digital radio in a shift from its previous position. In September 2014, RTÉ announced the imminent closure of the service. It carries Radio 1 on the longwave 252kHz frequency which extends into the island of Britain. This was subsequently deferred to 2017. Campaigners against the move argued it would further isolate elderly Irish people in Britain who relied on radio to keep in touch with Irish affairs. About 12 per cent of live online listening to RTÉ radio is from the UK, representing about 600,000 streams per month. But the broadcaster’s contention that its channels could be accessed easily via the internet or online providers was disputed by campaigners, who cited research showing that many elderly people were unable to access such services. Consultative group On Friday a consultative group comprising RTÉ, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the organisation Irish in Britain and representatives of the Irish community issued a joint statement proposing that the longwave service will now close in June 2019. In advance of that closure, RTÉ will launch a replacement service on DAB+, an enhanced form of digital radio. In order to access DAB+, most listeners will need to purchase new sets which typically range upwards from £30 in the UK. The number of listeners in Ireland who access RTÉ channels via DAB is not currently measured by the JNLR survey, although it is known that approximately 20 per cent of households here have a DAB radio. The broadcast will be transmitted via a chain of small networks which cover the main urban centres in the UK. RTÉ estimates the transmission cost will be approximately one-fifth of the present €250,000 per annum. Details of the new service are unclear, but it is likely to include a limited amount of targeted programming commissioned specifically for audiences in Britain and will be subject to regulatory approval there. The additional programming will have a “very modest budget” of about €50,000, according to a spokesperson. ‘Fantastic resource’ Minister of State for the Diaspora Joe McHugh welcomed the recommendations. “I have committed to making a contribution to this via the Government of Ireland Emigrant Support Programme,” he said. “The research we funded on this issue has made clear that RTÉ radio is a fantastic resource for Irish people in Britain.” The broadcaster’s director-general, Dee Forbes, said longwave as a technology is no longer viable in the long term. “It is crucial that we . . . evolve a replacement service and that RTÉ plays its part in supporting evolving technologies. I’m confident we have . . . the goodwill to make a success of it for audiences.” RTÉ Radio 1 will continue to be available in the UK on the RTÉ Radio player, Sky, FreeSat, Virgin TV and other services (via DXLD) Re: RTÉ longwave 252 to continue until at least 2019 RadioToday report today: RTÉ has agreed to continue its longwave 252 service in the UK until the end of June 2019. After that, RTÉ hopes Radio 1 will gain approval from UK authorities to launch via a chain of small broadcast networks which cover main urban centres. Currently, a broadcaster has to be based in the UK to obtain an Ofcom licence. RTÉ says using the DAB+ platform will be considerably less (approx one fifth) than the present quarter of a million per annum that RTÉ expends in running costs for 252. Minister of State for the Diaspora, Joe McHugh T.D., has welcomed the recommendations: “I am delighted that there is now a way forward that takes into account as much as possible the views of older members of the Irish community in Britain. I have committed to making a contribution to this via the Government of Ireland Emigrant Support Programme. The research we funded on this issue has made clear that RTÉ Radio is a fantastic resource for Irish people in Britain. I’d like also to acknowledge the leadership the Irish community in Britain has shown on this.” RTÉ plan to launch a service on DAB+ digital radio modelled from RTÉ Radio 1 and to work with stakeholders to maintain contact with the Irish community in Britain. Details of this service are still being worked out but it is likely to include a limited amount of new targeted programming commissioned for audiences in Britain. As a terrestrial radio service this is subject to regulatory approval in the UK. The UK Government is currently in consultation about deregulating the radio industry including the option to have a foreign company hold a radio licence. http://radiotoday.ie/2017/03/rte-radio-1-to-continue-on-longwave-till-2019/ Mike Posted by: (barraclough, March 11, BDXC-UK yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DXLD) I was impressed by the campaign to keep RTE on longwave in the UK, including this lady, Margaret Golden, who will be marching with banners (pictured in link below) in the St Patrick's Day march in Manchester today (Sunday): http://talkofthetown.ie/dundalk-woman-behind-push-to-save-rte-longwave-252/ The Irish Post also reported the stay of execution of 252 until 2019 last Friday (the day before Radio Today): https://irishpost.co.uk/115190-2/ It seems bizarre to me that RTE were unable to get access to the airwaves in the UK when stations such as China Radio Intl, Sout Al Khaleej (Qatar) and Radio Sputnik (Russia) have got round restrictions and have been broadcasting in the UK for years (Alan Pennington, BDXC- UK yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DXLD) The full recommendations are at the end of this article https://www.donegalnow.com/news/plans-extend-rte-services-irish-diaspora-britain-welcomed/149939 The licence holders for China Radio International, Sout Al Khaleej, Radio Sputnik and other foreign broadcasters are or have been either World Radio Network or Spectrum Radio. They are held responsible for any breaches of the Ofcom Compliance Code of which in Voice of Russia's case there has been at least one (Mike Barraclough, ibid., WORLD OF RADIO 1869, via DXLD) ** ITALY. Fair to good signal of Marconi Radio International March 12: 1245-1630 7700 unknown 100 watts tx to WeEu En/It/Sp/Ge in USB mode http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/03/fair-to-good-signal-of-marconi-radio.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KASHMIR [non]. 4870.304, INDIA, this always odd frequency Clandestine from India into disputed area of muslim Kashmir, Urdu service from Delhi Kingsway site S=7 signal heard in Doha Qatar at 0310 UT, 0230-0330 UT [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, more logs of March 15 at 0230-0330 UT, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews March 15, 2017, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. NORTH KOREA HAS RESUMED SENDING EERIE CODED MESSAGES ECHOING ACROSS THE AIRWAVES AS SPOOKS REMAIN BAFFLED OVER THEIR PURPOSE By Henry Holloway Published 5th March 2017 DailyStar http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/593760/North-Korea-Kim-Jong-Un-Spies-Assassination-Numbers-Station-Jong-Nam-Pyongyang-Seoul-VX LISTEN: North Korea's chilling coded midnight radio messages return to the airwaves [31 second flash clip linked; WTFK????] Kim Jong-un's spies are believed to have broadcast the creepy ghostly message across the Korean Peninsula. Coded broadcasts took over the airwaves just after midnight when a voice cut through the North's propaganda station Radio Pyongyang. South Korean spooks fear the messages are the North using Cold War-style spying tactics to transmit orders to Pyongyang agents in Seoul. Tensions with North Korea have reached an all-time high after Kim's brother was assassinated in Kuala Lumpur and Pyongyang launched a missile into he East Sea. The latest batch of encrypted messages across the airwaves is the first since the North are accused of using a WMD to kill Kim Jong-nam. North Korea's broadcasts are believed to be from numbers stations - shortwave radio transmissions designed to give spies secret orders using a cipher book. Pyongyang's latest broadcast addressed the "21st exploration team" before reading out a string of numbers. "On page 924 number 49, on page 14 number 76, on page 418 number 37," the radio station broadcast said. The voice continued with a further string of numbers and claimed it was calling for a "review" of a "math assignment" (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) WTFK??? ** KOREA NORTH [and non]. 5935, Thursday March 9 at 1259, rapid tone pulse jamming already vs S8-S6 open carrier, 1300 Sea Breeze opening in weekly English, with usual piano music and intensely earnest YL, so still not QSYed. As I understand it, only a handful of Japanese were allegedly abducted many years ago by DPRK, their offspring to become sleeper agents (even one is too many) but Japanese reaxion with all these broadcasts many years later seems to be overkill (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5935, USA WWCR, 3/10, 1240. Lecture with Dr. Gene Scott. Noted twittering jammer under. DPRK already jamming channel ahead of Japan Shiokaze broadcast upcoming at 1300. Even with jammer, S-9 signal, listenable. 5935, JAPAN. Sea Breeze Station 3/10 1300. opening with M in Korean and piano music in seamless transition from WWCR on the channel. W over music and over soft piano music on recheck at 1425. Twittering jammer from DPRK heard under. Armchair. 5935, JAPAN, Shiokaze/Sea Breeze station. 3/11, 1405. S/on, usual voice over music in JJ. DPRK jammer much much more evident today, tho Sea Breeze well on top of it here. Rick Barton, Logs from the picnic table over the past cupla days. From the backyard, using SW-2000629/ATS-505 with 20' wire. Times/dates in UT. 73 and Good Listening! (Rick Barton, Arizona, dxldyg via DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH. RE Seoul AM Radio Listening Guide (3-hour Narrated Bandscan) --- Chris let me use his clips on YouTube. So here's a supplement to his radio listening guide. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UMMQlhylrA AM DX videos coming (Ryan Grabow, March 11, WTFDA Forum via DXLD) Seoul AM Bandscan - YouTube Video (1 of 3) Chris Kadlec Sat, 11 Mar 2017 17:48:53 -0800 Back in December 2015, fellow DXer Ryan Grabow (of Florida) introduced the idea of collaborating on an AM bandscan video as part of his own YouTube channel bandscan series. I was only a few months into listening to AM in Korea and eventually planned to make a brief bandscan of a few pages. Umm. The band was a little more complex than I had imagined. Fast forward a year and I had finally completed a brief 115-page bandscan project with a 3-hour audio documentary and had some time to assist in this video project we both looked forward to. After some work, the first of three AM bandscan videos has been completed. While the recordings are all my own - some of which have not been released previously - and the translations are my own with assistance from another good DX friend in Korea - the graphics and video itself are all his. I'm hoping those who couldn't sit through 3 hours of audio will check out this video just short of 20 minutes. It's largely complete with English subtitles that will provide some more understanding to what you'd be likely to hear if you actually understood Korean. Two future videos - one of Korean & Japanese skywave and a third with Chinese (etc.) skywave are to come in the future. The first video covers the local AM stations in Seoul as would be heard during the daytime: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UMMQlhylrA (Chris Kadlec, Seoul AM Radio Listening Guide http://www.beaglebass.com/dx/seoul/ IRCA mailing list via DXLD) Hi Glenn, During my March 7 reception on 6015 (KBS Hanminjok Bangsong), heard a phone report between a man and woman (00:21+ on my audio), at 0714 UT. Thanks to input from Chulsu-san (Korean DXer), via Amano-san and Hiroyuki-san, have learned the following about that phone report: "After 25 seconds [into my audio - Ron], female announcer says 'jayu asia bangsong'. 'jayu asia bangsong' is Radio Free Asia (RFA). After 29 seconds, female announcer says 'seoul jiguk gija'. 'seoul jiguk gija' is Seoul branch reporter. After 31 seconds, female announcer says 'annyeong ha seyo'. 'annyeong ha seyo' is hello. After 40 seconds, it is RFA Seoul branch reporter phone report. He is male. He explained the fact that the US Trump regime began full- fledged discussions on North Korea policy. *KBS Hanminjok Bangsong has a cooperative relationship with UBS National Unification Broadcast (formerly RFC), as well as RFA Korean broadcasting." So very nice to receive such detailed analysis of my audio. Greatly appreciate their kind assistance! (Ron Howard, dxldyg via DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH. 4925, Korean Numbers Station V24, 1431-1442*, on March 11; starting with classical music, followed by numbers in Korean; good signal strength. This is an infinitely better frequency choice than when I last heard V24, on 4900, mixing badly with the Voice of Strait (China), from 1531 to 1545*, on Feb 25. My audio from today, with first half music and second half with numbers, at http://goo.gl/yfWHUO Thanks very much to Amano-san for his kind assistance after listening to my recording and responding: "Hello Ron-san, I heard your audio of V24. It is very clearly received. Your audio, with second half with numbers, it becomes below. --- -0 "gong" 286 96 "I-baek-pal-sip-yuk Gu-sip-yuk" 906 08 "Gu-baek-gong-yuk Gong-pal" 255 55 "I-baek-o-sip-o O-sip-o" 415 16 "Sa-baek-sip-o Sip-yuk" 134 48 "Il-baek-sam-sip-sa Sa-sip-pal" 108 30 "Il-baek-gong-pal Sam-sip-gong" 935 50 "Gu-baek-sam-sip-o O-sip-gong" 788 16 "Chil-baek-pal-sip-pal Sip-yuk" 755 86 "Chil-baek-o-sip-o Pal-sip-yuk" 896 90 "Pal-baek-gu-sip-yuk Gu-sip-gong" 274 22 "I-baek-chil-sip-sa I-sip-i" Reference - Korean number: 0: gong, 1: il, 2: i, 3: sam, 4: sa, 5: o, 6: yuk, 7: chil, 8: pal, 9: gu, 10: sip, 100: baek" (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA SOUTH. KBS World Radio - Test Transmissions 16th/17th March KBS World Radio English Service will carry out test transmission towards Europe from March 16 to 17 ahead of the A17 shortwave frequency adjustment. Please tune into the following frequency and send us your reception reports. Your feedback will help us greatly in choosing the best frequency option for the new season. Thank you! --------------------------------------- Date: 16th and 17th March 2017. --------------------------------------- Time (UTC): 22:00 to 24:00. --------------------------------------- Frequency (kHz): 11,810. --------------------------------------- Target area: Europe --------------------------------------- E-Mail: english@kbs.co.kr --------------------------------------- Address: KBS WORLD Radio, 13 Yoigongwon-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, 07235, Rep. of KOREA --------------------------------------- Fax: +822-781-3694~6 --------------------------------------- Posted by: (Nick Sharpe, March 14, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [non]. FRANCE, Dead air of Denge Kurdistan via TDF Issoudun 1500-1930 UT, March 9: 1500-1600 11600 ISS 250 kW / 090 deg open carrier, instead of Kurdish 1600-1930 7455 ISS 250 kW / 090 deg open carrier, instead of Kurdish 1930-2130 7455 KCH 300 kW / 116 deg Kurdish as scheduled winter B-16 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/03/dead-air-of-denge-kurdistan-via-tdf.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) FRANCE, Dead air of Denge Kurdistan via TDF Issoudun 1500-1930 UT, March 10 1500-1600 11600 ISS 250 kW / 090 deg open carrier, instead of Kurdish 1600-1930 7455 ISS 250 kW / 090 deg open carrier, instead of Kurdish http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/03/dead-air-of-denge-kurdistan-via-tdf.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) FRANCE, Dead air of Denge Kurdistan via TDF Issoudun 15-1930 UT, March 9-11 1500-1600 11600 ISS 250 kW / 090 deg open carrier, instead of Kurdish 1600-1930 7455 ISS 250 kW / 090 deg open carrier, instead of Kurdish 1930-2130 7455 KCH 300 kW / 116 deg Kurdish as scheduled winter B-16 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/03/dead-air-of-denge-kurdistan-via-tdf.html (DX RE MIX NEWS #998 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, March 13, 2017 via DXLD) FRANCE, Denge Kurdistan was back on air via TDF Issoudun 1500-1930 UT, March 14 1500-1600 on 11600 ISS 250 kW / 090 deg to WeAs Kurdish, instead dead air March 9-13 1600-1930 on 7455 ISS 250 kW / 090 deg to WeAs Kurdish, instead dead air March 9-13 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/03/denge-kurdistan-was-back-on-air-via-tdf.html (Ivo Ivanov, Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DXLD) ** KYRGYZSTAN. 4010.20 *0000-0015 13.3 KGZ Birinchi R, Krasnaya Rechka, Bishkek Opening melody, ID in Kyrgyz and Russian: "..... Birinchi Radio - Govorit Bishkek", National Hymn, 0003 Russian ann, folksongs 45233. (// 4820 was totally covered by Xizang) AP-DNK (Anker Petersen, from Skovlunde made on my AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, wbradio yg via DXLD) ** MADAGASCAR. 6065, AWR, Talata Volondry. Mar 14, 2017 Tuesday. 0320- 0336. Malagasy. OM talking followed by YL singing with piano. Good at 0320, barely readable by 0336. Jo'burg sunrise 0408 (Bill Bingham, Johannesburg RSA. Drake R8E, Sony ICF2001D. dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MADAGASCAR. 11868.2, Madagascar World Voice spur – Mahajanga, 2138, 3/11/17, in Mandarin. Woman and man announcer, musical bridge into woman eventually giving “Bible in Living Sound”, postal and web site (in English), woman singing a Chinese song a cappella, Man with an English lesson with word “moment,” 2144 musical bridge to a woman with “sng??.org” web site spelled out, man talking for a while, 2152 hymn like song into contemporary music, 2156 man, music into 2157 dead air, then off. I didn’t realized until later and doing some research that this was a spur from 11600 [sic; 11610] (Mark Taylor, Madison, Wisconsin, Perseus, SDRPlay, RTL2832 V3 dongle for SDR’s; E1, Satellit 800, PL 660, and various other portables for physical radios; 40 meters dipole, 100’ long wire, Mini whip, NASWA Flashsheet March 12 via DXLD) 17640, March 12 at 1831, MWV English is the OSOB at S9+10, with jazz. Another neat reception from the other side of the world. Meanwhile, where is everybody else who could be broadcasting to us on 16m, from even closer? 17640, March 14 circa 2030, MWV African Pathways Radio with neat music, ancient version of ``Fascinatin` Rhythm``, ``This Day In History`` for March 14, seemingly secular events, but always finishing up with something Biblical circa 2 kiloyears ago for which exact dates are hardly available, if they ever really happened (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Summer A-17 new frequencies of Madagascar World Voice http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/03/summer-17-new-frequencies-of-knls.html WCB Madagascar World Voice, MWV 100 kW 0200-0300 NF 6070 / 250 deg SoAm Spanish tx#1 La Voz Alegre, ex 6190 0300-0400 NF 6170 / 265 deg SoAm Spanish tx#1 La Voz Alegre, ex 6150 1900-2000 NF 9720 / 355 deg EaEu Russian tx#2 KNLS New Life, ex 9495 2200-2300 NF 9490 / 055 deg EaAs Chinese tx#2 Light of Life, ex 9455 [WORLD OF RADIO 1869: bad news for poor CFRX on 6070, unprotegted!] Other frequencies of remain unchanged from A-16 to A-17 1800-1900 on 9570 / 355 deg EaEu Russian tx#1 KNLS New Life Station 1800-1900 on 17640 / 310 deg WeAf English tx#2 African Pathways Radio 1900-2000 on 11945 / 355 deg N/ME Arabic tx#1 Radio Feda 2000-2100 on 13710 / 340 deg N/ME Arabic tx#1 Radio Feda 2000-2100 on 17640 / 295 deg CeAf English tx#2 African Pathways Radio 2100-2200 on 11610 / 325 deg WeEu Chinese tx#1 The Light of Life 2200-2300 on 11790 / 325 deg NoAf Arabic tx#1 Radio Feda 0200-0300 on 9600 / 040 deg SoAs English tx#2 African Pathways Radio 0400-0500 on 11825 / 295 deg CeAf English tx#1 African Pathways Radio 0400-0500 on 17530 / 055 deg EaAs Chinese tx#2 The Light of Life (Observer, Bulgaria, March 14, via DXLD) See also ALASKA ** MEXICO. 730, March 9 at 1309, Spanish federal PSA for the Cámara de Diputados, and another one, then full ID for XEHB AM 730, 50,000 watts y XHHB FM 102.1(?), 25,000 ERP ``en efectivo``, with street address in Hidalgo del Parral, Chihuahua, ``sólo éxitos en Fiesta Estéreo``. WRTH 2017 still has the old ``Ke Buena`` slogan and no FM //. Or is it 107.1 as in IRCA Mexican Log 2015? Yes, WTFDA FM Database, which now includes Mexico, shows 107.1 is really XHEHB-FM in nearby San Francisco del Oro, Chihuahua, Estereo Fiesta, but fails to show // 730 XEHB. The real XHHB FM is 94.7 in Hermosillo; the E`s are inserted to avoid duplication as AM stations are forced to start migrating to FM, but are easily missed in hearing or even speaking. I started bandscan upward from 540 a few minutes earlier, already after our sunrise at 1251, and this is the first Mexican still audible, despite horrible splash from 740 KRMG on 50 kW day power (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) They might even be missing the added E in the XHEHB ID, which is common for that variety of AM-FM migrant. (See: XHEOA, XHEPQ, XHECPQ which are known to ID as XHOA, XHPQ and XHCPQ. Fun fact: two of those "wrong" calls are actually available!)(Raymie Humbert, AZ, March 9, WTFDA Forum via DXLD) ** MEXICO. 870, March 9 at 1313, XETAR hasn`t quite faded out yet, in indigenous language with some Spanish number-words, LV de la Sierra Tarahumara, Guachochi, Chihuahua, as long as WWL is nulled, still strong. Far from the border, this daytimer will keep signing on at 1300 UT until DST overtakes April 2 for *1200, when our sunrise will then be circa 1210 UT, maybe reaudiblizing XETAR for a bit (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 1300, UT Monday March 13 at 0436, Radio Mexicana ID from XEP, and music, evidently not running `La Hora Nacional` now as would be expected Sundays at 10 pm local, since Juárez has certainly copied El Paso by going on MDT of UT -6, unlike further south in México, no DST until April 2 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. So Cal / Mexicali update --- Today we drove to Ocotillo and Borrego to see the desert wildflowers. Noted the following: No Mexicali or San Luís Río Colorado stations have vacated AM and moved to FM. XEAA-1340 is still on the air. They just don't get out like they used to. "Radio Variedades, la mejor música romántica" slogan noted. XED-1050 seems to be putting a substantial spur on 650 (presumably a mixing product with XEZF-850, but nothing noted on 1250). It was still audible a good 30 miles NW of Mexicali (getting weaker as we drove away) so I don't think it was just my car radio overloading. Never noted on previous trips through this area. P.S. It seemed like KFI was not running IBOC today. Normally 650 in SoCal is covered by KFI IBOC slop. 73 (Tim Hall, CA, Mar 14, ABDX via DXLD) See also USA: TIS Ensenada AMs moved to FM --- I've heard no Ensenada stations for some time now. I checked Wikipedia for info on the 3 remaining stations and found the following info which seems accurate: XEDX-1010 moved to 100.3 and turned off the AM in 2016. XEHC-1590 moved to 92.1 and turned off the AM in 2014. XEPF-1400 moved to 89.1 and turned off the AM in 2014. This leaves Ensenada with no AM stations (XESS-620 and XESDD-1030 now ID as Puerto Nuevo and have been broadcasting to the Tijuana market for over a decade). Interesting how the FM migration has gone so much faster in some markets than others. As far as I can tell, the states of Zacatecas and Aguascalientes have (almost?) no AMs left at this point. Channels which used to be full of Mexican signals (660, 880) now have virtually none. Wish I had done a better job with Mexican wires at the Border Inn prior to last year. I don't know if my screen shot will get dropped from this e-mail when it hits the list server, but if it doesn't, you can see how loud and how fat the pests are here. Notice how obnoxiously WIDE the peaks are on XESURF-540, XESDD-1030, KSDO-1130, XEXX-1420, XERCN-1470, XEUT- 1630, XEPE-1700, etc. KOGO-600 has cleaned up its act over the years and now looks quite respectable (loud but not sloppy; nice thin peak) with the IBOC turned off. 73 (Tim Hall, Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone, March 17, ABDX via DXLD) see also USA ** MEXICO. 6185, Radio Educación – Mexico City (presumed), 0330-0502, Mar 7. Man announcer with Spanish language talk soon joined by a female announcer that went on for a long time. Program of vocal selections at 0405 hosted by a man announcer. Poor to fair. In the clear after Vatican closed. Later QRM from AWR, Moosbrunn in Turkish at *0400 but essentially in the clear after AWR signed off at 0430. I don’t recall seeing any recent reports about whether this station is active or not (Rich D'Angelo, 2216 Burkey Drive, Wyomissing, PA 19610, U.S.A. Ten-Tec RX-340, Drake R-8B, Eton E1, Eton E5, Alpha Delta DX Sloper, RF Systems Mini-Windom, Datong FL3, JPS ANC-4, NASWA Flashsheet March 12 via DXLD) Yes, active, but generally with low-level modulation, tsk2. Note that until DST starts in DF April 2, will remain on until 0600*v, then 0500v* (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. RAYMIE`S MEXICO BEAT this week --- [including DTV] [Re 17-10, forwarded articles] Help, Glenn! I'm drowning in articles! Let's get to all those: -You're right on Wixárika! I've been covering this station (calls are XHPBUG-FM, village is San Andrés Cohamiata) since it was awarded. Wixárika is indeed a native language name (sometimes it appears as Huichol but this seems to be the common and accepted name for it). The U de G is providing technical support and some facilities but the goal is for the station to essentially be self-sustaining. It's not the first public indigenous station (the CDI stations are), but it is the first from a university. It's in a really remote area, too. The article also mentions the expansion of Canal 44 to Cd. Guzmán and Lagos de Moreno (XHPBGZ and XHPBLM). -The second two articles are all about the Big Mystery of IFT-4, also known as Tecnoradio, that picked up some 30 stations. Nobody knows who this is! The one address I found for them is some residential building where some other companies that sound like radio station operators were also listed: "Frecuencia Nova", "Frecuencia Global", "La Radio de Hoy", "Frecuencia Óptima" and "Radio Agosto". There's a phone number listed for a daring Mexican who might want to try calling it: 55 53351685. -The Wikipedia listings about XEKT and XEEBC were added by locals. I'd have to imagine they're correct (Raymie Humbert, Phœnix AZ, March 9, WTFDA Forum via DXLD) When new documents are posted in the RPC, they first appear as File Not Found links...which these currently are. Soon though they'll have new information to dig into! — They're now up One is a new Imagen tech sheet for XHCTTH in Tapachula: SPR tower, 54.192 kW ERP http://rpc.ift.org.mx/rpc/pdfs/90777_170310012222_5391.pdf The other three describe shadows of XHFZC in Zacatecas, according to the RPC. The February VC tables added XHFZC with virtual channel 18. I have not seen if XHFZC is on yet. http://rpc.ift.org.mx/rpc/pdfs/85838_170310012448_8624.pdf - Ococaliente, .5 kw http://rpc.ift.org.mx/rpc/pdfs/85838_170310012415_2126.pdf - Fresnillo, .5 kW http://rpc.ift.org.mx/rpc/pdfs/85838_170310012347_2475.pdf - Jeréz, .5 kW ——— Meanwhile, in Hidalgo, the former financial head at the Hidalgo state network has been held for his responsibility in embezzling millions of pesos from the state agency. http://www.radioformula.com.mx/notas.asp?Idn=668057&idFC=2017&utm_content=buffer188c7&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer Carlos Becerril Vargas is part of the investigation being made to the embezzlement of 600 million pesos from RTH. Additionally, Sergio Islas Olvera, who was already barred from holding a state government position, may be arrested as well. Last edited by Raymie; 03-10-2017 at 02:49 PM. Reason: Documents now appear (Raymie, March 10, ibid.) Something old and something sort of new... The something old is Radio Mil (now known as Mil AM) https://twitter.com/Mil_AMMx/status/840247605154193408 - it turns 75 today! The something new is a number, though not so much a name. For a brief time a few years ago, Multimedios had a channel named Altavisión. The name is coming back next week, and as part of its relaunch on XHSAW, that station is taking on a new virtual channel - 13, ditching the share of 12 it has had with XHAW for years (Raymie, March 10, ibid.) Quote Originally Posted by Raymie: `` When you're so eager to move to FM you have the antenna set up even before you have an FM station... (Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Saltillo, Coahuila)`` That would be of questionable legality in the U.S. (of course, FCC rules don't apply in Mexico!) Here's a FCC document https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-14-1099A1.pdf in which a Texas applicant is found to have engaged in illegal "premature construction" for building the proposed station's tower before the construction permit was issued. From the document: Section 319 was enacted to ensure that applicants do not use incurred expenses as a means of exerting improper pressure upon the Commission to grant an application. I'm thinking some time in the 1920s/1930s, someone built a radio station and then applied for a license. The Commission refused to grant the license, and the applicant went to their Congresspeople and complained how they'd lost all this money building a station they can't legally operate (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66, http://www.w9wi.com ibid.) The UAAAN has wanted to get on FM for years. I believe their location in Saltillo (and consequent need for FCC coordination) has been the primary delay. They failed to migrate to FM with their AM permit, too. The FCC has some empty allotments for Saltillo, notably 102.9 which is now 400 kHz between two operating FMs. 96.7 and 101.7 are available, but they are Class I ghost stations (Ramos Arizpe, Coah.) and so, yeah. 107.3 is in the Article 90 reserved band, so a public station could not be built there. 92.1 would be open, as would 88.1. (It is worth noting that only one station in the 320-km border swath in Coah. was part of IFT-4, FID 94434 (90.5 Cuatro Ciénegas, Coah.). It should be a Class C per the allotment but it was awarded as a B1.) Last edited by Raymie; 03-12-2017 at 07:43 PM. (Raymie, March 12, ibid.) Don't really have a place for this, but since I was sent the 2015 ARC log, and I'm not sure if these got ID'ed ever... "Jul29 22:36 My 99.3 (not 93.9, that was EE) was KE BUENA - Dan EM73QX" My guess (lots of Guatemala, Honduras in at the time, plus Cozumel and FM to southern and central Mexico) is XHQAA-FM Chetumal which went Ke Buena some time in 2015 or 2016. It had been La Poderosa. "Jul29 20:30 Es 97.1 Super stereo Miled. I think this is Morelos many stations multi deep up to 108. KW4RZ/ m EM60" XHQB-FM Tulancingo, Hidalgo. The only Miled station outside of Edomex. "Jun24 00:19 Es 90.9 Chihuahua "La Caliente" - Matt EN21" XHAHC Chihuahua Capital "Jun23 21:22 Es 94.1 XHUAMA Mexico DF MEX - NEW - de RNA/OK EM16gj" [could that be Richard N Allen, Perry OK?] There are five of these. They're 20 watts apiece. Pick your poison: A, C, I, R or X? (No, Grupo ACIR is not involved) "Jun09 12:35 pix of XHMLC - de WA5IYX EL09ql STX http://www.qsl.net/wa5iyx/images/20150609-045311-1.jpg " Whoa nelly. I'm going to point out the reason this catch was amazing. XHMLC-TDT in 2015 would have been intermittent operation, from midnight to 6am (it was co-channel with analog 29). (The clock in the image reads 4:56am.) I never thought one of these would have been DXed (Raymie, March 13, ibid.) It's a busy month for TV Azteca... Today, Proyecto 40 became ADN 40 as part of the biggest brand refresh XHTVM has had since, well, Azteca began running it on a regular basis again in early 2006. And next week, it's joined by an entirely new service, a+, http://www.elfinanciero.com.mx/empresas/tv-azteca-enciende-dos-nuevos-canales-en-tele-abierta.html which will be carried on Azteca 7 muxes in five cities (Guadalajara, León, Toluca, Mexico City and Monterrey) with expansion to 21 cities occurring in the second quarter. Azteca's regional programming has long been inconsistent, and this is definitely an effort to compete with Televisa and others (Multimedios comes to mind in Monterrey) in the space (Raymie, March 13, ibid.) Analysis: Playing the Regional Game The long history of Imevisión and TV Azteca includes several attempts at regional program production. In the 80s and even the early 90s, Imevisión made room for local programs produced by arms of the state government — in some cases, the first time local programs were regularly originated from the states. It was a milestone in Mexican television, one that laid the cornerstone for a series of state networks. The Campeche, Chiapas, Guanajuato, Puebla, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosí and Tlaxcala state networks, among others, were born from Imevisión opt-outs. In Tlaxcala, the local programs sometimes had to be driven to Puebla, or even to the transmitter site of XHTEM-TV on Cerro Tlamacas in the State of Mexico (the mountain that gives the station its callsign), when the microwave link failed. Imevisión also had two stations that were almost all local, XHFN in Monterrey and XHCH in Chihuahua. For the historical significance and the important stimulus this gave to regional TV, this has to be an A- in my book. In 1995, TV Azteca tried its hand at regionalization, entering into alliances with local companies (such as Síntesis, a news producer, in Tijuana) and creating others (like Veravisión in Veracruz). These were the seeds of the current Azteca local subdivisions, airing primarily news shows but also some local entertainment programming and sports content. Some of these get a B grade, and some get a C. (From what I've heard, Azteca Bajío's local programs are poor in their picture quality.) But today, from la televisora del Ajusco, comes a move that I can only grade A+. In the long history of TV Azteca, no effort at local programming has been more ambitious than the one they will embark on next week. Local television, for at first five but eventually more than 20 cities, with production levels varying according to the local demand and need, plus the bare minimum of news and sports shows in each of their local divisions. A+, though, is part of something bigger: the regional television game is getting more and more interesting. A few years ago, we were all watching intently as IFT-1 was launched with the goal of creating two national networks. Though only one emerged from the process, we were left with 123 station allotments that are now in IFT-6. While the participation figures are worrying, there has to be a serious contender somewhere in the list of 24. We're seeing Multimedios shuffling its lineup in Monterrey, with the impending return of Altavisión. We're seeing Televisa get its first serious competition in markets like León. And we're seeing local television in Mexico City. Viewers won't have reason to complain—and, hopefully, neither will Azteca. Este programa es público, ajeno a cualquier partido político. Queda prohibido el uso para fines distintos a los establecidos en el programa [tagline] (Raymie, March 14, ibid.) ** MOROCCO. 9575. Mar 13 at 2100, Radio Medi 1, Nador is off. Currently irregular! 9575. Mar 13 at 2148, Radio Medi 1, in French. Man announcer presents a musical program. Medi1 on-air, good signal and very poor modulation, 45442. Transmitter problems continue, presumably. DXer: (José Ronaldo Xavier (JRX), Cabedelo-PB, Brazil, Tecsun S-2000, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) 9575, Radio Medi Internationale from Nador, excellent S=9+30dB signal in Queensland Australia SDR installation this morning at 0714 UT [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, 06-08 UT March 14, dxldyg via DXLD) Simultaneously: 9575, R. Mediterranée Int., Mar 14 0709-0715, 35333, Arabic and French, News and talk, ID at 0711 and 0712 (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC-R75, NRD-525+RD-9830, ANT, 130m Sloper Wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS. Fantastic Flevo Foto --- https://flic.kr/p/kqyZRA One might suggest there are grey skies over all the shortwave broadcast transmitter sites these days (Ian, March 11, shortwavesites yg via DXLD) ** NEWFOUNDLAND. 2598-USB, March 12 at 0135 UT, roboYL in English with marine weather, citing some UTCs and some Eastern Standards; vs S9+10 lightning crashes. Scheduled starting at 0137 UT is VOK, Labrador via both Cartwright and Hopedale, but if timing is precise, preceding it from 0107 UT is VOK via St Anthony site. Nothing on 2749 now, but see CANADA. I THINK all these stay on same UT schedules despite imposition of DST, right? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEWFOUNDLAND. 6159.974, S=8-9 signal of Canadian domestic service in 49mb, CKZN St. Johns broadcast CBC Radio One program, at 0630 UT phone interview report by Ottawa citizen, on Russian fake news, DISINFORMATION. [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, 06-08 UT March 14, dxldyg via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. Hi Glenn. I noticed following this morning: 5995, NEW ZEALAND, RNZI at 1138 with a man and woman interviewing another woman about aboriginal issues mentioning a self-help centre in Auckland - Fair with heavy fading Mar 13 - still on with Radio National programming at 1217. I'm not sure if this is a mistake or a change as their website still lists this frequency from 1258 to 1650 Sun to Fri (Mark Coady, Ontario DX Association, WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Now the posted schedule is: 0000-0458 15720 AM Pacific Daily 0459-0758 11725 AM Pacific Daily 0759-1058 9765 AM Pacific Daily 1059-1258 9700 AM NW Pacific, PNG Daily 1259-1758 7355 AM Pacific Sat 1259-1650 5995 AM Pacific Sun-Fri 1651-1745 5975 DRM Cooks Islands, Samoa Tonga Sun-Fri 1751-1835 7355 DRM Cook Islands, Tonga, Samoa Sun-Fri 1836-1935 9780 DRM Pacific Sun-Fri 1859-1958 9630 AM Pacific Sat 1936-2050 11690 DRM Cook Islands, Samoa, Tonga Sun-Fri 1959-2058 11725 AM Pacific Sat 2051-2258 15720 AM Pacific Daily 2059-2258 15720 AM Pacific Sat 2259-0000 15720 AM Pacific Daily Why in the world would they change to 5995 six days a week, but keep 7355 only on Saturdays? There goes our best morning reception of NZ (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [later:] not really on 7355, Sat March 18 from *1259 but 5995 too (gh) ** NIGERIA. 7254.95, V. of Nigeria, Mar 13 0657-0708, 35232-35333, French, Drums IS from 0657, 0659 Opening announce, News (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC-R75, NRD-525+RD-9830, ANT, 130m Sloper Wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7254.941, V of Nigeria, Ikorodu, Hausa service, S=9+10dB at 0652 UT, two men interview [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, 06-08 UT March 14, dxldyg via DXLD) ** NIGERIA [non]. Cancelled clandestine in B-16 - Manara Radio Inter also will be inactive in A17 0730-0830 on 15440 ISS 150 kW / 170 deg to WeAf Hausa, same QRG in A16 1600-1700 NF 15215 ISS 150 kW / 170 deg to WeAf Hausa, ex 17765 in A16 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/03/brb-radio-front-for-independence-of.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA [non]. A-17 changes of clandestine broadcasts via BaBcoCk Radio Dandal Kura International 0500-0600 NF 5960 ASC 250 kW / 070 deg to WeAf Kanuri, ex 7415 A16 0600-0700 on 7415 ASC 250 kW / 070 deg to WeAf Kanuri, ex 0500-0700 0700-0800 NF 13810 WOF 250 kW / 165 deg to WeAf Kanuri, ex 15480 A16 1800-2100 on 12050 ASC 250 kW / 065 deg to WeAf Kanuri, same QRG A16 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. 6925-USB, PIRATE, Voice of Poncho [sic] Villa, 0040, 3/6/17. Poncho is running from being deported by Trump and seeing various people in the Shortwave pirate community, abruptly off at 0042. Good. 6940-USB, Voice of Poncho Villa, 0047, 3/12/17. Apparently the same story heard on 6925U on 3/6/17 about Poncho escaping deportation by Trump, ID, off 0057. Fair – poor (Mark Taylor, Madison, Wisconsin, Perseus, SDRPlay, RTL2832 V3 dongle for SDR’s; E1, Satellit 800, PL 660, and various other portables for physical radios; 40 meters dipole, 100’ long wire, Mini whip, NASWA Flashsheet March 12 via DXLD) ** NORTH AMERICA. Hi Glenn, Received the YHWH pirate last night on a Sony portable while in the Phoenix area on my spring break. 7620 kHz at 0315 UT. Religious rant. Regards, (Mark Carlsen, Massachusetts, Sent from my iPhone, March 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, Thanks for the mention on HCDX today. I forgot to mention that I might have been 5 kHz off with the Sony ICF-7600, so YHWH could have been on 7615 kHz out here the other night. This portable only tunes in 5 kHz increments. Uses a fine tune wheel for anything in between. Haven't heard this guy since 3/9 although I haven't been checking as late as you or Ron Howard. Will try the next few nights before I go home to Boston. I do miss the better listening conditions of the east coast. Best regards, (Mark Carlsen, AZ, Sent from my iPad March 13, ibid.) Hi Glenn, You and I have been looking for YHWH for some weeks now, without success. March 11 (UT), perhaps found him back on the air, but not 100% positive! On 7615, one of his favorite frequencies, at 0327, heard a decent level open carrier with no audio detected. At 0353 had several brief seconds of very faint audio, but not strong enough or long enough to be completely sure it was him. Normally I can quickly tell it's him after just a few seconds, but tonight was extreme poor reception. Have check here recently during his usual broadcasting time and heard nothing, so believe there is a fairly good change it was him, but just tentative. Was off the air at 0417 check. Worth more monitoring tomorrow night. 7615, YHWH, 0240, March 12. As Glenn has commented on, "Joshua" had not been heard recently, but he is back now. Today was able to clearly tell it was him, even though not at a readable level. Much better than yesterday, which had a decent open carrier, but unable to confirm it was YHWH. On March 11 he was off the air by 0417, while on March 12 was still going at 0426+ (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7615, March 13 at 0505, tune in just in time to hear Station YHWH closing: S9 but rough modulation and some fades preventing full copy. He finishes with ``fooled into believing in the so-called god Jesus``. Then ``Goodbye and I love you, Josiah``, and ``Station YHWH will be back on the air tomorrow night``. Did he give a time and frequency during fade? Also mentions dot-com a few times, but can`t copy it, whether e-mail or website. Did anybody get that? And off at 0507*. Ron Howard has also been hearing this frequency again, and Mark Carlsen, visiting Arizona reported 7620 {or could have been 7615 on his portable} at 0315 UT March 9 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. 6945.0-USB, March 12 at 0101, S9+25 rock music; 0114, ``Come Together``; got to be Wolverine Radio, yes, catch an ID at 0123 after a few more tunes, and off at next check 0141. By comparison, 6855-AM WRMI was only S9+10 and relatively undermodulated (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. TCS The Crystal Ship T-shirts & More, Available Once Again! Dear Pirate Radio and Shortwave friends, Own and wear a piece of Shortwave Pirate Radio History with the Official "TCS - The Crystal Ship" T-shirt, long-sleeve T or sweatshirts, and drink your java out of a collectible TCS coffee mug! After three years, T-shirts featuring the shortwave pirate radio station "TCS - The Crystal Ship" are once again available for a limited time, and this time WORLD-WIDE! https://teespring.com/tcs1 This time in addition to T-shirts, you can also choose from long- sleeve T's, sweatshirts, or a very collectible TCS coffee mug! We are happy that this time our T-shirts and other items are available to be shipped to all pirate radio fans worldwide, and not just those within the U.S. This promotion is a fundraiser for TCS station operations, website operations and the Free Radio Café website, and all proceeds will go to support these operations. Get yours here! https://teespring.com/tcs1 The promotion is planned to run for 15 days through March 26th, at which time items purchased will be printed and shipped. For an additional $3.99 on the order form, they will print and ship your items immediately. Please feel free to share or republish this info, share in Facebook groups, etc. Just doing that will help us out! Many thanks to our many loyal fans and friends we've made over the years! 73s and FIGHT For FREE RADIO!!! John Poet The Crystal Ship /TCS Shortwave Relay Network http://www.tcsshortwave.com Join Our Pirate Radio Forum! Free Radio Cafe Pirate Radio forum http://freeradiocafe.com/forum/ FRC Home http://freeradiocafe.com Free Radio Cafe On Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FreeRadioCafe Follow FRC Loggings on Twitter https://twitter.com/FreeRadioCafe YouTube Channel http://www.youtube.com/FreeRadioCafe The Free Radio Weekly: A weekly Email publication with the most current pirate loggings and information now being published anywhere! Send your free subscription requests to freeradioweekly@gmail.com and tell 'em that we sent ya! (John Poet, March 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. International Crystal Manufacturing Going Out of Business see RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM [WORLD OF RADIO 1869] ** OKLAHOMA. 1000, March 9 at 1320 UT, KTOK OKC, mentions ``the late Mike McCarville``, who had a morning talkshow here. Yes, he just died yesterday. Another conservative I never listened to. Here`s a story: http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/163475/ ``McCarville [portrait] --- Condolences to family and friends of longtime OKLAHOMA radio talk show host and political commentator MIKE MCCARVILLE, who died TODAY (3/8) at 76, according to a post at his website. http://mccarvillereport.com/archives/43933 MCCARVILLE, most recently proprietor of "THE MCCARVILLE REPORT" political blog, was a host and PD at KTOK-A/OKLAHOMA CITY and a commentator for KOSU/STILLWATER and KGWA/ENID; he also filled in on NRANEWS.COM's talk shows online and on SIRIUSXM RADIO. He was a former reporter for THE OKLAHOMAN and THE TULSA TRIBUNE, among many other papers and publications. and an Assistant News Director for CBS affiliate KWTV/OKLAHOMA CITY. In the post on THE MCCARVILLE REPORT, Contributing Editor JASON DOYLE ODEN wrote, "It is my unfortunate duty to inform you that our friend MIKE MCCARVILLE is no longer with us on Earth. After struggling with an illness, he has gone to his deserved rest. That familiar laugh and smile are now part of Heaven’s domain. It is the image of that twinkle in MIKE’s eyes and his quick offer of a cup of coffee that haunt me as I write this piece to stay [sic] goodbye to the man who was my boss, my mentor and best of all, my friend."`` Then weather by Emily Sutton, of KFOR-TV. Lots of TV weatherpersons have side deals with various radio stations, extra cash, or it is just part of the TV jobs for promotion? (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Longtime Oklahoma journalist, author McCarville dies http://www.enidnews.com/region/longtime-oklahoma-journalist-author-mccarville-dies/article_b6b7bb5c-8c8a-5925-bc55-e2be0a3ac46e.html OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Longtime Oklahoma political journalist, broadcaster and author Mike McCarville has died. McCarville's daughter, Shelli Aliff, says McCarville died Wednesday morning after suffering complications from emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He was 76. McCarville's career included work for various Oklahoma newspapers and broadcast stations, including serving as assistant news director of KWTV television and as program director, reporter and conservative talk show host on KTOK radio. He created the online political blog "The McCarville Report," which first announced his death. Among those sending condolences are Gov. Mary Fallin and U.S. Sen. James Lankford. Carville's survivors also include his wife. No funeral services have been announced (Enid Eagle via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. 1520, March 12 at 0155 UT, KOKC with a gun show explaining exactly where to shoot people to cause the most damage. Good to know! Outro as `Frontlines of Freedom` on a growing network of paranoid outlets (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. 92.1-FM, March 10 circa 1850 UT on caradio, KAMG-LP Enid is on again, but still unmodulated; why bother? Still dead air on PL- 880 at 0033 UT March 11 check (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Since then, completely off air whenever checked; gone for good? ** OKLAHOMA. Tuning thru OTA TV subchannels, circa 1900 UT March 11, I see some changes from OKC, namely on RF 24, KOKH 25-2, CHARGE! And on the other Sinclair station: RF 33, KOCB 34-2, TBD. These must have happened in the last few days. So I bring up Market 50, OKC at rabbitears.info which has already caught up with this info. Following the links, first about CHARGE! It`s in many markets, mainly Sinclair stations; http://watchcharge.com ``CHARGE! is a new free broadcast network featuring action programming including movies, series and sports entertainment. Watch action stars, every-day heroes and insane athletes engaged in battles, chases, showdowns and so much more. CHARGE! Ready for Action.`` http://watchcharge.com/schedule/ TBD doesn`t mean the listing is to-be-determined --- that is now the NAME of this network, in many markets, ONLY Sinclair stations. About: ``You love TV. And you love the internet. So you’re definitely gonna love TBD: a new free broadcast network that combines the best of both worlds. We handpick the most entertaining stuff from the most creative creators and put it on your TV for a new adventure every day. Everything from culinary capers, jaw-dropping action, hilarious pranks and comedy, music, fitness, gaming, or just random awesomeness that you never knew you needed in your life. If it’s what’s new or what’s next, it’s on TBD.`` http://tbd.com/schedule Consulting W9WI.com to remind us of what used to be on these channels: 25.2, was Grit 34.2, was GetTV --- so are these merely name changes or successor networks of same sources? No, GetTV and Grit still exist in many other markets. I can safely say I never found any programming on either I wanted to watch nor likely on their replacements, but will keep an eye on skeds. How does KGNE-LD 38 Sherman TX, no further info, get listed inside the OKC market? Yet when clicking on Market 50 to show all the towns therein, nothing outside OK in KS or TX. (Sherman is right across the Red River from OK, but no closer southern OK towns are with ``OKC``. Possibly legacy of Sherman being in the Ardmore OK-Sherman-Denison TX market thanks to KXII-12. But the presence of that CBS/NBC affiliate kept the OKC market away.) Also bunched as part of the OKC market: K19IR-D Enid, which is not and never has been on the air, anyhow flagged as off the air. But rabbitears still lists TV-OK as if still existing: TVOK, Retro on 1, M-FOX on 2, Azteca on 3 for all these: KXOK-LD Enid physical ch 31 WQOS306 Enid physical ch 32 [was relay to Lamont, Ponca] K35JY-D Lamont still listed KTEW-LD Ponca City physical ch 18 still listed, all same lineups The Enid ones, and surely resultantly the other two, have been gone how many years now, three or two? I research in DXLD archives. Yes, last seen on July 20, 2015 as in DXLD 15-29, but they were out of order for months before that, as I frequently reported. Some -LD or -D translator stations in OKC I have never been able to confirm here, but could be on the air, including, also of interest: K47MU-D Concho OK ch 47, only with First Nations Experience network, which also exists in some other areas with significant Indian populations. Concho is unincorporated, and not even in index of Rand McNally Large-Scale Road Atlas, but Wikipedia knows it is in Canadian county = west side of OKC. So far no signs of any repacking, nor publicity about what will happen, But the major stations which will obviously have to evacuate are RF 50 KOPX-62, RF 40 KAUT-43 and RF 39 KWTV-9 (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) KGNE has a permit to move to the OKC tower farm. == (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66, WTFDA gg via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. DTV Repacking Info --- If you haven't heard yet, there is a searchable list of some of the repacked stations on the NAB repacking website: http://www.nab.org/repacking/clearinghouse.asp Many stations are not listed (yet) (Chris Lucas, Poughkeepsie, NY, March 14, WTFDA gg via DXLD) More at DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DTV So I check for Oklahoma City on it; with [my comments] (gh) Results Call Sign: KAUT-TV Licensee: Tribune Broadcasting Oklahoma City License, LLC DMA: Oklahoma City, OK Old Channel: 40 New Channel: 19 Power: 639 Facility ID: 50182 Transition Phase: 1 [I thought they might double up with sibling KFOR RF 27, but not, if they don`t have to. This will knock a LP off ch 19] Call Sign: KOCB Licensee: KOCB Licensee, LLC DMA: Oklahoma City, OK Old Channel: 33 New Channel: 33 Power: Facility ID: Transition Phase: Call Sign: KOKH-TV Licensee: KOKH Licensee, LLC DMA: Oklahoma City, OK Old Channel: 24 New Channel: 24 Power: Facility ID: Transition Phase: Call Sign: KSBI Licensee: Griffin Licensing, L.L.C. DMA: Oklahoma City, OK Old Channel: 23 New Channel: 23 Power: Facility ID: 38214 Transition Phase: [see KWTV below] Call Sign: KTUZ TV Licensee: TYLER MEDIA LLC DMA: Oklahoma City, OK Old Channel: 29 New Channel: 29 Power: 1000 Facility ID: 77480 Transition Phase: NA [city of license is axually Shawnee] Call Sign: KUOK Licensee: TYLER MEDIA LLC DMA: Oklahoma City, OK Old Channel: 35 New Channel: 35 Power: 8 Facility ID: 86532 Transition Phase: NA [why two separate listing for this? The `main` KUOK is axually in faraway Woodward, with a LP relay in OKC, and a full-power relay as virtual 36 on KTUZ RF 29] Call Sign: KUOK CD Licensee: TYLER MEDIA LLC DMA: Oklahoma City, OK Old Channel: 35 New Channel: 35 Power: 7.33 Facility ID: 14885 Transition Phase: NA Call Sign: KUTU CD Licensee: TYLER MEDIA LLC DMA: Oklahoma City, OK Old Channel: 25 New Channel: 27 Power: 7.9 Facility ID: 31369 Transition Phase: 2 [? KFOR is already on 27 and surely will stay, so error here, or will be a subchannel of that?] Call Sign: KWTV-DT Licensee: Griffin Licensing, L.L.C. DMA: Oklahoma City, OK Old Channel: 39 New Channel: 25 Power: 748 KW Facility ID: 25382 Transition Phase: 1 [I expected KWTV to double up on 23 with its sibling station KSBI; but not if you don`t have to. See previous entry, knocking off KUTU? Which BTW I have never DXed unlike some other LDs/LPs from OKC] (via Glenn Hauser, Enid, March 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. OETA`s Oklahoma News Report featured the Enid High School observatory, about 15 minutes into the March 10 video: http://videos.oeta.tv/video/2365977428/ Followed by a brief obit for Mike McCarville (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA [and non]. Yet another story about the ex-GM of La Voz de Atitlán, 2390 kHz, and his posthumous path to glory: ROTHER BEATIFICATION WILL BE SEPT. 23 Enid News & Eagle Mar 13, 2017 See GUATEMALA [and non] ** OKLAHOMA [non]. Received circa Feb 13, 2017, but just now added as #s 81-84 to my QSL Gallery, http://www.worldofradio.com/QSL.html are images of QSLs from James Branum for Mennonite Radio and Broad Spectrum Radio as heard in Dec 2015 and Jan 2016 via WBCQ 5109.7-CUSB, along with two more cards from him. As I told him in a thank-you, the best kind of QSL, a surprise since I had not even requested them directly, but he consulted my reports archived at bclnews.it as shown on one of the cards. He had been catching up with a backlog (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3260, NBC Madang, 1149-1206*, March 9. In Pidgin/Tok Pisin; pop songs (Dr Hook - "Sharing the Night Together," etc.); 1200 PNG bird call and NBC news/weather in English (Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop gave an address at Lae School of Nursing, etc.); promo for NBC; suddenly off; poor, but at times semi- readable. 3260, NBC Madang, 1141-1206*, March 14. In Pidgin/Tok Pisin; DJ with pop songs (Air Supply with "Lost In Love," etc.); 1201 PNG bird call; "NBC News in Brief" (Solomon Islands Prime Minister Sogavare in PNG for talks with Governor General, etc.; cricket news; weather forecast); promo for "NBC Radio" and cut off; poor to almost fair and semi-readable (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also BOUGAINVILLE ** PERU. 4747, R. HUANTA 2000. Marzo 7. 2336-2346 UT. Avisos, en español, de la emisora, Universidad Andina, consultas médicas, avisos de misa de defunción, avisos de trabajos. Mensajes de contactos de personas del sector rural. SINPO: 45444 (Claudio Galaz, RX: TECSUN PL 660; ANT: Hilo de 40 metros de largo, QTH: Ovalle, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) ** PERU. 4955, R. CULTURAL AMAUTA. Marzo 7. 2347- UT. Avisos en idioma quechua sobre la Unidad educativa, avisos de visitas médicas, asesorías judiciales, y saludos a personas en sectores rurales. SINPO: 55444 (Claudio Galaz, RX: TECSUN PL 660; ANT: Hilo de 40 metros de largo, QTH: Ovalle, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) ** PERU. 5025.003, R. Quillabamba, 2328 talk by lady and M announcers in Spanish. 2330 canned announcement by M with ID and mention of Cusco, followed by another canned announcement by same W announcer, then intro with ID "Radio Quillabamba presenta..." for upcoming Rosary recital program, and said program to 0002. Nice signal in absence of Rebelde. 7 March. 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop and 1530 foot Delta Loop antennas, Hard-Core- DX mailing list via DXLD) see also UNIDENTIFIED 5025.0, March 12 at 0106, R. Rebelde is off again, but a JBA carrier here. Presumed R. Quillabamba, not significantly off-frequency to either side now. From traces of modulation, with one radio into each ear, I try to match it to RebeldeFM on 1620, presumably the station playing music, and to 1180 main Rebelde in a béisbol game, but 5025 doesn`t mesh with either (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 5980, March 12 at 0059, JBA carrier from R. Chaski, expecting it to cut off circa 0104 as projected slippage from last check 5 nights ago, but recheck at 0103:20 it`s already off, so must have reset again earlier than usual in the cycle. 5980, March 15 at 0057, R. Chaski JBA carrier plus Cuban pulse jamming, and I stay with it this time, as last time I checked, March 12, their timer had been reset cutting it off earlier than projected, sometime before 0103:20. Now it cuts off clearly at 0102:23.5*, from which future slippage at approx. 6.7 seconds per noctem will be calculated (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES. 12120, Radyo Philipinas [sic], 1900 UT Feb 22 in Filipino with English IDs. Sign off announcements at 1928:30 ID as PBS Radio Philipinas, The Voice of the Philippines. National Anthem cut off when transmitter shut off at 1930. Good (Mick Delmage, AB, March CIDX Messenger via DXLD) 15640 // 17700 // 17820, R. Pilipinas, 0248, March 10. "Singapore song from an ASEAN country," "Philippine Trivia"; mostly all fair (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PUERTO RICO. 1520 WRSJ format change --- ARC reports:- 1520 WRSJ San Juan has changed format again: Now news, mostly or exclusively in English, from among others VOA and France 24 (Fredrik Dourén, Odd Påg, Jan Edh and Thomas Nilsson, ARC via Barry :-) Davies, Carlisle UK. Lat. 55.0119N Lon. 02.9672W, March 14, MWCircle yg via DXLD) [1560] Heard here two days ago in Spanish with Spanish VOA programming (Andrew Brade, UK, March 14, ibid.) Is WOSO 1030 still off, or not in English? (gh, DXLD) ** PUNTLAND. 13800, 10/3 1120, Puntland R. - Garowe. Somalo talk, suff (Roberto Pavanello, Vercelli / Italia, shortwave yg via DXLD) ** ROMANIA. 6020, RRI via Galbeni with English talx re food quality standards in Europe & Romanian Foreign Minister's visit to Budapest. Into "This week in our shows" recap of what is planned for the coming week's features. Then "World of Culture" re Romanian singer. At 0424 "Encyclopedia" talx re Central Romanian town described as the 'first modern town in Transylvania’, then EZL music, then DX mailbag reading letters from non-existent people who don't listen to SW any more so there is no need to broadcast, including letters from India, Bangladesh, Lithuania, the UK & Colombia. [As Sheldon would ask, “Is this sarcasm?” — editor Harold Frdoge] Talx re Romanian history & s/off by OM & IS. 444+44 with my local QRM bleeding through. 0410- 0456* 5/Mar, SB-310 + ANC-4 + randomwire (Kenneth Vito Zichi, Williamston MI, MARE Tipsheet 10 March via DXLD) 7325, March 12 at 0143, RRI with `DX Mailbag` in English, acknowledging a bunch of reception reports, but seems he reads whatever they say even if obviously wrong, like someone in India hearing RRI on ``73-72``, and another report dated Dec 31, 2017. 0146 change to `Thru the Looking Glass`, commentary about threat to liberal democracy by increasing populism in Europe and USA (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ROMANIA. Hello Glenn: The Summer schedule is here and on the web site --- One of my favourite shortwave stations left in Europe broadcasting on Shortwave, Radio Romania International. 73's, Richard Lemke, March 13, 2017 RRI broadcast frequencies valid as of March 26, to October 28, 2017 rri-summer-2017-broadcast-frequencies The Saftica-based SW transmitter centre [caption for antenna photo] You can listen to RRI’s English language programming using the SW broadcast schedule given below: WESTERN EUROPE 0530-0600 7330 (DRM) 9620 1100-1200 13770 15130 1700-1800 11810 13660 2030-2100 7375 9535 (DRM) 2200-2300 7430 9760 SOUTH-EAST AFRICA 1100-1200 17670 21570 NORTH AMERICA (East Coast) 2030-2100 9610 11850 0000-0100 7375 9730 NORTH AMERICA (West Coast) 0300-0400 7375 9730 JAPAN 2200-2300 7325 9790 INDIA + AUSTRALIA 0530-0600 17760 21500 INDIA 0300-0400 11825 15220 (DRM) Listen to English language programming live via the RRI website (Richard Lemke, AB, March 13, WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Summer A-17 new frequencies of Radio Romania International from Mar 26 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/03/summer-17-new-frequencies-of-radio.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. 4996, RWM time station, 0609 usual repeating CW IDs. Weak but there. 25 Feb. 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop and 1530 foot Delta Loop antennas, Hard-Core- DX mailing list via DXLD) ** RUSSIA [and non]. Russia's RT Network: Is It More BBC or K.G.B.? https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/03/08/world/europe/russias-rt-network-is-it-more-bbc-or-kgb.html The RT newsroom overlooking central London. Russia insists that RT is just another global network like the BBC or France 24, albeit one offering "alternative views" to those of the Western-dominated news media. Sergey Ponomarev for The New York Times [caption] By STEVEN ERLANGER March 8, 2017 LONDON -- The London newsroom and studios of RT, the television channel and website formerly known as Russia Today, are ultramodern and spacious, with spectacular views from the 16th floor overlooking the Thames and the London Eye. And, its London bureau chief, Nikolay A. Bogachikhin, jokes, "We overlook MI5 and we're near MI6," Britain's domestic and foreign intelligence agencies. Mr. Bogachikhin was poking fun at the charge from Western governments, American and European, that RT is an agent of Kremlin policy and a tool directly used by President Vladimir V. Putin to undermine Western democracies -- meddling in the recent American presidential election and, European security officials say, trying to do the same in the Netherlands, France and Germany, all of which vote later this year. But the West is not laughing. Even as Russia insists that RT is just another global network like the BBC or France 24, albeit one offering "alternative views" to the Western-dominated news media, many Western countries regard RT as the slickly produced heart of a broad, often covert disinformation campaign designed to sow doubt about democratic institutions and destabilize the West. Western attention focused on RT when the Obama administration and United States intelligence agencies judged with "high confidence" in January that Mr. Putin had ordered a campaign to "undermine public faith in the U.S. democratic process," discredit Hillary Clinton through the hacking of Democratic Party internal emails and provide support for Donald J. Trump, who as a candidate said he wanted to improve relations with Russia. The agencies issued a report saying the attack was carried out through the targeted use of real information, some open and some hacked, and the creation of false reports, or "fake news," broadcast on state-funded news media like RT and its sibling, the internet news agency Sputnik. These reports were then amplified on social media, sometimes by computer "bots" that send out thousands of Facebook and Twitter messages. To many Americans, the impression that RT is an instrument of Russian meddling was reinforced when its programming suddenly interrupted C-Span's online coverage of the House of Representatives in January. (C-Span later called it a technical error, not a hacking.) Watching RT can be a dizzying experience. Hard news and top-notch graphics mix with interviews from all sorts of people: well known and obscure, left and right. They include favorites like Julian Assange of WikiLeaks and Noam Chomsky, the liberal critic of Western policies; odd voices like the actress Pamela Anderson; and cranks who think Washington is the source of all evil in the world. But if there is any unifying character to RT, it is a deep skepticism of Western and American narratives of the world and a fundamental defensiveness about Russia and Mr. Putin. Afshin Rattansi, on stage, hosting a talk show called "Going Underground." Mr. Rattansi went to RT in 2013 after working at the BBC, CNN, Bloomberg, Al Jazeera and Iran's Press TV. "Unlike at the BBC and CNN, I was never told what to say at RT," he said. Sergey Ponomarev for The New York Times [caption] Analysts are sharply divided about the influence of RT. Pointing to its minuscule ratings numbers, many caution against overstating its impact. Yet focusing on ratings may miss the point, says Peter Pomerantsev, who wrote a book three years ago that described Russia's use of television for propaganda. "Ratings aren't the main thing for them," he said. "These are campaigns for financial, political and media influence." RT and Sputnik propel those campaigns by helping create the fodder for thousands of fake news propagators and providing another outlet for hacked material that can serve Russian interests, said Ben Nimmo, who studies RT for the Atlantic Council. Whatever its impact, RT is unquestionably a case study in the complexity of modern propaganda. It is both a slick modern television network, dressed up with great visuals and stylish presenters, and a content farm that helps feed the European far right. Viewers find it difficult to discern exactly what is journalism and what is propaganda, what may be "fake news" and what is real but presented with a strong slant. A recent evening featured reports of Britain refusing to condemn human rights violations in Bahrain and a "mainstream media firestorm" over Attorney General Jeff Sessions's chats with the Russian ambassador to the United States. Other reports included the "liberation" of Palmyra by the Syrian Army with "the support of the Russian Air Force;" an interview with former British ambassador to Syria and a United States critic, Peter Ford; and a report about a London professor decrying the fall in British living standards. There are "clickbait" videos on RT's website and stranger pieces, too, like one about a petition to ban the financier George Soros from America for supposedly trying to "destabilize" the country and "drown it" with immigrants for a "globalist goal." Mr. Bogachikhin and Anna Belkina, RT's head of communications in Moscow, insist it is absurd to lump together RT's effort to provide "alternative views to the mainstream media" with the phenomena of fake news and social media propaganda. "There's an hysteria about RT," Ms. Belkina said. "RT becomes a shorthand for everything." For example, she says, while RT was featured heavily in the American intelligence report, it was largely in a seven-page annex (of a 13- page report) that was written more than four years ago, in December 2012, a fact revealed only in a footnote on Page 6. She flatly denies any suggestion that RT seeks to meddle in democratic elections anywhere. "The kind of scrutiny we're under -- we check everything." "We overlook MI5 and we're near MI6," Britain's domestic and foreign intelligence agencies, Nikolay A. Bogachikhin, RT's London bureau chief, joked last month. He was poking fun at the charge from Western governments that RT is effectively a Kremlin agency. Sergey Ponomarev for The New York Times [caption] For RT and its viewers, the outlet is a refreshing alternative to what they see as complacent Western elitism and neo-liberalism, representing what the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov recently called a "post-West world order." With its slogan, created by a Western ad agency, of "Question More," RT is trying to fill a niche, Ms. Belkina said. "We want to complete the picture rather than add to the echo chamber of mainstream news; that's how we find an audience." Nearly all the mainstream media came out against Mr. Trump during the campaign and much of the news coverage about him was negative, she said. "This is why we exist," Ms. Belkina said. "It's important to watch RT to hear alternative voices. You might not agree with them, but it's important to try to understand where they're coming from and why." A French legislator, Nicolas Dhuicq, who has appeared on RT and went to Russian-annexed Crimea in 2015 as part of a delegation of French legislators, said that RT's aim was "to make the voice of Russia heard, to make the Russian point of view on the world heard." Still, Mr. Dhuicq said, "the impact of RT, in my opinion, is very low." He added: "There is enormous paranoia when we imagine that RT will change the face of the world, influence national or other elections." Afshin Rattansi, who hosts a talk show three times a week called "Going Underground," came to RT in 2013 after working at the BBC, CNN, Bloomberg, Al Jazeera and Iran's Press TV. "Unlike at the BBC and CNN, I was never told what to say at RT," he said. There have been two cases of RT announcers quitting because of what they said was pressure to toe a Kremlin line, especially on Ukraine, but not in London, Mr. Rattansi said. Michael McFaul, a Stanford professor who was the United States ambassador to Russia during the Obama years, said that RT should not be lightly dismissed. "There is a demand in certain countries for this alternative view, an appetite, and we arrogant Americans shouldn't just think that no one cares." "Question More" is the slogan of RT, which is trying to fill a niche, said Anna Belkina, head of communications in Moscow. "We want to complete the picture rather than add to the echo chamber of mainstream news; that's how we find an audience." Sergey Ponomarev for The New York Times [caption] But there is a considerably darker view, too. For critics, RT and Sputnik are simply tools of a sophisticated Russian propaganda machine, created by the Kremlin to push its foreign policy, defend its aggression in Ukraine and undermine confidence in democracy, NATO and the world as we have known it. Robert Pszczel, who ran NATO's information office in Moscow and watches Russia and the western Balkans for NATO, said that RT and Sputnik were not meant for domestic consumption, unlike the BBC or CNN. Over time, he said, "It's more about hard power and disinformation." The Kremlin doesn't care "if you agree with Russian policy or think Putin is wonderful, so long as it does the job -- you start having doubts, and of 10 outrageous points you take on one or two," he said. "A bit of mud will always stick." Probably more important than RT, Mr. Pszczel said, are Sputnik and local language outlets sponsored by Russia, like the Slovak magazine "Zem a Vek," known for its conspiracy theories. Sputnik is the largest source of raw news in the Balkans, he said, "because it's a free product in local languages." And "then they set up some friendly association, at some small university, which holds seminars, and then a number of strange websites start promoting the product, like an industrial marketing operation." But RT is also helpful in another traditional Moscow effort: making friends with useful people, and not just Mr. Assange, Mr. Pomerantsev said. "RT made Mike Flynn feel good after losing his job" as head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, he said, paying him a reported $40,000 to come to RT's anniversary celebration in Moscow and sit near Mr. Putin. And Mr. Flynn, for a time, was national security adviser of the United States. Mr. Nimmo of the Atlantic Council noted RT's small reach in Germany, where Angela Merkel, a Putin critic, is facing a tough re-election fight, and where there are up to 3.5 million Russian speakers. "I strongly suspect that RT Deutsch has a trivial effect compared to Russian-speaking Germans watching Russian television," he said. Stefan Meister, who studies Russia and Central Europe for the German Council on Foreign Relations, agreed that "we shouldn't overestimate RT. The main success of the Russians is the link to social media through bots and a network of different sources." That network, he said, is "increasingly well organized, with more strategic and explicit links between sources and actors -- Russian domestic media, troll factories, RT, people in social networks and maybe also the security services." "Open societies are very vulnerable," Mr. Meister said, "and it's cheaper than buying a new rocket." RT is part of the reality of the 21st century, Mr. Pomerantsev said. "Everyone will do it soon. It's the world we have to live in." Hacks and leaks are much more disruptive, he said. "If you can take out the electrical grid in Ukraine, that's scary. It's hard to get too scared about Larry King on RT." Mr. Pomerantsev agrees with Ms. Belkina that RT is not inventing popular mistrust about Western democracy. "The Russians are about sowing mistrust about institutions that is there already, feeding it," he said. "How do we make our institutions more trustworthy?" Follow Steven Erlanger on Twitter @StevenErlanger. Aurelien Breeden contributed reporting from Paris (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** RWANDA [non]. [Re gh`s logs on 15420:] Itahuka is for Rwanda; the Burundi stuff is Radio Publique Africaine instead. And Itahuka took in December the shortwave slot of Radio Inyabutatu ("Rwandese Protocol to Return the Kingdom") which is not exactly defunct, just no longer on shortwave (Kai Ludwig, March 19, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Tnx, Kai, I was trying to remember which it was, so checked the Aoki listing: ``15420 Radio Itahuka 1800-1900 ......7 Kirundi 250 315 Talata- Volonondry 1 MDG 1843S 04737E MBR b16 Dec.3`` Kirundi? That means Burundi, not Rwanda - Kinyarwanda. Another reason not to rely on Aoki or any one source. I`m afraid I had some previous logs of this misfiled too. EiBi also has it wrong with language KiR which per his readme.txt key means KiRundi, not KinyaRwanda. HFCC avoids the issue as usual with mul for multilingual, and not even publishes the name of the ``station`` being relayed. We have to rely on such sources, since we can hardly distinguish K-Rwanda from K- Rundi! This website confirms that Radio Itahuka is ``The Voice of Rwanda National Congress - La Voix de Congres National Rwandais`` http://www.blogtalkradio.com/radioitahuka So the following previous reports have to be moved here from the original BURUNDI [non]: 15420, Saturday March 4 at 1857, the SSOB on 19m is this! Radio Itahuka on its weekly hour via MADAGASCAR --- S9+10 but just barely modulated in African language, presumably Kirundi. Refund from MBR? Itahuka is cut off still talking at 1900*. With 250 kW at 315 degrees from Talata, much stronger signal (but less modulated) than 15710 WHRIBS which normally inbooms but is now only S6-S4; than 15500 & 15390 Spain; than 15770 WRMIBS; than 15580 VOA; than 15825 WWCR. WWV reports: ``Solar-terrestrial indices for 03 March follow. Solar flux 78 and estimated planetary A-index 22. The estimated planetary K-index at 1800 UTC on 04 March was 3. Space weather for the past 24 hours has been minor. Geomagnetic storms reaching the G1 level occurred`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1868, DX LISTENING DIGEST 17-10) 15420, Saturday March 11 at 1827, presumed R. Itahuka again in dead air during its only weekly hour, via MADAGASCAR, S7-S5; at 1840 by really concentrating, I think I hear some modulation, just barely. Isn`t anybody paying attention at Talata, MBR and/or wherever this originate? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Perhaps the misplacement started with this: ``BURUNDI [non]. Reception of Radio Itahuka via MBR Madagascar Feb 11 1800-1900 on 15420 MDC 250 kW / 320 deg to CeAf Kirundi Sat, very poor http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/02/reception-of-radio-itahuka-via-mbr_11.html (Ivo Ivanov, B`lgariya, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST 17-07)`` And Ivo`s Clandestine schedule just updated March 19 still shows: Radio Itahuka 1800-1900 15420 MDC 250 kW / 320 deg to SoAf Kirundi Sat In DXLD 17-06, 17-04, 17-01 R. Itahuka was properly under RWANDA [non] (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAO TOME. 9550, March 10 at 0605, VOA news outro in English, S6. This frequency in use for one hour only, at 124 degrees (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SIERRA LEONE. Post office in Africa. I remembered how I sent out the report of the reception in Sierra Leone. And it so happened that during this period they had a war there or another coup. It was insulting that the letter was covered. It's not that there will be no answer, but one dollar will disappear, who invested for an answer. It's been about a year and I suddenly get my letter back! The envelope is in full safety and the dollar is in place. On the envelope are a bunch of stamps from various African countries. The inscription that it is impossible to deliver and please return it to the sender. That's how the African post works! (Pavel Ivanov, Belgorod, Russia / "deneb- radio-dx" via RUS-DX # 914 via SW Bulletin March 12 via DXLD) ** SOLOMON ISLANDS [non-log]. 5020, SIBC, on March 9, noted at 1207, that there was no extended broadcast today, through subsequent checking till 1425 (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re: [A-DX] nicht-log SIBC --- ``Frühlingsbedingungen schon zu weit fortgeschritten, oder SIBC off/air?`` Man sendet nicht. Zumindest der Träger müßte zu sehen sein. 73 (Christoph Ratzer, Austria, March 13, A-DX via Büschel, DXLD) Ein S=8 -77dBm propperer Träger in Brisbane Australia zu beobachten. - Ohne Audio. 9545 2000-0800 51,56 HON 10kW 0 0 400 Bis SLM SIB heute um 2258 UT, noch 13. März UT 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DX LISTENING DIGEST) DXOD Proper S=8 -77dBm carrier signal noted in remote SDR post in Brisbane Queensland Australia. No audio modulation at all. 2 Hertz lower than 9545 kHz requested at 2000-0800 UT to ITU zones 51, 56 via HON at 10 kW 0 400 Bis SLM SIB. gheard at 2258 UT, March 13 in UTC, and at 0003 UTC on March 14. 73 wb (Büschel, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5019.999, SIBC Honiara, back from all 'UTC night time' broadcast as empty carrier in 31 meterband on 9545v kHz. 0656 UT S=6-7 fair signal under noisy 60 mband at sundown time in Brisbane Queensland Australia [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, 06-08 UT March 14, dxldyg via DXLD) 5020, SIBC, 1029-1046, March 14. Fairly readable; "This is the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation, broadcasting from Honiara"; in Pijin about the official Solomon Islands women organization for the western province. RE: DXLD 17-01: Glenn's comment: "GSTQ? Well, they are in the Commonwealth." At 1045 with PSA: "Nominations are hereby invited from organizations, communities, private business bodies and or churches for persons deserving to receive the following 2017 Queen’s Birthday Honours: OBE, Officer of the British Empire; MBE, Member of the British Empire and BEM, British Empire Medal. The application form can be obtained from the receptionist at the Prime Minister’s Office or you can also email the secretary of the Honours and Awards Committee for the electronic copy via email address kgalokale @ pmc.gov.sb . Any further queries can be made to the secretary on telephone 24264 or 21863. Applications should be received by March 13th, 2017." Too late to get my name in, hi! My audio of same at http://goo.gl/4s4uKt BTW - March 13, at 1128, found 5020 (and 9545) off the air. March 14, noted 5020 did not have an extended broadcast at 1207 and subsequent checking (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Solomon Is. Bc. Corp., Honiara at noon time slot in Queensland, Australia: at 0200 UT on 9545 kHz S=8-9 -78dBm strong signal on the remote Perseus SDR unit in Brisbane Queensland. No audio at all, just empty CARRIER ONLY in 31 meterband; only a 2nd transmission of digital STANAG program in 9910 to 9914 kHz range visible and heard too. Remaining 31 mb is EMPTY broadcast-wise at this hour downunder (Wolfgang Büschel, March 15, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) The 9910-9914 noise is a longtime annoyance here (gh, OK, DXLD) ** SOUTH AFRICA. 7285, March 9, S9+25 at 0528 tune-in, Radio Sonder Grense once again in English, woman being interviewed by man about gender discrimination (for Int`l Women`s Day?), 0529 interviewer switches to Afrikaans; she is Prof. Amanda something, and they continue alternating; 0530 Afrikaans with ``S-A-U-K`` ID in passing, music. BTW, SAUK/SABC is a horribly corrupt place, as Bill Bingham keeps us updated with press about it, lately referenced in the yg and WOR 1868: https://www.techcentral.co.za/sabc-report-reads-like-a-horror-story/72338/ (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH AFRICA. 6154.992, Channel Africa, English service newscast at 0332 UT, noted on remote SDR in Doha Qatar ME area, S=7-8 strength, but seemingly another feederline mixture program over-spill underneath at SenTec Meyerton site noted [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, more logs of March 15 at 0230-0330 UT, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews March 15, 2017, dxldyg via DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. 11825, WRMI Radio Miami International (presumed); 2228-2234+, 3-Mar; Bro. HyStairical said that the Vatican is trying to shut him down and that he represents a higher authority than the Pope (wonder how Pope Lenny would handle that?) and said that if he went to the Vatican, he would be killed, then ragged on the Jesuits. B.S. hinted that the Coming may be in 2018. (It’s always just a year or so down the road.) S30 +++ [same], Oft-repeated program about the Pope killing him. S30; // 9840 S40 & 9505 SIO=4+53, both via WHRI(presumed). (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, 5525 Whitehall St., Midland MI 48642-3156, Drake R8B + 185' & 60' RW + 125' bow-tie, ----- All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! -----, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7730, March 13 at 0509 via WRMI, Brother Scare almost sounds like someone else. Lo-fi audio but voice processing to change it? Seems like very old recording when he was gasping more and even wilder, but not so hoarse. 0517 back to the future with present voice. Hearing a lot of this sound lately besides this particular log. Also, his editing constantly interrupting himself leaves a lot to be desired (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9400, March 15 at 0121, here`s Brother HySTAIRical on poor S6 signal, vs some uteblaaps. His current hoarse voice is here, while 7730 WRMI is his youngvoice(?), not // at all. Off at 0143 recheck. Unlisted here, but 9400 is a well-known SPC BULGARIA frequency used for various clients, registered available 24 hours; perhaps ex-9465 where still scheduled for very long hours to NAm, but not heard here, 1700-0200. 9330v-CUSB, March 15 at 0124, this WBCQ is now BSing, not // the voice on 7730 WRMI, but the same voice as on 9400, Bulgaria? altho content not matching either. I don`t have the patience to try to match them with a considerable time offset, as this will axually require listening to what he says, at least keywords. BS may now be on 9330 from 0100 Wednesdays since `Amateur Radio Roundtdable` is on 5129.81 instead; and Brother Scare presumably runs 9330 all night whether audible or not, and all day, until WORLD OF RADIO at 2330 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) SECRETLAND, Frequency changes of Brother HySTAIRical via SPL, March 15 1701-0200 5900 SCB 100 kW / 306 deg ENAm English, ex 9465 from March 13 & 1803-2000 9400 SCB 100 kW / 306 deg WeEu English and 2nd harmonic 18800, 2 x 9700 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/03/frequency-changes-of-brother.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN SOUTH [non]. FRANCE, Poor signal of Eye Radio via TDF Issoudun, March 8 1600-1700 on 15250 ISS 250 kW / 130 deg to EaAf Arabic/English* *including other languages Dinka/Nuer/Shilluk/Bari/Zande/ Lutoho http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/03/poor-signal-of-eye-radio-via-tdf.html (DX RE MIX NEWS #998 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, March 13, 2017 via DXLD) 7250.00, 0420-0445 10.3, FRANCE, Eye R, Juba, South Sudan, via Issoudun, France (250 kW). English ID: "Eye Radio", a man declared a national holiday 11.3 with an invitation to the opposition to lay down their weapons and attend a Peace Conference in Juba; a woman said that the hungry people would get a meal first! 0435 Vernacular ID: "Eye Radio" and news, 45444. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, loggings from Skovlunde, Denmark, made on the AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, wbradio yg via DXLD) ** SURINAME. 4989.98, Getting a signal here at 0613. Too weak to get any audio so can't tell if it's Apintie or not. 25 Feb. 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop and 1530 foot Delta Loop antennas, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** SWAZILAND. 4775, March 13 at 0451, gospel huxter in English about holy spirit, S9 but vs CODAR, i.e. TWR Manzini, scheduled English 0400-0500 daily // 3200. To find the schedule in WRTH you have to seek it under SOUTH AFRICA (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6120, TWR, 0458 chime IS and English IDs by M. Came back later at 0522 and noted M preaching in English sounding // 4775 QRMed by CODAR. 6120 better. Instrumental guitar music at 0528, then W with segment intro. Fading. 25 Feb. 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop and 1530 foot Delta Loop antennas, Hard-Core- DX mailing list via DXLD) ** TAJIKISTAN [and non]. 4765 CUBA / TJK, bad audio mixture on even frequency, Radio Progreso Spanish from Bejucal Cuba and Tajik R1 Dushanbe Yangi Yul hit each other on equal S=6 level at 0305 UT March 15. [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, more logs of March 15 at 0230-0330 UT, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews March 15, 2017, dxldyg via DXLD) ** TAJIKISTAN. Mauno Ritola wrote on the WRTH Facebook group: Christian Milling announces test on Saturday 11.3. from "Golden 80's Rewind" 9900 kHz via Tajikistan 100 kW towards Australia starting at 1200. Email contact: jordan.heyburn@outlook.com (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) But Radio Menschen & Geschichten in German, instead of Golden 80's Rewind:in English, videos later today (Ivo Ivanov, March 11, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Good signal of Radio Menschen & Geschichten via Dushanbe, March 11: 1200-1300 on 9900 DB 100 kW / 125 deg to SoAs German, instead of Golden 80's Rewind 1200-1202 dead air & then repeat of Radio Menschen & Geschichten program from Feb 26! http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/03/good-signal-of-radio-menschen.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re 9900 kHz exact fq from Dushanbe TJK, 1150-1259 UT on March Saturday 11th. Instead of "Golden 80's Rewind", heard "Radio, Menschen und Geschichten" in German language, recording of Sunday February 26 in 49 mband on 6045 kHz. "Radio, Menschen und Geschichten" today Dushanbe broadcast center, empty carrier on air at 1150 to 1158 UT, nice signal at remote unit in New Delhi India at S=9+20dB level. Audio Carillon 'Glockenspiel' signal from Euskirchen western Germany Broadcasting House switched on, b u t at very tiny 5 per cent modulation level, heard between 1158 and 1200 UT underneath, - in New Delhi India. 1202:17 UT late REAL TRANSMISSION START with 100 per cent modulation audio level, "Radio, Menschen und Geschichten" ID in German language. S=9+20dB or -54dBm signal in Delhi India remote post. Worldwide could be heard, here the reports: S=9 -72dBm in Brisbane Queensland, North Eastern Australien remote SDR S=8 -80dBm in Doha Qatar. S=9+10dB in Western Hungary. S=9+5dB in DARC Amberg, Bavaria, Germany. S=9+5dB in Rome and Calabria Italy. S=7-8 in Manchester UK and the Netherlands. S=5 -94dBm in Tokyo Japan. S=7 -85dBm in central Florida USA. S=3 in Edmonton Alberta CAN und Michigan USA. Schööööööön: "Waltzing Mathilda" at 1212 to 1215:35 UT. Later on reports of former "FM Radio 100" interview in West-Berlin during GDR era, as well as a traffic transmission service report from Sweden. 10 kHz wideband, exact broad signal, nice audio modulation! Station ID and Euskirchen Germany address given at 1258:30 UT. 1259:35 UT Carillon, 1x Glöckchenspiel. 1259:55 UT TX Dushanbe OFF switch. 73 de (Wolfgang df5sx, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** THAILAND. RENEWAL OF BBC WORLD RADIO BROADCAST CONTRACT A MATTER OF THE COUNTRY’S POLICY : NBTC --- March 10, 2017 18:53 By The Nation http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/breakingnews/30308613 The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) said the use of Nakhon Sawan’s short-wave radio-relay station to broadcast content from the BBC World Service in Southeast Asia was a matter of the country’s policy that involved agreements based on related international laws which needed to be settled first. The NBTC is willing to provide the service for the BBC once Thailand’s Foreign Affairs Ministry and the company reached an agreement to renew the contract, said NBTC secretary general Thakorn Tanthasit on Friday. The BBC’s short-wave relay station stopped transmitting at the start of the year after the contract with the government expired. The news outlet said in a statement released on Thursday that the agency could not reach an agreement with authorities to resume broadcasting because of its financial limitations so it had to shut down the station. But it said people could still listen to its programme via relay stations elsewhere. The Foreign Affair Ministry earlier said the two parties had been in negotiations for renewing the contract. The BBC, it said, had submitted the draft agreement in late December, but this was too close to the deadline on December 31. It said as such, the contract renewal could not be done in time as it would have to ask the Cabinet for approval. The BBC last month contacted the ministry to brief it, according to BBC Thai. Thakorn said the ministry had submitted an official letter to it inquiring as to whether the contract between the ministry and the BBC had to also be approved by the NBTC. The organisation responded by referring to the country’ policy regarding the matter (The Nation, via Artie Bigley, DXLD) So might still reopen? Perhaps even speculating about disrespecting the king cannot be alluded to within the Thai press (gh, DXLD) BBC UNILATERALLY DECIDED TO PULL OUT OF BROADCAST STATION DEAL http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30308488 Ministry: BBC chose to pull out of relay service talks Bangkok Post-5 hours ago Foreign Ministry March 09, 2017 20:00 By WASAMON AUDJARINT THE NATION THE BRITISH Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), not Thai authorities, decided to withdraw from negotiations to extend its contract to use a shortwave relay station in Nakhon Sawan for its World Service in the region, the Foreign Ministry said yesterday. The contract expired at the end of December last year and broadcasting for the service was stopped on January 1. The BBC signed a contract with authorities in July 15, 1994 to use the relay station for shortwave radio for its World Service broadcasting in the region. The Thai-language service, which stopped broadcasting in 2006 after being on the air since 1941, was not included in the contract. The BBC proposed an extension of the contract on December 21, which was not enough time for the government to give it due consideration, the ministry said, adding that the transmission was temporarily stopped pending an extension of the contract. While authorities were processing the proposal for a high-level decision, the BBC notified the Foreign Ministry that it had decided to withdraw from negotiations to renew the contract, according to the ministry spokesperson Busadee Santipitaks. “It was a unilateral decision by the BBC to withdraw from the process,” she said. The ministry’s reaction came a day after AFP reported on the broadcasting suspension. In the report, it quoted two sources as saying that the impasse was partly due to declining interest in the BBC’s Thai-language service. The BBC also did not elaborate on the deal. Busadee said that last year, the BBC “took several months” to proceed on negotiations that would have resulted in an agreement being extended for another seven years. The extension would have created an international obligation that would constitute an international treaty, the spokesperson said. “We needed to be discreet on the papers to ensure that Thailand would gain maximised benefits and the obligation would correspond with Thai laws and regulations,” she said. Government Spokesman and acting director-general to the Government Public Relations Department Lt-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said that even though the BBC had decided to withdraw, the government had not been eager to keep the contract. “I’m not sure what reasons the BBC gave, but I heard briefly they saw some uncertainty from the Cabinet’s consideration on the extension [if proposed],” Sansern said. “They didn’t know what the result might turn out to be.” (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) Meanwhile, the frequency charts at bbcworldservice.com still show Thailand in use, though they may not have bothered to update with A-17 just around the corner. We should know more in the next day or two as the HFCC website reveals the new schedules (Stephen Luce, Houston, Texas, March 11, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** THAILAND [non]. A-17 BBC plans to compensate for no Thai relay: BUT FAR OF COMPLETE BBC schedule yet TAC Tashkent UZB replacement, broadcast now on 100 kW only, instead of combined 200 kW twins, now many half at 100 kW on air to double the transmitter availability at this broadcast center. Some curtain antenna usage declined from 'four dipole rows above' to 'two dipole rows above'. NHK Radio Japan Tashkent subcontinent service lost strong curtain #206 antenna array, instead now log-periodics horizontal of #912 ITU type. To free Babcock DHA UAE transmitters for further BBC coverage, DWL left some DHA relay rentals, now move to Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. Yerevan transmission center Gavar: only 6 times usage of 300 kW / 1 x 100 kW; their single high-power 300 kW tx, distance Armenia to East Asia as replacement for Nakhon Sawan 250 kW units during northern summer season is much limited. BBC Dari, Tamil and Singhalese languages even used Woofferton England broadcast center via long distance to subcontinent. 73 wolfie (Wolfgang Buschel, March 9, DXLD) and here the BBC Requests / Changes in A-17 season, to replace Nakhon Sawan Thailand relay transmissions from March 26: 73 wb Subject: BBC East Asia services, despite Nakhon Sawan relay is silent. 0000-0030 on 7485 9810 11700 kHz via SNG Singapore Kranji. 0030-0100 on 9810 9890 11700 kHz via SNG Singapore Kranji 0100-0130 on 6155 7295 UAE DHA 9915 UZB TAC 11885 kHz via SNG Singapore Kranji 0100-0200 on 5970 OMA SLA, 6005 UAE DHA, 7465 UZB TAC 0130-0200 on 9835 15510 kHz via SNG Singapore Kranji 0200-0230 on 9835 11995 kHz via SNG Singapore Kranji, 13825 UAE DHA 0200-0300 on 7445 9895 OMA SLA, 9790 UAE DHA 0830-1100 on 15310 17720 OMA SLA 1200-1300 on 11895 SNG 1300-1330 on 15330 17510 OMA SLA, 17735 UAE DHA 1330-1400 on 5845 7465 SNG, 11750 UZB TAC 1330-1415 on 7485 9585 SNG, 11995 UZB TAC 1415-1500 on 7485 11995 SNG 1500-1600 on 7485 12075 SNG, 9445 11910 UAE DHA 1545-1600 on 9900 SNG, 11995 ERV, 15330 GB WOF 1630-1700 on 5845 7485 9540 SNG 1630-1700 on 9900 SNG, 11995 ERV, 15330 GB WOF 1700-1730 on 5875 ERV, 7215 OMA SLA, 7325 SNG 1730-1800 on 5875 ERV, 7215 OMA SLA, 7325 SNG 1800-1830 on 5875 ERV, 6165 OMA SLA, 7325 SNG 1830-1900 on 5875 ERV, 6165 OMA SLA, 7325 SNG ENGLISH 0000-0100 on 5970 OMA SLA, 6005 UAE DHA, 7465 BUL SOF 0200-0300 on 9410 OMA SLA 1000-1200 on 9740 SNG 013deg EaAS, SoEaAS 1000-1200 on 9740 SNG 135deg MLA, INS 1000-1200 on 12035 SNG 1000-1100 on 15285 SNG 1200-1400 on 6195 SNG 000deg true north SoEaAS 1200-1400 on 6195 SNG 090deg VTN, PHL, MLA, INS SoEaAS 1300-1400 on 9410 UZB TAC, 15310 OMA SLA > 1430-1800 on 5845 NAK 100 kW / 290 deg to SoAs English DRM to be ceased in A-17 season. 2200-2300 on 5890 SNG, 5950 9890 OMA SLA, 7205 UAE DHA 2200-2400 on 3915 SNG 2200-2400 on 6195 SNG 000deg true north SoEaAS 2200-2400 on 6195 SNG 090deg VTN, PHL, MLA, INS SoEaAS 2300-2400 on 7485 SNG, 7370 OMA SLA EaAS 2300-2400 on 9740 SNG 013deg EaAS, SoEaAS 2300-2400 on 9740 SNG 090deg VTN, PHL, MLA, INS SoEaAS (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DXLD) >>> Yes, per this story, over two months ago and no one in the DX world noticed? That's indeed a very good question: Most former NAK slots for English programming are, as we now know, indeed off air since New Year's Day. And no one noticed. Remember the rave when shortwave transmissions of VOA English for Asia ceased? Back then VOA said that their audience research could no longer detect a relevant number of listeners. I now see no reason to consider this fake news, with no one missing the now gone BBC frequencies either. It is particularly nice how the routine loggings by DRM fans simply cease at yearend 2016 and no one ever asked about the missing signal: http://drmrx.org/forum/showthread.php?t=2276&page=23 >>> They must be jittery at IBB over Udorn Probably something else will make them much more jittery at present: The question how much money the Trump administration will still give them. A hefty budget cut would be no surprise to me. In fact I almost expect it since I saw Trump signing, amongst his very first executive orders, the sweeping hiring freeze for all federal entities. "Except for the military. Except for the military." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTxhJ0g_1F0 Concerning Thailand I really, really wonder if VOA Thai is still immune against self-censorship, or maybe has even been "asked" to not do what the BBC did (Kai Ludwig, March 10, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Well, I sort of noticed that BBC Thailand QRM to WBCQ 7490v between 22 and 23 UT was not being heard, but supposed propagational (gh, DXLD) ** THAILAND [non]. All of NAK frequencies are transferred to other transmitter sites as follows, in B-16 / A-17 season: [Ivo Ivanov`s listing as annotated by Wolfgang Büschel:] 0000-0030 on 5875 TAC 100 kW / 131 deg to SEAs Burmese, ex NAK 0000-0030 A-17 7485 9810 11700 kHz via SNG Singapore Kranji. 0030-0100 on 5875 TAC 100 kW / 131 deg to SoAs Bengali, ex NAK 0030-0100 A-17 9810 9890 11700 kHz via SNG Singapore Kranji 0100-0130 on 9560 SNG 250 kW / 315 deg to SoAs Hindi, ex NAK 0100-0130 A-17 6155 7295 UAE DHA 9915 UZB TAC A-17 11885 kHz via SNG Singapore Kranji 0100-0200 on 9410 SNG 100 kW / 315 deg to SoAs English, ex NAK 0100-0200 on 12095 SNG 100 kW / 013 deg to SoAs English, ex NAK 0100-0200 A-17 5970 OMA SLA, 6005 UAE DHA, 7465 UZB TAC 0130-0200 on 9560 SNG 250 kW / 340 deg to SoAs Bengali, ex NAK 0130-0200 A-17 9835 15510 kHz via SNG Singapore Kranji 0200-0230 on 7485 SNG 100 kW / 340 deg to SEAs Burmese, ex NAK 0200-0230 on 9560 SNG 250 kW / 340 deg to SEAs Burmese, ex NAK 0200-0230 A-17 9835 11995 kHz via SNG Singapore Kranji, A-17 13825 UAE DHA 0200-0230 on 15755 SNG 100 kW / 315 deg to WeAs Pashto, ex NAK 0230-0300 on 15755 SNG 100 kW / 315 deg to WeAs Dari, ex NAK 0200-0300 A-17 7445 9895 OMA SLA, 9790 UAE DHA 0830-0900 on 17720 DHA 250 kW / 045 deg to WeAs Dari, ex NAK 0900-0930 on 17720 DHA 250 kW / 045 deg to WeAs Pashto, ex NAK 0930-1000 on 17720 DHA 250 kW / 045 deg to WeAs Dari, ex NAK 1000-1030 on 17720 DHA 250 kW / 045 deg to WeAs Pashto, ex NAK 1030-1100 on 17720 DHA 250 kW / 045 deg to WeAs Dari, ex NAK 0830-1100 A-17 15310 17720 OMA SLA 1200-1300 on 11895 SNG 100 kW / 013 deg to EaAs English, ex NAK 1200-1300 A-17 11895 SNG 1300-1330 on 15510 DHA 250 kW / 020 deg to CeAs Uzbek, ex NAK 1300-1330 A-17 15330 17510 OMA SLA, 17735 UAE DHA 1330-1400 on 5855 TAC 100 kW / 131 deg to SoAs Bengali, ex NAK 1330-1400 on 7565 TAC 100 kW / 131 deg to SoAs Bengali, ex NAK 1330-1400 A-17 5845 7465 SNG, 11750 UZB TAC 1330-1415 on 7485 SNG 100 kW / 340 deg to SEAs Burmese, ex NAK 1330-1415 A-17 7485 9585 SNG, 11995 UZB TAC 1415-1500 on 7485 SNG 100 kW / 340 deg to SEAs Burmese M-F, ex NAK 1415-1500 A-17 7485 11995 SNG 1500-1600 on 9920 ERV 300 kW / 100 deg to SoAs Urdu, ex NAK 1500-1600 A-17 7485 12075 SNG, 9445 11910 UAE DHA 1545-1600 on 7600 ERV 100 kW / 125 deg to SoAs Tamil, ex NAK 1545-1600 on 9900 SNG, 11995 ERV, 15330 GB WOF 1630-1700 on 5875 TAC 100 kW / 131 deg to SoAs Bengali, ex NAK 1630-1700 on 5845 7485 9540 SNG 1630-1700 on 7600 ERV 100 kW / 125 deg to SoAs Sinhala, ex NAK 1630-1700 A-17 9900 SNG, 11995 ERV, 15330 GB WOF 1700-1730 on 5875 ERV 300 kW / 100 deg to WeAs Dari, ex NAK 1700-1730 on 9810 SNG 250 kW / 315 deg to WeAs Dari, ex NAK 1700-1730 A-17 5875 ERV, 7215 OMA SLA, 7325 SNG 1730-1800 on 5875 ERV 300 kW / 100 deg to WeAs Pashto, ex NAK 1730-1800 on 9810 SNG 250 kW / 315 deg to WeAs Pashto, ex NAK 1730-1800 A-17 5875 ERV, 7215 OMA SLA, 7325 SNG 1800-1830 on 5875 ERV 300 kW / 100 deg to WeAs Dari, ex NAK 1800-1830 on 7560 ERV 300 kW / 100 deg to WeAs Dari, ex NAK 1800-1830 A-17 5875 ERV, 6165 OMA SLA, 7325 SNG 1830-1900 on 5875 ERV 300 kW / 100 deg to WeAs Pashto, ex NAK 1830-1900 on 7560 ERV 300 kW / 100 deg to WeAs Pashto, ex NAK 1830-1900 A-17 5875 ERV, 6165 OMA SLA, 7325 SNG In HFCC Database are still registered these frequencies as NAK, but all are cancelled, according to IBB Monitoring 0000-0100 on 7465 NAK 250 kW / 290 deg to SoAs English 0000-0100 on 9410 NAK 250 kW / 275 deg to SoAs English 0000-0100 A-17 5970 OMA SLA, 6005 UAE DHA, 7465 BUL SOF 0200-0300 on 15310 NAK 250 kW / 290 deg to SoAs English 0200-0300 A-17 9410 OMA SLA 1000-1200 on 9740 NAK 250 kW / non-dir to SEAs English 1000-1200 A-17 9740 SNG 013deg EaAS, SoEaAS 1000-1200 A-17 9740 SNG 135deg MLA, INS 1000-1200 on 11895 NAK 250 kW / 045 deg to EaAs English 1000-1200 A-17 12035 SNG 1000-1100 on 17760 NAK 250 kW / 025 deg to EaAs English 1000-1100 A-17 15285 SNG 1200-1400 on 5875 NAK 250 kW / 025 deg to EaAs English 1200-1400 A-17 6195 SNG 000deg true north SoEaAS 1200-1400 A-17 6195 SNG 090deg VTN, PHL, MLA, INS SoEaAS 1300-1400 on 15310 NAK 250 kW / 290 deg to SoAs English 1300-1400 A-17 9410 UZB TAC, 15310 OMA SLA 1430-1800 on 5845 NAK 100 kW / 290 deg to SoAs English DRM DRM mode tests to be ceased in A-17 season. 2200-2300 on 5840 NAK 250 kW / 025 deg to EaAs English 2200-2300 on 5905 NAK 250 kW / 045 deg to EaAs English 2200-2300 A-17 5890 SNG, 5950 9890 OMA SLA, 7205 UAE DHA 2200-2400 A-17 3915 SNG 2200-2400 A-17 6195 SNG 000deg true north SoEaAS 2200-2400 A-17 6195 SNG 090deg VTN, PHL, MLA, INS SoEaAS 2300-2400 on 5840 NAK 250 kW / 045 deg to EaAs English 2300-2400 on 5840 NAK 250 kW / 025 deg to EaAs English 2300-2400 on 7490 NAK 250 kW / 025 deg to EaAs English 2300-2400 A-17 7485 SNG, 7370 OMA SLA EaAS 2300-2400 A-17 9740 SNG 013deg EaAS, SoEaAS 2300-2400 A-17 9740 SNG 090deg VTN, PHL, MLA, INS SoEaAS 73! Ivo Ivanov-BUL, March 8 (A-17 comments by wb, March 9, BC-DX 12 March via DXLD) ** THAILAND. BBC STOPS TRANSMITTING SHORTWAVE BROADCASTS FROM THAILAND BenarNews staff Bangkok 2017-03-08 http://www.benarnews.org/english/news/thai/bbc-transmitter-03082017163959.html 170308-TH-BBC-620.jpg A Thai man looks at a portrait photo of then- Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn at a shop in Bangkok, Nov. 30, 2016. [caption] AFP After failing to agree to a new long-term contract with Thailand's military government, BBC World Service stopped broadcasting shortwave radio programs from a transmitter north of Bangkok at the start of the year. A Thai government spokesman said the BBC decided to drop its effort for a seven-year lease agreement on the transmitter. "I would like to inform you that, the Public Relations Department owns the premises and the negotiating counterpart is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. BBC told us a couple of days ago or so that it would not want to have a new contract," Lt. Gen. Sansern Kaewkamnerd told BenarNews in a phone interview. Despite the shutdown, Thai residents have access to BBC News content through the broadcaster's Thai Service website that went online in November 2016. The website created controversy shortly after its launch by publishing a profile of King Maha Vajiralongkorn on the day he assumed the throne on Dec. 1 following the death of his father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, in mid-October. Two days after the king's ascension, Jatupat "Pai" Boonpattararaksa, a student activist from Khon Kaen University, was charged under the nation's strict royal defamation law for allegedly sharing the profile on Facebook. Jatupat, the first civilian charged with royal defamation under King Vajiralongkorn's reign was indicted on Feb. 10 and will face a closed-door trial. Only people involved in the case will be allowed to attend hearings. BBC officials did not comment on the flap, but Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported that the website's coverage of Thailand was an obstacle in discussions around renewing a lease for the transmitter. "Despite extensive negotiations, we have been unable to reach an agreement to re-commence transmissions. Given the financial constraints faced by the whole of the BBC, we have reluctantly decided to shut the site," the BBC said in a Wednesday statement about the Jan. 1 shuttering of its Thai transmitter. Layoffs possible The BBC said it might lay off 45 staff members who worked at the transmitter site in Nakhon Sawan, 240 km (150 miles) north of Bangkok for 20 years. It moved the transmitter from Hong Kong to Thailand when Great Britain handed over the territory to China in 1997. The transmitter broadcast local language news into tightly controlled countries such as China and North Korea and into places where many still rely on radio, including Pakistan and Afghanistan, AFP reported. The closure comes even as the BBC plans to increase its output to 40 foreign languages, near its post-World War II peak of 45, AFP reported. The British government announced an additional $352 million for the 2015-2020 period following years of cuts. The move was partly a response to the expansion of state-sponsored media in Russia, China and Middle Eastern countries. The cash injection also went toward hiring BBC Thai staff in Bangkok and London, AFP reported (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) COMMENTARY --- BBC NOT VERY CONVINCING ABOUT STATION Published: 13/03/2017 at 03:25 AM Newspaper section: News http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/1213609/bbc-not-very-convincing-about-station Even though the government has insisted it was the BBC's own decision to not renew the 20-year lease of a major shortwave broadcast station for Asia in Nakhon Sawan, many see it as the latest jab that the junta has carefully landed on the face of the British broadcaster. Since its Thai language service became available across the social media and now via a website, and as alternative news sources for Thais expand amid growing intimidation of the media by the military government in the wake of the 2014 coup, BBC Thai has published a number of critical articles that have upset the ruling junta. As a watchdog, it should have the right to criticise governments, including military ones. But the BBC has the tendency to go too far. Its article about His Majesty the King in late 2016 is the latest trigger which gave an opening for the junta to raid its Bangkok office shortly after publication. Erich Parpart is senior reporter, Bangkok Post. None of the BBC staff were arrested under the lese majeste law, but their office was closed for that day. The military government has left them alone since, but it is still looking for the author of the report. In subsequent actions, the broadcaster was hit again when its Bangkok- based correspondent, Jonathan Head, was indicted for trial in court after a lawyer brought a criminal defamation case against him over his investigative report on alleged fraud in Phuket. The prosecution was sparked by a September 2015 report by Head who was looking at how two foreign retirees were scammed out of their properties on the tourist island. He faces a criminal defamation charge, which carries up to two years in jail, and an additional charge under the Computer Crimes Act, which has a five-year maximum jail penalty. Head has always been critical of how Thailand's computer crime and defamation laws are a threat to freedom of speech, and now he is facing both of these controversial laws in court. He has had to surrender his passport to the court, leaving him unable to work across Asia as he fights a court battle likely to last two years. Head's case could be a coincidence. But it takes place at a time the broadcaster is seen as becoming a prime target of repression from the military government. The Thai Journalists Association (TJA) should speak up against the military government, demanding an end to suppression of foreign broadcasters and journalists if it still believes in press freedom. The junta has previously criticised the BBC Thai service for its frank and straightforward reporting. As the BBC's lease of the station to air its programmes in various languages, excluding Thai, comes to an end, doubt lingers whether the junta's efforts will stop there. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' explanation that it was the BBC which walked away from the negotiating table contradicts the broadcaster's statement which says that, "despite extensive negotiations, we have been unable to reach an agreement to re-commence transmissions. Given the financial constraints faced by the whole of the BBC, we have reluctantly decided to shut the site." The BBC's Asia transmission had been broadcasting uncensored foreign- language news into authoritarian countries such as Myanmar and China, as well as to countries which still rely significantly on radio such as Afghanistan and Pakistan, from Thailand since the station was relocated here from Hong Kong in 1997 when the city-state was handed back to China. Thailand was clearly chosen as a strategic location to broadcast this frequency. Last November, the BBC announced it would beam regular Korean-language broadcasts to North Korea via this station, and so it is obvious the broadcaster still planned to carry on with its operation in Asia via the Thai station. There is no reason for the BBC to not pursue a new deal unless the Thai authorities hike up the lease price so high that they cannot negotiate. There is, however, no good reason to significantly increase the price as it should not cost more to operate the station than before. There is one important note that might justify the break-down in the talks and it is that many international broadcasters have been cutting back or eliminating their shortwave services in recent times in favour of satellite television transmissions and the internet. I doubt this is the case. But the BBC has stuck to its previous statement and provided no further comment. They probably feel the red target being painted on them (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) See also UK! ** TIBET [non]. TAJIKISTAN, More frequency changes of Voice of Tibet on March 8: 1245-1300 NF 11512 DB 100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan, ex 11508 1300-1330 NF 11518 DB 100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan, ex 11513 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot. bg/2017/03/more-frequency- changes-of-voice-of.html (DX RE MIX NEWS #998 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, March 13, 2017 via DXLD) Updated schedule of Voice of Tibet Mar 11: 1200-1210 on 11513 DB 100 kW / 095 deg to EaAs Chinese no change 1210-1230 on 11508 DB 100 kW / 095 deg to EaAs Chinese no change 1230-1235 on 11507 DB 100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan no change 1235-1245 NF 11513 DB 100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan, ex 11507 1245-1305 NF 11508 DB 100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan, ex 11512 1305-1330 NF 11503 DB 100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan, ex 11518 1330-1335 NF 9513 DB 100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan, ex 9512 1335-1345 NF 9507 DB 100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan, ex 9512 1345-1400 NF 9507 DB 100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan, ex 9517 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/03/updated-schedule-of-voice-of-tibet-on.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TONGA. TBC is under threat. As first heard on RNZI news, three stories about this so far: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/programmes/datelinepacific/audio/201836918/tonga-pm-threatens-state-broadcaster-with-closure TONGA'S PM CALLS STATE BROADCASTER 'ENEMY OF GOVT' 2:44 pm on 15 March 2017 Tonga's Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva wants to review the role of the state broadcaster because it has become "an enemy of government". Tongan Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva. Photo: RNZI/Alex Perrottet [caption] Mr Pohiva said he was not happy with how the Tonga Broadcasting Commission operated and a review would be carried out over the next month. The prime minister said the services may be better carried out by a different provider. Mr Pohiva, who has long been at loggerheads with the management of the TBC, said the broadcaster was an obstacle and a real constraint on the work of government. "They have become an enemy of government. They claim the freedom of media should be allowed, should be the same with any other media in Tonga but they should understand there is a basic difference between a private media and also government media. Their main role, to me, is to facilitate the work of the government." 'Akilisi Pohiva said the TBC had also been running at a loss for the past 10 years (via Glenn Hauser, DXLD) http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/326712/pacific-watchdog-says-pohiva-should-remember-roots PACIFIC WATCHDOG SAYS POHIVA SHOULD REMEMBER ROOTS 6:52 am on 16 March 2017 A regional media watchdog says the stance Tonga's Prime Minister has taken on the country's state broadcaster doesn't fit 'Akilisi Pohiva's history of democratic activism. Mr Pohiva wants to review the role of the Tonga Broadcasting Commission because he said the broadcaster was not doing its job of facilitating government work. He had gone as far as to describe it as 'an enemy of government' and said the services may be better carried out by a different provider. But the Pacific Freedom Forum said the threats and statements send the wrong message. PFF Chair Monica Miller said as a former pro-democracy reform movement, the current government should remember its roots. "'Akilisi Pohiva was this crusading newspaper editor speaking out for freedom of information and speaking out for the people's right to know, freedom of expression. So for him to say these things, doesn't sound like the 'Akilisi we know,"she said. Monica Miller said it was not the job of any news media to support the government of the day, but to represent the public and their interests (via Glenn Hauser, DXLD) http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/326754/tongan-noble-says-pm-plans-are-unconstitutional TONGAN NOBLE SAYS PM PLANS ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL 3:55 pm on 16 March 2017 A Noble Representative in Tonga says closing down the state broadcaster would be unconstitutional. Noble Representative Lord Fusitu'a Photo: twitter [caption] Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva wants to review the Tonga Broadcasting Commission because he says the broadcaster is not doing its job of facilitating government work. He described the TBC as "an enemy of government" and said the services may be better carried out by a different provider. However Lord Fusitu'a said any move to shut down the TBC would be in breach of the constitution. He said there was also a Tonga Broadcasting Act which would need to be revoked and would have far-reaching ramifications. "The very basis of any Westminster democracy is the rule of law and once you chip away at freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of the press, you are chipping away at the rule of law which ends up, in most cases, disregard to the rule of law. Which is extremely destructive to any democracy of any sort." (via Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** TURKEY [and non]. Voice of Turkey in Italian on wrong frequency 9410 kHz on March 12: 1500-1525 9410#EMR 500 kW / 280 deg SEEu Italian, instead of 6185 1400-1455 9410*EMR 500 kW / 000 deg EaEu Russian, as scheduled in B16 *over BBC 9410 SLA 250 kW / 063 deg SoAs English World Sce 1400-1500 #over BBC 9410 SLA 250 kW / 010 deg CeAs English World Sce 1500-1600 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/03/voice-of-turkey-in-italian-on-wrong.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UKRAINE [non]. 11580, Thursday March 9 at 1352, presumed RUI relay as scheduled via WRMI, in a narrative story with classical music about an artist and a hand model, then about a bird. Turkishish music follows with no program outro or station ID until 1359.5 automation fires Bob Zanotti WRMI ID. If it is RUI, not properly packaged for a 29.5 minute slot. I check the WRMI server, and find this is the ``Thursday`` broadcast uploaded March 3, last Friday, only one week out of date. Anyhow every day, all the news seems to be about Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine. `Reading Lounge` is the program which started at 1346:30. However, this file is exactly 30:00 long and the reading is still going when cut off, so the Turkishish music must have been WRMI fill a bit early (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re: RUI STALLED ON WRMI --- Broadcast on 13 March [UT Mon] at 0200 UT on 11580 was of a program from July 2016 based on content, confirming GH's speculation from examining the WRMI server (Richard Langley, NB, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) i.e. Saturday and Sunday files were dated from that era (gh, DXLD) 11580, March 15 at 1330, RUI via WRMI, preview mentioning International Women`s Day which was March 8, so I conclude this file is from one week ago, not today. Then 1335 feature on an exhibition about 50 Ukrainian inventors, many of whom got mixed in with Russians during the Soviet era (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S S R. MOSCOW WEEKLY OUTPUT BY LANGUAGE AND AREA [historic] (via Roger Thauer-D, A-DX ng March 4 via BC-DX 12 March via DXLD) ** U K. Opinion > Opinion WHEN SHORTWAVE RADIO WAS MY BEST FRIEND Roger Crutchley Bangkok Post columnist Mail 12 Mar 2017 at 04:25 NEWSPAPER SECTION: NEWS 3,340 viewed 2 comments Published: 12/03/2017 at 04:25 AM Newspaper section: News Please credit and share this article with others using this link: http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/1213181/when-shortwave-radio-was-my-best-friend After 20 years the BBC is ending its foreign-language shortwave transmissions from Nakhon Sawan after failing to renegotiate its agreement with the Thai authorities. The transmissions were directed mainly at places like Afghanistan and Pakistan where radios are sometimes still the only source of news. It is not entirely clear why the negotiations failed, although the BBC cited "financial constraints". However, an underlying problem could be that BBC and Thai officials have somewhat differing ideas as to what constitutes "accurate and impartial news". I have always had a soft spot for the BBC World Service shortwave radio. For my first 30 years in Thailand it became a regular and essential companion thanks to a handy small Sony set which, alas, expired about 15 years ago. In those days, before satellite television and internet, the BBC shortwave service was one of the few reliable sources of news, along with the Bangkok Post of course. Over the years, that radio accompanied me to virtually every province in Thailand. It was particularly comforting to be sitting in the jungle in some remote part of Nakhon Nowhere and hear the refrains of Lilliburlero come wafting through, and of course the booming chimes of Big Ben. Even the beeps of the time signal and the strains of Oranges and Lemons were comforting to British ears. It was also quietly satisfying and equally bizarre, listening to a ball-by-ball cricket commentary from England while spending the night in a hill-tribe village near the Myanmar border. On the beach The BBC didn't always bring good news. I recall one particularly disturbing week towards the end of 1984 while loafing about on an island off Krabi with just my little radio for company. While sitting on a deserted beach watching the sand crabs at play, news of Indira Gandhi's assassination came filtering through. Then, in the space of just a few days on that same beach, the radio greeted me with the cheerful news that the baht had been devalued 15%. And then I got bitten by a crab. I'll read that again I've always admired the correspondents and newscasters responsible for the live reports on radio and television. I've got landed in that situation on a handful of occasions and it was absolutely terrifying. In live programmes, it is so easy to let slip the wrong word or get tongue-tied and sound like a complete idiot. There was a splendid gaffe on BBC radio some years ago when the newsreader announced: "The unorganised conference -- er, I'm sorry, the UN organised conference." Another unfortunate slip occurred in the 1973 Middle East war. With rumblings in Lebanon, a BBC foreign correspondent referred to "Lesbian forces moving towards Israel". Even such everyday programmes as the weather forecasts are not immune from sporadic slip-ups. On one occasion BBC listeners were told of a "trough of low pleasure drifting across Europe" while they also informed us that "widespread fist and mog can be expected". Something that was frowned on by the BBC in those days was slang. This ruling may have been influenced by the time the veteran presenter Jack de Manio interviewed a newly appointed female assistant governor at a male prison. In a classic example of foot in mouth, De Manio asked the lady quite innocently: "Do you think the prisoners will regard you as a good screw?" It's the voice The key to the enjoyment of radio programmes has always been the voices. Obvious though it may seem, you need the right voice for radio and it has never mattered what you look like. As the old joke went: "You've got a good face for radio.'' Winston Churchill's stirring wartime speeches wouldn't have been so effective if he hadn't possessed such a splendidly rich voice. One of his critics, author Evelyn Waugh, even dismissed Churchill as "simply a radio personality who had outlived his prime". One radio voice that fellow wrinklies may remember is that of newsreader Alvar Liddell, who was heard regularly from 1936 to 1972. His voice was the personification of correct BBC English, which was all the more extraordinary because his parents were Swedish. Liddell became a household name during World War II. Prior to the conflict, BBC newsreaders were an anonymous lot. But after 1939, fearful of impersonations by enemy propagandists, the BBC insisted on its newscasters giving their names on air. "Here is the news, and this is Alvar Liddell reading it" was a familiar and comforting refrain during the war. Gently, Bentley In the austere days of the early 1950s, before our house was invaded by television, the radio was my family's main source of entertainment. I recall my dad sitting in front of a coal fire on a chilly winter's night chuckling away at the most popular show, Take It From Here. Among the stars were Jimmy Edwards and Dick Bentley and one of the first catchphrases to become institutionalised in Britain was Jimmy's injunction to Dick, "Gently, Bentley". Anyone named Bentley had to suffer that retort for many years, and some probably still do. Later in the '50s I was brought up on Hancock's Half Hour, arguably the best radio sitcom ever. Tony Hancock was brilliant and some of his regular expressions like "Have you gone raving mad?' and "Stone me!" became an indelible part of British culture (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) see also THAILAND! ** U K. 11775 - IBRA Radio, Wooferton, UK at 1759 - Arab style string vocals to YL announcements in Arabic while music continued softly in background. Fair S8 signal easily over Caribbean Beacon, which I can hear with distorted audio in background (Stephen Wood, Harwich, Mass., Drake R8B, 25 x 50 terminated superloop antenna (225º S/W), March 14, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** U S A. 4027-USB, UT Sat March 11 at 0229, MARS net mostly weak signals, with truncated suffices fonetikaly: NCS is NC1, with stronger 4RO, discussing agenda for this evening, probably to be finished by hourtop. SC1 asks if AAR4DV is on the roster? No, but will be added, etc., etc. (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 4724-USB, March 10 at 0559, robotic but probably human YL voice with requisite heavy reverb says, ``This is Raincoat, out``, no doubt following one of those lengthy alfanumeric coded messages some US military agency sends out here periodically (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. FCC database shows the license for WQGY434 Eldorado TX, 25910 KLDE studio relay, as "active", but "termination pending". Last heard here in August. Bummer (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, 5525 Whitehall St., Midland MI 48642-3156, Drake R8B + 185' & 60' RW + 125' bow-tie, ----- All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! -----, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. THE BBG HAS ISSUED A SOLICITATION FOR NEWS SERVICES: Comprehensive International and US Newswire Services Solicitation Number: BBG50-R-17-0001 Agency: Broadcasting Board of Governors Office: Director, Office of Contracts Location: Office of Contracts (CON) https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=3e02dc9efbacd950178b5ba54dd87a8d (via Mike Cooper, March 13, DXLD) ** U S A. VOICE OF AMERICA JUMPS THROUGH TECH HOOPS TO REPORT ON WIKILEAKS DOCS - The Washington Post Erik Wemple Opinion https://www.washingtonpost.com/pb/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2017/03/08/voice-of-america-jumps-through-tech-hoops-to-report-on-wikileaks-docs/ Opinion Interpretation of the news based on evidence, including data, as well as anticipating how events might unfold based on past events By Erik Wemple March 8 at 5:54 PM Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, in 2012. (Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press) [caption] Conventional news organizations follow a simple protocol in pursuing this week's WikiLeaks dump of alleged CIA documents about tools to hack into computers, smartphones and the like. Just open up the documents, read them, consult with experts and perhaps write up an article or two. That process doesn't proceed quite as smoothly at the Voice of America (VOA), the government-funded news outlet that launched in 1942 "to combat Nazi propaganda with accurate and unbiased news and information." Journalists at VOA work on government computers, an arrangement that creates some problems when viewing classified information, whether or not that classified information has been leaked to the whole world. "Even if classified documents are leaked and thus in the public domain, they have not yet been declassified. Because we're a federal agency, these laws and rules [apply] to us," wrote VOA Director Amanda Bennett in a Wednesday memo to VOA staffers. The upshot? "We cannot, using agency computers, examine these leaked documents or reproduce them on our web sites," wrote Bennett. In an interview with the Erik Wemple Blog, Bennett says that the problem dates back to 2010, when WikiLeaks released an enormous amount of classified U.S. government cables and correspondence. At the time, VOA, like the rest of the government, received an OMB directive that it couldn't use its computer system to mine the documents. "If we use the same computer systems, we're subject to the same laws as the rest of the federal government," says Bennett. So the organization bootstrapped a workaround -- with advice from the Obama Justice Department and other agencies -- that involved using computers that weren't connected to the federal network, just for the purpose of checking out the WikiLeaks material. Last night, Bennett & Co. repeated the operation, asking for the requisite technology to perform the computer isolation. Though the computers get their connection from an external WiFi hotspot, they are lodged in the VOA newsroom. VOA has covered the latest WikiLeaks documents in this article and has also run wire pieces. "The presumption is, `Let's obey the law' and `Let's also figure out how to get the job done,'" says Bennett (via David Cole & Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. VOA Radiogram, 11-12 Mar 2017: Includes a comparison of two 58-wpm modes, MFSK16 and Olivia 8-1000. http://voaradiogram.net/post/158241085387/voa-radiogram-11-12-march-2017-battle-of-the (Kim Elliott, March 10, dxldyg via DXLD) Here is a visual comparison of the2 modes: http://www.rhci-online.net/radiogram/VoA_Radiogram_2017-03-11.htm#VOA And there is the 40th edition of IBC DIGITAL: (DigiDX is still at number 44, for several weeks) http://www.rhci-online.net/radiogram/VoA_Radiogram_2017-03-11.htm#IBC (roger thayer, germany, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. WORLD OF RADIO 1867 monitoring: confirmed first SW broadcast of 1230 UT Thursday March 9 on 9955, checked at 1250, good S9+10 and no jamming, while // 6855 is JBA. Next: Thu 2130 WRMI 11580 to NE Fri 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Fri 2230 WRMI 11580 to NE, 6855? to WNW, 5950 to S Sat 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Sat 0730 HLR 6190-CUSB to WSW Sat 1530 HLR 7265-CUSB to WSW Sat 2030v WA0RCR 1860-AM ND Sat 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Sun 0410v WA0RCR 1860-AM ND Sun 1130 HLR 9485-CUSB to SW DST shifts one UT hour earlier start here for some but not all: Sun 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Mon 0300v WBCQ 5130v Area 51 to WSW Mon 0330 WRMI 9955 to SSE Mon 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Tue 0030 WRMI 7730 to WNW Tue 1100 WRMI 9955 to SSE, 6855 to WNW Tue 2130 WRMI 15770 to NE, 6855 to WNW Tue 2200 WRMI 9955 to SSE Tue 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Wed 1030 WRMI 5850 to NW, 6855 to WNW Wed 1315.5 WRMI 9955 to SSE, 6855 to WNW Wed 2100 WBCQ 7490v to WSW Wed 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW WORLD OF RADIO 1868 monitoring: confirmed Thursday March 9 at 2130 on WRMI 11580, good with some deep fades. (Followed 2200 by `La Rosa de Tokio`, a program block still not accounted for on the grid, but apparently everything on 5950 at 2200-2300 is also on 11580.) WOR also confirmed UT Fri Mar 10 after 0030 on WBCQ 9330.0v-CUSB, very poor. Also confirmed Fri Mar 10 at 2230 on WRMI 11580, S9+10, JBA // on 5950, and NOT // on 6855 but JBA music and undermodulated. Also confirmed UT Saturday March 11 at 0030 on WBCQ 9329.9v-CUSB, poor. Next: Sat 0730 HLR 6190-CUSB to WSW Sat 1530 HLR 7265-CUSB to WSW Sat 2030v WA0RCR 1860-AM ND Sat 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Sun 0410v WA0RCR 1860-AM ND Sun 1130 HLR 9485-CUSB to SW DST shifts one UT hour earlier start here for some but not all: Sun 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Mon 0300v WBCQ 5130v Area 51 to WSW Mon 0330 WRMI 9955 to SSE Mon 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Tue 0030 WRMI 7730 to WNW Tue 1100 WRMI 9955 to SSE, 6855 to WNW Tue 2130 WRMI 15770 to NE, 6855 to WNW Tue 2200 WRMI 9955 to SSE Tue 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Wed 1030 WRMI 5850 to NW, 6855 to WNW Wed 1315.5 WRMI 9955 to SSE, 6855 to WNW Wed 2100 WBCQ 7490v to WSW Wed 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW WORLD OF RADIO 1868 monitoring: not confirmed Saturday March 11 at several chex between 1530 and 1600 on 7265-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio via UTwente SDR --- just S Asian music from CRI and CCI from the other Chinese station, but both weaker than usual. In three weeks DST should move this to 1430 UT, further lessening CCI. Confirmed Sat March 11 at 2330 on WBCQ, 9329.85v-CUSB, good (from next week will be 2230). Also confirmed on 1860-AM, WA0RCR at S9+30, UT Sun March 12 at 0429 about 3 minutes in, so started circa 0426 (Also one UT hour earlier from next week). Next: Sun 1130 HLR 9485-CUSB to SW DST shifts one UT hour earlier start here for some but not all: Sun 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Mon 0300v WBCQ 5130v Area 51 to WSW Mon 0330 WRMI 9955 to SSE Mon 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Tue 0030 WRMI 7730 to WNW Tue 1100 WRMI 9955 to SSE, 6855 to WNW Tue 2130 WRMI 15770 to NE, 6855 to WNW Tue 2200 WRMI 9955 to SSE Tue 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Wed 1030 WRMI 5850 to NW, 6855 to WNW Wed 1315.5 WRMI 9955 to SSE, 6855 to WNW Wed 2100 WBCQ 7490v to WSW Wed 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Weak signal of Hamburger Lokalradio relays, March 12 PCJ Media Network Plus 1100-1130 on 9485 GOH 001 kW / 230 deg to CeEu English Sun CUSB World of Radio#1868 1130-1200 on 9485 GOH 001 kW / 230 deg to CeEu English Sun CUSB Radio Tropicana 1200-1300 on 9485 GOH 001 kW / 230 deg to CeEu English Sun CUSB http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/03/weak-signal-of-hamburger-lokalradio.html (Ivo Ivanov, Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Next: Sun 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Mon 0300v WBCQ 5130v Area 51 to WSW Mon 0330 WRMI 9955 to SSE Mon 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Tue 0030 WRMI 7730 to WNW Tue 1100 WRMI 9955 to SSE, 6855 to WNW Tue 2130 WRMI 15770 to NE, 6855 to WNW Tue 2200 WRMI 9955 to SSE Tue 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Wed 1030 WRMI 5850 to NW, 6855 to WNW Wed 1315.5 WRMI 9955 to SSE, 6855 to WNW Wed 2100 WBCQ 7490v to WSW Wed 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW WORLD OF RADIO 1868 monitoring: confirmed Sunday March 12 at 2330 on WBCQ 9330.05v-CUSB, fair. Also confirmed UT Monday March 13 from 0302 on Area 51 webcast, and before finished at 0330 check on WBCQ 5129.808-AM, poor. (NOTE: this is on AM, not CUSB as Ivo keeps claiming). Also confirmed UT Monday March 13 at 0330 on WRMI, 9955, S9+10 to 20. Next: Mon 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Tue 0030 WRMI 7730 to WNW Tue 1100 WRMI 9955 to SSE, 6855 to WNW Tue 2130 WRMI 15770 to NE, 6855 to WNW Tue 2200 WRMI 9955 to SSE Tue 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Wed 1030 WRMI 5850 to NW, 6855 to WNW Wed 1315.5 WRMI 9955 to SSE, 6855 to WNW Wed 2100 WBCQ 7490v to WSW Wed 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW WORLD OF RADIO 1868 monitoring: confirmed Monday March 13 at 2330 on WBCQ 9330v-CUSB, fair; also confirmed UT Tue Mar 14 at 0040, the 0030 broadcast on WRMI 7730, good. Also confirmed Tue Mar 14 at 2130 on WRMI 15770, fair and still // 6855, VP; recheck at 2159, 6855 is not only VP but JBM. [WORLD OF RADIO 1869:] NOT CONFIRMED the expected Tue Mar 14 9955 WOR broadcast on WRMI, which would have shifted from 2300 to 2200 UT. Replaced without notice by a YL preacher in English, with an accent, at first thought maybe Mieko Namihira, but intro title didn`t sound like `Living the Bible` (and still vs pulse jamming). Then I check the WRMI sked grid and it now shows `Redeeming Voice`, Tue 2200-2215 on 9955; and all the other 9955 WOR airings are still there. Also confirmed Tue Mar 14 at 2341, the 2330 WOR airing on WBCQ 9330v-CUSB, poor. Next: Wed 1030 WRMI 5850 to NW, 6855 to WNW Wed 1315.5 WRMI 9955 to SSE, 6855 to WNW Wed 2100 WBCQ 7490v to WSW Wed 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW WORLD OF RADIO 1868 monitoring: confirmed Wednesday March 15 at 1326, the 1315.5 airing on WRMI 9955, good; and // 6855, poor. Also confirmed Wed Mar 15 at 2100 on WBCQ 7490 webcast, but I was getting worried as Brother Scare was on just before instead of Financial Survival; and overlapped with the ID which overlapped with WOR starting. Also audible fairly on 7490 itself a few minutes later. Also confirmed Wed March 15 at 2355, the 2330 airing on WBCQ 9329.9v-CUSB, good. WORLD OF RADIO 1869 ready for first airings March 16: Thu 1130 WRMI 9955 to SSE Thu 2130 WRMI 11580 to NE Thu 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Fri 2230 WRMI 11580 to NE, 6855? to WNW, 5950 to S Fri 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Sat 0730 HLR 6190-CUSB to WSW Sat 1530 HLR 7265-CUSB to WSW Sat 1930v WA0RCR 1860-AM ND Sat 2230 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Sun 0310v WA0RCR 1860-AM ND Sun 1130 HLR 9485-CUSB to SW Sun 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Mon 0300v WBCQ 5130v Area 51 to WSW Mon 0330 WRMI 9955 to SSE Mon 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Tue 0030 WRMI 7730 to WNW Tue 1100 WRMI 9955 to SSE, 6855 to WNW Tue 2130 WRMI 15770 to NE, 6855 to WNW Tue 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Wed 1030 WRMI 5850 to NW, 6855 to WNW Wed 1315.5 WRMI 9955 to SSE, 6855 to WNW Wed 2100 WBCQ 7490v to WSW Wed 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW NOTE: Keith Weston says the WOR podcasts via iTunes, Googleplay Music and Feedburner will not be available for WOR 1869 and 1870 until a server crash can be fixed. The other two podcasts continue via http://shortwave.am/wor.xml and http://www.rmrc.de (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. (7490) WBCQ via webcast, UT Friday March 10 at 0000, second episode of Bill Tilford`s `Uncle Bill`s Melting Pot` of music, followed 0030 by a repeat of `Camp Constitution Radio`, far-right politix, replacing leftist `Broad Spectrum Radio`. `CCR` is originally scheduled Tue 0030. Last week, a repeat of its preceding `Furthermore 29-54` occupied 0030 UT Fri. BSR has been off WBCQ for a few weeks. Homepage http://www.broadspectrumradio.com is devoted to fundraising in a variety of ways, in order to stay on the air, but I wonder if it`s still on the air anywhere. The KTLR 890 OKC spot has also been dropped; and Unique Radio NSW is totally off the air. No up to date info to be found on BSR scheduling, and the WBCQ time is still shown in CDT, which henceforth would have been correct again. 9330, March 10 at 0607, WBCQ inaudible if on with BS allegedly scheduled, while BS on 7490v-AM is poor, 5129.8v-AM very poor. Program schedule at http://schedule.wbcq.com/ *still* has not been updated to show all the extra BS which began weeks ago. From this you would not know he`s on 9330 at all, or more than the previous bihour on 5130. 7490.02-AM, UT Sat March 11 at 0204, I tune WBCQ in after the first hour of `Allan Weiner Worldwide`, when he`s more likely getting down to business. Yes, mentions that the ``nifty 3250 transmitter is not ready yet, a spring project for 80 meters``, and that he`s now simulcasting on 5130. NO, I check 5129.8v-AM and some kind of drama with music is running. Among the anomalies of the online program schedule, this hour, 02-03 UT Sat on 5130 is unaccounted for, nothing shown, before 03-04 UT `Open Your Eyes [no comma] People`. (By 0206, no signal audible on 9330; in fact, 31m is almost dead, and even more so, 25m.) Had I listened during the first hour, I would have noted something like this, per John H Carver, Jr., Mid-North Indiana: ``In what is becoming the norm lately, AWWW stopped in midsentence at approximately seventeen minutes past the top of the hour and went to music. Quick check of 5130 yielded Brother Scare. Approximately thirty-five minutes after the top of the hour AWWW appeared again in the middle of a sentence, not the sentence it ended with. 5130 check at that time revealed AWWW there also. I lost 7490 right around 0200. When I went to 5130, AWWW was already off and the next program was running. I was already upset about missing most of another AWWW so didn't hang around there but if I had to guess I would say it was Tom Call Theater playing at that time.`` Back to 7490.02, at 0213, AW rementions that he wrote The Donald offering to divest and serve as an FCC commissioner, his goal being to institute an ``amateur broadcast band`` at the top end of AM, for lowpower stations by individuals, i.e. sanxioned and not piratical. I was waiting for him to mention a reply from acting president Trump, but apparently he has not heard from him, much less appointed as yet. At 0227 after benedixion, AWWW finishes with another playback tribute of the late Mike Scheidtmann (sp?), when he subbed for AWWW on ``Your Natural Station``, Friday November 11, 2005, opening and closing; canned WBCQ promo by AW before rejoining Brother Scare (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Good signal of WBCQ The Planet/Brother HySTAIRical March 11 2000 & 2100 on 9329.8 BCQ 050 kW / 245 deg to ENAm English in CUSB Extended schedule of Brother HySTAIRical on 7490/5130/9330 kHz is 0500-0800 on 7490.1 BCQ 050 kW / 245 deg to ENAm English AM mode 0500-1100 on 5129.8 BCQ 050 kW / 245 deg to ENAm English in CUSB* 1100-2300 on 9329.8 BCQ 050 kW / 245 deg to ENAm English in CUSB http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/03/good-signal-of-wbcq-planetbrother.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) *I say again and again, 5129.8 is NOT in CUSB, just AM. Try listening to it. 9329.8v is also BSing before 1100 and after 2300 when nothing else is scheduled (gh, DXLD) 7490.136, Sat March 12 at 2219, this WBCQ is on early again, with dramatic dialog by amateurish actors, about a gorilla and a graveyard, but plenty of SFX, and no Hammond organ music, so it`s not `Unshackled`. Nor is this the kind of thing which was running here in February, from Atlantic Oldies 2NG. But what? No info on the WBCQ website, of course. Recheck at 2247, now a rock song about Jesus Christ. See 5129.8 log for possible identity. 2259 another song interrupted and no program outro, ID, and 2300 `Ride of Valkyries` to intro `Shortwave Saturday Night`, as J. P. spends the first half hour criticizing ``Secretary of State Tillerson`` who seems to be dismantling the DOS on behalf of acting presidents Trump & Bannon. Hey America, wake up! 5129.8, March 12 at 0103, this WBCQ is S9+25 but noisy, in a version of ``Jingle Bells``. Regarding last night`s non-AWWW programming on 5129.8 after 0200 UT March 11, John Carver in mid-North Indiana replies, ``I lost 7490 right around 0200. When I went to 5130, AWWW was already off and the next program was running. I was already upset about missing most of another AWWW so didn't hang around there but if I had to guess I would say it was `Tom Call Theater` playing at that time.`` Could that also be what I had on 7490 before 2300 March 11, q.v.? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Managed to determine that this mystery pic is of WBCQ. https://flic.kr/p/3p2Byw (Ian, shortwavesites yg via DXLD) Also of WCXH 780, and some others of WBCQ; by radiofreemountairy, i.e. Larry Will, 10 years ago (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) More pics of the WBCQ site with Allan & friends. https://www.flickr.com/photos/10033190@N03/ radiofreemountairy flickr (Ian, swsites via DXLD) 9330v-CUSB, March 15 at 0103, WBCQ presumably the JBA carrier, altho before 0100, Blalock was blasting; recheck at 0124, now it`s Brother Scare, who will presumably continue all night whether propagating or not, and all day until 2330 another WORLD OF RADIO time. But the BS on 9330 is NOT // 9400 Bulgaria or 7730 et al. WRMIs. 5129.81-AM, UT Wed March 15 at 0104, `Amateur Radio Roundtable` is underway on this WBCQ, which replaced 9330 on December 14, as I had urged due to low winter MUFs. Should get back up on 9 if not 7 MHz in a few weeks for spring/summer conditions. Time has shifted one UT hour earlier now, ex-0200. WBCQ schedule still shows 9330, altho the time conversions have been updated for 4 hours difference between UT and ET, but still labeled EST instead of EDT (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. OLD RADIO PROGRAMS ON SW: 0300, 5130, Mon, Jean Shepherd Show with WBCQ 0400, 3215, Sat, Golden Age of Radio via WWCR 0500, 3215, Sat, Golden Age of Radio via WWCR 2000, 9350, Thu, Golden Age of Radio via WWCR 2100, 9350, Wed & Fri Golden Age of Radio via WWCR The pirate on 6770v continues to broadcast frequently, carrying old radio programs, but has been very weak here in recent months (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, 5525 Whitehall St., Midland MI 48642-3156, Drake R8B + 185' & 60' RW + 125' bow-tie, ----- All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! -----, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Not including DST shifts. Jean Shepherd should now be 0200-0245 UT Mondays, alternate weeks when Johnny Lightning is off (gh, DXLD) De: "VORW Info" Enviado: 15/03/2017 14:53:45 Asunto: Frequency Changes for VORW Radio International - Newsletter 2 Dear VORW Radio Listeners, Happy March! This is the second edition of the VORW Radio International Newsletter, it will be sent out when there is a significant change to the broadcast schedule or if there is a significant update regarding programming or other matters. The timing of all shortwave transmissions has changed due to Daylight Saving Time in the United States, please consult the schedule below in order to plan your listening schedule accordingly. Likewise, the transmission to Europe has now changed frequencies. Broadcasts to Europe will now be heard on 11580 kHz at 2000 UT, that converts to 8 PM GMT / 4 PM Eastern. VORW Radio International is a light entertainment program, serving listeners in Europe, North America and the world. Programs consist of a mixture of commentary and listener-requested music. Comments, questions, reception reports and music requests may be sent to vorwinfo@gmail.com E-QSL's are provided for legitimate reception reports. Here is the Transmission Schedule: Thursdays: 1000 UT - 10 AM GMT - 6 AM Eastern - 5850 to Western North America / East Asia & The Pacific 2000 UT - 8 PM GMT - 4 PM Eastern - 11580 to Europe 0000 UT - 12 AM GMT - 8 PM Eastern - 7490 to North America VORW Radio International is a listener funded initiative, you can support this broadcast via Paypal or Patreon, inquire for more information by replying to this email or by sending an email to vorwinfo@gmail.com If you are not in the target area of these transmissions or if you do not own a shortwave receiver, please view this document which includes links to online shortwave receivers, which you can listen on. http://pastebin.com/dfsDX72W If you are unable to hear the broadcasts, archived programs are available on Soundcloud at: https://soundcloud.com/vorw_ radio_int (via Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Kind time of day everyone! How interesting. While with the HF news disappear, they come to fast food reviewers. I now do not exaggerate. It is useful to google what VORW is and how it stands for. Gugel brought me to SWLing.com: http://swling.com/blog/2016/06/vorw-radio-international-broadcast-this-week/ ... that - on the YouTube channel TheReportOfTheWeek (that's it, Voice Of RW): https://www.youtube.com/user/TheReportOfTheWeek/about ... and that - on the page in Google+, almost completely repeats Youtube: https://plus.google.com/104574401144569115294 The description on Youtube states that "here you will find reviews of fast food, energy drinks, as well as casual videos and conversational shows." Well, the channel's content from fast food, sobsno, and consists, slightly more than completely. I do not have a firm opinion whether it's good or bad, right now I can come up with a lot of arguments for myself and for myself. But if the fast food columnist is able to buy time on the transmitter, then all the allegedly "financial" considerations of the major broadcasters who have left the KV begin to look pale (Vladimir Emelyanov R4HAP, Samara, Russia / "deneb-radio-dx" via RusDX March 12 via DXLD) USA / Uzbekistan ------------------------ We received a QSL card from VORW Radio International. 09.03.2017 / 1200-1300 UT / 12085 kHz / Tashkent / 100 kW / Azimuth 068 degrees. E-mail: vorwinfo @ gmail.com PI: http://ivanovpb.blogspot.ru/2016/08/vorw-radio-international.html MOP: http://use015.blogspot.com/2017/03/vorw-radio-international-test.html AK: http://rusdx.blogspot.ru/2017/03/blog-post_10.html (?? / PI / DK / SR / SS / FB / DE / VL) (multiple reports to RusDX March 12 via DXLD) ** U S A. 6855, March 9 at 0526, WRMI with Brazilian music during World Music, but rather distorted modulation as this unit continues to have problems. 9395, March 10 at 1428, classic rock from WRMI-6 at 355 degrees. Schedule grid now labels this as Oldies, 24 hours (tho we heard Brother Scare now & then). And gray shading for this System G is now identified as `Oldies with Bob Biermann`, for more information see http://www.oldies.com --- don`t bother, that`s a music sales site with an AC 610 phone in Pennsylvania, no real connexion with Biermann? But possibly source of the music feed. I`ve yet to hear him identify any of the music played like a real DJ, just canned IDs and promos. 9395: reminder that per David Goren, another try UT Saturday March 11 at 0300-0600 // 6855 for WRMI to broadcast the complete `Shortwave Shindig` from last week`s SWL Fest, and then two hours of SW radio art from Wavefarm, which lost feed after 0435 last Saturday (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9955, new show on WRMI, `Las Noches con Mirka`, which I monitored last Friday March 3 at 2200-2300, colloquial Cuban exile chat, I now see has been added to the WRMI skedgrid, not only for this hour, henceforth 2100-2200 but also Mon & Wed at 2100-2200, plus Sundays at 2130-2230. Other weekdays at 5-6 pm EST/EDT, various other programs now shown rather than the never acknowledged prepeats of Radio Libertad in addition to two hours later. But it may take a while for the DentroCuban Jamming Command to quit jamming the earlier hour, if ever, since Tuesday programs are also Cuban if not overtly clandestine, Bajo el Sol de Miami, y Trova Libre. 6855, March 1 at 0257, WRMI is good with R. Prague relay at S9+30, presumably // inaudible 11580, talking English about string theory, closing with a .cz website just in time for 0259.5 Spanish ID and 0300 into R. Taiwán Internacional relay. O o, David Goren and I were expecting a replay of last week`s `Shortwave Shindig`. RTI`s original frequency, 5985 presumably still //, unchecked now. 9395, March 1 at 0257, tune-in early for scheduled replay of `Shortwave Shindig`. Instead of Oldies music, it`s a gospel huxter in English, ``5 minutes left in this live broadcast``, but only S5 and not completely readable. I can tell he`s over-confident, referring to Psalms, but also pushing a catalog of survivalist gear, ``Redneck`` this & that; 0257 gospel song. What in the world is this? Not of course // TOM. Could be `Evangelical Holiness` as sked until 0300 UT Sat on inaudible 9955. Unlike 6855, which stayed with Taiwán this week instead of David Goren`s show, 9395 does switch to that after an 0259.5 Bob Zanotti ID, 0300 fading down, but I eventually recognize some of the classic interval signals the Shindig show opened with. I`m afraid the repeat this week will not be of much audibility either, on only one frequency hit by MUF plunge, and since I heard the whole thing last week online, do not try any further (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Reasonably good reception here in NB for the whole three hours and will try to get it archived sometime this weekend. By the way, the Shortwave Shindig / Wave Farm broadcast was followed on 9395 kHz by Bob Biermann's thoughtful "Your Weekend Show." During the first part of the show, Biermann talked about the status of shortwave vis-a-vis the Internet. Worth a listen. "Reasonably good reception here in NB for the whole three hours [of the Shortwave Shindig / Short Waves / Long Distance programs] and will try to get it archived sometime this weekend." Archived here: https://archive.org/details/ShortwaveShindigViaWRMI9.395MHz11March20170300UTC and here: https://shortwavearchive.com/archive/shortwave-shindig-and-short-waves-long-distance-via-wrmi-march-11-2017 (-- Richard Langley, March 13, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) WRMI Blooper Last Night --- As I reported previously, I recorded WRMI on 9395 kHz over-night. While reviewing the recording this morning, I heard Jeff White with Wavescan number 420 starting around 08:00 UTC. This episode is supposed to start airing on Sunday. Turned out it was a preliminary or first take at recording the program and was missing the contributions from others such as Ray Robinson with brief pauses where these segments would later be added. Shuffling of papers and Jeff talking to himself could be heard. I wonder how this ended up getting aired? Somebody or something activating a wrong file? A bit of a blooper but I guess things like this do happen. After that unintentional airing, it was back to soft rock music (Richard Langley, Mar 11, dxldyg via DXLD) I recall this happened once before (gh) 9395, WRMI, tho nominally Oldies 24/7, is not always so. After the Winterfest special repeat presumably until 0600 March 12, checked at 0652 with `Your Weekend Show`, Bob Biermann preaching against lavish lifestyles of some end-time-coming preachers. Next check at 1826 March 12, soul music at S9-S8, 1837 Beatles` ``Strawberry Fields Forever``. 6855, Sunday March 12 at 1320, that Japo-Mississippian gospel huxtress is still audible and // much stronger 9955, after DST shift, altho WRMI 9955 skedgrid still claims UT-5 difference instead of UT-4. Must be `Living the Bible` as for 9 am ET. No info about her on the Programming page. How about WWCR? Not listed. WINB? Listed, but no link or info. Then I search her out to Vicksburg MS: http://namihira.org/about.shtml ``Mieko Namihira runs an International radio ministry covering the US, Japan, Europe, and Africa. If you would like to listen see the schedules below``: http://namihira.org/radio_schedule.shtml includes this WRMI airing on 9955 only, and some more on Radio Africa, with long-gone 17790 frequency instead of 21675. The only other SW station on her list is T8WH. Doesn`t she know about WINB? If I had worldwide SW broadcasts, I would do my best to keep schedule info current. O, right, I do. 9395, March 12 at 0734, WRMI Oldies finally heard with a song announcement by DJ, not Biermann? I`m falling asleep and can`t read my own scribbling, about to suffer another hour of sleep deprivation thanks to the imposition of DST by nefarious forces. 6855, March 13 at 0459, WRMI outroing `Blues Radio International` as still scheduled from 0430 Mondays with no shift, // 5985, and at 0500, 6855 goes into World Music with song about Allah, while 5985 goes off ceding to CRI via Albania. 6855 // 11580, UT Wed March 15 at 0147, WRMI with Keith Perron introducing a John Lennon song, on `Media Network Plus`, as scheduled on 11580 only, but duplicated this hour on stronger 6855. 9395, UT Wed March 15 at 0119, WRMI with a gospel huxter about tribulation, all talk --- not Oldies with Biermann, nor his `Your Weekend Show`, and not Overcomer either, so what? Detailed sked for 9395 is still missing, just supposedly 24h Oldies (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Summer A-17 new frequencies of WRMI Okeechobee eff. from March 26: http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/03/summer-17-new-frequencies-of-wrmi.html 0900-2100 NF 9580 YFR 100 kW / 285 deg WNAm tx#05 WRMI pxs, ex 6855 1400-2300 NF 21525 YFR 100 kW / 087 deg NCAf tx#07 R.Africa, ex 21675 Other frequencies of WRMI Okeechobee remain unchanged from B16 to A17: 0000-2400 on 11580 YFR 100 kW / 044 deg to WeEu tx#01 0300-0500 on 5985 YFR 100 kW / 222 deg to MEXI tx#02 1200-2200 on 15770 YFR 100 kW / 044 deg to WeEu tx#03 0000-0200 on 11530 YFR 100 kW / 160 deg to CeAm tx#04 2100-0900 on 6855 YFR 100 kW / 285 deg to WNAm tx#05, ex 0000-2400 0000-2400 on 9395 YFR 100 kW / 355 deg to ENAm tx#06 1300-0300 on 11825 YFR 100 kW / 355 deg to ENAm tx#08, ex 1300-2400 2200-1200 on 7780 YFR 100 kW / 151 deg to NSAm tx#09 0000-2400 on 9955 YFR 100 kW / 160 deg to CeAm tx#10 2300-1400 on 7570 YFR 100 kW / 315 deg to WNAm tx#11 2300-1400 on 5850 YFR 100 kW / 315 deg to WNAm tx#12 2300-1400 on 7730 YFR 100 kW / 285 deg to MEXI tx#13 2200-0100 on 5950 YFR 100 kW / 181 deg to Cuba tx#14 1100-1300 on 5950 YFR 100 kW / 181 deg to Cuba tx#14 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DXLD) 9580: note that WRMI has registered this ex-Radio Australia frequency for A-17, at exactly the same hours RA used it, 0900-2100 UT! When RA self-destructed at end of January, I suggested to Jeff White that WRMI should take over this frequency, either to preserve it for possible RA revival, or even to relay RA, whether ABC liked it or not. Would be very popular among North American SWLs and great PR for WRMI. But unknown yet what WRMI will really do with it: to become the daytime partner to 6855 transmitter at night on 285 azimuth, which has been running 24 hours, but pretty useless in the daytime, even more so in summer (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 7505.0, March 9 at 0536, dead air at S9-S7, suspected WRNO transmitter still on. Unless it`s a ute; no other broadcaster scheduled. Before I can hear it long enough to witness continuous variation, it cuts off. WRNO sked continues to be quite erratic, including just when it`s in Chinese, as noted by Ron Howard. Aoki never got around to changing the nominal span for standard time to 0200-0500, rather than 0100-0400, which will soon be in vigor again (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RE: WRNO - with new Chinese schedule. Hi Glenn, Greatly appreciate Mauno Ritola forwarding to WRNO my question about the current Chinese language schedule. Their reply: "Greetings, We are now airing our Chinese Program at 10:00 pm CST every day. WRNO Staff" So now daily 0400-0500 UT, BUT with this coming weekend will probably see a time change back to daily from 0300 to 0400 UT, as we change to Daylight Saving Time (DST) on Sunday, March 12, and spring forward 1 hour from 02:00 (2 AM) to 03:00 (3 AM), our local time. Interesting that they have gone from two days a week to seven days a week. Their Chinese language program "Praise for Today" must be popular? Thanks again to Mauno for his ongoing assistance! (Ron Howard, March 9, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7505v, WRNO. Yes, have noted their new daily schedule of Chinese ("Praise for Today"), from about 0400 till going off about 0501; March 10, 11 & 12; often note the frequency shifting. Will March 13 be 0300-0400 UT, with DST? (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7505.14 steadily varying upward to 7505.18 within a minute as I try to measure it, March 15 at 0126-0127, WRNO with outro for Maranatha Radio from San Diego. DST scheduling now nominally 01-04 UT; and Ron Howard says Mauno Ritola found out that their Chinese is now every night at 03-04 UT (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, Observed schedule for the Chinese language program ("Praise for Today"), after DST started, is daily 0200-0300 UT, noted on March 13 & 15. After 0302 back to English programming till about 0402* cut off (Ron Howard, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) OK, not monitored at either time myself, but contradicts previous info he got from WRNO that it would stay at 10 pm Central, which was 0400 UT, and now 0300 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 12050, March 12 at 1834, WEWN YL in Spanish, distorted with humbuzz, and splatter building up again, detectable at least between 12020 and 12095. 11980-12145 approx., March 12 at 1753, WEWN YL in Spanish very distorted on fundamental 12050 and splatter built up to at least this range (maybe more if 12160 WWCR were not in the way), and worst below 12100. Here we go again. Does anyone else care? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 9930, Sat March 12 at 1902, WTWW-2 with Ted advertising ARRL, 1903.6 late start to `Theater Organ In the Ozarx`, intro by unID other announcer who says IN, while Bob Heil says FROM, and I prefer OF, so I can abbr. it TOOTO instead of TOFTO or TOITO. It *may* be a new episode, but the modulation distortion is so bad I won`t listen any further. 2130 recheck, 9930 has Ted DJing with classic rock at S9+20; but 9475 WTWW-1 is OFF! So is 12105, WTWW-3, the latter absence not at all unusual. Maybe Ted should be working on the down transmitters instead. 9930 music still going at 2220. 9474.96, March 12 at 0123 check, WTWW-1 is back on and weakened to only S4, so I take the opportunity to measure it: always off-frequency to low side (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 3215, UT Sunday March 12 at 0113, WWRB confirmed on, lo-fi paranoid gospel huxters gabbing at S9+45. No QSY yet to 5050 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WINB Recent Pics https://www.flickr.com/photos/radiorover/albums/72157600079122009 At tail end of page (Ian, March 13, swsites yg via DXLD) 52 photos by Ulis Fleming; remember him? (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** U S A. In connection with the transition to flight time [sic] in the United States, from March 13 transmission in Russian at the station WWCR (World Christian Radio) will be an hour earlier, i.e. From Monday to Friday from 1128 to 1144, and on Saturdays from 1000 to 1100 hours at a frequency of 15795 kHz. Probably it will continue until November 4, 2017 (At 15795 for several months the transmitter does not work properly, and the page interference from China and its jamming type "hum" at 15800, where Radio Free Asia operates) are added (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria, RusDX March 12 via DXLD) ** U S A. Fair signal of WMLK Radio, Assemblies of Yahweh, March 8: 1830 & 1930 on 9275 MLK 250 kW / 053 deg to WeEu English Sun-Fri At 2020 UT on 9275 MLK 250 kW / 053 deg to WeEu no signal/nothing http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/03/fair-signal-of-wmlk-radio-assemblies-of.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Weak to good signal of WMLK Radio Assemblies of Yahweh on March 15: 1600-2100 9275 MLK 250 kW / 053 deg to WeEu English Sun-Fri, ex 17-22 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot. bg/2017/03/weak-to-good- signal-of-wmlk-radio.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. LOCAL RADIO LEGEND MILTON METZ DEAD AT 95 Andrew Wolfson, @adwolfson Published 9:26 p.m. ET Jan. 12, 2017 | Updated 12:04 p.m. ET Jan. 13, 2017 http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2017/01/12/whas-news-legend-milton-metz-dead-age-95/96519870/ A look at NewsRadio 840 WHAS radio legend Milton Metz through the years. Jeff Faughender/CJ [caption] WHAS radio's Milton Metz signed off his show after 34 years last night. He'll be doing a 90-second commentary that will air twice a day. but it can't quite compare to three hours a night of "Metz Here."(Photo: SAM RICHE, THE COURIER-JOURNAL) [old caption] Milton Metz, a pioneer in broadcasting in Louisville and the longtime host of the talk show "Metz Here" on WHAS Radio, died Thursday, according to former colleagues Wayne Perkey and Terry Meiners. He was 95 and died at Magnolia Springs, a senior living facility, Perkey said. "El Metzo," as he was affectionately known, began at the station in 1946. "Metz Here" debuted July 30, 1959, with the title "Juniper 5-2385," after its phone number, and ended on June 10, 1993. "Every time Milton Metz clicked on the mic, people across middle America were guaranteed wit, wisdom, and balance," Meiners said. "On or off the air, Milton was first and foremost a gentleman, bringing grace and intellect into a sometimes inelegant media landscape," Meiners said. "Rest easy, brother. You blazed a beautiful trail and we shall follow." Perkey said Metz was a role model and father figure for a younger generation of broadcasters that included Meiners, Perkey and Jack Fox. "He was not afraid to ask difficult questions, but he tried to be fair," Perkey said. "He had a great wit and he showed it. I loved him because he was Milton." Bob Johnson, a retired political reporter on WHAS Radio and TV, said that unlike contemporary talk radio, his show never featured "talking heads shouting at each other." "He had a sweet, gentle nature and his graciousness carried over into his work on the air," said Johnson, later a Courier-Journal reporter. "I was very fond of him." Perry Metz said his father enjoyed "a good joke, a long conversation and listening to different points of view. "If civility is old-fashioned, you could say he was old-fashioned," said the younger Metz, who followed in his father's footsteps and now runs public radio and TV stations at Indiana University in Bloomington. Metz could be serious on the air but at a roast held when he retired he recalled how a publicity agent had called plugging his client's appearance. "She's written `Why Diets Don't Work,' " the agent said. "But if that doesn't appeal to you, we could talk about her new book, `The One-Hour Orgasm.' " He also carefully guarded his age. When Milton Metz did the weather on WHAS-TV in 1956, there were fewer bells and whistles. Jim Wilson/CJ [capiton] Smiles on the faces of Wayne Perkey, left, Phyllis Knight, Jim Walton and Milton Metz indicated a successful ending last night to the 27th annual WHAS Crusade for Children [caption] June 6, 2003 by Michael HaymanMilton Metz accepts a check from Bobbie Holzclaw, Jefferson County Clerk, for the Crusade for Children at the Jeffersontown Clerk's office. Michael Hayman/CJ [caption] In an interview with Courier-Journal columnist Tom Dorsey in 1993, he would only say, "Let's just say I'm older than Diane Sawyer and younger than Mike Wallace." Wallace was 75 at the time. Sportscasting legend Cawood Ledford, who spent 22 years at WHAS with Metz, once recalled that when Metz started his program back in the 1950s the dial was full of talk shows. Ledford joked that he would like to say that Metz's popularity drove the other shows off the air, but the truth was that Metz simply outlived them all. He was born in Cleveland to a Russian-born father and English-born mother and started his radio career in the 1930s in Cleveland after graduating from Ohio State University. After serving in the army in World War II, he joined the staff at WHAS radio in 1946. The same year, Milton began recording Talking Books at American Printing House for the Blind. "Metz Here" became the longest-running show in Louisville and one of the longest-running in the country. On WHAS-TV, he co-hosted and co-produced "Omelet," a talk and interview program for nine years and was the Channel 11 weatherman for 19 years. He also interviewed countless celebrities on the first Saturday in May during WHAS-TV's traditional marathon pre-race show before the Kentucky Derby, where he was a fixture on "Millionaire's Row." Metz was inducted into the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame in 1989. Joe Elliott, who took over Metz' time slot after he Metz retired, said that Metz was a legend, not only in Kentucky but to listeners through the Midwest and up and down the East Coast, who caught his show on WHAS's 50,000-watt clear channel transmitter. "What I loved about Milton was that he was a master at everything he did," Elliott said. Elliott and Perkey said Metz would record shows in the afternoon on WHAS-FM, then a classical station, then do a daily business report on WHAS-AM, then the weather for TV, then his talk show, then the 11 p.m. news on television. "He did everything and anything he needed to do," said Elliott. Perry Metz said his father was pained by the coarseness of contemporary talk radio. "Anyone who listened to "Metz Here" knew it was a show based on listeners, not him," Perry Metz said. "You could listen to him for years and not know his views. "People would call him from across the country and across the political spectrum because they knew they could speak their piece and he wouldn't try to show them up or embarrass them" (via Mike Cooper, WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DXLD) ** U S A. 910, March 9 at 1316 UT, loops WSW/ENE, listener comments on phone separated by beeps, turns out to be a promo for calling 623- 9100, for ``Noalmark Broadcasting Group and 93.7 The Beep``. Opinion format culled from voice mails? Suspect it`s KKBE NM, soon confirmed by PSA for City of Roswell, other ads. (No sign of KVIS OK yet.) WTFDA FM Database shows as to be expected, 93.7 is a mere 250 watt translator wagging this 5 kW dog: ``K229BV // KKBE 910 93.7 ROSWELL NM 0.0 0.25 0.0 5.3 33-23-55 104-31-18 `NEWS TALK 910` NEWS/TALK`` No such slogan listed, but ha2, it`s not really ``The Beep`` despite the beeps, but ``The Beat`` according to Wikipedia with ``rhythmic contemporary`` format, whatever that mean. 910 was originally KBIM, which led to KBIM-TV channel 10, and its original full-power KBIM-FM was 97.1 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. KCKN/1020 fubar --- Offhand I'd say the KCKN/1020 50 kW night DA pattern is well out of whack. Listening via remote SDR in Southern Indiana, as droning Spanish preacher droned on -- matching the RadioVisionCristiana website audio at the time (roughly 0510 UT on March 9). Signal was about 60% of what KDKA was doing at the time. Who cares?? (GREG HARDISON, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1020, March 9 at 1322 UT, with KOKP morning non-sports talkshow nulled, Spanish making slow SAH, and ``ESPN Deportes`` ID in passing, then Omaha traffic report and weather. It`s KMMQ Plattsmouth NE on 50 kW day power, last known as ``La Estación de la Raza`` in NRC AM Log 2016-2017. No sign of the other SS on 1020 now, 50 kW KCKN Roswell NM, despite just hearing 910 KKBE, so presumably that broke down again. 1020, KMMQ Plattsmouth, NE: regarding my log of this station mentioning ESPN Deportes, Wayne Heinen, NRC AM Log Editor, checked with Andy Ruback of the NRG group in Omaha owning it, who says it is still same format as before, ``Regional Mexican``. Local DXers Carl Mann and Rick Dau agree. So what I heard must have been a fleeting reference for some reason (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1450, March 10 at 0619 UT bandscan on the E-W antenna, briefly atop the mush is an ad with an address in Portales, so it`s KSEL NM, which is only 950 instead of the usual 1000 graveyard watts. KSEL is on the ``second ring`` of 1450 stations from here beyond Woodward and Altus, along with KLMX Clayton NM. Portales distance 344 miles = 553 km, making me grateful for such a log from one of the gateways to NM. BTW, KSEL used to be the call of a Lubbock station, 950 until 1987y, now KJTV (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1540.11, March 13 at 0434 UT, off-frequency het loops about SSE/NNW, not much signal from KXEL, and with notching on the NRD-545, separable from various signals on 1540.0. Playing classic rock music. I bet it`s KGBC Galveston TX, which for many months in 2015-2016 was off frequency, but no het lately, presumably temporarily fixed until now. At 0434 UT, partial ID as ``##101.5 FM & 1540 AM``, refers to a website ending in 1015.com. Researching later: WTFDA FM Database confirms the 1540/101.5 translator for KGBC: ``K268DE // KGBC-1540 101.5 GALVESTON TX 0.22 0.22 0.0 0.0 29-18-52 94-48-19 Chinese ETHNIC/ASIAN`` It used to be Chinese with CRI relay // 1520 KYND but that was done long ago. Wikipedia has some info, starting with newer? but still outdated format: ``The current format is a business talk format.[5] [sic] In 2016, after 69 years of broadcasting as "1540 KGBC", Siga changed the station's image to reflect the new 101.5 translator dial position attached to the heritage AM`` Then I search out this website unknown to Wikipedia: http://www.gc1540.com/ which still exists but refers to www.gc1015fm.com --- GC stands for Gulf Coast. ``Visit our Facebook page Check out the Live Surf Cam Courtesy of Gtownsurf.com K242BG 101.5 fm (Galveston) and KGBC 1540 am (Galveston & Houston), keeping Galveston Island and Galveston County connected with great music and entertainment Owned and operated by SIGA Broadcasting on Galveston Island Texas`` The AM appendage still claims to broadcast on 1540, rather than 1540.11 kHz! Clearly it`s mainly music now, with local talk, and not particularly business. Check out the Local Programs tab (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, KGBC has been running an Oldies format for a few months now. The 101.5 translator is fairly new, but covers much less area than the daytime AM signal. No het on 1540 when checked recently. Unsure if Oldies is "permanent" as the new FM outlet may have convinced Siga to try something other than a succession of brokered formats. The nighttime KGBC signal doesn't make it to my QTH, some 70 miles away -- - buried in the 1540 pileup (Stephen Luce, Houston, Texas, 0021 UT March 14, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 1540.11, March 15 at 0109 UT, no het from KGBC Galveston TX, as heard a binite ago, so presumably back on 1540.00 (or off), with 1540 dominated by far-right talkhost presumed KXEL, and TexMexmx in background, from KEDA San Antonio. KGBC might have been on 2.5 kW daypower then too instead of 0.25 kW nite (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1610.04, WPKV296, Toppenish, WA, 1401 27-Feb-17, Woman giving tourist information about Toppenish, with mention of many murals in Toppenish (Nigel Pimbletet, Alberta, March CIDX Messenger via DXLD) That`s a bit SSE of Yakima (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. So Cal / Mexicali update --- Today we drove to Ocotillo and Borrego to see the desert wildflowers. Noted the following: There is a new(?) TIS on 1620 at the Ocotillo Wells off-road vehicle area. Long message with several different segments including stories about various desert critters including scorpions and coyotes. This might get out at night. No calls noted. Also on 1620, my local WNSB415 "San Ysidro" CalTrans station can be heard middays as far away as Julian (45 miles). They clearly must be running more than 10 watts. Around San Diego they hold their own against local 10 kW XEUT-1630. West of Julian, another Cal Trans HAR takes over on 1620, presumably the big Orange County station which is easily heard as far inland as I-15 middays. 1610 Calexico customs/border patrol TIS is still on with bilingual message. P.S. It seemed like KFI was not running IBOC today. Normally 650 in SoCal is covered by KFI IBOC slop. 73 (Tim Hall, CA, Mar 14, ABDX via DXLD) Here is the info on the Ocotillo Wells TIS, AKA "Radio Rock-otillo AM 16-20", which I "discovered" today. Looks like it has been on for 4 years or so (but I did not hear them when I was in the area last year): http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=26525 73 (Tim Hall, CA, Mar 14, ABDX via DXLD) see also MEXICO I thought KFI turned off IBOC several months ago. I'll listen more often. And who is the Orange County TIS on 1620? The only one I hear is San Juan Capistrano and I thought they were off the air. Guess I need to listen there too (Martin Foltz, Mission Viejo CA, March 14, ABDX via DXLD) Capistrano might be a likely location. They talk about the toll roads in Orange County. I occasionally hear them when I'm near the coast in San Diego, and they're audible along I-15 in Riverside County. I remember the good old days when several San Diego TIS stations could be heard midday via waterpath from US 101 ?along the coast just past Santa Barbara. 73 (Tim Hall, Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone, ibid.) ** U S A. KBJA-1640 stuck on day rig? I've got a huge signal with regional Mexican music on 1640 with a feminist DJ droning on in Spanish in support of illegal immigrants. Haven't heard an ID yet so I'm assuming it's KBJA-1640 stuck on day rig. As I was finishing typing this the signal dropped a bit. 73 (Tim Hall, San Diego, Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone, 0536 UT March 9, ABDX yg via DXLD) ** U S A. [X-BAND SURVEY BY HAROLD FRODGE, MIDLAND MI] also Canada, Cuba 1620, WNRP, Gulf Breeze (Triangle xmtr) FL; 2355-2400, 8-Mar; Lars Larson Show; “News radio 16-20 & now on 92-3”; Gulf Breeze Pkwy traffic at 2259+ then into the muddle. FL #18 (Frodge-MI) 1630, KCJJ, Iowa City IA; 2331, 7-Mar; “The Mighty 16-30 KCJJ”; Drive- time dudes with chit-chat & lotsa mirth; ads for Cowboy Lawn Care & Red Garden Market. Mainly on top with brief QSBs (Frodge-MI) 1640, WSJP, Sussex (Pewaukee xmtr) WI; 2330, 7-Mar; Catholic “Relevant Radio”; Catholic schools spot, cometoMary.com Well on top (Frodge-MI) 1650, WHKT, Portsmouth (West Munden xmtr) VA: 2259-2311+, 8-Mar; townhall.com news & “Business Break” to 2306 Mark Levin. Mixing with CINA till 2311 when CINA took over (Frodge-MI) 1660, KQWB, West Fargo ND (Moorhead MN xmtr); 2315-2336+, 8-Mar; Fox Sports Radio (not // WQLR also FSR); Moorhead Industrial Park & Tanya Tucker concert spots. Mainly under WQLR occasionally mixing with Asian language station, probably [Korean] WWRU Jersey City NY [sic] & 4th station (Frodge-MI) 1660, WQLR, Kalamazoo MI; 2101-2107+, 7-Mar; MI football sports program witih several mentions of CBSSports.com. Well over QRN till end of time noted. (Frodge-MI) 1670, WOZN, Madison WI; 2325, 7-Mar; sports, “…16-70 AM the Zone” On top but fady (Frodge-MI) 1680, WPRR, Ada (Forest Hills xmtr) MI; 2057-2100+, 7-Mar; “Public Reality Radio WPRR 16-80 AM AM (+ FMs)”; David Pakman Show, current events commentary. Over QRN till ToH then succumbed (Frodge-MI) 1680, WTTM, Lindenwold (Haddonfield xmtr) NJ; 0510-0525+, 8-Mar; Meximusic & heard “Unika” [sic -- hf] in the jumble; mainly under WPRR (Frodge-MI) 1690, WVON, Berwyn (Oak Lawn xmtr) IL; 0528-0533+, 8-Mar; Call-in program; caller said that 68% of Chicago workers say they are stressed. Mainly under with occasional peaks over CHTO (Frodge-MI) 1700, KBGG, Des Moines (Pleasant Hill xmtr) IA; 2346-2354+, 8-Mar; “Seventeen-hundred KBGG”; IA sports program. Mixing with WRCR (Frodge- MI) 1700, WRCR, Ramapo (xmtr near Nanuet) NY; 2318, 7-Mar; W in unknown language with Indian ragas; English ID as “WRCR seventeen hundred AM”. Mainly on top but fady; talk station + weather station QRM (Frodge-MI) (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, 5525 Whitehall St., Midland MI 48642- 3156, Drake R8B + 185' & 60' RW + 125' bow-tie, ----- All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! -----, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1700 kHz WRCR --- Hi, Recorded this morning at 04, 05 and 06. At 4 and 5, 1700 kHz had Indian music (as per recent schedule - relaying AIR India) but at 0600 they were back with English talk and pop music (copy associated - better than a local!). Was this because of the extreme weather in NY they had regular weather updates? https://app.box.com/s/7fax6lfwm47q3c3x8ld1bax0dvdrpbld 73 (John Williams, UK, March 15, MWCircle yg via DXLD) Hello John, Noted here with English pops. They just relay their English online service when tired of Radio India. Best wishes (Barry :-), Carlisle UK, Davies, ibid.) ** U S A. FLORIDA EVERGLADES RADIO NETWORK Just returned from South Florida on a business/pleasure trip. Noted this while driving along Alligator Alley (where I saw none, and otherwise didn't do anything radio related). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everglades_Radio_Network Two stations, both cover a decent area. These could be Es targets for those of us up North. Has anyone logged either of these? Mike, neither of these are in the db. Programming is talk, various PSA's, ecological and nature discussions (Russ Edmunds, Blue Bell, PA, March 12, WTFDA gg via DXLD) Now this is strange because I remember reading that both of their licenses were turned in, and in checking the FCC, neither one is in the database anymore. Wonder what's going on down there (Mike Bugaj. CT, ibid.) WFLP & WFLU not listed on http://fccdata.org/ either, nor radio locator. They are listed on Wikipedia. (Chris Lucas, Poughkeepsie, NY, ibid.) I'm not really surprised about Wikipedia. Since those are on even though their licenses have been pulled, doesn't that makes them pirates? (Mike B, Enfield, CT, ibid.) WTFK???? Wikipedia says 98.7 and 107.9 (gh, DXLD) There is a letter on file with the FCC: http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getimportletter_exh.cgi?import_letter_id=71849 in which the Florida DOT explicitly surrenders the licenses for these two stations. It says that since cellular voice and data coverage are now available in that area, the radio stations are no longer necessary. The Wikipedia page has a link to the Everglades Radio Network -- which doesn't work (returns a "403.14 - Forbidden" error). If they're still operating, I'm thinking the DOT forgot to turn them off. I wonder how old the program content is? :) (the DOT letter surrendering the licenses is dated January 31st) There are enough pirates in South Florida, I suppose it was only a matter of time before the state got in on the act :) == (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66, WTFDA gg via DXLD) ** U S A. Beasley Complaint Denied --- There's good news and bad news in radio land tonight. The bad news is the LPFM at Tampa, Florida, was fined $2,000 for airing commercial content on a non-com. That, though, is outweighed by the complaint filed against the LPFM by the bullies at Beasley Broadcasting being denied by the FCC. If I were one of the bullies at Beasley, I would be embarrassed for anyone to know that a flea powered LPFM station could cause problems for my big high powered commercial station. . . http://www.radioworld.com/business-and-law/0009/fcc-denies-beasley-complaint-against-tampa-lpfm/339297 (via Bob Smoak, Bamberg, SC, March 13, ABDX via DXLD) i.e. WVVF-LP ** U S A. O'RIELLY ASKS FOR MORE MUSCLE IN FCC PIRATE FIGHT Radio World-57 minutes ago He has been vocal about the problem of pirate radio, and he pressed his case during his appearance this week on Capitol Hill, testifying before the U.S. Senate ... http://www.radioworld.com/business-and-law/0009/orielly-asks-for-more-muscle-in-fcc-pirate-fight/339291 NJBA PRESSES COMMISSIONERS ON PIRATE PROBLEMS Radio World-3 hours ago They also reminded the commissioners that pirate radio stations can interfere with emergency alerting and Federal Aviation Administration communications, ... http://www.radioworld.com/business-and-law/0009/njba-presses-commissioners-on-pirate-problems/339287 PIRATES BEWARE. O'RIELLY IS GUNNING FOR YOU. Radio Ink-13 hours ago “I humbly suggest that the Commission could use some limited and targeted statutory authority dedicated to address pirate radio. Specifically, I propose that the ... https://radioink.com/2017/03/09/pirates-beware-orielly-gunning/ (all via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. WAIT, WAIT, DON’T TELL ME. IS YOUR PUBLIC RADIO STATION IN TROUBLE? === Business March 12, 2017 12:08 PM http://www.kentucky.com/news/business/article138054288.html State Speaker of the House Jeff Hoover, left, was interviewed by John Hingsbergen in the WEKU studios located on the ground floor in the Carl D. Perkins Building on the Eastern Kentucky University campus in Richmond on March 9. Hingsbergen is associate manager/program director at WEKU. Charles Bertram [caption] By Cheryl Truman, Lexington KY Herald-Leader Times are hard at WMKY, Morehead State Public Radio, and you can hear it as the public-radio programming powerhouses vanish from the station. “A Prairie Home Companion”? The funds for that are as gone as a Powdermilk biscuit after breakfast. “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me?” No money, no current events quiz show. “Car Talk”? A non-starter. Other university-affiliated public radio stations in Kentucky are run on a fund drive-to-fund drive model, and the managers at WEKU at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond and WUKY at the University of Kentucky in Lexington say that for a non-profit, that’s a good model: It keeps them hustling for new sources of funding and close to the changing needs of their listeners. Basically, a public radio station with a university connection operates with a budget composed of money from the school, individual contributions, donations from businesses, and grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The amounts and sources of funding vary. But if WEKU and WUKY work on a budget shoestring — each has an annual budget of $1.5 million — for the much smaller WMKY, that shoestring is more like a thread. The cuts have been coming since 2008 at WMKY, but recent cuts have been small but deep: Two part-time staff members making only only $1,800 a year were cut, staff members who worked 20 hours a week and earned $9,256 between them were cut, newspaper subscriptions were cut. The station even dropped its $110 annual membership in the Morehead- Rowan County Chamber of Commerce. WMKY station manager Paul Hitchcock said the station receives support from its university, which is paying for its four full-time staff members. He chafes at the idea that cuts can be made “on the pretense that we have other sources of funding,” he said. The long-term cuts have gone even deeper. Beginning in 2008, the position of a $32,331 broadcast operations specialist and its $6,466 in benefits was eliminated. The music and production direction job was eliminated in 2009, at a similar salary. In 2011, the chief engineer position was eliminated, saving $57,668 plus $11,533 in benefits. Programming adjustments and personnel from 2014 to 2016 saved about $83,000. Grant Alden of Morehead, one of the owners of CoffeeTree Books in Morehead, hosts a roots-music broadcast on the Morehead station. Soon he will be hosting it for free. Losing a public radio voice in the region, Alden said, “is frightening to me. … There has to continue to be local programming, or the area loses its vitality.” A reduced or missing public radio presence is an obstacle to bringing educated, cosmopolitan people to town, he said. “That is one more barrier to bringing someone to a small town in Eastern Kentucky,” Alden said. For WNKU at Northern Kentucky University, the public radio presence is about to vanish. The school’s board of regents voted in February selling the public radio station to the Bible Broadcasting Corp. for $1.9 million. The station remains on the air until the sale is approved by the Federal Communications Commission, but the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky independent music enthusiasts have lost a radio pipeline for new artists. NKU had spent $4.4 million over the past six years to keep the station running. CincyMusic, a group that promotes area artists, led the charge against the sale, arguing that the station gave many artists their first exposure to a broad audience. A commenter on CincyMusic’s Facebook page said the sale “killed our contemporary music scene.” All Kentucky public radio stations have to get inventive with membership offerings to keep up with shifting consumer preferences. WUKY-91.3 FM offers memberships for your pet. WEKU-88.9 FM sells entire days of sponsorship to honor individuals and events. Want to donate your old car because you enjoy “Marketplace” or “The Moth Radio Hour”? These public radio stations can help you with that. David Brinkley, director of educational telecommunications at Western Kentucky University, said the key to public radio success is to be minutely accountable to the listeners, and to give them what they want, be it “Prairie Home Companion” or classical music. Some public radio stations on college campuses in other states don’t receive any contribution from the schools, unlike the Kentucky public radio stations, he said. “Some get square footage and the power bill; some don’t even get that,” Brinkley said. “There’s all kinds of funding models for public radio stations across the country.” At Western, the university covers administrative costs for WKYU-88.9FM and its affiliates covering much of the state, including stations in Somerset and Elizabethtown. “I consider them our biggest donor,” said Brinkley, who oversees both the public radio and TV operations at Western. Funding at the Western public radio station illustrates the patchwork of sources public radio administrators have to consider: community service grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, underwriting, major gifts, endowments to offer student scholarships for intern labor. “Successful stations will have a diverse portfolio,” Brinkley said, and struggling stations “have limited their approach to their communities.” “If we had an outside consultant come in, I think they would tell us we should be raising even more money than we do,” said Roger Duvall, manager of WEKU and its network of stations throughout Central and Eastern Kentucky, including Hazard and Corbin. Morehead State University pays for four full-time positions for the station. But last year, the university eliminated everything else it was providing: postage, gasoline, paper, travel, professional development, part-time staff, phone bill, and electric for the transmitter. The station, in its financial straits, is ending sponsorship for events such as the Cave Run Storytelling Festival. It can no longer even afford the $480 for its designated parking space. That leaves the Morehead station in a bind even before the threats made by conservative legislators to slash or eliminate the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which provides the funding that keeps the station afloat. In February Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colorado, introduced two bills to eliminate the federal tax dollars that finance National Public Radio and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, calling them “superfluous government programs” that could support themselves without government help. Should the bills succeed, it would be a reversal of 50 years of federal government support for public broadcasting. In 1967, President Lyndon Johnson viewed public broadcasting as an essential link for elevating civic discourse in the nation. Even though public broadcasting has been a occasional political volleyball in the decades since, the anti-media agenda of President Trump has public radio devotees fretting. CPR said in a statement responding to Lamborn’s proposed legislation that the government money specifically helped stations in smaller media markets It called the funding “vital seed money — especially for stations located in rural America, and those serving underserved populations where the appropriation counts for 40 to 50 percent of their budget.” NPR’s statement said that federal funding is essential “for the fact- based, unbiased, public service journalism (that listeners) need to stay informed about the world and about the news in their own communities.” Duvall at WEKU is hoping that the critics of public radio and television will spur its defenders to donate. Listeners often gripe over fund drives, but station managers argue that they’re unlikely to cease. The radio station managers are, however, trying to evolve the fund drive beyond simply reminding the listener that their products aren’t produced for free. “For years, public radio was doing pledge drives,” said Tom Godell, manager of WUKY. “We realized, people don’t necessarily give that way, but they do understand a subscription.” WUKY is moving to a new station after a $1.5 million renovation is completed of a donated former recording studio near Leestown Road. That money was authorized by the board of trustees and state legislature. At WEKU, the challenge is twofold: news and entertainment stations at 88.9 FM and a classical music station at 102.1 FM. It doesn’t get federal funding for the classical station, which means that station has to overcome an additional obstacle. Still, Duvall said, public radio had its own unique benefits and challenges. “We don’t have to produce products for stakeholders. We’re not commercial, and if we’re going to grow, we have to cover those costs as well.” Kakie Urch, associate professor in the school of journalism and media at UK, suggested a novel approach for raising money for public radio and television: Make it a tax return check-off item. “Why don’t we just put a check box on our federal taxes?” Urch said. “I would give my whole return to that, and I’m sure plenty of other people would.” Public radio, she said, exposes its listeners to “beyond-local things and intensely local things at the same time. You really get to feel the richness of the country on a public radio station.” “If there’s ever been a time when journalism matters, it’s now,” Western’s Brinkley said. “We (public broadcasting) are such a small portion of the overall federal budget, and yet we are one of the most recognized brands in all of America. “It’s something people want and use, and I think overall they realize it’s a great benefit for the tax they put into it. … All they have to have is access to a radio and they can have a better life.” Cheryl Truman: 859-231-3202, @CherylTruman. At a glance --- Kentucky’s university-affiliated public radio stations WKYU — Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University WNKU — Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University WUKY — Lexington, University of Kentucky WEKU — Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University WKMS — Murray, Murray State University In Louisville, WFPL News Louisville is an independent, community supported not-for-profit corporation with three public radio stations (news, classical music and independent/alternative music) and an investigative unit, the Kentucky Center for Investigate Reporting. Its station WUOL, “Classical Louisville,” is a service of the University of Louisville and the Public Radio Partnership (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) See also TIPS FOR RATIONAL LIVING abottom: PMPM ** U S A. AN OBITUARY: THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS, 52, OF UNNATURAL CAUSES By Michael Wilkerson, Opinion Contributor - 03/07/17 12:10 PM EST The National Endowment for the Arts, aged 52, has finally died. After brushes with extinction in the 1980’s and 1990’s, along with a three- decade wait to be launched after the McCarthy-era’s relentless attacks on artists, police are describing the NEA’s demise as “totally preventable, but oddly, both a homicide and a suicide.” The agency had been ill although determined to make a difference for many years. The NEA expired under the care of President Donald Trump and the Tea Party Congress. It leaves as survivors its parent, the United States government. We are now the only country in the world without a federal arts presence. Other survivors include millions of artists and thousands of arts organizations. . . http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/education/322704-an-obituary-the-national-endowment-for-the-arts-52-of-unnatural (via DXLD) ** U S A. The DX world has lost one of its most able sons, Bob Hill, who passed away on February 27, 2017. Under "DX History/People" we have posted "Remembering Bob Hill," reviewing Bob's DX career and presenting messages from many of his friends. (Feel free to distribute the remembrance further if you wish.) [what site is that, why no link? As far as I can tell, Hill restricted his SW DX info to the elitist DXplorer group, and predecessor, so apropos --- gh] Bob's brother, Greg, advises that anyone who would like to submit additional comments about Bob should send them to Bob's old email address, which Greg is monitoring. They will be read at the memorial gathering for Bob, which will be held on Wednesday, March 22, 10:30 a.m. at the Eustis & Cornell Funeral Home, 142 Elm Street, Marblehead, Mass. There will be a reception following the memorial gathering at the Boston Yacht Club, 1 Front Street, Marblehead MA. R.I.P., Bobbus (via Jerry Berg-MA-USA, DXplorer, March 12 via BC-DX 12 March via DXLD) ** URUGUAY. Radio 41. La radio de todos. Desde ciudad de San José, Departamento de San José. 1360 kHz. 0430 UT. Identificación, dirección web http://www.radio41.com.uy Música romántica en idioma español. 13/03/17. La Voz de Melo. Desde Melo, Departamento de Cerro Largo. 1340 kHz. 0027 UT. Transmisión del partido Cerro Largo vs Rivera en el estadio Atilio Paiva Olivera donde anunciaron que próximamente estarán con un nuevo transmisor Nautel de 10 kw. 13/03/2017 (Gabriel Gómez, CX7BI, Uruguay, receptor Degen 1103 y antena Loop para onda media, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UZBEKISTAN. Test transmission of V of The Report of The Week, Mar 9 1200-1300 on 12085*TAC 100 kW / 068 deg EaAs English, poor/weak/fair: *mixing with Voice of Tibet in Tibetan via Dushanbe from 11512 kHz after 1240 UT http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/03/test-transmission-of-voice-of-report-of.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ?? How does that mix??? (gh, DXLD) See also USA ** VANUATU. 7259.95, R.V., 0959 end of song, M announcer in Bislama, fanfare, M then W announcers briefly, usual conch shell blowing ToH signature at 1000:41, then W announcer with news with many actualities. Would have been better if not for the local QRN on the freq. 7 March. 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop and 1530 foot Delta Loop antennas, Hard-Core- DX mailing list via DXLD) 7259.936, Radio Vanuatu, Port Vila, nice proper signal S=9+15dB in Brisbane at 0700 UT newscast time. Read by female presenter in English, item of their football team, and religious education matter [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, 06-08 UT March 14, dxldyg via DXLD) ** VATICAN. RADIO VATICANA. SECAM CHIEDE LA RIPRESA DELLE TRASMISSIONI IN ONDE CORTE PER L'AFRICA Il Comitato Permanente del Secam/Sceam (Simposio delle Conferenze Episcopali di Africa e Madagascar) ha inviato una lettera alla Radio Vaticana: internet non riesce a coprire le regioni più povere Le antenne onde corte della Radio Vaticana (Ansa) [caption] No alla chiusura del servizio in onde corte della Radio Vaticana. La richiesta arriva dal Comitato Permanente del Secam/Sceam (Simposio delle Conferenze Episcopali di Africa e Madagascar) che ha inviato una lettera all’emittente vaticana con la quale si fa formale richiesta di ristabilire il servizio in onde corte recentemente terminato anche per le regioni extra-europee ed extra-americane. Nella lettera, pubblicata nel corso della riunione dell’organo di rappresentanza dei Vescovi africani in corso ad Accra, riporta l'agenzia Fides, si esprime “la preoccupazione per la recente chiusura dei servizi ad onde corte della radio, che garantiva a milioni di africani l’opportunità di sentire il Santo Padre e di condividere gli interessi e la missione della Chiesa”. Nel 2012 il servizio in onde corte e medie della Radio Vaticana era migrato sulla modulazione di frequenza e su Internet per l’Europa e le Americhe, ma era rimasto disponibile per gli ascoltatori in Africa, Asia e Medio Oriente. Quest’anno, però, si è deciso di chiudere completamente il servizio e di puntare sulle nuove tecnologie digitali per raggiungere gli ascoltatori africani e asiatici. “ Mentre riconosciamo che i servizi di Radio Vaticana possono essere ricevuti tramite Internet- afferma la lettera- il fatto è che molti africani semplicemente non hanno i mezzi o le tecnologie per godere di tali servizi”. Il Comitato Permanente del Secam “esprime il suo profondo riconoscimento e apprezzamento per il ruolo giocato dalla Radio Vaticana in diversi decenni per l’evangelizzazione dell’Africa e per il compito della catechesi e dello sviluppo spirituale del continente africano”. “La Radio Vaticana è sempre stata una fonte affidabile di notizie sulla Chiesa universale e un canale rapido per condividere notizie sull’Africa con il resto del mondo” riconosce il Secam, e proprio per questo chiede un ripensamento delle politiche di diffusione della "radio del Papa". La Radio Vaticana fu fondata nel 1931 grazie al contributo dell'inventore della radio, Guglielmo Marconi. Fu voluta da papa Pio XI che comprese bene le potenzialità dello strumento radiofonico per portare il messaggio evangelico in tutti gli angoli del mondo. In particolare la radio ha dimostrato la capacità di superare anche i muri e le barriere ideologiche. Ancora oggi internet o la radio digitale non arrivano in tutto il mondo e anche dove arrivano ancora i costi sono troppo elevati per i poveri e le infrastrutture non sempre sono adeguate. Ma il punto critico è un altro: le radio locali (FM o DAB), così come internet sono controllabili e censurabili dai governi. Questo vale anche per i social network. Non solo, i regimi possono anche scoprire chi usa internet per visitare siti non graditi, così gli oppositori o i cristiani in certi Paesi possono subito essere identificati. Ad esempio per i cristiani che vivono in certi Paesi la radio a onde corte rappresenta l'unico modo per sfuggire alle censure e ai controlli. Inoltre, questo vale in particolare per le popolazioni povere in aree disagiate, una radiolina costa ormai molto poco. Per conoscere la storia dell'emittente vai alla Cronistoria documentata della Radio Vaticana Visita il sito del Museo della Radio Vaticana (via Giampiero Bernardini, dxldyg via DXLD) c`est à dire: 10 March 2017 - 23H00 BISHOPS ASK RADIO VATICAN TO RESTORE SERVICES TO AFRICA http://www.france24.com/en/20170310-bishops-ask-radio-vatican-restore-services-africa (c) OSSERVATORE ROMANO/AFP/File | The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar, pictured in 2015, wrote a letter expressing concern about ending the services of shortwave radio in Africa, saying it affords millions the opportunity to hear (the) Holy Father [caption] VATICAN CITY (AFP) - African bishops have asked Radio Vatican, the official radio of the pope, to restore shortwave transmissions to the continent, the Catholic agency Fides reported on Friday. Catholics are estimated to number more than 150 million in Africa, the poorest of all continents, and the world's largest seminary is located in Nigeria. The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), meeting in the Ghanaian capital Accra, has written a letter expressing "concern about the recent shutdown of the shortwave services of the radio, which afforded millions of Africans the opportunity to hear (the) Holy Father and share in the Church?s concerns and mission," Fides said. In 2012, the then director general of the Vatican broadcast service, Father Federico Lombardi, had cut medium- and short-wave services by half, citing measures of economy and stopped transmitting to Europe and the Americas. "Webcasting and satellite transmissions, along with rebroadcasting by local, regional and national radio stations, guarantee the widest possible outreach to Vatican Radio?s programming and services," he had said. This was why "Vatican Radio believes the time has come to reduce its reliance on traditional technologies, like short- and medium-wave broadcasts, and to develop its resources in new directions". This year, services to Africa, Asia and the Middle East will be slashed, Fides said. "While recognising that Vatican Radio services can still be received through the Internet," the SECAM said "many Africans simply do not have the means or the technology to enjoy such services". "Vatican Radio has always been a credible source for accessing news about the Universal Church and a ready channel for sharing news about Africa with the rest of the world," they said. Radio Vatican was created in 1931 and has services in 45 languages. With the latest move "a heritage is in the process of being destroyed," a Fides journalist told AFP. (c) 2017 AFP (via Mike Cooper, Artie Bigley, WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DXLD) [and non] Have VR SW broadcasts to Africa really stopped already???? Here are some evening ones for B-16 in WRTH, please check: English 1715-1730 daily also ME 11935smg 1730-1800 daily 9660mdc 11625smg 2000-2030 daily 9660smg 11625smg French 1700-1715 daily also ME 11935smg 1700-1730 daily 11625mdc 13765smg 2030-2100 daily 9660smg 11625smg Portuguese 1800-1830 daily 9660smg 11625smg (Glenn Hauser, just before 1700 UT March 10, dxldyg via DXLD) 13765 & 11625, March 10 at 1725-1727* weak carriers on frequencies where Vatican Radio is scheduled in French to Africa via SMG and Madagascar respectively. Checked following another confusing and erroneous press report that SW to Africa had already ceased as ``bishops are asking for it to resume``!! Also confirmed by Wolfgang Büschel, Noel Green, Kai Ludwig (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, 11935 is still on air in French 1700 then English at 1715. I can also hear 11625 and 13765 (weak) in French but not // 11935 at 1700 past 1715 - - - no ID heard yet, but who else could it be? 73 (Noel R. Green (NW England), dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I haven't seen any official announcement from Vatican Radio about the end of shortwave or a date for this rather articles in news magazine parts of them being rants about which section of the Catholic church had and now has not got control. The A17 schedules will be published soon. A December 31 2016 article in National Catholic World says "Today with the reform of Vatican communications operations, Msgr. Dario Viganò has indicated that he plans to pare down short-wave radio operations." Pare down means reduce. http://www.ncregister.com/blog/kschiffer/vatican-radio-ends-85-years-of-independent-operations The article "Vatican Radio The End of Shortwave A Terrible Deal" posted in DXLD March 3 claims that the BBC has invested £85 million in addition to the current £56 million to "reach millions more listeners via shortwave" http://magister.blogautore.espresso.repubblica.it/2017/03/03/vatican-radio-the-end-for-shortwave-a-terrible-deal/ The only mention I can find of the additional £85 million does not say that at all. "The government will provide £34m between 2016-17 and £85m a year from 2017-18 for digital, TV and radio." http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-34902244 There is no mention of shortwave closing on this announcement on the Vatican Radio website dated February 17 about the African service. http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/02/13/vatican_radio%E2%80%99s_english_africa_service_on_digital_platform/1292197 (Mike Barraclough, UK, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) These broadcasts to the wide Vatican Radio audience in remote areas in Africa with no any access to ww web are still on air. VATICAN STATE/MADAGASCAR VR French and English checked in remote units at Qatar, Thailand, Finland, Netherlands and Germany. Qatar remote rx 1710 UT S=8 in Qatar: 11625 MDG, 11935 and 13765 SMG sidelobe Thailand remote RX 11625 kHz proper S=9 on Uwe's installation. Europe (Finland, Netherlands, Germany): 9660 MDG S=9+15dB 11625 S=6 (short skip zone for 25mb reception from central Italy ! ) S=8-9 in FIN for both channels, far northern kilometer distance from SMG and MDG broadcast center. But seemingly 9660 kHz reception in Europe suffered in 1750-1800 UT time slot: because SMG strong transmitter from Santa Maria di Galeria opened its TX unit 10 minutes much earlier, (scheduled from 1800 UT) no crash start at 1759:30 UT. 73 wolfie (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) English 1730-1800 is still on air as well, on both 9660 via MGLOB and 11625 from own SMG transmitters, at 1735 spot check with someone in heavily accented English talking about some Africa-related matter. I think it is safe to assume that it was indeed the "moving to digital platforms" puff which caused the impression that the shortwave transmissions have already been terminated. And I fear it is just counterproductive what the African bishops are doing there, in fact providing evidence of no one listening to these transmissions anymore. Concerning the latest Sandro Magister rant: It is pretty obvious that the incorrect descriptions he quotes originate from internal lobbying by "experts", with little doubt those in charge for the Vatican Radio shortwave operations. And note what this rant says in detail: That Viganò plans to shut down the Santa Maria di Galeria facility. Which not necessarily contradicts a possible plan to keep a very limited shortwave service. From a certain point it is of course more economical to lease that small amount of airtime from third parties, without all the fixed costs of a transmitter plant. Concerning published schedules: HFCC still does not reflect the limitation of Latin prayers to Sundays only, enforced in last autumn. Thus the data from Vatican Radio frequency managers is one story but the plans of the almighty Viganò are another one (Kai Ludwig, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) VR English to Africa exceptionally strong tonight (UT) into WCNA during their 0300-0330 transmission on 7360 listed as Madagascar followed by Swahili at 0330 (Bob LaRose, San Diego, Sent from my iPhone, UT March 11, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello Friends, I found an article on http://www.capitalfm.co.ke website (issued by AFP French news agency) about Radio Vatican. It seems to me that our arguments about continuing shortwave is based on valid arguments as African bishops asking the same from Vatican Radio (Tibor Gaal, Budapest, Hungary, March 11, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Same AFP article as above, already debunked (gh, DXLD) The African bishops who are asking Vatican Radio to "restart broadcasts on shortwave"--broadcasts that are, in fact, still on the air--undermine their own argument. If they are unaware of the current status of the broadcasts, it means they are NOT listening, therefore unintentionally contributing to the narrative that shortwave is irrelevant, and should be dropped (Stephen Luce, Houston, Texas, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Here`s another story, clueless about the true situation, imagining that VR SW to Africa was terminated in 2012! (gh, DXLD): WEST & CENTRAL AFRICA AFRICAN CATHOLICS DEMAND CONTINUATION OF VATICAN RADIO. 13th March 2017 2:34 pm by Hassan John http://www.globalchristiannews.org/article/african-catholics-demand-continuation-of-vatican-radio/ The Catholic Church in Africa have called on the Vatican to restore its shortwave radio service to Africa which was discontinued in 2012. The explanation given at the time by Father Federico Lombardi, director general of the Vatican broadcast service, was that shortwave was being replaced by webcasting and satellite transmissions along with rebroadcasting by local, regional and national radio stations guaranteed the widest possible outreach for Vatican Radio. African Catholics, through the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), which was held 9 March in Accra, Ghana, argued that the shortwave broadcasts, “afforded millions of Africans the opportunity to hear (the) Holy Father and share in the Church’s concerns and mission.” The plans to discontinue Vatican Radio’s short- and medium-wave transmissions was intended for Europe and the Americas which had embraced newer technologies. The African Catholic Church said that Father Lombardi who started the transmission wanted the shortwave services continued for the good of the Church members not yet exposed to new technologies including the Internet. “While recognizing that Vatican Radio services can still be received through the Internet… the fact that many Africans simply do not have the means or the technology to enjoy such services” and therefore “called for the restoration of the shortwave services as a means of sustaining the mission of evangelization on the African Continent.” The African Standing Committee members“expressed deep acknowledgement and appreciation for the role which Vatican Radio has played over many decades in the evangelization of Africa and the task of catechesis and spiritual development of African peoples” in their message to Vatican Radio authorities.“They noted that Vatican Radio has always been a credible source for accessing news about the Universal Church and a ready channel for sharing news about Africa with the rest of the world.” African Catholics are estimated to be more than 150 million in Africa. Nigeria has the catholic’s world’s largest seminary. There have been reports that there is “an agreement with Facebook through which the pope’s messages will be brought to 44 countries by cellphone, through an app.” Since its birth in 1931, Vatican Radio has played a significant role in bringing the Church’s message to different parts of the globe (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) Re: HFCC A17 schedules now available --- Don't know [how] this compares with B16 but the A17 Vatican Radio schedule still shows many shortwave broadcasts registered including to Africa. http://www.hfcc.org/data/schedbybrc.php?seas=A17&broadc=VAT (Mike Posted by: barraclough, dxldyg via DXLD) ** VATICAN [non]. 11875, March 12 at 1336, S9+10 in Russian, very clearly enunciated, keeps talking about bog, i.e. R. Vaticana relay via IBB TINIAN, violating Separation of Church and State. Recheck at 1358, already off tho in HFCC as 1330-1400 daily, 250 kW, 329 degrees from ``MHL``, a MISTAKE, which means Marshall Islands, while Tinian is in the Northern Marianas = MRA! Hey, they are only 3 megameters apart, so what`s the difference? 5 other entries for VAT via Tinian in HFCC also show MHL. Only the pope himself is allegedly infallible. With own SMG site in danger of deletion, what will become of VR relays elsewhere? March 12 from 0145 the Greenville relay in Spanish was still going on 7305. The IBB ones, I think, are all on an exchange basis. Would someone like to add up the transmitter hours to see if they match? But if power levels don`t match, are the hours adjusted to equalize consumption costs? And what about differing electric rates? Optimistically, IBB plans for about 21 relay transmissions via SMG for the entire A-17 season. But only one VR via ``MHL``. Reciprocally, about 20 VR relays via IBB PHT = Tinang, Philippines including the 11875 Russian I logged, moved from Tinian (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VATICAN [and non]. Summer A-17 new frequencies of Vatican Radio eff. from March 26: http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot. bg/2017/03/summer-17-new- frequencies-of-vatican.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VATICAN [and non]. 7305 0145 0230 11NW,11S GB 250 168 24 206 1234567 Spa USA Spanish 9610 1130 1200 11NW,11S GB 250 168 24 206 1234567 Spa USA Spanish 9660 0400 0430 48 MDC 250 340 0 822 1234567 AmhTirMDG Etio_Er 9660 0430 0500 47S,52N, MDC 250 300 0 105 1234567 Fra MDG French_ 9660 0500 0530 52SE,53W MDC 250 258 0 822 1234567 Eng MDG English 9660 1600 1615 47SE,48S MDC 250 320 0 822 7 Swa MDG Swahili 9660 1600 1630 47SE,48S MDC 250 320 0 822 123456 Swa MDG Swahili 9660 1615 1630 48 MDC 250 340 0 822 7 Som MDG Somali_ 9660 1630 1700 48 MDC 250 340 0 822 1234567 AmhTirMDG Etio_Er 9660 1700 1730 46SE,47S MDC 250 300 0 105 1234567 Fra MDG French_ 9660 1730 1800 47SE,48S MDC 250 320 0 822 1234567 Eng MDG English 11625 0530 0600 52NW,52S MDC 250 270 -10 158 1234567 Por MDG Portugu 7485 1228 1300 43,44,49 PHT 250 328 0 146 123456 Zho PHL Chinese 7485 1228 1315 43,44,49 PHT 250 328 0 146 7 Zho PHL Chinese 9560 1228 1300 32SE,33N PHT 250 358 0 146 123456 Zho PHL Chinese 9560 1228 1315 32SE,33N PHT 250 358 0 146 7 Zho PHL Chinese 9560 1315 1400 43SE,44S PHT 250 270 0 146 1234567 Vie PHL Vietnam 9600 2200 2230 32SE,33N PHT 250 358 0 146 1234567 Zho PHL Chinese 9600 2310 2400 43SE,44S PHT 250 270 0 146 1234567 Vie PHL Vietnam 9800 1430 1450 41,42S,4 PHT 250 283 0 216 1234567 Hin PHL Hindi 9800 1450 1510 41,42S,4 PHT 250 280 0 216 1234567 Tam PHL Tamil 9800 1510 1530 41,42S,4 PHT 250 280 0 216 1234567 Mal PHL Malayal 9800 1530 1600 41,42S,4 PHT 250 280 0 216 1234567 Eng PHL English 11875 1230 1300 31,32,33 PHT 250 332 0 156 1234567 Rus PHL Russian 11900 2310 2400 43SE,44S PHT 250 270 0 156 1234567 Vie PHL Vietnam 11945 1315 1400 43SE,44S PHT 250 270 0 156 1234567 Vie PHL Vietnam 15370 1230 1300 31,32,33 PHT 250 332 0 156 1234567 Rus PHL Russian 15470 0040 0100 41,42S,4 PHT 250 283 0 216 1234567 Hin PHL Hindi 15470 0100 0120 41,42S,4 PHT 250 283 0 216 1234567 Tam PHL Tamil 15470 0120 0140 41,42S,4 PHT 250 283 0 216 1234567 Mal PHL Malayal 15470 0140 0200 41,42S,4 PHT 250 283 0 216 1234567 Eng PHL English 15470 0200 0220 41,42S,4 PHT 250 280 0 216 1234567 Hin PHL Hindi 15470 0220 0240 41,42S,4 PHT 250 280 0 216 1234567 Tam PHL Tamil 15470 0240 0300 41,42S,4 PHT 250 280 0 216 1234567 Mal PHL Malayal 15470 0300 0330 41,42S,4 PHT 250 280 0 216 1234567 Eng PHL English 15470 0400 0430 32SE,33S PHT 250 349 8 146 1234567 Zho PHL Chinese 11700 1430 1450 41,42S,4 PUG 250 280 0 146 1234567 Hin PHL Hindi 11700 1450 1510 41,42S,4 PUG 250 280 0 146 1234567 Tam PHL Tamil 11700 1510 1530 41,42S,4 PUG 250 280 0 146 1234567 Mal PHL Malayal 11700 1530 1600 41,42S,4 PUG 250 280 0 146 1234567 Eng PHL English 11945 1229 1300 31S,32SW PUG 250 315 15 216 123456 Zho PHL Chinese 11945 1229 1315 31S,32SW PUG 250 315 15 216 7 Zho PHL Chinese 3975 0530 0615 28SW SMG 100 330 0 800 1234567 Lat CVA Mass_in 3975 1840 1915 28SW SMG 100 326 0 823 1234567 Lat CVA Liturgy 3975 2040 2100 27E,28NW SMG 100 330 0 823 1234567 Ara CVA Arabic_ 6070 0530 0615 27S SMG 100 326 16 386 1234567 Lat CVA Mass_in 6070 0645 0705 27E,28NW SMG 100 326 16 386 234567 Ara CVA Arabic_ 6070 1840 1915 27S SMG 100 326 16 386 1234567 Lat CVA Liturgy 6070 1840 1915 18SW,27E SMG 100 4 -6 386 1234567 Lat CVA Liturgy 6070 2040 2100 37,38NW SMG 250 234 0 386 1234567 Ara CVA Arabic_ 6115 0530 0615 27SE,28N SMG 100 4 -6 386 1234567 Lat CVA Mass_in 6185 0200 0230 29SE SMG 250 86 0 216 1234567 Hye CVA Armenia 7250 0530 0615 27NW,27S SMG 100 326 16 386 1234567 Lat CVA Mass_in 7250 0615 0730 28E SMG 250 54 0 218 1 Ron CVA Liturgy 7250 0730 0830 28SW SMG 100 330 0 800 1 Ita CVA Liturgy 7250 0730 0915 28SW SMG 250 330 0 800 4 Ita CVA Papal_A 7250 0950 1030 28SW SMG 100 330 0 800 1 Ita CVA Angelus 7250 1840 1915 27NW,27S SMG 250 326 16 386 1234567 Lat CVA Liturgy 7270 0200 0230 29SE SMG 250 86 16 386 1234567 Hye CVA Armenia 7275 2040 2100 38N,38SE SMG 250 146 16 386 1234567 Ara CVA Arabic_ 7360 0300 0330 47SE,48S SMG 250 151 0 216 1234567 Eng CVA English 7360 0330 0345 47SE,48S SMG 250 151 0 216 1 Swa CVA Swahili 7360 0330 0400 47SE,48S SMG 250 151 0 216 234567 Swa CVA Swahili 7360 0345 0400 48 SMG 250 130 0 216 1 Som CVA Somali_ 7360 1840 1900 46SE,47W SMG 250 180 0 216 1234567 Lat CVA Liturgy 7360 1900 1930 46SE,47S SMG 100 180 0 216 7 Spa CVA Spanish 7360 2000 2030 46SE,47W SMG 250 180 0 156 1234567 Eng CVA English 7360 2030 2115 46SE,47W SMG 250 180 0 156 1234567 Fra CVA French_ 7410 2200 2230 31S,32SW SMG 250 68 0 216 1234567 Zho CVA Chinese 9515 0040 0100 41,42S,4 SMG 250 90 0 218 1234567 Hin CVA Hindi 9515 0040 0100 41,42S,4 SMG 250 90 0 218 1234567 Hin CVA Hindi 9515 0100 0120 41,42S,4 SMG 250 90 0 218 1234567 Tam CVA Tamil 9515 0100 0120 41,42S,4 SMG 250 90 0 218 1234567 Tam CVA Tamil 9515 0120 0140 41,42S,4 SMG 250 90 0 218 1234567 Mal CVA Malayal 9515 0120 0140 41,42S,4 SMG 250 90 0 218 1234567 Mal CVA Malayal 9515 0140 0200 41,42S,4 SMG 250 90 0 218 1234567 Eng CVA English 9515 0140 0200 41,42S,4 SMG 250 90 0 218 1234567 Eng CVA English 9645 0400 0430 38E,39,4 SMG 250 114 -16 386 1234567 Ara CVA Arabic 9645 0615 0730 28E SMG 100 54 0 156 1 Ron CVA Liturgy 9645 0645 0705 37,38NW SMG 250 228 0 823 234567 Ara CVA Arabic_ 9645 0950 1030 18SW,27E SMG 250 4 -6 386 1 Ita CVA Angelus 9660 0530 0600 46NW SMG 250 234 0 396 1234567 Por CVA Portugu 9660 1800 1830 52NW,52S SMG 250 165 0 216 1234567 Por CVA Portugu 9670 1840 1900 46 SMG 250 210 0 151 1234567 Lat CVA Liturgy 9670 1900 1930 46NW SMG 250 234 -16 396 7 Spa CVA Spanish 9670 2000 2030 46 SMG 250 210 0 151 1234567 Eng CVA English 9670 2030 2115 46 SMG 250 210 0 151 1234567 Fra CVA French_ 9700 2040 2100 38E,39,4 SMG 250 114 -16 386 1234567 Ara CVA Arabic_ 9850 0610 0745 28NE,29S SMG 250 55 0 211 1 Ukr CVA Liturgy 9850 1840 1900 38E,39,4 SMG 100 114 -16 386 1234567 Lat CVA Liturgy 11625 0600 0630 46 SMG 250 210 0 151 1234567 Fra CVA French_ 11625 0630 0700 46 SMG 250 210 0 151 1234567 Eng CVA English 11715 0400 0430 38E,39,4 SMG 100 98 0 616 1234567 Ara CVA Arabic 11715 1550 1610 29SE SMG 100 73 15 616 1234567 Hye CVA Armenia 11715 1610 1640 19,29,30 SMG 250 55 0 151 1234567 Rus CVA Russian 11715 1640 1700 28NE,29S SMG 100 58 0 616 1234567 Ukr CVA Ukraini 11715 1700 1720 28NE,29N SMG 100 43 -15 616 1234567 Bel CVA Byeloru 11730 0040 0100 41,42S,4 SMG 250 86 0 218 1234567 Hin CVA Hindi 11730 0100 0120 41,42S,4 SMG 250 86 0 218 1234567 Tam CVA Tamil 11730 0120 0140 41,42S,4 SMG 250 86 0 218 1234567 Mal CVA Malayal 11730 0140 0200 41,42S,4 SMG 250 86 0 218 1234567 Eng CVA English 11740 0610 0930 28NE,29S SMG 250 58 0 556 1 Ukr CVA Liturgy 11740 0645 0705 38N,38SE SMG 100 130 0 556 234567 Ara CVA Arabic_ 11740 0950 1030 27N,27SW SMG 250 310 0 556 1 Lat CVA Angelus 11935 1530 1600 38E SMG 100 130 0 616 1234567 Ara CVA Arabic 13765 0600 0630 46E,47W SMG 250 184 0 616 1234567 Fra CVA French_ 13765 0630 0700 46E,47W SMG 250 184 0 616 1234567 Eng CVA English 15370 1550 1610 29SE SMG 100 89 -9 616 1234567 Hye CVA Armenia 15370 1610 1640 19,29,30 SMG 100 49 -9 616 1234567 Rus CVA Russian 15370 1640 1700 28NE,29S SMG 100 49 -9 616 1234567 Ukr CVA Ukraini 15465 1530 1600 41,42S,4 SMG 125 84 -14 616 1234567 Eng CVA English 15570 0700 1030 46 SMG 250 210 0 218 1234567 Fra CVA Special 15570 0950 1030 46 SMG 250 210 0 216 1 Ita CVA Angelus 15570 1600 1615 47SE,48S SMG 250 150 0 218 7 Swa CVA Swahili 15570 1600 1630 47SE,48S SMG 250 150 0 218 123456 Swa CVA Swahili 15570 1615 1630 48 SMG 250 130 0 218 7 Som CVA Somali_ 15570 1630 1700 48 SMG 250 130 0 218 1234567 AmhTirCVA Etio_Er 15570 1700 1730 47S,52N, SMG 250 168 0 218 1234567 Fra CVA French_ 15570 1730 1800 52SE,53W SMG 250 168 0 218 1234567 Eng CVA English 15570 1800 1830 46NW SMG 100 238 0 616 1234567 Por CVA Portugu 15595 0530 0600 38E,39,4 SMG 250 107 0 216 1234567 Lat CVA Mass_in 15595 0600 0615 38E,39,4 SMG 250 107 0 216 234567 Ita CVA News_It 15595 0615 0630 38E,39,4 SMG 250 107 0 216 234567 Fra CVA News_Fr 15595 0630 0645 38E,39,4 SMG 250 107 0 216 234567 Eng CVA News_En 15595 0830 0950 29SE,38E SMG 250 121 -9 616 1 Ara CVA Liturgy 15595 0830 0950 19,29,30 SMG 250 49 -9 616 1 Rus CVA Liturgy 15595 0830 0950 29SE,39N SMG 250 89 -9 616 1 Hye CVA Liturgy 15595 0830 0950 38E,39,4 SMG 250 107 9 616 1 Amh CVA Liturgy 15595 1130 1200 38E,39,4 SMG 250 107 9 616 6 Eng CVA Liturgy 15595 1530 1600 38E,39,4 SMG 100 107 9 616 1234567 Ara CVA Arabic 15595 1600 1615 38E,39,4 SMG 250 107 9 616 1234567 Fra CVA News_Mi 15595 1615 1630 38E,39,4 SMG 250 107 9 616 1234567 Eng CVA News_Mi 17520 0700 1030 46E,47W SMG 250 185 15 218 1234567 Fra CVA Special 17520 0950 1030 46E,47W SMG 250 185 15 218 1 Ita CVA Angelus 17520 1200 1220 46SE,47W SMG 250 185 15 218 1234567 Ita CVA News_It 17590 0830 0950 19,29,30 SMG 250 72 14 616 1 Rus CVA Liturgy 17590 0830 0950 29SE,39N SMG 250 72 14 616 1 Hye CVA Liturgy 17590 0830 0950 29SE,38E SMG 250 98 0 616 1 Ara CVA Liturgy 17590 0830 0950 48 SMG 250 130 0 616 1 Amh CVA Liturgy 17590 0950 1030 38E,39,4 SMG 250 112 14 616 1 Ita CVA Angelus 17590 1130 1200 38E,39,4 SMG 250 112 14 616 6 Eng CVA Liturgy 17590 1200 1220 38E,39,4 SMG 100 112 14 616 1234567 Ita CVA News_It 17770 0700 1030 52NW,52S SMG 250 170 -14 616 1234567 Por CVA Special 17785 0700 1030 53W,57NE SMG 250 155 -15 218 1234567 Eng CVA Special 11900 2200 2230 43,44,49 TIN 250 301 0 146 1234567 Zho *MHL Chinese (A-17 requests from March 26th; data of March 9th via BC-DX 12 March via DXLD) *As I already pointed out above, MHL is WRONG --- means Marshall Islands, while Tinian is in the MARIANA Islands 3 megameters away (gh) ** VENEZUELA. [Re 17-10, 640 Barcelona, Puerto la Cruz] --- I am informed that 640's transmitter site was pretty well trashed by thieves/vandals, who stole all the copper they could find; air conditioning, plumbing, ground straps, all the usual. Hopes are to get it back on soon (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIETNAM. RADIOBROADCASTING IN THE VIETNAMESE PROPAGANDA WAR (via Roger Thauer-D, A-DX ng March 4 via BC-DX 12 March via DXLD) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. ALGERIA, 1550, Radio Nacional República Árabe Saharaui, Rabouni, 2015-2023, 10-03, Arabic, comments, mentioned "Saharaui". 12321 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Logs in Reinante and Lugo, Tecsun PL-880, Sangean ATS 909-X, cable antenna, 8 meters, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** YEMEN [non]. Reception of Republic of Yemen Radio, March 9 from 0730 on 11860 JED 050 kW / non-dir to N/ME Arabic from 0900 on 11860 unknown tx / unknown to N/ME Arabic http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/03/reception-of-republic-of-yemen-radio.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11860, March 9 at 1407, Republic of Yemen Radio (via SAUDI ARABIA?), with pop music in Arabic, S9+10, better than usual; last few days was very poor. 1413 into triumphal music and some talk past 1425. (Meanwhile our other source of good ME music in the morning, Denge Kurdistane on 11600 just as good via Pridnestrovye, has only been talk in Kurdish.) 11860 was first reported Oct 20, 2015, and an extensive roundup of initial info and speculation about source was in http://www.w4uvh.net/dxld1547.txt And we still don`t know for sure which transmitter sites are involved, but surely more than one depending on time of day (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Maybe our man now in Saudi Arabia can find out ** ZAMBIA. 6065, Voice of Hope Africa at 2121 with a beautiful African choral hymn to 2129 and a man with “That was Alpha and Omega on the Voice of Hope Africa” – Fair with fading Mar 9 (Mark Coady, Selwyn, Ontario, Kenwood TS440S 40 and 80 meter off centre-fed dipoles, ODXA yg via DXLD) Superb propagation tonight, Lusaka to Johannesburg. 4965 Zambia, Voice of Hope, Lusaka. Mar 14, 2017 Tuesday. 2043-2045. Excellent reception. 6065 Zambia, Voice of Hope, Lusaka. Mar 14, 2017 Tuesday. 2043-2045. Excellent reception. Jo'burg sunset 1624 (Bill Bingham, Johannesburg RSA. Drake R8E, Sony ICF2001D. dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6065, March 14 at 2159, JBA carrier, presumed Voice of Hope - Africa, on its recently activated evening frequency, and I time the cutoff at 2202:19.5*, which matches reports of 2202* others further east have reported. Figured I`d better get it now, as spring/summer propagation will only get worse with more and more insolation on the path way out to here (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZAMBIA. 5915, ZNBC Fish Eagle IS mixed with fanfare at 0459, then ID and English news by W. Ended at 0517 with manufacturing ad for Zambia Bureau of Standards by M, then ID by studio M DJ in vernacular. and lively Afro Pop music. Still audible at 0532 with M DJ came in after music, and barely with music and M vocal at 0555. Fairly readable at start and surprised it was coming in this late. 25 Feb. 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop and 1530 foot Delta Loop antennas, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) 5915, March 9 at 0517, very poor carrier with some modulation, presumably ZNBC1, managing to stay on air an hour past sunrise, and not quite faded out yet. Only other listee at this time is Myanmar, but it`s midday there. Would you believe that even on USB tuning, this is bothered by splash from 5910.2 Colombian music? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5915, R. One/ZNBC. Have noted a new development here. On three different occasions (March 10, 11 & 12) have noted that during their IS segment (about 0240-0250), they go off the air briefly for a minute or two. This seems rather strange to me, as they always warm up the transmitter with a test tone signal for at least about 10 minutes before their actually start the IS. 5915, via long path, at 1602, on March 11; after CRI is off the air; African singing; in vernacular with fluttery signal (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Superb propagation tonight, Lusaka to Johannesburg. 5915 Zambia, ZNBC1, Lusaka. Mar 14, 2017 Tuesday. 2043-2045. Excellent reception. 5915, ZNBC1, Lusaka. Mar 14, 2017 Tuesday. 0243-0320. Nothing heard, no carrier. Jo'burg sunrise 0408 (Bill Bingham, Johannesburg RSA. Drake R8E, Sony ICF2001D. dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZANZIBAR. 6015, ZBC Radio, Dole. Mar 14, 2017 Tuesday. *0259-0328. Spice FM came on abruptly at 0259. Time pips at 0300 and into Koran. There appeared to be QRM (most unusual), a YL speaking, which I thought was adjacent channel, but I could find nothing on 6010 or 6020 so must have been co-channel or from ZBC itself. Proved to be ZBC itself at 0303, when everything, including the carrier, abruptly went off air in mid Koran! Had not returned as of 0328 tune out. Poor whilst it was there. Jo'burg sunrise 0408 (Bill Bingham, Johannesburg RSA. Drake R8E, Sony ICF2001D. dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE. ZBC radios available live online --- After several years of online silence, four Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) domestic radio services are again available on live web streams. However, some of the links on the mother site at http://zbc.co.zw don't work, so here are the URLs to each microsite: Radio Zimbabwe: http://www.radiozim.co.zw Power FM: http://www.powerfm.co.zw National FM: http://www.nationalfm.co.zw S-FM: http://www.sfm.co.zw All four sites have embedded players which were streaming well when checked at 1600 UT today; however the latter two sites (National FM and S-FM) initially triggered health warnings on my Chrome and Firefox browsers (David Kernick, Interval Signals Online, March 11, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Zimbabwe: http://www.radiozim.co.zw http://ice31.securenetsystems.net/RADIOZIM?type=.flv&playSessionID=71C74924-DC5D-A644-9CE8F4E128D0D096 QR-Code for mobile phone:: http://rdo.to/RADIOZIM Power FM: http://www.powerfm.co.zw http://ice31.securenetsystems.net/POWERFM?type=.flv&playSessionID=71C33A91-D80C-E71D-F5A64BAE3023B22C QR-Code for mobile phone:: http://rdo.to/POWERFM National FM: http://www.nationalfm.co.zw http://ice31.securenetsystems.net/NATIONAL?type=.flv&playSessionID=7218793F-EC29-3A6D-81E6A4B3C18ED874 QR-Code for mobile phone:: http://rdo.to/NATIONAL S-FM: http://www.sfm.co.zw http://ice31.securenetsystems.net/SFM?type=.flv&playSessionID=7223D7BD-B0BF-21A9-A26E69C3D5C3306A QR-Code for mobile phone:: http://rdo.to/SFM flv:-player: http://ice31.securenetsystems.net/RADIOZIM aac/sbr 32kbps (flv) http://ice31.securenetsystems.net/POWERFM aac/sbr 32kbps (flv) http://ice31.securenetsystems.net/NATIONAL aac/sbr 32kbps (flv) http://ice31.securenetsystems.net/SFM aac/sbr 32kbps (flv) (roger thayer, germany, ibid.) UNIDENTIFIED. 5100.00-AM, March 15 at 0105, big open carrier at S9+40 in between the two ham radio broadcasts; occasionally has shown up before, unknown if a US SW broadcaster testing or something else (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 5125, March 15 at 0615, big buzz centered here, almost too close to WBCQ. March 16 at 0705, now an S9+30 open carrier on 5125.0. Much like the one on 5100.0 at 0105 March 15. What`s going on here? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 9325-AM, March 15 at 2341, open carrier stronger than 9330 WBCQ with WOR. Never noticed this before in almost daily 9330 chex. At 0058, it`s S6-S8 on 9324.99, but off at 0103 recheck. Nothing listed in HFCC or Aoki now; could be utility or broadcaster (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. EGYPT [sic], Station with Egyptian music, March 11 0855-0900 on 9400 unknown tx / unknown to UNID, test tone 0900-0915 on 9400 unknown tx / unknown to UNID, poor/weak http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/03/unidentified-station-with-egyptian_11.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. EGYPT [sic] Station with Egyptian music, March 9: till 1036 on 9550 unknown tx / unknown to UNID, weak/fair http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/03/unidentified-station-with-egyptian_9.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Noted huge blob of distorted audio 9635 - 9685 +/-. Blocking anything in this area and adjacent. Saudi, 9675, or Cairo 9685 (although I’ve never heard anything this loud from Cairo) (Stephen Wood, Harwich, Mass. 1945 UT March 11, dxldyg via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 11435-USB, March 10 at 1427, presumed Indonesian pirates somewhat melodic. 11435-USB, March 14 at 1353, multiple ululations competing from presumed Indonesian musical QSO pirates. Must be heard to be believed (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 13720, 1325, 3/12/17. Very poor signal. Traditional Chinese vocal sing, 1329 woman talks briefly into a man with longer talk, very brief comment by a woman then back to man speaking until fade out about 1345. The language sounded European, possibly English (thought I heard a few English words here and there) however most of the talk was too weak to be sure. I was not able to find anything listed at this time in Aoki, EiBi, HFCC or Feb. or March, DX Listening Digest. CRI is listed 1100–1200 in English via Xi`an, I wonder if they shifted an hour later to accommodate DST? (Mark Taylor, Madison, Wisconsin, Perseus, SDRPlay, RTL2832 V3 dongle for SDR’s; E1, Satellit 800, PL 660, and various other portables for physical radios; 40 meters dipole, 100’ long wire, Mini whip, NASWA Flashsheet March 12 via DXLD) They don`t accommodate DST, and anyhow surely not for North America (gh, DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ ACKNOWLEDGED ON WORLD OF RADIO 1869: Thanks to Kevin Crouch, Northridge CA for a check in the mail to P O Box 1684, Enid OK 73702 TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED FUTURELY: Thanks to Gerald T Pollard, NC for a generous quarterly check for the vernal equinox, to P O Box 1684, Enid OK, 73702 One may also contribute, not necessarily in US funds, via PayPal to woradio at yahoo.com PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ HFCC A17 schedules now available http://www.hfcc.org/data/a17/index.phtml -- 73! (Ivo Ivanov, March 13, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) DW still has the single hour of English at 1600. Also at a quick glance, BBCWS English appears to have the same number of SW hours as B16. Oddly, Thailand is still listed as a transmitter site, though as always, watch out for alternates/wooden registrations. Much more to study when I have time (Stephen Luce, Houston, Texas, ibid.) StationList For FM DX StationList for Winradio and Perseus is not only a software for MW and SW with those facilities: • Connects to Winradio (including Excalibur) and Perseus and shows stations for the currently tuned frequency • The station display window will track when you tune around • Right-Click an entry will tune the receiver to that frequency • Powerful built-in user definable filters allow narrowing down the number of stations only to the region of interest This software can also be used without any connection to Winradio or Perseus. In such cases you have to select the frequency manually in the database. StationList is very useful also for FM DX-ers. If you go to this link http://zeiterfassung.3sdesign.de/station_list.htm and look halfway down there is a chapter "StationList for FM DXing". There`s a nice animation in "Example-3:" That shows that SL is now much more than just a simple station list. The software is easy to install. Before installation read the instructions carefully. Use the File Explorer, go to Local disk (C:) Create a new folder, for example StationList. Then unzip the downloaded file to this folder. Open the software by double click on StationList.exe in the folder. Then go to "import" and choose "fetch data from FMLIST.org. When the file is completely downloaded it will show up as a database. Then choose "Save database as". Use a simple name like "FM-List". This database will be in use until you choose another one. Here is short extract of the content in FM list. [. . .] Jürgen Bartels has some interesting examples on his website including one animation in example 3. Take a look (Thomas Nilsson, SW Bulletin March 12 via DXLD) 2017 editions of ENDBH & NANDBH handbooks and CDs Hi all, The brand new 2017 editions of the popular ENDBH & NANDBH handbooks and CDs are ready! The updated ENDBH contains the data of more than 7200 NDBs on 150+ spiral-bound pages in A4 format and the NANDBH shows the data of more than 5000 NDBs on 130+ pages. The CD versions of the handbooks contain an updated Google Earth waypoint file so that you can "visit" NDB locations around the globe. New pictures have been added to the NDB picture collection, and the NDB sound clip section has grown as well. In case you're interested in ordering a handbook or CD for other parts of the world please don't hesitate to ask, I'm able to produce customized versions for your special needs. Delivery of the CDs will be via download. If you want a physical copy of the CD please indicate this when ordering. Prices have been adjusted to reflect the latest changes in postage rates and foreign currency exchange rates. Please find all relevant details at the following URL: http://ndblist.info/beacons/NDBpublications2017.pdf And once again I'd like to thank all NDB DXers for your continued support, it is really appreciated :-) -- vy 73 + gd DX, (Michael Oexner, ENDBH & NANDBH editor, http://ndbchangeblog.blogspot.com http://www.ndblist.info/beacons/NDBpublications2017.pdf March 12, MWCircle yg via and via Wolfgang Büschel, DXLD) Note: I was not asked to advertise this, and have never bought it, but FYI. Minimum price is $27. In case you don`t need such depth on NDBs, a good free website by frequency I consult is: http://www.dxinfocentre.com/ndb.htm which includes all North American, and selected beacons beyond (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ EDXC CONFERENCE 2017 Dear friends, we are happy to inform that more information about the approaching EDXC Conference 2017 is now available at http://www.sdxl.fi/edxc The agenda is still quite tentative, we are working on it, but bookings can be made already now. Please write to rv at sdxl dot org for bookings, questions or comments. The basic details for the planned tour to Lapland are also available and we are looking for to hear from you during March, if you plan to participate on the tour (the bookings are not binding yet). We hope to see many many of you in Finland next August! 73 (Risto Vähäkainu, FDXA, Finland, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) DX-PEDITIONS ++++++++++++ GRAYLAND 15 - FEB. 19-25, 2017 [MW DX on coast of Washington State] Nick Hall-Patch and I DX’d from the Grayland Motel for all or part of February 19-25 UTC. I have gone through ‘the best’ of my collected wav files and the ‘loggings’ from them appear on this webpage: http://realmonitor.com/am_logs_grayland15.php Highlights were a decent opening to Asia and Alaska on the 25th and Majuro on 1098 staying on ‘all night’ on the 21st with lively ‘island music.’ As the saying goes “even a bad day at Grayland is better than being any place else.” (Bill Whitacre, Alexandria, VA, March 15, NRC- AM via DXLD) DXING.INFO DXPEDITION REPORTS Someone mentioned this website on radioescutas, and I realized I haven`t looked at it for a year or more, as it has not been referenced by anyone. Very little has been added to it since 2014, it seems, but this: http://www.dxing.info/about/whatsnew.dx (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) LANGUAGE LESSONS ++++++++++++++++ Re. DX LISTENING DIGEST 17-09, March 1, 2017 Re. Esporte(s), Desporte(s), Desporto(s). No Brasil, a palavra mais usada é "esporte(s)" e, mais raramente, desporto(s) e/ou "desporte(s)". Para os praticantes, são bastante usadas as palavras "esportista(s)" e "desportista (s)". "Desporto(s)" é usada em Portugal, Angola, e outros da língua portuguesa. Esporte, desporte e desporto são sinônimos e, em inglês, todas são "Sport(s)". Veja este log: 4950, Jan 13 at 0237, Radio Nacional d´Angola, Mulenvos, in Portuguese. A musical program with some brazilian songs; 0300 Woman annnouncer talks, Time pips, 4AM in Angola; Announcers presents News "Jornal da Hora"; 0302 "RNA Desportos": sport news; 0303 Woman talks, ID; 0304 Start program with local songs. Poor transmission, 35332 (sometimes, 35331). Terço e Rosário. A palavra Terço, significando Rosário, é a mais usada no Brasil. Temos muitos programas de rádio como: "O Terço em Familia", "O Terço em sua Casa", "O Terço dos Homens", etc. Agora veja este exemplo: ``Maria foi participar do Rosário em sua igreja local e esqueceu de levar o terço``. Neste exemplo, "terço" é o acessório para rezar o Rosário. Rádio RB2: assim como escrito, é uma redundância, desnecessária. RB2 é uma expressão midiática, um logotipo, presumivelmente. À noite, ela está em rede com a Rádio Aparecida apresentando o programa "Com a Mãe Aparecida". Best Regards, (José Ronaldo Xavier, Brasil, HCDX via DXLD) WORLD OF HOROLOGY +++++++++++++++++ DAYLIGHT SHIFTING TIME Those of you in North America, don’t forget to adjust your local clocks forward one hour tonight. My sole problem with this is that all of my favourite programs will be one hour later until the A17 international broadcast season kicks in on March 26th. Whoever in the U.S. federal government who came up with the idea of extended daylight savings [sic] time; a pox of you and all of your descendants (Mark Coady, Selwyn, Ontario, ODXA yg via DXLD) ALBERTA SWITCHES TO DAYLIGHT TIME ON MARCH 12. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/daylight-saving-time-dst-alberta-shaffer-rivers-cd-howe-ontario-alberta-electricity-energy-use-1.4015757 Daylight time change causes higher electricity use in Alberta, study finds --- Findings could bolster growing calls in Alberta to ditch DST CBC News Posted: Mar 08, 2017 1:08 PM MT Last Updated: Mar 09, 2017 1:36 PM MT Daylight time was first implemented as a way to conserve energy, but the controversial twice-yearly clock change actually has the opposite effect in Alberta, a Calgary economist says. "When we're on daylight savings, we increase our electricity use here in Alberta," University of Calgary PhD candidate and C.D. Howe Institute fellow Blake Shaffer told the Calgary Eyeopener on Wednesday. Shaffer and his research colleague Nic Rivers, who teaches in the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs and Institute of the Environment at the University of Ottawa, studied the effect of daylight time (DT) on energy consumption. The impact very much depends on geography, Shaffer said. blake shaffer Economist Blake Shaffer says his research showed electricity use increases in Alberta when the province switches to daylight time. (C.D. Howe Institute) Research by Rivers showed that DST reduces electricity demand in Ontario by 1.5 per cent. Shaffer then looked at whether that's also the case in Alberta. "I took a look at what daylight saving time does in Alberta, and, lo and behold, it's the opposite effect," he said. During DST, electricity use in Alberta rises by 1.6 per cent during the periods of spring and fall transition and by roughly one per cent across the entire DST period, Shaffer's study found. It's Albertans' habit of getting up early that makes the difference, Shaffer said. "Alberta's almost an outlier, in terms of how early we wake up. We get up around 20 minutes earlier than our Torontonian counterparts. And to add to that, the sun rises later." Ontario's earlier sunrises and later waking hours leave fewer people affected by the transition to DST during morning hours — hence there's less need to use extra energy during DST. The findings could bolster growing calls in Alberta to ditch DST. Last month, Edmonton MLA Thomas Dang, launched public consultations on whether to end daylight time change. PC MLA Richard Starke has presented a petition calling for the same thing. "To put the Albertan result into perspective, eliminating DST would have the equivalent energy saving effect as replacing about half of Alberta's residential lights with LED bulbs. All at the cost of a stroke of a pen," said the release by Shaffer and Rivers. Energy cost vs. health benefits But other research has shown health benefits associated with DST, Shaffer says. Researchers at the University of Washington said DST leads to a measurable uptick in healthy, calorie-burning activity. And a study published by MIT found there was a seven per cent decline in robberies in jurisdictions on DST. "It really comes down to energy versus health, and we'd have to weigh those two," said Shaffer. "I'd be a proponent of the morning light, but that's just me. So I'd be going with Mountain Standard Time." The clocks go ahead one hour on March 12 as Alberta changes to daylight time. With files from the Calgary Eyeopener (via Gerald T Pollard, NC, DXLD) HATE DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME? YOU MAY HAVE A POINT, RESEARCHERS SAY By Joseph Ax NEW YORK (Reuters) - For most Americans, daylight saving time means only one thing: losing an hour's sleep. So what is the point? This is actually a reasonable question, according to a growing body of scientific research. . . http://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=USKBN16I0S6 (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DRM See INDIA; NEW ZEALAND; ROMANIA; THAILAND ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DAB & DAB+ See also IRELAND; VATICAN +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ TESCOS AND DAB + Members may recall that back in January I purchased a DAB clock radio from Tescos that lacked DAB+. I returned it next day and sent an email to Tech Support asking why they were selling 20 year old technology and why the instruction book said it would work in Europe where most countries had switched to DAB+. I also drew their attention to a government document dated 2013 recommending that only DAB+ products should be sold. This was their reply: "Thanks for your email and for taking the time to provide your feedback. I will ensure this is passed to our support team for further investigation. Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience caused to you.” I waited about three weeks and then wrote back asking what the support team had said. I got this reply: "Tesco, along with many other retailers stock both DAB and DAB+ compatible radio equipment to ensure our customers have as much choice as possible. Whilst we handle technical support queries, we are unable to provide details on the purchasing and marketing aspects of our company. The decision of the product range we offer is handled by our Head Office management team, to whom I will ensure your concerns are fed back." So I wrote back explaining that DAB+ is backward compatible with DAB so they only need to stock DAB [+], and would they please answer my 2 questions. Their next reply was to ask me to write to their freepost head office address, so I did. However head office passed the buck back to tech support who emailed the same nonsense again. My next email to them was not answered so I sent one to the CEO of Tesco. This had the effect of tech support emailing me: "One of our Senior Managers would like to discuss your concerns with you via the telephone, however, we do not hold a valid telephone number for you. I would therefore kindly ask you to respond to this email with a suitable contact number." So I gave them a number and 24 hours later I had a call. He seemed quite interested, though he admitted he was not technical, and asked me to explain the problem. After that he asked what I thought they should do. I explained it was vaguely possible they could be updated but if old (cheap) chips were being used it was unlikely, and that they should withdraw them from stock and replaced with DAB+ stock. He said he would look into it and ensure only DAB+ stock would be ordered in future but didn’t think existing stock could be withdrawn. He then thanked me for my interest and help and arranged to send me a £20 goodwill voucher. So, a result of sorts. Regards, (Gareth Foster, UK, 10 March, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DTV see CUBA; MEXICO; OKLAHOMA; PROPAGATION ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DTV REPACKING INFO If you haven't heard yet, there is a searchable list of some of the repacked stations on the NAB repacking website: http://www.nab.org/repacking/clearinghouse.asp Many stations are not listed (yet), but from what I've seen, New York, Hartford, and Boston are being completely reconfigured. Almost every station I've seen listed in this area is being reassigned a new channel. There are some errors; for example WRGB Albany market is listed as current channel 39 and repacked channel 39. WRGB is on 6 and not 39, and no-one can be repacked to a channel above 36. So we don't really know what the future of WRGB is. Their sister station WCWN is being moved 43 > 22. I see two translators listed in the NAB database, and from my understanding no translators should have been included in the auction. One translator is W24DB Scranton, PA,co-owned with WSWB & WOLF in that market. The other is W40CN Chicago, a stand-alone in that market. Then are oddities, like in the Binghamton, NY market WBNG-7 is moving to rf-8, and WICZ-8 is moving to rf-7. On top of that, WBNG is assigned Phase 7, and WICZ is Phase 10. That means at the end of phase 7, both stations are supposed to be channel 8. OF course, there's a mistake somewhere!! For unknown reasons,some markets don't show up in the drop-down list (e.g. Hartford, Boston, Cleveland), but some stations in those markets appear in the call letter drop down list. (Thanks Andrew K for the tip). Also I notice that most stations that are reported in the NYC market, and many other nearby markets are assigned to Phase 4, which ends in May 2019. After that, channels 38 - 51 should be quite clear here, opening up DX opportunities for more distant stations. I have a local analog 42 (W42AE). I don't know when they must vacate 42; but so far they haven't applied for a DTV channel. Does anyone know if they can apply for a move to 2-36 and stay analog? (Chris Lucas, Poughkeepsie, NY, WTFDA Forum via DXLD) EVERYTHING ABOUT THE ATSC 3.0 STANDARD & THE FUTURE OF OTA TV I wonder if this will be good for TV DXing. http://www.audioholics.com/editorials/atsc-3.0-cord-cutter2019s-dream-to-tiered-internet-nightmare https://martechtoday.com/television-meets-internet-emerging-new-atsc-3-0-standard-195742 (via Baton Rouge, SE LA DXer, March 11, WTFDA Forum via DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- IBOC See also MEXICO/USA: KFI +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Current State Of IBOC/HD Radio I still have a couple of HD radios, but it is rare that I listen to them. What is the latest on this? Is HD radio doing okay or is it dying a slow death? (Jim, March 9, WTFDA Forum via DXLD) HD Radio is doing OK because HD subchannels(HD 2, HD 3, HD 4) can feed translators. Some translators actually get decent ratings such as 104.1 The Beat(W281AB) which is being fed by WMJJ HD 2 in Birmingham, AL: http://ratings.radio-online.com/cgi-bin/rol.exe/arb095 Because of translators HD Radio is probably staying alive in at least the near future (Rrrrzzzz419, Currently DXing In NW AL And NE MS, March 9, ibid.) I liken the slow rise of HD to that of FM. FM took decades to overtake AM in the listening derby. Like was said above, FM HD subchannels feed FM translators, and indeed some do well; much to the dismay of the DXer. But, like they say in today's language, "it is what it is." cd (Chris Dunne, Pembroke Pines FL, March 10, ibid.) As long as HD is a loophole for creating commercial LPFMs, we're going to have those extra sidebands. (note that HD on *AM* is nearly dead. I don't think that's a coincidence: AM HD doesn't support multicasting or the translator loophole.) Direct success is probably sneaking up on us. Cars are beginning to include HD whether you ask for it or not (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66, http://www.w9wi.com March 10, ibid.) Yah; forgot to mention the "auto-HD," pardon the pun. KMOX AM 1120 shut off its HD this year, I was told. I used to see the HD flash and hoping one day for a lock. Nope. Miami AM has one lone survivor in HD: 1260 WSUA. It was missing for a month or so, but they're giving it another chance. cd (Chris Dunne, FL, March 11, ibid.) No IBOC on KOGO-600 or KFI-640 lately. But XEKAM-950 IBOC is unbelievable when they're on 20 kW. Midday it can be seen as 3 separate signals on the Perseus. Also KSL-1160 IBOC interferes with local KCBQ-1170 at night! Co-owned KNX and KRLD still ruin each other's coverage over several western states. :( 73 (Tim Hall, Chula Vista CA (near San Diego), March 17, ABDX via DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ INTERNATIONAL CRYSTAL MANUFACTURING GOING OUT OF BUSINESS ARRL 03/10/2017 http://www.arrl.org/news/international-crystal-manufacturing-going-out-of-business International Crystal Manufacturing (ICM) of Oklahoma City has announced that it will be going out of business, probably at the end of May. Royden Freeland Jr., W5EMH, son of the company’s founder, posted a letter this week on the ICM website. “We will be honoring all orders that we have already taken and will be able to fill a limited amount of new orders dependent upon raw materials available,” Freeland said. “We would like to thank you for your past business. The success of ICM over the previous 66 years has been largely due to its amazing customer base.” International Crystal produces RF control devices — quartz crystals, oscillators, QCM crystals, filters, TCXOs/VCTCXOs, and precision crystals. Royden R. Freeland Sr. founded International Crystal in 1950, at first operating out of his garage. One of his first contracts was to produce crystals for Collins Radio. The elder Freeland and his wife died in a 1978 air crash, and his son took over the company, which expanded into the production of other electronics in the 1980s. In the 1990s, though, it sold off some of its equipment and distribution business to concentrate on its core enterprise — the manufacture of crystal and oscillator products. The announcement caught some manufacturers off guard, and they are seeking to source the products they had been buying from ICM, one of the few remaining US-based manufacturer of crystal products. Radio amateurs requiring crystals for projects or as replacement parts for older equipment also will have to look elsewhere. Ironically, International boasts on its website that it’s “a proud supplier to RadioShack,” which, for the second time in 2 years, declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy this week (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) I was aware of this important Oklahoma industry, but where is it exactly? Website https://www.icmfg.com/index.html shows: International Crystal Manufacturing 10 North Lee Avenue • Oklahoma City, OK 73102 Toll Free Phone: 1-800-725-1426 • Toll Free Fax: 1-800-322-9426 Phone: 1-405-236-3741 • Fax: 1-405-235-1904 (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DX LISTENING DIGEST) AFTER 66 YEARS, CRYSTAL MANUFACTURER TO CLOSE ITS DOORS ON FILM ROW By Jacob McCleland & Ted Streuli • 4 hours ago Business Intelligence Report http://kgou.org/post/after-66-years-crystal-manufacturer-close-its-doors-film-row Royden Freeland Jr. tests equipment at International Crystal Manufacturing, 10 N. Lee Ave. in Oklahoma City. Brent Fuchs / Journal Record [caption] Royden Freeland, Sr. founded International Crystal Manufacturing in 1951 in Oklahoma City’s FIlm Row district. Later this year, the company will close its doors. ICM, now run by the founder’s son, Royden Freeland, Jr., produces quartz crystals of a variety of electronic devices, such as radios, microwave systems and medical devices. The Journal Record’s Molly Fleming writes ICM primarily produces small quantities of crystals. Business used to be booming. The 1980s, Freeland had over 200 employees. But technology and electronic manufacturing has changed since then. Today, he has 13 workers. “A big part of the crystal industry went to China,” he said, adding that it was easier to assemble the electronics since the other pieces were made in China as well. The company will likely close its doors in May, he said. It was a difficult decision to make. Freeland has worked at ICM since 1965. He took over the company after his parents died in a plane crash in 1978. His sisters were once co-owners, but Freeland Jr. bought them out in the early 2000s. During his weekly business conversation with KGOU, Journal Record editor Ted Streuli said Freeland will sell his two buildings on Film Row. “They are pretty much what you would expect in Film Row, with that great history,” Streuli said. The office headquarters used to belong to the Metro-Golden-Mayer motion picture company. Freeland’s other building used to house the Poverty Row Film company. Streuli says there are opportunities for the future owner to develop the property. “This is the last big piece of FIlm Row that’s available to develop, and the buildings are in good shape, with historical elements like the film vault and art deco detail all still being intact. That’s not the kind of thing that becomes available very often. The two buildings are being packaged with a parking lot. The list price is $3.1 million (via DXLD) HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR LPFM, COMMUNITY & COLLEGE RADIO RECEPTION By Paul Riismandel on March 14, 2017 in College Radio, Community Radio, FM Radio, LPFM, Noncommercial Radio, Radio Bands One of our Patreon supporters dropped us a line to ask if we’d take up the question of how to improve reception of low-powered stations. It’s a challenge most radio lovers have faced, not quite being able to tune in your favorite college or community station, especially inside a house or office, even when that station comes in on your car stereo. Internet radio is certainly one way to solve that problem, assuming that the station you want to hear has a stream. However, for any number of reasons some stations don’t stream on the internet. For some the extra cost is too much, and some new LPFMs just getting off the ground just haven’t gotten that far yet. Plus, internet radio isn’t always convenient for the listener. Perhaps you’re just outside of a good wi-fi signal, or you rely on mobile service where every hour spent listening uses up your precious monthly data. To help answer this question we turned to Jay Allen, a broadcast professional and proprietor of the Radio Jay Allen website, home to his in-depth radio reviews and “radio shootouts” that are famous amongst radio hobbyists and DXers the world over. Jay guested on episode 84 of our podcast, and explained that newer radio models designed in the last five years or so have digital signal processing (DSP) that allows them to be both sensitive and selective. . . http://www.radiosurvivor.com/2017/03/14/improve-lpfm-community-college-radio-reception/ (via Dan Oetting, Elkton, MD, WTFDA gg via DXLD) DON MOMAN’S ANTENNA FARM IN LAMONT, ALBERTA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBChwkjzliw This video features a drone fly-over, with HD camera, of CIDX Executive Secretary Don Moman’s (VE6JY) antenna farm located in Lamont, Alberta. It is one of the largest ham radio installations and DX listening posts in North America, spread over 80 acres (March CIDX Messenger via DXLD) LF NOT QUITE DEAD 243, Kalundborg [DENMARK] is now used part time for news and weather, especially for Danish coastal waters. Please tell me they're sending weather fax charts. CFH on 122.5 kHz did, alternating half hours with RTTY weather. I had to design a demodulator for it because their shift was only +/- 300 Hz. This due to bandwidth limitations of their array no doubt. As supplied, my Alden bug-on-a-belt scanner wouldn't mark the paper much if at all. [Halifax NS] Now we come to the linguistics of cooking apparatus. I've heard about it here and there but having it all presented at once was informative. RECEIVING EQUIPMENT FOR VLF/LF/MF The time station in Paris is still using the [162] transmitter to keep the 'atomic clocks' around France synchronized. There is a phase shift modulation (I THINK that is correct!) there if you have equipment to detect that, and that is what the 'radio clocks' are looking for. Just like WWVB except with an actual chance of working for most of the country. I don't know how they've been able to sell these radio clocks east of the Mississippi. I haven't seen one work yet. It seems that 162 Allouis is carrying on sending time signals using phase modulation of the carrier. 2MW (half that between 00:00 and 06:00) for a time signal? Maybe that will make our east-of-the- Mississippi clocks work. What gets saved by dropping France Inter is the power required for amplitude modulation, not the whole bundle. Was this still tube-based? Much more easily done with PDM. You could lay off 30 plumbers who were taking care of the water-cooled tubes just for openers. I'm really surprised they haven't done that at NAA in Cutler (24 kHz). Those old Continentals were really struggling, even when I saw them in the '80s (Lorraine Kulbacka, Windsor Ont., MARE Tipsheet 12 March via DXLD) ANOTHER ONLINE SDR IN HOLLAND I will also point out another online SDR site which Jos from Holland maintains. Go to http://www.swcholland.com and check out his installation of a KIWI receiver. Reception is pretty good much due to a huge antenna. At the pirate weekend meeting in Saxtorp, Jos showed me his website: http://www.swcholland.com There is a lot of pirate information. But the most interesting thing is his Online KIWI SDR. Give it a try. He is using a special non- directional TC2M antenna, about 9 m height. This site is a strong contender to the Twente site, much depending on the big antenna (Thomas Nilsson, SW Bulletin March 12 via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ TRANS-EQUATORIAL FM DX PROPAGATION: See BARBADOS HUGE UHF TROPO DISTANCE RECORDS FROM FLORIDA TO NUEVO LEON Hola desde San Nicolas de los Garza, Nuevo León, México. Soy nuevo en este Foro, me anime a registrarme por sugerencia de Raymie por tener un registro de recepción a distancia muy interesante y para compartir mis experiencias en este foro. Soy Jubilado, parte de mi tiempo libre lo dedico a practicar Diexismo en mi ciudad de residencia en San Nicolás de los Garza, N.L. México. El pasado 14 de marzo del 2016 a las 22:00 horas recibí vía TROPO una transmisión de Tv digital desde Jacksonville, Florida a 1,905.59 kms (1,184 Mi) de distancia de mi ciudad, se trataba de la estación WJXT 4-1/4-3 RF 42. Horas después ya por la madrugada, el 15 de marzo de 2016 a las 2:55 hrs. recibí también de esa misma localidad la estación WJXX 25-1/25-2 RF 10, y la estación WJCT 7-1/7-4 RF 7 a 1,904.19 kms. (1,183 Mi) de distancia. http://i63.tinypic.com/207rw45.jpg http://i65.tinypic.com/k1cq48.jpg http://i63.tinypic.com/9jemwx.jpg (Mc.art, March 13, WTFDA Forum via DXLD) I've dragged in another Mexican! (And with good reason!) I'm here to translate Arturo's initial post: "I'm new on this forum, I decided to register at Raymie's suggestion for having logged a very interesting distant tropo catch and to share my experiences on this forum. I'm retired, and in some of my free time I do DXing from my hometown of San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, México. On March 14, 2016, at 10pm, I received by tropo WJXT 4.x (RF 42) from Jacksonville, Florida, at a distance of 1,905.59 km (1,184 miles) from San Nicolás. Early the next morning, at 2:55am, I received from the same area WJXX 25.x (RF 10) and WJCT 7.x (RF 7) at 1,904.19 km (1,183 miles)." (The pics show WJXT, WJCT and then the third does not work. Arturo, sugiero que uses imgur en vez de TinyPic porque TinyPic es un poco...raro. No se puede incorporar las imágenes sin enlaces.) I've seen Arturo on one of the Mexican forums I follow for a couple of years now. It wasn't until very recently, though, that I realized he held the DTV tropo distance record. I saw he had WFTS earlier this year at 1,821 km, and I then checked Chris's WSFL catch to see how long that was (1,850 km). I realized there might be something further, and then I realized the very impressive Jacksonville stuff from last year was the record holder as I scrolled through the thread. I got in touch to suggest that he register here. It says something that the analog and digital tropo records were made in the same place: the Monterrey area. San Nicolás is less sheltered from local stations than Fernando García was in Guadalupe, but the general lay of the land east is the same. ¡Bienvenido, Arturo, y gracias por hacer caso de mi sugerencia! (Raymie Humbert, AZ, ibid.) And Arturo has also joined the club's Facebook group called TV and FM DXing. He has shared some photos of his DTV tropo catches. Welcome, Arturo! Mike Bugaj, Enfield, CT -72 30' W/41 59' N FN31RX, March 15, ibid.) Arturo is the new Fernando, maybe! cd (Chris Dunne, FL, ibid.) MW DX DEAD SPOTS Hi all, a topic that has always confounded me is the subject of ``DX deadspots``. Literally geographic areas where nothing of a DX nature seems to penetrate. I`ve alluded to this in previous threads and blamed it on antennas, sunspots, noise?? you know, the usual suspects. I`ve even postulated that poor soil conductivity is a contributor. While much has been written on these topics (other than soils to my knowledge) I wonder if any of you have these same frustrations. Naturally I leave ?ass time in the chair as the last factor. We all know what that means when it comes to good DX. I`ll even go as far to express that having top notch gear is useless if you don?t use it! Nevertheless, the perception does exist that location, location, blah, blah? may be a significant although unexplored factor plagueing all of us. Anyone else experience these blasé feelings? (Bill Brooks, Waynesburg PA, Drake R8A, wellbrookala1530lnp, March 15, IRCA via DXLD) I think it might be a combination of any or all of the factors that you mentioned. You seem to be using good quality equipment for sure. There are times when there have been solar storms and the band is just a loud buzz so even locals sound horrible. I recall seeing a map once that showed the best and worst places as far as ground conductivity in North America goes. I would bet that can be found using Google. 73 (Mike Sanburn, CA, ibid.) Mike, here is a ground conductivity map. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:United_States_Effective_Ground_Conductivity_Map.png (Bill Block, Prescott Valley, AZ, ibid.) Thanks, looks like I'm in a 15 -- about the middle (Mike Sanburn, ibid.) Roger the map. I presume the lower the value, the worse the conductivity unless I missed something. Tnx bb (Billy Brooks, ibid.) I have visited cities like St. George UT and Sedona AZ and it is brick red wherever you look. For DXing maybe redder means better??? (Mike Sanburn, ibid.) Exactly, Billy. 30 is top of the line. See that 30 area in northwest Iowa along the Minnesota border? That's the "Okoboji" area of Iowa, a popular vacation destination from Memorial Day to Labor Day. I used to live in that area. The DX on both AM and FM up there was amazing, easily the best QTH for DXing in which I've ever resided. Of course, it didn't hurt that among my 3 closest AM stations, KILR-1070 (250 watts) and KKOJ-1190 (5000 watts) were both daytimers, and KICD-1240 (1000 watts, of course) was 20 miles to the south. I recently hit 1000 AM stations logged here in South Omaha, taking nearly 6 1/2 years to do so. Had I stayed up in Okoboji instead of moving away in July 1996, it probably would've taken me about 1/4 as long -- if that -- to reach 1000. 73, (Rick Dau, South Omaha, Nebraska EN21af, ibid.) I recall while heading to the 2011 convention in Colorado Springs being more than mildly astounded at the signal put out by KOAL/750 in Price, UT. I'd stayed overnight in Green River, and while driving the following day through the extended badlands around Moab and on to Grand Junction, CO, it just kept on thumping in on a stock Toyota receiver. I still have to thank Richard for being my chauffeur around The Springs! I wasn't much of a navigator (Theo, ibid.) I’m fortunate enough to live in an area of excellent ground conductivity. Ground wave DX into surrounding states is very good at mid-day. My guess is it has something to do with the Port Silt Loam (Red Dirt) that cover much of Oklahoma. It’s a significant enough feature of the region to have been named the official state soil. The reddish colour of the soil is caused by a high iron content. Maybe that contributes to the good conductivity (Richard Allen, near Perry OK, ibid.) It has to be something else, Richard, because iron in the soil is detrimental to an AM station's ability to be heard at a great distance. The soil in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan on over to the Arrowhead region of northwest Minnesota is absolutely loaded with iron, and the AMs in that area just don't get out well at all. It's especially noticeable in the daytime. 73, (Rick Dau, South Omaha, Nebraska EN21af, ibid.) Had I been live during this thread, I too would have said Oklahoma`s red dirt with iron oxide can`t be the cause, cf the Iron range of Michigan. I would hypothesize that the Ogallala Aquifer (what`s left of it) has something to do with the large 30 G.C. area in TX-OK-KS-NE. Not a 100% match of course, but quite a bit of overlap: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogallala_Aquifer How fortunate we are here in the great center, since so much of the USA is way lower in GC. WNAX 570 Yankton SD is here on groundwave any day; only problem KLIF Dallas also 570. Also: KWMT 540 Fort Dodge IA vs another Metroplex station. 550 has signs of Midland TX and 580 signs of Lubbock TX under the Kansans. 670 KLTT Denver is barely audible on daytime groundwave, and sometimes WSCR Chicago tho by then I`m not certain it`s GW rather than daytime skywave, or a mixture with sporadic E affecting MW (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Of course salt water beats any over-land conductivity. The Atlantic City graveyard channels are easy copy by day here at 275 miles. The boundary between very poor sandy soil in one direction and seawater in the opposite direction produces "crazy-directional" DX even with non- directional whip antennas. Multiply that effect with a directional antenna (DKAZ, Beverage, etc.) pointed seaward and you get the wild long-haul loggings associated with DXpedition sites such as Grayland (WA), Rockport (MA), Cappahayden (NL), etc. (Mark Connelly, WA1ION, South Yarmouth, MA, ibid.) My undergraduate degree is in Soil Science. Hmmm. It might be time to dust off the text books! (Bob Coomler, W7SWL, Tucson, AZ, ibid.) A few years back, I left Brainerd, MN and drove counter-clockwise through North Dakota and then South Dakota toward Mpls. and couldn’t believe how well KFGO-790 got out. Years before that, while driving in Kansas, I remember WNAX-570 bangin’ in pretty well. Nice ground systems indeed (Pete Taylor, Tacoma, WA, ibid.) :Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts :Issued: 2017 Mar 13 0238 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center # Product description and SWPC contact on the Web # http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/weekly.html # # Weekly Highlights and Forecasts # Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 06 - 12 March 2017 Solar activity was at very low levels throughout the reporting period. No CMEs observed in available SOHO LASCO imagery were determined to be Earth-directed. No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at high levels on 06-08 Mar. Normal to high levels were observed on 09 Mar and moderate to high levels were observed on 10 Mar. On 11 Mar, a return to normal to high levels were observed, with moderate to high levels ending the period on 12 Mar. Sustained levels of electron flux was caused by continuous influence of a CH HSS throughout the reporting period. Geomagnetic field activity ranged from quiet to G1 (Minor) levels during the reporting period due to a negative polarity, CH HSS that persisted throughout most of the week. On 06 Mar, quiet to G1 (Minor) levels represented a peak in geomagnetic activity caused by 650 km/s solar wind speeds, the highest levels observed from the CH HSS. A very gradual decline in solar wind speeds caused unsettled to active conditions on 07 Mar followed by quiet to active levels on 08-10 Mar. Quiet to unsettled conditions were observed on 11 Mar. An isolated period of active conditions, associated with a sustained period of southward Bz, was observed early on 12 Mar which quickly transitioned to quiet conditions for the rest of the day. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 13 MARCH - 08 APRIL 2017 Solar activity is expected to be at very low levels throughout the outlook period. No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at high levels on 13-17 Mar, 19-20 Mar, 24 Mar, and 29 Mar - 08 Apr due to influences from multiple, recurrent, CH HSSs. Normal to moderate levels are expected on 18 Mar, 21-23 Mar, and 25 Mar-28 Mar. Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at quiet to G2 (Moderate) levels over the next 27 days. Unsettled conditions are likely on 13-17 Mar, 19 Mar, 22 Mar, 24 Mar, 01 Apr, 03-05 Apr and 08 Apr. Active conditions are likely on 18 Mar, 23 Mar, 01 Apr, and 03-05 Apr. G1 (Minor) conditions are likely on 30-31 Mar and 02 Apr. G2 (Moderate) conditions are likely on 28-29 Mar. All enhancements in geomagnetic activity are due to the influences of multiple, anticipated, recurrent CH HSSs. Mostly quiet conditions are likely for the remaining days of the outlook period. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2017 Mar 13 0238 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center # Product description and SWPC contact on the Web # http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/wwire.html # # 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table # Issued 2017-03-13 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2017 Mar 13 70 8 3 2017 Mar 14 72 8 3 2017 Mar 15 72 8 3 2017 Mar 16 72 8 3 2017 Mar 17 74 8 3 2017 Mar 18 74 12 4 2017 Mar 19 74 10 3 2017 Mar 20 74 5 2 2017 Mar 21 74 5 2 2017 Mar 22 76 10 3 2017 Mar 23 76 15 4 2017 Mar 24 76 8 3 2017 Mar 25 76 5 2 2017 Mar 26 74 5 2 2017 Mar 27 74 5 2 2017 Mar 28 74 35 6 2017 Mar 29 74 30 6 2017 Mar 30 72 20 5 2017 Mar 31 72 18 5 2017 Apr 01 72 15 4 2017 Apr 02 72 20 5 2017 Apr 03 72 15 4 2017 Apr 04 70 12 4 2017 Apr 05 70 12 4 2017 Apr 06 70 10 3 2017 Apr 07 70 5 2 2017 Apr 08 70 8 3 (via WORLD OF RADIO 1869, DXLD) GLENN`S PROPAGATION OUTLOOK FOR MEDIA NETWORK PLUS AS OF MARCH 16 2017 From IPS in Australia, the global HF propagation forecast thru March 18, normal at low and middle latitude bands, normal to fair at high latitudes. From Spaceweather South Africa thru March 18: magnetic conditions quiet to unsettled; shortwave fadeouts unlikely, MUF unstable. From Met Office UK, thru March 19: Solar activity very low. Geomagnetic activity: a slight chance of Active intervals on March 17 and 18. From F K Janda in Prague, the Geomagnetic field will be: active to disturbed on March 17, 23, 30 quiet to active on March 18 - 19, 24, 27 - 29, 31, April 1 - 3, 5 mostly quiet on March 20 quiet on March 21, 26 quiet to unsettled March 22, 25, April 4 From Space Weather Canada, greatest DRX nanoteslas in the auroral zone verging on stormy, March 29. Lesser peaks in the polar and subauroral zones. From SWPC in Boulder, G2 (Moderate) geomagnetic conditions are likely on March 28-29 with A and K indices peaking at 30 and 6. Then G1 (Minor) storming March 30, 31 and April 2. Lowest A`s and K`s of 5 and 2 only on March 20, 21 and 25-27. Solar flux peaking at 76 from March 22 to 25. William Hepburn`s VHF UHF DX maps show extreme tropospheric ducting: March 17-21 between Iran and India March 20 and 21 off the coasts of Namibia and South Africa; and off the northwest coast of Australia. And thru March 21 off the west coast of Mexico (via DXLD) TIPS FOR RATIONAL LIVING ++++++++++++++++++++++++ PUBLIC MEDIA DEFUNDED Glenn - I just got my hands on a copy of the President's "skinny budget," and it includes a dangerous proposal: defunding public media. Local public radio and television stations rely on this essential federal seed money to serve virtually every community in our country. But - you can save your stations today. Sign the petition at http://protectmypublicmedia.org to urge Congress to oppose the President's budget and continue funding public media. Without federal seed funding - roughly $1.35 per American taxpayer per year - your stations could be forced to go off-air or cut the programs you love and the public services your community relies on. The news and programs you trust to connect you to your community and your country could vanish. Early educational content that's proven to close the achievement gap could fade away. Lifesaving emergency communications services could be cut. Public media's fate hasn't been decided yet. Add your name to the petition here to stop this dangerous proposal. Working together, we can save our stations. Stay tuned; we'll be in touch with next steps soon. Thank you, (Cait Beroza & the Protect My Public Media Team, March 16, via gh, DXLD) See also USA: Kentucky ###