DX LISTENING DIGEST 7-065, June 1, 2007 Incorporating REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING edited by Glenn Hauser, http://www.worldofradio.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits For restrixions and searchable 2007 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn NEXT SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1361: ** tentative Fri 2030 WWCR1 15825 Sat 1630 WWCR3 12160 [irregular] Sat 2130 WRMI 9955 Sun 0230 WWCR3 5070 Sun 0630 WWCR1 3215 Sun 0800 WRMI 9955 Sun 1500 WRMI 7385 Mon 0300 WBCQ 9330-CLSB Mon 0415 WBCQ 7415 [time varies] Mon 0530 WRMI 9955** Mon 0930 WRMI 9955** Tue 1030 WRMI 9955** Wed 0730 WRMI 9955** WORLD OF RADIO, CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL SCHEDULE: Latest edition of this schedule version, including AM, FM, satellite and webcasts with hotlinks to station sites and audio, is at: http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html For updates see our Anomaly Alert page: http://www.worldofradio.com/anomaly.html WRN ON DEMAND: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 WORLD OF RADIO PODCASTS VIA WRN NOW AVAILABLE: http://www.wrn.org/listeners/stations/podcast.php OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL] http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html or http://wor.worldofradio.org ** BOLIVIA. 6134.8, Radio Santa Cruz, 0240-0313*, June 1, Spanish talk, ads, jingles. ID at sign off. Fair to good (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 6089.95, Radio Bandeirantes, São Paulo, 0020-0100, June 1, Heard with Anguilla off the air with Portuguese talk, short music breaks. Possible radio-drama. // 9645.22 - both frequencies very weak. Poor in normal summer static (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. Re Radio no Nordeste, DXLD 7-062: Gostaria de que fosse registrado este artigo divulgado na Internet e que faz parte da realidade brasileira, bem ao contrário do que o nosso ilustre Presidente Lula da Silva disse ontem na abertura do Congresso da Abert em um Hotel em nossa Capital Federal. Infelizmente certas coisas existem por detrás de um manto de impunidade e que suscita sempre o amordaçamento nem que seja com a ceifa de uma vida de um comunicador popular de nosso interior brasileiro. Esta proximidade é por demais perigosa, daí que as grandes redes quando denunciam fatos os iniciam bem longe de seus focos de descoberta e ficam incólumes por algum tempo. Sabemos que muitos reporteres são obrigados a passarem um bom tempo no exterior como correspondentes para escaparem da "navalha" de poderosos de nossa adolescente república democrática. Talvez outros mecanismos surjam para conter esse extermínio de vozes e de imagem que são vítimados aqueles que sublevam e ousam denunciar os descaminhos desse país. Temos que amanhecer nossas idéias e ações par um futuro seguro e forte, não devemos nos abater com essas noites de escuridão que vivemos há bem poucos anos atrás com os regimes de exceção. Nos ajudem a fazer um país digno e possível de ser ouvido lá fora. Campanha pela reativação das Ondas Curtas para o Exterior da Radiobrás. Junte-se a nós. O mundo deve nos ouvir e nos conhecer também (Cezar Camillo Alves Pelzer, Brasil, May 30, radioescutas yg via DXLD) ** CANADA. See DIGITAL BROADCASTING; impact of USA FCC IBOC decision ** CHAD. 7291.5 Noted again in Europe with powerful S=7 signal on 7289 to 7294 kHz range, when checked at 0630 UT on May 31. Signal strength indicate a 100 kW unit in power. (later) 7288.5 is the late early night frequency around 1800-1900 UT slot on May 31. 5 kHz wide as usual in range 7286 to 7291 kHz. Starts around fade-in? 1725 UT (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX May 31) ** CHINA. Re 7-064, the pulsing noise heard on the clip of PNG 7325: Rapid pulsing QRM --- Dear OM, This signal is Chinese wideband OTH radar via Hainan; frequency range appears from 50 kHz to over 200 kHz. Operated in Approx. 6.7 MHz, 49 mb and 60 mb. So called a dragon helicopter noise (Dragon-Herico) from Japanese DXer. Other, narrowband (5 kHz to 15 kHz) OTH radar operates in 49mb and 60mb, too. Terrible interference with Latin America DXing (S. Hasegawa, NDXC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [and non]. /U.K. [to Uzbekistan and nearby UZB nationals in China] Heavy firedrake jamming against BBC London Uzbek service occurred today at 1600-1630 UT on 17630 (heard even underneath S=9+30dB signal), 12085 S=9, 9615 S=7. No firedrake jamming on 12015- OMA, but a Chinese Mandarin national service heard instead, (+ KRE co- channel also). (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX May 29 via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. En algún momento, me propuse recopilar material sobre Radio Noticias del Continente, emisora que retransmitía el pensar y actuar de la organización setentista Montoneros y advertí que al igual que lo que vos contás, hay muy, pero muy poca documentación, muy dispersa, como atomizada, y no analizada sino tocada al pasar (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, May 30, condig list via DXLD) Quiúbole Arnaldo. Ya que mencionás a Radio Noticias del Continente, imagino que se trata de la emisora de onda corta que estuvo instalada en los 1980s en Costa Rica, propiamente Puente de Piedra, Cantón de Grecia, Provincia de Alajuela, y que dado su tinte político extremista, sigo sin entender cómo fue que obtuvo licencia de parte de Control Nacional de Radio para operar. Trabajaba yo para Radio Impacto, entonces y sólo recuerdo que en circunstancias un tanto extrañas, repentinamente salió del aire porque llovieron muchas quejas del extranjero. Para ser franco, yo nunca le puse mucha atención ni recuerdo haber anotado sus frecuencias, lo que ahora me va a obligar a ir a hacer una investigación a CNR, dado que es un capítulo que le quedé debiendo al colega australiano Ian Baxter, respecto a la solicitud que me planteó sobre el historial de las frecuencias utilizadas para onda corta desde Tiquicia, que como ya es de dominio de la comunidad DXista internacional, sólo van quedando activas las del Centro Emisor de Relevo de REE en Cariari, Cantón de Pococí, Prov. de Limón, y en la misma provincia, en Cahuita, Cantón de Talamanca, TIRWR University Network del difunto Dr. Gene Scott, usando la totalidad de los otrora transmisores de Radio Impacto, siendo algunos de ellos re-ajustados de la frecuencia local de 980 a la onda corta. No puede decir lo mismo de TIFC, Faro del Caribe, cuyo regreso a la onda corta hará un año, fue algo temporal y con un funcionamiento bastante errático en 5055. Es más, no la he vuelto a captar. 73 (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, ibid.) Saludos Raúl y Arnaldo, adjunto algunas notas encontradas en Internet sobre esta emisora, la verdad bien pocas. Parece que estuvo vinculada al Movimiento Peronista Montonero y sufrió algún que otro atentado, fue objeto de la Operación Condor, entre otras cosas: Última homilía de Mons. Oscar Arnulfo Romero RADIO NOTICIAS DEL CONTINENTE Me alegro de contar también esta mañana con la colaboración de Radio Noticias del Continente que está, desde este teléfono y desde nuestra emisora, llevando, como los domingos pasados nuestra voz a América Latina... Está con nosotros el periodista Demetrio Olaziregui y nos ha informado como estalló una bomba cerca de la cabina de locución de aquella emisora en Costa Rica. Eran varias cargas de dinamita, destruyó parcialmente la pared de un edificio de dos pisos y todos los vidrios. Tuvo que silenciarse un momento pero luego ha seguido funcionando y está prestándonos este maravilloso servicio... Nos dice que la homilía seguirá transmitiendose ya que hay demanda de Venezuela, de Colombia y hasta de Brasil... Aquella emisora ha recibido de 300 a 400 cartas en que manifiestan que oyen perfectamente esta onda en Honduras, en Nicaragua, y aquí mismo en El Salvador, en muchas partes. Hacia 1979 el Movimiento Peronista Montonero (MPM) instaló legalmente en Costa Rica una emisora de radio de onda corta, Radio Noticias del Continente. Dirigida por el periodista y escritor Carlos O. Suárez, su función era denunciar las crecientes violaciones a los derechos humanos y las consecuencias de la política económica en toda América Latina, y era parte de una ofensiva propagandística de la organización contra el régimen argentino. Las presiones del gobierno militar, respaldo en la tarea por las dictaduras de Guatemala y El Salvador, hicieron que la experiencia fuera obligada al silencio, a principios de 1981 (108). A Radio Noticias del Continente se le sumaron varios órganos de prensa, la mayoría de ellos de vida efímera y de edición internacional, que respondían al MPM o a algunos de sus frentes: Crónica de la Resistencia Sindical Argentina, Noticias (de Argentina), Vencer, Noticias (de Argentina) y El 17. 108: Más información sobre la experiencia de Radio Noticias del Continente en Suárez, Carlos O.: La complicidad (Buenos Aires, Ediciones Siena - Palabra Argentina, 2000, págs. 8-9 y 17-18). Suárez, director de la emisora instalada en el pueblo de Grecia, en las afueras de la capital costarricense, relata cómo ex-guardias somocistas de la legión 15 de Septiembre atacaron la sede de la radio en la noche del 14 de diciembre de 1980. los defensores, militantes populares de Costa Rica y la Argentina, rechazaron el ataque y obligaron a los agresores a la huida. "Este episodio -escribe Suárez- marca simbólicamente la iniciación de la larga y sangrienta guerra de los contras para derrocar al gobierno sandinista, bajo la dirección de los Estados Unidos", la operación estaba destinada a lograr el apoyo de la dictadura argentina en la guerra contra Nicaragua. El autor cita también el libro de Yeves, Enrique: La contra. Una guerra sucia (Buenos Aires, Ediciones Grupo Zeta, 1990). Radio Noticias del Continente - dinamitada esta emisora retransmitía las homilías de monseñor Romero y programas de YSAX desde Costa Rica. Tomás Saraví Me ofrecieron participar de una experiencia novedosa: la instalación en San José de Radio Noticias del Continente. Era una emisora de onda corta pensada para contribuir de alguna manera a la lucha contra todas las dictaduras del continente. Por eso me trasladé a San José en abril del 79; mi familia me siguió en junio del mismo año. La radio comenzó a transmitir en julio. Actuó como una virtual fuente noticiosa del Frente Sandinista y produjo un gran escándalo en Costa Rica, porque los enemigos de la radio (y de la democracia) se hicieron sentir de inmediato. Eran, evidentemente, gente de los servicios de información de Estados Unidos, de la Cia; aquello desencadenó mucho malestar. Hasta nos pusieron algunas bombas; no exagero, esto es muy conocido. El Chigüín, uno de los hijos de Anastasio Somoza, como represalia porque algunos grupos revolucionarios latinoamericanos había eliminado a su padre en el famoso ajusticiamiento de Asunción de Paraguay, mandó bombardear Radio Noticias del Continente, con una bomba similar a las de napalm, pero con tanta mala suerte para ellos, pero buena para nosotros, que el percutor no funcionó. El pesado tanque cayó en la planta de transmisión, en Alajuela. Milagrosamente no explotó. Todo esto provocó un escándalo en Costa Rica. Para un pequeño país, resultaba un grave problema la presencia de una radio de este tipo, razón por la cual finalmente fue clausurada por el gobierno costarricense (via José Miguel Romero2, Spain, condiglist via DXLD) Bien José Miguel, has venido a reforzar con esos textos y testimonios algo más de RN del Continente, que ha ido quedando un tanto olvidada, a no ser por estos postings tuyos. Nos faltaría ahora que algún caritativo colega de esos minuciosos que todo lo anotan, nos diera una referencia sobre las frecuencias que utilizó esta emisora. De toda suerte, ya que nos trepamos en este tren habrá que ver que encuentro en la estación de Control Nacional de Radio tica. 73 (Raúl Saavedra, ibid.) Raul: la sigla de RADIONOTICIAS DEL CONTINENTE fue TIRL FRECUENCIA DE 9615 KHZ CON 50 KW y la direccion que daban era AP. 172, PAVAS, SAN JOSÉ. RECUERDO HABERLA ESCUCHADO CON BUENA SEÑAL, incluso una revista argentina publicò fotos y un articulo, por supuesto contrario al funcionamiento de la emisora. Tengo una grabaciòn de sus emisiones que incluiremos algun dia en LA ROSA DE TOKIO. un saludo (Omar Somma, ibid.) ** EGYPT. 12270.03, Radio Cairo, 0105-0200*, June 1, Thanks to Glenn Hauser's tip. Very weak 2nd harmonic. 2 x 6135.015. Spanish talk. Arabic music. Poor distorted audio (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. Data sheets in pdf format of the available transmitters and antennas at Nauen and Wertachtal site of T-systems click download on rightmost column http://www.t-systems-mediabroadcast.com/tsi/de/166000/Startseite/Hoerfunk/Distribution (BC-DX May 31 via DXLD) T-SYSTEMS (DTK) A07 period (25/03/2007 - 28/10/2007) A07akt_12 31.5.2007 Gesamtplan sorted by frequency frq star-stop ciraf ant azi type day from to loc pow stn 3955 1700-1800 27,28 317 ND 926 WER 100 YFR 5910 1807-1840 28S 105 130 216 280507 290707 JUL 100 TWR 5910 1900-1930 29S 220/01 75 146 WER 100 PRW 5910 2300-0400 11 103 285 216 23456 WER 100 RMI 5915 2100-2200 37E,38 117 150 216 010507 281007 WER 500 YFR 5945 0700-0815 27,28N 103 300 216 67 WER 100 BVB 5945 0700-0845 27,28N 103 300 216 1 WER 100 BVB 5945 1100-1115 27,28 314 ND 930 1 WER 250 MWA 5945 1200-1230 27,28 314 ND 930 1 010607 281007 WER 40 BVB 5945 1300-1430 27,28 402 ND 976 1 JUL 100 RTR 5965 0500-0600 28E 124 120 201 WER 100 AWR 5965 1130-1200 28NE 406 125 805 JUL 100 PRW 5975 1130-1200 28NE 224 40 805 WER 100 PRW 5975 1530-1600 28NW 224 40 805 WER 100 PRW 5990 0530-1630 27S 118 270 206 2356 210507 281007 WER 90 BCE 5990 0530-1729 27S 118 270 206 4 210507 281007 WER 90 BCE 6000 1430-1500 29S 221 75 218 WER 100 PRW 6015 1700-1800 27W,28 226 ND 926 WER 100 HCJ 6015 1800-1830 29S 105 85 216 5 JUL 100 BVB 6035 1330-1429 28NE,29W 222 60 216 WER 100 PRW 6040 1630-1930 40 117 105 216 WER 250 IBB 6045 0900-1000 27E,28 401 ND 926 1 JUL 100 HLR 6045 1200-1300 27,28 401 ND 926 1 JUL 100 MVB 6045*1200-1300 27,28 401 ND 926 1 170607 170607 JUL 100 MVB 6050 1530-1700 28NE,29W 225 55 201 WER 100 PRW 6050 1900-1930 29S 108 90 216 WER 100 PRW 6055 0900-0959 27,28 104 115 206 1 JUL 100 CHW 6055 1030-1059 27,28 314 ND 930 17 WER 125 EMG 6060 1800-1830 28,29 205 60 211 36 JUL 100 BVB 6060 1800-1845 28,29 205 60 211 7 JUL 100 BVB 6060 1800-1930 28,29 205 60 211 1 JUL 100 BVB 6060 1815-1830 28,29 205 60 211 24 JUL 100 BVB 6060 1815-1845 28,29 205 60 211 5 JUL 100 BVB 6105 0827-0845 28 111 105 216 34567 JUL 100 TWR 6110 1100-1200 27,28W 104 295 206 1 JUL 100 TOM 6110 1200-1500 27,28W 406 290 805 JUL 100 TOM 6110 1930-2000 28NW 224 40 805 WER 100 PRW 6135 2100-2200 28NE,29W225/01 55 141 WER 100 PRW 6140 1800-1830 29S,30 223 75 206 WER 100 PRW 6140 1930-1959 28NW 406 130 805 JUL 100 PRW 6140 2300-0100 39,40 114 105 216 5 WER 100 BVB 6145 1830-1900 29S 102 75 201 C-start WER 100 PRW 6145 2200-2300 39,40 108 105 216 arab WER 125 VOR 6175 1830-1859 29S 220/01 75 146 WER 100 PRW 6175 1900-2100 27,28W 501 280 156 240407 281007 NAU 100 TOM 7105 1700-1900 40 114 105 216 WER 250 IBB 7115 0000-0100 41 117 105 216 WRN 080507 281007 WER 250 IBC 7115 2200-2300 37,38W 207 210 216 010507 281007 WER 500 YFR 7140 1700-1759 18 406 20 805 JUL 100 PRW 7140 2100-2200 27S 101/01 220 146 NAU 250 PRW 7180 1330-1430 28NE,29W 212 60 217 Crash-start WER 100 PRW 7180 1430-1500 29N 206 45 216 WER 100 PRW 7180 1900-2000 37E,38 114 150 216 010507 281007 WER 500 YFR 7210 0827-0845 28 104 100 206 34567 JUL 100 TWR 7225 1027-1100 28,29 111 105 216 7 JUL 100 TWR 7235 1730-1759 29 108 90 216 WER 250 IBB 7245 2245-2330 49E 212 75 217 6 WER 250 BVB 7245 2300-2330 49E 212 75 217 7 WER 250 BVB 7265 1700-1800 27 103 300 216 WER 100 PRW 7285 1030-1100 28NE,29W 501 100 156 NAU 100 PRW 9430*0500-0600 46SE 204 180 217 250307 310707 WER 125 CVC 9430 1615-1729 39,40 102 115 217 24 010507 281007 JUL 100 BVB 9430 1615-1729 39,40 119/00 120 216 6 010507 281007 WER 100 BVB 9430 1630-1759 39,40 119/00 120 216 1 WER 100 BVB 9430 1700-1729 39,40 119/00 120 216 35 010507 281007 WER 100 BVB 9430 1700-1759 39,40 119/00 120 216 7 WER 100 BVB 9430 1800-1859 39,40 119/01 120 201 17 WER 250 BVB 9430 1830-1859 39,40 119/01 120 201 6 WER 250 BVB 9430 1930-2015 37,38 313 150 200 1 WER 250 PAB 9430 1930-2030 37,38 313 150 200 7 WER 250 PAB 9430 2000-2030 37,38 313 150 200 6 WER 250 PAB 9435 0030-0130 40E,41NW 212 90 217 WER 250 GFA 9435 1800-1830 37NW 308 220 216 1 JUL 100 BVB 9440 1500-1530 29S 220/00 75 206 WER 100 PRW 9445 1600-1700 29,30 223 60 208 WER 250 IBB 9470 0400-0700 55,59,60 213 240 216 WER 125 HRT 9480 1900-1959 38E,39S, 311 135 218 146 WER 100 EFD 9490 1027-1100 28,29 104 100 206 7 JUL 100 TWR 9490 2330-0030 41,49 110/00 75 217 WER 125 DVB 9495 1900-1959 39 119/00 120 216 010507 281007 WER 500 YFR 9505 1700-1900 29,30 222 60 216 WER 500 YFR 9510 0200-0330 40 104 105 216 WER 250 IBB 9515 0200-0300 8,9 112 300 217 russ WER 250 VOR 9515 0300-0500 8,9 112 300 217 engl WER 250 VOR 9525 1200-1300 27 304 300 217 WER 100 PRW 9545 0300-0330 48 305 135 216 120507 281007 WER 500 AWR 9555 1500-1530 29S 104/01 75 201 WER 100 PRW 9565 2030-2100 37,38W 308 200 216 010507 281007 JUL 100 AWR 9585 1800-1859 28E,29 202 70 218 7 JUL 100 CHW 9595 2000-2100 46E,47,5 311 180 218 150507 281007 WER 500 YFR 9600 1400-1430 27 121 300 216 WRN WER 60 RRO 9610*0659-0757 28,29 202 50 218 010607 310807 JUL 100 RNW 9610 1900-2200 46,47,52 305 180 216 010507 281007 WER 500 YFR 9620 0030-0100 41 208 90 217 010507 281007 WER 500 BVB 9620 2200-2300 46S,47W 311 180 218 010507 281007 WER 500 YFR 9640 0030-0045 41 119/00 90 216 1 WER 125 PAB 9655 0815-0845 27.28 121 300 216 7 WER 40 BVB 9665 2000-2030 38,39 401/00 145 216 5 170507 281007 NAU 250 BVB 9675 1900-2045 46N,46SE 304 190 217 JUL 100 IBR 9680 2330-0030 41NE,43S 221 75 218 WER 250 GFA 9695 1800-1830 38E,39 305 120 216 WER 100 PRW 9705 2000-2100 39,40 110/00 120 217 010507 281007 WER 125 YFR 9720 2100-2159 46E,47,5 311 180 218 010507 281007 WER 500 YFR 9720 2200-2300 37,46 204 195 217 010507 281007 WER 500 YFR 9725 1500-1659 29 111 60 216 JUL 100 IBB 9735 2000-2059 37E,38 119/00 150 216 150507 281007 WER 500 YFR 9760 1700-1830 39,40 104/00 105 216 WER 250 IBB 9770 2000-2030 40 104/00 105 216 WER 250 AWR 9775 1845-1959 46,47 302 160 216 1 010507 281007 JUL 100 BVB 9775 1900-1959 46,47 204 195 217 7 WER 125 BVB 9790 0900-1000 28W 105 145 216 1 JUL 100 AWR 9790 1800-1830 39N 111 105 216 16 010607 281007 JUL 100 BVB 9805 1900-1959 29S,30S 104/00 60 216 WER 250 IBB 9815 0030-0045 41 222 75 216 WER 500 BVB 9815 0300-0400 48 119/00 135 216 WER 250 AWR 9840 2000-2030 37,38 406 175 805 JUL 100 IBR 9875 1800-1845 48 305 150 216 010507 281007 WER 250 IBB 9925 0100-0500 2-10 503 325 216 NAU 100 HRT 9925 1600-1800 39N,40W 104 115 206 JUL 100 YFR 9925 2200-0300 11-16 213 240 216 WER 125 HRT 9925 2300-0300 6-10 106 300 217 WER 125 HRT 11600 1800-1859 37E,38 308 150 217 010507 281007 WER 500 YFR 11610 0600-1000 58,59,60 208 270 218 JUL 100 HRT 11610 1900-2000 46,47,52 308 180 217 010507 281007 WER 500 YFR 11610 2000-2200 37,38W 210 210 217 010507 281007 WER 500 YFR 11615 1500-1530 29,30 221 60 218 7 050507 281007 WER 250 EMG 11640 1630-1659 38E,39S, 105 130 216 36 JUL 100 RHU 11655*0559-0657 18,19 308 20 216 010607 310807 JUL 100 RNW 11680 1600-1800 41 221 90 218 WER 500 YFR 11730 1600-1800 41E 212 75 217 050407 281007 WER 500 YFR 11730 1800-1859 28E 104 100 206 030507 281007 JUL 100 YFR 11730 1900-2029 37,38W 308 200 216 JUL 100 AWR 11755 2000-2100 46E,47W 305 175 217 JUL 100 AWR 11780 1730-1759 37,38W 308 200 216 JUL 100 AWR 11835 1300-1329 29 222 60 216 WER 100 PRW 11850 1200-1300 18 502 360 156 NAU 100 PRW 11855 1800-1859 39 110/00 120 217 010507 281007 WER 500 YFR 11870 1600-1700 40 111/00 105 217 010507 281007 WER 500 YFR 11875 1700-1759 39 111/00 120 217 080507 281007 WER 500 YFR 11875 1800-1815 39,40 208 100 217 7 010407 281007 JUL 100 BVB 11875 1800-1830 39,40 208 100 217 246 010407 281007 JUL 100 BVB 11875 1800-1859 39,40 208 100 217 135 010407 281007 JUL 100 BVB 11895 2000-2100 37,38,46 204 195 217 WER 100 YFR 11915 1030-1100 27 121 300 216 WER 100 PRW 11915 1730-1800 47,48,52 105 145 216 JUL 100 IBR 11945 1700-1900 39,40 105/00 105 217 300407 281007 WER 100 BVB 11975 0100-0300 42S,43W 218 75 217 WER 250 IBB 11980 0700-0830 37,38W 308 200 216 JUL 100 AWR 12020*1500-1800 41 218 75 217 010607 281007 WER 500 YFR 12020*1600-1800 41 218 75 217 250307 310507 WER 500 YFR 13580 1625-1715 39,40 110/00 120 217 36 300407 281007 WER 250 BVB 13580 1625-1729 39,40 110/00 120 217 245 300407 281007 WER 250 BVB 13590 1530-1730 39,40 103 115 217 1 JUL 100 BVB 13590 1540-1600 39,40 103 115 217 24 JUL 100 BVB 13590 1540-1615 39,40 103 115 217 6 JUL 100 BVB 13590 1540-1645 39,40 103 115 217 5 JUL 100 BVB 13590 1540-1800 39,40 103 115 217 3 JUL 100 BVB 13590 1545-1829 39,40 103 115 217 7 JUL 100 BVB 13590 1730-1759 39,40 103 115 217 6 JUL 100 BVB 13620 1600-1659 39 105/00 120 217 010507 281007 WER 500 YFR 13630 1600-1900 47,48 120/00 135 217 080507 281007 WER 500 YFR 13710 1100-1130 19-26 203 35 216 7 WER 250 EMG 13730 1800-1859 46E,47,5 308 165 217 080507 281007 WER 500 YFR 13745 1100-1130 29 218 60 217 WER 100 PRW 13745 1430-1529 41NE,43S 222 75 216 WER 250 GFA 13750 1530-1630 40E,41NW 222 90 216 WER 250 GFA 13780 1900-1959 37,46 210 210 217 010507 281007 WER 500 YFR 13800 1300-1330 30N,31W 208 60 217 WER 500 PRW 13810 0430-0500 48 311 135 218 1 WER 125 BVB 13810 0430-0530 48 311 135 218 7 WER 125 BVB 13810 0430-0530 39,40 311 120 218 2345 070507 281007 WER 250 BVB 13810 0430-0545 39,40 311 120 218 6 070507 281007 WER 250 BVB 13810 1400-1559 28,29SW, 106 115 216 JUL 100 TOM 13810 1600-1759 38S,39S, 503 145 216 24 NAU 100 BVB 13810 1600-1830 38S,39S, 503 145 216 7 NAU 100 BVB 13810 1600-1900 38S,39S, 503 145 216 1 NAU 100 BVB 13810 1630-1759 38S,39S, 503 145 216 35 NAU 100 BVB 13810 1630-1900 38S,39S, 503 145 216 6 NAU 100 BVB 13815 1600-1659 30,31 208 75 217 WER 250 IBB 13820*1800-2100 46SE 205 180 217 250307 310707 WER 125 CVC 13830 1500-1559 41E 208 75 217 050407 281007 WER 500 YFR 13830 1600-1630 39,40 208 100 218 15 JUL 100 PAB 13830 1700-1759 38E,39S, 106 145 217 134567 JUL 100 SBO 13830 1800-1859 47E,48 311 135 218 010507 281007 WER 500 YFR 13840 1100-1130 29S 208 90 217 WER 100 PRW 13840 1500-1515 41 110/00 90 217 7 160407 281007 WER 500 BVB 13840 1500-1530 41NE 110/00 90 217 1 060507 281007 WER 500 BVB 13840 1500-1559 41 110/00 90 217 2356 160407 281007 WER 500 BVB 13840 1515-1559 41 110/00 90 217 4 160407 281007 WER 500 BVB 13840 1700-1800 37,38 304 175 217 JUL 100 YFR 13840 1800-1900 47,48 120/01 150 201 WER 250 IBR 13860 1330-1429 41NE,43S110/00 75 217 WER 250 GFA 13870 1730-1759 48 311 150 218 23456 WER 250 IBB 15160 1500-1600 41N 105/00 90 217 WER 250 AWR 15205 1401-1416 41 503 90 216 1 NAU 100 PAB 15205 1401-1416 39N,40 402 90 218 7 NAU 250 PAB 15205 1401-1416 29S,39N, 302 104 218 35 010507 281007 NAU 250 PAB 15205 1416-1431 41 503 90 216 NAU 100 PAB 15205 1431-1446 41 402 90 218 1 NAU 250 PAB 15205 1900-1930 46S 305 190 217 JUL 100 AWR 15225 1500-1559 41N 111 75 217 050507 281007 WER 250 AWR 15235 2000-2030 47,48,52 303 160 216 JUL 100 AWR 15255 0400-0500 40 120 105 217 WER 250 IBB 15260 0800-0900 37,38W 307 200 216 JUL 100 AWR 15260 1900-2000 37,38W 307 200 216 JUL 100 AWR 15260 2000-2030 47,48W,5 302 160 216 JUL 100 AWR 15315 1700-1759 38E,39S, 103 125 217 5 010507 281007 JUL 100 ELF 15320 1300-1459 42,43W 111/00 75 217 WER 250 AWR 15350 1300-1459 41E 105/00 75 217 WER 500 YFR 15370 1400-1559 41 120/00 90 217 WER 500 YFR 15430 1400-1459 39,40 310 120 217 russ WER 125 VOR 15435 1200-1259 41NE 111/00 90 217 WER 250 AWR 15565 1200-1259 29,30 105/01 60 201 WER 250 IBB 15600 1730-1759 39S,47E, 402 145 218 NAU 125 IBR 15640*0600-0900 46SE 308 180 217 250307 310707 WER 125 CVC 15640 1300-1359 41 120/00 90 217 050407 281007 WER 500 YFR 15650 1430-1445 41 208 90 218 1 JUL 100 PAB 15650 1600-1659 47,48 310 135 217 010507 281007 WER 500 YFR 15650 1700-1729 47E,48 305 130 217 7 JUL 100 RMI 15670 1300-1600 41 214 90 217 WER 500 YFR 15675 1830-1845 52,53 302 160 216 35 JUL 100 RRP 15680 1400-1500 41 402 95 218 17 280507 281007 NAU 250 BVB 15680 1500-1559 40,41 503 95 216 3 280507 281007 NAU 100 BVB 15680 1515-1559 40,41 503 95 216 4567 290507 281007 NAU 100 BVB 15680 1530-1559 40,41 503 95 216 12 280507 281007 NAU 100 BVB 15705 1600-1659 46E,47,5 308 165 217 080507 281007 WER 500 YFR 15715 1400-1500 41 218 90 217 280507 281007 WER 500 YFR 15715*1500-1759 46SE 205 180 217 250307 310707 WER 125 CVC 15750 1500-1859 47,48 310 150 217 WER 500 YFR 15775 1530-1600 47,48 305 130 217 4 JUL 100 BVB 17575 1630-1700 48 122 135 217 WER 250 AWR 17575 1730-1800 48 310 135 217 080507 281007 WER 250 AWR 17595 0900-1015 38,39 307 135 217 6 WER 125 BVB day 1 = Sunday day 7 = Saturday * changes + active on demand # momentary not active C-start - crash start List of Broadcasters which are using T-Systems Media&Broadcast equipment AWR Adventist World Radio BVB Bible Voice Broadcasting BCA Bible Christian Association BCE Broadcasting Center Europe S.A. CHW Christliche Wissenschaft DTK Deutsche Telekom DVB Democratic Voice of Burma EMG Evangelische Missions Gemeinden in Deutschland FHG Frauenhofer Gesellschaft FVM Freie Volksmission Krefeld GFA Gospel For Asia HCJ Voice of the Andes HLR Hamburger Lokalradio HRT Hrvatska Radio Televizija IBB International Broadcast Bureau IBR IBRA Radio Sweden MWA Missionswerk Arche MVB Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Baltic Radio PAB Pan Am Broadcasting PRW Polish Radio Warsaw RMI Radio Miami International RRO Radio Romania International RNW Radio Netherlands World Service RRP Radio Reveil Paroles de Vie RTR Radio Traumla ND(Belgien) RTI Radio Taiwan international RWB Radio Waaberi (Somalia) SBO Sagalee Bilisummaa Oromoo TOM The Overcomer Broadcast TWR Trans World Radio UNL Universelles Leben VOR Voice of Russia WRN World Radio Network YFR WYFR Family Radio Walter Brodowsky Account & Produktmanager fuer Kurzwellenrundfunk T-Systems Business Services GmbH Media & Broadcast Business Unit Hoerfunk Bastionstr. 11-19 52428 Juelich Germany E-Mail Walter.Brodowsky @ t-systems.com If you would like to visit our Internet page with regard to shortwave business please use the following link-address: http://www.t-systems-mediabroadcast.de/coremedia/generator/w3.t-systems-mediabroadcast.com/en/Home/Radio/Distribution/templateId=renderNormal/id=226460.html (DTK T-systems via Mike Bethge, wwdxc May 31 via BCDX June 1 via DXLD) ** GERMANY. DAN 100th anniversary. German former maritime radio station Norddeich Radio celebrates its 100th anniversary on June 1, 2007. The station ceased all services in Dec 1998. Ham radio stations DL1ØØDAN, DFØDAN, DKØDAN and DLØDAN are QRV with special locator DAN100 on all ham radio bands. Am 1. Juni waere Norddeich Radio mit dem oeffentlichen Kuestenfunk 100 Jahre alt geworden. Zur Erinnerung sind vom 1. bis 30. Juni DL1ØØDAN, DFØDAN, DKØDAN und DLØDAN mit dem Sonder-DOK DAN100 auf den Baendern QRV. Zur Erinnerung an diese weltweit bekannte Station werden der Ortsverband Norddeich des VFDB, mit dem DOK Z65, die Mitglieder sind fast alle ehemalige Bedienstete von Norddeich Radio, gemeinsam mit dem Ortsverband Hage, des DARC, mit dem DOK I55, mit Aktivitaeten an die weltbekannte Kuestenfunkstelle Norddeich Radio erinnern. Stattfinden wird die Aktion in der ehemaligen Sendefunkstelle Osterloog der Kuestenfunkstelle. Eine Ausstellung zu Norddeich Radio ist in diesem Zusammenhang ebenfalls in der Planung. Heute ist in dem Gebaeude das Waloseum und eine Quarantaenestation der Seehundstation Norddeich untergebracht. Der Name "Waloseum", weil dort ein an der Nordseekueste gestrandeter Potwal praepariert gezeigt wird, unter vielen anderen Exponaten. Es wird Funkbetrieb vom 1. bis 30. Juni 2007 aus den o.g. Raeumlichkeiten geben. Wir werden in CW und SSB auf allen KW-Baendern zu hoeren sein. Ebenfalls auf 2mb. Ausserdem werden EME und Meteorscatter Verbindungen angeboten. Unser Sonder-DOK ist DAN1ØØ und wir werden mit dem Sonderrufzeichen DL1ØØDAN und mit DLØDAN arbeiten und ebenso mit den Clubrufzeichen DFØDAN, DKØDAN. Ein "Norddeich Radio Diplom" wird ebenfalls herausgegeben und kann vom 01. Juni 2007 bis 31. Dezember 2007 erarbeitet werden. Die Bedingungen zum Diplom und weitere Informationen findet man auf der Internetseite http://www.norddeich-radio.de Darum oefter mal die Seiten aufsuchen. Fritz Deiters, DJ4BP, and Timm Wangerin, DL1BKT, http://www.i57.de/article.php?op=view&aid=692 Related links: and sounds photos at (BC-DX May 31 via DXLD) ** GUINEA. 7125, RTV Guinéenne, Conakry, 0705-0730, June 1, local African music. French announcements. Fair (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HUNGARY. Re 7-064, Radio Budapest to close 30 June, translation of the German text: It's not yet official, but pretty definite. Magyar Radio, the public radio organistaion of Hungary will completely turn off its external service. A reliable source in the broadcasting house in [? Brody Sandor utca? {that`s the street where they live --- gh}] the remaining foreign language programmes - amongst them German - will sound for the last time on 30 June 2007. Further details of the planned development are not available. Radio Budapest was grounded [founded] in 1934. In the Cold War the broadcasts were considered relatively liberal and not so strongly ideological as the other offerings of the Eastern Europeans. Hungary is the first country in the region to completely close its foreign language [broadcasts] . (Andrew Tett, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** INDIA. See DIGITAL BROADCASTING ** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET. Editorial: New rates for royalties would doom Net radio http://origin.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_6035938 STATIONS NEED MORE TIME TO TALK TO MUSIC INDUSTRY Mercury News Editorial Article Launched: 06/01/2007 02:07:30 AM PDT For Internet radio, July 15 will be the day the music dies. That's when exorbitant new royalty rates, retroactive to 2006, are supposed to kick in. The fees to artists and labels are so high they will wipe out many Web radio broadcasters, including industry leaders like Live365 in Foster City and Pandora in Oakland. With the same centrally programmed musical mush coming from most commercial, over-the-air radio stations, keeping Internet radio solvent is vital to preserving a diversity of listening choices and giving exposure to new musicians. About 72 million people tune in to Net radio to hear everything from Bollywood show tunes to Celtic Christian classics. The U.S. Court of Appeals must grant the industry a stay of execution to allow Web radio companies more time to negotiate a deal with the music industry. If they can't come to an agreement on their own, Congress must step in and set fair rates. Bills in the House and Senate, co-sponsored by local lawmakers like Reps. Anna Eshoo, D-Palo Alto, and Mike Honda, D- Campbell, are already pending. Currently, most Internet stations pay royalties of 6 percent to 12 percent of their total revenue. In March, the obscure Copyright Royalty Board ruled that Web stations should pay fees to performers and music labels based on how many listeners hear each song. The new system would raise the fees as much as 1,200 percent, bankrupting many Web broadcasters. The rules are especially egregious because over-the-air stations pay no royalties to artists and music labels under an agreement that dates to the era when radio airtime was crucial for artists to get exposure. (All stations pay royalties to composers under separate agreements.) The federal legislation would set royalties at about 7.5 percent of revenue - about the same rate that satellite radio broadcasters Sirius and XM Radio pay for broadcast rights. That rate is probably OK for smaller broadcasters, but too low for industry giants like AOL and Yahoo. Performers and music labels deserve compensation for their work. One solution Congress should consider is reducing Internet royalties but imposing a tiny, new royalty on over-the-air broadcasters. Asking traditional broadcasters to pay their fair share could also allow the music industry to lower royalties on XM and Sirius, which are losing so much money under the current system that they want to merge. No matter what, lawmakers can't let the sounds of Internet radio fade away into the ether (via Zacharias Liangas, DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH [and non]. Odd 15245.20, Voice of Korea Pyongyang in English at 1530 UT, noted with Korean opera singer. Terrible, hetting co-channel BBC Russian at 1400-1800 UT on even 15245.00 kHz by 200 Hertz, on equal signal level of S=9 (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX May 31 via DXLD) ** MALAYSIA. 6049.64, Asyik FM (presumed) at 1152-1225+ UT on May 30. Back on the air after being off for 2 weeks or so. Pop music to 1200, then pips and apparent news; too much static noise to tell if local or from Kuala Lumpur; this ended at 1210, followed by a few minutes of chanting, then back to phone calls, pop music, and YL in Orang Asli or whatever. Decent signal. I believe I heard a big sigh of relief from the vicinity of Monterey, CA (John Wilkins, CO, DXplorer May 30 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** MEXICO. Re 7-064: 9599.26, Radio UNAM? 0935-1000, June 1, Tentative. Reactivated? Classical piano music. Opera music. Spanish announcements at 1000. Very weak (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Think I had XEYU here, June 1 at 0534 with good signal but low mod in classical music, het indicating usual off-frequency on low side of 9600 beating with something on-frequency (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also DIGITAL BROADCASTING ** NIGERIA. 6089.84, Radio Nigeria, Kaduna, 2230-2300*, May 31, heard with Anguilla off the air. Vernacular talk, traditional African music, drums, chants. Sign off with short National Anthem. Weak. Poor in noisy conditions (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA [non]. Re 7-064, the pulsing noise heard on the clip of 7325: see CHINA ** ROMANIA. Hi, Radio Romania International's new (and finally fast) website http://www.rri.ro announces a temporary limitation in broadcast frequencies in June and July: "Dear listeners, Due to upgrading works that will be undertaken on the antenna system located at the Galbeni transmission centre (in north eastern Romania) from June 15th to July 31st, RRI will have to use only half of its transmission frequencies; therefore there will be only one frequency available for each English broadcast. Here are the new frequencies to be used during the aforementioned period of time: 0000-0100 11790 NORTH AMERICA 0300-0400 9645 NORTH AMERICA 0300-0400 11895 INDIA 0530-0600 11830 WESTERN EUROPE 0500-0600 17770 AUSTRALIA [sic; should be 0530-0600??] 1200-1300 11875 WESTERN EUROPE 1700-1800 9535 WESTERN EUROPE 2030-2100 9515 WESTERN EUROPE 2030-2100 11940 NORTH AMERICA 2200-2300 7185 WESTERN EUROPE 2200-2300 9790 NORTH AMERICA" 73, (Eike Bierwirth, Germany, June 1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, a typo on the website. Note that they don't simply stick to the Tiganesti remainder, but shuffle frequencies... some usually from Galbeni will still be used - I guess from Tiganesti. On the other hand, some Tiganesti frequencies are dropped. But to wholly understand the shuffling one would need to see the repair schedules of all language services, and so far only the English website has this announcement (Eike Bierwirth, ibid.) ** SERBIA. Re 7-064: Alan, your Stubline location coordinates are wrong. YUG_R_Serbia_oldSW_site_Stubline_destroyed 44 33 49.41 N 20 08 32.24 E YUG_MW_Beograd_Zvecka_683/684_2000kW_Continental_beast 44 38 28.63 N 20 08 28.75 E BOS_Bijeljina_Radio_Serbia_Beograd_SW4x500kW 44 42 02.39 N 19 09 54.10 E Your search is wrong, there are three locations called Stubline, two in Serbia, another in Bosnia. set Google search for "fallingrain Stubline Serbia" click to http://www.fallingrain.com/world/YI/a/S/t/u/ set your marker to first 'Name' entry Stubline and click http://www.fallingrain.com/world/YI/2/Stubline2.html copy and paste 5th line from above: Lat (DMS) 44 34' 26N Long (DMS) 20 8' 29E to Google Earth and condense the location data to 44 34 26 N 20 08 29 E or copy Latitude 44.5739 Longitude 20.1414 to Google Maps URL call. The destroyed tx site is about 1 km south/southwest of the village, at 44 33 49.41 N 20 08 32.24 E 73 wolfy (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN [non]. La obra de los músicos españoles Manuel de Falla, Enrique Granados e Isaac Albéniz podrá oirse por Internet, gracias a las retransmisiones que hará en directo desde Nueva York una emisora del diario The New York Times. La emisora de radio por Internet WQXR, perteneciente a la célebre cabecera neoyorquina, retransmitirá, desde hoy y hasta finales del mes próximo, una serie de seis conciertos que, bajo el título de "En los jardines de España", el Instituto Cervantes de Manhattan dedica al legado musical hispánico. El auditorio del centro cultural español en la ciudad de los rascacielos acogerá durante seis martes consecutivos la segunda edición de unos recitales que este año presenta "piezas musicales de valor extraordinario, que merecen ser mejor conocidas a este lado del Atlántico", según afirmó el director del Cervantes, Eduardo Lago. "El título 'En los jardines de España' remite a una de las piezas musicales más hondas y misteriosas de la tradición musical hispánica", explicó Lago en referencia a la obra de Manuel de Falla, a quien, el 12 de junio, se dedica íntegro uno de los programas. El programa completo, dirigido e ideado por David Dubal, musicólogo, escritor y profesor de la célebre "Juilliard School of Music", incluye, entre otras, obras de Manuel de Falla ("Serenata andaluza"), Enrique Granados ("Valses poéticos") o Isaac Albéniz ("Iberia"), interpretadas por músicos de todo el mundo. "Pocas cosas resultan más gratificantes que escuchar a un pianista de origen asiático, pongamos por caso, interpretando con total naturalidad" la música de Albéniz, Falla, Granados, Joaquín Turina, Joaquín María Nin, el argentino Alberto Ginastera o el mexicano Manuel Ponce, explicó Dubal. Para el estadounidense, también cabe destacar la presencia de la obra de Doménico Scarlatti, "músico napolitano que se convertiría en el centro de gravedad de la música ibérica del siglo XVIII", y de quien se podrán oír sus "Sonatas". Las obras de Federico Mompou, Xavier Montsalvatge, Antonio Soler, Ernesto Nazareth, Ernesto Halffter, Julián Aguirre, Juan José Ramos y Francisco Tárrega también se han incluido a lo largo de unos conciertos que pondrán de manifiesto "la aportación monumental que han efectuado los compositores del mundo hispanohablante a la literatura pianística universal", según Dubal. "Cada uno de los compositores pone de relieve su especial afinidad hacia alguna de las manifestaciones de la herencia musical española de origen popular, y todos pusieron su talento al servicio del piano, el instrumento favorito de España, cuyo legado es inmenso", ahondó el musicólogo. El ciclo de conciertos abre hoy con la interpretación a piano de José Enrique Bagaría, ganador de la última edición del premio internacional María Canals, de "Serenata andaluza" de Manuel de Falla, "Allegro de Concierto" de Enrique Granados, "Cançons i danses" de Federico Mompou, y "Sonatina" de Xavier Montsalvatge (EFE via Arnaldo Slaen, May 30, condig list via DXLD) ** U S A. RADIO SAWA: AMERICA'S NEW ADVENTURE IN RADIO BROADCASTING http://arabmediasociety.sqgd.co.uk/topics/index.php?t_article=119 By Sam Hilmy According to its founders, Radio Sawa was designed to report the news 'straight up' so listeners could 'decide for themselves'. May, 2007. In April 2002, the U.S. Government launched an audacious new Arabic language radio station aimed at the countries of the Middle East and North Africa. The round-the-clock broadcasts, oddly dubbed Radio Sawa, replaced at a single stroke the respected brand name of the Voice of America's Arabic Service, which had for over a half century, in war and peace, provided the region with comprehensive full service programming. A predominantly pop music service designed to appeal to youth, Sawa was established at the behest of American commercial media mogul Norman Pattiz who, until his resignation at the end of 2006, was a member of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), an independent U.S. federal agency. The BBG oversees all non-military U.S. Government-funded broadcast outlets. To run the new station, the BBG under Chairman Kenneth Tomlinson (a former chairman of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, editor of Reader's Digest and director of the VOA who also recently abandoned his government position under a cloud of criticism for mismanagement) founded and funded the Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN), a non-profit corporation. MBN also operates Sawa's younger twin Arabic TV satellite channel Alhurra. Mr. Tomlinson has publicly described his friend and colleague Mr. Pattiz as "the father of Radio Sawa." After the station was launched, Mr. Pattiz described it in a public forum in ecstatic terms: "It sounded so different and it was so appealing-because it really sounds like a Western contemporary music station, a pop station." Sawa's Mission Like any successful big-time business executive, Mr. Pattiz commissioned a survey and "a lot of advance research" before embarking on the costly, large-scale project of a 24/7 Arabic language radio station. The Middle East survey results, according to him, showed three things: (a) "over 60 percent of the population ... is under the age of 30," (b) "the indigenous media, especially radio ... everything was pretty dull and pretty drab, and it sounded like government radio," and (c) "people were interested in something that didn't sound like government radio." Mr. Pattiz decided that this was what businessmen call "the hole in the marketplace." In order to fill this "hole" with his product, Radio Sawa, he needed ample sources of cash and the most modern broadcast facilities to reach the audience with a clear signal. The new station cost the American taxpayer $34 million in its first year. He secured clear FM transmission to most Arab countries and a powerful medium wave to the rest. The VOA's Arabic Service cost the U.S. Government less than $5 million annually and transmitted its programs on a limited medium wave and a few short waves at the time it was replaced by Sawa. [Sawa subsequently abandoned SW completely] Mr. Pattiz described his new station's mission as "... reporting the news straight up and letting the listeners ...decide for themselves." He said that in addition to Sawa's journalistic mission, it aspires to be "an example of a free press in the American tradition." He added: "We generally play an Arabic pop song followed by a Western pop song. And then we'll have news, five to ten minutes in length, twice an hour, with headlines at the top and bottom of the hour." Program Components[1] Sawa's constant on-air slogan boasts about "the loveliest tunes and the latest news." It never identifies itself as an American station or where it broadcasts from. Its round-the-clock airtime is divided into roughly 20 percent news and 80 percent pop music. Everything the listener hears other than the music is called The World Now. This rubric encompasses the presentation of hard news, light news, bromide and topical features and interviews, sports and so forth. The only exception is a daily 30-minute news program called Iraq and the World, half of which is rerun an hour later. [Sawa has several variations for different target areas; is Iraq and the World on all of them, or one of them? --- gh] No news-related material ever interrupts, or is incorporated within, the music portion-no matter how urgent the breaking news. Sawa does not carry discrete, identifiable "programs" with distinct titles, individual star talent and performers, music themes and thematic focus. No news "bulletins" are heard alerting listeners to momentous world events. Unlike its plethora of field reporters and stringers, the station's studio readers, anchor persons and host announcers are never identified by name. This anonymity applies to the readers of widely scattered promos outside the news portions, plugging for Sawa, its website and (since February 2004) its sister TV channel Alhurra. News Content Contrary to Mr. Pattiz's claim, Sawa never carries heads at the top and bottom of the hour. It provides news only twice every hour, usually five minutes every quarter after the hour and a minute or two of headlines every quarter before the hour. The five-minute segments are variously called "newscast" or "full newscast" or "detailed newscast." The headlines are always presented as "summary." The full- length news may occasionally run up to 10, 15 or even 30 minutes, as in the exceptional case of the daily "Iraq and the World." Therefore, I would estimate that the station provides between 7 and 17 minutes of world news per hour. A fair and generous average would then be 10 minutes per hour, which brings the total news time in a 24-hour cycle to 240 minutes. This is less than half the 600-minute daily claim made by Sawa officials in media interviews. A Radio Sawa presenter is put through his paces [caption] All "full newscasts" begin with three to four headlines, which sometimes pose a confusing problem for listeners: the first headline may not necessarily be a reference to the first item in the body of the newscast, or an opening head is interrogatively formulated in a misleading and tabloidish style that does not accurately or fully reflect the substance of the news item itself. Another news-related inconsistency has to do with repeating the main headlines or the lead head at the conclusion of newscasts, and how to close a news program. Sawa's newsreaders seem to follow their own whims in this regard. In fact, some readers do not even close before the studio engineer plays the usual taped lead-out, "We relay the event to you in sound so you can form a complete picture." The headline news always ends with a prerecorded exhortation: "Stay in touch with the world-(through) The World Now." At times even these lead-outs are skipped before moving on to the pop songs. A more serious problem that plagues Sawa's news handling goes to the core of evaluating priorities and exercising professional judgment regarding the relative significance of world events. Most and sometimes all news stories in one newscast are jettisoned in favor of another set of items in the next news presentation an hour later. This is done with shocking disregard for news value or breaking news. Rarely does a listener hear major stories repeated from hour to hour after proper updating or rewriting to freshen up the next program. Such a cavalier approach to news material distorts the overall picture of world happenings for the vast majority of listeners who normally zero in on specific time slots instead of staying glued to a station all day. Sawa's practice also reflects ignorance of what should constitute a day's major news leads. There are always major news developments that require coverage in more than just one newscast. Although on rare occasions a listener would hear a flawless, impeccable, rich and seamless newscast with a perfect lineup, ample voice actualities and anchor confidence, the more prevalent practice gives listeners a messy picture of thematic and topical chaos. Related items on one event can be separated by several unrelated items. Big news developments on tragic events can be used as closers and, conversely, a light routine item or a local insignificant item may be given a prominent place in a newscast. Almost any news development can be used by Sawa as a lead. On a day full of important news, Sawa leads one newscast with a Jordanian government announcement that Amman has not decided whether to resume commercial flights to Baghdad. The lead story of another newscast quotes the London Daily The Independent as saying that the Bush administration had advance knowledge of the 9/11 attack, but no official American response is provided to give the story balance and context. An hour later the station drops the item altogether. Covering Iraq Let's now turn our attention to a major news story of global significance that has preoccupied the world media for more than four years-the invasion and occupation of Iraq-and track Sawa's treatment of it. When American and British forces launched their air and ground offensives in the spring of 2003, practically the whole world was calling this pre-emptive military action an "invasion" of a sovereign nation. Yet the word "invasion" disappeared from Sawa's lexicon. When Baghdad fell and the US-led coalition settled down to run the country, the entire world (including the United Nations, the media and even the Bush administration) admitted it was an "occupation". Yet Sawa's broadcasts avoided the word "occupation" like the plague and rarely referred to Iraqi civilian victims of air raids and other military operations. When anarchy, lawlessness and looting engulfed Iraq after the regime change, the American station continued to beam its customary pop songs and perfunctory news that lacked in-depth coverage and responsible discussion. The looting and devastation prompted Dr. Robert Darnton, professor of European history at Princeton University, to tell The Washington Post: "As many have remarked, the Mongol invasion of A.D. 1258 resulted in less damage to Iraqi civilization than the American invasion of 2003." Sawa's news coverage, however, had no time for such views of events. A few months into the occupation, America's first head of the postwar mission in Iraq, retired general Jay Garner was unceremoniously replaced with Ambassador Paul Bremer. The new top administrator quickly started running the vanquished country by decree: he disbanded the Iraqi army, banned the Baath party and fired all its members from government jobs, closed down most of the country's industries, and appointed his favorite Iraqis to the new Governing Council. These momentous developments and their dire consequences for both occupier and occupied received scant, superficial treatment from Sawa. The station was busy focusing on President Bush's rosy predictions and Defense Secretary Rumsfeld's unreal statements that "stuff happens" and America "will not impose a government on Iraq." In the meantime, former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan's special envoy to Baghdad Lakhdar Brahimi publicly described Bremer as the new "dictator of Iraq... Nothing happens without his agreement." But Sawa was telling its listeners about the great help Brahimi was giving "the Coalition" to prepare Iraq for a democratic future. And the station's field reporters initially maintained complete silence about the torture and shocking abuses inside Abu Ghraib prison of which Iraqis were already aware (through word of mouth and complaints by international human rights organizations) long before the American TV program 60 Minutes broke the news. Eventually, as the situation in Iraq deteriorated, Radio Sawa expanded its coverage with the inauguration of a 30-minute daily program called Iraq and the World at 10:15 PM Baghdad time, and a 15-minute version an hour later. This news and opinion roundup does neither Iraq nor the United States a favor, and should perhaps be called Iraq and Iraq, because the rest of the world is non-existent in it-except for a fleeting and parochial reference. It also suffers from the same shortcomings of all Sawa news programs. Quality control is very poor. The program airs dozens of voiced news pieces and long interviews from field reporters around the country without evaluating, auditing, double-checking and editing them in advance. The results: poor or contradictory sourcing, outdated information, unprofessional language and duplicated material. The show also suffers from lack of preplanning and a chaotic format, allowing airtime to become a platform for emotional, unrestrained views. Any major news story that is not Iraq-related is either completely ignored or marginalized. A good example is hurricane Katrina which devastated New Orleans and the Gulf coast of the U.S. in 2005. Even the Israel-Lebanese Hizbullah war in the summer of 2006 received only inadequate and indirect mention with no reportage about the intense fighting or world reaction. Sound and Music Sawa uses an impressive number of voices on the air, both male and female, as studio talent and field reporters. The professional quality of their delivery and their mastery of broadcast language, however, are very uneven, ranging from the highly effective and convincing to the very poor, from the smooth and natural to the awkward and halting, from the authoritative and pleasant to the pompous and pretentious. The impact of these voices on and receptivity by the listeners, therefore, vary widely and depend to a large extent on matching each to the reading assignment he or she is given. Aside from field reporters, performers are kept anonymous and the gifted stars among them are not optimally utilized as a tool to build up faithful fans of specific program features. Music is used thematically by Sawa to identify the news. The theme for newscasts is satisfactory and utilitarian but somewhat pedestrian and, after a few weeks of listening, becomes tiresome to the ear. The theme for the summaries is annoying, distracting and overdramatic. It is held for the length of the summary and the level is brought up deafeningly between individual headlines. Some music stingers[2] are also used in a post-modern video game digital-age fashion to accompany echo chamber promos or sloganeering catch phrases. The latter include such things as, "You listen to us, we listen to you," or, "From the ocean to the gulf, we are Sawa (i.e., together)." At times the station mentions its website or a telephone number or a few sound bites from listeners in praise of Sawa or expressing opinions on some innocuous or provocative subject. There is minimal use of the sophisticated craft of radio production to enhance program impact. Rarely does a listener feel truly moved by a smooth forward flow of broadcast material. Nor does one always feel comfortable with the timing and placement of recorded inserts and promos. The station seems to have difficulty matching style to substance, harmonizing sound with words, utilizing a production device to enhance the effect of a program on a target audience living in non- Anglo-Saxon cultural environment. Pop Songs This is a programming area that consumes about 80 percent of Sawa's airtime. It should logically deserve a commensurate level of attention, talent and resources. Yet after listening to endless hours of alternating Arabic and so-called "Western" pop songs, and trying to deduce some coherent, professional whole, we discover what a neglected, drifting wasteland all this airtime is. Some egregious weaknesses are: The music portions have no detectable character, personality or identity. The hourly segmentations cannot even be properly described as "programs" because they lack beginning and end that define the nature and flavor of the contents. Nobody is in charge, and there is no star quality talent who might act as a guide to the listeners through the various component parts. Almost none of the artists and songs are identified. No informative narrative is ever provided to enlighten us about the types of songs played, the dates of issuance, the extent of their popularity and other distinguishing facts. Talk interruptions come without artful, smooth transition flow or thematic unity. In the transition from one song to the next, there is more often than not a definite jarring clash in rhythm, melody, tone, lyrical connotation, voice quality and vocal range. Clocking groups of songs in any music period seems to receive little attention from producers and programmers. As a result, when time comes for The World Now and the last song has to be faded for the news introduction cartridge, the ending is frequently mishandled by cutting off in the middle of unfinished lyrics. Illusion and Reality The founders of Sawa were convinced from the outset that, in order for their new broadcasting project to accomplish a successful reach to Arab audiences by "marrying the mission to the market," they needed to separate the station from the Voice of America. The latter's mandate was too strict and broad for them. The VOA was required to adhere to its Charter, enacted into law decades earlier, whose operative paragraphs are: (1) VOA will serve as a consistently reliable and authoritative source of news. VOA news will be accurate, objective and comprehensive. (2) VOA will represent America, not any single segment of American society, and will therefore present a balanced and comprehensive projection of American thought and institutions. (3) VOA will present the policies of the United States clearly and effectively, and will also present responsible discussion and opinions on those policies. To be sure, Sawa officials continued in their promotional material to pay lip service to their commitment "to broadcasting accurate, timely and relevant news about the Middle East, the world and the United States, to the highest standards of journalism, as well as the free marketplace of ideas, respect for the intelligence and culture of its audiences, and a style that is upbeat, modern and forward-looking." But their real objective was to attract the Arab World's "youthful population" with pop songs and keep them tuned to the station. In terms of current affairs content, Sawa has never attempted to focus adequately on anything but parochial backyard Arab news which marginalizes major American and world developments. Pop is a major successful commercial enterprise that targets a wide youthful common denominator, but it alone cannot present the picture of America which American public diplomacy is intended to present-that of a country with rich, multifaceted culture, revolutionary ideals, commercial vitality, history-making values of human rights and social justice, and standards of transparent government. Nor is pop music what young Arab needs today to form a more enlightened view of their societies and the world, or to build a more participatory society firmly rooted in human values. Pop does not attract potential future leaders or opinion makers. It does not build credibility. News of the non-Arab world almost always plays second fiddle on Sawa's airtime. The station has literally scores of news reporters in Arab capitals, especially in Iraq, but only one part-time reporter in the United States who provides reportage from the State Department or at times from The White House (but never from Congress). Sure, Arab news is of utmost importance and a big draw, and must be accorded prominent play. However, significant events (economic, cultural, scientific as well as political) always take place in America and elsewhere in the world, and they must be covered. The true nature of Radio Sawa's broadcast content and performance remains a mystery to the legislative and executive branches of government in Washington, because the station continues to resist any outside, independent review and probe of its programs. The station also refuses to accept the critical findings already reached by such investigative agencies as the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the State Department Inspector General's office. "The father of Radio Sawa," Mr. Norman Pattiz, years ago came to the conclusion that Arab hostility and dislike of America were caused by, in his words, "hate speak on radio and television. Incitement to violence. Disinformation, government censorship and journalistic self- censorship. And it was from within that kind of environment that the Arab street was getting its impressions, not only of U.S. policy, but of our people, of our culture, of our society." And he was going to set things right with his grand new broadcasting adventure. Five years after a steady diet of Sawa pabulum, U.S. prestige and standing in the Arab World are at record low, and its image uglier than ever. Official U.S. poll results show that in Iraq, for example, 70 percent want the U.S. to withdraw from that country, and no less than 60 percent approve of killing Americans. This is perhaps the best testimony to the abject failure of Mr. Pattiz's grand design. Sam Hilmy is a veteran Middle East broadcasting Specialist and long- time observer of Arab-American affairs. He was for almost 35 years associated with the Voice of America (VOA) in various language, editorial and managerial capacities. He spent his last five years with the organization as director of the Near East, North Africa and South Asia Division (via Zacharias Liangas, Greece, DXLD) ** U S A. SOOEY! (A Negotiations Update) DATELINE: Washington: 05/30/07. After several months of grueling negotiations over a new Contract, it seems management has decided they no longer want to be bothered to continue bargaining in this manner. Instead, they have decided to press for an expedited bargaining process for the proposed upcoming RIFs. In other words, they are in a hurry to get rid of career employees. In response to these demands, the Union negotiators offered a compromise that mirrored a clause from the current AFSME 1418 contract that contains a protective no RIF provision. The management team refused to discuss the idea. According to a management negotiator speaking to the Union bargaining team: "is it your job to ensure that your people continue to feed at the government trough?" The Union team members were stunned and took great offense at this arrogant, self-righteous statement from this management elitist. After all, we are the ones who produce the actual product of this Agency. We are ones who have been subjected to mandatory overtime. We are the ones who have been forced to work on Holidays. We are the ones who have been burdened with increasing workloads. We are the ones who have risked our lives year after year to come to work during weather emergencies. Just ask our families. "What is it the Agency really wants?" we asked. "Does the Agency only want to throw employees out of work?" The Agency negotiators could only respond with a cliché answer about changing mission priorities. The Union team offered to work towards a compromise in which the Agency could make their desired changes but without such draconian measures that would have such a terrible impact on its employees. The management team would not even entertain the possibility of such a concept. It is obvious to us that the Agency's primary objective is to throw career employees out in the street. ***** AGENCY DECLARES END TO NEGOTIATIONS DATELINE: Washington, 06/01/07. The I.B.B. Chief of Labor Relations declared by fiat that negotiations over a new collective bargaining agreement between AFGE Local 1812 and the BBG are over until a Federal Mediator is called in. She then offered to call in her personal acquaintance, Lynn Sylvester. According to an email she sent to the Union: "[I]n view of the Union's latest demand for a no-rif clause and its withdrawal of proposals which had already been agreed upon, it would be futile to continue negotiations. We will be contacting FMCS and requesting a mediator." In an attempt to prevent the Union from being able to meet she also wrote: "Rick and Morris should return to their regular duties while we are awaiting the appointment of a mediator." "The conference rooms have been canceled." WHAT HAPPENED The charge that the Union withdrew proposals that had already been agreed upon is not true. What she is referring to is a section of an Article in which some wording had been deemed okay but other portions of the section had been rejected by management. The Union simply offered another counterproposal for that section. On another issue, the Agency requested an "expedited RIF" clause for the new Contract. (The current contract requires the Agency to negotiate over each proposed RIF). The Union bargaining team informed the Agency that it would need something big in return for a "fast track for throwing employees into the street". The management team demanded that the Union team let them know what it is the Union wanted. DIDN'T LIKE THE ANSWER But when the Union negotiators provided a proposal that would prevent separation of career employees with more than 10 years of service (which was based on a proposal in the AFSCME 1418 contract and which was agreed to by BBG management) the management team got furious; this led to the infamous "feeding at the government trough" statement. After some heated discussion the Agency declared, unilaterally, that the negotiations were over. The management team refused to offer any counterproposals and would not tolerate any discussion of the proposal except to declare imperially that the proposal was "non-negotiable". The Union then offered another counterproposal in the same vein but that too was declared "non-negotiable". Later that afternoon, at another meeting, the IBB Director of Human Resources subjected members of the Union bargaining team to a browbeating session in which she insisted that the Union agree that the parties were at impasse. The Union negotiators refused to do so. She then stated that it was necessary to reach agreement on a RIF article or threatened that the Agency would go ahead and RIF anyway and insisted that the old contract allowed the Agency to RIF without negotiations. Why the Director of Human Resources would interject herself into the negotiations is anybody's guess. FILING A CHARGE The Union then notified the Agency that it was going to file a negotiability appeal and an unfair labor practice charge. FINDING MIDDLE GROUND Obviously the two parties have different interests. The management team has a desire to find a way to quickly throw career employees out of work. The Union side wants to keep employees working. A middle ground, a compromise must be reached. But to petulantly end negotiations because the other side's interests are different then yours is no way to negotiate and is hardly an attempt to reach agreement (AFGE Local 1812 at VOA, via DXLD) ** U S A. Power Up - Volume Down by Richard S. Towne, KUNM General Manager In April, KUNM applied to the FCC to increase our transmitting power from 13,000 watts to 18,500 watts. The application is pending but should be granted shortly by the FCC. This represents the final phase of our main transmitter makeover at Sandia Crest. When I say “our,” I say it to include you in the work because you are generous and have supported our work over the past several years. With your help, we have replaced the transmitter and the antenna, added digital transmission, and increased our power. There are a couple of little things we still need to do but please accept our thanks for helping. Truth be told, I don’t think most folks will notice a big impact from the power increase. Raising power does not mean we are going to be louder. It means our signal will reach more places than it did at the lower power rate. Now, we will operate at the maximum power permitted for our channel at Sandia Crest. This should improve reception in terraineous (a word I just made up) areas (Tijeras Canyon, La Bajada, Tesuque). We should also see new and improved reception in some structurally dense areas (downtown offices, the Big-I interchange, East Mountains, bomb shelters). The power increase will extend our broadcast radius to some degree. Right now we get to the east side of Grants. With the power increase, you can hear us about 10 miles further west of Grants as you travel west on I-40. You’ll have to check out KUNM’s new service radius as you travel more around northern and central New Mexico. Feel free to drop us a reception report when you are on the edge of KUNM reception so we know how our signal behaves – engineering @ kunm.org You should be pleased to know that you are listening to public radio’s tallest transmission point (height above average terrain). Certainly, I mean no slight to shorter tower sites, it’s just that in FM transmission, antenna height is critical. But height and power do not make is louder. KUNM is intentionally softer on your dial. Let me give you the lay version of why we like soft. You will notice, as many have, that when you switch between stations on your car radio, that KUNM is noticeably softer in volume than other stations. If you dial-hop from us to KOB or KHFM or Air America, the difference is quite discernable. KUNM uses far less electronic sound processing than any other station on the dial. We do this to give you the highest fidelity, rather than the loudest overall signal on the dial. Some stations buy fancy electronic boxes (compressors, equalizers, sound processors) to pump up the overall volume of the sound. This, of course, adds color to the sound, at times distorting the beauty of the voice or instrument to an unreal point. There is this decades-old, macho concept in radio that louder is better. To be the loudest on the dial, you just pump up the bass, turn every whisper to a scream, and process the natural sound more than Wonder Bread processes the grain they grow. So we have abandoned the notion that louder is better. We give you the notion that we can provide a signal to you that is faithful to the artists, the musicians, the news anchors, poets and producers. KUNM serves up a signal that is as faithful to the natural sound as we can possibly deliver. Compare a music passage on KUNM to anyone other on your radio dial and you will hear what we mean. WE may be quieter but fidelity is not a lost art, certainly not for us. As always, thanks for listening --- and supporting KUNM. Stay tuned! (June Zounds, KUNM via DXLD) ** U S A. The FCC today released their rulings on IBOC broadcasting. The much-awaited decision on nighttime IBOC on AM is approved and will become law in approximately 6 weeks, or 30 days after the report appears in the Federal Register. For a full look at the entire document, go to: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-33A1.doc (Bill Hale, May 31, NRC via DXLD) For more see DIGITAL BROADCASTING ** VENEZUELA. AFTER CLOSING RCTV, CHÁVEZ GOES ON OFFENSIVE AGAINST SOLE REMAINING OPPOSITION TV STATION http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=22374 Reporters Without Borders today accused President Hugo Chávez of aiming to eliminate all the opposition press after he publicly threatened independent TV station Globovisión and CNN, claiming they were instigating a “vast destabilisation plan,” just two days after the closure of Radio Caracas Televisión (RCTV). “By calling Globovisión’s staff ‘enemies of the motherland’ and by clearly threatening participants in its broadcasts ‘if they don’t calm down,’ President Chávez is displaying paranoia and intolerance,” the press freedom organisation said. “Unfortunately, there is no longer any doubt about his goals,” Reporters Without Borders added. “RCTV’s closure was just the prelude to the progressive disappearance of all the opposition press. Media that criticise the government will be snuffed out one by one until only the pro-government media are left.” Communication and information minister William Lara brought a complaint against privately-owned Globovisión on 28 May, accusing it of broadcasting content “inciting violence.” The station broadcast footage of the 1981 assassination attempt on Pope John Paul at a time when Chávez was criticising Pope Benedict. Lara said this was tantamount to calling for the president’s assassination. The station’s director, Alberto Federico Ravell, and the host of its programme “Aló, Ciudadano” (Hello Citizen), Leopoldo Castillo, have received judicial summonses and face prosecutions. The continuing demonstrations by students, journalists and opposition activists against RCTV’s closure, in which several members of both opposition and pro-government press have been injured, have been branded as a “fascist attack” by Chávez. The president continually likens the present situation to the April 2002 coup in which he was ousted for 48 hours. Thousands of students demonstrated on 29 May against RCTV’s closure and around 200 were arrested. Reporters Without Borders also condemns the activities, reported by the Agencia Bolivariana de Noticias, of a group of pro-Chávez journalists called “Periodistas por la Verdad,” who have been trying to get people to believe that two supposed Reporters Without Borders members - Enzo Pierini et Carlos Folchi - were distributing leaflets containing hate messages targeted at President Chávez. These allegations are unfounded and ridiculous, and the press freedom organisation does not know these two people. “It is easy for the authorities to condone this kind of slur while refusing our requests for a meeting during the fact-finding trip we made to Venezuela from 24 to 28 May,” Reporters Without Borders said. “And it seems they did not agree that the news conference we gave on the last day should be broadcast live and in full by Globovisión.” (RSF via DXLD) ** VIETNAM [non]. AUSTRIA, 9725, V of Vietnam from Moosbrunn relay site to roar loud at 1700- 1900 UT playing nice Vietnamese chorus music. S=9+30dB superpower (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX May 30 via DXLD) Lucky you; the VOV Sackville relay 6175 is getting blown away by Cuba 6180, commies vs commies! Noted once again UT Friday June 1 at 0524 with Vietnamese lesson for English-speakers, yes--- within the Vietnamese-language hour where English-speakers are not likely to be listening, anyway. 6175 is at 240 degrees from Sackville, close to our azimuth, rather than the 277 you might expect for the west coast at this hour, but the signal is way weaker than RHC which I think is also blasting pretty much right at us, but of course not in HFCC. Such neighbours! (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** YEMEN. At 1820 UT observed only a carrier from Sana'a on 9780.04 kHz, seems the Audiofeeder leaked somewhere (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX May 30 via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE. ZBH's New Station - Yet Another One to Drive Listeners Crazy --- COLUMN 30 May 2007, Posted to the web 31 May 2007 Bornwell Chakaodza, Harare GOING by the programmes and news bulletins currently served up by the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings (ZBH), the new short-wave radio and television station recently launched by our only broadcasting station must clearly carry a government health warning: It could drive you crazy and nuts -- with deadly boredom! My question to the Minister of Information and Publicity, Sikhanyiso Ndlovu and ZBH chief executive officer Henry Muradzikwa is: Why subject Zimbabweans at home and in the Diaspora to yet more torture and cruelty? . . . http://allafrica.com/stories/200705310445.html (via kimandrewelliott.com June 1 via DXLD) I have checked the relevant frequencies this morning and the new transmitter is indeed testing. I have noted it switching from 4828 to 5975 at 0534. No programming today, just a very strong carrier. The domestic service switched from 3396 to 6045 at 0533, more or less as expected. The signal strengths of all frequencies are similar, and would be consistent with 50 to 100 kW transmitters (Vashek Korinek, RSA, DXplorer May 29 via BC-DX via DXLD) Google Earth imagery. ZWE Guinea Fowl (Gweru) 3306/6045/6612/7120/9765 kHz 19 31 20.99 S 29 56 04.23 E (BC-DX June 1 via DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ INVITATION TO EDXC CONFERENCE 2007, LUGANO / SWITZERLAND Dear DX-Friends, Shortwave Listeners all over the World! The EDXC (European DX Council) cordially invite you all to the next EDXC Conference, November 1 --- 4 , 2007, in Lugano / Switzerland. As the number of cheap hotel-rooms are limited, we kindly ask you to make your hotel reservations already now! Venue of the Conference: HOTEL DISCHMA, Vicolo Geretta 6, CH -- 6900 LUGANO PARADISO, Switzerland. Phone: + 41 91 994 21 31. Fax: + 41 91 994 15 03. E-mail: hotel-dischma @ bluewin.ch Home page: http://www.hotel-dischma.ch Please observe: This is a 2 / two / star hotel. Prices: Single-room (small): SFR 79 ,-- = EUR49,---. Single room (larger): SFR 100,--- = EUR 63,---. Double-room for 2 / two / persons: Total price for such a room : SFR 132,--- = EUR 83,--- All above prices per night, including Swiss breakfast, VAT and service. This hotel accepts the following credit cards: AMERICAN EXPRESS, VISA, EUROCARD, MASTERCARD. PLEASE MAKE YOUR OWN RESERVATION --- NOW! DEADLINE FOR YOUR ROOM RESERVATION: SEPTEMBER 15, 2007 First you write: The special password for this reservation: EDXC CONFERENCE 2007. Then you write your family name, christian name, your arrival date at hotel, your departure date from the hotel. If you arrive on November 1 and depart on November 4, you will need 3 / three / nights. The Conference fee is: EUR 95,--- per person. Preliminary programme : November 1, Thursday. Arrival, register to the Conference. Informal gathering in the evening. Approx. 19.00 hours at the hotel bar / hotel restaurant. November 2, Friday. Lectures, discussions, EDXC matters. We are planning to have lecturers like: Somebody from Lugano City, Mr. Bob Zanotti, former speaker and editor at Swiss Radio International. Mr. Jeff White, Radio Miami International. He will speak on the subject : "The State of Shortwave Broadcasting in the Americas." Mr. Anker Petersen, Chairman of Danish Shortwave Club International. He will speak on subject: "DX-ing in the High Andes". We will have at least 90 minutes for EDXC matters, discussions, future, etc. Mr. Torre Ekblom, Assistant Secretary General will conduct this session. November 3, Saturday. Sightseeing tour in Lugano by bus with English speaking guide. We continue with the same bus to visit the local radio and TV station: Radiotelevisione Swizzera di lingua Italiana / RTSI /. Free time in the afternoon. At 19.30 hours in the evening at our conference hotel: Banquet Dinner consisting of 3 / three / course menu from Ticino / Ticino is the Southern, Italian speaking province of Switzerland / , including local Ticino drinks. November 4, Sunday. Departure from our conference hotel. THE CONFERENCE FEE YOU WILL PAY DIRECTLY TO ME UPON ARRIVAL. The Conference Fee : EUR 95,--- includes : The use of Conference room, relevant papers, name-tags, sightseeing in Lugano, visit at the local Radio station by bus. The Conference Fee also includes the Banquet Dinner and the drinks. Please observe: Breakfast every day is included into the hotel room price. Not included: Thursday evening what you consume during the informal gathering, Friday lunch and dinner, Saturday lunch ---- all above meals on your own account. For further information you may contact : Mr. Tibor Szilagyi, Sweden. Phone number : + 46 8 500 264 83. E--mail : tiszi2035 @ yahoo.com (via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING ++++++++++++++++++++ FCC releases IBOC rules The FCC has released the permanent IBOC rules. Read the original FCC document on these links: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-33A1.doc http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-33A1.pdf http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-33A1.txt 30 days after publication in the Federal Register, IBOC digital radio ("HD Radio") will cease to be something authorized through Special Temporary Authority and become a normal part of American radio. The biggest difference listeners (and especially DXers) will notice is that AM stations will be allowed to operate their HD signals at night. The highlights, as the Commission puts them: Refrains from imposing a mandatory conversion schedule for radio stations to commence digital broadcast operations; Allows FM radio stations to operate in the extended hybrid digital mode; Requires that each local radio station broadcasting in digital mode provide a free over-the-air digital signal at least comparable in audio quality to its analog signal; Continues to require that the main digital broadcast stream simulcast the material aired on the analog signal; Adopts a flexible bandwidth policy permitting a radio station to transmit high quality audio, multiple program streams, and datacasting services at its discretion; Allows radio stations to time broker unused digital bandwidth to third parties, subject to certain regulatory requirements; Applies existing programming and operational statutory and regulatory requirements to all free DAB programming streams, but defers the issue of whether and how to apply any specific new public interest requirements; Authorizes AM nighttime operations and FM dual antenna configurations; Considers and addresses other technical matters, such as FM translator and booster operations and TV Channel 6 interference issues; Defers discussion of whether the Commission should impose content control requirements that would prevent listeners from archiving and redistributing digital musical recordings transmitted by digital broadcast stations; Recognizes that further negotiations between the United States and the international community are taking place to resolve possible disputes about the implementation and operation of DAB by domestic radio stations; Dismisses several pending Petitions for Reconsideration and Petitions for Rulemaking that asked, inter alia, the Commission to reconsider the adoption of iBiquity’s IBOC system as the technology chosen for DAB transmission; Seeks further comment on appropriate limits to the amount of subscription services that may be offered by radio stations. A few notes of my own: The FCC mentions authority for "extended hybrid mode" on FM stations. This mode adds more digital capacity by adding digital carriers. However, these carriers fall between the digital carriers authorized in "normal" hybrid mode, and the station's analog signal. So if extended hybrid mode is going to cause interference (and it might), the interference will be to the station's own analog signal, not to other stations'. LPFM and translator stations will be allowed to adopt IBOC. It's stated that IBOC operation may not be practical for LP10 (10-watt LPFM) stations. Legal ID announcements will be required on all program streams, and digital multicast streams must be identified as such. "WZMF-2 Menomonee Falls" may not be legal - "WZMF Digital HD2 Menomonee Falls" might be. A "text ID" using the Program Associated Data may be adequate. AM stations that have already notified the FCC of their daytime use of IBOC need not perform further notification to begin nighttime operation. Comments were filed in an attempt to get the FCC to limit the IBOC power of "superpower" FM stations to what would be authorized to a "normal" station. For example, WOOD-FM in Grand Rapids, Mich. is authorized for 265 kw analog power at 177m HAAT. IBOC digital power is regulated as a percentage of analog; in WOOD's case it would be allowed to run 2,650 watts of digital power. If WOOD wasn't grandfathered in at its pre-1964 power, it would be limited to 35,909 watts analog power, or 359 watts digital. The Commission dismissed this attempt; WOOD will get its 2,650 watts of digital power. The U.S. is still in negotiations with Canada and Mexico. (A Canadian engineer and DXer filed comments arguing that IBOC is prohibited under bilateral treaties with both countries.) IBOC permits will contain a clause noting that they may be modified or revoked if international considerations require it. Strangely enough, all of this was accomplished by creating only four new rules (47CFR73.401..73.404) and amending one. (47CFR73.1201, the station identification rule) Going back to the international considerations... Canadian commenter Barry McLarnon quotes an article in the US-Canada agreement that states: " “Classes of emission other than A3E, for instance to accommodate stereophonic systems, could also be used on condition that the energy level outside the necessary bandwidth does not exceed that normally expected in A3E....” McLarnon argues that the IBOC digital carriers extend the station's bandwith to approximately 28 kHz, far outside that necessary and normally expected from an A3E (regular analog AM) signal. He also notes that an identical clause exists in the US-Mexico agreement. Editorial comment: Barry is 100% right. Editorial comment: But since when does the U.S. government listen to any other country when there's money to be made? (American Bandscan, Doug Smith blog, May 31 via DXLD) MEXICO TO ALLOW IBOC ON BORDER STATIONS --- 5.25.2007 Mexico has been watching with interest what terrestrial digital radio technology the U.S. government and broadcasters would approve. Now, the Mexican government has proposed allowing stations along the country’s northern U.S. border to voluntarily begin broadcasting with HD Radio technology. The proposal applies to stations located within 200 miles of the border, according to IBOC developer Ibiquity Digital. There are 80 FM stations and 120 AM stations in the Mexican side of the border area. Ibiquity believes that 15 may be on the air by the end of the year, Ibiquity told RW’s "The Leslie Report" this week. (Radio World, linked from a comment on the above blog) OK, if you stuck with me through my editorials(grin): Radio World Online reports that the Mexican government is considering authorizing IBOC for stations within 320 km (200 mi.) of the U.S. border. One might guess this is largely intended to ensure Mexican stations that broadcast to a U.S. audience are not locked out of any marketplace success HD Radio might receive (Doug Smith, W9WI, Pleasant View, TN, EM66, WTFDA via DXLD) It's going to very interesting to see how many current AM HD stations run HD 24/7. I feel very bad for dxers in the middle part of the country as I think they will feel the greatest impact. FM analog signals have already lost some of their punch when those stations are also broadcasting in HD. Now it sounds like those analog signals could be degraded even more....hmmm this could actually push HD to mandated through the back door so to speak (Keith McGinnis, Hingham MA, ibid.) Well, among those which are non-directional full time, I would expect *all* of them will leave the HD on 24/7. (at least until they find it causing ruinous interference to other co-owned stations. When Salem bought Chicago's WIND-560 from Univisión, they turned off the IBOC. I've heard it rumored they did so because WIND's IBOC sidebands were eating a big hole in the coverage of another station Salem already owned, WRRD-540 in Milwaukee.) ``Doug...for the technically challenged what does the FM dual antenna config mean?`` There are two ways to generate a HD FM signal. You can create the HD sidebands in the same generator that creates the analog signal, amplify it through the same amplifier stages, and transmit it through the same antenna. OR, you can take your existing analog FM transmitter and add a completely separate transmitter to generate and amplify the HD sidebands, then combine its signal with the analog signal and pass them to the antenna. "dual antenna config" means you do away with the combiner and transmit the HD sidebands from a completely separate antenna. You basically have two different radio stations, one transmitting an analog signal and the other a digital. The rules require that the two antennas be extremely close (but they do NOT need to be on the same tower!) and that their elevations be similar. I would imagine the main reason for doing it this way is that the combiners are pretty inefficient - you throw away most of the power out of your digital transmitter in combiner losses. You could use a much smaller digital transmitter if you don't need the combiner. ``this could actually push HD to mandated through the back door so to speak.`` As you may remember, the Canadian review of HD technology mentioned this. Indeed, they seem to regard IBOC self-interference as a fact. Ironically, I think us DXers will least notice the self-interference problem - as the tighter filters we use will filter out the HD sidebands. Some speculate the FCC gave up on LPFM a long time ago, deciding they'd made enough of a showing to prevent Congress from noticing. For one, the tests they were ordered to conduct on 3rd-adjacent interference have been completely ignored. They didn't even bother to rule that they didn't believe the results (which showed that 3rd- adjacent LPFMs would NOT cause interference). So the IBOC-for-LP10-stations issue may be moot, as it seems possible there will never be any LP10 stations. On the other hand, Congress HAS noticed issues of media concentration. (for that matter, so have two of the five Commissioners. Both Democratic Commissioners dissented in part from yesterday's IBOC decision, and in both cases their dissents were because no diversity or public service requirements were imposed.) If the White House changes hands (to the Democrats) next year and we end up with a Democratic majority on the FCC, I don't think it will undo the IBOC decision but it might result in the Commission being prodded to get the LPFM program restarted. It is interesting to note the Commission says the negotiations with Canada and Mexico are ongoing. Given that there is no need to negotiate specific arrangements for each station (like there was for DTV) it seems to be to be taking an inordinate amount of time to conclude an agreement. Which leads me to believe Canada, at least, is being skeptical. The contents of the CRTC's proceedings on the subject also lead me to think that government is not nearly as convinced of the lack of interference as ours. One might wonder if IBOC, in part, is behind the recent decision to licence FM relay transmitters for CBC AM operations on the Prairies (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66, ibid.) BROADCAST ELECTRONICS ANNOUNCES FIRST PUBLIC AM HD RADIO DEMONSTRATION IN MEXICO BROADCAST ELECTRONICS (BE) announced today that 170 station owners and engineers attended the first public demonstration of AM HD Radio broadcasts in MEXICO on SATURDAY, MAY 26. XEXL-A/PATZCUARO, MICHOACAN broadcast AM HD Radio live through a BE AM 2.5E transmitter as part of the demonstration, which was held in conjunction with the 71st convention of the Cámara Nacional de la Industria de Radio y Television (CIRT) in nearby MORELIA. Broadcasters gathered at the station's studios to listen to XEXL programming off-air on a variety of HD Radio receivers. "Most expressed surprise at the FM-like stereo audio quality and said they had not heard AM HD Radio outside carefully controlled demonstrations at the NAB convention," commented JOHN SCHNEIDER, the LATIN AMERICA sales manager for BE, which helped introduce FM HD Radio to MEXICO broadcasters in 2004. The AM demonstration comes just weeks after MEXICO officials approved HD Radio for the country's AM and FM stations located within 200 miles of the U.S./MEXICO border. (FROM WWW.ALLACCESS.COM via Paul B. Walker, IRCA via DXLD) Just an FYI, XEXL is on 1020 kHz with 1 kW fulltime, so says Radio- locator.com (Walker, ibid.) TECHNOLOGY CENTER HOSTS DIGITAL SHORTWAVE BROADCASTERS http://www.hcjb.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3220&Itemid= Digital shortwave radio broadcasts from four international broadcast sites highlighted a recent conference of the National Association of Shortwave Broadcasters (NASB) hosted by the HCJB Global Technology Center in Elkhart, Ind. "We were able to receive all four signals, including the HCJB signal at only 4 kilowatts. It was good audio quality," said Brent Weeks, a design engineer with Radio Station HCJB in Quito, Ecuador. Conference attendees also heard test broadcasts from Radio France International/TDF in French Guiana, Vatican Radio in Italy and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The stations are part of Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM), a global consortium of broadcasters, broadcasting associations, network operators, manufacturers, research institutions, regulatory bodies and others. "We were getting a good reception of our digital shortwave where normally, with an analog broadcast, it would be marginal at best," Weeks said of the broadcasts received at the annual meeting of the NASB May 10-11. "It shows the potential of the digital shortwave medium for long distances and low-power broadcasts. You can go farther with a clearer signal." Glenn Nelson, a radio frequency technician from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, added: "I was impressed with the DRM demonstrations. DRM may have a large impact on the shortwave market when [digital] receivers become [more readily] available." The DRM USA Group met immediately prior to the NASB which has historically held conferences in Washington, D.C. "Much to our surprise and pleasure, it was the most-attended annual meeting we have ever had!" said NASB President Jeff White. Fifty-eight attendees took part, coming from the U.S., Canada, Belgium, U.K., France, Germany, Ecuador, Singapore and Russia. Shortwave broadcasting hasn't changed much since its beginnings during the early 20th century. Analog shortwave broadcasts usually carry noise of some kind due to interference and fading. However, the development of the DRM technology has the potential to revitalize not only shortwave, but AM transmissions also, by providing digital- quality broadcasts. Most agree that the success of DRM technology hinges on the availability of low-cost receivers. In April, Fraunhofer, a Germany- based company, announced it will begin working with STMicroelectronics to develop a low-cost, low-power receiver chipset which is critical in manufacturing inexpensive receivers for widespread distribution. Fraunhofer has been one of the principal developers of DRM technology. Attendees also enthusiastically discussed the possibility of a roll- out of receiver by the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China --- a target date for multiple DRM broadcasts, as China is promoting DRM as its digital radio format. All were eager for the digital upgrade to the HC100 (HCJB Global's 100-kilowatt shortwave transmitter) which has the potential to reach China with digital programming. Charles Jacobson, manager of international broadcast technology group at the HCJB Global Technology Center, was excited to be able to "draw special attention to this [DRM] technology by hosting the meetings at our tech center, the only U.S. entity to have developed DRM transmission equipment. It was also a great opportunity to expose a broader segment of radio people to the activities and ministries of HCJB Global." The meetings also featured a presentation and tour of the technology center, impressing attendees with the scope of the ministry. "It's evident the Lord's hand is upon your ministry," observed Allan McGuirl, senior international director of Galcom International. "We praise God the way He is using you around the world. We pray that the Lord will continue to build your ministry up to reach many more unreached people groups through Christian radio." (via Alokesh Gupta, dxldyg via DXLD) DRM DIGITAL RADIO TRIALS COMPLETED IN DELHI Posted by: "Alokesh Gupta" alokeshgupta@gmail.com alokesh05 Date: Fri Jun 1, 2007 3:31 am ((PDT)) DRM-AIR-ABU Showcase on SCS Simulcasting in MW Band Digital Radio Transmission Workshop & Field Measurements Delhi, 7-12 May 2007 DRM DIGITAL RADIO TRIALS COMPLETED IN DELHI SCS DRM Simulcast Transmission Successfully Demonstrated http://www.abu.org.my/public/dsp_page.cfm?pageID=755 Introduction The DRM Consortium, All India Radio (AIR) and the ABU organised a radio broadcasting event of significant interest to our medium wave radio broadcaster members. This event, the DRM-AIR-ABU Showcase on SCS Simulcasting in MW Band, demonstrated DRM digital radio transmissions in the medium wave band successfully using the Single Channel Simulcast (SCS), Multi-Channel Simulcast (MCS) technologies. Also trialled were full 18 kHz DRM in MW band, local DRM radio transmissions in the 26 MHz band, Near Vertical Incidence Skywave (NVIS) transmissions and DRM shortwave radio transmissions. Extensive measurements were carried out for all types of transmissions. Objectives The principle objective of project was to showcase the feasibility and workings of the relatively new technologies of SCS and MSC, while broadcasting AM and DRM signals using only one transmitter. The project aimed at equipping the participants with sufficient expertise in the area of simulcasting in the MW band which will help in carrying out similar trials in their own countries. As this technique has been successfully demonstrated at the trial in this region, there are many obvious advantages that could accrue to radio broadcasters if they make use of this technology. Given that this region has some of the largest medium wave radio broadcasters, we believe that successful trials and measurements will pave the way for easy and cost-effective transition to DRM transmissions (via Alokesh Gupta, dx_india via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ SOLAR-ACTIVITY FORECAST FOR THE PERIOD JUN 1 - 7, 2007 Activity level: mostly very low to low Radio flux (10.7 cm): a fluctuation in the range 67-80 f.u. Flares: weak (0-8/day) Relative sunspot number: in the range 0-40 Astronomical Institute, Solar Dept., Ondrejov, Czech Republic e-mail: sunwatch(at)asu.cas.cz (RWC Prague) Geomagnetic activity forecast for the period Jun 1 to Jun 7, 2007 quiet: June 01, 06, and 07 unsettled: June 02, 03, and 04 active: 0 minor storm: 0 major storm: 0 severe storm: 0 Geomagnetic activity summary: geomagnetic field was quiet on May 28, 29, 30, and 31, unsettled on May 25, 26, and 27, active on May 24. RWC Prague, Geophysical Institute Prague, Geomagnetic Dept Czech Republic e-mail: geom(at)ig.cas.cz Geomagnetic activity forecast for the period of one solar rotation unsettled to active: Jun 3-4, 14-16, 18-23, active to disturbed: Jun 3, (4,) 14, (15,) 18-21 quiet: Jun 1-2, 5, (6,) 7-12, (13, 17,) 24, (25,) 26 Survey: quiet on May 30 mostly quiet May 28-29 quiet to unsettled - quiet to active May 26-27 quiet to disturbed May 25 mostly unsettled - unsettled to active - unsettled to disturbed - mostly active - active to disturbed on May 23-24 disturbed - Notice: Days in brackets refer to a lower probability of possible solar activity enhancements depending on previous developments on the sun. F. K. Janda, OK1HH, Czech Propagation Interested Group e-mail: franta.janda(at)quick.cz (http://www.asu.cas.cz/~sunwatch/070601.html via DXLD) ### TIPS FOR RATIONAL LIVING ++++++++++++++++++++++++ CINDY SHEEHAN`S FAREWELL Good Riddance Attention Whore Mon, 2007-05-28 17:11. Cindy Sheehan http://lists.topica.com/lists/SOUNDOFF/read/message.html?mid=1721027436&sort=d&start=6238 And also read the next messages (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ###