DX LISTENING DIGEST 7-102, August 25, 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 1371 Sun 0630 WWCR1 3215 Sun 0800 WRMI 9955 Sun 1500 WRMI 7385 Mon 0300 WBCQ 9330-CLSB [irregular; not 8/13/07] Mon 0415 WBCQ 7415 [time varies] Mon 0830 WRMI 9955 Tue 1030 WRMI 9955 Tue 1530 WRMI 7385 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 MUNDO RADIAL agosto-septiembre 2007: (corriente) http://www.w4uvh.net/mr0708.ram (descargar) http://www.w4uvh.net/mr0708.rm (texto) http://www.worldofradio.com/mr0708.html ** ALBANIA. R. Tirana, 13750, Aug 23 at 1309, fair with press review; 1318 Albanian music. Hope this is a sign of improving equinoxial propagation (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. Ciao! ottima ricezione della RAE in Italiano su 15344.28 kHz dalle 1925 in poi. SINPO 45444 !!!!!! Nessuna traccia dei Marocchini (Dario Monferini, JRC 525, 15 mt wire. Milano, Aug 23, playdx yg via DXLD) Anche questa sera arriva con un discreto segnale la RAE in Italiano su 15345 kHz. Giusto un po di fading a disturbare la ricezione. In questo momento (1913) ovviamente... tango, una registrazione piuttosto datata ma suggestiva in stile Gardell. 73's (Francesco http://swli05639fr.blogspot.com/ Cecconi, Aug 24, Noticias DX via DXLD) ** ASCENSION. Re: Radio Japan [q.v.] shortwave schedule changes during re-engineering Does this indicate that the Ascension site will be reconstructed or is "re-engineering" just an elaborate wording for frequency/site adjustments? The Ascension transmitters are about 40 years old, so probably they will be replaced now? (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Aug 25, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I think that is a bit too much to assume based on two minor schedule changes (gh, DXLD) ** BIAFRA [non]. Tuning around during a T-storm requiring internal antenna only, I came upon a signal in African-accented English and with a very heavy long-path echo on 15665, Friday Aug 24 at 2035 just as it was IDing as Voice of Biafra International, Washington DC, and going from English to a local language (Igbo or Ibo?). 2039 was back in English, talking about Calabar. Was otherwise occupied for next quarter hour but retune at 2055 found them playing instrumental multi- national anthem ``God Bless Africa``. (Which god??? Why?); 2058, ID again as V. of Biafra International, WDC, giving frequency as ``15.67 MHz in the 19 meter band… Goodbye, Biafra, and to you until our next broadcast, good night.`` The last we knew, VOBI was on Saturdays only, for a while also Wednesdays, at 21-22 on 7380 via RSA, but this strong echoey signal on 15665 smax of a WHR outlet; WHRA which is mainly aimed at Africa? No, WHRI closing ID followed immediately at 2059, next frequency to be 13640 (which is the BBC relay). No day(s) mentioned for this transmission, but I soon found it to be the only one now mentioned, again with incorrect frequency! At http://www.biafraland.com/vobi.htm ``Voice of Biafra International (VOBI) A SHORTWAVE Radio Broadcast Service transmitting on 15.67 MHz (on 19 meter band) at 2000 - 2100 Hours UTC (Universal Time [Coordinated]) equivalent to 9.00pm- 10.00pm Biafraland time every Friday. A project of Biafra Foundation, and Biafra Actualization Forum. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The goal of VOBI is to provide and disseminate news and information of relevance and pressing import to Igbo-Biafra, and to the rest of the world, using SHORTWAVE Radio. On September 1, 2001, the maiden broadcast was made. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Please support VOBI. Send contributions and donations to: Voice Of Biafra International 1629 K ST. NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20036 TEL NO: 202 508 3795 FAX: 202 508 3759 Email: Biafrafoundation@yahoo.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Please use the controls to operate the audio; OR, You may also use the MediaPlayer version by clicking on the link. We apologize for the audio quality which is affected by systemic and technical limitations. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Please follow this link to the transcript (text version) of THE NEWS ANALYSIS SEGMENT only of the Voice of Biafra International (VOBI) broadcasts. [new] Also available in transcript form: WOB (Women of Biafra) segment of the Voice of Biafra International (VOBI) Broadcasts`` The above copied from website, most dated info of which is 2006y or earlier. But just below are audio linx to three previous broadcasts and this latest one: http://www.biafraland.com/aug2407.wma Is this on the WHR schedule? Yes, on ``Angel 1``, but incorrectly: 2000 Fr 0400 PM 0500 PM Monday - Friday VOBI Broadcasts Oguchi Nkwocha 17650 So both the programmer and the transmission provider have it on different wrong frequencies! Note that it is really Friday only, tho the WHR schedule display as usual is self-contradictory about this. HFCC has it thus: 15665 2000 2100 46 HRI 250 87 5 250307 281007 D Eng USA HRI FCC But has it really been going on this frequency since 25 March and no one has noticed until now? CIRAF 46 = West Africa from Western Sahara to Biafra. 87 is the azimuth and 5 is the day of week. HFCC also shows 17650 on air at same time on Fridays only but 100 kW toward Mexico; is this imaginary? 17650 2000 2100 10 HRI 100 260 5 250307 281007 D Spa,Eng USA HRI FCC I don`t find any DX reports of 7380 being heard since mid-April in Japan Premium, altho DX Mix News Bulgaria was still showing it in May, DXLD 7-060: ``Voice of Biafra International 2100-2200 on 7380 MEY 250 kW / 328 deg to WeAf English Sat (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, May 22 via DXLD)`` VOBI does not appear on the SENTECH schedule, but I am not sure it ever did even when it was on 7380: http://www.sentech.co.za/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=100&bid=25&btitle=Frequencies&meid=65 Searching the WHR site on VOBI turns up another transmission, which is not mentioned on VOBI`s own site, this one via WHRA: 1915 Mo-Fr 0315 PM 0345 PM We VOBI Broadcasts Oguchi Nkwocha 13710 Note that in this case, WHR displays M-F with the UT, and Wednesday only with the EDT listing, while just the opposite was the case with the incorrect frequency, but correct time on Friday! Presumably the 1915-1945 UT one is really on Wednesdays only, but no telling if 13710 is really the right frequency. About the long-path echo, which originally got me to stop and monitor the frequency 15665: since Furman is roughly 1 kilomile from here, the LP echo must be coming around from 24 kilomiles away (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) This just in: I was not the only one listening --- (Biafra) [non]. Voice of Biafra International (clandestine). Tuned into 15665 shortly after 2030 UT on Friday August 24 to hear vernacular with frequent mention of Nigeria. Into English at about 2045 with a number of IDs - "Voice of Biafra International from Washington". Frequency announced as 15670. Off just before 2100 followed by World Harvest Radio ID. Very strong and clear signal. So it appears that WHR is relaying this clandestine on Fridays from 2000 to 2100 on 15665. Nothing heard on this frequency or 15670 on Saturday Aug. 25 (Bernie O'Shea, Ottawa, Ontario, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [Last known logs on 7380:] Voice of Biafra International 7380, V. of Biafra Int., Apr 07, *2059-2110, 35433 English, 2059 sign on with ID, Theme song, ID, Theme music, Talk (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan, Japan Premium 468 via CRW 228 just published via DXLD) 7380, V. of Biafra Int., Apr 14, *2059-2115, 45444, English, 2059 sign on with ID, Music, 2105 ID, Theme song, 2107 ID, Chorus music, 2110 ID, News (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan, Japan Premium 469, ibid.) ** BRAZIL. Davvero un ottimo giro, che proseguiva visitando una famosa emissora che ancora opera sulle onde corte !!! 6040 kHz Radio Clube Paranaense 10 kW in // 1430 kHz R. Clube B2, Curitiba 50kw. In effetti abbiamo ascoltato gli annunci: "Radio Clube BE DOIS" (dato che il prefisso originale era PRB 2 .....) e non Radio Clube Paranaense !!!!!! inoltre gli 11935 kHz sono definitivamente OFF the AIR WEB http://www.clubeb2.com.br/ che offre ascolto in real audio. Situata in Rua Rockefeller, 1311 - CEP 80230-130 Prado Velho, Curitiba - Paranà. Fa parte del gruppo LUMEN RADIO, comprende anche CLUBE FM 101,50 MHz 180 kW !!!! WEB : http://www.clubefm.com/ che offre solo ascolto in real audio. Lo scorso 27 Giugno 2007 l'emissora ha compiuto 85 anni !!!!!!!! Radio Paranà 1060 kHz 10 kW. Nessuna WEB. Ed inoltre le TV : TVs: Rede Vida (retransmisso) e TV Lumen/Canal Futura 16 UHF. L'unica WEB con informazioni è quella di LUMEN FM 99,5 MHz 4 kW http://www.lumenfm.com.br/ http://www.grupolumen.com.br/grupo.html questa è certamente la WEB migliore del gruppo !! Il chief Engineer è Justos Zandellei, ma da quello che abbiamo visto, l'emittente NON è INTERESSATA A RAPPORTI DI ASCOLTO per le ONDE CORTE purtroppo la Sra Marisa Aparecida Zanon è andata in pension, e da quel momento non ci sono state riportate conferme. Unica email reperita: comercial @ grupolumen.com.br Molto gentili e disponibili a far conoscere ad ascoltatori esteri le loro attività ed i loro studi, facevamo molte foto, anche degli studi da dove avevamo ascoltato molte volte i programmi di R. Clube Paranaense 6040 kHz (e 11935 kHz attualmente spenti) e ricevevamo vari adesivi (quelli di Radio Lumen e Radio Paranà sono in stampa). Lo "scontro" Radiofonico Religioso a Curitiba è fortissimo --- 730 kHz 5 kW & 9665 kHz 5 kW Radio Marumby http://www.gmuh.com.br/radio/radioma.htm e la collegata Radio Novas de Paz sulle corte 6080, 9515, 11725 kHz. (10 kW), Avenida Paranà 1885-1896, Curitiba (Paginas Amarillas) 88,50 MHz Rede Aleluia Curitiba 15 kW, WEB : http://www.redealeluia.com.br/mapa.php (Dario Monferini with Roberto Pavanello, 2nda VUELTA DX CONO SUR AMERICA 28 JULIO-19 AGOSTO 2007, 22 PARTE CURITIBA, BRASILE, 13 AGOSTO 2007, playdx yg via DXLD) From their much longer report mostly about FM and AM stations, excerpted here due to SW info (gh, DXLD) ** CAMBODIA. Radio The Voice of Cambodia, 918 kHz, letter in 71 days. V/s Deputy Director Nget Saborak. QTH: Monivong Boulevard Rd: 106 Phnom Penh, The Kingdom of Cambodia. Tel: (885-23) 722 869 (885-23) 725 522. Fax/Phone: (885-23) 427 319. Overseas Service Department Tel.: (855) 012 869 178 E-mail: nget_Saborak@ yahoo.com 73, (Sergey Kolesov, Russia, via Dario Monferini, PLAY-DX via DXLD) IIRC, Sergey has been globetrotting so maybe heard from anear (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA [and non]. CHU, 7335, UT Sat Aug 25 at 0614 check, once again with WHRI co-channel, 4 Hz away, but for a change CHU was atop. That does not make such an avoidable collision any less offensive (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Does anyone else miss the old CFCF on 6005, well heard days throughout New England? I know I do. Most of my buds do as well. First HF SW BC heard on Zenith T/O 500, ca. '63. z (pv zecchino manareverie key fl IRCA via DXLD) I can hear the jingle, "CFCF 600 Radio Montreal". I have a couple of QSLs from them. I even miss CFRX relays of CFRB 1010. I wish more stations would relay like that but its easier for them to send it over the net (Kevin Redding, Gilbert, AZ [Order of the Crossed 6V6], ibid.) Yes. I used to listen to their SW feed all the time when I lived on Long Island. Is 6005 closed? (Tim Kridel, ibid.) They were great. CFCX on 6005; CFRX, can't remember their freq., 6170 maybe relaying CFRB. And CHNX, Halifax on 6130 maybe, relaying CHNS 960. I think they fell by the wayside, and into disrepair as satellite and internet came along. I used to hear all three pretty well in the N.Y. Hudson Valley. I think all were either 500 watts or 1 KW. Seems to me there was at least one other further west in Canada. Maybe Vancouver. 73, (Chris Johnson, K2FO S.C., ibid.) CKWX-1130 had a SW relay for years in the 6 MHz band, but I recall it was low power. CKZU-6160 is still on air last time I checked, relaying CBU-690 ef (Eric Flodén, BC, ibid.) This really has nothing to do with the X-band [my post about 1690 Montreal, to which these were replies], but here`s the scoop: CFCX 6005 Montreal closed several years ago, as did CHNX 6130 Halifax. CFRX 6070 Toronto has been off for more than a year, but is supposedly going to resume once CFRB can get around to repairing it. Not holding breath. CFVP 6030 Calgary is still on, relaying CKMX 1060. I hear it occasionally with 100 watts when Cuban jamming and Marti are off. (Mon 0300-0900 UT), or maybe after 1200 when skywave is still working. CKFX 6080 Vancouver was 10 watts, a great DX target. Off for years, not worth repairing by CKWX. But just a few months ago they got around to turning in the license. CBC is still running CKZU Vancouver and CKZN St John`s both on 6160 and both often heard, the latter often with Goose Bay programming relayed back to Labrador. That does if for non-RCI usage of 6 MHz band. Unfortunately none of these stations get any respect from the US or other countries which feel free to usurp their long-established frequencies. 6070 has CVC Chile on it most of the [night]time. 73, (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) Hi Paul and Group, I didn't hear CFCX very often from Michigan, but I have nice QSL card from them in 1968. Part of the Marconi Radio Group (if my memory is serving me correctly). LXXIII de (Joe Miller, KJ8O, Troy, MI NRC-AM via DXLD) Dr Z, I would not say that I miss Montreal-6005 (actual calls CFCX according to my 1965 WRTH) but it does bring back some fond memories. In 1965, if I took a sick day from school (10th grade), I would at times enjoy listening to this station with its Top 40 format on my Hallicrafters S-120 ($40 at Sears). I believe they simulcasted CFCF- 600 Montreal with slogan "Cuff Cuff." Correct me if I'm wrong. Other privately owned SW stations listed in '65 WRTH: CJCX-6010 Sydney, NS; CFVP-6030 Calgary; CFRX-6070 Toronto (relayed CFRB-1010); CFKX-6080 Vancouver (relayed CKWX-1130); CHNX-6130 Halifax (relayed CHNS-960 ?). Thanks for stirring up the memories! (Marc DeLorenzo, South Dennis, MA http://hometown.aol.com/midcapemarc/myhomepage/profile.html ibid.) ** CANADA. For you folks trying to tune in CHTO-1690, be advised that they're no longer on 1690.7. Someone must have given their transmitter a good whack, since they've dropped way down to 1689.905 tonight. Slowly but surely, they're zeroing in on 1690! Looks like they've just about got it nailed - > they're on 1690.003 tonight. Third time's a charm (Barry McLarnon, VE3JF, Ottawa, ON, Aug 16, NRC-AM via DXLD) And it's much weaker. I can actually X around the danged channel. - (Saul (Burnt River ON) Chernos, ibid.) ** CHINA. CNR-1 on following frequencies, 1240-1300+, 22 August & 1135-1150+, 23 August: 4460(Beijing), 4750(Xi`an), 4800(Ge'ermu), 5030 (Beijing), 5945 (Beijing), 6030 (Beijing with apparent Firedrake jamming ?? Likely candidate is VoChinaReborn via TAIWAN listed at *1400; FD on early for practice?), 6125 (Shijiazhuang listed *1300), 6175 (Beijing), 7110 (Shijiazhuang), 7290 (Beijing listed 1200*, but heard well after), 9500 (Shijiazhuang), 9710 (Shijiazhuang), 11710 (Shijiazhuang with echo, Beijing listed 2000-0130; on early/late or ?), 11925 (Lingshi) 5+1 pips at TOH & M/W with "zhongyang renmin guangbo diantai, zhongguo zhi sheng". ID all locations tnx DBS9. Listed 6950 (Shijiazhuang) & 9890 (Lingshi) not heard (tho 9890 had Indo or Bahasa Malaysia language program at 1150+ check on 23 August) (Dan Sheedy, CA R75, 60' random wire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. ¿Castro muerto? Rumors are flying that Castro is dead. Listen to see what's on RHC. You might get a glimpse at the truth or maybe not. The Cuban government is saying no. The word in Miami is that Castro es muerto (Kevin Redding, AZ, ABDX, Aug 25 via DXLD) Castro Croaked, more rumors to effect of; S FL on alert; 24 2336Z; PVZ Just noticed on Drudge, rumors to this effect & denials by gov cubano. Among many good sites: http://www.killcastro.com http://www.babalublog.com http://www.therealcuba.com Miami PD in ctc w/Effa Bee Eye. Supposed EOC set up ca. Homestead AFB. Probably nothing (paul vincent zecchino, manasota key fl, 24 2338Z AUG 07 BT, IRCA via DXLD) Well, checked around 2330 UT Aug 25, neither http://www.martinoticias.com nor http://www.elnuevoherald.com had anything about this, much less banner headlines, so can`t be true. More about this mixed in with UNIDENTIFIED 1181 (gh, DXLD) ** DEUTSCHES REICH. Re 7-015: His correct name is Ernst Zündel (with ü, not u); more info at several Wikipedia pages: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernst_Z%C3%BCndel (Martin Schöch, CRW 224, Feb 14, 2007, just published, via DXLD) I found that the above garbled URL, using six characters instead of u- umlaut, does work, so I did not have to change it to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernst_Zündel Among the interesting points is that Zündel may well be Jewish himself; he was unable to find documentation in Germany that he was pure Aryan (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also SWEDEN ** ECUADOR [non]. CHANGES IN STORE AT HCJB AS PRESIDENT, CHAIRMAN BOTH PLAN DEPARTURES Radio World Newsbytes :: People News 8.24.2007 http://www.radioworld.com/pages/s.0104/t.8093.html HCJB Global is seeking a new president to replace David Johnson. The international organization’s head will step down in September 2008. Separately, HCJB said board chairman Dr. Ron Cline, 70, will retire after 25 years, though he’ll continue to host a daily program and represent HCJB. Dr. James D. Allen will take the chair this September. Commenting on Johnson’s departure, Cline called him a builder. “Through his leadership, we have defined a new vision to be the voice and hands of Jesus. We have expanded healthcare globally, strengthened our regional offices and positioned ourselves for effective ministry in the future.” Among his accomplishments was the New Life Radio partnership for satellite ministry in Russia. Cline jointed HCJB Global in 1976 as pastor of the English Fellowship Church in Quito, Ecuador, and was its president from 1981 to 2001. HCJB Global’s mission statement combines media and healthcare in its efforts to create disciples for Jesus (Radio World via Sheldon Harvey, DXLD) Or to put it another way, HCJB GLOBAL STARTS SEARCH FOR NEW PRESIDENT HCJB Global has launched a worldwide search to find a new president to replace David Johnson, who announced he will step down in September 2008 after more than six years of success and major accomplishments as leader of the international missions organization. HCJB Global’s Board of Trustees have established a four-man presidential search team, which has already begun the process of looking for a replacement for Johnson. In an unrelated announcement, Dr Ron Cline, who will turn 70 in January 2008, will retire as chairman of the board of HCJB Global after 25 years at the helm. Cline will continue to host “Beyond the Call,” an inspirational daily radio programme, and serve in a new role created by the board – global ambassador for HCJB Global. Dr James D Allen, HCJB Global’s senior vice president, will replace Cline as board chairman in September of this year (Source: HCJB Global)(August 24th, 2007 - 13:37 UTC by Andy, Media Network blog via DXLD) ** EGYPT. 6135.02, Radio Cairo, 0115-0125, August 24, Spanish talk, local pop music. Quite distorted audio. Much better on // 7270, 9360 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA. Re 7-099. 7180, Voice of the Broad Masses, Asmara, August 23, 1600, Afar (?) ID on clear frequency until co-channel RAI appeared 1627. First day on this NF for evening period presumably to avoid jamming on 7175. By the way, Mariah Carey (it's definitely her) noted there again that same day at 1636 with "Vision of Love" rather than "Picture of you" (Martien Groot, Schoorl, Netherlands, Aug 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7-096 and 7-099 had reports of VOBME being on 7180 in mornings (gh) ** ETHIOPIA. 7110.01, Radio Ethiopia, Geja Dera, *0300-0315, August 24, Sign on with opening announcements in local language. Talk. Short breaks of local music. Poor to fair signal. // 5990-very weak under DRM signal. // 9704.17-low modulation (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [non]. DW, English via Rwanda 15205, VG as usual, Fri Aug 24 at 2132 with intriguing report on why Germany views the scientology cult as dangerous (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. Radio Filia used to have a very good news service. Good English pronunciation and quality reporting. Unable to receive 11645 kHz transmission at 0930 UT. Also website did not handshake. Would appreciate status update (gcerow, primetimeshortwave yg via DXLD) English is now at 0600-0700 on 11645. I`ve rarely if ever heard this due to the timing, but I seem to recall that R. Filia relies on relays of foreign stations, such as the BBC, as the service is really intended for an audience inside Greece. I know they have done so in other languages. Could this ``good English pronunciation and quality reporting`` really have been a BBC relay? 73, (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) ** GUIANA FRENCH. No sign of TDF DRM on 17865-17870-17875, Aug 24 at 1400 and again at 1421 check. Just normal, maybe-on, maybe-off, or is this test concluded? Seems I have also found it missing other mornings, including Aug 25, but more likely to be missing on weekend anyway. It`s still on the DRM DX schedule as M-F 13-20 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) BIG strong signal from what appears to be (no SDC) RNW French Guiana but no SDC/MSC! SNR hit 32db plus for a while!! All that signal and no audio!!! Well, they are keeping any QRM off the frequency! 0255 UT 25 August 2007 9405 kHz (Mel Whitten, EM48 St Louis MO, K0PFX, Aug 24, drmna yg via DXLD) ** HONDURAS. 3339.97, HRMI-Radio Misiones Internacionales, 0645-0745+, August 24, Tentative. Spanish religious talk with English translations. Religious music at 0734. Poor in t-storm static (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 3340, Radio Misiones Internacional - HRMI (Tentative), 0931-1007, August 24, sounded like religious music and singing, 0956 into non- stop OM preacher, very excited, talking/yelling in Spanish with background music, poor/fair (Ron Howard, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 3340, Radio Misiones International, 1048-1105 Aug 24. Noted a male in Spanish language religious comments. This during entire period. At 1054 religious music. No break on the hour, just music. Signal was fair (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston, Florida, WR G305e/pd, ibid.) ** INDIA. 4970, AIR-Shillong, 1220-1240, August 23, nice eclectic music selections to 1230, pips, into English news. "All India Radio, news read by...", sports at 1234, M/W yak in language, then "This is the ...Service of All India Radio, Shillong" at 1236 and back to music programm. Tnx DBS9 for info on 1230 English news (Dan Sheedy, CA R75, 60' random wire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. AIR, 15050, Aug 24 at 1402 music with hum; 1417 recheck Bollywood music. Had not heard this transpolar signal for quite a while. Possibly it`s coming longpath whence most of the signal is aimed. Here`s the Aoki info: 15050 ALL INDIA RADIO 1300-1500 1234567 Sinhala 100 174 Delhi (Kingsway) 07712E 2645N AIR a07 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ITALY. Rai, Italian to NAm, still going, Aug 24 at 1419 check with music on 17780 // 15280, the latter squeezed between DW 15275 and China 15285 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ITALY. Vi invitiamo inoltre a visitare le sezioni dedicate ad ogni continente: America del Nord e America Latina http://www.international.rai.it/aree/americhe/ Africa http://www.international.rai.it/aree/africa/ Asia http://www.international.rai.it/aree/asia/ Oceania http://www.international.rai.it/aree/oceania/ (RAI INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER DEL 24 AGOSTO 2007 via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) On the America page I click on the English word ``News`` and I get --- news in Italian! (gh, DXLD) ** JAMAICA. HURRICANE AFFECTS TV JAMAICA TRANSMISSION TV Jamaica’s transmission system was hit by Hurricane Dean. One critical television tower in the centre of the island is down and this is having a significant impact on transmission to rural Jamaica. (Source: Commonwealth Broadcasting Association) Television Jamaica http://www.televisionjamaica.com/ (August 24th, 2007 - 8:54 UTC by Andy, Media Network blog via DXLD) Beware; promotional video and blaring audio auto-launch; I also got an ``error-safe`` popup (gh, DXLD) ** JAPAN [and non]. RADIO JAPAN SHORTWAVE SCHEDULE CHANGES DURING RE- ENGINEERING Radio Japan advises on its website that some of its shortwave transmissions will change site and/or frequency due to re-engineering of its transmission facilities. The Arabic transmission at 0700-0730 UT currently on 15220 kHz via Ascension Island will move to Meyerton (South Africa) from 29 August onwards. From 28 October the site changes again to Rampisham (UK) and the frequency will change to 9440 kHz. The broadcast in Japanese at 2200-2300 UT via Ascension Island will change its frequency from 9655 kHz to 11955 kHz from 29 August onwards. (Source: NHK Online) (August 24th, 2007 - 14:42 UTC by Andy, Media Network blog via DXLD) And just a reminder that all shortwave from NHK World for North America and Europe will go for good in just five weeks. Reportedly sad remarks about the imminent end are being made time and again on the German broadcasts, so there are no indications for any reprieve (Kai Ludwig, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) All? Not sure. As I wrote 5 months ago, the French service of NHK denied the cancellation of French broadcasts to Europe. According to NHK (25/03), transmissions in German, Italian et Swedish will disappear, but French will stay via Moyabi. Not sure they know exactly what will happen (Jean-Michel Aubier, France, ibid.) A-07 in WRTH Update 0500-0530 daily ME,NAf 17820eka 0630-0700 daily Eu 11970gab 1230-1300 daily Af 15400asc, 17870asc 1630-1650 daily ME,NAf 11785yam 1800-1820 daily Af 9685yam, 11785yam 1800-1820 daily Eu 11970yam B-07 NHK French to Africa will probably resume. 0630 UT is an African target service ! 0630-0700 daily Af 11970gab to zones 37,38,46,47 1230-1300 daily Af 15400asc, 17870asc to zones 46-48,52,53 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) What demagogy! It is just the same 11970 transmission they have on air for years, and of course 11970 0430 0700 27,28 GAB 500 350 for Europe. Now the official line is that no shortwave transmissions to Europe are to be done anymore, but they decided to keep the frequency for French (presumably with northern Africa in mind), and so of course the CIRAF zones had to be "adjusted" although most likely not any technical changes will be made. It's just the same demagogy as done by the BBC who "adjusted" the official target areas for various frequencies from UK sites to allow for PR puff that they no longer broadcast to Central Europe on shortwave. All the best, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Aug 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also ASCENSION ** KOREA NORTH [non]. JAPAN - Shiokaze 6045 QSL-card in 10 days. Tel: 03-5684-5058; FAX: 03-5684-5059 URL: http://www/chosa-kai.jp TAIWAN - Shiokaze 9485 QSL-card in 10 days. Tel: 03-5684-5058 FAX: 03-5684-5059 URL: http://www/chosa-kai.jp 73, (Sergey Kolesov, Russia, via Dario Monferini, PLAY-DX via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [non?]. Radio VoK --- Radio "VOK" is the first free radio for the Kurds. It was established in Sep 28-1963 during the September revolution of the Kurdistan. The radio station was formed with the order of the KDP president Mustafa Barzani, the leader of September revolution. At the beginning, the equipment's used were a number of old military wireless sets joint together to form a short wave sender. The center of broadcasting was a cave deep in a Kurdistan mountain Salah-Addin north of Erbil. The radio station was a target of Iraqi air force for many years. A number of technician, editors and guards were killed by these air attacks. The radio was and is still running by the KDP. The Program of "VOK" consists of News, opinion of KDP, Kurdish culture and music (V. Rozhkov, Russia Apr 4, 2007 for Clandestine Radio Watch 228, April 15, just published, via DXLD) WTFK? SW now like many others? Means Voice of Kurdistan? (gh, DXLD) ** LATVIA. 9290 relays this weekend Sat August 25th Radio Six International 0700-0800 UT Sun August 26th Latvia Today 1900-2000 UT Good listening (Tom Taylor, DX LISTENING DIGEST) & advance on dxld yg ** MEXICO. 9599.27, Radio UNAM, Mexico City, 0035-0115+, August 24, classical music. Spanish ID announcement at 0059 followed by Spanish talk. Possible radio-drama at 0105. Irregular. Fair signal strength but difficult reception due to Cuba on 9600 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) could the UNIDENTIFIED 9665 be this?? (gh) ** MEXICO. What will happen to the border Fox low-banders XHRIO-2 and XETV-6 after the U.S. ATVs go off? Is it possible that these stations will continue to operate their ATV outlets for a while? Thanks (Danny, Shreveport, LA, Oglegthorpe, WTFDA via DXLD) Mexico has allotted companion channels for DTV to all stations in the country. XETV is already operating a DTV on channel 23 (and there are other DTV stations in the country. TV Azteca has launched two separate networks for HD). Mexico has also set a "drop-dead" date for analog TV. It's considerably later than either in the US or Canada. In practice I suspect XETV will either shut down its analog after the US analogs go off, or switch it to a Spanish-language network for domestic consumption within Tijuana. I doubt many English-only Americans will stick with analog OTA TV if they can only get two stations in their language (and if I recall properly cable penetration in the San Diego market is relatively high). I suspect XHRIO will revert to a Mexican network not too long after transition. Same reason: few Americans will stick with analog OTA TV if they can only get one station. – (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66, ibid.) Thank you, Doug. Spanish-language XHAB-7 and XERV-9 run a lot of commercials for businesses on the American side of the border. It makes me wonder what their plans are, as well. Could it be that DTV viewership in Mexican border cities like Matamoros might be more common than in other parts of Mexico? Your analysis is always interesting. One more thing about XHRIO-2: The station is already available on DTV as a subchannel on KNVO-DT-49 (Danny, Shreveport, LA, ibid.) I've noticed that as well. I would imagine they target two audiences: - Spanish-speaking Americans in Texas - Mexicans who make frequent shopping trips to the U.S. I would not be at all surprised if many Mexican DTV stations end up NOT carrying the same programs as their associated analog stations. In fact, it appears that TV Azteca has made that decision for their entire network. I can especially see stations like XETV carrying their current fare on their DTV transmitters (for the US-based OTA audience and for pickup by cable systems north of the border) while switching their analog to Mexico-based networks (for an audience at home, where multiple analog stations continue to operate). I don't think that will apply to stations like XERV, which have a larger audience in Mexico than in the U.S. Even after Transition, it will still be legal for the Brownsville, Texas cable system to carry Mexican analog stations - the XERV analog transmitter will continue to be of value for delivering programming to cable in the States. Also, the Spanish-speaking analog TV audience will continue to have other analog programming choices, among the other analog stations continuing to operate in Mexico. They won't have to switch to DTV to get more than one station in their language. And conversely, there will continue to be an audience for Spanish-language analog stations, on both sides of the border. I suspect the DTV viewership patterns in Mexico will be more rural- vs.-urban than border-vs.-interior. More DTV near the border, not because they're near the border but because there's more relatively high-wage employment, more people can *afford* a DTV. I suspect you'll see similar DTV deployment rates in the richer cities in Mexico's interior, like Mexico City and Guadalajara. But really, the big difference between transition in the States and in Mexico will probably be the much lower cable/satellite penetration down there. – (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66, ibid.) Unlike TVs from 20-30 years ago, the ones made in the last decade were designed to fail in 5 years -- at least all the ones I've bought have. Since the only ones you can buy now are HDTVs, people will get them whether they want to or not. And the prices have dropped so low that price will stop no one, even Mexican factory workers, from buying a new one (Rick Shaftan, NJ, ibid.) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. Acabo de recibir un mensaje del queridísimo Jaime Báguena, de Radio Nederland, informándonos lo siguiente: La frecuencia de 9450 kHz (31 metros) dirigida hacia el Sur de Sudamérica que se utiliza en el horario de 0000 a 0157 UT, será reemplazada por la de 15315 kHz (19 metros) vía Bonaire, Antillas Neerlandesas. Este cambio entrará en vigor el próximo domingo 2 de septiembre UT, es decir sábado en la noche en Sudamérica. Cordiales 73 Jaime Báguena García Director Artístico - Redacción Española RADIO NEDERLAND WERELDOMROEP http://www.informarn.nl (via Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) They had unexpectedly shifted to 9450 in June? Due to poor winter propagation to the south (gh, DXLD) ** NIGERIA. 9690, Voice of Nigeria, *0758-0815+, August 24, Sign on with their theme music. Talk in local language at 0759. IDs. Local tribal music. Fair (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also BIAFRA [non] ** NORFOLK ISLAND. NORFOLK ISLAND LANGUAGE UNDER THREAT ``Inasmuch`` coat of arms: http://blogs.rnw.nl/medianetwork/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/norfok-island-crest.jpg [sic] The United Nations says it wants to see the unique language of Norfolk Island preserved. The Islanders are descendants of Manx mutineer Fletcher Christian and the Bounty crew – the surname Christian is still one of the most common among the 2,000 inhabitants. The Bounty mutineers initially settled on Pitcairn Island in 1790 but settled Norfolk seventy years later because of overcrowding. The patois – containing a smattering of Manx - is under threat from English, although it’s had a revival in recent years. UNESCO is now backing a campaign to keep the unique tongue, including it in the Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger of Disappearing. (Source: Manx Radio) Radio Norfolk http://www.vl2ni.nf/ The Norfolk Language http://www.school.edu.nf/Bounty/language.htm [Norfolk Islanders and our Pitcairn ancestors, speak among themselves in their language, a beautiful patois, a made-up language. Put together from pieces of English and Tahitian and from natural responses to the natural surroundings where they live in. Here are some words and phrases: (CLICK ON THE NORFOLK WORD TO HEAR IT IN THE NORFOLK TONGUE)] (August 24th, 2007 - 12:32 UTC by Andy, Media Network blog via DXLD) 2 Responses to “Norfolk Island language under threat” Herman Says: August 24th, 2007 at 17:32 e Where do you get the idea that there is a bit of Dutch in the language? As far as I know, there were no Dutch people on the Bounty, and the language page itself does not mention Dutch. I’ve also checked the language and I can hardly find any Dutch in it. Andy Says: August 24th, 2007 at 20:51 e The reference to Dutch was in the report quoted from Manx Radio. Since you brought it to my attention I have also checked and I agree that there seems to be little evidence of Dutch. I have removed that reference, since it was not central to the story (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. First MS ID in years today! I was on 96.9 KIAQ Clarion, IA (yes, adjacent to a strong local) when for about 4 seconds something popped in strong out of nowhere & said "96-9 Bob FM". According to the FM Atlas, that's Enid, OK! New here. My most distant heard so far on the Radiosophy HD-100 with Terk TV1 rabbit ears. If I can do this on a cheap radio (about $100) with a cheap indoor antenna, so can just about anyone. I now have well over 200 August loggings from 10 states with HD-100/TV1 combo. I noticed Saul Chernos also reported a MS burst with ID. Is meteor scatter supposed to be good today? 73, (George Sherman, MN, Aug 25, WTFDA via DXLD) Enid in name only; KQOB transmitter halfway to OKC and funxioning as an OKC market station (gh, DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3235, R. West New Britain. Just caught very end of announcement by W in Pidgin at 1045 tune-in Aug 25. Into long lively island pop song. 1050 W host again with voice-over announcement mentioning "station" and "number one", then reggae-like song. 1057 more W voice-over talk about "program", "Sunday", recap of the songs` chart positions. 1059 continued brief announcement of "station" and island filler music. 1100 children`s choir island song. Same W host at 1104 followed by more island music. Decent signal with some thunderstorm crashes. Fading after 1100. Haven't heard this one or seen it reported in a long time. Nice to see it back. Hopefully it`s a permanent reactivation. The other "usuals" were also on except 3335. 73 (Dave Valko; RX: JRC NRD-535D, Hammarlund HQ-129X, Collins R-388, and various portables including the Sony SW- 77. Ant: 60 meter T2FD, 60 meter Windom; QTH: Dunlo, PA, USA, HCDX via DXLD) ?? 3235 was already in 7-101, heard in Japan as of Aug 22 (gh, DXLD) ** RUSSIA. The motorboating transmitter from Magadan, 7320, previously reported at 1248 is also audible as early as 0602, Aug 24 in Russian. And again at 0617 August 25 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN [non]. RWANDA. 5985, Sudan Radio Service, Kigali, 0315-0329*, August 24, English talk about schools in Sudan. Children's chorus. ID at 0329. Poor with co-channel QRM (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWAN ISLAND. HR - A team from the Radio Club de Honduras and four operators from the US plan to be active from the rare Swan Island (NA- 035) on 23-28 September, weather permitting. A special callsign (HQ0S or HQ6S) has been requested. Further information will be published in due course. [TNX HR2J] (425 DX News Aug 25 via Dave Raycroft, ODXA yg via DXLD) ** SWEDEN. - HISTORY --- Hitlers schwedischer Radiosender http://www.sr.se/cgi-bin/International/nyhetssidor/amnessida.asp?programID=2108&Nyheter=0&grupp=2402&artikel=1036422 "Radio Königsberg" - die Nazis liessen diesen Propagandasender im Krieg einrichten und sendeten auf Schwedisch über das vermeintlich glorreiche und erfolgreiche Hitler-Deutschland. Einmal wöchentlich, 20 Minuten lang. Ein Zehntel der schwedischen Bevölkerung schaltete regelmässig ein, wenn es mit den Stimmen bekannter schwedischer Künstler gezielt über Deutschland und seine Taten desinformiert werden sollte. Der Schwede Niclas Sennerteg hat ein Buch über Radio Königsberg geschrieben. Es trägt den Titel "Deutschland spricht. Hitlers schwedischer Radiosender." ("Tyskland talar. Hitlers svenska radiostation"). Das Buch gibt es - noch - nicht auf Deutsch. Deswegen hat uns Niclas Sennerteg berichtet, worum es in seinem Buch geht. (via P. Gager, Austria, Feb 18, 2007 in A-DX-ML via CRW 225, Feb 28, 2007, just published, via DXLD) ** UGANDA. Hello Glenn, Re 7-101, Not unusual to listen though not daily, not unusual to present pop or rap songs, and not unusual (unfortunately !!!) the strong local noise. Greetings from Portugal (José Turner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WWCR-1, 15825 with new edition of Mundo Radial, Fri Aug 24 until 2127:50. Therefore it must have started shortly after 2113; it often gets a headstart. Also airs Mondays nominally at 2115 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Q&A session with gh and Jeff White, WRMI, NASB: G: Judging from my near zero reception of 7385, am I correct that nothing has yet been done to repair the NAm antenna to get it back up to its original performance? Do you still plan to? J: The manufacturer of the antenna has been planning to come down and do a major repair for us, but it's a small operation and they haven't got this done yet. I have a meeting next week to try to push this along. G: How about plans for a second transmitter, other than the backup? Is that going anywhere? J: The plans are all made and ready to submit to the FCC. But frankly the market at the moment doesn't justify the kind of expenditure that this will require, so it's basically on hold for the time being. The North American market is very small for us right now, so we're concentrating on the Latin American market, which has traditionally always been our strong point. I think the future viability of commercial shortwave to North America is questionable right now, although that could change considerably with the advent of DRM. G: Did your transmitter turn out to be DRM-capable, and have others been located in the US by now? J: I think most transmitters are theoretically DRM-capable, but it's a question of just how easy it is to convert them. The initial indications are that the Wilkinson would not be very easy to convert to DRM, at least in comparison to some of the other transmitters presently being used by NASB members. But it's a question of finding a station with -- besides an easily-convertible transmitter -- time available to devote to the test transmissions without disrupting their current schedule, the interest and willingness to dedicate the time and work that this will require, and an appropriate antenna to reach the desired target area(s). This is what's being worked on right now, and we're going to be talking to at least one station next week to see if they are interested (Jeff White, RMI, Aug 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 9265.05, WMLK, Bethel, Pa, 1930-1955+, August 24, English religious talk about Yahweh teachings. Theme music & ID at 1945. Irregular. When they are on the air they appear to always be slightly off frequency. Weak. Poor in high noise level. 9264.96, WINB, Red Lion, Pa, *2200-2300+, August 24, English sign on announcements with ID & religious talk. Religious music. Re- broadcasting WYFR programming. Weak. Poor in noisy conditions. Slightly wobbly carrier (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Brian, I wonder if you're getting the PA stations via ground wave? Bethel appears to be about 45 miles and Red Lion about 35. I expect that you would be too close for a skywave. Indonesia though, might be skywave. Jerry Lenamon, Waco TX, dxldyg via DXLD) Surely groundwave, or possibly backscatter (gh) ** U S A. Here we are 5 months into the A-07 season, and WEWN *still* claims to be on imaginary 5010 at 00-05: http://www.ewtn.com/radio/freq.htm (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Radio Show addresses various radio issues, including translators of AM stations on FM Hi Glenn, A couple of interesting radio shows about radio: Mediageek --- As it often does, last week's Mediageek featured various radio issues, including spending about 10 minutes on the issue of translators of AM stations on FM. The half-hour program also touched on LPFM legislation, media ownership and TV digital transition. Show site: http://radio.mediageek.net/ Direct audio links for Aug. 17th episode: http://www.mediageek.net/sound/2007/mg20070817.mp3 http://www.mediageek.net/sound/2007/mg20070817.ogg (My own comment about AM stations on FM: Not mentioned in the show is the seeming connection between this issue and AM IBOC, and how all this might inhibit future LPFM. If the FCC ever has another Low Power FM window, LPFM stations will not be allowed to interfere or take frequencies from translators. This presumably will apply to FM translators of AM stations, although the FCC has not made any rules on this yet. In fact, they are just now asking for public comments. Anyway, the FM translators for AM stations plan will mollify some of the AM's hurt by the imminent tsunami of AM IBOC. In fact, day-timers and other smaller AM stations will take to the idea in droves after they get an earful of AM IBOC's jamming abilities. If this happens, LPFM will not reach its full potential, because they will lose many potential frequencies. First the translator invasion of 2003, now this. ____________ The Inner Side An interesting show about the Pacifica station in Houston hit by a drive-by can be found at http://acksisofevil.org/innerside.html Episode 149 is called "Shots Fired at KPFT" Direct link to mp3: http://acksisofevil.org/audio/inner149.mp3 (--Leigh Robartes, KRFP / Radio Free Moscow, Inc., 92.5, Moscow, ID http://www.radiofreemoscow.com Aug 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Maine network trustees didn’t fire Skoglund, and that Bill Cohen isn’t on the board --- Aug. 23, 2007 To the editors: On your website you published a letter [below] from Maine Democratic Party Secretary Susan Cook, in which she chastised Maine Public Broadcasting Network for allegedly “firing” a volunteer host of one of our music programs. It appears that Maine Public Broadcasting is being used in the early stages of what may become one of the fiercest political campaigns in some time. Essentially MPBN was, among a host of other sins, accused of having former Maine [U.S.] senator and secretary of defense, the Hon. William Cohen, working as a MPBN trustee behind the scenes with others to affect the upcoming campaign for the Senate between Sen. Susan Collins (R) and [challenger] Rep. Tom Allen (D) by firing our radio host. As we say in the news business, “never let the facts get in the way of a good story.” Just for the record: 1. A simple phone call to verify the facts would have revealed that the Ms. Cook, the secretary of the Democratic Party of Maine, misidentified MPBN Trustee “Bill Cohen,” who is not our former senator, secretary of defense and strategist for Sen. Collins. The other Mr. Cohen lives in Bucksport, Maine. I wish she had called to check her facts. 2. The decision to cease airing The Humble Farmer came solely from Charles Beck, MPBN’s vice president of radio services, with absolutely no involvement from our Board of Trustees. 3. On numerous occasions, host Robert Skoglund had been strongly cautioned regarding the inclusion of extremely biased political commentary in [his] jazz program. In effect, what was originally a program devoted to music and humor suddenly became an opportunity for regular political commentary with occasional self-promotion. Mr. Skoglund had previously agreed in writing to comply with MPBN’s policies for on-air personalities and then later simply refused. Mr. Beck made the call on his own, and later was fully supported by the organization. 4. As for donations to political parties, MPBN has never audited any trustee or employee and certainly will not begin to engage in such unethical practices now. I was a trustee and trustee emeritus and I never had any political discussion with any board member other than one who ran against Sen. Cohen in the Senate race some years ago. It is indeed unfortunate that MPBN has been included in early and aggressive pre-election campaign strategies. The inaccuracies of the accusations in Susan Cook’s letter point to the need for the independent journalistic traditions of public broadcasting, which MPBN is proud to continue to uphold. David E. Morse, Vice President for Marketing, Communication and Government Affairs, Maine Public Broadcasting Network (Current via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. VENEZUELA TO CHANGE TIME ZONE BY 30 MINUTES August 24, 2007, Caracas, Reuters http://today.reuters.com:80/news/articlenews.aspx?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyid=2007-08-24T121349Z_01_N23289803_RTRUKOC_0_US-VENEZUELA-TIME.xml Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez has changed his country's name, redesigned its flag and rejigged its coat of arms in his drive for a socialist state. Now the leftist reformer, highly popular for redistributing oil income, is seeking to move the country's time zone to offer a more equitable distribution of sunlight. Venezuela in September will turn clocks back by 30 minutes as it switches time zones to boost the amount of natural light to residents, a government official said on Thursday. Next month Venezuelan clocks will be set at Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) minus 4-1/2 hours, compared to the previous GMT minus four hours, Science and Technology Minister Hector Navarro told reporters at a news conference. He said the measure sought "a more fair distribution of the sunrise," which would particularly help poor children who wake up before dawn to go to school. "Very rigorous scientific studies have determined that ... the metabolic activity of living beings is synchronized with the sun's light," he said. Navarro said the government is planning to announce additional measures to "make more effective use of time." Venezuela, which under Chávez was officially changed to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, adopted its current time zone in the 1960s (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) All the previous reports agreed that the start date for this would be January 1, 2008, even tho they were confused about the change in relation to UT. Now I find another story saying it could be ``next September`` -- whatever that means, 2007, or 2008? Confusion reigns (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) Viz.: http://buscador.eluniversal.com/2007/08/21/en_pol_art_venezuelan-time-zone_21A93\6597.shtml Venezuelan time zone may change in September The new Venezuelan time zone could be matched with the beginning of the school year next September, reported Minister of Science and Technology Héctor Navarro. His remarks were made during the show "En Confianza" aired on official TV channel Venezolana de Televisión (VTV). In his view, children and teenagers will be the major beneficiaries of the change. He explained that the purpose of the change is to maximize the effects of day-time on human metabolism and make a most effective use of time, official news agency ABN quoted. Navarro said that in the practice, 30 minutes will be added to the current time. Therefore, Venezuelans will weak up when the sun is lighting already the horizon. According to the current meteorology law, Venezuela has four hours ahead of the international time, under the Greenwich meridian, meridian 0. The proposed change will take that difference to 4.5 hours (via gh, dxldyg via DXLD) The background (according to other reports from Venezuela): the law on the change of time zone still has to pass parliament (which it is expected to do, though), and the government is trying to push it in order to make the change possibly already by September 17 this year (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, ibid.) ** VENEZUELA [non]. Re 7-099, UNIDENTIFIED with cut numbers too: Radio Nacional de Venezuela. Caught the last few minutes of what appears to be a new time and frequency. 15290 at 1950 UT Saturday August 25. ID and signature tune just before closing at 2000. Loud and clear signal (Bernie O'Shea, Ottawa, Ontario, DX LISTENING DIGEST) So 19-20 UT on 15290. That was originally the first broadcast of the day, designated for ``San Francisco``. I wonder if it has been around in the interim on some undiscovered frequency? (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. Yes, I can confirm RASD on 1550 kHz. Heard 21/08/2007 at 2236 UT with talk in Arabic, Saharahui often mentioned. It was one of my first MW logs after a long absence due to FM. 73, (Günter Currently on vacation near La Spezia, Italy, Lorenz, MWC via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 1181 kHz carrier(s): This time I am grouping postings from three different sources rather than mixing them: first, IRCA; second, BC forum at radiolistsl.net; third, most of them, ABDX (gh) Fascinating, but doesn't account for the all day reception up the west coast of Florida. Definitely groundwave, and that indicates the Keys or the western half of Cuba (Gerry Bishop, Niceville, FL, IRCA via DXLD) Also heard all day on the east coast of FL, but I don't know how far north, nor how the signal compares with that along the Gulf coast. (W. Curt Deegan, Boca Ratón, (southeast) Florida, USA, ibid.) don Curtino y Compays - '66 JN47 chart of Gulf/FL/Carib, S wall radio room sez Sta. Clara a whisker shy of 80 W. FL E coast W of 80, giving 1181 nice water shot uppa your necka woods aza well... and a clean shot at Scotland. Presently 0827. Another peek at 1181, yeah, Mr. Het is still with us, still LOBng > Sta. C // 840 & slightly to E. of 890 Pro, qth Chambas. z "I'm rather fond of Scotland." - Lord Stockbridge "Gosford Park" c. 2002, Robert Altman (Paul Vincent Zecchino, Manasota Key, Aug 23, IRCA via DXLD) 1181 continues to be strong tonight, 0300-0530 UT (I don't know when it was first heard tonight.) (Steve Ratzlaff, NE Oregon, UT August 25, IRCA via DXLD) Dear Steve & fellow IRCAnauts - Top of the day to you. Just returned from truncated forced march up MK Road, necessary soot blowing for what's laughingly referred to as my mind. 1181? Right. There he is. Med strgth, LOBS 153 deg's > Sta. Clara, at 1332Z. 1181 Het nulls // one of Rebelde Quad/Triplets & 840 R. Dobleve. Of late, today prime example, for reasons unknown, R. Martí well received this QTH. Until perhaps month ago, Martí 1180 barely audible carrier beat against Rebelde Gangstas. With careful looping could one extract weak audio. Now, med strength, audio listenable. z (pv zecchino manamarti key, fl 25 1339Z AUG 07 IRCA via DXLD) I had been wondering if the `professional` broadcast lists would ever notice this? Not until Aug 20 when Jim Tonne cross-posted his map info to the broadcast forum at radiolists.net Here are some of the non- duplicative comments from that: (gh) I don't understand what this is supposed to show (Lyle Henry, Oconto Falls WI, CPBE THE RADIO DOCTOR K9DKW/K7OO Silver Lake/Los Angeles SCA Consultant, Contract Engr: Brazil, China, Mexico, Taiwan, SE Asia, BC list via DXLD) Possible location of the interfering noise, by triangulation? (Mark MN, ibid.) Yes. This is a result of the Feds doing some testing a year or so ago and a huge number of observations were made. I modified BCmap to add DF capabilities and this series of plots (1180A through D so far) is the result. I won't be posting this anymore to BC. I thought it would be appropriate but then . . . (Jim Tonne, ibid.) I'm glad you're talking about this, Jim. But I still don't understand what your red great circle portions are telling me. One doesn't need observations to determine what the direction to a station is except for slight variations resulting from where the signal reflects off the ionosphere. Or is that what they were trying to determine; over how wide an angle from a given point a station's protection needs to be effective? (Lyle, FMeXtra evangelist, in Oconto Falls, WI, ibid.) Be very careful. This is a black helicopter thing. Last time we were warned about the consequences of following it up. There's still room at Guantánamo (Rich Wood, Aug 21, ibid.) Not the one in Hawaii The Russians were doing this decades ago with shortwave. They used backscatter to and steer the vertical angle of their radiation for maximum signal at the desired location. It works extremely well-a 12- 15 db improvement in received signal was typical. -D (Dana Puopolo, ibid.) I drove from Memphis to Atlanta last evening. I noted the inference of the jammer on the 1180 kHz. frequency during several checks after local sunset. What was very interesting was the level of the noise (Jammer) in the Atlanta area compared to the adjacent channel on 1190 kHz (Dave Hultsman, Traveling peddler, Aug 24, ibid.) So what was the level comparatively?? (gh, DXLD) Right - 1181 jammer likely, het from R. Rebelde 1180, qth Santa Clara, VC, Cuba. Radio boards looking at it past several days. My qth lat/long: 26 deg's 58' 24" N - 82 deg's 23' 58" W. Using Benmar 555A & other RDF's, from this qth, 1181 LOBS 153 degs > Santa Clara. Null coincides w/null of one of three or four Rebelde mitters on 1180 and as well, 840 R. Dobleve, known qth Sta. Clara. Daylight readings, w/in groundwave range. Two additional towns w/confirmed transmitter sites LOB w/in one degree of 153 from my qth. Sagua la Grande, 151 and Sancti Spiritus, 152 degrees. Sagua la Grande known qth of R. Sagua, 1540, audible above local WENG 1530, days, using loop & filters. Sancti Spiritus qth of R. Sancti, 1200 & 1210. Sta. Clara probable qth in light of past activity. As long as don fido rules Cuba, we never suffer dull moments. z (PV Zecchino, Manasota Key, FL, 24 1250Z AUG 07 AR, ibid.) I sent the following message to Radio Havana to check out their response. It is possible that Cuba doesn't even know what Cuba is doing!!! Sort of like the United States!! It should be informational if the email is answered. Saludos Radio Habana, Como compañero Radiodifusor, ustedes sabrán que hay ahora una señal muy fuerte transmitiéndose en la frequencia de 1181 kHz desde algún punto de o cerca de Cuba. Esta señal ha sido diseñada probablemente para interferir con alguna estación que está transmitiendo lo que Cuba considera propaganda. Como nación soberana, Cuba indudablemente tiene derecho a protegerse de lo que considera interferencia peligrosa a sus asuntos internos. Bajo estas circunstacias, Cuba tiene derecho a interferir ciertas transmisiones internacionales como considere necesario. Ahora bien, Transmitiendo una señal portadora en los 1181 KHz produce interferencia molesta por la noche a muchas emisoras de radio en Norte América. Yo no estoy seguro que esta es la intención de Cuba, porque Castro ha dicho a su pueblo que el es un buen ciudadano del mundo. ¿Podrían ustedes usar su influencia para informar a su gobierno de este error? Muchas Gracias, Richard B. Johnson, Groveland, Massachusetts, USA Hello Radio Havana, As fellow broadcasters, you should know that there is now a strong signal radiating on 1181 kHz from somewhere in or near Cuba. This signal was probably designed to interfere with a station that is transmitting what Cuba considers propaganda. As a sovereign nation, Cuba undoubtedly can protect itself from what it considers harmful interference with its internal affairs. To this end, Cuba jams certain international broadcasts as it sees fit. However, transmitting a carrier signal on 1181 kHz causes harmful interference in the nighttime to many radio broadcasters in North America. I’m not sure that this was Cuba’s intention because Castro has told his people that he is a good world citizen. Would you please use your influence to bring this error to the attention of your government? Thank you kindly, (Richard B. Johnson Groveland, Massachusetts, USA, Aug 25, radiolists.net broadcast forum via DXLD) All remaining posts, except some gh comments on this are from ABDX: Re 7-101: More 1181 Tone: Sorry, Glenn, but now you're confusing me. I suggest we get away from referring to "peak direction" or "null direction" and stick with "bearing to transmitter". You can determine that bearing by either peaking or nulling the signal, whichever you find easiest and most accurate with your equipment. I personally find it easier, at least in this situation, to rotate the antenna until the target signal is minimized. Knowing where the null region lies in relation to the orientation of my antenna I can then determine a bearing to the target transmitter. Now that I'm confident that I know what I'm doing with determining transmitter direction, I believe I'll skip all further discussion of peaks and nulls and simply report my calculated bearing. That should eliminate much of the confusion I've apparently caused. I went to the site you referenced. Unfortunately, it didn't explain how to actually use the declination value it produced. The value it reported for my area was about 5 degrees, but I have no idea if that's supposed to be added or subtracted. Given the variety of bearings being reported and the guesstimates of compass direction I'm sure are being used in many cases, I suspect not correcting for true north is the least of the problems we face in determining the transmitter location. Besides, even with the giant compass rose and the plumb bob, I wouldn't claim a margin of error of less than +/-10 degrees anyway. And I don't think I'm going too far out on a limb in suggesting that I've gone further than most in trying to produce an accurate bearing to the transmitter. It's very difficult from here to find any MW frequency with only one occupant. I tried 630 and could hear what I assumed was Savannah, but I also had a couple SS stations which are probably out of Cuba, maybe Mexico. I couldn't get a null on the carrier. On 1100 I heard only SS, which I'm guessing was not Cleveland. (I couldn't get WBBM either, so I'm apparently not looking good to the north tonight.) If I have time in the morning I'll try Savannah again. Perhaps the SS stations won't be as prominent. I did, as usual, get a nice strong copy on DDP-391 out of Puerto Rico. My calculated bearing for that transmitter was within a few degrees of the known bearing. If anyone wants to verify methodology on calculating bearings and your receiver does LW, I'd suggest trying to DF some of the stronger beacons. DDP-391 is 2 kW and certainly booms in here even at almost 1200 miles. I'm not sure how far inland it gets. GLS-206 in Galveston is another 2 kW beacon that is often heard all over the country. As is DIW-198 out of Dixon, NC, though there have been reports lately of DIW not getting out quite as good as usual (Jay Heyl, Orlando, FL, ABDX via DXLD) The peak of any loop-type antenna is too broad to allow for any accuracy in readings, while the null is extremely narrow in any well built and well designed loop antenna. As Kevin mentioned, use the null of the loop to null the signal from the target station. The antenna null points along a bi-directional line, one bearing of which points toward the transmitter. The loop must not be tilted when doing DF work. I.e on a ferrite loop, it must be parallel to the ground, on an air-core loop it, must be perpendicular to the ground. One might want to test the loop on a known station on groundwave prior to doing unknown DF work. This will build confidence in the DF reading. Skywave DFing is not always easy with a loop though. One other test worth doing is to see if the loop has symmetrical nulls. Both of the nulls should be symmetrical around the loop axis, and at 90 degrees to the peak point(s). If they aren't, there is something wrong with the loop. This defect is called null skewing, and it's correctable. Shallow nulls are another loop defect, and this is sometimes called null blunting. This is also correctable. Sometimes these two defects are both present. This could be caused by either the loop balance which is inherent to the loop design, loop feed line or coupling issues, or other factors. But on a well designed loop, the nulls will be symmetrical and very deep, and at 90 degrees to the peaks. The area over which the null gets really deep will be quite narrow. Jay, in your case from looking at the deviation chart, you are at -5 degrees magnetic deviation. That means that your compass needle will be pointing 5 degrees west of true north. To get your magnetic bearing converted to a true bearing, in your case you'd add 5 degrees to the magnetic bearing you read from your compass rose. I run a few degrees more than you (about -7) here in Michigan. Deviation can be either + or - depending on the location on the globe, and gets pretty wild out west. It would probably help when we post bearing readings if we state whether they are true or magnetic. If someone isn't sure about the conversion to a true bearing, maybe just post and state the bearing is magnetic, making sure to give the location the bearing was taken. That way someone can do the magnetic-to-true conversion later. I don't know if the true vs magnetic issue accounts for the variations in readings so far or not? (Rick Kunath, K9AO, Aug 24, ABDX via DXLD) Thanks, Rick. I thought I remembered magnetic north being west of true north for much of North America, but it's been a long time since I've done any work with a map and a compass where a few degrees one way or another made a difference. (I love GPS!) So, adding 5 degrees gives us 77/257, one degree closer to my original estimate. There's a stupid saying in poker that would seem to apply here -- think long, think wrong. I should have just stuck with my original bearing. My guess would be that any adjustment for magnetic vs true falls well within the margin of error for even the most accurate of reported bearings. OTOH, if you move the bearing reported from Texas 10 or 15 degrees to the north, then several of the bearings, including mine, intersect in the Tampa area. There was an early report of someone from Clearwater (sorry, I forgot who) getting a very strong signal on 1181 and having great difficulty getting a bearing on it. (For those of you not familiar with Florida, Tampa and Clearwater are only 20 miles apart.) Combined with reports of daytime reception from locations in the southeast, much of the evidence at least doesn't eliminate the Tampa Bay area as the source (Jay Heyl, ibid.) ``Also, could you use this setup to see if you get 0 degree azimuth on MW stations in cities which according to my globe happen to be due north of Orlando: Savannah (630 in daytime?) and Cleveland OH (1100 if you can get it).`` -- gh I took a couple minutes this morning to DF the carrier on 630. I didn't have time to positively ID the station or play with things enough to get a bearing I'd claim had a very high degree of accuracy. That said, whatever it was I was DF'ing was +/-10 degrees of true north (or south). Combined with all the other bearings I've taken to transmitters with known locations, I'm now highly confident in my methodology (Jay Heyl, ibid.) Not that this has any bearing on any of the discussions about directions and bearings and all that, but I checked again last night and did hear the tone on 1180. Seems like it's not as loud as it has been. Pretty weak behind KOFI. Even when KOFI faded down, tone still wayyyy back there (Michael n Wyo Richard, Aug 24, ibid.) Just to join the party, I had an obvious tone on 1180 on the car radio coming home from work last night around 8 pm or so [PDT = 0300 UT]. Being in the car, I didn't have an opportunity to DF it (I suppose I could have driven around and around in circles, but that would probably have attracted a certain amount of unwanted attention! :) ) Noise levels at home have been too high to do much with this signal so far. 73, (Tim Hall, Chula Vista (San Diego), CA, ibid.) According to the deviation chart on my Brunton compass, a line from New Orleans to Duluth is close to zero deviation. West of that line a compass reading north would be pointing east of true north so the deviation would be added to the compass reading in order to compensate for the extra degrees that were missed from zero (true north). East of that line a compass reading north would be pointing west of true north so the deviation would be subtracted from the compass reading. Since Orlando is East of New Orleans the deviation of 5 degrees would be subtracted from the compass bearing. Therefore 72 - 5 = 67/247 degrees. (Disclaimer; I am not a scientist, nor do I play one on TV) (Jerry Lenamon, Waco, ibid.) Nope. It's added to the compass reading to go from magnetic (read on a compass) to true (read from a map). So in Jay's case, he adds the magnetic deviation to his compass reading to get the true bearing. If he took a map true reading and needed to convert to a magnetic reading that he could use with the compass, he'd subtract the deviation from the true to get the magnetic. West of the zero line this is just opposite. http://www.coastalnavigation.com/samples/sec_3/3_pages/3_2.htm http://www.disitron.com/freeresources/northamerica.gif Looking at that last link, you can see how far off things get out west. And northwest Canada and Alaska is even worse. It's not too bad in the central US and the southeast, though the northeast is worse than most of the west. Seeing the stuff on the map should help magnetic deviation make more sense (Rick Kunath (Who has been known to bet his life on his compass skills out west.), ibid.) Hi Rick, It might just be perspective. Your coastal navigation link shows a good example. West of the zero line (like you or me) we would have to add to the bearing because our compass needle is reading a smaller number than if it were pointing True North. For example, magnetic north from Vancouver is 23 degrees east of true; our compass reading is not including those 23 degrees. So we add 23 to whatever bearing is indicated. Since magnetic north from Ottawa is 14 degrees west of true our compass bearing is showing too large a number and we would subtract the 14 to show a bearing from true. Orlando, like Ottawa, is east of zero so the apparent 72 degrees should be reduced by the 5 degree deviation in order to correct to true (Jerry Lenamon, ibid.) My head's spinning a bit, but I think I have to agree with Jerry on this one. If magnetic north is 5 degrees west of true north from my location, then true north lies at the 5 degree mark on the compass. To get true north to be zero degrees, I have to subtract 5 degrees from the compass bearing. I'm not sure that cleared things up. Let's say I'm taking a bearing on something I know to be at 5 degrees relative to true north. My compass bearing to that target will be 10 degrees. So I need to subtract 5 degrees from the compass reading to get what I know is the correct bearing. I think that makes it a bit clearer. At least it does in my mind. I believe I read somewhere that magnetic north has actually been moving around quite a lot in more recent times. There was some speculation that this might be prelude to a magnetic pole reversal. Wouldn't that be fun? (Jay Heyl, ibid.) I think everyone is saying the same thing with this, but here are a few more examples of some NOAA computations to maybe help out: The rule: http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/seg/geomag/faqgeom.shtml#q5d East magnetic deviation sample calculation (you western folks): http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/seg/geomag/icons/case1.gif West magnetic deviation sample calculation (us eastern folks): http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/seg/geomag/icons/case2.gif Jay, you are at a negative magnetic deviation or west deviation per the below chart: http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/seg/geomag/img/us_dec_11x17.pdf So the value you're adding in the formulas is (per the chart) negative (-). For the western folks this is positive (+). As the examples show, it's how the bearing is stated and taken that is also important. I don't know if any of this would have affected any of the stated readings, maybe not (Rick Kunath, ibid.) In the interest of continuing to flog an already deceased equine, I think it should be pointed out that the map http://www.disitron.com/freeresources/northamerica.gif you linked to in a previous message appears to have the whole thing backwards. It has lines of declination east of the zero line labeled as "East Declination" and says to add the indicated values, all of which are positive, to the magnetic bearing to determine the bearing in relation to true north. Bad map. Bad, bad map. I guess even on the internet you get what you pay for (Jay Heyl, ibid.) Yeah, just noticed that. Bad map is right. Bad choice in that first map I posted. I should have enlarged the thing and looked at it better :( Hoping some of this thread eventually makes sense (Rick Kunath, ibid.) Jim Tonne, With correction for magnetic declination, my bearing should be 92/272 (Kevin Redding, Gilbert AZ, ibid.) I don't know if this is useful or not, but I could see the 1181 carrier on my SDR-IQ receiver display last night at a signal level about equal to WHAM. At about 0027 UT the carrier dropped suddenly (it didn't look like a fade out) and remained off for ~1 minute. Then it returned but at a lower signal level than previously. I attempted to get a bearing with my Quantum loop, but due to local noise I wasn't able to get an accurate reading (Brett Saylor, Central Pennsylvania, Aug 24, ibid.) My take on the 1181 tone and any fuzziness in the collective DF project is due to lots of people taking not very precise bearings. I DF'd it from New Jersey with an indoor setup, and indoor antennas will not give true bearings because of multipath, wall reflections, etc. It's most likely Cuba in my opinion (Dave Hochfelder, Albany, NY (but not yet back to DXing...) ibid.) [He had it at 160 degrees = Puerto Rico] I was awake before 6:00 am today [CDT = 1100 UT] and decided to check 1181 on my ICF-2010. The het was quite loud and steady even though dawn was breaking here. I checked 530, and noted Rebelde there was beginning to flutter and fade. By 6:15 am, 1181 was still in here well but Rebelde was totally gone from 530, leaving only a Texas Department of Transportation TIS station. At 6:20 am, the 1181 tone was beginning to fade, and I noted some other stations (like KKLF-1700 in Sherman, TX) on their day powers. Around 6:25 am, the 1181 tone abruptly vanished, but reappeared about a minute later at a lower level, but still there. By this time KGOL-1180 in Houston was on day power/pattern and dominating 1180, but the 1181 signal was still there and could be heard during KGOL dead air until I stopped listening at 6:30 am. As the late, great Rod Serling used to say, "Submitted for your consideration. . . . " (Harry Helms W5HLH, Smithville, TX EL19, Aug 24, ABDX via DXLD) Vely intelesting, but fadeout of the lowest MW frequency 530 should be quite a lot earlier than mid-band or higher from the same location (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) It was raining and thundering too hard earlier to get outside and take some bearings on the 1181 tone here from Michigan, but I managed to grab some Spectran screen shots starting at 10 PM EDT. I'd have liked to start the Spectran run before sunset. Hopefully I can do that tomorrow. I ran the shots off with the AR5000 tuned to 1179 kHz in USB mode and looked at the area around 2 kHz for the tone from the 1181 kHz station. I actually saw two separate carriers. One was at 1981 kHz and was the stronger of the two. The other was around 1962 kHz and was weaker with more fading. The 1981 carrier disappeared for about a minute and a half, at one point and then reappeared. The carrier at 1962 remained steady during the fade of the other carrier. I saved two screen shots from Spectran, but don't have anywhere to post them. If anyone is interested in seeing them, let me know and I'll send them along. I am curious whether anyone else is seeing two separate carriers on the channel? This might explain the bearings? Hopefully I can grab some bearings tomorrow night from outside in the yard with the Kiwa (Rick Kunath, K9AO, Aug 24, ABDX via DXLD) I guess you mean 1981 Hz above 1179.0000 kHz = 1180.81 and 1962 Hz above 1179.0000 kHz = 1180.62, right? Maybe the 19 Hz difference between them would explain the slight wavering in pitch we`ve sometimes heard vis-à-vis 1180 carriers. This and the off-and-on, signal level changes are very interesting. Hope we can get some consistent DFs on a definite second (or third) probable target area (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) Yes, I sure do, Glenn. The frequencies were audio tones and should have been stated in Hz. Both were relative to the AR5000's dial frequency of 1179 kHz. I used USB, manual RF gain, and had a Collins 3 kHz filter in-line at the time, with the audio high-pass set to 3 kHz also. I was using a wire antenna that is pretty non-directional. If my post proofreading gets any worse one of these days everything will be sent upside down :( If the storms pass through here quickly enough this afternoon, I am hoping I can get something useful tonight. Fade up times on each of the signals using the wire antenna might be useful, as would any possible bearings on either signal using either my large air-core box loop or the Kiwa loop. It would be interesting to see what others from other areas would see for fade-up times (Rick Kunath, ibid.) Rumors are flying that Castro is dead. Listen to see what's on RHC. You might get a glimpse at the truth or maybe not. The Cuban government is saying no. The word in Miami is that Castro es muerto (Kevin Redding, AZ, ibid.) Kevin, So said Paul Zecchino in one of his cryptic submissions to IRCA's reflector [see CUBA]. I ran his submission through my Intergalactic Radio Communications Assembly decoder, and merely got a decryption of "Eat Post Toasties in the morning!"...so I'm doubtful. EL GATO HABLA (Charles A Taylor, WD4INP, Greenville, North Carolina, ibid.) Charles, You forgot to use the Milspec390 patented secret password with the decryption. I got, "I just saved a bunch of money on my car insurance" I guess maybe my password is out of date (Chris N1CP Black, Cape Cod, ABDX via DXLD) Hi Rick, The few times I have measured 1181 kHz using a SDR-14 calibrated to less than 1 Hz accuracy, the signal has been precisely 1181.000 kHz. I'll try to check again this weekend and see if I am also receiving the second carrier that you found at -19 Hz. 73, (Brandon Jordan, Memphis, TN, bcdx.org Aug 25, ABDX via DXLD) [Re Heyl`s readings:] I don't understand this. You must mean the bearing of the null and not the bearing of the signal? (which is at right angle to the bearing of the null) Otherwise Jay's signal would originate from the Bermuda triangle, as shown at http://tonnesoftware.com/1180F.gif 73, (Mauno Ritola, Finland, ABDX via DXLD) That is the point I was trying to make the other day. The null bearing is 72/252, so the signal bearing is 162/342. The map is obviously plotting Jay's null and not signal bearing, which looks like it will be pretty close to the other Eastern Cuba plots. Bermuda triangle, eh? Maybe we are dealing with a UFO or R. Atlantis trying to QRM both Marti and Rebelde :) Maybe this is a job for Art Bell's Coast to Coast AM! 73, (Brandon Jordan, Memphis, TN, ibid.) There is no "null bearing". There is a bearing from my location to the transmitter. That's it. The rest is just a matter of how I determine that bearing. The only time what you're suggesting would make any sense at all is if one was using an air core loop, nulling the target signal, and then taking a bearing using the plane of the loop. In that case the target signal would be coming from a location 90 degrees out from the plane of the loop. But such is not the case. I'm using a ferrite loop which has its null along the line of the ferrite bar. I've probably bored the list to tears explaining exactly how I arrived at the bearing I've reported. I posted a photo essay of how I made precise measurements of the bearing. I've used the exact same method to take bearings on other transmitters with known locations and they have always been within a few degrees of the known bearing. It may be hard to accept, but I do actually have a vague clue of what I'm doing. And I'm getting tired of defending my competence (Jay Heyl, FL, ibid.) Subject: Martí-1180 DA pattern change? WTF, over ? ``Dear Steve & fellow IRCAnauts - 1181? Right. There he is. Med strgth, LOBS 153 deg's > Sta. Clara, at 1332Z.`` ====================================================================== Thanks, Doc: we finally got you to transmit something in the clear. Now we KNOW you know how to speak English like other Earthlings! ====================================================================== ``1181 Het nulls // one of Rebelde Quad/Triplets & 840 R. Dobleve. OF LATE, TODAY PRIME EXAMPLE, FOR REASONS UNKNOWN, R. Marti WELL RECEIVED THIS QTH.* ====================================================================== *PV's words emphasized by me. (CAT-NC) ====================================================================== Until perhaps month ago, Marti 1180 barely audible carrier beat against Rebelde Gangstas. W/careful looping could one extract weak audio. Now, med strength, audio listenable. ====================================================================== Don't know if you saw my submission on Martí-1180 DA pattern a few nights ago. I was looking at this 1181 thing and listening to the mess on 1180. I WAS ASTOUNDED to hear a few bar of Martí's flute-like post ID theme through the Rebelde barrage. I'd heard this same theme hundreds of times listening to Martí on the control room monitor as was my wont over twenty tears of IBB employment at Greenville and Delano (where cancer forced my retirement). I have experienced Martí's tight DA pattern twice riding up/down US-1 to/from Cayo Hueso (Key West to you Gringos), and knew I shouldn't be heard a peep out of Martí three nights ago. Something the Hxxx is going on here. Why is Martí letting their pattern out? Does this have a connex with Castro's supposed death? Some strange things happening on 1180 and vicinity! Habla el Gato. (Charles A Taylor, WD4INP, Greenville, North Carolina, ibid.) This is another problem of perspective. Nothing to do with the transmitter itself. In this case the null refers to the angle where the receive antenna has its minimum pickup. Most loops will have a much more distinct point of minimum pickup than maximum pickup so when the distant station's signal is at a minimum (nulled), that's (hopefully) the direction that the station is located (Jerry Lenamon, ibid.) There is a photos area on Yahoo for the ABDX group. You could post them there. There are also lots of free places online to post photos. Kodak has one. I use http://www.fotki.com for most of my photos. I pay for unlimited space there, but they offer a fairly generous amount of space for free. Google also has free online photo storage through its Picasa photo organizer. I don't personally care all that much for Picasa (insufficient user control over what it does), but it is free. And if you don't want to use any of those, I would like to see the photos. I'm rather curious because I've not seen the kind of deviation from 1181 your results suggest. Of course, I've to this point been more concerned with direction than with exact frequency. Maybe it's time to change gears (Jay Heyl, FL, ibid.) I suspect that your overall accuracy is better than mine, though I plan to do some additional calibrating later on tonight if I can. The receiver is usually pretty good, but can't say how close to exact it really is. Then there is the sound card clock frequency, which is pretty close on this machine, but likely nowhere near your 1 Hz accuracy. The carrier difference of around 20 Hz between the two carriers is probably pretty close. I did a calibration run against several local BC stations with the receiver and sound card app today and it looks like the total setup is in the area of 20 Hz off on the low side. I.e. reading approximately 1980 on the peak of the het for a dial setting 2 kHz low on the receiver (USB). This was true with FLdigi in calibration mode and Spectran, both run under Linux. I'll test later on with Spectrum Lab under Windows and see what I get, as I was hoping to use that for a longer run later on. I think that jives with your reading? I could likely improve this with an external Rubidium precision reference feeding the receiver's external reference jack, but didn't drag one home so can't test this weekend. I don't know which is in error, the receiver or the sound card. I'll have to investigate that another day (Rick Kunath, ibid.) I don't know about Jay's bearing. I don't know why it's what it is. But as far as this peak/null question. It matters not which you use to determine a bearing to the station. The bearing is the same. The best to do is to use the null on the loop because it is very narrow in width, so your bearing accuracy will be better. The peak is broad, with almost no variation over a wide loop swing. It's almost impossible to get a really useful bearing with a peak reading. Either way, the line through the peak or the null is the bearing to the station. In Jay`s case with his ferrite rod antenna, the null is off the end, so he rotated this until he found the null. This was off the end of the rod, so the axis of the rod was lying along the bearing line, just as he reported. Not at right angle to this. The null lies on a bi- directional bearing line to the station. One end of the rod was pointing towards the station. Without additional equipment, this is all we know. We don't know which end, but it looks like most are suspecting the end pointing toward the Caribbean. The peak is at right angle to this (the axis) on a ferrite loop, but this makes no difference to the bearing. He wasn't reading the peak. He was reading the null, and the station lies along that bearing line. Had he been doing a peak reading (instead of a null), and if he could have gotten a meaningful reading on the broad peak, and the peak was actually at the correct place in the loop pattern which it often isn't exactly on a loop like the null(s) are, he'd have stated that bearing line. I.e the line at right angles to the rod axis. When nulling for DF purposes, you find the null to the station you are Dfing, and the station lies along the line of the null. On a ferrite rod loop this is along the axis of the rod. On an air-core loop this is through the open part of the loop, i.e. 90 degrees to the loop winding plane. Hopefully that makes sense (Rick Kunath, ibid.) My wife and I are back in Bossier City, LA, visiting our parents. This time, I think we'll be successful in getting my Mom to go back with us to Houston for a few weeks. Anyway, I heard the "tone" again early this morning (Saturday, 25 Aug 2007). I tuned to 1180 kHz on my YB-300PE and there it was! Tune-in was at 0115 CDT [0615 UT Aug 25]. The tone was extremely loud and made the unid station on 1180 sound like it was using SSB. Using my Garmin eTrex, I quickly got a fix on my lat-lon: 32:28:44.5 N 93:40:23.9 W The street in front of my Mom's house is oriented due North/South, so that made determining the tone's null azimuth a little easier. Using a quickly-drawn graph, I found the null was approximately 135/315 from my location. I was really getting into all of this when, suddenly, the tone stopped at 0126 CDT. I stayed on 1180 for about 20 more minutes, but the tone did not return. Hope this gives everybody another datapoint to use. 73, (Steve Ponder, N5WBI, Houston TX, ibid.) It's obvious Castro is nearing the end of his life (the fact no video or photos of him were released on his recent birthday is a strong indicator El Jefe Máximo is doing badly). Since Castro has built a personality cult instead of a government, there is no telling what might happen when he dies (another Mariel boatlift??). Maybe U.S. psyops are getting transmitters ready to broadcast to Cuba when Fidel leaves this world for that Perpetual Revolution in the Sky? The precision of the carriers' frequencies strongly points to a U.S. source, and the switching on and off, variations in signal level, etc., indicates some sort of testing. Gosh, I feel like we're all the Hardy Boys and we're trying to solve a mystery! (Harry Helms W5HLH, Smithville, TX EL19 http://topsecrettourism.com ibid.) Subject: Radio Direction Finding with a Loop http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direction_finding This says use the null and that`s where the signal is. If you are using some other method, well your results WILL vary. http://books.google.com/books?id=BusoFoKzMwMC&pg=PA121&lpg=PA121&dq=radio+direction+finding+with+a+loop&source=web&ots=AzZ-EepIUX&sig=dCMVnGqDioz1Ix5gHkkFark80bw#PPA121,M1 This from Joseph Carr - The Technicians EMI Handbook: Clues and Solutions "Open the radio and locate the loopstick antenna. If you rotate the radio through an arc where the loopstick is first broadside to the arriving signal, and then perpendicular to the signal, you will notice a tremendous reduction in signal. Ferrite loopsticks are extremely sensitive to direction of arrival, with a sharp null coming off the ends. By noting the direction which the null occurs (Figure 11.1) you find the line of direction to/from the signal source." Use the null. Do not use the peak. If you are not using the null, you will have error. Period (Kevin Redding, ibid.) "Use the null, Luke, use the null!" (Harry Helms W5HLH, ibid.) Harry, I think you are right on, or very close in your observations. Personally I don't think there will be a mass exodus when El Viejo kicks the bucket, but it is wise for the US to be prepared just in case. This makes sense. By the way the "tone" is audible all day here in Fort Pierce. I am getting 2 audio signals about equal strength on 1180 here. One being Rebelde, the other UNID (Juan, Ft. Pierce FL, Aug 25, waiting for the right occasion to light that special cigar, ibid.) Oye Juan, Methinks you're hearing Radio Martí-1180. Give a listen to the SW (6030, 9565, 11930, 13860) freqs and see if the audio there correlates with 1180. Radio Martí is very much a handmaiden of the Miami/Dade Co. Cuban American community, to the extent that Radio and TV studios are in Hialeah, and not in WASHDC as many think. I'm think that maybe Martí-1180 may go ND should things change drastically in Cuba as a means for the US Government to "talk" to the aforesaid community. That's some kind of semi-rational interpretation I put on the fact that both Paul Vecchio and I have both noted Martí- 1180 is being heard back on the mainland more so than before. Jest mah two cints worth, take it 'er leave it, sez I. El Gato (Charles Taylor, NC, ibid.) It`s 13820, not 13860 (gh, DXLD) 1181 now seen in Austin --- For what it's worth the 1181 signal has been visible on Spectran since 6:30 pm central [2330 UT] here in Austin. If like last night it will be audible after KGOL goes to night power. As best as I can DF it is from S. Florida and has really good frequency accuracy; 1181.0000 which is something almost never seen on a MW transmitter. Right now I see five separate carriers on 1180, none of which seem related to what is seen on 1181. FT-1000MP and Spectran just calibrated against 2.5 MHz WWV. I agree with the R. Martí theory given the current Fidel rumors (Alan Schreier, WA5DJU, Aug 25, ABDX via DXLD) I took some more bearings UT August 26 around 0100 and 0340. Still getting about 125 degrees (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Tuned in to 9665 today Aug 25 at 1535z continuing past 1630z, classical music, some opera. I heard no ID at the top of the hour. Ideas? (Jerry Lenamon, Waco Texas, Drake R8B with sloper, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I am rarely listening that late, but a bit earlier around 1300-1400 this frequency is normally dominated by Pyongyang KCBS domestic service, axually more like 9666 and with a buzz on the audio, sometimes nothing but the buzz. Was it anything like that? Any hint of East Asianism in the music? It`s scheduled until 1800. 73, (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LANGUAGE LESSONS See NORFOLK ISLAND ++++++++++++++++ WORLD OF HOROLOGY See VENEZUELA +++++++++++++++++ CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ RSGB HF CONVENTION ON 12 TO 14 OCTOBER This year's convention is at a new venue, Wyboston Lakes, in Bedfordshire. As usual there is a full lecture programme and the chance to meet the world's top HF operators and DXers. Full details of the convention are at http://www.rsgb.org/hfc/ (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ PHOENIX AIR A subpage of the company that is contracted and (maybe sometimes) conducts Air Martí operations. Some of their other subpage links have interesting photos of other airframes and rolls as well. http://www.phoenixair.com/electronic_warfare.php (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) One section of the above, proudly proclaiming jamming capability: CAECSP Communications Jamming Jamming Covers 20 to 500 MHz MD-1203 Tone Modulator Provides Additional Jamming Techniques MD-1203 Interface with HF Radios and USQ-113 Communications Jammer Effective Against Single Channel Fixed Frequency or Slow Frequency Hopping Comms in the HF, VHF and UHF Frequency Ranges (via DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING DRM: ETHIOPIA; GUIANA FRENCH; USA WRMI ++++++++++++++++++++ DTV: MEXICO THE FCC'S LATEST "FINAL" IS A JOKE ON iBOC wrathofkahn.org: Where the Truth Comes First In a huge document printed in the Federal Register now available on the Wrath in easy to read print (go to the latest "Previous Week" button) the long expected final, final, really, really no kidding final Rules in which the FCC played a little joke on the Trillion Dollar iBOC team, including Clear Channel, Lucent etc. who are ready to trade the safety of over-the-air radio for a piece of that Trillion Dollar pie in the sky scheme. Enuf talk Leonard, tell us the joke... OK, OK On Page 45671 the FCC states that it: "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 [Digital Audio Broadcasting... AM & FM radio] by domestic radio stations.." In other words, as the WRATH reported last week, the Mexican Government sent the State Department a very, very tough letter warning us that even our border stations were interfering with Mexican stations and stop it... It sounded like troops were marching... And since I haven't bragged yet but a long time ago I spent about a month in Geneva as the State Department's (one and only) radio expert; they didn't want more than one because even then the USA was worried we might look like bullies, so unlike France who had like ten engineers, I had to work all the committees whether or not I knew what I talking about. Anyway, I at least convinced the Germans not to desert AM radio in favor of all FM. Leonard that is enuf. Last word the FCC has about as much chance of convincing the ITU to accept additional interference from iBOC jammers as I have of winning the Olympic pole vaulting gold medal. Anyway, let us get to the PUNCH LINE of the FCC's little joke on my iBOC friends. On Page 456871 after telling iBiquity some really, really bad news about Patents that they may not fully understand, we finally get to the Joke re international treaties: The FCC opines that: "While we are optimistic that we will be able to resolve any outstanding issues with Canada and Mexico or other countries, these issues remain subject to ongoing negotiations. Therefore, until the negations are completed, we advise the radio industry that the following condition will be applied to stations operating with IBOC DAB: Operation with facilities specified herein is subject to modification, suspension or termination without the right to hearing...." Since I want to be certain RW and the Trillion Dollar international cartel including Clear Channel and Texas Instruments and Lucent gets: the JOKE, let me repeat: [in large type in original] Therefore, until the negations are completed, we advise the radio industry that the following condition will be applied to stations operating with IBOC DAB: Operation with facilities specified herein is subject to modification, suspension or termination without the right to hearing...." So you broadcasters, who maybe spent a million bucks for IBOC gear, this isn't all that funny, especially when you decide to try to prove your station doesn't increase interference. Sorry, but you really have to be careful when someone sells you a device that has never worked at night, and you don't even take the time to tune into stations that real engineers tell you are jamming their neighbors (Leonard Kahn, Wrath of Kahn, http://www.wrathofkahn.org/ via DXLD) This item will eventually be toward the bottom of his Previous Weeks file (gh) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ ARNIE CORO’S DXERS UNLIMITED’S PROPAGATION UPDATE AND FORECAST Hi amigos radioaficionados around the world and in orbiting planet Earth. Welcome to the weekend edition of your favorite radio hobby program that you are picking up under rather difficult propagation conditions due to a combination of very low solar activity and the effects of a disturbing high speed solar wind impacting into the Earth’s magnetosphere. But, if you stay up late, your lack of sleep will be rewarded by much better propagation conditions than those prevailing during your local daylight hours, as we are still in the summer, when that happens due to the high temperatures reached by the ionosphere in the sunlit hemisphere. Just one sunspot group and it is certainly a small and of simple structure, so the daily sunspot number is the rock bottom 12, a bit higher than during the previous several days with zero sunspot count. The proton density of the solar wind has increased quite a bit, and that may trigger geomagnetic disturbances at high latitudes. The general description for short wave propagation conditions can be resumed with one single word: POOR, because of the combination of very low solar activity and the incoming high speed solar wind with high proton density… Don’t expect Sporadic E openings, because the season has now, for all practical purposes arrived to its end (Arnie Coro, CO2KK, RHC DXers Unlimited Aug 25, HCDX via DXLD) TIPS FOR RATIONAL LIVING ++++++++++++++++++++++++ What struck me about my fellow Texan, Karl Rove, is that he knew how to win elections as if they were divine interventions. You may think God summoned Billy Graham to Florida on the eve of the 2000 election to endorse George W. Bush just in the nick of time, but if it did happen that way, the good lord was speaking in a Texas accent. Karl Rove figured out a long time ago that the way to take an intellectually incurious draft-averse naughty playboy in a flight jacket with chewing tobacco in his back pocket and make him governor of Texas, was to sell him as God's anointed in a state where preachers and televangelists outnumber even oil derricks and jack rabbits. Using church pews as precincts Rove turned religion into a weapon of political combat — a battering-ram, aimed at the devil's minions, especially at gay people. It's so easy, as Karl knew, to scapegoat people you outnumber, and if God is love, as rumor has it, Rove knew that, in politics, you better bet on fear and loathing. Never mind that in stroking the basest bigotry of true believers you coarsen both politics and religion. At the same time he was recruiting an army of the lord for the born- again Bush, Rove was also shaking down corporations for campaign cash. Crony capitalism became a biblical injunction. Greed and God won four elections in a row — twice in the lone star state and twice again in the nation at large. But the result has been to leave Texas under the thumb of big money with huge holes ripped in its social contract, and the U.S. government in shambles — paralyzed, polarized, and mired in war, debt and corruption. Rove himself is deeply enmeshed in some of the scandals being investigated as we speak, including those missing emails that could tell us who turned the attorney general of the United States into a partisan sock-puppet. Rove is riding out of Dodge City as the posse rides in. At his press conference this week he asked God to bless the president and the country, even as reports were circulating that he himself had confessed to friends his own agnosticism; he wished he could believe, but he cannot. That kind of intellectual honesty is to be admired, but you have to wonder how all those folks on the Christian right must feel discovering they were used for partisan reasons by a skeptic, a secular manipulator. On his last play of the game all Karl Rove had to offer them was a Hail-Mary pass, while telling himself there's no one there to catch it (Bill Moyers, commentary on Bill Moyers Journal, PBS, Aug 17, quoted in latest PBS Ombudsman column http://www.pbs.org/ombudsman/2007/08/the_gift_that_keeps_on_giving_print.html via DXLD) Along with lots of criticism. Rove maintains he is a believer, as if that makes OK all the evil that he has accomplished (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###