DX LISTENING DIGEST 7-150, December 10, 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 1385 Tue 1130 WRMI 9955** Tue 1630 WRMI 7385 Wed 0830 WRMI 9955** ** flexible times 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 ** ABKHAZIA. GEORGIA/ABKHAZIA [tent.] At 0550 UT noted Abkhazia (Georgia) in Russian again, -- after long break, 9494.74 kHz. But station had left the air approx. 0624 UT, when checked again. Yesterday around 1450 UT, and this morning again (0550 and 0630 UT) noted an UNKNOWN station carrier on 9510.74 kHz. Could that be the second Abkhazia transmitter, which was lately near 9535 kHz, BUT on approx. 9508 kHz in the nineties a decade ago! (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, Dec 10, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AFGHANISTAN. INDIAN STATE ENTERPRISE PROVIDES TRANSMITTERS AND STUDIOS FOR AFGHANISTAN. "The Broadcasting Engineering Consultancy India Ltd. (BECIL), a department under the Information and Broadcasting ministry ... has ... submitted a proposal of Rs 977.2 million to the External Affairs Ministry for re-enforcement of radio coverage in Afghanistan involving medium wave and short wave hp transmissions along with studio centres." http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k7/dec/dec100.php (Indiantelevision.com, 8 December 2007 via kimandrewelliott.com 09 Dec via DXLD) Because of its many remote areas, Afghanistan uses shortwave for some of its domestic broadcasting (Kim Andrew Elliott, ibid.) There have been reports for a couple years that India would be supplying a 100 kW SW transmitter to Afghanistan; whatever became of that? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. U.K., R. Solh from Rampisham-UK to Afghanistan nominal on 15265 at 1200-1500, noted \\ on a second channel 13830 in 1300-1400 UT slot, same 500 kW powerhouse sound (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, Dec 10, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Maybe contemplating a change due to lowered winter MUFs? But the sunspots are up, at least temporarily (gh) ** ALASKA. USA, Frequency change for KNLS in Chinese: 0800-1200 NF 6915 NLS 100 kW / 300 deg to China, ex 7355 1300-1600 NF 6915 NLS 100 kW / 300 deg to China, ex 7355 (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Dec 10 via DXLD) As already reported here (gh) ** ALBANIA. Drita Çiço has sent me a number of photos of R. Tirana people and facilities, and 14 of them are now in an album in the dxld yahoogroup (Glenn Hauser, Dec 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ALBANIA. 13640, no sign of R. Tirana, scheduled in English to NAm, Dec 10 at 1536 check. Down for maintenance? Antenna repairs? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also TIBET ** AUSTRALIA. RA continues to be inaudible on its normally potent 31m frequencies: Dec 10 at 1347 could not hear on 9580 or 9590, but OK on 6020. Presumably near Summer Solstice, the 9 MHz signals are getting absorbed rather than refracted where the first hop would normally be in our direxion, the pre-sunrise MUF being at its lowest, altho one might otherwise conclude that they are no longer on the air at all (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. 8176-USB, VMC Australia Weather East, 1345. 12/8/07. Marine warning for New South Wales. S6 on peaks // 6507. More info at: http://www.bom.gov.au/marine/voice_services.shtml (Jerry Strawman, Des Moines, IA, AOR AR7030+, Wellbrook 330S Loop, Alpha Delta Sloper, NASWA Flashsheet Dec 9 via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. CVC is running some DRM tests from Darwin, Australia to Japan, on 10, 11 and 12 December: 0400-0600 UT - 17835 kHz 0630-1000 UT - 17780 kHz DRM transmit power is around 80 kW, and the antenna is HRS4/4/.5 pointing at 3 deg (340+23deg slew). (Source: Andrew Flynn, Christian Vision via DRM Software Radio Forums) (December 10th, 2007 - 11:46 UTC by Andy, Media Network blog via DXLD) ** BULGARIA. R. Bulgaria, 15700, Dec 10 at 1356 with splatter out to 15680 and 15720, peaking most at 15685 and 15715, bothering station on 15690 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. The Sackville transmitter relaying NHK on 11705, at 1416 Dec 10, exhibited a lite squeal, a bad sign of impending trouble. Let`s hope they don`t let it deteriorate as much as WEWN and RHC. Was about immigration in Sweden, so I checked Yamata 7200 to be sure it was really NHK programming instead of a feed mixup at Sackville, and indeed it was // 7200 tho a couple seconds out of synch (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Hola gente de Conexión Digital: ya hace bastante tiempo que no les escribía pero todavía sigo escuchando onda corta. Ayer por la noche escuché por los 9800 kHz a Radio Canada Internacional a las 0247 UT, pero en el esquema en formato PDF de sus emisiones que descargué de su página web no se encuentra esta frecuencia. El receptor usado es mi Radio-Shack DX-394 con un dipolo de 9 metros. Desde ya les deseo Feliz Navidad y un Próspero Año Nuevo 2008 (Salomón Olvera, Querétaro, Mexico, Conexión Digital Dec 9 via DXLD) But it`s in HFCC; strangely enough, TDF via Guiana French is also registered in Spanish during that hour, presumably RFI, but surely not both in use, or could RCI have GUF relay pending/on standby? 9800 0200 0300 10,11NW SAC 250 227 1234567 281007 290308 D SPANISH CAN RCI RCI 16121 9800 0200 0300 13,14,16 GUF 500 195 1234567 281007 300308 D Spanish F NEW TDF 15457 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [and non]. 7105, CLANDESTINE. Sound of Hope (Taiwan), 2243, 12/7/07, Mandarin. Noted in passing M and F talking in Chinese against Firedrake jamming. Wonder how PBS Nei Menggu, also scheduled here at this hour, fares in China under all that noise. Fair (Mark Schiefelbein, Springfield, MO, Kenwood R-5000/Wellbrook 330S loop, NASWA Flashsheet Dec 9 via DXLD) Maybe you were hearing Nei Menggu instead of SOH; doubt I could tell the difference, unless parallelable (gh, DXLD) See also TIBET ** CUBA. Surprised to find the DentroCuban Jamming Command running at full force on 7405, UT Mon Dec 10 at 0637 during the weekly truce when R. Martí is off the air; however, 6030 was clear of both (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. RHC stayed on late Dec 10 to celebrate Human Rights Day. Sí, amigos, you heard me right, Human Rights Day, from the home of repression! Noticed at 1505 on 15370, 13760 (an echo apart), 13680, 12000, 11805, 11760, 9550, YL going on and on in Spanish about how there are more HR in Cuba than elsewhere, where people can get educated and medicated. It`s a north-vs-south issue. The US blockade is ``genocidal`` --- then how come we are providing Cuba with food, despite it? That`s the thanks we get? Another prime twisted example of The Big Lie from our Commie neighbors. Nothing much said about freedom of the press, other traditional human rights. This was apparently run-up to a speech by some OM (not Fidel) which was underway at 1520; all gone at 1601 recheck. Meanwhile, she threw in a frequency announcement at 1517 mentioning all of the above plus 9600, which as usual was incorrect, no RHC there, fortunately for XEYU 9599+ (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CZECHIA [and non]. CZECH REPUBLIC Winter B-07 schedule of R Prague: CZECH 0030-0057 on 5930 7345 0230-0257 on 6200 7345 0330-0357 on 6200 7345 0930-0957 on 11600 21745 1030-1057 on 15710 21745 1200-1227 on 11640 17545 1330-1357 on 6055 7345 1630-1657 on 5930 15710 1830-1857 on 5930 9400 2030-2057 on 5930 9430 2200-2227 on 5930 9435 ENGLISH 0000-0027 on 9955 RMI Tue-Sat 0100-0127 on 6200 7345 0200-0227 on 5995 SAC 0200-0227 on 6200 7345 0400-0427 on 5990 SAC 0400-0427 on 6200 7345 0430-0457 on 9890 0800-0827 on 7345 9860 1000-1027 on 9955 RMI 1000-1027 on 15710 21745 1130-1157 on 11640 17545 1330-1357 on 9750 RMP Fri/Sat DRM 1400-1427 on 11600 13580 1500-1527 on 7385 RMI 1700-1727 on 5930 15710 1800-1827 on 5930 9400 2100-2127 on 5930 9430 2230-2257 on 5930 9435 2330-2357 on 5930 7345 GERMAN 0730-0757 on 5930 7345 1100-1127 on 7345 9880 1300-1327 on 6055 7345 1300-1327 on 9750 RMP Fri/Sat DRM 1600-1627 on 5930 1730-1757 on 5940 ARM FRENCH 0700-0727 on 5930 7345 0830-0857 on 9860 11600 1100-1127 on 17515 ASC 1430-1457 on 11600 13580 1730-1757 on 5930 15710 1930-1957 on 5930 9430 2300-2327 on 5930 7345 RUSSIAN 0500-0527 on 5980 9890 1230-1257 on 6055 17545 1530-1557 on 5930 9450 1900-1927 on 5830 DB SPANISH 0000-0027 on 5930 7345 0000-0027 on 11665 ASC 0030-0057 on 9955 RMI Tue-Sat 0100-0127 on 11665 ASC 0130-0157 on 6200 7345 0300-0327 on 6200 7345 0530-0557 on 9955 RMI 0900-0927 on 11600 15255 1030-1057 on 9955 RMI 1500-1527 on 11600 13580 1900-1927 on 5930 9430 2000-2027 on 5930 9430 2130-2157 on 5930 9435 2330-2357 on 6000 SAC ARM=Armavir; ASC=Ascension; DB=Dushanbe; RMI=WRMI; RMP=Rampisham; SAC=Sackville (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Dec 10 via DXLD) ** DIEGO GARCIA. VQ9, CHAGOS ISLANDS. Jim, ND9M, informs OPDX that he will be returning to Diego Garcia this week (ETA 12th December) for another four month tour and will resume operating as VQ9JC. Jim states, "My ship will be leaving the island in a few weeks, so I don't know yet how much of my four months will be spent there; hopefully we will return in August or September 2008. But there's a possibility that the ship will be reassigned to another port; if that happens, this would likely be my final chance to put out VQ9. If I'm still there in late March, I will try to get another special prefix callsign issued for temporary use around the CQ WPX SSB Contest. The local licensing authority was very receptive to my request in 2007 and were kind enough to issue me VQ97JC for a two-week period; with luck, they will do it again. Operating time tends to run about 85% CW, 10% SSB, and 5% digital and is mainly on 10-80 meters. I must take a boat from my ship (where I am one of the few remaining Radio Officers) to the island where the ham shack is located and usually cannot be QRV before 1200Z. (Local time is GMT +6 all year.) In order to be on the boat back to the ship, I must QRT by 1630Z on Sundays through Thursday, and by 1730Z on Fridays and Saturdays, although I will occasionally stay overnight to work early morning DX. Even if I do stay overnight, I have to QRT by about 0050Z to make the boat in time to be at my job by 0200Z. (Ops should keep in mind that I'm there on a work assignment; it's not a vacation holiday!)" QSL via ND9M (ex-WB9IHH); either by the bureau or direct is OK. Jim's XYL will forward direct requests to him every three weeks or so, but mail typically takes about two weeks to get to the island once she mails it (Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 836, Dec 10, via Dave Raycroft, ODXA yg via DXLD) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. 5005, Radio Nacional ­ Bata, 0532-0606, Dec 5. Lively program of vocals hosted by a man announcer with Spanish talk. Long discussion break with another man at 0546 with numerous mentions of Bata and a "Radio Nacional" ID before returning to musical programming. Music continued through the top of the hour without breaking. Poor to fair (Rich D'Angelo, Wyomissing, PA, Ten-Tec RX-340, Drake R-8B, Eton E1, Lowe HF-150, Eton E5, Alpha Delta DX Sloper, RF Systems Mini-Windom, Datong FL3, JPS ANC-4, NASWA Flashsheet Dec 9 via DXLD) ** ERITREA [non]. U S A Frequency change for Voice of Meselná Delina in Tigrigna Mon-Fri: 1800-1830 NF 12015 HRA 250 kW / 090 deg to EaAf, ex 17650, tx Angel # 5 (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Dec 10 via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA. 7165.2, R. Ethiopia, Geja Dera (I'd like to see this and certain other site names clearly defined as various sources show different or then just slightly different names), 1551-1603, 09 Dec, Arabic, talks, tunes, then some other language (English?) after 1600, but conditions didn't allow to identify it; 23432; parallel to 9560.5: R. Ethiopia, Geja Dera, 1544-1607, 09 Dec, Arabic, talks, tunes, different language (English) after 1600; 33443 but deteriorating, weak audio (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA [and non]. DW Amharic jamming check, Dec 10 at 1437: 15660, white noise jamming, some audio detectable; 15640, only jamming; 15620, DW Rwanda good except for flutter, no jamming. 11900, Dec 10 at 1525, could hear talk mixed with white noise jamming, i.e. Tensae being blocked; not DRM (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. ESTADOS UNIDOS, 11785, NO ID ¿Memeher Ze Tewaedo?, 1900-1905, escuchada el 10 de diciembre en idioma africano sin identificar, comienza emisión con la ID en inglés de WHRA, locutor con comentarios, música con ritmo africana, SINPO 44444. Audio: http://jmromero782004.podomatic.com/ La forma de comenzar la emisión es similar al programa que se emite por WZHF 1390 AM correspondiente a Memeher Ze Tewaedo. http://www.memeherzetewahedo.org/RadioPrograms.html (José Miguel Romero, Burjasot (Valencia), Spain, Sangean ATS 909, Antena Radio Master A-108, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) This is the Monday-only broadcast I reported last week. I also recorded the first half-sesquihour Dec 10 but no chance to analyse it yet (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE [non]. FRANCE'S RFI RADIO LAUNCHES HAUSA SERVICE IN NIGERIA http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hdao-Zp-r5KbGgiVIUxARnSEhxkQ LAGOS (AFP) - The public Radio France Internationale has launched in Nigeria this weekend a news service in Hausa, the official language of northern Nigeria that is widely spoken in other parts of West Africa. Financed by RFI and with collaboration from the international Voice of Nigeria, the Hausa programs will be broadcast two hours daily -- the same amount of time as British rival, BBC, broadcasts in the same language. "It's the first time in the history of the international French radio that the editorial staff is completely relocated overseas," said Jean Claude Kuentz, RFI's deputy general development director, speaking of the launch which took place Saturday. Five journalists and three technicians will make up the radio's Hausa team, which Kuentz said has triggered interest by Tanzania's radio and television broadcasting service for a similar collaboration in Swahili. The Hausa service will allow the station to offer "the diversity of French opinions and not just the official position of France" worldwide, France's ambassador to Nigeria Yves Gaudeul said. English is Nigeria's official language (via Zacharias Liangas, DXLD) I seem to recall this was going to be on FM in Nigeria, but also on SW from France or elsewhere? (gh, DXLD) RFI Hausa web page http://www.rfi.fr/langues/statiques/rfi_hausa.asp shows three daily shortwave transmissions, and FM in Niger, but not in Nigeria, so the quid pro quo is uncertain here. RFI Hausa shortwave transmissions began in May 2007. (Kim Andrew Elliott, kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) Viz., but is this up to date, unlike RFI`s English webpage?? --- Labarunmu 6h00 TU Gajeren zango 31m 9805 kHz 25m 11995 kHz 49m 6170 Khz Labarunmu 7h00 TU Gajeren zango 25m 11830 kHz 19m 15315 kHz 31m 9805 Khz Labarunmu 16h00 TU Gajeren zango 19m 15315 kHz 25m 11700 Khz (via gh, DXLD) ** GERMANY [non]. Relay problems: see U K ** GREECE. Glenn: Voice of Greece's "Greeks In Style" with Adrianna in English playing Greek music with a Near-East touch, was heard here on UT Monday Dec 10 at 0005-0105 on 7475 and 9420 with SINPO's of 45444; 12105 was not audible (John Babbis, Silver Spring MD, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUIANA FRENCH. Strong DRM continues regular here on 15790-15795- 15800, Dec 10 at 1355 and still at 1606. HFCC registered as Issoudun, France TDF, but Guiana French has been missing from 17870-17875-17880. 15795 is STILL missing from DRM`s own schedule at http://www.drm.org/livebroadcast/livebroadcast.php which claims ``Last modified: 2007.12.07,12:24.00#5#+00:00`` and is evidently identical to http://www.vtplc.com/communications/product.asp?itemID=1021&catid=486 attributed to Klaus Schneider and presumably identical to yet another version http://www.baseportal.com/cgi-bin/baseportal.pl?htx=/drmdx/main&sort=kHz,UTC and yet2 another version of the same data: http://www.radionetherlands.nl/features/media/dossiers/drm_schedule.html So, if Klaus Schneider doesn`t know about it, the info is not on any of these schedules. Perhaps we need a real alternative? Posts from Dec 3 to Dec 6 on the drmna yg, however, confirm 15795 is Montsinéry, carrying RFO Guyane programming for Martinique and Guadeloupe, so also favoring NAm in azimuth (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: Not apparently listed on drm-dx.de yet, but apparently a new DRM frequency, and it's a strong one! RFO Guyane via TDF, Montsinery, Fr. Guyana on 15790 [sic] - Spotted at 10:45 am PST [1845 UT] while preparing for a doctor's appointment. And.... Anyone know if there will be any special DRM broadcasts for the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show, which will run from 7-10 January 2008? d.m.f. (Dennis M. Falk, Dec 3, DRMNA yg via DXLD) Still pegging in at noon PST [2000 UT] with an MER of around 14-27 dB, hovering around 18-22 dB most of the time, or the signal indicator reading a peak of 4 out of 5 bars-- Like I said, it's a strong one! :) And transmission ended just after noon, so... :) Did manage to record an hour on the MR.... d.m.f. (Falk, ibid.) Well catched, Dennis! We are currently doing some tests from TDF Montsinery with 150 kW into a 4/4/.5 antenna at 320 to French Antilles (Guadeloupe and Martinique) for RFO (French Overseas Radio and TV) so heading is good to the US. Frequency is 15795 kHz. Also some local tests on 6175 kHz, especially on 5th December (local demo). Regarding Las Vegas, we have already done something during NAB from MSY; it worked! We could do something next January if DRM receivers are available for the show Regards (Jacques F6AJW, TDF, ibid.) It's good that I caught it, then, from here in northwestern California. :) North America is going to need at least 3 stations aimed at it (at least 2 receivable on each coast) at any given time to justify the potential viability of DRM over here. The east coast is (obviously) better served than the west coast - We're lucky to get RNW's coverage to most of North America, or being at the long end of a lobe or primary beam - RNZI, in this case, which is almost due south, and they beam due north - Or get broken audio from off-beam transmissions (RCI's Sackville transmitter).... Just like last week's HCJB transmission, it was only by luck it was receivable at all. :) It's been a long time since I last QSLed anyone - All that's needed is a QSL card showing that I indeed receive RFO Guyane in DRM mode. :) I probably should send my address privately... I'm very rusty on this sort of thing... :) Regarding Las Vegas: Since the Morphy Richards and Himalaya radios are both available from Europe, that should be an easy task, I'd think.... Ideally, there needs to be one multiplex DRM broadcast that contains streams for AAC+, CELP and HVXC, all with SBR, and AAC+ having P- stereo... but not locally broadcast. :) DRM's strengths over HD Radio is DXability and versatility. :) d.m.f. (David M. Falk, ibid.) RFO Guyane, 12.04.07/15:10 UTC, 15795.0 DRM SNR 23.5db, RSSI S9 +10 French, 100% decoding, excellent stability. Sincere Best Regards, 73,s (Eric//KG4OZO// Atlanta, Georgia, ibid.) Yeah, was just heading to bed, myself at this hour, decided to see if RFO Guyane was on THIS early - Yep... From here, broken audio at the moment, but will improve by noon, no doubt. :) So, I started a Morphy Richards .drm recording as of 7:15 am PST and letting it run until I get up in the afternoon. :) Thanks, Jacques, for beaming it up this way... :) d.m.f. (Falk, ibid.) I would like to add that I did notice that on Monday, the DRM clock from RFO Guyane was off, but since my post that day, the clock has been accurate. :) As for other DRM time signals: * Depending on frequency used, RCI's clock is either off by as much as a day and a third or it's right on. * RNW's clock has been accurate most of the time. * RNZI's clock is accurate, except when the local NZ date rolls over, making it exactly a day fast at 3am PST/1100 UTC, but is corrected on other frequencies (notably 17675). You wouldn't notice these things if you don't have a standalone receiver like the Morphy Richards and Himalaya. :) d.m.f. And this morning (6 Dec 2007) I turn the radio on, and tune to RFO Guyane, only to have the clock read 5 hours, 48 minutes ahead and a day behind. (It displayed 5:09pm 5 Dec 2007 -- I have the clock setting to UTC -8 (PST), with automatic setting, at 11:21 am PST 6 Dec 2007.) (Sure, there's only a few dozen in the Americas who'd even be able to notice, but making sure the clock is set right, for accurate logging, recording and demonstrations for the few standalone radios out there. So yes, I will mention DRM's ability to transmit an accurate time signal.) d.m.f. (David M. Falk, ibid.) That's weird stuff Dennis. I'm receiving the correct time and date from Montsinery as we speak, using the 15795 broadcast. It's actually running 30 seconds fast compared to my WWVB clock. I'll check them out more to be sure that they're 'on time.' As I use Dream, it maintains the time and date for the log and does not use the received time as sent by the broadcaster (Brendan WA7HL Wahl, Dec 6, ibid.) This is why I say only a few dozen would even notice, since PC-based DRM receivers) such as DReaM) don't rely on, and I'm sure not even coded into, the time signal, but rather the PC's own internal clock, as updated by an NTP server online. http://www.worldtimeserver.com makes an excellent NTP clock utility for Windows - I was using it for years before I switched from Windows to Mac OS X, and the Mac has an NTP clock utility built-in. I even tested it, even by manually resetting the clock way off, and got the same results as posted - 5h48m ahead, a day behind. d.m.f. (Falk, ibid.) Adding to the continuing adventures of DRM time signals, this afternoon's transmissions from Sackville 9870 had no infotext (not too surprising), but was surprised that the time signal also was missing. d.m.f. (Falk, Dec 6, ibid.) 15795 DRM, RFO Guyane (via TDF Montsinery), 1405, 12/4/07, French. Excellent 22db+ signal of RFO domestic programming being relayed via TDF. According to the DRMNA yg, this is/was a 150 kW test transmission to Guadeloupe and Martinique, but unclear what hours exactly or for how long they're testing (Mark Schiefelbein, Springfield, MO, Kenwood R-5000/Wellbrook 330S loop, NASWA Flashsheet Dec 9 via DXLD) ** ICELAND. 7590 USB, AFN Keflavik, QSL card in one week for an April 16 2006 follow-up. I sent the original report by e-mail, and the follow-up by snail mail. Sent to the Riverside CA address. Note: In my records I show a reception of AFN from a location "Grindavik" in Iceland. Is this the same as Keflavik? (Jim Renfrew, Holley NY, Drake R8B, various longwires, NASWA Flashsheet Dec 9 via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM [and non]. ``Can anyone suggest a few reliable frequencies for the upcoming shuttle launch?`` [now postponed to 2008] No problem; we get this question on every list I am on for nearly every mission (a very FAQ). That is the reason why several years ago I compiled and published an article in Monitoring Times on NASA. In fact, the first article ever published in MT Vol 1 No. 1 was on monitoring the shuttle. Several of us on staff have spent many hours at various NASA facilities and launched at the Cape to get the list you see at the URL below. We have had the definitive list of freqs on our NASA list for many years, John. You can download it for free on the MT website at: http://www.monitoringtimes.com/html/Monitoring%20NASA%20and%20Space%20Communications.pdf This is a gift we provide to the radio community as a way of saying thank you for subscribing to our magazine Monitoring Times. Of course, we know that many don't. And if we don't get support, MT goes away and so do the free lists, website, blogs etc that are supported by MT and book sales. As far as a reliable mission audio freq goes, it has been spotty in the last few years from the various ham stations that advertise such services. With all of the streaming of mission audio/video on the Internet, the need for rebroadcasts on the ham bands has diminished greatly. Since a volunteer needs to be present during these broadcasts and the membership in these clubs have dropped or some having turf and political battles from within, I have seen many missions in recent years with NO mission audio on HF by any of the stations. Add in the propagation mix and low spot count and you might not hear anything again this mission (only 12 left before it all ends anyway). So grab my list and hope that WA3NAN does come up. They are the most reliable, than W5RRR, followed by the west coaster. Also you didn't say where in Texas. I want to remind all posters here that without a location, it is impossible to answer your radio questions. Location-Location-Location. Quite a few repeaters still do rebroadcast audio on VHF/UHF during missions. Another alternative is if you are a ham, give echolink a whirl. They have rebroadcast via that service as well. Lots of options if everything falls into place, but beware of old Murphy. So go download my NASA monitoring guide and check the WA3NAN freqs. 73 de (Larry Van Horn, N5FPW, UDXF yg via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. AO7, a satellite launched in 1974 which came back to life in 2002 after not being heard from since 1981, provides the best opportunity for longer range contacts. Western Europe is in view of the Eastern U.S. on some passes with G1WPR, PA1TNO, OH8MBN, F6HRO and LA2QAA being logged on the AO7 Web site: http://www.planetemily.com/ao7/main.php The AO7 online log shows that there is a lot of opportunity to work DX on this bird. AO7 alternates (on its own) between Mode A (2 meters up/10 meters down) and Mode B (432 up/2 meters down). This is an FM/SSB satellite. Check the Web site for an idea of what mode it might be in. 73, John K8YSE (Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 836, Dec 10, via Dave Raycroft, ODXA yg via DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. LITHUANIA. Frequency change for VOIROI/IRIB in Russian from Dec. 7: 1430-1528 NF 5815 SIT 100 kW / 079 deg to EaEu, ex 6225 (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Dec 10 via DXLD) LITUANIA, 6265, Voz de la Rep. Isl. de Irán, 2040-2055, escuchada el 10 de diciembre en español a locutora con boletín de noticias, conexión con corresponsal en Chile, locutora con “El comentario Político”, SINPO 55444. * Emisión en paralelo por 7130, sin señal en 7350, ya que se escucha a CRI en francés (José Miguel Romero, Burjasot (Valencia), Spain, Sangean ATS 909, Antena Radio Master A-108, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. ADDITIONAL TRANSMISSION RFNK --- Dear OM, I can receive R. Free North Korea -- Jayu Bukhan Bangsong on 7510 kHz at 2000-2030 UT from Dec. 7. Probably I think the transmitting station to be Novosibirsk. But, I can not confirm it. Now sked: 1000-1100 9730 TWN 1300-1400 9930 KWHR (Mo-Fr) 2000-2030 7510 RUS 2030-2130 9645 TWN de S. Aoki (S. Hasegawa, Japan, NDXC, Dec 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MACEDONIA. RADIO-TELEVISION STAFF TO GO ON STRIKE 11 DECEMBER | Text of report in English by Macedonian independent news agency Makfax Skopje, 10 December: The employees in Macedonian national broadcaster MRT [Macedonian Radio-Television] will go on strike on Tuesday [11 December] to protest the impending layoffs of more than 300 employees. The move was prompted by collapse of talks between labour union of public broadcasting service and MRT's executive board. Labour union strongly rejected the impending job cuts. MRT's executive board announced its plans to downsize MRT staff from 1,060 to 721. Unionists urged the executive board to revise the systematization and meet union's representatives to discuss whether job cuts are necessary. MRT employees say the announced number of redundant workers was ungrounded. They claim that MTV could save just 8,000 euros through job cuts. The impending systematization in MRT envisages that the number of cameramen and technicians be cut to half. The employees in resources sector also will be laid off. Furthermore, MRT will no longer broadcast programmes in languages of small ethnic communities. Source: Makfax news agency, Skopje, in English 1223 gmt 10 Dec 07 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** MADAGASCAR. 5009.95, Radio Madagascar, UT SUN 12/09, 0245-0312. The usual beautiful choral music at tune-in, followed by IS at 0253, and presumed Mass or church service (recognized the Apostles` Creed recitation, with an "Amen" by attendees at the end). Strongest RM signal ever at this QTH. (RM had not been heard well here over the last two years, but since putting a good grounding system and new antenna in before the first frost, SW DX opportunities such as this have blossomed, and LW from Europe/NAf has added a whole new section of the radio bands to enjoy.) (Ross Comeau, Andover, MA, Drake R-8, 60-ft longwire, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** MICRONESIA. Dear Glenn: No, I did not hear it. Do you know whether the PWBR is correct when it states this is only active on weekdays? Thanks (Sheryl Paszkiewicz, WI, Dec 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Sheryl, I don`t know, but I think it is currently active on ``no- days``. 73, (Glenn, ibid.) PMA 4755 ** NORTH AMERICA. KIPM (relay?) 6915 USB, 2017, 12/5/07. Pirate KIPM jamming/battling it out with co-channel WYFR, USB signal audible in AM mode thanks to Family Radio's carrier. WYFR on top but KIPM still surprisingly clear underneath with sound effects and KIPM IDs, even occasionally rising to the top of the pile. Family Radio abruptly left the air several times for a few minutes, as if they were checking on KIPM. Show apparently ended at 2122 amid siren sounds, followed by fake MARS net-control messages and CW, then clips from Futurama/Simpsons (possibly from a different op). Fair aside from QRM (Mark Schiefelbein, MO, Free Radio Weekly via DXLD) WYFR Parody Station --- WYFR, 6925.06u 12/2/7 19:56 sio232, pretty weak here, but seems to be picking up, music and ID, talking about the law and the Bible, seems there is something a little odd about this broadcast (al fansome, Free Radio Weekly Dec 9 via DXLD) Apparent freq punch-up error: WYFR, 6915am, 12-2-07, 0400 utc, up to 25 over s-9, program called Open Forum from Family Radio, had both pre and post echo. At first I thought it was a parody from very strong pirate but turned out to be real. Stn ID and next pgm had no echo. Lets hope this doesn`t happen too often, we need our freqs clear. (William Hassig, IL, ibid.) No error as we soon found out (gh, DXLD) UNID 6915u 12/5/7 22:42 sio333, mish-mash of talk about sex, Alan Weiner, Bozo making wiener comments, on top of music from WYFR on the same frequency (fansome, ibid.) Sound of New Life Radio(?) --- 6925 AM 12/2 2130-2139 A great parody of a religious broadcaster. The broadcast was for truckers and included American Indian chants. Requested a "love offering" to be sent to Oakland, CA. ID as Sound Wave Radio and at the end as Sound of New Life Radio (Fair, Majewski CT, ibid.) Unidentified, 6915A 12-01 1831-1839, Truckers' Tabernacle; a fake Family Radio ("Brother Levi needs a new Lexus)? Lost signal at 1839 (353, Hunsicker, PA, ibid.) Family Radio Shortwave, 6925 am, 12/1/07, 1956-2017 fadeout. This one threw me at first because it was similar to Family radio recently heard on 6915 am. Seemed to be clips of Family Radio including their web address and phone number but this had what seemed to be parody songs (Jesus and the 1st National Bank song) and Christmas song clips spliced together including cartoon character singing (Pls QSL Silvi, Ohio, ibid.) Family Radio Shortwave, 6925am, 12/2/07, 2117-2140. Similar format to my 12/1 log. Seemed to be clips of Family Radio including their web address and phone number but this had what seemed to be parody songs (Jesus and the 1st National Bank song) and Christmas song clips spliced together including cartoon character singing (Pls QSL Silvi, Ohio, Free Radio Weekly Dec 9 via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. Some OKC TV stations are missing, presumably due to ice storm and power outages, if not actual antenna collapses: first to go was KTBO-14, the TBN outlet, early UT Dec 10 if not before then --- I never tune to its cable channel deliberately. At 1955 UT Dec 10, also missing are KAUT-43, and KSBI-52, at least not making it onto Enid cable as usual. Checking off-the-air with whip only, which normally yields poor but detectable snowy signals, I find at 2005 UT Dec 10: 14 is off the air, 43 is off the air, 52 is on the air but with black screen only, likewise its translator in Enid on 45. 43`s website http://www.ok43.com/ is up with news about the icestorm, actually linking to parent station KFOR-4, but no notice of 43 being off the air! Perhaps they still funxion via cable in OKC, unlike outlying areas. Suddenlink says ``no video input`` with a clock timer running down to the frame. KSBI website http://www.ksbitv.com/ also has storm news but nothing about their being off the air either! Then they resumed programming at 2023, just in time for the coda to Beakman`s World, then black again from 2030, and intermittent, mostly off. Does this also apply to their wide network of translators, even into Kansas? As of 0000 UT Dec 11, fully ONE THIRD of OK was reported to be without power. But so far in Enid our power has stayed on, no glitches or brownouts, but the prospects look bad. This site gives an idea of where the outages are in the portion of OK which is OG&E territory: http://www.oge.com/systemwatch/SystemWatch.Systemwide_1_content.html (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN. R. Pakistan ID'ed on 829.993 kHz today at 1600. Presumably Karachi has drifted up. Thanks to Tarmo Kontro for the tip. 73, (Mauno Ritola, Finland, Dec 9, mwoffsetts yg via Steve Whitt, MWC via DXLD) Looks to me like they are deliberately trying to hit 830 instead of 828, missing it by only 7 Hz, but why?? Cf SYRIA, q.v., almost exactly 1 kHz off 783 on 782, but why??? (gh, DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 7325, 30.11 1147, Wantok Radio Light (tentative) with religious US influenced pop music followed by 2 men talking in English, (another station start to tune in at 1155 with program start at 1200). Have tried for several days now but can't identify them. Was heard Dec 8 with the same type of programming as Nov 30. QSA 2 LRH (Leif Råhäll, Sweden, SW Bulletin, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3905, R. New Ireland, NOV 27 0745-0800*. Soft pop music, good signal and no interference, at 0759 hams got active, and the readability was much reduced, so no ID info could be discerned in the final announcements, but the anthem matches the anthem available for comparison on Interval Signals Online. This a new NASWA country for me (Jim Renfrew, Holley NY, Drake R8B, various longwires, NASWA Flashsheet Dec 9 via DXLD) Why do they sign off so early, 6 pm local? Axually, WRTH 2007 shows them signing *on at 0800, until 1200. Should have kept listening! (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** POLAND [non]. PRES, 9450 via Wertachtal, GERMANY, Mon Dec 10 at 1324-1337 had a very welcome feature on Polish classical music, CDs recently issued, etc. Good reception as we can expect only around Solstice (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PORTUGAL [and non]. PORTUGAL GETS HARSH BLAST FROM THE PAST By BARRY HATTON, Associated Press Writer Sun Dec 9, 11:18 AM ET http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071209/ap_on_re_eu/portugal_unremembered_war LISBON, Portugal - The heads of enemy soldiers impaled on roadside trees. Hundreds of prisoners tortured, killed and dumped in mass graves. Napalm dropped on jungles where guerrillas sheltered, and grass-hut villages torched with cigarette lighters. These gruesome acts were carried out in Portugal's name two generations ago during its colonial wars in Africa. But for most Portuguese, the events aren't history — they're news. A groundbreaking series aired by public broadcaster Radiotelevisao Portuguesa is confronting Portugal with unsettling aspects of its recent history that for decades have been shrouded in silence. The series has become a top-rated prime-time program and the most-watched documentary in years, regularly drawing more than a million viewers in a country of 10.6 million. "People had spoken very little about what happened," said Joaquim Furtado, the Portuguese journalist who created the series. "The effect, I think, has been positive. People won't be able to see things in simplistic terms now." Portugal isn't the only European country being forced to address unpalatable aspects of its colonial legacy. Three years ago, Belgium was shocked by a documentary portraying King Leopold II's brutal 19th-century exploitation of what was once the Belgian Congo. In 2002, France had to revisit one of the darkest moments of its recent past when a Paris court convicted an aging French general for "complicity in justifying war crimes," in connection with his best- selling book about atrocities during a seven-year war that ended with Algeria's independence in 1962. Portugal's wars against independence fighters in its 500-year-old African empire erupted in 1961 in Angola. In surprise attacks, rebels butchered Portuguese settlers, including women and children, on remote Angolan plantations. In revenge, Portuguese militias and troops carried out a vicious campaign of repression, despite pressure from the United States and United Nations to pull out of Africa. Filmmaker Furtado, a well-known journalist with an almost 40-year career, spent more than six years digging up hundreds of hours of film footage and masses of photographs, some never seen in public. He also gathered firsthand accounts from war veterans on both sides, many of whom hadn't spoken out before. In the former Portuguese colony of Mozambique, the documentary has been greeted with quiet satisfaction but no calls for an official apology or compensation. "No one is going to react angrily to the film because it shows the past, not the present. The past is the past, the present is the present," said Custodio Rafael, a journalist with Radio Mozambique. For Africans, the Portuguese atrocities have long been a matter of historical fact. But in Portugal, it has taken this documentary to explode the nation's myths about its colonial rule, which ended in 1974. Antonio Salazar's dictatorship, established in the 1930s, kept Portugal in the dark about what was happening thousands of miles away on another continent. His censors killed unfavorable newspaper articles, and state media encouraged the war effort with reports of heroic deeds against insurgents classified as bloodthirsty "terrorists." Within a year, the Angolan rebellion subsided. But parallel wars broke out in Mozambique and another Portuguese African colony, Guinea- Bissau. Salazar, mindful that the African colonies enriched his nation and lent it a Cold War stature beyond its size, waged a propaganda battle that included the unremitting government slogan "Angola e nossa!" (Angola is ours!), which was even broadcast over loudspeakers at packed beaches. Salazar, a flinty and unbending leader, changed the designation of the colonies to "overseas territories" and depicted their peoples as Portuguese who were treated as equals and were eager to remain under Lisbon's wing. Ask Portuguese nowadays about their colonial administration and they will insist it was benign, so radio phone-in shows and Internet blogs are abuzz over the newly revealed facts. Luis Quintais, an anthropologist at Portugal's Coimbra University who has written a book about the African conflicts, says they have "been immersed in a huge silence," while Portuguese history is rendered as the chronicle of a small, gentle country bullied by bigger European powers. "We think of our colonization as having been soft, or mild, compared to other countries. But it wasn't, it was just the same," Quintais said. "We like to portray ourselves as victims, not victimizers." The unwillingness to look back at those times has also contributed to the neglect of war veterans. About 9,000 soldiers were killed and at least 12,000 wounded in what was Portugal's biggest modern-day military deployment. Only in 1994 was a monument to the fallen built at a riverside fort in Lisbon, near where the troop ships left for the wars. And post- traumatic stress disorder was officially recognized as a medical condition only in 1999. When a 1974 army coup ended the dictatorship and installed democracy, the political parties wanted to start with a clean slate. "Political power was seized by those who had opposed the war. They said, 'It's all in the past now, it shouldn't have happened, let's move on and build a new country,'" said retired Gen. Joaquim Chito Rodrigues, who served for five years in Angola, including a two-year stint as head of operations. ___ AP Writer Emmanuel Camillo contributed from Maputo, Mozambique (via DXLD) ** PRIDNESTROVYE. GRIGORIOPOL/MAYAK STATION [a.k.a. Maiac – French?] Here is a detailed report about the purchase of the Grigoriopol/Mayak transmitter plant by the Russian broadcasting distribution company RTRS, which also specifies the price: RTRS paid 3.3 Mio. USD for it. http://www.tv-pmr.com/news.php?id=2051 [Russian] This news triggered a discussion of these facilities, with photos and details being posted by real insiders [Russian]: http://www.radioscanner.ru/forum/index.php?action=vthread&forum=1&topic=30777 So here is the chronicle in detail: The plant went operational in three phases. First the MW/LW complex went on air in 1971 [or maybe already in late 1970] with three Buran transmitters of 1000 kW each: RV-950: 236, later 234 until Radio-1 transmission ceased. At present in use on 1413 (CRI Russian 1530-1730, VOR Bulgarian and Greek 1800- 2000). Longwave operation no longer possible because antenna (350 metres tall) crashed in 1997. RV-951: Started on 1493 all day long, then moved in 1974 [or maybe already in 1973] to 548 for daytime service of Radio Mayak and 1546 (? -- now 1548 anyway) for Radio Moscow FS during the evenings. RV-954: 998 (now 999), moved from Kishinev site to here. Nowadays a fourth MW transmitter exists as well, a 150 kW Shtorm-S, called RV-240. During the nineties it was used on 1467, now it carries Radio PMR on 549. The number is quite suspicious and looks like being moved from another site to Mayak, maybe with the complete transmitter? It's a mystery even for insiders. By yearend 1973 the first shortwave complex at Mayak went live, equipped with three PKV-500 transmitters (500 kW each), units RV-941, 942 and 943, respectively. The second complex with two more PKV-500's followed in 1975; units RV-938 and 939. (Or maybe first complex = 938, 939, 941, second complex 942 and 943, but such a listing got corrected to the described one without further follow-ups.) Later the shortwave facilities were modernized; one posting says in 1976/77 but it appears that this must read 1986/87 instead. Two transmitters in the first complex were replaced by new Kondor-1 units; I understand that these are capable to run 2000 kW but were probably never used at more than 1000 kW (although the discussion suggests that the antennas could be used for up to 2 MW). The other three transmitters were upgraded to 1000 kW; this modified version is now called PKV-500-M (similar to the Sneg model which was originally 50 kW and became Sneg-M when being upgraded to 100 kW or, in the case of the Krasny Bor site near St. Petersburg, Sneg-MU after an upgrade to 200 kW). The rotatable shortwave antenna is called PA A30/31; it has a 4/4 system for 6...11.5 MHz and a 8/8 system for 12...23 MHz [as given, I would assume that in practice this antenna covers the whole 25 mB]. Apparently there are no restrictions concerning the azimuth. The whole shortwave equipment should be very similar to the Bulgarian Padarsko (Plovdiv) site, which has PKV series transmitters, one PA and SGD-RA's of the same design as well: http://radioclub.tugab.bg/photos.htm http://radioclub.tugab.bg/photos1.htm The discussion also refers to DXLD 0-155 which had a report about the separatists taking over the station. It got commented with "pretty much like this, but the truth is I can't remember that 234 would have been banned, too". Another impressive photo: http://www.panoramio.com/photo/2753512 or, if this page makes trouble to load, http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/2753512.jpg It reveals that it is in fact a three mast mediumwave array what I first thought to be a shortwave system. And a photo of the 1548 antenna (Malaya Zarya), not included in the referenced thread: http://foto.rambler.ru/users/lisenok_123/1/5/ Details about Chisinau mediumwave facilities: 873 (nowadays in use with 75 kW) = RV-953, DSV-150; 1449 (silent) = RV-948, Tesla SRV 2x20; 1593 (silent, too) = RV-947, unID 5 kW transmitter, meant to compensate for RV-951 during the evenings (i.e. city service of Radio Mayak). The only debated point about the use of these facilities to jam Radio Pridnestrovye for a few years from 1992 concerns the question if RV- 953 and/or RV-948 were involved [maybe both since to my knowledge during this time both 873 and 1449 were off, leading to the lease of an Ukrainian transmitter for 1449 and relays via Iasi-1053 to compensate for 873 being sacrificed for the more important jamming]. Probably this station housed also the shortwave transmitters which were mentioned in some book in conjunction with Radio Liberty frequencies, clearly indicating nearfield jamming, as was done in large cities of the USSR to make the target stations entirely inaudible there [experience told by VOR editors: some received a permission to listen to Radio Liberty and had to go to their dachas to do so because reception was impossible within Moscow]. And the unit numbers of the still operational 1494 transmitters, of which one is in severe disorder at present (about 10 kHz off and heavily distorted), are RV-949 (Cahul) and -952, respectively. No further details given, but it should be save to assume that both sites use Tesla gear (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Dec 9, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PRIDNESTROVYE. MOLDOVA, New winter B-07 schedule of PMR Radio Pridnestrovye Mon-Fri 1500-1545 on 7370 KCH 500 kW / 295 deg to WeEu in En/Fr/Ge x 15 mins 1600-1645 on 7370 KCH 500 kW / 295 deg to WeEu in En/Fr/Ge x 15 mins 1700-1745 on 7370 KCH 500 kW / 295 deg to WeEu in En/Fr/Ge x 15 mins 1800-1845 on 7370 KCH 500 kW / 295 deg to WeEu in En/Fr/Ge x 15 mins 1900-1945 on 7370 KCH 500 kW / 295 deg to WeEu in En/Fr/Ge x 15 mins 2300-2345 on 6240 KCH 500 kW / 309 deg to NoAm in En/Fr/Ge x 15 mins 0000-0045 on 6240 KCH 500 kW / 309 deg to NoAm in En/Fr/Ge x 15 mins (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Dec 10 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Winter B-07 of Radio Rossii in Russian: 0500-0800 on 9840 MSK 250 kW / 260 deg to WeEu 0820-1300 on 12075 MSK 250 kW / 260 deg to WeEu 1320-1600 on 7310 MSK 250 kW / 260 deg to WeEu 1620-2200 on 5905#MSK 250 kW / 260 deg to WeEu # co-ch RFI in Russian 1900-1957 and DW in Arabic from 2000 (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Dec 10 via DXLD) see also TATARSTAN ** SAINT HELENA. According to http://www.sthelena.se/radioproject/ "Only reception reports sent by regular mail will be accepted. Email-reports will NOT be accepted. Return postage is absolutely required and is "at least" three IRC's or "Greenstamps". "At least" means that RSH welcomes donations at any time and in any amount. Reception reports by regular mail only and including 5 USD or 5 Euros in banknotes are to be sent ONLY to the following address: Radio St. Helena P. O. Box 24 Jamestown St. Helena Island STHL 1ZZ South Atlantic Ocean" Which is it? $3 "Greenstamps" or $5 USD? By "Greenstamps", do they accept S & H Greenstamps? Just joking... 73, (Kraig, KG4LAC, Krist, VA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I`ve always felt the ``greenstamps`` lingo ridiculous, and never use it. If you want to use a slang term, why not greenback? Abroaders need have no idea what Green Stamps are or were. Do you have any idea how many of those once equaled one dollar redemption value? (gh, DXLD) ** SAUDI ARABIA. 13710, Arabic yelling, distorted, but fortunately, undermodulated, Dec 10 at 1523. Rather reminded me of Brother Scare 100 kHz higher via Germany. 13710 listed as Riyadh, 295 degrees. 15205, huge buzz overriding muezzin, --- Allah`ll get `em for that --- 1602 Dec 10, also bothering 15210 WYFR with Open Forum translation into Arabic, as if any Arab would care what Harold Camping thinks, and extending down past 15200. 15205 is the terribly defective BSKSA transmitter, Riyadh at 320 degrees toward us, no thanks. Don`t their engineers have any professional standards? Is no one in the chain of command capable of making a decision to turn it off unless fixed? Not // BSKSA 15435 Arabic talk, VG modulation there (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SERBIA. Re ``Bijeljina transmitter will be reactivated at the beginning of December 2007, and this time this is for sure!`` (Dragan Lekic, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Any news from Serbia? (Roberto Scaglione, Sicily, Dec 10, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SINGAPORE. BROADCASTING FROM SINGAPORE --- Introduction Singapore is one of the smallest but also one of the most economically advanced countries in the world. Singapore is a Parliamentary republic with 4.6 million people. The official languages of Singapore include Chinese, English, Tamil and Malay. The currency of Singapore is Singapore dollar. Mediacorp Radio Singapore is the national broadcaster of Singapore. Mediacorp Radio The domestic service of Radio Corporation of Singapore is now known as Mediacorp Radio. They broadcast on various FM frequencies through out the country. Mediacorp Radio also broadcasts on shortwave in four official languages of Singapore. The Chinese broadcasts can be heard on 6000 kHz, English on 6150 kHz, Malay on 7235 kHz and Tamil on 7235 kHz from 2300 to 1600 UT with 3 hour break during 1100-1400. Mediacorp uses a 100 KW transmitter for Tamil broadcasts and for all other services they use 250 KW transmitter. Listeners who wish to correspond with Mediacorp Radio should address their correspondence to Caldecott Broadcast Centre, Andrew Road, Singapore 299939. Radio Singapore International Radio Singapore International (RSI) is the overseas service of the Radio Corporation of Singapore. It was launched on 1st February 1994. It broadcasts 11 hours daily in 4 languages namely English, Mandarin, Malay and Bahasa Indonesia. Mission Statement RSI is dedicated to quality broadcasting to external audiences and Singaporeans abroad. It seek to be a radio of reference for the region, providing a service which is reliable, accurate and objective source of news and views on international, national and domestic events. The station will help foster a sense of common purpose through programmes which emphasise neighbourliness and promote mutual understanding in the social, economic and cultural fields. Programme Format The programme format of RSI includes News bulletins, business and market reports, Current affairs programmes, Newsline, Newsscan and focus on Singapore, Regional Press review, Life style programmes on arts and culture, people, places and trends, Scientific and technological development and entertainment programmes. Service Area and Transmitters The primary target area of RSI is South East Asia including countries of Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and other South-East Asian countries within a radius of 1600 kilometres from Singapore. RSI uses 6 250 KW transmitters and 1 100 KW transmitter located at Kranji for their overseas and domestic service. RSI currently broadcasts in English on 6150 and 6080 from 1100 to 1400. Audience Relations Radio Singapore International maintain good relation with its audience. They issue colourful verification cards and postcards for reception reports. Also RSI used to distribute various goodies to the listeners. The address for writing reception reports to Radio Singapore International is: Farrer Road, P.O.Box-5300, Singapore 912899. BBC Far Eastern Relay Station BBC operates one of its largest relay station near Kranji known as the Far Eastern Relay Station. They have 5 250 KW and 4 100 KW transmitters located at this site. This site ensures reliable reception of BBC throughout South East Asia, Oceania, South Asia and Middle East. They verify reception reports with their own QSL Card for broadcasts originating from this site. Reports should be send to: BBC Far Eastern Relay Station, 51 Turut Track, Singapore 718930. Courtesy 1. WRTH 2007 2. RSI Profile Sheet 3. Domestic Broadcasting Survey (Compiled by T. R. Rajeesh for World DX Club Contact, Nov, via DXLD) ** SLOVAKIA. Winter B-07 schedule of Radio Slovakia International: ENGLISH 0100-0127 on 7230 9440 0700-0727 on 13715 15460 1730-1757 on 5915 6055 1930-1957 on 5915 7345 GERMAN 0800-0827 on 5915 6055 1430-1457 on 6055 7345 1700-1727 on 5915 6055 1900-1927 on 5915 7345 FRENCH 0200-0227 on 5930 9440 1800-1827 on 5915 6055 2030-2057 on 5915 7345 RUSSIAN 1400-1427 on 9540 13710 1600-1627 on 5915 6055 1830-1857 on 5915 9485 SLOVAK 0130-0157 on 5930 9440 0730-0757 on 13715 15460 1630-1657 on 5915 6055 2000-2027 on 5915 7345 SPANISH 0230-0257 on 7230 9440 1530-1557 on 9445 11600 2100-2127 on 9460 11610 (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Dec 10 via DXLD) Any changes? ** SPAIN. Re 7-149, 4998 timesignals: La información de que dispongo sobre el OBSERVATORIO NAVAL DE LA MARINA es escasa. Tan sólo que emite dos bloques de 25 minutos de 1000-1025 y de 1030-1055 de lunes a viernes en 4998 y 15006. Supongo que con muy poca potencia, ya que únicamente pude captar la frecuencia de 4998 y lo único que se distinguía era la señal larga que indicaba la hora. Lamento no poder ser más concreto (Ignacio Sotomayor, Spain, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, This is EBC San Fernando. Some information can be found at the Web page of the Spanish Navy: http://tinyurl.com/326rng It is missing in WRTH2007, but it was listed in the previous WRTH editions. 73, (Patrick Robic, Austria, Dec 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Including: La difusión de la hora legal se efectúa siguiendo diferentes procedimientos: Transmisión de señales horarias en HF, durante dos periodos de 25 minutos diarios, en 15006 y 4998 KHz. Respectivamente, entre 10:00 y 11:00 horas UTC (from above via gh, DXLD) ** SWEDEN [non]. R. Sweden had an excellent report on the Nobel Prize award ceremonies, on their Dec 10 broadcast, 1530 via Canada 15240. Catch a repeat if you can, or ondemand (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SYRIA. 782, nominal 783, ORTAS, Tartus, is being noted off channel since at least since 01 Nov last; it typically causes a moderate to strong heterodyne; the audio is weak nevertheless (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, Dec 10, DX LISTENING DIGST) ** TAJIKISTAN. Re 7-149: 4635 Tajik Radio, Yangi Yul, 2252-2320 --- ¡Muy buena captación, Arnaldo! Tajikistan es una de mis favoritas, aunque sólo la pude escuchar unas pocas veces. La música de Asia Central me hace volar la imaginación. El estilo de locución es muy particular y si no me equivoco son muy afectos a usar reverberación durante la locución, lo que contribuye a darle un clima muy especial. (Moisés Knochen, Montevideo, Uruguay, Dec 10, condiglist yg via DXLD) ** TATARSTAN. RUSSIA, Winter B-07 schedule of Tatarstan Wave in Tatar/Russian: 0510-0600 on 15105 SAM 150 kW / 065 deg to FE 0710-0800 on 9860 SAM 250 kW / 060 deg to RUS 0910-1000 on 11915 SAM 250 kW / 305 deg to WeEu (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Dec 10 via DXLD) Samara site ** TIBET. 6110, CHINA/TIBET. PBS Xizang, 2350, 12/7/07, Tibetan. F announcer with music tunes that sounded like an Asian-Middle Eastern fusion. Wiped out at 2355 by strong open carrier for R Tirana. Fair (Mark Schiefelbein, Springfield, MO, Kenwood R-5000/Wellbrook 330S loop, NASWA Flashsheet Dec 9 via DXLD) ** U K. In German Newsgroup discussed some heavy AUDIO Failure interruptions on DWL's UK relay Skelton Cumbria on 6075 kHz in past days. But not happened on \\ Woofferton frequency on 9545 at same time. ? Maybe a feeder problem from VTC Merlin control room at Bush house towards England`s far north in Cumbria? Or the control computer in Skelton suffers lack of power, due lot of Graphic or CD Burning software partitions. Similar hasty audio interruption noted during 11975 kHz from Skelton, 0700-0800 UTC WADR program to West Africa the day before: West African Democracy Radio. 73 wolfy (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, Dec 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Bad audio circuits these days on ISDN and Webcast mode era: many complaints about DWL's bad audio via Skelton site 6075 kHz. Heard a like snatchy staccato, but also noted this suffer on different services via Skelton site, like VoA French Mo-Fr this morning 0530- 0630 SKN 300 kW 180 degr, Dec 10 (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, Dec 10, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Puzzled me today Dec 10th: VoA Creole from Greenville nominal on 11890, noted 5 kHz up on 11895, covering BBC Nakhorn Pathom Thailand totally. 1230-1300 UT, maybe a punch up error ? I'll check it tomorrow again. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Saludos cordiales. 11895 Radio Martí, 2103-2106, escuchada el 10 de diciembre en español a locutora presentando programa dedicado a cubanos de la Isla y familias de presos que quieran enviar carta, a las 2106 se activa una extraña señal, probablemente jamming y pierdo la emisora, emisión en paralelo por 11930, SINPO 34433 (José Miguel Romero, Burjasot (Valencia), Spain, Sangean ATS 909, Antena Radio Master A-108, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Re 7-149, WBCQ on 17495 is on CUSB, not CLSB, as reconfirmed Dec 10 morning (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) Hi Glenn: WBCQ announces that a whole new concept program, called "AREA 51" will begin airing on 5110 on December 21, 2007. Show times will be 7 days, from 5pm to 7pm (Eastern time) [2200-2400 UT]. It's going to be an eclectic mix of classic WBCQ original programming, plus new pirate-produced programs and a very entertaining and free-style mix of all kinds of stuff. We would like to air a World of Radio once a week during that period, so please choose which day and time you'd like us to schedule it within the above times. Let me know as soon as you've decided which day and time. Thanks, (Allan Weiner, WBCQ, Dec 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Will announce the time once it`s confirmed (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. WHRA clandestines: see ETHIOPIA [non] ** U S A. Frequency changes for WYFR Family Radio: to WeEu NF 6915 YFR 100 kW / 044 deg, ex 6875, re-ex 6855 as follows: 2000-2200 English and 2200-2245 Portuguese. to NoAm NF 6915 YFR 100 kW / 355 deg, ex 6875, re-ex 6855 as follows: 0305-0400 Spanish, 0400-0600 English, 0600-0700 Spanish, 0700-1100 English, 1100-1200 Spanish, 1200-1245 French (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Dec 10 via DXLD) see also ALASKA; as already in DXLD ** U S A. Still no sign of KAIJ on 5755 or 9480 UT Dec 10. However, the webstream is running normally, with scheduled programming checked Dec 10 at 1630. This is not too surprising, since that comes out of the studio/HQ in Murfreesboro TN. {However, later on Dec 10, George told me that the URLs are changing; it may take a little while to get the linx corrected on the website.} George McClintock tells me that he has not been to the transmitter site, but info from Two If By Sea president Mike Parker is that: on the weekend of Nov 30 there was a ``surge of some kind" down the power line, possibly lightning, which melted wiring in the conduit, so the remote site near Frisco TX has been without power. Delays in getting it back are caused by the need to get bids from contractors, actually do the work, get it inspected, etc., etc., at some distance from The Metroplex. It is believed the transmitter, with surge protection, was not damaged. Will be back on ASAP. This problem has nothing to do with rumors that KAIJ is being sold. George adds that since the datalink company changed hands, there has been better service and less downtime in getting the program feed from TN to TX (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 3200/3230, WWCR, 0402, 12/3/07. Spurs from 3215; heard throughout the week; 3230 considerably stronger and clearer than 3200 (Jim Ronda, Tulsa, OK, NRD-545, R-75, E-1 + Eavesdropper, GMDSS-2 vertical, two homebrew FlexTennas, NASWA Flashsheet Dec 9 via DXLD) See 7-149 for more precise frequencies (gh) ** U S A. 1680 kHz, WQFG871, Clearfield, UT --- RADIO STATION BROADCASTING INFORMATION ABOUT CLEARFIELD AM SITE TO FOCUS ON EMERGENCIES, ROADS, WEATHER, CITY EVENTS --- By Lynn Arave, Deseret Morning News, Published: Monday, Dec. 10, 2007 12:19 a.m. MST CLEARFIELD - Clearfield now has its own official voice on the radio at AM-1680 on the dial, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Broadcasting emergency information is the primary purpose of the new noncommercial station, WQFG 871. But listeners can tune in any time of day to get information on road closures, road construction notices, weather alerts and a variety of current community events... http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695234801,00.html (via Kevin Redding, AZ, ABDX via DXLD) ** VATICAN CITY STATE: The Vatican is the smallest independent state in the world and one of the most densely populated, with 900 people living in just 0.44 square kilometers. Major exports, according to the BBC, are “postage stamps, publications, [and] tourist souvenirs”, although the list seems incomplete without noting “Catholicism”. The media presence is colossal given the size of the state, with print, radio, and television all represented, as well as “new media” (internet). Vatican Radio broadcasts globally and powerfully, with an estimated three Megawatts of SW transmitters located in-state. Vatican Radio: http://www.vaticanradio.org/ or http://www.radiovaticana.org/ There are 34 languages represented – as usual, we’ll select English. The next page has options for English World, English India, and English Africa, each featuring more localized content – for now, we’ll stick to the main English page. The page layout is quite simple, with a Vatican Radio banner logo across the top, links on the left and right sides, a few items about Vatican Radio in the centre, and technical links (Webmaster, Credits, Legal Conditions) at the bottom. Simple and effective. On the left side, you’ll find several links “About Vatican Radio”, including About Us, Schedules, Our programmes, Contact us, Links, RSS and Podcast, Video live, and Video on demand. Live audio is in Real Audio or Windows Media format, with five different streams of each. Audio On Demand and Features are delivered in Real Audio and MP3 formats. Video Live comes in three Quicktime formats: MPEG4, H.264 (each optimized for three different connection speeds), and Multicast IPv4, while Video on demand is in an unknown (yet Quicktime compatible) format that took ages to load – all available content was 2+ years old. There’s even a link to the Vatican Television Centre (CTV) to order DVDs. Still on the left, and below these links, are further links to Other Languages, Other programmes, Help Vatican Radio, and the various components of the Vatican Web Site. On the right side of the page, there are numerous media links (some already mentioned, such as Live and Features), including Professional Services and my favourite, Radio for Radios. Good to know that’s still an option. Further headings include The Pope’s Voice, Special Services (special broadcasts), Music, and Liturgical Programmes. The Music link presents a set of options (in Italian) for listening via radio (local to the Vatican?), as well as internet streams in Windows Media format. Connecting to said streams was extremely slow; I couldn’t make it work. All in all, there’s an immense amount of material to be found on the Vatican Radio website. If Roman Catholic content is of interest to you, it’s well worth a visit (Paul Guise, Click!, Dec ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. Saludos desde Pueblo Llano, estado Mérida, República Bolivariana de Venezuela. El presente tiene como finalidad informarles que a partir del día domingo 09 de Diciembre del año en curso hubo cambio de hora en toda Venezuela por lo que de ahora en adelante el tiempo universal cordinado va ser de 04:30 horas, es decir de que hubo un retraso de media hora en la hora venezolana. Es la información que quería hacerles llegar. FELIZ NAVIADAD Y PROSPERO AÑO NUEVO 2008, ATENTAMENTE (HENRRI GONZALEZ SANTIAGO, Dec 10, DX LISTENINGN DIGEST) VENEZUELA CREATES OWN TIME ZONE --- By VOA News 09 December 2007 Venezuelans have set their clocks back half an hour as the country adopts its own time zone. Speaking ahead of Sunday time change, President Hugo Chávez told reporters that he doesn't care if people think he is crazy. He said the new time will go ahead anyway. The Venezuelan leader has said the time change will give schoolchildren more daylight. The change was first announced several weeks ago but had been delayed for technical reasons. Clocks will be set to Universal Time (UTC) minus 4.5 hours. The change is likely to affect time/date entries on computers and other devices. Several other countries have time zones that set them apart from other nations. They include Afghanistan, Burma, India and Iran (via Steve N5WBI Ponder, Houston TX, Dec 10, ABDX via DXLD) Well it's not April 1st ... apparently Venezuela is going 4.5 hours back from GMT on Sunday (today), which will move all the "top of the hour" IDs and sign-off's, etc. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7134927.stm (Mark Hattam, England, Dec 9, MWC via DXLD) ENTRÓ EN VIGENCIA EL NUEVO HUSO HORARIO El ministro de Ciencia y Tecnología, Héctor Navarro, indicó que el cambio ajustará mejor el ciclo vital de los venezolanos al movimiento aparente del sol --- Domingo, 09 de Diciembre de 2007 EFE - Venezuela atrasó hoy 30 minutos la "hora legal" para adecuar la vida de los ciudadanos al movimiento aparente del sol y disfrutar de los beneficios que ello produce en la salud, según las autoridades. El cambio se produjo a las 03.00 hora local de hoy (07.00 GMT), cuando el "reloj" del Observatorio Naval "Juan Manuel Cagigal", operado por la Armada venezolana y depositario de la "hora legal" del país, fue posicionado en las 02.30 como nuevo equivalente local de las 07.00 GMT. A partir de ese momento la diferencia entre la hora local y la correspondiente al meridiano de Greenwich pasó a ser de 4,30 horas, en lugar de las 4,00 horas vigentes desde el 1 de enero de 1965. El madrugón para hacer el cambio afectó a los técnicos de los relojes "oficiales" y de las compañías de telecomunicaciones, así como a algunos despistados desconocedores de que a escala personal el retraso de las manecillas podía repercutir en su vida cotidiana. El ministro de Ciencia y Tecnología, Héctor Navarro, indicó que el cambio ajustará mejor el ciclo vital de los venezolanos al movimiento aparente del sol, lo cual evitará que niños y adultos sufran alteraciones fisiológicas científicamente comprobadas relacionadas con el ritmo hormonal circadiano. La descoordinación entre la jornada laboral y el sol, según el ministro, "puede disminuir la capacidad de concentración, altera los picos de la hormona de crecimiento, provoca trastornos alimenticios y causa episodios de microsueño". Según Navarro, el cambio obedece a razones de "salud pública" y no tiene ninguna relación con el ahorro de energía u otras causas esgrimidas en países más alejados que Venezuela del Ecuador y que tienen cuatro estaciones. En cuanto a que el ajuste sea de 30 minutos y no de una hora completa, el ministro señaló que ese aspecto es intrascendente y que cada país adapta de manera discrecional el horario a sus conveniencias. Otros países que tienen usos horarios con fracciones de hora son India, Sri Lanka, Irán, Afganistán, Nepal, Myanmar, el este de Canadá, el centro de Australia y Nueva Zelanda, además de Hawai (EE.UU.). La decisión de cambiar el horario fue publicada en la Gaceta Oficial del pasado 27 de noviembre. Inicialmente se indicó que el cambio se produciría a mediados de septiembre para que coincidiese con el comienzo del año escolar, pero la decisión fue aplazada por motivos no explicados. Navarro volvió a repetir ahora lo que dijo entonces: "a partir de ahora los pajaritos nos despertarán a nosotros con sus trinos y no nosotros a ellos con nuestros ruidos". El ministro vaticinó que con esta reubicación del tiempo la mayoría de los venezolanos se levantará con una mayor sensación de descanso, lo que en su criterio puede redundar en jornadas laborales o estudiantiles más eficientes, además de mejorar la calidad de vida de todos. Las dudas que, según testimonios recogidos por la prensa, asaltaban a algunos venezolanos quedarán disipadas de inmediato cuando comprueben que ni los días son más cortos ni van a poder quedarse en la cama media hora más, explicó el funcionario. La única diferencia que notarán en sus vidas, agregó, es que al levantarse habrá más luz solar que antes. Navarro precisó que el cambio de horario será notificado a las instancias internacionales que regulan esta materia, entre ellas a la Oficina Internacional de Pesas y Medidas, en París (Union Radio via Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, DXLD) ** VIETNAM. AMERICAN FORCES VIETNAM NETWORK --- AFVN was the U.S. military radio and television network in South Vietnam. It provided broadcasting throughout the Vietnam War. On this page you can hear clips from the service, visit the installations and read about the history of the operation. http://www.geocities.com/afvn/ (via Sheldon Harvey, Greenfield Park, Quebec, Dec Radio HF Internet Newsletter via DXLD) Don`t be listening to something else before you click on that page and when you do, have the volume downturned and/or your earplugs in (gh, DXLD) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. 6300, Clandestine. RASD (Algeria to Spanish Sahara), Sat 12/08, 2248-2331. NW African folk music; the first song sounded much like The Doors` "The End," another song featured an electric guitar with a wah-wah pedal! OM in Spanish, and many mentions of "Sahara," "Sahara democrática," and "Polisario." Pounding in throughout, with no signal problems of note. This station plays some of the most interesting and entertaining music on the SW dial (Ross Comeau, Andover, MA, Drake R-8, 60-ft longwire, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** ZAMBIA. 5915, R. Zambia, 0355-0503, Dec 10, in vernacular, high- life music, series of ads (singing jingle ad, etc.), 0420-0458 OM with on-air phone calls, ad in English for internet server, pips, YL with news in English, mostly fair. 9430, CVC (presumed), 0504-0516, Dec 10, in English, some pop music, program seemed to be "Scope" per website http://www.cvc.tv/go/english/ tentatively parallel to live audio streaming there, poor reception, clearly in English but could not make out many words. Thanks to recent DXLD items! (Ron Howard, CA, Etón E5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE [and non]. SW RADIO AFRICA - SINGING FOR SUPPER The Herald (Harare), OPINION, 10 December 2007 Posted to the web 10 December 2007, By Mabasa Sasa Harare SOMETIME in late 2001, a lady by the name Gerry Jackson set up something anomalously called SW Radio Africa in London and began beaming her anti-Zimbabwe propaganda into the country. A month after the radio station had started its operations, the UK Guardian paper reported that a shady department of the United States International Development Agency was pouring millions of dollars into the propaganda tool as part of Washington's wider illegal regime change agenda. . . http://allafrica.com/stories/printable/200712100279.html (via Zacharias Liangas, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 1764 kHz noticed at 1420, weaker at 1439, gone 1507 10/12/07, low mod and severe local QRM (Tim Bucknall, N/W England, Icom R75 + Welbrook ala 1530, harmonics yg via DXLD) 2 x something on 882, I suppose, if a broadcast station, or could it be a coastal fundamental with marine weather? (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Re 7-149, ``BRAZIL, 2379.95 [tentative], Rádio Educadora, Limeira at 2310 to 2340 UT vocal with lyrics "Yo no ..en progresso ...no voy.. en los ojos .." OM locator [sic] and many romantic songs," ..en el aire, mi corazón ... América..." and "en el edificio local .. semana próxima cinco y tres, ocho .. en el centro.." 4 Dec (Bob Wilkner, FL, DXplorer Dec 7 via BC-DX via DXLD)`` ``?? More likely a closer harmonic, 2 x 1190v. For starters, a Brazilian would be speaking Portuguese, not Spanish. I`m surprised several other DX bulletins have published this without remark (gh, DXLD)`` Except that some of the stations in Bolivia and Brasil seem to have programs in both Portuguese and Spanish rlcw (Robert L. C. Wilkner, FL, HCDX via DXLD) Viz.: BRAZIL, 2379.86, UNID, 0120-0145, Nov 01, Portuguese, weak. (Wilkner). R Educadora, Limeira, SP, is regularly heard in Brazil on this frequency. (Ed, DSWCI DX Window 337 via Wilkner) Maybe, but São Paulo state is pretty far from the border. And did you think ``SP`` after Limeira in the DXW report stood for Spanish instead of São Paulo? The ``cinco y tres ocho`` you copied also looks like it could have really been a 5:38 timecheck in the UT -6 zone. Haven`t you previously heard a Central American, Guatemalan? harmonic on 2380? [Later:] After some searching I don`t find a Guatemalan harmonic reported recently around 2380 but Limeira has been reported a few months ago, and the frequency offset is close to yours: BRAZIL. 2379.96, R. Educadora, Limeira, 0530-0540, local light songs, announcements, weak but fair on 18 Aug (Vashek Korinek, RSA, DXplorer Aug 29, 2007 via BCDX via DXLD) I don`t see anything about an ID above, language not mentioned so can only assume it was Portuguese (gh) AND: BRASIL - A Rádio Educadora, de Limeira (SP), é a única emissora brasileira que ainda transmite na faixa de 120 metros. Foi sintonizada, em Registro (SP), pelo Márcio Pontes, em quatro de julho, às 0917, quando levava ao ar um programa com músicas sertanejas. A freqüência da Educadora é 2380 kHz (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX August 5, 2007 via DXLD) Perhaps some Southern-Coners can confirm whether it [ever] broadcasts in Spanish. Several years ago, R. Nacional de Tucumán, Argentina, in Spanish was being heard down there on 2 x 1190 = 2380 (Glenn, HCDX iva DXLD) Rádio Educadora, Limeira broadcasts in Portuguese, only. Brazilian stations broadcast in Portuguese! 73 (Samuel Cássio Martins, São Carlos SP, 80 km from Limeira, ibid.) Thanks to all for comments and corrections on my log! Had a possible harmonic on 2380.55 at 1100 to 1110 but faded quickly, on Dec 10. My original log was marked as "tentative. t." If this is proved an error, it will most likely not be the last time I will make a dx error :-) 73s, (Bob Wilkner, ibid.) UNIDENTIFIED. I was searching for any information of R. Nepal on 5005. The last few nights, strange fading, in then completely out, back again 0415 to a s/off at 0435? Last 2 nights with "Chinese sounding" language, M announcer. Could this be Nepal? (Ben Feller, Dec 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Assuming the times you mention are UT, and that you are in North America, that would be pretty late for them. They would usually fade out earlier, but possibly now near solstice they could hold up that late (around 10 am local) across a dark polar path. They are supposedly on the air straight thru and would not be going off; and the only other station on 5005 is Equatorial Guinea which does not sign on until 0500. Further checks would be a good idea. Are you sure this is not a receiver image maybe from 49 meters? Look for parallel audio if you hear it again. 73, (Glenn to Ben, via DXLD) I didn't believe it was Nepal at first, but after two nights, maybe? The Chinese/Asian language put the thought in my head. I'm south of Boston, so this was 11:15 to 11:35 PM local time. It could be an image and I'll be trying again tonight, also listening for //. It is such a strange fade, your point of solstice would make sense. The rig is a Yaesu FT-7700 with a 60' longwire. I have been playing around with a Kaito KA-2100, with reel type extended antenna, during the evening and confirmed R. Fana last week, not bad for a portable. Listening to Mighty KBC the other night, made me think back to the original WRNO. I got back into SW in the early 80s and could not believe rock music on Shortwave. Good WRNO article in MT a couple of months ago. Thanks again Glen for your follow up and kind response ! 73 (Ben Feller, ibid.) UNIDENTIFIED. PLC noise? This night noted a 5 kHz wide buzz each of 31.33 kHz distance, in 6500 to 13400 kHz range, around 2000-2200 UT. Very annoying. 73 wolfy (Wolfgang Büschel, Stuttgart, Germany, Dec 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 6959u [meaning USB?] UNIDENTIFIED/NUMBERS. 2207, 12/3. A nursery rhyme-like melody on a flute for a moment and into woman with 5-digit English numbers - many of which were repeated - then the melody again for a moment before going back to another set of numbers. This pattern repeated several times with neither lasting more than a minute or so (Gerry Dexter, Lake Geneva WI, NRD 515, NRD 545, eton E- 1, NASWA Flashsheet Dec 9 via DXLD) Sounds like Lincolnshire Poacher (gh, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Dec 10 at 1344 did a quick out-of-bandscan looking for the 50-kHz-wide clicks which we think are Chinese OTH radar, and found them, this time indeed inside the 40m hamband, 7045-7090, plus 6610- 6650; at 1348, 5195-5240, 5355-5410, 5550-5590; at 1419, 11415-11435. That one seemed only 20 kHz wide, but the actual bandwidth may depend on the overall strength, and the frequencies given are only approximate, as the signal weakens gradually as it spreads out (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. As I was out-of-bandscanning for Chinese OTH radar clix, came upon large S9+20 extremely distorted FMy blob centered about 10906 kHz, Dec 10 at 1420. Talk in seeming western language, could have been English or Spanish. No // found on 9 or 11 MHz bands, not RHC. Slope detexion on hi side marginally improved intelligibility but still nothing recognizable. 1430 went into equally distorted music, 1438 talk again. Could not take any more of it, so despite my deep curiosity and desire to identify it, went back to the much more pleasant unID Arabic music on 15150. At 1504 recheck, 10906 was gone. Wish I had FM capability which probably would have helped. Likely horribly mistuned transmitter, and finding the intended frequency will be difficult, as not a leapfrog or harmonic which could be calculated. Hope others can hear this subsequently, but may prove to have been a one-off, like 7733.5, Nov 7 at 0639-0715 as in DXLD 7-135 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Re 7-149: ``15150, Dec 9 at 1534 and earlier, M singing slowly in very minor key would be an understatement, Mideastern style, and also at 1606 recheck. Looking up later, I don`t find anything likely on the three major online listings, other than possible Indonesia, but doubt that from fair strength, and style (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)`` Hello Wolfy and Mauno, There's a station currently (1500/1530) playing non-stop Arabic music on 15150 today 9/12. Some of the music I would call typically Libyan in style. Could it be the new Ghat station testing I wonder? A strong S9 on peaks, but sudden fades down to below 1 on the meter. I can hear 17725 out of Libya but not 21695. Wolfy - could this be connected with the unID Arabic you recently heard on 11820 around 0700? Was that one playing just music? 73 from (Noel Green, via Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello, I would call typically Libyan in style. Yes, totally agree with your e-mail. Just read your mail around 1610 UT, and noticed an Arabic music station on 15150 too. I'll check that IRREGULAR service via Sabrata?? site. I checked all bands from 21 to 6 MHz, but couldn't find any \\. Checked also MW's 675, 711, and 1251 kHz but failed. So I'll check after 1700 UT again. Usual Sabrata LBY channels are 9605, 9745, 11660, 11860, 11890, 11965, 15215, 15415, 15660, 17725, and 21695 kHz. [Later:] Tentative Sabrata Libya playing Arabic songs continuously on 15150 kHz. Thanks to a tip of Noel Green heard the station here in Europe at 1500-2000 UT, Dec 9th. In 2000-2200 UT checked 25 to 49 mb, but couldn't catch any other Arabic music [Libya] outlet. [Later:] UNID. Thanks to a tip of Noel Green-UK noted an Unidentified Arabic music station on 15150 kHz in 1300-2000 UT slot on Dec 9th and 10th. QRM co-channel by Voice of Russia, but covered the latter station totally here in south-western Germany. Station supposed to originate from Sabrata, Libya, but noted the two Sabrata outlets still on 17725 and 21695 kHz, IDed in English at 1410 UT, Sabrata transmission very poor signal (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Wolfie, a las 1450 en Valencia en 15150 con un SINPO 55544, música árabe, probablemente Voice of África, sin señal en 17725. 73 (José Miguel Romero, Spain, Dec 10, ibid.) My GUESS is that Iran has expanded its broadcasts on 15150 kHz, but I haven't listened much. While writing this, 17725 has English from Voice of Africa (1520 UT). Nothing heard on 21695. 73, (Erik Køie, Copenhagen, Denmark, ibid.) 15150, continuous Arabic music, some instrumental, much of it vocal too, Dec 10 at 1358, no // found on 15, 13 or 11 MHz bands; one-minute pause at 1359 but no ID or announcement of any kind before music resumed. Monitored on and off during following hour; same break at 1459; also a pause at 1521 but maybe just changing CDs or something. Still going after 1600, but weakening with flutter. Wolfgang Büschel & Noel Green say the span for this is 1300-2000, and suspect it is Libya. Erik Køie, Denmark, suspects Iran. During pause at 1559 heard part of the WYFR trumpet IS before it cut off abruptly --- unfortunately, I had two radios on at the time, the other tuned to 15240 where R. Sweden via Canada had just closed, and was in another room so cannot be sure WHICH speaker that came from! It should not have been on either frequency (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) {if this was an error on 15150 it points to a site known to relay WYFR, but there are so many of them now, UAE, Russia, etc. – gh} ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ When I was a teenager my parents for Christmas subscribed me to Review of International Broadcasting, which was indeed a useful publication. You called the house one December, probably in 1980 or so, about the subscription and I picked up the phone. When you asked for my dad and I asked who was calling, there was a pause and you said "Santa Claus", which in retrospect was a quick thinking answer! My early SWL interest influenced my career path, in fact, leading to a degree in ionospheric physics and a position at MIT Haystack Observatory, where I help run a megawatt class ionospheric UHF radar. You can find more information on our work at http://www.haystack.mit.edu (see Atmospheric Sciences Group) I like to think that your RIB and other work is part of the reason I am where I am today. It was a delight to discover you are still active and doing excellent work. Regards, (Phil Erickson, a new dxldyg member, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WORLD OF HOROLOGY +++++++++++++++++ HALF A SESQUIHOUR ZONE Western Australia and South Australia observe a 90-minute time difference across the state boundary. However, the remote border town of Eucla and the surrounding area, home to a few hundred people, operates on its own time zone, 45 minutes ahead of Western Australia and 45 minutes behind South Australia (from the BBC story under VENEZUELA, q.v., via gh, DXLD) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ UPDATED MEDIUMWAVE PACIFIC ASIAN LOG ONLINE The latest database edition of Bruce Portzer's mediumwave Pacific Asian Log is now online at http://www.radioheritage.net All the latest changes, new stations, new formats and much more. Thousands of AM radio stations covering the entire Asian Pacific region. Online search possibilities. Access remains complimentary 24/7 for worldwide users. This is the most comprehensive listing freely available anywhere online. Well over 50,000 data entries to make your listening easier. Whilst at http://www.radioheritage.net read our new articles and stories as well. Plenty of interest for everyone wanting to know all about radio across the region. The updated shortwave version will be online shortly as well. The New Zealand @ A Glance AM database now contains 200+ stations and has also been updated. The New Zealand Low Power FM Radio Guide is updated daily. Thanks for visiting http://www.radioheritage.net home of the Radio Heritage Foundation (David Ricquish, RHF, Dec 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) DIGITAL BROADCASTING DRM: also AUSTRALIA; CZECHIA; ETHIOPIA; GUIANA F ++++++++++++++++++++ DRM: LATEST ON WR608 RECEIVER -- The Dec. 2007 DRM newsletter states: "Currently Thomson Broadcast & Multimedia and NSE are working hard together to finalise the last details of the receiver. The NewStar WR608 should be available in the market at an attractive low price next year." Other than describing some of the already-known capabilities of this radio, it did not go into any further detail. A newer photo of this unit appears on http://www.26mhz.us (Benn Kobb, Dec 5, drmna yg via DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ NO E-1 FROM NGS On 26 November I ordered an Etón E-1 at $299.99 from National Geographic. On 10 December they informed me that it was no longer available (Gerald T. Pollard, NC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) FOIL ANTENNAS? I live in a condo, with no exterior antennas allowed. Besides, I would be leery about the drop-off from the second story roof! Have you, or are you aware of anyone having success with copper or aluminum foil antennas for SWL use? Thanks! (Dave Askine, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ANTENNA AND GROUND Maybe this is a good time to mention that a good electrical ground is not the same as a good RF ground. An electrical ground can be as simple as an insulated wire connected to a ground rod (I prefer to use lengths of copper tubing from the Home Depot, etc. instead of the junk you get from Radio Shack) driven into the ground. An electrical ground is a good idea with any tube receiver, since there can be stray voltages floating around the chassis to give you a nasty shock --- I've owned three Hammarlund HQ180s, and every one of them would "bite" you if they weren't grounded. But a good ground at DC is not necessarily a good ground at RF frequencies. The skin effect at RF frequencies means a simple insulated wire is like an open circuit at HF and you have no ground connection at all. If you're using an antenna that requires a good ground, like a Beverage or a vertical, it's best to make the ground connection using flattened copper braid, sometimes called a "grounding strap." You can also use the outer insulated shield of coax for ground connections. For a Star Roamer, I'd just use a simple insulated wire ground for safety and a random wire for the antenna. The Star Roamer was a classic beginner's receiver of the early 1960s, and it should be a blast using it, like driving a 1965 Mustang! (Harry Helms W5HLH, Smithville, TX EL19 http://harryhelmsblog.blogspot.com/ ABDX via DXLD) IS AUDIO COMPRESSION IN YOUR TOOLBOX? Hi all: Does anyone out there use an audio compressor? I started using a dbx-266XL audio compressor, and on these quiet winter nights have gotten some good results. Basically, if there is a strong local (or strong anybody) with a DX station underneath, tantalizing you with quiet audio in between pauses of the dominant station's programming, the compressor will automatically bring up the audio level of the DX station during those pauses, making the DX station momentarily audible, sometimes with armchair copy. It's sorta like AVC/AGC, only on the AF stage (correct me if I'm wrong, but RF AVC/AGC won't do this because the dominant station's carrier is still there in between the pauses). For example, KGNW-820 makes that frequency tough here near Seattle, although I can hear murmuring underneath. With the compressor, I have now heard a couple good "WBAP" IDs out of Texas, heard during a KGNW speaker's brief pause. The dbx-266XL has selectable attack and release times, all the way to zero, which is the setting I use. At zero attack/release and high compression ratios, to the ear it almost sounds like flipping a switch between two stations it's so abrupt: quite unnatural sounding to the ears, but rather effective for DXers. Also, the 266XL is a stereo rig, so you can hook the two channels up in series to really flatten things out. This works best in quiet conditions - otherwise the 266XL will just be amplifying noise in-between the pauses, or with a lot of noise may not see much of a difference between program and pause and therefore not do much of anything. Another benefit to audio compression is that it levels out the audio level so that your audio recorder gets pretty much a constant input. My Olympus WS-320 audio recorder appreciates a constant audio source within a certain range, and I no longer get distortion (input too high) or weird-sounding digital artifacts (input too low). I have an MFJ-784B outboard DSP, which also likes the audio to be in a very narrow band for maximum results, and the dbx is ideal for that. Finally, the 266XL is also an expander, in that it can do the opposite: cause the quiet spaces to be diminished into nothing, making program listening with annoying hiss in the background more noise- free. The same concept was used for dbx's noise-reduction units. For example, I like to listen to CBK-540 programs, and an expansion ratio of about 1.4:1 knocks down the static and low-level pests quite nicely during programming pauses. Since most stations audio-compress their programming anyway, it makes the target station sound more life-like to boot. And yes, the dbx can be used with the Sony SRF-59. The dbx 266XL can be had for under $100 used, and dbx makes incredibly well-built gear (Kevin S, Bainbridge Island, WA, IRCA via DXLD) BBC COMPLAINT UNIT RULES THAT COVERAGE OF WIFI EM HAZARDS WAS UNBALANCED The Editorial Complaint Unit (ECU) of the British Broadcasting Company [sic] has issued a ruling after receiving complaints from viewers and one program participant concerning a broadcast of BBC television’s investigative program Panorama shown earlier this year. The program explored the issue of the electromagnetic radiation given off by WiFi installations and questioned whether exposure to this energy constituted a health risk. Measurement of radiation levels likely to be encountered by pupils in schools with WiFi were included. The ECU ruled that the overall content of the program did not accurately reflect the weight of scientific opinion on this topic. Specifically, only one scientist skeptical of the issue of “electro-sensitivity” was presented while three with opposing views were included. Moreover, the skeptical scientist’s remarks were presented in a context that cast doubt on his scientific independence while the other experts’ views were presented uncritically. View the Unit’s ruling at the BBC website http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/news/2007/11/30/51156.shtml (via Ben Dawson, WA, DXLD) DANGERS OF MARRIED DXING DXing from home is becoming impossible. Last night my wife threw my radio equipment across the room once again, this time causing some minor damage to the furniture but little damage to the radios thankfully. It's not easy living with a psycopathic radio-hater. My FM equipment suffered the most (and my face - one or two bruises!) but all still works. So DXing did not begin until after 0300 this morning, after I had reconnected a few things. I hope others here who are married don't have to put up with the shit I do. Conditions were not so good as it happens - in more ways than one. Almost past caring now. Good DX! (name and location withheld) CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ HFCC A08 CONFERENCE, KUALA LUMPUR, FEB 4-8 The Plenary Meeting of the B07 HFCC/ASBU Conference in Birmingham, England concluded that the next shortwave coordination conference for the A08 season will be global and that it will be a joint meeting with the ABU-HFC group in the Asia-Pacific region. Agreement has now been reached that it will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from February 4th to 8th, 2008. NASB associate member VT Communications will be hosting the event with the help of the Technical Department of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union. Any NASB member station that would be interested in officially representing the Association at the HFCC A08 Conference should contact us as soon as possible (Dec NASB Newsletter via DXLD) MUSEA +++++ MUSEO DE LA RADIO EN PEÑAFIEL, ESPAÑA Es un museo concebido desde la más moderna museología. Descansa sobre una cuidadísima colección, y sobre un discurso museográfico que, a su vez, recupera tres conceptos básicos: Contar, de una manera amena y rigurosa, la historia y evolución de la radio. Dar a conocer "La Historia" de los pueblos a través de los documentos sonoros de las diversas cadenas. Poner de manifiesto la simbiosis del hombre con este medio de comunicación. Todos somos hijos de la radio, cada uno a su modo. El Museo de la Radio de Peñafiel (Valladolid) es un marco excepcional donde los visitantes se topan con un mundo de sugerencias, de recuerdos, de vivencias personales que ponen en común en un marco incomparable, a la sombra del castillo. Ven y disfruta. Está ubicado en una casona de finales del S. XIX, donada al Ayuntamiento por la familia Alonso de Peñafiel. Rehabilitada y acondicionada por el arquitecto D. Félix Caballero. La colección propiedad de D. Félix Valencia, reúne más de 600 piezas en perfecto estado de conservación, originales o restauradas con elementos originales. Pueden hacer una visita virtual desde http://turismopenafiel.com/museoradio.html Miren qúe interesante (via Arnaldo Slaen, dxldyg via DXLD) ###