DX LISTENING DIGEST 8-003, January 8, 2008 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 SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1390 **flexible times Thu 0700 WRMI 9955** Thu 1530 WRMI 7385 Fri 0030 WBCQ 7415 Fri 0730 WRMI 9955** Fri 1200 WRMI 9955** Fri 2130 WWCR1 15825 [not expected 7465] Fri 2330 WBCQ 5110-CLSB Sat 0900 WRMI 9955 Sat 1730 WWCR3 12160 Sat 2230 WRMI 9955 Sun 0330 WWCR3 5070 Sun 0730 WWCR1 3215 Sun 0900 WRMI 9955 Sun 1200 WRMI 9955 [new] Sun 1615 WRMI 7385 Mon 0400 WBCQ 9330-CLSB [irregular] Mon 0515 WBCQ 7415 [time varies] Mon 0930 WRMI 9955** Tue 1130 WRMI 9955** Tue 1630 WRMI 7385 Wed 0830 WRMI 9955** 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: http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html or http://wor.worldofradio.org EDITOR`S NOTE: I have been distracted by other matters, and this issue does not cover all the material in the usual depth which came in since 8-002. Most of the missing info was around January 4. Hint: (gh) DXLD YAHOOGROUP: Why wait for DXLD, which seems to be coming out less frequently? A lot more info, not all of it appearing in DXLD later, is posted at our yg without delay. When applying, please identify yourself with your real name and location. Those who do not, unless I recognize them, will be prompted once to do so and no action will be taken otherwise. Here`s where to sign up http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dxld/ ** AFGHANISTAN. Re 8-002: 4 Responses to “Afghanistan: State TV transmitting to Europe, North America” Ross Lockley Says: January 3rd, 2008 at 7:14 pm RTA was also transmitting on Eutelsat W2 16E yesterday --- 11276 H 11100 5/6. Can`t check at the moment due to heavy snow here! Glenn Hauser Says: January 4th, 2008 at 3:23 am: Anything in English? Ross Lockley Says: January 4th, 2008 at 11:11 am Haven`t seen anything yet. Ross Lockley Says: January 6th, 2008 at 6:14 pm RTA seen with a English film dubbed in Pashto (?) and with English subtitles 1800 UT 6/1/2008 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** ANTARCTICA. ¿Alguien ha escuchado LRA36 recientemente? Yo no he hallado ni rastros cuando la busqué. 73 + Feliz 2008, (Moisés Knochen, Montevideo, Uruguay, Jan 2, condiglist yg via DXLD) La busqué justamente el 01 de enero y no habia nada. Da la sensación que está fuera del aire. 73 (Arnaldo Slaen, Jan 3, ibid.) ** ARGENTINA. 11710.9, RAE, 0057-0105 5 Jan. Multi-language IDs, 4+1 pips, fanfare, more multi-language IDs, into English Service (Dan Sheedy, CA, R75/EF102040, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dear Glen[n], Since 1815 UT, on 15344.4 kHz, Radio Nacional programs are pleasantly heard here in Oman at SINPO 34443. Program featuring tangos argentinos with Spanish talks in between. At 1900, short news was on air (Takahito KURATA, AR7030+ with Eavesdropper Sloper 67ft, Muscat, Oman, Jan 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Takahito, Tnx for the report. I assume this was on Sunday, or Saturday? On M-F there should be English at 1700, Italian at 1800, and other European languages shifted one hour earlier due to timechange in Argentina. 73, (Glenn to Takahito, via DXLD) Glenn, This was on Sunday broadcast dated 6th of Jan. Regards (Takahito Kurata, ibid.) ** ARMENIA [non]. ARMÊNIA - Aqui vai uma dica de interessante programa para quem tem saudades da antiga Voz da Armênia, que já não transmite mais em ondas curtas! A Rádio Mundial, de São Paulo (SP), leva ao ar, nos domingos, o espaço Armênia Eterna, a partir das 21h, na hora brasileira de verão. Sarkis Karamekian Junior traz notícias que envolvem a República da Armênia e muita música daquele país asiático! Você pode conferir o programa, em ondas curtas, pela freqüência de 3325 kHz, na faixa de 90 metros, ou acessando aqui http://www.armeniaeterna.com.br/ e aqui também! http://www.tribunaarmenia.com/ (Célio Romais, Brasil, Panorama, @tividade DX Jan 6 via DXLD) See also BRAZIL ** AUSTRALIA [and non]. Both of CVC's 22mb frequencies were heard with good signals in NJ 1/6: new Zambia transmitter on 13650 was coming in well until signoff at 1657, while 13635 from Darwin site continued past 1700 with feature programs. Note the IS used before the hour -- electronic music with Aussie-sounding male announcing "C-V-C" a few times (Joe Hanlon, NJ, Jan 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) CVC BROADCASTS BACK ON (07 Jan. 2008) Hi CVC listeners! Severe cyclone weather conditions at our transmission site at the Cox peninsula, caused the temporary closure of the following shortwave transmissions on Friday and Saturday. 15360 kHz 0600 - 1000 UT 15270 kHz 1000 - 1100 UT 13635 kHz 1100 - 1800 UT Please note the following shortwave transmissions from a different location (Europe) were unaffected: 9480 kHz 0100 - 0300 UT 13685 kHz 0300 - 0600 UT Our dedicated transmission staff were evacuated off-site, but have now returned. We'd like to take this opportunity to wish all of our listeners a wonderful and blessed New Year in 2008. http://www.cvc.tv/go/fuseaction/content.more/id/2861/lang/english (via MD. AZIZUL ALAM AL-AMIN, RAJSHAHI-6100, BANGLADESH, Jan 7, DXLD) ** BAHRAIN. 9744.6, 1443 31/12 with marginal signal and Arabic songs. Man mentioning something as "al ustebed kel arabia' then back to Arabic songs (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELGIUM. 9970, RTBF, 2144-2305+, 01/05/08, French. French-language pop music to 2200, then a presumed newscast followed by what seemed to be a talk show. Strong QRM from WEWN on 9975 after 2200. Listed in some sources as being off at 2215, but was still going (albeit quite weak) at 2305. Fair (Mark Schiefelbein, MO, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. 6030, CFVP, 0641-0705 7 Jan. A fruitless quest for ICDI brought this with C&W, "There's only two kinds of music, country and Western. We play them both. Classic Country AM 1060". Ad for Northland Dodge-GMC, Calgary District Square-Dance promo, CKMX fax # 2405801 and URL. Getting beaten by CNR1 with English pop songs (including a cover of "Knocking On Heaven's Door") // 9675 (Dan Sheedy, CA, R75/EF102040, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. 9520 from 2300 to 2400 has been occupied daily by R Netherlands in Dutch (via Sackville), where I logged PBS Nei Menggu in its absence on 1/1 - apparently just a one-time error in New Brunswick (Mark Schiefelbein, MO, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. CFFX-960 Kingston, ON DX Test, 1/15/08 additional info The BTC’s Canadian Connection – Saul Chernos – and I have been working out some of the details on programming and QSLs for this test with chief engineer Roger Cole. To begin with, here are the basics: CFFX 960 kHz Kingston, ON DX Test DATE: Early morning of Tuesday January 15 (Monday night). MODE OF OPERATION: CFFX will test using its 10,000-watt daytime directional pattern. PROGRAMMING: Regular adult contemporary programming. Special test material will consists of three hourly voice announcements followed by special test material lasting several minutes. These will air roughly at the top of the hour, at approximately 0000, 0100 and 0200 EST, give or take a few minutes depending on the program log. Here is what we’ve worked out on QSLs – For those DXers who seek a traditional “paper” QSL card, please send your reception report, recording (mp3/wav on disk or cassette OK) directly to Saul at the following address: Saul Chernos 57 Berkeley St. Toronto, ON M5A 2W5 CANADA Regarding return postage, be sure to go with one of these options: 1. You may send Canadian stamps in an amount sufficient to cover postage from there to your location. For Canada to the U.S., I believe it is 93¢ Canadian. 2. Send $1 U.S. to cover return postage costs. 3. DXers hearing the test outside of Canada and the U.S. may send 1 Euro. And DXers anywhere can send 1 IRC to cover return postage costs. If none of these options will work for you, please contact me via e- mail and we’ll work something out. Saul will work with Mr. Cole to review reports, issue and mail QSL cards, etc. For those DXers who are happy with an eQSL, please send your reception report and/or recording in either mp3 or wav format to both Saul and Mr. Cole. Their e-mail addresses are respectively: schernos @ sympatico.ca roger.cole @ corusent.com I hope this covers everything, but if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask. Good luck to everyone on hearing this very special test (Jim Pogue. IRCA/NRC Joint Broadcast Test Committee Coordinator, Memphis, TN USA, Jan 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHAD. 4904.9, Radiodiffusion Nationale Tchadienne, 2316, 12/31/07, in French. Man with talk, program of live reports with initial announcer anchoring, 2325 speech. Also 0212, 1/3/08. OM, mu.br. [sic, musical break, maybe??], ID, "Windy" on native instruments, YL & OM alternating. Both Fair ­ poor. Very unusual sound and experience to hear a US pop song on Saharan instruments (Mark Taylor, Madison, WI, R-75, Eton E1, Grundig Sat 800 & G4000; 110' random wire, Eavesdropper, Flextenna, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** CHINA. On 4900, Jan 4 at 1415, M&W talk definitely in Chinese. Per Aoki this could only be V. of [the] Strait, Fuzhou, at 12-17, 50 kW at 140 degrees, axually in Amoy (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. QSL received: 5860, CHINA, Voice of Jinling. Partial-data "reception card" (mostly in Chinese) depicting an ornate city gate on the front, plus a small sheet showing traditional Chinese artwork with a personal note written on the back. Received in about a month for an English report emailed to the friendly Liu Ruoyi, Editor, whose email address is missing a letter in Passport 2008. (It's liuruoyi [not "liuruoy"] at hotmail dot com). Ms. Liu had emailed back in a day or two to verify my report and inform me that a QSL was on the way (Mark Schiefelbein, MO, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. 6120, Xinjiang PBS-Urumqi 0120-0200+ 7 Jan. Huge signal on 4980 with //s 3990 (weak), 7195 (good) and this fair with "polar wobble" on signal. Uighur program with international news, ads (sounded a bit too energetic for PSAs), no pips at BoH, partial ID "..khalk radyo stanshi..", then "salaam aleikum.." into new program, mostly yak in Uighur with occasional local & ME-style music breaks, more "ads" to ToH, 5+1 pips underneath regular program. XPBS Chinese program on 3950 and //s 5060, 5960, 7310 doing nicely same time period with 5060 loud (Dan Sheedy, CA, R75/EF102040, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. CNR1 heard 0900+ 7 Jan. on 11635 (vs CBS-Paochung, TWN), 11665 (vs CBS-Tanshui, TWN & VOA-Tinian, MRA), 11750 (vs SOH (Korean)- Taipei, TWN), 11855 (vs VOA-Udon Thani, THA) and 11965 (vs VOA-Udon Thani, THA). All "vs" except for SOH are listed for Chinese and assumed to be the targets of CNR1; or, perhaps, CNR1 is the Chinese equivalent of Clear Channel and just uses an excessive number of frequencies because they can (Dan Sheedy, CA, R75/EF102040, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. Fire dragon sign-on at 0930 UT, R. Joystick on 9290 kHz was not able to receive it. Target is SOH ?? (S. Hasegawa, NDXC, Japan, Jan 5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Offband type Firedragon Jamming --- I can receive now at 0215 UT Jan 6. 10400, 12160, 13970, 14410, 15050, 16750 and 18180 kHz. While SOH QRM on 18180kHz, I can confirm it (Sei-ichi Hasegawa, Japan, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. CRI relay in English on 13740, Jan 4 at 1434 had audio cutting out every few seconds. Commies vs commies! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. ARMAS DE LA GUERRA SUCIA CONTRA CUBA Por Omar Pérez Salomón Las operaciones encubiertas organizadas desde Wáshington contra Cuba comienzan en el verano de 1959, algunas semanas después de la firma de la Ley de Reforma Agraria, el 17 de mayo de ese año. Infinidad de hechos hostiles y agresivos, imposibles de enumerar de forma pormenorizada, vendrían en los años posteriores. El Inspector General de la Agencia Central de Inteligencia reconoce que en enero de 1960, el centro de la CIA en Miami, dedicado a las actividades contra Cuba, contaba con 40 personas, y se expandió a 588 para el 16 de abril de 1961, para convertirse en uno de los más grandes de los servicios clandestinos. Una de las modalidades del terrorismo empleado contra Cuba es la constante instigación a elementos subversivos, a través de emisoras de radio y televisión, para realizar actos de esa naturaleza contra los centros de producción y servicios, para indicarles, incluso, la forma de hacerlo. . . http://www.cubasocialista.cu/texto/00025649armas.html (via José Miguel Romero, Spain, condiglist yg via DXLD) Long story recounting the history of clandestine broadcasting to Cuba, including Radio Swan, and most recently via the Gulfstream, from a somewhat biased viewpoint (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** CUBA. LOS SERVICIOS SECRETOS CUBANOS Supongo que el colega Romero estaría pensando en las emisiones de números a la hora de interesarse por el organigrama de los servicios secretos cubanos. Por supuesto, también habrá DXistas en los ficheros de estos organismos. Sabemos que sucedía en la DDR (Alemania Oriental). No es de extrañar que siga repitiéndose este procedimiento en otras partes. Lo que sigue se lo iba a enviar al colega Glenn Hauser, pero ahora lo suelto aquí. Si lo desea publicar, ahi va. El tema lo trae a colación una emisora cubana de escasa fama fuera de la isla. Eso no obsta para que en su página en la red invite a los "diexistas" a que le enviemos nuestras señas y número de teléfono a cambio de no se sabe qué cosa. "DXing is an activity which facilitates communication between people." Thus Radio Ciudad de La Habana, 820 AM and FM 94.9, has opened a DXers´ spot on their website. In the near future frequency-related info about Cuban broadcasters will be published, they promise. At http://www.habanaenlinea.cu/diexistas.html you may submit your comments, indicating your email address and phone number(!) By clicking on "enviar", send, another window pops up from your own mail client, should you wish to write an actual reception report, or attach an audio clip or a picture. It is surprising that they should ask listeners to submit their phone number. Cuban broadcasters are not particularly known for getting back to DX-listeners on the phone. So in order to facilitate communication between people, I would rather like to see Cuban AM stations publish their own phone numbers on their web pages, as well as their frequencies, should anyone from abroad wish to contact the station. Right now, the reply percentage for email reports to Cuban broadcasters is well below the Latin American par (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, condiglist yg via DXLD) ** CUBA [non]. R. República via WDHP 1620: see VIRGIN ISLANDS US ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. 6025v, R. Amanecer Internacional, Santo Domingo, noticeably absent for over a week now (Ron Howard, CA, Jan 5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EGYPT. 9250, 30.12 1845, Nile Valley Radio från Egypten med ID: ”Idaha’at wadi al-nil min al-Qahira wal Khartoum”, som tydligen är en sändning för sudaneser. S 3. BEFF (Björn Fransson, Sweden, SW Bulletin Jan 6 via DXLD) ** EGYPT. EGITO - A Rádio Cairo transmite em português, entre 2215 e 2330, em 9360 kHz. Em breve, a emissora lançará uma página na Internet, onde os programas no nosso idioma também poderão ser ouvidos. A informação é de Amal El Disuky, do Departamento Brasileiro da emissora egípcia (Célio Romais, Brasil, Panorama, @tividade DX Jan 6 via DXLD) Let`s hope they also availablize English shows ondemand --- modulated properly?!?!?! (gh, DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA. 6030, Voice of Tigray Revolution (presumed), 0405-0550+, 01/07/08. Finally audible once Cuban jamming shut down at 0405. Similar format to other recent loggings here with a male announcer speaking in rapid-fire vernacular joined by others on the phone. Several short commentaries with music bridges between them around 0415, then Afropop/Middle Eastern fusion music with male and female DJs chatting between songs. Data QRM pestering until around 0445. Fading after 0530 and finally wiped out by another data transmission around 0550, a good two hours after local sunrise in Africa. Fair/good in the clear, poor otherwise (Mark Schiefelbein, MO, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA. 9559.12, R. Ethiopia? at 1615 with folk music. 1636 talks (news?) in English with 1638 a short music interval. Carrier seems QSYing: at 1649 was on 9558.98. Signal is poor at S3 having terrible QRM from 9565 VoA Swahili(?) (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) date? ** ETHIOPIA [and non]. The DW Amharic and jamming situation of such intense interest in Nov and Dec seems to have receded, but I checked this out again on Jan 4 at 1436. I could hear both 15620 and 15660, the lower frequency stronger, but no jamming detectable on either, unlike 15645 where there was only jamming (I think; often hard to tell from ambient noise level), altho DW via Sri Lanka is supposed to be on 15640. Both 15620 and 15660 are Rwanda, but the latter is non- direxional, and not always audible here (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) DWL Amharic service. Two BROADBAND jammers from ETH with annoying hiss audio noted on two QRGs only today 1400-1457 UT Jan 8th: 11645 and 15640. No interfering signals on Kigali channels either 15620 or 15660 kHz. Jamming covered 11635.5 - 11653.8, 15633.8 - 15648.8 slots, measured on Eton E1 with 2.3 kHz filter. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Jan 8, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) This is sad news and historical irony. Asa Briggs writes in his famous BBC history that Italy was the first country to start radio jamming. This happened in 1936 when Italy occupied Ethiopia. Ethiopian radio began to broadcast messages to get help when Italian forces started their invasion. These broadcasts were jammed by the Italians. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asa_Briggs Now the Ethiopian government is jamming foreign broadcasts to Ethiopia (Jorma Mantyla, Kangasala, Finland, Jan 8, HCDX via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EUROPE. PIRATE (Catalonia). 6311.1, Radio Barretina, 2252-0047 Jan 4, Detected some weak audio here at tune-in. Based on logs from the previous weekend, I was hoping this could be Radio Barretina. Around 0015 UT, programming seemed to change to non-stop techno music. IDs that were heard didn't sound anything like "Barretina", but rather "Rrradio Arvoz". Also, at times a British female voice was heard, with what sounded like "Radio One". At this point, I went to the Radio l´Arboç website at http://www.radiobaixpenedes.cat/ and clicked on their link for streaming audio. The stream exactly matched what I was hearing on shortwave. It turns out that this was a show produced by Radio One from the 2002 Glastonbury festival. SINPO 23332. Station issued an e-QSL for this reception the next morning. 6311.1, Radio Barretina, Received a full data e-QSL for my second reception of them in ten hours for my e-mail report and mp3 audio clip. The operator's e-mail made this interesting comment: "This is the first Catalonian radio station in the world ! From CATALONIA (EUROPE), is not SPAIN !!!! 73 (George Maroti, NY, Jan 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Catalonia, 6311.17, Radio Barretina relaying Radio Arboç, 0603-0645, Jan 5, talk. ID as "Radio Arvoz". Pop music. Weak. Thanks to tip from George Maroti (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EUROPE. 6219.9, Mystery Radio, 01/06/08, 0054. Lots and lots of funk music with a definite "Mystery Radio" ID heard between one song and possibly between several others, no additional commentary or talk noted. Best in USB, but still with utility QRM. Weak threshold signal still noted on rechecks as late as 0510. Poor, not much above noise floor (Mark Schiefelbein, MO, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GABON. Afrique #1 from Gabon has become a little more eclectic in its music programming in recent months; its programming now includes an American R&B program called Flashback (still a French-language channel however) in addition to very good Afropop. Although music also appears at other times and frequencies, I like to graze 9580 from 2100 to 2300 UT weekdays. The music is sandwiched between a lot of talk, but it's quite good when it pops up. They are aware that Anglophones are listening; although the programs aren't in English, the stray English-language jingle appears now (Bill Tilford, Easy Listening, Jan NASWA Journal via editor Richard Cuff, DXLD) ** GERMANY. Jan 7 at 1500 found Persian talk on 9925, rather good signal, and since it`s Persian, it can`t be from Iran. Went to music around 1515; at 1529 spelled out a .org e-mail address in English, but could not catch it all; then at 1530. P-mail to Box 40591, but not certain of that either. None of this struck me as religious, so had high hopes for something clandestine. What does PWBR 2008 say? Nothing! So I had to wait a while to look up online resources: EiBi: 9925 1430-1630 G Bible Voice FS ME /D-w Which means Farsi from UK via Wertachtal, altho Aoki shows same as Juelich starting Dec 1, which explains why PWBR missed it. Probably changed from Jülich to Wertachtal since then, as many DTK transmissions have shifted sites. Doesn`t Iran have enough problems without trying to convert them to Protestants? Butt out (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) And nor helpful either for Turks, which YFR service follows on same channel from Juelich at 1700 UT 9925 1430-1630 39,40 105 1234567 161207 300308 WER 125 BVB Farsi 9925 1700-1859 39N 115 1234567 281007 300308 JUL 100 YFR Turkish (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also ETHIOPIA [and non] ** GREECE. Dear Glenn: Greek dinner music was the theme on the "Greek in Style" program with Adrianna in English on The Voice of Greece from 0005 to 0105 UT Monday. It was heard here on 7475 with SINPO 45343 and 9420 barely audible at 25332. 12105 never makes it to this side of the ocean (John Babbis, Silver Spring MD, Jan 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUATEMALA. R. Coatán, no doubt, on 4780 with chipmunk-style singing in Spanish mixed with CODAR, 1346 Jan 6 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. Don`t often hear AIR on 60m here, but Jan 6 at 1342 on 4840, S Asian music, woman singing, later excited dialog; poor signal and still audible at 1358. AIR Mumbai is the only listed possibility. Not so much from Indonesia or China on band this morning. Repeat performance the next morning, Jan 7 at 1350. In Marathi, or Hindi? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. 7410, Harmful Interference on Amateur Radio Frequencies in the 40-m-Amateur Band by All India Radio Spurious by a faulty transmitter on 7410 kHz. to: All India Radio, The Director of Spectrum Management, Akashwani Bhawan, Room 204, Delhi 110001, Republic of India Dear Mr Director, Since the beginning of October 2007 the licensed Amateur Radio of the whole world have been suffering from strong wideband intermodulation product varying between 7046 and 7071 kHz. The cause is the faulty transmitter of AIR on 7410 kHz. Will you please read the letter, study the screenshot in the attachment and listen to the .wav-file carrying the modulation of AIR. The Radio Amateurs of the world hope that the engineers of AIR will fix the problem very quickly. They have the right to use their exclusive Amateur Radio frequencies without the very harmful interference of All India Radio. Thank you very much for your efforts! Yours very truly, Ulrich Bihlmayer bandwacht @ darc.de http://www.iarums-r1.org/ DARC MONITORING SYSTEM and Spectrum Control, PTT Liaison Officer (Jan 4), via Büschel, harmonics yg via DXLD) Checked these spurs tonight 1745-1815 UT, Jan 6th. Spurs 345 kHz away on both 7065 and clearly also same signal level on 7755 kHz. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, harmonics yg via DXLD) 7410: This AIR Delhi unit seems to be in bad shape - still. For many months I could read many - different - complaints about various spurs and even bad modulation on fundamental frequency. In past weeks the international Ham Radio Bandwatch complaint spurs on 7065 and 7755 kHz. Today Jan 8th a terrible spur of distorted pitch sound noted around 7463.4 (7458.8 to 7467.7) kHz, noted on both E1 and ICF2010 rxs. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, harmonics yg via DXLD) ** INDIA. AIR GOS, 9690, Jan 4 at 1424 with a talk which may have been outroed as ``Focus``. Good modulation level, but over constant hum, also coming out of this transmitter? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. YEAR ENDER 2007: RADIO TRANSFORMS AS SEXY BEAUTY As kids, most of us were fond of fairy tales, and an all time favourite was the saga of the Sleeping Beauty. Remember the beautiful princess who goes into a slumber because of a wicked witch's spell? But finally after 100 years, a prince and his magical kiss awakens the princess. The tale of India's Radio industry is identical and the Sleeping Beauty is slowly transforming itself as Sexy Beauty. Though the oldest and cheapest electronic medium, radio was on death bed till about a few years ago. But just when naysayers were lifting their pens to write obituaries for the medium, the good fairy's magic worked and policymakers loosened stringent policies, implemented privatisation, ushered in the revenue sharing regime, and opened up the sector to 20% FDI. The magic kiss truly awakened India's radio industry. For example, while in the license fee regime, a radio channel was at best able to earn an EBITDA of 11%, now with the revenue sharing structure, the same has gone up to a whopping 65% today. . . Source: http://www.televisionpoint.com/news2008/newsfullstory.php?id=1199506205 (via Jaisakthivel, Chennai-600106, India, dxld yg via DXLD) EBITDA - definition of EBITDA - Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization. An approximate measure of a company's operating cash flow (from a Google search via gh, DXLD) Is this a common term in US financial circles? (gh, DXLD) ** INDIA [non]. AIRWAVES FROM ACROSS BORDER GO SOUR 3 Jan 2008, 0124 hrs IST, Yudhvir Rana, TNN http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chandigarh/Airwaves_from_across_border_go_sour/articleshow/2670365.cms AMRITSAR: With the advent of New Year, the airwaves from across the border are striking a not-so-peaceful note. Radio Pakistan's programme "Punjabi Darbar" has reportedly intensified its propaganda against India, perhaps to provoke people in border belt. The content aired is anti-government and even critical of the present Sikh leadership, presumably on the directions of Sikh separatists taking shelter in Pakistan. Despite cable and dish network in most villages, radio is still a source of entertainment for a large number of farmers and farm labourers who often carry it to fields. "They want to provoke people of India against their government, a weak India is Pakistan's strength" said a senior BSF official. Aired at 7 pm every day [if IST, means 1330 UT], the programme often begins with Gurbani recitation, followed by spewing of venom against India either by criticizing its polices for farmers or "suppression of a particular community" and ends with advise to "rise to the occasion". In one such programme a Pakistan radio anchor said: "the Brahmin community of India has unleashed a spate of atrocities on minority communities and Sikhs are being denied their rights," and "Sikh farmers are committing suicide due to anti-farmer policies of government." "This seems to be part of its multi-pronged strategy of waging a cold war," opined Sukhdeep Singh, sarpanch of Mujwind while talking to the TOI on Wednesday, adding that Pakistan should have discontinued the programme when both countries were treading on the path of peace. "Peaceniks on both sides of the border should raise their voice against this." Harjit Singh, a border village resident said " sanu tae hasa aunda hai ki uh kehandae ki nae " (We laugh at what they say). He said the whole programme appears to be masterminded by ISI or a figment of the producers' imagination (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, dx_india via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 4605, RRI Serui, Papua, presumed as the only station in the world known on this frequency, Jan 4 at 1415 with YL ballads, 1418 announcement. Weak signal on 4790 vs CODAR may have been another Indonesian; none of the other 60m Indo frequencies produced anything above the local noise level. Similar 4605 at 1353 Jan 7, seemed to be phone talk (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 11785v, VOI, 1724-1744, Jan 5, assume this is on a slightly lower frequency (did not have batteries for my E1), in language, IDs: VOI-Jakarta, fair. Recently they have not been heard on 9526 (Ron Howard, CA, Etón E5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [non]. Fri Jan 4 at 1422 checked for Don Anderson and the Amigo Net on 8122-USB, as previously reported, but nothing heard (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN. 7160 kHz, Voice of Justice, 0155 UTC with news by female, slightly readable at times, SINPO 33222, occasionally 33433; male ID with jingle, then an interview (name unintelligible) on the FBI as a “federal” institution, “This is the Voice of Justice coming to you live from Tehran,” woman with views of US public on war in Iraq, mention of a Bloomberg web site, program on “the Other War” and “Iraq as your Witness.” Low audio by 0205 with SINPO 23222. January 4th (Roger Chambers, Utica, NY, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. 6974v, Galei Zahal, 2323, 01/05/08, Hebrew. Male DJ with Hebrew-language pop and easy listening tunes. Sounding much stronger than their listed 5 kW. Fair/good (Mark Schiefelbein, MO, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. Kol Israel is still on air, and has seemingly replaced 13630 (not heard) with 9390 from 1400 for Hebrew, and it goes on to carry Persian at 1500-1600/1625 // jammed 9985 and 7420. Hebrew follows Persian - I assume until 1725 when replaced by 9345 from 1730 for Romanian as per latest schedule (Noel R. Green (NW England), Jan 7, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAMAICA. Algo imposible de conseguir en San José pero sí en el Caribe costarricense es la recepción de RJR 720 antes de caer el sol, desde las 2300, con programa noticioso y comentarios en inglés. De 0200 en adelante casi sólo música reggae. Desde las 0400 se percibe choque con WGN Chicago (Raúl Saavedra, Puerto Viejo, C.R., Sony ICF7600GR, Jan 6, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN [and non]. NHK World R Japan QSL card received on Jan. 5, 2008 confirming my reception report sent to nhkworld@nhk.jp; date Dec. 2, 2007, time 1400-1430 UT, frequency 17580 kHz, transmitter site Ascension Island, service English, vs. T. Sato, stamp Radio Japan NHK World – Dec. 26, 2007 ending curiosity on checking following lists: - 17580 R.JAPAN 1400-1430 1234567 English 250 85 Ascension ASC 1423W0754 NHK b07 (Aoki) - 17580; 1400-1430;; J; NHK Radio Japan;E;CAf;/AFS;0;; (EiBi) - 17580 1400 1430 47,48,52,53 MEY 250 355 1234567 281007 300308 D J NHK MER 8555 (HFCC) - NHK 1400-1430 17580 English (SENTECH) (Tony Ashar, Depok – Indonesia, Jan 7, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA SOUTH [non]. Re 8-001: Response to “US forces TV channel to be banned in South Korea” Kai Ludwig Says: January 2nd, 2008 10:29 pm Here in Germany such relays in civilian cable nets were banned by AFN itself. Apparently limiting the range of AFN transmissions to US military bases and housing areas is much more an issue on the TV side than for radio where the stateside rights holders seems to have no problems with far-ranging FM relays up to 50/100 kW (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** KUWAIT. Impact of VOA and AFN: see U S A [non] ** LAOS [non]. Hmong World Christian Radio has disappeared from WHRI 11785, since Sat Jan 5 at 1513 check it was Lester in English instead; indeed HWCR has also vanished from the online WHR schedule, but Hmong Lao Radio is still there Sat & Sun 14-15 on same (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBERIA. 4760, ELWA Radio (Monrovia). 0619-0649. 01/05/08. English. First log of this station and the first log of Liberia since at least 2002 when I started keeping records. OM announcer with several ID as ``This is ELWA Radio, Monrovia, Liberia.`` Many mentions of listeners by name, birthday greetings, mentions of reception reports, frequencies, and skeds. Lots of Christian music. S7/Fair (Joe Wood, Greenback TN, E1, DX 390, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) 4760, ELWA (presumed), 0746-0802, Jan 5, religious preaching in English (mostly loud yelling and then into almost a singing sermon, sounded similar to an African-American church service), weak, with CODAR QRM (Ron Howard, CA, Etón E5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBERIA [non]. 9525, Star Radio via Ascension, 0710-0730, Jan 5, in English and some vernacular, program of Liberian music, into "Star Contact", recorded messages from relatives and friends, fair. VOI not heard here today, as they are now up on 11785v (Ron Howard, CA, Etón E5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MAURITANIA. 4845, R. Mauritania (presumed), starting at 0011 through 0744, Jan 5, intermittent checking found them in Arabic with fair to good signal (Ron Howard, CA, Etón E5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4845/7245, RM, 0815-0830*/*0847-0855 5 Jan. Heard quite well on 60M my local evening/night to close; opening on 41M with drums/vocal. "Huna Nouakchott" and Arabic chat (Dan Sheedy, CA, R75/EF102040, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. RADIO TRANSCONTINENTAL DE AMÉRICA Hi Glenn, From the same source I sent you the info when RTA was off the air, I've received the info that RTA is back on the air. Here is the original message from "BOLETIN N 52 DE XE1RCS, DEL 28 DE DICIEMBRE DE 2007, URL ORIGEN: http://www.xe1rcs.org.mx/boletines/radiado/071228.html "Saludos, Joaquín, la XERTA ya está al aire [...] La nueva frecuencia es 4800 kHz, 10 kHz abajo de la frecuencia original, dado que teníamos interferencias con unas señales internacionales. También tenemos nueva antena; es una vertical, cuarto de onda y estamos haciendo ajustes con la modulación y programación. También el personal es nuevo y apenas están entendiendo el asunto. La potencia es de 500 watts y deseamos tu reporte. Te encargo haber [sic] si hubo cambios; ahora el patrón de radiación es diferente y es posible que haya bajado la señal a nivel local." All the best from Mexico City, (Thierry FRICOT, --- XE1/F-14314 op. Thierry, SAT, SW & BC Listener, Jan 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 9599.36, UNAM, 2210 [presumably 4 Jan], surprised to find this station here with only classical music at all, the program I listened till 2233. Marginal signal with peaks every 2 seconds, gradually increased to a S[INPO] 14321 level by 2230. Better in AM Narrow to decrease somehow the local QRN. Rechecked at 0130 5.1 but there was an Arabic station (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) De nuevo en casa, escucho aceptablemente a XEYU y sin rastro de XEXQ a quienes espero contactar el lunes. Buen fin de semana (Julián Santiago Díez de Bonilla, Jan 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 1610, XEUACH, Radio Chapingo 7:27-8:04 p.m. CST January 6, 2008 [0127-0204 UT Jan 7] Tropical music, seguéd; breaks with several mixed voices in dramatic faction, and an actual ID at approximately 7:50 p.m ... "X(remainder rapid and indecipherable), 16-10-AM, Chapingo" by man. SCT says 250 watts; FCC does not have coordinates for this one, but Guia Rojas shows the Rio Chapingo, very short river, at southeast edge of Texcoco, and the México-Texcoco Highway slightly to the northwest of Texcoco. I've estimated coordinates at 19-35 N, 99-45W, which, from 33-15-41 N 97-14-22 W (my backyard) translates to 957 miles (I'll round it off to 950). I'm doing a start-over log with SRF-59 and SRF-M37V barefoot. Slow, though. Gotta figure out how to get good tapes. This is an interesting challenge (John Callarman, Krum TX, IRCA via DXLD) ** MYANMAR. It seems that a new service of Myanma Radio has recently begun on 594 kHz, and is relayed on 5986v in the local early morning. I've traced the new service on 5986v kHz from around 0000-0130 UT daily, but it probably operates for longer than that. 594 kHz is also heard with the new service in the local evening. However, in the local evening 5986v is still in parallel with 576 kHz, as has been the case for many years, rather than in parallel with the new service on 594 kHz. The new service is in parallel on 576 and 594 kHz around 2230 UT, so presumably 576 kHz breaks away to carry separate programming from 0030 UT in parallel with 7185 kHz. I haven't yet found any other shortwave frequencies for the new service apart from 5986v kHz in the local morning. 594 kHz is quite a strong signal in Malaysia after dark and for a couple of hours after sunrise. It gives much better reception than Myanma Radio's longstanding MW frequency of 576 kHz. I don't know the official name for the new service, but it sounds like it's aimed at young adults. It carries a lot of pop music, especially covers of Western and Chinese pop songs sung with Burmese lyrics, interspersed with short announcements and occasional drama sketches all in Burmese. Regards (Alan Davies, Indonesia (the above mostly based on listening in Penang, Malaysia, 3-6 Jan 2008), Jan 8, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEW ZEALAND. RADIO NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL B07 01 JAN-30 MAR 2008 UT AM kHz DRM Target Azimuth 0459-0658 15720 9870 Pacific 0 0659-1058 9765 9870 Pacific 0 1059-1258 13840 9870 NW Pacific, Bougainville, PNG, Asia 325 1259-1650 5950 Pacific 0 1651-1935 9615 9890 NE Pacific, Fiji, Samoa, Cook Islands 35 1936-1950 9615 11675 NE Pacific, Tonga, Fiji, Samoa, Cook Islands 35 1951-2235 17675 15720 NW Pacific, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands 325 2236-0458 15720 17675 Pacific 0 (via Alokesh Gupta, India, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. After tuning around for the WIMA 1150 DX test, Jan 5 at 0705 UT, I found a VG signal from KGYN 1210 Guymon with ID and 0706 ``High plains forecast`` from NewsChannel Ten, i.e. KFDA-TV Amarillo. No Man`s Land might as well be part of Texas, lost to Okie media. Remarkable signal for a station with a null toward Philadelphia, and no doubt yet another case of non-direxional day operation at night. BTW, WOAI IBOC QRM, but could be nulled as these are close to right angles from here (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I heard KGYN often in Northwest Mississippi several years ago but never attributed it to non direCtional [`correcting` gh`s spelling of direxional] night operation, and I don't think we need to do that now unless we have proof (Paul Walker, SC, ABDX via DXLD) Paul, Here we go again with the ``don`t call them a cheater`` debate. I have been monitoring this station off and on ever since it changed from 1220 to a `clear channel` 1210, on the condition that it null toward Philadelphia. I am a few degrees off from that null, and I know what KGYN sounds like (or rather does not sound like) when on night pattern. This was not night pattern. There have been numerous other reports in the past of KGYN showing up at night more or less along the Guymon-Philadelphia axis, which is pretty far from Mississippi, tho hearing it there would certainly be improved by ND. I call `em as I hear `em. I also have no reason to treat KGYN with kid gloves. I am not saying this is deliberate; I have no way of knowing that. It could be just negligence. It could even be authorized for some unknown reason; after midnight test period. This was hardly HSFB time but maybe they forgot to change after that night`s game, if any. However, just checked again at 0415 UT Jan 6. Again KGYN is well heard, with a signal almost rivalling WOAI. The Guymon-Phila axis runs approximately thru Wichita, central Missouri, just N of St Louis, Cincinnati, etc. Perhaps someone closer to that would like to check out KGYN`s signal right now. 73, (Glenn Hauser, Enid, ibid.) ** PAKISTAN. EXTERNAL SERVICE TO "IMPROVE" CONTENT AND RECEPTION OF BROADCASTS | Text of report by official news agency Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) Islamabad, 5 January: Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) has decided to retain and reinforce its external service broadcasts in Hindi, Gujrati, Bangla, Pushto, Dari, Persian and Chinese languages. A meeting chaired by Secretary Information Syed Anwar Mahmood and attended by Director General PBC Javed Akhtar and senior officials discussed the contents of the services to be continued with improved content, quality and strong transmission signals, a press release issued here Saturday said. The contents of the programmes of these services will be improved in line with the international broadcast partners with more emphasis on news and current affairs along with entertainment, it added. Simultaneously there would be readjustment of broadcast transmitters and the services would be relayed through powerful transmitters to improve the signals of the broadcasts. A decision to revamp the external services of Radio Pakistan was taken last year. It was decided that there should be a thorough review of the external services broadcasts and wherever needed these services must be strengthened and in other cases they should be discontinued. The decision to revamp the external services will improve the quality of broadcasts of the essential services and convey the message from Pakistan to overseas listeners. The secretary assured that the staff which has become surplus due to revamping would be absorbed in other services of Radio Pakistan and no one would be made jobless. Source: Associated Press of Pakistan news agency, Islamabad, in English 5 Jan 08 (via BBCM via DXLD) see also INDIA [non] ** PANAMA. Radio Adventista 1560, desde las 2300, utiliza el slogan "La Voz de la Esperanza", alternado entre español e inglés cada canción de por medio. Programación parece mayormente automatizada, hasta donde pude constatar. Radio Avivamiento 1530, fuerte señal desde las 2300 con programación evangélica dinámica y más vivaz incluyendo prédicas. Su señal salpica a Radio Bahamas 1540, la que se percibe muy disminuida últimamente. (Raúl Saavedra, Puerto Viejo, C.R., Sony ICF7600GR, Jan 6, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA-NEW GUINEA. 3290, R. Central (tentative), 0914-0945 5 Jan. Odd PNG conditions with usual 3335/3905 in poorly, but this fair with C&W, Abba's "Dancing Queen", English announcements, "tuning this station", into possible NBC news // 3345 (heard with MoR songs to 0928, drums and possible ID as R. Northern. Aoki has "Radio Oro" - NBC Northern Service) at 0930-0945 (Dan Sheedy, CA, R75/EF102040, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. Emisoras peruanas en onda corta : Activas hoy 5 de Enero del 2007 entre las 2300 y 0000 UT. Peruvian radio stations on short wave active on January 5th between 2300 to 0000 UT 3235, Radio Luz y Sonido desde Huánuco 3330, Radio Ondas del Huallaga desde Huánuco 4523, Radio Superior desde Bambamarca - Cajamarca ( New/-Nueva) 4745, Radio Huanta 2000 desde Huanta – Ayacucho 4775, Radio Tarma Internacional desde Tarma, Junín 4790, Radio Visión desde Chiclayo - Lambayeque 4825, Radio Sicuani desde Sicuani - Cuzco 4835, Radio Marañón desde Jaén – Cajamarca 4940, Radio San Antonio Atalaya – Ucayali 4950, Radio Madre de Dios desde Madre de Dios 4955, Radio Cultural Amauta desde Huanta, Ayacucho 4975, Radio del Pacífico desde Lima 4990, Radio Manantial desde Huancayo – Junín ( New/ Nueva) 5025, Radio Quillabamba desde Quillabamba – Cuzco 5120, Radio Ondas del Sur Oriente desde Quillabamba - Cuzco 5460, Radio Bolívar desde Bolívar - La Libertad 5940, Radio Melodía desde Arequipa [exact frequency : below] 6020, Radio Victoria desde Lima 6045, Radio Santa Rosa desde Lima 6175, Radio Tawantinsuyo desde Cuzco [exact frequency : below] 6535, Radio La Voz del Rondero desde Huancabamba – Piura (CESAR PEREZ DIOSES, CHIMBOTE, PERU, Jan 5, radioescutas yg via DXLD) 5939.29, Radio Melodía, Arequipa, 0232+, January 01, Spanish, announcement and ID as: "...en Radio Melodía... con un cordial saludo para don...", 24332. 6173.86, Radio Tawantinsuyo, Cusco, 0236+, January 01, Spanish, huayños, announcement, TC & ID as: "...las 9 de la noche con 42 minutos ...Radio Tawantinsuyo...", 33422 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 5015, Radio Horizonte, 1214­1302, 1/5/08, in Spanish. Music, talk by announcer - kind of mellow; 1257 band type music, OM announcer, 1300 fanfare, OM, ID "Horizonte, Perú". Poor (Mark Taylor, Madison, WI, R-75, Eton E1, Grundig Sat 800 & G4000; 110' random wire, Eavesdropper, Flextenna, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** PORTUGAL. RDPI, 15560, paused in some sports talk for unclear reason to play ``Santa Claus Is Coming to Town`` classic version in English, Jan 5 at 1517. Enough! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PRIDNESTROVYE. 6240, V of Russia, Grigoriopol, 0300-0310 6 Jan. VoR W/S with URLs, Kremlin bells, & "This is Moscow", world news into "News and Views" //6155 (via Wertachtal per Aoki). (Dan Sheedy, CA, R75/EF102040, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ROMANIA. ROMÊNIA - "Mito y realidad em el departamento de Bistrita" é o nome do mais novo concurso da Rádio Romênia Internacional. O prêmio principal será uma viagem, com duração de nove dias, àquele país, para duas pessoas, no mês de junho de 2008. Também haverão vários prêmios relacionados com o departamento territorial de Bistrita Nasaud. Para participar, o interessado deverá responder aos seguintes questionamentos: 1) Nomeie três atrações turísticas do departamento de Bistrita Nasaud 2) Que grandes escritores romenos nasceram neste departamento? 3) Que sabe você acerca do mito de Drácula? 4) Como se chamam os montes em que se encontra o castelo de Drácula? A RRI também quer saber os motivos que levaram o interessado em participar do certame. As respostas devem chegar na emissora até o dia 31 de março de 2008. O endereço para o envio das respostas é o seguinte: RRI, Casilla de Correos 111, Calle General Berthelot, 60-64, sector 1, Bucarest, CP 010165, Romênia. E-mail: span@rri.ro (Célio Romais, Brasil, Panorama, @tividade DX Jan 6 via DXLD) Oh yeah, you pays your own way to and from Romania, customarily (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** ROMANIA. I would love to be able to recommend Radio Romania International's The Skylark and The Folk Music Box, but their transmitter 'upgrades' and frequency changes have rendered them temporarily all but inaudible here (ironic since my town is said to have the largest concentration of Romanians in the United States). Once upon a time, I enjoyed them. If you are more fortunate than I, these are worth seeking out. [7105 kHz at 2300 came in OK, and 6145 at 0100 came in pretty well when I was at French Creek recently -ed.] (Bill Tilford, Easy Listening, Jan NASWA Journal via editor Richard Cuff, DXLD) ** RUSSIA [and non]. Today (Jan. 7) it was possible to hear Voice of Russia operating past 1500 on 9885 via listed Dushanbe clearly. The programmes are 1400-1500 Russian World Service followed at 1500-1530 by Hindi ("Yeh Radio Russ hey"). This latter programme concluded at 1528:30 and was followed by their chimes IS until the transmitter went off air at 1530. At 1400-1500 9885 is // with 12055 & 11630 via Moscow and 7110 via Samara (all heard). Others listed but not audible are 11500 Dushanbe, 9800 Irkutsk, 6180 Petropavlovsk-Kam., 7170 Khabarovsk and 5940 Novosibirsk. These are to Asia - there may be other frequencies to elsewhere. And at 1500-1530 I could hear // 12055 MSK, 7305 NVS and 7110 SAM. Frequency 7280 NVS is also listed but was lost in local noise if on air (Noel R. Green (NW England), Jan 7, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9885 continued at UKRAINE [non] ** SAO TOME. 4940, UNKNOWN. VOA-Site Unknown, 0406, 1/5/08. Fair in English; // 4930-Botswana; VOA ID at 0424. No VOA transmission listed on this frequency/time in PWBR, EiBi, or Aoki (Jim Ronda, Tulsa, OK, NRD-545; R-75; E-1 + Eavesdropper, GMDSS-2 vertical, three homebrew FlexTennas, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) 4940, SAO TOME. Voice of America ­ Pinheira, 0436-0505 Jan 5. Thanks to Jim Ronda tip; noted with VOA News ID at 0454 after long discussion program. Editorial at 0455 about Kurds, Turkey and Northern Iraq followed by "VOA World News Now" ID. Into Hausa program at 0500. Fair to good // 4930 (poor). Location presumed instead of listed 4960 which was unheard (Rich D'Angelo, Wyomissing, PA 19610, 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 via DXLD) But presumably only two of the above sufficed (gh) 4940 is used from São Tomé for the VOA broadcast ending at 2100. When heard on 4940 in the morning, I suspect they simply forgot to change frequency for the 0400 transmission, supposed to be on 4960. This has happened periodically (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** SIERRA LEONE [non]. 9525, Cotton Tree News (CTN) via Ascension, 0730-0800*, Jan 5, drums, news segment in English (items about humanitarian crises in Kenya, refugees in Guinea, etc.), ID: "You are listening to the news from CTN, Freetown", "CTN, the news in local languages", off in mid-sentence, fair-good. VOI not heard here today, as they are now up on 11785v (Ron Howard, CA, Etón E5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SINGAPORE [non]. SOUTH AFRICA. 11845, AWR via Meyerton, 6 Jan 2012, in English rather than listed French with heavy-handed discussion of sin leading to death, AWR ID, then International DX Report program at 2015-2017. Items included a survey of the broadcasting career of Ronald Reagan in honor of his “recent” death and the location of the WOR transmitter. At 2030 into an African language, presumably listed Yoruba. Good signal, better than // 9655 where English is listed at this hour (David Yocis, Shannondale WV, (39N13, 77W48), R8B, wires, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Might have thought this was Wavescan, but supposedly not on AWR African transmissions. Did you catch who did this 2-minute ``International DX Report`` and if it was part of another program? (Glenn, ibid.) And, following up, I did I quick search and found the script for Wavescan #504, from August 29, 2004, which matches the news items that I heard, as well as the "playing with a snake" sin feature, which is the same one that I was hearing when I tuned in. http://english.awr.org/wavescan/scripts/ws504.htm (Yocis, ibid.) pronounced YO-sis, David tells me (gh) Geez, just pull up a 3+ year-old program with perishable info and play it with no concern whatsoever (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SLOVAKIA [and non]. 9825, Miraya FM, via IRRS, *1457-1510, Jan 5, Sign on with African music. Time pips, ID & English news at 1500. Very poor in noise & co-channel QRM. What I previously thought was DRM noise I now believe is a jammer. Today this jammer was already on the air at 1457 (Brian Alexander, PA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Aoki list: 9825 R. LIBERTY 1500-1600 1234567 Turkmen 100kW 88deg Biblis IBB b07 (Wolfgang Büschel, IBID.) Well, that wasn`t very smart, picking a frequency already occupied by a jammed service (gh, DXLD) ** SOUTH AFRICA. 3255, BBC (via Meyerton), 0330, 01/07/08, English. BBC African programming, with Africa-oriented news update and Network Africa programming with correspondent reports around the continent. Some intermittent 2-way Spanish QRM. Fair to good, better than usual (Mark Schiefelbein, MO, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN. If we had been discussing all-around variety shows in recent weeks, Spain’s Radio Exterior de España would have been on the list. They do one of the most best overall mixes of news, weather, sports, cooking, music, features etc. currently on shortwave, and unlike the announcers on some channels, they actually sound like they are having a good time doing it (perhaps too good a time on occasion, as there is the stray blooper, etc.). It wouldn't be accurate to compare them to Radio Netherlands’ Happy Station of years gone by, but it might be as close as we'll get these days. Best catch is 6055 at 0000 UTC 7 days/week. I write this even though they don't QSL and dropped Origins of the Spanish Music, a wonderful program, from the lineup. [Ye editor wishes they offered either live or on-demand webcasts of their programming, but this isn’t the case -ed] (Bill Tilford, Easy Listening, Jan NASWA Journal via editor Richard Cuff, DXLD) ** SUDAN. SUDAN LAUNCHES RADIO PEACE [propaganda alert!] Sunday 6 January 2008 04:10. http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article25459 January 5, 2008 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan launched today a new radio station called Radio Assalam, or Peace Radio aiming to strengthen the national unity in the country and spread the spirit of reconciliation in the country. First Vice-President of the Republic and President of the Government of Southern Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit, has lauded the establishment of radio peace which was officially launched today. Addressing the launching ceremony at the headquarters of Sudan Broadcasting Corporation over phone from Juba, Mayardit said the new radio station was established due to the peaceful atmosphere prevailing in the country. The vice-president praised the role of Sudan radio in uniting the people's vision. He appealed to Radio Peace to work towards strengthening peace, unity, freedom and democracy in the country. The ceremony was also addressed by the minister of cabinet affairs, Pagan Amum, who said he's hopeful that peace will prevail in the whole country especially Darfur. He added that the new radio peace is an added advantage to the Sudanese people in their quest to strengthen peace and move away from war towards peace and development. Amum said he is hopeful that radio peace would spread the culture of peace and co-existence between the Sudanese people. The launching ceremony was attended by the minister of information Zahawe Ibrahim Malik. The radio will broadcast in Arabic and English, and local languages in the country. The purposes of Radio Salam project include exposure of the various aspects of the different cultures in the country through talks show, artists. Also it aims to breaking of stereotypes existing on both sides (via Zacharias Liangas, DXLD) ?? isn`t there already a R. Peace in Sudan? WTFK. Is this even on SW? Who cares? Obviously not the Sudan Tribune. So everything is peachy/peacey in Darfur? (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** SUDAN [non]. Radio Miraya 9825 [via IRRS via SLOVAKIA, q.v.] was heard Jan. 7 opening when VOA Mandarin service concluded at 1500. This has multiple Chinese jammers on frequency. After 1500 Radio Liberty via Biblis in Turkmen is heard co-ch with Miraya until 1600 (as reported by Wolfgang Büschel). (Noel R. Green (NW England), Jan 7, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWAZILAND. Some distortion noted on SW channels. SWAZILAND / AUSTRALIA, 9474.89 terrible heterodyne result of the OFF transmission from Manzini SWZ in Swahili at 1702-1802 UT Jan 5. Hetting hefty equal level signal of RA SHP 1100-1900 UT co-channel on even 9475.00. Carelessness of TWR tx engineers annoying, one of their units in Manzini is off at least in past 1-2 years, noted in 31 and 49 mb (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, Jan 5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWEDEN. 9400, R. Sweden-Hoerby, 1439-1500* 7 Jan. English program of political commentary, church bells and ID "You're listening to Radio Sweden", feature on challenges brought about by an increased number of refugees coming into Sweden, weather/sunrise-set times for Gothenborg, quick news/sports headlines, closed with the #2 song on the Swedish singles chart (Dan Sheedy, CA, R75/EF102040, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWITZERLAND. Daily English news from Switzerland via "World Radio Switzerland" --- Here's an update from some recent listening. Since the end of broadcasts from "Swiss Radio International" a few years back, the only way to get domestically-produced news about Switzerland has been via the Swissinfo.org website. Swissinfo is powered by the state-funded Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, also the parent of SRI when it existed. Over the past few months the SBC has gotten back into the business of producing English language "radio" about Switzerland; a weekly podcast produced for external consumption was recently launched at the swissinfo site, and I'll have more info on that in a later post. Last November, SBC purchased World Radio Geneva, a commercial, English-language Geneva-based FM station, and has since rebranded the station as World Radio Switzerland, continuing in English, and has expanded its radio presence to the rest of Switzerland via DAB; World Radio Switzerland also webcasts 24/7. World Radio Switzerland is both a music and news/talk station; most of the news programming consists of rebroadcasting the BBC World Service. However, WRS produces a 12-minute newscast focusing on news about Switzerland every weekday, calling it Switzerland Today. The program airs local time at 6:30, 7:30, and 8:30; this corresponds to 0530, 0630 and 0730 UT. It's a youthful-sounding program, with presenters sporting both British and American English accents. There's a roughly 5-minute newscast, with two longer features rounding out the segment. As WRS has a largely domestic target audience, the news is actually news of interest to people in Switzerland, versus news for consumption by expats. In addition to Switzerland Today, it appears there are a few other English language spoken-word programs that might be of interest: -- Swiss Press Review, airing at 7:45 local time (0645 UT) -- Cover Story, airing at 12:45 local time (1145 UT) -- On The Beat, airing at 10 AM local time (0900 UT). Purists will remind us that "It ain't shortwave", but it is English language programming from a country that has long been a favorite target of SWLs. Website: http://www.wrgfm.com (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, swprograms yg via DXLD) ** TAIWAN. Radio Taiwan International does a program of traditional music called Jade Bells And Bamboo Pipes, easily heard via Okeechobee relay, 5950, on Tuesdays (local American date; UT Wednesdays) from approx. 0233 and 0333 UT to near top of the hours. It's hosted by Carlson Wong, a little under a half hour, and very well done; it's often very pleasant listening whether or not you are familiar with Chinese/Taiwanese music (if you like classical music, there's a very good chance that you will like this program). [Bill’s right; this has long been one of the best-regarded programs on shortwave -ed.] (Bill Tilford, Easy Listening, Jan NASWA Journal via editor Richard Cuff, DXLD) ** TAIWAN. Please note the following changes in Family Stations, Inc. program relays by RTI, effective 8 January 2008: Del 7235 kHz 2200-0000 UTC Target China Add 6230 kHz 2200-0000 UTC Target China Del 7250 kHz 1100-1600 UTC Target China Add 6240 kHz 1100-1600 UTC Target China (WYFR Jan 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAJIKISTAN. Harold Camping, whose ego trip surpasses even Brother Stair`s, pontificating, Jan 7 at 1409 on 6225 with echo, so seems both short and long path from Dushanbé, 200 kW, 125 degrees, YFR relay scheduled at 14-15 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UKRAINE [non]. Jan 5 at 1458, ``The First Noel`` orchestral version playing on 9885, then announcement in something Slavic. Must be the new CVC service via Jülich relaying an FM station in Ukraine, Radio Svitle. Guess it`s Xmas eve for them (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) TAJIKISTAN. 9885, Voice of Russia, 1434, 01/05/08, Russian. Brief DJ comments between Russian and Western-sounding tunes, including several English-language Xmas tunes, presumably for Orthodox Christmas. Nice armchair signal with minimal polar flutter, though started to fade fast around 1500. Good (Mark Schiefelbein, MO, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Looks like we were listening to the same thing, and their registered schedules do overlap. I did not get a definite ID and am not certain whether it was Russian or Ukrainian. Nor does Mark mention an ID. So, any ideas which it was? (Glenn Hauser, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Interesting. I hadn't been paying close attention to the recent CVC discussion, to realize this was the same frequency in question. I didn't hear a definite ID one way or another, but it was the only possibility listed with the references I had, and the propagation fit my logging of WYFR-Dushanbe a bit earlier. I do have a recording that goes past 1500; I don't hear any obvious IDs in there, but then I'm not a Russian/Ukrainian speaker. I do note that there were time pips on the hour, but by my clock they were a good 40 seconds late! I could upload an mp3 excerpt to the files section if it might help get to the bottom of this. Best, (Mark, ibid.) Best indicator to check VOR Dushanbe 9885: Moscow chimes often played in between, and also foreign Hindi service broadcast at 13-14, and 1500-1530 UT and Russian services at 1400 and 1530 UT can be heard. In Germany - my location is in dead zone of Juelich - I note only DRM [Kuwait; seemingly starts earlier than 1530 UT?] and VOR DB on that channel. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, ibid.) 9885 was much weaker today than yesterday, and it was difficult to make out much other than that the programming today was similar to what I heard previously. However, I'm more inclined to agree with Glenn that this is CVC than the Voice of Russia. There didn't seem to be an obvious shift in language and programming like one would expect to hear going from Russian to Hindi at 1500, nor have I heard the VoR chime interval signal. I measured the time pips at around 1500:40 yesterday, but today they were even later - around 1501:35! If this is CVC relaying a local FM station, I wonder if the delay is because they're getting a streaming audio feed over the Internet (Mark Schiefelbein, MO, Jan 6, ibid.) ** UKRAINE [non]. [Continued from RUSSIA [and non]] A co-channel could be heard on 9885 at 1430 / 1500, but was too weak to ID, even when alone at 1530. However, the late time pips were heard at around 1500:45 today, so it seems they probably are from the Jülich relay of the Ukrainian station. When listening on their web site I noticed the same late pips (Noel R. Green (NW England), Jan 7, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. ???? ARMED FORCES RADIO AND VOICE OF AMERICA RADIO: "WE ARE YOUR RADIO STATION, NOT YOUR ROLE MODEL!" ----???? By ALONE, January 3, 2008 = Kevin Stoda, Kuwait Original Content at http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_alone_080103__3f_3f_3f_3f_armed_forces_ra.htm In Kuwait, we receive a wide range of FM radio stations. Many of these are provided thanks to the American-, British-, French-, and Kuwaiti governments. The easiest one of the English language radio stations to find on the radio dial when traveling throughout the country is the VOA (Voice of America Radio). Next in line in terms of reception quality is the BBC. These two stations can be received in car or home most anywhere in the country. This past year VOA has been using a peculiar radio station identification several times a day-used especially during its music programming. The station ID goes like this: "We are your radio station, NOT YOUR ROLE MODEL." NOT OUR ROLE MODEL, HUH? The same statement - "not your role model" - might be said or claimed to be true by almost any radio station on the planet-whether we are talking about a government-run radio station or an independent radio sender. Nonetheless, isn't it a disingenuous or dishonest to claim that? Isn't it true that when a radio station is playing a certain sort of (1) musical text, (2) musical score, (3) oral text, (4) carrying out issues discussions, (5) promoting certain social or political critique, or (6) providing any other official or unofficial narration on the public radio airwaves, That radio station's emission will be translated or interpreted automatically in many shapes or forms, partially as an attempt (directly or indirectly) to reach or to at least assuage peoples' hearts and minds? In short, if a radio station has listeners, a message is shared. A message can influence a listener in numerous ways. That is, one fact of having or offering a radio station program is: A message is shared, and listeners interpret the meaning of these spoken word, music, tone of voice, dialect, and context. Any study of media - TV, radio, internet, magazines, play station, and other games - demonstrates that roles of the OTHER are interpreted and absorbed over time by the viewer, reader of game player. This is true regardless of intended message, e.g. "this is just a game" or "we are not your role models". AMERICAN RADIO IS LIVING OUT LOUD This past New Years Eve as I was heading out of my new flat in Fahaheel Kuwait to a New Years Celebration, I was able to receive a broadcast of the Armed Forces Radio out of Baghdad. As an American citizen and as a teacher & ambassador of improving cross-cultural relations, I did not appreciate the "fun" and music I heard that night. I should note, that at different times of day and in different locations in Kuwait we can sometimes receive at least two different Armed Forces Radio stations. (I now live closer to one of the larger U.S. military bases in Kuwait, so I have better reception than had been the case.) That particular evening of December 31 I turned to the Armed Forces Radio out of Baghdad and first heard a series of typical advertisements or public service announcements. Some of these announcements can be rather boring but common sense things like, "Be careful with what you say!!! Don't unintentionally pass on information and knowledge. Listeners and inadvertent receivers of information are everywhere." Such an announcement ends by telling the American armed forces personnel to remember to destroy documents so as not to allow them to get in others hands, etc. As a radio listener to Armed Forces Radio, the VOA, or to any radio station program locally that does not have a call-in portion for listeners, I am technically a lurker. As a lurker, I acquire information without being identified or contributing to the media. As a lurker (and as a human being) who absorbs cultural information all around me each work day, I am constantly processing data. The display that night of inattention to those "lurkers" receiving reception of Armed Forces Radio that New Years Eve is disconcerting to hear-5 years after the occupation of Iraq began. LURKING ON ARMED FORCES RADIO IN MIDDLE EAST Here is a short report of what I observed or listened to on the evening of December 31, 2007 and in the early morning hours on January 1, 2008 emanating from U.S. Armed Forces Radio in Kuwait and elsewhere in the Middle East. First, early in the evening, two female soldiers were running a discussion program. They were giggling and occasional laughing hysterically about some recent news item or some recent discussion. The discussion had to do with exposure of women's body parts in public displays. Admittedly, I did not know the context of what was being discussed or joked about-nor what the name of that particular Armed Forces Radio program was. However, I was immediately aware, though, that as the female radio personalities said things like this and giggled, they were bound to be misunderstood by thousands of other radio lurkers around the Middle East. These laughing talk radio personalities said things like: "Women should be able to show their stuff." "Women are blessed and ought to be able to do that [without hindrances]." As I strained to believe what I was hearing on my radio dial, I couldn't tell whether these two female radio personalities were talking about a particular news item, a particular celebrity, the exploitation of women in magazines, or any particular social concept in general. However, after reading a short article on YAHOO the day before, I assumed I knew basically the topic. That is, as a listener or lurker, I assumed that the giggling GIs were talking about the YAHOO news item from the weekend about a woman in the USA who had been outraged when asked by stewards and stewardesses on the plane to hike her skimpy skirt back down as she was in a public plane with other passengers. Apparently, as the woman sat in her seat her tiny skirt was no longer at lap level. I listened for about 5 to 10 minutes but I was unable to gather what the context was. Nonetheless, I had had enough and switched off the station. As I stopped at a supermarket to buy juices for the New Years celebrations, I shook my head and thought, "When will these Armed Forces radio personalities learn that not only will some Americans not enjoy the pointless jabber and culturally insensitive tone, but certainly Kuwaitis, Iraqis, Indians, Pakistanis and others who are sympathetic to American causes around the globe listening to Armed Forces Radio in Kuwait are going to (1) be more than a bit offended and (2) find the insensitive airing of American laundry to be sadly typically representative of the West?" In short, a very unintended message is spun here in the Middle East. Recently, one columnist in the last FRIDAY TIMES--my favorite and Kuwait's most wide-ranging, liberal, and in depth newspaper-one columnist, Ahmad Al-Khaled had written an article denouncing the usage of songs by 50 Cent being played in the City's Malls when his children are out with him. Al-Khaled stated, "In fact, if the government censors were to read some of the lyrics contained in the many songs played so freely in local malls [and if I was to have] written [the text] here on the pages of this publication, the editor of this paper and myself would be in a good deal of legal trouble, (i.e. behind bars)." I, Kevin Stoda, haven't lived in the U.S. for about fives years [sic], but Al-Khalid has. He went on to write in his editorial, "In many years of living in the US, I never heard songs with filthy lyrics in public places like malls. It just wasn't done. Even in the USA, where free speech reigns supreme, there are limits." While I doubt that music in American malls in 2008 are as clean as Mr. Al-Khaled claims, I do get the gist of what he is stating. He is saying there is a time and place for every type of music and every type of speech. On the other hand, there are times and places where certain words and music are not appropriate. Are radio station airwaves any different than the internet, whereby the Australian government is considering implementing some sort of internet censorship to reduce children accessing porn? After midnight that New Years 2008, I traveled back to Fahaheel City, and during my 30-minut drive decided to lurk again a bit to Armed Forces Radio. There was a rock concert being aired between public service and GI educational announcements. I believe the music was possibly heavy metal-but may have been an older rock band, like REO Speedwagon of the 1970s.. The recording (or monologue) of the singer-guitarist speaking to the audience that New years morn went like this: "Is there a Bad Mother F--- here?" "Where is that Cun...? "What about those tit--- she's got? I thought of the Bedouins and other local Arabs who spend their holidays and weekends camping in the desert. These are the young men who might be listening to this American Radio station's demonstration of how to share its own culture and its own free-for-all attitudes about free speech OUT LOUD (on a radio station self-identified as U.S. Armed Forces Radio). I shuddered, "What are the young people here in the Middle East learning or interpreting of the American laisse faire attitude towards talk and jabbering on air?" These are easily influenced young men who one day may turn from doing what teenagers out in rural Kansas do, i.e. sit outside at night drinking and smoking under the expansive open sky in some secluded countryside. Next year, they might be influenced by others in or outside their peer- or family group to recant the errors of there ways and become conservative, righteous indignant towards the West. (These Arabs will base their ideas of the West on the music and experiences they shared with their cohorts during those long desert camping trips in the night.) After working five years in the Gulf countries of the Middle East, I have observed that some of the currently most liberal young people who might be of the cohort group listening to Armed Forces Radio concerts while showing off their snazzy automobiles are just as likely as anyone else to grow up as less liberal and more critical of west as the years. Does experiencing the Worst from the West have its greatest effect on youth or on older folks? I believe it is the former. These same young peoples watch legal- and pirated- American films and soon pretend they know all about THE WEST after viewing those action thrillers and the over-the-top narrations and cuss-language of film and music culture-a cultural world often left unedited by teachers or in-the-know adults (like myself) who might give these youth a more effective means to read and interpret culture from music and film. PARENTING IN KUWAIT & THE GULF STATES While I don't agree with a lot that Hillary Clinton has stood for in recent years, some fifteen years ago she wrote a book, saying "It takes a village [to raise a child]." She was right on. We all need to work together to raise better children and better societies. We must see ourselves as role-models and act accordingly. We must advise, train, talk with and educated children and youth. For example, reading, social science, and writing teachers such as myself can help young people interpret culture, language, and ways of life more even-handedly and effectively than can a radio station playing in the nigh skies over the Gulf States. Sadly, effective parenting is too often missing in developing countries, such as those in the Gulf states. The average population here is fairly young compared to U.S., East Asian, and European. The parents have depended too much on government restrictions and not on common sense to teach youth about the rights and wrongs of society. Another FRIDAY TIMES editorialist bemoans the lack of common sense in Kuwait in terms of both parenting and enforcement of existing laws and codes in a Kuwait that has become a bit more laisse [sic] faire economically in the past decade. The authors name is Nawara Fattahova and she claims, "We don't ban kids from entering any type of movie we show. Even if it was written that the movie is for ages 18 and above, we can only advise them that it's not suitable for them." This is because in Kuwaiti cinemas attempts to mimic the West as much as possible-despite censorship of portions of most any film-they only see fit to advise youth under certain ages not to go into a movie. It is much like American states that advise gamblers not to gamble and to get treatment but simply continue to allow the addicted gamblers to do so. Laisse [sic] Faire economics is not the answer to everything Kuwait? Isn't that so America? (Look at the economic mess laisse faire bankers have got you in recently!) We need to be wise educators. By we, I mean ALL HUMAN BEINGS-not just lifelong educators, such as myself. Teaching of common sense should be manifested in radio stations, too. Let's use our government supported and sponsored radios and media more wisely in 2008! Radio stations and other media DO PROVIDE ROLE MODELS to all peoples- but especially to younger and more impressionable peoples throughout the globe. This applies not only to Kuwait and Iraq radio-but to U.S. government sponsored propaganda at home. If the message is wrong or inappropriate, hold the people in charge responsible-even with loss of job and or jail (if necessary and when false information is criminally liable). NOTES Fattahova, Nawara, "No Age Limit for Kids in Kuwait's Theaters", FRIDAY TIMES, December 28, 2007, p.5. Al-Khaled, Ahmad, "'PEEP SHOW' in Kuwait's Malls", FRIDAY TIMES, December 28, 2007, p.5. Stoda, Kevin, "Discussing the N-Word, the B-Word, the F-Word..." http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_kevin_an_070720_discussing_the_n_wor.htm Author`s Website: http://the-teacher.blogspot.com/ Author`s Bio: KEVIN STODA has been blessed to have either traveled in or worked in nearly 100 countries on five continents over the past two and a half decades. He sees himself as a peace educator and have been a promoter of good economic and social development--making him an enemy of my homelands humongous spending and its focus on using weapons to try and solve global issues. "I am from Kansas so I also use the pseudonym 'Kansas' when I write and publish. I keep two blogs -- one with blogger and one with GNN. My writings range from reviews to editorials or to travel observations. I also make recommendations related to policy--having both a strong background in teaching foreign languages and degrees in teaching in history and the social sciences. As a midwesterner, I also write on religion and living out ones faith whether it be as a Christian, Muslim or Buddhist perspective." On my own home page, I also provide information for language learners and travelers http://www.geocities.com/eslkevin/ http://the-teacher.blogspot.com/ & http://alone.gnn.tv/ (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. Glenn, I ran across this item on the tower-pro message board this morning. Looks like curtains for KAIJ Posted by: "John Hettish" jhettish @ united.net Sat Jan 5, 2008 2:30 pm (PST) Hello, A broadcast engineer friend of mine needs to remove a shortwave transmitting antenna and a transmitter from a short wave broadcasting station in [sic] Dallas Texas. The antenna can be seen in a photo at this link. http://24.151.207.180/k/kaij/pages/pictures.php The photo isn't all that good, by the way. The antenna is a log periodic which consists mainly of lengths of wire and insulators. As I understand, one end is attached to a tower at about 130 feet above ground level. The other end is attached to another tower at about thirty feet above ground level. The engineer needs help getting the antenna down, organized in some fashion for further use and loaded onto a tractor trailer rig. The tractor trailer rig is mainly for the transmitters that will also be removed from the site. Any insured tower company in the Dallas area that has its own forklift would probably be given the job. For further information please contact George McClintock by email at k4bty @ arrl.net Take care (via Jerry Kiefer, Roswell, NM, Jan 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Hello Glenn, I goofed; for today's Area 51 I got the shows right but the order wrong. WOR 1389 aired early. The actual air times/programs were: [Friday Jan 4] 2200 Radio 3 #32 2230 WOR 1389 2300 Piratesweek 12/31/07 2330 International Radio Report 12/31/07 Signal was very good here in Maryland from 2245 on. My friends near Boston tell me that 5110 was good from 2200 to 2240 or so but faded by 2300. Conditions have been like this for the past several days. Most days I am feeding Area 51 programming from my studio here in Maryland. WBCQ picks up a webcast and puts this on 5110 unless Allan or Tim wish to do some programming direct from Monticello or from Tim's place in Skowhegan. As I work past 5 PM local time most weekdays, I set up Area 51 programming using scripts and a scheduler in my webcasting software. I apologize for the screw-up and will try my best to ensure it doesn't happen again. WOR should continue in the future Fridays at 2330 on 5110. Regards, (Larry Will, Jan 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Is there a schedule of Area 51 contents, and webcast available to public? (gh to Larry, via DXLD) I am maintaining weekly program schedules/logs for Area 51 updated in the "broadcaster's forum" at wbcq.com - http://www.wbcq.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=3 The Area 51 webcast is active from about 2130 to 0030 Monday through Saturday. Its address - http://www.johnlightning.com:8024 I wasn't able to confirm WOR 1389 on Thursday at 0030 on 7415. Recently 7415 has been poor or inaudible at that time, and the station webcast is offline awaiting a visit from the satellite internet provider. Regards, Lw (Larry Will, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 4915, WWCR (mixing product?), 2212, 1/3/08. OM & YL, Beatles` "Imagine" another preacher co- channel. Both increased and one dropped out 2220. Significant het on frequency. Program with Beatles was // 5070. I could not find the other //, but it sounded like Pete Peters. Heard on two radios, so not a receiver image (Mark Taylor, Madison, WI, R-75, Eton E1, Grundig Sat 800 & G4000; 110' random wire, Eavesdropper, Flextenna, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) I already explained 4915 in DXLD 7-153, Dec 19: The WWCR 4915 spur explained: it`s 9985 minus 5070. So whenever both frequencies are on the air, 4915 could also occur. 9985 is currently scheduled 10-11 from WWCR-1, 16-19 & 22-24 from WWCR-4. WWCR-3 is on 5070 at 22-13, so the overlap times are: 10-11 and 22-24, both accounting for the times heard on 4915. Could any second audio be heard from the 9985 programming? M-F at 22-24 the two are both carrying Scriptures for America, but at 10-11 are separate, as well as Sat/Sun 22-24 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 3215, WWCR, 0410-0425, Jan 5, heard 2 different English WWCR programs mixing together on 3215. Weak but audible religious program from WWCR 5935 bleeding into 3215. 3230.52, WWCR, 0410-0425, Jan 5, weak spur from 3215. Much weaker spur on 3199.48 at threshold level. These spurs are 15.52 kHz above & below 3215. (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Frecuencia al Día, the DX program produced by Dino Bloise, with input from a number of regular contributors, has quietly stepped into the vacuum left by RN`s canceled Radio Enlace. I ran across it at one of WRMI`s unspecified, `flexible` timings, UT Fri Jan 4 at 0637 on 9955, which was propagating for a change, and not jammed at the moment. So that`s Friday 0630 for FAD, among many other airings. For those listening an hour later at 0730 Fri, WORLD OF RADIO has been heard in the past but not reconfirmed lately (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. EL DIRECTOR DE RADIO MIAMI INTERNACIONAL COLABORARÁ CON CANAL LITERATURA escrito por http://www.laverdad.es viernes, 04 de enero de 2008 Agustín Rangugni, el periodista argentino afincado en Miami – desde donde emite a todo el mundo – se ha mostrado interesado en colaborar con la Asociación Canal Literatura, en su política de difundir el idioma español en el mundo. Tanto María Luisa Núñez, presidenta de la asociación murciana, como el periodista argentino, que dirige Radio Miami Internacional, estuvieron de acuerdo en la importancia que Internet representa ya en el mundo de la comunicación, durante la reciente visita a Murcia de Rangugni. Ambos portales utilizan Internet como base de la difusión de sus contenidos y apuestan ya desde hace años por este medio, en el que la libertad de información, la transmisión en tiempo real de la creación literaria y la publicación de escritores noveles sin cortapisas editoriales está dejando en evidencia la rigidez de los sistemas convencionales. Fuente: Guía de la Radio via: http://noticiasderadiodelmundo.blogspot.com/ (via Nicolás Eramo, Argentina, Jan 5, condiglist yg via DXLD) ?? I thought Jeff White was director, or general manager, of Radio Miami Internacional (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) Glenn: This is some Argentine guy who runs a website called Radio Miami Internacional which has been going on for a few years now and has no affiliation whatsoever with us. I'm not sure about the legality of their using that name, but I believe he knows about us because he once inquired about buying airtime from us. Incidentally, there's a pro-Castro group that buys a block of airtime on a local AM station in town that calls itself "Radio Miami," which some people locally unfortunately confuse with us. I don't think much of anyone has ever heard of the other one (the website). (Jeff White, FL, WRMI, Jan 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Here is the story above, with an illustration of the imposter: http://www.laverdad.es/murcia/20071228/mas-actualidad/cultura/agustin-rangugni-director-radio-200712281348.html And this must be the faux RMI website: http://www.radiomiami.us/new/ Here`s the CV of the guy behind it: QUIENES SOMOS --- Agustin Rangugni Lic. en Ciencias de la Comunicación, Periodista especializado en Economía y Negocios. Conductor de diversos programas de radio y TV, entre los cuales se destacan, AGENDA ABIERTA, CONVERGENCIA Y CONVERGENCIA ECONÓMICA. Actualmente conduce "PORTAL MIAMI" que se emite por Radio Miami Internacional. Ejerció la conducción y dirección periodística en varias emisoras de radio y TV como: Radio Belgrano, Radio Argentina, Radio América y Radio El Mundo, y Canal Dos TV, Cablevisión, P&E, Multicanal, en Argentina y Radio Caracol, Cablevisión de Miami EEUU entre otros. Fundador y Director de Radio Líder FM 91.5 Buenos Aires - Argentina, en 1988. Fundador y Director de Canal 5 TV - Buenos Aires - Argentina en 1991. Entrevisto a personalidades de todo el mundo, y cubrió eventos internacionales. Acompaño desde 1985 a 1999 las giras internacionales de los presidentes argentinos Dr. Raul Alfonsin y Dr. Carlos Menem. Radicado en Miami desde 1999, fundo y dirige www.portalmiami.com en el 2000 y www.radiomiami.us en 2004. The home page also launches auto a 24/7 WM webcast, with program sked: http://www.radiomiami.us/new/programacion.php Monday at 2325 UT the program heard is ``Perros de la Noche`` which appears nowhere on the schedule, certainly not at any possible time misconversion on Mondays; includes LA pop music, comedy trax. The rest of the programming seems to include a lot of music, specialty shows such as ``Oriente Medio al Día``, and none of the Cuban exile nonsense WRMI gladly puts up with – except on Saturday at 8/9 am, Ventana a Cuba, which I thought was a VOA program title! The schedule displays in ``Miami Time`` and if you click on ``Horario Argentino`` nothing happens; what you really have to do is click on any individual program title, and something pops up showing the time as one hour later than Miami! There is currently a three-hour difference between Miami and Argentina, so it seems ``Radio Miami`` is slightly out of touch with reality. In our summers, there is only a one-hour difference. Or maybe it`s hard to tell summer from winter in Miami? Not lately, but in OK we are breaking records in the 70s (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. WYFR via TAIWAN: q.v. ** U S A. Another US SW station missing: KTBN. Jan 4 at 0641, vacancy on 7505 while all the other US SW stations on the band were audible; recheck at 1408, still missing. Not heard lately on the daytime frequency either, 15590, such as Jan 5 at 1610 and 1716. Has anyone heard them this year on either frequency? FCC and HFCC are ambiguous about the exact schedule, showing a 2-hour overlap in the morning and a 1-hour overlap in the evening, even tho KTBN has only one transmitter! This gives them the flexibility of switching at 14, 15 or 16, and at 00 or 01 without having to specify which. In deep winter, surely the times should be 1600-2400 & 0000- 1600. [Later:] KTBN, which had been absent a few days, back at usual strength Jan 6 at 0632 on 7505. Sounds suspiciously like a TV soundtrack (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7505, KTBN, 1150, 01/06/08. Reporting missing recently, but noted briefly in passing today with regular religious-talk fare. Still on here when briefly checked again at 1541. Usual strong signal. Good (Mark Schiefelbein, MO, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. I remembered to check again for the Texas Department of Transportation net on the first Monday in 2008y. Jan 7 at 1430 promptly started on 5195.3 SSB, with ``Tex-Dot HF roll call``. I think I copied all the cities named, most but not all of which checked in: Abilene, Amarillo, Atlanta, Beaumont, Brownwood, Bryan, Childress, Corpus Christi, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Houston, Laredo, Lubbock, Lufkin, Odessa, Paris, Pharr, San Angelo, San Antonio, Tyler, Waco, Wichita Falls [YL], Yoakum. Each one gave a signal report to Austin NCS WQFR277, often 555 --- could this be SIO? Surely not from such a para-governmental net. All this took less than 5 minutes, with lite CODAR QRM thruout. Closed with ``see you next week``. Cf. previous reports under unID in DXLDs 7-150, 7-153, 7-154 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Sporadic E Opening on 26 MHz 20 UT Jan 8 Hi Glenn, STLs 26130, 25990 and 25910 all coming through. Times UT. 25910, WBAP Ft. Worth, TX in FM at 1942 with mentions of Senator Huckabee. 333 Jan 8/08. 25990, KSCS Arlington, TX in FM at with fiddle music at 1952 "All the best Country" at 1954 into country music selection. 333 Jan 8/08 26130, WIBC Indianapolis, IN in FM at 2002 with "WIBC FM 93.3" mentioned at 2004 Ad for Garleek and Indianapolis Monthly Bridal Show Jan 13 http://www.indianabride.com Several IDs "Indy`s News Centre "FM Ninety Three One". 333 Jan 8/08 73 (David Ross, VA3MJR, Ont., DX LISTENING DIGEST) I am also seeing signs of signals on TV channels 2-5 (gh, OK, ibid.) ** U S A. Looked for the WIMA 1150 Lima OH DX test, Sat Jan 5 at 0700- 0705, but no sign of it, only network news, probably the usually dominant KSAL Salina KS (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA. 4939.96, Radio Amazonas (presumed), Puerto Ayacucho, 0215+, January 01, ¿language?, romantic and Latin songs in Spanish "non stop", 24332 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA [non]. 6060, R. Nac. de Venezuela via Cuba, *1101-1113, Jan 5, sign-on in Spanish, program schedule in English, briefly in Spanish, 5 minute segment in English (seemed to be a news item), back to Spanish programming, poor with QRM/Sichuan PBS-2 (Ron Howard, CA, Etón E5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA [non]. “Aló, Presidente`` service via Cuba, Sunday Jan 6 at 1405 check talking about Cuba instead of Venezuela, in usual RHC prélude to the real show, on 11875 atop WEWN, 13750 clear, and barely audible on 17750 mixing with WYFR. Not found on any other frequencies; RHC mainstream programming continuing on 11760, 11805, 12000, 15370 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIRGIN ISLANDS US. Radio República toma la frecuencia de WDHP 1620 durante dos horas, de 2000 a 0000, transmisión verificada jueves 3 y viernes 4 de enero, pero no el sábado 5. A las 0600 {you mean 0000 UT?} regresan a sus programas en inglés con comentarios de actualidad. Locutor apoyándose en el instrumental "My Sweet Summer Suite" de Barry White. Transmisión se vuelve muy festiva desde las 0100 con abundante música soca. Después de las 0300 baladas country. Usualmente a partir de las 0400 retransmiten a BBCWS hasta el amanecer (Raúl Saavedra, Puerto Viejo, C.R., Sony ICF7600GR, Jan 6, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** YEMEN. 6135, Republic of Yemen Radio, 1407 31/12 with Arabic songs. 1408 with immediate qur`anic verses discussion between OM/YL (a theatrical way) over instrumental music, 1413:50 back to qur`anic sermons. S9 45544 (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZANZIBAR. 11735, Radio Tanzania-Zanzibar, 1800-1815, Jan 5, No English today. Only hear Swahili talk & local music. English was heard yesterday, January 4 [Fri], but not today [Sat]. Poor to fair (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) No English broadcast noted here at 1800 from Radio Tanzania Zanzibar on 11735. Propagation, or transmitter strength are poor today (Steve Lare, Holland, MI USA, Jan 5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 4835, 0105-0115 fadeout 7 Jan. On a great CAs opening, just bits of yak and bells/flutes instrumental music (AIR-4820 (among other AIR 60M frequencies) and XPBS 5060, 4980 (S-8/9) heard quite well same time). If this is AIR-Gangtok, perhaps listed *0100 might make it; pretty tight window, though (Dan Sheedy, CA R75/EF102040, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. That rapid clicking thought to be Chinese OTH radar was heard in these approximate frequency ranges Jan 4: at 1411, 5245-5330, 5785-5825; at 1423, 8595-8625. I noticed that the ANL on the FRG-7 helped noticeably to diminish, so the pulse rate is something akin to noise it is designed to limit (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. On a recent Sunday at 1400-1401, I heard a code message on 6075, which apparently came from the Pet-Kam R. Rossii transmitter just before closedown. I checked this again on Friday January 4, and this time it was clearly CW (on and off keying), as the RR carrier was apparently already off, and thus having nothing to do with it. But this does appear to be a regular transmission. Once again I was not recording and not prepared to copy it accurately, but I got a partial message and call: ``CQ DE 8G-- K`` Could be a tactical call, especially since it`s CW within a broadcast band; 8G per ITU allocations would be Indonesia, as in ARRL`s prefix allocations list: 8AA-8IZ Indonesia (Republic of) One can probably copy this any day at 1400-1401 on 6075. Just in case, I checked again at 1500 but not heard. Searching the over 12000 messages so far accumulated in the UDXF yg, not a single hit on 6075. 6075, the brief slow-speed CW marker heard again Jan 6 at 1400-1401. This time it was barely audible, but I managed to copy the full callsign: 8GTL. That doesn`t help much: not a single hit on that in the UDXF message archive; nor anything significant in a Google search, but I do now know that 8GTL is also the model number of a telescope, and also of a gas compressor engine! Could these transmissions be in honor of one of them? [NO: not 8GTL; see below] Tried 6075 again Monday Jan 7 at 1400. This time the R. Rossii carrier after closing timesignal overlapped for about half of it, but when the ID came there was QRM and I couldn`t copy it 100% despite recording, so I am not sure the third character was a T, maybe an M or an A? Seemed like more than a single dash. Of course, there is no law that something clandestine like this should always use the same identifier. Message was VVV CQ CQ CQ DE 8G --- [twice] K. I`ll keep trying till I get it for sure (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I have been hearing a CW marker any day I check, on 6075 kHz at 1400- 1401 UT. Altho slow speed, copy has been difficult due to QRM. On January 8 I got the entire message without doubt: VVV CQ CQ CQ DE 8GAL 8GAL K This follows immediately the timesignal from the R. Rossii broadcast transmitter on 6075 from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatky which is closing down. Sometimes the CW message, or part of it, is modulated by that station`s open carrier, depending on how quickly they turn it off. I find this intriguing because 8GAL operates on a very regular schedule, has never been noticed at any other time, and is right smack dab in the middle of an exclusive(?) broadcast band. The 8A- sequence belongs to Indonesia in ITU callsign prefix allocations, but this is more likely a tactical call having nothing to do with Indonesia, altho propagationally possible. Searching on 8GAL and on 6075 produces zero hits on the 12K+ messages accumulated in the UDXF yg, altho sometimes I wonder how exhaustive yg searches are. Nor on recent ITU monitoring reports. Nor is searching the web for 8GAL productive since that leads to thousands of items with 8-gallon capacity! Any help on identifying the source of this would be very welcome. 73, Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, USA, UDXF yg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, This sure looks like a tactical c/s. Is this the usual message or is this the callup which is sometimes followed by a message? Is the c/s always the same? My guess is that it's a Russian military station but Chinese military have been heard here on various occasions with 4FGs messages. Regards, (Ary Boender, UDXF yg via DXLD) Ary, I`m afraid I haven`t kept monitoring the frequency much beyond 1403 or so, but never heard any immediate answers. Another monitor heard some weak CW on the frequency again at 1600. I think call is the same; at first I thought it was 8GTL, but probably missed a dit during a fade (Glenn, ibid.) I checked around 1600 and was hearing CW there, though very weak and could not verify a callsign. It would seem as though it is indeed operating as a CW marker. I'll make sure I give it a listen again tomorrow (Steve Lare, Holland, MI USA, Jan 8, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Since about 1830 UT I came across of a BUBBLE jamming transmission in 6122 to 6134 kHz portion (peaks 6127.8 and 6128.2) ... IRN or rather ETH ? Against whom? (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, harmonics yg via DXLD) Probably a faulty VoR transmitter in Moscow: bubbling stopped when they signed off at 2200. 73, (Mauno Ritola, Finland, ibid.) UNIDENTIFIED. 6280 BBC en inglés. ¿Emisión fantasma? 6280, BBC, 2130- 2138, escuchada el 6 de enero en inglés a locutor con ID, noticias, locutora con titulares, SINPO 35433. Es la segunda vez que escucho esta emisión de la BBC por esta frecuencia. No la encuentro listada; anteriormente pensé que se trató de una emisión accidental. Reconozco que no suelo captarla todos los días, para mí un misterio. La emisión no corresponde con la programada en 6195 y el servicio empezó a las 2130. ¿Una emisión fantasma? (José Miguel Romero, Spain, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) JM, Possibly a leapfrog of 6110 over 6195. Both are Skelton at 180 degrees to N Africa. Perhaps 6110 is carrying a different stream than 6195? EiBi and HFCC have them both on at 2130, but Aoki does not show 6110. Anyhow, see if 6110 matches. This does not explain why 6280 would not start until 2130 (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) see LANGUAGE LESSONS Yes, seemingly an intermodulation at Skelton VTC site? But both at 180 degree antennas only? 110 degr +15 degr antenna slewed, Arabic. 6110 1800-2100 38E,39S SKN 300 125 15 G BBC MER and 17-21 RMP 500 168 degrees also. New, extended recently in late November from 2100 onwards, maybe Arabic service too. 6110 2100-2300 37,38W SKN 300 180 0 G BBC MER English, NoAF. 6195 1800-2200 37,38W SKN 300 180 0 G BBC MER Saludos cordiales, hoy 7 de enero también se aprecia una emisión en inglés; la señal es muy débil en 6280 a las 2125 UT. He podido verificar que en 6195 hay una emisión en inglés de la BBC que no corresponde, al menos en las dos ocasiones anteriores, pero en 6110 sí que hay otra emisión en ingles de la BBC y esta sí que corresponde con la de 6280. Sin embargo a las 2130 observo que las tres transmisiones sí que coinciden. Veo que en EiBi para 6110 hay un servicio en inglés de 2100 a 2300 para el norte de Africa, el Aoki no lo menciona. Por otra parte para 6195 en EiBi se menciona servicio de 2100 a 2200 y de 2200 a 2300. Algo no acaba de cuadrarme; quizás la BBC emite segmentos de 30 minutos diferentes en una y otra frecuencia, coincidiendo el programa a las 2130, no sé. Lo de la escucha en 6280 es probable que sea algún extraño producto, la señal es muy pobre para tratarse de una emisión real en esa frecuencia. 73 (José Miguel Romero, Spain, ibid.) That`s standard practice for BBCWS in English: the news headlines on the half hour go out on all streams, but the programming before and after may differ (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ AT THE TONE: FINALLY RELEASED 5/5/08! Hi Glenn, A mere sixteen years since the idea's inception, I'm exhausted and thrilled to announce the actual, honest-to-goodness release of "At The Tone: A Little History of NIST Radio Stations WWV & WWVH" (Obscure-Disk OBSCD09) on May 5, 2008. "At The Tone" chronicles the history of NIST's famed time-signal station, WWV, and its Hawaiian sister, WWVH, through an exhaustive 74- minute compendium of rare historical interceptions from 1958 to 2005. Each track is fleshed out with detailed notes by compilation editor Myke Weiskopf (yours truly), who started the project in earnest as a 15-year-old SWL in 1992. The result: 51 audio tracks, a 5,000-word Program Guide, and 50 years' worth of historic audio - all housed in a gorgeous, full-color package designed by Todd M. LeMieux http://www.toddlemieux.com "Terrestrial" copies will be issued in a strictly limited run of 300 copies, after which the album will be available for digital download from the project's Web site. An additional 14 unheard audio exhibits - including an extensive 1958 interview with a station engineer - will be available on the site as well. Read the introductory essay, hear excerpted tracks, and view the complete track listing at http://www.atthetone.info Cheers and thanks for your patience... (MYKE WEISKOPF > Hollywood, CA WEB > http://www.mykeweiskopf.com CONTACT > starsonesp @ gmail.com Jan 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WORLDWIDE REGULATORY AGENCIES Glenn, I was looking for the current FM operating station list in Mexico from SCT on Friday, and was reminded of this nice list of links maintained by Dale Bickel (who is a Sr. engineer in the Media Bureau of the Fuzzy Confusion Commissariat). http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/bickel/world-govt-telecom.html It's been real useful every so often, and I have never noticed it mentioned in your newsletter. Dale also maintains the useful "radio tools" utility on the FCC website (Benjamin Dawson, DX LISTENING DIGEST) LANGUAGE LESSONS ++++++++++++++++ GREVES & GRAVES Re 8-002: Hola Glenn: de nuevo estoy en casa. Leí como siempre con interés to Digest. Te pido me traduzcas qué quieres decir con: "I gather greves are rampant in Colima" ??? Saludos, (Julián Santiago Díez de Bonilla, DF, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hola Julian, Quería decir graves, en vez de greves. Me refería a los acentos [`] en vez de agudos que aparecieron en tu texto. Como se llaman en francés. Chiste sin éxito por mi error, que no son huelgas! Ahora sé que también se llaman en español graves, aunque de costumbre no figuran en su ortografía. 73, (Glenn to Julián, via DXLD) Gracias Glenn: lo que pasa es que contrataba unos minutos de Internet y la computadora que generalmente me prestaban no tenía los acentos agudos, solo los graves (Julián, ibid.) LEAPFROGS For leapfrog my dictionary suggests salto de la muerte or pídola. Does either make sense for this in Spanish? (Glenn Hauser, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Literally understood, leapfrog is a "salto de rana", as you explain "posiblemente es un salto (de rana) de 6110 sobre 6195" (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, ibid.) DIGITAL BROADCASTING DRM: see NEW ZEALAND; SLOVAKIA; UKRAINE [non] ++++++++++++++++++++ PROPAGATION +++++++++++ SOLAR CYCLE 24 FEAR-MONGERING It's now just past 2 A.M. [CST = 0800 UT] Sunday morning, and the fine folks on 'Coast to Coast' have an alleged "doctor" on trying to whip up fear of the upcoming solar cycle. He's a real nutter, claiming world-wide disaster from it, with "hundred of millions of deaths". If you're up now, or within an hour or so of this message going out, tune them in, you won't believe the hooey some people believe. [Later:] More about that Solar Cycle non-sense on the radio. Well, I listened for the last hour and have concluded that both the host and guest on 'Coast to Coast' never passed a basic science course. Oh, by the way, the nut doing the fear-mongering about solar cycle 24 claims people will be vaporized by solar flares, volcanos will be triggered, and pandemics unleashed. Then it gets REAL serious. Apparently all of us will be OK only if we go well inland and take up residence in deep caves. Gee, all I was hoping for from this solar cycle was a bit of good DX. I have a way of quickly judging whether someone is in need of a good laxative- if they use the words "paradigm" and "mass consciousness". The guest on 'Coast to Coast' managed to use both, thus is in need of a very large dose indeed! BTW, the guest in question on 'Coast to Coast' was Dr. John Jay Harper. He's got some books and DVDs available on Amazon, all touting New Age panic over the year 2012. A brief look over his stuff (as well as listening to his talk last night of mutant people created by the upcoming Solar Cycle 24) makes me conclude he's totally nuts (Curtis Sadowski, Paxton IL, Jan 6, WTFDA via DXLD) ###