DX LISTENING DIGEST 8-018, February 10, 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 2008 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn NEXT SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1394 Mon 0400 WBCQ 9330-CLSB [irregular] Mon 0515 WBCQ 7415 [time varies] Tue 1200 WRMI 9955 Tue 1630 WRMI 7385 Wed 1230 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 ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. An mp3 file of R. Solh music, 29 minutes, 6836 kb, 32 kbps, 22 kHz, recorded in late January at 1419-1459 UT on 15265 via UK, with announcements removed, is now available for all to enjoy at http://www.w4uvh.net/sohl0801.mp3 If anyone can identify any of the music, please let us know as it would be nice to obtain CD quality recordings of it. The second piece is partly in English (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANGUILLA [and non]. DGS missing from 6090, Feb 9 at 0707 check, uncovering some extremely distorted talk, perhaps two stations mixing. Is Nigeria this bad like it is on some other frequencies? 11775 also missing Feb 9 at 1445, but on when rechecked at 1500 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The good news is that DGS and Co. were on air today (Sunday the 10th) via 6090, and heard with Luxembourg 6095 DRM off air at 0750 in parallel to WWCR 5935. The bad news is that the DRM has come on again - as heard at 0930 (Noel R. Green (NW England), dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. 15060, R. Australia, Shepparton. Bob Dylan song, then “ABC Local Radio” ID 0540, 31/12. I seem to recall hearing this frequency before and discovering that it was a harmonic. Today it was // 15080, 15160, and 15515 among others! (Dennis Allen, Milperra NSW (Icom R75, Dipole), Jan-Feb ADXN via DXLD) Yep, it's a spur -cs. (Craig Seager, ed., ibid.) ** BELARUS. Re 8-014: ``Of note, Radio Belarus supplements its two- hour weekly shortwave broadcasts in English with a further ten hours of internet broadcasting (Paul E. Guise, Winnipeg, MB R3M 3J3, Click!, Feb ODXA Listening In via DXLD)`` --- Should that not be two hour daily shortwave broadcasts? Regards (Harry Brooks, North East England, UK, Feb 10, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 4716.73, Radio Yura, Yura,10/2 0036 UT, About the moment poor but clear, 22222 (Maurits van Driessche, Belgium, BDX via DXLD) 4716.65, Radio Yura, Yura returned to frequency after a week`s absence, 2300 8 February [Wilkner-FL] 4451.202, R. La Cruz del Sur, identified by Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, 2350 with OM, no music, off 2354* on 8 February (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, South Florida, US, NRD 535D, 746 Pro, R75, DX South Florida - Mosquito Coast, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Audio file containing first male next female announcer mentioning "R. La Cruz del Sur" very short, 37 kbt, 7 seconds here: http://geocities.yahoo.com.br/eefibra/r.cruzdelsur4450khz060208.mp3 Sometimes they mention "Radiocomunicación Roco" which could generate doubt, and should sound like "Radio...Co", "Radio Eco". Radiocomunicación Roco maybe is the name of the owner of R. La Cruz del Sur. 73 (Lucio Otavio Bobrowiec, Embu SP Brasil, Feb 10, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) R. La Cruz del Sur is owned by some missionary organization (gh, DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. Videos [with audio, we hope]: Viva Mi Patria Bolivia - another version http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmo3_xmaBog National Anthem of Bolivia http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sbGblbZSYY&feature=related (Bob Wilkner, FL, Mosquito Coast DX News 10 February 2008, via Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** BOTSWANA. 9600.0, VOA, 0513-0530, Feb 10, in assume Haussa, some African music, mostly just conversation, BoH ID and Yankee Doodle, fair-poor, slight het from assume Mexico (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. Re 8-017: Glenn, The signal of R. Panamericana (620) is reported to be the best in São Paulo, and after we implemented the nighttime 50 kW DA pattern the licensee went back to the ministry and obtained authority to use the DA pattern daytime as well. And the new R. Cultura (1200 kHz) DA pattern should now be in operation as well, commissioned by Harris' very capable local engineer, Marcelo Cacheiro. (With a very modest amount of advice and assistance from us.) (Benjamin Dawson, Hatfield & Dawson Consulting Engineers, http://www.hatdaw.com/present.html Feb 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 4845, BRASIL: R. Ibitinga (1110 kHz), via R. Meteorologia Paulista, Ibitinga-SP, PP, 09/02 1058. Px ‘Viva a vida’, identificação transmitida: ‘ZYK592 Sociedade Radio Ibitinga Limitada, 1110 kHz, ondas médias, ZYG869 Radio Meteorologia Paulista, ondas curtas 4845 kHz, emissoras integrantes da Central Paulista de Radio, Ibitinga, São Paulo, Brasil’. A identificação sugere a situação de uma estrutura técnico- administrativa diferenciada entre as emissoras, não uma OC transmitindo suas próprias ondas médias, mas no caso a Radio Meteorologia Paulista trafegando sinal de OM da Radio Ibitinga por suas OC (vejam o texto lido na identificação fala em ‘emissoras integrantes’, não ‘emissora integrante’....consorciadas?). Neste caso, a emissora que faz chegar o sinal até o nosso receptor é a Meteorologia Paulista, porém quem emite o sinal originalmente + programação é a Radio Ibitinga. Se fosse uma estrutura única, a razão social ou o nome de fantasia da emissora também seria única, mas, anunciadamente verifica-se tratar de duas emissoras distintas, 45544 (Rudolf Grimm, São Bernardo-SP, Brasil, radioways via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 6089.95, Radio Bandeirantes, São Paulo, 0705-0725, Feb 9, Anguilla off the air leaving this station audible with Portuguese preacher. Weak. Poor with QRM from Nigeria & DRM QRM. // 9645.24-very weak (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BURMA [non]. 09/02/2008, 1444 UT, 9415 kHz, Voice of Democratic Burma, talk, poor/fair signal (Ivan Lebedevsky, Pushkin, Russia, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Rather Democratic Voice of Burma; not in HFCC, but in Aoki and EiBi as Gavar, Armenia site, 300 kW, 100 degrees at 1430-1530 daily (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. 15325, RCI; 1847 M in English 'singing' RCI address; good 2/3 (Dan Ferguson, SC, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ?? I could hardly believe what I wrote recently, that 15325 is not currently used by RCI, since that is one of their traditional frequencies dating back sesquidecades, yet that is what you find in the current sked http://www.rcinet.ca/rci/PDF/RCI-TECH-B07-EN.pdf and Aoki and HFCC agree, 15365 instead of 15325 at 1800, all just rechecked. Have not had a chance to monitor this myself, but maybe RCI`s mistake, or a very recent change? 15365 would abut R. Rebelde, Cuba on 15370, FWIW (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) {OTOH, 15325 abuts DCJC and OCB on 15330, but would either be a problem in RCI`s European target?} ** CANADA. CKEC 1320, NEW GLASGOW, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA - FINAL DAYS ON THE AIR This station is scheduled to permanently sign off its AM facilities and transition fully to 94.1 FM on March 11, 2008. Although the station is unable to conduct a special test with tones, Morse code or other special content, Chief Engineer Peter Lann (VE1LAN) invites reception reports from DXers during the last days of AM operation. He says this will be an extremely good time to hear the station, particularly the final week. The station ID is given at least four times per hour and there is a four-minute News Cast at the top of the hour. Mr. Lann says he will reply to all DX reports sent. "I have been a SWL/Ham since my early teens --- Good hunting!" The format for CKEC is country music. Reception reports may be sent to Mr. Lann at: 84 Provost Street, Box 519, New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Canada, B2H 5E7. E-mail reception reports may also be submitted to plann [at] ckec.com. NOTE: All requests for written verifications must be accompanied by return postage in order to receive a reply (Jim Pogue and Saul Chernos, IRCA/NRC Joint Broadcast Test Committee, Feb 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) CKEC may play some country music, but their format is mostly Hot AC (Hits of the 80s, 90s, and Today). (Jeff Lehmann, Hanson, MA, The WTFDA AM DX List, via DXLD) A regular in Europe (gh) ** CHAD. Hola Glenn, Saludos desde Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA. Radio Chad, sintonizada este 09-02, a las 0452 UT, con himno nacional y muy buena señal en los 4904.93 kHz. SINPO 34433. Música étnica e intervenciones de locutor en francés identificando como "Radio Chad". Primera vez que escucho este país en la onda corta. Noticias a las 0512 UT. Estimado Glenn, ¿podrías facilitarme la dirección postal de la emisora para enviar un informe? Muchas gracias. 73s y buen DX (Adán González, Catia La Mar, Estado Vargas, VENEZUELA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WRTH 2008: Rdif. Nationale Tchadienne, B.P. 892, Ndjamena 73, (Glenn to Adán, via DXLD) RNT Chad frequencies --- 7 February 2008 at 1900 R Chad had a frequency announcement on 4905 kHz. I noted they announced one 41 mb frequency, but couldn't make out what it was. Jean-Michel Aubier in France had a listen to the audio file and he says: "Not easy to understand with their African accent! The man announces 7120 kHz in the morning and 4905 kHz in the evening + 94.5 MHz in N'Djamena. No precise schedule given." So, 6165 was changed to 7120. Many thanks, Jean-Michel and many thanks also to Mauno Ritola and Henrik Klemetz for their help (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, Feb 9, dxldyg via DX LISTENIING DIGEST) Usually in the past, ex-6165: 4905 0430-approx.0730 + 1800-2300 7120 0730-1030 Fri/Sat 1030-1800 daily (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4905, RNT, Radio Chad with a great signal on Saturday 9 morning, here in Milan, at 0520, in French with nice Afro songs and news at 0530. Very strong signal. ID "Radio Chad". According to many reports the radio is back broadcasting from a temporary office, in private building. rx SDR-14 ant T2FD SW blog: http://radiodxsw.blogspot.com/ Ciao (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italy, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4905, Radio Ciad bene stamani sabato 9, alle 0520 UTC, in FF con afro songs e news alle 0530. ID "Radio Tchad". Ottimo segnale. Ciao (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italy, playdx yg via DXLD) 4905, Radio Nationale N'Djamena; 0509-0520+, 9-Feb; M in French with Afro tune; RNN ID (first time I've heard that one) at 0510 and into news. Afro music continued at 0520. SIO=423-; decent copy despite swiper [CODAR] and roar; USB almost takes out swiper. (Frodge-MI) 4905, 2050-2100:10*, 8-Feb; Chant (sounds a cappella) to brief announcement by M and off. At QRN level; best in LSB despite swiper & roar. Two signals audible on 6165 but neither //, so maybe not Chad (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 215' center-fed RW, 85' end-fed RW, 125' bow-tie, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) I think Chad has only one transmitter, so no paralleling, on one frequency or another (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) No sign of Chad 4904.97 during checks between 0430-0530 on Feb 10 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. Re China PBS Xinjiang, 4330: A variation of The East is Red, (thank you to Glenn for pointing that out in DXLD 8-005, January 16, 2008 ) which was the interval signal for Radio Peking, was heard at sign on for the following two broadcasts, which were both heard with fair to good signal strength and subsequently playing some very nice music. Xinjiang Peoples Broadcasting Station in Chinese broadcasting from Urumqi on 3950 at 2330 sign on, heard yesterday, Saturday 9 February. Xinjiang Peoples Broadcasting Station in Mongolian broadcasting from Urumqi on 4500 at 0000 sign on, heard today, Sunday 10 February. Regards (Harry Brooks, North East England, UK, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [and non]. THE CHINA SYNDROME. In my day-job capacity as audience research analyst for the International Broadcasting Bureau (for whom I do not speak in these pages), I just attended the annual program review meeting for the VOA Mandarin radio service. The results of our 2007 national survey in China (N=8229) were flat again. Only 0.2% of adults listen weekly to VOA. At least that’s better than RFA (0.1%) and BBC (0.0%). And that 0.2% for VOA comes out to about two million people. But still --- It might be that the Chinese respondents did not want to admit to listening to Western broadcasts. But there is too much evidence that people in China are just doing other things than listening to foreign radio on their shortwave radios, if they own one. Only about three percent of the sample say they have access to a shortwave radio. China, like much of East Asia, seems to have gone directly from no electronic media to television, skipping radio (unless they had one of those single-channel wired loudspeaker things). The 2007 China survey shows that 98% own television sets, but only 21% own radios. Weekly use of wavebands is about 14% for FM, four percent medium wave, and one percent shortwave. The Chinese, like many other East Asians (and like Americans, for that matter), prefer television to radio, and they prefer entertainment to news. The Chinese are in to business these days, and it is good for business in China not to be too interested in political developments. At the VOA Mandarin program review, after the main research presentation, I got up and gave a short presentation, which I don’t do very often, because the management types would prefer that I just remain seated in the corner and keep quiet. . . http://www.kimandrewelliott.com/?id=3192 (Kim`s NASWA Column for Feb 2008 via kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) More: http://kimelli.nfshost.com/index.php?id=3305 (ibid.) ** COCOS ISLANDS. TI9 - TI9K was expected to become active from Isla del Coco a few days ago, but it has been delayed (not cancelled!) by a bureaucratic hiccup. A new callsign (TI9KK) has been issued and the team was able to leave for Cocos around 18 UT on 6 February. Operations are expected to start on the 8th and plans are to depart the island on the 14th. QSL via EA2CRX. The website for the expedition is at http://www.ti9.eu.com [TNX DJ7JC] (425 DX News Feb 9 via Dave Raycroft, ODXA yg via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. [Continued from VENEZUELA] Igualmente pude sintonizar una colombiana en 1359.97 kHz, a las 0015 UT, con señal bien estable. Presumo que debe ser Caracol, ya que se mencionó dicha marca comercial varias veces. Emitía un noticiero a esa hora. 73s y buen DX (Adán González, Catia La Mar, Estado Vargas, VENEZUELA, Receptor: Yaesu FT- 890, Antena: TH3 MK3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Presumably HJTU Cartagena; WRTH 2008 lists five other Colombians on 1360 (gh, DXLD) ** CROATIA [non non]. V. of Croatia, 6165, 0700 Feb 9 with ID, news in English, 34533, some CCI, but frequency is totally blocked by huge widespread signal from Bonaire until 0657* By 0704 already back to music (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. The DentroCuban Jamming Command continues to cause immense and totally unnecessary collateral damage to non-exile broadcasters. Feb 9 at 0703, XEPPM 6185 was putting in a very good signal with a cantata --- but bubble jamming could be heard on the frequency, also spreading to 6190 (but not heard on 6180 with Brasil, and maybe RHC carrier still on). The only time 6185 `needs` to be jammed is at 0200- 0400 with R. República, but at least one jamming transmitter on a given frequency can often be heard ticking away during what should be off-hours. (And I see that the RR and consequent DCJC QSY to 6185 from 6100 still hasn`t made it into EiBi or Aoki, despite first discussed here months ago.) During 0200-0400, of course, 6185 is a total loss for R. Educación and its would-be listeners. After 0700 Feb 9 I also tuned around 49m looking for other spurious Cuban jamming and found some, around 6135, which would be another leftover from Radio República at 2200-2400; this bothered NHK on 6145. On the lower side the jamming merged with jamming-like DRM on 6125- 6130-6135 from Sines, 40 degrees during this hour. Also heard some lite jamming around 6085, which might be explained as a mix of the heavy, and not left-over DCJC against Martí on 5980 and 6030, another 50 kHz higher. 6030 in particular was broad, with spikes extending well past 6025 and 6035 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also VENEZUELA; MEXICO ** CUBA [and non]. Item four: Some of the self proclaimed gurus of international broadcasting sometimes fumble the ball and just loose it... for example, a friend e-mailed me this week a comment about my shows, in which the self proclaimed expert affirmed that my programs where sent to the station via a phone link.... Well, once again the guru missed... what really happens is that when I arrive at Studio 6, my sound engineer of many years now, Jose Costa Pupo, knows that the audio frequency equalizer must be set according to my own optimized frequency response curve... The shape of the curve is optimized for voice, so you won´t hear audio below 250 cycles per second, or above 3000 cycles per second... And sure, it does sound much better under difficult propagation conditions... So amigos, just for your information... no, they are not phone-in as many times proclaimed by a constant critic of Radio Havana Cuba... it is just your´s truly optimization of the frequency response to achieve the best possible reception of voice signals via short wave... (Arnie Coro, CO2KK, RHC DXers Unlimited Feb 9, ABDX via DXLD) If he were not referring to a ``self-proclaimed expert`` or ``guru``, I would think he was talking about me, since I have made just such comments about phoning-in! But I have never proclaimed myself to be any such thing. Where would he get that idea? OK, tnx for the explanation, but then other announcers` voices must be processed very differently since they are of higher fidelity, which with RHC`s huge signals is certainly a benefit rather than a detriment (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Arnie was away in VENEZUELA q.v., as we suspected For what it's worth, when I worked on Media Network one of the RNW technicians told me that he a special setting for my voice. When comparing the sound of my recorded voice when he was on duty to the sound when working with other technicians, there was a distinct improvement. I remember, too, visiting TWR Bonaire (Glenn was on the same visit) when they demonstrated how the sound processing could be adjusted from telephone quality to nearly hifi according to what material they were broadcasting. Unfortunately, too many international broadcasters (and many domestic ones) pay scant attention to audio quality (Andy Sennitt, Radio Netherlands Worldwide, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Why didn't you take the settings with you to the other technicians? That would have solved your problem. 73, (Erik Køie, Copenhagen, ibid.) I visited TWR Bonaire? I`ve been to Curaçao but don`t think I ever made it to Bonaire (gh, DXLD) ** CUBA. 50 años de Radio Rebelde. ARMA FORMIDABLE DE LA REVOLUCIÓN Fundada por el Che hace 50 años, desde entonces ha mantenido su ascendencia y prestigio en el pueblo. Abrieron la trasmisión con el Himno Invasor. Acto seguido, se oyó la identificación de la emisora: "Aquí, Radio Rebelde, la voz de la Sierra Maestra, trasmitiendo para toda Cuba, en la banda de 20 metros diariamente a las cinco de la tarde y nueve de la noche, desde nuestro campamento rebelde en las lomas de Oriente. Director: capitán Luis Orlando Rodríguez." Fidel convoca a la huelga general revolucionaria a través de las ondas de Radio Rebelde El técnico Eduardo Fernández había colocado la antena entre dos arbustos. "Era para la banda de 20 metros - confesaría años después en una entrevista -, y eso limitaba la cuestión para poder salir en otra banda... La banda de 20 metros no es propia para escucharse en Cuba, se utiliza más bien para comunicaciones de larga distancia. Por lo que, seguramente, se escuchaba en Pinar del Río, pero lo que era en Santiago de Cuba y las provincias más cercanas, no... En el extranjero sí entraba perfectamente." Instalaron la emisora en la sala de una casa abandonada, ubicada cerca de Altos de Conrado. Situaron debajo de un tronco la planta eléctrica, de un kilovatio, la cual alimentaba el transmisor, un tocadiscos y el bombillo que colocaron para que los alumbrara. El médico rebelde Julio Martínez Páez, quien andaba por la zona, al ver montar la emisora, exclamó: "Esta es la civilización que llega a la Sierra". La primera transmisión oficial se realizó el 24 de febrero de 1958 y duró alrededor de 20 minutos. Los locutores en aquel primer programa fueron Orestes Valera y Ricardo Martínez; luego se incorporarían otros compañeros a la locución, entre ellos Violeta Casal y Jorge Enrique Mendoza. "Se hizo mención a los combatientes caídos en el combate de Pino del Agua - recordaría Orestes -, algunas acciones, escaramuzas y emboscadas de la columna del Che y se leyó un editorial dedicado a la fecha del 24 de febrero de 1895." En uno de sus primeros comentarios, la nueva emisora definiría su línea editorial. "Radio Rebelde surge para contribuir a la orientación necesaria y útil del pueblo en esta hora decisiva de la Patria, para dar a conocer la intención verdadera de esta lucha y fomentar y practicar la virtud donde quiera que se le encuentre. Y para juntar y amar y vivir en la pasión de la verdad como dijera Martí." Una tradición revolucionaria . . .[much more] http://www.bohemia.cubaweb.cu/2008/02/06/historia/2-radio-rebelde.html (via José Miguel Romero, Spain, dxldyg via DXLD) ** CUBA. CUBAN JOURNALIST RICARDO GONZÁLEZ ALFONSO RETURNED TO HIS CELL | Text of press release by Paris-based media freedom organization Reporters Sans Frontieres on 8 February Editor of the magazine De Cuba and correspondent for Reporters Without Borders, Ricardo González Alfonso, was transferred on 27 January from the hospital wing of the military prison in Combinado del Este - to which he was readmitted in September 2007 - back to the prison cell where he has been serving his 20-year sentence since the "black spring" of March 2003. He is suffering from high blood pressure, allergies, migraine, chronic bronchitis and circulation and digestive disorders. Since 23 January he has only been eating food brought to him by his family. Source: Reporters Sans Frontières press release, Paris, in English 0000 gmt 8 Feb 08 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. On Feb 15, HCJB is doubling its DRM broadcast in German to Europe, 4 kW, 35 degrees; 1100-1300 instead of 1100-1200 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EGYPT. 9250, R. Wadi el Nil, Feb 01 2219-2238, 44443-43433 Arabic, Talk and Arabic music, ID at 2231. Also Feb 05 2225-2240, 23442-33443, Arabic, Arabic music and talk, ID at 2231 (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan, Japan Premium via DXLD) ** EGYPT. Altho I was hearing R. Cairo via ABZ site on 6290 some minutes before 2400 UT Feb 9 as I tuned by, at 0005 Feb 10 I found a strong carrier, but extremely weak and distorted modulation on 6225, nothing on 6290. 0000 is when the Arabic service is scheduled to switch 6290 from ABZ to ABS site, the latter with its terrible modulation, as we have noted before, and also with a considerable overlap between the two sites. This time on 6225, there was some yelling and applause, but the modulation so weak and distorted I could not even be sure of language, let alone pull a definite ID, but circumstantially it appears that Cairo has moved from 6290 to 6225 for the service after 0000, which remains a total waste. We shall hear subsequently whether this was a mistake, fluke, or permanent change (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6225, Egyptian R. & TV Union (ERTU) General Program (presumed), 0249- 0259*, Feb 10, reciting from the Qu'ran, suddenly off, fair-poor, surprised not to hear them on their usual 6290 (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. 6250, Radio Nacional-Malabo, *0500-0520, Feb 10, sign on with National Anthem. Opening announcements & local choral music. Very weak (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA. Re 8-017: "Regarding the Info on VoTR: I heard a quite strong signal around 1800 on 5950 lately, and no parallels. So that does also fit to your information. Don't believe they serve 5950 and 6170 by one transmitter, but I'm not an expert also. The Oromo Service schedule does not fit to the one given at wrth.com, but I didn't recognize any Ethiopian signal on 6030 much later than 1800 lately." VOTR can be heard some days on 6170 // 5950. I've noted it usually only around 1600-1700 and at times there's also the Eritrean clanny program underneath // v7175. So, not sure if 6170 is a "real" VOTR, but Ethiopian jammer with VOTR audio or maybe serving both purposes. (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, Feb 9, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EUROPE. EUROPIRATE, 6309 approximately, Radio Cochiguaz via DX Tuner Sweden. 1152 Feb 10 with music and ID. Decent signal. Thanks Gayle Horn MT tip (Hans Johnson, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** EUROPE. EUROPIRATE. Catalonia, (Spain). 6311.11, Radio Barretina relaying Radio Arboc, 2225, Feb 9, pop music. Talk in unidentified language. Tentative ID as "Radio Arvoz". Very weak (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) EUROPIRATE. Scotland, 6400.08, Weekend Music Radio, 0045-0055, Feb 10, pop music. Instrumental music. DJ chatter. ID. Very weak with rtty QRM (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUAM. 11690, AWR-Voice of Hope-KSDA, Agat, 1600-1629*, Feb 9, Jordan off the air again leaving this station audible with English religious programming of talk & music. // 9585 - both frequencies weak (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUATEMALA [and non]. Radio Buenas Nuevas 4999.9 [sic, means 4799.9] was off the air 1100 this morning 10 February. Mexico was off 4800, same time (Bob Wilkner, FL, Mosquito Coast DX News 10 February 2008, via Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** HONDURAS. 3250, R. Luz y Vida (San Luis), 1103-1200, 2/8/2008, Spanish. 1103 Unmodulated carrier. 1106 Opening announcements and ID by man followed by anthem. Talk by man in English [other than preaching? -- gh] translated into Spanish by woman. 1140 Announcements by man, local music, and more talk to 1200 tune out. Initially poor signal, improving to good (SINPO 34333). (Jim Evans, TN) 3340, HRMI, Radio Misiones International (Tegucigalpa) (presumed), 1115-1205, 2/8/2008, Spanish. Slow religious music and talk by man. Change at 1201 to man and woman talking with upbeat religious music in background. Moderate signal with significant atmospheric noise and fading (SINPO 34222). (Jim Evans, Germantown, TN, TenTec RX-340, Drake R8B, RF Space SDR-14 90' Random Wire, 200' PAR EF-SWL, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 3995.04, RRI Kendari (presumed), 1334-1404+ Feb 5. YL chatting on telephone with caller(s); occasional Indo vocal music; continued past ToH. Fair signal. (Wilkins-CO) 4604.94, RRI Serui (presumed), 1401-1416+ Feb 10. Island music to 1406, then M&W fielding phone calls; more music, finally, at 1416. Good signal, about even with the local band noise. (Wilkins-CO) 4749.96, RRI Makassar 1358-1425+ Feb 5. M&W conversing in Bahasa Indonesia; two pop vocals at 1414, then phone calls were taken. Good signal with a nice S9+10 peak just after ToH (John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge, Colorado, Drake R-8, 100-foot RW, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 9525.98v, Voice of Indonesia, 1021-1038, Feb 9, here yet again, after a brief absence, strong reception with program in Thai, mostly EZL Asian pop songs, could not hear 11785v (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) But no sign of 9526 when I checked around 1430, and then on weekends of course, 11785 is occupied by Hmong Lao Radio, via WHRI, which faked me out briefly at 1450 woman speaking English before translation (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) ** INDONESIA. 9680, RRI Jakarta, 1005-1025, Feb 10 (Sun.), KGRE program #5806, help with understanding when to use "join, enter and follow", talk about AusAID, pop songs by Indonesian singer Marcell, fair, almost no QRM from WYFR (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM [non]. Re: [Tvfmdx] 'ACROSS THE UNIVERSE' TO BE BEAMED ACROSS THE UNIVERSE --- I hope it's not the Phil Spector version. Since the Earth rotates, wouldn't signals from here go out in an arc? And wouldn't receivers be on some distant planet that also rotates? How could it get synced up? I once saw a movie that showed aliens enjoying TV shows from the 50s. How could that be possible? The earth rotates and any signals from our planet would not travel in a straight line, but an arc! (Hawkwind, WTFDA via DXLD) Hi Wallace, Oh, I think the signals would go out straight enough. The rotation of the Earth and our orbit around the Sun would make it a bit specific as to what E.T. could watch at any given time, assuming he (or she, or it) could pick out a specific signal from the mass of RF emanating from here. I vaguely recall a magazine article Arthur C. Clarke wrote some years ago positing what could be received without interference on the Moon. At that time there were only a couple of TV stations that could do it- an American UHF one on the upper channels and a Band I station on a channel unique to New Zealand TV. I believe the same would go for E.T. being able to receive our TV broadcasts. I imagine due to transmission angles and time of day, some stations would put in a brief, viewable signal at a given point some distance out, though most of the time I think the situation would be a bit like when we have Es run amuck, with a number of stations competing for the channel. With DTV the whole thing changes --- would anything be with little enough interference for a decode some distance out? One of these days we'll have to send one of these probes out with the ability to receive TV and FM signals, just to assess what sort of signal leakage we have in outer space. P.S. Yes, I believe they did beam the Phil Spector version out. I wouldn't worry, as it was in MP3 format it isn't likely anyone who could eventually intercept it will be able to do much with the file. (Curtis Sadowski, IL, ibid.) Axually, it was I who wrote an article about that, ``DXing Earth``, a cover story in Popular Electronics long ago. Wish I had a copy handy to scan now. (Maybe Clarke did too). (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) Hi Glenn, I stand corrected, suffice it to say it was a fine article indeed if I managed to place Mr. Clarke in as the author instead of you. Back when I was growing up I read widely from magazines. Dad was a postal employee and would come home with a huge bundle of undeliverable magazines daily from the trash bin at work. I remember reading all kinds of technical and news magazines, including Popular Electronics (Curtis Sadowski, ibid.) Hi Glenn, The April 1977 issue... thrown away 3 decades ago :) Hope you can find yours and scan it for WTFDA's archives. The 'Across the Universe' broadcast was transmitted on the X-Band Deep Space Network uplink frequency of 7.190 GHz. Since most communications with spacecraft in our solar system are directed along the plane of the ecliptic, where the planets and moons are, that's quite a divergence from the direction to Polaris, so chances of X-band DX from Earth must be even more negligible for them (Les Prus, Alexandria VA, ibid.) Hi Wallace, Hey, the NASA / JPL folks aren't mere amateur DXers. The Deep Space Network radio telescopes counter Earth's rotation. The Jodie Foster movie 'Contact' comes to mind, which featured the Very Large Array in Socorro, NM -- not the DSN. See links: http://deepspace.jpl.nasa.gov/dsn/ http://www.mdscc.org/html/madrid_deep_space_communicatio.html In this exercise, Polaris (North Star) was the target for the few minutes required to transmit the MP3-coded digital music broadcast, so the amount of rotation needed track this star-target was minimal. Hopefully, in the several hundred years it will take for 'Across the Universe' to reach distant Polaris, the PTFDAers will have added both multi-axis antenna rotators and analog-to-digital converters to their shacks to continue DXing Earth broadcasts. And MP3 decoders. But seriously, you're right. Most Earth broadcasts are directed horizontally in doughnut-shaped patterns with very little energy broadcast into space. Earth's rotation would cause off-world reception to be in brief, extremely weak bursts as signals sweep past. How alien DXers could enjoy 1950s (analog) TV broadcasts in such circumstances seems doubtful, unless they have unusually short attention spans. Hmmm... maybe DXers are alike all over... in the twilight zone... Doo- doo-doo-doo... (Les Prus, Alexandria, VA, ibid.) Wouldn't AM make more sense as a mode of transmission? Easy to demodulate, and likely would be figured out by any other civilization that had the ability to send and receive radio transmissions (Neil Griffin Bainbridge, GA, ibid.) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. RETRANSMISSION OF SHUTTLE COMMUNICATIONS ON HF HAM BANDS NASA [where? NOT ham on these frequencies!]: 20198 U, 20186 U Goddard SFC, MD, WA3NAN: 28650 U, 21395 U, 14295 U, 7185 L, 3860 L Johnson SC, Houston, W5RRR: 28495 U, 21350 U, 14280 U, 7227 L, 3850 L JPL, Pasadena CA, W6VIO: 21340 U, 21280 U, 14282 U, 14270 U, 7165 U[sic], 3840 U[sic] NASA Ames RC, San Francisco, K6MF: 7165 L, 3840 L (Dec radiouser [UK] via DXLD) I`ve heard that not all of these are active or reliable. Let us know if you hear any of them, and note that some of them share frequencies, so you can`t be sure which one you are hearing unless ID given. We wonder if 10 and 15 m are ever used currently; maybe for local coverage? There has also been music noted, perhaps wake-up, which is of course illegal on hambands; and little activity to be expected during SS sleepy periods (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Your absolutely not correct on this Glenn. Hams are not illegally retransmitting music during these broadcast. The rebroadcast of shuttle audio (including whatever music they wake the astronauts up with) is fully authorized under FCC Amateur Radio rules that provide for the retransmission of these broadcast. FCC Rules, Part 97.113 (e) "(e) No station shall retransmit programs or signals emanating from any type of radio station other than an amateur station, except propagation and weather forecast information intended for use by the general public and originated from United States Government stations, and communications, including incidental music, originating on United States Government frequencies between a manned spacecraft and its associated Earth stations. Prior approval for manned spacecraft communications retransmissions must be obtained from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Such retransmissions must be for the exclusive use of amateur radio operators. Propagation, weather forecasts, and manned spacecraft communications retransmissions may not be conducted on a regular basis, but only occasionally, as an incident of normal amateur radio communications." But since your not a ham I would not expect you to know that. Maybe by getting your ticket, you might become a bit more knowledgable and informative about ham radio instead of constantly carrying this chip on your shoulder for the amateur radio service that you have had for years (Larry Van Horn, N5FPW, Monitoring Times Assistant Editor, Feb 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Geez, Larry, you have a chip on your shoulder. I`m always open to learning new things and being corrected. Let`s not have a flamewar. 73? (Glenn, to Larry, ibid.) Feb 10 at 1517 I was hearing some talk about space activities around 14280-USB, but off shortly after. Sounded more like an ordinary QSO than a NASA relay (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. 15760, Voice of Israel. In Hebrew, each Saturday 1205-1300 and 1305-1400 with songs from the 30s-60s, on 12 & 19/1 (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria (Sony ICF 2001, Marconi), Jan-Feb ADXN via DXLD) ** JORDAN. 11810, R. Jordan, Jan 27 1215-1228, 45444-45433 Arabic, News and Arabic music, ID at 1226 (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan, Japan Premium via DXLD) 11690, Radio Jordan, 1755-1838*, Feb 8, on late in English with local pop & US pop music. English news at 1800. At 1802 back to a variety of local pop, US pop & rap music. "Radio Jordan, 96.3 FM" IDs. Abruptly off at 1838. Strong, but co-channel QRM at 1800 from a weak unidentified station. Both stations in at equal levels at times. Deutsche Welle listed for 1800 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) But see GUAM ** KUWAIT. 15110 R. Kuwait, Kabd. Very good strong clear signal. Program “Beginnings of Kuwait”. Historical details and music, both Western and ME. ID at 0530. 0515 28/12 (Charles Jones, Castle Hill NSW (Icom R75 and 7m. vertical, Jan-Feb ADXN via DXLD) English to SEAsia 0500-0800 but with SIO=555 here with wonderful music program, daily in January (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria (Sony ICF 2001, Marconi), Jan-Feb ADXN via DXLD) ** LAOS [non]. TAIWAN, 15260, Hmong World Christian R. via Taiwan Feb 02 *0100-0110 45444 Hmong, 0100 sign on with opening music, Opening announce, Talk and music, [Ko.Hashimoto] Saturday 15260, Haiv Hmoob R. via Taiwan, Feb 05 *0100-0112, 45444-45433 Hmong, 0100 sign on with opening music, Opening announce, Talk, New station, (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan, Japan Premium via DXLD) Tue only ** LAOS [non]. 11785, Hmong Lao R. via WHRI, 1433-1500, Feb 10 (Sun.), in assume Laotian, mostly talking, some English words ("Asian Foundation" and "University of Laos"), segment in English, with translation, by Philip Smith (Center for Public Policy Analysis), about the US Congressional forum on Laos, --- story at http://presszoom.com/print_story_143256.html --- folk song, indigenous music with sound of seagulls, before ToH ID for WHRI, good reception. No sign of the Voice of Indonesia here nor on 9525.98v (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also INDONESIA ** MADAGASCAR. 5010, Radio Madagasikara, 0300-0430, Feb 10, Malagasy talk. Church service at 0304 with scripture readings, organ music, choral music, sermon, & prayers. Suppressed carrier USB. Fair signal at tune-in but slowly deteriorated to a weak level in noisy conditions by 0400 & they either signed off at 0430 or I completely lost them in the noise at that time (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also UNIDENTIFIED 5010 ** MEXICO. 4800, XERTA seems on an irregular schedule on this frequency (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, South Florida, US, NRD 535D, 746 Pro, R75, DX South Florida - Mosquito Coast, Cumbre DX via DXLD) See also GUATEMALA ** MEXICO. R. Educación, 6185, 0001 Feb 10, sign-on as SW station XEPPM on 6185, with current date and time, power 10 kW, live announcement in Spanish, and then the same in English --- a good time for monolinguals to DX them tho they occasionally throw in English IDs elsewhen. It`s a shame they don`t put a little more effort into some real English programming. Show following sounded like ``Su casa y otros viajes`` or was it ``carta`` but neither makes much sense. Program schedule http://www.radioeducacion.edu.mx/carta_programa.pdf does not match, just showing ``RFI`` at 6 pm Saturday. Not clear if besides the sign- on, the SW programming is partially or totally identical now to MW 1060 XEEP, but no sign of a separate SW sked on the website. Nor can I any longer find detailed playlists minute by minute they used to have on website bookmarked at http://www.radioeducacion.edu.mx/HojaProg1.html nor any trace of it on the site map, tho they have added a lot of text material and the latest fad, podcasts. Maybe playlists are now for Registered Users only? But no explanation of what benefits RU`s get! Anyhow, 6185 reception at 0000+ was very good, but in two hours it would be blown away by the DentroCuban Jamming Command and Radio República in their radio war with no concern for poor XEPPM (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6185, 10/2 0000 R. Educación - México D.F., SS ID e NX, buono (Roberto Pavanello, Vercelli - Italia, shortwave yg via DXLD) Listening at same time, no English mentioned? (gh, DXLD) Coincidentally: A while ago I remember XEEP 1060 having an astonishingly detailed playlist on their website. http://www.radioeducacion.edu.mx However I can no longer locate this. Can anyone remember where to look? Thanks. BTW, XEEP (presumed) has been a steady and at time very good signal on 1060 the last two nights with orchestral music (Steve Whitt, England, Feb 10, MWC via DXLD) ** MYANMAR. Radio Myanma, Burma, 5985.8, noted here at fairly good level again this morning 10 Feb after 1300. Far better than yesterday. Seems to correspond with the K7RA propagation report which indicated a solar wind stream today, much as it was on 2 February when I also had fairly good reception (Steve Lare, Holland, MI USA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) BURMA - 5985.83 R. Myanmar (presumed), 1349-1401 Feb 10. Rangoon presumed with Burmese-sounding music, YL in Burmese-sounding language; no ToH break. Fair signal but not quite equal to the band noise this morning. Then Shiokaze came onto 5985 at *1400 in Japanese ruining further reception (John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge, Colorado, Drake R-8, 100-foot RW, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. RN voice processing: see CUBA [and non] ** NIGERIA. 6089.85, Radio Nigeria, Kaduna, 0620-0645, Feb 9, Anguilla off the air leaving this station audible with vernacular talk. Local tribal music. Local drums. Strong level but poor reception due to DRM QRM. (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA. Voice of Nigeria, 7255. Big signal at close down 2300Z, with NA and a five minute test tone before transmitter shuts off at 2305Z. (Refurbished Hallicrafters SX-28 and a 130 ft. long wire, in Bend Oregon, Joe Barry, Feb 9, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes Joe Barry, signals from Nigeria have working well this American Continent afternoon. I can testify of the good signal I've got from VON after several days of noisy reception for their English service on 15120. This Saturday Feb. 9 before 2100 sign off they were talking about the final match between Cameroon and Egypt for the Cup of African Nations. But you see, I enjoyed this today, tomorrow could be a completely different story. BTW, VON 7255 is a regular here before 2300. A pity for us for that Hausa service. 73 and good listening (while we can) (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, Sony ICF7600GR + T2FD, ibid.) Guess what? WBCQ plans to use 15120 in A-08 from 13 to 23. But their previous plans for any frequency between 9330 and 17495 have not been realized (Glenn, ibid.) Glenn, your credibility as a short wave guru may arrange something with the folks at WBCQ, telling them not to screw it up on that VON channel and convince them to go somewhere else in the vast HF spectrum (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, ibid.) ** OKLAHOMA. Hi, Glenn. In re: your item in DXLD 8-017 under Mexico [non], the 1570 in Pryor, OK is now KZLI "Tulsa's new 1570", programming standards vocals (Streisand, Sinatra, Como, Rosemary Clooney etc.) (Bruce Winkelman, Tulsa, OK, Feb 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Tnx, Bruce. See also USA for MW bandscan including OK stations (gh) ** PERU. 3172.23, Radio Municipal, Panao, return to frequency noted 8 February 2350 to 0015 and again 1030 to 1120 on the 9th. Was off the air for over a month. [Wilkner-FL] 4990.90, Radio Manantial, Huancayo noted with música, under local noise, 1030; 1045. 9 Feb [Wilkner-FL] 4991.10, Noted en español at 2350 to 0020, most likely drift up by Manantial. 8 Feb (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, South Florida, US, NRD 535D, 746 Pro, R75, DX South Florida - Mosquito Coast, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** POLAND. LIDZBARK WARMINSKI JAMMING Re: RADIO JAMMING, RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM, DXLD 8-017: For the very first time I see mentions of Polish SW jamming array at: http://cbc.am/jamming.pdf page 80, Antenna field of the SW radio station near Lidzbark Warminski in Poland, used for cross-border sky wave jamming, beamed to the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia and Bulgaria. Lidzbark Warminski village is the same location as called Heilsberg under former German administration in Eastern Prussia til 1945y. POL/D former Reichspost MW Koenigsberg Heilsberg 1031 [1085] kHz 120/75/60 kW, 151m/495ft., Blaw-Knox Tower mast of 1940year. Google Earth imagery location 54 08 26.62 N, 20 33 55.92 E Unfortunately, G.E. features the area only in low resolution on the central and eastern side of the compound, only a small strip on the western part is under high resolution. The tall Blaw-Knox Tower mast was removed from Heilsberg to Ulbroka Latvia[USSR then] site after WW II as German reparation. Ulbroka location 56 56 18.90 N 24 17 03.11 E see Blaw-Knox Tower mast at 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, Feb 8, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. Tipped by Sei-ichi Hasegawa, VOA Korean is heard with extremely weak signal at 1320 on 1899.000 kHz. Probably a sum spur of 648 and 1251 kHz from Ussuriysk-Razdolnoye. 73, (Mauno Ritola, Finland, Feb 9, harmonics yg via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. 6075, R. Rossii via Petropavlovsk-Kamchatka, 0536-0552, Feb 10, Russian programming, recital of classical organ music, ID for "Radio Rossii", good; parallel with 5935 via Magadan, poor, under WWCR; 7200 via Yakutsk, fair with the good audio; 7320 via Magadan, also fair. Above average reception for Yakutsk (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST ** RWANDA. 6055, R. Rwanda weak but in the clear 2048 Feb 9 with pop music. Announcer wishes 'bonsoir' at 2058; xylo theme 2100, mention of Rwanda, off suddenly (Steve George, MA USA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** SUDAN. 7200, Sudan National Broadcasting Corp., Omdurman. I heard this daily from s/on to s/off. I do not believe 9505 is used. Going up in the evening to this higher frequency would not be very sensible either! I listened after s/off on 7200 at 1930 on 9505 for some time, but I only noticed R Record, São Paulo, coming in weak there. Quite nostalgic for me. I verified them on this frequency back in 1962 and visited them in 1973 (Maarten Van Delft, visiting northern Ethiopia, DSWCI DX Window Feb 6 via DXLD) ** U K [and non]. NEW EDITION OF RADIO STATIONS IN THE UK NOW AVAILABLE --- The new 2008 (21st) edition of Radio Stations in the United Kingdom is now available from the British DX Club. Radio Stations in the UK is a comprehensive 68-page guide to BBC, commercial, community and low power AM/FM services on MW and FM, with lists in frequency order and by station name. It includes transmitter power and site details, plus contact information. Frequencies are cross-referenced to help you find parallels. It includes a separate section covering Radio Stations in the Republic of Ireland. Its been two years since the last edition was published so there are numerous changes, including almost 100 new community radio stations. Radio Stations in the UK is a must for anyone interested in UK domestic radio - from the keen mediumwave or FM DXer to the casual listener. Why not order a second copy to keep in the car - we have a special price for two copies! PRICE per copy (includes postage): to UK addresses - 3.50 pounds. to Europe - 4.50 GBP, 7 Euros* or 8 IRCs to Rest of World - 5 GBP, 10 US dollars* or 9 IRCs SPECIAL PRICE for 2 copies: UK: 6 pounds / Europe: 12 Euros* Please send orders to: British DX Club 10 Hemdean Hill Caversham Reading RG4 7SB UK UK Cheques/POs payable to British DX Club. *Dollar/Euro payments by Paypal or cash only* Paypal payments or email enquiries to bdxc[at]bdxc.org.uk - please add 5% to cover Paypal fees. Full details also on the BDXC-UK web site - http://www.bdxc.org.uk (Dave Kenny, BDXC-UK, Feb 9, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Re 7-071: ``LIBERIA. NEW AMERICAN PRESENCE AT OLD VOA RELAY STATION IN LIBERIA. U.S. company Dyncorp "won a bid for the feeding of 500 (Armed Forces of Liberia) soldiers currently undergoing training the Voice Of America facilities in Careysburg, outside Monrovia." http://allafrica.com/stories/200706120959.html (The Analyst (Monrovia), 12 June 2007. Posted: 14 Jun 2007 (kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) But does VOA axually have anything at all to do with this facility now? Dyncorp is also the civilian defense contractor operating Vance AFB here. This story is axually about its legal problems in Liberia (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)`` Correxion: Dyncorp has not been the contractor at Vance AFB since 2002y when CSC took over, Computer Sciences Corp., as the Enid Eagle, Feb 9, 2008, reminds us (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. 17895, VOA, Botswana. In English, music choice program "Border Crossings" with strong signal here on 11/1 at 1550 when a listener from Kuwait sent musical greeting to the US troops in Iraq with the song "Hotel California" by the Eagles (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria (Sony ICF 2001, Marconi), Jan-Feb ADXN via DXLD) ``You can check out any time you like but you can never leave`` - possibly an appropriate lyric for the U.S. in Iraq! -cs. (Craig Seager, ed., ibid.) ** U S A. 5110, WBCQ, Monticello. Weak in English, discussing the Bible on 23/1, resolved on 5110.79 USB, IDed at 0936 (John Adams, Beech Forest, Vic (JRC NRD-535, 24m longwire), Jan-Feb ADXN via DXLD) ** U S A. Jade Jones might do a morning show called ``Big Bands Breakfast`` someday if enough music can be located. Music, humor and wisdom, donations (good quality please) to Box 55, Monticello, Maine [zip]. I am looking for a TV BC camera, video tape recorder and cables. Thanks for being my best advertiser (Fred Jodry, Rochelle NY, Jan 29, by P-mail, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 5050, WWRB(?); 2337-0105+ continuous big band music with no announcements till 0057 when M gave one, but was in a fade at that time; continued with same guy talking about politics, etc., in US and world; into religious talk; pretty good signal most of the time, but weak modulation after the guy started talking (Dan Ferguson, SC, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Certain WWRB as discussed recently (gh) ** U S A. MID-DAY MW BANDSCAN FROM CARRIER, OKLAHOMA I meant to do a low-noon MW bandscan close to Solstice, when residual skywave is possible, but did not get around to it until Feb 4, and by then it was almost too late. But I also wanted to check out what makes it by groundwave on my new caradio, not confused by skywave. I expeditioned a few miles NW of Enid to a spot near the junxion of State Hwys 45 and 132 SE of Carrier, where there is a brief stretch with no adjacent powerlines. On caradio with whip on fender, no DFing possible. Main reference is the 2007-2008 NRC AM Log. Here is some of what I noted, skipping most strong and regular signals, between 1815 and 1905 UT, local mean noon being at 1832: 1700: at 1819 ``La Indomable, mil setecientos, es La Grande``. Spanish dominating an English station, fading in and out. Unlike most of the logs below, this is probably skywave, from KBGG Des Moines, listed with ``La Grande`` but not ``La Indomable`` slogan. 1690: at 1820, sports talk. Does not fit for Colorado with All-Kids, or Illinois with news/talk, but surely one or the other. Format changed? 1670: at 1820, weak distorted audio. May be Enid talking house. 1660: checked this first at 1815, as KXTR Kansas City is easy to recognize with classical, and often audible later in the afternoon when skywave has kicked in, but not now: ESPN station was dominating with ads for a CPA `downtown`, phone 241-9187 and 281-1003, atop KXTR classical with a SAH; 1818 CNN News; 1825 ID as ``1660 ESPN``. Those phones check for a CPA in Fargo ND, so certainly noon skywave from KQWB at well over a megameter. 1650 & 1630 blocked by splatter from local KFXY 1640. 1620: at 1821, sports news, good signal. Presumably KOZN Bellevue NE. 1610: at 1822, NWS relay with noise, cut off amid weather info, back to usual loop of local area attraxions around Great Salt Plains, TIS. This makes it into parts of Enid itself if noise is low enough. 1600: at 1823, at least two stations under dominant KUSH Cushing OK. 1570: at 1825, two stations, C&W probably KNDY Marysville KS; EZL probably KZLI Pryor OK, or KTAT Frederick OK. [see below] 1540: at 1826, Rush, over another talker. There are two Kansans here, Parsons being the talker, tho KXEL IA might have been in the mix by skywave. 1500: at 1827, preacher. Must be KPGM Pawhuska OK 1440: at 1828, weak Spanish, presumably KTNO University Park TX (Metroplex), 15 kW, but CP for 50 in daytime; IBOC QRM, probably from Tulsa KTBZ 1430 ``The Buzz``, 25 kW. 1420: at 1828, local political ad for Lone Wolf, ``Country 1420, KTJS``, midday report, from Hobart OK; IBOC QRM here too on what used to be a clear station on its fringe. (Quite a number of other small- town stations in OK & KS were doing local noon news hours; good to hear these still exist.) 1370: at 1829, nothing heard; was expecting usual KGNO Dodge City KS. [see below] 1360: at 1830, Ave Maria Radio, devotional by a priest. Two possibilities are listed on this frequency with EWTN! KAHS El Dorado KS, and KDJW Amarillo TX. 1831 into talk show ``The Doctor Is In``, YL with Catholic-oriented advice, 877-573-7825. Continuous hum on audio. 1320: at 1832, Radio Oklahoma, weather, ``Newstalk 1320``, so KCLI Clinton; back to Rush; over lo rumble, somebody off-frequency. 1260: at 1834, soul-ish music, but must be KWSH Wewoka, C&W listed. 1250: at 1835, Spanish, so KKHK Kansas City KS; [WREN Topeka missed]. [now KYYS: see below] 1240: at 1835, slow SAH of 1 Hz or less between KADS Elk City OK and KFH Wichita. For many years, KADS was off-frequency with an audible het. 1210: at 1836, Oklahoma news, from KGYN Guymon. Day pattern is non- direxional so reaches Enid without cheating. 1200: at 1836, trace of a SAH, I suppose between WOAI TX and KFNW ND altho WRTO Chicago or KYOO Bolivar MO might be involved. 1190: at 1836, ``AM 1190 KVSV``, Beloit KS, farm news. 1180: at 1837, Spanish, therefore KYOZ Bellevue NE. 1110: at 1838, KFAB Omaha NE, VG signal with Rush, and IBOC sidebands blocking 1120 and 1100. 1070: at 1838, semi-local KFTI Wichita, Paul Harvey at Page 3, so must have started around 1830. (I`ve noticed he is no longer between 1800 and 1830 on KRMG 740 Tulsa, either.) 1060: at 1839, fast SAH. Closest are Springfield MO and Van Buren AR; none of the three Texans are very close. Would settle for Pierre SD. Needs further checking, but KFTI 1070 can be a problem. 1040: at 1841, Rush from WHO Des Moines IA. 1030: at 1842, no IBOC heard, missing from WHO? Two stations, news / talk over music, possibly Spanish. KBUF Holcomb KS surely the former, tho KFAY Farmington/Fayetteville AR possible. Is KWFA Tye TX (Abilene) on yet? Does 50 kW KCTA Corpus Christi have any Spanish? Went back and checked this at 1857: talking over hymn, 1858 tentative ID for KWFA. 1010 & 990: at 1843, blocked by IBOC from KTOK-1000. 970: at 1846, religion, KCFO Tulsa or KHVN Fort Worth; far enough from local KGWA 960 to pull something past it. 950: at 1846, religion, no doubt KJRG Newton KS, ditto. 940: at 1844, trace of something under WKY-930 splash, probably KIXZ Amarillo which I have heard before somewhat west of Enid; no Kansans. 880: at 1845, plug for KRVN.com Lexington NE, mixing with a weaker station, probably KJOJ Conroe TX, (which is Vietnamese, but not enough audio to tell). 850: at 1846, Paul Harvey, so KOA in usual pre-noon timeslot; slow SAH with talk station, no doubt KJON Carrollton TX, hijacked from Anadarko OK, but at least that benefits KOA here. 840: at 1846, something there, but an unexpected line noise peak here, surely KTIC West Point NE, previously heard daytimes when it was something else. Rechecked at 1905, ad for Nebraska lottery. 830-730: due to noise and running out of time, skipped over, but nothing unusual expected. 720: at 1847, ad for Grand Central Station episode on The American Experience, WTTW, so definitely WGN. Of all the Chicago `clears` this is the only one still with a clear daytime shot to OK at well over a megameter, certainly by groundwave tnx to our excellent conductivity. Fortunately KSAH Universal City (San Antonio) TX does not bother in the daytime like it does at night, constant SAH battling with WGN. 710: at 1847, Rush mixing with another talker. Per NRC AM Log, KGNC Amarillo TX is the one with Rush, not KCMO Kansas City. 700: at 1848, ads in English mixed with Asian language, 214 area code, so KHSE Wylie TX (Metroplex), blocking any hope of WLW daytime. 680: at 1849, rodeo talk about NFR, presumably KFEQ St. Joe MO. 670: at 1850, religion, from KLTT Commerce/Denver CO, another long- haul daytime groundwave which can also be heard within Enid given low- noise location; trace of something else, presumably WSCR Chicago, which as WMAQ used to make it clearly on cold winter days` groundwave. 660: at 1851, KSKY Dallas, talk, with IBOC from WWLS-640 bleeding over here 20 kHz up. 650 & 630: ruined by WWLS IBOC; WSM and KHOW might otherwise make it. 620: at 1852, KMKI Disney Radio, Plano TX, music. 610: at 1852, KCSP Kansas City, sports, marred by IBOC from KMKI. 600: at 1852, two weak stations with SAH, probably WMT Cedar Rapids IA and KTBB Tyler TX. This is a relatively clear frequency for daytime DX. 590: at 1853, KXSP Omaha NE with sports, over something else, probably KLBJ Austin TX. 570: at 1853, usual mix of KLIF Dallas over WNAX Yankton SD. Unfortunately almost co-linear and can`t null out one or the other. 560: at 1854, Rush, presumably KWTO Springfield MO, seems with IBOC QRM; is that KLIF 570 now? No IBOC heard on 580, with WIBW strong. 550: at 1854, KFRM Salina KS, very strong as usual, but with something else underneath; KCRS Midland TX heard previously, but KLLV Breen CO might be possible now. 540: at 1855, usual mix of KDFT Ferris (Metroplex) TX in Spanish over KWMT Fort Dodge IA in English (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re 1570: Pretty good daytime range for a 250 W station, KNDY with the transmitter about a mile north of me on the edge of the Big Blue River valley. Based on a NOAA distance calculator it's approximately 245 miles. 73, de (Nate Bargmann, KS, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re 1370: You may be a little far west for KALN-1370 [Iola KS], but they throw a signal into Topeka all day long, although they disappear almost completely in Yates Center. I was always amused that KALN broadcast the Woodson county fair when I worked at the station, and only about half of Woodson county residents could hope to hear it. I'm a little surprised that you heard nothing here, but I haven't heard KGNO for some time, either (Paul Swearingen, Topeka KS, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re 1250: This is now KYYS, ex-KKHK, but still no "equis" in their call letters - go figure! (Paul Swearingen, Topeka KS, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. [Fwd: Official WTFDA Club Website: WZRO-LP heard on DX] Attention Russ Edmunds --- This ought to make Russ' day.... -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Official WTFDA Club Website: WZRO-LP heard on DX Mike: My name is James P. Brooks and I am the manager of a low power radio station WZRO-LP, 93.1 located at the Mouth of the famous Suwannee River where it empties into the Gulf of Mexico in Suwannee, Florida. I just noticed on a Google search where Russ Edmunds heard our station on July 26 in either 06 or 07. And, of course this was most interesting that our 100 watts got to Pennsylvania. Of course, I do understand about skip as I am a ham radio operator, but to beat other full power stations out to be heard up there is a major feat. Anyway, I would like to send Russ, or anyone interested a brochure about the station and maybe some pictures. And it would be great to receive a DX card or note from him saying that he did receive the station. I have downloaded the audio and that was me interviewing the water-sewer manager about improvements and then an ID that says -- Where the Land, water and sky meet, WZRO-LP 93.1, Suwannee, Florida. We are a small fishing village of about 900 residents and the station is in its 4th year of operation. I would sure like to have a picture of his antenna that received us and what kind of rig he has. Thanks, James Brooks and looking forward to hearing from you (via Mike Bugaj, WTFDA, Enfield, CT USA, WTFDA via DXLD) Well, it sure isn't every day you post a reception on the Forums and 7 months later get an unsolicited email QSL as a result! I sent him an email - thanks (Russ Edmunds, Blue Bell, PA, (15 mi NW Philadelphia), ibid.) ** U S A. NEW VOICE TO HIT THE RADIO: 620-AM Sunday, February 10th 2008, 4:00 AM http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2008/02/10/2008-02-10_new_voice_to_hit_the_radio_620am.html Some familiar names, and voices, will be part of a new Caribbean- American broadcasting effort - One Caribbean Radio (620-AM), "New York's Newest Voice." The Brooklyn-based station, located in the Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Plaza complex, had its official launch Friday. Listeners can get music, news and other information from a crew of longtime, respected broadcasters - including former WLIB program director Bob (Spiceman) Fredricks, veteran international journalist Donn Bobb, Mad Man Maddy, Ian (The Goose) Eligon, Lorraine Murr, Sam Taitt and Franklin (Bobby) Vieira. With listeners and advertisers in mind, One Caribbean Radio was established to help bring more Caribbean-oriented programming back to the New York market, all under the leadership of chairman and CEO Edmon Braithwaite. Advertisers can gain access to the city's viable Caribbean consumer market. Visit http://www.onecaribbeanradio.com or call (718) 622-1081 for information and advertising opportunities. (via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) Still called WSNR, Newark NJ? (gh) The station previously traded as WSNR-AM, with sports and brokered time format. The transmitter is in Lyndhurst NJ. One Caribbean Radio http://www.onecaribbeanradio.com/ (Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog Feb 10 via DXLD) ** U S A. CHICAGO SPORTS RADIO STUCK IN SEWER February 9, 2008 BY JAY MARIOTTI Sun-Times Columnist http://www.suntimes.com/sports/mariotti/785028,mariotti020908.article It's a good thing Chicago's two sports radio stations, WMVP and WSCR, are bottom feeders in the quarterly ratings. Otherwise, the perception might be that their hosts define the city. And heaven help us if we were personified by a collection of crude, disgusting cavemen who spew anti-Semitism, conduct ``hug a Black'' missions, make fun of people on life support, refer to a female TV executive as ``a bitch'' and react to Bill Wirtz's passing by asking which local figures should die next. This isn't just irresponsible behavior. It's really sick and demented, making shock jocks sound like cool-jazz DJs. Hardly a week passes without one of these creeps finding trouble. This time, it's WMVP's Chet Coppock, who wins the Marge Schott award for slurring Jews on his show last weekend. For some peculiar reason, Coppock was asked on the program how he spells Jewish. ``M-O-N-E-Y,'' he responded. It is a flagrant Jewish stereotype, of course, and it follows a recent bizarre pattern in which Coppock was suspended for dropping his pants in the presence of a female employee -- he was trying to moon another male host, I'm told -- and was assaulted by a fan outside Allstate Arena after a DePaul game. Obviously troubled, the 58-year-old veteran of the local broadcasting scene shouldn't be anywhere near a live microphone. But he continues to work because he and other hosts are enabled by executives who confuse smut with cutting-edge programming -- and, by extension, attempts to drive ratings and profits. At both stations, numerous episodes have been deserving of dismissals, particularly those that represent a second, third or fourth offense. I could make an aggressive case that Coppock be fired, knowing WMVP is owned and operated by ESPN, a company that demands good taste and high ethics and won't stand for deplorable dreck. Unlike ESPN2 host Dana Jacobsen, who regretfully slurred Notre Dame in the context of a private roast, Coppock made his insensitive remarks on the air. Yet he merely was suspended for five weekend shifts and will return Feb. 23, which ultimately sends a message to other hosts that you have to ax-murder someone to get fired. As one who has worked five-plus years for ESPN, does a daily TV program seen globally and respects the network's solid on-air standards, I'm stunned at what is tolerated at WMVP. Dan McNeil is a talented afternoon-drive host, but he narrows his audience and demeans his reputation with high-maintenance madness. Last June, he voiced anger on the air that Lissa Druss Christman, a Comcast SportsNet producer, didn't answer his question about something. So he called her ``a bitch,'' earning him -- you guessed it -- another short-term suspension. If it was a first-time offense, maybe the incident would have passed idly. But McNeil has been suspended more times than Dennis Rodman. He's also the guy who responded to Wirtz's death by gleefully asking listeners who they'd like to see die next in Chicago. Fortunately, few responded, and he quickly changed the topic. Was McNeil punished for a warped idea? Nope. Another problem is allowing sports hosts with low IQs to pontificate about social issues. For years, WSCR's Mike North has embarrassed his hometown by forcing his views on race, religion and current events when, in truth, he's just a goof who was pulled out of a hot-dog stand 15 years ago. North has a hard enough time putting together a sports argument, much less breaking down Hillary vs. Obama. But there he was, mimicking and mocking brain-damaged Terri Schiavo during her right-to-die drama. Sorry, but why is a sports host telling me about Terri Schiavo? And wouldn't I want to scream if I heard him ridiculing her, wondering how he might feel if she was one of his family members? North is a crude, rude product of the streets who is stuck in the 1970s. He has used racial and ethnic slurs throughout his radio career, finding trouble as recently as last year. I used to cringe during his ``Hug a Jew/Black/Asian/Hispanic'' segments, blown away that he viewed himself as a comedian when no one was laughing. So why is North still on the air? Oh, because he successfully curried the favor of White Sox and Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, who sees himself as a similar rags-to-riches story and placed North in his trusted circle many years ago. As co-chairman of Major League Baseball's Equal Opportunity Committee, Reinsdorf helped formulate the successful Diverse Business Partners program. So why on earth would he befriend a person who could be viewed as insensitive to minorities? Shouldn't he detach himself from North to preserve his own public image? Seems Reinsdorf is a hypocrite. He shows his true colors when he keeps employing a manager, Ozzie Guillen, who drops homophobic slurs, calls Magglio Ordonez ``a Venezuelan (bleep)'' and uses crude slang his every waking hour. Last year, Guillen phoned North's show and tore into the host with an expletive-filled rant, all because North defended A.J. Pierzynski over a playing-time issue. ``Oh, shut the [expletive] up!'' Guillen told North. ``I know you like A.J., but there's no reason for you to make lineups and [expletive]. Believe me, I'm tired of you guys and this bull[expletive] every god [expletive] day.'' Reinsdorf never responded to that exchange. As long as he allows his ``guys'' to get away with ill behavior, North will do as he pleases on a station that shamefully sold its soul to the chairman. Radio is a dirty, unscrupulous business in most cities, but Chicago sinks into the gutter with alarming regularity. As a passionate sports village, we deserve sports stations that talk about -- how's this for a solution? -- SPORTS! Attacking specific age demographics, station bosses emphasize ``guy talk'' that often morphs into ``Animal House'' talk, though most hosts are old enough to be the fathers of frat boys. Thank goodness for the steadier likes of WSCR's Mike Mulligan and Brian Hanley, both Sun-Times sportswriters, and WMVP's Tom Waddle and Marc Silverman. And how curious that two early thirtysomethings, WMVP's Carmen DeFalco and WSCR's Laurence Holmes, speak eloquently about sports and rarely resort to foolishness. Yes, I've had two radio whirls in Chicago, both at WMVP, which qualifies me to address this topic. Believe me when I say there is no bitterness. Remember, I was caught in the middle of a taffy pull between the stations for Reinsdorf's two-team broadcast rights and refused when a WMVP boss -- true story -- demanded I sign a form agreeing not to criticize facets of the Sox and Bulls. Our meeting came at an Arby's off Lake Street, which is metaphorical. Around here, sports radio reeks like processed lunch meat (via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. In case you haven`t noticed, there`s a new `reality` sitcom on VH1, FREE RADIO. First ep, which is also available in 4 acts online is ``Moron in the Morning``. Two episodes are underway at 0230-0330 UT Saturday on the VH1 feed received in OK. There are numerous repeats throughout the week. This is not a recommendation, only an FYI. ``A dimwitted intern (Lance) gets the chance to host a morning radio show when the regular DJ quits suddenly. See what happens when one of radio's hottest shows replaces its star DJ with their clueless intern in this hilarious new comedy series.`` http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/free_radio/series.jhtml Yuk, yuk, imaginary station is KBOM-FM – WTFK? They don`t seem to say, strangely enough. KBOM used to be a real FM station in Los Álamos NM, but certain sectors of society were not amused; it tried to reach out to the larger markets of Santa Fe and Albuquerque. Now I see in FCC FM Query that KBOM is the CP for KUNM`s 100 watt relay in Socorro on 88.7, to replace a mere and expendable translator. Socorro, of course is even closer to Trinity Site. So NM`s affinity for bombs is secure (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, I never took you to be a big reality TV guy. My image of you is shattered. af (Allan Furst, TX, ABDX via DXLD) I`m not! But this is about **RADIO** For you guys interested in all things radio. Another WKRP? Not exactly --- VH1 calls it reality, but it`s a straight sitcom as far as I can see (Glenn, ibid.) It's a snorefest but the boss reminds me of my boss a little. This guy had a show on Spike in 2005 (thanks, Internet Movie Database!). As the middle-aged saying is paraphrased, "will the last person watching Spike T.V. please turn off the lights when you're finished?" (JNR, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. WTWC DT-2 VIDEO DECODE!!! I captured almost 1 Minute of Flawless Video from WTWC DT 2 (40-1) Tallahassee Fl at 1019 miles, 1859. This is my first time seeing DTV Video via Es. I have logged WTWC DT PSIP over 10 Times since 6/2006 http://s201.photobucket.com/albums/aa155/jrost626/Tv%20E%20Skip/?action=view¤t=02wtwcdt2.jpg (Jeff Rostron, Springfield MA, Sangean HDT-1, Winegard HD 6065P at 35 ft, Feb 9, WTFDA via DXLD) Such decoded DTV sporadic E DX is still extremely rare (gh, DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. Hola Glenn, Saludos desde Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA. Radio Amazonas en el aire, con su habitual sobremodulación, en los 4935.5 kHz, a las 0036 UT. Captada el 09-02. SINPO 35533 (Adán González, Catia La Mar, Estado Vargas, VENEZUELA, Receptor: Yaesu FT- 890, Antena: TH3 MK3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Nominal is 4940 Radio Amazonas más allá del filo de la medianoche local, con su acostumbrada sobremodulación. Sintonizada este 10-02, a las 0442 UT, en los 4935.5 kHz. SINPO 35433. Locutor con mensajes de los oyentes y música de fondo: tecno y reggaeton. Tema "Lo que pasó, pasó"; programa "Zona Rumbera". Despedida con Alma Llanera a las 0500 UT, con evidente ausencia del Himno Nacional. ¿Ley Resorte, Radio Amazonas? Ruido cósmico de enlace "estudio-planta" apagado a las 0501 (Adán González, Catia La Mar, Estado Vargas, VENEZUELA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA. Hoy 09-02 he realizado un chequeo de toda la onda media y de las estaciones que puedo escuchar en la Región Central del país. De todas ellas, sólo las siguientes - de acuerdo con el receptor utilizado - fueron registradas fuera de su frecuencia fundamental. Desde luego, el margen es muy mínimo, con excepción del de Radio Nacional-Canal Informativo. Radio Continente (590): 589.98 kHz. RNV Canal Informativo (630): 631.27 kHz. Radio Popular (950): 950.03 kHz. Ondas del Mar (1380): 1379.98 kHz. Igualmente pude sintonizar una colombiana en 1359.97 kHz . . . [see COLOMBIA] 73s y buen DX (Adán González, Catia La Mar, Estado Vargas, VENEZUELA, Receptor: Yaesu FT-890, Antena: TH3 MK3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA [non]. Sat Feb 9 sat on 11680 from 1500 waiting for RNV CI via Cuba to appear. Carrier finally on at 1505:40 and program joined in progress at 1506. Unlike previous Saturdays, no English, all in Spanish to 1522 tune-out. Great way to build an audience! RHC 13680 carrier stayed on until 1510* (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, Similar results here: on Feb 9, I listened to RNV via Cuba, on 6060, from *1100, with the best signal I have heard from them. I was waiting for the English segment, but that was not heard by 1114 tune-out, they did had IDs and news in Spanish. Was rather disappointed, as today I could have easily made out any English, which is usually a challenge to understand, due to their usual weak signal and QRM from China (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Sunday Feb 10 made my habitual check for ``Aló, Presidente`` frequencies via Cuba, vs mainstream RHC programming. At 1426 found the A,P lead-in show from RHC, ``Mundo Siete``, week in review, both on 11680 and 11670! 11670 was much weaker than 11680, and the two were out of synch, so from two different transmitter sites. Meanwhile, 11875, which had been one of the A,P Sunday-only channels, was missing, with only a weak WEWN audible. Apparently, RHC finally got our message that the 14-15 hour was colliding with WEWN and moved that transmitter to 11680. However, at 1514 recheck, 11875 was on, after WEWN had left. I wonder if they announce such a frequency change around 1500? A,P also on // 13750 very strong, making a reverb with 11680. Also on 13680, but barely detectable in skirts of CRI via Sackville 13675. At 1456, 17750 was starting to fade in with WYFR dominating, trace of Cuba. Meanwhile, mainstream RHC was as usual on 11760, 11805 and 12000 around 1430, closing around 1500; I noticed that 11805 was off the air before the others had finished. I was already hearing the blustery voice of Hugo Chávez Frías at 1435, so apparently he was rarin` to go. His timezone change may have affected his habitual startup time, tho it would logically be later in real time, not earlier (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Solar-terrestrial indices for 09 February follow. Solar flux 72 and mid-latitude A-index 4. The mid-latitude K-index at 1500 UTC on 10 February was 5 (88 nT). Space weather for the past 24 hours has been minor. Geomagnetic storms reaching the G1 level occurred. Space weather for the next 24 hours is expected to be minor. Geomagnetic storms reaching the G1 level are expected (SWPC via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. Just back from a surprise trip to Venezuela and a one week very short vacation here in Havana amigos, and still catching up with the backlog. I had the nice opportunity of visiting Radio Nacional of Venezuela, and also climbing to one of the mountains surrounding Caracas, to see the unique AM broadcast band site of YVKE Mundial 550 kiloHertz and Radio Nacional of Venezuela´s Canal Informativo 630 kiloHertz stations, that are now sharing the same antenna system. [630 being the one off-frequency; did Arnie notice?] YKKE Mundial 550 kiloHertz is a frequent DX catch in North America during this solar minimum and its 130 meters high tower stands high above the Avila mountain, overlooking Caracas. More about my visit to Venezuela, where I was invited to attend the Radio Club Venezolano amateur radio organization´s ceremony of installation of its newly elected executive committee, later in today´s weekend edition of Dxers Unlimited. More about my visit to Venezuela. Radio Nacional of Venezuela is now involved in a nation wide expansion and modernization of its broadcast facilities; that includes the installation of a large number of FM broadcast band transmitters to increase the coverage even to the most remote locations. The installation of several new AM broadcast transmitting stations is also now in the works, using solid state transmitters and highly efficient folded monopole vertical antennas. Most of the new AM broadcast band sites will be serving two of Radio Nacional of Venezuela´s national programs, by means of a diplexer arrangement that allows using the same antenna system for transmitting two different AM band frequencies. This is a very sound and economical approach that has been used for a long time by AM stations around the world, and now it is even a more efficient approach thanks to the use of the vertical folded and grounded monopole antennas, that also provide additional protection for the solid state output modules of the modern transmitters. So, in the not too distant future, I am sure that DXers in South America, the Caribbean, Central America and North America will be able to pick up the new Venezuelan AM transmitters broadcasting Radio Nacional of Venezuela different programs, as several of these sites will be using power outputs in the 10 to 50 kiloWatt range, the kind of power that makes possible frequent DX pick up from distances of more than one or two thousand miles away (Arnie Coro, CO2KK, RHC DXers Unlimited Feb 9 via DXLD) ** YEMEN. 9780.06, Republic of Yemen Radio, San'a, 1815-1840, Feb 9, Euro-pop & local pop music. English programming but muffled audio difficult to understand. ID at 1829 as "You are tuned to the English service of the Republic of Yemen Radio broadcasting from San'a/Aden". English news at 1830. Back to Euro-pop music at 1835. Weak signal. Lost in noise at 1840 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZANZIBAR. TANZANIA. 11735, Radio Tanzania-Zanzibar, 1759-1815, Feb 9, local drums at 1759. Time pips & English news at 1800-1809. "Spice FM" IDs. Swahili talk at 1809. Good signal. No English heard the previous day, February 8 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11735, R. Tanzania Zanzibar, 1756 Feb 9, football discussion in local language, with cuts to game coverage in UK-accented English. Time pips 1800. "It's 9 o'clock, here is the news from Spice FM." English news to 1809, then into language, local upbeat music. From many logs here, there's no discernible daily pattern to the English news at 18 - maybe on when there's nothing more important e.g. football. Strong signal (Steve George, MA USA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) 11735, V. of Tanzania Zanzibar, 2010-2055 Feb 9. Nice, clear signal with usual Arabic-flavored East African music to round out the day's transmissio. Can enjoy this QRM-free with the wide 6 kHz filter (John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge, Colorado, Drake R-8, 100-foot RW, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 1530 just IDed as WHAS! Now isn't that interesting? 73, (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, 0602 UT Feb 10, IRCA via DXLD) I played back the cassette and the WHAS ID is clearly repeated on news promos before TOH. I am a bit far for an image. Hi. So who is running WHAS with Coast to Coast on 1530? Really an odd one. 73, (Patrick Martin, 0614 UT, ibid.) WHAS = 840 Louisville KY UNIDENTIFIED. Arabic on 4640 at 0404 UT, 10-Feb. Tonight, it definitely is a 2-way (Harold Frodge, MI, 0409 UT Feb 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Or: UNKNOWNIA: 4640/USB, 0404-0412+, 10-Feb; two men in Arabic; 2-way this time rather than the long commentaries and chants heard the previous two times. SIO=2+22+, whine QRM (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 215' center-fed RW, 85' end-fed RW, 125' bow-tie, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 4875.208, Portuguese or Spanish, 1000 to 1040, faded in and out, OM long talk, very weak and noted only on 7 Feb (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, South Florida, US, NRD 535D, 746 Pro, R75, DX South Florida - Mosquito Coast, Cumbre DX via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 5005.955, 1110 strong carrier; Perú, Radio LTC Juliaca once here. Have seen no reports of this being active (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, South Florida, US, Feb 9?, NRD 535D, 746 Pro, R75, DX South Florida - Mosquito Coast, Cumbre DX via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Re 8-017: MADAGASCAR. 5010, Radio Madagasikara, 0253- 0345, Feb 8, nice selection of local music. Talk in Malagasy. Very good. Excellent signal. Anyone else notice these guys broadcast in suppressed carrier USB. No audio heard when using LSB mode (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, I heard this too a few nights after the big opening of Madagascar and Angola on the weekend of Jan 26-27. However I looked in PWBR from 2006. They list HRMI Honduras in USB as "irregular". I too thought it was Madagasikara but the music, USB mode, signal quality, modulation, and language threw me off a bit for RM. The music sounded a bit Latin and the language sounded Spanish or a dialect of it. No ID at TOH. For the record, I am in no way saying anyone is incorrect whether it was Honduras or Madagasikara. However, if it were Madagasikara, the programming was a bit odd for them. Based on being more familiar with RM's programming, and then listening to this USB station, I would say that it is not Madagasikara. Then again, until an ID is heard I could be very wrong. Any help from anyone? The newborn has taken away a lot of my evening listening time (Stephen Price, Johnstown, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Try // 3340 in case Honduras could be on both (gh) Madagascar has used very often suppressed carrier with USB on 5010 for some time now. A booming signal here (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Happened to be awake by local 4 am, 0945 UT, and got this transmission on 11775 playing Guns and Roses' November Rain (only time I heard a DJ), next Hey Joe by Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana's Smell Like Teen Spirit and a couple more tunes before they left at 1000 without saying "pío". IDs between songs of "Planet Rock". Must be a test transmission not listed in Aoki or Eibi. Went to the PR page and found no reference of short wave. Does anyone know if they use to practice this sporadic tests on HF? (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica. Sony ICF7600GR + INV "V", dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Possibly a test but see also http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dxld/message/16078 Regards (Harry Brooks, North East England, UK, ibid.) That was about Planet Rock being heard instead of R. República, tnx to VTC? (gh, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 11780, re 8-017: Hello Group, Yes Wolfy, that station is considered as one of the Russian-Slavic number stations; we call it S - for Slavic - 06. You may check that link for more info... http://www.simonmason.karoo.net/page79.html There you'd find lots of recordings I made for that one specially on 11780 as you said; it's there on weekly basis by the way. All the best (Tarek Zeidan, Cairo, Egypt, Feb 9, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Heard on a Friday (gh) UNIDENTIFIED. 15020, This frequency in Parallel with the unidentified station on 12260 that I reported last month! Chinese classical music featuring mainly flutes, cymbals and drums, at 0625, 19/12. They don’t seem to keep regular hours, and neither frequency is registered in HFCC B07 (Dennis Allen, Milperra NSW (Icom R75, Dipole), Jan-Feb ADXN via DXLD) Probably one of the so-called Chinese “firedrake” jamming outlets -cs (Craig Seager, ed., ibid.) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Glenn, here`s your 2008 lump at the beginning of the year instead of the end, at that. It also lessens a bit the ratio of squeak donations I`ve sent you as I`ve listened to your show off and on for about 20 years, in other words, since the days you`d talk about how it was every South American`s dream to live in a United States slum or how *technically* unnew the solar telephones are at the Nashville World`s Fair, wow! And since the days when I published ``Perfect Fidelity AM`` magazine (two issues), which I am looking for copies of (Fred Jodry, New Rochelle NY, 29 Jan, with an MO to P O Box 1684, Enid OK 73702) Tnx, Fred; only wish I knew what you were talking about (gh, DXLD) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ WHERE`S THAT STATION? Does anyone know anything about the "Where's That Station?" utility that is accessed via the IRCA website? I downloaded it today and have been playing around with it, but the databases that come with it haven't been updated since Nov. 2005 and there doesn't appear to be anything newer at their website (Dave Bennett, Aldergrove, BC dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Dave! You can find a couple lists for USA and Canada at: http://www.amlogbook.com/amlog.htm and http://topazdesigns.com/ambc/ For European and African stations take a look at: http://emwg.info/ For a larger view of continents/area: http://www.dxing.info/lists/ For the Pacific and Asian stations, a good site is found at: http://www.radioheritage.net/PAL.asp All these lists are related to MW (AM) stations around the world. Take a look, I think you will find something of interest! You will also find something in Links directory of MWDX. Good luck and good DX! 73's (Alf Årdal, Norway, MWDX yg via DXLD) see also UK! CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ IT’S PITTSBURGH IN 2008 ! Friday, August 29 - 31, 2008 Our 75th Anniversary - National Radio Club, founded in 1933 What better way to celebrate our Diamond Anniversary than to get back together in the familiar surroundings of the birthplace of modern broadcasting. And can you believe it? The city of Pittsburgh is celebrating its 250 anniversary this year too! Our host will be John Malicky, one of our most experienced convention leaders. Just look at what he’s arranging for us. The Pirates baseball team will play for us on Sunday afternoon against Milwaukee - very appropriate for our 75th diamond anniversary - weather permitting. Plan to arrive early enough on Friday to take part in studio tour that afternoon, with a pizza dinner being served in the meeting room that night. The grand opening will be held at 7 p.m. on Friday with a presentation about the history of Pittsburgh rounding out the evening. Saturday morning will feature a tour of the Heinz History Center at 9 a.m. and you are invited to buy lunch at the Sports Rock Café if you wish. There will be transmitter tours in the afternoon for those who wish to get out and see what broadcasting in Pittsburgh is all about and then, at 5 p.m., the annual group photograph at the hotel. And, of course, there will be lots of time to sit and chat about dx’ing with other club members in the Hospitality Room. The banquet this year will be in the Greenery Restaurant right there at the hotel. A business meeting will follow, and then the world- famous auction to round out the evening. Sunday will open with the annual NRC DX Examination and then, at 11 a.m., we’ll all depart for a ride to PNC Park, home field of the Pittsburgh Pirates, via the Gateway Clipper Fleet. The game that afternoon is against the Milwaukee Brewers. Back at the hotel, the Hospitality Room will re-open around 5 o’clock – WNRC should be on the air by then and we’ll sit and chat until everyone is talked out. The convention will end on Sunday evening. Now, here’s what to do: 1. Reserve your room at the Greentree Holiday Inn, 401 Holiday Drive, Pittsburgh PA 15220: Call: 1-412-922-8100. Be sure to tell them you want the “NRC Rate” 2. Convention Registration is $45 and that includes the pizza party, the banquet, soft drinks and munchies during the three days in the Hospitality Room and, weather permitting another event John Malicky is working out right now. Send your registration check, payable to “National Radio Club” to: National Radio Club, PO Box 5192, Sun City Center, FL 33571-5192 You can also register online using Pay Pal at: http://www.nrcdxas.org 3. Local Transportation: If you fly into Pittsburgh International Airport (“PIT”), there is a free complimentary shuttle service to the hotel. The train station in Pittsburgh is only 4 miles away from the hotel; the taxi fee is $25 (NRC DX News Feb 18 via DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING DRM: see ANGUILLA; BRAZIL; CUBA; ECUADOR; ++++++++++++++++++++ NIGERIA. DTV: USA WTWC. IBOC: USA MW Bandscan RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ ANTENNA SOLUTION FOR CONDO-BOUND SWL-ERS I have (about a year ago) downsized my living arrangements to a two- story condo not far from my previous address, where outside antennas are verboten. (But several of my neighbors have "dish-network" satellite dish antennas on their rooftops anyway!) I had been using the built-in telescoping whip antenna on my Grundig S350 pretty satisfactorily (in spite of the TVI from the computer monitor which sits just adjacent to the Grundig!), but had been wondering for several months what else I could do instead. A few weeks ago I came up with a possible solution: I had the makings of a longwire antenna (of infinite length!) with a coax feed right to my desk already at hand! Comcast has no idea I am using their TV cable network. I got myself a cable (female-female) splitter, a 12-inch piece of male-male coax, and a short (four feet?) length of TV coax (all from Radio Shack) and with a coax-to-TV twinlead matching device (also from Radio Shack), and I was in business! So I hooked it all up, compacted the telescoping whip, and, voilà! Did away with the TVI in one fell swoop. SW reception is marginally better than with the whip, and purists may point out that the Comcast cable network is suspended just a few feet below AC electric power lines, and a good bit is underground from where the cable enters my condo to the distribution box for the complex where I live and to the nearest utility pole, but, what the hey. It works. But, Radio Amateur Operators, beware! Don't rig your transmitters up this way! Think of the TVI you might cause! (Dave Askine, Feb 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ THE BEGINNING OF THE MAUNDER MINIMUM? "...Solar activity fluctuates in an 11-year cycle. But so far in this cycle, the sun has been disturbingly quiet. The lack of increased activity could signal the beginning of what is known as a Maunder Minimum, an event which occurs every couple of centuries and can last as long as a century. Such an event occurred in the 17th century. The observation of sunspots showed extraordinarily low levels of magnetism on the sun, with little or no 11-year cycle..." http://ibdeditorial.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=287279412587175 The Maunder Minimum is the name given to the period roughly from 1645 to 1715, when sunspots became exceedingly rare, as noted by solar observers of the time. It is named after the solar astronomer Edward W. Maunder (1851-1928) who discovered the dearth of sunspots during that period by studying records from those years. During one 30-year period within the Maunder Minimum, for example, astronomers observed only about 50 sunspots, as opposed to a more typical 40,000-50,000 spots... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maunder_Minimum (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) If this proves to be the case, we may as well re-allocate 16-30 MHz for something other than worldwide SW communication (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) We may very well be headed for another Maunder Minimum. I predict a solar cycle 24 peak at a (SSN) smoothed sunspot number of 105 in October 2012. If correct, solar cycle 24 would be smaller than the previous three. 73, (Thomas F. Giella, KN4LF Lakeland, FL, USA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ARNIE CORO´S HF PLUS LOW BAND VHF PROPAGATION UPDATE AND FORECAST. According to solar scientists the almost never ending long, long end tail of solar cycle 23 seems to be going to last for at least several more weeks. Predictions call for extremely low solar activity, rock bottom solar flux near 70 units and lower, and zero sunspots for at least six more weeks. So, short wave propagation conditions will be limited to the lower frequency bands, with daytime propagation reaching only up to 18 or 20 megaHertz. Night time maximum useable frequency on some paths will dip even below 7 megaHertz, something typical of extremely long periods of very low solar activity. For Low frequency bands Dxers, in the range between 100 kiloHertz and 2 megaHertz, propagation conditions will be ideal during periods of quiet geomagnetic activity; and when the eventual solar coronal hole sends a stream of charge particles to hit the Earth´s magnetosphere, then the AM broadcast band will bring in some rare and nice DX especially to the South of your location. Amateur radio operators that enjoy the use of the 160 meters band will be able to work some nice DX during the rest of February and early March --- possibly the best conditions for 160 meters for many years to come (Arnie Coro, CO2KK, RHC DXers Unlimited Feb 9 via DXLD) HF PROPAGATION RESEARCH PROJECTS Has anyone picked up sounding signals from these ? From: http://www.southgatearc.org/news/february2008/damson_whisper.htm Information on the DAMSON and WHISPER HF propagation research projects has been made available on the QinetiQ website. The Doppler and Multipath SOunding Network (DAMSON) is an ongoing collaboration between QinetiQ, the Canadian Communications Research Centre, the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment and the Swedish Defence Research Agency. The Wideband HF Ionospheric Sounder for Propagation Environment Research (WHISPER) is a recent development based on a prototype software radio, and allows sounding of HF channels up to 80 kHz bandwidth. QinetiQ - DAMSON Doppler and Multipath SOunding Network (animation near bottom of page) http://www.cpar.qinetiq.com/damson.html HF Channel Sounding http://www.cpar.qinetiq.com/damsonwhisper.html WHISPER - Wideband HF Ionospheric Sounder for Propagation Environment Research http://www.cpar.qinetiq.com/whisper.html 73 (Trevor M5AKA, monitoringmonthly yg via DXLD) WTFK? ###