DX LISTENING DIGEST 8-040, April 1, 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 SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1402 Thu 0530 WRMI 9955 Thu 1430 WRMI 9955 Thu 2200 WRMI 9955 Thu 2330 WBCQ 7415 Fri 0800 WRMI 9955 Fri 2030 WWCR1 15825 Fri 2230 WBCQ 5110-CUSB Sat 0800 WRMI 9955 Sat 1630 WWCR3 12160 Sun 0230 WWCR3 5070 Sun 0630 WWCR1 3215 Sun 0800 WRMI 9955 Sun 1515 WRMI 9955 Mon 0300 WBCQ 9330-CLSB [irregular] Mon 0415 WBCQ 7415 [time varies] Tue 1100 WRMI 9955 Tue 1530 WRMI 9955 Wed 1130 WRMI 9955 Wed 2300 WBCQ 15420-CUSB [NEW] 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. Hi Glenn, Re 8-034, March 29, 2008. Today I monitored Radio Solh in Lahore from 1300-1400 UT at 6700 kHz. The signal was very weak. In fact, two Radio Solh transmitters which are located within Afghanistan are transmitting on the same frequency. The program content is different from both locations. This has resulted in a very awkward situation. The moment signal of one transmitter weakens the other is heard resulting in interference. To add to the problem, the transmission is bilingual i.e. Dari and Pushto from both stations. In fact, what is happening is that at times half the sentence is in Pushto and the remaining in Dari. Since the transmitters are of low power and perhaps within Afghanistan both stations could be heard without causing interference to each other. Someone from within Afghanistan could verify. The program content of one station was back to back Dari Music and two short announcements in Dari about the efforts of Government to restore peace in eastern provinces bordering Pakistan. While the other station played Pushto and Dari Music with short announcements in Pushto and Dari. The signal of second station was weaker as compared to the one playing Dari music. Station IDs were not announced during the time I monitored. Around 1400 UT, signal weakened to the extent of inaudibility (Aslam Javaid, Lahore, Pakistan, March 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. Looking for Radio Solh on A-08 frequency 17700 via Rampisham UK, ex-15265: March 31 nothing audible before 1500, but at 1504 had started to fade in with usual great mix of music, but different selexions than we had been hearing before 1500 on 15265 in B-07. Some fadeouts, but still going past 1542. Scheduled until 1800, but not audible at 1733 recheck (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) On Sunday [March 30] R. Solh was on 17700 as late as 1750z. Good signal, S7 or better (Jerry Lenamon, Waco, Texas, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ALASKA. A VISIT TO AN ALASKAN DAYTIMER by James "Jimbo" Hannon Certainly one of the most coveted catches in the world of MWDX is the elusive Alaskan daytimer. Recently this author had the opportunity to visit such a station. KIMO-AM is located in the tiny village of Wolfat Bay, on Alaska's North Shore. They currently operate on 1180 kHz, but according to station manager Frazier Toezof, "There's nobody else up here, so the FCC doesn't mind if we drift around a bit." The station has an output power of 100 watts and of course the antenna is directional to protect Radio Martí. When asked about the significance of the station's call letters, Toezof said, "We used to run an all Spanish format, and our previous owner used to think it was cute to identify the station by saying "es KIMO!" As to the Spanish format, staff members told me it seemed like a good idea at the time. As I entered the studio, afternoon mushtime DJ Hugh Betcha was just cueing a special report from KIMO traffic copter 3: a 7-sled pileup on the main path out of town. Paramedics and vets were already on the scene, and traffic copters 1 and 2 were on their way. Anyway, as I looked around the room, I noticed a woman sitting at a microphone making a series of hand gestures. I was later informed that this was a special service for hearing-impaired listeners, which the station hoped would be remembered by the FCC at license renewal time. When asked about the station's unusual schedule, Betcha said it really wasn't so bad. "During the summer, the other DJs and I each do about 4 or 5 hours a day", he said. "But as the holidays draw near, I get much more time with my family. My shift is down to about 5 minutes or so, and when you throw in 4 or 5 ads and a public service spot, I hardly have to talk at all." My next stop was the transmitter igloo, where chief engineer R.F. Gaines was busy burning old reception reports to stay warm. When I asked why the station had no PSSA, Gaines told me, "in the summer, we'd have to sign on before we got done signing off the night before and I can't figure out how to do that." He went on to tell me that most reports come from Hawaii, New Zealand, and people in Georgia trying to hear Radio Martí. He's basically satisfied with the quality of reports he receives, but wishes that in lieu of return postage, people would just send blankets or hot food. Any DXer looking for state-of-the-art reception quality might want to order one of Gaines' patented car radio beverages - 4000 feet of copper wire that you tie to the back bumper of your car (really works, too!). My final stop was the home of owner Hy Arbitrons. Many DXers will remember him as the operator of the highly controversial 50,000-watt pirate station, KHET, which operated on 640.3 in suburban Los Angeles a few years ago. Arbitrons said he left L.A. for health reasons (KFI has a large staff and lots of friends). When asked about his future plans, he said he was saving up the ad revenue from his highly profitable morning farm reports (local farmers specialize in iceberg lettuce and frozen beef) so he could buy lots of remote control equipment and run the whole station from Hawaii. He has also been seriously considering a buyout offer from Capital Cities / ABC. Well, shortly the station began playing their signoff theme, "I only have Ice For You" and I knew that my day at KIMO was drawing to a close. So I collected my prized QSL, along with a pile of station T- Shirts (I wondered why they had so many laying around -- the program director told me, "they seemed like such a good idea at the time..."). As I walked away from the station, something very strange happened. The whole building, transmitter and all, began to fade away until they were entirely invisible. "Must be an aurora', I thought, and continued on my way, with Radio Martí blasting away on my Walkman. === (I found this while cleaning house the other day. I wrote it over 20 years ago and submitted it to a few club bulletins. Clearly I had a lot more time on my hands in those days...) (Tim Hall, CA, APRIL 1, ABDX via DXLD) ** ALBANIA [and non]. R. Tirana, still on 13640 in English to NAm, but one UT hour earlier at 1430 exc Sundays. Checked March 31 at 1432, finishing announcement of English schedule, into news. SINPO 25332 with some deep fades. If I could get rid of my line noise level, it could be listenable, but Tirana is doing the best it can under the circumstances, and at least there is zero interference from broadcast stations. There is some CODAR, which became audible toward the end and was clearly on 13640 when Tirana closed at 1458*. Monitoring for R. Tirana`s new 9390, Albanian to NAm at 2300-2430, March 31: Israel appears to be gone from 9390, but WWRB with Brother Scare, supposed to close at 2300, stayed on 9385 until abrupt closedown at 2352. Tirana music could barely be detected aside the much stronger Tennessee signal at 2305, // better 7425. Finally no WWRB problem, but rechecked at 0033 when the first evening English broadcast from Tirana is supposed to be on 9390 only, all I heard was pop music for a few minutes, and again at 0044, still going at 0046, no announcements heard. Ditto during the second transmission at 0155 check. I understand that March 31 from 1930 the R. Tirana program feed to Shijak transmitter site was lost, so instead they relayed a domestic service, apparently still the case. I have notified WWRB that they are interfering with Tirana by staying on 9385 past 2300. WWRB came up on 5050 a few minutes later and signed on at 2358, maybe the same transmitter, which earlier in March I had heard as early as 2259 on 5050, even tho that was not supposed to open until 0000. Looking for the R. Tirana English broadcast to Europe at 1845 UT April 1 on 13640 --- only could detect a very weak carrier. I understand it is very strong in Europe beyond the skip zone, and of course on the same bearing as to North America, so perhaps on good days it will carry on to here. Also checked at 2000 for the 13600 broadcast in English to NAm, April 1: slightly better than at 1845, but still very poor; S9+15 reading but signal and modulation no match for the local noise level. Could make out some theme music. Also, a bit of splash from WYFR now on 13615, 315 degrees right at me at 1700-2200 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Geophysical Alert Message # Solar-terrestrial indices for 31 March follow. Solar flux 79 and mid-latitude A-index 3. The mid-latitude K- index at 1800 UTC on 01 April was 1 (6 nT). No space weather storms were observed for the past 24 hours. No space weather storms are expected for the next 24 hours. Solar-terrestrial indices for 01 April follow. Solar flux 78 and estimated mid-latitude A-Index 3. The mid-latitude K-index at 2100 UTC on 01 April was 0 (04 nT). No space weather storms were observed for the past 24 hours. No space weather storms are expected for the next 24 hours (SWPC via DXLD) No reply from WWRB about closing 9385 at 2300, and April 1 it kept going after a pause for ID and dead air at 2300, 2301 hymn, 2305 Brother Scare resuming, until abrupt closing at 2347*, so we are making a little progress? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. A bit of welcome classical music at tune-in 1329 March 31 on 15400; must be a BBC program closing. Imagine my horror when at 1330 I heard an ID for HCJB Global Voice, Australia, and into Chinese! A-08 scheduling shows BBC Ascension breaks on 15400 between 1130 and 1500, and HCJB is on there from 1030 to 1430. HCJB Kununurra was also heard with gospel rock on 15540 until 1328*. CVC Darwin in English on 13635 was much stronger than either HCJB frequency (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELGIUM. 1188 kHz, VRT Radio Twee Kuurne now GONE!! Observed at 0900. 73,s (Dan Goldfarb, Brentwood, England, March 31, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, it was officially switched off at 0930. In fact, there is an amusing story - the transmitter went off the air at 0923 because a senior official of VRT who was present for the switchoff accidentally pressed a button too early. The engineer switched it back on for another 7 minutes :-) If you're wondering how I know this, Herbert Visser of 100%NL is a friend of the VRT engineer, and spoke to him on the phone a short while after it happened. Then Herbie came and told me :-) (Andy Sennitt, Netherlands, ibid.) Zoals reeds gemeld liet ik een opname meelopen. Je kan ze hier horen http://www.schotmans.net/dxsounds/VRT_Radio2_1188kHz_31-03-2008_0628UTC.MP3 Of http://tinyurl.com/2oxys8 Misschien toch een beetje toepasselijk afscheid, maar ik denk dat dit louter toeval was. 73, (Guido Schotmans, Belgium, BDX via DXLD) ** BELGIUM [non]. Post VRT switch off between 0500 and 0700 on 31 March 2008: 540 - Morocco RTM Tangier 44444 with morning call to prayer? around 0500-0530. 540 - Spain Onda Cero Catalunya - 54544 - strong signal with talk in Spanish 0630-0700. 1188 - A mess but both Flemish and others heard - 0600-0630. 1510 - Religious OM monologue. 33333 subject to the usual het interference. I have heard WWZN before but carrying Sports. Is it possible that the sports channel in Boston has religious stuff overnight on a Sunday?? Otherwise I might have picked up WWBC Florida but at that hour (0530-0600)? I am confused (Dan Goldfarb, Brentwood, England, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, Bro Scare on WWZN (gh) ** BRAZIL. BRASIL: 4905.1, ZYG683, Rádio Relógio (tentative); 0134- 0217+, 31-Mar; M in Portuguese reading extensive station list with name and frequency, including Rádio Relógio, with several mentions of Rádio Nacional and Macapá. At 0146 list ended and went into religious program; announcer broke in at 0157 with TC; no break at 0200; lengthy promo 0202-06 didn't sound like either Relógio or Anhanguera; into pop music except for another brief religious segment. Never heard anything sounding like Anhanguera. SIO=3+42+, USB takes out swiper. Relógio listed in Passport as irregular on 4905v (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BULGARIA. 7200, R. Bulgaria's French service unit produces some annoying side band splatter signals in range 7161-7192 and 7208-7227 kHz, around 0605 UT March 31. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, harmonics yg via DXLD) ** CANADA. POSSIBLE CBA MONCTON, NB DX TEST Attention DXers, Get out your DX calendars and mark down early Monday morning, April 7. Saul Chernos - our "Canadian Connection" - has been working the phones again, and we are hoping to have a real treat to finish out the 2007-2008 DX Test Season. CBA 1070 in Moncton, New Brunswick, plans to sign off for good as it completes its switch to FM (106.1) at 0700 Atlantic time [1000 UT; previously predicted as 1130?] on April 7. The Broadcast Test Committee is currently working with CBA personnel to include DX test content in some form during the overnight hours leading up to the official shut-down. Because of the late timing, we thought it prudent to get the word out as soon as possible even though we are still in the process of finalizing details and verifying if and when the test material will air. CBA runs 50,000 watts U1 day and night. If this test runs, expect much of the same content you've heard in other DX tests. We will post updates as soon as we have new information. If you are in touch with other DXers who do not have computer or Internet access, please fill them in on this. We'd hate for anyone to miss out on this opportunity (Jim Pogue and Saul Chernos, IRCA/NRC Joint Broadcast Test Committee, April 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Just like yesterday`s report of Sackville mixing products on 15220 and 15280 produced by the too-close transmitters on 15240 and 15260 until 1330 --- March 31 at 1502 the CRI Chinese relay on 15220 and the R. Sweden Swedish relay on 15240 did the same to 15200 and 15260 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also SWEDEN [non] ** CANADA. 9625, CBC Northern Quebec service. On 31 March 2008 there was strong reception from this in common with other Trans-Atlantic signals. As recommended by Liz Cameron, I enjoyed the First Nations (yes, that's the new politically correct title) programming 2130-2200 including local news in English at 2130-2135. Signal varied between 33333 and 44444 (Dan Goldfarb, UK, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) First Nations has been P.C. for quite a while in Canada now. Does anyone know when it started, and by whom? But unknown in the USA (gh, DXLD) Dan, Since you heard English news at 2130, this means that CBC NQ does not change with DST, unlike what PWBR says. I listen to NQ a lot and can't say I thought about the issue, since I'm so used tuning in and not writing the log down. Inuit can be heard at 2135+. If I'm correct, the Inuit are not considered First Nation, just who I call American Indians. I may be wrong, not being Canadian. 73/Liz (Cameron, MI, ibid.) ?? The Arctic newscast is at 2230 UT in winter, I thought, so it did shift, always at 5:30 pm Montréal time (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTNEING DIGEST) ** CANADA. CBC AXES NORTH AMERICA'S LAST RADIO ORCHESTRA, INSIDERS SAY http://www.nationalpost.com/arts/story.html?id=404260 (Vancouver Sun via Brian Smith, ODXA yg via DXLD) Musicians protest axing of ‘cultural icon’ orchestra BY PETER BIRNIE, VANCOUVER SUN Theatre Critic “There’s nothing else like it!” trumpets the CBC website. “The CBC Radio Orchestra is North America’s only broadcast ensemble, a legacy of the days when radio orchestras were to be found all over our continent. “With an audience as diverse as the Canadian experience, we create engaging musical radio programs, commission and perform new works as well as established classics, and showcase exceptional Canadian performers and conductors. “Alain Trudel has [sic] led the orchestra since the fall of 2006. Under his direction the orchestra continues to tirelessly navigate a rich and varied musical landscape, never ceasing to grow and evolve.” So much for the “grow and evolve” part. On Thursday, the orchestra’s 35 freelance musicians were told by Mark Steinmetz, head of CBC Radio programming, that in September the 70-year-old Canadian institution would no longer receive CBC funding. Its $600,000 annual budget will be divvied up among orchestras across Canada, allowing them to broadcast on CBC Radio 2 even as that network reduces its classical programming. While the website remains blissfully ignorant about the impending death of its orchestra, musicians across the country are already up in arms about the plan. Vancouver pianist Sara Davis Buechner is one of many expressing concern. “I think the CBC is making a terrible mistake,” Buechner said Friday. “I don’t understand why they’re doing it. This is one of our country’s great cultural treasures.” Gene Ramsbottom agrees. A clarinetist with the orchestra for 35 years, he notes that the group’s 35 CDs and 200 vinyl recordings, which can easily be digitized, represent the largest recorded archive of classical music in North America. “It seems to be an awfully small amount of money to do something so dramatic,” Ramsbottom says, “to rid yourself of a cultural uniqueness you spent 70 years nurturing.” “What I’ve heard from that group,” says Buechner, “were performances of passion, intensity and incredible precision, a sense of urgency and immediacy in innovative programming with a lot of Canadian content. I think it’s one of the touchstone cultural institutions. They’ve had a legendary conductor in Mario Bernardi and the new conductor is one of the finest in the world.” Ramsbottom says Steinmetz, a career bureaucrat at the CBC, faced barely suppressed anger from the musicians when he met with them in Vancouver on Thursday. “One of them said, ‘Who are you to sit here and tell us you’re dealing away with us? Canada has very few cultural icons and this is one of them — you built it, and now you’re very deliberately destroying it.’” The CBC could not be reached for comment (via Bruce MacGibbon, BC, DXLD) more, next issue ** CHINA. Thalès facilitating jamming: see RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM ** CHINA. Re 8-039: Hi Mark, Congratulations! Qiao Xiaoli has just posted pictures of the folder QSL card that is being sent to you. Looks great and the stamps are outstanding! It is next to your name http://2883752.blog.163.com/blog/static/30157479200762051511619/ Very nice! So they do have QSL cards to send out after all, in addition to the E-QSLs. I want one too. The stamps alone are worth the price. The blog seems to be updated almost on a daily basis (Ron Howard, CA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [and non]. MONGOLIA, INNER - 7270 Nei Menggu PBS (presumed) 1259-1320+ Mar 1. Hohhot dominant this morning with 5+1 pips to 1300, then 5 minutes of talk in presumed Mongolian, then a program of odd throaty Mongolian vocals // 9750. No sign of Malaysia today. Odd how one day RTM will dominate and the next day NMPBS, not to mention many other days when there are no useable signals at all. Have not heard Chennai here in a very long time - are they still on this frequency? (John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge, Colorado, Drake R-8, 100-foot RW, Cumbredx mailing list, via DXLD) ** CHINA [non]. The CRI relay via CVC Chile in English at 1300 in A-08 is on new 15440, as fairly heard March 31 at 1326, instead of 15540 where it was last A; there now until 1328* is HCJB Australia. CVC Portuguese 15410 was stronger than CRI 15440 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA. ?? 3200.15 Harmonic (??). Also heard here weakly at 1048 with talk by M sounding Spanish, but heard better earlier at 1005 31 March (Dave Valko, Dunlo PA, HCDX via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. Harmonic from 1600 kHz (tentative), 3200.13, Radio Mía (tentative), 1025-1034 April 1. At tune in, noted a female in Spanish language comments until 1028 when music is presented. At the end of the music, the female returns and gives ID as "Radio Mía....". I have a 3 minute recording of this which I will put on my web page for anyone who is interested can listen later today. Signal was poor. (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston. Florida, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA. Re ``5954.1, No sign of ELCOR test; has anyone been hearing it lately? (gh)`` I have checked from time to time with nothing here either (Mark Taylor, WI, NASWA Flashsheet March 30 via DXLD) ** CROATIA. 6165, Voice of Croatia, 0600-0604, March 30, short 4 minute English broadcast with news, sports & weather. IDs. Schedule. Fair but with weak co-channel QRM. // 9470-via Germany-very weak (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [and non]. Noticed HCJB news in Spanish on 12000 at 2316 March 31 had some co-channel interference underneath, also in Spanish. Who else uses 12000? RHC, of course, but not supposed to during HCJB hours. Yes, 12000 QRM was // 9820, the Mesa Redonda service separate from mainstream RHC, also // 6000. There was a reverb between 9820 and 6000, different feed routes and/or transmitter sites, but hard to tell about 12000 under HCJB. One might think 12000 could be an unintentional harmonic of 6000, but since RHC deliberately uses fundamental 12000 at other times, I fear this is no accident, but one of their cancerous growths. The B-07 sked on RHC website (no A-08 yet, of course) shows 12000 only at 1100-1500, while HCJB is on 12000 at 2100-0100. RHC colliding with HCJB on 12000: checked again one day later, April 1 at 2246, Mesa Redonda show // 9820 on 12000, this time equal to or above HCJB, as they took turns dominating and producing SAH of about 6 Hz, so this is definitely no accidental harmonic from RHC 6000, but a deliberate expansion of 12000 from morning to evening, tough luck, HCJB, which at this time was mostly music, Hammond organ playing minor-key Andean melodies (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. HOLA, RAUL, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? By Jeff Mullin, commentary Haven’t the people of Cuba suffered enough? Since Fidel Castro led the 1959 revolution, Cubans have suffered under the yolk of communism. That has led to economic hardship, including shortages of basic goods like food, clothing and household amenities. The trade embargo imposed on Cuba by the U.S. in the wake of the revolution has left many residents still driving American cars from the 1950s, keeping them running with homemade parts and ingenuity. There was a glimmer of hope the lives of Cubans might improve somewhat when Fidel stepped down as president of Cuba earlier this year, turning the reins over to his brother, Raul. Alas, it is not to be. Raul Castro on Friday issued a decree that will cause untold headaches for the Cuban people. He is letting them have cell phones. . . http://www.enidnews.com/opinion/local_story_090000837.html (Enid Eagle March 30 via DXLD) ** CUBA. Now, here is nice news for the VHF and UHF radio amateur enthusiasts, station T42UJC, a special even station will be on the air on six and two meters plus 70 centimeters, from atop a 12 story high building very near the northern coast of Cuba . The special event station will also be active on the 20 meters HF band. Here is now the announcement sent by CO2OJ, Oscar Morales Junior, who will be in charge of this interesting ham radio activity, Oscar tell me: Our VHF Group will activate an special station (T42UJC) from April 3 to 5. The station will be here in Habana, in a 12 floor building, just in front of the Ave. Malecón, a little more than 50 meters from the shore with more than 120 degrees free view over the Golf. T42UJC will be active on 6m, 2m and 70 cm SSB. 100 watts in 6 and 2m and 25w in 70 cm. Vertical antenna in 6m, a 12 elements yagi in 2m and a 17 elements yagi in 70 cm. Will be active also in 40m and 20m. In 20m mostly in RTTY and PSK31. So there you are, a good chance to add a new prefix to your collection, and for many of the newcomers to amateur radio, working Cuba on 6 and 2 meters is also very nice too. So be on the lookout for T42UJC, from April 3 to April 5, and send your QSL requests to T42UJC, Post Office Box One, Havana, Cuba (Arnie Coro, CO2KK, RHC DXers Unlimited April 1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. Transmisión a través de Radio Cristal, desde Santo Domingo: Viernes 1200-1230 por 5010 kHz Viernes 2300-2330 por 5010 kHz. (Frecuencia al Día weekly DX promo mailing by José Bueno, Spain, dxldyg via DX LISTENIING DIGEST) In case 5010 is active then (gh) ** ECUADOR. RHC collides with HCJB on 12000: see CUBA ** EGYPT. I also checked Radio Cairo, reception was very poor, and the German program was marred by interference. They should have stayed where they were (Chris Lewis, England, March 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6250 vs 11550 ** EGYPT. 6860 NO ID, 1858-1915, escuchada el 1 de abril en idioma árabe a locutor con comentarios, final de emisión, tras unos segundos de silencio unos tonos horarios y un fragmento musical a modo de sintonía; luego emisión de música folklórica local. Se aprecia mala modulación; a partir de las 1910, la emisión parece en ruso? SINPO 34232. No encuentro frecuencia de reemplazo para ésta emisión. [Later:] Radio Cairo 6860 1700-1900 ABS 250 5 Tur 6860 1900-2000 ABS 250 5 Rus (José Miguel Romero, Spain, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Listened to the frequency and time pips + ID in Russian at 1930 UT with a very distorted audio showed that this is a new Radio Cairo frequency. So, José Miguel, I can confirm! The signal is very strong here in Copenhagen. At this time the German program from Cairo is missing on 6250. Wonder if the English one will appear at 2115. 73, (Erik Køie, Denmark, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Erik, The new European frequency is 11550 (ex 6250) Good signal here in France with German programme. Regards (Jean-Michel Aubier, ibid.) Multilinguals, apart of Turk/Russ, are on 11550 now. At present S=9 +40 dB! in Germany as reported here tentatively, 11550 1700 Alb, 18 It, 19 Ge, 20 Fr, En 2115-2245 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) Curioso, Radio Cairo en 6860, otra frecuencia de las que utilizan la denominadas Spy Numbers, curioso, no se molestan en colocar en sus servicios un mejor transmisor, mala modulación, fuerte señal, en realidad que pretende Radio Cairo, llegar a sus posibles oyentes?? O realmente atorar ciertas emisoras de las que posiblemente utilizan los servicios secretos?? ¿¿Que hace en 6860 kHz?? Curioso (José Miguel Romero, ibid.) Interesting! Shall try to have an ear on that frequency tomorrow. Any idea of the times? French now at 2025 UT on 11550! Thanks for all of the info. 73 & Good Night from (Copenhagen, Erik Køie, ibid.) Adjunto esquema de Radio Cairo B-08 y una relación de frecuencias Spy Numbers que coinciden, al menos hay 9 frecuencias de esta emisora que coinciden, curioso. 6250 1500-2245 ABS 250 315 Fre, Eng 6250 V15 6290 0000-0300 ABS 250 315 Ara 6290 M17/E1, 6290 M23 //5349 6918 8307 6860 2000-2200 ABZ 250 110 Ara 6862x MX U 9250 1700-2300 ABZ 250 180 Ara 9251 E3 9252 M54 only known freq. 9380 1900-2030 ABZ 100 250 Eng 9377x E13 9377x M68 //12172 - only known freqs 9960 1900-0030 ABZ 100 160 Ara 9958x M68 //6840 12170 1430-1600 ABZ 250 70 Pashto 12170 M16 '8BY', 12172 G13/E13 12170 1600-1800 ABZ 150 195 Eng 12172 M68 13580 1500-1600 ABZ 250 50 Ozbaki 13582x M15 DEA 47/EC3Y 15040 1330-1530 ABZ 100 70 Per 15040 E10 'EZI' (José Miguel Romero, Spain, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA. R. Ethiopia, 7110 at 0350-0400+ in Amharic. Very strong and clear. 1 April (Liz Cameron, MI, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. Ethiopians for Democracy is on the A-08 ex-DTK MB schedule: 13820 1700 1759 38E,39S,48 310 135 217 146 300308 261008 WER 250 EFD EAf (via Wolfgang Büschel, DXLD) But what does it really call itself, in Amharic? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. Thalès facilitating Chinese jamming: RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM ** FRANCE. Radio Littoral 1593 --- New one for me tonight - Radio Littoral, Saint-Gouéno, Brittany 1593 in the clear - no DRM with mixture of French pop and Breton folk. ID in English and French at 1939. Do they usually transmit in the clear? (Paul Logan, Lisnaskea, N. Ireland, March 29, MWC via DXLD) Hi Paul, Do you mean you could receive them in AM (so no DRM)? 73 (Herman Boel, Belgium, ibid.) I heard a French station the same evening in the background of strong DRM (Max van Arnhem, the Netherlands, ibid.) Hi Herman, yes they were in the clear Saturday night from at least 1930 until Sunday 0800 UT - they were playing a tape loop with station ID in French and English saying it was a DRM test! but clearly in AM (Paul Logan, ibid.) ** GABON. Radio Gabon noted here March 26 at 1513 on 14540, fair signal with African music and little interference (Mike Barraclough, England, April World DX Club Contact via DXLD) 2 x 7270 ** GREECE. Sundays only English programme Greek in Style noted March 30 0905-1000 on 9420 and 15605 (Mike Barraclough, England, April World DX Club Contact via DXLD) Glenn: At 2300 UT, The Voice of Greece had news in Greek followed at 2305 by "Greek in Style" with Adrianna doing the introductions to traditional Greek songs in English. At 0001 UT, "Edo Athena, e Phoni tis Ellados" (This is Athens, The Voice of Greece). Next came the program "Apo pou; kai yati" (From where; and why). An odd thing happened, nothing on 7475 from 0000 until 2300 UT when the frequency came alive in the excellent range. However, 9420 was on from 2000 until it died at 0000 UT. It seemed as though one transmitter was swapping frequencies during this period. Maybe Babis has the answer (John Babbis, Silver Spring MD, March 30-31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUAM. KTWR TO CELEBRATE 30TH ANNIVERSARY Pacific Daily News, 11:40 a.m., March 31 http://www.guampdn.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080331/LIFESTYLE/80331013/1024 Radio station KTWR will hold its 30th anniversary celebration with a fiesta at the station from 3 to 5 p.m. [0500-0700 UT] on April 12. On April 13, author and international Christian speaker Woodrow Kroll will speak. His "Back to the Bible" broadcasts are heard daily on about 1,000 radio stations in the U.S. and another 100 stations in Canada. KTWR shortwave radio station broadcasts to Asia and the South Pacific and in more than 70 countries. The public is welcome on these days (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, dxldyg via DXLD) However the website http://nea.ktwr.net/e/twr_ntro.shtml states: Since 1954, Trans World Radio has been broadcasting Christian programs specially designed to reach non-believers and to meet the growing spiritual needs of different groups of believers. By the grace of God, Trans World Radio has grown from a two-language program broadcast in Spain, to broadcasting the Christian message worldwide in more than 225 different languages and dialects through more than 2,000 outlets, including 14 international transmitting sites, local AM, shortwave, long wave, FM, direct-to-listener satellite broadcasts, cable audio systems and the Internet (Mike Terry, ibid.) ** GUATEMALA. Radio Buenas Nuevas, 4800 at 0420 in Spanish, ID by male two times, Radio Buenas Nuevas. Talk by woman and local music. Excellent signal! First time for me. 73 (Ferdy HB9DSP - Icom 756 PRO III, DX One PRO II [Switzerland], 0427 UT April 1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HAWAII [and non]. KWHR, 9930, audible in presumed Chinese with Sound of Hope, Monday March 31 at 1417, under Firedrake. Before 1400 when in Korean there was no jamming audible (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. Dear Friends, The new official schedule of AIR effective from 31 Mar 2008 to 26 Oct 2008 is now available at: http://www.allindiaradio.gov.in/schedule/fqsch.html (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, April 1, dx_india yg via DXLD) Jose, thanks for this helpful information. But I would rather wish that AIR Delhi SW transmitter site would get ready [rid of?] their faulty transmitter[s?], which is on air usually on 7410 kHz and also noted mornings on 17510 kHz Indonesian at 0830-0945 UT. Always faulty splatter signals occur from Delhi site, -- in comparison the Bangalore and Goa sites latter which produce always good to superb quality sound. On Mar 30/31, Delhi 7410 1730-2030 splattered all over the place on around 7455 to 7464 kHz, hit international broadcasters like Udorn/Iranawila 7455 Persian, Tirana 7460/7465 various, Tinian 7465 Korean. Is that outdated gear in use at Delhi site, or badly maintained at this location? df5sx (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, ibid.) ** INDONESIA [and non]. VOI has been active on 9526 the last several days but now in A-08 after 1400 March 31 there`s a big collision and 1-kHz het as there were in previous seasons, with equally strong station in Russian on 9525. That`s CRI from SZG site at 35 degrees to zones 33 and 34, i.e. southeast Russia, and incidentally onward toward NAm. So much for VOI`s Indonesian-language hour, but should be OK for Korean until 1400 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11785, Voz de Indonesia, 1700-1705, escuchada el 31 de marzo en español a locutor con presentación, fuertemente interferida por emisora de Family Radio [Wertachtal 75 degrees] en idioma sin identificar, a pesar que en el programa DX de Radio Bulgaria anunciaban que La Voz de Indonesia comunicó que iba a emitir en 15150, observo ésta frecuencia sin emisión, tampoco en 9525, SINPO 22442 (José Miguel Romero2, Spain, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL. Re: DX LISTENING DIGEST 8-037, March 24, 2008 AWR Broadcast Schedule A08 (2008-03-30 to 2008-10-26) --- All Regions Version 01/2008-03-04/pub Comparing with schedule received directly from AWR Frequency Management Office, Alsbach, Germany - postmarked 18-3.08-21 - I found following differences which might be due to revision. Site Start Stop Language Service Area kHz m kW Days ---------------------------------------------------------- MOS 0330 0400 Farsi Iran 6040 49 300 1234567 MOS 0330 0430 Farsi Iran 7220 41 300 1234567 MOS 0400 0430 Arabic Iraq, Arab Peninsula 9735 31 300 1234567 WER 0400 0430 Arabic Iraq, Arab Peninsula 9735 31 250 1234567 SDA 1100 1130 Indonesian W-Indonesia 15460 19 100 1234567 SDA 1100 1130 Indonesian W-Indonesia 15540 19 100 1234567 SDA 1130 1200 English Indo'sia Mal'sia 15460 19 100 1234567 SDA 1130 1200 English Indo'sia Mal'sia 15540 19 100 1234567 SDA 1200 1300 Mandarin NE-China 9670 31 100 1234567 SDA 1200 1300 Mandarin NE-China 9800 31 100 1234567 SDA 1400 1430 Chin Myanmar 9880 31 100 1234567 SDA 1400 1430 Chin Myanmar 9565 31 100 1234567 SDA 1400 1500 Mandarin S-China 9695 31 100 1234567 SDA 1400 1500 Mandarin S-China 9700 31 100 1234567 SDA 1430 1500 Karen Myanmar, Thailand, China 9725 31 100 1234567 SDA 1430 1500 Karen Myanmar, Thailand, China 9565 31 100 1234567 SDA 1500 1530 English S-India 11985 25 100 1234567 SDA 1500 1530 English S-India 11720 25 100 1234567 SDA 1530 1600 Kannada S-India 11985 25 100 1234567 SDA 1530 1600 Kannada S-India 11720 25 100 1234567 SDA 1600 1630 English S-India 11985 25 100 1234567 SDA 1600 1630 English S-India 11720 25 100 1234567 MOS 1630 1700 Farsi Iran 15105 19 300 1234567 MOS 1630 1730 Farsi Iran 15260 19 300 1234567 MOS 1700 1730 Arabic Iraq, Arab Peninsula 11660 25 300 1234567 WER 1700 1730 Arabic Iraq, Arab Peninsula 11660 25 250 1234567 WER 2000 2030 Farsi Iran Omitted: 9770 31 250 1234567 NAU 2030 2100 Mandarin Morocco, Algeria 9430 31 100 1234567 NAU 2030 2100 Mandarin Morocco, Algeria 9480 31 100 1234567 (Tony Ashar, Depok, Indonesia, Apr 1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Which reminds me, why do so many stations think they have to give a lesson in converting kHz to meter bands with every single entry in their frequency schedules? Chaff! I sometimes remove them, but that`s just extra time and trouble (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN. 7111.8v, VOIRI? 0135-0215, March 30, Tentative. Tune-in to Kor`an followed by talk in unidentified language. Also heard next night, March 31, at *0130-0228* on 7106.8v. Poor. Weak. Unstable, wobbly carrier. Sounded like a typical unstable Iranian carrier. Slightly off nominal 7105? No //s found. Not // 9480 or 7115. Possible switch to a good transmitter at 0228 when 7105 popped on the air as soon as 7106.8v went off the air. See next log. 7105, VOIRI, *0228-0245+, March 31, good, strong, stable transmitter with lite music. National Anthem at 0230. Talk in unidentified language. Kor`an at 0237. Weak // 6025 starting at 0228. This does not match any schedule that I have seen (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Supposed to be thus: 7105: 0130-0230 Zahedan in Urdu. 7115: 0030-0130 Sirjan in Bengali // 6025 Kamalabad; 0130-0230 Sirjan in Kazakh 7130: 0230-0330 Sirjan in Pushtu (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN. 9495, Voice of Justice, *0129-0155+, March 31, National Anthem. English ID announcements at 0131 followed by Kor`an. English news at 0139. Good signal. Very good on // 7235-but not on the air until 0134. New frequencies (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [and non]. VOIRI also heard on 7205 and 6205, the latter giving the better reception. I am not sure which, if any was the Lithuanian relay, but neither were great (Chris Lewis, England, March 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re 8-039: So the schedule apparently does not include any of the Lithuanian relays? What kind of delay is there between Iran and Lith sites? (Glenn Hauser-OK-USA, dxld) Re IRIB delay. 7260 today IRIB French service, 1830-1927: No remarkable echo delay between 7260LTU, 9940SIR, and 13755KAM kHz. Display on CoolEdit / Audacity software would show only 1/100th second delay or so. 15085 not on air tonight. Nothing, no carrier - just nothing. Negative - I checked against all 15 broadcast channels which usual in use by IRIB at 1830 UT (Wolfgang Büschel, April 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRELAND. 567: I noticed that Tullamore was no longer carrying the (dreary) loop recording when I checked at 1945 yesterday (31 March 2008). The transmitter seems to have been switched off - not sure exactly when this happened. 73's (Dan Goldfarb, Brentwood, England, April 1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 567 closed --- I noticed this morning that Tullamore 567 kHz has finally closed, after a week of carrying retuning announcements. Not sure exactly when it went off but 31st March was expected to be the last day. Presumably Cork 729 has also been switched off (Dave Kenny, Caversham, UK, April 1, BDXC-UK via DXLD) 567 was silent yesterday afternoon (31 Mar) (Mark Hattam, ibid.) 567 was noted silent at 1645 UT. I guess 570 now becomes possible [for Trans-Atlantic DX] after the demise of the 500 kW transmitter just across the water from me. 570 has been a no go for me for many years. I have my fingers crossed the channel is not reactivated by any religious or pop music stations. The same goes for the now silent 1512 kHz, the former home of Belgium [sic] Radio (Barry Davies, UK, April 1, IRCA via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. 15760, Kol Israel, 1117-1135, escuchada el 31 de marzo con identificació n en francés y música pop melódica en francés; desde las 1125 en hebreo, comentarios y cuñas de la emisora, ID “Kol Israel”, SINPO 45444. 9390, Kol Israel, 1401-1406, escuchada el 31 de marzo en idioma sin identificar, probablemente en persa, a locutora con comentarios, comienza emisión con un fragmento musical, boletín de noticias, referencias a Bush y Palestina, SINPO 45444 (José Miguel Romero, Burjasot (Valencia), España, Sangean ATS 909, Antena Radio Master, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) OUR LAST SHORTWAVE BROADCAST --- 31.03.2008 13:37 http://www.iba.org.il/reka/index.asp?classto=RekaInner&entity_code=273559&lang=English Kol Yisrael's English language shortwave broadcasts are ending Monday. Our programs still can be heard on the Internet and on the website at http://www.intkolisrael.com and http://www.iba.org.il/reka ==== The new http://www.intkolisrael.com/ is now available. It's an 'easy to use' page which has a simple grid with the different languages and the times (in local Israel time) when they are broadcast. If you click on a time, it'll give you the on-demand (recorded) broadcast from that time. On the top of the page, it says, "IBA Live Now" and the current language. If you click on the language there, you'll get the live feed. The on-demand Persian, has the Reshet Hey (International) Persian. I would venture to guess, then, that the live feed is the "Reshet Hey" feed and would contain the Reshet Hey Persian (5 PM Israel Time). From the streaming side, it is a different feed than the REKA feed, but that doesn't mean for sure that it's not also relaying REKA. Again, based upon the on-demand listing, I would think that it's Reshet Hey (albeit, Persian is all that is left). There is no download capability available, but the webmaster said that he expects it to come soon. Reading the newsgroups for a different IBA network, which includes music, they are waiting on some legal issues to be dealt with. I'm guessing that it's all bundled into the same thing. http://reka.iba.org.il still exists as the 'domestic' English webpage. There is a link to REKA from the http://www.intkolisrael.com webpage. REKA has Russian in the timeslot where the Reshet Hey Persian is. == A list of some local radio stations which carry the Israel Radio English news (a number of which, are via WRN feeds), is available at: http://www.publicradiofan.com/cgibin/program.pl?programid=326 === Two out of the three Israel Radio English broadcasts, can be streamed or downloaded in WRN's website at: http://www.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=35 If not pre-empted, you can hear it on WRN, on Sirius stream 140 as well. The WRN to North America reference page: http://www.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=50 === Neither of these websites have yet been updated with the A08 shortwave schedules -- which would now just cover Persian. http://www.iba.org.il/reception http://www.israelradio.org (Doni Rosenzweig, March 31, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Well, Israel Radio English did say that this was their final broadcast and I hear nothing on 7545 (Reshet Bet) as of now. http://www.israelradio.org/ has the following as the A08 schedule: Persian to Iran: 1400-1530 UT (Friday and Saturday 1400-1500) 13850 and 11605 kHz (22 and 25 meter bands) The IBA website still hasn't been updated with this schedule. The live feed at http://www.intkolisrael.com IS the Reshet Hey (Israel Radio International) feed. It does have Persian, as opposed to REKA's Russian. As you know, that is the only difference between the two, as of this past summer (Doni Rosenzweig, April 1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yesterday Persian noted, and accompanied typical Iranian bubble jammer, on 9985 kHz. wb (Wolfgang Büschel, April 1, ibid.) Yes, absolutely no signal on this frequency [7545], so it can be ruled out that a Yavne transmitter is on air here. We can still check the other well-known frequencies during daytime, but there should be not much doubt that this time the plug has indeed been pulled. And I also wonder if they will really keep Yavne for Persian only beyond the short term. And re. DXLD 8-039: On Eutelsat Hotbird the plug has already been pulled back in last year, as covered here. On Hotbird IBA programming was carried in the RRSat multiplex on 12.207 GHz h. This mux is still on air for all their foreign customers, including Voice of Vietnam (used as feed to VTC), Brother Scare (presumably used as audio source for AM transmissions in Europe as well) and CVC from Australia. Further RRSat multiplexes on Hotbird are on 10.971 GHz h and 11.013 GHz h. Btw, I can't find any permanent multiplexes run by BezeqSat. Perhaps they uplink IBA on Amos (Yes is RRSat as well), but otherwise it appears that their business is mainly SNG etc.? (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) satellite news gathering? ISRAEL RADIO PERSIAN/FARSI [from longer story at:] http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/970564.html "The Prime Minister's Office will assume responsibility for financing Israel Radio's Farsi (Persian) broadcasts, at an annual cost of NIS 3.6 million, according to an agreement reached recently between the office and the Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA). "Under the agreement, the Prime Minister's Office will cover the cost of refurbishing and maintaining the broadcasting facilities, which represents the bulk of the project's costs. However, the IBA will continue to provide the station's personnel..." "...The Farsi broadcasts had been in danger because Israel Radio intends to stop all its short-wave broadcasts as of today, due to the poor condition of its transmitters. The IBA does not want to invest in repairs because of its terrible financial situation. Thus the broadcasts, which are run in several foreign languages and are intended primarily for Jews abroad, are scheduled to switch to the Internet..." (via Doni Rosenzweig, Artie Bigley, April 1, dxldyg via DXLD) How can they be so short-sighted; Gentiles abroad are a slightly larger demographic and the fate of the Jews depends on them (gh) This is terrible news to Friends of Israel who are shortwave radio listeners. O, I suppose I can get internet feeds, but the magic is gone. Listening to signals coming through the ether gives an exciting spirit. News of God's land has excitement when it come a long way via the crackle of a radio. Kol Israel will be missed. http://www.israelradio.org/ And if there is ever an EMP burst, the internet will serve us nil. Perhaps this was short-sightedness. The art of shortwave cannot ever be replaced. It is one of God's resources in bring His world [sic] to a deft [? deaf?] world. Comments? (Jim Wylder, DX LISTENING DIGEST) It`s impossible to convince infidels of the ``magic of shortwave``. And we all know what the Christians have in store for Israel, so maybe this will help it along (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) Galei Zahal --- It's notable in past days, that army station Galei Zahal is on xx.00 even frequency for the first time. Noted on 15785.00 and 6973.00 kHz. Galei Zahal was always noted on odd wandering channels. Some IBA gear of 50/100 kW class sold to the army recently? Or is that a thermic problem on the transmitter installation? 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, April 1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) The Farsi (Persian) programme was heard on 13850 and 11605 on April 1st in progress when found at 1500, and closed down at 1525. If it's the same length of time as previously then I assume sign-on was 1400. 13850 went off promptly, but 11605 was left to air two minutes of Reshet Bet (I think) until it was switched off. The Iranians were left to jam fresh air via now unused 9985 and 7420. No other frequency was found, and signal strength suggested these two were aimed at Iran rather than Europe. No other IBA transmissions have been traced today, but Galei Zahal was still on air - and on exact frequencies as reported by Wolfgang = 15785 and 6973 (Noel R. Green, (NW England), April 1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN. Heard Radio Japan on 9825-direct on 4/1 at 0900 in English, aimed at Hawaii/South America. Fair but difficult copy on ICF-2010, had male reading news, then into What's Up Japan at 0910; checked back at 0927 with music and then end of show by female, then into ID and next broadcast at 1200, ID again and then off at 0930. Wonder if this signal comes in better down in parts of South or Central America; haven't heard any reports about this broadcast from listeners there (Joe Hanlon, NJ, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN [non]. NHK World Network, R. Japan, 11705 via Canada, Monday March 31 at 1411 had YL introducing new daily (meaning week-daily?) segment, ``Today`s Angle``. This one was about, what else, cherry blossoms, sakura. 1414 into ``technical`` sub-segment with Robert Jefferson, a native speaker of English, on non-pink sakura existing and being developed, notably yellow ones. 1423-1427 another new, or reactivated, sub-segment, easy Japanese lessons, starting with the essential particle ``ano``, which I gather can mean ``hey, you``, altho more politely, to attract someone`s attention, or ``I am about to say something to you``. (No snickering from the SS, please!). 1429 cut to RCI IS & ID before closing announcement could give the frequency for next English broadcast, just the time, 2200, as we are left destitute for 7.5 hours (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I've yet to hear more of the new Radio Japan relays from European sites, aside from the 1300-1515 block in South Asian languages from Wertachtal which are QRMed by Spain in Spanish; however I did note 11945 from Issoudun in Japanese with a good signal at 1730 check 3/30 (Joe Hanlon, NJ, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH. 7570.15, Voice of Korea, 2200-2210, March 30, IS. Spanish IDs. National Anthem. Into Spanish programming at 2203. Weak. Poor. Threshold signal on // 12015.13 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. SOUTH KOREA (TO NORTH KOREA), 6003, Echo of Hope, Seemed like OC at 1053 31 March, then Cuba 6000 came on nearly destroying the signal. Could definitely hear music under Cuba at 1058 and past 1100 though. Signal had an Asian "feel". On KG6YPI's Web receiver in Prunedale CA, heard at 1126 in USB with lively choral music which sounded similar to what I had on my own receiver. In AM, Cuba dominated. W in Chinese-like dialect at 1127-1130, then soft vocal music, then W continued at 1134. Buzzing (jamming??) started at 1139 with frequency changing at 1142 and ended at 1146 but started again a minute later. // 3985 and 6348. 6348 heavily jammed. 6348 was best here in Dunlo, but 6003 was best on the CA Web rx (Dave Valko, Dunlo PA, HCDX via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. CLANDESTINE (No. Korea) - 6020 Shiokaze *1400- 1430* Mar 31. Usual piano opening, and sign-on routine by YL; ID as "Shiokaze Desu" (Shiokaze Two); usual talks, then off promptly at 1430. Good signal, ex-5985. Via Yamata, I guess (John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge, Colorado, Drake R-8, 100-foot RW, Cumbredx mailing list, via DXLD) Cf 8-039 ** LIBYA. 15660, La Voix du Africa/Radio Jamahiriyah; 1728-1744+, 31- Mar; French pop tunes to French news 1730-1744; ID'd as LVdA before news and LVdA and RJ at end of news. SIO=353 Presume from Libya now rather than France (Harold Frodge, MI, Cumbre DX via DXLD) I can`t believe you heard them ID that way, as the correct French is ``La Voix de l`Afrique`` or maybe ``La Voix d`Afrique``. However, their Gabon station, even in French spells it ``Africa`` (gh, DXLD) ** LITHUANIA. Summer A-08 of Sitkunai Relays: 0630-0728 on 11670 SIT 100 kW / 259 deg to WeEu VOIROI/IRIB in Italian 0800-0858 on 9710 SIT 100 kW / 259 deg to WeEu R Vilnius Lith/English 1430-1528 on 6145 SIT 100 kW / 040 deg to EaEu VOIROI/IRIB in Russian 1530-1728 on 6145 SIT 100 kW / 040 deg to EaEu R Racja Belarussian 1730-1828 on 6180 SIT 100 kW / 259 deg to WeEu VOIROI/IRIB in German 1830-1928 on 7260 SIT 100 kW / 259 deg to WeEu VOIROI/IRIB in French 1930-2028 on 7260 SIT 100 kW / 259 deg to WeEu VOIROI/IRIB in English 2030-2128 on 6055 SIT 100 kW / 259 deg to WeEu VOIROI/IRIB in Spanish 2130-2228 on 6055 SIT 100 kW / 259 deg to WeEu Mighty KBC in English 2300-2358 on 9875 SIT 100 kW / 310 deg to NoAm R Vilnius Lith/English 0000-0058 on 11690 SIT 100 kW / 310 deg to NoAm R Vilnius Lith/English 0200-0258 on 6110 SIT 100 kW / 310 deg to NoAm Mighty KBC English Sun (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, April 1 via DXLD) ** MALAYSIA (SARAWAK). 6049.63, RTM, 1153-1200 31 March. Heard signal on own receiver but couldn't get any audio because of 6050 QRM. On the Prunedale CA web rx, heard soft Asian pop music program hosted by M in SE Asian dialect, "RTM" jingle just before 1200 ToH, then W with news. Good but also a little QRM from 6050 (Dave Valko, Dunlo PA, HCDX via DXLD) ** MALAYSIA/SARAWAK. 7270, Limbang FM via RTM, Kuching, 1325-1401, April 1, YL DJ in vernacular, playing pop songs/ballads, on-air phone calls, ToH several clear "Limbang" IDs; at tune-in was poor, mixing with PBS Nei Menggu (// 9750), but by 1345 signal was improving, at 1400:50 covered by sudden sign-on of strong Firedrake/music jamming. Conditions here change dramatically on a daily basis, usually with PBS Nei Menggu dominating, but I got lucky today. Many thanks to John Wilkins for the alert. He was the first to hear the change in the schedule. For years Wai FM was heard here, but clearly there has been a change in their schedule. My first Limbang FM reception! Website at http://www2.rtm.net.my/rtmsarawak/LimbangFM_Website/index.htm but unfortunately there is no audio streaming [Later:] Hi Glenn, Per John Wilkins: "Based on our loggings on different days it would seem that the Limbang relay commences at 1310 after the Kuala Lumpur news relay, and is still Wai FM prior to 1300. Will continue to monitor...", so the question would seem to be is Limbang FM programming scheduled daily from 1310-1600, as Wai FM is still being heard before 1300? (Ron Howard, CA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Ron and all, According to the Limbang FM website, the schedule change would be for a new local transmission in the Iban language at 1300-1400 on Mon and Thurs only. At 1300-1310 this includes a relay of news (presumably in Malay) from KL. I don't know whether the schedule on the website is correct and up to date. The only frequency mentioned is FM 104.9 MHz, but the Limbang programme in Iban must be relayed on 7270 kHz from Kuching also. http://www2.rtm.net.my/rtmsarawak/LimbangFM_Website/jadual%20rancangan%20iban.htm Regards (Alan Davies, http://www.asiawaves.net April 2, ibid.) ** MEXICO. XEYU has been missing again for the last few days, sought at various times of day and night on 9599.3v; it had come back only briefly as last reported (Glenn Hauser, OK, March 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) And still missing April 1 ** MOROCCO. Re 8-039: If MOR is still running RTM after 0800 or so, I'd think it would be on the summer sked. Looking back at the A07 sked, EiBi has 0000-0500 on 5980, while Aoki has it on 11920. Guess that doesn't help much! ;-) df (Dan Ferguson, SC, March 31, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Apparently it is - I wasn't up at 0500 but RTM was heard via usual 15335 again today (March 31) in parallel with assumed Nador 15340 (Noel R. Green (NW England), ibid.) Tonight 7135 was again on air 2200-2400, probably even closing with a dedicated frequency announcement for shortwave, at least the talk at 2358/59 included "Kilohertz". Now, after 0000, there is no signal on both 5980 and 11920. But perhaps there is just no propagation between Morocco and Germany on 12 MHz, so they could indeed be on 11920 now. Anyway it should be obvious by now if the old Holzmichl is still alive: Jaaaaa er lebt noch, er lebt noch, er lebt noch, jaaaaa er lebt noch, er lebt noch, stirbt nicht!! (Kai Ludwig, Deutschland, ibid.) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. RNW, on A-frequency of 9890 via Madagascar in English to S Asia at 1400-1600, also making it here, fair signal at 1417 March 31 with news about Turkey. We can forget about // 11835 next to WYFR (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. Pirate, 3431.19, The Crystal Ship, 0010-0022, March 31, rock music. ID. Contact information. Belfast, NY mail drop. Said they were running 150 watts. Weak. Much stronger on // 6700.09 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORWAY. The DRM transmissions from here have been via the Kvitsøy site, but now Sveio is also registered for one frequency (or rather, three, 7455-7460-7465): 7460 1600 1700 28 SVE 65 160 1234567 300308 261008 N NOR NEW NPT 7460 1700 1730 27 SVE 65 220 1234567 300308 261008 N NOR RRO NPT (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also ROMANIA [and non] ** OKLAHOMA. As a result of a listener survey, http://tinyurl.com/2lxmuk and a new manager wanting to make his mark, KOSU is revamping its program schedule effective March 31 --- from one extreme to another, too much classical music (which was from MPR, not locally presented), to far too little, as they pick up many popular(?) NPR/APM syndicated shows. The fine but overpriced Performance Today survives at 7:06-9 pm CT weekdays. There is still very little local production. 4-minute commentaries have been moved into NPR news breaks at :30 past the hours, which is an improvement, instead of blotting out whatever Morning Edition/ATC reports had been at :35 or :44. National Native News has disappeared from the schedule. So much for our Indian heritage, and the significant Oklahoma Native American population. The old grid has already been removed, but take my word for it, was straight classical from 9 am to 3 pm weekdays, among many other times. The new schedule is also confusing, not accurately showing start times which for most but not all programs are :06 past the hour after NPR news --- why round them off when the station has to know the correct start times, accurate to the second? And some are even more incorrect. Is Pipedreams, moved to 10 pm Sunday [it does start on the hour; too bad for news junkies], really for only one hour? That show is about the only public radio program which has been a full sesquihour against pressure to `standardize` it, which was done indirectly by adding an unnamed post-Pipedreams fill half-hour of non-organ music, but also presented by Michael Barone, carried on a number of stations to make it a two-hour block instead of an inconvenient one-sesquihour block. Incredibly, the morning and afternoon news magazines from NPR, each two hours long, continue to occupy more than two hours each! Morning Edition for 4 hours, and ATC for 3 hours. This means that two hours of one and one hour of the other are repeats (minus local cutaways and newscast updates). These three hours per weekday could have been used to further diversify programming, or keep a little more classical. A few other programs get more than one airing. Here`s the new KOSU schedule: http://www.kosu.org/media/KOSU%20program%20grid.pdf Note that the Saturday lineup does not start until May 11, apparently awaiting the end of the Met Opera season --- but will it be back next winter? Or does part of it start in April, minus the Met hours? Some of the new programs are explained here, along with odd start dates: http://www.kosu.org/blog.html [Next day heard KCSC during Met pledge break talking about their ``neighbor to the north`` NOT carrying The Met next year.] Trying to cram as much new stuff in as possible, we get only one of the two hours of Talk of the Nation, so that the inferior The World can be accommodated before ATC, despite the first and last hours of ATC being the same! KOSU has already been counterprogramming itself on the IBOC channel ``KOSU-2``, but this is hardly worth mentioning as hardly anyone is or can be listening to it, and if you really want to hear something other than KOSU(1) on the web, there are countless other public radio stations available. We wonder to what extent the existing programming of other Oklahoma public radio stations was considered in constructing KOSU`s new schedule. Its coverage overlaps considerably with Public Radio Tulsa KWGS/KWTU, OU`s KGOU/KROU+, and even Lawton`s KCCU+, not to mention Edmond`s KCSC which presumably will remain predominantly classical. These are the stations which should be counterprogrammed, but some of them may wind up changing their own programming to duplicate OPR less (Glenn Hauser, Enid, REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING, DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. The last time I was in OKC, the far-right pirate on 107.1 was missing, but it was back the afternoon and evening of March 27, into UT March 28. Never caught a break at hourtop, but still with paranoid Republic Broadcasting Network talk programming as carried by Radio Free Austin, another FM pirate, since it included commercials local to Austin TX. Solid coverage wherever I drove in the NW quadrant of the city, better than before but probably due to better caradio than better transmission. How long will the FCC let this go on? An alleged transmitter location has already been reported. All the Feds have to do is move in and bust them; or if that is incorrect, DFing lower power FM pirates is not very difficult. Or could it be under current management, FCC goes easy on far-right pirates? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Don't think the politics of the station has anything to do with the FCC's apathy. The FCC's policy these days seems to be to ignore AM/FM pirates unless a licensed broadcaster files a complaint (as has been the case behind several pirate busts in the Miami area). (Harry Helms, W5HLH, Smithville, TX EL19, ABDX via DXLD) I agree with Harry. I highly DOUBT politics of the programming play a role at all, Glenn. The FCC is understaffed and there isn't even a Field Office or Resident Agent Office near Oklahoma City. The CLOSEST is Dallas, Houston or Kansas City and they ARE NOT going to drive SEVERAL hours to bust a pirate that isn't raising a big ruccus or causing lots of problems (Paul Walker, SC, http://www.realradiousa.com ibid.) ** OKLAHOMA [and non]. It appears the VHF TV bands will not be so open around here after all, once the DTV transition be complete. A number of stations in KS and OK have applied to move back to their original analog VHF channels, or another VHF channel, after their initial DTV transition operation mostly on UHF; at least all but one are hi-band: KS KBSD 5 to 6 KUPK 18 to 13 KBSL 14 to 10 KBSH 20 to 7 KPTS 29 to 8 KWCH 19 to 12 KTWU 23 to 11 KAKE 21 to 10 OK KWTV 39 to 9 KJRH 56 to 8 (ex-2) These are only latest applications, not a complete list by any means (From Doug Smith`s FCC TV column, April VHF UHF Digest via gh, DXLD) ** PAKISTAN. Re 8-039: Radio Pakistan 9 MHz frequency at 1600-1615 for English News & Commentary is 9385 (as at 1330-1530) and not 9380 (Noel R. Green (NW England), March 31, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** POLAND [non]. Poland A08 English --- Wolfgang sent on March 25 at 1831 the Poland A08 schedule, but one frequency was wrong: English 12-13 UT is on 9525 and 7330 (NOT 11850). 73, (Erik Køie, Copenhagen, Denmark, April 1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Tsk2, as 11850 would have a better chance to NAm. But then PRES has no interest whatsoever in reaching NAm, even tho they could easily do so via Guiana French (gh, DXLD) ** PORTUGAL. Re 8-039, no 12000 on schedule: Glenn, 12000 kHz 0700- 1000 Sats. & Suns. is missing my EXCEL format of the RDPi_A08 though visible in the WORD format version. My apologies to all to whom I sent both versions. As Wolfgang correctly described, there must be some "discomfort" in Europe because 11995 kHz at 0830-1000 Sat/Sun may still get some splash from 12000 kHz 0700-1000 Sat/Sun beamed to W Africa + Brazil. Conversely, the same may be felt by WAf listeners on 12000 kHz because of splashes from 11995. I am almost sure it is of no use trying to convince the RDPi frequency management that such frequency choice is wrong. 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PRIDNESTROVYE. Re 8-039: Hi Glenn, 6040 was heard well here. I was a little confused at the start time, 2215. I will check today as early as possible, to see if the earlier transmissions are as before. I checked last night for 6240 kHz WYFR but there was nothing there. Maybe there was a technical error (Chris Lewis, England, March 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re 8-039, 12135: The same here in St. Petersburg on Mar 31 at 1455 in English and starting from 1500 in French: 54554 (QRM on 12136/RTTY- type)... (Mikhail Timofeyev, St. Petersburg, HCDX via DXLD) And here too - German followed French at 1515 then English again at 1530 followed by French at 1543. A very good signal with no noticeable QRM. (Noel R. Green (NW England), ibid.) 12135, Radio PMR. English news items at 1534 tune in, 1544 ended English programme and opened in French. SINPO 55544 (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth Garden City, UK, March 31, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) Curious schedule: 1500 French, 1515 German, 1530 English, 1545 French, 1600 German, 1615 English and so on? (Jean-Michel Aubier, France, March 31, HCDX via DXLD) NO: Radio PMR 12135 finally closed down at 1700. German did follow French at 1600 then 15 min of English, French and German followed until sign off (Noel R. Green (NW England), March 31, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6040, Radio PMR, *2206-2345*, March 31, sign on with test tone. English programming at 2215 about the Moldova-Russia conflicts. Talk about local history. IDs. Contact information. French at 2229. English also heard at 2300-2314, followed by French & German to sign off at 2345. In the clear with a good signal. Tnx to tip from Chris Lewis in DXLD 8-039 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) MOLDAVIA, 12135, Radio PMR, 1415-1428, escuchada el 31 de marzo a locutora con comentarios y posible identificación “..República Moldova”, boletín de noticias y música de sintonía, constantes referencias a la República de Moldavia, ID “Radio PMR”, SINPO 55444. 1428-1430, escuchada el 31 de marzo en alemán a locutor con presentación e identificación, música de sintonía; se aprecia de fondo una emisión morse sin identificar, referencia a Ucrania y Rusia, SINPO 54444. 1443-1448, escuchada el 31 de marzo en inglés a locutor con boletín de noticias, sintonía e identificació n, fuertemente interferida por extraña señal digital, también por emisión Morse sin identificar, SINPO 53443. 1448-1513, escuchada el 31 de marzo en francés a locutora con presentación, sintonía e identificación, boletín de noticias, anuncia correo electrónico, SINPO 54554. RADIO PMR A-08, Horarios por monitoreo: 1400-1415 Inglés 12135?? 1415-1430 Francés 12135 1430-1445 Alemán 12135 1445-1500 Inglés 12135 1500-1515 Francés 12135 1515-1530 Alemán 12135 1530-1545 Inglés 12135 1545-1600 Francés 12135 1600-1615 Alemán 12135 1615-1630 Inglés 12135 1630-1645 Francés 12135 1645-1700 Alemán 12135 (José Miguel Romero, Burjasot (Valencia), España, March 31, Sangean ATS 909, Antena Radio Master, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 12135 NF, Radio PMR, 1615-1629, March 31, IDs. English news about Moldova-Russian relations. Talk about local history. French at 1629. Poor to fair with some QRM from AFRTS-Key West, Florida on 12133.5 USB (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio PMR started promptly at 1400 via 12135 after a short spell of tones preceding transmission. English was the first 15 min. programme, and today they were announcing the new transmission - as already reported - via 6040 (Noel R. Green, (NW England), April 1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio PMR`s new 6040 isn`t going to be much use here as summer oncomes, but was able to hear its last few minutes of German at 2253 April 1. It improved from poor to fair, no QRM at least, but in the noise which will only grow on the average. We remain bemused at PMR`s broadcasting to NAm in German, a language native to neither sender nor receiver (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ROMANIA. Summer A-08 schedule of Radio Romania International: ARABIC 0630-0656 on 9685 9700 11730 11790 1400-1456 on 11945 15160 AROMANIAN 1430-1456 on 7170* 1630-1656 on 7135* 1830-1856 on 7130* till Sep. 6 1830-1856 on 5955* from Sep. 7 CHINESE 0400-0426 on 11790 15215 1300-1326 on 11795 15435 ENGLISH 0000-0056 on 9775 11790 0300-0356 on 6150 9645 9735 11895 0530-0556 on 9655 11830 15435 17770 1200-1256 on 11875 15220 1700-1730 on 7460 DRM >> SVE 065 kW / 220 deg [i.e. Sveio, NORWAY, instead of the usual Kvitsoy for DRM; see NORWAY] 1700-1756 on 9535 11735 2030-2056 on 9515 11810 11940 15465 2200-2256 on 7185 9675 9790 11940 FRENCH 0100-0156 on 6130 9515 0500-0526 on 7180 9655 1000-1056 on 11830 15250 15380 17785 1600-1656 on 9680 11950 2000-2026 on 7215 9655 GERMAN 0600-0626 on 7125 9740 1100-1156 on 9525 11775 1600-1630 on 7460 DRM >> SVE 065 kW / 160 deg [see ENGLISH] 1800-1856 on 7160 9775 ITALIAN 1400-1426 on 7170* 1600-1626 on 9620* 1800-1826 on 7130* till Sep. 6 1800-1826 on 5955* from Sep. 7 ROMANIAN 0000-0056 on 9525 11960 0100-0156 on 9525 11960 Sun 0700-0756 on 9700 11970 15260 17720 "Curierul romanesc" Sun 0800-0856 on 9700 11875 11970 15450 "Curierul romanesc" Sun 0900-0956 on 11830 11925 15250 15380 "Curierul romanesc" 1200-1256 on 7165* 11920 15195 1400-1456 on 9760 11965 1600-1656 on 7205 9690 1700-1756 on 9625 11865 1800-1856 on 9625 11945 RUSSIAN 0430-0456 on 7190 9555 1330-1356 on 9790 11855 1500-1556 on 7325 9760 SERBIAN 1530-1556 on 6135* 1730-1756 on 6105* 1930-1956 on 6065* 7140 SPANISH 0200-0256 on 5975 9520 9645 11945 1900-1956 on 9775 11715 2100-2156 on 9755 11965 2300-2356 on 9655 9745 11880 11935 UKRAINIAN 1500-1526 on 7210* 1700-1726 on 6135* 1900-1926 on 5910 7205* * Saftitza 050 kW (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, April 1 via DXLD) ** ROMANIA. Romania's signal also a real mess at all hours I tried, 12, 17 (nothing at 17 or 22) Regards (Chris Lewis, England, March 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. VOR has belatedly put up their A-08 English schedule at http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&w=129&p where you may find a more readable layout along with linx to ``full schedules`` showing programming content Africa 13855, 11985 1600-1700 13855, 11985, 11510, 9850 1700-1800 11510, 9850, 9745 1800-1900 Australia, New Zealand 21790, 17635 0500-0700 21790, 17635, 17495 0700-0900 Europe 603 0200-0300 1548, 603 0300-0400 1575, 1431, 693, 630, 603 0400-0500 1575, 1431, 1323, 693, 630, 603 0500-0800 15545***, 12060***, 1575, 1431, 1323, 693, 630, 603 0800-0900 558 (except Saturday) 1200-1300**** 9750*** 1400-1500 12040*, 9810** 1500-1600 9890 1600-1700 11675*(Sat,Sun), 9575*(Sat,Sun), 9890 9820 (Sat,Sun), 7320**(Sat,Sun), 7340 (Sat,Sun), 6000**(Sat,Sun), 1494 (Sat,Sun) 1700-1800 11630*, 9890, 9480** 1800-1900 12070*, 9890, 7310, 7195** 1900-2000 12070*, 9890, 7195** 2000-2100 Middle East 1251 1400-1500 4975, 4965, 972(from 1530) 1500-1600 13855, 12055, 11985, 4975, 1251 1600-1700 4975, 1251 1700-1800 N. America 13775, 9665, 7250 0100-0200 13775, 13635, 9860, 9665, 9480 0200-0300 13775, 13635, 12065, 9860, 9665, 9480, 9435, 9800 (till 31.07.08), 5900 (from 1.08.08) 0300-0400 13775, 13635, 9860, 9665, 9435 9800 (till 31.07.08), 5900 (from 1.08.08) 0400-0500 Asia 15735*** 0300-0500 1251 0700-0900 15660, 15605, 11755, 9745, 7255, 7165, 1251 1400-1500 9660, 9625, 4965, 972(from 1530) 1500-1600 12055, 12120, 9405, 7350, 6070, 1251 1600-1700 9850, 9405, 7350, 1269, 1251 1700-1800 * - from 30.03.08 till 06.09.08 ** - from 07.09.08 till 25.10.08 *** - DRM broadcast **** - English Hour in London This schedule is subject to change without prior notice (via Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA [and non]. VOR belatedly posted their A-08 English schedule March 31, including to NAm, with August 1 changes removed here: 13775, 9665, 7250 0100-0200 13775, 13635, 9860, 9665, 9480 0200-0300 13775, 13635, 12065, 9860, 9800, 9665, 9480, 9435 0300-0400 13775, 13635, 9860, 9800, 9665, 9435 0400-0500 So far I only made a quick check around 0226 UT April 1, and found: 13775 inaudible, 13635 fair but in Russian! 9860 fair, 9480 second best, 9665 audible but worst. Azimuths and sites are: 13775 50 Vladivostok 13635 65 Petro-Kam 12065 35 Komsomol`sk/Amure 9860 295 Vatican 9800 315 ``Armavir`` 9665 295 Moldova/Pridnestrovye 9480 300 Wertachtal 9435 65 Petro-Kam 7250 305 Armenia So if we want to hear VOR in English to NAm after 0200, we`d better hope bands above 7 MHz are open. VOR has moved the Wertachtal relay from excellent 6155 to 9480, which we can only hope will improve as summer comes on (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAINT HELENA. Radio St. Helena reception reports --- Hi All, if anyone has sent reception reports to Radio St. Helena, please read this important message. 73’s Andy http://www.hb9gce ch Oggetto: Stumpf Carl Andreas: about RSD 2007 RX report Dear Andy, HB9GCE, thanks for your email and em-pee-drei recording. PLEASE send me (by email) a copy of your written reception report AND tell me exactly what you included with the report in the envelope (you mentioned USDollars5 -- anything else??). I will contact Radio St. Helena and ask about your reception report. I have 17 other "missing" reports from USA and three more from Europe to sort out. It would appear that a lot of mail is "stolen" in South Africa. Any letter that looks in any way to be "interesting" seems to "disappear". That is the fastest route, but it is also not safe. With best 73's de Robert Kipp ZD7PU (March 30, via Stumpf Carl Andreas, Switzerland, March 31, playdx yg via DXLD) ** SAIPAN. KFBS A08 Program Schedule Effective date: March, 2008 Time(UTC) Freq Language and day - Su M Tu W Th F Sa ----------------------------------------------------- 0900-1330 11650 Russian 1330-1345 11650 Udmurt(Su,Tu), Tatar(M), Mari(W), Uzbek(Th), Kazakh(F,Sa) 1345-1400 11650 Udmurt(Su), Tatar(M,Tu), Chuvash(W), Ossetic(Th), Kyrghiz(F,Sa) 1400-1530 9465 Russian 1530-1545 9465 Russian(Su,M,W,Th,F,Sa), Ukrainian(Tu) 1545-1600 9465 Russian(Su,W,Th,Sa), Ukrainian(M,Tu,F) 0800-1415 11580 Mandarin(Chinese) 1000-1030 15580 Sasak 1030-1130 15580 Indonesian 1230-1300 11850 Gorontalo(Th, F, Sa, Su) 1230-1300 11850 Madura(M,Tu,W) 1300-1400 9920 Vietnamese 2230-2300 12090 Vietnamese Note: Saipan local time is 10 hours ahead of Universal Time Co- ordinate [sic] (UTC). The Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC)operates one station on Saipan. KFBS, an international shortwave station, broadcasts in 16 languages to areas including South East Asia, Indo-China, China and the Commonwealth of Independent States. FEBC Radio International Radio Station KFBS PO Box 500209 SAIPAN MP 96950 USA Telephone: +1 670 322 9088 Fax: +1 670 322 3060 Email: kfbsadmin @ febc.org Internet: http://www.febc.org (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, dxldyg via DXLD) ** SAUDI ARABIA. BSKSA, Call of Islam service, remains on 15435, March 31 at 1502 good with muezzin. If the // is 15225, it`s blocked by CRI/Canada 15220 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SERBIA [and non]. 7115, BOSNIA HERGEGOVINA. International Radio of Serbia (Bijeljina), 0205, 3/25/08, in English. News and interesting commentary on Kosovo. Good. This has frequently been good here with an interesting viewpoint. ­ what Shortwave should be! (Mark Taylor, Madison, WI, R-75, Winradio g313e, Etón E1; 110' random wire, Eavesdropper, Flextenna, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) The new A08 seasonal schedule of INTERNATIONAL RADIO SERBIA has been published at http://www.glassrbije.org/images/1.png but with wrong power for Stubline transmitter. Here is the correct transmitter schedule: 0100-0130 6185 BIJ 250/325 1000-2130 7200 BEO 010/N-D 1800-2130 6100 BIJ 250/310 2330-0030 6185 BIJ 250/310 Best regards! (Dragan Lekic from Subotica, Serbia, April 1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Geez, what an awful hard-to-read font, even when enlarged. English is: 0000-0030 Mon-Sat 6185 310 CNAm 0100-0130 Mon-Sun 6185 325 WNAm 1300-1330 Mon-Sun 7200 ND 1830-1900 Mon-Sun 7200 ND, 6100 310 2100-2130 Mon-Sun 7200 ND, 6100 310 Now why would they go *down* from 7 to 6 MHz in the summer. Don`t know the first thing about propagation? Or finally decided to get out of our hamband? Why would they pick 6185, with Mexico, República and Cuban jamming likely? But no more Italian to North America! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SLOVAKIA. R. Slovakia International, A08 to North America --- Tried listening to RSI March 31, 2008 at 0100 UT on the new A08 frequency of 5930 kHz. Poor choice. Dr. Gene Scott via WWCR is using 5935 kHz thereby causing extreme interference to Radio Slovakia International. I also tried 9440 kHz, broadcast to South America. Unfortunately, nothing heard on this frequency at my QTH. 5930 kHz is a traditional R. Slovakia Int frequency. Unsure if they will consider changing. Shame as the other R. Slovakia Int broadcasts where also not heard. Perhaps, R. Slovakia Int should continue using their B07 frequency of 7230 at 0100 UT. 73, (Kraig Krist, KG4LAC, Manassas, VA USA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN [and non]. REE is still running classical music in the 1300 hour weekdays, ex-1400 during standard time, as checked at 1310 Monday March 31 on muffled 15170 via Costa Rica, 17595 direct not having faded in yet. 1330 announcement about Ataulfo (one must avoid thinking ``that`s awful``) Argenta. Not sure it is the same listener- participation show any more; hope not. At 1409, 17595 was in, with El Vestuario = the Locker-room, sports talk (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN. ESPANHA - Quem escuta a programação da Rádio Exterior de España na Alemanha, Argentina, Brasil, Colômbia, Estados Unidos, França e Reino Unido pode contactar gratuitamente com a emissora via número de telefone gratuito. Para chamar, o ouvinte deverá usar o código de acesso internacional do país e discar 80034100100 (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX March 30 via DXLD) ** SPAIN. Re 8-039, Amigos de la Onda Corta: Efectivamente Glenn: Parece que hubo un error y menciona las horas HOE. Segun su planilla de programación, que está en horario HOE, sería de la siguiente manera: http://www.rtve.es/archivos/70-9383-FICHERO/ParrillaREE_2008_VERANO.pdf Los cambios son efectivos a partir de hoy lunes 31 de marzo UTC -2. VIERNES: 0630 UT SABADOS: 1005 UT DOMINGOS: 0305 UT LUNES: 0230 UT Estaremos atentos el próximo fin de semana. Cordiales 73 (José Bueno, Spain, playdx yg via DXLD) ** SRI LANKA. Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation noted with following new schedule today: on 7190 & 11905 at 0830-1230 (ex 0800-1530): 0830- 0930 Telugu, 0930-1030 Malayalam, 1030-1230 Tamil. 0800-0830 Kannada was not there today. Also they signed off at 1230. Must check up the Hindi Service in evening (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, Hyderabad, India, April 1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello Jose, Are services in Sinhala and English still on the air? Thanks and best wishes JM (Jean-Michel Aubier, France, ibid.) FROM TODAY (01.04.2008) ONWARDS, SRI LANKA RADIO ASIA (TAMIL LANGUAGE) SERVICE CHANGED THEIR BROADCASTING TIME. NEW TIME 1030-1230 UT (K. RAJA, CHENNAI-21, India, dx_india yg via DXLD) ** SRI LANKA [non]. IBC Tamil A-08: 7320 0000 0100 41 117 105 216 1234567 300308 261008 WER 250 IBC WRN Sri-Lanka (MB ex-DTK schedule via Wolfgang Büschel, DXLD) ** SWEDEN [non]. R. Sweden relay via Canada in English to WNAm now one UT hour earlier, despite WNAm except Arizona and Saskatchewan having gone on DST two sesquiweeks before, i.e. at 1430 on 15240. Checking March 31 at 1429, George Wood opened transmission, but 1430-1431 dead air. 1431 ``technical difficulties`` announcements in Swedish and English, and some annoying music. 1434 cut to news already in progress. Seasonal transitions are never smooth for RS and RCI relays. See also CANADA (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** THAILAND. Have not yet checked R. Thailand transpolar to ENAm 0030- 0200 on A08 new 12120 ex-12095, but I could not help but notice at 1336 March 31 there was strong RTTY on 12120; let`s hope not during the HSK9 sesquihour. Also noted VOA Special English, quite good but somewhat fluttery, March 31 at 1347 on 9465. This is the same 6-degree beam from Udorn used on 12120 to ENAm, but I wonder if they employ a much lower take- off angle for NAm? [Later:] Earlier I noticed that there was RTTY on 12120; would it interfere with R. Thailand`s new frequency to ENAm at 0030-0200? Yes, Brian Alexander in Pennsylvania had already reported that independently UT March 31. I did not get around to checking until 0155 UT April 1, when there was no signal audible from Thailand or RTTY either, but instead CODAR. Meanwhile a weak and fluttery signal on 12095, no CODAR there, which would be DW Sri Lanka in German, and after 0200 in Urdu, the reason Thailand had to move; but assuming the RTTY is around NAm, DW should have been the one on 12120, leaving Thailand alone. Maybe they could still swap. Thailand`s WNAm service still on 15275 but inaudible at 0225 check April 1 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: 12120 NF, Radio Thailand, *0030-0055, March 31, ex-12095. English news, commentary. Fair to good signal strength at sign on but co- channel QRM from a slightly stronger RTTY station. Thailand slowly deteriorated to a very weak level under the strong RTTY signal by 0050 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKEY. VOT, 15450, March 31 at 1310 with good signal in A-08 English frequency at 1230 for Europe, and thence NAm, ex-12035 which was seldom listenable earlier in March. // 13685 eastward is out of question here with Cuba 13680 adjacent (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. The A-08 frequency for VOA English to Africa from Greenville is 15410, at 1730-2000, aimed 94 degrees but with great off-the-back coverage into C&W NAm beyond the skip zone. The trouble is, CVC Miami Portuguese via Chile is already on 15410 all the way from 1100 to 2400. Checked at 1734 March 31, VOA was way atop Santiago here, in discussion of beautiful African women being ``full-bodied``, but undercurrent of CVC audible. Closer to Greenville in skip zone, or depending on daily, hourly propagation variations even here, the QRM will be more equal, or even with CVC dominating (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) And in VOA`s African target area, CVC signal aimed at Brasil should carry right on causing a big problem there. The two beams cross in the area of Dakar-Bissau! Would our readers there please confirm the situation? So can this collision go on much longer into A-08? VOA obviously has lots of alternatives. For the music hour at 2100, the only frequency possible in NAm is 15580, Botswana (Glenn Hauser, OK, April 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. The mystery language, viz. [in RNW sked] 1700-1800 MDC 13755 265 250 IBB Mul 1234567 c+Saf, is actually [VOA] Studio 7 (Noel R. Green (NW England), March 31, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. KTBN SALT LAKE CITY APPEARS TO BE HISTORY. Nothing on 7505 at 1350 UT check March 31, nor on 15590 at 1805. I suppose the QRT was at 0600 or 0700 UT March 31, as ambiguous info from station was that it would be at ``midnight March 31``, instead of UT April 1. BTW, they had been missing for a few days in a row more than once several months ago, and I bet these were temporary deliberate closures to assess whether anyone noticed and the SW station was worth keeping. Now we know the answer. Keep an ear, however on 15590, 7505, plus 7355 in case WRNO really reactivates in April (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. Looking for WRMI on new 9955 to NAm at 1400-1600, March 31 at 1416, no trace of it even tho unneeded Dentro-Cuban jamming level was lightened (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 15855, WEWN Vandiver AL (presumed); 1654-1722+, 31-Mar; English Catholic services. No ID or 1700 break, but on their current web sked. SIO=353. Can 16000 be far off? (Harold Frodge, MI, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Yes, 15855 at 1400-1900 is currently the highest frequency in use ``in the 19 meter band`` (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** U S A. A-08 FCC Private SW Schedule now posted [case sensitive] http://www.fcc.gov/ib/sand/neg/hf_web/A08FCC01.TXT (via Dan Ferguson, Jim Moats, Liz Cameron, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U S A. WHBC 1480 kHz DX Test March 29, 2008, 0700-0800 UT: Very difficult at my QTH due to at least two Spanish stations (one positively IDed as WPWC Dumfries-Triangle, VA, 8.7 miles from me) playing ranchera type music. 1 or 2 other stations with English in the mix. Did hear sweep tones and some CW. Overall barely heard to not heard at all. I emailed Mr. Dale Lamm, Director of Engineering, as he did the DX Test. I indicated what I heard and ask Mr. Lamm if I should bother him with a report. He confirmed I received the WHBC DX Test and encouraged me to send a report. I will mail a postal report on Tuesday. 73, (Kraig Krist, KG4LAC, Manassas, VA, March 31, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 4440, WSPY Geneva IL; 0109-0125+, 31-Mar; 3 x 1480; Oldies; WSPY careers spot at 0122. Occasional copyable peak; best in LSB. First heard at March DXpedition. Second one creeps in now & then (Harold Frodge, MI, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** U S A. CNN 1190 --- KFXR/1190, formerly classic-country "Cowboy 1190," became CNN 1190 late Sunday. The station, which is owned by Clear Channel, was operated by Dallas-based First Broadcasting during its country phase, one of many formats it has had in the past 10 years. The CNN Headline News-style format sounds as if it is still designed for television, with announcers telling listeners to look at video. First Broadcasting referred calls to Clear Channel, where officials have yet to return calls seeking comment. http://www.star-telegram.com/live/story/559106.html (Changes are afoot at two Dallas-Fort Worth radio stations --- By Robert Philpot, Star-Telegram Staff Writer, via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** VATICAN. VR, 13765, March 31 at 1502 with South Asian music, and at 1523. Good after Habana closed 13760 around 1500 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Not 1600 as in original post (gh) Hi Glenn, While checking the 25 meter band this morning, heard a very strong open carrier on 11625 at 0840 UT. About 20 minutes later, heard audio, and the Vatican Radio's 105 live FM station being relayed, with station id, chat in Italian and western pop music. Could not find this in the VR schedules. Regards (Chris Lewis, England, April 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11625 is scheduled for SMG VR before 0715 and after 1730. It might have been listed here; bookmark this page: http://www.radiovaticana.org/coorpro/entrasmisspec.htm However, checked later April 1, the first entries were for April 2. These may or may not involve special SW frequencies (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 1710.03 kHz, Florida, Palm Beach? March 3, with several mentions de Café Boulud restaurant in Palm Beach, Florida, 1430 to 1500 [UT?]. Again March 27 1200 similar in English (Bob Wilkner, Pómpano Beach FL, NRD 535D, March 31, Cumbre DX via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 5700, at 0343 on 3/30. In Spanish but surely not the Peruvian. Way too strong, almost a bit distorted. Some kind of fluke by one of the big religious broadcasters? (Gerry Dexter, Lake Geneva, WI, NRD 515, NRD 545, Etón E-1, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ To celebrate George W. Bush Day, I am making a donation to support DXLD. 73, (Harry Helms, TX, April 1) via PayPal to woradio at yahoo.com Thank you, Harry! PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ BLANDX 2008 The April 1 2008 e-issue of BLANDX has just been released. All your favorite columns - Listeners' Trashbag, Sleazy Listening, QSLs and Other Goodies - plus special features like Dr. Seuss Does DX. http://www.blandx.com (Bill Kyle, CEO, The BLANDX Corporation, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also ALASKA CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ READING INTERNATIONAL RADIO GROUP The next meeting will take place on Saturday April 5 at 2.30 p.m. [1330 UT] in Room 3, Reading International Solidarity Centre, 35-39 London Street, Reading. The programme will include a look back at audience research on shortwave and how international broadcasters see its future, moonbounce and propagational research, the early life of UK commercial radio pioneer Leonard Plugge and archive audio material from Radio Netherlands and other broadcasters. For further details email me or phone 01462 643899 (Mike Barraclough, BDXC-UK via DXLD) SHORTWAVE AS ART ++++++++++++++++ MOON BLOOMS A piece in the recent James Madison University (Harrisonburg, VA) dance ensemble concert, "Moon Blooms," "was performed to the music, Nocturne for Piano No. 7 with excerpts from The Conet Project -- Recordings of Shortwave Numbers Stations. The dancers huddled together and then displayed a variety of modern moves while on pointe. The piece showed the dancers` talented footwork." The Breeze, 31 March 2008. http://www.thebreeze.org/2008/03-31/ae2.html 73 (Kim Elliott, DX LISTENING DIGEST) DIGITAL BROADCASTING DRM: FRANCE; NORWAY; ROMANIA; RUSSIA ++++++++++++++++++++ DTV: OKLAHOMA RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ THALÈS DENIES SELLING RADIO JAMMING KIT TO CHINA 1 Apr, 2008, 0020 hrs IST, REUTERS http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/International_Business/Thales_denies_selling_radio_jamming_kit_to_China/articleshow/2914978.cms PARIS: French defence electronics firm Thalès denied accusations by human rights campaigners it sold equipment to China that has helped Beijing scramble radio broadcasts. French philosopher Bernard Henri- Levy said in articles published in the past week that equipment sold by Thalès was used to block foreign radio broadcasts into China, "particularly into areas such as Tibet". Media rights campaign group Reporters Without Borders has also said antennae manufactured by Thalès is [sic] allowing China to interfere with radio broadcasts. Thalès said a former subsidiary had indeed sold "standard short-wave radio broadcasting equipment to China" in 2002 but the equipment was designed for legal civil purposes. "The equipment has been exclusively designed for general public radio broadcasting, and is identical with equipment installed in numerous countries worldwide," Thalès said in a statement. No other similar kit was sold to China, it said. Levy is among a number of high-profile campaigners urging the West to boycott the Olympic Games this year amid criticism of Beijing's response to recent anti-China protests in Tibet. "It's not too late to use the threat of boycotting the Olympics as a weapon," Levy wrote in Britain's Sunday Telegraph. French President Nicolas Sarkozy has not ruled out refusing to attend the Olympics opening ceremony in Beijing, after accepting an invitation from President Hu Jintao in October, but most European leaders have taken a wait-and-see position (via Alokesh Gupta, India, dxldyg via DXLD) Kit, what kit? Thalès is probably telling the truth, as it`s easy to turn a legit SWBC transmitter into a jammer, especially if you`re just playing music over it rather than grinding noises or bubbles! Therefore, you should not sell any legit SWBC transmitters or antennas to a country known to or likely to jam and to enjoy egregious human rights violations. Sounds a lot like arms merchants justifying their business, no? BTW, Thalès is not the only guilty party, e.g. CONTINENTAL in the USA, whose transmitters, or copies thereof, are surely involved in jamming US broadcasts to China. Or if perchance they are not, free other transmitters in China to do so (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Of course they're telling the truth: They sold standard ALLISS units, even praised the young station personnel at Kashi in an own publication. And it appears that the whole Firedrake thing is fully integrated into China's shortwave broadcast transmitter operations, since it is technical-wise just another program audio circuit, as explained at http://www.satdirectory.com/firedrake.html I assume that Firedrake is in fact played out at a regular studio facility in Beijing, either at CRI or a domestic service building. It should be also noted that there does not appear to be an organizational separation between program production (China Radio International and all the domestic services) and transmitter operation, as it was mostly if not always the case in Warsaw Pact countries. In China both are in the responsibility of the administration for radio, film and television. This means also that RCI, RFI, REE and VOR cooperate with an organization that is involved in large-scale, systematic radio jamming. It is quite remarkable that Thalès feels compelled to issue a statement on this matter now, more than two years after they sold the broadcast transmitter business back to where it came from, i.e. Thomson (btw, it's not just like arms merchants justifying their business, Thalès is in fact an armaments trust). Apparently the recent developments in Tibet now created an interest in the Firedrake matter also outside the shortwave monitoring scene. That's very good, of course (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) JTRS ON SHORTWAVE Hi Glenn, I read today that Lockheed was awarded a $766.2 million Pentagon contract to design and build a new radio system that will connect aircraft, ships, submarines and ground stations. It's called the the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS). http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN2834DD420080328 I wondered in JTRS would have a shortwave component. Wikipedia says yes: "High Frequency (HF) - Independent Side Band (ISB) with Automatic Link Establishment (ALE), and HF Air Traffic Control (ATC), 1.5-30 MHz." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JTRS Further searching found this: "The coming HF radio renaissance," by John Keller, Military & Aerospace Electronics, September 2002. http://mae.pennnet.com/display_article/153704/32/ARTCL/none/none/1/The-coming-HF-radio-renaissance/ This exhausts my knowledge of JTRS. I turn the subject over to DXLD readers with more expertise. 73 (Kim Elliott, DC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ GROUNDWAVE RANGE ON MEDIUMWAVE Glenn - I know of daytime MW receptions from Newfoundland that cover more than 1000 miles. Turks and Caicos has been heard on 530 and that's approximately 2100 mi / 3400 km. The Azores on 693 were logged but that's only 1524 mi / 2452 km. A few years ago I had a distinct carrier and slight audio on 1341 around 12:30 PM local time but not enough to prove the reception was N. Ireland. All these were heard from the Cappahayden DXpedition site. The receptions mentioned above were before made before the nightly onslaught of TA's that begins between 1 and 2 PM (Chuck Hutton, March 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) All-water paths, not that surprising, but of interest here in CNAm is all-land paths, just how far groundwave can be accomplished, e.g. Chicago to Enid (Glenn Hauser, OK, DXLD) Here is item one of today´s show: Scientists continue to try to forecast when the peak of solar cycle 24 is going to happen, and they are also trying hard to forecast the actual value of the period of maximum activity, that is the smoothed sunspot number for the six months that will be considered to be the most active of cycle 24. So far one only hears disagreements among the world´s most prestigious heliophycisists --- and that difficult to pronounce word, is the one used to call the solar scientists. In the meantime, rumors are rumbling that already cycle 23, the present one has achieved the unique characteristic of been a very long cycle by all standards. The tail end of cycle 23 has produced about the worst propagation conditions on the HF bands remembered since the very low activity cycle that took place during the first years of World War Two. Second news item: The contest ionosphere booster effect worked once again, and participants of the CQ Radio Amateur Magazine world prefixes contest observed with big surprise how stations on the 10 meters band could be worked during the contest, when just a few days before and with higher solar activity 10 meters was totally dead. Sure, contests generate a lot of activity on the amateur bands, and that activity in turns makes possible two way contacts on frequencies that are little used during the solar minimum years. To me, the presence of 10 meter band stations during the WPX contest period didn´t produce a big surprise amigos, that was something that I was expecting. And now, amigos, as always at the end of the program, when I am here in Havana and can make the solar optical and radio observations, here is ARNIE CORO´S EXCLUSIVE AND NOT COPYRIGHTED HF PLUS LOW BAND VHF PROPAGATION UPDATE AND FORECAST Solar flux now moving down again, and the period of better HF propagation is just coming to an end. Sunspot count now below 20 and the solar flux again below 80 units, so the daytime maximum useable frequency curve will again show a very slow rise and will be reaching a much smaller peak. I expect some nice tropospheric ducting across the Gulf of Mexico during the next several days, an excellent opportunity for radio amateurs in Mexico and the South of the USA to work the special event VHF and UHF station T42UJC starting Thursday and until Saturday (Arnie Coro, CO2KK, RHC DXers Unlimited April 1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) The geomagnetic field was initially quiet on 24-25 March and early on 26 March. However, beginning around 0400 UTC on the 26th solar wind measurements at ACE indicated the onset of a co-rotating interaction region which was subsequently followed by a high speed stream from about 26/1330 UTC and lasting through the remainder of the week. Geomagnetic activity peaked between 26/0600 UTC through 28/1500 UTC with mostly unsettled to active levels at mid-latitudes and mostly minor to major storm levels at high latitudes. The interplanetary magnetic field at ACE was enhanced between about 26/0400 UTC through about 27/0000 UTC with peak Bz values around -7 nT. Peak solar wind velocities were observed on the 28th with maximum values around 680 km/s. Geomagnetic activity declined to mostly quiet to unsettled levels from 28/1500 UTC through the end of the period. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 02 - 28 APRIL 2008 Solar activity is expected to be very low for most of the forecast interval. There is a chance for an increase in activity levels with the return of Region 987 (S06, L=262) on 19 April, and Region 988 (S06, L = 237) on 21 April, although it is more likely that these regions will decay on the backside before they return. No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to reach high levels for 06-12 April and for 23-27 April in response to expected recurrent geomagnetic activity. The geomagnetic field is expected to be quiet for 01-04 April. Activity is expected to increase to unsettled to active levels with a chance for some isolated storm periods for 05-09 April due to a coronal hole high speed stream. Quiet to unsettled levels are expected from 10-21 April, followed by an increase to unsettled to active levels with isolated storm periods for 22-25 April with the arrival of another recurrent high speed stream. Activity should decline to quiet to unsettled levels for the remainder of the period. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2008 Apr 01 2324 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center # Product description and SWPC contact on the Web # http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/wwire.html # # 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table # Issued 2008 Apr 01 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2008 Apr 02 75 5 2 2008 Apr 03 75 5 2 2008 Apr 04 75 10 3 2008 Apr 05 70 15 5 2008 Apr 06 70 15 4 2008 Apr 07 70 10 3 2008 Apr 08 70 15 4 2008 Apr 09 70 15 4 2008 Apr 10 70 10 3 2008 Apr 11 70 10 3 2008 Apr 12 70 5 2 2008 Apr 13 70 5 2 2008 Apr 14 70 5 2 2008 Apr 15 70 5 2 2008 Apr 16 75 5 2 2008 Apr 17 75 5 2 2008 Apr 18 80 5 2 2008 Apr 19 80 5 2 2008 Apr 20 80 5 2 2008 Apr 21 75 5 2 2008 Apr 22 75 20 5 2008 Apr 23 75 25 5 2008 Apr 24 75 15 4 2008 Apr 25 75 10 3 2008 Apr 26 75 10 3 2008 Apr 27 75 5 2 2008 Apr 28 75 5 2 (SWPC via WORLD OF RADIO 1402, DXLD) ###