DX LISTENING DIGEST 8-081, July 15, 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 1417 Wed 2100 WBCQ 15420-CUSB Thu 0530 WRMI 9955 Thu 1430 WRMI 9955 Thu 2330 WBCQ 7415 Fri 0100 WRMI 9955 Fri 0800 WRMI 9955 Fri 1930 IPAR/IRRS/NEXUS/IBA 7290 Fri 2030 WWCR1 15825 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 0415 WBCQ 7415 [time varies] Tue 1100 WRMI 9955 Tue 1530 WRMI 9955 Wed 0530 WRMI 9955 Wed 1130 WRMI 9955 Latest edition of this schedule version, including AM, FM, satellite and webcasts with hotlinks to station sites and audio, is at: http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html For updates see our Anomaly Alert page: http://www.worldofradio.com/anomaly.html WRN ON DEMAND: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 WORLD OF RADIO PODCASTS VIA WRN NOW AVAILABLE: http://www.wrn.org/listeners/stations/podcast.php OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO: http://www.worldofradsio.com/audiomid.html or http://wor.worldofradio.org DXLD YAHOOGROUP: Why wait for DXLD, which seems to be coming out less frequently? A lot more info, not all of it appearing in DXLD later, is posted at our yg without delay. When applying, please identify yourself with your real name and location. Those who do not, unless I recognize them, will be prompted once to do so and no action will be taken otherwise. Here`s where to sign up http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dxld/ ** ANGOLA. RADIO STATION ORDERED TO SUSPEND BROADCASTS FOR SIX MONTHS Reporters Without Borders has condemned the decision of the Angolan government on 8 July 2008 to suspend independent Radio Despertar’s broadcasts for 180 days on the grounds that their current range is much more the 50 km stipulated in its licence. The suspension comes just one month before an election campaign is due to begin on 5 August. “Restricting media pluralism in the run-up to legislative elections will obstruct the necessary democratic debate,” Reporters Without Borders said. “Furthermore, the measure is illegal as it has been taken under decree-law 69/97, which was voided by a new press law in 2006.” The suspension was decided by the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Angolan Media and was communicated to Radio Despertar director Alexandre Solombe by the Angolan Institute for Communications (INACOM). Solombe said his station is the victim of “an electoral manoeuvre by the government in the run-up to legislative elections.” Created under the peace accords between the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) and the ruling Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), Radio Despertar began broadcasting in 2006. The station has been very successful in the capital, Luanda, especially in the suburbs, where many listeners participate in its phone-in programmes. Its current affairs programmes have been particularly popular in the approach to the elections. Radio Despertar formerly operated as Radio VORGAN, a propagandist mouthpiece for the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), which radically opposed Angola’s ruling communist party, the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) during the country’s lengthy civil war, which lasted from 1974 to 2002. In 1991, a tentative ceasefire agreement and peace accord was signed by UNITA and MPLA, which was supposed to end the war in Angola. As part of that agreement, Radio VORGAN was to transform its broadcasting mandate or discontinue its broadcast. The 1991 peace accord failed and war resumed, followed by other failed accords and attempts at peace. It wasn’t until April 1, 1998 that Radio VORGAN left the airwaves. As part of the peace process, it was agreed that Radio VORGAN would be transformed into a bipartisan radio station called Radio Awakening, or Radio Despertar in Portuguese. Radio Despertar waited for government approval to begin broadcasting for several years, until finally launching its signal in 2006. (Sources: Reporters Without Borders/Community Media for Development) (July 14th, 2008 - 10:16 UTC by Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog) VORGAN = Voz da Resistência do Galo Negro = Voice of the Resistance of the Black Cockerel, surely the most colorfully-named clandestine, and it used to be on SW, but I don`t remember the frequency. Only recent hit on VORGAN in DXLD archive is 6-109, about Despertar (gh, DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. 2540, 09/07 0430, R. Provincia, Buenos Aires, 2 x 1270, OM with boletim de news "...treinta y dos minutos... trece grados... pasajeros de Aerolíneas Argentinas sufrieron atraso... tiempo nublado sobre B. Aires... Provincia noticias... la Provincia en su radio... `` 35333 (MARCIO MARTINS PONTES, REGISTRO - SP, BRASIL, ICOM IC R 70 + DATONG FL2, ANTENA T2FD, @tividade DX July 13 via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. 2368.5, 0828, Radio Symban, Sydney first noted 12/6 and several subsequent days only. Many ads in Greek. 1 kW transmitter put in very good signal overnight, audible from 0600 right through to 2000 and later. Email QSL back in one day (Bryan Clark at Mangawhai, New Zealand with AOR7030+ and Alpha Delta Sloper, EWE to NE and various 100 metre BOGs to the Americas, July NZ DX Times via DXLD) 2368.5, 0910, Radio Symban. Fair in Greek mainly 12/6 (Ian Cattermole, Blenheim, New Zealand, JRC 535, T2FD, Alpha Delta, July NZ DX Times via DXLD) 2368.5, 1045, Radio Symban. Just fair in Greek with mainly spoken program noted on 13/06 but not since (John Durham, Tauranga, New Zealand, JRC535d, Eavesdropper trap dipole antenna, July NZ DX Times via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. 7465, 2120, VJN, Royal Flying Doctor Service, Cairns Fair with message “This is the Royal Flying Doctor Service frequency for Cairns Base VJN. All calls to RSVC operator; please use your emergency call options’’ Also heard with same message at 2050, 2150, 0920 and 0950 (Fred Humphreys, Porirua East, New Zealand, ICOM IC-R71, 70 metre longwire, July NZ DX Times via DXLD) WWCR QRM? ** BAHAMAS. Cay Sal Bank ARO DXpedition (C6ARI) by mostly Germans, January 2-8, 2007 is at: http://www.qslnet.de/member/na219/english/index.htm Make sure you view the excellent 10:43 youTube video (base was established at the lighthouse remains) at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wTkbywWcdk One of the few Cay Sal video documentations I've found, and radio affiliated at that. Concludes with an image of the special QSL. [tagline] 'Animals without backbones hid from each other, or fell down. Clamasaurs and oysterettes appeared as appetisers. Then came the sponges, which sucked up about ten percent of all life. Hundreds of years later, in the late devouring period, fish became obnoxious. Trailer bikes, chigger bites and mosquitoes collided aimlessly in the dense gas. Finally, tiny edible plants sprang up in rows, giving birth to generations of insecticides, and other small dying creatures.' ~ Firesign Theater "I Think We're All Bozos on This Bus" (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. RADIO ILLIMANI CELEBRA ESTE 15 DE JULIO 75 AÑOS DE TRABAJO POR BOLIVIA La Paz, 14 jul (ABI).- Eran las 14.30 de aquel 15 de julio de 1933 cuando por primera vez Radio Illimani, hoy Red Patria Nueva, lanzaba sus señales al éter como una iniciativa para la defensa del territorio nacional que enfrentaba un gran peligro debido a la guerra que Bolivia sostenía con Paraguay. Actualmente, a 75 años del inicio de sus actividades y en sus bodas de brillantes, Radio Illimani se ha convertido en la emisora que integra el país, llegando a los últimos rincones de Bolivia y dando voz a los sin voz. . . http://abi.bo/index.php?i=noticias_texto_paleta&j=20080714221812&k= (via José Miguel Romero, Spain, dxldyg via DXLD) Mentions 49m, WTFK? 6025! ** BOLIVIA. 4865, R. Logos, Santa Cruz. July-14, Spanish, 2204-2218 program "Especialísimo" , religious and fraternal talks by OM, alternating slow pop music in Spanish. 43434 (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Embu SP Brasil - Sony ICF SW40 - dipole 18m, 32m, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 2910, 09/07 0440, R. Alvorada (tentative), Londrina/PR, 3 x 970 programa religioso with ouvintes ao fone, programa "A Igreja no Radio", menção ao fone (011) 4354-0059 35343 (MARCIO MARTINS PONTES, REGISTRO - SP, BRASIL, ICOM IC R 70 + DATONG FL2, ANTENA T2FD, @tividade DX July 13 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 3140, 10/07 0017, R. Cidade, Corinto/MG, 2 x 1570 música sertaneja, OM ID "Rádio Cidade" 35433 (Márcio Martins Pontes, Registro - SP, Membro DXCB, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 9564.85, R. Tupi, Curitiba PR, 2124 July 14, praying priest in Portuguese, good 33222 (Maurits Van Driessche, Belgium, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BURKINA FASO. 5030, R. Burkina, 2256-2311, July 4, French. Hi-life music at tune-in, ID at 2301 followed by talking drums, presumed radio drama from 2304 thru t/out, fair-good (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R8, R75, MKIIB8600, CLR/DSP, MLB1, 200' Bevs, 60m dipole, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5030, 13/07 2050, R. Burkina, Ouagadougou, OM with talks em vernacular, música afro, animado talk with risos, 33343 (Márcio Martins Pontes, Registro - SP, Membro DXCB, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5030, R. Burkina, Ouagadougou. July 14, French, dialects, 2114 OM announcements on music, 2116-2122 OM talks segment (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Embu SP Brasil - Sony ICF SW40 - dipole 18m, 32m, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CAMEROON. Re 8-080: Africalist lists 6005 as latest Cameroonian SW activity relying on the following reports: http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/dxld1035.txt + dxld1036.txt. This lists also N in E at 1400 (Thorsten Hallmann, Germany, July 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) i.e. in early 2001y (gh, DXLD) In an effort to check out whether Buea really is back on shortwave, I checked the newly relaunched website at http://www.crtv.cm Clicking on 'radio' at the top of the home page produces this message: Bad key provided - Please don't steal our bandwith hotlinking our content. Please visit http://www.crtv.cm Which, of course, is exactly what I had done :-( (Andy Sennitt, July 14, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I guess the http://www.crtv.cm/cont/radio/index_fra.php page in question, expecting a referrer it will never get to see, would contain only audio (live and/or on demand), similar to the TV presentation. Concerning the item from February: I suspect the "eight 10 kilowatt transmitters" are FM and the reference to "some areas where there are constant blackouts" simply paraphrases the circumstance that their existing FM network does not cover the whole country. And it seems that all mediumwave transmitters are gone as well? Buea had only a tiny and presumably quite old 4 kW shortwave transmitter, with 3970 being another frequency, shown as "variable". Would it really be likely that this one has been revived, rather than the more recent Thomson gear elsewhere? Anyway this discussion is quite a flash-back. Yes, once upon a time one could hear and read about Cameroon on 4000, 4795, 4850, 5010 in German DX publications. But these days are gone (Kai Ludwig, Germany, ibid.) ** CANADA. Re 8-080, WHRI covets CHU frequency 7335 again: Hello Glenn, Thanks for the update. We have plans to move to a new frequency, already in the works. The new frequency will be 7850 kHz. The changeover will take place when we upgrade our transmitters this summer. I will keep you informed. Thanks (Raymond Pelletier, Frequency and Time, Institute for National Measurement Standards, National Research Council Canada, M-36, room 1026, 1200 Montreal Road, Ottawa, Canada K1A 0R6, July 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. CBC NQ must be almost on-frequency today, 9625.0, since it has a SAH of only 4 Hz, slightly fluxuating, with co-channel QRM, July 15 at 1302 in CBC news. Could not make out language of QRM, but it should be FEBC Manila in Hmong, tho would not rule out Channel Africa in Lozi by long-path (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Since March 2008 I have been working as a special administrative consultant at CKRK Radio, K-103 Radio (103.7 FM) at the Mohawk Native Reserve at Kahnawake, Quebec, south-west of Montreal. I was asked to come to the station by a member of the Board of Directors to assist them primarily with administrative re-organization of the station. CKRK is a community radio station which has been on the air for over 27 years, serving the Mohawk population of Kahnawake and the surrounding regions, including Montreal. Since becoming active in the day to day operations of the station, I have worked closely with the programme director and the office manager to bring a series of new programmes to the airwaves and to bring a number of new, young, Native people on-board, working on-air, in production and behind the scenes at the station. It is exciting, challenging and rewarding work. The long hours and hard work of everyone involved is really paying off. So much so that the station would like to invite everyone, including readers of this Newsletter, to tune in and hear the results. Your comments would be greatly appreciated. CKRK Radio, K-103 is heard in the Montreal region on 103.7 FM but, for the rest of you, it is also available, live streaming, through the K- 103 website at http://www.k103radio.com If you tune in at the right times, you’ll even hear ME on the air! I am currently co-hosting three weekday evening shows with three of our new programme hosts, Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings from 6 PM to 8 PM Eastern (2200 to 0000 UT). Details of these three shows, including the very unique “The Eagles Cries”, a programme of music by indigenous artists from Canada and elsewhere, as well as the rest of the K-103 programme line-up, are detailed on the front page of the webpage. The full programme grid is available on the site at http://www.k103radio.com/guide.htm Everyone at K-103 Radio would really love to hear from you. You can reach the station, with your comments, questions, etc. by e-mail at programming@k103radio.com Be sure to mention that you heard about K-103 Radio in the Radio HF Internet Newsletter. I really hope you will take a few minutes to check it out (Sheldon Harvey, QC, RHFIN July via DXLD) ** CHAD. 7120, 0459, Radio Nationale, VG in clear 11/6, ID 0507 but subsequent days has been mixed BBC African Service from Meyerton. Modulation has deteriorated during June and at latest check 3/7 at 0520, Chad’s audio was slightly muffled, but still on top of BBC. Frequency must replace 4905 as not heard there in a while (Bryan Clark at Mangawhai, New Zealand with AOR7030+ and Alpha Delta Sloper, EWE to NE and various 100 metre BOGs to the Americas, July NZ DX Times via DXLD) ** CHINA. Germany & China. Ulrich Bihlmayer, DJ9KR, DARK [sic] Monitoring System Coordinator, has filed a protest with Radio China International for its systematic broadcasts of music programs June 2 through 6 and afterwards from a transmitter in Hanoi, Vietnam within the exclusive amateur radio band between 14000 and 14090 kHz. The broadcasts were also monitored by Wolf Hadel, DK2OM, IARU Intruder Watch and others. The address for further observations is bandwatch @ dark.de [sic] Let’s keep our bands clean! (Rumen Pankov, R. Bulgaria DX July 11 via DXLD) Nobody said anything about Hanoi. It`s HAINAN island, part of China, whence Firedrake is believed to emanate, at least some of it. And it`s not ``R. China International`` per se doing it, but its parent organization SARFT. Mox nix; it all belongs to the CCP (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. We must be getting close to the Olympics: NTDTV, "Channel Falun Gong" gets booted off Eutelsat: http://www.satellitetoday.com/st/headlines/23637.html Wish it were that easy to get rid of SoH on 20m. My country sure has done a good job of getting rid of me on 40m. ;^( 73, (VR2/KBrett7Graham/p, July 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) EUTELSAT CONFIRMS PERMANENT SHUTDOWN OF FOUR TRANSPONDERS ON W5 SATELLITE Following a technical incident experienced to part of the power generator subsystem of the W5 satellite in the night of 16 to 17 June, Eutelsat has conducted a technical investigation into the satellite’s performance in collaboration with its manufacturer, Thalès Alenia Space. Eutelsat says that, whereas the power performance of the satellite is now stabilised, the conclusion of this investigation is that it will not be possible to recover operational use of the four transponders that were switched off as a result of the technical incident. Consequently, in current operational conditions the capacity of this satellite is now 20 transponders. One of the stations affected by the loss of transponders, New Tang Dynasty Television (NTDTV) believes this explanation is a sham, and says that a recorded conversation by a Eutelsat employee shows the “power anomaly” really “was a premeditated, politically-motivated decision violating the free flow of information and the convention under which Eutelsat operates.” NTDTV, citing evidence provided by Journalists Without Borders (RSF), says it has proof that it was a deliberate decision to curry favour with Beijing and to satisfy Beijing’s long standing demand of taking NTDTV down as a precondition for large business deals. According to information published by RSF, a Eutelsat representative said in Beijing, “It was our company CEO in France who decided to stop NTDTV’s signal. (…)We could have turned off any of the transponders. (…) It was because we got repeated complaints and reminders from the Chinese government. (…) Two years ago, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television kept saying the same thing over and over: ‘Stop that TV station before we begin to talk.” (Source: Eutelsat via Ray Woodward/NTDTV) More on this story: Dutch MEP calls for resumption of NDTV broadcasts to China Uncensored TV service to China shut off (July 14th, 2008 - 9:16 UTC by Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog via DXLD) EUTELSAT BACKUP SYSTEM KEPT SECRET ...the W5 satellite has a backup transponder in case there are technical problems with a principle transponder. The existence of this backup system was deliberately hidden, said the employee: "Actually, on the satellite, there should still be another transponder. A small part is still reserved... as a back up. In case any other is not functioning well, this is reserved. "But this is very, very private information that cannot be announced to the outside. If the U.S. got the information, then our company cannot stand this kind of pressure. If people learned that you still have a spare one, that's terrible," he said, ironically adding, "Of course, if people get that information, it means that we have a mole in our company, ha ha [laughs]." ... http://en.epochtimes.com/n2/world/eutel-lies-about-shutdown-ntdtv-962.html Translated text of telephone interview with Eutelsat official in Beijing. PDF format: http://www.rsf.org/IMG/pdf/Transcript_Eutelsat-2.pdf Thales, the French company that manufactures Eutelsat's satellites, had recently produced Zhongxing-9, a satellite commissioned by the Chinese government to provide coverage of the Olympic Games. China has also agreed to use its Long March rocket to launch Eutelsat's satellites. At the end of 2004, Reporters Without Borders [ www.rsf.org ] pointed out that French company, Thales, sold China equipment that would be used to jam shortwave radio broadcasts (via tribby2001, dxldyg via DXLD) ** CHINA [non]. Sound of Hope proposal --- Now no SoH on shortwave is listed, just a proposal to cover PRC with SW broadcasts. Previously there was a SW schedule (well, on one station, if I recall correctly). That would make the BV pirates SoH's only distribution outlet on SW. 73, (VR2/KBrett7Graham/p, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: Radio Free China (RFC) --- A Proposal to Cover Mainland China with Sound of Hope Radio Broadcasts --- Abstract: Sound of Hope Radio (SOH) is a well established Chinese Language media network providing an alternative to China’s state controlled media with news and cultural programming. Radio Free China (RFC) is Sound of Hope’s project to reach listeners in Mainland China with programming beyond the control of China’s omnipresent blockade of free information. RFC is seeking to pierce this barrier through large-scale shortwave radio broadcasting directly to a majority of the Mainland Chinese population; providing them with up to date news and diversity of opinion outside of government control. SOH possess the experience, talent and perspective to deliver the information Chinese people need to understand the world. Many Chinese already listen to short wave radio and others could purchase this technology cheaply and easily. With the Olympics approaching and the world paying particular attention to China, delivering free information to the Chinese people now will have the greatest impact. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) uses propaganda to control public opinion, oppress its own people and get support to how it handles foreign relationships. The CCP tries to block out sources of information beyond its control because its propaganda wouldn’t work if people had free access to information. RFC needs funds to purchase a sufficient number of broadcast frequencies to overcome China’s jamming. RFC is the cheapest and most convenient way to directly reach the Chinese people. SOH is uniquely qualified to carry out this task. . . [much more] http://sohnews.com/shortwave-broadcasts/ (via Brett Graham, DXLD) Long indictment of the Chicom regime, but vague about how to bring R. Free China about. Falun Gong is mentioned briefly only once on this page (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. MILITARES COLOMBIANOS OCUPARON UNA EMISORA DE LAS FUERZAS ARMADAS Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) durante una operación contra esa guerrilla en un área fronteriza con Panamá, informó el Ejército. El centro de transmisión fue hallado por tropas de la Octava Brigada, en el poblado de San José del Palmar, departamento de Chocó, durante la persecución a un reducto rebelde, indicó una nota oficial. Durante el operativo se decomisó un radio trasmisor-receptor, una consola, un amplificador, varios micrófonos y propaganda alusiva a las FARC, la mayor y más antigua guerrilla del país, según el reporte militar. En la zona donde se realizó la operación, actúa el frente "Aurelio Rodríguez" de las FARC, por lo que las autoridades creen que la emisora servía de soporte para coordinar sus actividades en esa región. El hallazgo se enmarca dentro de la ofensiva del Ejército contra ese grupo insurgente en el Pacífico colombiano, donde también fue destruido este domingo un campo minado y se decomiso armamento y munición, según informaciones oficiales. (tomado de Hechos via Arnaldo Slaen, July 13, condiglist yg via DXLD) ** CONGO DR. While in Europe 20-29 June, I was able to do some listening from the Netherlands and in Luxembourg. 6210, R. Kahuzi (presumed), 1804 M in what sounded like French, then ute started. Music at 1807 when ute ended. Alternating M and W, instrumental, rock music bridge at 1808 20 June (Dave Valko, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** CUBA [and non]. DentroCuban Jamming Command still showing its incompetence or total disregard for civilized norms, in running jammers when there is nothing to block, except innocent bystanders, July 15 at 0555 on 9515, 9565, 6100, pulsing and grinding. A while ago someone reported Spain on 11680 with no mention of QRM de Cuba, so I check July 15 at 0113, and RHC is very strong there, way over REE, both in Spanish (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTNEING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. REPORT: PROBLEMS WITH RADIO/TV MARTI CONTRACTS Posted on Tue, Jul. 15, 2008 MIAMI - Congress' investigative arm has found irregularities in the contracting practices of the U.S. government's Office of Cuba Broadcasting. The Government Accountability Office's report to be released Tuesday is part of a broader investigation into the U.S. government's efforts to beam news and other programming into Cuba. The U.S. has sought to provide alternative news and information to the communist island since the 1980s, and its efforts have long been controversial. The report raises concerns about no-bid contracts given to a local station to air the Radio and TV Marti broadcasts months after Fidel Castro became ill in the summer of 2006. The GAO is also investigating allegations of political bias and management practices (Miami Herald via Mike Cooper, DXLD) IBB ‘DID NOT REFLECT SOUND BUSINESS PRACTICES’ IN AWARDING CONTRACTS TO MIAMI STATIONS - GAO REPORT A report published today by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) into the award by the International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB) of sole-source contracts to two Miami broadcasters to provide additional broadcasting options for Radio & TV Martí is highly critical of the IBB’s procedures. It says that the awards, made in December 2006, ‘did not reflect sound business practices’. According to officials from IBB and the Broadcasting Board of Governors, the confluence of several interrelated events -ongoing interagency deliberations, the issuance of a July 2006 report by a Cabinet-level commission, and concerns about the health of Fidel Castro - required them to quickly obtain additional broadcasting services to Cuba. Competition laws and regulations provide agencies with considerable flexibility to use noncompetitive procedures, if adequately justified, to meet their needs. But the GAO says that, in certain respects, IBB did not fully document in its contract files key information or assumptions underlying its decisions to not seek competitive offers, limit the number of potential providers it considered, or the basis used to negotiate the final prices for the services provided. Additionally, IBB did not actively involve its contracting office until just prior to contract award, though agency regulations and prior work by the GAO identify that timely involvement by stakeholders helps promote successful acquisition outcomes. Finally, though it partly justified its awards based on urgency, IBB exercised multiple options on the two contracts to extend their period of performance into 2008. Only recently has it taken steps to identify additional providers. Read the full report: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08764.pdf (July 15, 2008 16:36 UT by Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog via DXLD) ** DENMARK. 5815, 1859, Radio Spaceshuttle International via World Music Radio heard 15/6 only at poor strength, improving to fair by 2000. Variety of music, IDs in Dutch, English & Italian heard (Bryan Clark at Mangawhai, New Zealand with AOR7030+ and Alpha Delta Sloper, EWE to NE and various 100 metre BOGs to the Americas, July NZ DX Times via DXLD) 5815, 1930, Radio Spaceshuttle via WMR transmitter. Poor at 1915 improving to fair by 1930, faded out around 1955. Music and announcements in DD [= Dutch apparently, not Danish; can we spell out languages, please? I hereby contribute a few bits for the purpose] 16/06 NZ date [so UT 15/6 as above] (John Durham, Tauranga, New Zealand, JRC535d, Eavesdropper trap dipole antenna, July NZ DX Times via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. Para tentar algumas escutas, eu tenho levado comigo meu radinho (Tecsun Pl 450) nas minhas caminhadas no Parque de Águas Claras. Lá as interferências praticamente somem, é possível sintonizar. Na semana passada, consegui sintonizar durante uma caminhada, por meio de tentativa, em 3380 kHz, Centro Radiofónico de Imbabura, no Equador. Esta emissora apresentava um sinal bem forte. Equador. 3380 kHz, Centro Radiofónico de Imbabura, Imbabura (tentativo). Musicas locais. Em 10/07/08. Entre 2200 e 2300 (George Cunha, Brasília, radioescutas yg via DXLD) WRTH 2008 says inactive, or perhaps irregular (gh, DXLD) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. July 15 at 0559 found fair signal, S9+20, 43343 on 6250 in Spanish, a language always fun to hear from Africa. Mentioned Guinea Ecuatorial, but 0600 song instead of news. Suffered from intermittent but frequent SSB and pulse QRM, what you get for broadcasting in a utility band. Finally at 0606:30 a 5-pip time signal, so their studio clock is somewhat slow, some other music, noticias interrupted by several different sounders. Finally at 0608:30 titulares (headlines), but additional QRM of a continuous roar-sound starts, maybe from own transmitter, so I quit (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA. 8000, 0401, Voice of the Broad Masses of Eritrea tentatively the strong signal noted here 1/7 and daily since. Opens abruptly 0400 and programming seems like Eritrea except that no interval signal played prior to 0400. Hearing it on 7175 in parallel, a longtime VOBME frequency seems to clinch it, but in the radio war between Eritrea and Ethiopia, things may not be as they seem. Whenever 7100 is on, it always gets jammed, but 7175 no longer jammed. Both 8000 and 7175 audible past 0550 (Bryan Clark at Mangawhai, New Zealand with AOR7030+ and Alpha Delta Sloper, EWE to NE and various 100 metre BOGs to the Americas, July NZ DX Times via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA [and non]. Also on Sunday, July 13, R. Ethiopia used 7115, but only heard around 1650-1657, when likely Eritrea was clashing with R.E. on 7110 and later a noise jammer came up there, so maybe 7115 is used in this context, and after ERI has moved away, it closes down again. But this explanation is definitely "tent.". 8000 kHz as another ETH/ERI-tent. was going off-air on July 13 at 1608 already, while July 12 it was active -1700* (Amharic?) + *1710-1728* (Arabic dialect?). (Thorsten Hallmann, Germany, July 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EUROPE. PIRATE, 4908 UNID. Definitely a pirate here with pretty decent signal at 0636 tune-in. Easy nonstop German Schlagers. Decent but fade after tune-in. Came back up by 0645. Nice signal with solid carrier and clear modulation when not fading. Actually pretty good at 0648. M at 0648:45 but it faded just before, so couldn't copy. If the announcement would have come 30 seconds sooner, it would have been easy!! A little more music and off at exactly 0649:35*. Anyone have any idea who this could have been??? I'm really interested in knowing what pirate station would be using the 60 meter tropical band!! Please drop me a line if you can provide any input. Thanks!! (26 June) (Dave Valko, visiting Netherlands or Luxembourg, Cumbre DX via DXLD) I recall some Europirate reported recently on 4908, but can`t find that frequency in searching DXLD archive (gh, DXLD) ** GERMANY. 6190, Deutschlandfunk, 0153-0210, July 8, German. Lite instrumental/classical music, pips at ToH, W with news, ID at 0206 and brief announcer, back to music at 0207, fair and improving (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R8, R75, MKIIB8600, CLR/DSP, MLB1, 200' Bevs, 60m dipole, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUAM. Adventist World RADIO-AWR, 9980, 1750, English, 333, July 8, OM with comments on Medicine and how to use it (Stewart MacKenzie, CA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) KSDA does have English at 1730-1800 on 9980, but beware of WWCR`s PPP service, also on 9980, overpowering here (Glenn Hauser, OK, ibid.) ** INDONESIA. Re: DXLD 8-080 - Hello gentlemen, It’s a pleasure reading your observation on regional SW stations, and by this I just want to mark error of the name of Kabupaten Pasuruan instead of “Pasuran", Propinsi Jawa Timur (East Java) (Tony Ashar, Depok, West Java, Indonesia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 9526, V. of Indonesia, 1030 July 12, fair level at tune- in with English, woman hosting pop music program, greetings to listeners, comments on the recording artists, etc. Clear "Voice of Indonesia" IDs at 1038 and again at close 1055 when also read broadcast schedule and gave address. Seemed to go off right after that but carrier stayed on and transmitter test tones could be heard prior to the hour. I'm wondering if there wasn't an abrupt antenna switch at 1100 because I continued to hear very weak programming on the frequency after that. Heard them again the next morning from 1038 with similar programming but not as good as previous day. Thanks gh/DXLD tips (John Herkimer, Caledonia, NY, AOR 7030+, Etón E1, 100 ft random wire, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) Een heel moeilijk station voor tehoren op dit moment is Indonesia, Jakarta op 9525.98 kHz. 1458 UT in Indonesian, na 1500 in Engels. In bijlage een opname (misschien best met koptelefoon) Gr. Jakarta 9525.98, 1458 UT in Indonesian. After 1500 UT talks in English (lessons). Date 14/7, local time + 2 hour (Maurits Van Driessche, Belgium, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yet another schedule change? (gh, DXLD) Maurits, Hier kwam t hij ook over met een O=2 tot 3. Ik heb duidelijk het ID, adres en het e-mail gehoord (= 1558 UT), Was QRT om 1601 UT en is nu terug in de ether om 1603 UT. 73 (Hugo Matten, Belgium, BDX via DXLD) 9525.97 ... .98, 16-21 UT VOI today July 14 (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) VOI, 9526 signal improved July 15 at 1258 check ending Indonesian hour with Suara Indonesia ID, IS; 1259 into English with IS and ID claiming 9525, 11785, 15150, http://www.voi.co.id How can a SW station have no clear link to its transmission schedule on its home page?? First speaker was M with American accent, then W with Indonesian accent, program summary, 1300 news sounder and headlines by a third announcer, M with Indo accent; S9+15 versus my local hi line noise level was not sufficient to copy it without strain (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. Is it all over for WorldSpace? Chris Forrester writes in Rapid TV News: Troubled satellite radio broadcaster WorldSpace is seemingly out of cash. Sources within the company say senior staff have already forfeited at least two salary payments, and this coming Tuesday’s payroll will again evidently have problems. Another source says that CEO Noah Samara last week held an all-staff meeting, telling them: “We just need funding and execution.” One source stated that he has been repeating much the same mantra for more than eight years. WorldSpace, for what seems the umpteenth time, is again talking to its bridging debt-holders about rolling over its repayment obligations to them, this time until July 31. The original binding “Mandatory Redemption Date” for the debt was May 31, then June 30, then July 9, all of which were missed. But it is now paying a crippling rate of interest for missing its repayment obligations. Bit by bit WorldSpace’s debt-holders are winning large chunks of WorldSpace because of its default in repaying the assorted loan-notes . . . http://blogs.rnw.nl/medianetwork/is-it-all-over-for-worldspace (July 14th, 2008 - 11:02 UTC by Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog via DXLD) EUTELSAT: see CHINA ** ISRAEL. Desde el siguiente link se puede escuchar y ver la emisión en directo de la emisora Galei Zahal, estación de radio del ejército israelí. http://www.imvite.com/video/Galei-Zahal-Radio---Studio-Cam/t/5c9a78357083375b (José Miguel Romero, Spain, July 14, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Empty table at 0448 UT July 15, but well-lit! (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** ITALY. Radio Maria Italië (25 watt!!) komt er mometeel (1600 UT) af en toe redelijk door 26000 kHz. 73 (Hugo Matten, Veurne – België (51 1'56"N - 2 40'36"E), RX: AOR AR7030+, ANT: Dipool 9,2 m, bdx mailing list via DXLD) ** KASHMIR. Radio Kashmir Srinagar QSL letter received today by post (in 10 days) for email report on test broadcast monitored at 4.25 am [IST? = 2255 UT 3 July] on 1116 kHz on 4 July 2008. Email reply was received within one day. v/s Ayaz A. Malik, Station Engineer. 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Raj Bhavan Road, Hyderabad 500082, India, dx_india yg via DXLD) ** MALAYSIA. RTV Malaysia Kuching Sarawak good on 7130 at 1205z July 14 with Kor`an. // 5030 not so good with splash from R Rebelde. Aoki lists 7130 with 10 kW at 61 degrees. 5030 with 10 kW ND (Jerry Lenamon, Waco Texas, Drake R8B with sloper, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Jerry, Nice report! Usually only reported by Dan Sheedy, John Wilkins or myself. For the past month Sarawak FM has been doing exceptionally well. Due to conditions and not an increase in power? Keep listening and you may be able to hear their distinctive singing "Sarawak FM" jingle. Normally their format is a DJ playing pop songs, but I have noticed recently they have more reciting from the Qur'an. Also noticed this with Klasik Nasional FM (5964.93). Thanks for sharing your reception! (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAYSIA. Kajang op 6049.64 kHz, 1633 July 14. Met songs in Malaysian, weak splatter, Gr (Maurits Van Driessche, Belgium, bdx via DXLD) 6049.64, RTM, Asyik FM, 1009-1015 Julyh 15. Noted music at tune-in until 1012 when a person talks in Vietnamese (scheduled). Back to music at 1014. Signal was threshold at this time (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston, Florida, NRD545, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Chuck, Glad to see you enjoying Asyik FM (RTM), but definitely not in Vietnamese. The abbreviation for Vn is vernacular, whereas VN is Vietnamese http://www.eibi.de.vu/ Alan Davies, the expert on Asian DX'ing, shows the languages used on Asyik FM as Jakun, Malay, Semai, Temiar & Temuan http://www.asiawaves.net/malaysia-radio.htm These languages are used by the Orang Asli people ("original people" or "first people"), the indigenous minority people of Peninsular Malaysia (also known as West Malaysia) (Ron Howard, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 11770.0, AM, Radio Mexico International, 0920, Jul 8, Spanish, Poor (Mike Rohde, Columbus, OH, USA. Equipment: Ten-Tec RX- 340, Wellbrook ALA 330s, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) Don`t you believe everything you find in Aoki, including listings for RMI, which has been off the air (and dismantled) for many years. Three lines above is the likely station, if Portuguese could be confused with Spanish: 11770 FAMILY RADIO 0800-1045 1234567 Portuguese 100 142 Okeechobee USA 8056W 2727N WYFR a08 11770 R.MEXICO INT. 0000-2400 1234567 Spanish 10 ND Mexico City MEX 09903W 1916N [Aoki] and reconfirmed, still in WYFR`s July updated schedule (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEWFOUNDLAND. NO BIRDS AT THIS TURKEY FARM: INSIDE GANDER'S TOP- SECRET SURVEILLANCE SITE Monday, July 14, 2008 | 12:16 PM NT CBC News http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2008/07/14/turkey-farm.html It looks like a big-box store planted near an airport, but it's a top- secret military installation with connections to wartime bombings, Cold War intrigue and counterterrorism surveillance in a new age of anxiety. And through much of it all, the station outside the central Newfoundland airport town of Gander has been known by a funny name: the Turkey Farm. 'We used to get packages delivered there, through the Canada Post office, and it would say right on the box 'Turkey Farm.' And it would always come to us.' —Former commanding officer Ray Lebeau [caption] "When people said, 'Why are they building that big fence around the operations building for?' we said, 'Well, it's to keep the turkeys in,'" said Ray Lebeau, who was the commanding officer at the installation in the 1990s. "So it became fondly, in Gander, known as the Turkey Farm. We used to get packages delivered there, through the Canada Post office, and it would say right on the box 'Turkey Farm.' And it would always come to us." The nickname comes from what appears to be a huge circular fence surrounding the building. However, it's not a fence at all, but an antenna. At 35 metres in height, it can eavesdrop just about anywhere in the world. A key element in Canada's intelligence-gathering efforts for decades, the installation is still operating, although with just a fraction of its former staffing. Hundreds worked in quiet surveillance effort At the height of the Cold War, between 200 and 250 Canadian and U.S. soldiers worked there around the clock, listening for ships and planes in distress — but also quietly gathering intelligence. Only eight soldiers remain on duty at the Turkey Farm, to maintain the equipment. The building, though, is still operational — the work of listening is now done at a Canadian Forces station in Ottawa. "It was a sad day, I must say, when they took the flag down for the last time and folded it up," said Lebeau, who was the commander of 770 Squadron, as was it known up until automation kicked in almost a decade ago. CBC Radio was recently granted access inside the installation — the first time any journalist was allowed inside. Defence officials would not comment, though, on surveillance work that still takes place. Played role in Bismarck sinking Veterans of the installation have witnessed a great deal, including a milestone in the Second World War, as the then-new listening post provided critical intelligence that helped the Allies sink the German battleship Bismarck. In 1941, months after the Gander airport opened, Jim Dempsey was a radio operator at the station. "I was called up by the communication officer and he said, 'You've got the best bearing you'll ever take,' and he let it go at that," Dempsey told CBC News. "It took me a few days to find out what the bearing was." 'There's always a need. Intelligence is the most crucial thing your country lives by, and that's what we believed. That's what I still believe.' —Former operations chief Ron Walsh [caption] In subsequent years, Gander was part of a network that helped the Allies avoid Nazi subs and then watched the Russians as they flew to Cuba through the Cold War. In 1995, the role of the station was given a public nod, when Brian Tobin, the federal fisheries minister of the day, acknowledged the station's work during the so-called Turbot War. Canada apprehended the Spanish trawler Estai off the coast of Newfoundland, and prosecuted it for illegal fishing. The station had intercepted catch reports that the Estai was sending back to Spain — intelligence that gave Tobin the ammunition he needed to seize the vessel. Ron Walsh, a former chief of operations, said the staff preferred to stay under the proverbial radar. "We almost shot him," Walsh said with a chuckle. "See, we didn't talk about it. Now, that's old hat … [but] when he got up and officially recognized us we were, 'Oh no, don't do this. We don't need to have people know this.'" Intelligence role crucial: retired officer Fred Dixon, a retired warrant officer, learned to speak Russian to help analyze the information he collected in locations such as Gander. "I think it meant an awful lot. Most of the intelligence that we acquired — the intelligence that we acquired — went right to the prime minister. He was briefed on what was happening in other countries," said Dixon. "It seemed like old news to us when we read it in the newspaper or Time magazine or wherever," he said. Seventeen years after his retirement, Walsh has retained some of the Russian he learned. He also respects the work he and his colleagues have done. "There's always a need. Intelligence is the most crucial thing your country lives by, and that's what we believed. That's what I still believe," he said. "If people had listened to intelligence, how many things could have been avoided?" he added (via Gerald T. Pollard, NC, DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND [non]. By chance I tuned in to 9955 at 1605 UT, Tuesday, July 15 to hear a very weak signal with news in English. Thought at first it might be WRMI relaying Radio Praga English. But not so. I recognized Walter Zweifel reading Pacific Regional News for RNZI. Too weak to make out anything much after 1610, just a few words in English from time to time would come in, then rapidly fade out again. Cannot hear anything on scheduled 7145 at this time of day here. Website said Dateline Pacific on 7145 when I checked at 1620. Still there after 1700 with what sounded like Pacific Regional News again, but extremely weak. I will keep checking for this strange reception (Bernie O'Shea, Ottawa, Ontario, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Bernie, It IS WRMI relaying RNZI, or rather WRN which is carrying an RNZI program at this time. I have heard it on webcast. WRMI also has a pervasive problem with 3 minutes or so of overlapping audio as WRN starts on time, but their own late-running program before 1600 keeps playing! But per WRN schedule, RNZI only lasts until 1615 on weekdays, then Vatican, 1630 Slovakia, and 1700 Poland, etc.: http://www.wrn.org/listeners/schedules/schedule.php?ScheduleID=2 73, (Glenn to Bernie, via DXLD) ** NIGERIA. 15120, Voice of Nigeria, 1930-2030, 07/13/08. YL in unaccented English with talks/music, interviews at 2028. Rather good considering lotsa QRN. No ID at 2030 (Jay Golden, location? NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) You mean she had no Nigerian accent or no American accent?? (gh) VON back to normal after being off-channel by -0.8 kHz for a few days. Somewhat more regular and louder compared to previous months (Thorsten Hallmann, Germany, July 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Which channel(s) are you referring to? (gh) Both 9690/9689.2 and 15120/15119.2, didn't check the others. 73 (Thorsten Hallmann, ibid.) Viz.: 9689.3, VON (presumed), 0804-0818, Nothing but long talk by M in Afro vernacular with many mentions of Nigeria. No ID heard. Not too bad at tune-in but really dropped down after 0815 and barely audible. Could still hear M talk with journalist sound bite at 0822. Seemed gone at 0828 check but probably just a deep fade. Found it later at 1005 with strong signal and end of English news summary by W followed by M with ID, Afro percussion music bridge, then into "Business Weekly" by same W host. (12 July) (Dave Valko, Dunlo PA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** PERU. 5025, R Quillabamba, Quillabamba. SS, QQ, 2235-2248 July 14, messages, local events and necrologic announcements programme, 2245 ads about medical clinic center and shoe store "todo a precio de la fábrica..." 33433 (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Embu SP Brasil - Sony ICF SW40 - dipole 18m, 32m, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 5014.3, 0343, Radio Altura, Chaupimarca good & clear 14/6 with popular Latin rhythms, regular program promos and IDs. Chariots of Fire (Vangelis) theme at 0459 and closing announcements (Bryan Clark at Mangawhai, New Zealand with AOR7030+ and Alpha Delta Sloper, EWE to NE and various 100 metre BOGs to the Americas, July NZ DX Times via DXLD) 5014.3, 0425, Radio Altura. Fair to good in Spanish with birthday greetings at 0430. S/off at 0500. 18/06 (John Durham, Tauranga, New Zealand, JRC535d, Eavesdropper trap dipole antenna, ibid.) 5015, 0358, R. Altura. Poor in Spanish & Quechua, also heard 18/6 0453 Fair to start, but soon faded. Very lively M announcer, multi IDs – 14/6 (Kelvin Brayshaw, Levin, New Zealand, Eton E-5, Indoor HF Loop, ibid.) 5014.37, R. Altura, 0458 "Happy Birthday", ad, live M, back to music. Heard earlier before 0450 with "Happy Birthday" as well. Pretty nice signal. (27 June) (Dave Valko, visiting Netherlands or Luxembourg, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** PERU [and non]. 4774.98, Radio Tarma, 1019-1030 July 14. Very weak signal here as a male comments in Spanish. Not a solid signal but it's there. Incidentally, CODAR is back on this band. I am thinking that the reason I didn't hear CODAR the other day was because conditions were so bad and it wasn't fading in here in Florida. So in the future, I can expect not to hear CODAR when conditions are bad, and when conditions are good and I should hear my DX favorites, then CODAR will also be blasting in to block them. "Ain't this fun?" (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston, Florida, NRD545, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. Amigos: El día sábado entre las 2330 y 0100 (del domingo) esuché una emisora peruana en 5059 kHz pero no pude escuchar ninguna ID. La programación era de música, anuncios y avisos comerciales. Si bien la señal era buena (3/4), la modulación era bastante ininteligible. He buscado por Internet y no encontrado nada. Alguna sugerencia? Atentamente (Miguel Castellino, location unknown, July 14, condiglist yg via DXLD) Receiver image from 5969? (gh, DXLD) ** PERU. 6019.42, Radio Victoria, (presumed), 0817-0858, July 15, Lots of noise this morning, but with a clear frequency this early, I can hear a male and female in Spanish comments together. Signal has not yet faded in to its potential; however, later on the "heavy hitters" will be signing on blocking Victoria for the rest of the morning. So this may be the best I will be able to hear her for the day? Signal hasn't improved by 0844; still just a little worse than threshold, if that can be a choice? At 0850 noting a male in Spanish comments while the signal begins to improve just slightly. At 0855, canned ads or promos heard. Signal is starting to show some promise. I estimate that I have couple more minutes before Radio Australia comes on the air blocking everything? At 0857 a male in steady discourse with typical Peruvian Spanish accent. It sounds like he is preaching. Heard "Hallelujah" a couple of times. Yes it's the "weeping" preacher as I like to refer to him. At 0900 Radio Australia comes up in Pidgin language programming. Can't hear Victoria anymore except for a carrier (Chuck Bolland, FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I consider R. Victoria a bane, not only for its wacky gospel- huxtering, but since it puts a het on 6020.0 stations, such as CRI relay before 0600 --- but there was no such het July 15, so I figured RV was missing at that time (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. Ich höre auf 14285 ab 20 utc Russisch und Französisch und Ansage "Radio Canao oder Kanao oder Ganao" vielleicht auch Ghanao??? ************** Hinweis Uli Bihlmayer "Radio Kanal..." 73 de (Wolf DK2OM, July 13, via Wolfgang Büschel, DXLD) Leider habe ich auf der 14285 nur Kontest- und andere Amateurstationen gehört. Für eine Harmonische oder Intermodulation spricht eher das 22 und 19 mb Rundfunkband. Um 2000 sendet NordKorea in Französisch auf 13760 und 15245 kHz, ist das Programm deckungsgleich? Seit dem 5. Mai auf Sendung. Mach' mir doch mal eine MP3 oder .WAV File, um sich das anzuhören. Eine Formel kann ich aber (noch) nicht erkennen. 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, July 14, ibid.) Subject: 14285 = Golos Rossiye = Radio Kanal Sadruschesdwa [sic] Hallo, Ihr beiden Wölfe, ******** Info: Funkkontrollmessstelle Konstanz danke für die Mail betr. 14285 kHz. Ich habe gestern Abend von 1945 UTC bis ca 2045 UTC auf 14285 kHz reingehört. Anfangs war das Signal S9+20dB, stieg dann in der nächsten Stunde auf bis S9+30dB an, um dann gegen 2045 UTC langsam auf S7 abzufallen. Es waren immer zwei Programme gleichzeitig zu hören: 1945-1957 sehr laut ein Programm in türkischer Sprache, um 1955 erschien zudem ein Messton auf der QRG. Um 2000 begann ein Programm in russischer Sprache, Ansagen waren "Radio Kanal Sadruschesdwa" und "Golos Rossiye" (Stimme Russlands). So gegen 2030 UT war laut indische Filmmusik zu hören, anschließend Musik nach Art von Richard Wagner, Bayreuth. Ich habe versucht, oberhalb und unterhalb in den Rundfunkbändern die beiden Programme zu finden; dies gelang mir jedoch nicht. Ich werde heute nochmals reinhören. Vielleicht klappt es dann. Hier meine Aufnahmen: File UTC Inhalt ******************************************************************** voice 007 1945 - 1952 türkische Sprache 008 1954 - 2000 Messton, "Golos Rossiye" 009 2005 - 2009 Programm in russischer Sprache 010 2009 - 2019 Jingle, ann.: "Radio Kanal Sadruschesdwa" und "Golos Rossiye", indische Filmmusik 011 2030 - 2031 indische Filmmusik Vy 73 und happy listening de:- (Uli DJ9KR, ibid.) Rather Sodruzhestvo; ?? Radio Canao ?? Hello, please help to solve a radio puzzle. 14285 kHz ham radio band. Intruder of broadcasting station. 1 - Wolf and Uli of the IARU/German Bandwatch informed me, -- since a week or so - , that around 1945 til 2100 UT, he both [and German FNA- BNA FCC direction finding station Konstanz too] could hear an UNID bc station program on 14285 kHz channel. During the various ham radio contest actions I could only listen to ham stations in previous week, - sorry of my limited station equipment. 2 - But yesterday I asked Wolf and Uli to send me recordings of the UNID broadcasts to check that matter - to listen to aural. 3 - see inluded wav. files, - but transformed by Y.T. in condensed .MP3 format because of the huge .wav volume. WB: voice 007 could be also another Turk language, see http://titus.fkidg1.uni-frankfurt.de/didact/karten/turk/turklm.htm but not Farsi, Dari, Pashto language family, - I guess, maybe Turkmen, of an operator on Asghabat site? I see no formula [of harmonics or intermodulations] at this time of the night, that fits with adjacent 22 or 19 mb outlets of Russian radio. It could be, that a ham operator at Armavir-Krasnodar or Middle East CIS radio station relay this Turkish and Radio Rossii Sodruzhestvo program on 14285 kHz towards Asia ? It's hardly a hx because of the xxxx5 kHz channel. VOR French service only relayed at 2000-2100 UT by Moscow 12040 and Krasnodar 15455 site --- 2000-2100 15455 Krasnodar 500 Europe 2000-2100 12040 Moscow 200 Europe VOR Turkish only sent out in our afternoon: New summer A-08 schedule for Voice of Russia in Turkish: 1400-1500 on 7325 ARM 100 kW / 190 deg 11985 SRP 500 kW / 185 deg 13855 MSK 200 kW / 190 deg 1500-1600 on 7325 ARM 100 kW / 190 deg 11635 S.P 200 kW / 145 deg 13870 MSK 200 kW / 190 deg (R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX Apr 22) 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) Dear friends, this is Uli, DJ9KR, Coordinator of DARC MONITORING SYSTEM Intruder Watch. As yesterday at around 2045 UT the signal on 14285 kHz in AM (A3E) appeared. Maximum signal strength on my TS-940-S (Kenwood transceiver) with a 3 element beam FB-33 (Fritzel) was S 9 + 25 dB. The program was, as yesterday, Turkish (or was it Turkmenian?). At 1955 UT a measuring tone was audible parallel to the Turkish program. The tone lasted till 1957. At 2000 there was a jingle, then program in Russian voice with the announcement "Golos Rossiye" (Voice of Russia). The program in Turkish voice had ended. At 2037 the signal was fading out and went down to S5. Please listen to my recording "voice001"! URL of Intruder Watch is www.iarums-r1.org with a wealth of information. (Regards, Uli, DJ9KR, ibid.) Hi, Tbilisskaya site combination spurious product with CRI Turkish 1170 kHz relay and some other frequency test tone. After 2000 1170 kHz switches back to VOR Russian. Best regards, (Mauno Ritola, Finland, ibid.) S o d r u z h e s t v o radio kanal Okay Mauno, congrats, problem solved in Finland - respective discovered the relation !! Bad mixture of MW 1170 kHz 1200 kW and SW 15455 kHz 500 kW, -- as Wolf reported French language services also involved in past week too. Formula 15455 minus 1170 = 14285 kHz should also be on symmetrical 15455 plus 1170 = 16625 kHz French 2000-2100 15455[til Sept 6th] 11980[from Sept 7th] Tbilisskaya site near Armavir Krasnodar 500kW to Europe Turkish 2000-2100 1170 1170 Krasnodar 1200kW NE/ME (some Russian ?CIS service?) 2100-2200 1170 1170 Krasnodar 1200kW NE/ME Both 1170 kHz outlets not registered/scheduled yet ! But still not solved: \\ 7105 kHz, formula could be 5935 plus 1170 = 7105 kHz 5935 minus 1170 = 5765 kHz Location: RUS ARM Armavir Tbilisskaya / Oktyabrskoye (in Krasnodar) 45 28 22.60 N 40 06 18.89 E MW antenna only 750 meters westwards at RUS Tbilisskaya B.Zarya antenna 1170kHz 210deg 45 28 32.93 N 40 05 38.13 E directional mediumwave aerial is 2.220 kilometers long ! 27 MW masts. (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) 1170 kHz CRI China Radio International Krasnodar relay. 1900-1957 Turkish 9655kun, 7255xia, 7225msk/1170kdr(1930- UTC) Wolf, when did you listen to the \\ 7105 kHz outlet? In the 1930-2000 UT slot, or later in 2000-2100 UT portion? (Büschel to the other Wolf) Wolfy, please note that the 20-21 slot on 1170 kHz is Russian, not Turkish (Mauno Ritola, ibid.) Yes Mauno, it was toooo late at night yesterday and I was sleepy, -- that wrong time item was my fault: Correct 14285 kHz from ARM Armavir Tbilisskaya / Oktyabrskoye (in Krasnodar): 1930-2000 CRI Beijing China relay in Turkish, 2000-2100 VoRussia in Russian, Sodruzhestvo px. Observation on \\ 7105 kHz puzzles me - still. 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) [all the above via Büschel, DXLD) [gh prefers to present info in chrono order than reverse chrono order, so hopes this has all been put back together correctly] ** SAO TOME. VOA-São Tomé relay 4960 kHz full data letter. I sent the report directly to the Station Manager Kenneth A. Tripp asking (OK -- pleading and begging) that the date, time, and frequency be included on the verification if possible. What I got was a two-page form letter on IBB-São Tomé Transmitting Station letterhead with the date printed in the body of the letter and the time and frequency added in ink. The frequency was added in the sentence about the use of their tropical band transmitter for audiences in Central and West Africa. My report for was a log on May 24; the letter was dated June 24, and received here with a Dulles Airport postmark on July 10 (Jim Ronda, Tulsa OK, NASWA Flashsheet July 13 via DXLD) ** SOUTH AFRICA. SPRINGBOK RADIO ‘BACK ON AIR' By: Tshepiso Seopa http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/59/26382.html South Africa's first commercial radio station, Springbok Radio, is back on air by popular demand. The Springbok Radio Preservation Society of South Africa, a non-profit organisation based in Johannesburg, resurrected the old radio station by launching a fully fledged Internet radio service earlier this month. The new station is referred to as The Internet Radio Service of Springbok Radio.com. The streaming service operates from the society's website at http://www.springbokradio.com [beware: auto-launches via http://www.streamovation.com/springbok/ another link sent by Artie] The site was overloaded to a point that it went down on the second day after it launched on Tuesday, 1 July 2008, says John Ferreira, the marketing executive for the Springbok Radio Preservation Society of South Africa. “On our first day on air we had 19 000 people streaming in, on the second day we had 24 000; that demand was [so] big for our system that it crashed. However, we were able to go back on air after nine days using a bigger stream that can cope with an overload.” Ferreira says the society has been collecting a treasure trove of comedies, drama, suspense horror stories and restoring and archiving all that had been lost over the years. “Over 20 000 original programmes have been found thus far. Comedies, dramas, horror stories spanning over 30 years were only broadcast once and we are of the opinion that those programmes deserve to be heard again.” All new programmes concentrate on nostalgia and are presented in the old format associated with Radio Springbok. “We operate for 24 hours a day, repeating a six-hour compilation of programmes four times daily to accommodate listeners both home and abroad,” says Ferreira. The society hasn't made the decision yet to commercialise the station, although there have been inquiries from big corporates wanting to associate with the station. The history of Springbok Radio On 1 May 1950, for the first time in the history of this country, Afrikaans- and English-speaking South Africans woke up to the voice of Eric Egan broadcasting for the first time on the wireless that morning. Before the station could be launched, the SABC spent close to five years investigating how a commercial radio station would supplement its existing English and Afrikaans public service networks. After a consultation with Lord Reith of the BBC and the South African government, Springbok Radio was launched, broadcasting on the AM frequency. The station migrated to FM after the frequency was launched. Commercial TV is said to have caused the termination of Springbok Radio when it was launched in 1976. Subsequently, the station was closed down on 31 December 1985 (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** SRI LANKA. 11905, SLBC, 1218 July 12, talk in Tamil then with Tamil songs, 45544. No signal on 13th (Zacharias Liangas, Litohoron, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SRI LANKA [non]. 7205, GERMANY, IBC-Tamil via Wertachtal, 0007- 0059* Jul 11, man with long talks in Tamil language followed by ID and apparent news at 0030. Musical program mixed with talks after the news. Music fanfare followed by ID and closing announcements at 0059. Fair (Rich D'Angelo, PA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** TATARSTAN [non]. RUSSIA, 15110, R. Tatarstan, 0410 with ID in Russian then talks by YL in Tatar (a Turk-like language), then a song by OM, S5 35423, 11+14 July. On 14th signal was marginal, as most on the band (Zacharias Liangas, Retziki, Thessaloniki, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UGANDA. 4976, R. Uganda/UBC R., 1959 just caught end of English address announcement by M, Afro hi-life music, then closing announcements and continued Afro Hi-life to 2001. Dead air, then canned English program promo mixed with dance hi-life music and mention of the Red Channel and musical artists given. ".Red Channel on UBC Radio". 2006 M in English with program sounding like "Radio Waya". Had QRM from a station of equal strength on 4975 which must have been the V. of Russia. UBC very nice after 2000 when 4975 went off, 20 June (Dave Valko, visiting Netherlands or Luxembourg, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** U K. Re 8-080, 14055 intruder: ``Does not work out as harmonic (gh)`` But intermodulation at Rampisham: 2 x 13865 minus 13675 = 14055 kHz. Same figures - ex-13785, due of MSK relay both sides?, or ham radio intruder matter? (Wolfgang Büschel, July 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) But, if 13675 replaced 13865, both would not be on air at same time. Again July 15 at 1700+ could not hear either, but detected a carrier on 13675, not 13865 (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) ** U K. Not jumping to conclusions here, but some BBC programs I am fond of seem to be unavailable any more, in Canada anyway. I've been unable to connect to Sounds of the Sixties, or Malcolm Laycock on Radio 2. I managed to hear both of Mark LaMarr's programs after jumping thru a few hoops. Perhaps its because I am not in the UK. Perhaps the transition to the new player is a work in progress. Radio 3, 4 and 7 seem to go on as usual, for now. I'd miss these BBC domestic programs...but if they become unavailable abroad, as Celine Dion sings, "my heart will go on" (Fred Waterer, Ont., July 14, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I am wondering if it could be a rights issue; the BBC blocks some sporting programming online from overseas users (Maryanne Kehoe, GA, ODXA yg via DXLD) It might be, Maryanne, but Laycock plays music from the 20s to 50s (with a few modern versions). Copyright in the UK is only 50 years. Fair or not to the artists involved, anything 1958 or older is now fair game. Brian Matthew (Sounds of the Sixties) plays similar music to Suzi Quatro also on Radio 2. One show seems to be available one doesn't. Maybe it`s just a glitch and these programs may be available shortly. Or it might be the first sign that some BBC programming will no longer be available to us outside the UK. Time will tell. We don't pay license fees outside the UK, so I don't consider I have a right to this programming, but I have enjoyed the opportunity to hear it to date (Fred Waterer, ibid.) Sounds like what BBC has been doing with the "Torchwood" and "The Sarah Jane Adventures" sites - if your not in the UK, you won't get most of the site features. However, if the BBC site you are trying to access has a text only option, try that (sometimes that opens up things you might not normally have access to outside of the UK). Sincerely, (Dave Jeffery, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) For Radio 2 try the link on this page, ignore the fact that the player says it's the July 5 Sounds of the Sixties, it isn't, it's July 12, Malcom Laycock also works here, you get the Radio Player not the new integrated Iplayer: http://dave.org.uk/streams/Radio%202.html There's links to other networks if you are having problems. The speech networks also give you either the Radio Player or the direct Real Player links. Another site for the listen live Real Player streams is: http://www.bbcradio.mobi/BBC_Radio.html They have been moving all the national and regional radio networks over to the integrated IPlayer for the past week, I think Radio 4 was due to be the last to move yesterday. Listen Again can be accessed in two ways, via the A-Z listings or via the Iplayer site. The Radio 4 Friday Play this week was available via the Iplayer but not via the A-Z listings but I get the shows you mentioned via both: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/radio Their help page says that most radio programmes will be available outside the UK although sporting and other programmes may be subject to rights agreements. There's contact details if you are having problems: http://iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.uk/help/download_programmes/outsideuk Same answer here: http://iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.uk/help/about_iplayer/radio_world On June 26 James Cridland, BBC Head of Future Media and Technology, said in his personal blog that: "My friends outside the UK get the improved navigation and everything except the Flash player (it should drop into Real Player for on-demand content). Let me know if it does. Or if it doesn't." http://james.cridland.net/blog/2008/06/26/iplayer-gets-radio-properly-this-time My guess would be that they might not have fully implemented this yet. He said in the BBC Radio Labs blog last week: "Finally, those of you with wifi radios may notice a temporary reduction in listen-again programmes. Rest assured, we plan to properly support wifi radios for listen-again going forward, and some of my team are working hard on new code to make manufacturers' jobs rather easier. Our apologies if your favourite show goes missing from your wifi radio in the next few weeks; we're working very hard to bring them back." http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/radiolabs/ Don't know whether there's a connection between that and your problems. Seems the intention is to offer overseas the old service whereas we get improved sound quality and navigation (Mike Barraclough, England, ibid.) ** U K. Re 8-080: Johnny Beerling of Radio One to be interviewed on Pirate Radio Skues --- Johnny Beerling, worked at the BBC for the whole of his working life, from 1957 to 1993, having started as a junior engineer. From that position he graduated to Studio manager, Sound Engineer, Producer, Executive Producer, Head of Programmes and finally Controller of BBC Radio 1 from 1985 to 1993. He produced Radio One's first programme, the Tony Blackburn Breakfast Show. He has recently published a book Radio One, the Inside Story. Johnny Beerling will be interviewed by Keith Skues on Sunday during the Pirate Radio Skues programme on BBC Radio Norfolk 2100-0100 BST (UTC+1), also taken by several BBC Eastern Counties local stations. This will most likely be a one hour feature in the Archive Hour/Features section of the programme 2300-0000. Listen live and listen again at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/norfolk/local_radio/ (Mike Barraclough, worlddxclub yg via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Re DXLD 8-079, no one asked me, WTFK? about this item. The frequency was 11740, and BTW, HFCC says both hours are via Philippines, not first hour via Thailand as in Aoki: ```Lovely rendition of ``Beautiful Dreamer`` in English by tenor and plucked instrument, July 10 at 1314, tnx to the VOA Korean service, outroed by announcement in that language at 1318. This usually has good signal here, far from the target, since it is the Thailand relay at 38 degrees during this hour; the second hour at 14-15 switches to Philippines at 21 degrees, per Aoki. Why aren`t these transmissions jammed?``` I log this again on July 15 at 1308, but now the damned `bonker` is pounding away centered on 11740 but extending +/- 10, ruining VOA reception, maybe not so in target since I suspect it`s close to North America, but has no business in the middle of a broadcast band! VOA was // 5890, but furthermore this time there was co-channel broadcast QRM on 11740. Several possibilities in Aoki: most likely Japan via Singapore in Chinese; or CNR2 via Xian in English; even Vatican in Spanish. Once again at 1315 it must be time for a nice inspirational song on VOA Korean, this time John-Denverish ``You Raise Me Up`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. An endless procession of thunderstorms this week kept the radios unplugged and the antennas disconnected. But as fortune would have it my mailbox provided the best DX for the week. The following QSLs: VOA-Woofferton relay 15565 kHz full data Delano antenna card -- I wonder how many of these they still have around? VOA-Sri Lanka relay 15730 kHz full data Tinian antenna card VOA-Thailand relay 9890 kHz full data Tinian antenna card VOA-Madagascar relay 12080 kHz full data Tinian antenna card +the Thailand and Madagascar verifications were put on one card, perhaps to save money? (Jim Ronda, Tulsa OK, NASWA Flashsheet July 13 via DXLD) See also SAO TOME ** U S A. On a shortwave station the actual transmit antenna is a grid of wires hung between the towers. See http://www.antenna.be/lph.html Been a few decades since I got the nickel tour from Joe C., but I recall WRNO's antenna as being a spidery, zig-zag thing. Didn't look like much, but the engineers would tell tales of the insulators melting from all of the high-power rf (Doctor_Technical, July 12, radio-info.com Louisiana board http://www.radio-info.com/smf/index.php/topic,103965.0.html via Artie Bigley, DXLD) Been a few decades since I got the nickel tour from Joe C., but I recall WRNO's antenna as being a spidery, zig-zag thing. Didn't look like much, but the engineers would tell tales of the insulators melting from all of the high-power rf. Back during WRNO WW Heyday you could receive it from Alaska to the Middle East and in Central America off the back side of the antenna, even in San Diego CA. All this from a 100 kW water cooled transmitter. When it finally gave up the ghost, Joe got an air cooled one but did not replaced the tuning coil. According to an engineer I talked to when the new owners bought it from the family, when they would change frequencies they had to make sure nobody was in the room for fear of being electrocuted. Burn marks dotted the walls by blue sparks from the transmitter (both the water cool and the air cool). The final nail in the coffin was a lightning strike that made the coil catch fire and severely damaged the transmitter. The antenna did have melted insulators but were easily repaired. It was a very expensive system for its time, but had the widest coverage over all the single transmitter shortwave stations in the world. They used a small 150 watt transmitter to stay on the air, but after Joe`s death the family just wanted to unload it. It was a shame, because when I was working abroad, RNO ww was my little piece of home especially when they simulcast with WRNO-FM. Now it is just another wasted station programing needless garbage (GJ Rousse, Jr., ibid.) Or would be, if it were on the air (gh) Well, After working there a couple of years, let me correct a few things. Insulators are made of ceramic; they do not burn up. I used to change frequency at night when I worked a shift there, no sparks would "fly out"; that is a complete falsehood. After Joe's death, "I went to the funeral and am friends with M.C. and Aloma his personal assistant for years", the estate willed the shortwave to the Catholic church. This was worked out ahead of Joe`s death in lieu of going to hell for past sins. No joke, this was told to me by someone near to the family. Also, coils are metal and do not catch fire. Whomever you talked to must be RETARDED! The small transmitter you speak of was a Yaesu ham transceiver. And to finish my rant, the antenna system was hand built from a kit by Joe Pollet in 1981/82. It was a 13 db gain log periodic beaming 20 degrees of mag north toward Detroit from N.O. Most of the time we barely ran half power because of the cost of electricity and the transmitter not making power on certain bands (K Duplantis, ibid.) Kevin, Good to see you on the board. I remember one of the NOLA engineers "in the know" telling me that the insulators' failure mechanism was that the high-power/voltage/r.f. field would change the crystalline structure of the ceramic insulators over time. Whether engineering fact or just a good story, it impressed me! (Paul E. Burt, Baton Rouge, LA, ibid.) Pig Vomit wonders why there is still such shock and awe at the Costello bro's. Mike told me, that on Joe's deathbead, he told him the CP was granted to go to 100 kW. And, according to Mike, Joe smiled (Pigvomit, ibid.) K D, I'll admit that the engineer I had talked to while the new ownership was installing the new transmitter, was before Katrina hit. He showed me the old coil and it did looked like it catch fire. Not the plates but something did burn inside it. The walls in the room did show burn marks. Whether he stretched some of the story; maybe. I try to keep my facts as accurate as possible; however, I visited the site before the storm (I think '04) so I may have got some facts wrong. I am only Human (G. J. Rousse, Jr., ibid.) ** U S A. In CONNECTICUT, a war of words continues between the town of Burlington and WJMJ (88.9 Hartford), which has transmitted from a tower on Johnnycake Mountain for more than two decades. The agreement that allowed WJMJ to use the tower required the station to broadcast ecumenical programming, and town officials have been complaining that WJMJ's recent format change to Catholic talk programming is in violation of that deal. The town is expected to issue a cease-and- desist order against the station and its owner, the Archdiocese of Hartford, possibly as early as this week. (NERW notes: the FCC has recently taken a dim view of tower-use contracts that attempt to regulate programming, labeling them in some cases an unauthorized transfer of control of the station. Will Federal law overrule the town in this case? Stay tuned.) (Scott Fybush, NE Radio Watch July 14 via DXLD) ** U S A. ANNUNCIATION RADIO --- FOUNDER HOPES TO HAVE LOCAL CATHOLIC STATION UP BY YEAR'S END Article published Saturday, July 14, 2007 Michael Learned, deacon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, is working to get the station on the air. (THE BLADE/LORI KING) [caption] By DAVID YONKE BLADE RELIGION EDITOR Catholic radio is coming to northwest Ohio. "We are going to be on the air. There's no question," said Deacon Michael Learned, one of the board members of Annunciation Radio. The details - the frequency, coverage area, and specific programming, for example - are yet to be determined, hinging largely on how much money the nonprofit organization can raise. Startup costs are estimated at between $750,000 and $1 million, Mr. Learned said. . . http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070714/NEWS10/707140353 (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) Mentions WEWN as programming source (Artie) ** U S A. 1620, WWLV South Bend IN has changed callsign to WPNT. New format is CNN News (IRCA, June, via NZ DX Times, July via DXLD) ** U S A. "Bryant Park Project": So long, we hardly knew you... While NPR is a bit outside the realm of international broadcasting, some developments there may interest folks here, since much NPR news / current affairs programming has its stylistic roots in shortwave broadcasting. NPR is ending its alternative, youth-oriented morning current affairs program, "The Bryant Park Project", as of July 25th. Very few stations other than HD sub-channels picked up the program; the John Hockenberry-hosted PRI/WNYC program "The Takeaway" has seen greater traction than "The Bryant Park Project," even though some think that "The Takeaway" isn't exactly great radio. The NYTimes had a relatively decent analysis of this - see http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/14/arts/14npr.html?_r=1&oref=slogin (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, July 14, swprograms via DXLD) Too bad. I thought they did a rather decent job and were heading in the right direction. The brahmins sure didn't give them much time. And what's all the talk about lack of money? I thought Joan Kroc (Ray's widow... you know, the guy who owned McDonald's) left them millions in an endowment. Has poor planning and budgeting eaten through that already? (John Figliozzi, ibid.) I thought the same thing regarding the McMoney - wasn't that resource specifically for new stuff? And I agree that the program wasn't given enough time to get its sea legs, which is unfortunate. After all, shouldn't public radio be managed differently than commercial radio? Hmmm. Might be worth a note to the NPR Ombudsman (Richard Cuff, ibid.) For its few webcasts between 11 and 15 UT, see http://www.publicradiofan.com/cgibin/program.pl?programid=5095 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VATICAN. Re 8-079, what in the world is celp? Of the 651,000 Google hits on the term, I`m tempted to go with #3, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_Excited_Linear_Prediction Does this have an application in DRM? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA. 4940, 1145, Radio Amazonas [tentative], fair to almost good with frequent mentions of Venezuela. Spanish 18/06. 4940, 1145, UNID, Frequent mentions of Venezuela, Caracas and Quito with nonstop spoken program in Spanish, faded out around 1220. Fair to quite good some nights. Radio Amazonas? (John Durham, Tauranga, New Zealand, JRC535d, Eavesdropper trap dipole antenna, July NZ DX Times via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. Hola Glenn, Saludos. Re 8-080: La presente es para agradecer las cordiales palabras del colega Benjamin Dawson, en relación con mi artículo "Los 20 años de la FM comercial en Venezuela". Tan sólo fue una reseña de mis primeros pasos en la escucha de la radio, ya que años antes -en 1985- comencé mi afición por la onda corta. De hecho, grabé infinidad de cassettes con esas identificaciones de Éxitos 107, tanto el 1ero de julio de 1988 como en fechas posteriores, pero por cosas del destino se me perdieron. No saben cómo lo lamento. Sin duda es imperdonable haber olvidado en mi artículo al señor Enrique Cuzco, cuya familia era dueña del Circuito Unión Radio para ese momento. Agradezco al colega Benjamin por su comentario y su interesante explicación acerca de su participación en el proyecto de Éxitos 107. En las próximas semanas hablaré más acerca del tema de la FM y compartiré con ustedes algunos archivos de audio con captaciones de aquella época. 73s y buen DX (Adán González, Catia La Mar, Estado Vargas, VENEZUELA, DX LISTENIING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 2379.86, Brasil? with YL weak at 1010 to 1027 being heard July 14. Anyone closer with help on this one? 73's (Bob Wilkner, FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 3453, RE 8-081: Glenn, Thank you for your information, the religion society in Brazil is CNBB, Confederação Nacional dos Bispos do Brasil, "Católic Church" (Marcio Martins Pontes, Registro - SP, Membro DXCB, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 3450: hola amigos, finalmente pude saber algo más de esta emisora que sale en una frecuencia extraña, totalmente fuera de banda. Se trata de WEWN; no sé si es una emisión directa en esa frecuencia, si es harmónico de otra frecuencia, o repetidora. Lo que les puedo decir es que a la hora 2215 UT sale la misma programación que en los 17510. Lo probé con varios receptores y en todos se repetia esto, lo que me descarta posibles frecuencias imágenes provacadas por el propio receptor. Saludos (Victor Castaño, Uruguay? July 13, condiglist yg via DXLD) Surely a relay (gh) UNIDENTIFIED. 4880, July-14 2231-2233 seems to be a short number transmission and repeating many times the same phrase, by female. UnID language (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Embu SP Brasil - Sony ICF SW40 - dipole 18m, 32m, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 4908: see EUROPE UNIDENTIFIED. 5059: see PERU UNIDENTIFIED. 5996.31, 1039-1052 July 14. Noted a male in Spanish language comments. This signal is threshold and being pounded with splatter. This might be Radio Melodía from Perú or Radio Loyola from Bolivia. Both have been reported here. If I had to make a choice, I'd go with Melodía, but not today. Melodia isn't on their regular frequency of 5939.28 this morning and I haven't heard them there for a while (days). By 1052 their signal is becoming irregular due to fading (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston, Florida, NRD545, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DIGITAL BROADCASTING ++++++++++++++++++++ THE END OF ANALOG So, how are you going to observe and document the end of analog TV? You could buy a bunch of $3 VCR's at yard sales so all the channels in your area can be recorded. Just curious (Bill Frahm, Boise, AMFMTVDX mailing list via DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ HOMEPLUG --- BIG THREAT TO SHORTWAVE RADIO [re 8-080] Data Over Mains chip uses 3 - 30 MHz http://www.southgatearc.org/news/december2006/data_over_mains.htm NATO releases major report on effects of BPL http://www.southgatearc.org/news/september2007/nato_bpl_report.htm Data-Over-Mains - HomePlug might use 2-50 MHz http://www.southgatearc.org/news/october2007/homeplug_may_use_2_50mhz.htm Data over mains in Personal Computer World magazine http://www.southgatearc.org/news/october2007/data_over_mains.htm DRM report highlights problems caused by PLC/BPL http://www.southgatearc.org/news/november2007/drm_report_on_bpl.htm Data-Over-Mains: Netgear recalls 82000 powerline Ethernet adaptors http://www.southgatearc.org/news/january2008/netgear_recall.htm BT to offer 100 Mbit/s residential broadband http://www.southgatearc.org/news/january2008/100mbit_broadband.htm Solihull announces plans for BPL/PLT http://www.southgatearc.org/news/may2008/solihull_bpl.htm Adrian, BT supply HomePlugs with just about all their Broadband/BT Vision installations. I suspect the installed user base of these devices now runs into several hundred thousand. HomePlug provides a simple means of linking the modem attached to the main telephone outlet, usually near the front door, with the Television (BT Vision) and household computers scattered around the home. The big drawback of HomePlug is the RF interference it produces. This may not be a problem if your antenna is 40+ feet high and some distance from the house but there can be issues if it's near electrical wiring. Clearly 2.4 GHz Wifi or 60 GHz WirelessHD are less polluting means of distributing Broadband/Video unfortunately consumers will take whatever the service provider installs. 73 (Trevor M5AKA, monitoringmonthly yg via DXLD) KAITO KA1121 CORRECTION Hi All, The frequency coverage of the Kaito KA1121 is different than I reported - there is a coverage gap between 1710 and 3000 kHz. Why? Damned if I know; maybe the Chinese dislike the 160 meter amateur band (Curtis Sadowski, IL, WTFDA via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ Re: DXLD 8-080, SOLAR CYCLE AND JOVIAN INFLUENCE I have been playing with shortwave as an SWL and ham for about 60 years. I am beginning to believe that there is nothing really new, just old stuff that has been ignored or forgotten. When I read the abstract of the subject paper in DXLD 8-080 I immediately thought of the work of a J. Nelson of RCA from the 1950's. He made his living by predicting shortwave propagation conditions using the alignment of the planets. His employer, RCA Global Communications was a prime user of SW for cablegrams in the days before communications satellites and undersea fibre-optic cables. Since the orbits and future positions of the planets are totally predictable, Nelson was able to do long term propagation forecasts using his technique. He was also propagation editor for 73 magazine until 1982. More recently, David Dalton, K9WQ, did some followup tests of Nelson's theory. He tested past propagation records against planetary positions going back in time to see if there was any correlation. His article copyrighted in 2004 is available at: His conclusion is that there are some interesting correlations and he suggests additional study. For inquiring minds who want to know, here are some references: "Shortwave Radio Propagation Correlation with Planetary Positions", by John H. Nelson. Published in RCA Review, March 1951, Vol. XII, No. 1. Scanned image of article available on the Web "Planetary Position Effect on Short-Wave Signal Quality," by J. H. Nelson, May 1952. A scanned image of the article is available on the Web at Sanford, F. 1936. Influence of Planetary Configurations Upon the Frequency of Visible Sunspots, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. A third party review of Nelson's work did not confirm the validity of Nelson's technique. This is posted at: "Shortwave Radio Propagation: Analysis of the Forecasts of John Nelson "Geoffrey Dean Correlation 1983, 3.1, 4-37. This study examines Nelson's claims that heliocentric planetary aspects correlate with shortwave radio quality (hard aspects make it worse) and that they can be used to improve the accuracy of forecasts. Computer analysis of 2006 half-day or quarter-day quality forecasts (based on planetary positions) made by Nelson for RCA during 1964-5, and 4960 daily forecasts made for 73 Magazine during 1966-82, failed to find support for his claims. There was no significant correlation between forecast and outcome (mean r = 0.01), and the outcome on days forecast as poor was not significantly different from that on days forecast as good. "Nelson's forecasts performed considerably worse than US Government forecasts and a control forecast based on the quality one solar rotation before. The accuracy of 105 forecasts of solar flares was not significantly better than chance. To increase the sensitivity of the analysis a daily planetary index based on Nelson's rules was compared with observed radio qualities and geomagnetic indices. No planetary effect was detectable, nor was the alleged effect of nodes and perihelia. In disagreement with Nelson's claims, hard aspects and associated harmonic aspects were not consistently more numerous on the most disturbed 3% of days during 1969-80 than on the least disturbed 3% of days. In particular the 12 days with the most adverse planetary configurations during 25 years were not significantly different from those with the least adverse. "Nelson's claims are incompatible with the physical processes involved and are shown to rest upon three things: (1) A statistical artifact due to the close but unequal spacing of aspect days, which means that small differences from radio days are more likely than large differences. (2) A calculation artifact due to counting forecasts as hits if they are within one unit of the observed quality, yet around 90% of all observed qualities fall within a range of one unit, so a hit rate of 90% (his claimed accuracy rate) is unremarkable. (3) Selection of data to fit the case. The results do not deny that the planets could affect the Sun in other ways." You will have to be the judge. It is hard to believe that Nelson was able to build a career doing propagation forcasts for the US Navy (as a Commander when my friend and big-time DXer, Joe Riesert-W1JR, served under Nelson) and with RCA Global Communications based on a false premise. Of course if planetary tidal influences can change the way the sun works, who will deny they might even influence human activities. My uncle who was a cop believed in the theory that the incidence of crazy crimes was highest at the time of the full moon (Joe Buch, July 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) THE GOOD OLD DAYS OF DOWN-UNDER MW DX TO NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY My experience, DXing from the New York metro area, is that in 1964 it was easy to hear Australia/New Zealand on the frequencies that were open then. The main criteria was to be DXing at 0430 local time, generally on Monday. Signals reached the east coast with some regularity and decent signals, when they did appear. The key was to have a clear frequency. A big drawback was the lack of any real-time reporting, and data correlation, the surviving records are either anecdotal, or just what was reported to Fred Van Voorhees in the NRC, by those who took the time to mail in their reports, and certainly reflect just a fraction of what was really heard then. The typical AM station ran AN-6 and was silent Mondays, though it was even then fairly common for stations to have two transmitters and be able to run AN-7. It was thought that Monday mornings had the fewest listeners. In 1964 I heard/verified 2NA-1510, 1YC-880 and 1ZD-1000 and had audio from 1YZ (I think it was) Rotorua-800, heard in northeast New Jersey. Many EC DXers were hearing these signals, Vinnie Cavaseno in Brooklyn is one name that comes to mind. Most of these DXers are no longer active, for whatever reason. Ben Dangerfield heard lots more DU than I did, and he is still active, he still lives in the Phila metro area. The typical receiving setup was basically a "short" "longwire" (typically 50 to 70 foot length) or more ideally a 3-foot or 4-foot air core tuned "tank circuit" loop, which is what I used. BOGs were unknown and Beverages were the domain of the New Zealanders who set them up at east-facing beaches. So, today's DXer has a tremendous antenna advantage that is still not good enough to offset the decreased propagation performance we now apparently have. In 1973 (the next solar minima) I heard 4QD-1550 at least a couple of times. That time I was in Nassau county LI NY. The biggest problem was the sign-on of WKFE Yauco PR which was just good enough to cover the 4QD details, that s/on happened about the time that 4QD would fade up to a usable level. Frequencies were still co-channel and there was by 1973-74 enough AN-7 operation that 1550 (thanks to CBC Windsor nightly s/off) was one of the few frequencies that was still usably clear. If the frequency assignments had not changed, it would be easy to make the case that, during each solar minima, it became harder to hear DU only because of increased co-channel QRM. However since in 1978 the DU assignments moved off of the 10 kHz spacing plan - and we STAYED ON IT - this created 90% virtual "clear channels" for the DU signals, which again was negatively impacted because of more NSP operation, higher noise from other sources, higher modulation levels generally, and now IBOC. I believe that if those other effects are discounted, and if the prop from DU to NA had stayed the same, then we should yet be having the type signals today (during solar minima) that we had in the previous minima, among which 1933 and 1954 are also historically remarkable. Those signals would be present, though impacted by the local interference effects. The fact that they are not present leads me to be in agreement with Patrick Martin`s remarks that "something" has indeed changed in long distance MW reception from DU and it is a change somewhat for the worse. I strongly believe this is the case. Some have tried to link this to air pollution, perhaps nitrous oxide, or hydrocarbons etc. I wouldn't discount it but I really don't know if that is a realistic possibility to explain what has apparently happened. It's not possible to compare with Tropical Band SW because the nature of the signals changed so much as transmitted. It's a shame the SDR radios have come along so late as this would have been possibly a good means to try to measure the level of the DU station RF carrier in the presence of QRM which would be harder to do in straight AM detection mode. The readout of an absolute RF signal level, with standard antennas, over a long time period, would help confirm or dispel whether true signal levels have dropped over time or not. PS - many today may not realize how close we came to having the entire western hemisphere also moved to a 9 kc spacing plan, which would have made "no" open frequency DXing of foreign signals possible. There was a lot of lobbying for it back then (Bob Foxworth, Tampa FL, IRCA via DXLD) ###