DX LISTENING DIGEST 9-033, April 14, 2009 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 2009 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 1456, April 16-22 Thu 0530 WRMI 9955 Thu 1900 WBCQ 7415 Fri 0000 WBCQ 5110-CUSB Area 51 Fri 0100 WRMI 9955 Fri 1130 WRMI 9955 Fri 1900 WBCQ 7415 Fri 1930 IPAR/IRRS/NEXUS/IBA 7290 Fri 2030 WWCR1 15825 [or 2029] Sat 0800 WRMI 9955 Sat 0800 IPAR/IRRS/NEXUS/IBA 9510 [except first Sat] Sat 1630 WWCR3 12160 Sun 0230 WWCR3 5070 Sun 0630 WWCR1 3215 Sun 0800 WRMI 9955 Sun 1515 WRMI 9955 Mon 0500 WRMI 9955 Mon 2200 WBCQ 7415 Tue 1100 WRMI 9955 Tue 1530 WRMI 9955 Tue 1900 WBCQ 7415 Wed 0500 WRMI 9955 [or new 1457 starting here?] Wed 1530 WRMI 9955 Wed 1900 WBCQ 7415 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 or http://schedule.worldofradio.org or http://sked.worldofradio.org 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://podcast.worldofradio.org or http://www.wrn.org/listeners/stations/podcast.php OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO: http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html or http://wor.worldofradio.org ** ANGUILLA [and non]. I think we should adopt "Porn-Pastor" for all future references to PMS (Harold Frodge, MI, also referencing the Marie Claire article, DXLD) 6090 absent at 0415 UT --- Not sure how long it will last, luckily I have had the Perseus recording 49+41 meters all evening. Two stations at almost co-equal levels and separated by approx 60 Hz, causing low rumble. Likely Amhara Regional State Radio [ETHIOPIA] slightly dominant if the music is any indication (Brandon Jordan - Memphis, TN, USA, UT April 13, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANTARCTICA. Glenn: I did a routine bandscan of 19 meters and came across a weak AM carrier on 15476 at around 1846 UT Monday, April 13, 2009. I heard brief musical selections and possible Spanish. Too weak to be sure but it appears I finally can say Antarctica made it to my QTH! I am excited that the geomagnetic field enabled me to at least barely copy this station on 15476 (Noble West, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ANTÁRTIDA, 15476, LRA 36, Radio Nacional Arcángel San Gabriel, 1838- 1906, 13-04, continúa escuchándose aceptablemente por aquí a esta hora. Comentarios por locutora, canciones románticas latinoamericanas, identificación a las 1858 por locutora: "Transmite LRA 36, Radio Nacional Arcángel San Gabriel, por 15476 kHz, banda de 19 metros, desde Base Esperanza, Antártida Argentina", comentarios y más canciones. 24322 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, España, Grundig Satellit 500 y Sony ICF SW 7600 G, Antena de cable, 8 metros, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hola Manuel: Efectivamente se escucha todos los días; en mi caso en Córdoba en zona urbana y por tanto la señal envuelta en ruido. No obstante hay momentos en los que puede escucharse con sorprendente nitidez, eso sí, mucho QSB. Saludos. Receptor: Etón E1 antena telescópica (Jorge Trinado, Spain, noticiasdx yg via DXLD) ANTARTIDA, 15476, LRA 36, Radio Nacional Arcángel San Gabriel. Base Esperanza --- Hace apenas tres días envié un mail a LRA 36, Radio Nacional Arcángel San Gabriel, y acabo de recibir contestación: "Hola Manuel, nosotros estamos en la Base Esperanza, Antártida Argentina; muchas veces estamos fuera de aire por problemas climatológicos. Esta es una zona muy fría, las temperaturas son casi siempre bajo cero y los vientos muy fuertes. A veces superamos los 150 o 200 km por hora; entonces eso disficulta que salgamos al aire. Nuestra emisora está este año operada técnicamente por el Sr Mario Gallardo. Los lunes a la última hora están en la locución Silvina, Soledad y Lucia Gómez Schwiezer y Gonzalo Bottazzi que son 4 chicos jovenes y de lunes a viernes de 18 a 21 UT estamos Sandra Fernández y yo Ofelia Bottazzi, y en la supervición general, el Sr Gustavo Gómez. Somos la Radio mas austral del mundo. Saludos cordiales, el Equipo de LRA 36" En otro correo me dicen que se se les puede escribir a la siguiente dirección: lra36 @ infovia.com.ar e incluso se pueden pedir temas musicales, prometiendo ponerlos en antena. La mejor hora para sintonizarlos, aquí por Lugo, por lo menos estos días, es entre las 1840 y las 1930 horas, y están en antena de lunes a viernes entre las 1800 y las 2100 UT. Precisamente a las 1801 acabo de escuchar el inicio de la transmisión: *1801-1809, 14-04, canción y luego identificación por locutor: "Transmite LRA 36, Radio Nacional Arcángel San Gabriel, por 15476 kHz, banda de 19 metros transmitiendo desde Base Esperanza``. 15322 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, España, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA [non]. RA FM relays closed down: See FIJI ** AUSTRALIA. A third HC100 transmitter is coming to us from Ecuador via HCJB’s Technology Centre in Elkhart, where it will be refurbished to suit our Australian power requirement plus be equipped for Digital broadcasting. The new main switchboards worth $40,000 have just arrived on site and the design and construction of the new “4 transmitter in - 8 antenna out” switch matrix is under way. The design of air conditioning for the Transmitter Building and transmitter hall is complete, and all are ordered for June delivery. Even with the remoteness of Kununurra we have been able to sign a contract with Telstra to have a Fibre Optic feed direct to site. This, together with new phone systems at either end, will upgrade our Melbourne Kununurra communications and guarantee a high quality studio transmitter link. The erecting of towers for this first group of antennas will be completed by the end of June. Antenna construction and erection will take place during July, August and September. The third transmitter will hopefully be the first installed on the new site enabling it to be powered up, antennas matched and then, broadcasting transferred with little or no interruption (David Maindonald, Kununurra Update, HCJB News, April via Alokesh Gupta, dxldyg via DXLD) To avoid wretching when I read this, I have edited out all the God- talk; they are incapable of writing, or thinking, like normal human beings (gh) ** BELGIUM [non]. Summer A-09 of TDP stations: Moj Them Radio in Hmong: 0100-0130 on 15260 TAI 100 kW / 250 deg to SEAs Mon/Wed/Fri Haiv Hmoob Radio in Hmong: 0100-0130 on 15260 TAI 100 kW / 250 deg to SEAs Tue Hmong World Christian Radio in Hmong: 0100-0130 on 15260 TAI 100 kW / 250 deg to SEAs Sat Hmong Lao Radio in Hmong: 0100-0200 on 15260 TAI 100 kW / 250 deg to SEAs Thu/Sun Denge Mezopotamya in Kurdish: 0400-1400 on 11530 SMF 300 kW / 129 deg to WeAs 1400-1800 on 11530 SMF 500 kW / 129 deg to WeAs 1800-2000 on 7540 SMF 300 kW / 129 deg to WeAs Aso Radio in Hausa: 0530-0600 on 9680 ARM 250 kW / 188 deg to WCAf Mon-Fri 1600-1630 on 15215 ARM 250 kW / 188 deg to WCAf Mon-Fri TDP Radio in DRM: 0800-0900 on 6015 ISS 035 kW / 060 deg to WeEu Mon 0900-1000 on 6015 ISS 035 kW / 060 deg to WeEu Tue 1000-1100 on 6015 ISS 035 kW / 060 deg to WeEu Wed 1100-1200 on 6015 ISS 035 kW / 060 deg to WeEu Thu 1200-1300 on 6015 ISS 035 kW / 060 deg to WeEu Fri 1300-1400 on 6015 ISS 035 kW / 060 deg to WeEu Sat 1400-1500 on 6015 ISS 035 kW / 060 deg to WeEu Sun 1500-1600 on 6015 ISS 035 kW / 060 deg to WeEu Daily 0000-0100 on 9790 SAC 070 kW / 227 deg to NoAm Daily Que Huong Radio in Vietnamese: 1200-1300 on 15680 DB 100 kW / 117 deg to SEAs Wed-Fri Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church/Holy Synod Radio in Amharic: 1600-1700 on 15340 SAM 250 kW / 188 deg to EaAf Mon Addis Dimts Radio in Amharic: 1600-1700 on 15195 SAM 250 kW / 188 deg to EaAf Sun Radio Xoriyo Ogadenia in Somali: 1700-1730 on 15350 SAM 250 kW / 188 deg to EaAf Mon/Fri 1700-1730 on 17870 SAM 250 kW / 188 deg to EaAf Mon/Fri Ginbot 7 Radio in Amharic 1700-1730 on 15350 SAM 250 kW / 188 deg to EaAf Tue/Thu/Sat 1700-1730 on 17870 SAM 250 kW / 188 deg to EaAf Tue/Thu/Sat Radio Bilal in Amharic 1700-1800 on 15350 SAM 250 kW / 188 deg to EaAf Sun Radio Asena in Tigrinya 1730-1800 on 15350 SAM 250 kW / 188 deg to EaAf Mon/Wed/Fri Voice of Meselna-Delina in Tigrinya: 1730-1800 on 15350 SAM 250 kW / 188 deg to EaAf Tue/Thu/Sat (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, April 13 via DXLD) Keep an eye on this for TDP changes, not including transmitter sites: http://www.airtime.be/schedule.html (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BHUTAN. Re 9-032: ``Bhutan Broadcasting Service in English: http://www/bbs.com/bt/radosch.htm (page dates 6-April-09) 0500-0520, 0800-0820 & 1400-1420 on 6035 (Converting to UTC assuming listed times are local) (MARE Tipsheet April 10 via DXLD)`` Hi Glenn, Seems this item needs a little help. For clarification: website is actually http://www.bbs.com.bt/radiosch.htm The English segments are on-the-air from 0500 to 0600, 0800 to 0900, and 1400 to 1500. The first segment being news and announcements for 20 minutes and then the scheduled remaining 40 minute portion (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 6160, RADIO RIO MAR. Manaos, Brasil. 1031-1040 abril 11. Mencionando Rede Bandeirantes. ID: Rádio Rio Mar, ondas médias ZYH 286 1290 kHz, ondas curtas ZYE 245, freqüência da 9691 [sic] kHz na faixa de 31 metros y 6160 na faixa de 49 metros, Rádio Rio Mar, Manáus, Amazonas, Brasil..." Programa Primeira Hora "as principais notícias de hoje" (Rafael Rodríguez R., Fomeque, Cundinamarca - COLOMBIA, April 14, Sony ICF 2010, hilo de 15 metros, condiglist yg via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. RNA, 11780, at 1346 April 13, Portuguese song squeezed between Anguilla 11775 and CRI Kashi 11785; and momentary audio dropout, a persistent problem at Brasília (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CAMEROON [and non]. Further to discussion of BBCWS sign off time of 0706 on 6005, since 29 March this has moved to 0700 (despite what the frequency list on the website says). So I can now hear an extra 6 minutes of Cameroon, when they are on. Cameroon is definitely signing off 6005 between 1658 and 1701. With best wishes from: (James MacDonell, Niger State, Nigeria, April 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. 6070, CFRX, Toronto 0400 April 10. Fair, and alone M&F with “kicker” news stories. Promo for Dave’s Sunday show at 0414 and a spot for HBO at 0415. Mentions of CJAD Montreal. Are they simulcast? (Brock Whaley, sw77, Kailua Beach Park, HI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, at times (gh) 6069.9, CFRX, Toronto, Canada, 0420-0600 abril 12. Mi primera escucha de esta emisora, retransmitiendo a la CFRB 1010 kHz, presentado el programa: People Helping People. Programa de charlas sobre el alcoholismo y otros vicios; recibiendo llamadas de oyentes y conducido por Mark Elliot. "...free call us 1-800 561 CFRB..." "...welcome back to people helping people with Mark Elliot, when you know you need help with alcohol`s trouble..." mencionan "10-10 CFRB" y "CFRB.com" (Rafael Rodríguez R., Fomeque, Cundinamarca - COLOMBIA, April 14, Sony ICF 2010, hilo de 15 metros, condiglist yg via DXLD) ** CANADA. 6160, CBUX, Vancouver. 0430 April 10, poor and alone with M&F discussing recycling (Brock Whaley, Sony-SW77 Kailua Beach Park, HI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Your old-timer credentials are intact, as CBUX call was replaced by CKZU long time ago; Chile objected to Canada using their prefices on SW (gh) ** CANADA. Below was forwarded to me from my co-worker (who I use to work with back in Chatham prior to 1980). This outlines the story of CFCO. I still have a photo of Jack Beardall (who was President in 1969) and the hams from the Chatham-Kent Amateur Radio Club. Still remember when the station was on King Street with the Studios over Zink Hardware Store (1966) (Edward Kusalik, VE6EFK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: Still 'Coming from Chatham Ontario' HISTORY Posted By JIM AND LISA GILBERT Posted 3 days ago If you grew up in Chatham-Kent anytime from the 1930s to the present day, the radio station CFCO was, in some way or another, a presence in your life and, in more ways than one, a presence in the entire Canadian broadcast industry. The call letters CFCO simply meant, "Coming From Chatham Ontario." Now, how many other radio stations can claim that their call letters actually represent something and are not just randomly assigned by the CRTC or some other government agency? The rich heritage of this radio station goes to a man that, unfortunately, has got a bit lost in time amidst computers, pod casting, blogs etc. However, he is someone we should all know about and treasure as he was a true pioneer in the broadcast business. John "Jack" George Baikie Beardall was born in South Shields, England, in 1898 but lived most of his life (52 years) in Chatham, Ont. and although I have no idea what inspired him to get involved in this new, strange and rather avant-garde field of radio broadcasting, he seemed to be totally immersed in it. As early as Jan. 3, 1925, Jack Beardall, a butcher by trade, was successfully producing amateur radio broadcasts from his home on Park Avenue. By 1926, using a homemade radio transmitter, he was broadcasting on "Station 10BT" on a frequency of 250 metres (1210 kHz). . . http://www.chathamdailynews.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1519147 (via Kusalík, DXLD) ** CHAD. 6165, RNT, N'Djamena, Apr 11, 0417-0459 - transmitter on 6165.14 kHz turned on at 0417 and rapidly drifting downward to 6165.0 by 0427 when they began modulating with very good signal. 0427 with Balafon interval signal, La Tchadienne National Anthem precisely at 0430, man in French with ID at 0431 "Ici N'Djamena, Office Nationale de Radiodiffusion et Télévision du Tchad", frequency announcement. Hi- life vocals from 0432 to 0450, then lively male chatting over music for a few minutes. Talks by man and woman from 0452 until reception ruined at 0459 when R Nederland via Bonaire returns to this frequency. Good strong signal, slightly distorted modulation except during music. Nice one hour respite from Bonaire allowing for an excellent prime- time window to Africa, too bad it couldn't last longer (Brandon Jordan - Memphis, TN, USA, Perseus SDR + Wellbrook ALA100, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I received Radio Chad (Radiodiffusion Nationale Tchadienne) on 6165 kHz at about 1930 UT on April 12 and 13th. There was interference like ZNBC Radio 2 in the back. The recording file of April 13 is here. http://sky.geocities.jp/peace_jju_ujjj/2009/090414_0427_6165kHz_Radio_Chad.mp3 (peace-J from near Tokyo, Japan /Sony ICF-2001D, DPA-100B and Small- Loop, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. I heard another set of time pips with WWVH so I listened to ToH and heard the ID for BPM. 15000, BPM China, 12Apr09 0057-0100, tuned in to time pips with WWVH, CW ID after 2359 minute, then announcements by woman in Chinese just before 0100 (Martin Foltz, Mission Viejo CA, ABDX via DXLD) ** CHINA [and non]. 6030 with oscillating whoop-whoop jammer, similar sound but not identical to 6350 from Korea North, April 13 at 1313, vs something in Chinese on 6030, i.e. per Aoki A09: 6030*Ming Hui Radio 1300-1400 1234567 Chinese 100 325 Tanshui TWN 12125E 2511N MHR a09 At 1405 recheck, jammer still going but much weaker, and now the victim is CFVP Calgary with its country music (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. At least now, with the "heavylifters" out of the 7100-7200 kHz range, those who remain manage to make themselves audible in a different way. In some of the Chinese outlets, it seems there is either a [wrong] feed being sent at the same time or then it's actually another outlet, be it from CRI or any of their PBS. 7105, Nei Menggu PBS, Hohhot, 2132-2243, 10 Apr, Mandarin, talks, FM frequency announcement; 44444, QRM de another PBS; \\ 9520, 7165. 7130, China Business R, X'ian, 1531-1613, 10 Apr, Mandarin, talk, advertisements (?), jingle, TS+ID, ads (?), songs; 25321 but steadily improving. 7130, CRI (?), site?, 1649-1712, 10 Apr, Mandarin, talks; 23431, QRM de China Business R and later de amateurs too. 7135, CRI (?), site? 1642-1709, 10 Apr, Russian, talks; 14331, adjacent QRM de China 7130 and later one from amateurs too. 7170, Xizang PBS, Lhasa, Tibet, 2115-2129, 10 Apr, Mandarin, talks, songs; 25331; \\ 4820, 6050, 7240. 7165, Nei Menggu PBS, Hohhot, 2231-2242, 10 Apr, cf. \\ 7105; 25342; \\ 7105, 9520. 7185, China Business R, site? 1552-1614, 10 Apr, cf. \\ 7130 but with feed delay; 24432, QRM de UNIF in Mandari (presumed) [? What`s that? - -- gh] (also CHN?); signed off at 1700. 7195, Xinjiang PBS, Urumqi, 1604-1624, 10 Apr, Uighur, talks (news?), songs; 25332 but improving. 7200, CRI, Baoji site?, 2122-2133, 10 Apr, Russian, talks, music, IDs; 13331, adjacent QRM de CRI 7205 in English, presumably via own transmitter, not relay (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Carlos, Thank you for your extensive observations. Might I respectfully suggest that what you are actually hearing on 7130 (scheduled from 1400 to 1800) and on 7185 (scheduled from 1000 to 1700) are in fact CNR-1, being used to jam Taiwan. There is no CNR- 2/China Business Radio being heard on 7130 before the sign-on of CNR-1 at 1400. If you can, please check for a parallel with a known CNR-1 station to confirm this. Please also note my DXLD 9-031 log. Thanks again for your observations (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, ibid.) Dear Ron, Thanks for the tip. I shall try to check those as soon as I can. Perhaps the audio I detect underneath some of them are the targetted stations? On the other hand, the sort of lively talks, advertisement like announcements seem to point towards some program under the category so to speak of a "China Business R", not channel 1. But this is only my guess. 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, ibid.) Seems to me CNR1 is plenty lively and `commercial` now (gh, DXLD) ** CHINA. 6060, Sichuan PBS-2, 1505-1515*, April 13. Traditional Chinese music and songs; fair; // 7225 (poor); Their sign-off is finally in sync, instead of having a 1 to 4 minute difference between them (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [non]. CRI via Pori-963 [FINLAND] --- Today China Radio International sent out this circular to German-speaking listeners, I just got it forwarded the fourth time... ---------- Liebe Hörerinnen und Hörer, hier noch ein Hinweis: Ab Mittwoch, den 15. April, wird unser Programm von 22 Uhr bis 24 Uhr MESZ auch über eine Sendeanlage im finnischen Pori auf der Frequenz 963 kHz gesendet. Mit freundlichen Grüßen, Deutsche Redaktion von CRI ---------- I.e. CRI German will be carried 2000-2200 UT via Pori on 963 as of Wednesday, April 15. Note that this announcement covers German only, so it is possible that more CRI programmes will appear at other times. And somebody (can't recall who it was) had commented on YLE leaving the Pori transmitters that now CRI can lease 963. Here they are. What will be next? Kvitsøy-1314? [NORWAY] (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 13, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. CRI in Russian, on April 11 at 1640 with concert of songs from the Beijing Olympics, quite strong on 11875 and 13860, the latter with a delay of 1.5 seconds and slightly different audio processing. 11875 is listed as originating from the Continental site near Urumqi while the site for 13860 is given as Shijiazhuang, a recently constructed plant of more 500 kW (Thomson again?) transmitters I think. Nothing visible around the official coordinates (38 14'N 114 05'E) in Google Maps, but for this area they offer only stuff with about 10 metres resolution anyway (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 13, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) CHN Shijiazhuang 2x500/600 kW, 6x100/70 kW in Google Earth centered around 38 13'10.58"N 114 06'16.95"E with only fair resolution at 38 13'16.75"N 114 06'21.84"E 38 13'09.50"N 114 06'15.67"E 38 13'11.68"N 114 06'28.71"E http://maps.google.de/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=de&geocode=&q=38%C2%B013%2710.58%22N++114%C2%B006%2716.95%22E&sll=51.151786,10.415039&sspn=19.953152,39.550781&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=16 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) ** CROATIA [non]. Voice of Croatia possible changes I've just noticed on http://www.hrt.hr/index.php?id=186&tx_ttnews[cat]=99&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=18551&tx_ttnews[backPid]=185&cHash=51e4cf6a73 the following: GLAS HRVATSKE - KRATKI VAL [Voice of Croatia - short wave] 29.3.2009. - 9.5.2009 Apparently, the frequency schedule is effective only till May 09, so probably they will change something from Sunday, 10 May 2009. Regards, DL (Dragan Lekic, Serbia, April 13, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I guess only DTK Wertachtal/Nauen change, 7375 to be replaced by 9925 kHz, like read on the DTK/M&B file of March 23: 7375 0100-0500 2,3,4, 325 1234567 290309 090509 WER 100 HRT 7375 2200-0300 11,12, 240 1234567 290309 090509 WER 100 HRT 7375 2300-0300 6,7,8, 300 1234567 290309 090509 WER 100 HRT 9925 0100-0500 2,3,4, 325 1234567 100509 241009 NAU 100 HRT 9925 2200-0300 11,12, 240 1234567 100509 241009 WER 100 HRT 9925 2300-0300 6,7,8, 300 1234567 100509 241009 WER 100 HRT But in hfcc I see also an entry back move from 9925 (til Aug 30) to 7375 kHz (from Aug 31) ... 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) ** CUBA. Help with Unid on 5980 kHz --- Last night I had an unID station on 5980 kHz between 0335-0345 or so in English that I just can't make out the ID even though it should be clear. I've uploaded a short clip at the link below. Any idea who this is? Current Eibi, Aoki or HFCC don't offer any clues. http://www.bcdx.org/clips (Brandon Jordan - Memphis, TN, USA, UT April 12, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Havana introducing sports segment. Is leapfrog mixing product 6140 over 6060. 73, (Glenn, ibid.) Thanks Glenn, I had just figured out this was RHC and was heading here to post an update. Listening to this ID even on 6000 kHz, the announcerette still garbled this particular ID. No wonder I was having problems with it down in the static. Thanks! Was trying to catch Voice of Tigray Revolution here, but Cuba jamming it with a mixing product. I believe I may have had Tigray with transmitter on at 0250 on 5979.93 and rapidly drifting up until it was co-channel 5980.0 by 0258. RTI via Okeechobee has them totally covered on their stronger 5950 kHz outlet (Brandon Jordan, TN, ibid.) ** CUBA [and non]. R. Rebelde, 5025, was open carrier at 0535-0540+ April 12. Propagation was terrible at this time with WWCR 5070 only poor, no CFRX on 6070, nothing on 9 MHz except DW-Kigali in German on 9480 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. RHC is making a number of frequency changes April 13. Can it be coincidental that they wait until the public A-09 HFCC is out, since they refuse to participate in HFCC for advance coordination? On April 10, Alan Pennington in the BDXC-UK heard them announce some new English frequencies: 17660 2030-2130, 13790 2300-2400, 6010 0500- 0700 but not what they would be replacing, or additional? Anyhow, Radio Mil and LV de tu Conciencia no longer need to worry about who is using 6010 during those two hours (or longer? RHC could be on 6010 in Spanish before 0500). At 2030, the English frequencies have been 11760 and 13680, so is one of those replaced by 17660? At 2300, 9550 has been the only intentional English channel, so is that replaced by 13790? Already at 0534 April 13 as Isabel García was starting the mailbag show, we found new 6010 on the air with a VG signal, but the other three 49m channels in English, 6000, 6060 and 6140 were also still on. Most likely the 6010 transmitter has moved down from 9550 or 11760, which were not audible, as they often have not been due to propagation. Modulation level on 6000 was very low compared to the other three. In Spanish at 1351 April 13, found new 13780 was going // 13680, both very strong. 13780 replaces 15370 which was missing, and still heard on all the other old frequencies, 15360, 15120, 13760, 12000, 11760, and 6000 which at 1355 was still on making an echo with 13680 at a different site but synchronized with weak 13760. At 1359:30 the time was ``exactamente las 10, ante meridiano``. Does RHC have any idea what ``exactly`` means? I made a point of listening for frequency announcement before and after the 1400 news, but there was none, 1403 directly into Voces de la Revolución. Sign-off announcement at 1457, when they never say what their morning frequencies are, on 13780 had been updated to say they would return at 2100 on 13760, 13790, 11820 and 11800, the middle two being new. 11820 will collide with Saudi Arabia at 1800-2300 toward Eu and NAm, a regular here in our afternoons. 13780 is already registered by VOR at 12-14, and DW via Woofferton at 14-16, which I recall hearing there, but now totally blocked by RHC. 13790 should be clear in the 21-24 period. Have any of these changes been put into the frequency schedule at http://www.radiohc.cu/espanol/frecuencia/frecuencias-espanol.htm ---? Of course not. It sometimes takes weeks for them to update their website frequency schedule and they may or may not remember to change the effective dates at the top too. Nor did Arnie mention any frequency changes in his April 11 DXUL script. There are probably additional changes to be discovered. On Sunday April 12 I rechecked the frequencies for Spanish DX program En Contacto at its new time, just started at 2245. Last week only 13760 was really carrying it, but this time the other three frequencies were too, 9550, 11750 and 11800. 9550 and 11750 were synchronized, 13760 an echo apart, and 11800 too weak to evaluate (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Mi querido Pepe, he monitoreado las frecuencias: 9550, 11750, 11800 y 13760 kHz de Radio Habana Cuba; a las 2242 y ha comenzado el programa En Contacto. Todas las frecuencias llegando muy bien por Venezuela. Un abrazo, querido amigo, José Elías, Venezuela (via José Bueno, Spain, April 12, DXLD) However, frequency changes the next day! So the ones at 2242 should now be: 11800, 11820, 13760, 13790 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Further checking of RHC frequency changes on April 13: at 2002, 11800 in Portuguese // much stronger new 11820 and an echo apart from it; 11760 in French. No signals on 11750 or 13680, nor could I detect anything for sure on 17660, previously announced as new for English at 2030. The 17705 Venezuelan relay was audible poorly. Did not check the 2030-2130 English broadcast until 2120, and 17660 still inaudible but maybe on and not propagating; by then nothing but Spanish music fill on 11760, and not a word announced in any language until 2129 IS and 2130 into French without any frequencies given; but presumably 11760 is the 2030-2130 English frequency, as not // 11800, 11820 and new 13790 in Spanish talk. Still no signals on 13680 or 11750, the latter now avoiding the collision from Guam I have been reporting after 2100. RHC also has dropped 9550 for English at 2300. The DentroCuban Jamming Command probably complained that RHC was interfering with their jamming of Radio República on 9545, hi hi. The 2300 English now heard on new 13790 with VG signal; Spanish audible at this hour on 13680, but not found on any 25m frequency. Next check at 0102 April 14: 13790 still on and VG in Kriyol; English on 6000 with a theremin/musical saw warble/wobbler underneath, and without that on 6140. All other frequencies // in Spanish: 5965, 6060, new 6120 with poor audio, 9600, 11690, 11760, 13760 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also RUSSIA [and non] ** CUBA. I refreshed the RHC schedule page I had consulted a few hours ago on April 13, and, no doubt encouraged by my remark that it sometimes took them weeks to update it, it HAS been updated with almost all the new frequencies as of April 14. Here are English and Spanish portions which I have unravelled from more than one frequency and time on a single line, I hope correctly, while removing extraneous meter bands. And I have added * for new frequencies. Note that 6120, which I monitored August 14 at 0100 in Spanish, is missing from this. ESPAÑOL Norte Centro Suramérica 11760 11-15 Nueva York 12000 11–15 Norte Centro Suramérica 6000 11–14 Buenos Aires 13760 11-15 15120 11–15 Nueva York 6180 11-13 San Francisco *13780 13-15 Chicago 9600 11-13 13680 13-15 América del Sur 15360 11–15 Río de Janeiro *13790 21–23 América Central 11800 21–23 Europa *11820 21–23 Buenos Aires 13760 21–23 Norte Centro Suramérica 5965 00-05 América Central 6180 00–05 Norte América 6000 00-01 6060 00-05 Río de Janeiro *13790 02–05 América del Sur 13760 00-05 11690 00-05 9600 00–05 Chicago 6140 00-01 MESA REDONDA (lunes a viernes y días especiales) América del Norte 6000 22-00 *9640 22–00 [span, but not always the entire two hours, or at all] ALÓ PRESIDENTE (domingo) [but not every Sunday, open-ended till 1900v] América Central 13680 14- Caribe 11690 14- América del Sur *12010 14- 17750 14- América del Norte 13750 14- INGLÉS Río de Janeiro *13790 23–24 Caribe *17660 2030–2130 [The above two don`t make sense, probably reversed targets; 17660 is too high for Caribbean, and 13790 is very strong even in CNAm, and 2300 is the previous time for Caribbean service] América del Norte 6140 01-07 6000 01-07 6060 05-07 San Francisco *6010 05-07 Norte Centro Suramérica 11760 2030-2130 11760 05–07 The full schedule, now dated Marzo-Octubre 2009, is here, including the rest of the languages: http://www.radiohc.cu/espanol/frecuencia/frecuencias-espanol.htm (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [and non]. 9545, Radio República, USA, 13 abril 09, 2400-, señal regular con splash de Radio Habana Cuba en francés. El locutor de RR dio usual dirección y página web (que casi no actualizan) http://www.radiorepublica.org 73 de (Yimber Gaviría, Colombia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Not any more, as RHC skedaddled from 9550 (gh) ** CUBA [non]. NEW WAVE OF ADVICE ABOUT RADIO/TV MARTÍ A letter to President Obama from three Cuban dissident organizations says, among other things, "that the broadcasts of U.S.-funded Radio Marti, from Miami, have been losing their audience on the communist island in an 'extraordinary way' due to interference and jamming by the government in Havana, which also blocks almost 100 percent of the signals of Television Marti. 'It’s been so long since an effective broadcast was achieved, perhaps it would be better to reassign the funds of TV Marti to increase the budget and power of Radio Marti,' the dissidents say." Latin American Herald Tribune, 9 April 2009. "The Miami-based Office of Cuba Broadcasting ... has a 2009 budget of $34 million for TV and Radio Marti, which beam pro-change broadcasts into the country. Thursday's letter praised Radio Marti, saying its broadcasts 'continue to have great importance, despite the massive electronic interference of the Cuban government.' But the letter said TV Marti's signal 'simply does not reach Cuban homes.' 'In that case, government interference is almost 100 percent effective,' it said." AP, 9 April 2009. "This surging dissident movement, conscious of its rights and determined to be the protagonist of Cuba’s future, needs to be encouraged and supported by the United States and others as Solidarity was in Poland: with sufficient funds and tools for civic, peaceful resistance, and with enlightening radio and TV transmissions that can overcome the regime's jamming and provide the same impetus for change that Radio Free Europe did in the 1980s." Nestor Carbonell, Foreign Policy, April 2009. Recommendations in a white paper prepared by the Cuban American National Foundation includes "improving broadcasts by U.S. government- funded Radio and TV Marti to promote the flow of information into the island." EFE, 9 April 2009 (kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) Shortwave remains the least interdictable medium for reaching Cuba. The question is how many Cubans still have access to shortwave radios. Shortwave is not used for domestic shortwave broadcasting in the country. (The shortwave broadcasts of Radio Rebelde on 5025 kHz appear to be intended for neighboring countries.) As for Mr. Carbonell's notions, calls for resistance are best left to dissident stations such as Radio República (whose website shares with Democratic Voice of Burma, VOA, and too many others the tendency to omit its radio transmission schedule, or at least to hide it), while Radio/TV Martí should be devoted to the reliable, balanced news that almost always is the most successful application of international broadcasting. Satellite television and the internet will be more popular than shortwave as these newer media develop, probably on the black market, in Cuba. Then Radio/TV Martí will have a more difficult problem of competing, not with the moribund Cuban media, but with all the Spanish-language satellite channels and websites available to the Hemisphere. Perhaps these competitors, collectively, can do the job Radio/TV Martí had always set out to do, but at no cost to the US taxpayers. See previous posts on 12 February and 6 February 2009, with Kim's comments. Posted: 11 Apr 2009 (Kim Andrew Elliott, for linx see http://kimelli.nfshost.com/index.php?id=6282 via DXLD) SW from Marathon: see U S A! ** ECUADOR. 3279.9, La Voz del Napo, 0956-1016 Apr 6, rustic Latin vocals followed by several Spanish language announcements at 0959 and ID at 1000 accompanied by flute music. After another Latin vocals a man began an over-modulated spiritual talk with light instrumental music in the background. Poor to fair (Rich D'Angelo, 2216 Burkey Drive, Wyomissing, PA 19610, U.S.A., Ten-Tec RX-340, Drake R-8B, Eton E1, Lowe HF-150, Eton E5; 0D Alpha Delta DX Sloper, RF Systems Mini- Windom, Datong FL3, JPS ANC-4, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. 4815, RADIO EL BUEN PASTOR. Saraguro, Ecuador. 2305-2330 abril 9. Anuncios de Hostal Samanahuaxi, CNE. Pgm Saraguro al dia. "...el Buen Pastor sube, sube, sube como la espuma..." (Rafael Rodríguez R., Fomeque, Cundinamarca - COLOMBIA, April 14, Sony ICF 2010, hilo de 15 metros, condiglist yg via DXLD) ** EGYPT. 9270 ??? tentative R. Cairo Holy Qur`an prayer singer in Arabic noted around in 1600-1610 UT slot. Help - to check this puzzle. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, April 14, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Fair carrier but very low audio here at 1640. Could it be Wadi el Nil that has moved from 9250, which is clear? 73, (Erik Koie, Copenhagen, ibid.) Thanks Erik. When I came back to the receiver at 1616 UT, the transmitter on 9270 kHz was totally OFF. But at 1638 to 1645 UT noted again a S=6-7 signal, but audio was low, noted a lady announcer ID as "Radio Parla" in Arabic at 1645 UT. 73 (Wolfy, ibid.) It's Urdu and 6270 kHz is missing. 73, (Mauno Ritola, Finland, ibid.) Saludos cordiales, escucho en 9270 Radio Cairo, a las 1745 UT en idioma desconocido, probablemente Urdu, a las 1750 locutor anuncia programa en árabe, a las 1754 música de sintonía y tras un silencio, locutor con comentarios, referencias a Israel e Irán. En 9250 capto a Wadi El Nil con muy buena señal, la emisión es en paralelo por 6255 con unos segundos de adelanto, sin señal en 6270 ni en 6290. A las 1945 observo que la emisión de Radio Cairo ha cesado en 9270, pero se mantiene en 6255. Sin señal en 6270, activa en 6290 (José Miguel Romero, Spain, ibid.) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. 6250, Radio Nacional - Malabo, 2045-2254*, April 10, on late with an eclectic mix of Afro-pops, lite instrumental music, classical music and African choral music. Spanish talk. Radio Nacional ID at 2200. Possible radio-drama after 2200. Heard Radio Nacional & Radio Malabo IDs at 2216. Sign off with National Anthem. Poor to fair with occasional RTTY QRM & t-storm static. Irregular. They were on late last Friday night also (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6250, FERNANDO POO, R Malabo, Malabo, Apr 11, *0538-0630 - on in mid- song with back to back pop dance music until 0603, female in Spanish with Radio Malabo, then male with with some sort of monologue during fading signal. Signal initially pretty good but useless by 0630. Occasional utility QRM on high side (Brandon Jordan - Memphis, TN, USA, Perseus SDR + Wellbrook ALA100, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA [and non]. ERITHIOPIA REVIVAL --- hi Glenn, some nice little logs this afternoon: 7110, R. Ethiopia heard at 1630, but off before 1700, hmm... 7165 // 7175, VoBME (?), but only until 1700, then: 7165, VoBME (?) with reports on Somalia and Eritrea in local language, equally strong as 7165, R. Ethiopie, French, co-channel, and: 7175, noise jamming, change into ongoing program, but audio cut off soon, restarting around 1705 as "Dimtsi Ertran" in the same style we heard on 8000 et al. last autumn, this finally cut off at 1729, leaving only a weak carrier, while 7220, absolutely nothing at 1700. 73 (Thorsten, Hallmann, Münster, Grrrrry, africalist.de.ms April 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA. 7110, R. Ethiopia, 0420 April 10. Huge excellent signal. Vernacular interview with a passing siren in the background. 41 mb grey line enhancement from Africa always amazing out here (Brock Whaley, Sony-SW77, Kailua Beach Park, HI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5990.4v, R Ethiopia, Geja, Apr 11, 0248-0430+ transmitter turned on at 0248 on 5990.32 kHz and drifting upward 200 Hz to 5990.52 kHz by the time I lost the carrier in the noise floor after 0515 UTC or so. Weak with no audio heard except during 0320-0330 period when music was heard // 7110v. 6110.0, R Fana, Addis Ababa, Apr 11, *0253-0500 - Transmitter on at 0253, poor with possible IS from 0257, beginning to rapidly improve from 0318 with excellent ethnic vocals with announcer in presumed Amharic until the top of the hour. Nice Radio Fana ID at 0400 then possible news by male speaker until 0408 as signal began to slowly starting to fade. Back to music then into monologue by male from 0414. NHK via Sackville ends the party at 0500 and by the time she vacates frequency at 0528, Fana is just a very weak carrier bobbing along slightly above the noise floor. 7110.1v, R Ethiopia, Geja, Apr 11, 0258-0450 - transmitter on at 0258 on 7110.11 and slowly drifting downward. I couldn't verify modulation until beginning 0318 as signal strengthened rapidly with very nice local instrumental music, male and female announcers in presumed Amharic from 0330, magazine style format with musical interludes, mentions of Addis Ababa, Ghana. Vocal from 0405 by which time the transmitter had drifted down to 7110.06. A second transmitter came on at 0406 on 7110.01 and then the original transmitter dropped off after 15 seconds or so of simultaneous broadcasting. While the signal had faded somewhat, it was clear this second transmitter has slightly better strength, modulation and is relatively stable. Strangely enough, they switched back to the original transmitter on 7110.06 at 0439 which was much weaker, and then back to stronger 7110.01 again at 0443! This is not the case of the transmitter suddenly jumping 50 Hz as both transmitters are clearly overlapping 10 seconds or so. Station really hanging in there, I didn't totally lose audio until about 0530 UTC, and the carrier still effervescing at the noise floor at 0610, well over 2 hours after sunrise at the transmitter! If I wasn't experiencing stronger than normal electrical QRN on 41 mb this night, this would have been an excellent signal during peaks (Brandon Jordan - Memphis, TN, USA, Perseus SDR + Wellbrook ALA100, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA. (presumed) 9559.5v, R. Ethiopia, Geja, Apr 11, 1311-1428 - strong carrier putting a huge het on R Australia 9560. Drifting back and forth between approximately 9559.3 and 9559.7 kHz, sometime rapidly. Australia left the channel at 1358 leaving this one in the clear. Stringed instrumental, very weak. Talk by man after top of the hour, pop music at 1415, no further audio noted after 1420. Poor. (Presumed), 9704.196, R. Ethiopia, Geja, Apr 11, 1311-1428 - poor, man with monologue until 1330, pop vocal, threshold audio then fading down, woman noted speaking from 1345. Transmitter stable, frequency wide open. I had moderate local electrical QRN on this frequency, otherwise may have been able to positively ID. I'm surprised Ethiopia is propagating to Memphis during this period (Brandon Jordan, Memphis, TN, USA, Perseus SDR + Wellbrook ALA100, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Probably long path (gh) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. 15665, WHRI-1 at 1957 Monday April 13, just as I tuned in heard ``Amen`` in language, presumably Amharic, and after a bit more talk cut off without sign-off at 1958. Per WHR online sked this is 1900-2000 Mon Demitse-Tewahedo 15665; only fair here (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EUROPE. PIRATE. 6870, Radio Playback Int, 0000-0025, April 11, pop music. ID. Poor. Weak, but fair level on peaks. (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EUROPE. Sabato 11 aprile 2009, 1013 - 6389.3 kHz, R. COCHIGUAZ, Spanish, IDs OM e musica andina. Segnale sufficiente-buono, Una leggera sovramodulazione (SWL I1-0799GE, Luca Botto Fiora, G.C. 09E13 - 44N21, Rapallo (Genova), Italia, bclnews.it yg via DXLD) ** FIJI. FIJI SHUTS DOWN ABC RADIO AUSTRALIA BROADCASTS http://australianetworknews.com/stories/200904/2543193.htm?desktop Fiji's military-led government has ordered the shutdown of ABC Radio Australia's transmitters in Fiji. Radio Australia has been informed a ministry of information officer, accompanied by Fiji's military, ordered local technicians to shut down the two ABC FM relay stations in the capital Suva and at Nadi. The shutdown follows the expulsion of ABC Correspondent Sean Dorney. Radio is still broadcasting to Fiji and the Pacific on shortwave transmitter (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, April 14, dxldyg via DXLD) RNZI's Version of the Closing of Radio Australia's Fiji FM Relays Interesting that RFI is still on air! http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=45961 FIJI INTERIM REGIME CUTS FM REBROADCASTS OF RADIO AUSTRALIA Posted at 02:27 on 15 April, 2009 UTC Fiji’s interim government has ordered the shutdown of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s radio transmitters in Fiji which are operated by the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Fiji technicians were ordered to close down the two FM relay stations in the capital Suva and in Nadi. The shutdown also affects Radio New Zealand International whose weekday current affairs programme Dateline Pacific is rebroadcast by Radio Australia. Radio Australia is still broadcasting to Fiji on short wave as is Radio New Zealand International. The rebroadcast of Radio France International has not been cut. News Content © Radio New Zealand International, PO Box 123, Wellington, New Zealand (via Barry Hartley, Auckland Operations Manager, Radio New Zealand, Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa, April 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FINLAND. See CHINA [non], MW 963 relays ** GEORGIA/ABKHAZIA. Radio at 0745 UT on 9494.75 kHz (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, April 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [and non]. Re: ``I don`t know how far you are from Wertachtal, but a lot of Europe is in skip zone, depending on time and frequency, while faraway Madagascar has no such problem in Europe, and really gets out, also to N America (gh, DXLD)`` MADAGASCAR [and non] Hi Glenn, After you mention it, I took and checked some broadcasts - I usually seem to get Wertachtal S9+0dB to S9+40 dB (if the transmitter antenna angle is "good") = one short skip over the Baltic Sea, I guess. Also I got R. Nederland yesterday (Apr 13) from Madagascar relay S9+20dB on 31 metres. My east-west dipole height is lower than half wave, so the "signal strength pattern" is about round. I must have a "friendly" listening QTH for both transmitters... - 73 de (Matti Ponkamo, Naantali, Finland (locator KP10AK18), DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE [and non]. GREECE/CHINA, 9420, V of Greece Avlis suffers by co-channel interference of CNR at Lingshi China 100 kW, which is on air 1100-1705 UT, in Uighur, Kazakh, Chinese, Mongolian (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Apr 10) Dear Friend Babis: At 2200 Radio Prague on 9415 overpowered 9420 kHz. I could not detect a signal from Voice of Greece on 9420 then or thereafter. I hope that nothing more has happened to your Avlis 3 transmitter. Regards, (John Babbis, MD, April 11, to ERT, via DXLD) ** HAWAII. 1570, KUAU, Haiku, Maui, April 5 and April 6. On for 48 hours with various automated music to keep the license active. Listed as 1 kW day and 500 watts night. Poor ground wave day, killed by many stations the mainland at night (Brock Whaley, auto radio driving around Oahu, HI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HAWAII. 94.3, KDLX, Makawao, Maui, 0345 UT April 10. Excellent, full quieting stereo while running 10 watts RF into their antenna. Under repair. 105 miles away, but transmitter at 1686 feet ASL. Automated Country (Brock Whaley, Sony-SW77 Kailua Beach Park, HI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HONG KONG. 13282 USB, VRK-24, 0445 Volmet weather by M. Good, but 8828 USB not heard (Brock Whaley, Sony-SW77, Kailua Beach Park, HI, April 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. AIR Urdu Service was noted yesterday 10 Apr 09 evening from tune in at 1115 to 1135 on 7230. The scheduled 7250 via Gorkhpur was missing then. With Easter Wishes, 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, Hyderabad 500082, India, http://www.qsl.net/vu2jos http://www.niar.org dx_india yg via DXLD) ** INDIA. 5050, AIR Aizawl, 1417-1436, April 11. Heard under Guangxi FBS, with chanting/singing till BoH news in English; poor. 9425, AIR Bengaluru - National Channel, 1438-1500, April 13. In English; pop song in English; interesting segment reviewing the history of the April 13, 1919 Massacre at Amritsar and an address entitled “Jallianwala Bagh, a milestone in the freedom movement” (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 4789.98, RRI Fak-fak 1301-1335 Apr 8. Lite vocals, both Indo and English, YL hosting. Good signal but roughed up by CODAR (John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Drake R-8, 100-foot RW, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 9680, presumed RRI Sat April 11 from 1330 past 1400 with some long-form ``Indonesian opera`` consisting of soprano and gamelan accompaniment, no break at hourtop. There may have been some Chinese QRM under, but RRI dominant this time, and VOI 9525 was also very good (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 9524.98, Voice of Indonesia, Jakarta-Cimanggis, Apr 11, 1311-1400 - Good signal a tune in, English service with woman reporting on elections in Indonesia, noting Indonesia is one of the largest democracies in the world. "Voice of Indonesia, the sound of dignity" ID, "news and events", pop vocals. Had faded down a bit by the time a slightly weaker presumed CRI Shijiazhuang signed on 9525.0 at 1357 (Brandon Jordan - Memphis, TN, USA, Perseus SDR + Wellbrook ALA100, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) It seems the VOI YL presenter has a weekly date with the OM at RRI Banjarmasin. Like last Tuesday, on April 13 the 1300 English hour was much about Banjarmasin, Kalimantan. At tune-in 1302 on 9525, the two were conversing `live` on a crackly line from there, also giving SMS and IM contact info --- so was it really live now, or a playback of an earlier English broadcast? Couldn`t listen straight through, and despite good signal it takes concentration to make out what is being said thru the accents, crackle and hum. 1334 started the Focus program, which was produced at RRI-B with the same gentleman and another YL announcer, an historical talk about the royalty era. At 1354 the crackle/breakup got worse. Expected CRI Russian to override it at usual *1357, but this time did not cut on until almost 1401. A quick check of RRI 9680 at 1341 found it again with Chinese co- channel (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL. Dear friends of Amateur Radio, today I have received the following information. I hope it is useful to you as it shows a part of BC stations left in the range 7100 - 7200 kHz. Pse note that the frequencies 7100 - 7115 are not mentioned in this file. 7100, Voice of Korea (North), KRE 7105, Radio China, CHN 7105, Sound of Hope, TWN 7105, AIR Lucknow, IND 7110, Radio Ethiopia, ETH 7115, Radio China, Nei Menggu PBS, CHN 7115, AIR Port Blair, IND Regards, Uli, DJ9KR, Vice Coordinator of IARU MS- Region 1, Coordinator of DARC Bandwatch and PTT Liaison Officer, Pse hit http://www.qrz.com/dj9kr http://www.iarums-r1.org ----- Original Nachricht ---- Datum: 14.04.2009 18:26 Betreff: 7100 -7200 BC Intruders Hi Uli, The HFCC website has just published its A09 public data in zip format http://www.hfcc.org/data/index.html Attached is an extract covering 7100 - 7200 kHz. Though not mentioned in this, Voice of (N) Korea's A09 schedule shows that they are still using 7100 - 7200 sector. Other parts of A09 zip file give TX co- ordinates We are particularly concerned about the frequency 7100 kHz as this is the 'new' IARU Region 1 Emergency Centre of Activity and this weekend sees the world wide GlobalSET Emergency Communications Exercise between 11:00 and 15:00 UTC on 18 April 2009, timed to co-incide with this year's World Amateur Radio Day, the theme of which is "Amateur Radio: Your Resource in Disaster and Emergency Communication" Cheers, Paul Gaskell G4MWO, St. Helens, Lancashire, UK, IO83OK, RAYNET, IRESC & AREN (via DJ9KR, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. RADIO STORMS ON JUPITER Space Weather News for April 13, 2009 http://spaceweather.com On April 11th, an amateur radio astronomer in New Mexico heard loud pops and crackles coming from the loudspeaker of his shortwave receiver. The sounds resembled terrestrial lightning, but the source was not on Earth. It was a radio storm on Jupiter. You can listen to the sounds on today's edition of http://spaceweather.com Astronomers have long known that Jupiter produces strong shortwave radio bursts detectable from Earth; the fact of Jupiter's "radio activity" is not news. However, now may be the best time in decades to listen to the giant planet. The sun is in the pits of a century-level solar minimum. Low solar activity increases the transparency of Earth's atmosphere to shortwave radio waves, allowing signals from Jupiter to more easily and clearly reach the ground. At the same time, terrestrial radio interference subsides (another side-effect of solar minimum), so Jupiter bursts are easier to identify. 2009 is going to be a good year for Jupiter. The planet is moving away from the sun and may now be seen shining brightly in the eastern sky before dawn. Students, teachers and amateur scientists who wish to try listening as well as watching should consider building their own radio telescope. Kits are available from NASA's Radio JOVE program: http://radiojove.gsfc.nasa.gov/ You are subscribed to the Space Weather mailing list (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) WTFK? Circa 20 MHz, wideband ** IRELAND. 3910, Reflections Europe, 1847-..., 12 Apr, English, religious propaganda programs; 35433, very strong at 09PM [sic]; \\ 6295, 12255. 12255 ditto, 1801-..., 12 Apr, cf. \\ 3910; 25433, better at 1830+, and fair in the evening; \\ 3910, 6295 (the worst outlet mainly due to adjacent QRM). (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRELAND [non]. 6220, World Radio Network, carrying RTE from Ireland, 1930-2030 daily. Signal strength reasonable but varies. On 13/04/2009 transmitter was already on by 1923 carrying Radio Sweden. 1928, WRN trails. 1930, RTE programme. 2028, WRN trails before transmitter off at 2030 just after intro for UN Radio. With best wishes from: (James MacDonell, Niger State, Nigeria, April 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN. 13282 USB, JIA Tokyo, 0440, Volmet by automated F. “Perfect Paula” or “Perfect Yoko?” Non-accented English. Excellent. Also good on 8828 USB (Brock Whaley, Sony-SW77 Kailua Beach Park, HI, April 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN [non]. NHKWNRJ in English, April 13 at 1421, fair on 13630, via Rampisham UK at 62 degrees, about one second behind Sackville, CANADA relay on 11705. So 13630 is an alternative for the 1400-1429 broadcast if there is too much echo on 11705, or too close to Sackville in skipzone (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH. Korea, DPRK / North. Apparently a new super power transmitter is now used by Radio “Voice of Korea” heard between 15 and 20 hours with programs in Russian and German on 9352 kHz (Rumen Pankov, R. Bulgaria DX March 27 via DXLD) ?? No other reports of this on 9352; really a spur from 9335 or something? Or a typo of 9325? (gh, DXLD) 9335, Voice of Korea, Kujang, Apr 11, 1311-1400 - English with male and female presenting news items, fair to poor with significant fades and moderate noise. Not intelligible by 1400. LSB best due to WEWN on 9340 (Brandon Jordan - Memphis, TN, USA, Perseus SDR + Wellbrook ALA100, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. SEOUL RADIO STATIONS BROADCAST NEWS TO NORTH KOREA --- The small operations in South Korea aim to be voices of change by airing information to counter Pyongyang's propaganda and by passing messages from friends and relatives to North Koreans. By John M. Glionna April 12, 2009 Reporting from Seoul – They were just a jumble of conversations overhead on a train. But for South Korean radio station founder Young Howard, they represented breaking news from a hostile, inaccessible land. When North Korea recently defied international calls for restraint and launched a rocket, purportedly to put a satellite in orbit, it wasn't long before a covert correspondent there was on her cellphone to editors in Seoul. People were celebrating a colossal success, she whispered. "If we have starved, it has been in sacrifice of this glory," she quoted the train passengers as saying. "The Americans cannot dismiss North Korea's new weapon." Howard knew differently: U.S. intelligence reports said the rocket never made it into orbit. Within hours, Open Radio for North Korea was broadcasting its own report to listeners across the border. "News out of Pyongyang violates the basics of journalism," he said. "We tell the other side of the story." Howard's station is among half a dozen Seoul-based operations that each day dispatch news and opinions into North Korea. Some, like Open Radio, are the work of concerned outsiders. Others are run by defectors, many of whom use pseudonyms because they know vengeful officials could persecute family and friends left behind. Most are small shops with a few reporters, editors and newsreaders. They broadcast only a few hours each day over fragile shortwave radio bands, operating on shoestring budgets with private donations. Considering the shortage of radios in North Korea and the penalty for owning one, the broadcasters don't know how many people actually hear their voices. For Howard, it's like putting a message in a bottle and tossing it out to sea. "We don't expect any answers," said the 40-year-old father of three who was born in Busan, South Korea. "We're just putting information out there in the hope that people's loved ones will hear." By far the most popular program for Howard's station is "Unsent Letters," which broadcasts messages from outsiders seeking to get word to friends and family in North Korea. It's an electronic bulletin board of sorts. Often the missives are sentimental reminiscences, bits and pieces of memory, raw emotion. One recent installment told of two South Korean fishermen who family members say were kidnapped by the North Koreans in the 1970s, never to be heard from again. The announcer asked for details of the men, then played a popular song called "Memory of a Drink" in remembrance. Another message came from a woman looking for word of her father, who she says was kidnapped 37 years ago. She says she grew up thinking he died in a shipping accident. But in 2005 she got word that he was alive in North Korea. She says she hopes to meet him one day. "If it is true that he is alive, he would be in old age," she says. "Poor Daddy! Seventy-two years old!" Experts are divided on the role the radio stations play in the lives of North Koreans. Some call them tools of change, while others say their operators are frustrated defectors shouting into the wind. "They might not be able to bring the kind of change that, say, subversive radio played in Eastern Europe in the 1970s, but they have an effect," said Andrei Lankov, a professor specializing in North Korean history at Seoul's Kookmin University. Others dismiss the dispatches as a stream of invective against North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and his minions. "You have to look at the origin of a lot of these refugee broadcasters," said Brian Myers, an assistant professor at Dongseo University in Busan and an expert on the North's propaganda. "What somebody from the poorest part of North Korea says is not relevant to the elite in Pyongyang," he said. "It's like if someone from Appalachia fled the U.S. and began broadcasting their opinions into the U.S. from Canada. I don't think they do a very sophisticated job."(LA Times via Arnaldo Slaen, dxldyg via DXLD) ** LIBYA [and non]. Tentative summer A-09 of LJBC Voice of Africa: 1200-1557 on 17725 SAB 500 kW / 180 deg to CeEaAf Swahili+English 1200-1557 on 21695 SAB 500 kW / 230 deg to WeNoAf Swahili+English 1600-1657 on 15660 SAB 500 kW / 230 deg to WeNoAf French 1600-1657 on 17725 SAB 500 kW / 180 deg to CeEaAf French 1700-1857 on 11995 SAB 500 kW / 230 deg to WeNoAf French+Hausa 1700-1857 on 15215 SAB 500 kW / 180 deg to CeEaAf French+Hausa 1900-1957 on 11600 SAB 500 kW / 180 deg to CeEaAf Hausa 1900-1957 on 11995 SAB 500 kW / 230 deg to WeNoAf Hausa 2000-2157 on 7215 ISS 500 kW / 190 deg to WeNoAf Arabic (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, April 13 via DXLD) ** LITHUANIA. LITUANIA, 9770, KBC International, 0730*-1050 y 1345- 1429*, 12-04, música de sintonía, locutor, identificación: "KBC International", inglés, "Big L on 1395 kHz Medium Wave", música pop, comentarios en inglés y en holandés, "Big L Goes, broadcasting on 9770 kHz.", "Sixties music", cancion de Tom Jones, "KBC, the high station on your dial", canciones de Rod Stewart, "From the Netherlands, you are listening to the Big L Show on 9770 kHz, always from Lithuania" "Seventies music". A las 0830 señales horarias, identificación "KBC", "Adrina John", Seventies and eighties music", Tom Jones "Sex bomb", a las 0930 identificación: "You are listening to Big L International on 9770 kHz.". Programa sólo en inglés, música pop, comentarios, locutor, The Beatles "Lady Madonna". A las 1345 comentarios en inglés, identificaciones, música pop, página web de la emisora: http://www.kbcradio.eu/ anuncio de radios: http://kbcimport.com/ Cierre a las 1429. 45444 (Manuel Méndez, Escucha realizada con una pequeña radio analógica Sony ICF- SW12 y su antena telescópica, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MADAGASCAR [and non]. MALAGASY NATIONAL RADIO HAS A NEW DIRECTOR Malagasy National Radio (RNM) has a new director, who was presented to the radio personnel yesterday. Norosoa Rasolonjatovo promises a total impartiality of this public station. “We know all that the first reason for the destruction of this station was its partiality”, she said. The politics of impartiality will be a guarantee of its stability, she added. The new director announced her priorities, the most important of of which is the return to normal transmissions of the national radio station. “We all lived the destruction of the national radio, and our priority is now to restore its functionality,” she said. Norosoa Rasolonjatovo also promised an examination of the contracts of the employees of the radio station, and called upon the assistance of the listeners of the station to restore its archives (Source: Madagascar Tribune) Andy Sennitt adds: DX Listening Digest reports that the clandestine Radio Mada Internationale ceased its shortwave broadcasts on Monday 6 April, for reasons unknown. So far I have been unable to find any additional information, and there is nothing on the station’s website http://radiomada-int.blogspot.com/ (April 11th, 2009 - 15:02 UTC by Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog via DXLD) ** MADAGASCAR. 11835, R. Nederland, Talata Volonondry, Apr 10, *1359- 1557 - Time pips at 1400, English service "This is Radio Netherlands Worldwide" into news. Poor to fair in USB to avoid WYFR, steady signal throughout, slightly better by sign-off (Brandon Jordan - Memphis, TN, USA, Perseus SDR + Wellbrook ALA100, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAYSIA. 5964.91, Klasik Nasional FM via RTM, 1327-1358, April 11. Woman DJ in vernacular playing wide range of songs (Higgins Bertie singing “Casablanca”, Middle Eastern type songs, pop Malaysian songs, etc.); frequent “Klasik Nasional” IDs, as well as the singing “Klasik Nasional” jingle; covered by strong CRI sign-on. Excellent morning for Malaysian reception 6049.60, Asyik FM and R. Suara Islam via RTM, 1342-1414, April 13. In vernacular. Asyik FM with pop songs till ToH; switched over to R. Suara Islam; full ID; reciting from the Qur’an; fair. 6099.71, Suara Malaysia, 1438-1459*, April 13. DJ playing pop songs; off with choral National Anthem (Negaraku - Lagu Kebangsaan Malaysia) (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAYSIA/SARAWAK. 7269.97-7270.28v, Wai FM via RTM, 1521-1557, April 13. Rapid drifting; hard to keep tuned in; woman DJ in vernacular playing pop songs; on-air phone calls (DJ with “Hello, Wai FM”) (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAYSIA. 7295, Traxx FM, 1058 11 April. Pop music right to the ToH, one short and one long time tick, fanfare and M with world news starting with mentioning the "RTM radio center". 1110 ended with the headlines, and outro mentioning the RTM radio center and announcer gave his name, then went immediately back to Pop music. Fair at best with some QRN below. 73 (Dave, Dunlo, PA, USA, Valko, HCDX via DXLD) ** MALI. 5995, RTV du Mali, April 11, 0610-0630, Spectacular tribal music full of drums with both instrumentals and vocals played until 0630, when an OM started talking in French. Recheck at 0700 and heard YL with ID in French followed by an OM in Arabic. Recheck at 0758 and audio was all but gone. Heard start of sign-off announcement in French but R. Australia came on with its IS and wiped Mali out (Bruce Barker, Broomall, PA, NRD535D and an Alpha Delta DX Sloper, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5995, (presumed) Mali Radio, Bamako, Apr 10, 2235-0000* - snippets of audio noted from 2235, better from 2330 with female announcer in French, pop African vocals, male at 2358 with possible sign-off announcements, likely NA then transmitter off as RHC on 6000 devastates this frequency. 5995, (presumed) Mali Radio, Bamako, Apr 11, *0548-0800*- transmitter on at 0548 with local vocal with drums and stringed instruments, female at 0600 with greetings then back into interesting ethnic vocals. Audio beginning to fade from 0615, but carrier hung in long enough to verify 0800 sign-off. Cuba slop on high side until 0701, by which time Mali has faded way down (Brandon Jordan - Memphis, TN, USA, Perseus SDR + Wellbrook ALA100, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 6009.9, RADIO MIL. Cd de México, 1110-1127 abril 10. Locutora con comentarios sobre las tradiciones de Mexico. "...en Radio Mil, vive la música de Mexico..." A las 1127 bloqueda por la señal de intervalo de la NHK con servicio en ruso? No presente LV de tu Conciencia (Rafael Rodríguez R., Fomeque, Cundinamarca - COLOMBIA, April 14, Sony ICF 2010, hilo de 15 metros, condiglist yg via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. see UNIDENTIFIED 7325 ** NEW ZEALAND. Intermittent decode of DRM from RNZI on 7285 kHz starting at 0700 UT, 13 Apr 09. Some sort of gripping medical drama. Oddly enough, I can't even read the analog transmissions [6170] from Kiwiland, and there's so much QRM/N static this morning that I'm glad for a clean digital alternative (Terry Wilson, Grand Rapids, MI, RX- 320D with DReaM, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEW ZEALAND. A-09 schedule of Radio New Zealand International from Mar. 29, Rangitaiki site with kW / azimuth: 1059-1258 9655 050 / 325 AM NW Pac, Bougainville, PNG, Timor, As 1059-1158 7285 025 / 325 DRM NW Pac, Bougainville, PNG, Timor, As 1259-1550 6170 050 / 000 AM All Pacific 1551-1750 7285 050 / 035 AM NE Pac, Fiji, Samoa, Cook Isl 1551-1750 6170 025 / 035 DRM NE Pac, Fiji, Samoa, Cook Isl 1751-1850 6170 050 / 035 AM NE Pac, Fiji, Samoa, Cook Isl 1751-1850 7285 025 / 035 DRM NE Pac, Fiji, Samoa, Cook Isl 1851-1950 9615 050 / 035 AM NE Pac, Fiji, Samoa, Cook Isl 1851-1950 9890 025 / 035 DRM NE Pac, Fiji, Samoa, Cook Isl 1951-2050 11725 050 / 000 AM All Pacific 1951-2050 9890 025 / 000 DRM All Pacific 2051-2235 13730 050 / 000 AM All Pacific 2051-2235 15720 025 / 000 DRM All Pacific 2236-0458 15720 050 / 000 AM All Pacific 2236-0458 13730 025 / 000 DRM All Pacific 0459-0658 11725 050 / 000 AM All Pacific 0459-0658 11675 025 / 000 DRM All Pacific 0659-1058 6170 050 / 000 AM All Pacific 0659-1058 7285 025 / 000 DRM All Pacific (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, April 13 via DXLD) ** NIGERIA. 15120, VON, April 10 at 2047, English talk with distortion, pause for announcement that it`s the 60 Minutes show and the anchor`s audio was clear as well as a musical bit, then back to another muffled reporter. Sounds like they are re-using old worn-out tapes, and/or dirty, worn-out heads, but hey, what counts is that 250 kW transmitter and claims of worldwide coverage (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA [non]. 15215, Aso Radio, 1810(approx)-1902, April 10. A bit of background to this report: I had the excellent luck of finding a Sony ICF-SW1 mini-portable at a yard sale in Atlanta for only $20 last week, in perfect shape with case and all components. Too bad Sony never runs a "93% Off" sale like this. Went on holiday and took the radio to the Atlantic coast near Charleston SC. While walking on the beach, heard mix of pop-juju and soukous on 15215, signal faint but readable, maybe 3/2. Assumed it to be Voice Of Nigeria usual 15210 [no, that`s 15120 --- gh], but never got an ID. Also heard discussion in local language that mentioned Mohammad. I looked later and found Aso Radio schedule lists a "Teachings From The Holy Qur`an In Hausa" hosted by a guy named Muhammed program around that hour. Then a bit of African influenced jazz with piano and Nigerian talking drums. Three programs in all, two very boomy/muddy and one crisp and readable - clean your tape heads, Aso Radio! At 1902 transmission stopped mid-sentence. Signal was so weak it could only be heard right at water's edge; walking the radio just 500 ft inland and the signal was gone. Sony SW1 was barefoot (and so was your reception reporter.) (Tom Roche, SC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, I've been able to read recent editions of DXLD and thanks to the tips there I have monitored some of the broadcasts targeted towards my part of the world: 9680, Aso Radio International, in Hausa, 0529-0559 weekdays 15215, Aso Radio International, in Hausa, 1600-1630 weekdays. This evening broadcast has been reduced to 30 minutes. Both the above no longer announce the correct frequencies, though each broadcast closes by giving the correct time for the next one. 12050, Radio Biafra, 1900-2000 daily. Presented in English but usually involving a discussion between several speakers, some of whom switch into Igbo a lot. Live broadcast from London including time checks, announced as being on "12050 kilohertz AND 12.050 Megahertz"! 17520, Voice of Biafra International, heard 10/04/2009 at 1955, closing at 1959. Fridays only, not so strong as Radio Biafra. With best wishes from: (James MacDonell, Niger State, Nigeria, April 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. Pirate logs: 6925 USB, Radio Ga Ga, 0115-0125*, April 10, running slow scan TV at tune-in. Rap music. ID at 0125 sign off. Fair. 6925 USB, Dead Cat Radio, *0205-0216*, April 11, sign on with Gregorian chants. Dixieland jazz music. ID at 0216. Back at 0223 with old time music & more Dixieland jazz. Cat meowing, tires screeching & ID at 0236. Good. Strong. 6925 USB, Dead Cat Radio, 1528-1535, April 11, rock music. ID. Good. Strong. 6925 USB, Northsea Radio, 2100-2120. April 11, 'R' rated pirate songs. Sounds of seagulls, seals and IDs. Good. Strong. 6925, USB, WTCR, 0133-0140, April 12, ID at 0133. R&B music. Fair. 6924.91 AM, WMPR,1454-1504, April 12, computerized disco music and computerized IDs. “WMPR-Micro-Powered Radio”. Fair to good. 6925 USB, Barnyard Radio, 2205-2215, April 12, IDs. Barnyard sounds (cows, chickens, pigs, roosters). Rock music. Fair. Heard earlier at 2154-2202 up on 6930 (Brian Alexander, PA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Happened to occur to me: I think it might be wise for the "pirate radio" community to think seriously about eliminating the term "pirate" and finding a mutually-acceptable substitute term now. There is so much international ill-will directed at the for-real Somali pirates, after their recent upsurge in activity and the publicity about their actions. Many people believe that they should all be exterminated. We've lost the humorous aspects of cartoon pirates that were based on actions and images long-ago enough that the real pirates' nefarious actions have been blurred by time passing. But now, "pirates" are again proved to be loathsome and dangerous characters, with a far-too- serious negative side that taints the truly innocuous and good-humored activities of people just playing around with radio. Even though "pirate radio" is by definition an illegal activity, in the vast majority of cases no real harm is done. How about something more neutral, like "casual radio" or "unofficial radio", as a preferable term? If I were Allan Weiner, with his plans for launching another radio ship, I'd sure hate to be labeled "pirate" when I was at sea! 73, (Will Martin, MO, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Good point, Will, and food for thought; I've always liked the term "free radio" -- it conveys the essence of the endeavor, without being pejorative. 73 de (Anne Fanelli in Elma NY, ibid.) ** PAKISTAN. 11565 - 5 kHz down, R Pakistan IS and ID in Urdu at 1327- 1330 UT, BUT scheduled 1330-1530 UT on 11570 kHz instead. Maybe regularly here, due of KTWR Korean co-channel? (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Apr 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello Wolfy and Glenn, As far as I'm aware, PAK should be using 11565 at 1330-1530 and again at 1600-1615. The frequency was changed from 11570 due to TWR moving their transmissions onto that frequency. It's difficult to predict just how much interference there is within the PAK service area, but as we know, SW signals don't only go to where they are aimed at. PAK make all sorts of frequency registrations which - as with Greece - don't really give a true picture of where they are actually operating. The parallel frequency should be 9385, but there is QRM on that frequency, and I'm not sure exactly what I'm hearing. 73 from (Noel Green, England, ibid.) R PAK this morning also 5 kHz down of HFCC registration on 15100 even. 15100 [x15105] 0800-1104 UT 18SE,27-29 ISL 250 313 URDU, ENG PAK PBC (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, April 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Haven`t they always really been on 15100, with 15105 just a pretend in-band channel? (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) Correct - I have no idea why PAK register 15105. They have never used it as far as I'm aware. 15100 is heard here at 0500-0700 (I have heard it closing) and it should be API-9. And as you list above. I assume 15100 still listed for API-9 at 1600-1615 E Africa too. I'll try to remember to check the others in the morning. 73 from (Noel Green, England, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 5059.2, LV DE LAS HUARINJAS. Huanacabamba, Perú. 2350-0040 abril 11. Música folclórica. Anuncios de curanderos y farmacias botánicas, "...siempre compartiendo la mejor música a través de La Voz de las Huarinjas..." "...somos La Voz de las Huarinjas desde Huancabamba para todo el Perú..." reactivada luego de varias semanas fuera del aire, Notado cierre a las 0204*. 5120.1, ONDAS DEL SURORIENTE. Quillabamba, Perú. 1205-1225 abril 11. Anuncios de Incafarma, retransmitiendo el servicio de noticias de RPP (Radio Programas del Perú) "La rotativa del aire". 6173.7, RADIO TAWANTISUYO. Cusco, Perú. 1130-1145. Programa La Escuela del Aire. "...serie radioeducativa dirigida a profesores, padres de familia y estudiantes de la región... educar para un futuro mejor hasta nuestra próxima emisión..." 6195.6, RADIO CUSCO. Cusco, Perú. 2232-2320 abril 11. Lotes de música folclórica. ID a las 2300 "...en los 1480 AM; tradición, costumbres y cultura; Radio Cusco, una voz para el mundo``. Luego programa: La Voz de la Profecia "una voz que clama en el desierto". 6536, RADIO NUEVA SUPER SENSACION. Huancabamba, Perú. 0050-0120* Saludos y dedicatorias musicales. Parcial ID de una larga y completa: "......ciudad ubicada en el departamento de Piura, República del Perú - - - limítrofe con la República del Ecuador - - - Huancambamba se encuentra ubicada a orillas del rio del mismo nombre - - - flora y la fauna - - - y desde esta provincia transmite Radio Nueva Súper Sensación de Huancabamba, una emisora joven al servicio de su pueblo, una emisora con compromiso..." notado cierre sin S/off a las 0120. Buen Dx (Rafael Rodríguez R., Fomeque, Cundinamarca - COLOMBIA, April 14, Sony ICF 2010, hilo de 15 metros, condiglist yg via DXLD) ** PHILIPPINES. 9400, (tentative), FEBC, Iba, Apr 11, 1311-1330, Chinese with woman in monologue, religious vocals, flute music at the bottom of the hour by which time the signal had faded from almost fair to very poor. Not // 9430. 9430, (tentative) FEBC, Bocaue, Apr 11, 1311-1330 - Chinese with man in monologue, religious music, rapidly fading down at 1325. Format fits but not // 9400. Does FEBC broadcast separate audio streams on 9400 and 9430? (Brandon Jordan - Memphis, TN, USA, Perseus SDR + Wellbrook ALA100, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES. RADIO VERITAS - WINDOWS TO THE WORLD By HERN. P. ZENAROSA April 13, 2009, 6:32pm After 40 years of having been in the service of the country, mention of Radio Veritas today still conjures of a restrictive communication facility through which official statements of the Catholic church are issued. That may be true but Radio Veritas is not just a communication outlet of the country's Catholic church: It is the only continental short wave radio station of the Catholic church that opens its windows to the world. To be sure, Radio Veritas has a long history that started in 1969 when its first regular overseas broadcast began. But probably more compelling were the ideals and circumstances that inspired and brought about its fulfillment. All this will be discussed when a symposium on "Catholic Radio Broadcasting in Asia" is held Wednesday starting at 8 in the morning at the Pope Paul VI Auditorium, Radio Veritas Asia Compound in Fairview Park, Quezon City. . . http://mb.com.ph/articles/202260/radio-veritas-windows-world (via Zacharias Liangas, DXLD) ** POLAND [non]. I heard a terrible collision this afternoon on 11975 - PRW Belarussian via WERTACHTAL and Chinese. EiBi lists this as a jammer, probably for IBB Kuwait co-channel but inaudible. This was at 1405 till PRW closed just before 1430. 73 from (Noel Green, England, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PORTUGAL. 21655 RDP (presumed); 1946-1958*?, 13 Apr; 2 M in Portuguese with game call. Poor at QRN level. //11945, SIO=352+, QRN. 11945 continued past 2000 without ID break. I've been scanning 14m frequently for a few weeks and this is the first audio I've snagged (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 125 ft. bow-tie; 85 ft. RW & 180 ft. center-fed RW, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ROMANIA. 11735, R. Romania International, Tiganesti, Apr 11, *1658- 1713 - Interval Signal, English at top of hour announcing service for Western Europe, news, etc. Nice signal (Brandon Jordan - Memphis, TN, USA, Perseus SDR + Wellbrook ALA100, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I also caught this just closing at 1757, no chance for Zanzibar till then (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ROMANIA [non]. GERMANY. 9770-9775-9780 DRM, Radio Romania International via apparent German "Transradio Sender" site according to DRM text, 1852-1858*, 04/11 with a test transmission. Email reports were requested to c.hoerlle @ tsb-ag.de 95% DRM copy on an S8 signal. (Dan Srebnick, Aberdeen, NJ Equipment: Perseus SDR, Alpha Delta DX-CC dipole and 130' end fed wire, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Thanks to Kraig Krist for posting what turned out to be a revised VOR frequency schedule for English broadcasts. The VOR website has also been updated. VOR is now broadcasting in English to Europe on 12040 from 1600-1700 and on 12070 and 12040 from 1700-2100. I monitored 12040 from 1600-1700 and although it was a very good signal it did suffer from adjacent channel interference from both sides for the full hour. Still very listenable though with a narrow filter on 12041. From 1700 until now, 2022, both 12040 and 12070 are providing excellent reception with no interference at all. 12040 is best as 12070 has slightly lower volume. Regards (Harry Brooks, NE England, UK, April 11, DXLD yg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Could it be that 12040 and 12070 are in use since yesterday, April 10, thus have been restored at the same time than 7330 and 12010 for German? "Restored" because they all were already planned and must have been cancelled by Voice of Russia at short notice around mid-March. They are all old standards, so far with a somewhat different language usage, but it seems that the folks at VoR now decided to not waste time on working out new schedules but just booked the slots and put German here and English there. 12040 and 12070 originate from different sites in the Moscow area, maybe Taldom and Kurovskaya, respectively, but these are just wild guesses. It is not possible to figure this out from HFCC files, the site codes, i.e. "MSK" plus the old Soviet fake sites (of which "SRP" still lingers around after two decades), have apparently no bearing upon the transmitter dispatching (Kai Ludwig, Germany, ibid.) ** RUSSIA [non]. Voice of Russia, St. Petersburg QSL received for transmission to NA on 13 March 2009 from 0230 to 0300 UT on 6240 kHz. However, the transmitter site is not clear, due to the type of script. I can say for sure that is not Moldova, which is the listed site in Passport 2009; I can make out the letters _ isle __ eo. 73's, (Ed Insinger, NJ, April 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Ed, I think it`s pretty clear that 6240 was Moldova, per all the B08 online references and observation, the same transmitter carrying Radio PMR earlier in the evening before going into VOR relay. A.k.a. Kichinov (KCH), spelling variations such as Kishenev, Grigoriopol, etc. But what has St. Petersburg to do with it? You sent a report directly to them about this, why? Was it Mikhail Timofeyev who replied? Is that ``isle eo`` from Cyrillic lettering, script or what? 73, (Glenn to Ed, via DXLD) Glenn, My report went to the VoR direct; the St. Petersburg is in reference to the picture QSL sent. The script was such that I couldn't read it, but your response has cleared up the issue: looking more closely, it is Kishenev or Kichinov that is written out on the QSL. Thanks for the clarification. 73's, (Ed Insinger, ibid.) ** RUSSIA. Oh, man, I hate when someone lists a non complete schedule: http://www.ruvr.ru/files/shedule/Serb_Cr.xls They've listed VOR Serbian at 1500-1700z only on 1548 Moldavia 7300 KLG 150/205 12060 S.P 250 215 I've monitored them few days ago, and I can say they are broadcasting ALSO ON: 11840 1530-1700 MSK 250/240 RUS VOR GFC It's interesting this entry is also NOT listed in Aoki schedules: http://www.geocities.jp/binewsjp/bia09.txt (Dragan Lekic, Serbia, April 12, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. On April 11 at 1640 I was puzzled about an apparent Voice of Russia programme in a Slavic language, referring to "Radio Moskva" in whatever context, on 11840. Serbian, as just identified by Dragan Lekic. Also of note 11630, noted on April 11 and 12 with Mezhdunarodnoye Russkoye Radio until 1700 and English from 1700, strong signal but accompanied by a pretty bad hum, perhaps via Tbilisskaya transmitters. English from 1700 was also on 12040 from one of the Moscow area sites, quite weak here in Germany. It seems that even more shortwave outlets than just 7330/12010 for German and 12040/12070 for English have been restored (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 13, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA [and non]. Monitoreando a la Voz de Rusia, 13 abril 09, entre las 2400-2459 horas UT en: 7300, La señal es pobre aquí. 9810, con señal regular, y un ruido de fondo. 9880, La mejor frecuencia con buena señal. 11510, muyyy débil aquí Entre las 0100-0159 UT en: 7300, aun con señal pobre 9810, hey, con interferencia de Radio Nederland en ESPAÑOL!!!, frecuencia bloquada a esta hora [?? None such listed --- gh] 9880, señal pobre a buena. 11510, señal pobre a buena. Entre las 0200-0259 UT en: 7300, sin señal !!!!! 7395, Súper señal aquí! 9880, aquí se bajó la calidad de la señal a pobre (cambiarian de transmisor ???) 9945, en esta frecuencia también señal pobre. Entre las 0300-0359 UT en: 7300, señal pobre 7395, sigue con super señal 9880, señal pobre a regular, 9945, señal muuuy débil Entre las 0400-0459 UT en: La reportan en 7395, 9880 y 9945, pero también ha sido escuchada en 9665 [which is in English until 0400] 7395, Aun super señal 9880, con buena señal 9945, se mantiene con señal muy débil y 9665, con buena señal (Yimber Gaviría, Colombia, Sony ICF 7600G, Ant. KA33, Cali, Colombia DX LISTENING DIGEST) Does 2400+ really mean UT April 14? I don`t think so due to timing of this report, so = 00-05 UT April 13 (gh) ** RUSSIA [and non]. 9810 finally confirmed with VOR, first as something in Spanish at 0047 April 14 mixing with leftover DentroCuban jamming against R. República which moved to 9545 a biweek ago. Commies vs ex-Commies! And at 0059 VOR IS barely audible on 9810, sheduled to SAm at 0000-0200: http://www.ruvr.ru/files/shedule/ISI_SAmerica.xls The ONLY VOR English frequencies we have to work with at 0100 are 9665 and 9890. 9665 Moldova wasn`t making it, and 9890 Samara(?) was barely audible before 0100, improving somewhat to poor after 0100 April 14. Meanwhile, VOR 7395 in Spanish was inbooming with generator hum, presumably via Guiana French, which is the site they need to use to make it to NAm reliably when higher-latitude propagation is so poor, just as they did in B-08 on 7335. One good frequency beats 40 bad ones (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also SERBIA [non] ** SAIPAN. DRM tests from FEBC Saipan --- Starting on 4/15/09 FEBC, Saipan hopes to be testing DRM on 11645-11650-11655 kHz at 0900 to 1000 UT. Beaming 341 degrees, (Japan, Korea, Russia, and Northern Europe). Daylight absorption will limit signals west of middle Russia, but any reports from anywhere are welcome. This is early evening Japan time. Thanks for any and all reports, via this forum and to kfbseng @ febc. org We have permission to test for three weeks. Signals may not be on every night, but we hope to be on at least 10 or more nights. Later tests to be announced towards China. John Stanley, Visiting Engineer, FEBC, Saipan http://www.drmrx.org/forum/showthread.php?t=2106 (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, April 14, dxldyg via DXLD) ** SAUDI ARABIA. 11915, BSKSA Riyadh, BUZZ FREE on Apr 10 at 1800-2300 UT, Same program on \\ 11930. Heavy BUZZ again on 17805 at 0900-1200 UT Apr 11 (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Apr 11) Nearby BSKSA Riyadh's BUZZ again on 15435 kHz at 1500-1800 UT, \\ buzz free 15225, and different program on 15205 kHz (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, Apr 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) On April 11 at 1650 the buzzmitter on 15435 was not the only BSKSA transmitter with problems; at the same time 15225 suffered from badly distorted audio (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 13, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SERBIA [non]. INTERNATIONAL RADIO SERBIA A09 updated schedule Dear DXers, International Radio Serbia has changed interfered frequency for North America 9580 kHz 0000-0130 to a new frequency of 9675 kHz. I wish to thank Wolfgang Bueschel and Glenn Hauser for finding the new empty frequency. Best regards! Dragan Lekic from Subotica, Serbia -- A09 INTERNATIONAL RADIO SERBIA as of 0000 UTC, April 13, 2009 0000-0030 9675 BIJ 250 kW/ 310 degrees NCAm SERBIAN MON-SAT 0000-0100 9675 BIJ 250 kW/ 310 degrees NCAm SERBIAN SUN 0030-0100 9675 BIJ 250 kW/ 310 degrees NCAm ENGLISH MON-SAT 0100-0130 9675 BIJ 250 kW/ 325 degrees NoAm ENGLISH 1800-1830 6100 BIJ 250 kW/ 310 degrees WeEu RUSSIAN 1830-1900 6100 BIJ 250 kW/ 310 degrees WeEu ENGLISH 1900-1930 6100 BIJ 250 kW/ 310 degrees WeEu SPANISH 1930-2000 6100 BIJ 250 kW/ 310 degrees WeEu SERBIAN SUN-FRI 1930-2030 6100 BIJ 250 kW/ 310 degrees WeEu SERBIAN SAT 2000-2030 6100 BIJ 250 kW/ 310 degrees WeEu GERMAN SUN-FRI 2030-2100 6100 BIJ 250 kW/ 310 degrees WeEu FRENCH 2100-2130 6100 BIJ 250 kW/ 310 degrees WeEu ENGLISH NOTE: ----- IN UPCOMING MONTHS BEO TX WILL BE REACTIVATED: 1000-2130 7xxx BEO 010 kW/ 310 degrees WeEu VARIOUS BEO = Stubline near Belgrade, Serbia [STUBLINEH] BIJ = Jabanuša near Bijeljina, Bosnia [YABANUSHA, BEE-YEL-YINA] (Dragan Lekic, Serbia, April 13, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) IRS had reportedly finally made the change to 9675 after a biweek of colliding with Romania and China/Cuba on 9580, and I was barely able to confirm this April 14 when TA propagation was very poor --- SF 68 and K 0 at 0000: At 0058 IRS ID in English, and still no better at 0105 recheck when should have switched azimuth from 310 to 325 degrees. Earlier in April they had a good signal on 9580 causing havoc to collidees so I assume reception will eventually pick up on clear 9675. Meanwhile, Cuba was late bringing up the CRI audio on 9580, just huge open carrier at 0101. Next evening at 0032 April 15, propagation was much better with Serbia good on 9675, Romania better on 9580, Russia best on 9665, each in English and in the clear (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SINGAPORE [non]. AWR ASIA/PACIFIC WILL RELOCATE TO BATAM, INDONESIA COME JUNE 2009 AND DECIDED TO DISCONTINUE WAVESCAN Dear Listeners, the following lines are from the message of Rhoen Católico, Editor of Wavescan, DX Progam of AWR. That is '''AWR Asia/Pacific will relocate to Batam, Indonesia come June 2009. From then on, the headquarters also decided to discontinue Wavescan, and along with this, the listener relations department, which he now oversees.''' So earnestly request AWR authority not to discontinue Wavescan. Previously DW English and Bengali Departments stopped their DX programs. Please send your e-mail to radio@awr.org (Salahuddin Dolar, Chaumahani, Motihar Rajshahi, Bangladesh, April 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Gotta get rid of most popular programs! WRMI keeps? (gh) ** SLOVAKIA. WORLD OF RADIO 1455, Sat 0800, DX Partyline 0830 IRRS 9510: Excellent reception of both shows, Sat Apr 11, as usual. This is the best time to hear WOR here as the other possible times I have tried have variable reception. Regards (Harry Brooks, North East England, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOLOMON ISLANDS. 9541.51, SIBC/R. Happy Isles 0835- Heard again with a lot of talk by same YL. M announcer after 0901, then W returned at 0903. Poor and just a little readable. Seems like this isn't on the air every day. At least here at my QTH, its either audible or it isn't noted at all. (6 April) 73 (Dave, Dunlo, PA, USA, Valko, HCDX via DXLD) ** SOMALILAND. SOMALIA. 7145, R. Hargeisa, Hargeisa, Somaliland, 1533- 1644, 10 Apr, Somali, talks, songs; 15321 but improving, and far after 1800. 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN. 7200, Radio Omdurman, *0238-0429*, April 11, sign on with Arabic talk. Qur`an at 0246. Local music at 0256. Arabic talk. “Huna Omdurman” IDs. Some local music. Occasional chirping birds during broadcast. Mentions of Coca Cola & Sprite at 0400. Time pips at 0401 & news. Abruptly pulled plug mid-sentence at 0429. Poor, weak signal with strong HAM QRM prior to 0300 but slowly improved to a good quality signal by 0330. No HAM QRM after 0300 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN [non]. NETHERLANDS [non]. Radio Dabanga noted on April 11 at 1630 on 11500 via Talata Volonondry, pretty strong with Europe being within the main beam. Lively production with many jingles (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 13, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN [non]. Re 9 -031: ``U S A. Please note following changes (effective 10 April 2009) to the WYFR A-2009 Frequency Schedule. Del 15215 kHz 160 degrees zone 16 0100-0400 UT Add 7570 kHz 160 degrees zone 16 0100-0300 UT Add 9985 kHz 160 degrees zone 16 0300-0400 UT (WYFR April 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST)`` Part or all of the 15215 transmission was really a relay of RTI, so 7570 and/or 9985 probably too, to be confirmed (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** THAILAND. 6765.1 USB, Bangkok Meteorological Radio 1231-1250 Apr 6. English weather, followed by weather in two other languages (presume Thai and Khmer), with usual IS between segments; back to English again at 1248. Fair and // 8743-U, which was poor (John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Drake R-8, 100-foot RW, Cumbredx list via DXLD) ** THAILAND. For those of us, myself included, who have had an extremely difficult time of QSL'ing Radio Thailand, on 10 March 2009 I sent a report to the IBB/Thailand Transmitting Station, US Embassy Box UD, APO AP 96546-0001. I received a full data QSL card in two weeks, listing the Udon Thani transmitter site (QSL actually lists Udonthani as one word). My reports to Thailand direct have proved fruitless over the years, so this was a welcomed response and alternative for those of us who have attempted to verify Thailand (Ed Insinger, NJ, April 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Thailand heard on 7570 on April 12 with news in English, 1900- 1910, mainly about the disturbances in the country. SINPO 25332 (Roger Tidy, UK, April 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Is R. Thailand using 15275 for NAm now straight thru from 0000 to 0330? I certainly can`t tell as it was inaudible at 0100 April 14, and former(?) 12120 was as usual occupied by a big hi-speed RTTY signal (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TUNISIA. Summer A-09 of RTV Tunisia in Arabic: 0200-0500 on 9725 SFA 250 kW / 100 deg to N/ME 0200-0500 on 12005 SFA 500 kW / 100 deg to N/ME 0400-0800 on 7275 SFA 500 kW / 340 deg to WeEu [see below] 0400-0800 on 7335 SFA 500 kW / 265 deg to NoAf 1600-2100 on 9725 SFA 250 kW / 100 deg to N/ME 1600-2100 on 12005 SFA 500 kW / 100 deg to N/ME 1600-2400 on 7225 SFA 500 kW / 340 deg to WeEu 1700-2400 on 7345 SFA 500 kW / 265 deg to NoAf (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, April 13 via DXLD) 7275 and 7335 are *registered* spans, not the *real* spans, if one monitors. Beware of over-reliance on ``official`` info! I believe 7275 ends at 0630 while 7335 lasts until about 0810, as in EiBi. And the other spans here are probably very approximate (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Observations on April 12 7335 : s/off at 0808 UT 7275 : s/off at 0625 UT Regards (Jean-Michel Aubier, France, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKEY. Sometimes Live from Turkey gets repeated on later broadcasts, sometimes not. I heard the live airing Tuesday April 14 at 1851 on webcast, also 9785; it was mostly music fill except for one call to/from regular Chris Lewis in England. My ATS-909 alarm was still set to go off at 0311 to check whether 7325 is really in English, so I listened for a while, and LFT started playing back at 0321 UT Wednesday (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKEY [and non]. SCOTT SIMON SAYS: 'Genocide' Is A Matter Of Opinion --- Listen Now [3 min 2 sec] add to playlist http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102997017 Weekend Edition Saturday, April 11, 2009 When President Obama was beginning his run for office, he said he believed the 1915 slaughter of 1.5 million Armenians by Turkey was not war but genocide and that the American people deserved "a leader who speaks truthfully about the Armenian genocide and responds forcefully to all genocides." But when Obama addressed the Turkish parliament this week, he referred only to "the terrible events of 1915." I was part of a PBS program called The Armenian Genocide. There was no question mark in the title. I think there are times when you have to say "genocide" to be accurate about mass murder that tries to extinguish a whole group. That's why slaughter of a million Tutsis in Rwanda is not called merely mass murder. An American politician who got to Germany, for example, and called the Holocaust of European Jews merely "killings" would be mocked. I don't doubt that Obama is still outraged by the Armenian genocide. But when he ran in the presidential primaries, it was important to win support from people concerned about human rights and, perhaps, Armenian-Americans in California. Now, Obama may feel that it is more important for the United States to win Turkey's cooperation on a range of issues than it is for him to be consistent on a controversy that may seem like old history. But it's not. Almost every year, the Turkish government has charged reporters and writers, including the Nobel laureate, Orhan Pamuk, for "insulting national identity" by referring to the massacres of 1.5 million Armenians as genocide. Peter Balakian, the pre-eminent scholar of the genocide and co- translator of a new, widely lauded family memoir called Armenian Golgotha: A Memoir of the Armenian Genocide, told us this week that he admires President Obama for telling Turkish leaders that confronting the past and restoring good relations with Armenia is important. But he believes Turkey's campaign against acknowledging its genocide raises questions about reliability. Balakian told us, "A country that spends millions of dollars a year in an effort stop the facts about the Armenian genocide from being known and that persecutes and prosecutes its own citizens for speaking truthfully about the extermination of the Armenians is hardly a government to trust to broker honest and just foreign policy." In a way, the president's choice to say "killings" in front of his hosts may remind us that it might be wise to regard what any politician says as the words of a suitor who coos "I love you" during courtship. They mean it in the moment. But any adult should know that they may not mean it in just a few weeks (via DXLD) ** UKRAINE. It appears RUI`s DX program has finally been canceled. The last edition by Olex Yehorov was produced in February, but was still being repeated on April 4; but UT Sunday April 12 on 7440 (actually I was listening to the webcast) the Mailbag started much earlier taking up the slack, from 0017 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UKRAINE. Was 11550 kHz (not 9945) this morning around 8-9 UT. S=9+20Db (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, April 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. SCEPTICAL ABOUT BBC WS COVERAGE OF INDIAN ELECTION There is a lot of talk in the Indian press about the great BBC WS train trip with 30 reporters from many BBC language services to cover the Indian election. Executive Editor South Asia Nazes Afroz says "the purpose is to investigate key themes surrounding the general election and what Indians want and expect from the polls". I am very skeptical ever since when I noticed BBC Bangla grossly under-reporting and attempting to doctor the Kashmir poll percentage figures to suit the separatists http://www.geocities.com/supratiksanatani We should not lose sight of the fact that BBC WS is funded by the Foreign Commonwealth Office of the British Government and in 2007 received 239 million pound sterling http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/spend_sr02_repchap13.htm BBC is therefore obliged to toe the Foreign Office line. This was clear when the Foreign Office asked the report on hijacking of a Saudi ship by Somali pirates to be taken off BBC WS news. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/dec/04/bbc-world-service-piracy BBC Bangla service has been known to rake up sensitive issues to keep India Bangladesh relations on the boil. It regularly gives blown up coverage of minor border clashes or maritime boundary disputes. Hindu Muslim relations is another favorite BBC thumping ground. That the ongoing many part coverage of Indian pre poll review in BBC Bangla by Siubhajit Bagchi is focusing principally on the "Muslim" votes proves my point. I, therefore, advise caution about doctored news coming out of this BBC WS train journey jambourie (Dr Supratik Sanatani, West Bengal, April 12, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. 12095, BBC, Rampisham, Apr 11, 1630-1659 - audio suddenly fading up right at 1630 with BBC World Service in English with sports news, multiple good peaks and deep fades before 1659* (Brandon Jordan - Memphis, TN, USA, Perseus SDR + Wellbrook ALA100, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. STATE IG SEES PROBLEMS WITH VOA PERSIAN NEWS NETWORK A State Department Office of Inspector General's report "found fundamental misunderstanding by employees of [Voice of America Persian New Network's] mission. 'While everyone involved with the operation is cognizant of the importance of VOA broadcasting to Iran, some of those who work in PNN appear to lack a clear understanding of the mission of PNN and the centrality of the VOA charter to their work, underscoring the need for additional training,' the report said. The BBG's mission, according to its 2008-13 strategic plan, is 'to promote freedom and democracy and to enhance understanding through multimedia communication of accurate, objective and balanced news, information, and other programming about America and the world to audiences overseas.' ... The report also questioned the continued existence of PNN's radio service, 'given the round-the-clock broadcasts of Radio Farda,' a joint project between VOA and U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, which is based in Prague. The BBG should 'determine whether Voice of America radio broadcasting in Persian should be discontinued or reinvigorated,' it said." Nicholas Kralev, Washington Times, 14 April 2009 (kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) The lack of clear understanding might be exacerbated by the L-shaped mission statement, from which it might be difficult to determine whether the purpose is to promote freedom and democracy, or to transmit objective and balanced news. The latter promotes the former, but so do other types of content. The latter should, therefore, get first billing. As for VOA PNN radio versus Radio Farda, the two services do complement each other, the latter youth oriented with much music, the former focusing on news and information. It is difficult to find journalistic talent that also speaks Farsi. It is doubly so for US international broadcasting, which must recruit for both VOA PNN in Washington and for Radio Farda in Prague. (Radio Farda is now operated exclusively by RFE/RL, with VOA no longer participating.) Posted: 14 Apr 2009 VOA Hindi dropped its radio broadcasts in 2008. To fill the radio news void, perhaps Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty will add a Hindi Service. Or would it be Radio Free Asia? No, actually, RFE/RL and RFA would likely *both* add Hindi services. VOA, seeing this new competition, would restore its Hindi radio service. Then there would be three US government funded Hindi radio services with largely the same content. Just a prediction. Bet on it. Posted: 14 Apr 2009 (Kim Andrew Elliott, ibid.) ** U S A. CONOVER SUCCESSOR RUSS DAVIS FEATURED ON INTERNET TV SHOW On the next Jazz it Up! internet-based TV news series: "The JazzInsider segment focuses on the work of long-time jazz radio deejay Russ Davis, host of the Jazz America program heard worldwide on the Voice of America network." All About Jazz, 11 April 2009 (kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) Russ Davis is the successor to Willis Conover. His program is weekends on VOA Music Mix and is, apparently, not available on demand or as a podcast. As for listening live, even I, an international radio listener with 45 years experience, am flummoxed. It's available Saturday 1200 UTC, and Sunday at 0700, 1300, and 2000 UTC, depending on the Music Mix regional stream, according to this schedule. It can be heard via the stream available on this page, but first you'll have to determine which Music Mix regional stream is on the Music Mix live stream. It's also transmitted to Asia on shortwave, according to this program schedule (available within the VOA English to Africa web section), Saturday and Sunday at 1300 UTC (is Sunday a repeat of Saturday?), on 7575, 9510, and 9760 kHz, according to this transmission schedule, over in a different section of voanews.com. And, thus, Jazz America might also be available Saturday and Sunday at 1300 UTC via the Global Live live stream link (near the top of the page) at the voanews.com home page (which is now the VOANews.com English home page). Good luck. Posted: 14 Apr 2009 (Kim Andrew Elliott, for linx see http://kimelli.nfshost.com/index.php?id=6294 via DXLD) ** U S A. VOA violating separation of church and state: At 2123-2129* April 10, in the Kriyol service on 11895, Agnus Dei and Pie Jesu, beautiful music, but it can hardly be coincidental that it`s ``Good Friday`` and they are playing classical music for a change. Mentioned Roman Catholic Church; adherents of Voudou, or any other belief, should raise hell with VOA and demand equal time. It`s far from the first such violation. R. Martí broadcast Catholic services and may still do so, altho Jehovah`s Witnesses and many other sects are much more in need of USG aid in penetrating Cuba; R. Liberty used to broadcast Russian Orthodox stuff. Thus the US Government is endorsing Christianity of various ilx to the exclusion of countless other religions practiced at home and abroad. Better to keep it secular and let the religionists do their own broadcasting (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. VOA Special English noted on April 11 at 1645 on 12080, via Botswana transmitters beaming north all the way up to Europe, with a script about elections in Afghanistan that sounded like a lecture for small children (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 13, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 17895, at 2000 April 13, VG signal from VOA opening The African Beat. Say, could they spare 5 minutes for news on the hour? I hear stuff is going on in Africa and elsewhere worldwide. IBB keeps swapping transmitter sites around, but momentwise, at 19-21 this is Greenville 250 kW at 94 degrees, and obviously plenty kW backwards at 274 degrees close to usward (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. A09 changes for VOA: The following changes made by VOA in their A09 schedules : - Urdu 1400-1500 7480 kHz from Kuwait (ex-7440). Further changes may be made soon due to DST in Pakistan. News Now in English at 1400-1600 hrs on 7545 kHz from Philippines (ex- 7430) w.e.f 14-APR-09 Special English 1500-1600 hrs on 9485 kHz from the Philippines(ex- 9590) w.e.f 14-APR-09. (Alok Dasgupta, Kolkata, India. http://dxasia.info/news/ via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, April 11, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. MARATHON SITE TO GET SHORTWAVE TRANSMITTER Hello, have you already studied the BBG's budget request for fiscal year 2009? Below two interesting points that have just been pointed out to me. The "leased radio facility" could be Orzu in Tajikistan (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: http://www.bbg.gov/reports/budget.html Budget Submission FY 2009 In FY 2007, Engineering initiated plans to install a shortwave broadcast capability operating on the region’s widely used tropical bands at the OCB’s transmitting facility in Marathon, Florida. Work continues at the BBG’s Greenville Transmitting Station to convert a medium wave transmitter, originally used at the closed BBG station in Belize, for these shortwave (tropical band) broadcasts from Marathon. In FY 2008, Engineering is installing a transmitter and basic antenna system to support broadcasts to Cuba. STRENGTHENED BROADCAST SERVICE IN THE FAR EAST To improve broadcast capability to East Asia, the BBG developed plans to augment a leased radio facility with a high-power shortwave transmitter and associated antenna system. In late FY 2007, negotiations have been finalized. Facility modifications and installation of equipment are expected to begin in mid-FY 2008, with a projected on-air date for broadcasts in mid-FY 2009 (via Kai Ludwig, DXLD) Whoopee, the DentroCuban Jamming Command is coming to the tropical bands. Maybe IBB should put it on 5025 (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** U S A. WWRB spurs from 9385 still there, April 13 at 1340 on 9317 with Brother Scare audio readable, but the match on 9453 only a het against Thailand 9455 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 3253, WWRB-Manchester, TN, 0947-0955 Apr 6, man announcer in English with preaching followed by choir singing. Poor but // fundamental 3185 (good) and spur 3117 (fair). (Rich D'Angelo, 2216 Burkey Drive, Wyomissing, PA 19610, U.S.A., Ten-Tec RX-340, Drake R-8B, Eton E1, Lowe HF-150, Eton E5; 0D Alpha Delta DX Sloper, RF Systems Mini- Windom, Datong FL3, JPS ANC-4, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) Nice match, in both cases the spurs are plus and minus 68 kHz from fundamental, so probably same transmitter, night and day (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WYFR mix of two English programs on 11795, April 13 at 1344, one Camping, one not; leapfrog of 11865 over 11830, but in this case could be FRG-7 receiver overload rather than transmitted (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. Glenn: At around 1847 UT Sat April 11, I noticed DCJC jamming on WRMI 9955 during a Talk program in English; you can hear the warbling jammer in the background with the talking on top. Good Signal from Miami was enough to keep noise to a minimum on the 9955 frequency. 73's (from Tennessee, Noble West, Receiver: Sangean ATS818ACS, Antenna: Radioshack Pocket mounted on coax adjacent to wooden pole 50 feet across, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 26348/FM, Saginaw MI, WNEM-TV studio/mobile relay; 2008- 2020+, 13 April; Brief messages from obviously mobile dude with estimates of time to return and lamenting MSU basketball loss; occasional bits from WNEM-TV Saginaw including; Great Lakes Loons baseball promo, WNEM.com spot and WNEM-TV weather. TV spots // 1250 WNEM Bridgeport MI which carries WNEM-TV audio. Good copy. First studio relay I've heard in ages; guessing this is new as never heard before (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 125 ft. bow-tie; 85 ft. RW & 180 ft. center-fed RW, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. I`m so sick of CNN and its wacky news ``judgment``. April 12 at 1720 UT the hour-long Fareed Zakaria GPS interview show was rudely interrupted for BREAKING NEWS about the pirates` hostage being freed. OK, except there wasn`t really any hard info about that for at least the next 40 minutes, but had to talk to live correspondents, neighbors, etc., anyway. Could this not have waited until 1800 when perhaps their act could have been pulled together? O well, I`ll catch the rest of GPS on the replay at 2100 --- am I kidding? The pirate story is still BREAKING NEWS then, all other programming thrown out the window. Is FZGPS just too `intellexual` to matter? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. GRUMBLES ABOUT AL JAZEERA PRESENCE ON WORLDFOCUS "PBS' [sic] new program, WorldFocus, airs international reports from Al Jazeera's English channel -- one of many foreign broadcasters, like England's ITN and Israel's Channel 10, included in the newscast. But according to some in Congress, there is little difference between Al Jazeera's networks that broadcast in Arabic or English and, they say, PBS, which is partially funded by taxpayer dollars, is recklessly promoting Al Jazeera by airing the segments. 'My concern is that the American people should be pretty darn upset about the fact that their tax dollars are going to fund this,' said Rep. Sue Myrick, R-N.C. 'I mean, they're already upset about what their tax dollars are going to fund, and now they're funding propaganda.' ... WorldFocus told FOX News it doesn't pay Al Jazeera for its reports, adding that the PBS [sic] show is paid for through private funds." Fox News, 8 April 2009. "With all contributions from our partners, including Al Jazeera English, we reserve the right to edit content -- and we often do. ... We also believe Al Jazeera English does sometimes offer us and our viewers a unique perspective from various parts of the world where it has access that others don't. During the war in Gaza, we frequently aired reports from Gaza from AJE. We typically paired those reports with reports from our Israeli partner, Channel 10. With that approach, we saw both sides at once." Statement issued by Marc Rosenwasser, executive producer of Worldfocus, to Fox News, 9 April 2009 (kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) As we have explained before, Worldfocus is broadcast by public television stations, but is not a PBS (Public Broadcasting System [sic]) program. Those who complain about Al Jazeera content on Worldfocus are behooved to cite examples of biased reporting. In the meantime, I wonder what the partners think of Worldfocus stating that "we often do" edit their content. This after the partners have gone to the trouble of editing the content according to their own standards. VOA Arabic had a partnership with Arab broadcaster MBS, which soon ended because of MBS's editing of VOA's reports. See previous post about Worldfocus. Posted: 11 Apr 2009 (Kim Andrew Elliott, for linx see http://kimelli.nfshost.com/index.php?id=6275 via DXLD) ** U S A. LEGENDARY DINÉ BROADCASTER DIES AT AGE 57 --- Radio station KTNN's Ernie Manuelito fought to keep the Navajo Language alive Copyright © 2009 Gallup Independent, By Karen Francis, Diné Bureau WINDOW ROCK — Ernie Manuelito, who participated in the first broadcast on KTNN radio station, died early Friday morning in Albuquerque at the age of 57. Manuelito was there from the beginning of KTNN as one of “the voices of the Navajo Nation.” He was a DJ, chief engineer and rodeo/sports announcer at the station for more than 23 years. . . http://www.gallupindependent.com/2009/04April/041109legendarybroadcaster.html (via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) obit ** URUGUAY. El programa "Radioactividades" se emite por RADIO URUGUAY AM 1050 kHz, perteneciente al SODRE Servicio de Radiodifusión Nacional, los sábados y domingos a las 1400 UT (repetición a las 0200 siguiente). El pasado 14 de febrero ha cumplido 20 años de trayectoria, comenzó siendo un programa exclusivamente DX y con el tiempo se convirtió en una realización periodística de primer nivel dedicada a los medios de comunicación. Hacen Radioactividades DANIEL AYALA y PABLO PÉREZ en tanto LUIS IGNACIO MOREYRA tiene a su cargo las tareas técnicas. ROBERTO BELLO, desde el exterior, forma parte del staff y es quien recientemente ha creado la página web de Radioactividades: http://www.radioactividades.org según fuera informado en la emisión del 11 de marzo de 2009. Para escuchar programas anteriores debe ingresarse a http://es.geocities.com/programas_dx/radioactividades.htm Pueden enviarse comentarios, colaboraciones y sugerencias a correo@radioactividades.org (Rubén Guillermo Margenet, April 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VATICAN. New frequency for Vatican Radio --- Due to strong cochannel interference, Vatican Radio is moving on to 9310 at 0200- 0320 hrs replacing 9545 effective 13th April 2009 (Alok Dasgupta, Kolkata, India. http://dxasia.info/news/ via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, April 11, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dentro-Cuban jamming and/or Philippines on 9545 (gh) ** VENEZUELA [non]. Another Spanish gospel huxter on 16m? 17705, VG signal April 10 at 2024 with YL telling the story of Jesucristo, complete with inspirational music past 2032, as if it were historical fact. This has to be Radio Nacional de Venezuela as scheduled during this hour via Cuba, violating separation of church and state. Back to equally one-sided politix! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** YEMEN [and non]. Giovedì 9 aprile 2009, 0547 - 9780 kHz, YEMEN RTV - Sana'a, Arabic, talk OM/YL. Segnale buono sufficiente, Co-channel QRDRM REE. (SWL I1-0799GE, Luca Botto Fiora, G.C. 09E13 - 44N21, Rapallo (Genova), Italia, bclnews.it yg via DXLD) ** ZAMBIA. 5914.99, ZNBC, Lusaka, Apr 11, 0230-0405 - transmitter turned on at 0230, broadcasting a 1 kHz tone from 0231 until 0241, then "Call of the Fish Eagle" IS until an off-frequency BBC via Meyerton on 5914.98 from *0257 to 0332* in listed Swahili spoiled the signal. Not very nice of them. ZNBC clear from 0332 with a very poor signal but improving toward the top of the hour as the sun was rising over Lusaka. It was not to be, as an on-frequency DW via Rampisham in listed Russian signed on at 0400 again spoiling the signal, although by this time ZNBC had strengthened enough to give it a run for its money. 6165, ZNBC2, Lusaka, Apr 11, 0357-0430 - R Nederland via Bonaire vacating frequency at 0357 leaving Zambia in the clear with weak threshold signal, rapidly strengthening just before 0414 transmitter sunrise. 0408 with man and woman announcers with "news today" in heavily accented English until 0416 then into vocal. Reception marred from 0417 by strong carrier from Chad [q.v.] transmitter coming on 6165.14 and drifting down until co-channel ZNBC (Brandon Jordan - Memphis, TN, USA, Perseus SDR + Wellbrook ALA100, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZANZIBAR. Sunday April 5, 1800 - 11735 kHz, SPICE FM - Zanzibar (Tanzania), English, news OM. Segnale buono (SWL I1-0799GE, Luca Botto Fiora, G.C. 09E13 - 44N21, Rapallo (Genova), Italia, bclnews.it yg via DXLD) See also ROMANIA ** UNIDENTIFIED. 6024.96v, Apr 11, *0419 - Noticed a transmitter firing up at 0419 on 6024.966 and slowly fading down to 6024.952 kHz. Carrier only, too weak for audio, slight peak from 0530 and fading rapidly from 0630, into noise floor by 0700. Could this be FRCN Enugu? (Brandon Jordan - Memphis, TN, USA, Perseus SDR + Wellbrook ALA100, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6024.97, 0307-0330, April 13. Often check here with the hope that R. Amanecer (on the high side of 6025.0) will eventually return, but just hear an open carrier on the low side, below threshold level till tonight. Sounded like African chanting/singing (similar to reciting from the Qur’an, but don’t think it was). Too weak to ID language. Clearly not Bolivia. Brian Alexander also heard an UNID here on April 2 (2120-2210) and he wondered if it was Nigeria-Enugu (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. On morningly bandscans I strain to hear anything on 6045, in case XEXQ returns; April 13 at 1315 there was some extremely weak talk and 1318 song but unseems classical. Most likely V of Russia, Mandarin via Vladivostok per HFCC and EiBi, via Novosibirsk per Aoki (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 7165, Huge white noise jammer noted at random checks 0400-0500 April 10 (Brock Whaley, Sony-SW77 Kailua Beach Park, HI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Ethiopia? UNIDENTIFIED. 7270, 0142-0210, April 12 and 13. Mostly chanting / singing, sounded African; language possibly French; weak with QRM from a station underneath them playing pop songs. Same format heard both days (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Aoki reminds us this was a daytime frequency for RTV Gabonaise; but presumably inactive; or could be AIR Chennai, India, but not French (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED [non]. Amigos, estava ouvindo agora a pouco uma emissora religiosa (ao que me pareceu, pois, falava-se só de religião) transmitindo em espanhol. Ao checar no EIBIA09 e HFCCA09, só achei a Radio Nederland em espanhol nos 7325 kHz, das 0000 às 0200 UT (o sinal vem de Sines/PORTUGAL). Descarto a possibilidade de ser essa emissora. No final da programação às 0200 UT (ela transmite das 0100 às 0200 ao que me pareceu), um locutor disse que a emissora iria deixar de transmitir em algumas freqüências que vinha usando e que passaria a transmitir em outras. Depois foi ao ar um pequeno pedaço do seu sinal de chamada (com pianos), muito familiar por sinal. No site http://www.intervalsignals.net não achei o sinal de intervalo que procurava para poder identificar a emissora. Alguém sabe que emissora é essa? Aqui vai o log dessa escuta. 7325 ?? Unid, SS, 0132, 10/04, OM em entrevista w/ OM abt religião, menção ao Vaticano 43333 (Rubens Ferraz Pedroso, Bandeirantes/ PR, Engenheiro Agrônomo, Membro do DXCB e do DX Clube do Paraná, Receptor: Degen DE1103. Antena: RC3-FM, DXClube PARANA yg via DXLD) I think it must really be Sines, but either: with the wrong program feed, perhaps Vatican. Or special Good Friday programming from R. Nederland. 73, (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) [Logo:] En realidad, RN se convierte en una emisora misionaria, la `semana santa`, donde no existe distinción entre iglesia y estado: Este fue el programa del jueves: http://www.informarn.nl/sociedad/act090409-jesus-semana-santa Igual? 73, Glenn Hauser, ibid.) No HFCC A09 consta Rádio Nederland das 0000 às 0157 UT em espanhol. Botei o meu Degen DE1103 ligado nos 7325 kHz e quando deu 0100 UT, começou um programa em espanhol. Um locutor mencionava os Países Baixos. Grato pela ajuda Glenn Hauser. 73! (Rubens Ferraz Pedroso, ibid.) Strange as it may seem, RN becomes a religious station on Good Friday. When contributing DX news, I was yearly taken aback by Radio Enlace/Espacio Diexista being pre-empted on that Friday each year (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ I appreciate all you do for the DXing hobby so much, thank you for it. 73s (Ydun Ritz, Denmark) I can't conceive the DX world without your unvaluable hard work and knowledgment. That's why my only wish for you is keep healthy for many years to come (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica) Thanks to Will Martin, MO, for a generous check in the mail to support DXLD and WORLD OF RADIO, to P O Box 1684, Enid OK 73702. PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ AOKI A-09 Hola: Ya está disponible el listado AOKI (Nagoya Dx) para el periodo A09. ZIP= http://www.m2.mediacat.ne.jp/~binews/bia09.zip Texto: http://www.geocities.jp/binewsjp/bia09.txt Cordialmente, (Tomás Méndez, QTH: El Prat de Llobregat-Barcelona España, APRIL 12, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) EiBi A-09 Happy Easter! The EiBi broadcast and frequency lists for the 2009 summer season (A09) can now be downloaded at http://www.eibispace.de/ As usual, there is one version sorted by UTC time, and one version sorted by frequency. Perseus users get the eibi.txt file, and the zip for the radio explorer is also available. Please don't hesitate to notify me about updates, mistakes or omissions. Thanks to all who help! Good DX! (Eike Bierwirth, Boulder, Colorado, USA, April 12, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) DIGITAL BROADCASTING - DRM see BELGIUM; NEW ZEALAND; ROMANIA; SAIPAN ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Re: NASB DRM USA to Meet in Nashville -- ``Let`s screw up shortwave`` Gents: Before we get all hysterical about DRM, I want to offer a couple of short comments. First, a *properly adjusted* transmitter has absolutely no greater occupied bandwidth than the analog version. Maybe even less. Flat out to +/- 4500 Hz, down a LOT at +/- 5000 Hz. But, *if* the transmitter is misadjusted it can be a first-class noise generator. Been there, done that (not deliberately). The bandwidth occupied will be determined by how carefully the technical people do their job. I think that if the system is misadjusted at the transmitter end of things the coverage is reduced so it would be a good thing for the broadcaster to keep things adjusted nicely (Jim Tonne, TN, April 11, ABDX via DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING – DTV ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DTV PILOT CARRIER DXING Has anyone noticed that many, many stations are not broadcasting on exactly the .310.00 kHz pilot carrier frequencies? On a typical day I am probably receiving 120 to 150 different DTV stations` pilot carriers and they can usually be easily discerned from each other as the dish turns and the cycle tones of the stations change in pitch. They are unmodulated carriers. The pilot carrier is 310 kHz into the channel - 54.31, 60.31, 66.31, 76.31, 82.31, 174.31, etc. I programmed them into the R7100`s memories #302 to 351 in usb. Some stations such as WRSP-DT-44 are way off frequency (~307 kHz in the Icom). The good news is that signals as low as S1 are easy to hear. The bad news is that a signal must be S7 to "break" video, and S9 to produce a solid signal. I'm probably getting daily reception out of Cleveland, like I did with channel 61. I suppose somebody could design a program, like overseas DXers do with stations on 48.25 MHz and make all these a cinch to "ID". However, without seeing actual video I'm not sure what the point is. 73, (Jeff Kadet, Macomb, IL, April 11, WTFDA via DXLD) DIGITAL CHANNEL 6 IN NYC News from the New York City metro area: I caught WNYZ-LD Channel 6 on the air this evening using virtual channel 1-1 for an over-the air display. Pulse 87, the quasi-FM station using analog aural carrier frequency 87.75 MHz, was still on the air. It looks like they are going to try to make the digital TV signal and the faux 'FM' signal co-exist. Very interesting to see. Reasonable reception seen about 45 miles north of NYC in Northern Westchester. I am also getting DT carriers on channels 26, 32, 35 and 43. All five of these channels are licensed for DTVs as Island Broadcasting, Inc. I have not yet resolved the four UHF signals to see signal content. Hopefully, more to come (Karl Zuk N2KZ, April 13, amfmtvdx at qth.net via DXLD) CABLE TV AFTER THE SWITCHOVER? I wonder if cable systems like Comcast will still show a full frame centercut image on local stations (for those that don't have HD service) or will everything be in letterbox format? (Robert M. Bratcher, Jr., TX, April 13, ABDX via DXLD) It depends on the station and on the cable system. In many - maybe even most - markets, the picture you see even on "analog" service isn't coming over the air anyway, and thus won't be directly affected by the shutdown. Here in Rochester, for instance, all of the stations have direct fiber feeds to Time Warner, and there's no reason they can't keep sending a 4:3 SD feed down the fiber after June 12. Beyond that, there are a lot of "it depends" situations - a lot simply hinges on how the stations and cable systems decide to work together, or not, and how concerned they are about continuing to provide a full-screen experience for 4:3 viewers. There's a technology called Automatic Format Descriptor (AFD) that can allow a station to tell a device downstream - whether it be a receiver at a cable system headend or a home receiver - what format it's broadcasting and how to display it. In theory, that would allow a broadcaster to remotely control the way its HD stream is downconverted for SD viewers, center-cutting some programs, letterboxing others, and displaying native 4:3 content as fullscreen 4:3. But that technology came along fairly late in the game and is not universally supported --- so you get examples like WXXI here in Rochester, which followed PBS' national lead and went entirely 16:9 last fall. Legacy 4:3 content displays pillarboxed on the 16:9 HD feed, and when that's downconverted for SD viewers on analog cable and on our analog OTA feed, it appears as a small 4:3 image floating in a sea of black. Not ideal, but only temporary, at least. s (Scott Fybush, NY, ibid.) COMMENTARY ++++++++++ Commentary for National Association of Shortwave Broadcasters to be published in Radio World magazine. Hello Friends, Today I was contacted by editor in chief of Radio World a monthly magazine sent to “MANAGERS” of radio stations in the US with an international edition sent to stations overseas like DW, BBC, RNW and others. Last month I recorded a commentary for the National Association of Shortwave Broadcasters on what I saw as the problems facing SW stations. They will publish the transcript of the commentary in the next edition of Radio World. Honestly I never thought anyone would have commented on it, but 2 weeks ago I received a very angry email from a manager at Radio Canada International. Hummm! Did I hit a nerve? LOL If you didn’t hear it click on the following link: http://www.radio4all.net:8080/files/kperron@gmail.com/3101-1-naswb_message_03:17:2009.mp3 73 (Keith Perron, Taiwan, April 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) as ya in DXLD PROPAGATION +++++++++++ Re: THE WORLD ATLAS OF GROUND CONDUCTIVITY, (9-031) The world? Where is Hawaii? No map or figures. And we have VLF stations. Salt water meets volcanic rock. It’s poor, but how poor? (Brock Whaley, Kailua, HI, April 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Great between islands The summary period began with solar wind speeds at about 400 km/s. Velocities slowly decreased to about 300 km/s by late on 08 April. At about 08/2015 UTC, solar wind speeds indicated a fairly sharp rise in velocity to about 475 km/s by 09/0300 UTC. From that time forward, wind speeds gradually increased to near 570 km/s by 11/1700 UTC and subsequently, speeds gradually decreased to about 500 km/s by the end of the summary period. From late on 08 April to late on 09 April, the Bz component of the IMF varied between +7 to -7 nT. Otherwise, Bz did not vary much beyond +/- 3 nT. This increase in wind speed and IMF variability was due to a recurrent coronal hole high speed stream. The geomagnetic field responded with quiet to unsettled periods at middle latitudes, while high latitudes observed quiet to active conditions with the one isolated minor storm period observed midday on 11 April. The period ended with quiet levels across all latitudes. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 15 APRIL - 11 MAY 2009 Solar activity is expected to be very low. No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to increase to high levels during 08 - 12 May. Normal flux levels are expected during the rest of the period. Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at mostly quiet levels through 20 April. Activity is expected to increase to quiet to unsettled levels during 21 - 22 April due to a recurrent coronal hole high-speed stream. Activity is expected to decrease to quiet levels during 23 April to 05 May. Activity is expected to increase to quiet to unsettled levels during 06 - 09 May with active levels possible on the 6th, all due to another recurrent coronal hole high speed stream. Activity is expected to decrease to mostly quiet levels during 10 - 11 May. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2009 Apr 14 1947 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center # Product description and SWPC contact on the Web # http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/wwire.html # # 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table # Issued 2009 Apr 14 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2009 Apr 15 70 5 2 2009 Apr 16 70 5 2 2009 Apr 17 70 8 3 2009 Apr 18 70 5 2 2009 Apr 19 70 5 2 2009 Apr 20 70 5 2 2009 Apr 21 70 8 3 2009 Apr 22 70 8 3 2009 Apr 23 72 5 2 2009 Apr 24 72 5 2 2009 Apr 25 72 5 2 2009 Apr 26 72 5 2 2009 Apr 27 72 5 2 2009 Apr 28 72 5 2 2009 Apr 29 72 5 2 2009 Apr 30 70 5 2 2009 May 01 70 5 2 2009 May 02 70 5 2 2009 May 03 70 5 2 2009 May 04 70 5 2 2009 May 05 70 5 2 2009 May 06 70 15 4 2009 May 07 70 8 3 2009 May 08 70 8 3 2009 May 09 70 8 3 2009 May 10 70 5 2 2009 May 11 70 5 2 (SWPC via WORLD OF RADIO 1456, DXLD) ###