DX LISTENING DIGEST 9-064, August 28, 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 1475, August 26-September 1, 2009 Wed 0700 WRMI 9955 [new] Wed 1530 WRMI 9955 Wed 1900 WBCQ 7415 Thu 0530 WRMI 9955 Thu 1900 WBCQ 7415 Fri 0000 WBCQ 5110-CUSB Area 51 Fri 0100 WRMI 9955 Fri 1130 WRMI 9955 Fri 1430 WRMI 9955 Fri 1900 WBCQ 7415 Fri 2028 WWCR1 15825 [15820 experimental] 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 0700 WRMI 9955 Wed 1530 WRMI 9955 [or new 1476 starting here?] 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 ** ANGOLA. 1088, RNA-Canal "A", Mulenvos, 2201-, Portuguese, newscast; 22441, QRM de ALGERIA 1089. Even when nothing is perceived, at least the heterodyne is fair. 4950 ditto, this remains as reported, i.e. there's either an empty carrier or no signal at all (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Despite the historical connexion, it is a LONG haul from Angola to Portugal on MW. WRTH shows both 1088 and 4950 as 25 kW, 24h (gh, DXLD) ** ANGOLA [non]. Re 9-063: Monitoring 11955, "as we speak". Afro-LL; heard Nigerian e-mail addy before 1930 & mention of Nigeria at beginning of news at 1930. Formal log later. It definitely ain't Portuguese (Harold Frodge, MI, 1935 UT Aug 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 2000 English ID as Voice of Hope, then into LL [unidentified language] pgm (Harold Frodge, 2002 UT, ibid.) See AUSTRIA ** ARGENTINA. 6060, RAE, 1040-1052+, Aug 28, local music. Talk in unidentified language. Japanese listed. Very weak, poor signal but definitely // 11710.64 - weak, poor with adjacent channel splatter from Voice of Korea on 11709.97. A strong open carrier covered 6060 at 1052. RAE IS heard at 1100 on the 11 MHz frequency (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** AUSTRIA. 11955, Adventist World Radio, Voice of Hope; 1921-2000+, 27-Aug; Program segments ended at 1927:30* & 1959:28* with OC off till next program s/on; first program ended with a Nigerian e-mail address; 2nd segment was all news-sounding with many mentions of Nigeria throughout; 2000 program began with AWR-Voice of Hope ID in English and intro to program in Dyula; all Afro-sounding languages. AWR's current sked shows Hausa 1900-1930 & Dyula 2000-2030 (both from Moosbrun), but nothing 1930-2000 (the Nigerian program mentioned). SIO=2+53 throughout (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** BELGIUM. 9970, RTBF International, Wavre, Aug 25, 0527-0600 - French programming, Le Journal, ID and frequency announcements, Matin program. Monitoring this signal from 0415 UT showed surprising results. Although transmitter sunrise was 0446 UT, there was absolutely no enhancement noted and signal remained at carrier level. Beginning 0526 UT the signal rapidly strengthened to an excellent level by 0532, and remaining so until beginning to rapidly fade starting 0550 UT (Brandon Jordan, Memphis, TN USA, Microtelecom Perseus SDR, Wellbrook ALA100 4m x 8m deta loop, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BIAFRA [non]. VOBI via WHRI still on 15665, at quick check around 2015 UT Friday Aug 28; next week on 17520?? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. (tentative) 3310.0, R Mosoj Chaski, Cochabamba, Aug 24, *0921 - poor at s/on with talk by man, Andean music. Slowing peaking around 1038 UT Cochabamba sunrise and then rapidly fading. Measured precisely on 3310.0 kHz (Brandon Jordan, Memphis, TN USA, Microtelecom Perseus SDR, Wellbrook ALA100 4m x 8m deta loop, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOTSWANA. 15580, VOA, Moepeng Hill, Aug 27, 1530 - English service, pop and rap songs so likely VOA Music Mix. Unable to determine the exact moment this switched over from São Tomé. Generally poor, but a few fair peaks between 1600-1630 UT before fading. Improving again at 1750 peaking to good levels by 1810 UT (Brandon Jordan, Memphis, TN USA, Microtelecom Perseus SDR, Wellbrook ALA100 4m x 8m deta loop, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 3255, R. Educadora 6 de Agosto, Xapuri AC, 2209-2219, 25 Aug, religious (presumably) propaganda program, not A Voz do Brasil; 14331. 4845.2, R. Cultura Ondas Tropicais, Manaus AM, improved its audio; they were very strong yesterday evening while MTN 4845 remains silent. 6009.94, R. Inconfidência, Belo Horizonte MG, 2147-2207, 24 Aug, news until 2159 followed by A Voz do Brasil at 2200; 34432, adjacent QRM, then at 2155 also de China. 11915, R. Gaúcha, Ptº Alegre RS, 2130-2213, 24 Aug, football program, newscast at 2200, not a Voz do Brasil; 33442, QRM de ARS [Saudi Arabia] as usual, but if one selects usb/lsb, then the broadcast is perfectly readable; \\ 6020 poor but QRM free (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ?? you mean either LSB or USB is better than AM mode? Or are the carriers on slightly different frequencies? (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 4914.9, Rádio Difusora Macapá (Macapá), 0336-0345 8/26/2009, Portuguese. Lively Brazilian pop music. Poor signal with some fading and heavy CODAR interference. 4985, Rádio Brasil Central (Goiânia), 0323-0330, 8/26/2009, Portuguese. Talk by man. Music at 0329 followed by announcements. Talk over music to 0332, then music to 0335 tune out. Moderate signal with fading, strengthening over time. Best log of this station this Summer (Jim Evans, Germantown, TN, E1, Attic Mounted Eavesdropper Dipole, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CAMEROON. See CONGO DR [non], RFI Spanish program on radio here, starts 7 minutes into file after R. Okapi story (gh) ** CANADA. 6030, CFVP (Calgary) (presumed), 0410-0506, 8/24/2009, English. Classic C&W music with English announcements. Very poor signal at noise level with deep fades. Good peak at 0458, then down too far to understand 0500 announcement. Light cochannel interference from unknown broadcaster. Would be relaying "Classic Country AM 1060" (CKMX). (Jim Evans, Germantown, TN, E1, Attic Mounted Eavesdropper Dipole, DX LISTENING DIGEST) During the UT Mon Cuban radio war truce ** CANADA. Ramadan program on CJRN-710 --- During the month of Ramadan at local sunset (around 2000 EDT/0000 UT) CJRN-710 Niagara Falls, ON will replace their usual glorified TIS with a special program of prayers, chanting and reading from the Koran. They've been doing this every Ramadan for the past several years. 73 (Mike Brooker, Toronto, ON, Aug 27, IRCA via DXLD) See also NEWFOUNDLAND ** CANADA. CHANGES AT CFRB --- Hi Glenn, Bad or good news from CFRB today, depends upon your viewpoint. http://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/article/687342 (Dale Rothert, Aug 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Like CJAD Montreal, they fired a bunch of air talent. CFRX should sound different if and when it come back (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. FACILITIES CHANGES: ON, Windsor, CBE *97.5 (from 102.3) 3200 h,v; 130m, monophonic, 28 km. This replaces the former CBE-1 on 102.3, which was a `nested` transmitter, having coverage entirely within the 1550 kHz daytime coverage rea, and not replacing the AM. Instead, it has been decided to delete the AM and allow CBE *97.5 to funxion on its own ** CANADA. STEREO --- OR TO BE STEREO: ON, Pickle Lake, CJTL 96.5, Christian aboriginal, ``Wah Ste Win Radio`` ON, Thunder Bay, CJTL-1, 98.1, ditto (July/Aug 2009 FMedia! via DXLD) Whether it`s stereo or not is hardly the point except to Dr Elving. Pickle Lake? That certain rings a bell as in two previous DXLDs, viz.: May 25: Now that the Pickle Lake, Ontario FM radio station is on the air, the Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada wants to extend the broadcast signal with a short-wave broadcast. Pray for direction and resources (Galcom Prayer Bulletin March-May 2009 via DXLD 9-037 May 2, 2009) Previous mentions of this implied it would be a SW station, but maybe they only mean getting a program on an existing SW station? (gh, DXLD) FISHING FOR "SOUL" IN PICKLE LAKE This is a long, rambling story from Galcom, provider of fixed-tuned radios for gospel-huxtering purposes only, about plans for SHORTWAVE and FM stations in northern Ontario, including: ``...By the end of the meeting at 4:30 p.m., they had developed a plan to make the SW station along with 3 FM stations a reality. Much follow-up remains to be done...`` http://www.galcom.org/newsletter/2006/march/newsMarch06.html#STORY2 (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1307, DX LISTENING DIGEST 6-042, March 8, 2006) That URL no longer exists (gh) ** CANADA. Re 9-063, CIGM 790 to 93.5: Niel [Wolfish]'s initial observations about the late CIGM 790, Sudbury: If you somehow can hear anything under your local, Sudbury is soon to move to FM. They are now "stunting" with promotions for "Kung Pao 93.5". Complete with Chinese music. Not sure what the new format of the FM will really be. Wonder how many list-loggers will think they have something more exotic than Sudbury on 790 when they hear the Chinese music? His later observations (via Harold [Frodge]): CIGM has already dumped the "Kung Pao FM" for the new real format, which is "Hot 93.5 - Sudbury's # 1 Hit Music Station". So if you hear Britney or Beyonce on 790, that's probably who it is (Liz Cameron, ed., MARE Tipsheet Aug 28 via DXLD) ** CHINA. Beibu Bay Radio --- According to HP of BBR, started test broadcast in Aug. 18. The plans of official opening the end of October. Now sked (update: Aug. 26); 2300-0100 UT on SW 5050, 9820 kHz and 12 FM stations, 0100-1000 only FM and 1000-1600 on SW and FM. Mo-Fr 2300-0100 Chinese and Vietnamese 0100-0200 Chinese 0200-0300 Chinese and Vietnamese 0300-0800 Chinese 0800-1000 "Hot Pot Show" in English 1000-1100 Cantonese 1100-1130 Thai 1130-1330 Vietnamese 1330-1500 Chinese 1500-1600 Vietnamese Sa-Su 2300-0200 Chinese 0200-0400 Chinese and Vietnamese 0400-0800 Chinese 0800-1000 "Hot Pot Show" in English 1000-1100 Cantonese 1100-1330 Vietnamese 1330-1500 Chinese 1500-1600 Vietnamese de Hiroshi But 1130-1600 UT on Aug. 26 was broadcasted in Vietnamese, included adv. of Chinese. Time announcement in Chinese and Chinese, Cantonese, Thai, Vietnamese and English ID at every hour (S. Hasegawa, Japan, NDXC, Aug 26, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5050, Beibu Bay Radio, 1222-1443, August 27. Mostly in Vietnamese with some announcements in Chinese; there was no Chinese as scheduled from 1330 to 1500; EZL pop songs and indigenous songs; announcers usually with background piano music; multi-language IDs; English words heard: “This is Beibu Bay Radio”, “BBR news” (items about Indonesia, Thailand, etc.), “weather report” (long list of Asian cities with assume the temperatures) and slogan “Learn about the world, know China” (think I finally have this correct now). Outstanding propagation today! We should enjoy this while we can, as I expect the Voice of Strait to return here again in a month or so from 7280, which will make reception much harder. Have posted an audio file to “Files > Station Sounds” (the first ID is the clearest) (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [and non]. Only Firedrakes audible Aug 27 at 1340-1343, 9000 and 10210, both poor (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, A different story here on the West Coast. August 27, from 1449 to 1500* heard solo Firedrake on 9000 // 13500 // 14420 (thanks Glenn for finding this recent shift from 14430) // 15150. Solo FD (not parallel) on 13970. All these solo FD were against SOH. FD all started again after the 5 minute gap at the ToH, but 13970 became parallel to all the others after *1505. On 15200 found a new solo FD at 1508, so must be a new SOH frequency. From 1449 to 1500* noted CNR-1 jamming together with FD, against VOA on 12040, 11990 and 11805. Did not restart at 1505, as VOA had signed off at 1502. At 1503 found CNR-1 jamming together with FD on 12025, against RFA (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Firedrake search Aug 28: at 1311 encountered on 15150, nowhere else except the usual mixture with CNR1 jamming on 12040. Aoki currently shows 15150 as one of many 1 kW SOH 24h frequencies from Taiwan, *jammed. Today`s variable het against DW Hausa 15410 via Rwanda, Aug 28 at 1347 was on 15412.0, no doubt V. of Tibet via Tajikistan and/or ChiCom jamming. 17705 tuned in Aug 28 at 1314 with music, unseemed Firedrake, but had less than a minute to evaluate before it vanished at 1315*. This matches the schedule of All India Radio`s Chinese service, 1145-1315, 500 kW, 58 degrees via Bangaluru, per Aoki which adds that it is *jammed. More likely I was hearing CNR1 than AIR itself (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CONGO DR [and non]. Radio Francia Internacional, la radio africana. http://www.rfi.fr/actues/articles/116/article_12720.asp En este espacio en el que la Radio le habla a la Radio, RFI se interesa en el continente africano y más especialmente en la radio de La República Democrática del Congo y de Camerún. En África la radio es un medio de comunicación formidable en donde RFI (Radio Francia Internacional) ocupa un lugar muy importante, en especial en África francófona. En nuestro viaje africano hemos entrevistado a Anne Marie Amorós, productora radiofónica de France Inter que trabajó durante tres años en la radio de la República Democrática del Congo, en particular en Radio Okapi. Ella nos explica cual fue su experiencia y cómo se trabaja en la radio africana. Camerún es otro país africano con gran tradición radiofónica. Nuestro corresponsal en Camerún Fabien Essian, nos presenta la radio de su país: "La liberalización audiovisual data de los años 90 en Camerún. Antes de esta fecha, solo funcionaba la radio y televisión estatal CRTV. Después de la liberalización en el sector, las radios se multiplicaron en Camerún. El país cuenta hoy en día con un centenar de radios". La radio africana está confrontada a los problemas de corrupción, miedo y amenazas, como sucede también en algunos países de América Latina, pero evoluciona cada vez mas hacia un mayor profesionalismo. Invitados: Anne-Marie Amorós y Fabien Essian (via José Miguel Romero, Spain, dxldyg via DXLD) Linx to embedded player for a 14+ minute Planeta Africa program (gh, DXLD) ** CUBA. RHC 13680, as I tuned by Aug 28 at 1309 was advocating the restoration of democracy in Honduras. What hypocrites! There hasn`t been any democracy in Cuba since 1959y. Hmm, not before 1959 either, but there would have been if Cuba had simply become part of the USA after the 1898+ SpAm war, like Puerto Rico, where people are much better off, plus have democracy. Oops! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. My good friend Manolo De La Rosa at RHC sent me the latest frequencies for Radio Havana Cuba. But he told me to remember that sometimes a certain person in the frequency mis-management department, makes changes with out telling anyone (Keith Perron, Taiwan, Aug 28, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I'm afraid that's a rather typical approach displayed by technical departments of many international stations. Usually those "departments" don't belong to the station but rather to a different organizational structure. That leads to some really slow communication. I would assume that the case in Cuba, too (Sergei S., IL, ibid.) Yes, looks like another copy of their `official` schedule as on website, to be discarded, since it ignores the Spanish broadcasts we have been monitoring for almost two months between 15 and 21 UT, and the extended overnight 05-11 UT period, in English and Spanish, pretends they are actually broadcasting in English at 2030-2130; miscellaneous other frequency changes, etc., etc. Sending out wrong schedules can be worse than none at all (Glenn, ibid.) Wrong schedule at least for the French broadcasts (0000-0100 and 0130- 0200 UT only) (JM Aubier, France, ibid.) ** DENMARK. DANMARKS RADIO TO REINTRODUCE ENGLISH NEWS ON ITS WEBSITE It has been announced that international visitors to Copengagen and residents are to get more accessible news services from public service broadcaster DR and the City Council. DR previously provided foreign language news on its website, as well as the daily News in English broadcast. Low audience ratings forced the radio broadcast off the air in 2001, while budget cuts led to the end of the on-line service in 2006. Prompted by parliament, the broadcaster will now present the news in the six most common foreign languages in Denmark. Initially, it will offer a selection of DR stories translated daily into English, Bosnian, Turkish, Arabic, Urdu and Somali for international readers on the DR website and text television service. DR Online editor Nicolai Porsbo said the new service also allowed the broadcaster to fulfill its public service obligation. “DR is for the whole population and we will reach a lot of people who are interested in following the news here, but who often experience a language barrier,” Porsbo told Politiken newspaper. (Source: Copenhagen Post) August 27th, 2009 - 11:35 UTC by Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog via DXLD) 10 comments so far --- 1 David August 27th, 2009 - 13:23 UTC DR might have given up on English-language radio from Denmark, but there is still “Copenhagen Calling” broadcast for example via WRN http://www.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=11 I wonder what the influence of the City Council will be on the content of the DR service. 2 David August 27th, 2009 - 13:46 UTC The description of what DR is planning to do sounds very similar to what the newspaper Politiken already does at http://politiken.dk/newsinenglish : several stories a day in English about Denmark. 3 Andy Sennitt August 27th, 2009 - 13:56 UTC Indeed it is, and the full article mentions this, but I shortened the story as we restrict coverage in this blog to broadcasters. The original article is at http://www.cphpost.dk/news/national/88-national/46706-tuning-in-to-hear-the-danish-news-in-english.html 4 J. Herzlan August 27th, 2009 - 16:03 UTC And the web address is ? 5 Andy Sennitt August 27th, 2009 - 16:06 UTC Nice and simple - http://www.dr.dk I will link it for you. 6 Glenn Hauser August 27th, 2009 - 23:51 UTC Wow, that sure is a motley group of “the six most common foreign languages in Denmark“ — are those really ahead of German, Norwegian, Swedish, French…? Says who? 7 David August 28th, 2009 - 5:57 UTC As a speculation, Glenn: I should say especially in the case of German, Norwegian and Swedish, there is probably not so very much difficulty in getting access to information about Denmark in those languages, and these countries (being neighbours) have a long history together. Germany for example has a Danish-speaking minority. It’s quite another thing, I would guess to find coverage in Somali or Urdu about Denmark. Probably you would say the same goes for English as for German, but perhaps they have taken the decision that English likely to be the most common second language after an endless number of first languages. They can’t possibly cover all the first languages, perhaps they have decided on English as a good compromise. But perhaps that the explanation of why they chose those languages, not why someone decided to call them the six most common foreign languages in Denmark… 8 David August 28th, 2009 - 6:05 UTC Perhaps Denmark is more “ethnically diverse” (for want of a better phrase) than one might expect. The CIA lists the “ethnic groups” of the country as “Scandinavian, Inuit, Faroese, German, Turkish, Iranian, Somali” --- From https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world- factbook/geos/da.html Perhaps also being a small country, in raw terms it doesn’t take so many numbers to become seen as an “ethnic group” 9 Andy Sennitt August 28th, 2009 - 9:32 UTC When I lived in Denmark from 1978 to 87, there were Mon-Fri news bulletins in English, French and German on the third radio network at 0815-0830. The problem was that they were ‘rip and read’ bulletins compiled and read by freelance journalists who came in and took the main stories from the newswires in the respective languages. But it was mostly international news - I remember one foggy morning when there were traffic advisories in Danish, but not a mention in the English news. The new service will be news about Denmark rather than international news. And the stories will be translated from the ones written by DR’s own journalists, so there will be a consistency of style and content that was missing from the old radio bulletins. 10 Kai Ludwig August 28th, 2009 - 22:34 UTC Concerning the question whether these are really “the six most common foreign languages in Denmark“: In a hurry I find that about 70,000 Turks, about 14,000 Iraqis and about 19,000 Pakistanis live in Denmark. For comparison: The number of ethnic Germans in Denmark is being quoted as somewhere between 12,000 and 20,000. If you find this surprising: About 1.7 million Turks live in Germany. This community dwarfs any “official” ethnic minority, like the less than 50,000 Danes (Media Network blog comments via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. *COMUNICADO OFICIAL SW* de HCJB Voz Global a nuestros amigos oyentes de Las frecuencias de onda corta: 9745 México 12000 Argentina 11960 Cuba 11625 N/S América 11690 Sur América HCJB, La Voz de los Andes, comenzó a transmitir el mensaje del evangelio en 1931, hace 78 años, convirtiéndose en pionera y casi la única estación de radio cristiana con cobertura mundial a través de la señal de onda corta. La infraestructura instalada para su funcionamiento se ubicó en la llanura oriental de la ciudad de Quito, Ecuador. Actualmente, en esta misma llanura -a escasa distancia- se está construyendo el nuevo aeropuerto internacional de Quito, razón por la cual HCJB debe desmantelar las torres y antenas de transmisión para no interferir con su funcionamiento. Por las estrategias internas de reorientación misionera y las limitaciones presupuestarias, no será posible levantar una infraestructura similar que llevó años construirla. Por tales motivos, le comunicamos estimada amiga y amigo del continente que la señal de onda corta de HCJB se apagará de forma definitiva *el 30 de Septiembre de 2009.* No obstante, nos queda la esperanza de que el evangelio de Jesucristo se siga anunciando a través de las estaciones cristianas de radio que, actualmente, operan en América Latina, muchas con alcance internacional y otras, en su propia ciudad. HCJB seguirá contribuyendo a la radiodifusión, a través de la capacitación y el apoyo a la plantación de nuevas emisoras cristianas en Latinoamérica y por medio de las nuevas tecnologías de comunicación masiva. Mantendremos nuestras transmisiones para el Ecuador en sus frecuencias de AM y FM y para todo el continente a través de nuestra cadena satelital ALAS-HCJB. Estas señales pueden ser escuchas también por la Internet en http://www.radiohcjb.org/ y http://www.alas.org/ Gracias por habernos acompañado durante todos los años que hemos estado al aire a través de la onda corta. Que la gracia de Dios le acompañe... HCJB, le dice "hasta siempre". (via Dino Bloise via Tomás Méndez, Aug 28, logsderadio yg via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. 3220.0, HCJB, Pifo, Aug 24, *0826-1100* - on with Andean instrumental then religious song, talks in Quichua and more music, hymns until off at 1100 UT. Strong splatter from WWCR 3215 until their 0858:30* (Brandon Jordan, Memphis, TN USA, Microtelecom Perseus SDR, Wellbrook ALA100 4m x 8m deta loop, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 3279.91, LV del Napo, Tena, Aug 24, *0909 - generally poor signal, monologue by female in possible Quichua. Absolutely no 1111 UT transmitter sunrise enhancement, signal had actually faded to inaudible levels by then (Brandon Jordan, Memphis, TN USA, Microtelecom Perseus SDR, Wellbrook ALA100 4m x 8m deta loop, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. 6250, Radio Nacional, Malabo, *0537-0620, Aug 28, sign on with Spanish talk. Variety of lite Euro-pop music, lite US pop music, R&B music, Afro-pop music. Possible news program at 0608. Radio Nacional ID. Poor to fair with t-storm static (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** ETHIOPIA. 6090, Amhara State Regional Station. 0310-0335, Aug 28, tentative with possible Amharic talk. Horn of Africa music. Weak under Anguilla (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** GERMANY. 15460, Radio Liberty, Biblis, Aug 27, *1400 - Interval signal into listed Georgian service. Fair signal (Brandon Jordan, Memphis, TN USA, Microtelecom Perseus SDR, Wellbrook ALA100 4m x 8m deta loop, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15530, VOA, Lampertheim, Aug 27, *1300-1458* - poor signal, improving slightly by 1400 UT English service, ID into news and faded by 1430. Off at 1458 UT to make room for Biblis *1500, which was carrier only. 15535, R Nederland, Wertachtal, Aug 27, *1759 - IS, ID into English programming. Poor to fair levels (Brandon Jordan, Memphis, TN USA, Microtelecom Perseus SDR, Wellbrook ALA100 4m x 8m deta loop, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [non]. 9545 with program in Russian, Aug 28 at 0527, frequent voice-over translations of someone speaking English. Therefore, most likely Deutsche Welle where English is the primary language, not German. No ID heard, but yes, I am right as later looked up! However, at 0529:30 cut off air abruptly in mid-word, clearing the frequency for the DentroCuban Jamming Command, which was still running its annoying cohetes a sesquihour after the real target, Radio República, closed its transmission. This is DW in Russian via Woofferton, UK, and somewhat better coördination is needed. Someone please tell them in the studio that VTC is going to cut them off at 0529:30 so they need to wrap up the transmission before then, or build in some kind of natural break. Does this DW Russian transmission continue on other frequencies? No, EiBi shows until 0530 only, also on 5915 Rampisham and 13780 Rwanda. Via Rwanda to Russia?? A bit roundabout, but I suppose it worx propagationally when transmitter time is available, altho you`d think they would all be occupied with morning broadcasts to Africa (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUYANA. Voice of Guyana --- I wonder if anyone could share any news regarding Radio Guyana. I has not been heard since a few months so far here in Puerto Rico (Héctor Pérez-Díaz, NP4FW, Aug 28, HCDX via DXLD) Longer than that: there have been no reports of it since July 2007 on 3291v; see http://www.w4uvh.net/dxld7097.txt 73, (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) ** INDIA. AIR ITANAGAR TO BEGIN HINDI, ENGLISH BULLETINS Published by: Noor Khan Published: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 at 19:27 IST http://www.samaylive.com/news/itanagar-air-station-to-begin-hindi-english-bulletins/651162.html Itanagar, Aug26 The All India Radio station here will start daily Hindi and English bulletins from tomorrow. Official sources said that member (personnel) of Prasar Bharati V Shivakumar and director general (news) of AIR Mohan Chandak will launch the Hindi and English bulletins from AIR at a function here tomorrow. The Hindi bulletin will be broadcast at 1945 hrs followed by English bulletin at 1950 hrs daily. They will be relayed by Tawang, Tezu, Asighat and Ziro stations, the sources said. Efforts are also on to restart daily TV news bulletins from Doordarshan Kendra here within the next two months. The privately sponsored daily news programme was discontinued by DDK some years ago. Radio is a very important medium in this border hilly state with little communication facilities, specially in border areas where people have no other means to know what is happening around the world. At present AIR station here is broadcasting news bulletins in 11 local dialects (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, Aug 26, dx_india yg via DXLD) Itanagar`s night frequency is 4990. 1950 IST = 1420 UT. So no English, or even Hindi until now? Or is the point no LOCAL news in those languages until now. Itanagar is the northeasternmost AIR station on the WRTH map, up from Myanmar, so should be the first on 60m to fade in for DXers eastward (gh, DXLD) ** INDIA. AIR Mumbai noted this morning at around 0100 on 4845 instead of 4840. They are scheduled on this freq as follows: 2355-0400, 1230- 1730. 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Raj Bhavan Road, Hyderabad 500082, India, Aug 26, dx_india yg via DXLD) ** INDIA. 9870, AIR New Delhi (Vividh Bharati) (Bangaluru), 0405- 0435*, 8/26/2009, Hindi. Very enjoyable local music with short announcements by man. Talk by woman at 0430, possibly news. Closing announcement by man at 0435. Poor to moderate signal with fading, at times quite good on peaks (Jim Evans, Germantown, TN, E1, Attic Mounted Eavesdropper Dipole, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. 15785, Galei Zahal; 2145-2200+, 24-Aug; 2M interview in Hebrew; one pop tune in HB, one in English. W in HB with news at 2200. SIO=252+, very fady; // 6973, SIO=2+22 with tone QRM at first; both continued past 2200 with 6973 now better, SIO=353- (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** ITALY [non]. Radio Slovakia Int. Intervista a Dario Monferrni e Roberto Pavanello --- Ciao! grazie alla segnalazione di Mauro Girolla che ha ascoltato la nostra intervista a Radio Slovakia International passata nel Servizio Spagnolo oggi 26 agosto http://www.slovakradio.sk/inetportal/rsi/core.php?lang=6&mainpage=maincontentfull&page=frequencies 1430-1500 Western Europe Spanish 9440 31 Western Europe Spanish 11600 25 0230-0300 South America Spanish 5930 49 South America Spanish 9440 31 2000-2030 Western Europe Spanish 9695 31 South America Spanish 11650 25 http://www.rozhlas.sk/inetportal/rsi/core.php?lang=6 Radio On Demand 26. 08. 2009 CLICCANDO nella WEB della sezione Spagnola si può ascoltare la nostra storica intervista !!!! nella lingua di Cervantes !!!!! Buoni ascolti !!! (Dario & Roberto, Aug 26, playdx yg via DXLD) Looks like RSI has an audio archive lasting about 8 days, so apresúrete. Their segment is from 12 to 20 minutos in (gh, DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH [non]. UK. 15360, KBS World, Rampisham, Aug 27, *1800 - Russian service, ID, s/on announcements into the news. Poor to fair with much fading (Brandon Jordan, Memphis, TN USA, Microtelecom Perseus SDR, Wellbrook ALA100 4m x 8m deta loop, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KUWAIT. 15495, R Kuwait, Kabd, Aug 27, *1756 - Arabic programming in progress, multiple mentions of Kuwait at the top of the hour, talk by man and woman with musical bridges. Fair signal (Brandon Jordan, Memphis, TN USA, Microtelecom Perseus SDR, Wellbrook ALA100 4m x 8m deta loop, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 939.88, XEQ, Radio Bésame, Aug 26, 0400 - XEQ is off frequency. "Bésame nueve qurenta, la Radio Apassionata" ID (Brandon Jordan, Memphis, TN USA, Microtelecom Perseus SDR, Wellbrook ALA100 4m x 8m deta loop, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. Buena señal "(por el momento) de XEQM" --- XEQM, 6105 kHz escuchada el 26 de agosto a las 0345 UT (2245 hora local) con el partido de béisbol entre los Tigres de Cancún y los Saraperos de Saltillo desde el estadio Beto Ávila de Cancún, México. SINPO 44344, bastante buena en comparación con noches anteriores. Envío archivo de audio. http://rapidshare.com/files/272163320/SW6105KHZ-26AGO2009-0345UTC.zip.html Atte: (Ing. Civ. Israel González Ahumada, M.I., UT Aug 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6104.74, XEQM Candela FM, Mérida, 0628-0657, Aug 28, local pop music. Promos. Spanish talk. Weak but readable in T-storm static. Covered by a strong TWR-via Germany on 6105 at their 0657 sign on (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** MEXICO. Re DX SHERLOCK, http://www.vhfdx.net/spots/map.php?Lan=E&Frec=50&Map=NA During some of the big Es openings this summer, when I knew there were paths up to ch 6 or higher between here and Mexico, little if anything showing over those paths on Sherlock. Is there any 6m ham activity in southern/central Mexico, especially DF? One would think so from one of the largest cities in the world. But seemed like there was not, hence no contacts or paths to show on the maps. One-way DX is always more pervasive and efficient than two-way. 73, (Glenn Hauser, Enid, WTFDA via DXLD) There's not a lot of 6 meter activity out of Mexico, New Mexico or west Texas. Most of the FM openings seen that way from here are not ever indicated on the internet resources (Randy KW4RZ Zerr, Fort Walton Beach, FL, EM60qk, ibid.) Actually, Glenn, there is surprisingly little activity. And, when XE is coming in, it is likely to be the same guys, over and over. Es into TV from XE is very, very common here during the Summer. Often, one might see channel 2s all day long. Despite the clear path, little or no activity might be seen on 6m. In DF, there are a few operators -- and I mean a FEW. Fortunately, one or two of those guys have big signals, and often double-hop all over North America. Sadly, though, I don't think any of them frequent 2m (144 MHz). I can't recall ever seeing DF worked via 2m. Lately, I have worked the Yucatán a lot. There are a few very active hams in and around Cancun. From here in Memphis, the paths can get VERY strong, and I have no trouble working them QRP. 100 mW can often make the trip. Again, though, I wish they would crank up 2m. I am sure paths open, but there is no one there. 'Shame... I have only worked one Mexican on 2m (though, multiple times). (Peter, N4LI, Baskind, J.D., LL.M., Germantown, TN, 901-624-5295, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MOROCCO. 595 RTM-"A", Oujda, off channel again, 2241- 25 Aug, Arabic, Arabic folk music, phone-ins, news at 2200; 54444, but very weak audio, [avoidable] heterodyne with PORTUGAL 594. 1144, RTM-"A", site?, 2154-2204, 26 Aug, Arabic, African chanting, news at 2200; 43443, adjacent QRM; very weak modulation, AC type noise on the carrier. I checked this at about 1345 today, and found nothing but a weak signal (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MOROCCO [and non]. 15341, RTVM, Nador, Aug 27, 1221-1541* - Arabic programming, although some French heard. North African vocals, talks by man and woman. Generally poor signal at tune-in and slowly fading, carrier only noted at 1541 UT off (Brandon Jordan, Memphis, TN USA, Microtelecom Perseus SDR, Wellbrook ALA100 4m x 8m deta loop, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Then RTVM shifts to 15345 15345 with a lo-pitched, much less than 1 kHz but definitely audible het, and the pitch varying slightly, 2117 UT Aug 27; Arabic talk dominating, and the other signal of course RAE from Argentina which is on-frequency only by accident or coincidence. All summer {or rather, mid-year} RAE has had 15345v to itself after 2100 since Morocco was on DST and closed around 2100 instead of 2200, leaving RAE`s German hour in the clear. But DST must be over now with Morocco still on after 2100: Yes, timeanddate.com says it ended August 20, just in time for Ramadan, back to UT+0. Egypt also went off DST Aug 20, but that had little effect on SW scheduling. The next time change affecting an SWBC country will not be until September 21 for Iran, after Ramadan; also should not affect SW UT scheduling, tho at IRIB studios they were confused last spring and thought it would, even sending out notices to their audience that times would be changing! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. Re Happy Station, Aug 27 at 1500 on WRMI: Hi Keith, A bit overdosed with caffeine today as I am not much of a coffee fan --- Altho I admit to drinking my one daily cup during, with my asparagus and salsa omelet. I have been intending to ask why you never say goodbye in Mandarin or some Taiwan dialect. Seems odd that it`s always ``Sayonara`` --?? Dutch would also be appropriate. 73, (Glenn to Keith Perron, via DXLD) Glenn, I have a caffeine overdose every day as night is the only time I can get things done. When I was thinking back in March how to end the show I was thinking of saying so long in Mandarin, but then I thought to end with something people might not expect. LOL (Keith Perron to Glenn, ibid.) The Happy Station Show for August 27, 2009 0100 UT http://www.radio4all.net/files/kperron@gmail.com/3101-1-happy_station_092709_0100utc.mp3 1500 UT http://www.radio4all.net/files/kperron@gmail.com/3101-1-happy_station_082709_1500utc.mp3 If you log at http://www.radio4all.net if you click on the Happy Station Show you can sign up for all Happy Station Shows to be downloaded directed to Itunes (Keith Perron, Taiwan, Aug 27, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEWFOUNDLAND. CANADA: 6160.9, CKZN St. Johns NL; 2139-2205+, 26- Aug; As It Happens; CBC Radio 1 spots; CBC News at 2200; no local spots heard; As It Happens continued at 2205. All in English. SIO=253- near QRN level. First time ever heard off frequency (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. NEW STATIONS GRANTED: Covington (SE of Enid), *88.3, 700 watts v, 39m, Amigos Ministry, Inc. 11 km. It might have the potential to disrupt K202BY *88.3 Enid. [Amigos is the same one with KAMG-LP 92.1 already in Enid. See next entry for more 88.3 QRM ---gh] Stillwater, *88.3, 1200 watts h,v; 34m, OSU, 11 km primary coverage radius [this is the new in-town relay of KOSU which since it moved main 100 kW +IBOC transmitter 91.7 toward OKC has trouble being heard even on its own campus!! -- gh]. Call letters assigned: KOSR (July/August FMedia! via DXLD) ** PAKISTAN. RADIO PAKISTAN TO RESUME BALTI LANGUAGE SERVICE FOR NORTHERN AREAS | Text of report by official news agency Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) Radio Pakistan will soon resume programmes in Balti and Shina languages for the listeners of Northern Areas and Laddakh. The Balti service will be broadcast from 9-30 am to 10-15 and Shina service from 1013 [sic] am to 1100 am. [UT +6 = 0330-0415, 0415-0500 UT] The resumption of programmes in regional languages from Rawalpindi will cater to the needs of vast majority of population of Northern Areas. Source: Associated Press of Pakistan news agency, Islamabad, in English 28 Aug 09 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** PALESTINE. WEST BANK RADIO STATION’S ARBITRARY CLOSURE BY ISRAELI SOLDIERS --- Published on 26 August 2009 http://bit.ly/2x99K Reporters Without Borders condemns the arbitrary closure of Radio Bethlehem 2000, a radio station located near the West Bank city of Bethlehem. The station was shut down yesterday evening by Israeli soldiers, who seized its equipment. “The summary closure of an independent Palestinian radio station and the arbitrary seizure of its equipment constitute outright censorship,” Reporters Without Borders said. “The station’s management was given no explanation. We urge the Israeli military authorities to return the confiscated equipment and let the station resume broadcasting without delay.” The Israeli soldiers arrived at the station, based in Beit Jala, near Bethlehem, at about 6 p.m. yesterday in five jeeps. After ordering a technician to stop work, they removed the station’s equipment without showing any warrant. One of the soldiers simply said: “We don’t want to hear Radio Bethlehem 2000 anymore.” Station manager George Canawati told Reporters Without Borders: “We have not been told why the station was closed although we tried to obtain any explanation from the Israeli military.” An independent radio station founded in 1996, Radio Bethlehem 2000 is now closed until further notice. “This measure is all the more surprising as the station had no political programmes on sensitive subjects and limited itself to broadcasting music,” Reporters Without Borders added (RSF via Joe Burke, SOFTACS Tech, CTC/SPAWAR, DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. Aug 24 - generally poor PNG morning with threshold audio at best. The following stations appeared to be active during the 0830-0900 UT period and all should be considered presumed (Brandon Jordan, Memphis, TN USA, Microtelecom Perseus SDR, Wellbrook ALA100 4m x 8m deta loop, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 3204.964, W. Sepik 3259.994, Madang 3314.998, Manus 3325.000, Buka 3334.968, E. Sepik 3345.000, Northern 3364.983, Milne Bay 3384.994, E. New Britain (Brandon Jordan, Memphis, TN USA, Microtelecom Perseus SDR, Wellbrook ALA100 4m x 8m deta loop, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 4746.9. R. Huanta 2000, Huanta, 2232-2249, 25 Aug, Castilian, religious propaganda program, Indian tunes & songs, echoing audio; 25332. 4824.4, La Voz de la Selva, Iquitos, 2224-2235, 25 Aug, Castilian, TCs, infos, music, advertisements and songs; 24331, CODAR QRM (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. 5940 with Russian song and announcement in the clear Aug 28 at 1229, // 5920 a lot stronger but the latter colliding with off- frequency WBOH. Per Aoki, 5920 is R. Rossii via Pet/Kam, 100 kW at 30 degrees, while 5940 is via Magadan, 50 kW, 40 degrees, both until 1300 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA [and non]. 7225, Voice of Russia (St. Petersburg), 2301-2310 8/23/2009, Russian. News by man. Talk by two men after 2305. Moderate signal with some fading. Parallel 7260 (Serpukhov) with similar signal and 7285 (Grigoriopol) with stronger signal (Jim Evans, Germantown, TN, E1, Attic Mounted Eavesdropper Dipole, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA [and non]. 15510 caught my ear Aug 27 at 1355 as audio in SW Asian language was breaking up, later OK. At 1359, VOR IS, and at 1400 morphed into Deutsche Welle opening in Russian, with a few words of overlap. Per Aoki until 1400 it`s VOR Pashto/Dari via `Krasnodar`, and from 1400, 15510 is DW via Rampisham. I could not tell when one transmitter came on and the other went off, and could have guessed they were both via same, as levels did not change either, but both were only poor (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAO TOME. 15580, VOA, Pinheira, Aug 27, *1358-1530 - ID, Yankee Doodle into English News Now programming. Unable to distinguish the exact switch over to Botswana [q.v.] at 1530. Mainly poor with a few fair peaks, long fades (Brandon Jordan, Memphis, TN USA, Microtelecom Perseus SDR, Wellbrook ALA100 4m x 8m deta loop, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAUDI ARABIA. 15379.98, R Riyadh, Riyadh, Aug 27, 1221-1359* - Qur`anic recitations, Arabic talk at 1300 UT. Generally poor signal (Brandon Jordan, Memphis, TN USA, Microtelecom Perseus SDR, Wellbrook ALA100 4m x 8m deta loop, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SCOTLAND [non]. Hydro Amnesty Bash - Friday on WBCQ 9330 Posted August 27th, 2009 in Programming This just in from Tony Currie at Radio Six International. WBCQ will air this special programming on 9330 from 1900 to 0100 UT (3 to 9 PM United States Eastern time) on Friday, August 28, 2009. Just a ‘heads up’; on Friday we’re broadcasting six hours of live music from one of the smallest music festivals in Scotland, the “Hydro Amnesty Bash” in aid of Amnesty international. While the big stations cover the massive festivals (Like T in the Park and Glastonbury) we’re heading for the tiny island of Lismore in the Inner Hebrides where seven local bands(plus open mic sessions) will play everything from rock to jazz; pop to ceilidh. Feel free to use any of the broadcast if you need to fill any gaps. The live event starts on radio six international http://www.radiosix.com at 19:00 GMT on Friday and continues until 01:00 GMT. It’s also being carried by a Glasgow AM station and our FM affiliate in New Zealand. All the best, TONY CURRIE (via Larry Will, DXLD) And in advance via the dxldyg 9330-CUSB, WBCQ relaying radio six international, Scotland, music festival special one time only, Aug 28 at 2003 check. Some dropouts probably from internet feed buffering, which I then went to for better direct `reception` -- sounds like the band were enjoying a good jam session altho not my musical preference. Was scheduled to run for six hours 1900-0100 UT (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN. 9650, Radio Exterior de España; 2122-2156:56*, 23 Aug; English features; Arab Wisdom & climate change influence on the Inca Empire; ID, program notes, sked & addys at 2155 to s/off. SIO=3+53- (Harold Frodge, MI, MARE Tipsheet via DXLD) Skewed by the demands of much higher priority programming, live coverage of stupid ballgames in Spanish, English broadcasts are bumped around: this is Sat and Sun only, presumably at a later hour when the games are likely to be over, while on M-F, English is two hours earlier at 19-20 and on a different frequency, 9665, per EiBi (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN [non]. via Slovakia. 15650, Miraya 101 FM, *1458-1515, Aug 28, sign on with African music. Time pips at 1501 & into English news. ID. _www.mirayafm.org_ = http://www.mirayafm.org website given. Arabic at 1511. Weak. Poor signal in noisy conditions (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) SLOVAKIA. (tentative) 15650, R Miraya FM, Rimavská Sobota, Aug 27, *1500-1800* - generally poor signal with a few minor peaks. Arabic variety type programming, talks by man and woman, pop music, N. African music, news. No English heard (Brandon Jordan, Memphis, TN USA, Microtelecom Perseus SDR, Wellbrook ALA100 4m x 8m deta loop, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SYRIA. 12085, Damascus Radio; 2120-2128+, 27-Aug; M commentaries in English + Arabic vocals; ID'd as DR rather than RD. SIO=4+42, subdued audio on AM; best in LSB; splash QRM from BBC in English on 12095 from Ascension (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** TAIWAN. RTI Japanese service, 9735, Aug 28 at 1349 accompanied by weak buzzy spurs of same pitch against CRI 9730 and BBC 9740 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKEY. 15450, Voice of Turkey, Emirler, Aug 27, *1227-1324* - On with piano IS, occasional "This is the Voice of Turkey" IDs, 5+1 time pips at bottom of hour into English service. IS again from 1323 until off at 1324. Excellent signal (Brandon Jordan, Memphis, TN USA, Microtelecom Perseus SDR, Wellbrook ALA100 4m x 8m deta loop, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Never excellent here, sometimes audible (gh) ** UGANDA. WHAT DO YOU THINK? It is the letter which has been sent to Japanese DXer from Uganda Broadcasting Corp. "we are studying your reception but our international QSL-CARDS are sold at $100.write to RUBAGASIRA RICHARD UBC RADIO RADIO P.O BOX 2038 enclose the money and send it over you will immidiately recieve your qsl.if you want to ask me any question please go ahead. " RUBAGASIRA RICHARD rrubagasira@yahoo.com (S. Hasegawa, Japan, Aug 27, NDXC, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Well, I hope it`s a full-detail QSL, complete with transmitter location and power details! (Mark Fahey, NSW, ibid.) Ugandese mafia trying to make money from healthy/desperate for a QSL DXers. Hi! (Horacio A. Nigro, Montevideo, Uruguay, ibid.) What the..? Sincerely, (Dave Jeffery, ibid.) Do you buy QSL of UBC for US$ 100? (S. Hasegawa, ibid.) No. But I was a bit taken aback by the asking price. Sincerely, (Dave Jeffery, ibid.) Since Box 2038 is the real listed address for UBC in WRTH, it appears they are totally corrupt and deserve to be blacklisted at least as far as QSLing. Or, if his bosses knew about this, would Rubagasira be sacked? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) No one buys QSL's. In forty+ years of swl'ing, and many years since I last sent a QSL report, I only ever heard of stations asking a nominal sum for postage - usually 2 or 3 IRC's. Even 3 seemed a bit steep! As Glenn said, I wonder if his bosses condone the idea (Keith Bradbury, ibid.) I agree with you; in fact I was surfing on ebay, and surprisingly, QSL cards ARE in fact selling to the highest bidder there. 73's, (Noble West, ibid.) Selling QSL cards as collectors` items later is one thing, and legitimate. Selling them as verifications for original reception reports is not (Glenn, ibid.) Perhaps it is just a misunderstanding? Perhaps he meant $1,00 and 'sold' is just a bad translation for asking for return postage? (Brandon Jordan, TN, ibid.) I wondered if this was just a misunderstanding and they meant Ugandan currency, but that`s improbable. According to this site, the Ugandan currency is the Shilling, 100 of which equals 5 cents in Canadian and US currency. http://coinmill.com/UGX_calculator.html#UGX=100 (Fred Waterer, Ont, ibid.) Well, someone should just ask him, as he suggests (gh, DXLD) What is Mr RUBAGASIRA's email address? Is his domain belonging to UBC? He probably works in the post office and intercepts mails addressed to him. Another scam from Africa (Wayne, ibid.) I guess this QSL is a fair price and a bargain -- compare it with the latest Yankee bank bonus payments (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, ibid.) ** U K [and non]. A-09 Schedule of VT Communications Relays. Pt 1 of 3 Radio Japan NHK World 0000-0020 on 5960 SKN 300 kW / 140 deg to WeEu English 0200-0300 on 11780 SNG 250 kW / 340 deg to SEAs Japanese 0230-0300 on 5960 ERV 100 kW / 125 deg to WeAs Persian 0500-0530 on 5975 RMP 500 kW / 140 deg to WeEu English 0400-0430 on 5980 ERV 100 kW / 222 deg to N/ME Arabic 0800-0900 on 11740 SNG 250 kW / 001 deg to SEAs Japanese 0900-1000 on 11740 SNG 250 kW / 013 deg to SEAs Japanese 0945-1030 on 6140 SNG 250 kW / 140 deg to SEAs Indonesian 1030-1100 on 11740 SNG 250 kW / 001 deg to SEAs Burmese 1100-1130 on 9760 WOF 060 kW / 102 deg to WeEu English Fri DRM 1130-1200 on 9760 WOF 060 kW / 102 deg to WeEu Russian Fri DRM 1130-1200 on 11740 SNG 250 kW / 001 deg to SEAs Thai 1230-1300 on 11740 SNG 250 kW / 001 deg to SEAs Vietnamese 1300-1330 on 11740 SNG 250 kW / 001 deg to SEAs Chinese 1300-1345 on 15215 TAC 100 kW / 131 deg to SoAs Bengali 1345-1430 on 9585 TAC 100 kW / 163 deg to SoAs Hindi 1430-1515 on 9680 TAC 100 kW / 170 deg to SoAs Urdu 1400-1430 on 13630 RMP 500 kW / 062 deg to EaEu English 1500-1700 on 12045 SNG 250 kW / 315 deg to WeAs Japanese 1700-1900 on 13740 DHA 250 kW / 285 deg to NoAf Japanese 2200-2300 on 9650 DHA 250 kW / 285 deg to NoAf Japanese Radio Prague 0000-0027 on 7275 ASC 250 kW / 245 deg to SoAm Spanish 1300-1327 on 9850 WOF 060 kW / 102 deg to WeEu German DRM Fri/Sat 1330-1357 on 9850 WOF 060 kW / 102 deg to WeEu English DRM Fri/Sat 1630-1657 on 11700 SIN 090 kW / 040 deg to WeEu German DRM 2330-2357 on 11730 SAC 250 kW / 212 deg to CeAm Spanish Gospel for Asia 0000-0130 on 6145 DHA 250 kW / 085 deg to SoAs SoEaAs langs 1600-1630 on 9810 DHA 250 kW / 100 deg to SoAs SoEaAs langs 1615-1630 on 9810 DHA 250 kW / 070 deg to SoAs SoEaAs langs Sun-Wed 1615-1630 on 9810 DHA 250 kW / 120 deg to SoAs SoEaAs langs Thu-Sat 2330-2400 on 6040 DHA 250 kW / 085 deg to SoAs SoEaAs langs Voice of Vietnam 0100-0125 on 6175 SAC 250 kW / 212 deg to NoAm English 0130-0225 on 6175 SAC 250 kW / 212 deg to NoAm Vietnamese 0230-0325 on 6175 SAC 250 kW / 212 deg to NoAm English/Spanish 0330-0425 on 6175 SAC 250 kW / 212 deg to NoAm English/Spanish 0430-0525 on 6175 SAC 250 kW / 240 deg to NoAm Vietnamese 1700-1725 on 9725 MOS 100 kW / 300 deg to WeEu English 1730-1825 on 9725 MOS 100 kW / 300 deg to WeEu Vietnamese 1830-1855 on 9725 MOS 100 kW / 300 deg to WeEu French 1900-1925 on 9725 SKN 300 kW / 070 deg to EaEu Russian 1930-2025 on 9430 SKN 300 kW / 090 deg to WeEu German 2030-2125 on 11840 SKN 300 kW / 110 deg to SEEu Vietnamese Adventist World Radio 0100-0200 on 15445 TAI 100 kW / 250 deg to Asia Vietnamese Sat Sudan Radio Service 0400-0500 on 11805 DHA 250 kW / 245 deg to EaAf Arabic 0500-0600 on 13720 DHA 250 kW / 240 deg to EaAf Arabic/English 0500-0600 on 15325 DHA 250 kW / 240 deg to EaAf Arabic/English 1500-1530 on 17745 SIN 250 kW / 144 deg to EaAf English [see 9-063!] 1530-1700 on 17745 SIN 250 kW / 144 deg to EaAf Arabic 1700-1730 on 9590 DHA 250 kW / 240 deg to EaAf Dinka Mon 1700-1730 on 9590 DHA 250 kW / 240 deg to EaAf Zande Tue 1700-1730 on 9590 DHA 250 kW / 240 deg to EaAf Moro Wed 1700-1730 on 9590 DHA 250 kW / 240 deg to EaAf Bari Thu 1700-1730 on 9590 DHA 250 kW / 240 deg to EaAf Shiluk Fri 1700-1730 on 9590 DHA 250 kW / 240 deg to EaAf Arabic Sat/Sun 1730-1800 on 9590 DHA 250 kW / 240 deg to EaAf English Radio Okapi 0400-0600 on 11690 MEY 100 kW / 345 deg to Congo French/Lingala 1600-1700 on 11890 MEY 100 kW / 330 deg to Congo French/Lingala BBC/DW: 0500-0700 on 3995 SKN 100 kW / 121 deg to WeEu English/German DRM 0700-0800 on 5790 WOF 100 kW / 114 deg to WeEu English/German DRM 1400-1700 on 5790 WOF 100 kW / 114 deg to WeEu English/German DRM 1700-1900 on 5790 SKN 100 kW / 105 deg to WeEu English/German DRM 1900-2100 on 5875 KVI 040 kW / 190 deg to WeEu English/German DRM 2100-2200 on 5790 SKN 100 kW / 105 deg to WeEu English/German DRM BBC Darfur Salaam: 0500-0530 on 12015 CYP 300 kW / 177 deg to Sudan Arabic 0500-0530 on 13650 CYP 250 kW / 187 deg to Sudan Arabic 1700-1730 on 15790 CYP 250 kW / 177 deg to Sudan Arabic 1700-1730 on 17585 CYP 250 kW / 180 deg to Sudan Arabic Cotton Tree News 0730-0800 on 15220 RMP 250 kW / 189 deg to CeAf English/Others KBS World Radio 0700-0800 on 9870 SKN 300 kW / 110 deg to WeEu Korean 1430-1500 on 9660 WOF 060 kW / 102 deg to WeEu English Fri DRM 1800-1900 on 15360 RMP 500 kW / 062 deg to EaEu Russian 1900-2000 on 6145 SKN 250 kW / 150 deg to WeEu French 1900-2000 on 15365 RMP 500 kW / 168 deg to NoAf Arabic 2000-2100 on 3955 SKN 250 kW / 106 deg to WeEu German 2100-2130 on 3955 SKN 250 kW / 106 deg to WeEu English Voice of Croatia 0800-1200 on 11675 SNG 100 kW / 140 deg to AUS Croatian+English news (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Aug 28 via DXLD) ** U S A. Re 9-063, IBB/HCJB DRM 15470-15475-15480: Hello Glenn! Yes, sorry. When Greenville signed off early (and didn't come back) I took a quick look at HCJB Pifo 15280 which was still on for some minutes. So no problem with mixing up content there, but by me. Sorry again! (I'll have to find a way to change the label in "my" stream to the actual label of the dream software which decodes the DRM.) The content provided at 15475 was a moderated VOA Music programme with pop music from the last few years till today. I wonder if this transmitter is not working automated like usual transmitters these days?! Some days ago there has been a delay at the starting day of the test-transmissions because of too little staff and yesterday a 10 min early shut down. Seems like this transmitter/exciter is hand-operated. :-) 73, (Stephan Schaa, Germany, Aug 27, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) OK, so to be clear, my previous comments about IBB broadcasting sectarian religious programming from HCJB are NOT applicable, as it was really HCJB`s own 15280 DRM feed I was hearing at that time via your stream. Apparently, the IBB DRM tests are always carrying VOA program content, altho with the technical assistance of HCJB Engineering, right? (Glenn Hauser, OK, ibid.) Hello Glenn! Yes, I think that`s right! The technicians from HCJB in Elkhart may have changed some things at the transmitter for enough bandwidth and optimized linearity. But the most important thing will be the HCJB DRM Content Server and Exciter. The Content seems to be all VOA stuff, mostly the "VOA Music Mix" and some news. Signal is not very stable at this moment, but I've put up the stream receiving 15475 again but anyway this time I won't change frequency until 2200 UT. At this moment (2025 UT) it's not visible any more at all, some 20 minutes earlier it was at about 25 dB?! The signal will hopefully become better later this evening as it did the last days. http://schaa.dyndns.org:8080/stream.aac (AAC+ stream). 73, (Stephan Schaa, Germany, 2036 UT Aug 27, ibid.) Hello Glenn! If you are maybe interested, I put on IBB/HCJB on the stream again at http://schaa.dyndns.org:8080/stream.aac for checking the transmission. I'll let it on to 2200 UT on this frequency. Yesterday there was a big hole in reception, reception stabelized again at about 2130 UT, I hope today is more stable, at this time I've got almost dropout-free audio with some probs with Antarctica at 15476 kHz within the DRM Spectrum. Greetings from Germany! 73, (Stephan Schaa, 2005 UT Aug 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Tnx; I listened a while after 2100. Near-`perfect` reception but a few dropouts around 2131, I assume on the DRM rather than the Schaafeed. This is a bit surprising, with low power and low-gain rhombic across the pond. Are you using a super-receiving setup? Didn`t care much for the music on Friday. Assuming it`s the same as on some analog SW frequencies such as 15580 Botswana, my favorite days for VOA Music Mix at 21-22 UT are Tuesday with American Gold, and Wednesday with Classic Rock, altho I have not reconfirmed those lately (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) More dropouts at 2145, then for the remander, mostly silent with occasional drop-INs for a few sex; news started at 2200, then gone (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** U S A [non]. 17500, Aug 27 at 1403, W&M conversing in unID tonal language, seemingly Mandarin-influenced; poor signal fading in and out, but still going at 1431. Little if any music ever heard. Never heard anything here before in almost daily bandscans. It`s a new frequency since Aug 25 for VOA Tibetan via Lampertheim, GERMANY at 14- 15, 77 degrees. And no jamming (audible, yet)! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also BOTSWANA; SAO TOME ** U S A [and non]. 9830, fair signal in some language buried by perpetual RTTY QRM, Aug 27 at 2126. Switched from the FRG-7, to the ICF SW07 and that made all the difference. On USB the RTTY QRM was suppressed and I could easily tell it was VOA in French, concluding a USG editorial, and signing off, carrier until 2131*. It`s São Tomé at 335 degrees, M-F only. Hope the RTTY is not a problem in NW Africa like it is here, also for V of Turkey, English to NAm which follows at 2200-2250, and has ignored my advice months ago when A-09 started to get off 9830 ASAP (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. FORMER VOA OFFICIAL INDICTED, ACCUSED OF FAVORS TO ABRAMOFF Update: "If convicted of all charges, Cooper faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. He is scheduled to appear in court next on Sept. 9. ... Cooper's Washington attorney, Solomon Wisenberg said in a statement that his client was innocent and would challenge the charges in court. 'We are very disappointed that the Department of Justice has decided to go forward with these charges,' Wisenberg said. 'Mr. Cooper will fight these charges vigorously and looks forward to his day in court.' ... Prosecutors claimed that Cooper assisted Abramoff in securing approximately $10 million to $15 million in federal funding from VOA and the State Department for the lobbyist's new television production business. During that same time period, Cooper reportedly accepted thousands of dollars' worth of complimentary meals and gifts from Abramoff. ... VOA did not respond to a request for comment." Government Executive, 24 August 2009, with link to full text of indictment. From the indictment: "On or about June 26, 2002, Abramoff instructed an associate to establish an Internet domain for Mount Vernon Studios, the new business which Abramoff planned to use to obtain federal funding for the production of television content for Voice of America and the Department of State. ... or about early-August, 2002, COOPER met with representatives of a California-based production company interested in participating in the Voice of America broadcasting project and received a presentation tape that the company representative hoped would assist his company in being chosen to participate in the Voice of America broadcasting project and in receiving federal funding." (kimandrewelliott.com 28 Aug via DXLD; for linx see http://kimelli.nfshost.com/index.php?id=7196 as Kim is back from break and lots more material likely to follow) It would be interesting to know which VOA video broadcasting project this was, if it were ever implemented. Cooper joined VOA (as a political appointee?) in late 2001, at about the time Robert R. Reilly was appointed VOA director. Cooper left VOA in 2002, shortly after Reilly left. Cooper created the blog fightforglenn.com, with the first entry on 21 August and the most recent on 28 August. The website is in support of popular US conservative television personality Glenn Beck, subject of a recent boycott. The cynic might conclude that, given that Cooper probably had an idea by 21 August that he might be indicted, Cooper was hoping Beck might return the favor and campaign for Cooper in Cooper's time of travail. It's interesting that a search of "horace" at glennbeck.com website finds yields no results. This might lead said cynic to think that either Beck has thrown Cooper under the bus, or that Beck has no idea who Cooper is. Posted: 28 Aug 2009 (Kim Andrew Elliott, ibid.) ** U S A. Jeff White tells me that the Cheetah Radio infomercial folx bought the 05-07 UT Wed and Fri blox on WRMI, now using the NW antenna, accounting for the disappearance of WORLD OF RADIO UT Wed Aug 26 at 0500. Jeff says that airing of WOR has been rescheduled to 0700 UT Wednesdays. Also bumped are two runs of Frecuencia al Día, UT Wed 0530 and Fri 0500, but I don`t know if they have been replaced (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Will this be a pre-log, or a non-log? FYI, WBCQ plans to relay radio six international from Scotland, a special Friday Aug 28 only from 1900 UT until 0100 UT Aug 29 on 9330, ``live music from one of the smallest music festivals in Scotland, the “Hydro Amnesty Bash” in aid of Amnesty international``. Details at http://www.wbcq.com and http://www.radiosix.com/ whence it is also webcast. Boo hoo, Syria (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see SCOTLAND [non] ** U S A. One of the repeat segments on QSO With Ted Randall this week was Wayne Green on how all food, including meat, should be eaten raw for best results, as cooking ruins everything nutritionally! Exactly the opposite view appears as the fourth main segment on NPR`s TALK OF THE NATION SCIENCE FRIDAY Aug 28: ``How Cooking Made Us Human (broadcast Friday, August 28th, 2009) In Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human, primatologist Richard Wrangham argues that cooking gave early humans an evolutionary edge, leading to larger brains and more free time. Wrangham discusses his theory, and why Homo sapiens can’t live on raw food alone.`` http://www.sciencefriday.com/program/archives/200908285 The previous hour, linked, also has an important segment on The Myth of Multitasking. Who, me? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Surprised to find an AM ham QSO lower than the usual area on 80 m, 3663.0, Aug 28 at 1233 between strong WA5BLQ and weaker K5BWO who also had less robust modulation. Mostly heard Louie, WA5BLQ, talking about his gardening and yard work, 1240 on repairing an R390A where someone had put the wrong tube into a socket; and he was going to the Joplin hamfest tomorrow. WA5BLQ is Luther L. Thomas in Ozone, Arkansas 72854, which isn`t even in the index of my Rand McNally, but it`s in the Ozarx on Hwy 21 N of Clarxville on I-40. K5BWO is Howard A. Terhune in Kempner TX 76539, also missing from my RMcN index, geez! TG for Google: that`s on US 190 between Copperas Cove and Lampasas near Fort Hood. At least both towns do show on the Rand McNally atlas maps themselves, once you find them (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Hi, Group: I note the Topaz Designs AMBC list says KXTR, 1660, Kansas City, is on. I was through there twice last week and there was not a peep to be heard out of 'em. Thought I read a while back they were off & probably gone for good.? Anybody know? 73 (David Faulkner, Aug 27, IRCA via DXLD) Sometimes I can barely hear KXTR in the daytime here; classical format stands out! Checked Aug 27 around 2200 but nothing audible. Then looked up http://www.kxtr.com and found this: ``Please note: Due to work being done on our tower, KXTR will not broadcast on 1660am from 7 p.m. Monday through Friday until September 1. We will continue to broadcast in HD at 98.1 HD2 and audiostream here at KXTR.com. We apologize for the delay.`` But did not get around to see if they were on later that evening. However, UT Sat Aug 29 at 0020 I found silly baseball game fading in from the direxion of KC on 1660, that being an important format variation, and confirmed a few minutes later on their webstream. So it was Friday, before Sept. 1, and they WERE on the air (Glenn Hauser, OK, UT Aug 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. FACILITIES CHANGES: NY, New York --- the financially troubled New York Times Company sells WQXR 96.3 to Univisión for $33.5 million, making 96.3 the new home of Newark`s Spanish Urban ``La Kalle [sic] 105.9`` WCAA. 105.9 frequency is being sold to WNYC Radio (820 AM, 93.9 FM), which will air WQXR`s classical format when the sale is completed later this year CT, Stamford, W276AV, 103.1 has an open carrier but no programming. It had been rebroadcasting WRXP 101.9 New York with very poor audio, according to Karl Zuk. Originally it carried WQXR 96.3 New York ``under the premise that the local WSTC-FM [now WCTZ] on 96.7 killed all hope of receiving WQXR directly.`` Then owner Gerry Turro (known for his 103.1 translator in Fort Lee NJ) sold it to Scotnmex [sic]. Now WCTZ 96.7 is moving to Port Chester NY, closer to NYC. ``This ends the argument for a WQXR translator in Stamford.`` See above on the sale and frequency change of WQXR which Zuk said gives the 103.1 translator in Stamford ``a new level of absurdity!`` Further complicating the situation, W276AV is currently listed as relaying WSHU *91.1 Fairfield CT. However, there`s no evidence that it ever relayed that station or that it plans to relay that station. FORMAT CHANGES: IA, Cedar Falls, KUNI *90.9 tf with weekend music in stereo returning, replacing talk shows. Some lesser IPR stations are affected. The weekend shows are mainly folk-oriented. SC, Branchville, WGFG, 105.3 op (classic rock), ``Bad Dog 105`` (``Froggy`` croaks), along with WIGL 93.9 Winnsboro DC, $tereo. Both stations have a dog`s bark inserted in the nonID. [sic; dogs & frogs confused? -gh] TX, Dallas, KVTT, *91.7, r. Being bought by North Texas Public Broadcasting from Covenant Educational Media for $18 million. It will be a stereo companion with alternative rock to monophonic KERA-FM *90.1. DELETIONS: CA, Yosemite Valley, K221AB 92.1, K232CQ 94.3, K240CE 95.9, K292CH 106.3. Previously, all the stations in Yosemite Village bit the dust [looks like they were all commercial translators, so who cares? -- gh] (July/August FMedia! via DXLD) ** U S A. NY, Auburn, WDWN, *89.1, owned by Cayuga County Community College, fined $2000 for broadcasting advertising by a noncommercial station. This fine was reduced from $2500 because of the licensee`s otherwise good record of complying with FCC rules. Ten violations were cited by the Commission in an Auburn Doubledays game, as brought forth by a listener who complained. The station claimed that the mentions were not ``advertisements`` but acknowledgment of donations of $100 received from each underwriter for the season`s broadcasts. It specifically stated that Savannah Bank`s mention was merely factual, but the FCC said ``meets all your banking needs`` and ``visit Savannah bank`` placed it comparatively above other financial institutions and there was a prohibited call to action. Finger Lakes Bottling mentioning Miller as ``cold refreshing beer,`` was found to ``promote that product through qualitative terms.`` (July/August FMedia! via DXLD) WDWN : once a WRN and consequently WORLD OF RADIO relayer? ** U S A. FL, Orange County --- a station known as ``Street Heat,`` 91.3, had live ads for criminal gangs and discussions of where to buy drugs and find prostitutes. After receiving a complaint from a listener, according to a story in Popular Communications, the FCC monitored the frequency and located the antenna in a tree with transmission line going to a house. Police broke in and found Balthazard Senat and Robert Roth smoking pot, and negotiating a sale of the stuff over the air. Senat and Roth were arrested, and officials dismantled and seized the radio equipment and assorted booty (July/August FMedia! via DXLD) ** U S A. CA, Nevada City, KVMR *89.5 prides itself on having a large vinyl record collexion. Laura Miller used to work at KZYX *90.7 Philo CA, and had run a record store in Sacramento, and from those sources she transported to KVMR a huge collexion of LPs. She was once KZYX`s general manager but is now a volunteer at KVMR. She`s still selling vinyl, now online with 6000 records to offer. She said, ``It`s been a rewarding thing to work in community radio for so many years. I`ve met a lot of neat people, and it has helped me stay connected to the community. KVMR has grown immeasurably. Nevada City is a small town with a neat radio station.`` She sells and buys record collexions, such as when a radio station decides to get rid of its vinyl collexion. Her collexion includes jazz, blues, rock, classical, country, and other genres, ``each selected for quality --- no junk bin here.`` She can be contacted at support @ recordsontheweb.com (July/August FMedia! via DXLD) ** U S A. WRGB ENDS FM RADIO SIMULCAST --- STATION PULLS PLUG ON 87.9 BROADCASTS, FEARING FCC ACTION By CHRIS CHURCHILL, Business writer First published in print: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=835013&category=BUSINESS NISKAYUNA -- WRGB Ch. 6, the region's CBS affiliate, has turned off its popular radio simulcast, fearing the broadcast would irritate the Federal Communications Commission. The simulcast had been available for years at 87.7 [sic] FM, but it disappeared in June when television stations were mandated to end analog over-the-air broadcasting in favor of digital signals. That led to an outcry from listeners who listened to the simulcast while driving, for example, or puttering around the garage. In July, the Niskayuna-based station brought the simulcast back at 87.9 FM, using an analog signal. But WRGB never received approval from the FCC to do so, leading it to pull the simulcast late last week. Robert Furlong, the station's general manager, said WRGB never received a complaint from the FCC but didn't want to risk annoying the federal agency. Furlong said the decision has resulted in about 100 complaint calls, and he estimated the simulcast had an audience of about 50,000 regular listeners. That the broadcast existed at all was a technological quirk, a product of the fact that analog audio for Ch. 6 on the television band overlapped with the FM radio band. Furlong said WRGB resurrected the simulcast in July by "attaching" an analog signal to its digital broadcast. He said the station -- seeing the simulcast as an important public service -- will ask for FCC permission for the radio broadcast, but he wasn't optimistic it would be granted, despite its popularity. "I run into people all the time that miss it," he said. Capital News 9, the Time Warner Cable-owned news station, simulcasts on the radio, using a station it took over in 2008. But only the WRGB broadcast offered audio-only soap operas, game shows and sitcoms as well as news (via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. EN EL ESTADO GUÁRICO, RADIO NACIONAL DE VENEZUELA CONSTRUIRÁ CENTRO DE ONDA CORTA --- Este proyecto permitirá propagar la señal y la programación de RNV en todo el continente americano Prensa Web RNV/Prensa RRII RNV, 26 Agosto 2009, 11:04 AM Maqueta de Centro Onda Corta (Foto: RRII RNV) Escuche el reporte de Rafael Tayupe para RNV (MP3 2min) Haga click para escuchar el audio http://www.rnv.gov.ve/noticias/index.php?s=285ec7185231454743edca2fc66c718f&act=Attach&type=post&id=post-2-12513192552.ibf (Foto: RRII RNV) (Foto: RNV) [three photos of mockup of the xmtr bldg] Con el objetivo de presentar el proyecto de construcción de la infraestructura de Onda Corta de RNV, este miércoles 26 de agosto se reúnen en el estado Guárico, el gobernador de la entidad, William Lara, la Directora de Radio Nacional de Venezuela (RNV) Helena Salcedo, y el director de Ingeniería, Julio Melo, en la carretera rural vía asentamiento campesino, El Recreo, en Calabozo. La construcción del edificio Centro de Onda Corta de Radio Nacional de Venezuela, es una infraestructura que permitirá propagar la señal y la programación de RNV en todo el continente americano. Este proyecto consta de dos fases: la primera para el hemisferio norte y la segunda se logrará retransmitir la programación en toda Latinoamérica. En este momento, la programación del Canal Internacional se produce en los estudios de RNV y se transmite desde la estación de onda corta de la República de Cuba por un convenio suscrito entre ambos países. El estado Guárico es un lugar estratégico para la instalación de las antenas transmisoras por el puesto que ocupa geográficamente en el centro del país, lo que significa que existirá una excelente cobertura y propagación de la señal del circuito RNV hacia cualquier país del Continente Americano (via Yimber Gaviría, Jose Miguel Romero, Aug 26, DXLD) This story hardly seems news, as almost the same wording appeared months ago, including claim that its location in the center of Venezuela is somehow advantageous for SW coverage. Unfortunately, this story has no info at all about how far along the project is now, and when it may axually start broadcasting! (gh, DXLD) Re: El Recreo, Calabozo, Guarico state, 182 km south of Caracas. http://www.rnv.gov.ve/noticias/index.php?s=f896414d2cd23c2ffe626e6f1c3f407e&act=Attach&type=post&id=post-2-12513192552.ibf http://maps.google.de/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=de&geocode=&ie=UTF8&t=h&layer=x&g=Calabozo,+Venezuela&ll=8.942732,-67.40284&spn=0.12769,0.288391&z=13 Took 16 month now since the project started, we had this in May 2008 [again almost identical wording]: http://blogs.rnw.nl/medianetwork/radio-nacional-de-venezuela-plans-to-open-own-shortwave-station-within-18-months (Andy Sennitt-HOL, RNW MN May 21, 2008 via BDXC-UK via Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. LA RADIO Y LA TV DE BRASIL ALERTAN SOBRE AMENAZAS CONTRA LA PRENSA VENEZOLANA --- EFE Brasilia La Asociación Brasileña de Emisoras de Radio y Televisión (ABERT) alertó hoy sobre el "cercenamiento de la libertad de expresión" y la "escalada de violencia" contra la prensa venezolana, de la que acusó al Gobierno del presidente Hugo Chávez. En un comunicado difundido en Brasilia, la ABERT manifestó "su preocupación por el intenso proceso de deterioro del derecho a las libertades de expresión y prensa" en Venezuela. "En las últimas semanas, las embestidas del Gobierno de Hugo Chávez y de grupos políticos aliados contra medios de comunicación y periodistas se han intensificado", dice la nota. La ABERT cita el "cierre" de 34 emisoras de radio a las que no se les renovaron las licencias de funcionamiento y la presentación de un proyecto "de ley de Delitos Mediáticos que prevé prisión para los periodistas", así como un ataque contra el canal de televisión Globovisión y agresiones sufridas por periodistas en las calles. Asimismo, sostiene que la nueva Ley Orgánica de Educación, que ha provocado polémicas entre partidarios del Gobierno y opositores, es una herramienta que "aumenta la influencia de los líderes chavistas en las escuelas y amenaza la autonomía de las universidades". También afirma que esa ley "atenta" contra la libre actividad periodística, pues "su artículo 50 establece sanciones contra los medios de comunicación que produzcan terror o inciten al odio". La ABERT alerta, además, de que "el Gobierno venezolano mantiene bajo amenaza de cierre a 254 emisoras de radio y televisión, que pueden perder sus concesiones". La nota indica que "así como otras entidades de radiodifusión y de prensa del continente americano, la ABERT reitera su aprehensión con la escalada de violencia y el cercenamiento a la práctica del periodismo, que afectan gravemente al Estado de Derecho". Fuente: ADN españa http://www.adn.es/sociedad/20090827/NWS-1869-TV-Brasil-venezolana-amenazas-alertan.html (via Yimber Gaviria, Noticias de la Radio, DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. Re 9-063, ZCR tests via Meyerton, RSA --- discussion of whether South Africa is really the site since VTC fill music was reported. Yes, why not? (gh, DXLD) Viz.: Wird Meyerton denn jetzt auch von VTC betrieben? Ich blicke da nicht mehr dran lang. Oder anders gefragt: gibt es bald ueberhaupt noch grosse Sendezentren in der ehemaligen "westlichen" Welt, die nicht von VTC oder TDF betrieben und vermarktet werden? [later] WB: Nein, Meyerton gehoert zur suedafrikanischen SNT - Sentech South Africa. ME: Dann lag ich da nicht falsch. Das bedeutet dann aber, dass die Sendung nicht aus Meyerton kommt, wie von Glenn Hauser behauptet, dagegen spricht die gespielte VTC-Melodie. Madagaskar faellt damit auch aus. Tschuess, Martin http://home.wolfsburg.de/elbe/ (Martin Elbe-D DD9MW, A-DX Aug 27 via BC-DX Aug 29 via DXLD) Nein, Meyerton gehoert zur suedafrikanischen SNT - Sentech South Africa. VTC spielt halt auf der weltweiten Klaviatur, ob nun Anlagen in Taiwan, Russland, CIS, Norwegen oder UAE angemietet oder selbst betrieben werden. Die Auftraggeber fuer diese Zimbabwe Opposition Sender sitzen meist in GB oder USA (auch aus dem Hintergrund mischen die Geheimdienste mit), und diese nutzen den Dienst der VTC. [later] Nein, falsch. Auch bei Tests kommen solche Sendungen ueber den Kontrollraum der VTC in London. Ueber die Relais in Norwegen, Russland, Armenien oder Madagascar wurden schon ganze Testsendungen "nur mit dieser VTC Cello Musik" gehoert. Diese Musik liegt 24hrs/360d rund um die Uhr im Kontrollraum an, auch wenn eine ISDN Leitung oder ein Satelliten Channel gewissermassen 'feeder-leer' ist, bzw. der Test beendet ist. Aus den Aeusserungen von Jari in Finnland geht eindeutig hervor, dass die Zimbabwe Community Radio Sendungen auf 3955 und jetzt 4865 kHz als Tests laufen, weil man mit der weit entfernten UAE Aussendung auf 5950 kHz fuer den NORMALhoerer in Suedafrika nicht zufrieden ist. Madagaskar hat gar nicht die Sender verfuegbar und nur kleine Fenster waehrend 24hrs frei, wenn gerade keine RNW/DWL/R Schweden/VOA etc. gesendet werden. Da kommt nur noch Ascension Island infrage, schon wegen der Ausbreitung, und der Verfuegbarkeit im suedlichen Winter. Aber die sind eher sehr knapp an Sendern in VTC ASC, bei Sentech in Meyerton stehen aber an die 20 Sender herum, da hat es ein Ueberangebot und man kann die Sendung nach dem Test dann DAUERND in der suedafrikanischen PrimeTime bedienen. Bisher bestand die suedafrikanische Regierung immer gegen Einmischung in andere afrikanische Staaten, das hat sich nach den Wahlen dort aber geaendert. Interessant, ob Albert heute - Donnerstag - den Test auf 4865 wieder hoert, bisher waren die Tests nur montags bis mittwochs in der Luft (Wolfgang Büschel, Aug 27, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Aug 29 via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Re 9-063, 6130-6135: Possible not what you heard but at the moment I have a ute signal on 6129.9 kHz ISB Tadil-A Link-11 Waterfall and sound sample attached. dink dink dink dink sound (Jon- FL, 0133 Z Aug 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, sounds like what I was hearing. If you are getting it in the evening on 6 MHz band and I am in the morning, it must be fairly close, somewhere between us. Any ideas where or whose? What does tadil-A link-11 mean? (Glenn to Jon, via DXLD) Carrier Task Group, Navy base, etc. -- Tactical Data Informations Link. Used by US and ally forces (NATO) to exchange tactical data, radar tracks, between ships, land and aircraft. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TADIL-A http://www.fas.org/irp/program/disseminate/tadil.htm (Jon, FL, ibid.) UNIDENTIFIED. The beeps and noise bursts on 6130 reported last time are also heard at 0537 Aug 28, but this time there are 13 beeps before each noise burst, instead of just three at 1208 Aug 26. I wonder if the number of beeps have some simple significance such as identifying different sources. Also audible at 1221 Aug 28, and now there are eleven beeps before noise, which must really be some kind of data bursts, and these are lasting longer. Meanwhile I heard from utility DXer Jon in Florida who was also getting this at 0133 UT Aug 28, so on 6 MHz it looks as if the transmitter is fairly close, perhaps between us if he gets it in the evening and I get it in the morning. He says it`s Tadil-A Link-11, which means Tactical Data Information Link, used by US and NATO forces to exchange tactical data, radar tracks, between ships, land and aircraft. Could be from a carrier task group or navy base. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TADIL-A and http://www.fas.org/irp/program/disseminate/tadil.htm Later at 0352 he refined the Link-11 frequency to 6131.0-ISB. Whatever the details, this stuff has no business in the middle of the 49m SWBC band! But it so happens that there is not a single SWBC scheduled on 6130 to or from the Western Hemisphere, so perhaps this is an old problem deliberately avoided by broadcasters. Tuning around Aug 28 at 1227 I came upon another TADIL-A on 5172, this time with 6 beeps before the data bursts (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 9268.0, two-way SSB in Spanish, Aug 28 at 1351; seemed to be reasonable discussion rather than swearing. WINB is off 9265 by 1300 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ HARRY HELMS BLOG Harry's 'last' blog entry of August 24...(?) http://harryhelmsblog.blogspot.com/ (David Norcross, Aug 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dear Harry, Hope this reaches you, as the only/latest current address I have. Just read your `final` blog post. I hope that`s not the case, but I want you to know that you have been a superb example on how to face end-of-life. I`m glad you have found the best place for a final move. Your blog has also been wonderful reading, and I don`t mean just about DX matters. I hope you will allow (or require) your heirs to keep it up indefinitely. I wish you all the best and 73, (Glenn to Harry Helms, Aug 28, via DXLD) Reflecting his other interests including hiking/mountain climbing, ghost towns with lots of photos, publishing, politix, horses, family and friends (gh) THE DOWNSIDE OF FACEBOOK.COM AND LIVEJOURNAL.COM 25.05.07 by colin newell spam? Just say no to Facebook -- It is a marketers` dream - data- mining personal information from folks not bright enough to keep their personal lives from public view. What I think about facebook - http://coffee.bc.ca/Weird/197/the-downside-of-facebookcom-and-livejournalcom Just say no. ;-) (Colin Newell, BC, IRCA via DXLD) Twitter, YouTube and Facebook have combined forces to create one great AP for your computer... It's called YouTwitFace and pretty much sums it all up. Twitter could be useful for DXers - BUT... How can you DX while wading through all the other useless tweets... like... "I am sitting in my living room... just putting on my slippers... the cat is about to bite me in the..." Ooops. Ran out of characters! (Colin Newell, Aug 26, ibid.) DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- SUBCARRIERS, IBOC, RDS, TV-SAP: ++++++++++++++++++++ RADIO FOR BLIND FACES NEW CHALLENGES AR, Little Rock, KLRE, *90.5 no HD, no daggerT (talking book for the blind). ``We took it off about 10 years ago, when AETN started distributing the program via SAP. Now with digital, the SAP is gone,`` reported Ben Fry, general manager. However, the radio reading service has recently emerged as AETN X-4, the fourth sub-channel of the digital TV signal. AR, Fayetteville and the AETN digital TV network, 13-4 (on one transmitter at least) is a radio reading service for the blind (audio only) FL, Tallahassee, WFSU, *88.9, no daggerT, 67 kHz. Finances are forcing stations in Florida and Oregon to drop their reading services for the blind; however, WFSQ *91.5 Tallahassee is still shown as having an SCS reading service. NY, New York --- Various stations have recently dropped their TV-SAP, which has included descriptive video for the blind. Those stations include WNEW *13 and WCBS-TV 2. Other calls complaining of the ending of SAP services for the blind have come to the FM Atlas Publishing office. Bruce Elving has told the callers to lobby their stations to have a digital channel on TV devoted to audio description and/or to a reading service (July/August FMedia! via DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DTV ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ For NPR`s take on 'promises unkept: disappointments in Digital TV': http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112039215&ps=cprs which has not only text but also a link to the audio broadcast on All Things Considered on 25/August.... They are right on target in their analysis from my perspective! (Ken Zichi, MI, MARE Tipsheet Aug 28 via DXLD) Viz.: PROMISES UNKEPT: DISAPPOINTMENTS IN DIGITAL TV by Joel Rose August 25, 2009 Listen to the Story, All Things Considered, [5 min 14 sec] http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112039215&ps=cprs Transcript Broadcasters promised the digital switchover would be accompanied by additional programming options, but so far, the new programs haven't materialized. August 25, 2009 The digital transition now allows TV stations to offer four or more different channels instead of just one. So if you're one of the 12 million or so Americans who only gets TV signals over the air, you may find yourself with some new options, including THIStv, a syndicated network that mostly shows old MGM movies; and Retro TV, which features reruns of Knight Rider and Magnum P.I. Two of the major networks are offering their own national weather channels. But Michael Copps of the Federal Communications Commission says the offerings are a far cry from what broadcasters could be doing with the new channels. "If this spectrum is going to be used just for home shopping and Doppler radar, it's falling far short of the purpose that it could be serving," Copps says. "It has the capacity to represent local issues, local politics, local music, local religious and cultural diversity." Promises Unkept In the 1990s, broadcasters were eager to show Congress that they deserved to get their share of the digital spectrum for free — just like they got their original analog spectrum for free. So they promised a few things, like newscasts customized by neighborhood. "Whenever a new media is starting, there's always the promise — the hope, really — of content that is local. ... And then reality sets in — cold economic facts — and they tend to change the equation," says Eli Noam, who teaches economics at Columbia University. The cold economic facts are that broadcasters collectively spent $10 billion just switching over to digital TV. And content is expensive: Producing just one evening newscast can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Add to the financial pain the fact that local TV stations don't have as many viewers as they used to, and more than half of the viewers they do have are watching on cable. So they're not even seeing the new over-the-air channels, says Dennis Wharton of the National Association of Broadcasters. "Let's not kid ourselves. It costs money" to provide the channels, Wharton says. He adds that broadcasters may be disinclined to spend a tremendous amount of money on additional channels, since cable operators only carry one local channel per station. This means that 60 percent of viewers wouldn't have access to the extra channels. The FCC requires cable operators to carry local channels as part of their basic package, but for years, broadcasters have been pushing to expand the so-called must-carry rule to cover their other digital channels before they invest millions of dollars in new content. Now cable operators say they don't have room for the extra channels, especially for programming that doesn't exist yet. "There's a definite capacity issue that cable operators are facing," says Brian Dietz, a spokesman for the National Cable and Telecommunications Association. "And [they] don't have the unlimited ability to add channels that they don't even know what the content is." Some New Services Some stations are creating new services with no promise of cable carriage. Public television stations across the country have added additional channels devoted to educational and arts programming — although most of that programming isn't really new. One commercial broadcaster in California has found an innovative use for his extra airwaves. Gary Cocola owns about 30 low- and full-power TV stations in California and Idaho. He's decided to rent airtime on his new digital channels for $5,000 a month. So far, he's had one taker: the Vietnamese Broadcasting Service, based in Southern California. "One of the things that I've found is that there are many local people within the community that have never had the ability to have their own TV channel. I believe that's really where the ideas have come from," Cocola says, adding that he has other deals in the works. In a way, Cocola's business model looks back to a time when radio stations leased their least-profitable airtime to superlocal broadcasters, who in turn sold their own ads to pay for it. Could it also be a sign of things to come on digital TV? FCC commissioner Copps would like to think so. "Now that we put American consumers through this trauma of getting right with the technology and the converter boxes and the antennas — that wasn't easy for anybody — we've got the digital TV," Copps says. "Now what are we going to do with it?" For now, the answer seems to be lots of weather channels and reruns of Knight Rider (NPR via DXLD) NO FREEZE -- YET -- ON 'FRANKEN FM'S The BROADCAST MAXIMIZATION COMMITTEE has requested, but not yet received an "emergency freeze" on filings for operation of low-power DTV transmitters, including translators, on Channels 5 and 6, reports TELEVISIONBROADCAST.COM. BMC, an organization of consulting engineers and other broadcast industry reps, was formed to promote the use of that part of the spectrum (76-88 MHz) for low-power FM stations, non-commercial and AM broadcasters in the post-DTV transition environment. The reports says "the group is concerned that the FCC’s JUNE 29th Public Notice on filing LPTV and translator applications could jeopardize the its proposal for expanding of the FM band." MEGA MEDIA GROUP, is the best example of this, with their Dance PULSE 87/NEW YORK. The BMC’s AUGUST 5th letter wrote that the FCC is still requiring "non-commercial educational FM stations, which operate at the lower end of the current 88-108 MHz FM band, to protect Channel 6 television operations until further notice." The BMC called this "disparate treatment," as new LPTV and translator applicants were not required to provide such protection. TELEVISIONBROADCAST also reports The BMC letter further stated that it was "likely that new digital television stations on Channel 6 could cause interference to existing FM stations, due to the FCC’s DTV emission mask requiring that signals only be attenuated by 47 dB within 500 kHz of a TV transmitter’s band edge." The BMC urged the commission to rule on the legality of such "Franken- FM" broadcasting activities, but they weren’t covered in the freeze request (Aug. 28 2009 allaccess.com via Brock Whaley, HI, DX Listening Digest) DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DRM See also UK VTC; USA IBB/HCJB ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DRM+ FIELD TRIAL IN GERMANY DRM+, the DRM technology for radio broadcasts at frequencies up to 174 MHz, was presented to a select audience in Hannover, Germany, on 19th August 2009. This event was organised by Niedersächsische Landesmedienanstalt and University of Hannover. Representatives of the Austrian Regulatory Authority for Broadcasting and Telecommunications (Rundfunk & Telekom Regulierung-GmbH), Swiss Federal Office of Communications (BAKOM), local radio stations in Austria and the Association of Citizens’ Media and Education (Bundesverband Bürger-und Ausbildungsmedien), Germany, attended the presentation and discussions. The focus of this event was digital broadcast options for regional and local radio stations. The quality of DRM+ digital broadcast featured at the event was much appreciated. It was noted that, while some European countries are going ahead with their digitisation plans, questions raised by small regional and local radio service providers unable to join multiplexes, remain unanswered. DRM+ provides the optimal solution for local and regional radio stations. With its small bandwidth, DRM+ fulfils their requirements while these stations do not need to share big multiplexes with other broadcasters. The discussions concluded that broadcasting extra digital radio programmes in addition to analogue broadcasting in Band II is not possible in middle-Europe where Band II is fully occupied. The broadcasters and engineers present at the event concluded that what is required is to explore the possibility of using Band III (174-230 MHz) for DRM+ (from DIGITAL radio mondiale - News via Jaisakthivel, Chennai, India, Aug 28, dxldyg via DXLD) 7 comments so far --- 1 ruud August 27th, 2009 - 13:09 UTC And please, dear Germans, STOP DRM on AM bands, you are causing a lot of interference on analogue channels here in Holland, like 1602 and 1584, by 1593 WDR2 2 Roy Sandgren August 27th, 2009 - 13:41 UTC The audio quality is better in DRM on long and mediumwave than on DAB. DRM is the future and best in the 11-m band. run audio up to 2x 20 kHz. DRM is great on band l which is 47-68 MHz with DRM 5,1 surround radio. 3 Anthony August 27th, 2009 - 14:41 UTC I have heard the classical music test WDR DRM transmission after dark in stereo on 1593 kHz MW at Accrington, Lancashire, NW England on my Technisat Multyradio and I have to say that it’s excellent! It’s almost as good as FM stereo and doesn’t drop out that much. 4 Roy Sandgren August 27th, 2009 - 15:30 UTC Anthony, please be aware of the groundwave and the skywave on higher end of mediumwave. Skywave coming up 1 hour before sunset mostly. 5 Anthony August 28th, 2009 - 7:00 UTC Roy, it is possible after dark to hear DRM-MW stations from continental Europe in the United Kingdom, dependent on atmospherics and propagation conditions, this will inevitably increase in Winter after the clocks have gone back late October with earlier sunsets from mid afternoon which means I should be able to pull in the 1440 kHz MW- DRM transmitter of RTL Radio from their 120 kW outlet at Marnach, Luxembourg around 3 pm UK (4 pm CET/2 pm UT), there is a video on YT showing Tipex in Barcelona Spain picking the WDR MW-DRM transmissions up on 1593 kHz MW after dark, and I have to say it’s pretty damn good for quality and reception in the MW band way outside Germany in SW Europe! So it is possible after dark to hear MW-DRM transmissions (and indeed SW-DRM and LW-DRM transmissions) way outside their coverage zones dependent on conditions. 6 ruud August 28th, 2009 - 13:49 UTC There they are again, the DRM receiver owners, only thinking about themselves 7 Anthony August 28th, 2009 - 14:19 UTC I unlike you, Ruud, believe in the Digital Radio Mondiale format and know by regularly listening to the DRM transmissions on the AM bands of LW/MW and SW that they CAN and do work when things are executed and carried out right by the broadcasters and third party transmission providers. There are one or two videos on YT showing the success and quality of DRM transmissions on Himalaya and Technisat DRM radios; with some of the aural results showing hardly any dropouts, good quality audio and a better listening experience overall, this proves that DRM is a BIG step forward of analogue AM in terms of quality/reception and ease of use. It’s a format that deserves to succeed (and it should do). People have abandoned AM radio because of quality and reception issues and the industry’s answer to that is a digital radio system that improves the quality of reception and audio quality of AM radio services below 120 MHz and that is DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale). Internet radio isn’t the be all and end all of things; there will still be people wanting to access their radio who don’t have 3G phones/computers via traditional AM/FM/DAB/Dsat/Dcab/DAB/DAB+ methods (Media Network blog comments via DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ FM TRANSLATOR FINED FOR SPURS IN AERO BAND CA, Palm Desert, K238AK, 95.5, a relayer of KRCK-FM 97.7 Mesa CA, Playa Del Sol Broadcasters, fined $4000 for sending radiations outside of 600 kHz from its center frequency. Specifically, interference was complained of by users of the aviation band. An FCC inspector traced the illegal radiations to 109.5, 122.2 and 136.1 MHz, with programming that of KRCK-FM. The next day, the inspector drove to the site and determined that the out-of-band signals came from the translator. The illegal signals should have been reduced by 60 dB, but 109.5 was found to be only 19.8 dB down, 122.2 was only 23.4 dB down, and 136.1 was only 18 dB lower. Playa Del Sol Broadcasters said it immediately shut down the translator and should not be fined. The FCC, however, stated that the illegally strong signals were radiated for at least two days, with the agent having to go out to the site to pinpoint the interference (July/August FMedia! via DXLD) 87.7 FAUX-RADIO STATIONS IN TROUBLE IL, Chicago, WLFM-LP 87.7, ``Smooth Jazz the L,`` supposedly with 3 kW from the John Hancock Center downtown. ``Boy, does this station`s audio get out!`` (Jeff Kadet, Macomb IL). Subscriber Roger Winsor in NW Indiana notes that the station`s signal is strong but not receivable on all radios. ``I have a new car, and it only tunes down to 87.9.`` It`s possible with the passing of analog TV, manufacturers are quietly removing the ability of radios to tune down to 87.7. NY, New York, WNYZ-LP, ``Pulse 87.7,`` seeks donations in order to save the niche format. Station personality Borasio told listeners, ``We haven`t been bringing the money in that it costs to keep us floating.`` WNYZ-LP is offering tote bags and T-shirts and insists that the radiothon isn`t a stunt (July/August FMedia! via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ SEE ALSO MEXICO, sporadic E maps, lack of ham activity on 6 meters APRS versus DX Sherlock http://www.mountainlake.k12.mn.us/ham/aprs/path.cgi?map=na http://www.vhfdx.net/spots/map.php?Lan=E&Frec=50&Map=NA Okay, I'm curious about something and maybe a few seasoned dxers/hams can answer this question. What is the difference between the APRS map and the DX Sherlock map? I realize that we watch the DX Sherlock map for low VHF skip activity (6 meters). But I don't understand why the APRS site would also be a VHF activity. Doesn't the effects of tropospheric ducting and scatter generally start in the high frequencies (UHF) and as it intensifies, begin to affect the lower frequencies? Why isn't there any way to monitor tropospheric ducting & scatter that is affecting the UHF band only, on a map? (Jim Thomas, wdx0fbu, Milliken, Colorado, (40 miles north of Denver), 40 18.642'N 104 52.566'W, Aug 27, WTFDA via DXLD) I'm not a ham, and am just throwing this out there, but my understanding, Jim, is that the APRS map is automated and uses just one frequency - 144.39 MHz - to come up with the maps, whereas DX Sherlock relies on actual human reports. DX Sherlock has the capability to show Tropo paths if they are reported (in green). Maybe it just isn't being utilized for that yet by the ham community ???? (Bill Hepburn, Grimsby Ont., ibid.) I use both, and they're very handy. The big difference, of course, is that the APRS map is totally automated. APRS stations run all day/all night, so if the band opens, it will show it. DX Sherlock requires live bodies to show paths opening up. I have found that for tropo, APRS can't be beaten. Tropo builds slowly, and tends to last, so the maps are meaningful. But, for Es, I tend to use Sherlock and the MUF mapper more. 144 MHz Es is very short-lived, and often, the information on APRS can be a bit old. With the MUF map, I can see the opening coming -- and, that's a huge, huge advantage. I run an APRS station at home when I expect a tropo opening. It gives me more/often better information than the Internet map. I can see (in real time) what is happening RIGHT HERE. And, when the Internet map goes down, I have a backup (Peter, N4LI, Baskind, J.D., LL.M., Germantown, TN, ibid.) The DX Sherlock site indeed notified me that there was a crazy tropo opening go on! I have the email notifications thing turned on and I got (for the first time) tropo alert emails. I normally delete the DX Sherlock emails this time of year because they all say "MUF 52 MHz" or "61 MHz" but as my eye scanned the subject line I saw *distances* instead of *MUF.* One was something like "Tropo" "70 cm" "1200 km" and another mentioned 2m and 1900km. This made me open the email and click on the links. So, although the DX Sherlock map is *user driven*, I would not have even checked the dials had it not been for those two or three emails. I had seen wrh's forecast maps last week and thought that it looked good but I forgot about it until I got the Sherlock email. I wish that I had extra money to throw Bill's way so he could invent a way to integrate email notifications into his forecast maps, so that if say, a level 6 or higher event is forecast to be over my grid square, I would get an email. That would be cool - especially for me and the absent minded set. :) Unfortunately, the BIG opening was a bit West and North of me although I got a few new ones, my farthest catch was under 250 miles. 73, (Dave in Indy Hascall, ibid.) That's pretty much right. You'll usually only see reports on the sherlock map during a large opening or a contest. There just isn't that much activity most of the time, especially on 432 MHz. Also, not everyone that makes a contact is going to report it, so you're only going to see some of what is happening. The APRS system wasn't designed to indicate propagation, that is just a benefit of the system that someone was able to turn into a very useful map (Jeff Lehmann, Hanson, MA, ibid.) Re: ``APRS maps are simulated based on some variable number of actual spots of receptions.`` Maybe that was just a typo, but the APRS map is not based on spots, that's the Sherlock map. APRS is figured out through the various digipeaters, home station, and mobiles running on 144.390 MHz. There are some dead spots where there is no APRS coverage, so there is a chance that a "blob" might not show up if the tropo happened to be in an APRS dead zone. Since each of these stations sends out coordinates, the map is able to determine the distances between them when a signal is relayed between sites (Jeff Lehmann - N1ZZN, Hanson, MA FN42NB, Aug 28, ibid.) For the sake of simplicity, I used 'spots' because in one sense there's not a lot of difference between spots or participant reports of actual individual contacts of hams and the automated digipeater reports. Both rely on transmitter and receiver sites, while the DX Sherlock map represents only an aggregation of single contacts, the APRS maps represent either one one-to-many relationship between transmitter site and receiver sites or a many-to-many relationship, with the resulting representation being a pattern. The point being, just because the representation on the APRS maps may look like it is curved or some other shape, that's not to mean that individual signals are following some decidedly non-linear paths (Russ Edmunds, WB2BJH, Blue Bell, PA, 40:08:45N; 75:16:04W, Grid FN20id, ibid.) UNDERSTANDING TROPOSPHERIC PROPAGATION The recent big blockbuster opening that was mostly VHF with just a bit of UHF was an exception for me. Most of the time during the long haul stuff (>400 miles), I get UHF openings with less on VHF. A fair number of openings are equal on both. Some are better on VHF. I can't count how many times I led Saul on a wild-goose chase doing mobile FM DXing because I was get 32 Waterloo IA, Louisville KY or Vermont - and FM turned out to be dead. It does happen the other way around sometimes. The dimensions and angles within the duct determine both the FOT (optimum frequency) and the LUF (lowest usable frequency). I would assume that these vary regional just as the climate does. Different air masses and fronts have different characteristics. Most of North America, especially the east, can be affected by systems originating from the Arctic, the Pacific, the Gulf-Caribbean, or inland, so each tropo event will also have its own characteristics. And then we have high pressure tropo (subsidence inversions) vs. frontal tropo (frontal inversions) to add even more variety. Bill H. (William Hepburn, meteorologist, ON, WTFDA via DXLD) Bill, I've been TV DXing off and on for almost fifty years, and I never realized that my tropo is different from what others receive. Needless to say, I'm surprised. VHF is supreme here when it comes to tropo. The first place it appears, the last place it leaves. Thanks for the explanation (Danny Oglethorpe, Shreveport, LA, ibid.) Don't the effects of tropospheric ducting and scatter generally start in the high frequencies (UHF) and as it intensifies, begin to affect the lower frequencies? (Jim Thomas, CO, ibid.) Jim, I can't speak for anybody else, but most tropo at my location begins on VHF. It is rare to have tropo on UHF here before VHF. In fact, quite a bit of tropo here never even reaches higher than channel 13. Sometimes the tropo will be better on high VHF than on low VHF, however (Danny Oglethorpe, Shreveport, LA, ibid.) I've watched the VHF ham loggers during tropo events for many years and very frequently you'll see reports between the same two stations on two or more bands listed at the same time. Often in the same report. Usually the 144 MHz reports are the strongest, but occasionally the 222 or 432 reports are better. And I've seen long tropo reports where the 1296 MHz signals have beat out the two meter in signal strength. Antenna, power, etc. has a lot to do with it. Sometimes tropo seems to favor higher frequencies. Personally I've only worked 6 and 2 meters. Maybe Bill H. can explain what might cause tropo to favor UHF (Randy KW4RZ Zerr, FL, ibid.) When the inversions are less than 400 feet thick, the physical size of the duct does not allow the longer VHF wavelengths to be propagated. The LUF is around 276 MHz if the inversion is 400 feet thick. Thicker inversions will allow VHF to be propagated as well. The LUF lowers to 53 MHz with a 1000 foot thick inversion. Therefore you could say that for almost any location, there will be more UHF openings than VHF openings (and even more microwave openings). But keep in mind that narrow UHF/microwave-only inversions are easier to miss out on. Narrow surface-based inversions are likely to be confined to valleys. Narrow elevated inversions may exist at only a certain altitude range - meaning you could easily be too high or too low in elevation to get in on the duct. Now most useful inversions are thicker than 400 feet, and 1000-1500 feet is common. The relationship between duct thickness and optimum frequency is not one that I have a good grasp for. I am sure there are some good technical articles on the subject, but they are hard to find. With skip, the optimum frequency is usually just below the MUF. With ducting, I believe the optimum frequency correlates with the LUF - but I do not think that they are close in frequency. I think there is a linear relationship, but have not seen a formula - though I'm sure one exists (the US military has likely studied this stuff to death since tropo affects the accuracy of radar). For instance, just as a guess, let's say the LUF is 150 MHz, maybe in those cases the FOT is 450 MHz , LUF 50 MHz FOT 150 MHz , LUF 25 MHz FOT 75 MHz. I don't know what the relationship is. Here I'm using 3:1 as an example. If someone knows of an existing formula, I'd love to see it. Otherwise, if I wanted to forecast FOT, I'd have to do studies of inversion thickness vs. what I perceive to be the FOT (which is hard to determine - because everyone's antenna setup varies - I don't think any of our setups perform equally throughout the 54-900 MHz range.) If there is a formula out there, I could envision someday adding that information to the tropo maps through an algorithm that estimates inversion thickness. At the very least to the nearest 100 MHz. Anyone else have any thoughts on this, or have come across past studies? wrh (Bill Hepburn, ibid.) Anyone else consider what I suspect was a major factor behind this mega-event? Hurricane Bill moving eastwards off the eastern Canadian coast. Perhaps the weather forecaster and DXer this storm was named after has thoughts on this? (Saul Chernos, Ont., ibid.) In this case, I don't think Hurricane Bill was a factor. In the classic hurricane tropo situation in North America, an easterly surface flow ahead of the hurricane provides low level humidity which undercuts dry air aloft, especially if there is a normally dry high pressure system to the west of the hurricane. This sets up a vast area with a strong inversion. If this were the case this time, then the Atlantic Seaboard would have seen the bulk of the DX. With Bill, it looked like the east flank (well out over the ocean) was getting the best hurricane tropo setup, although it looked as though that may have been touching NS/NL for a while - giving possible DX to the Caribbean (à la Bob Cooper in Turks & Caicos <-> Maine many moons ago - not sure if that was a hurricane though - but I digress). In the recent situation, we had a stalled front along the Atlantic Seaboard forming a surface barrier between the air mass over the Atlantic (and thus Hurricane Bill) and the air mass west of the front. Thus none of Bill's actual surface moisture was making it into the Great Lakes. This ducting was a classic high pressure subsidence situation, with a fair amount of residual low level humidity on the surface being overridden by a very dry southwest flow of air aloft. In high pressure, the air sinks (the reason why the pressure is "high" - it's being pressed against the earth). As the air sinks it warms up & dries out. If there is any cooler, humid air still lingering on the ground (and there was plenty of it this time), it gets squeezed and trapped and a strong inversion forms. The cool air WILL NOT rise into the warmer air aloft, thus the inversion persists until the warmer air aloft moves out of the region (or the sun literally eats away at the inversion). And by cooler I don't necessarily mean cool - I mean just not as warm as the warmer air above it. In low pressure, the opposite happens. The air rises (thus the pressure of air against the ground is "low"). As it rises it cools and condenses forming clouds & precipitation. In low pressure, it is usually warmer and drier on the ground and cooler and more humid aloft - with warm air rising up into the cool air (Bill Hepburn, ibid.) ###