DX LISTENING DIGEST 9-085, December 15, 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 1491, Dec 16-22, 2009 Wed 0800 WRMI 9955 [sometimes first airing] Wed 1630 WRMI 9955 Wed 1930 South Herts Radio 3935 Wed 2000 WBCQ 7415 Thu 0630 WRMI 9955 [sometimes first airing] Thu 1300 WRMI 9955 Thu 2000 WBCQ 7415 Fri 0100 WBCQ Area 51 5110-CUSB Fri 0200 WRMI 9955 Fri 1230 WRMI 9955 Fri 1530 WRMI 9955 Fri 2130 WWCR1 7465 Sat 0900 IPAR/IRRS/NEXUS/IBA 9510 [pre-empted until January] Sat 0900 WRMI 9955 Sat 1430 WRMI 9955 Sat 1730 WWCR3 12160 Sat 1900 IPAR/IRRS/NEXUS/IBA 6170 Sat 2000 WRMI 9955 Sun 0330 WWCR3 5070 Sun 0730 WWCR1 3215 Sun 0900 WRMI 9955 Sun 1230 South Herts Radio 5835 Sun 1615 WRMI 9955 Sun 2000 WRMI 9955 Mon 0600 WRMI 9955 Tue 1200 WRMI 9955 Tue 1630 WRMI 9955 Tue 2000 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://193.42.152.193/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 WORLD OF RADIO PODCASTS VIA WRN: http://www.wrn.org/wrn-listeners/world-of-radio/ OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO: http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html or http://wor.worldofradio.org ** ALASKA. HAARP investigation on TRUTV today 'CONSPIRACY THEORY WITH JESSE VENTURA' HAARP --- Jesse Ventura and his team head to Alaska to investigate whether the High Frequency Auroral Research Program installation is a communications project or a weapon that can change the weather, shoot down satellites or trigger global mind control (Zap2It via DXLD) Saturday Dec 12 at 2100-2200 UT on TRU TV cable channel. [maybe also a few hours later if they have a separate west coast feed]. Should be interesting, but keep your salt shaker handy (gh, in advance on the dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Out of a sense of obligation I viewed it. Ventura doing his usual shtick, very short on facts, very very long on speculation. At least there are some shots of what HAARP looks like, from the air, and at the gate he and the crew were unable to pass (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Next stop, DART DRM? ** ALASKA. 1330, KXLJ, Juneau, received a nice handwritten folding card in 63 days for CD report. Mentioned that this is their first report from North America, as all other reports are from Finland, Sweden, & Norway. V/S: Jacob Caggians-OM, GM. AK QSL #61, MW QSL #3009. Really pleased with this one as it once again gives me all AK I have heard QSL'd. All three Juneau heard & QSL'd too. One other interesting thing, is the QSL was mailed on the 11th and I got it on the 12th! I have not seen that kind of quick mail service in years! (Patrick Martin, OR, Dec 12, HCDX via DXLD) See FAROE ISLANDS ** ALBANIA [and non]. R. Tirana, 7430 with good modulation and free of interference, Dec 11 at 2126 as OM concluded English semihour, no frequency info, 2127 theme music and off. Had also quickly checked // 9895 and it was much weaker. Scarcely an hour later, BBC World News provided perfect reception via OETA OKLA virtual and RF channel 13.2 including a story on how Albania`s economy is improving unlike most of Europe. Looked for video on website, but only found text with illustrations: Albania takes strides towards EU accession http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8406675.stm (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) No longer drab Tirana Report on a visit to Albania: Dear Drita! Thank you very much for your friendly greetings from Tirana. The report about our nice week in Albania in September 2009: I had sent in October 2009 with some photos made by Sigrid to the "Radio Tirana Hörerklub" in Germany. The report is published without any changes in the last "Rundbrief" of this club in November 2009. You will find the "Rundbrief" also in the Internet. http://www.agdx.de/rthk/Rundbrief-40.pdf For today all best wishes to you and all other friends in Tirana from a could-rainy Germany, (Sigrid and Klaus Fuehrlich, Radebeul, 10 Dec, via Drita Çiço, DXLD) In German, illustrated, 12 pages ** ANGUILLA [non]. For those who might want to try for Amhara State Radio, at 0315 UT, Anguilla is silent on 6090. 73, (J.D. Stephens, AL, 0331 UT Dec 15, HCDX via DXLD) Tnx for the tip which I caught in less than hour for the dxldyg, but have not seen any results reported (gh, DXLD) ** ANTARCTICA [and non]. 8867, 0033, ANTARCTIC, NZ OPPS DEEPFREEZE, AKL, ICE 32, special ATC WX report issued by TWR wind 310 DG gusts 40 knots severe wind shear call CHCH control 129.300, ICE 32 confirms (Roger Pryde, Dunedin, New Zealand, Sangean ATS 803A and Yaesu 7000, 30 metre long wire, Dec NZ DX Times via DXLD) Sic, except I inserted some commas where I thought they could help, those amazing little punxuators. AKL probably means Auckland; CHCH Christchurch. Never any dates (gh, DXLD) ** ANTARCTICA. Re 9-084, is LRA36 silent? Hi Glenn, Have not heard a thing since last posting of Antarctica; it was most days and at good strength at times over the summer. I am not checking much at the moment though (Mark, Anglesey, Dec 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Just in case I checked 15476 around 1930 Dec 14: zilch (gh, DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. 1430 X 2 =2860 KHz LT24 Radio San Nicolas http://www.lt24online.com.ar/ Saludos Amigos, Recibi un correo electrónico del colega brasileño Eduardo L. Castaldelli: Sent: Sun, December 13, 2009 6:35:48 AM Subject: 1430 KHZ Ola Sr Yimber Gaviria, buenos dias! Estou te escrevendo para pedir-lhe ajuda. Tenho escutado uma emissora em 2860 khz, que não dá identificação. Ontem a noite por volta das 2300 UT, pude gravar por aproximadamente 30 minutos a emissora; contudo, o sinal estava muito baixo e não pude ouvir sua identificação. O programa tocava varias músicas, todas em espanhol, e acredito que eram Tangos Argentinos. Gostaria de saber se as emissoras de 1430 kHz da Argentina teriam sites, ou se, pudesse informar se alguma delas das que transmitem em 1430 khz tem uma programação deste tipo, com músicas románticas. Agradeço desde já tua ajuda. Att, Eduardo L. Castaldelli, Mairiporã- SP- Brasil Me dirigí al Colega Arnaldo Slaen de Argentina, quien sí podía ayudarme... Sent: Sun, December 13, 2009 4:53:44 AM Subject: Re: 1430 KHZ Hola Yimber!! Muy bien día!! Estoy casi seguro que se trata de LT24, Radio San Nicolás, ciudad ubicada a unos 220 km al noreste de Buenos Aires. Su web es http://www.lt24online.com.ar Un fuerte abrazo, Arnaldo Y el comentario final del Colega Brasileño. Sun, December 13, 2009 9:46:54 PM Ola Yimber, boa noite. Agradeço antecipadamente sua ajuda e foi pra mim muito importante. Agradeça por favor, nosso amigo da Argentina Sr. Arnaldo Slaen. Tenho ouvido em 2860 khz uma radio que toca tangos, boleros entre outras músicas da Argentina, e estava desconfiado que pudesse ser o harmónico dela que estaria ouvindo aqui no Brasil. Outras pessoas também tem ouvido esta emissora, no Canadá, Austrália; contudo, estão pensando que é a Radio San Carlos de Costa Rica, mas não é. Pude fazer uma comparação no momento da escuta, com a programação ao vivo via internet e é totalmente diferente. Assim, hoje escutando a Radio LT24 - San Nicolás, a programação é a mesma. Muito obrigado por ter ajudado a esclarecer esta dúvida. Grato, Att, Eduardo L. Castaldelli Mairiporã- SP- Brasil Grid Locator: GG66qq http://www.radiodx.qsl.br (Via Yimber Gaviria, Colombia. PD. Gracias a Eduardo L. Castaldelli por su correo y muchísimas gracias a Arnaldo Slaen, por la respuesta, Dec 14, WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DX LISTENING DIGEST) So there are at least two LAm stations putting out harmonix on 2860. The one we hear in NAm, and I myself have heard, is certainly R. San Carlos in Costa Rica [q.v.], axually 2859.82 or so. Don`t know about what`s heard in Australia. CR closes somewhat after 0200 UT, so if the Argentine is on later, that`s one way to differentiate them besides an ID. What is the exact frequency of LT24 x 2? (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello Glenn Hauser and Yimber Gaviria, Well, so then we have two stations, that making a comparison with the network of Costa Rica, is totally different from the station was heard on 2860 kHz. The station San Carlos has an announcer who constantly gives the ID of the station, and had a radio that was on 2860 kHz and said little when he spoke the phrase was male, playing various tangos and boleros in a row. Also clear was the expression of two male speakers. I am monitoring the frequency to get a better recording of the broadcast. I thank you in advance. Respectfully (Eduardo Lopes Castaldelli, Mairiporã SP, Brasil, Grid Locator: GG66qq http://www.radiodx.qsl.br Dec 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. LANZAN RADIO DEDICADA A MERCEDES SOSA http://www.lanegraradioweb.com.ar/index2.htm [audio autolaunches] BUENOS AIRES, 10 (ANSA) - "La Negra Radio Web", una nueva radio en Internet dedicada a la cantante Mercedes Sosa, fallecida el 4 de octubre pasado, fue lanzada en Argentina "con el fin de difundir los nuevos valores del continente americano". . . . La emisora en Internet http://www.lanegraradioweb.com.ar ofrecerá "seis horas de programación con reproducción continua las 24 horas del día, con las expresiones artísticas y culturales de Latinoamérica"... Fuente: http://www.ansa.it/ansalatina/notizie/notiziari/argentina/20091210212534995703.html (Via Yimber Gaviria, Colombia, Dec 10, DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. Hola amigos, sí, la radio pública argentina tiene historia y un video que se puede ver en: http://senalnacional.blogspot.com/2009/12/argentina-la-radio-publica-tiene.html 73 de (Yimber Gaviría, Colombia, Dec 13, DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. LA RADIO Y LA TELEVISIÓN DE ARGENTINA ME ASUSTAN Por Javier Yearson, periodista argentino residente en Europa (Diario EL VIGÍA)- Me permito la afirmación del título, después de haber trabajado en los medios durante 18 años continuos, y seguir aún en ellos en forma "virtual". Le sumo, el hecho de haber vivido en España me dio la posibilidad de conocer el funcionamiento de los medios europeos. Muy especialmente, me dediqué a comparar el tratamiento de las noticias en los países de la Unión Europea. La radio y la TV de Argentina, no se parecen a ninguno de ellos. ¡¡Por desgracia!! Es prácticamente imposible encontrar en Europa, un canal de televisión que tenga el tema policial como noticia destacada, y que machaque todo el día con eso. Como mucho, un par de frases, al final de informativo. . . Fuente: http://www.agenciaelvigia.com.ar/anoticia239.htm (Via Yimber Gaviria, Colombia, DXLD) Complains that Arg TV news scares him with blood and gore, tabloid- driven, like in the USA, rather than real news as in Europe (gh, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. 2368.5, Radio Symban, Marrickville. Radio Symban press release. Back on air after a few technical adjustments on Dec 9th at 0500 UT. Going like a beauty!!!! not even on full power. Angelo and Con wish to thank the Dxing fraternity for the reports either via our email address or via Johno ARDXC. These have proved what we believed in, and said it couldn't be done ... around the world ... on 2368.5 kHz with far less than a kilowatt. Now to establish our audience. There will be a Greek & English mixture, with perhaps a DXprogramme? Well we wish you happy listening. Good Dxing. Angelo and Con at Radio Symban (via John Wright, ARDXC via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 9 via BCDX via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA [and non]. RE: Antenna --- For better reception I now use 200 feet of Flexweave wire that I string out along the wooden fence next to where I park at the beach and attach it by alligator clamp to the whip antenna of my Etón E1. The results so far have been impressive, with stronger signals being heard and lower noise (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 2368.5, Radio Symban. Last heard an open carrier here on Dec 4. Heard one again on Dec 13 at 1435. Still no audio, but think with slightly better conditions it might be possible for me to hear this one again with some audio (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. 2325, VL8T Tennant Creek, 0933-0948, Dec 11, English. W announcer mentioning "ABC News" & news re "coastal areas"; pop music at 0937; bit of talk at 0945 into George Michael "Faith"; ABC web promo & back to music; weak/poor listening in ECCS-USB; // 2485 Katherine-very poor (Scott R. Barbour Jr. Intervale, NH-USA, NRD-545, RX-350D, MLB1, 200' Beverages, 60m dipole, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) December Band Scan: 2310, VL8A Alice Springs NT, 0930-1030 2325, VL8T Tennant Creek NT, 0930-1030 2485, VL8K Katherine NT, 0930-1030 73s de (Bob [Robert Wilkner], Pompano Beach, Florida, Drake R 8, Icom, Sony 2010XA, noise reducing antenna, 60 meter band dipole, Dec 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. 7240, RA with Movietime, from Radio National, Dec 11 at 1425 with negative review of ``Nine``, and teaser for next week`s review of ``Bright Star``, a few words from Jane Campion. Show is scheduled Fridays 1405-1434 on RA, also 9590 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. RADIO AUSTRALIA CELEBRATES 70TH ANNIVERSARY This year marks the 70th anniversary of Radio Australia, the international radio and online service of the Australian national broadcaster, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. This December the septuagenarian broadcaster will celebrate 70 years of being at the forefront of covering news and current affairs, political and social change and key events in Asia and the Pacific. There will be festivities across the airwaves, along with contributions from listeners and partners around the world. Radio Australia has long been a client of WRN’s; who provides it not only with coverage on the WRN English networks for Europe and North America, but dedicated backhaul and satellite services. For further information on Radio Australia’s 70th anniversary please visit their website http://blogs.radioaustralia.net.au/70/ or tune in via WRN at http://www.wrn.org/listeners/#schedules (re:wired >News from WRN> December 2009, Dec 14, via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA [and non]. Re 9-084: CVC --- So indeed shortwave appears to be a done deal for Christian Vision. And yes, the governmental body that operated the Australian broadcasting transmitters at this time closed the Darwin/Cox site in 1997, following budget cuts for foreign broadcasting. It is also correct that in 2000 the site had been leased to Christian Vision for ten years, and probably (although not necessarily) they simply let the lease run out now instead of renewing it. Now the question is if Broadcast Australia or another operator will step in. It could happen, but I would not count on it. Concerning the transmission equipment: At present it consists of one of the original Collins transmitters from 1968 (three such rigs are still in use at Sackville, too) which can now be manually tuned only, requiring about 15 minutes. Otherwise there are three rather modern Thomson transmitters, two originally delivered to the Cox site in 1994, the third one moved in from Carnarvon after this site had been closed in 1996. Reportedly Christian Vision brought in two Continental 100 kW transmitters from somewhere, replacing the two other old Collins rigs. Perhaps they are not in use at all, or is there a time when more than four frequencies are on air simultaneously? Next question: How about CVC Spanish and the Calera de Tango transmitters? I would not count on Christian Vision keeping their shortwave activities in Chile either (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Dec 11, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BANGLADESH. Re 9-084: ``1000 KW DRM COMPATIBLE MW TRANSMITTER FORMALLY INAUGURATED AT BANGLADESH (Source? Via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, Dec 9, dxldyg via DXLD)`` Source : Bangladesh Betar News Bulletin ``WTFK? Who cares about such a minor detail. But the old one was on 693 kHz (Glenn Hauser, DXLD)`` Freq - 693 kHz, this is a replacement of old transmitter New Transmitter : Thomson S7HP TMW 21200 http://www.grassvalley.com/products/s7hp power o/p [?? gh] = output (Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, Dec 11, WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DX LISTENING DIGEST) NEW 1000 KW BANGLADESH TRANSMITTER INAUGURATED The Daily Star has an indirect piece on the new 1000 kW Bangladesh transmitter opened yesterday. http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=117166 The Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was talking to local people in a videoconference after inaugurating a newly installed 1000-kilowatt medium wave transmission centre of Bangladesh Betar here yesterday. She formally launched the transmission centre of the state-owned Bangladesh Betar by pressing a button at the Superpower Transmission Centre. 73 (via Dave Onley, Dec 10, MWC yg via DXLD) 1 Comment on “New 1000 kW mediumwave transmitter in Bangladesh” #1 ruud on Dec 14th, 2009 at 14:16 --- Bangla Desh being one of the poorest countries of the world, DRM in this part of the world is totally ridiculious, IMHO. So if I were BaDesh chief engineer I would block the DRM button. Fact is that you cannot buy high new powered AM transmitters without DRM option, and it is only for propaganda reasons the DRM club mentions this new TX. AM (analogue) is a very good distribution medium in Bangla Desh, it’s river delta, causing many problems for the population, has just one good feature, very high conductivity for AM signals (Media Network blog comment via WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DXLD) ** BANGLADESH. 4750, Bangladesh Betar, 1333, Dec 11. News in assume Bengali; IDs; 1350 subcontinent music; pips and off at 1400. Mixing with CNR-1. Sorry to see them end their extended schedule! (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELARUS. Due giorni fa ho lasciato in automatico la registrazione di parte di questa banda... e ho provato a fare una lista di roba extraeuropea o interessante che arrivava, spero sia gradita. ore 0000: 6010, Belaruskaje Radyjo 1, Brest - talk in Russian, suff (not off at 2200); 6070, after 0000 Belaruskaje Radyjo 1, Brest // 6010. Rx: rfspace sdr-iq - Ant: wellbrook ala1530s+ (Leonardo Bolli - Italy, AppuntiDx Radio Blog: http://appuntidx.blogspot.com Dec 14, playdx yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DXLD) ** BELARUS: 6155, Radio Station Belarus; 2215, 10-Dec; English ID & addresses, into music. SIO=443, QRN; not // 7360, if them, in Slavic language. 7360, Radio Station Belarus; 2117, 10-Dec; W in English with news? re Belarus to 2118 into pop music. SIO=3+52; // 6115 covered; only a het on 7390 (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 125 ft. bow-tie; 85 ft. RW & 180 ft. center-fed RW, WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BIAFRA [non]. Have been checking V. of Biafra International almost every Friday, since you never know when they will make a change without notice. This paid off Dec 11 at 1924: no signal audible on 15665, where they had been last several weeks. If WHRI were on the air, it ought at least to be detectable; WWCR 15825 was audible poorly, and if it`s in, so should be more powerful WHRI at a further, more favorable skip distance. VOBI home website has been updated with new look, except the page about schedule STILL shows long out-of-date info, 15280 at 20-21 UT! http://www.biafraland.com/vobi.htm It does however, have a new audio file for Dec 11. Possibly a new frequency would be mentioned therein sometime during the hour, but previously they gave up stating any SW frequency at all. If someone has time to monitor that, please let us know. WHR website, searching on VOBI under specific program criteria, is no better, still showing Fri 19-20 on Angel 1, 15665. But their frequency schedule for all six transmitters shows 15665 used by BOTH Angel 1 and Angel 5 during this hour! I also checked 15280, nothing; 17520, previously used, nothing; and 17690 where there was only something in French. Quick scan across the rest of 19 and 16 m did not find anything. Possibly they went to 25m which was briefly used last year, or switched the time, and I did not look for it after 2000 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. December Band Scan: 3309.98v, Radio Mosoj Chaski, Cochabamba, 0900, 0100 4409.86, Radio Eco, Reyes, 2310 4451.2, Radio Santa Ana, Santa Ana de Yacuma, 2312 on 7th December 4716.65, Radio Yura, Yura, 2300, 0930 4796.49, Radio Lipez, Uyuni, 2300, 1000 5580.2, Radio San José, San José de Chiquitos, 2330 5952, Pio XII, Siglo Veinte, 2340 73s de (Bob [Robert Wilkner], Pompano Beach, Florida, Drake R 8, Icom, Sony 2010XA, noise reducing antenna, 60 meter band dipole, Dec 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also BRAZIL, ECUADOR, HONDURAS, PERU ** BOLIVIA. 5952.47, 0015-0040 12.12, R Pio XII, Siglo XX, Spanish religious talk, music and choir, 14111, QRM 5950. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, on my AOR AR7030PLUS with a 28 metres longwire here in Skovlunde near the World Centrum of Copenhagen these days, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. December Band Scan: 4805, R Difusora do Amazonas, Manaus, 2300 4825, R Canção Nova, Cachoeira Paulista, São Paulo, 0006 4845.2, R Cultura Ondas Tropicais, Manaus, 0820 4985.0, R Brasil Central, Goiânia, 2330, 0820 5035, R Aparecida, Aparecida, SP 0130 5044.95, R Cultura do Pará, Belem, PA 73s de (Bob [Robert Wilkner], Pompano Beach, Florida, Drake R 8, Icom, Sony 2010XA, noise reducing antenna, 60 meter band dipole, Dec 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 5940, Brasil, R. Paz no Vale, Camboriu? December 10, Portuguese, 0816-0834, male talks hosting listeners by phone and music in program “Alvorada Sertaneja”, “Radio Paz no Vale, muito mais música para abençoar sua vida, a música que vem do céu!”. 33533 (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Embu SP Brasil - Sony ICF SW40 - dipole 18m, 32m, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) O nome da emissora em 5940 kHz --- Amigo Glenn, Hoje, passei parte da manhã monitorando a frequência de 5940 kHz, tentando descobrir o nome correto desta nova emissora. Depois de muito tempo eles se identificaram como: "Vocês ouvem a Rádio Voz Missionária, em Ondas Curtas, na Banda de 49 metros, frequência de 5940 kHz, transmissores de 10 kW, localizados em Camboriú, Santa Catarina." Um abraço, (Adalberto Marques de Azevedo, Barbacena - MG - Brasil, Membro do DX Clube do Brasil, Dec 11, WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DX LISTENING DIGEST) OK, but it looks like both names have been reliably monitored. Maybe part of the time they are relaying another station, or Peace in the Valley is the name of a program, or an alternate slogan (gh, DXLD) Colegas. Visitando o site da Radio Voz Missionária percebi que lá também existe um link para a Rádio Paz do Valle FM 105.9. Assim em determinados horários eles retransmitem a programação da Radio Paz do Valle FM 105.9 que faz parte do grupo e conseqüentemente é ouvido a ID dessa emissora. Isso me parece ser durante a madrugada e próximo o amanhecer. Nesse momento a escuto com o sinal bem fraco, mas em igualdade com a transmissão da Radio Voz Missionária pelo seu site http://www.gideoes.com.br/index.php/GMUH/radio-voz-missionaria.html Também está em // o mesmo programa em 9665 khz. Essa informação confirma a que o colega Adalberto publicou ontem (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana Bahia - Brasil, Cumbre DX via DXLD) 5940.01, Radio Paz no Vale, 0000-0100, Dec 13, Portuguese religious programming with talk and music. Jingles. ID. Fair signal (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) Hello Brian, It's not totally certain but seems that the name of Brazilian station in 5940 is Voz Missionária; but they relay R. Paz no Valle (with 2 L). In the time I heard and logged 5940, around 0830 UT during past week, this relay was happening, so my log could be rectified: 5940, Brasil, R. Paz no Valle, Camboriu(?) via Voz Missionária. December 10, Portuguese, 0816-0834 male talks hosting listeners by phone and music in program “Alvorada Sertaneja”, “Radio Paz no Valle, muito mais música para abençoar sua vida, a música que vem do céu!”. 33533 (lob-B). But at the time you logged, I don't know if this relay was occurring too. I'm sorry. 73's (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, SP, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 6009.91, R. Inconfidência, 2250-2310, Dec 12, ID. Brazilian pops/ballads. Portuguese talk. Fair but weak adjacent channel splatter (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** BRAZIL. A Super Radio Deus é Amor em 9565 kHz continua a gerar fortes sinais espúrios em toda a faixa entre 9300 e 9480 kHz, como nesse momento pode-se ouvir aqui em Feira de Santana. A nossa ANATEL continua apenas a fazer olhos gordos para o PLC. 73 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana Bahia - Brasil, 1439 UT Dec 13, dxclubepr yg via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 11925, R. Bandeirantes, SP, Dec 14 at 0708 with 5:08 timecheck, report on Copenhagen demonstrations with constant music bed indicating they are not serious about purveying news; deep fades but fair peaks, even better than 11780 RNA with 25x the nominal power --- but the latter signal suffering due to desensitizing effect on the receiver by super-strong Cuba 11760 too close to it. WRTH 2010 shows 11925 as *inactive, certainly not the case as we and others have reported it frequently in the past months (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. Baixa propagação em todas as bandas do rádio durante a madrugada desse sábado inviabilizou as minhas escutas. Agora pela manhã a situação perdura. Todas as notas foram entre 1250-1307 UT. Nos 25 metros Baixo sinal da Bandeirantes em 11925 kHz. Moderado sinal da Rádio Gaúcha em 11915 kHz. Baixo sinal da R Aparecida em 11855 kHz. Moderado sinal da Rádio Brasil Central (que continua a gerar sinais espúrios em diversas partes da banda de 25 metros [please cite exact frequencies/ gh]). Moderado sinal da Rádio Nacional da Amazônia em 11780 kHz. Moderado sinal da Super Rádio Deus é Amor em 11765 kHz. Moderado sinal da Rádio Transmundial em 11735 kHz. Nos 31 metros a situação não é diferente. Em 11820 [sic --- must mean 9820] khz não há sinal da Rádio 9 de Julho. Baixo sinal da Rádio Gazeta em 9685 kHz. Moderado sinal da Rádio Canção Nova em 11675 [sic --- means 9675] kHz. Bom sinal da Rádio Bandeirantes em 9645 kHz. Baixo sinal, mas limpo sem ruídos e com a propagação estável, da Rádio Aparecida em 9630 kHz. Moderado sinal da Super Radio Deus é Amor em 9565 kHz. Moderado sinal da Rádio Record em 9505 kHz. Nos 49 metros Moderado sinal da Radio Itatiaia em 5970 khz. Um batimento de portadora não identificado que gera um forte apito juntamente com o sinal da Rádio Inconfidência em 6010 kHz, mas com baixa modulação, com esporádica melhora no sinal. Moderado sinal da Radio Aparecida em 6135 kHz. Por fim, baixo sinal da Rádio Nacional da Amazônia em 6185 kHz. O melhor período para se fazer escutas tenho observado ser entre 2000- 0000 UT; no restante do dia geralmente as bandas ficam em silêncio e há dias, como hoje, em esse silêncio perdura até as 1900 UT. Meu conselho: se tiver tempo arrume seu shack, faça uma manutenção de sua antena (caso necessário), limpe seu apaixonante rádio. Atualize a sua leitura DX. Isso se você não está com a patroa para solicitar você ir ao mercado, fazer isso ou aquilo, rsss (no meu caso eu estou só, ela está no trabalho, rsss). Claro que também há grande possibilidade você ir fazer outra coisa mais interessante, afinal a vida não é um PC a sua frente e um rádio ao seu lado, não é Jorge e Adalba, rssssssss. Um forte abraço (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana Bahia - Brasil, Dec 12, dxclubepr yg via DXLD) rsss+ == laughter, hi hi (gh) ** BRAZIL. WEBRADIO QSL for RADIO-LEGAL Radio Legal is not only a radio by the blind for the blind, but for those who enjoy good music, information and entertainment. It has a new schedule every Monday, available on the Internet at: http://www.radiolegal.org/ and devotes a special space for programs for DXers, hobbyists and amateurs. Its cause is social inclusion! Information on how the listeners of Radio Legal should proceed to obtain the first-QSL WEBRADIO in the world: 1. They should listen to the programming of Radio Legal, next week, from 21 to 27 December 2009, the program Propagating Waves Radio. 2. Send REPORT OF RADIO LISTENING INTERNET, model as follows: REPORT OF RADIO LISTENING FOR INTERNET Date of listening: Time listening to UTC: Site: http://www.radiolegal.org/ Radio: Radio Legal Country: Brazil City: Florianópolis State: Santa Catarina Programming of the week date: 21 to December 27, 2009 Program heard: Propagating Waves Radio Details of listening: Audio Program used: Connection KB / s: Conditions for reception note 1 to 5: Name WEBRADIOESCUTA: Address: City State: Country: E-mail: Comments: I look forward to sending WEBRADIO-QSL confirming my listening. Powered by: Ulysses Galletti (19/10/2009) 3. THE REPORT OF RADIO LISTENING BY E - MAIL should be sent to ulyssesgalletti @ radiolegal.org if the program is heard. 4. The listener who sends the first e-mail report, will receive the QSL-WEBRADIO No. 01. The first ten reports received get the special WEBRADIO-QSLs, colorfully printed on special paper with the signatures of all the technical staff of Radio Legal, numbered from 01 to 10, which will be [p-]mailed. For the other reports the WEBRADIO-QSLs will be sent by e-mail. Do not miss this opportunity to have in your collection of cards the first, or one of the first-WEBRADIO QSL in the world. Remember the program Propagating Waves Radio, the subject of listening next week, will present the play, the first radio program in history, the first instance of radio broadcasting. Do not fail to listen and get ready to record. In advance thank you for attention, counting on the participation of all (Ulysses Galletti E-mail: ulyssesgalletti @ radiolegal.org Dec 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST; machine translation improved by gh) ** BURKINA FASO. 5030, Radio Burkina, 2340-2400*, Dec 10, local tribal music. Afro-pop music. Vernacular talk. Sign off with National Anthem. Weak. Poor (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) 5030.000, R. Burkina, 1812, general French conversation between a man and a woman, very good and all alone on frequency (co-channel with China earlier). 11 Dec (David Sharp, NSW Australia, FT-950/ NRD-535D/ etc., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BURMA [non]. Venerdì 4 dicembre 2009, 1500 - 17495 kHz, DEMOCRATIC VOICE OF BURMA, Talata Volondry (Madagascar), Burmese, tk OM. Segnale insufficiente-buono. Al s/on delle 1430 c'era solo una portante muta che è durata per molti minuti (Luca Botto Fiora, G.C. 09E13 - 44N21, Rapallo (Genova), Italia, bclnews.it yg via DXLD) ** CAMEROON. 6005.017, CRTV-Buea, 1650, French, general talk by a man, no ID but at least one mention of "Yaoundé." Carrier off at 1702. Usually impossible here, with jamming on low side (+/- 6003) and an Arabic station (Yemen?) cochannel. Presume this is the old 4-kW transmitter? 11 Dec (David Sharp, NSW Australia, FT-950/ NRD-535D/ etc., dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Great catch, previously only reported from neighboring Nigeria (gh, ibid.) ** CANADA. Rádio Canadá transmissão initerrupta português --- Prezados amigos rádioescutas e dexistas, Hoje fiquei surpreso ao escutar o programa Canadá Direto em portugues: escutei o programa das 2000 UT às 2030 na freqüênçia de 15305 kHz neste domingo, só que a programação repetiu das 2030 às 2100, e assim por diante e já são 2230 UT e continua a transmissão do Canadá Direto em português para o BRASIL com programas de meia hora com retransmissão do mesmo programa initerruptamente e na mesma freqüência. Consultei o site da emissora e vi a grade de frequençias e lá está, das 2000 às 2030 UT para o BRASIL. Não consta este tipo de repetição na mesma freqüência e no mesmo dia; achei no mínimo curioso o sinal da rádio. Para mim é muinto bom. 73, boas escutas, bons dx a todos os amigos (Paulo Michelom, Brasil, Dec 13, radioescutas yg via DXLD) RCI played the same half-hour Portuguese program over and over from 2000 past 2230, not as per own schedule, he says. However, RCI is indeed registered straight thru 2000-2300, 250 kW, 163 degrees in Portuguese. I know they were doing some repeats, but 6 in a row? Was there supposed to be more original programming within the block? (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. CJEU-1670 is on --- CJEU in Gatineau QC (a.k.a. 'Radio Enfant') has finally made an appearance on 1670 today, testing with continuous music (mostly in French, and mostly sung by kids). No IDs or announcements heard so far. Monster signal here (transmitter is only 11 miles away, sigh) - a new one for the log that I'd rather not have! (Barry McLarnon, VE3JF, Ottawa, ON, 2125 UT Dec 10, IRCA via WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DXLD) 1670, CJEU (Radio Enfant), Gatineau, QUE, Dec/10/09, 1752 EST, FF, EXC. On Air TESTING at 1752 Tune In. Instrumental Piano Music. Sounded like being played by Kids!! Kids Singing Christmas Songs in FRENCH. ID at 1755 in French by a Child as "ICI RADIO ENFANT". More Kids singing in French and Children playing along on a Piano. Another ID at 1759 as "Ici Radio Enfant". Rooster Crowing and Barnyard Animal Noises at 1800 EST. (Kinda Reminded me of the RADIO BOTSWANA Interval Signal on Shortwave from years ago!!!) Thanks to tip from BARRY MCLARNON in OTTAWA!! NEW STN ULR # 766 1 KW (David ROSS, ONT., ODXA yg via DXLD) I am hearing bits and pieces of music with children singing, fading in and out, mixing with a talk station (WTDY?) and a semi-local TIS from nearby Wyandotte. I assume that's CJEU with the children's music. The music kind of sounds reminiscent of the defunct children's radio network here, Radio AAHS, which ceased broadcasting on 1 February 1998 (Eric Berger, MI? 0013 UT Dec 11, ABDX via DXLD) It's in here on the western [sic] beverage at quite surprising strength considering it's supposed to be 1 KW. Just kids music and speech in French. No ID's yet (Mike Stonebridge in St Isidore, AB, 0139 UT Dec 11, IRCA via DXLD) CJEU-1670 noted fighting off WTDY (and winning) with non-stop French Chansons de Noël/Christmas songs. As for the calls, "Jeu" is French for game. 73 (Mike Brooker, Toronto, ON, 0136 UT 11 Dec , ibid.) "Jeu" is also the first three letters in "jeune" ("young") and "jeunesse" ("youth"), which is what I would guess the "jeu" in the call stands for, given the station's branding as "radio enfant" (Greg Shoom, Toronto, Ontario, NRC-AM via DXLD) I suspect that I have them at 0252:30 with Oh come all Ye Faithful, cochannel several others. Maybe? (Walt in Victoria, BC, Salmaniw, IRCA via DXLD) Yes, 1 kW day and night. They're using an 85' Valcom whip antenna over a good ground system. For those who like to look at spectrum displays, the carrier frequency is 1670.0018 (Barry McLarnon, VE3JF, Ottawa, ON, 0315 UT 11 Dec., WORLD OF RADIO 1491, ibid.) 1670, CJEU (presumed), Ottawa ON has little kids singing and playing Xmas music in French & English (Oh Xmas Tree & Hark the Herald Angels). The instrumentals came from what sounded like a (rather bad!) middle school band. I heard no definite ID or anything other than format to pin this down, but all I can say is this is weird stuff! At 0427 they had a kids vocal; is this going to be Radio Disney for the Francophone set? SIO 333 with lots of co-channel mixing -- LSB made it better. 0429 Must be Santa in English (but still with kids singing) 0420-0435 11/Dec (Kenneth Vito Zichi, MI, MARE Tipsheet Dec 11 via DXLD) Yes - nice signal for 1000 watts and an 85 foot "tower". Here is their website: http://radioenfant.ca/ A tiny bit of it is in English. Most is in français (Phil Rafuse, PEI, ABDX via DXLD) I don't understand French, but from looking at the photo album (they have a small album with their tx, tower, etc. posted), it looks like it's going to be very similar to our former Radio AAHS here, only it looks to me like this is actually going to be done by children, for children. Although AAHS did have some child commentators during the morning and afternoon hours, now that I think of it; seems like WCAR (1090 Livonia, MI) was about to recruit a local Radio AAHS Air Force when it was announced the network was pulling the plug. A lot of the photos on the Radio Enfant Website have either children or teens at the mic! (Eric Berger, ibid.) I did hear some English when the kids sang John Lennon's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)". I don't suppose they'll be singing Lennon's "Cold Turkey" or "How Do You Sleep?". Very strong in Toronto. So much for me ever hearing KHPY or KNRO (Niel Wolfish, Dec 11, ibid.) DXing them gets old fast at this QTH! The long delay in activating their transmitter lulled me into thinking that maybe they'd cancelled their AM plans, and were instead looking into squeezing in an FM somewhere in that band. Drat, no such luck, and now I wish I'd spent more time on 1670. Never did get KNRO, and though I did get 4 new TIS catches on 1670 in 2008-09, I'm sure there were more to be gotten. Oh well; time to focus on 1350, before that new station shows up in my backyard! But, in addition to all those munged by IBOC, I now have one less channel to DX. :-( (Barry McLarnon, VE3JF, Ottawa, ON, ibid.) I was just hearing KNRO-1670 yesterday; no sign of CJEU. At least Mr Winklejohn`s Talking House transmitter has not come back yet on 1670 from another plot of real estate. His advertising now is going into KXOK-32 LP, + DTV RF 31 (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) After all their false starts, they finally activated their transmitter, but for how long? That station story is almost enough to make one writing a book or a movie about them. Don't ask me why, but I was up very early Wednesday morning and I caught some Sesame Street style "morning exercise" show very clear on 1670. It was in English (possibly used as an ESL course too). Not Disney, but their ID seems to be now confirmed (Jeff, Mtl area, ABDX via DXLD) 1670, CJEU, Montreal [sic] QC. Les Enfants, IDs and lots of kids singing. Some good peaks. *Personal First* Good, 0515 11/12. Good DX! (John Faulkner, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, England, UK, Perseus SDR & flag aerial, MWC yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DXLD) Report from Burnt River ON --- 1670 Ottawa is obviously testing, as had mostly an open carrier. Interestingly, had French with Haitian accent underneath, audible even with Ottawa doing music. I've had a Boston-area pirate there before (Saul Chernos, Burnt River ON, 0210 UT Dec 13, amfmtvdx at qth.net via DXLD) Hi, CJEU-1670 was heard in this country this morning (Dec 13) around 0630 UT by Jiri Kaplan. It seems a regular operation started a few days ago (?), planned on-the-air 2009/2010. Heard also by Italian DXers in Oct 2008, probably while testing (licensed for 1670 kHz since 2007). Children programming in French (Karel Honzik, CZECHIA, MWC yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DXLD) ** CHINA. Firedrake Dec 10 at 1353: 8400 poor with flutter, nothing audible on 9000, 10210 or 11300. Firedrake Dec 12 at 1435: not audible on any of: 8400, 9000, 10210, 11300. Yet CRI English from Chinese sites was doing well on 9460, 9700, 9790 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Firedrake on 5930, along also weak CNR-1 echo jamming, against VOA; scheduled from 1500 to 1530; in Uzbek. Noted here at 1519, Dec 12. As Glenn also noted today, there was a complete absence of Firedrake on their usual SoH frequencies, hence 5930 was the only Firedrake heard. Was SoH really not broadcasting today? Firedrake (FD). Both Glenn and I often check for FD, the Chinese music jamming used primarily against Sound of Hope (SoH) frequencies. We usually check from about 1300 to 1500. The results recently have been rather sparse, to not being heard at all. Believe this is because SoH has made a change in their scheduling. Seems they now favor broadcasting to China in their early morning, as I found an over abundance of FD on Dec 14, with a scan from 0033 to 0057. Heard in //: 7530 (new), 8400, 9000, 11300, 12720 (new [ex: 12700?]), 13970, 14780, 15140, 17470 and 17970, almost all of which had fair to good reception. Also heard a weak FD not in // on 14970 (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) CHINA/SAIPAN/TAIWAN/TINIAN, 7385, RFA from Taiwan. Came across Firedrake jamming music again against RFA Mandarin Chinese in 1800- 2000 UT slot Dec 14th. Noted Firedrake also on \\ Tinian channels 5810 5990 6095 7445(-1900), and on RFA Palau relay 9875. But no firedrake music noted on Tinian outlets 11790 and 11945 kHz here in Europe; this could be due to no propagation from Chinese jamming transmitter site towards central Europe in 25 mb around deep nighttime 1900 UT (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Firedrake Dec 14 at 1422: very poor on 8400 with heavy flutter; inaudible on 9000, 10210, 11300. Ron Howard in California thinx Sound of Hope has changed schedule to emphasize local morning broadcasts, when he hears lots of FD on several frequencies. Firedrake Dec 15 at 1448: 8400 fair, 9000 JBA, 10210 none, 11300 good steady at S9+10 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. 4940, Voice of Strait, 1500-1530, Dec 13 (Sunday). Starts with “This is the Voice of Taiwan Strait”, but otherwise IDs as “This is the Voice of Strait”; program “Focus on China”; news items: the Xinjiang troupe giving singing and dancing performances in Australia and will also go on to New Zealand; telling about the last Chinese eunuch; etc. Today AIR almost as strong as the VoS (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7220, CRI. Aoki shows “CRI b09 off Oct. 27-Dec”. 1515, Dec 10 heard very strong open carrier (no audio) and a few test tones till off at 1553. Dec 11, 1542-1554* in Japanese; strong signal (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [non]. RUSSIAN FEDERATION, 7215. CRI, Samara, at 2055 in French, Dec. 12. Long songs in Chinese. One went two minutes past the top of the hour, before ID by OM/YL in French and back to the vocals. Good signal, but Chinese clearly audible underneath. Chicoms on chicoms? (Grundig G3 w/ Sony AN-LP1, Louisville, KY, Mike Bryant, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, a bit of a pileup on this frequency, registered: 1955-2400 CNR via SZG site in China, 100 kW, 37 degrees in Chinese 2000-2200 CRI via Cerrik, Albania, 150 kW, 140 degrees in Arabic 2030-2130 CRI via Samara, Russia, 500 kW, 284 degrees But if ChiComs want to collide with ChiComs, OK with us (gh, DXLD) ** CONGO. 6115.007, RTVC Brazzaville, 1821, French, usual news magazine program with occasional "Radio-Congo" ID's. Poor at best, but all alone on frequency. 11 Dec (David Sharp, NSW Australia, FT-950/ NRD-535D/ etc., dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CONGO DR. 5066.403, Radio Candip, TENTATIVE, 1620, presumed with French talk by a man, brief Afro music bridge, carrier cut at 1628. Threshold signal, with CW QRM. 11 Dec (David Sharp, NSW Australia, FT- 950/ NRD-535D/ etc., dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA. 2859.82, Radio San Carlos, 0115-0211*, Dec 11, 2nd harmonic of 1430v. Spanish pop music. Spanish talk. Inspirational Spanish music. Abrupt sign off. A regular lately. Fair signal with occasional peaks up to a good level (Brian Alexander, PA, WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DX Listening Digest) another 2860: see ARGENTINA ** CUBA [and non]. What's in a call sign? When a socialist government controls broadcasting, there is no need for brand identification. There are likely no ratings wars between Radio Reloj and the other Cuban networks and indies. Why some Cubans give call signs and others don't probably has to do with the local station management, not government policy. One of those subtle differences between their system and ours. OTOH, it's getting harder to obtain valid IDs from U.S. stations. I have one nearby in Florida that consistently IDs as its sister station on another frequency. Nowadays, the bulk of American English-language stations identify with a national demographic: Fox, CNN, ESPN, etc. Do you want fries with that? Spanish-language stations, at least those I hear on the East Coast, are far more diverse, and more likely to have independently produced programming. As the major networks are all available online, with no fading or interference, their radio stations are only placeholders, keeping the tubes warm until the next generation finally takes over. ¿Usted entiende? 73, (Jaime, KR1S, Kearman, FL, Dec 13, ABDX via DXLD) In my opinion Jim is absolutely right. A year or so ago I was listening to the 590 signal from Havana (that was when I was living in the Tampa area where daytime reception of several big "CM" stations was possible). There was a spoken reference to the CMQ network "cadena say-emmay-koo"; of course the CMQ known to DXers is on 640. This could have been a temporary lash-up, but the DXer could easily hear something like that with out knowing the details, and assume it was a permanent condition. And during the 2007 26th July celebration heard on 640 there was a reference to programming coming from, I believe (from memory, no notes taken) CMBF. I thought then that CMBF referred to a network feed and not a station. So I would not be very concerned about what call letters might have been heard. Sort of like watching WEDU on channel 3 and the slide at the end of the show says "WGBH" or "KQED" which is not unusual. On the other hand the 1540 in Sagua and, when I heard them from a ship, the 740 on the eastern end of the island, used unique call letters. 73 (Bob Foxworth, ibid.) In a sense both of you are right, however, the treaties that were signed long ago, they require call signs (Kevin Redding, TN, ibid.) "Long ago" you found Cuban stations that respected their treaty obligations and used their call signs properly. My one Cuban verification, from 1961 was from station CMKR on 1090 in Oriente, a member of the "Red Provincial de Radio". That was their real call assignment, which appeared in logbooks of that era. 1961 was the time era when the disappearing private networks and stations was well underway. A place that I think Venezuela is maybe two years away from, since the thug in command there seems intent on emulating the Castro model. That letter from CMKR was sent to me by registered mail (at their expense) presumably to ensure I would get it. I spoke to a young lady in a local bank last year who was of Cuban background, I came back with that letter, and the postcards they had sent me of the Oriente mountains, and I think seeing it brought small tears to her eyes... My belief is that, today, the Cubans for the most part respect the frequency tolerance assignments because it is in their self-interest to do so (signal quality in their service area) but otherwise just follow the parts they care about and disregard the rest, such as use of call letters. The consolidation of all the small independents into a handful of anonymous networks made using them unnecessary, as Jim said. If they cared about treaties, why did they jump the 1010 Reloj up to 1020 with no notice when Turks started briefly relaying Martí a couple of years ago? 73 (Bob Foxworth, FL?, ibid.) ITU Article 19 refers to "identification signals" or "identifying signals," not specifically call signs. http://www.itu.int/ITU-R/index.asp?category=terrestrial&rlink=identifications%E2%8C%A9=en&display=paper (The relevant Articles are in Section I and Section IV.) It may be that Cuba feels "Radio Reloj" or some other network indication meets the criterion. 73, (Jim, KR1S, Kearman, FL, ibid.) It seems that call signs are becoming history in most of Latin America; they are not heard much on the air any more. I remember Spain had call signs and maybe still have according to the law, but they haven't been used on the air or anywhere for a couple of decades. Mexico, Puerto Rico and some others use them actively, but for other Latin American countries, DXers might concentrate more on station names and not calls. But I suppose it is not easy to get used to this in North America, where calls *are* the station name! Best regards, (Mauno Ritola, Finland, ibid.) ** CUBA. 530, CM??, CUBA, Havana assumed, Nov 28+++, 0300; rarely reported, yet frequently heard here, VG signal. Throughout November & December, have noted YL with EZ music, many US pop tune instrumentals, usually heard well from 0000 to 0400 UT. Signal is not from the 530 Canadian outlet with foreign language programming (and direction 90 degrees from the Cuban signal.) Information appreciated. Call? Location? Oddly enough, I have not seen this one mentioned in any Bogdan Chiochiu Pan-Am reports. Only other mentions were Glenn Hauser's DX Listening Digest June 6, 2005 in a drive by; and mention in Crystal Radio contest from at least two years ago. There, something so rare, it's official, a log of this station (Konnie Rychalsky, Connecticut Dec 15, 2009, DX LISTENING DIGEST) It is Radio Enciclopedia, Habana, reported numerous times in DXLD. Try searching under that name. Network callsign is CMBQ. It is on 530 to jam Radio Martí, which is no longer on 530. 73, (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) ** CUBA. 11760, RHC at 2123 Dec 11 had ``Ed Newman`` in English, while all the other 25m frequencies were in Spanish, so at least half the English hour at 2030 was on the air today. RHC Dec 12 at 0613: 6140 in English this time, but very low modulation; at first just open carrier. Saturday Dec 12 at 1431, nothing but heavy noise/pulse jamming audible on 9955, when WORLD OF RADIO is allegedly scheduled on WRMI. Please direct complaints to coro@enet.cu Ask him why they jam non-exile programs in English instead of spending that expense on easing food shortages, etc. among the long-suffering dentroCuban people. RHC Spanish on multiple 22mb frequencies, not all of them intentional, Dec 12 at 1442: 13680, 13710, 13720, 13770, 13780, 13880; plus the CRI English relay on 13740. The odd one is weak 13720 which is not a fundamental and does not compute as a leapfrog (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [and non]. My little remark two graphs above set off a flame war in the ODXA yg which I have pulled together here. Arnie Coro and everyone else gets to express their opinion about this in DXLD, even if it is totally off-base, and extremely critical of myself. I will not make the usual editorial correxions to Coro`s English or spelling. In order to avoid prolonging the FW, I am not replying there, but here and will clearly indicate what is said where. Here we go: (gh, DXLD) Who is going to stop Mister Hauser from launching personal attacks Posted by: "Prof. Arnaldo Coro Antich" inforhc@enet.cu Sat Dec 12, 2009 2:09 pm (PST) Dear amigos of the Ontario DX Association Dear Webmaster of the ODXA My understanding is that when someone launches personal attacks using an Internet e-mail list the person or persons in charge of the list may ban the offending person from using it. Today, once again Mister Glenn Hauser launched a personal attack on this list, providing my private e-mail address on the published text and inciting users of the ODXA list to send mail messages to that address. Many of Mister Hauser's comments about Cuba are of a purely political naturem have nothing to do with radio as those who have read the e- mail posted to this list may realize. If this is another step in Mister Hauser's personal war against me, I will certainly take adequate and timely actions , like this one , alerting the owners of the e-mail distribution lists where he is allowed to post his aggressive texts. Please reply through the same ODXA list, so that all the persons that are subscribed may know about this subject in full. Yours truly Arnaldo Coro Antich Host of Dxers Unlimited radio hobby program Radio Havana Cuba [gh replies in DXLD: how is that a `personal attack`? Are you not open to listener complaints? The e-mail address is hardly private as you have announced it on the air. You`ll notice that Coro does not deal with the issue of jamming, which is the whole point of the comment; instead it is he who is making personal attax] Why don't you just put him in your banned file, or make a message rule to not accept his messages. Then you don't have to bring it up in front of the group (Mel Robinson, Dec 12, ODXA yg via DXLD) Dear Mr. Coro: I have been an honest DXer since 1976, and after all these years of tit for tat hostilities towards each other, why do you continue to jam US based SW signals? I know your station is not a member of the HFCC or ITU. I do hope a halt is put to this hostility towards our gov't, and we as nations can resume diplomatic cooperation. Thanks. [gh replies in DXLD: that was from Noble West. He is hardly anonymous, altho his name is not in his e-mail address. His comment was a rather mild request to be nice, but Coro goes ballistic] Uncalled for actions against us Posted by: "Prof. Arnaldo Coro Antich" coro@enet.cu Sat Dec 12, 2009 6:27 pm (PST) Here are the results of Mister Hauser's use of the ODXA LIST!!! The author of the e-mail, that doesn't sign his name or address, it obviously ignorant of the fact that Cuba is a full member of the International Telecommunications Union. The same anonymous writer , obviously doesn't know that membership in the informal group HFCC is not mandatory... Any telecommunications administration may join or may not join the HFCC, and the transmissions on the international short wave broadcast bands assigned by the ITU can be registered directly to the ITU in Geneva , without any participation whatsoever on the HFCC group. Likewise, the anonymous writer should go to the proper academic sources and read about the ongoing radio war against Cuba, that began in 1960... Maybe he could benefit from the reading of the many books , research papers, ITU documents condemning the use of high flying aircraft to beam radio signals to Cuba , etc. etc. Obviously the " knowledge" of the anonymous writer covering his face from the " brainman214@ gmail.com " is non existent.... as those who are able to read this e-mail can realize... Signed Arnaldo Coro Antich Host of Dxers Unlimited radio hobby program Radio Havana Cuba [gh replies in DXLD: Yes, brainman was ignorant of Cuba being a member of ITU. We have been thru this before, and quoted in DXLD, Coro making the case that reporting frequency usage of RHC to ITU is sufficient. Yes, it`s true that participation in HFCC is voluntary. Nevertheless, Cuba`s refusal to do so results from its hostility to the outside world. Stations can help each other by cooperating, duh, to state the obvious. Even the ChiCom participate, and they are a much bigger jammer than Cuba. And of course, jamming transmissions are taboo in HFCC, which makes it rather a sham in those cases.] Please drop the talk about your disagreement with Glen Hauser. It belongs on a political form, not one for radio listeners. Thank You - Just a quiet reader of the ODXA site - FARMERIK [apparently sent directly to Coro and quoted by him, but not on the ODXA list?] So according to this other anonymous mailer .... Posted by: "Prof. Arnaldo Coro Antich" inforhc@enet.cu Sun Dec 13, 2009 4:19 am (PST) So according to this "farmerik" anonymous mailer... * read below the text of what he qualifies as a "disagreement with Glen Hauder" as quoted, even with Mister Hauser's name not written correctly... Mister Hauser can do whatever he wishes with your ODXA list and the person or persons attacked can not reply? Pretty odd way of looking at things ... " farmerik " errr..... real honest people have names and address, and don't hide behind an easy to obtain e-mail address NO.... I won't stop replying to attacks Arnaldo Coro Antich Host of Dxers Unlimited radio hobby program Radio Havana Cuba OMG! What's this have to do with SHORTWAVE LISTENING? SHORTWAVE DXing? RADIO? Take out to the flag pole and duke it out. Good bye. ZR (zenithradio, ODXA yg via DXLD) [gh replies in DXLD: ??? Your head must be in the sand. JAMMING has EVERYTHING to do with SWLing, SWDXing and Radio] Hi amigos, Many of you know that I am not Cuban nor American, so why Arnaldo Coro uses jamming towards my DX program (Frecuencia Al Día) via WRMI everyday every week? Glenn Hauser is right, and you Arnaldo are a shame to the radio hobby community (Dino Bloise, Miami, FL USA, ODXA yg and DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glen Hauser has used this and other lists to make personal political attacks, and yet I never hear anyone raising a voice about his abuses. I'm incline to put HIM into my spam filter so that I don't have to listen to any of this right-wing dribble. Regards, (Chris Trask, Dec 13, ibid.) [gh replies in DXLD: right wing? Me?? Boy, have you not been paying attention. Trouble is the Cuban Commies have done their best to give socialism a bad name; more about that below] Mister Bloise on Radio Miami International... the CIA sponsored Posted by: "Prof. Arnaldo Coro Antich" inforhc@enet.cu Sun Dec 13, 2009 2:09 pm (PST) Dear amigos: WRMI is a station with an FCC license , that is in constant violation of the United States of America neutrality law, by broadcasting aggressive anti-Cuban programs on short wave frequencies. .. [ellipses always as written by Coro, who is punxuation-impaired; I am NOT omitting anything – gh] There are very well documented academic research examples of the aggressive content of the Radio Miami International programs. by the way, written not by Cuban , but my well known American university senior researchers, that have even testified before the US Congress. Let it be known, just in case, that Mister Bloise.... is not Cuban, and not an American...he is a US resident with all that implies or maybe he has applied - I don't know - for US full citizenship. ... Amigos that read this list... please read carefully the wording of his message to the list... The shame to the radio hobby are those who back the use of international broadcasting for attacking other nations, transmitting programs where full sets of instructions to implement sabotage actions against means of transportation and other similar contents are put on the air. To be associated with and support the operation of those shameful , dangerous and against peace broadcasts is something that no one with ethics will ever do. For your information, my understanding is that Senor, digo, I mean Mister Dino Bloise is a person born in the Dominican Republic, I mean Nacido en la Republica Dominicana, that resides in Florida , United States of America. As our Cuban National Hero Jose Marti said, attacks from those associated with the evil only show clearly who they are ... Also for your information, I have been writing, producing and hosting Dxers Unlimited, a Radio Havana Cuba's radio hobby program that is on the air twice weekly. I also do Breakthrough a science, technology and the environment program and have acted as a technical and engineering consultant for the station for many years. In my programs you would had never heard any aggressive or insulting contents , as I consider this to be non-ethical, and I feel in a capacity to discuss points of view with anyone face to face at anytime in a civilized way,, without insulting or launching attacks. As someone just wrote here on this list a short time ago, Mister Glenn Hauser is a person constantly producing political attacks to many nations and individual persons,on the many outlets that he has managed to gain access for many years. I don't believe in the everlasting properties of Tetrafluoroethylene ... AKA " Teflon " Dupont's trademark ... because it will eventually burn up into flames, and by the way the smoke it produces is very dangerous to health ! Signed Arnaldo Coro Antich Host of Dxers Unlimited Radio Havana Cuba radio hobby program NOTE: FYI , Mister Hauser has also sent the same message instigating attacks against my person on several other Internet e-mail radio hobby lists... in what is obviously an all out war. So far, I have only replied on the ODXA list because my understanding is that most of the Dxers that read the other lists are also subscribers to this one, and it is not my intention to do the same as Mister Hauser. [gh replies in DXLD: Coro has a ``friendly façade`` on the air, but he is showing his true colors, by justifying jamming; guilt by association just for being on WRMI where only a very small percentage of airtime goes to Cuban exile broadcasters, who are also entitled to their freedom of speech, lacking inside Cuba] While we had a little flare up of the Cold War today on this message board, it still doesn't beat hours of Radio Tirana, Radio Moscow, Radio Peking, original RFE / RL broadcasts, and the creepy "Radio Peace and Progress" (Sean, ODXA yg via DXLD) Childish Behaviour Posted by: "Mark the Dark" Sun Dec 13, 2009 2:23 pm (PST) I am sick to my stomach having to step in between cat-fights between certain individuals whether to keep the peace or reign, one, or more, people in. It's a completely thankless job being a moderator of this group. It's one thing having to decide who can join or not, then I have to approve messages that are automatically, for one reason or another, have been classified as spam. Just this weekend I banned a member who, not only spread personal advertising on this yahoogroup but was also bombarding my personal e-mail. Previously, I have only banned one other member - so you know where I am coming from. I believe in free speech - obviously, some do not. If Arnie Coro and Glenn Hauser cannot agree to disagree and stop hurling insults at each other, along with the chorus of supporters of both sides adding their misguided two cents worth, then perhaps we should ban both sides. But I won't do that as I would be over-ruled, at least on one side, by one of the co-moderators who we seldom hear from, but would side on one particular side - I won't say who. By the way, the previous time I had to resort to this type of a message I used "Reading the Riot Act" as a message header which, instantly, got one of the parties' back up despite what the message ended up being. If the parties, along with their supporters, do not clean their act up then I will resign as a co-moderator and leave the fight to keep this a news, hints, and info sharing group to the other two moderators. (Mark Coady, ODXA yg via DXLD) [gh replied privately to Mark, not on the ODXA yg: Mark, First of all, I am writing this before reading all the latest items (if any) in this thread. Some of them have come directly to me. I am truly sorry that this is making you sick. That was certainly not my intention. My reports are widely published, and this is the only place where there seems to be a problem, perhaps because that is the one where AC chooses to reply (or can reply). The issue is not childish behavior between me and him. The issue is JAMMING. It`s incredible that some opiners think that is not relevant to SW or DXing. Or that a moderator could be neutral about it. You`ll note that AC does not address the issue, because it is indefensible. Oh, he already tried to justify it recently. (``What would you do??``) I certainly don`t want anyone to be banned. Having some kind of contact is better than none at all. However, I can certainly do my replying about this in DXLD or elsewhere if that will relieve you. 73, Glenn] Put them both on moderation. If there posts do not reflect what this group is about, then deny that post, if it is about what this group is about then allow that post. Most members are sick of both of them too (Mel Robinson, ODXA yg via DXLD) Remove me from your list and leave if for Mister Hauser to launc Posted by: "Prof. Arnaldo Coro Antich" coro@enet.cu Sun Dec 13, 2009 2:36 pm (PST) Senor Mark Coady: Having read your comments , in your capacity of co- moderator of the ODXA Yahoo Group, it is obvious to me that the best thing to do is to unsubscribe for the list, because you have focused your analysis in a totally wrong way, totally biased in favor of the attacker, in favor of the evil person that started the attacks not only on your YAHOO group list , but also in several other lists.. I am not interested in starting a discussion with you also... which will be a way of loosing time that may be used to generate much more beneficial contents that can be made available via many other means to radio hobby fans around the world Si Senor Coady... if you can decide by yourself to do it, doremove me from your list, and by doing so show everyone the way you are actually sponsoring the use of your ODXA list to launch personal attacks by backing Mister Hauser's shameful behavior... Don't expect any more messages from me, as this is now a closed topic. Signed Arnaldo Coro Antich Host of Dxers Unlimited radio hobby program Radio Havana Cuba Arnie, you have totally missed the point. By the way, you have to unsubscribe yourself which means I will beat you to the punch and unsubscribe myself as I don't need this kind of bs (Mark, former co- moderator, Coady, ODXA yg via DXLD) Ummm... So Mark, how's your weekend going :-) One of the most recent messages was cc'ed to me. I'd just like to point out that I look after the website (Shameless plug: http://www.odxa.on.ca ) and am NOT a moderator of the yahoo group. I am however an owner/moderator of other yahoo groups. (No shameless plugs at this time) Mark, I feel your pain, it`s no fun sometimes being a moderator. And hey if we do get the whole Cuba-US thing sorted out tonight, let`s do lunch on Tuesday and settle the Middle East. :-) On the bright side, lots of publicity for Radio Habana Cuba, WRMI, DXers Unlimited and World of Radio. And the ODXA yahoo group is active. That`s my positive spin for the day (Fred Waterer, ibid.) Childish Behaviour --- I agree. Last time I saw the word DX, I didn't see "politics" in there. Glenn is right that Cuba is blocking U.S radio stations with content pushed from Office of Cuba Broadcasting, which are aimed at Cuba. One of which airs his show. Arnie is right in that the U.S have been broadcasting directly to Cuba for decades, even physically broadcasting over Cuban airspace at its height. Arnie does a great job on RHC, and Glenn does a great job on World of Radio. However, the cold war peaked in the 60's and it's time to let it go. Cuba is crumbling away, literally, and sooner or later will need some sort of aid if it is to continue as a sovereign nation in any form. Do we really need to be reminded of the seemingly endless propaganda war between both countries every few days by Mr Hauser? Glenn, we all know Cuba blocks radio transmissions. We don't need to be told it every few minutes. Professor Antich, you also don't need to remind us that we have been broadcasting transmissions to Cuba since the 60's the way in which we have. We know that too (Darryl Jones, Dec 14, ODXA yg via DXLD) [gh replies in DXLD: sorry, we do need to be kept reminded. It does not have to be this way. One of the points I try to make is that Cuba could jam truly exile broadcasts and ONLY exile broadcasts; yet they do much more than that, bleeding over into adjacent frequencies, plus spurs, running far beyond the necessary hours, etc. My logs document this. Someone needs to do it. Note: WRMI is a PRIVATE station, selling time to individual broadcasters, as any such station is entitled to do. It is NOT associated with the OCB/Radio Martí, or the CIA, tho Coro will never believe that. As for various exile groups, who knows who is behind them? But they certainly are not well-funded, these days. BTW, I am not being disrespectful by calling him just ``Coro`` as that`s what his associates call him in Spanish, in Cuba] And, Fred and the long-suffering Mark, there's nothing like a good old-fashioned flame war to bring the rest of us together at what is still a nice time of the year with reminiscences of what this hobby really means to us all -- which has little (or nothing) to do with politics. Happy holidays, all, and good DX in 2010 -- hell, I'll settle for propagation! --de (Anne Fanelli WI2G in Elma NY, ODXA yg via DXLD) I echo Darryl's words completely. And if I may add that I also believe that if it was left up to the vast majority of CITIZENS of those two countries this entire topic would have been reduced to nothing more than history decades ago. If the CITIZENS of these countries would/could openly take it to their OWN leaders internally, perhaps we'd all be celebrating reform and harmony. It will not get settled in this forum unless the parties on both sides agree to form a common front against those desperately clinging to the past and who vehemently oppose that very harmonization. And yes, they exist on both sides of the argument (Bob [Wylie?], Toronto, Canada, ibid.) Re: Mister Bloise on Radio Miami International... the CIA sponsored Listen, Mr. Coro! WRMI has the right by American law to broadcast programming into Cuba. The Cuban people should be allowed to hear America's side of the story, not be fleeced into learning of life here only through your government's mindless jamming! (Richard Clifford, ibid.) Re: Last message to the ODXA.... Posted by: "Prof. Arnaldo Coro Antich" coro@enet.cu Mon Dec 14, 2009 8:44 am (PST) It would be very interesting for you Mister Clifford, to read the transcripts of some of the WRMI Radio Miami programs aimed at my country. I am sure that you will immediately realize, if you know the United States of America laws, that those broadcasts are in violation of the US Neutrality Act. The United States of America is not at war with Cuba, there has not been a war declaration , so broadcasting those programs that promote sabotage actions and actually provide instructions on how to carry them on, is in clear violation of the US Neutrality Act. It is shameful that succesive US administrations have allowed this type of programming to be broadcast to Cuba Before sitting in front of your computer and writing down something... do some research and find out about what is really going on... Signed by Arnaldo Coro Antich Host of Dxers Unlimited radio hobby program Radio Havana Cuba [gh replies in DXLD: any `sabotage` transmissions are certainly an aberration, probably in the distant past by private Cuban exile programs. Cuba jams anything which might be the least bit critical of the DentroCuban government. Yet, RHC is highly critical of the USA and the US government. How come RHC has every right to broadcast to the USA in English and say whatever it likes, while VOA does not have the same right to broadcast unimpeded to Cuba in Spanish, huh? Huh?] Re: Last message to the ODXA.... From earlier messages I thought you'd already left, but since that's obviously not the case, how about posting a complete RHC transmission schedule before you leave? Thanks, df (Dan Ferguson, SC, ex-IBB, ODXA yg via DXLD) Re: Last message to the ODXA.... Holy Jebus! Will you knock it off already? What are you, five years old? Are you not conscious of the fact that those on this list have no interest in the war between you and Mr. Hauser (A. Warner, ibid.) Most of the US vs. Cuba antagonism results from hard-core conservative political factions within our country that remain annoyed that one of their admired right-wing dictators, meaning Batista, was overthrown. That open blunder in US foreign policy didn't end there, and the problems we've faced by committing similar faux pas shows that we learn little if anything from our own history. This grip that right-wing extremists have on our country went so far as to sabotage a variety of presidential candidates, including the attempt to retain their influence on the White House by having the inept Sarah Plain forced on McCain as the vice presidential candidate this last time around. So don't feel so bad, Arnie. At least you don't have these idiots running things in Havana (Chris Trask, ibid.) [gh replies in DXLD: my antagonism results not from being a hard-core conservative, which I am anything but; it results from CUBA JAMMING MY PROGRAM, and many other stations/programs which have nothing to do with Cuban exile broadcasts; this does not mean I approve of any jamming! The least they could do, and really to their own advantage, would be to restrict it to opposition broadcasts ONLY.] Could we please stop this now. I always thought shortwave had no political boundries what was it an old station once said, friendship through shortwave (Ron Trotto-WDX-4KWI, ibid.) I couldn't agree more, Ron. Shortwave radio should bring people together, not tear them apart (Richard Clifford, ibid.) I agree Ron, and Darryl earlier represented my thoughts exactly. Believe me I love a good political debate, but this is not the group for it. Go join an international relations or political group or have an email war between you, but keep the rest out of it. What is so difficult about this? (A. Warner, ibid.) [gh replies in DXLD: A. Warner, who never contributed anything to the ODXA yg that I can recall] The owner and moderators are responsible for keeping this list on track, obviously they`re acting irresponsible in letting this political thread continue. It goes against their own policy. As I have suggested before "Put them both on moderation. If their posts do not reflect what this group is about, then deny that post; if it is about what this group is about, then allow that post." This is not a hard thing to do. Why they allow it to continue and rile their own membership is beyond logic (Mel Robinson, ibid.) [gh replies in DXLD: Perhaps you have not noticed that the flamewar has been going on between Arnie and others. I have not said a word about this on the ODXA list since it started] I've done better than that. Glenn's last posting was a continuation of his political attacks on this and other lists, this time using an intentionally derogatory term "FueraCuban". At the same time, I have never known Arnie to initiate any political attacks on anyone anywhere. I've placed Glenn into my spam filter, and he will remain there. That's one more element of conservative extremism properly dealt with. Arnie is welcome in my email stream anytime (Chris Trask, AZ, ibid.) [gh replies: ha, Chris still thinx I am a right-wing extremist!! He also is all wet about ``FueraCuban``. I deliberately chose the absolutely neutral terms DentroCuban and FueraCuban merely to distinguish between the alienated faxions of Cubans within Cuba and Cubans outside Cuba. Chris was on the DXLD list. If that`s how he feels, I`ll have to make sure he is no longer. I am always bemused by people who can`t abide contrary opinions being expressed, the spice of life] They can attack one another till the cows come home that is not the problem. The problem is that we have to listen to it on a list that does not allow it. I could block them both too as anybody can but there is value in what they post when they don't post crap. I don't want to miss the value. I want the owner and moderators to do their job and weed out the stuff that does not belong here, I don't think that is too much to ask (Mel Robinson, ibid.) The jist of the problem is that by ignoring it the moderators/owners are in fact promoting it. I can get comparable "value" from other posters, and there are at least four DX lists to subscribe to. Filtering out Glenn permanently does little if any damage to the overall value of information available, but it most certainly improves my enjoyment as he is the one and only person who interjects any politics, extremist or otherwise into our hobby. If you were to pay close attention to the political finger-pointing that has taken place, you would get the impression that Arnie was the sole source of the problem we're facing. However, he has remained within the bounds of our hobby and has never, to my knowledge, ever initiated any form of political discourse or confrontation. He does, in fact, keep this as a hobby and doesn't abuse us or display any contempt for us by way of pontificating any political agenda (Chris Trask, ibid.) [gh replies in DXLD: SWBC is all about politics (and religion!), in case you haven`t noticed. Pretending it is not is nonsense. Therefore, we are entitled to review it in a critical political manner. There may be some sense to hams avoiding these topix, but the broadcasters certainly are not] come on guys lets change the subject its CHRISTMAS lets get along. I dont read glenns loggs or bullitins anyway (marshall cubitt, ibid.) Just a minute! You're going to allow Arnie to send you postings, but not Glenn? I want to hear both sides of the story, because Glenn's postings bring comprehensive reports of great radio stations from around the world. And besides, he's got a right to speak out, because WRMI's great programming (including Happy Station) is being jammed by the government. As soon as I get home tonight, I'm leaving the group. You should have put Arnie into your spam folder and let Glenn continue posting. This is getting out of hand and I don't [want] any more part of it! (Richard Clifford, ibid.) He does have a right to speak out but not here on a list whose policy does not support it. A lot of you are quick to leave this list; if this list was properly run that would not be an alternative. The owner and moderators should get there heads out of the sand and take their blinders off or this list will have no members (Mel Robinson, ibid.) I see. Well, I'll put Arnie in my spam list, since he's shooting off his Communist guff! Glenn, you're welcome on my email stream any time you want. Keep up the good fight, y'hear? (Richard Clifford, ibid.) Time to take "the good fight" somewhere else and away from our hobby (Chris Trask, ibid.) When I joined the hobby in the late 50s and early 60s, at the height of the cold war, SWLing was touted as a way of bridging the gap between peoples and bringing them closer together. It almost had a noble feel to it. When I had my ham license (K4AWA) in Jacksonville, FL, politics and religion were taboo on air topics. You just didn't talk about these issues as they were considered in poor taste. Unfortunately, more than the sunspots and international broadcasters have disappeared from the shortwaves today. It really is very sad what has happened in and to the hobby (Charlie Diamond, ibid.) [END of the ODXA flamewar thread here, but some more comments from gh in DXLD only:] I was not out to attack Arnie personally; it`s just that he is the most visible/audible English-speaking representative of Cuban government broadcasting and jamming. Quite clearly behind the friendly façade is a hardline revolutionary, and no doubt Communist Party member --- how could he not be, having so much overt responsibility for RHC operations, the government propaganda mouthpiece? (And covert involvement in jamming --- after all that is a SW transmitter network too.) Like Keith Perron has pointed out before, Arnie is still fighting the Cold War, and he sees the CIA under every bed (or radio station, broadcaster) that does not support Castro & Castro. Don`t fall for the line that anyone opposed to the 50+year Castro dictatorship must be, or must have been a Batista supporter. The fall of Batista was a good thing; just too bad that Castro betrayed his own revolution to turn it into a personality-cult absolute dictatorship, giving a socialism a bad name by forcefully imposing it with no democracy, civil liberties. It didn`t have to be like that! Axually, there are a number of things I like about Arnie and agree with him on --- radio being a wonderful hobby, interest in propagation, feel that DRM is not a good idea, for example. I respect his home-brewing ideas, altho I am not into that myself. I am a bit disappointed that in this flamewar a number of fellow DXers came out against me, or equated me with Coro. Not much sympathy for someone who is a victim of jamming, and even worse, jamming that is off-topic! Those ODXA guys ought to try putting themselves in my shoes, and ponder whether they would take it lying down if some hateful neighbor broadcast megawatts of noise to try to keep anyone from hearing a broadcast they were devoting their life to! Since Coro is taking this so personally, it`s a sign that my criticism is hitting home. He knows he is responsible, and has been backed into a corner about it, something new for him. It`s about time. Instead of the vicious personal attax against me emanating from Coro, I fantasized how a nicer, more reasonable Arnie would have responded: ``I`m very sorry your program is getting jammed. The trouble is, there is a Cuban government policy to jam WRMI since it carries Miami Mafia programs, and you really should not expect to escape collateral damage. This policy is way above my pay grade to change.`` or another fantasy reply: ``You produce a valuable program and have just as much right to be heard clearly as I have. I shall exert my influence to get the jamming reduced to the hours when it is really needed against opposition broadcasters in Spanish . . . [sic] and that would also make it more effective by concentrating efforts instead of scattering them.`` or another fantasy reply: ``Yeah, those guys at the Jamming Command are really lazy. They would rather turn the jammers on before they are needed and leave them on afterwards, or until whenever they get around to retuning them. Keeping track of the frequently changing WRMI program schedule is way beyond what they are prepared to do. All they know is that 9955 should be jammed as much as possible. For good measure they also jam other frequencies that are no longer used by any opposition, but what can I do? Once something is on the roster, it`s hard to get it off. After all, we can`t even keep track of our own schedule at RHC.`` or another fantasy reply: ``When you hear individual jamming pulses instead of our wall of noise, it`s probably one of rogue jamming operators who just cannot get enough of it, and won`t turn the transmitter completely off when it is not needed. You see, there is freedom of choice in Cuba.`` or another fantasy reply: ``I am really embarrassed that our jamming is affecting so many innocent bystanders. I am personally going to work on the transmitters to narrow their bandwidth, eliminate spurs, and also research the true schedules of the programs we really have to jam, no more than that.`` or another fantasy reply: ``You`re right, it just isn`t fair to jam your program while my program is not jammed. So I am going to ask the jammers to start jamming DXers Unlimited, at least part of the time.`` or another fantasy reply: ``Maybe you`re right --- 50 years of being alienated from the USA and much of the world is enough. I`m going to secretly devote myself to overthrowing the Castro government, but meanwhile I have to maintain a front as a loyal revolutionary by keeping the jamming running. I`ve had the privilege of visiting the USA and realize life is much better there; we just went down the wrong road and one day will be able to admit it.`` One more thing: ``FueraCubano`` is not an insult, but ``gusano`` certainly is: that`s what the DentroCubans call the FueraCubans, ``worms``; I used it once ironically. And it`s been too long since I have reiterated my parody lema: ``Cuba --- último territorio esclavo en América; Patria o suerte, ¡pensaremos!`` (Glenn Hauser, Dec 15-16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [and non]. Esperanto got lost from RHC, Sunday Dec 13 at 1503 when 11760 was in regular RHC Spanish instead, // 11690, 11730, 11800 about an award-winning woman artist (writer?) of some sort, Lucia María ---, and playing an archival interview with her from the early 90s. Might have started later, but could not keep listening. Rechecked at 0020 UT Monday Dec 14 when Esperanto is also on one version of RHC schedule, altho ambiguous whether UT Sunday or Monday, on 13790, and could hear it weakly and on fadeups verify it was indeed in Esperanto, with its peculiar intonation. see also VENEZUELA [non] 9955, WRMI jamming against, by DCJC seemed worse than ever, Dec 14 at 0702, not only the usual roar, but additional whiny noise mixed in for a different sound. Possibly ramped up by Arnie in retaliation for being confronted with the jamming issue? Without embargo, a bit of WRMI Spanish remained audible, same at 0708. What show is being jammed? Odds are it`s a preacher rather than a FueraCuban. The latest WRMI program grid we have, dated Nov 1, shows English UT Mondays at 0700 = 2 am EST, the Wire Light Infomercial, so something must have changed. Certain other days of the week it`s listed as a Radio Prague bonus but that too should be in English. See also CZECHIA [non]. RHC, Dec 14: Once again I have heard the Spanish DX program ``En Contacto`` at a secret unscheduled time, not mentioned by them or in José Bueno`s weekly publicity about the show on several romance- language DX lists: on 6150 and 6120, ending at 0651 UT Monday, so started at 0636. Before 0700, 6140 was in English but at 0710 it was in Spanish with music // and in synch with super-strong 11760, while 6150 and 6120 were synched with each other but not 11760/6140, an echo apart. 6010 was off, while 6060 remained on in English. DentroCuban Jamming Command against nothing, on 7365 pulsing away at 0623 Dec 15, managing to impede two adjacent frequencies in French: 7370 Romania and weaker 7360 Vatican. The only time jamming is `necessary` on 7365 is when R. Martí is using it, 0000-0500, but hey, close enough for Commie government work. Much heavier jamming on 7405 which R. Martí is axually using until 0700. But at 0705 check, no jamming at all on 7365 or 7405, instead concentrating on 6030 and 5980. A brief very strong open carrier and tone did appear on 7405 until 0706, Greenville testing? See also USA: WRMI; UNIDENTIFIED 15580. RHC, UT Dec 15 at 0704* tuned in 6010 just in time to hear English news being cut off the air abruptly four minutes late; continued on 6060, while 6140 in English before 0700 had switched to Spanish, along with 6120 and 6150. This appears to be the nominal pattern for what happens around 0700 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. Video del Aniversario 47 de ICRT (1:57) --- 24 mayo de 1962 con la ley 30 del concejo de ministro de Cuba anunciaba la creación del Instituto de Radiodifusión y en 1975 comenzara a llamarse Instituto Cubano de Radio y Television (ICRT). Verlo en: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhkyt1sj8qI 73 de (Yimber Gaviría, Colombia, Dec 13, DXLD) ** CUBA. CAMBIAN A PRESIDENTE DE INSTITUTO CUBANO DE RADIO Y TELEVISIÓN La Habana, 10 dic (PL) --- Cuba nombró como presidente del Instituto Cubano de Radio y Televisión (ICRT) a Danilo Sirio, en sustitución de Ernesto López, quien desempeñó el cargo por 11 años, anunció hoy un comunicado leído en el noticiero estelar. De acuerdo con la nota a López se le asignarán otras tareas luego que el Buró Político del Partido Comunista de Cuba acordó liberarlo de ese puesto. Sirio era vicepresidente del ICRT y tiene una larga trayectoria en el organismo. Fuente: Prensa Latina http://www.prensa-latina.cu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=145467&Itemid=1 (Via Yimber Gaviria, Colombia, DXLD) Más sobre el Instituto Cubano de Radio y Televisión (ICRT) . . . Portal de la radio cubana: http://www.radiocubana.cu ICRT http://www.tvcubana.icrt.cu/noticias/el-instituto-cubano-de-radio-y-television-icrt/ (Via Yimber Gaviría, Colombia, Dec 10, DXLD) ** CUBA [non]. 6030, DentroCuban jamming already underway at 2129 Dec 11, so is R. Martí starting earlier than 2200 now? Don`t think so; O, it`s not jamming, but DRM! --- sounds so much alike, but this extends from 6025 to 6035. Uplooked later, RRI Galbeni, Romania is in DRM at 2100-2130 in French to Europe. English at 2130 goes back to analog but I had already outtuned. 15330, R. Martí, Sat Dec 12 at 1457 after musical documentary show, 5 minutes of upbeat pascual greetings from FueraCubans to DentroCuban familiars. Not clear if these were individual Miami gusanos, or just workers at OCB; 1502 on to Resumen Semanal. Heavy jamming but big enough RM signal to copy easily. Can`t be too careful: some instruxions on blowing up bridges might be included, Arnie fears (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [and non]. Here is a very detailed story of the intrigue which led to the demise of La Voz del CID as a SW broadcaster, as there were plans to add clandestine TV, nixed by the US government intervention in favor of its own TV Martí. It`s written by the Huber Matos Araluce, now residing in Costa Rica, the son of original CID honcho Huber Matos Benítez, b. 1918, on the CID blog, which has LOTS more anti-Castro stuff, including multiple reasons why the embargo should not be lifted, and more recently in support of dissident blogger Yoani Sánchez. The tail of this entry also linx to others concerning the broadcasting angle. Here`s how it starts: (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DX LISTENING DIGEST) FINAL SOBRE EL CONFLICTO LA VOZ DEL CID/TV MARTÍ --- 2009-8-2 El fracaso de TV Martí: Capítulo final El propósito de nuestros enemigos es descarrilar a la Voz del CID y a TeleCid. Si las armas apuntan en este momento hacia mí, es una cuestión estrictamente circunstancial. Creen que eliminándome dejan a mi padre y al CID sin su brazo derecho. Podría parecer así, pero estoy seguro de que, aunque mi padre es el factor de cohesión, la organización no depende de una persona. Mi responsabilidad es la Secretaría de Prensa e Información, encargada de las transmisiones de radio y televisión hacia Cuba; cada grupo de trabajo funciona casi en forma independiente, con personas capaces y dedicadas. No por eso podía pasar por alto la seriedad de la situación: La posibilidad de que la dictadura tuviera un agente secreto en Washington que nos estuviese perjudicando, o algo aun más serio. Jeane Kirkpatrick me había comentado sobre lo mismo cuando era embajadora de los Estados Unidos en la ONU y miembro del Consejo de Seguridad Nacional del gobierno de Ronald Reagan. . . http://patriapuebloylibertad.blogspot.com/2009/08/el-fracaso-de-tv-marti-capitulo-final.html (via Juan Franco Crespo, Spain, Dec 14, WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DXLD) ** CYPRUS. 9660-9685, OTH radar pulses at 1433 Dec 12, presumed from here. Bothered RRI 9680 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CZECHIA [and non]. On Radio Prague's Mailbox programme today it was announced that the present transmission schedule will continue until 1 February 2010 (Roger Tidy, UK, Dec 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) DentroCuban Jamming Command was as usual blowing away WRMI with a wall of noise on 9955, during the 1400 UT hour Dec 14. But jamming abated during R. Prague English relay from 1500. WRMI probably still not back on NW antenna but absence of jamming audiblized the SSE antenna, poor and fading but building a bit to S9+15 by 1510 when Prague had a talk for the third Sunday of Advent, about a cleric faking something. Before that, the Sunday mailbag segment from 1504 (as always 24 hours late on the WRMI 1500 UT relay), at 1507 was answering listeners, Lenfant Lee in China, Yukiko Maki in Japan, Thaddea (?) Nielson (?) in New Zealand, about future of its own SWBC, but could not copy details. So found the audio on demand at http://helix.radio.cz:8080/ramgen/rm/EN/09/12/EN091213-14-high.rm And this is what she said: ``At the moment all we can say is that the status quo will be maintained until February 1, 2010. What will happen after that date is still the subject of discussion between Czech Radio and the Foreign Ministry. We will of course update you on the matter as soon as we know more. In the meantime, thank you for your interest and support.`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DJIBOUTI. 4780, Radio Djibouti, 2040-2101:30, Dec 10, Arabic talk. Rustic local music. Sign off with National Anthem. Weak but readable (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** EAST TURKISTAN. 5060, CHINA, presumed Xinjiang PBS Urumqi, 1158- 1207, Dec 10, Mandarin. W announcer at tune-in; three pips at ToH and lite instrumental music bit; back to W at 1201 joined by M announcer; very weak/poor listening in ECCS-USB; unusable by 1207; s/on listed as *1200 (Scott R. Barbour Jr. Intervale, NH-USA, NRD-545, RX-350D, MLB1, 200' Beverages, 60m dipole, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) CHINA. 7265. CRI, Urumqi, in Italian at 2122, Dec. 12. Interesting sounding Chinese-Italian language lessons by M and W. Good in lower sync. Off suddenly at 2127 (Grundig G3 w/ Sony AN-LP1, Louisville, KY, Mike Bryant, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. December Band Scan: 3279.86, La Voz del Napo Tena, 0946. 73s de (Bob [Robert Wilkner], Pompano Beach, Florida, Drake R 8, Icom, Sony 2010XA, noise reducing antenna, 60 meter band dipole, Dec 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR [non]. LITHUANIA, New sked of HCJB in Russian/Chechen to EaEu from Dec. 6: 1530-1628 on 3955 SIT 100 kW / 079 deg Sunday, additional txion 1630-1728 NF 3955 SIT 100 kW / 079 deg Daily, ex 3960 Sun only (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, 15 Dec via DXLD) See also LITHUANIA As already mentioned here: The daily transmission from 1630 is in German. It replaced on Dec 1st the previous Media Broadcast arrangements, and it is meant for audiences in Central Europe, although reception quality is not adequate here. The transmission on Sundays at 1530 is not additional but just the existing one, now one hour earlier. Cf. http://www.hcjb.de/index.php?id=16 (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Dec 16, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA [non]. 9560.27v, Voice of Eritrea, via Radio Ethiopia transmitter, 1815-1834*, Dec 10, presumed with talk in listed Tigrinya. Horn of Africa music. Varying between 9559.87-9560.27. Fair signal. Very weak on // 7165. Listed for Tues, Thur, Sat only (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** ERITREA [non]. 9605, 14/Dez 1735, RUSSIA, Voice of Asena, *presumed*, in Tigrinya, from Samara, with 250 kW, OM talk, 1736 UT music (another station opposition to the government of Eritrea). Signal weak. At 1745 what seems an OM by phone. 1746 traditional pop music from Eritrea, then OM talk (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana Bahia - Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA. 6030, Radio Oromia, *0322, Dec 14 (Monday). Pleasantly surprised to be able to hear this through the Cuba jamming (still on even after Martí went off the air). Clearly heard their distinctive IS, which sounded like a xylophone; 0329-0331 unable to hear what the language was; 0331-0335 repetitive indigenous music; 0340-0350 seemed to be the news with flute music as their musical bridge between items; 0350-0354 indigenous music and singing. Poor reception, but Calgary not a problem today (very faint). Without the jamming this might have had a chance for decent reception. The jamming has not been turned off after the exit of Marti on Monday for well over a month now (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA. 6890, Radio Fana, 2045-2101*, Dec 10, Horn of Africa music. Talk in listed Amharic. Weak. Poor. // 6110 - weak under several other stations (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) 6890.000, Radio Fana, 2000, excellent "Horn of Africa" music and occasional talk by a man. 11 Dec (David Sharp, NSW Australia, FT-950/ NRD-535D/ etc., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA. 7110. R. Ethiopia, Gedja, at 2025 in presumed Amharic, Dec. 12. Lots of HOA music, M ID "Ee-tee-o-pia". Good, better than usual (Grundig G3 w/ Sony AN-LP1, Louisville, KY, Mike Bryant, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. 15195, 14/Dez [Monday], 1603, RUSSIA, EOTC Holy Synod Radio, *tentative*, in Amharic, from Samara, with 200 kW. Top of the transmission with Arabic music, similar to a religious song (Radio station of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in Exile); this was followed with OM talk. 1607 Arabic music. Signal weak, comes with a strong sound of airplane turbine. 1620 the QRM sometimes fails, you can hear some clear statements of OM. Until 1630, condition of listening remained unchanged. 1633 Arabic music. 1640 YL talk. 73 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana Bahia - Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EUROPE. -PIRATE. 7610.05, Radio Amica, 0620-0635, Dec 13, lite pop music. Instrumental music. Italian announcements. ID at 0626. Weak but readable (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** FAROE ISLANDS [and non]. Wideband noise from the Faroes on 531 kHz continues to lift the noise floor of the receiver to above 700 kHz, making this part of the band rather difficult on the 338 degree beverage. 660, KFAR, Fairbanks AK; “KFAR Fairbanks”, news; in 531 kHz wideband splatter from Faroes W/F 1400 14/12 73s (Martin A. Hall, Clashmore, Scotland, Perseus SDR, RPA-1 preamp, MFJ-1026 phaser (modified), beverages: 490m at 233 degrees, terminated; 500m at 279 degrees, terminated; 550m at 338 degrees, terminated. http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/clashmoreradio/ Dec 14, MWC yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DXLD) ** FRANCE. RFI GERMAN, POLISH, ALBANIAN, LAO END EFFECTIVE DEC 19 Gist of the enclosed AFP item: RFI will cancel the broadcasts in German, Polish, Albanian and Lao as of Dec 19. German, Polish and Lao will continue online until these departments will be "finally closed", while all Albanian-language activities will cease completely already next week. Now, with the closure apparently being sealed, it remains to be seen what will happen with RFI's FM frequencies in Albania and Germany. In Berlin the inclusion of broadcasts in German is a so-called "decisive consideration" for RFI being selected for 106.0 MHz, thus RFI forfeits the licence by closing down the German service. So a continued FM presence in Berlin appears to be pretty unlikely (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Dec 11, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: 17:41 afp DEU151 4 wi 180 FRA /AFP-NG11 D/Frankreich/Medien/Rundfunk/Arbeit/Soziales »Aus für deutsches Radioprogramm bei RFI in wenigen Tagen - Frankreichs Auslandssender gibt mehrere Programme auf = Paris, 10. Dezember (AFP) - Dem deutschen Dienst beim französischen Auslandsradio RFI wird in einer Woche endgültig der Ton abgedreht. Neben dem deutschen würden am 19. Dezember auch das polnische, albanische und laotische Programm eingestellt, teilte der Sender am Donnerstag mit. Bis das deutsche, polnische und laotische Programm dann «endgültig» nicht mehr ausgestrahlt würden, seien sie noch über das Internet zu empfangen; für das albanische Programm sei aber schon kommende Woche ganz Schluss. Radio France International hatte im Januar einen Sparplan vorgelegt, um 206 von rund tausend Stellen zu streichen - der Plan löste einen mehrmonatigen Streik bei dem öffentlich-rechtlichen Sender aus. Im Mai protestierte die deutsche Redaktion bei Bundeskanzlerin Angela Merkel (CDU) und Frankreichs Staatschef Nicolas Sarkozy gegen das geplante Aus. RFI arbeitet ähnlich wie die Deutsche Welle. Der Auslandssender, der sich zu 95 Prozent aus Rundfunkgebühren und staatlichen Zuschüssen finanziert, hatte vergangenes Jahr einen Verlust von neun Millionen Euro eingefahren. Nach Plänen der französischen Regierung soll er unter dem Dach einer Holding künftig mit dem Fernseh-Nachrichtensender France 24 und dem Auslandsfernsehen TV5Monde zusammenarbeiten. kl/ali AFP «101741 DEZ 09 (via Kai Ludwig, ibid.) I wish VoR could get an FM-affiliate in Berlin in exchange for DW's FM-access in Moscow --- But I'm not holding my breath. This is unrelated, but in recent weeks Rupert Murdoch has been trying to sell his three FM-stations in Moscow. Reportedly the asking price for all three is $16 million. The station are Nashe Radio, Best FM and Ultra (Sergei S., ibid.) See also GERMANY; RUSSIA ** GABON. 9580, another good log of Africa Numéro Un, Moyabi, Dec 10 at 2145 with doo-wop music. As I nappily dozed, dreamt I was tuned to 7465 instead where Rock the Universe runs during this Thursday hour on WWCR; but then a French announcement, and at 2150 Ray Peterson`s ``Corinna`` the lyrix of which are primarily ``Corinna, Corinna, I love you so``, pronounced in English, from darkest Africa, no less (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9580, 10/Dez 1952, AFRICA NO. 1, in French, from Moyabi, with 250 kW. OM talk e pop local music, signal quality almost local. At 1958 several tune ID of radio. At 2000 signal time, ID and news. 44444 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana Bahia - Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. New 5980, 1030-1100 09.12, Hamburger Lokalradio, via Kall- Krekel. German lecture about Thomas Mann, Jazz, ID, 45344. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, on my AOR AR7030PLUS with a 28 metres longwire here in Skovlunde near the World Centrum of Copenhagen these days, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** GERMANY [and non]. Re: RFI German, Polish, Albanian, Lao end effective Dec 19 [see FRANCE above] > I wish VoR could get an FM-affiliate in Berlin in exchange for > DW's FM-access in Moscow... But I'm not holding my breath. Well, it just does not work this way, first of all because political intervention is an absolute no-go. US foreign broadcasting learned this the hard way. Reportedly someone in Washington tried to make sure via the Federal Chancellery that again VOA gets an FM licence, not NPR. And it is believed that this very action disqualified VOA, besides NPR having good arguments like a studio in Berlin. Actually Voice of Russia already has an affiliate in Berlin, WRN. At present WRN is on 97.2 MHz overnight, relaying some Voice of Russia programmes, too. Soon the citizen radio station Alex will leave the afternoon/evening slot on 97.2 in favour of an own frequency pair, and this airtime will be in some way divided up amongst WRN, Blu Radio and Radio Russkij Berlin. Yes, Berlin has a Russian-language station: http://www.radio-russkij-berlin.de Of course Radio Russkij Berlin would appear to be a natural partner for Voice of Russia. Actually I would be surprised should Voice of Russia not manage to get their German broadcasts on more attractive slots on 97.2. If so they would to some degree have to blame themselves. Concerning RFI: Back in the nineties they introduced additional broadcasts in German in order to present an attractive application for 106.0 MHz. The original licence explicitely required a German service, the already mentioned "decisive consideration" as it is called in Berlin and Brandenburg (decisive for choosing this broadcaster). I do not know if MABB again included this condition when they renewed the licence in 2007, but I think it is rather likely. And if they indeed did so the current licence, which expires during 2010, cannot be prolonged, instead a new allocation procedure would become necessary. What would RFI have to offer in this case? "We will only put our Service Mondiale on air, since we think that continued German broadcasts would be an insult to the Germans" (as Pouzilhac stated)? Good luck with such an application! Ah, I was not aware of Murdoch running radio stations in Moscow, too. No surprise that he wants to get rid of them, since he already bailed out of the radio business in Central Europe. His Sky Radio in the Netherlands has been sold to a Dutch newspaper, his Sky Radio in Hessen has been sold to the German broadcasting group Regiocast (which hereby managed to entry the Hess market, relaunching their acquisition as BOB) while his Sky Radio in Denmark has simply been shut down (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Dec 12, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. 4889.79v, 2225-2245 10.12, 3rd Harmonic of Greek Pirate, Greek. Bouziki music non-stop 35443 heard // 1630 MW (35343) and // 2nd Harmonic 3260 (35232). At 2245 had drifted to 4889.74. AP-DNK 4914.6, 2218-2225 11.12, 3rd Harmonic of Greek Pirate, Greek. Bouziki music non-stop, distorted audio, 34332. heard // 1638 MW. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, on my AOR AR7030PLUS with a 28 metres longwire here in Skovlunde near the World Centrum of Copenhagen these days, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** GREECE. ERT, ERA 5 Voice of Greece / Radio Filia on SW 12105 kHz retimed German now to 0800-0830 UT, followed by Russian 0830-0900 UT, and Greek program at 0900 UT (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 9 via John Babbis, DXLD) ERA 5-12105 kHz. Only / Radio Filia-665 [sic] kHz. 0600-0700 BBC-Albanian Language Program 0700-0800 BBC-English Language Program 0800-0830 German Language Program 0830-0900 Russian Language Program 0900-1000 Greek Language VOICE OF GREECE (ERA 5)-LIVE INTERNET RADIO http://tvradio.ert.gr/radio/liveradio/voiceofGreece.asp RADIOPHONIKOS STATHMOS MAKEDONIAS (ERT 3)-LIVE INTERNET RADIO http://tvradio.ert.gr/radio/liveradio/102fm.asp (John Babbis, Dec 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Livestream Greek Radio. Voice of Greece (ERA 5) - Live Internet Radio. http://tvradio.ert.gr/radio/liveradio/voiceofGreece.asp http://tvradio.ert.gr/radio/liveradio/asx/era5.asx ERA5 Voice of Greece Orthodox mass is 29 seconds behind shortwave 9420 and 15630 kHz at 0700-0900 Dec 13. R Filia livestream http://tvradio.ert.gr/radio/liveradio/filia.asp http://tvradio.ert.gr/radio/liveradio/asx/filia.asx is 33 seconds behind shortwave 12105 kHz at 0700-0900 UT Dec 13. Spanish/Greek mixed program 0730-0800 UT, followed by German news at 0800 UT. ERT Voice of Greece 12105 kHz and Radio Filia livestream http://tvradio.ert.gr/radio/liveradio/filia.asp http://tvradio.ert.gr/radio/liveradio/asx/filia.asx at 0900 UT has a >?Sunday only?< divine service program of Urdu [and supposedly Bengali?] immigrant community from Bangladesh and Pakistan. Given the www address of Filia Radio, phone and fax numbers at 0911 UT. Phone in talk in Urdu[or Bengali?] at 0914 UT (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Divine? In this case do you mean Orthodox or Moslem?? (gh, DXLD) Moslem {Gottesdienst - in German} = Divine ??? I didn't understand this Subcontinent language, but seemingly Bangla language, a lot of times words like Bangladesh and Pakistan and Urdu were heard, never came across this ERT service before. John sent me the latest schedule, amongst read something like Bangladesh and Pakistan community services, but scheduled at different times of the weekend schedule: Sun Dec 13 at 0900 UT I heard on 12105 // R Filia livestream Bangladesh, Pakistan and Urdu was several times mentioned: instead of 14.00 «BANGLADESH» Program by the Bangladesh community With Islam Zachiroul followed by -- probably -- instead of 13.00 «PROGRAM BY THE PAKISTANI AND INDIAN COMMUNITIES» With Mohammed Tzabil (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi, thanks for the observation as I am very interested in programmes in Bengali my mother tongue... Filia page at their website also informs they had Pakistani and Indian community program You can download the following schedule from http://tvradio.ert.gr/radioen/radioprogram.asp?id=18 It`s a word document in zipped format. They can be contacted as per the contact page http://tvradio.ert.gr/radioen/radiocontact.asp?id=18 as follows CONTACT US IN FILIA If you would like to contact us with your proposals, comments and reviews please phone us at (+30) - 210 606.6310 and at our e-mail addressera5 @ ert.gr International Radio Programmes Director Gina Vogiatzoglou (+30) 210 6066895 "Filia" Deputy Director Sofia Tari (+30) 210 6066729 (+30) 210 6066310 s_tari @ ert.gr era5 @ ert.gr "Filia" Superintendent Gilber Chikhanis (+30) 210 6066301 gchikhanis @ ert.gr Now we may check with them for actual programs. The live feed is also interesting, thanks again. 73, (Partha Sarathi Goswami, Siliguri, Darjeeling, West Bengal, India, Ddxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, I also hear it! On Dec. 4 they made some 'temporary changes' - but surely not on Sunday!: Temporary change of program time Please be advised that until further notice, the broadcast of Filia Radio’s foreign and Greek language programs will be as follows: [must be local time UT +2 --- gh] 08.00-08.30 Albanian 08.30-09.00 English 09.00-09.30 French 09.30-10.00 Spanish 10.00-10.30 German 10.30-11.00 Russian 11.00-13.00 Greek program 13.00-13.30 Arabic 13.30-14.00 Serbo-Croatian 14.00-14.30 Bulgarian 14.30-15.00 Polish 15.00-15.30 Rumanian 15.30-16.00 Turkish Last Updated on Friday, 04 December 2009 09:30 - as seen on: http://www.ert.gr/filia/en/announcements/prosorini-allagi-orariou-ekpompon.htm 73, (Erik Koie, Hopenhagen, Dec 13, ibid.; also via John Babbis, WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DXLD) At 0900 UT I heard on 12105 // R Filia livestream Sun Dec 13 Bangladesh, Pakistan and Urdu was several times mentioned: instead of 1400 «BANGLADESH» Program by the Bangladesh community With Islam Zachiroul followed by -- probably -- instead of 1300 «PROGRAM BY THE PAKISTANI AND INDIAN COMMUNITIES» With Mohammed Tzabil RFI Paris ceased Albanian, German service, as well as probably the Filia Athens relay. Many questions left on ERA ERT Filia schedule direct and relay at present ... 73 wolfy for ever (Wolfgang Büschel, Dec 13, WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dear Wolfy: I thought that the French and Spanish had been eliminated. Your Arabic, etc. times do not match their current schedule (-2 hours for UT). (John Babbis, via Wolfy, ibid) Subject: Re: RADIO FILIA SCHEDULE Thanks again. Transformed to UTC time. regards de Wolfy R Filia [Greek LT transformed to UT by wb.] Today Dec 13 schedule. 0600-0630 Albanian 0630-0700 English 0700-0730 French 0730-0800 Spanish 0800-0830 German 0830-0900 Russian 0900-1100 Greek program 1100-1130 Arabic 1130-1200 Serbo-Croatian 1200-1230 Bulgarian 1230-1300 Polish 1300-1330 Rumanian 1330-1400 Turkish (via Wolfgang Büschel, WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DXLD) Thanks for the info, but they seem also here to have made 'temporary changes', or seasonal ones, as we heard it at 09 UTC - not at 10 UT . I write 10 because it seems to be the A09 schedule on 11645 kHz. 73, (Erik Koie in COPenhagen, ibid.) Dear John, Thank you. I wonder how temporary this is? (Mauno Ritola, Finland via Babbis, ibid.) Good morning Mauno: My guess is that the satellite dish station (probably in Kavala when they were using it fot VOA-ERA 5 broadcasts) has been abandoned to save money. Notice that there is no longer any Satellite Connections to BBC or RFI. Below is Google translation from Greek on Radio Filia's web site (ET). Regards, (John Babbis, via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. You can never be quite sure when the Sunday morning (UT) transmission of Greek in Style will air. I was tuning around today (Sunday 13 December) at 1445 and settled on 15650 for a while to listen to some nice Greek tunes, and was surprised to hear English closing announcements just before 1500 for Greek in Style. Seems like, for this week anyway, it was aired at 1405-1500 (Alan Roe, Teddington, UK, Dec 13, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Noted that it was missing at 1105 UT today. Heard what to me sounded like a mass in Greek. 73, (Erik Koie, Copenhagen, Dec 13, ibid.) ** GREECE. 7450. R. Makedonias, Avlis, at 2030 in Greek. YL with "Makedonias" ID at BoH. Plenty of great-sounding Greek vocals. Strong signal (Grundig G3 w/ Sony AN-LP1, Louisville, KY, Mike Bryant, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. 9420, VOG is audible just about any time of day or night I check, quality varying widely. At 1435 Dec 12, Greek talk with long- path echo, not usually the case (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also SUDAN [non] ** GREENLAND. I sent out several reports in mid November and some nice responses have been arriving one by one. Here's the tally so far [including:] 518 kHz, Aasiaat Radio sent QSL in about 2 weeks by surface mail for e-mail Navtex report. QSL was a folded sheet of paper with photo of transmitter site on one side and QSL message on the other. v/s Bo Mogensen, Trafikchef. No return address on envelope, but report was sent to tele @ tele.gl which I found on their website http://www.tele.gl/dk/Kystradio/GMDSS/index.htm The site also lists a surface address, Postboks 1002, 3900 Nuuk (Bruce Portzer, WA, Dec 12, IRCA via DXLD) ** GREENLAND. 3815, 2154-2215* 09+10.12, Greenlandic/Danish, folksong, Danish news and reports, 2212 orchestra music and choir 25332. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, on my AOR AR7030PLUS with a 28 metres longwire here in Skovlunde near the World Centrum of Copenhagen these days, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) In RT's documentary on Greenland there's a 2-minute episode on island's radio/TV public broadcaster KNR. You can watch it on YouTube, starting from 2:22 http://www.youtube.com/russiatoday#p/u/10/S1BgsaGz-Co KNR has a bit of English on its website at http://www.knr.gl/index.php?id=13 I liked "Branding Greenland" video (Sergei S., Moscow/Chicago, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Part of a much longer story on Greenland (gh) ** GUATEMALA. Re: Repairing the Radio Verdad transmitter, Guatemala Thank you, Glenn, for your e-mail and publication on Internet. We are making efforts now to get the two integrated circuits we need in order to come into the air on short wave. May God bless you (Dr. Édgar Amílcar Madrid, Manager, Radio Verdad, Dec 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUIANA FRENCH. TDF DRM tests to Brazil Bonjour Simone, Today, I got the following info from TDF: DRM transmissions on 17875 kHz will be performed from Montsinery (French Guiana) 1300 to 2145 UT towards Brazil from Tuesday 8 December to Thursday 17 December included. In fact, last Tuesday, it actually started at 1700. Good listening! Season's greetings. Regards. Jacques GRUSON F6AJW, Copy: DRMNA (Jacques Gruson via drmna yg via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, dxldyg via DXLD) 17870-17875-17880, DRM noise is back on one of its favourite channels, Dec 11 at 1926. A notice from TDF via DRM honcho Jacques Gruson to Simone via drmna yg via Alokesh Gupta, dxldyg says ``DRM transmissions on 17875 kHz will be performed from Montsinéry (French Guiana) 1300 to 2145 UT towards Brazil from Tuesday 8 December to Thursday 17 December included. In fact, last Tuesday, it actually started at 1700 UT`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUINEA. 7125, Radio Guinée, 2250-0001+, Dec 10-11, French talk. Local hi-life music. Afro-pop music. Sign off at approximately 0003. Good signal. 7125, Radio Guinée, 0735-0825+, Dec 11, local tribal music. Afro-pop music. French talk. Poor in noisy conditions. 7125, Radio Guinée, 2340-0017*, Dec 11-12, wide variety of African hi-life music, Afro-pop music, and lite jazz music. French talk. Abrupt sign off. Fair signal (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** HONDURAS. December Band Scan: 3250, Radio Luz y Vida, San Luis 0100, 1130 3340, Radio Misiones Internacionales, Comayagüela, 0100 73s de (Bob [Robert Wilkner], Pompano Beach, Florida, Drake R 8, Icom, Sony 2010XA, noise reducing antenna, 60 meter band dipole, Dec 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HONDURAS. EN SUS 49 AÑOS DE HRVC Hoy 8 de diciembre esta de aniversario La Voz Evangélica de Honduras; aunque no he podido ingresar online, alguien la ha escuchado en los 4820 kHz? Me imagino estarán hasta las 0400 horas UT. Para más e intentar el audio de HRVC en: http://bit.ly/6a9JbN y sus comentarios en el mismo enlace. Gracias. 73 de (Yimber Gaviría, Colombia, Dec 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Inactiva en 4820 desde hace algunos años. 73, (Glenn to Yimber, ibid.) Saludos Glenn, también recibí mensaje de la emisora 73 de (Yimber, Dec 9, ibid.) Viz.: From: jessenia Hola, La radio ya no tiene su señal en onda corta; a nivel internacional solo se puede escuchar por el internet: http://www.hrvc.org Por cierto gracias por estar pendiente de esta gran radio, la primera emisora cristiana de Honduras; cualquier información que desees con gusto te la brindo, bye (Lic. Jessenia Zelaya de Mejia, La Voz Evangélica de Honduras, Programación programacion @ hrvc.org (504)234 234 68 (via Yimber, ibid.) ** ICELAND. 189, Rikisutvarpid, with Xmas music (vocal of Merry Christmas to You, and other pop music (Time of my life in Icelandic!) and an actual mention of Rikisutvarpid at ToH. I think the best part was when the DJ sang Santa Clause [sic] is coming to town! News at ToH in Icelandic SIO 2+4+4 (LSB better) 0450-0501 6 Dec (Kenneth Vito Zichi, DXpedition? MARE Tipsheet Dec 11 via DXLD) see also R E F ** INDIA. 4820, *0025-0040 09.12, AIR Kolkata Bengali/Hindi/English. Vandi Mataram hymn, Bengali song, 0030 Hindi news, 0035 English news 22232 QRM Xizang PBS 4820 AP-DNK. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, on my AOR AR7030PLUS with a 28 metres longwire here in Skovlunde near the World Centrum of Copenhagen these days, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) See also UNIDENTIFIED 4820+ ** INDIA. QSL Card from AIR Kohima -- F/D QSL Card (Akbar's Tomb, Agra) from AIR Delhi headquarters for AIR Kohima 4850 kHz in 475 days for a reception report dated 14-08-2008 submitted online after 3 email reminders. V/S M. S. Ansari, Director, Spectrum Management, AIR. (Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, Dec 10, dx_india yg via DXLD) QSL - AIR Kohima --- Received today a QSL "Panch Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri" card for reception of All India Radio, Kohima, 4850 kHz, on their Republic Day, 25 January, 2009. [later:] Slightly incorrect! In checking my records, what I heard on 25 January was the President's Republic Day Address which apparently airs the day before Republic Day, which is January 26 (Steve Lare, Holland MI, Dec 14, NASWA yg via DXLD) 4850, AIR Kohima, 1308-1402*, Dec 12. Segment in English with items related to Nagaland; 1315-1340 usual segment started and ended with same theme music (indigenous); 1340-1400 news in Hindi followed by English. Irregular schedule (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. 4895, AIR Kuresong, *1130, Dec 10, vernacular. IS; W with s/on announcement into Hindi music; announcer at 1135; very weak listening in ECCS-USB; not much to work with (Scott R. Barbour Jr. Intervale, NH-USA, NRD-545, RX-350D, MLB1, 200' Beverages, 60m dipole, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. 4970, AIR Shillong, 1435, Dec 10. Western music show “Golden Classics”; news; 1512 switches to Delhi. 1403, Dec 11. In English with a “documentary” about Meghalaya Cement Limited factory with many interviews with workers and management; promo for AIR; request program of western music with many requests from listeners in Nagaland. 1508, Dec 12. “Live Wire” show with some Christmas music. All of these would have had outstanding reception except for the prominent hum, but still enjoyable programming (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. 5040, AIR Jeypore, random listening from 1316 to 1540, Dec 12. Coverage in English and Hindi of the 2nd T20 cricket match between India and Sri Lanka played in Mohali; broke away from time to time for news and advertisements; 1342 commentary on the match and fans calling in; went back to live coverage; // 4910 and 5010. On 4880 the coverage did not start till later; noted in // by 1413, but then they switched over to Delhi, while 4910, 5010 and 5040 continued on with coverage. Jeypore had the best reception (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. Re 9-084: - Approx 5 hours of transmission are beamed towards listeners in the UK and Europe between 2315 to 0400 IST on 9950 kHz, with an additional 3 hours of local transmission within India from 1430 to 1730 IST on 6100 kHz. ``[NO, 9950 has been reported back in analog for weeks now --- gh, e.g.: 9950, AIR Delhi at 1930, man in English, pause and then woman with news. // 7550 poor. Very poor Dec 5 (Harold Sellers, Vernon, BC, Canada, Eton E1 and Sony AN-1, operating portable, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) i.e. NOT DRM]`` WRONG - Back on DRM, check this --- http://www.drmrx.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1641&page=29 (Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, Dec 11, WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: What happened? Today back in AM?! First file is AM from tonight (RX in USB), second file is DRM from yesterday night. Attached Files File Type: zip USB 9,950000MHz 18.11.2009 19 50 48.mp3.zip (25.0 KB, 4 views) File Type: zip 9950_091117_1913_DK6QI.mp3.zip (81.8 KB, 3 views) (Friedrich Wue, 40 km west of Muenster, NRW, Germany, 52N/07E, DK6QI, JO31mw, Nov 18, DRM DX forum via Gupta, ibid.) AM confirmed. Yep, AIR is full of surprises! Regards, ``Digger`` Terje, HED362m Switzerland http://www.omnirep.ch/drm/ Nov 18, ibid.) [No more posts until this from 6 December, so it was correct that as of 5 December it was still in AM as reported since Nov 18 --- gh] 06-12-2009, 2230 --- ALL INDIA RADIO 9950 KHz --- Hello friend, This local afternoon All India Radio with good signal after 2200, with English service and Hindi folk music; Attached Images: File Type: jpg AIR DRM ENGLISH 9950 KHZ.JPG (87.1 KB, 25 views) Good DX (RafaelColDRM, Bogotá D.C - COLOMBIA, ibid.) I assume this is Rafael Rodríguez tho apellido never stated (gh, DXLD) Lovely report, RafaelColDRM !!! Congrats, WIN Radio does a Nice job as it appears. Regards, (Sarma, Hyderabad, 7 Dec, ibid.) ** INDIA. 9425, AIR. Regarding Glenn’s reception on Dec 9, at 1435 in English: that was the start of the “Vivadha” show that is broadcast Monday and Wednesday in English, plus Tuesday and Thursday in Hindi. I also heard the lecture today about the difference between spirituality and religion (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA [and non]. 9690, AIR GOS to SE Asia well-heard in NW Oklahoma, Dec 12 at 1355 with music, 1400 change to another music show called Producer`s Choice, but at 1415 YL with non-English announcement. Reception was good enough to be sure it was really non- English, not English with a pronounced accent. Then 1417-1422 dead air (except for the hum, now clearly heard without interfering modulation). 1422 resumed with talk in English. I think she apologized for the outage, but not sure. I guess the wrong program feed got on, and all they could do was cut to silence. On to a lexure by OM. In the meantime I had checked // 13710, and there seemed to be some modulation there under the RHC leapfrog spur (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 13710, AIR GOS for SE Asia, Dec 10 at 1456 with final news summary by YL, not hard to understand; with some flutter, better than // 9690 and inaudible 11620; axually atop the Cuban leapfrog producing a SAH, from RHC Spanish 13770 over CRI English 13740. Mentioned that today is Human Rights Day; sign off gave frequencies for next broadcast to SE Asia from 2045. Off at 1500 clearing frequency for Cuba, as I could hear both RHC IS and CRI English mixing (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. AIR CRICKET COVERAGE FOR INDIA-SRILANKA T-20/ODI CRICKET SERIES - 2009 --- All India Radio will broadcast live commentary alternately in Hindi & English as per following schedule : Date Timings(IST) Venue 09 Dec 2009 1700-2030* 1st Twenty 20 International Nagpur 12 Dec 2009 1700-2030* 2nd Twenty 20 International Mohali 15 Dec 2009 0830-1700* First ODI Rajkot 18 Dec 2009 1400-2230* Second ODI Visakhapatnam 21 Dec 2009 1400-2230* Third ODI Cuttack 24 Dec 2009 1400-2230* Fourth ODI Kolkata 27 Dec 2009 0830-1700* Fifth ODI Delhi (* or till the end of match) [subtract 5.5 hours for UT] Live commentary will be available on selected SW, 66 MW & on all FM Gold channels. There will be updates on FM Rainbow channels (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, Dec 10, dx_india via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 4750, RRI Makassar, Dec 13 at 1351 with excited talk, thought maybe sports play-by-play tho a little late in evening for that; but 1352 changed to vocal music, 1353 mentioned Radio Republik Indonesia, Jakarta, so apparently a network program. Besides the co- channel QRM under, presumably China but maybe Bangladesh, there was also some hum on the carrier (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA [non]. 4790, RRI Fak Fak, 0039-0103 10/16. M announcer with aboriginal/tribal-type lagu music with kron-cong; in the clear but only on the verge of audible for the most part; follow-up now and again to almost fair; improved to good for a few seconds at top of hour, then gone (Richard W. Parker, KB2DMD, 1205 Sleepy Hollow Road, Pennsburg, PA 18073, Dec NASWA Journal via DXLD) !!! Right around mid-day at the transmitter site! (Scott Barbour, NASWA tropical log ed., ibid.) Not quite. Fak2 is 132.5 degrees east, near the Equator, which puts it in the UT +9 timezone, 9:39-10:03 am, but still some 3-4 hours after sunrise. Who can explain? Perhaps dark-path Perú was spoiling with similar-sounding music. Or more likely, per Aoki, a station closer to sunrise: 4790 Azad Kashmir Radio 0045-0215 1234567 Kashmiri 10 68 Rawalpindi PAK 7300E 3330N Azad which also shows Fak2 is not on the air at the time of this logging: 4790 RRI Fak Fak 0700-1400 1234567 Indonesian 1 ND Fak Fak INS 4790 RRI Fak Fak 2000-2230 1234567 Indonesian 1 ND Fak Fak INS 13220E 0351S RRI b08. When list logging, you should start with the most likely possibility (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA [and non]. 7289.8, 0745, RRI Nabire poor signal but improving, with popular music & Indonesian announcements. RRI news bulletin at 080 [sic; 0800?] 5/11 (Bryan Clark at Mangawhai, NZ, with AOR7030+ and Alpha Delta Sloper, EWEs to NE, E and SE, plus various 100 metre BOGs to the Americas, Dec NZ DX Times via DXLD) Daytime-only frequency, quite a challenge in NAm. WRTH 2010 says of it: 2200-2315, 0600-0815 irr. Also: 6125, 0500-0815 irr. You would expect the 6 MHz frequency to be nighttime, but not according to those hours. Aoki shows: 6125 RRI Nabire 0810-1400 10 ND Nabire INS 13536E 0315S 6125 RRI Nabire 2100-0200 10 ND Nabire INS 13536E 0315S but this could be a problem, if Nabire is really active on 6125: 6125 CNR 1 1000-1735 100 217 Shijiazhuang 723 CHN 11428E 3804N and 7290 RRI Nabire 0500-0825 10 ND Nabire INS 13536E 0315S but this could be a problem: 7290 AIR Chennai 0630-1000 Hindi 50 160 Thiruvananthapuram 07659E0829N Been a long time since 6125 has been reported by DXers; in searching past DXLDs, I see there was a spate of reports exactly three years ago starting Dec 9, 2006: see DXLDs 6-188, 6-190, 6-191, 7-003, 7-004 when it was on 6125.29, and being heard in the 1230-1400 period by Steve Lare, MI; holiday special evening broadcasts? First reported by NDXC guys in Japan running 0815-1400*. However, no such reports of it in 2007 or 2008. See also 9-016, where there was an unID on 6125.48, perhaps something else. Where is Nabire, anyway? On the NW coast of Papua at the bottom of that big bay facing north, 135+ degrees east, in the UT +9 zone; so 0800 UT = 1700 local, about an hour before sunset. Atsunori Ishida has just updated his latest Indonesian list, Dec 8, http://www.max.hi-ho.ne.jp/a-ishida/ins/ See that for all the details including times of local and RRI news. He shows: 3345 ``unstable`` but PNG not heard recently 3987 off the air for two months 4925 off since Nov 19 6125 not mentioned, and: 7290 RRI - Nabire -0800*v, Jakarta news at 0800 Dec 4, 7, 8 (Everyday monitor time : 0750-0810 only) (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 9526v, no trace even of a carrier from VOI, Dec 14 at 1434 during Malay hour, and nothing on 9525 either this hour to block it (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET. Re 9-084, WORLD OF RADIO via WRN: ``Thank you for providing this information, Dragan, but how does one SUBSCRIBE to the podcast so that all new episodes are automatically delivered to i-Tunes or other podcast reader?`` THE ANSWER IS: PUT THE FOLLOWING ADRESS TO A PODCAST READER, AND YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY HAVE WOR SHOWS DOWNLOADED: http://www.wrn.org/listeners/world-of-radio/rss/09:00:00UTC/English 73 (Dragan Lekic, Serbia, Dec 15, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET. IDing MW DX by webcast parallels - DELICAST Hi Jim, I see you mention them now and again, so I took a look but have a couple questions. I went to the site and punched up Russia. I wanted to find Radio Rossi on 161, but couldn't seem to find them by the station name alone, which is all that is available and it looks like you can't get any frequency information as well. I can see how it would be a useful tool if you know the exact name of the station. Do you have any patented tricks to using the site you could pass along to a newbie? Best de (Chris, Cape Cod, Black, WTFDA- AM Dec 9 via DXLD) Hi Chris, I'll answer your question, but copy the list, too, since some others may be wondering about this. Delicast requires some self-orientation, that's for sure. The list of stations is in a screwy order, so I immediately relist it according to "NAME" on the tab above the list. Then I have to guess which page to head for, say RNE 1, is going to be about page 12 or so. In some cases the name we all know for the station may be slightly different from the way Delicast names it. Looking for Alger Chaîne 1 from Algeria last night required me to guess Radio Algerie 1 as the tab to hit. Some are much less obvious than that. The Egyptian General Programme (as listed in the EMWG) is "Radio Cairo" on Delicast. The Russia example you mention is that kind of case. Do you look under Radio Rossiya, Voice of Russia, or Golos Rossiya? In some cases, it simply works best to go to the official web page of the station to find the best audio stream, but then you have to be careful that you are not getting the podcast instead of the live audio. If everything's in English it can be figured out, but sometimes with odd languages you just have to guess. The little speaker icon could mean several things. I have a tab that allows me to translate web pages into English, but this is rarely worth doing; The translation either doesn't work at all or comes up with some very odd phrases "Live Feed" = "Food Not Yet Dead" (I made that one up). And, like with American web audio, they sometimes start the live stream with an advertisement that is not part of the web stream that will follow. On top of this you also have to hope that the web audio delay is somewhat in synch with what you're hearing; five or ten seconds is manageable, but 30 or 60 seconds makes it very difficult unless the music is unusually distinctive. http://listenlive.eu is better because the list is shown alphabetically from the start, and in the case of Spain the RNE stations are listed ahead of everything else; I guess government is privileged over commercial. But that's OK, because more often than not I'm looking for RNE audio. listenlive also gives you choices in bit rates with the individual stations. However, Delicast has streams from countries outside of Europe that listenlive does not have, like North Africa. When I tentatively had Syria, though, the Radio Damascus audio stream sounded like a scratchy skipping record. I checked back several days later - same thing. The IT department there must have been on vacation. Some stuff just isn't there to be found. I never found a web stream to match CRI programs on 702 Monaco or 963 Finland. In these cases I had better luck getting better audio by using Global Tuners. Even though you can not ID a station this way, at least you can get some better audio to compare with the fizz that you are hearing over the air at home. Global Tuners has its own learning curve. You have to figure out which radios are equipped for medium wave (a lot are not), and then be prepared to skip around until you find an available receiver. "Hijackjing" a radio that someone else is using is frowned upon and may be grounds for expulsion from the group. You also have to figure out which buttons to push to get the best sound, bandwidth, mode, etc. I found the hard way that looking for the "Best Quality" option is always the best. I was thinking lower quality would get the signal to me faster, but it simply froze up. Don't forget to look for shortwave parallels in some cases. These are the best because there is no delay. Croatia has a good one 1134 and 7375 [via GERMANY] are the same program at times. Oh, did I mention that all of this is going on while you are trying to DX, and having to wait for web streams to kick in rather than freeze, with radio audio that might last a minute before fading? Often hit or miss! I hope all of this helps! (Jim Renfrew, Holley NY, ibid.) Thanks to Ben Dangerfield's tip, though I saw it much later than his post, there's Algeria on 549, definite parallel to Radio Algeria 1 on Delicast web audio. At 2304 EST / 0404z with a man doing the Koranic recitation, what some might mistakenly call "chanting", it's simply the way that the Koran is read with a musical quality. Suprisingly good, even with 4.0 filter. When I hear this coming in so well I have to wonder where it's been all this time? A new logging, and MW country #68. I have just a few more countries to hear before I catch up to Ben (major understatement) (Jim Renfrew, later, ibid.) A very nice write up, Jim. I think you can use globaltuners to ID a signal, however, if you hear a parallel with a radio on globaltuners, then you can listen on globaltuners until you hear an ID, if you have the time to continue listening there. Now, your description of racing around trying to ID things while your computer freezes up on a webstream is very apt, but I figure that some of what I parallel is pretty much a local at the listening site; the Hano Bay tuner lists Pori on 963 as one of its regulars, which doesn't seem unreasonable, so the ID on the hour from there will do for me. Another site worth checking that goes beyond Europe is http://www.multilingualbooks.com/online-radio.html which is where I got my Iran 1503 parallel from. Of course, they also suggest R. Farda is in Iran. Thanks again for the write up. Best wishes, (Nick Hall- Patch, Victoria, BC, Canada, IRCA via DXLD Thanks for the tip on multi-lingual books. Seems to have some limitations, but good to add to the list of online resources. Appears to have more worldwide stations (Jim Renfrew, ibid.) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS. Re 9-084, ship radio --- Hey All, It`s too bad that our ships no longer carry "real" radio! I also worry for the safety of the passengers and crew if something happens that the satellite radio can`t deal with. I wonder what the training of the radio officer is now? (just a button pusher or someone that could really communicate in an emergency?) Too bad that we are letting tech. take the place of common sense in this case. (remember the ship with the call of message in 1912?) Good DX to all, (Robbie in Wyoming, IRCA via DXLD) Well, I can answer that for Holland America's Amsterdam --- the "radio officer" is actually the IT guy. Didn't know anything about radio! (Walt Salmaniw, BC, ibid.) ** IRAN. VIRI, a missionary station, Dec 11 at 1458 amid Russian hour on 9575, quite good while // 9730 was just barely audible: bit of Qur`an recitation, some string music, more Qur`an, Russian commentary upon it. Perhaps they do more of this on Fridays than other days (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9575 / 9730, VoIRI, Sirjan and Ahwaz respectively. 1433-1528* December 13, 2009. Thanks Glenn Hauser logs in dxld, Russian with man and woman news items, then brief Qur'an mullahspeak passages and nice Iranian stringed instrument fills. 9575 amazingly near local level, but 9730 extremely weak. Both in the clear, though. 15545, VoIRI, Sirjan. 1435-1438 December 13, 2009. Clear and very good with Arabic programming, male ID (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9575, GIRI, Russian service via Sirjan site, Dec 14 at 1433 had good signal tho fluttery, but just barely modulated (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7320. Voice of Justice, Sirjan, at 1950 UT in English, Dec. 12. M discussing social protests in Copenhagen during climate conference. Weak at first, but faded in better. Sounds like a possible warble jammer underneath, but Iran seemed on top of it (Grundig G3 w/ Sony AN-LP1, Louisville, KY, Mike Bryant, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Did they really ID as V of Justice? That slogan is supposedly limited to the VIRI NAm service at 0130-0230 (gh, DXLD) Viz.: ** IRAN. Winter B-09 for VOIROI/IRIB ALBANIAN 0630-0727 on 13810 15235 1830-1927 on 6100 7285 2030-2127 on 6100 9740 ARABIC 0230-0527 on 6065 9895 0230-0527 on 7350 "Al-Quds TV" 0330-0427 on 7250 9505 "Voice of Palestine" 0530-0827 on 13790 13800 15545 0830-1027 on 9885 13790 13800 15545 1030-1427 on 13790 13800 15545 1430-1627 on 15545 1630-2027 on 6065 2030-0227 on 3985 6065 ARMENIAN 0300-0327 on 7295 7325 0930-0957 on 9695 15260 1630-1727 on 6185 7230 AZERI 0330-0527 on 9865 1430-1657 on 6200 BENGALI 0030-0127 on 5905 6185 0830-0927 on 11705 1430-1527 on 5910 5920 7380 BOSNIAN 0530-0627 on 13760 15235 1730-1827 on 5945 7295 2130-2227 on 5950 9710 CHINESE 1200-1257 on 9900 11670 13645 15150 2330-0027 on 5945 7325 9635 DARI 0300-0627 on 9875 13740 0830-1157 on 11670 13720 1200-1427 on 9940 13720 1430-1457 on 9940 ENGLISH 0130-0227 on 6120 7250 "Voice of Justice" 1030-1127 on 15460 17660 1530-1627 on 6160 7380 1930-2027 on 6010 #6040 7320 9855 11695 GERMAN 0730-0827 on 15085 17590 1730-1827 on #6105 6205 7380 FRENCH 0630-0727 on 13600 15425 1830-1927 on #6025 6180 7380 9565 HAUSA 0600-0657 on 15435 17810 1830-1927 on 5950 7335 HEBREW 0430-0457 on 9820 11925 1200-1227 on 13740 15390 HINDI 0230-0257 on 13725 15165 1430-1527 on 7360 9585 INDONESIAN 1230-1327 on 15200 17570 2230-2327 on 5945 7255 ITALIAN 0630-0727 on #9770 13620 15085 1930-1957 on 5890 7380 JAPANESE 1330-1427 on 7380 9905 2100-2157 on 6145 7260 KAZAKH 0130-0227 on 7265 9500 1530-1627 on 7345 9660 KURDISH 0330-0427 on 3945 6145 Sorrani dialect 1330-1427 on 5990 Kirmanji dialect 1430-1527 on 5990 Sorrani dialect 1530-1627 on 5990 Kirmanji dialect PASHTO 0230-0327 on 6095 6140 0730-0827 on 11990 15440 1230-1327 on 6200 7305 1430-1527 on 5890 1630-1727 on 6005 6015 RUSSIAN 0300-0327 on 6040 9510 0500-0527 on 12025 15530 17680 17780 1430-1527 on #3960 7345 9575 9730 1700-1757 on 3985 5925 1800-1857 on 6035 7305 1930-2027 on 3985 7205 SPANISH 0030-0227 on 7225 9680 0230-0327 on 7225 0530-0627 on 13710 15320 2030-2127 on 5950 #6055 7200 SWAHILI 0400-0457 on 13640 15260 0830-0927 on 15240 17660 1730-1827 on 6130 7365 TAJIK 0100-0227 on 5955 6175 1600-1727 on 5945 5955 TURKISH 0430-0557 on 12060 13750 1600-1727 on 6175 7310 URDU 0130-0227 on 3945 6030 6185 1300-1427 on 6175 9790 9835 1530-1727 on 5890 UZBEK 0230-0257 on 6040 6175 1500-1557 on 5945 7215 # Sitkunai, Lithuania (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, 15 Dec via DXLD) ** IRELAND. ATLANTIC 252 -- Tom Hands shows us the mighty 500 kW giant at Summerhill, EIRE, 1998: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-O5X7ZfQJM (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** ITALY [non]. 15410-15460, noise blob centered around 15435, Dec 10 at 1416, half a sesquihour before the BSKSA 15435 blob comes on, different sound, and gradually tapering off to spikes at edges, such as 15410 against R. Farda. Suspected of local origin, especially after I find similar slightly weaker blob 15145-15190 and traces of a third at 15680, roughly equal intervals. What appliances are running now? Oil heater, halfway on. Turn it off, noise goes away! Turn it fully on, noise much reduced. Kinda need it with temps in the lo F teens. It`s a DeLonghi, made in Italy, Type 2507, which has two 750 watt units. I hereby absolve all editors of any expectation of publishing this as a genuine log, altho I was capturing it some 10 meters away, and would be justified in issuing myself a proxy QSL. At 2120 Dec 11, noise blob from my half-on DeLonghi oil heater had QSYed upward ranging 15435-15490, centered about 15465 ex-15435; other like blobs spanned 15170-15220, and 15695-15750, the latter bad news for RNZI 15715-15720-15725 DRM in the WOR HQ area, currently scheduled 2051-2235, I think; noise vs noise! QSY is probably only margin of error in device not designed as RF heater (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN. I sent out several reports in mid November and some nice responses have been arriving one by one. Here's the tally so far [including:] 518 kHz, I sent surface mail reports to four Japan Coast Guard Regions regarding their respective Navtex broadcasts. Yokohama sent an e-mail thanking me for my report and apologizing for lack of QSLs, Moji sent a short polite non-QSL e-mail saying they won't confirm whether the report was correct or not, Naha sent a short e-mail QSL that was specific as to date and frequency. I'm still waiting for Otaru (Bruce Portzer, WA, Dec 12, IRCA via DXLD) ** JAPAN. 3925, R. Nikkei, already audible in Japanese at 0714 Dec 14, i.e. 16:14 JST, tnx to earliest sunsets now. Hams kept away for the moment. Nothing audible on 3945, another Nikkei or Vanuatu frequency, except SSB nearby. 6055 was also audible before 0700, and one might hear it as early as 0600 when Spain closes (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN [non]. Due to continuous inaudibility on 15215 kHz, Radio Japan Bengali service will test 7400 kHz at 1300-1345 UT from 11th to 14th December 2009. Reception monitoring reports, preferably with audio file, please be directly sent to R Japan Bengali service, email ID nhkworld @ nhk.jp & bengali @ intl.nhk.or.jp Based on reception quality, R Japan will decide change of frequency. Thanks, (Swopan Chakroborty, Kolkata, India, Dec 10, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) via Tashkent UZBEKISTAN? (Wolfgang Büschel, HCDX via DXLD) http://zlgr.multiply.com/journal/item/251 NHK Bengali has been heard in its test transmission on 7400 on 1300 - 1345 with relatively fair signal 35333 and level S5 till 1330 when R Sweden has started on 7405 giving a result of 32332 and a level S4 (signal seems decreased). Program heard was berita dalam bengali, at about 1320, with lagu asli till 1330. Stopped listening for some time, and heard again at 1343-5 until NHK ISed. Two files are here re- compressed for smaller filesize from 96 to 16 kbit using Bonkenc (Zacharias Liangas, Greece, 14.12.2009 [sic --- 12 Dec] using R75 /2x16m /Creative Zen /Bonkenc, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ?? If they really were heard saying ``berita dalam`` and ``lagu asli`` it must have been R. Japan`s Indonesian service feed by mistake, as scheduled at 1315-1400 on 5955. 7400 site is Tashkent, per Aoki. BTW, it is not yet 14 December. 73, (Glenn Hauser, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) R Japan carried the correct feed - Bengali programs at 1300-1345 UT on 12th Dec'09. Tests are scheduled from 11 to 14 Dec. Regards (Alokesh Gupta, India, ibid.) I suppose Zach slipped into his alternate language Malay, hi (Glenn, ibid.) Zach has been DXing long enough, and Alokesh says R. Japan indeed tested so assuming both are right, could this shed some light? "Wasn't there a recent report of Malaysia also on 5955 --- "DX WINDOW, 5964.93v, Klasik Nasional via RTM, 1603, Dec 01. After being on ex: 5952.2 for only three days, they have returned to their former frequency. What happened? Just an error? Heard under DW (in English), with news in vernacular; 1605 distinctive singing "Klasik Nasional" jingle. (Howard)`` Could it be that on this particular day RTM was again on 5952 as well???? Just a thought. 73 (Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Its 1000% Bengali. Instead of making guesses why dont u guys listen to the audio files posted by ZL here : http://zlgr.multiply.com/journal/item/251 1343 UT audio file has indeed some serious splatter from Radio Sweden, in Delhi it was strong & steady 59 +20db (Alokesh Gupta, VU3BSE, New Delhi, India, ibid.) ??? I don`t have time to listen to long files in Bengali for traces of Indonesian, but I appreciate your doing so (gh, DXLD) Hello friends, I also confirm they are really Bengali Transmission recordings of Radio Japan uploaded by Zacharias, they is no Indonesian word I found in the clip, may be the bengali words 'Sambad bisletion' (Bisle-ssion) [means Analysis of News] sounded like that to him, and the second part is a Bengali folk 'Khachar Vetor Achin Pankhi Kemne Ashe Jai' [song by a female voice here - means 'how an unknwon bird moves inside the cage' ] the song mainly popularised by great baul Singer Lalon Fokir. The Radio Japan has a scheduled frequency test between 11-14 december 2009 on 7400kHz - [from BanglaDX :: Yahoo Group] 73s & Regards, (Partha Sarathi Goswami, Siliguri, West Bengal, India, dxldyg via DXLD Well I listened to the two audio cuts. Nothing much for language on the 2nd cut other than a Bengali song. First cut is indeed 100% Bengali. ;-) Unless there was Indonesian during the programme which Zach hasn't caught on his audio clip, I can't detect any ``berita dalam`` and ``lagu asli`` in it. Hi! 73 and good DX all round! (Victor G., dx_india yg via DXLD) Then I finally heard from ZL directly, explaining this, but he doesn`t want me to publish it; altho it already appeared in HCDX and dx_india (gh, DXLD) UZBEKISTAN, Frequency changes of Radio Japan NHK World: 1300-1345 NF 7400 TAC 100 kW / 131 deg, ex 5960, re-ex 15215 in Bengali (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, 15 Dec via DXLD) 1350 UT, Radio Japan Hindi noted on both 9585 & 6115 - testing? 6115 was announced as replacement freq for 9585 sometime back (Alokesh Gupta, VU3BSE, New Delhi, India, Dec 12, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Both are via Tashkent, UZBEKISTAN, where its own external service was destroyed a few years ago (gh) Apparently these R. Japan relays are handled by WRN: (gh, DXLD) Of course, radio is and always will be part of our core business and remains an important part of both our heritage and our future. Short Wave is still seen by many of our clients to be a vital technology to reach large regions and closed societies and, for clients such as NHK, who expanded their shortwave services this year, it is a hugely important part of the WRN inventory (re:wired >News from WRN> December 2009, Dec 14 via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. 7100, VOK, *1800, Dec 11. On with IS and IDs in French; National Anthem; News in French; fair (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH. North Korea: KCBS programmes in Korean online Dear Hobbyists or friends of Korea! To my big surprise the official North Korean website http://www.kcckp.net provides audio on demand wav.-files for the daily Korean language programmes of the Korean Central Broadcasting Station (KCBS) from Pyongyang, North Korea (DPR Korea). Just click http://www.kcckp.net/krt/index.php and you'll find links to separate programme items such as news, commentary or even peaces of music. Click http://www.kcckp.net/krt/download.php?news_id=start.wav (top) for the opening with interval signals, Korean announcements and National Anthem. Under http://www.kcckp.net:8080/krt/end.wav (last) you'll hear the closing announcement and again the National Anthem. You may also download the files onto your computer. Download or online opening of files may be rather slow. Sometimes the offer doesn't work at all. Let's hope they will soon extend the service to all foreign language programming as well. If you do NOT wish Big Brother to monitor your online movements on that website you may use the secure server: https://www.kcckp.net/krt/index.php Good luck, best wishes and SEASON'S GREETINGS to all of you, (Arnulf Piontek, Berlin, Germany, Dec 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. 5985, Shiokaze - Sea Breeze via Yamata, 1425, Dec 8. In Chinese; mixing with strong N. Korea jamming and Myanma Radio. Chinese is starting to be regularly heard now on Tuesdays. Dec 9 (Wed.) heard in English, with almost no jamming, but MR noted underneath (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. Some VTCommunications changes: Radio Free Chosun in Korean to North Korea 1200-1300 NF 9950*TAC 100 kW / 065 deg, ex 1230-1300 on 12085 \\ 11560 ERV *co-ch Radio Ukraine International in English Nippon no Kaze in Korean to North Korea 1300-1330 on 9655 TAI 100 kW / 002 deg, ex 1700-1730 on 9820 (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, 15 Dec via DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH. 9640, Dec 14 at 1427, slow notes on vibes (?), interspersed with YL IDs in Korean starting ``Radio Hangkuk. . .`` So I knew it had to be KBS, altho uplooked later on page 454 of the 2010 WRTH, the Korean ID quoted does not simply say that! Poor signal by comparison to KBS Korean via Sackville on 9650 which was slightly splattering. At 1430, 9640 switched to Vietnamese, which chex with WRTH 2010; and in Aoki, this is the only semihour that KBSWR is now using 9640, 100 kW, 225 degrees from Kimjae. WRTH says the IS is ``Oh Bright Moon``, a children`s song played on glockenspiel. Can`t say I am familiar with it preceding English broadcasts (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KURDISTAN. 4783.00, 0453-0500*, CLANDESTINE, 09.12, Voice of Iranian Kurdistan, Salah Al-Din, Iraq. Farsi ann, Kurdish songs 23333 Jammer until 0512*. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, on my AOR AR7030PLUS with a 28 metres longwire here in Skovlunde near the World Centrum of Copenhagen these days, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) Unlikely it comes out to .00 if it is varying; so deliberate choice of frequency? (gh, DXLD) ** LAOS [non]. 11785, Hmong World Christian Radio via WHRI, Dec 12 until 1510 with up-down-up-down tonal singing by YL, then OM in straight talk. This is 1500-1530 Saturdays only, following Hmong Lao Radio at 1400-1500 Sat & Sun, which carries some of exactly the same hmusic. As usual huge signal, overloading with receiver-produced spurs elsewhere on 25m unless attenuated (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LITHUANIA. Am 30. Okt. 2009 hat Radio Vilnius seine letzte englischsprachige Sendung ausgestrahlt. Drei Tage zuvor kam der kurzfristige Beschluss, die englischsprachigen Sendungen einzustellen und die Redaktion aufzuloesen. Zuletzt war die Redaktion in der allgemeinen Nachrichtenredaktion des Litauischen Rundfunks integriert. Nach der Schliessung kann man nur noch (kostenpflichtige) Informationen ueber die Nachrichtenagentur BNS bekommen. Nach Angaben von Audrius Braukyla, Chef der Nachrichtenredaktion LRT, wird diskutiert, ob man irgendwie per Internet auf Englisch wieder auf Sendung gehen kann. Die dramatischsten Stunden erlebte Radio Vilnius bei der Besetzung des Radio- und Fernsehzentrums im Januar 1991. Hier war auch die englische Redaktion direkt betroffen, der es aber gelang, schon einen Tag spaeter wieder auf Sendung zu gehen. Die Art und Weise, wie die Journalisten ihre Arbeit fortsetzten und die baltischen Sender sich gegenseitig Hilfestellung gaben, wie Sprachstudenten hastig uebersetzte Nachrichten verlasen, um die internationalen Medien zu informieren, wie die Sitzungen des litauischen Parlaments trotz Belagerung im Rundfunk uebertragen wurden, machte weltweit Eindruck. Nach dem gescheiterten August-Putsch wurde die Anerkennung der Unabhaengigkeit am 1. Sept. 1991 nach langem Straeuben auch erstmals von Michael Gorbatschow angedacht. Da lief aber schon die Anerkennungswelle. Erst im Aug. 1993 zogen die letzten russischen Truppen ab. Litauen war die erste baltische Republik ohne russische Militaerpraesenz, doch das Gefuehl der Bedrohung blieb. Nicht umsonst war Litauen im Jan. 1994 das erste Land aus der ehemaligen UdSSR, das seinen Beitritt zur NATO beantragte, und damit den Westen zwang, Stellung zu beziehen. Radio Vilnius war in den Jahren des litauischen Strebens in den Westen bzw. nach Freiheit von sowjetischer und russischer Hegemonie die zentrale Quelle fuer Information ueber die Ereignisse in Litauen. Zuletzt war die Sendung aufgrund kurzfristiger Sparmassnahmen bei der Kurz- und Mittelwellenausstrahlung ab dem 1. Jan. 2009 nur noch in Litauen auf UKW und im Internet zu hoeren (Olaf Kroeger 4.11.2009, via ntt Dr. Hansjoerg Biener-D, Nov 29, via Dec WWDXC DX Magazine via DXLD) ** LITHUANIA. Re 9-084: "Daily** 3955 1630-1730 UT Russian/Chechen?" German, replacing the previous Issoudun/Wertachtal arrangements. I checked it today at 1700 and found the signal to be not that good, rather weak and noisy. And, as perhaps already mentioned, the circumstance that this slot has now been leased out to HCJB means that Radio Racya will apparently not come back again (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Dec 11, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) LITHUANIA 3955 kHz 1530-1730 UT 28NW,29NW,29SE SIT 100 kW 79 degrees The question is, which signal strength noted in target area like Ural, Kazan, Samara, Caucasus foreground etc. 79 degrees outlet from Sitkunai in 75 and 49 mb was N E V E R strong here in central Europe. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) Well, in the case of HCJB German the target is indeed Germany / Austria / Switzerland, since this Sitkunai transmission replaced on Dec 1st after six years the previous Media Broadcast arrangements. I was already sceptical if this 3955 from Sitkunai will be an adequate replacement. Apparently it indeed is not (Kai Ludwig, Germany, ibid.) ** MADAGASCAR. Dec 15 at 1715 UT noted Magagascar on 5109.95 (approximately). AM mode, 100 kHz above nominal, punching error at the transmitter site, I guess (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MADAGASCAR [non]. via Pridnestrovye, 15670, Radio Mada International, *1530-1600*, Dec 13, tune-in to test tones at 1528. Sign on at 1530 with opening announcements & very short instrumental music breaks. “Radio Mada” ID heard. Talk in presumed Malagasy. Instrumental music at 1555 to 1600 sign off. Fair signal. Sat, Sun only (Brian Alexander, PA, WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DX Listening Digest) ** MALAYSIA. 6049.6v, Salam FM via RTM, 1600-1630* Dec 9. End of the Radio Suara Islam FM program at 1559; choral National Anthem (Negaraku – Lagu Kebangsaan Malaysia); 1+1 pips; in vernacular; abundance of “Salam FM” jingles and “Radio Malaysia Salam FM”; reciting from the Qur’an and talks about Islam; EZL songs; on air phone call; fair. Most days this ends by 1604, so this was a very good day! Salam FM is focused on the teaching of Islam (da’wah), under the auspices of the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), in collaboration with Radio and Television Malaysia (RTM). It is broadcast over various FM stations in addition to 6049.6v, 6175 and 9750. http://www.radiosalamfm.com/ 6049.6v, Salam FM via RTM, 1600-1601*, Dec 10. 1600-1630*, Dec 11. Very erratic schedule! (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. I got a wee mention today on XETVH 1230 regarding my reception. Here is the link if you understand Spanish: http://www.youtube.com/user/tvdxrools#p/a/u/0/y-DmsQy9pNA Cheers (David Hamilton, Dec 9, MWC via DXLD) I hear Henrik Klemetz mentioned also. I get a feeling he`s involved in getting this done! :-) (Eric Söderman, ibid.) She is greeting Henrik Klemetz, Tore Vik, and David somebody. An audio-only YouTube (gh) Greetings and musical requests have been aired several days in a row for listeners in Norway (1), Sweden (2), Scotland (1) and next week probably also Italy (1). I believe all reporters have been receiving pictures and email from the programme presenter. More greetings are expected to follow next week. On Dec 12 it was clearly said that the Euro-DXers mentioned had been tuning in to XETVH on MW. This was a real thrill, the presenter said. As I am being mentioned on the air one might think that I have been tuning in to the station on 1230 as well, but that`s only on clips sent to me as an "UNID SS". The Italian DXer is an exception. He did in fact identify the station himself. My contribution is merely that of seeing that the DXers involved, i.e. those who have been in touch with me, will get a token of appreciation for their effort, both in writing and by means of an audio clip (Henrik Klemetz, Dec 13, MWC via DXLD) ** MEXICO. 1610, XEAUCH, Chapingo, 0307-0309*, 12/12/09, signing off with the XE National Anthem. Carrier remained on after that. The carrier has an AC hum in it, so that's not exactly helpful when trying to log the Canadian station there! 73's! (Kirk Allen, Pasadena, TX, IRCA via WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DXLD) ** MEXICO [and non]. 1700, XEPE in Tecate has changed its format and is now oldies. They are now "San Diego New 105.7 The Walrus" (Bill Block, Prescott Valley, AZ, Dec 13, IRCA via WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DXLD) Bill, With XEPE and KVNS [1700 Brownsville TX] both Oldies it will be difficult to separate the two stations with IDs. The previous talk format of XEPE really made it easy. I have heard KVNS on the vehicle radio a few times up here with a nice signal (Dennis Vroom, Salmon Creek, WA, ibid.) ** MEXICO. XEQM, 6105 KHz en Mérida, Yucatán, el día 12 de diciembre las 1350 UT en un receptor Radio Shack 12-472 (analógico) con la canción “El último beso”, señal demasiado el fondo con mucha interferencia de Radio Habana Cuba. XEOI 6010 KHz las 1355 UT en un Radio Shack 20-125 (digital) con señal bastante aceptable. Envío archivos de audio. http://rapidshare.com/files/319860908/SW6010KHZ-12DIC2009-1355UTC.WAV.html http://rapidshare.com/files/319861099/SW6105KHZ-12DIC2009-1350UTC.WAV.html Atte: (Ing. Civ. Israel González Ahumada, M.I., Yucatán, Dec 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Israel, Parece que hay que pagar para ser un ``premium member``, sin lo cual no se puede descargar. Que significa M.I.? (Glenn, ibid.) Se puede elegir "Free user"; lo que ocurre a veces es que todos los canales están ocupados y hay que esperar a que haya uno libre. Probé con el primer archivo; está listo para descargar en este momento 1550 UT. Sr. Hauser, cualquier duda, comuníquese conmigo, "M.I." significa Maestro en Ingeniería ("Master of Engineering", ME). Gracias. (Israel González A., ibid.) ** MEXICO [and non]. 6185, Dec 11 from Vatican clearance at 0620 was enjoying some neat drumming, percussion on XEPPM, but already at *0624:30 blotted by Brasília with song, starting earlier than ever. Grrr! Only three sesquiminutes today. 6185, XEPPM, Dec 15 at 0630 with space music one might have heard on ``Music from the Hearts of Space``; tnx to the eclectic format of R. Educación, you never know what kind of music they will be playing during the all-too-brief QRM-free window, which tonight lasted until *0645 Brasília playing Silent Night in progress in Portuguese (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. Transitarán en agosto del AM al FM Emigran a FM frecuencias de AM en Coahuila Foto: Milenio.com Sáb, 12/12/2009 SE PREPARAN ESTACIONES RADIOFÓNICAS PARA MIGRACIÓN DE FRECUENCIA. Saltillo, Coahuila. - En agosto del próximo año las 43 estaciones de radio en AM en Coahuila iniciarán su transición al FM para comenzar a transmitir en esa modulación, informó Martín Valdés Rodríguez. El presidente de la Cámara de la Industria de la Radio y Televisión en Coahuila informó que las estaciones ya llevan un avance y todas harán esa transición. Recordó que el 15 de septiembre del año pasado se dio a conocer el decreto del Ejecutivo Federal en el que marcaba la transición del AM al FM para avanzar en la tecnología. El AM, señaló, tiende a desaparecer y se ve en aparatos como ipod o teléfonos celulares donde sólo se pueden sintonizar estaciones de radio en FM. Eso, contó, resta competitividad a los radiodifusores y por eso se realizó la transición. La transición no implica la desaparición del AM, dijo, y en agosto se comenzarán a recibir las solicitudes para la transición. “El AM va a continuar, continúa la banda de AM, es un espectro radioeléctrico que no se puede desaparecer, la autoridad tendrá qué dar las reglas y las formas del destino del AM. “Hasta ahorita tenemos el dato de que todas las estaciones en Coahuila van a hacer la transición”. La inversión para migrar al FM, dijo, varía de una estación a otra dependiendo de la potencia, pero al menos se deben gastar 150 mil dólares en equipo, sin contar los trámites legales y sin contar la contraprestación, el pago que deberán hacer al gobierno federal. Durante un año, añadió, los radiodifusores transmitirán en AM y FM simultáneamente. En otros temas, Rafael Borbón Ramos, presidente del Consejo Consultivo de la Cámara Nacional de la Industria de la Radio y la Televisión, dijo que los extrañamientos emitidos en Coahuila por el Instituto Federal Electoral en contra de radiodifusores, ya fueron superados y no hay procedimientos en contra. “Hubo algunos extrañamientos justamente aquí en Coahuila, en relación con el uso de los espacios que corresponden al IFE y que por retrasos en la entrega de materiales no se cumplieron cabalmente las transmisiones, pero que finalmente fueron recompensados los espacios, por un lado y ya el IFE atendió nuestros documentos para probar que no fue culpa del radiodifusor”. Los portavoces de los radiodifusores fueron entrevistados en el marco de la colocación de la primera piedra del edificio de la Cámara de la Industria de la Radio y la Televisión Primera. El edificio, a construirse en un predio de 3 mil metros cuadrados donado por el Gobierno del Estado, y con una inversión de 8 millones de pesos, estará ubicado en el Centro Metropolitano, a espaladas de las oficinas de la Secretaría de la Función Pública. (Milenio.com http://www.milenio.com/node/340092 via Yimber Gaviria, Colombia, Dec 12, WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DXLD) ** MEXICO. RADIO MÉXICO INTERNACIONAL --- Estimados Amigos, Quiero actualizarles sobre la situación en la que se encuentra la emisión de la señal de RMI, http://rmi.ya.st como recordarán hace unos dias les informe que hoy 12 de Diciembre se retiraría el audio. Las condiciones económicas han sido muy adversas, pero creo que hemos logrado hacer algo interesante y he negociado mi servicio de banda ancha (T1), por lo que les comunico que he logrado un acuerdo por un año más. Este esfuerzo lo he hecho yo solo, ya que lamentablemente los amigos que en un momento me pidierón continuar y dar su apoyo para lo mismo, no se han comunicado y no tengo noticias de ellos. Nuevamente les comento que es mi esfuerzo al 100% lo que esta dando vida a este proyecto. Lo que les pido encarecidamente es que sigan acompañando esta señal, que si, no ha sido lo que se planeaba, ya que la idea erá tener contenidos y no solo emisión musical, pero por la falta de colaboradores no se ha podido hacer mucho. Por favor les pido que compartan la inquietud de solicitar colaboradores con quienes consideren puedan estar interesados y darles espacio en este foro, que es de todos. Finalmente, gracias a todos por su presencia escuchando esta señal, y les pido su compañia, para continuar con este esfuerzo. Fraternalmente (Antonio Martínez, XE1A, Dec 12, playdx yg via DXLD) ** MYANMAR. 5770.00, *0029-0045 BURMA, 12.12, Defence Forces BC, Taunggyi, Bamar. National hymn, opening ann, Burmese music and songs, 24232. Utility QRM. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, on my AOR AR7030PLUS with a 28 metres longwire here in Skovlunde near the World Centrum of Copenhagen these days, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. Today December 10, 2009 at 0200 UT we did the first LIVE edition of The Happy Station Show. This show was directed to South/Latin America on 9955. As we were doing the show we also recorded it for upload on the PCJ Media site. The show is now online at http://www.pcjmedia.com Next week the show at 0200 UT will also be live again. Starting in the new year the show to North America at 1600 UT will also be LIVE. Today at 1600 my guest is Dutch flamenco guitarist Jacco Muller (Keith Perron, PCJ, http://www.pcjmedia.com Dec 10, dxldyg via DXLD This week on Happy Station Show I will present the second part of my interview with Dody Cowan. In part 2 she will join me as Deborah Rey the author. Deborah or Dody as more of you know her as talk about growing up as a girl in Nazi occupied Holland and her rape at 7 years old. This program will air to NA at 1600 UT. The transmission at 0200 will be different (Keith Perron, Taiwan, http://www.pcjmedia.com Dec 14, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I.e. UT Thursday Dec 17, 9955 (gh) ** NEW CALEDONIA. FM DX Season Well and Truly Underway --- If you have an interest in DXing the frequencies above shortwave, this is the time to start listening! At the weekend I caught my first New Caledonian FMers of the summer season - 88.0 is always the marker station here, for RNC “Radio Nouvelle Caledonie”. Today, New Caledonia has been back! The star performer is indeed the Sony XDR-F1HD, which gives crisp clean signals on each FM channel, unlike my Icom ICR7100 communications receiver. The Sony can deliver RNC 88.0 whereas the Icom has local LPFM ‘Smooth Jazz’ 88.1 occupying 87.9 to 88.3. If you’re serious about FM DX, the Sony is a must - unfortunately only available in the USA! 24 November – New Caledonian 102.0 occasionally audible 0051, poor to fair. RNC 88.0 again at 0051. 88.0, 90.5 and 102.0 all audible 0426. 30 November – audio on 102.9 at 0005; New Caledonia from 0022 - French talk on 103.0; Rhythme Bleu 101.0 // 100.4 // 101.5 // 102.5, Djiido 103.0 // 102.0 with reggae; Radio Nouvelle Caledonie (Bryan Clark at Mangawhai, NZ, with AOR7030+ and Alpha Delta Sloper, EWEs to NE, E and SE, plus various 100 metre BOGs to the Americas, Dec NZ DX Times via DXLD) ** NIGERIA. 7255. VoN, Ikorodu, at 2110 in French, Dec. 12. Man with African news in heavily West African-accented French, brief African instrumentals same man discussing trade deal between Nigeria and Pakistan. Good signal (Grundig G3 w/ Sony AN-LP1, Louisville, KY, Mike Bryant, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. [Pirate]. 6264.20, Channel Z, 1825-1840, Dec 13, Christmas Show with pop Christmas music. ID. Blue Ridge Summit mail drop & email address for reports. Strong. Very good here in Pennsylvania (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** NORTH AMERICA. 6275.45, USA? (PIRATE), Channel Z. 1534- December 13, 2009. Received an unsolicited email: "Conditions are somewhat favorable for short skip, so I'll be on 6275.4 kHz for a few hours this morning and early afternoon. Will be playing the new "5th Anniversary Show", along with a Xmas Show and a few others. Would appreciate a quick e-mail if you hear it, or better yet, a posting on the FRN so others may tune in. Thanks, Z." I immediately checked, and had something weak -- just threshold audio with music, but impossible to identify songs -- seemingly closer to 6275.45, if them. Something equally threshold on 6925 at the same time. I tried to register on various FRN boards, but all returned a "We are not accepting new registries at this time" messaage. So much for supporting the cause (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. OETA is finishing up its DTV transition by the end of this month/year, as explained on the Oklahoma News Report. The fourteen translators (never called that but admittedly low power) along the southern and northern edges of the state are being converted from analog to DTV at the rate of roughly two per day, starting in the southwest. Brand-new solid-state DTV transmitters are being installed, in new buildings too, and satellite downlink dishes have to be moved to a different bird for the double feed of HD OETA main channel and SD OETA OKLA which will be carried on all of them. The report focused on Lawton with video of work going on there which is for channels 36.1 and 36.2. Engineer explained that measuring output power is different, involving wiring changes, adjusting screws, etc. Tuesday Dec 15, Altus and Frederick get changed. Mark Norman was then interviewed about how this is going: Just finishing the uplink at the studio for the two video channels. This HD will be the first such from any station in many rural areas of the state. Usual explanation of digital transition for those baffled about how this is accomplished, what to do with rescanning, etc. ``This will be the end of analog for OETA and we will celebrate, believe me at the end of this month!`` First batch to be completed next week: Lawton, Altus, Frederick, Ardmore, Durant, Hugo, Idabel. Then Ponca City, Alva, Buffalo, Beaver, Guymon, Boise City, the northern tier completed in latter part of December. [one of them, closest to Enid at `Medford`, was ch 46, got lost a few years ago from analog and has not been replaced!] This report may eventually be available OD, here: http://www.oeta.tv/programs/ondemand.html?list=onr But as of Dec 15, the latest file was dated Dec 11. It appears from 6 to 14 minutes into the Dec 14 edition of the Oklahoma News Report (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, Thanks for posting this information as I have seen Oklahoma translators many times. The channel 46 in Medford was the most common, but I didn't realize it was off. KLDT-46 from Sioux Falls, SD and the Nebraska (NET) translator on that channel have been in frequently. Do you know what channels all of the translators will be on digital? Maybe next spring some will be seen here. There is a new channel 40 (Billy Graham channel) here in Topeka. It is easier to get here than KTWU-11 or WIBW-13 (Dave Pomeroy, Topeka, Kansas, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dave, I have not researched the RF channels, but I suspect they are more or less the same as analog since they would not likely have been allowed to stay on air post major transition if there were issues, and some of them already had to shift into core. See http://www.oeta.tv/dtv/channels.html Which however despite the ``What`s the Frequency`` heading does NOT give all the correct RF channels for the big 4 OETA transmitters. 73, (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) ** PAKISTAN. 17700.02, *0830-0900 12.12, R Pakistan, Islamabad. Urdu frequency announcement, ID: "Ye Radio Pakistan Hai", romantic songs, announce website, 45544, slightly distorted, Best 73, (Anker Petersen, on my AOR AR7030PLUS with a 28 metres longwire here in Skovlunde near the World Centrum of Copenhagen these days, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** PAKISTAN. PBC ‘BLOCKS’ VOA PASHTO - REPORT The Gulf Times reports that the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) has blocked [sic] the Voice of America’s 4-hour Pashto language programme after the latter allegedly deviated from an agreement. However, says the report, the VOA continues to avail itself of Radio Pakistan’s hour-long airtime for its Urdu transmission daily. “Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation has blocked four hours of Pashto transmission of VOA, while the Urdu service is still continuing,” an official said yesterday. According to the deal, VOA would use PBC equipment and transmitters in Peshawar, Islamabad and Lahore to air its transmission in Pashto and Urdu on mediumwave and FM. (Source: Gulf Times) Andy Sennitt comments: The deal for the PBC to carry VOA programmes proved very controversial in Pakistan. It’s not clear whether this latest development is the result of something that was broadcast on the VOA, or a political decision in reaction to pressure inside the country. Further information/comments are welcome. The Gulf Times actually headed its story ‘PBC jams American Pashto broadcasts’ but I don’t believe that’s what has happened. I think the PBC has simply stopped carrying VOA Pashto. (December 13th, 2009 - 12:46 UTC by Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog via WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DXLD) 1 Comment on “PBC ‘blocks’ VOA Pashto - report” #1 Kai Ludwig on Dec 13th, 2009 at 15:54 This concerns the relay of Deewa Radio (not the “regular” Pashto programmes of VOA) via the Peshawar transmitter on 540 kHz. Such a loose use of words like “jamming” and “interference” can often be found in news items like this, so I think there is no doubt that the PBC simply took Deewa Radio off air. Note this PBC statement from late October: http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Politics/28-Oct-2009/PBCVOA-cooperation-as-per-law “A strict regime of checks and balances, monitoring and editorial guidelines to safeguard the national interests of Pakistan” and “any violation of the agreement would result in the unilateral cancellation of the agreement by invoking the breaking clause inserted in the agreement”. Now the interesting question is what led to the apparent cancellation of the Deewa Radio relays. It will be especially interesting to see if the VOA or the Broadcasting Board of Governors will give any statements on this matter. This is quite a blow for them: First they do not get the planned 621 kHz transmitter near Khost [AFGHANISTAN] on air, now they lose the just gained access to the Peshawar transmitter. It must also be considered that at the same time the rebroadcasts of Aap ki Dunyaa in Pakistan continue. So apparently the issue are not VOA rebroadcasts in general, it must indeed have something to do with Deewa Radio and its target area/audience (the border region of the two ’stans) in particular (Media Network blog comment via WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DXLD) ** PALAU. 9930, T8WH-World Harvest Radio, 1246-1302, Dec 12, English. Preacher with religious talk; a few comments referencing being new to the airwaves & being heard in 196 countries; wonder which DX club list he uses?; "Waymaker Ministries" ID at 1257 & contact info; filler music at 1259 into "T8WH Palau... the international voice of LeSea broadcasting.."; reception reports to Noblesville, IN address; "Dancing with God", whatever that means, program at 1301; fair with lite static; quite pleased to log something on a listed Palau frequency other than Chinese jamming! (Scott R. Barbour Jr. Intervale, NH-USA, NRD-545, RX-350D, MLB1, 200' Beverages, 60m dipole, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Anyone know of a postal address to QSL T8WH Palau direct? A Google search hasn't yielded anything worthwhile. I'm sending a report to the WHR, South Bend, Indiana-USA address & I would also like to try my luck sending one to the transmitter site. Any help is appreciated (Scott R. Barbour Jr., Intervale, N.H. USA, Dec 15, ibid.) WRTH shows P. O. Box 66, Koror, Republic of Palau PW 96940 df (Dan Ferguson, ibid.) If all else fail, you might try sending it to the KWHR Hawaii local address, if you can find that, and see if it forward (gh, DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3290, Radio Central (Port Moresby), 1238-1240, 12/9/2009, Tok Pisin. Local pop music, similar to that heard from Radio East New Britain on 3385 at this time. Threshold level signal. 3385, Radio East New Britain (Rabaul), 1233-1238, 12/9/2009, Tok Pisin. Man talking. Local pop music at 1235. Poor signal with some utility interference (Jim Evans, Germantown TN, RX-340, ALA100M, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also INDONESIA ** PERU. December Band Scan: 3329.508, Ondas del Huallaga, Huánuco, 2340 4746.87, Radio Huanta 2000, Huanta, Ayacucho, 2300 4774.9, Radio Tarma, Tarma, 2300, 0830 4790, Radio Visión, Chiclayo, 0810, 0000 4824.50, La Voz de la Selva, Iquitos, 2315 4835.42, Radio Marañón, Jaen, 0000, 0940 4857.37, Radio La Hora, Cusco, 2250 5120.458, Ondas del Suroriente, Quillabamba. Possibly with weak signal on 12 December, tentative 6019.65, Radio Victoria, Lima, 2320 73s de (Bob [Robert Wilkner], Pompano Beach, Florida, Drake R 8, Icom, Sony 2010XA, noise reducing antenna, 60 meter band dipole, Dec 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also BOLIVIA; BRAZIL, et al. ** PORTUGAL. Dear Drita: First of all sad news. I know you have previously been in contact with Isabel Saraiva of RDP Lisbon. Now her friend and colleague, Technical Director Teresa Abreu, told me in an E-mail that Isabel passed away on November 26th after a long illness. I knew that Mrs Saraiva was ill but I did not know it was so serious. Isabel was always so friendly, also full of interest and humour. I have many QSL cards from her, postcards especially with trams, which is something Lisbon and Norrköping have in common, also a T-shirt and a course of the Portuguese language. She gained many friends among DX listeners here in Sweden, even though Portugal gave up foreign language transmissions long ago. Peace be upon her, I will indeed miss her (Ullmar Qvick, Sweden, Dec 11, via Drita Çiço, Albania, WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DX LISTENING DIGEST) obit Faleceu Isabel Saraiva da RDP Internacional. --- Caros Amigos, A RDP Internacional informou no seu último Caixa Postal o falecimento da nossa muito conhecida e querida, Isabel Saraiva, responsável pela secção de Intercâmbio e Contactos da emissora portuguesa. A Isabel Saraiva deixou-nos na última semana de Novembro e será certamente relembrada por toda a comunidade da rádio-escuta pela sua extraordinária dedicação e simpatia para com todos os ouvintes, em particular para com os dexistas, pois era quem confirmava oficialmente as nossas QSL`s. Paz à sua Alma (João Costa, CT1FBF, Dec 11, dxclubepr yg via DXLD) Isabel Saraiva foi uma excelente colega no nosso hobby, e uma grande amiga de todos quanto a considerar todos os informes de recepção sendo confirmados com os belos cartões QSL da RDP. Afora os contatos pessoais por e-mail quando se fazia necessário. Pena que partiu tão cedo (Rudolf Grimm, Dec 13, radioescutas yg via DXLD) Perhaps she has a successor: ** PORTUGAL. Subject: Intercâmbio e Contactos --- Good morning, From this date, for matters relating to exchanges and contacts: Paula Nunes Teixeira Email - paula.teixeira @ rtp.pt Address RDP /Internacional Intercâmbio e contact Paula Nunes Teixeira A. Marechal Gomes da Costa, 37 1849-030 LISBON PORTUGAL I am available, Thanks Bom dia, A partir desta data para assuntos relacionados com Intercâmbio e Contactos: Paula Nunes Teixeira Email : paula.teixeira@ rtp.pt Obrigada, Paula Cristina Teixeira, Antenas Internacionais Av. Marechal Gomes da Costa, 37 1849-030 Lisboa - Portugal Tel.: (+351) 217 947 000 | www.rtp.pt (via Marcelo Bedene, Brasil, dxclubepr yg via DXLD) ** PORTUGAL. Operational B-09 schedule of RDP Internacional/Radio Portugal: West Europe Mon-Fri 0600-0655 on 7345 LIS 300 kW / 045 deg 0700-1300 on 9815 LIS 300 kW / 045 deg 0745-0900 on 7360 SIN 250 kW / 052 deg 1700-2000 on 9455 LIS 300 kW / 045 deg West Europe Sat/Sun 0800-1155 on 12020 LIS 300 kW / 045 deg 1200-1455 on 11885 LIS 300 kW / 045 deg 0930-1100 on 9815 SIN 080 kW / 052 deg DRM 1500-1655 on 11635 LIS 300 kW / 045 deg 1700-2100 on 9455 LIS 300 kW / 045 deg Middle East/India Mon-Fri 1400-1600 on 15690 LIS 100 kW / 082 deg São Tomé/Príncipe/Angola/Moçambique Mon-Fri 1100-1300 on 17745 LIS 300 kW / 144 deg 1700-2000 on 13720 LIS 300 kW / 144 deg São Tomé/Príncipe/Angola/Moçambique Sat/Sun 0800-1455 on 17590 LIS 300 kW / 144 deg 1500-1655 on 15520 LIS 300 kW / 144 deg 1700-2100 on 13720 LIS 300 kW / 144 deg Brasil/Cabo Verde/Guiné Bissau Mon-Fri 1100-1300 on 21655 LIS 300 kW / 226 deg 1700-2000 on 15465 LIS 300 kW / 226 deg Brasil/Cabo Verde/Guiné Bissau Sat/Sun 0800-1055 on 15555 LIS 300 kW / 226 deg 1100-1655 on 21655 LIS 300 kW / 226 deg 1700-2100 on 15465 LIS 300 kW / 226 deg USA/Canadá Tue-Sat 0000-0300 on 9455 LIS 300 kW / 300 deg USA/Canadá Sat/Sun 1300-1655 on 15560 LIS 300 kW / 300 deg 1700-1855 on 17825 LIS 300 kW / 300 deg 1900-2100 on 12040 LIS 300 kW / 300 deg Venezuela Tue-Sat 0000-0300 on 9855 LIS 100 kW / 261 deg South America/Brasil Tue-Sat 0000-0300 on 11655 LIS 300 kW / 226 deg (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, 10 Dec via DXLD) ** ROMANIA. Frequency changes of R Romania International from Dec 3: Serbian 2030-2056 NF 6010#TIG 100 kW / 270 deg, ex 6200 to avoid R. Bulgaria German #co-ch Radio Belarus HS in Belarussian Ukrainian 1800-1826 NF 6200*TIG 100 kW / 030 deg, ex 6000 to avoid R. Tirana Italian *co-ch Radio Bulgaria in French 2000-2026 NF 5950 TIG 100 kW / 030 deg, ex 6000 to avoid R. Tirana Italian (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, 10 Dec via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. MOSCOW, November 12 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev proposed on Thursday to consider cutting the number of time zones in the country, which spans 11 time zones. During his state-of-the-nation address to Russia's parliament he also suggested discussing the use of daylight saving time and standard time. "All the advantages of economizing and evident inconveniences in changing time are necessary to assess. I hope experts will give us objective answers to these questions," the Russian president said. Russia was divided into 11 time zones in 1919. The Soviet Union adopted the system in 1924. The country changes to daylight saving [sic] time starting from the last Sunday in March until the last Sunday in October. Last July, the industrial policy committee at the Federation Council, the upper house of Russia's parliament, proposed abolishing daylight saving time over adverse health effects (RIA Novosti website via Bernd Trutenau via ARC Information Desk Dec 7 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Re 9-084: "Would anyone like to translate the translation?" At a glance this is just the submission of the current B09 schedule by RTRS, the transmitter operator, and of course it is the long- established Radio Rossii ("Russii" is just machine translation garbage) service via the RV-353 transmitter of the Taldom site (Kai Ludwig, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. 5905, Radio Rossii; 2137-2200:02*, 11-Dec; M in Russian with very weird music program; lengthy ID spot at 2145 with addresses. First tune heard consisted of throat singing (sounding like a kazoo), turkeys gobbling & high-pitched W vocal; second tune was W in Russian reciting a poem with very jazzy music (sounded like a 50s Beatnik piece --- in Russian); third piece was thumping at variable rates and pitches plus flutes(?). Off rather abruptly. // 5930 there but covered by Prague in Spanish. No chance for // 6160 if there due to CKZN. BUT!!! // 171 which continued after 2200. 171, Radio Rossii, Bolshakovo, Kaliningrad, Russia (presumed); 0547- 0601+, 11-Dec; M&W in Russian with discussion, phone call or remote report & Russian pop song. Fair on top till 0556 when Morocco (presumed) came up. No ID heard, but based on recent NRC log. 171, Radio Rossii, Bolshakovo, Kaliningrad, Russia; 2153-2200+, 11- Dec; M in Russian with very weird music program. Barely there at 2153 but improved (best in LSB) and found // 5905 which had ID'd at 2145. 5905 went off at 2200 but 171 continued (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 125 ft. bow-tie; 85 ft. RW & 180 ft. center-fed RW + 86 ft. coil dipole, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. 5940, GTRK Magadan, 0210-0300, Dec 14. At 0209 ID for “Radio Rossi” then into their local program which starts with "Govorit Magadan" ("Magadan speaking"); series of conversations; 0230 series of advertisements with phone numbers; Russian folk songs; // 7320, both fair (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, Thanks to Mauno Ritola of Finland, who translated a portion of my GTRK Magadan reception. Audio at http://www.mediafire.com/?ytmg2mgdwtt with speaker making reference to Magadan at 4:19. “The man speaks about gathering geological information about Magadan area in form of maps. Very nice signal!” I appreciate his kind assistance! (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. 6075 via Petropavlovsk/Kamchatskiy, Dec 10 at 1359 with music and final announcement this time, IDing as R. Rossii, before 4- second late timesignal at 1400*. No 8GAL audible then on 6074, nor anything from Taiwan or China on 6075. RR transmitter slightly unstable, but the rumble much reduced (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also GERMANY [and non] ** RUSSIA [non]. 4975, VOR via Dushanbe-Yangiyul, 1517, Dec 11. In English; weak (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAUDI ARABIA. 9870, R. Riyadh in Arabic 2232-2200 10/30, OM singing with background music, talk, ID sounding like ``Hroh de oh Hree-odd``, fair signal growing stronger to 2200 (Kevin Molander, CA, Dec NASWA Journal via DXLD) ** SAUDI ARABIA. 11785, BuzzSKSA audible Dec 11 around 1440. But not at 1515, nor on 15435 which is normally rasping away after 1500. I made sure to turn off the oil heater QRM during this check. 11785, BuzzSKSA, 1459 Dec 13 immediately audible once WHRI Hmong Lao Radio cut carrier, while WHRI was so strong before that not a trace of buzz. At 1505, 15435 with even bigger buzz. See also USA [non] AWR Dec 14 at 1455 just as Spain closed 15385, I was hearing buzzes here and there, on and off from 15375 up past 15500, suspected as attempts to turn on the Buzzing Service of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia transmitter, nominal 15435. But nothing of any of that at 1501. It was sure on at next check 1514, blotting 15410-15450 with horrible ratchety frying noise; as BSKSA reinforces the evidence each day that their engineering is totally incompetent (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SEYCHELLES [non]. 9850, UAE, FEBA Radio, via Dhabbaya, 1639 12/13/09. Tigrinya service listed. Interesting a cappella singing by males. Fair signal (Jerry Strawman, Des Moines, IA, Drake R8B, Perseus SDR, Wellbrook 1.1M Loop, Wellbrook ALA-100 Loop, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SEYCHELLES [non]. Some VTCommunications changes: FEBA Radio in Urdu and Kashmiri to North India 1430-1500 NF 9650 DHA 250 kW / 070 deg, ex 12045 (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, 15 Dec via DXLD) ** SOMALIA [non]. 9885, 14/Dez 1754, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, *presumed", Radio Horyaal, in Somali, from Dhabbaya, with 250 kW, YL talks, seemed YL interviewing an OM on the phone. 1800 end transmission by YL. Light QRM from Family Radio at the same frequency. Signal weak (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana Bahia - Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) More about this one on page 503 of WRTH 2010; address in Scarborough, Ontario (gh, DXLD) ** SPAIN. REE Emisión Sefarad, 15385, Monday-only, Dec 14 at 1442 in Castilian at the moment, interview explaining janucá; 1446 back to Ladino for feature about anniversaries, such as the 100th of the death of composer Isaac Albéniz, 1450 guitar playing a tango by another composer; 1452 upwrapping with e-mail address sefarad @ rtve.es and 1453 sign-off, schedule, back to giving wrong frequency! Claimed to ME/Mediterranean Mon 1425 on 15325! Tue 0115 to SAm 11780 [so colliding with Brasília, or really on 11795 as otherwise announced? I have yet to confirm which]; and Tue 0415 to NAm on 9690. Gave REE 6- digit PO Box address, e-mail again, fanfare and cut off at 1455* before it could resolve. 15385 back on weaker a few minutes later with REE regular Castililan service. Sefarad reception was very good today on 15385 here far from the target area. I always enjoy the music and the `strange Spanish` spoken (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SRI LANKA. 7190.09, 0110-0125 11.12, Hindi announcement, folksongs, 25232. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, on my AOR AR7030PLUS with a 28 metres longwire here in Skovlunde near the World Centrum of Copenhagen these days, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) When are SLBC going to get out of the exclusive 40m hamband? Don`t the SL amateurs object, Victor? (gh, DXLD) 11905, SLBC Colombo, 1231-1233*, Dec 12, vernacular. Hindi-like music at tune-in into announcer with presumed s/off announcement; distinct IS at 1232 then carrier until off; fair; Aoki lists SLBC as going until 1430* (Scott R. Barbour Jr. Intervale, NH-USA, NRD-545, RX-350D, MLB1, 200' Beverages, 60m dipole, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SRI LANKA [non]. 6045, 0050-0100*, CLANDESTINE, 11.12, Voice of Tigers, via Wertachtal, Tamil announcement, Tamil songs, 55555. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, on my AOR AR7030PLUS with a 28 metres longwire here in Skovlunde near the World Centrum of Copenhagen these days, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) Due giorni fa ho lasciato in automatico la registrazione di parte di questa banda... e ho provato a fare una lista di roba extraeuropea o interessante che arrivava, spero sia gradita. Ore 0000: 6045, IBC Tamil via Wertachtal, Germany - S/ON without ID with good local music very good. Rx: rfspace sdr-iq - Ant: wellbrook ala1530s+ -- (Leonardo Bolli - Italy, AppuntiDx Radio Blog: http://appuntidx.blogspot.com Dec 14, playdx yg via DXLD) ** SUDAN [non]. ITALY/SLOVAKIA. Frequency change of Miraya FM Radio via IRRS Shortwave: 0300-0600 on 9835 RSO 150 kW / 160 deg EaAf/Sudan English/Arabic, deleted 1500-1800 NF 9825 RSO 150 kW / 160 deg EaAf/Sudan English/Arabic, x 15650* *effective from Dec. 15 (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, 15 Dec via WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DXLD) Ha! IRRS finally had enough of colliding with Greece on 15650 at 1500- 1550; and/or needed a lower band to propagate winterly (gh, WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DXLD) ** SWITZERLAND [and non]. REACTION BY ARAB MEDIA ON SWISS DECISION TO BAN MINARETS | Text of report by Swiss Radio International's Swissinfo website on 9 December; subheadings as published Following Switzerland's decision to ban new minarets, reaction in the Arab media has ranged from calls for sanctions to the need for self- critical reflection. "Shame", "Holocaust", "Islamophobia", "humiliation" - words that have appeared regularly in Arab press since 57.5 per cent of Swiss voters said yes on November 29 to a ban on the construction of minarets. Most commentators wondered what could have pushed the Swiss to vote as they did, and what the consequences would be for a country that found itself attracting criticism from all sides, including from the United Nations and the European Union. The Qatari newspaper Al-Raya was amazed at the voting behaviour of a country known for its freedom of speech and democratic principles. According to the Assabah newspaper in Tunisia, "the stigmatization of Islam in the West is no longer a question of mere media provocation - from now on it genuinely threatens the Muslim minority". Al-Quds Al-Arabi, edited in London, observed: "If Switzerland - known for its neutrality, quality of life and very high levels of education - is foundering with Islamophobia, one can no longer blame certain other European countries which appear sensitive because of unemployment and the financial crisis." September 11 "Why do they hate us and what does the minaret ban hide?" asked Al- Dostour in Jordan, for whom the vote reflected the rise of the European far right. It added that this was the result of a campaign against Islam led by Western political authorities and media since September 11, 2001. The Kuwaiti daily Al-Watan said the vote was the sign of "European mental regression, a return to the middle ages and a desire to eliminate others". For a columnist in Egypt's Al-Ahram, everything being said about creeping Islamicisation and the introduction of sharia law was "pure fantasy." The comments of Al-Shourouq in Algeria were hardly more flattering. Under the headline "Four minarets rock Switzerland and tear down its neutrality", it blamed the Swiss government for allowing the vote to be put to the people. It also placed responsibility on Swiss Muslims, "who failed to unite and speak under one banner and let themselves be distorted". Sanctions Some media called for a boycott of Switzerland or other sanctions. The Palestinian website Dounia Al-Watan demanded rich Arabs withdraw their money from Swiss banks. Al-Dostour in Egypt drew comparisons between Islamophobia and anti- Semitism and pointed out how the hatred of Jews slowly gained ground in Germany, resulting in the Holocaust. Alam Al-Akhbar, an Arab site in Turkey, invited Muslims to deposit their money in Turkish banks. In London Al-Sharq Al-Awsat believed there was a connection between the minaret vote and the two Swiss businessmen sentenced to 16 months in prison three days later by a Libyan court for visa irregularities and tax evasion. Dialogue Less harsh words were found on the London-based Elaph website, which wondered whether the Swiss vote was not ultimately linked to the poor image offered to the West by Muslims in Western countries. Similarly Al-Ittihad, a newspaper in the United Arab Emirates, said one shouldn't "insult" a democratic and sovereign country which was free to adopt whatever measures it deemed necessary. It added: "Maybe [the Swiss voted like that] because they fear for their Christianity?" The Moroccan daily Al-Alam asked whether the vote didn't throw back into question the issue of inter-religious dialogue - precisely what Al-Watan in Kuwait was calling for, suggesting conferences to fight Islamophobia. The appeal for dialogue was also made on IslamOnline, a moderate site that recognizes a serious crisis between the West and Muslims. The problem, it said, "is the absence of a reasonable voice ... [ellipsis as published] it falls to Arabs and Muslims to be responsible for preventing problems and protecting their beliefs and customs". Source: Swissinfo website, Bern, in English 0000 gmt 9 Dec 09 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** SYRIA. 9330, Radio Damascus, 2102-2115+, Dec 10, tune-in to opening English announcements with IDs, mention of frequencies and contact information. Local music. English news at 2105. Good signal strength and good modulation initially but modulation dropped down to a weak level at 2105. // 12085 - good signal strength but very weak modulation and with hum. 9330, Radio Damascus, 1902-1915+, Dec 13, French programming with talk, local music. Good signal. Good audio but with slight hum. Weak // 12085 - also with hum (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) Possible on Sat & Sun; M-F WBCQ is on 9330 at 19-20+ (gh, DXLD) Dear Radio Friends, I posted a new message and audio recording of Radio Damascus on shortwave on the Radio Damascus Listeners Club website at : http://www.radio-damascus-listeners-club.tk or http://groups.yahoo.com/group/radio_damascus http://groups.yahoo.com/group/radio_damascus/files "Dear Radio Damascus friends, Please find a new file in the "Files" section of the Radio Damascus Listeners Club website, an audio recording of Mr. L. Kecskes of the United Kingdom : http://groups.yahoo.com/group/radio_damascus/files The details of the recording are as follow : date : Thursday, 10th of December 2009 time : 20.58 - 21.00 hours UTC frequency : 12085 kHz / 25 meter band Mr. Kecskes wrote : "Yesterday (Thu 10 Dec 2009) afternoon I managed to record the best Radio Damascus catch in years. Though the low audio level problem still persists, this time al least it was mostly understandable. I trust you will agree that even the best programme needs to be heard in order to be enjoyed... I enclosed a clip of the best part of the end of the first English broadcast. I hope it will be of use to your technical people, as the low audio level problem -- presumably due to low modulation index employed or a defective modulator unit -- has plagued your broadcasts ever since I first caught Radio Damascus many years ago." I thank Mr. Kecskes for providing us with the audio recording and sharing his excellent reception catch of Radio Damascus. Kris Janssen, Belgium" (via Janssen, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN. 7445, Radio Taiwan International, 1130 Dec 10, interview program to "Instant Noodles" with Charlie and Andrew. SIO 343 with deep fades. not as good as it has been recently, but much better than the dark days of last year. SWLs NOTE: this is a funny program for casual listening, recapping bizarre and off-the-wall news from Asia. Who knew the Korean courts have upheld the cab drivers` rights to watch TV while driving? (Rick Barton, AZ, ABDX via DXLD) Armchair listening via WYFR relays in the evening. That was a UT Thursday (gh) ** TIBET. 6200, Xizang PBS-Lhasa, 1631-1700, Dec 9. In English; “Holy Tibet” program; news items about Tibet; Tibet Tourism; traditional Tibetan music; fair. 6200, Xizang PBS-Lhasa, 1630-1700, Dec 11. In English; “Holy Tibet” program; traditional Tibetan music; item about “Barkhor Street in downtown Lhasa, capital of Tibet, was crowded with people for the celebration of Tibetan Women's Day on December 2, in memory of the Goddess White Lhamo”. Outstanding reception; able to make out just about 100% of what was said! (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7 minute audio segment of the above log at: http://www.mediafire.com/?nk1nmajgnwm (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, California, USA, Etón E1 with antenna of 200 feet of Flexweave wire, Dec 14, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** TUNISIA. 7225. RTT Tunis, Sfax, at 2019 in Arabic, Dec. 12. Female mideastern vocals. Good, better than // 7345 which was co-channel with Slovakia (Grundig G3 w/ Sony AN-LP1, Louisville, KY, Mike Bryant, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dec 13 I sat on RTT, 7275 from 0620 or so with its usual good Arab music, to see exactly when it would go off the air: 0627:30* after fading down the music, so at least there is a little finesse involved; continued on // 7335. Monitored RTT on 7275 again Dec 15 to see when it would go off, at 0627:30 like [the night before] yesterday? Almost: YL started outro to previous music, with cuckoo-clock sounds, but faded her out after a few Arabic words, OC and off by 0627:20; continued on // 7335 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also UNIDENTIFIED 7194+ ** TURKMENISTAN. 279, A carrier with no or at least no audible modulation has been noted on this frequency, often causing a 1-3 Hz heterodyne with other stations on the frequency. The approximate sign on and sign off is 2245 and 2200, respectively. This carrier is believed to be from Turkmenistan, which has not been heard here with audio for some time. It should be noted that audio in the background of Belarus is often caused by the Luxembourg effect (Olle Alm, Sweden, ARC Information Desk 7 Dec via DXLD) ** TURKS & CAICOS. PORTOBELLO --- Bernard Shaw ('Bernie') who served as principal anchor on CNN from 1980 through his retirement in 2001. Married to Allison, has one each son, daughter. In my recently released fictional trilogy 'Portobello' http://www.portobelloonebook.com 'Bernie appears in a 'cameo role' of some importance towards the end of book 3. Anyone clever enough out there to locate a home/mailing address for him wherever he is? Would like to gift him with a set of books (Bob Cooper in New Zealand, Dec 13, WTFDA via DXLD) Bob is a renowned VHF/TV DXer, set up the radio and TV system on Provo, and hosted yours truly for a brief visit. What a story. Look at the website (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) He's represented through the Washington Speakers Bureau, which is reachable at: 703.684.0555, 1663 Prince Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA, or through their contact form at: http://www.washingtonspeakers.com/about/contact.cfm?delivery=footer (Blaine Thompson, WTFDA via DXLD) ** UGANDA. 11.12, 4976, UBC Radio, 2028 clear from VoR [4975 Tajikistan] but signal with nearly no modulation! (just heard some beats in marginal audio level) (Zacharias Liangas, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [non]. Here are some of the promos on the "New Big L" 1395 Emperor Rosko http://www.kbcradio.eu/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Big-L-1395-Emperor-Rosko1.mp3 Wolf Man Jack http://www.kbcradio.eu/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Wolf-promo.mp3 Tony Currey http://www.kbcradio.eu/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/LIVELY-LOUNGE-BIG-L.mp3 (Tony Boreham, Dec 14, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) ** U S A. Glenn, The transmitter complement for VOA site B is as follows: 3 Continental 420A 500 kW transmitters 3 GE 250 kW 1 BBC 500 kW 1 AEG S4005-500 500 kW 1 Continental 617A SSB transmitter used for DRM There are not any Marconi transmitters at this VOA Greenville B Site. 73 (Glenn Swiderski, IBB Greenville NC, Dec 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also UNIDENTIFIED 15570, 15580, See also PAKISTAN ** U S A [non]. Frequency changes for Voice of America from Dec. 12: 1400-1500 NF 15530 BIB 100 kW / 075 deg, ex 17520 Tibetan 1500-1600 NF 9310 PHT 250 kW / 283 deg, ex 13735 English 1600-1700 NF 6000 IRA 250 kW / 025 deg, ex 11500 Bangla Frequency changes of Radio Free Asia in Burmese from Dec. 12: 0030-0130 NF 12115 IRA 250 kW / 057 deg, ex 13815 1230-1330 NF 7595 PHT 250 kW / 280 deg, ex 15700 1330-1400 NF 7595 PHT 250 kW / 280 deg, ex 9670 (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, 15 Dec via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Radio Free Europe --- There was an interesting feature today on BBC Radio 4 "Last Word" as an obituary to Jim Brown who played an important role in the Cold War through a long career with Radio Free Europe, ending as Director from 1978 to 1984. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00p6vld (Mike Terry, Dec 11, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Frequency changes of Radio Liberty: 0600-0700 NF 11730 BIB 100 kW / 065 deg, ex 9740 in Tatar-Bashkir 1500-1600 NF 9485 IRA 250 kW / 315 deg, ex 7580 in Farsi R.Farda 2000-2100 NF 7470 LAM 100 kW / 068 deg, ex 5895 in Tatar-Bashkir 2000-2100 NF 5895 LAM 100 kW / 055 deg, ex 9840 in Russian Additional frequency for Voice of America in Tibetan from Dec. 4 1400-1500 on 17520 BIB 100 kW / 075 deg \\ 7255, 7470, 9670 Cancelled transmissions of Voice of America: Kurdish 1300-1400 on 11635 LAM, 11805 BIB, 15530 SAO, 17580 BOT Turkish 1145-1200 on 15240 LAM Mon-Fri 1930-2000 on 7235 LAM, 9490 IRA Mon-Fri (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, 10 Dec via DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. 9955, WRMI relaying R. Prague, good signal vs DentroCuban jamming pulses at 0710 Dec 10. Per Jeff White, WRMI will only be using the SSE antenna a while longer until the NW antenna can be repaired by mid-December. Unlike some other recent nights, propagation from FL very good this time with WYFR inbooming on its four 31m channels. Assuming WRMI would be inaudible anyway, did not check 9955 before 0700 for WORLD OF RADIO, UT Thu, but did confirm via webcast the first broadcast anywhere of new #1490 from 0630. So it was probably audible too on 9955 along with the totally uncalled-for jamming. Please direct complaints to Arnie Coro, whose DX program is never jammed. 9955, WRMI, clear of jamming Dec 15 at 0657 ending ``El Camino`` religious program, brief fill music, 0659 IDs and reception report info by Jeff White, 0701 R. Prague relay in English. Back to usual very heavy jamming, no WRMI audible before 1500 UT. Between 1505 and 1510 the jamming noise gradually abated audiblizing another R. Prague relay in English (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also CUBA ** U S A [non]. GERMANY. Some Media Broadcast changes: Cheetah Radio in English to SoAs: 1600-1700 on 9650 WER 125 kW / 090 deg Sat, cancelled from Dec. 5 (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, 15 Dec via DXLD) Brokered by RMI ** U S A. TWO CHARGED WITH RUNNING $190M PONZI SCHEME --- U.S. REGULATORS BRING DOWN THE HAMMER ON MONEY MANAGERS PITCHING A SUSPECT CURRENCY INVESTMENT. By DAN BROWNING, Star Tribune Last update: November 25, 2009 - 9:33 AM http://www.startribune.com/business/72910037.html?elr=KArksUUUoDEy3LGDiO7aiU [Follow-up to story in DXLD 9-079; they were on WWCR] Federal regulators announced Tuesday that they have charged a Minneapolis money manager and a Burnsville radio personality with running a Ponzi scheme that defrauded at least 1,000 people out of more than $190 million in a bogus currency investment scheme. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) issued statements about separate lawsuits the agencies filed Monday in Minneapolis that were made public Tuesday. The agencies said they had obtained emergency orders freezing the assets held by "self-proclaimed" money manager Trevor Cook, 37, of Apple Valley, and conservative radio talk show host Patrick Kiley, 71, of Burnsville, as well as four of their business entities and 13 "relief defendants" related to the alleged scheme, including two of Cook's in-laws. Chief U.S. District Judge Michael Davis in Minneapolis issued the order freezing the assets of the defendants and appointing a receiver to oversee them. He scheduled a hearing on a motion for a preliminary injunction in the matter for Dec. 4. According to the complaints, Cook and Kiley sold unregistered investments through shell companies and misled investors into thinking their money would be held in separate accounts and used to trade in foreign currencies. They promised returns of 10 to 12 percent and said there was no risk to their capital, which could be withdrawn anytime. 'Spending spree' Kiley pitched the investment on his radio show, "Follow the Money," which was broadcast in more than 200 markets and on Christian shortwave radio. Cook, operating out of the Van Dusen mansion in Minneapolis, promoted the currency program through investment seminars and financial advisors around the country and in Canada. "Cook and Kiley told investors that their money would be invested safely and profitably," Merri Jo Gillette, director of the SEC's Chicago regional office, said in a prepared statement. "Instead, they went on a $40 million-plus spending spree with investors' money and lost another $40 million in risky foreign currency trading." Peter Wold, a criminal defense attorney representing Kiley, said the actions came as no surprise. Regulators have been investigating for several months, and the investment program has been the subject of numerous stories in the Star Tribune. As for the allegations, Wold said, "Pat always believed these funds were invested appropriately and still does today, and hopefully we'll find out that was true." Cook's attorney, John Thompson, said he also expected the regulators' lawsuits. "However, this isn't going to cause Mr. Cook to embark upon a public relations campaign or try his case in the press," he said. In addition to charging Cook and Kiley, regulators charged their companies -- UBS Diversified Growth, Universal Brokerage FX Management, Oxford Global Advisors and Oxford Global Partners -- in the scheme. None was registered to sell securities. The SEC says Cook and Kiley pooled their investors' money in bank and trading accounts in the names of businesses they controlled, including the defendant shell companies and relief defendants Basel Group, Crown Forex LLC, Market Shot, PFG Coin and Bullion, Oxford FX Growth, Oxford Global FX, Oxford Global Managed Futures Fund, UBS Diversified FX Advisors, UBS Diversified FX Growth and UBS Diversified Management. Cook also gave investor funds to his wife's parents, Clifford and Ellen Berg of Apple Valley, to hide the assets, the SEC's complaint says. The Bergs could not be reached Tuesday, but Clifford Berg, contacted in September, said Cook was embarrassed by the turn of events. "It's a real bad deal for the kid," Berg said, declining to say more. But the SEC's lawsuit indicates it was a much worse deal for the investors. "Cook and Kiley, in effect operating a Ponzi scheme, diverted approximately $51 million of the investors' funds to pay ostensible returns and principal to other investors," the SEC's suit says. A federal grand jury is investigating whether criminal charges should be brought in the case. Triggered by Ohio investors According to the SEC, Cook and Kiley misappropriated $42.8 million of the investor funds, including $18 million that Cook used to buy into two trading firms; $12.8 million that Cook and Kiley transferred to accounts in Panama, purportedly to finance construction of a casino; and at least $12 million for personal expenses. Cook gambled away $4.8 million and spent $2.8 million to buy the Van Dusen mansion just south of downtown Minneapolis, the SEC says. Cook and Kiley converted another $108 million of the investors' money to fund banking and trading accounts that they held, the suit adds: "At the present, Cook and Kiley's victims face losses of at least $139 million." The alleged fraud took place from July 2006 through July 2009, when nine Ohio investors filed a federal lawsuit in Minneapolis because they were unable to withdraw nearly $5 million from the currency strategy. Jack Harper, an attorney with Messerli and Kramer who represents those investors and 98 others who joined them in the suit, said Tuesday "we are delighted that the SEC has initiated this action. We will continue to provide whatever assistance we can to the agencies for the benefit of our 109 clients as well as all the other investors who have lost their life savings." "We will aggressively pursue the claims in our lawsuit and hopefully between our case and the SEC's action we will be able to secure the return of most of the monies, which were invested and bring all the responsible parties to justice," Harper said. The CFTC's complaint is similar to the SEC's, but it also identifies Swiss Forex SA as "a related entity." That firm is a foreign exchange trading entity formed in 2005 that had offices in Bassecourt, Switzerland. According to the CFTC, "Cook has owned 51 percent of Crown Forex, SA since at least December 2008." Swiss regulators have been investigating Crown Forex SA since last December. On May 19, they forced it into liquidation for banking law violations, "including failure to properly account for customer funds." Swiss regulators say the company, now defunct, has no assets. The CFTC said Cook also used customer funds for personal expenses including frequent gambling, the purchase of at least seven luxury cars, a house boat and a submarine. Investors sought stability Shadi Swais, former CEO of Crown Forex SA, claimed to have a master's degree in international business administration from the American Graduate School of Business, a private Swiss entity. The school said in an e-mail Tuesday that it had no record of Swais attending classes there. Swais, who reportedly is of Jordanian descent and grew up in Chicago, could not be reached for comment. Cook also paid $15 million for a 35 percent share in JDFX Holdings, Inc., a British Virgin Islands company headquartered in Switzerland, the SEC suit says. It says Cook, using investor funds, engaged in high-risk trades through JDFX. "Many of the victims are senior citizens who are unsophisticated and inexperienced in financial matters," the SEC noted in its lawsuit. "Some victims liquidated their retirement accounts to invest in Cook's and Kiley's venture." More than 200 investors with nearly $100 million invested in the currency program have called the Star Tribune since it first began reporting on the alleged scheme in early July. Many said they had invested everything they had in the currency program, fearing instability in the stock markets. They said they trusted their investment advisors, who spent hours with them on the phone. Some mortgaged their homes, at the advice of their advisers, to get money for additional investments. Minneapolis financial adviser Bo Beckman, who both promoted the currency investment and invested in it along with his in-laws, obtained a court order recently in Panama City freezing the land that Cook and his associates were buying for a hotel-casino project. Beckman, owner of the Oxford Private Client Group, also is disputing Cook's ownership claims to the Van Dusen mansion. "We are very pleased with the action the SEC has taken to assist all investors in the recovery of our funds," Beckman and his wife, Hollie, said in a statement Tuesday. "We expect that our efforts, along with the legal actions we have taken regarding the Van Dusen mansion, the Panamanian real estate and other actions, will be of assistance to the government in its endeavors." (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. 7465, checking to confirm WORLD OF RADIO 1490 airage on WWCR scheduled Friday 2130, but Dec 11 there was a ``Creation Moment`` (standard disclaimer), and a string of PSAs including Community Coalition = anti-drug (or as the Brits insist on saying, anti-drugS), heart disease screening courtesy of MEDICARE.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE, USDHS, WWCR ID by Dr Plummer, but then opening in Spanish ``hasta 2,300 horas``, and at 2133 Frecuencia al Día a semi-hour early. But at 2135 cut to WORLD OF RADIO, and played to conclusion a few minutes past 2200. Another example to reinforce our advice: if you don`t hear WOR exactly at scheduled time on some of our affiliates, don`t give up. What`s heard on WWCR-3, 7490 [not 7465 as in my original report! That`s the WWCR-1 afternoon frequency], Saturday mornings, does not match what`s on the pdf schedule altho updated as of Dec 1, at http://www.wwcr.com/program-guides/WWCR_Program_Guide.pdf which shows in CST = UT-6: 7:00A Rock The Universe Rich Adcock 8:00A Country Crossroads Bill Mack Instead, Dec 12 at 1340 UT there was a Christian/financial show, and at 1425, Musical Memories was being wrapped up by Martha with her address in Illinois, and finally ``Silent Night``, her self- accompaniment on piano not exactly in synch with her singing. This is not the first time she has appeared here instead of Country Crossroads, but too bad that Rock the Universe is off, once or always? At 1425 I was also noticing rapid fading, seems like a SAH of about 6 Hz, but could not hear any other audio. Normally the WWCR signal is rock-solid, but not so strong today. The only other thing scheduled on 7490 is WRN via Tajikistan until Dec 15, 100 kW at 70 degrees, 1300- 1500. Per DXLD 9-081, that`s Radio Free North Korea (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DX LISTENING DIGEST) New episodes of Rock the Universe have not been posted online since Nov 28/09; perhaps Rich is under the weather, or taking a break. It seems to me the show has been on hiatus before. I hope it returns soon. It`s a great show. http://dkosmediaus.com/Audio.htm (Fred Waterer, Ont., ODXA yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DXLD) Dear DX'ers: I received my QSL card from WWCR in Nashville for confirming reception of the "Special Test" transmission of WWCR on 4775 at 2311 UT on November 21, 2009. It reads: "SPECIAL TEST" and has a photo of one of the finals used to carry out the test along with the photo of A Grundig YB400 PE receiver. I'll add this to my collection. 73's and Happy Holidays, (Noble West, TN, Grundig YB500 with builtin whip, Dec 11, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Received mine here today as well (Steve Lare, Holland, MI USA, Dec 12, ibid.) ** U S A [and non]. Big problem at The University Network, Dec 14 at 0656: PMS audio cutting on for a split second, then cutting off with a thumping sound, over and over averaging once per second but irregularly, sometimes on for more than a split second. This was occurring in synch on both Anguilla 6090 and WWCR 5935, so obviously occurs somewhere upstream from either radio station --- could be anywhere from TUN studio in LA to the satellite transponder. This continued thru 0700 with music bits and studio announcer with 800 number, etc. (neither station bothers to insert a local ID at hourtop). Still the same well past 0700. Is no one paying attention in LA, aboard the satellite, at Nashville or The Valley? Not checked again until 0716 when 5935 had become OK, while 6090 was still upbreaking. In fact, they were no longer //, so someone was paying attention at WWCR, where they must have switched to an in-house backup recording. It all sounds the same, anyway, so it`s remarkable that TUN doesn`t dump the satellite expenses and just play a one-hour CD over and over at transmitter stations! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. The dirty 13845 parasitic from WEWN`s 13835 transmitter, quite strong on the fundamental, was way atop weak PMS via WWCR on 13845, Dec 14 at 1438. This has gone on for years, plus and minus 10 kHz from at least one WEWN transmitter. You`d think the victims such as WWCR and WYFR would raise hell about it. Maybe because they are not without sin? Long ago, when I brought it to the attention of WEWN, they tried to blame it on my receiver, and still haven`t fixed it (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. On caradio at 2045 Dec 10 noticed steady EWTN Catholic programming on 1090, a frequency normally vacant of groundwave here daytimes, so skywave was kicking in. Call-in with an authority cluing in listeners about doctrine; can they take the Old Testament seriously as inerrant? By 2053 I had switched to the DX-398 and it was looping NE/SW as a SAH of about 3 Hz was developing, likely caused by Little Rock a hefty acute angle apart. And the Catholic station was running about one second behind WEWN on 15610. During rest of hour, was sometimes // and sometimes not, as it must have been cutting in and out of network feed. 2100 ID as ``KESX, the station that cares``, and shortly The Lord`s Prayer. So it`s the 3.4 kW daytimer in Excelsior Springs MO, near Kansas City, with a direxional pattern, surprise, surprise, toward the big city, main lobe about 248 degrees, so also favoring Enid (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 15550-USB, WJHR, Milton FL, not heard Dec 10 at 1414 at 1455 checks. But audible at 1602 with revival music, preacher. Quite weak signal. FCC tells me WJHR is authorized to conduct equipment tests on 15550 kHz 1400-2200 UT; that`s all. A clip of the ID I recorded Dec 8 is on WORLD OF RADIO 1490 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1490, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15550 USB, WJHR-Milton, Florida, 1630-1705+, Dec 10, fire & brimstone preacher. Gospel music. Very weak in USB. Much stronger at 1925 check with fire & brimstone preacher (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) WJHR, 15550-USB, weakly audible at 1930 Dec 10, same F&B preacher as always, but who is this lucky guy with an exclusive SW station? Next check around 2045, not heard, so maybe closed in meantime. Dec 11 at 1500, not heard. At least with SSB one can expect to detect a signal if it be on, tho surely nowhere near the 50 kW equivalent AM power required, bending the rules. OTOH, it`s been so weak so far that poor propagation and unfavorable skip distance could be enough to disaudiblize it here even if on. Still no reply to my 3 e-mails to them Dec 8; has anyone heard from them? 15550-USB, no sign of WJHR Milton FL either the morning of Dec 11 nor at 1925 check. [and non]. WJHR, 15550-USB: no sign of it Sat Dec 12 at 1444 or 1516, altho there was quite a bit of splash from RDPI 15560 which is on the air weekends only. 15550-USB, another day with no WJHR heard, Dec 13 at 1505 and 1720 chex. Perhaps we`ll leave it at that until it be heard again (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) BUT: 15550 USB, WJHR-Milton, Florida, 1615-1650, Dec 13, fire & brimstone preacher. Very weak in USB (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) Por otro lado, buscando en la red, me encontre con lo siguiente: WJHR Radio International http://70.183.235.29:8080/radiodestiny.rdl Pero que sucedió, de que mi reproductor no me dejó abrir ese archivo, con extension rdl. La descripcion de la extension RDL es que viene de RadioDestiny radio stream, por si desea saber más, visite: http://www.file-extensions.org/rdl-file-extension-radiodestiny-radio-stream Esto es para los que la quieran escuchar en la red; la situación es que hay que instalar el reproductor de Destiny Media Player para PC. y se puede descargar de: http://www.pirateradio.com/downloads/ Por si decide a descargar el reproductor y escuchar esta nueva emisora, después de haberlo instalado, puede ir a la dirección en la red http://70.183.235.29:8080/radiodestiny.rdl --- el de inmediato descargar el archivo "radiodestiny. rdl", simplemente ubica donde descarga el archivo y le dan clic, de inmediato se debe abrir el reproductor http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPDvhzyEjgc&feature=player_embedded Escuchada en la red el dia 9 de diciembre de 2009 a las 1400 hs UTC (Yimber Gaviría, Colombia, Dec 10, dxclubepr yg via DXLD) ?? It is worth no effort whatsoever to listen to what WJHR has to offer, nothing but an F&B gospel huxter, if one cannot get it on SW; and not even then except as a novelty. Fortunately we get only 34 seconds of ``hard gospel`` on the YouTube, no ID (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WJHR check of 15550-USB, Dec 14 at 1440: nothing. However, at 1501 it was on and heard it weakly with same ID I recorded on first log anywhere six days earlier, then into gospel music and preacher. Compared it to its nearest neighbor geographically and frequencially, WEWN on 15610: that signal was S9+8 with fading, certainly not solid, but incontrovertibly on and transmitting Xmas music. 15550-USB was poor, just barely audible, and at next check 1515 was gone --- cannot tell if it went off the air or propagation resumed being unfavorable after a brief opening. I had thought WJHR was off the air Sunday morning Dec 13, but Brian Alexander, PA, managed to hear it weakly at 1615-1650 between my two chex at 1505 and 1720. Finally got an e-mail reply a week after first heard and reported to them; FCC told me hours authorized in UT were 1400-2200, but in CST west Florida the time he gives is 1500-2300; confusion somewhere about timezones or DST? (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dear Glen[n], Thanks for report. We are now in testing mode only. Hours of operation are 9:00 to 5:00 daytime. QSL cards will be sent someday when they are printed. Preachers are from Smyrna Baptist Church in Pensacola. FL. Call Bill Adams at 850-377-2242 for information on preachers. Thank you for listening! (G. S. Mock, WJHR International, Dec 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi - I just spoke with Scott Mock, the owner of this new station. They are still in the testing phase, running 1,000 watts into a two element quad. He says they are testing (but not always on) between 9 AM and 5 PM Central. 1500-2300 UT. Scott added that he will QSL and gave his email as wjhr@usa.com The call stands for John Hill Radio. He was the guy who recorded the church service programming that the station is playing (Hans Johnson, Dec 15, Cumbredx mailing list via WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DXLD) If you google WJHR you are more likely to find a former AM station in NJ or an FM station in TN (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** U S A. WWRB : RANGE STATION --- Hi Glenn: We have received lots of Emails on the Four Course Radio Range station located here at WWRB shortwave: Power is 50 watts, frequency is 28210 kHz, four Adcock vertical antennas, raised ground plane counterpoise 5 feet off the ground, 50 feet in diameter operated in phase / out of phase link switching keying. Primary N main lobe direction: 37 / 217 degrees. Primary A main lobe direction 127 / 307 degrees; centered on WWRB shortwave lat : N 35 37 50, longitude W 086 00 50. Range is on the air 24/7. The Four Course legs for now are : 352, 082, 172, & 262 degrees outbound. We plan on bending a 'range leg or two, that is in the future. We are building a web site for this project so others can build one if they like. The 'range station is located by the new Runway 18 / 36 we plan on building here at WWRB shortwave. Listeners can hear the Morse letter N or the letter A --- some listeners will hear the steady 'on course' 'beam'; some will hear all of the signals jumbling about. All kinds of propagation studies can be made with this 'range station / beacon. Propagation conditions can change minute to minute allowing listeners to hear one letter then the other. Back scatter, multipath propagation, selective fading, name it (Dave Frantz, TN, WWRB, Dec 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) But first you`ve got to have any propagation at all on 28+ MHz, unless LOS. Is your range station licensed as a ham? Call? Or what is it doing in the 10m band? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Because of the massive bombardment of unidentifiable stations, I decided to concentrate on the stations that were not being pestered by other competitors, and I scribbled out the notes that have resulted in me sending about 10 reception reports out this week. The station that had me laughing was KJES down in NM. At the top of the hour, the little girl giving the station ID almost caused me to fall down on a nearby cactus. Incidentally, additionally, some of this listening was done at about 7,000 feet at Wildrose Campground – the sun had dipped beneath the Panamint Mountains, the temperature plummeted and the DX rolled in --- so did giant moths --- attracted by my Coleman lantern --- they made the listening rather cumbersome, but like I said earlier, I made it home in one piece. I love Death Valley (Kevin Molander, Martínez CA, Musings, Dec NASWA Journal via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Shortly after WHRI cut carrier on 11785 at 1459 Dec 13, audiblizing Saudi buzz, another carrier came on with AWR IS, ID opening in English with Turkish to follow. Except this was on 11780; I must have been tuned slightly low from 11785 when it did not matter on WHRI`s super-signal. It`s 1500-1530 via AUSTRIA, I expect the Saudi Buzz was no help in the target area; where strong it probably spread way beyond 10 kHz bandwidth as 15435 does (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Does anybody know why we haven't heard recent shows from DXing with Cumbre. The last podcast was November 14th. I hope Marie is not unwell (Gary, UK, Dec 15, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I heard her announcing recently on WCNY, but that could have been recorded. She has a Saturday morning show at 10:08 ET (1508 UT), Classical Choices. For 2 or 3 hours until Metropolitan Opera begins. She used to do jazz on sister station WAER, but I seem to recall she moved over to WCNY. It was also reported recently that she was having trouble getting studio time to record DWC (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) ** U S A [non]. /GERMANY Some changes of WYFR Family Radio via Media Broadcast: 1600-1700 9445 NAU 500 kW / 150 deg EaAf Oromo, ex English from Dec. 1 1600-1700 5960 NAU 500 kW / 139 deg N/ME English, ex 11995 from Dec. 4 (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, 10 Dec via DXLD) GERMANY. Some Media Broadcast changes: WYFR Family Radio in English to ME from Dec. 10: 1600-1700 NF 5965 NAU 500 kW / 139 deg, ex 5960, re-ex 11995 (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, 15 Dec via DXLD) RUSSIA, Frequency change of WYFR Family Radio in Polish via TV Radio Waves [TRW] from Dec. 15 1800-1900 NF 7590 ERV 100 kW / 330 deg, ex 5820 73! (Ivo Ivanov, Bulgaria, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Some VTCommunications changes: WYFR Family Radio in English to Madagascar, new txion 1600-1700 on 9795 DHA 250 kW / 215 deg WYFR Family Radio in English to Middle East, new txion 1700-1800 NF 7390*RMP 500 kW / 120 deg, ex 11850 *co-ch Radio Belarus Minsk in Polish (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, 15 Dec via DXLD) ** U S A. Two MARS nets noted the morning of Dec 15: 4623-SSB, Navy MARS, which still exists, was just securing at 1422 with ``final comments``. Copied one call among several weak stations, NNN0YQP, the last three letters expressed fonetically. Frequency approximate as did not have a chance to measure it or determine which sideband. Googling on that call I got ONE hit, Sept 2009! Internet security must be pretty tight. http://www.navymars.org/national/cmi/CMIB-2009-35.txt ``NNN0YQP JAMEWS -------------------- WI 10 YEARS OF SERVICE`` 4517-USB, Air Force MARS, 1425 with NCS AFE7DM, strongest signal, discussing QRM, where it was being heard and where not in parts of the ``Midwest`` --- and just what states that term applies to. Called the QRM ``sweeper``, ``Star Wars``, one station even imitating it with his mouth, but never called it CODAR, making me wonder if they know what it really is. AFE7DM was using group callsign NCM3 in his calls for other check-ins. Some of them were hearing CODAR relayed from other stations over linx. 1438 ``the net is free`` and individual stations contacted each other without management by the net control station. Googling on that call got five hits, including: http://region3digital.tripod.com/ ``AFE7DM (NC Area Digital Manager) is Conrad Steinel, AFA7VP located in Emporia, KS``. NC means North Central, even tho Emporia`s latitude is about one sesquidegree south of the geographical center of the Lower 48 in north-central Kansas (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. UT, Laketown, K249EF *97.7 (from K246AW 97.1), 250 watts vertical, with KUSU *91.5 Logan (from KLZX 99.9 Weston ID). So begins a long, boring march to the Tremonton UT area, using a noncommercial station as primary in order to avoid FCC filing fees. Bruce Elving called KUSU and warned them they are being used by Sun Valley Radio of Ogden UT, and wondering if they have permission to use KUSU (Bruce Elving, MN, Dec 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Another quick MW bandscan on the caradio at a hotspot in western Enid the afternoon of Dec 14, times UT! 1200, at 2137, skywave in, something in Spanish atop WOAI, various ads for juguetes, etc., causing slow SAH with WOAI; later mentioned ``Chicago informa … 1,200 AM``. So it`s WRTO, 10 kW, ``La Tremenda`` per NRC AM Log 2009-2010. Strangely enough, per NRC pattern book, its daytime design has a null to the SE, but plenty of signal to the SW. WOAI soon faded up overtaking it, but 1200 is hardly a ``clear channel`` any more! 540, at 2144, KWMT Ft Dodge IA, groundwave, with two or three IDs in passing during info about local events. Usually it`s a mix with KDFT, but no sign of Spanish this time; the latter off the air? If it stays off I may finally have a chance of inpulling KNMX by daytime groundwave, which ought to be possible here [no, next day Dec 15 around 1930, KDFT is back on and dominating]. 570, at 2147, usual mix of KLIF with groundwave from WNAX SD, way under but audible with SAH of about 3.5 Hz. Someone was wondering whether WNAX was running usual spex; seems so to me (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. DISCLAIMER FOR ANY LW/MW ITEMS, INCLUDING ALL TIS; MIS; PIRATE; AND LPAM ENTRIES, OR ANYTHING THAT CAN BE LINKED BACK TO A LW/MW REFERENCE: No portion of the below may be reproduced in any format and/or redistributed by the National Radio Club and/or their editors without my expressed written permission, which will then be swiftly -- and we do mean swiftly -- denied. Editors receiving this directly from me are excluded, provided this entire disclaimer is included once where any of the aforementioned items are first reproduced. All times/dates are in GMT unless otherwise indicated. 1280, SOUTH CAROLINA, WJAY, Mullins. 2202-2215 December 10, 2009. Creepy. African-American-accented male announcer reading a long list of obituaries and funeral arrangements for stiffs in Mullins, Dillon, Marion, etc.; towns and counties always appended with "South Carolina," apparently to clarify any listener spill-over from reasonably nearby North Carolina. A little organ pipes at times to spruce things up. And a spot for a funeral home (uh, wonder who sponsors this segment?). No ID, but the recently-deceased took care of that for me, proving that dead do DX. Fair to good. Logged on the 2004 Impala stock radio. 1690, FLORIDA, (MIS), WPTI814, Pinellas County Emergency Management, St. Petersburg. As I promised I would last week, I drove to this signal -- the third transmitter that was relocated to 1690 kHz from 940 kHz -- after a period of inactivity. The FCC dB shows it at 3101 5th Avenue South. And indeed there is a pole with the stick here. But I don't think it's coming from this location now, despite the loud signal. No adjacent channel overload or harmonic on 3380 kHz, standing right against the pole with the ICF-7600GR portable, and the signal could be nulled. Somewhat surprised nobody came out to question me, or call the St. Peterburg cops to have me 'cuffed for my 15 minutes on site with the radio and a Nikon D50. Emergency Management works in mysterious ways. So, this -- like the northernmost transmitter -- appears to have been relocated somewhere else nearby. Photo-documented the stick for what it's worth. It's in an open lot next to Fire Station #3 (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Oceanic Bridge closure on 1630 TIS --- I'm getting a new (for me) TIS on 1630 mentioning a closure of the Oceanic Bridge, which checks to NJ. Mention of what sounds like Mawlett County which is probably Monmouth County. Anyhow, I'm off to look it up. It's been in the past few days, for you TIS hunters (Saul Chernos, Ont., 14 Dec, amfmtvdx at qth.net via DXLD) Wow, quite a signal - one of the strongest skywave TIS signals I've ever heard here. The message ends with "This has been a message from the Borough of Rumson", so this figures to be WPUS415 (icky call!), located in Rumson NJ (Monmouth County). Here's a clip, recorded moments ago: http://topazdesigns.com/ambc/audio/wpus415-1630-1605-14dec09.mp3 Thanks for the tip! (Barry McLarnon, VE3JF, Ottawa, ON, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. My move into the shadow of KOA was a matter of convenience and I had little choice since I work in the area. For the past 1 1/2 years I have been making a 50 mile daily round trip commute to work on I-25 directly through Denver. When traffic was bad this commute sometimes took up to 2 hours each way. Now I am 15 minutes from work. You may be interested to know that I have 1700 kHz preprogrammed into my car radio. Since I listen to KOA often for local news and weather updates, in the Parker area I listen to it on the harmonic of 1700 so that I don't chance frying the front end of the receiver on 850. The signal on 1700 is great throughout the Parker area and I almost think that the audio sounds better on 1700 (Patrick Griffith, CO, Dec 14, IRCA via DXLD) ** U S A. Three petitions have been filed with the FCC opposing the sale of KFUO-FM 99.1 Clayton, MO; the station has been St. Louis' Classical music station since 1948. These groups are questioning the finances of the potential buyer of the station, which is still paying for KHZR 97.7 Potosi, MO and KPVR 94.1 Bowling Green, MO; both of which program Contemporary Christian music. As was the case in Atlanta 20 years ago, St. Louis is starting to become oversaturated with Christian radio stations. If 99.1 were to be added, that would make the 15th Christian radio station in St. Louis. Two of those stations, KJSL 630 and KSTL 690, have been for sale for the past few years. Audience research often shows that the audience for Contemporary Christian music is much smaller in urban areas than in the farthest suburbs or rural areas. In St. Louis, for example, there isn't much of an audience for such a format inside the loop that is bordered by Interstates 270 and 255. Atlanta had 17 such stations in 1990; there's only eight of these stations now as the stations that once ran Christian formats now run Spanish, Asian, or Ethnic formats, and in the case of WFOM 1230, various talk formats. The Christian station I worked at in Marietta, WFTD 1080, now broadcasts Ethnic programs. The group that owned the station while I was there sold the station in 1998. One Atlanta DXer, Malcolm Maxwell, noted that at the time, Christian music and teaching was the least expensive format to run, thus the glut of Christian radio stations in that market during the late 1980s and into the 1990s. The only type of Christian programming that is not available in Atlanta is Catholic programming, even though Atlanta is the largest diocese in the Deep South outside of Florida, with the possible exception of Birmingham, where EWTN is based (Eric Bueneman, MO, IRCA DX Monitor Dec 19 via DXLD) ** U S A. FATHER JACK PEJZA, RIP --- It is with great sadness that I must advise of the passing of a long-time DX'er, hobby writer, editor/publisher for IRCA, priest, teacher and friend. Father Jack Pejza died last Saturday, 12 December 2009 of a heart attack while debarking from the Oosterdam cruise ship San Diego, where he was serving as a chaplain for Holland-America Lines. There is an obituary for him at http://www.pacificbeachchapel.com/obituaries/tribute.html?url=http://stei-23723.tributes.com/show/John-Pejza-87403485 Watch for the line wrap on the above link (Russ Edmunds, Blue Bell, PA ( 360' ASL ) [15 mi NNW of Philadelphia], Dec 15, IRCA via WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DXLD) That's a real shocker, Russ. I'd just received a Christmas letter from him and replied on December 4th. I hadn't seen Fr. Jack for 25-30 years but in the mid-late 70s we saw & corresponded with each other regularly. An exceedingly fine person, we'll miss him down here (Don Kaskey, CA, ibid.) ** U S A. Note: this long thread began 3 Dec; I have delayed publishing it because of all the editing fixup needed --- gh Re: COMCAST TO PURCHASE NBC-UNIVERSAL FROM GE There's a lot at stake here over an 8 year plan. Right now, Comcast subscribers have a very sour taste over their monthly fees and analysts say those fees WILL go up if this sale goes through. Analysts also say Comcast investors are also paying attention very closely and many may sell out their stock if this thing starts to look like it is on shaky ground. Not really a DX story - but NBC is a big player in the OTA broadcast market and this move could have noticeable effects, coming from a CABLE PROVIDER (Jim Thomas, wdx0fbu, CO, Dec 3, WTFDA via DXLD) It's also going to be interesting for the affiliates. Right now NBC has a lot in the works for changes, etc. Personally, I'm inclined to put our NBC projects on hold just to see how things pan out. I have a feeling that there will be a change in the mission and attitude of the affiliates. And certainly it will be interesting to see how Comcast now treats its affiliates, which in western Ohio is not good (Fred @ WLIO/WOHL Lima, Vobbe, Dec 3, WTFDA via DXLD) This is purely a gut feeling I have right now, but my sense is that the NBC broadcast business is not what Comcast is most interested in buying. They want the NBC cable networks and the Universal production business. So I wonder, as this deal makes its way past the antitrust regulators, whether Comcast might seek to spin off NBC broadcast, both the TV network and the O&O stations, to some other party. (Or perhaps rework the deal so GE retains a majority stake of NBC broadcast?) I'm not sure that scenario would be much more comforting right now if I were an independently-owned NBC affiliate --- but it at least beats the scenario where "NBC" vanishes from broadcast entirely and becomes a high-profile cable network itself (Scott Fybush, NY, ibid.) Years ago the idea was floated to do away with "affiliates" and deliver NBC programing direct to cable using somewhat the CW "SIB" type of systems. The problem is the local issue, so I would have to wonder how well this would work (Fred Vobbe, OH, ibid.) The question comes to mind, whether the broadcast network is viable without the synergy with the cable networks -- and whether the cable networks (especially MSNBC and CNBC) lose at least some of their value without the synergy with the broadcast network. ``So I wonder, as this deal makes its way past the antitrust regulators, whether Comcast might seek to spin off NBC broadcast, both the TV network and the O&O stations, to some other party. (Or perhaps rework the deal so GE retains a majority stake of NBC broadcast?)`` The last sentence describes something that I think stands a fair chance. As I understand it, FCC regulations prohibit a cable operator from controlling broadcast stations in the same market (that can be, and has been, waived, but probably not in such a large-scale case and with such a large operator). Given the size of Comcast it is likely ALL the O&Os would need to be divested -- and it's my understanding they're more profitable than the broadcast network. Of course, I am with an independently-owned NBC affiliate (as is Fred) and the situation certainly is not a stress reliever! But I think Comcast's real reason for this deal is to try to reduce their programming costs. Time-Warner is pitching a fit about increasing programming fees from the (non-broadcast) channels they carry - you've got to think that's on Comcast's radar too. Of course, the more channels they own, the less they pay in programming fees! -- and they get to collect those fees from Time-Warner/Charter/etc... I don't think they're in it to kill the broadcast network. It'll just get neglected (Doug Smith, WSMV Nashville TN, ibid.) Our big problem with TWC (and others) is that although we're dominant in many cable systems, we're being dropped because we're not in the "DMA". For example, we've been dropped in Hancock, Mercer, Hardin, Shelby, and Van Wert. People are complaining, and TWC is running ads saying that it's because we demand re-trans fees. The problem is, we have NEVER asked for, or received fees. So there is some stress right now and I suspect that the gloves are coming off soon, and it won't be pretty (Fred Vobbe, WLIO OH, ibid.) Maybe I'm just cynical, but I think there may be manipulations in the works for Comcast to rewrite agreements for CNN, CNN Headline News and Fox News (now that they will own MSNBC). They can't play games with agreements on CBS/ABC/FOX (I don't think) but they might be able to on anything that is not a must carry (Mike Hawkins, 4 Dec, ibid.) I don't know Comcast would have much leverage against CNN or Fox News. Many viewers of these channels (especially Fox News) won't consider MSNBC a valid substitute. With satellite available to most Comcast subscribers, I suspect dropping any of these channels will cost more revenue than it saves (and the three channels know it). Yes, their negotiating position vis-a-vis channels that have an over- the-air presence (including NBC*) will not change. The more popular ones are already subject to local retransmission consent negotiations (that's how we're on Comcast Nashville and I'd imagine Fred's station has done the same thing). The less popular and the non-commercial stations are still under must-carry. *Most NBC stations are controlled independently from the network; Comcast ownership of NBC will not affect their negotiating positions. NBC does own some of their large-market affiliates. Comcast would presumably not be providing retransmission-consent consideration to these stations if they owned them! However, I'm pretty sure the FCC will not allow Comcast to keep OTA TV stations in markets where they own cable systems (probably, MOST markets with NBC owned-and-operated stations). These stations will end up owned by someone else -- and will likely continue to receive retrans-consent consideration (Doug Smith, ibid.) Comcast has historically been unwilling to share its programming with other cable providers at prevailing industry fees. They spent millions in the Philadelphia market some years back trying to block competitors from gaining any foothold in the area - eventually they lost that fight. Comcast, more so than many large businesses, is always all about what's in it for them - control and money. Customer service ? Not so important, which is one reason they had to fight so hard in a losing cause against other providers. They have among the highest cable prices in the nation right here in their own backyard. I expect NBC affiliates to be disappointed unless there's a change in control of that element. I expect some hard questions in Washington about the control issues. I also expect that in the long run Comcast's cable prices will continue to go up, especially for access to the new programming, and their customer service to remain dismal. All of that is who they are. But ultimately, OTA TV is probably doomed, and beyond that cable will probably follow, therefore for Comcast, the control of the production end is the key (Russ Edmunds, WB2BJH, Blue Bell, PA, Dec 5, ibid.) I am currently the chairman of my New England community's Cable TV Advisory Committee and have served on it through Continental Cablevision, AT&T Broadband, Media One, and now Comcast. As chairman, any complaints made to Town Hall about Cable TV come to me. I was not chairman during the Continental Cablevision days, but have been dealing with the latter three companies for the past 12 years or so. Of those three, I would say the worst customer service was from AT&T Broadband. IMO they were inept when it came to TV, Internet and even telephone. Things were better with Media One at first, but there was an obvious morale problem within the contracting companies they used for technical and customer service. At one point these people were absolutely rude to the subscribers. Comcast took over, and since then (ten years now), the calls to me are very few and far between. Most involve complaints about channels moving so as to require a digital box (not HD), or when are we going to get Verizon FIOS in here. (Verizon has pulled out twice from my community leaving the town half wired with no service offered). Comcast on the telephone side has been terrible. I have no control over that, although I have emailed the TV people and asked them to contact the telephone side as the company reputation was going down the tubes. They responded within hours. When it comes to customer service, I give Comcast a B+ on the TV side and a D on the telephone side which is better than the preceding companies. I don't agree with your word dismal, at least for here in New England. As always YMMV (Allan Dunn, K1UCY, ibid.) I agree with Allan on Comcast TV here in Hingham MA. On the TV side of things I've been quite happy. I've rarely (if at all) had a problem with my TV service. Same goes for my high speed internet. I've had a few problems with phone service but they have been corrected fairly quickly. Overall a B+ here too (Keith McGinnis, Hingham MA, ibid.) I'm not surprised. They've consistently had a worse reputation for customer service in their home area, and that's likely mostly because they never needed to as they were the only game in the area for years, other than smaller companies which they bought out. Hopefully what they're doing elsewhere will be more representative than what they've done here (Russ Edmunds, WB2BJH, Blue Bell, PA, ibid.) Yup, it goes somethink like this, I would listen to the Boston Bruins Hockey on the radio many years ago. Then they had the games on ch-38, even the away games. The boards around the rink were all white. When the Bruins were winning then the so called powerfull money men would enter (supply and demand or where many people gather always someone trying to sell something) and profits could be had. The white boards now had ads on them, only the away games on 38 and NESN moved in. Then nothing on 38 and all on cable. Even others got into the act as some games on ESPN, some on Versus, etc. It was a pain in the a-- trying to watch all the games. It's power, greed, and money that rules the TV now, and does not every one want a Tiger in their tank! [lost track of who wrote this: wish people would sign each post --- gh] I was not satisfied with comcast here on Cape Cod. First they took away some nice channels like Hallmark and others and if added anything it was some selling channels. Then at least once a week a channel would go black for minutes, hours, or even days. And with the costs going up, I gave up on them. Going to Direct TV, we only lost the local channel for Falmouth but added many more channels. After one week I give it an A and only time will tell how good it stands up to time. And what happens when the SUN reaches its peak of sunspot activity! (Roy Barstow, MA, ibid.) For me it`s the whole package; having one bill for all three services and getting a discount by having the three services is a plus (longwave, ibid.) I can understand that - I have phone and internet thru Verizon. They offer TV, but they're charging about $5 less than Comcast, and I'm not interested in paying $55+/month for TV. I think I could get DirecTV here for $40 if I really want to give up on OTA. And I agree with Roy's point about moving all of the stuff many people will pay extra for - read that major sports - to cable (Russ Edmunds, WB2BJH. Blue Bell, PA, ibid.) I am a little leery about these package deals they offer - yes, they are less than if you bought them separate. Like if you buy a TV with the built-in VCR and the VCR dies, then you have to buy a separate VCR. To me that`s akin to buying an all-band TV antenna when everyone knows, if you want the best one, buy a UHF ant for UHF, etc. After, say, one year, you do not like the TV they offer, what do you do? How if the company fails? These are hard times - I go out birding [looking for birds to photograph] and I find more houses for sale than I see birds. These companies want you locked in; that's their security blanket, not yours. I feel if you want better car insurance, look around. Maybe OLD ROY is old fashioned, but that's the way I like it (Roy Barstow, ibid.) The ones to really watch out for are the low package price come-ons where in the second year and beyond - or sometimes after only a few months - the rate goes up, and goes up big time. Both Comcast and Verizon do that here (Russ Edmunds, WB2BJH, Blue Bell, PA, ibid.) My 2 cents are, don't put all your eggs in one basket (Roy Barstow, ibid.) I have to agree. The big problem is that many of these companies have gotten too big, and thus customer service has been a problem. Case in point, a while back our e-mail stopped working with TWC/RR. I called, and spent 80 minutes talking with Brei from India, who had me rebooting and said I had to install Microsoft Outlook because Mozilla Thunderbird "did something to make it stop working". After installing Outlook, and Googling this issue, come to find out it was RR that did something to cause Thunderbird not to work, and it was not my problem after all. So I'm out the 80 minutes, when they could have just said they made a change and were going to fix it, an hour of time installing an configuring Outlook, plus the cost. Add to that, when I complained my rate oddly was changed upward of $24 per/mo, which then I had to take time to fix that. However, RR is the only choice here, as they have effectively driven out all competition. IMHO, bigger, and bundle is not always better. You may get it cheaper, but the trade-off is that when you need assistance you're often lied to or nicked. As one rep told me, "I'm sorry you don't like our service, but what are your other choices?" The same can be said on the station side, where our biggest problem are with the big corporations. The small cable companies are a piece of cake to deal with. The big ones are always adversarial and confrontational, and make sure you know they control things. In the end, the consumer is the one that suffers, which is why I often promote OTA to our viewers as an alternative to paying for cable [? Lost source for this one --- gh] My problem with Comcast is their ridiculous rates for Internet only. $60/month for 5 MB? They charge me for their "clear" QAM, which I really don't need because I have an antenna and DISH. When I called to downgrade back to what I paid for the same speed under AT&T Broadband, I told them I thought it was insane to raise rates during the worst economic period in this country since the Great Depression. All I got was a "hmmm," not even a cursory "I'm sorry you feel that way, sir, maybe ... would change your feeling about us" I'd switch to FiOS, but I have a feeling that is far off, if ever. Ever since Comcast took over from AT&T, Internet has climbed higher and higher. I thought it was because I am a Pens fan, and we've knocked their Flyers out of the playoffs two consecutive years :-). However, I rate TCI (Total Cable Incompetents) far worse than Comcast. They were so bad, my parents kicked them to the curb and installed a satellite dish (not talking the pizza pan sized ones!). We did have ESPN 2, Comedy Central, and instant PPV capabilities long before the neighbors (Jeff Kitsko, Unity Township, PA, ibid.) ** URUGUAY. 6045, R. Sarandí, Montevideo. December 12, Spanish, 0755- 0807 music, male talks, many mentions of “R. Sarandi”. Sounding like a saturated audio, resulting in few words readable, QRM, 32533. 73's (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Embu SP Brasil - Sony ICF SW40 - dipole 18m, 32m, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** URUGUAY. (( RADIOACTIVIDADES )) Sábados y Domingos "RADIOACTIVIDADES" es un programa semanal y se emite por "RADIO URUGUAY AM 1050", perteneciente al SODRE Servicio de Radiodifusión Nacional, conducido por Daniel Ayala y Pablo Pérez, con la producción y el diseño técnico de Luis Ignacio Moreira, y colaboración de Roberto Belo. Se emite los sábados y domingos a las 12 horas CX, 1400 horas UT y se repite a las 00 CX, 0200 UT. [i.e. 0200 UT Sundays and Mondays both? Or does Sat & Sun refer to one original and one repeat?] Tiene una trayectoria de 20 años, comenzó con un programa de dx pero se fue diversificando para en este momento tratar todo lo relevante a la historia de la radio en general, sus personajes, sus programas, todo con material de archivos, sin descuidar lo referente al diexismo. Dirección de Radioactividades (NUEVA WEB) http://www.radioactividades.org/ Dirección electrónica: radioactividades @ sodre.gub.uy Se puede escuchar en directo por Internet en: http://www.sodre.gub.uy:80/ Para todos aquellos colegas que no pudieron escuchar el programa RADIOACTIVIDADES a través de "Radio Uruguay 1050 AM" lo pueden hacer en nuestra página de Programas DX: http://programasdx.com/radioactividades.htm Si desea escuchar otros espacios diexistas en español lo pueden hacer en: http://programasdx.com/ Cordiales 73 Luis Ignacio Moreira (via José Bueno, Dec 10, dxclubepr yg via DXLD) ** URUGUAY. UNOFFICIAL STATION ON SW FROM URUGUAY MONITORED 5931v, Emisora Chaná, Tacuarembó, at 2310 on Dec 12, ad string by W, mentioning "FM Chaná", several cellular phone numbers heard but difficult to copy, "...segunda hora de Emisora Chaná desde Tacuarembó", by young M. At 2320 start recording on my mp3, music: Christina Aguilera at 2324, Horoscope reading by same young M, music, "curso de autoestima, psicología". Some kind of "decalog" reading. Gloria Estéfan "Corazón Partido" music at 2352. Frequency is now 5928! at 2353 so wildly drifting downwards. QRK varies from 2 to 4, some QSB. Ad string at 0002 by young W. Mentions: manicura, cellular 099 830653 ... "El Diamante", Carpintería en aluminio, etc. I called a "Fabiana" whose phone was mentioned in the ad string, and she tells me the station is a Community one. She recognizes my surname and asks me if I am a relative from a hairdresser living in Tacuarembó. And I answer yes, he's my father's cousin. Frequencyy is 5924 at 0110. s/off 0110. Again on Dec 13 at 1306 mixing with new Brazilian on 5940, Voz Missionária, Camboriú, with polka music, drifting to 5925 at 1436. Adstring: "Barrio Nuevo Tacuarembó, a couple of cell phones, one of them 099 76 39 29. Mexican classic theme: "Allá en el Rancho Grande". S/off 1438 (Horacio Nigro, Uruguay, "El Pinar" DX trip, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA. MW news from Venezuela --- Just returned from a 16 days trip to Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles. 740, CNB 740, Maracaibo is identifying as "La Zuliana" 820, Radio Guadalupana, Coro is off the air 1020, Radio Calendario, Maracaibo is still using the Radio Calendario ID's, not Radio Continente 1470, Llanerísima 14-70, Valencia is now identifying as CNB 14-70, La Valenciana. I still have to listen to many recordings, so probably more to follow, (Max van Arnhem, The Netherlands, Dec 10, MWC yg via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA [non]. El Hugazo must have been taking the day off; no sign of ``Alo, Presidente`` via CUBA, Sunday Dec 13 when main frequency 13750 was checked at 1545, 1715; nor on 12010, tho 11690 was running as usual with regular RHC at 1715 // 11730, 11760, 11800. Hmmm, why do they need so many // frequencies in a single band? There are also four at once much of the time on 6 and 13 MHz (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. 6297, LV de la RASD via ALGERIA, lively chanting and percussing, quite good reception Dec 10 at 0720 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ALGERIA: 6297.17, Radio Nacional Saharahui (presumed); 2203-2210+, 10- Dec; Brief comments by W in Spanish, into speech in Arabic. SIO=322-, roar & pulse QRM; USB helps a bit (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 125 ft. bow-tie; 85 ft. RW & 180 ft. center-fed RW, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6297v, LV de la RASD providing some rollicking good music in the nightmiddle, Dec 14 at 0720, with ululating and wailing, still good signal at 0756 last check (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** YEMEN. 6135.01, 0640-0700 12.12, Republic of Yemen R, San'a, Arabic conversation and music, 15221. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, on my AOR AR7030PLUS with a 28 metres longwire here in Skovlunde near the World Centrum of Copenhagen these days, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. Some VTCommunications changes: Zimbabwe Community Radio/Radio Dialogue in Ndebele/English/Shona to ZWE 1755-1855 NF 4895 MEY 100 kW / 000 deg, ex 5865, re-ex 3955 (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, 15 Dec via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE [and non]. Muckraker - NOTHING 'PIRATE' ABOUT SW RADIO AFRICA --- 10 December 2009 opinion LET'S hope Botswana doesn't feel intimidated by the abuse being hurled at it about "pirate" radio stations. It may be useful to remind ourselves of the context here. In 2000 the Supreme Court struck down ZBC's monopoly of the airwaves. A handful of broadcasters attempted to set up a private station but were raided by police and their equipment confiscated. They subsequently relocated to the UK where they set up a radio station, SW Radio Africa. There is nothing "pirate" about this station or any of the others. They are licensed under the laws of the countries hosting them. The employees have been driven to work abroad because of their treatment here. Even though the GPA has opened the way to their return, the minister has not given an undertaking about their safety. This is a pertinent issue given the threats made against them in the past. As Gerry Jackson, who set up SW Radio Africa, comments in this week's Standard: "Our broadcasts on shortwave and via the Internet are completely legal and we want nothing more than a free, peaceful, democratic Zimbabwe. "And yes, we do believe that Zimbabweans have an absolute right to the information that has been denied to them for so long. "If you want to get rid of radio stations broadcasting into Zimbabwe, free the media. Really free it. It really is that simple..." [more] http://allafrica.com/stories/200912110837.html (via Zacharias Liangas, Greece, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Re 9-084: 153 kHz "// 162 but 2 seconds behind. Bearing 100 degrees, which equates to DLF Donebach! Do DLF relay France-Inter occasionally?" : This was a one-off on Nov 9, when Radio France commemorated the day with a big special, all day long on many or even all of its networks, actually making some Germans wonder if the French went mad. Deutschlandradio relayed this broadcast on its usual break-away frequencies, i.e. 153, 177 and 990 (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Dec 11, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Off-Frequency 790 UnID --- For some time I've been noticing a station creating an audible het on 790 - the carrier frequency is 789.784. Last night I was able to get some audio from them - no ID, but they ran a promo for Coast to Coast AM. Unfortunately, that doesn't narrow things down all that much - the C2C website lists no less than 9 stations on 790 that carry the program: KNST-AZ, WGRA-GA, WSGW-MI, KFGO-ND, WTNY-NY, WAEB-PA, KFYO-TX, WNIS- VA, and KGMI-WA. I've heard WSGW, KFGO, WTNY and WAEB fairly recently, and they weren't significantly off frequency, so that eliminates them unless something happened to them very recently. The AZ and WA stations are quite unlikely to be heard here, so that leaves the GA, TX, and VA stations as the main suspects. Anybody else hearing this station? Some more ears needed on this case (Barry McLarnon, VE3JF, Ottawa, ON, Dec 10, IRCA via DXLD) I recall WNIS being off freq a few months back.. 73 KAZ (Neil Kazaross, IL/WIm ibid.) Just logged an ID for WNIS, on LSB with the radio set to ~ 789.9. It seems to me that their frequency is drifting. Very weak signal, but I think the program called The Savage Nation (Dave Pyatt, Burlington, ON, 0140 UT Dec 11, ibid.) The carrier seems quite steady here - still on 798.784, same as last night. Still, the signs seem to be pointing towards WNIS as the culprit (Barry McLarnon, VE3JF, Ottawa, ON, 0205 UT 11 Dec, ibid.) UNIDENTIFIED. 1710, re 9-084: See FLPRS Updates section. But of course, this is NRC-generated, so they are not allowed to quote any portion. Tsk, tsk (Terry L Krueger, FL, Dec 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: 1710 (LPR) unidentified, North Central Florida; a mystery signal is appearing, as discovered by D. Crawford, November, 2009. Weak signal, best on greyline, with continuous audio of licensed 100 kW FM WKTK, Crystal River, Florida (98.5 MHz). The WKTK transmitter site is actually southwest of Gainesville. No known local AM station is picking up the WKTK audio (thus seemingly eliminating any transmitter mixing products). (from http://home.earthlink.net/~tocobagadx/flortis.html via DXLD) ** UNIDENTIFIED. 4820.76. RE: DXLD 9-084. Dec 12 (Saturday), my UNID was clearly off the air today. Propagation was good, so am almost certain if they had been here I would have heard them. Still a mystery! (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) In reference to Ron Howard's log: ``AFRICA? 4820.76, at 1533, Dec 5 (Sat.). Is it possible that Botswana is here? Mostly man and woman in long conversation; 1603-1622 segment of indigenous string instrument, very repetitive and slow tempo. Best in USB to get away from Tibet, which caused moderate to heavy QRM. Certainly had the feel of an African station, but who?`` I made a point of trying the frequency several times on 12 December. All I could hear was Tibet, with India faintly underneath. After 1700 the frequency was briefly vacated by Tibet (India presumably signed- off prior to this), but no other stations could be heard. Southern and Eastern Africa stations are well-received here and if anything had been on, I probably would have heard it. Wonder if it's related to my unID Afro on 5000.000 (though it certainly didn't sound like Botswana)? It's also possible Ron had a one-off -- wouldn't be surprised if Radio Botswana occasionally tests the transmitters (provided they are in working condition). (David Sharp, NSW Australia, Dec 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi David, Thank you for checking! Thanks also to Thorsten Hallmann for listening in, also with no results. Sorry to say the UNID was definitely off the air on Sat. Dec 12. Had been heard on Nov 28 and Dec 5 (Ron Howard, ibid.) Later decided it was Kolkata sometimes vary UNIDENTIFIED. AFRICA, 5000.000, Someone here at 1800 with hilife and [unknown] language man. Strong interference from BPM, and to a much lesser extent, WWVH. Don't believe this was Radio Malagasy [nom 5010] because it was still there at 2100 recheck -- which is later than I have heard this one before (with their extended weekend schedule). Possibly Equatorial Guinea? Neither 5005 nor 6250 were on. 11 Dec (David Sharp, NSW Australia, FT-950/ NRD-535D/ etc., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 7194.98, Re DXLD 9-081. If this isn't Radio Uganda, then what could I hear being turned on at 0609 (Dec 10), 0617 (Dec 12), 0613 (Dec 13), 0633 (Dec 14) and again this morning Dec 15 at 0618 but broke down 0625. Sizeable carrier but no definite modulation. Anyone, please? 73, (Martien Groot, Schoorl, Netherlands, Dec 15, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Look for leapfrog mixing products that fit (gh, ibid.) Suggestion?? Has something to do with the s p u r s and intermodulation of RTT Sfax shortwave?? They have a lot of RUST and CORROSION on their masts, some 1.2 kilometers away of Medit beach. Wb (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) As I have been noting, the 7275 RTT frequency goes off between 0627 and 0628. However, a leapfrog from // 7335 over that would land on 7215, not 7195. Still, it could be spurious from one of those transmitters, if you can get any modulation at all to match on 7195 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. I'm listening in 9940 kHz a radio which was in Arabic until 2045 UT. Now is in English and could not get the ID. The station not in Aoki, EIBI and HFCC. Ask the help of friends. 73 (Jorge Freitas, Brasil, Dec 10, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Could be PUNCHING error of 9950 AIR India; some engineers are very lazy and incorrect over there. Scheduled is Arabic / Hindi / English on 9950. Last night a German DXer asked me abouot new AIR 6045 channel, instead of registered 6055 kHz channel too. Check til 0045 UT AIR English of parallel 9705, 9940/9950, 11620, 11645, 13605 kHz channels. No propagation into Europe in 31, 25, and 22 mb this night. wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, ibid.) Thanks Wolfgang. I recorded a listen on my blog http://www.ipernity.com/doc/75006 73 (Jorge Freitas, ibid.) Re AIR 9940 kHz --- Your recording of AIR announcement state clearly 9910 kHz channel, as registered 2045-2230 English 9575(P) 9910(A) 11620(B) 11715(Kh) Australia, NZL Check the other channels too, to find out the correct parallels. (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) UNIDENTIFIED. Re 9-084: Hi Glenn, thanks a lot for your help concerning the unID Chinese on 13703 kHz. Yes indeed, one of my theories for this one was in fact one of the semi-clandestine setups, maybe the Voice of Tibet. The strange frequency of 13703 kHz points into that direction, as well. But there is no trace of jamming whatsoever, while the propagation to the Far East is not bad at that time. I tuned in again yesterday and the whole style of programming suddenly reminded me of Vatican Radio's Chinese service I heard some years ago on the 49 m band from the Philippines relay station. It also started with no interval signal, just a piece of instrumental music and both male and female voices speaking. Their ID is similar to "Vatican Kwangpo Tientai" and, as all other religious programs, they are normally not jammed. I checked their schedule and found Chinese at 1230 to 1300, on 5985 kHz from Novosibirsk, 6020 kHz from the Philippines and 15235 kHz from the Vatican itself. Actually, they never sign-off at 1300, but always later. When I checked 15235 kHz at about 1302, the respective transmission was still in progress and lasted until 1312, when after the ID in Chinese the well-known interval signal was heard. 13703 kHz had unfortunately already disappeared in the noise, by then. So, at least the time and the programming style could indeed point to Vatican Radio; in this case, 13703 kHz would be an additional frequency to the other ones, and quite an odd one. Today, I will check all four channels to see if they are in parallel. I will keep you informed about the results. 73s & good DX (Robert Foerster, Dec 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, QRT: the Chinese speaking station on 13703 kHz was last heard last Friday, Dec. 11th, still with the same format. Not heard since. I had the opportunity to check it against Vatican Radio on that day, but it was not in parallel. The programming style, however, was not very different. Maybe one of those services from Taiwan that are not jammed. Nothing else for the moment, I am repairing one of my loop antennas. 73s & good DX (Robert Foerster, Germany, Dec 14, ibid.) UNIDENTIFIED. 15570, big steady open carrier, with some fading, Dec 10 at 2051. Also heard same about 6 hours earlier but did not log as it went off a few sex after I intuned. Have also heard this other days. Nothing at all scheduled on 15570 at either time, but I suspect it is VOA Greenville warming up for transmission to follow on 15580 from 2100, and avoiding overlapping with VOA Iranawila on same until 2100, which is exactly what they should be doing. Probably jumps to 15580 as GB modulation starts at hourtop (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 15580, listening to weak signal from VOA in English news, Dec 15 at 1451, it was overridden for about 20 seconds by a very strong open carrier. Likely Greenville testing a frequency they would use later, but at least they kept it quick. But why not test on open 15570 instead as they do before 2100? GB VOA is currently scheduled on 15580 at 17-18 and 21-22, while at 14-15 15580 is via SOUTH AFRICA (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS See also CUBA [and non] ++++++++++++++++++++++++ My QSL cards also survived the fire. I have been a SWL DXer since 1963. Len Buckwalter and Glenn Hauser were my greatest inspirations. They both have written several books on building antennas and an antenna tuner from scratch using Radio Shack and Lafayette parts. I still have my antenna tuner from Len Buckwalter`s instructions. I also was a former NAWSA member in 1978. My old copies of Frendx were destroyed but the new copies of the magazine are great and bring back memories of the former magazine (Bill Centurion, Columbus OH, Musings, Dec NASWA Journal via DXLD) Tnx? But I am afraid you have me confused with someone else. One of my greatest regrets is that I have *not* (yet?) written a book --- too engrossed in ``daily DX journalism`` to find the time. If I had, it would not likely have been about hombrewing. In word count, no doubt I have written the equivalent of several books (gh) Re 9-081: ``6005 = Buea. This station is absent from Aoki, even tho it lists plenty of long-gone Latin American stations, also missing from EiBi, WRTH 2009, and of course HFCC. Despite periodic reports in WDXC and DXLD confirming that it is active. Is anyone paying attention? (gh)`` Yes, Glenn. Somebody out there does read DXLD. My frequency schedules have included this entry ever since B08, and it was DXLD reports that put it there: 6005 0700-1700 CME Radio Cameroon Buea E CME So not only is your work not in vain, I do appreciate it very much and count is as my major source of DX news! Thanks, (Eike Bierwirth, CO, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Eike, My apologies! I thought I had looked and not found it in your list, but I must have missed it. 73, (Glenn to Eike, via DXLD) Dear madam/sir,I am a broadcast lover, I want toget your program table, station magazine,flag,stamps, language books,calandar, stamps and other souvenirs. If I can get yourQSL cards, it would be better.I want to get your QSLs,program table, travel guide book,map of your country,station magazine,flag,stamps, language books,calandar,and other souvenirsI am very interested in your country and your station , so I want get some datas about you and your country,such as stamps, money,post cards language book ,travel guide book .Thank you You had better use my Chinese address,Thank you Your sincerely,Victor Thank you. [sic; address withheld, spam to gh et al., via DXLD] A superb example of the art of persuasion (gh) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ BDXC Guides updated as on Dec 09 now available at : http://www.users.waitrose.com/~bdxc/articles.html Regards (Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, Dec 10, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: DX and Media Programme Guide --- A club-compiled list giving times and frequencies for programmes of interest to DXers and radio enthusiasts.. A comprehensive country-by-country guide to domestic and external broadcasts from Africa, including selected opposition and target broadcasts to the African continent. The document is in pdf format. Africa on Shortwave - by Country A handy guide to shortwave tropical band radio stations in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. In frequency order, pdf format. South Asia on the Tropical Bands - by frequency A comprehensive guide to shortwave radio stations in the near and Middle East. In country order, pdf format. Middle & Near East on Shortwave - by country UK on Shortwave --- An hour-by-hour guide to shortwave broadcasts from UK transmitter sites (via DXLD) MY NEW LENS FOR SHORT WAVE LISTENERS I did a lens on Squidoo where I wrote a little bit on shortwave listening for my perspective. I also have some Shortwave Radios which was provided by Amazon.com. Squidoo and myself are sharing the profits. It seems to be awhile since I had my shortwave radio whirring but my internet marketing business is taking much of my time. I also am taking orders for the 2010 WRTH on this page. If you want to take a look at my Squidoo Lens it is at http://www.squidoo.com/Short_Wave_listening (Richard Lewis, Forest, MS, Dec 10, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ?? What`s a squidoo lens. Still don`t know as URL goes to ``not yet`` page. Maybe capitalize Listening? Nope (gh, DXLD) WORLD RADIO TV HANDBOOK 2010 Hola Amigos, he recibido hoy lunes mi copia del excelente anuario WRTH 2010 como siempre cargado de muchas y buenas informaciones, entre otras cosas un reportaje sobre el destacado Diexista Italiano Dario Monferini. Es un libro que no puede faltar junto a nuestros receptores de radio. 73 para todos, (Dino Bloise, FL, Dec 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) LANGUAGE LESSONS ++++++++++++++++ ARABIC "CHANTING" I agree with Jim's comments on chanting. I prefer to describe it as "male a cappella religious vocal music." I know that's a bit wordy but there's something patronizing about the term chanting. I've also seen words in DX News like "moaning, groaning, and wailing." I know it can sound that way at times but I think we should show a little more respect for people from other cultures (Marc DeLorenzo, South Dennis, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, IRCA via DXLD) I believe that 'Koranic recitation' is both appropriate and concise. (Russ Edmunds, Blue Bell, PA, NRC-AM via DXLD) Yes, except that, unless the DXer is Muslim, he does not know for a fact that the "Chanter" is reciting from the Koran. It could simply be a religious song - the equivalent of a Christian hymn (Marc DeLorenzo, South Dennis, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, ibid.) JEWISH ``CHANTING`` OTOH, it`s clearly OK to refer to what cantors do as ``chanting`` since I heard some cantors (and cantrice) themselves refer to their performances with that term, on the excellent series THE ART OF THE CANTOR, which is currently running during Chanukah, every evening at 0000 UT on KVNO Omaha webcast. But you already know that if you have been using my MONITORING REMINDERS CALENDAR (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WORLD OF HOROLOGY See RUSSIA! +++++++++++++++++ CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ SHORTWAVE CINEMA AND BAR I just found a great place to have a DX gathering. I am UK geographically challenged, but wherever it is sounds like a natural for a gathering of radio enthusiasts. http://www.myconservatives.com/fundraising/family-christmas-shortwave (Fred Waterer, Ont., Dec 13, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ YAESU-MUSEN FRG-7 If you`d like a very close look at the same receiver gh primarily uses, here`s one on E-Bay; I am NOT suggesting you buy this one: Salve a tutti. Lo sapevate che le prime versioni dell'FRG-7 erano prodotte senza sintonia fine? Io NO! Ecco un esemplare in vendita su e-bay http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=400090695570&ssPage Name=A 300 dollari sono un po' tanti, il ricevitore però è in perfette condizioni. Saluti (Stumpf Carl Andreas http://www.hb9gce.ch playdx yg via DXLD) THANKO DEBUTS USB SHORTWAVE, AM & FM RADIO Japan's purveyor of odd electronic curios, Thanko, has released what it claims is the first USB shortwave radio. More at: http://dvice.com/archives/2009/12/thanko-debuts-u.php (Mike Barraclough, UK, Dec 15, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) But will it demodulate USB? (gh, DXLD) T.V. SHOT TO DEATH AFTER SAINTS BEAT THE REDSKINS 33-30 IN OT. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJzbIt37FVo (via John Babbis, MD, DXLD) Spoiler alert! A bit of an anticlimax as these things don`t implode like good ole CRTs. Note, anyway, the lubricants (gh, DXLD) THE DECADE'S 36 BIGGEST TECH FLOPS From the folks at CNet; two may be of interest to this group. Listed chronogically: #10 Satellite Radio #16 HD Radio See http://reviews.cnet.com/2300-33_7-10001201.html?tag=mncol (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, Dec 10, swprograms via DXLD) I think CNET missed the boat by blaming the financial failure of XM/Sirius on high subscriber acquisition costs while ignoring the absurd cost of acquiring Howard Stern. That came at a time when the companies were just getting off the ground. The dilution of stockholder equity resulting in a collapse of the stock value forced the companies to go to the debt market for added financing. That debt burden is still around their corporate neck. They also forgot to mention Mel Karmizan's lowest-common-denominator approach to programming. Dozens of channels devoted to variants of the rock/hiphop/rap/ "music" formats is not what I would call something to attract the upscale, mature listener who can afford to pay for music on the way to grandmas house. The present mix is hardly what was initially promised when they were selling the IPO for XM. Now that the new cars have USB ports to which one can plug in a thumb drive to take along your entire CD collection on the way to grandma's house, I think satellite radio music is doomed. It may take a while to stop kicking, but the handwriting is on the wall. It would be interesting to know, now that SiriusXM offers reduced packages for voice or music programming, what the relative take-up rates are for these two options. I am a subscriber to the music option but listen a lot to NPR, WRN, BBC, CBC, and Book Radio channels which they add on as a freebie. Just my opinion, I could be wrong (Joe Buch, ibid.) Not to mention mobile Wifi. Within 2-3 years I predict you'll see automakers enthusiastically touting that service, and you'll be able to outfit cars with wifi radios that resemble some of the simpler models (Grace Digital, CC Wifi) in functionality and user interface (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, ibid.) TIRE STATIC Hams used to sprinkle graphite powder inside their tires, which distributes itself when the tire spins, and was supposed to reduce or eliminate tire static. There was supposedly no negative effect on the tire. I never tried this. It was written up in a "Hint & Kink" in QST magazine, March 1962, p. 58. 73, (Jim, KR1S, Kearman, ABDX via DXLD) That would be GREAT! I, like Brian, have the same problem here in Wyo in the summer time. I guess it must be something to do with the dry climate we live in out here in the west. For me, for most of the summer, AM band is terrible due to wheel static. I note for the most part it is on ASPHALT pavement. On cement pavement there is no wheel static. I can just see the guy at the tire shop giving me the weird looks when I ask them to put some graphite powder inside the tires! But hey if it works I just may give it a try! (Michael n Wyo Richard, ibid.) Michael, my experience is the same. It only happens on asphalt. Maybe there is more friction with asphalt than with concrete? I think it would be easy to explain to the tire guy. Of course you might then need to explain to him what AM Radio is :-() (Brian Leyton, ibid.) That explains why I'm not familiar with tire static - as it is wet, wet, wet; Plenty of powerline interference though. And, noisy traffic lights that can even mess up FM reception in a car (Phil Rafuse, PEI, ibid.) I can just see the guy at the tire shop giving me the weird looks when I ask them to put some graphite powder inside the tires! Even more fun will be seeing the guy who replaces those tires, covered in graphite dust as he pops the bead on the tire (Jay Heyl, ibid.) I suppose I would have to have the tires removed from the rims to try that trick. I'm not sure where I would get graphite powder either. You would probably have to sharpen a lot of pencils to get enough ;-) The company I used to work for used graphite for molds, to make diamond impregnated segments that were welded onto saw blades and core bits for cutting concrete. We had graphite dust everywhere. I was always surprised at how few problems we had with our electronics, considering all of that conductive dust floating around. Well, except for mice and keyboards. We went through lots and lots of those. Interesting idea though. Maybe the next time I'm due for new tires I will try to find some powder (Brian Leyton, ibid.) The tires would definitely have to come off but you can get graphite powder at Lowes or Home Depot. It`s used as a lubricant for locks that are exposed to below zero temps and in freezers as well as items exposed to exceptionally high heat (Kevin Redding, TN, ibid.) That's awesome. I didn't know graphite was that easy to get. I know we have discussed tire static over the years, but never heard of this trick. It's definitely worth a try the next time I get new tires! (Brian Leyton, ibid.) Remove the VALVE STEM CORES, pump some powder in with a ketchup squeeze bottle, and then replace the cores and pump your tires back up. I am strongly considering doing this because I frequently LAMENT about tire static, especially when trying to listen to longwave or AM while my car is in motion. Our roads here in CA are frequently resurfaced with asphalt instead of the original concrete because it's cheaper (and may I say also environmentally dirtier and oily). The tire static gets so bad on those roads that AM HD won't lock on stations, and the weaker parts of the AM and LW bands are totally obscured by static when in motion. It is worse if it has not rained for a couple weeks. It is worse on asphalt because asphalt is a better insulator, and builds up a higher charge than concrete. Concrete has lime in it, which is always partially conductive, and grounds out charges between your wheels and the road when you're moving. It's just like rubbing a balloon on a wool scarf or silk cloth (nonconductive) - a charge will build up on the balloon, but won't if you rub the balloon on a damp cloth (Darwin Long, Simi Valley, CA, ibid.) AM STEREO MODES AND PLATFORM MOTION Can you describe me the PLATFORM MOTION effect and how it is related to Motorola C-quam (Bogdan Chiochiu, QC, ABDX via DXLD) Normally when listening to any stereo signal, the left and right audio source appear to the listener to come from stationary locations. However when there is an interfering carrier on the receiver frequency, from another station, the left and right audio sources appear to slowly revolve around the listener, and create the sensation that the listener is rotating in space. Thus, the illusion of being on an unstable "platform". This creates the sensation of nausea in many. 73 (Bob Foxworth, FL, ABDX via DXLD) 189 in Iceland DOES run C-QuAM, but I could never positively verify if they actually feed left and right-channel stereo audio into their signal, or if it's just mono audio being sent over a stereo signal. Your radio decodes the C-QuAM and Harris formats of AM stereo. C-QuAM, Harris, Belar, and Magnavox use a phase-differential method of modulation in which the sidebands of the carrier contains the stereo products of the total audio (L-R)+1 for the left-channel and (L+R)+1 for the right channel, which the receiver splits back into stereo audio in much the same way an FM stereo radio does. C-Quam and Harris use a 25-Hz pilot tone, Belar used a variable pilot tone (20-50 Hz), and Magnavox used a 5-Hz pilot tone. You usually don't hear the pilot tone because it is 180 out of phase between the stereo channels, and is at 5% modulation. Kahn used a 15-Hz pilot tone, and transmitted the left channel entirely on the carrier's lower sideband and the right channel on the carrier's upper-sideband. C-Quam, Harris, Belar, and Magnavox suffer more from 'platform motion' when another co-channel station occupies the same frequency. Instead of just hearing the stations heterodyning against each other (rapidly fading in and out at the number of cycles-per-second they're off-tune with each other) as in mono reception, in C-Quam or Harris, you'll hear the stations bouncing back and forth oppositely from each other between the left and right channels, at the rate of heterodyne, and any hets, splatter, or lightning static tend to sound louder (and in '3D') for this same reason. Also, phase changes in the carrier during ionospheric fades, or while driving along powerlines or bridges causes a station being received in C-QuAM to 'float around' between the left and right audio channels as the phase changes. In my opinion, Kahn had just a tad of an edge over the other AM stereo systems with respect to audio quality because a wider frequency response could be received without as much co-channel or atmospheric interference, and there was no 'platform motion' effect (under severe cochannel interference, you would rather hear each station getting louder and softer in alternate fashion from each other). Also, if a listener didn't have a Kahn-stereo capable radio, you could just use two radios, one tuned to upper sideband and one tuned to lower sideband, for the left and right audio channels. You can hear some stereo separation from C-Quam stations using this '2-radio' method, but the separation is only about 25% maximum, and the left and right channels are 180 out of phase, unless you wire one speaker's polarity backwards. iBOC is nothing more than C-QuAM with pilot tone removed, and an oppositely-phased digital-modulated tone replacing the stereo analog audio modulation. The digital iBOC signal is a 15-kHz audio tone modulated with the digital code, which is then split into 2 identical audio channels, and then made 'stereo' by inverting the phase of one of the channels exactly 180 . Both 'channels' of the tone are then fed into what constitutes the 'left and right channel inputs' of the exciter, and gives the digital data a total of 30 kHz bandwidth. The station's analog audio is brick-walled at 5 kHz, split into 2 identical audio channels (0 phase difference), and then fed into these same modulation inputs. At the iBOC receiver end, a C-QuAM decoder circuit detects all of the audio on the carrier, and then reverses the phase of one of the audio channels by 180 again, so what remains is a clean digital-modulated 15 kHz tone with the analog monaural audio completely canceled out. When the radio goes into analog reception mode, the phase of the C- QuAM decoder is simply flipped around 180 again, and you hear just the monaural analog modulation, and not the digital data tone. This is why an iBOC station cannot transmit analog stereo audio and digital data simultaneously - if the analog audio channels were any bit different from each other, they would also show up along with the digital data tone in the receiver, and mess up the decoding process. This is also why you generally cannot hear the digital data when tuned to the center of an iBOC station with an analog AM radio, but can hear it distinctly when tuned to the sidebands. If you have a 'forced-C- QuAM' AM stereo radio like a MetroSound, Sony SRF-42, or Sony A-100, tune it to an iBOC station, and then pull your headphone plug out 1/2 way so you hear just the difference between right and left channels, you'll hear only the iBOC data tone. Pushing the plug in the jack all the way, you'll then hear the data tone sounding like it is sitting 3- dimensionally 'behind' the station's analog audio (Darwin Long, Simi Valley, CA, ibid.) ``Excuse me?`` Read on further in that original sentence. iBOC occupies the same phasal spectrum that analog C-QuAM does. Instead of regular stereo audio, the ((L-R) +1) and (L+R) +1) components are occupied by modulated 15 kHz digital data carrier tone. If you took a C-Quam exciter, disabled its pilot tone, and fed 2 identical channels of the modulated digital data carrier tone into the left and right inputs inverted at 180 of each other, your iBOC radio would detect this as an HD station. C-QuAM modulation is the delivery vehicle for AM HD signals. It's just that the sidebands are so wide (15 kHz up and down) that the two channels adjacent above and below are severely affected by noise (Darwin Long, Simi Valley, CA, ibid.) Thanks a lot for your reply! This is the kind of answer I was seeking for. Is a radio capable on AM STEREO or C-QUAM reception on LW, MW and SW ? Otherwise, isn't there an AMS converter I could plug to my Grundig G5 (which has wonderful sound on AM, despite poor image rejection) and then to my earphones. I will therefore try to get Iceland in stereo. They are VERY strong here, sometimes as late as 5 AM EST or 1000 UT! How can you get Iceland on LW in C-Quam if you live in CA? Or is it you who travelled to NS back in 2003 or so? What radio have you used? Maybe they are running C-Quam, as they relay an FM or something as far as their liners are telling me (Bogdan Chiochiu, QC, ibid.) I went to Atlantic Canada in 2003. On these occasions I heard the 189 kHz station from Iceland loud and clear. Yes, I have also picked them up here very weakly in CA - their carrier comes in from sunset until early morning, when they begin to heterodyne with and then get buried by Radio Rossi, which comes in like a local during winter). I use a DX440 (ATS-803A) modified with the installation of a MC13028- based C-QuAM AM stereo decoder circuit connected to the 450 kHz IF output of the AM section. The AM tunable range of the radio is 150- 29999 kHz, and the C-QuAM decoder is operable over that entire range, both in wide (4.5 kHz) and narrowband (2.1 kHz) modes. I also installed a switch on the radio allowing the AM stereo decoder circuit to be "forced" into stereo decoding whether or not a 25-Hz pilot tone is present. The antenna I use with the receiver during traveling is a foldable tunable 4-foot box loop that I can either select to tune 150- 550kHz or 550-1800kHz. In NS, I was able to get a carrier from the Iceland station 24 hours a day (this was summertime). However, the nighttime reception was rock- solid, and the radio detected a stereo pilot and stayed locked in C- QuAM mode continuously without dropout from all locations I listened from. But after a lot of listening, I could not hear any separation between the left and right channels. They were featuring primarily classic rock at the time. I know it's not the radio 'falsing', as Radio Rossii doesn't kick the C-QuAM detector on when they come in here, nor were there any unusual carriers 25 Hz above or below 189.0 where I was listening in NS. I would recommend keeping your eye on eBay for an SRF-42 or similar radio that is 'forced' stereo (does not require a 25-Hz pilot tone to trigger the circuit to 'go stereo'); that way, you can just tune to a station and hear if there's stereo on their signal. I have known several local stations in the past to have left their pilot tone off, but were still actually transmitting stereo, and these radios were the only way of hearing it that way (Darwin Long, Simi Valley, CA, ibid.) Which probably explains why many HD Radios also decode analog C-Quam stereo. Thanks for that concise explanation, Darwin. IBOC has been around for several years now, we've beaten the topic to death on this and other lists, and still I learned something new today. Or at the very least, I re-learned something I had forgotten :-) (Brian Leyton, CA, ibid.) : DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- IBOC DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DRM See also ALASKA; BANGLADESH; CUBA; GUIANA ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ FRENCH; INDIA; ITALY; PORTUGAL; USA IBB Dec edition of DRM Newsletter : http://www.drm.org/newsletter Direct Link : http://www.drm.org/index.php?id=358 (Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, Dec 10, dxldyg via DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DTV ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ KALB and HD on 5-1 *and* 5-2 [Alexandria LA] I remember reading one of the vendors used KALB as their test case, so I think it is a stat muxer of some type, though I don't remember the details (Trip, http://www.rabbitears.info, WTFDA via DXLD) Trip, this certainly isn't the first KALB-DT log, but the first to see *both* HD streams on with HD content. Let me say this, the PQ off of KALB with football (1080i) and a drama (1080i) was surprisingly good. This was far better than the bit starved PQ that KASN served up last week for The CW's rebroadcast of the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show (the only Central Arkansas airing due to KTHV preempting...) and that KASN currently runs no subchannels (they used to though). I still think running two HD streams with the current ATSC standard is like driving two semis in opposite directions across the Old Vicksburg Bridge (it had an 18ft deck) back when it was still open to automotive/truck traffic---I've heard tales of drivers turning their mirrors in or they would "slap" upon meeting other trucks. This practice of 2 HD streams *can* be done, but only with statmuxing, and perhaps as a last resort when the market is small (such as Alexandria) and no other alternatives are available (Fritze H Prentice Jr, KC5KBV Star City, AR, EM43aw http://tvdxseark.blogspot.com http://www.twitter.com/KC5KBV ibid.) OK. We do the 720p thing at our shop. Never had a complaint, even with two football games at once. BTW, Trip, is anyone running 6 SDs in Stat-Mux? I was crunching numbers today and 4 could be comfortable, 6 would be on the line, and 8 I would expect some frame hits (Fred Vobbe, WLIO-TV Lima OH, ibid.) KAXT-LD in San Francisco is doing 12 SDs (plus 3 audio-only). WANN-LD in Atlanta has the gear to do 12 but only has 4 lit up. KJLA in Los Angeles has 9. KXLA and KVMD, both also in Los Angeles, have 8 each. WBNA is doing 6 SDs. KESQ is doing 1 HD and 4 SD subs. WYIN is doing 2 HD and 2 SD. (Trip, http://www.rabbitears.info ibid.) I've seen frame hits on WSMV 4.1 running only one HD and one SD, but they're VERY rare and you have to know where to look. The typical AVSForum purists have complained but we've never heard anything from an ordinary viewer. We do starve Telemundo 4.2 a bit and it can be noticeable there. Wish we could afford the statmux firmware option. To some degree it depends on how much bandwidth you give the subchannels. WTVF is running one HD and two SDs, and the first SD looks pretty awful (but the HD and the second SD are fine). WPTY Memphis was coming in by tropo last night. Their main channel in HD looked fine but the 24.2 SD was almost totally unwatchable (I mean, static weather graphics were fuzzy!, it's as if they were broadcasting in 120i instead of 480...). (Doug Smith, ibid.) What are your bitrates on HD and SD? I assume the HD is 1080i? BTW, do you really have an audience with Telemundo, and sell it? Wow. Were they trying to run .75 meg static? There was a station around here "trying" this and like you said it was awful (Fred Vobbe, ibid.) Perhaps you saw WMC-DT (then 52) when they had The Box on 5-3? I get better resolution on my iPhone, even without 3G. Unwatchable (Peter, N4LI, Baskind, J.D., LL.M., Germantown, TN, 901-624-5295, ibid.) KAXT-LD according to the FCC is licensed as a low power translator in Fair Oaks, CA which is well east of Sacramento on UHF-42. NOT available in the bay area. FYI TA (Tim Alderman, Dec 15, ibid.) I'm having trouble finding that. The most recent license-to-cover (for DTV 42) shows a site southeast of Fremont, just north of the Alameda- Santa Clara county line. It's probably either Mission Peak or Mt. Allison. http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=LD1324874.html There's a KMSX-LD, also on channel 42, ostensibly licensed to Sacramento but with a transmitter along I-80 south of Colfax, indeed quite a ways northeast of Sacramento. http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=LD1337059.html (Doug Smith W9WI. Pleasant View, TN EM66, ibid.) Doug, Fountain of all important DTV in my area, I've been on Mt. Diablo's north peak where I met chief engineer for KTNC few years back when alalog was the only game in town. More recently I saw a notice where the FCC DECLINED [denied? gh] an STA for an LD in Santa Clara due to the frequency occupied on 42. That station KAXT-LD was easily found in the gen-menu portion of the FCC by searching call letters. However I was very surprised to see San Francisco as their city of record when NO UHF from even Walnut Grove reaches the bay area proper on DTV. Colfax is well NORTHEAST of Sacramento. The FCC database is so full of inaccurate entries that I decided to go up Mt. Diablo myself a few years back to come up with an accurate DTV frequency table. Your 2007 web site then updated it. There is nothing currently on UHF42 in the bay area. FYI TA (Tim Alderman, Microwave Engineer, FCC License PG00011282, ibid.) Channel 42 would have been impossible before the DTV transition, indeed due to KTNC's analog signal. KTNC-DT is on channel 14 so it's no longer an impediment. The theoretical 51dBu signal from KAXT-LD on 42 covers about half of the land area of the City of San Francisco. That's enough for a LPTV, they don't have to cover all, or even most, of the listed community. Yep, it's a LONG trip from Sacramento to Colfax! I would wild-guess KMSX had to go up there to avoid short-spacing to KTNC's analog facility. Of course, that restriction no longer exists -- and I note KMSX has an application on file to move (very) roughly 35 miles southwest. KAXT has a license-to-cover for digital channel 42. I know Dennis Smith has seen KAXT-DT, and 42 is the only channel on which they've ever had a digital permit. That *may* have been when they were on Mt. San Bruno, I don't know if they ever operated from there before moving to their current site (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66, ibid.) WLS-7 and 44 http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=7091863 WLS-TV Chicago has moved from RF 7 to RF 44. However, RF 7 remains on the air. The story on the link suggests the dual-channel operation is permanent. However, I can find no record of FCC action either on the permanent operation of the channel 7 facility or on a Special Temporary Authority request filed in late October. **I think** dual operation will be legal until the license-to-cover is granted for channel 44. Maybe they won't file for that license until they see action on channel 7? Anyway, legally, at least in the short term there are two WLS-TVs (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66 Dec 15, WTFDA via DXLD) As far as I know, they're operating 44 under STA at reduced power. They need to do an antenna replacement and bump the power on 44 before they can license it. (Trip http://www.rabbitears.info ibid.) Yep, there is a separate STA for 44 because of RF exposure issues. The channel 44 antenna is on the same tower as the channel 7 antenna and the channel 5 antenna that's being removed. I *think* the STA is using the old WSNS analog antenna (the permanent WLS-44 antenna will be 40m higher). Under the STA channel 44 power is reduced a bit, 346 kW vs. 473. The 40m difference in antenna height will probably be more noticeable (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66, ibid.) I wonder, how would a tuner receive 7-1. Will it show up as Two 7-1s or will it just cancel out the other? I'm curious. It might require for me to take my portable TV down to Chicago and shack up at a motel for the night to find out! (John L., WI?, ibid.) The second 7-1 (the higher RF channel) lists as a second 7-1. We have two 6-1 from Denver: the PBS affiliate, KRMA-DT broadcasts on RF 18 and remaps to 6-1 (and subchannels). They have a satellite DTV operation for the Fort Collins area (50 miles north of Denver), that broadcasts on RF 47. They both run 6-1, 6-2, 6-3, 6-5. If I keep both in the receiver, I have dupes (Jim Thomas, wdx0fbu, Milliken, Colorado (40 miles north of Denver), ibid.) POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Re 9-084: OFCOM SHOWS UTTER CONTEMPT FOR THE PUBLIC 10 December 2009, Dear groups, Finally after a long delay the UK government has responded to the UKQRM e-petition regarding Power Line Transmissions and Power Line Adaptors or Home Plugs. What this shows is that the government has utter contempt for the public and its wishes (remember this at the elections). We have proved that these devices fail by a great deal, the regulations in place! Yet, Ofcom still says they pass. This is a ridiculous situation. I'd like to thank all of you who voted in the petition, your vote was not wasted as it forms the basis for us to go forward. The RSGB has stated its intention to look at a legal challenge to Ofcom due to its total failure to apply the UK laws and regulations as they stand. PLT, is the biggest single threat to our hobbies of short wave radio listening ever, really it is. If we don't make a stand now then a time is not far away when every home in the UK and across much of the EU will have PLT pumping out noise and interference over the range 2-40 MHz. Currently here in the UK the BT supplied Comtrend units have shown they are capable of causing harmful interference at ranges of 500 meters and worse still its been proved that this interference is re broadcast by street lighting and telephone poles, thus the range is further increased. The noise background is set to rise even for those of you lucky enough to live in an isolated location. Shortwave will become a thing of the past for most of us if we can't turn back the tide. I really hope that more of you will want to join us on UKQRM and it would be nice to see other groups like us formed in our EU countries. For more information, videos and data please have a look at our web site. And finally, don't be fooled by the claims that PLT is 'notched' for the amateur bands, while some do have notches they are not good enough and by favouring the amateur bands like this they are inviting all manner of determined broadcasters to switch to those protected bands to get their message out! Thus the amateur bands will become full of illicit broadcasters. Plus, by the very fact that they are notching out some bands it proves they accept these devices cause harmful interference! Regards, Mike http://www.ukqrm.org What does UKQRM stand for? Well, UK as we are based in the UK and QRM is the radio code for Man-made interference, such as that from badly made equipment. There are many such 'Q' codes British Telecom with its BT Vision package and many independent electrical and computer stores/outlets are supplying power line adaptors to as many homes as they can! What's wrong with that, you might ask? Well there is one element of this package that is causing the death of short wave radio! Shortwave radio is the medium used by most International Broadcasters to transmit their programming to the World. Commonly referred to [sic] as World Band Radio, it has amazing properties that allow world wide communications and it has been in use since Marconi made his first historic transmissions. Shortwave broadcasts are found in the 2 to 30 MHz band of the radio spectrum (just above the Medium waveband) and include many thousands of users: Military, Shipping, Long Range Aircraft communication, Space, Amateur, safety of lives and World Broadcasters. Many Millions of people listen to short wave radio every day, some relying on it for their very existence. Modern short wave equipment is very sophisticated and can even be computer controlled. Shortwave radios cost from a few pounds to many thousands of pounds (GBP £). There is a huge world market in shortwave equipment! We believe it is of paramount importance that its uninterrupted use is maintained and protected. http://www.mikeandsniffy.co.uk/UKQRM/ (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) Believe me, these devices do wipe out far more than a 10 yard radius! Increase this to up to a quarter of a mile radius - and some say beyond this! I often drive through the village of Ashover in Derbyshire and MW is totally wiped out through the entire village. I can assure you that there will be no MW DXers (and likely no HF radio hams either) in Ashover. Local Clipstone 1071 and 1584 are totally wiped out here. Fellow DXer Tim Bucknall has reported his PLT problems to Ofcom and they refused to do anything about it, giving some daft excuse about his aerial being in the wrong place. The more we complain to Ofcom about these devices, the quicker we might get something done about it. I do not want to be defeatist about this. Disgusted with all governments here, not just the present filth (John Faulkner, UK, MWC yg via DXLD) The Powers That Be do not want analogue radio to survive because it crosses national borders. They want Digital so that they can control everything (Graham Maynard, UK, Dec 10, ibid.) I think they want digital because it`s pirate proof. You can`t pirate a multiplex (Steven Overall, ibid.) No one can or will be able to run anything through digital which the *Common Purpose* operatives deem unacceptable ! These folk are controlling Ofcom (=Offcom) and our Government from the inside out ! (Maynard, ibid.) BBC ADVOCATES THE USE OF POWER LINE ADAPTERS What hope is there when an international broadcaster does? http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=1179053 (Gareth Foster, Dec 10, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) ?? Makes perfect sense. The sooner BBC can kill off shortwave listening, the happier they will be. Already have had some success in several worldparts (gh, DXLD) RADIO SOCIETY TRIES TO BEAT BACK POWERLINE NETWORKS The Register By Bill Ray 11 December 2009 The Radio Society of Great Britain has set up a Spectrum Defence Fund to challenge Ofcom's view of powerline networking. The RSGB reckons it's going to cost £75,000 to fund a Judicial Review, which is what's needed to kick Ofcom into reconsidering powerline devices. Donations are invited though the RSGB site, with any excess funds being held over for the next time Ofcom leaves a loophole. Powerline networking involves pushing Ethernet signals over mains wiring. The problem is that the household mains acts as an antenna sending out unwanted radio signals. The RSGB reckons that some devices aren't being properly certified, and that even those with certification generate an unacceptable level of interference: "Now is the time to stand up and be counted and make it known that we, as a community, are not prepared to accept any level of interference from noncompliant devices." The UK's regulator, Ofcom, has repeatedly belittled the problem - claiming that few complaints have been received and pointing out that other users in the same frequency range aren't complaining. But those other users are long-range oceanic communications and the MOD, so it's likely that neither of them hangs around near users of powerline networking, and the number of complaints is hardly relevant if the law is being broken. Raising £75,000 won't be easy, especially for a problem that directly affects such a small number of people, but the RSGB reckons that nothing else will make Ofcom take notice. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/12/11/rsgb_powerling_networking/ "Spectrum Defence Fund announced" http://www.rsgb.org/news/newsitem.php?id=2 (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ GEOMAGNETIC INDICES Compiled by: Phil Bytheway [continued from 9-077] Tabulated from email status daily. Date Flux A K Space Wx October 2009 13 70 1 1 no storms 14 71 1 1 no storms 15 70 5 2 no storms 16 70 3 0 no storms 17 70 3 1 no storms 18 70 2 0 no storms 19 71 1 0 no storms 20 71 0 0 no storms 21 71 2 1 no storms 22 72 17 3 no storms 23 73 11 1 no storms 24 76 5 2 no storms 25 76 7 1 no storms 26 81 3 1 no storms 27 82 4 1 no storms 28 80 2 0 no storms 29 77 5 1 no storms 30 75 11 1 no storms 31 75 1 1 no storms November 2009 01 72 2 0 no storms 02 71 2 1 no storms 03 72 0 0 no storms 04 71 0 1 no storms 05 71 1 0 no storms 06 71 0 0 no storms 07 71 0 0 no storms 08 71 7 2 no storms 09 72 3 1 no storms 10 73 1 0 no storms 11 72 1 1 no storms 12 73 0 0 no storms 13 74 1 1 no storms 14 75 6 2 no storms 15 75 5 1 no storms 16 76 2 1 no storms 17 x x x x 18 x x x x 19 x x x x 20 76 2 1 no storms 21 76 9 2 no storms 22 76 3 0 no storms 23 76 0 0 no storms 24 75 6 2 no storms 25 74 7 0 no storms 26 75 6 1 no storms 27 74 2 0 no storms 28 73 2 0 no storms 29 72 0 0 no storms 30 72 2 0 no storms (IRCA DX Monitor Dec 12 via DXLD) SPECULATION OVER FM-DX-WORLD RECORD Hello All, Last Summer a Romanian claimed some interesting record- setting FM DX receptions. Here is a message on the latest word about it (Curtis Sadowski, IL, 11 Dec, WTFDA via DXLD) If anyone is still interested, Daniel tells me he has discovered that his extreme DX receptions were caused by Romanian radio pirates who make transmissions with false RDS and recordings. Thank you Daniel, that explains everything (Julian Hardstone, UK, Dec 11, skywaves DX yg via Sadowski, ibid.) I believe that a quote from Philadelphia's own Bill Cosby is appropriate here: "RIIIIIIIGHT !!!!!!!!!!!!" (Russ Edmunds, WB2BJH Blue Bell, PA, ibid.) Then Daniel said "arrr me buckos". wrh (Bill Hepburn, Ont., ibid.) The geomagnetic field was predominantly quiet throughout the summary period. Solar wind observations from the ACE spacecraft showed velocities ranged from 375 km/s, starting the period, to 255 km/s at the end of the period. Interplanetary magnetic field activity showed intermittent periods of Bz fluctuations from +6 to -4 nT. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 16 DEC 2009 - 11 JAN 2010 Solar activity is expected to be predominantly very low with a slight chance for brief periods of low. No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at normal background levels through the period. The geomagnetic field is expected to be mostly quiet for the forecast period. The exception would be for a slight chance of quiet to unsettled levels possible for 18 December due to a recurrent high speed stream. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2009 Dec 15 1951 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center # Product description and SWPC contact on the Web # http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/wwire.html # # 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table # Issued 2009 Dec 15 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2009 Dec 16 85 5 2 2009 Dec 17 85 5 2 2009 Dec 18 85 8 3 2009 Dec 19 85 5 2 2009 Dec 20 85 5 2 2009 Dec 21 85 5 2 2009 Dec 22 85 5 2 2009 Dec 23 83 5 2 2009 Dec 24 80 5 2 2009 Dec 25 80 5 2 2009 Dec 26 77 5 2 2009 Dec 27 77 5 2 2009 Dec 28 77 5 2 2009 Dec 29 77 5 2 2009 Dec 30 75 5 2 2009 Dec 31 75 5 2 2010 Jan 01 75 5 2 2010 Jan 02 72 5 2 2010 Jan 03 72 5 2 2010 Jan 04 75 5 2 2010 Jan 05 77 5 2 2010 Jan 06 77 5 2 2010 Jan 07 80 5 2 2010 Jan 08 80 5 2 2010 Jan 09 80 5 2 2010 Jan 10 85 5 2 2010 Jan 11 85 5 2 (SWPC via WORLD OF RADIO 1491, DXLD) ###