DX LISTENING DIGEST 12-09, February 29, 2012 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 2012 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html For restrixions and searchable 2011 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid1.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 WORLD OF RADIO 1606 HEADLINES: *DX and station news about: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Canada, Cuba, Diego Garcia, Eritrea, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Koreas, Kuwait, Mexico, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Oklahoma, Pakistan, Russia, Saint Helena, Serbia, Sikkim, South Sudan, Syria, Tatarstan non, Tunisia, UK, USA SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1606, March 1-7, 2012 Thu 0430 WRMI 9955 Thu 2200 WTWW 9479 [confirmed] Fri 0430v WWRB 3195 [confirmed] Sat 0200v WBCQ 5110v-CUSB Area 51 Sat 0900 WRMI 9955 Sat 1600 WRMI 9955 Sat 1830 WRMI 9955 Sun 0500 WTWW 5755 [confirmed] Sun 0900 WRMI 9955 Sun 1630 WRMI 9955 Sun 1830 WRMI 9955 Mon 0330v WBCQ 5110v-CUSB [alternate weeks not including this?] Mon 1230 WRMI 9955 Tue 1030 HLR 5980 Hamburger Lokal Radio Thu 0430 WRMI 9955 [or maybe 1607 if ready in time] 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/ http://www.wrn.org/listeners/world-of-radio/rss/09:00:00UTC/English/541 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO: http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html or http://wor.worldofradio.org DXLD YAHOOGROUP: Why wait for DXLD? A lot more info, not all of it appearing in DXLD later, is posted at our yg without delay. When applying, please identify yourself with your real name and location, and say something about why you want to join. Those who do not, unless I recognize them, will be prompted once to do so and no action will be taken otherwise. Here`s where to sign up: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dxld/ ** AFGHANISTAN [and non]. I have found a nice noise free DX location. It is outdoors, so the weather on winter mornings and evenings is sometimes a factor in listening. My 2010 didn’t make the trip. It died on arrival, so I use an almost 40 year old TRF for MW. It still is the best analog MW receiver I have ever owned. It always beat a 2010 barefoot. I have a Sony SW-11 for long and short wave use. It’s not bad on either, but I miss my Palomar long wave loop and home brew tunable pre-amps. (In storage) There are stations lurking on long wave that I just can’t pull out on the barefoot SW-11. I may send for wire, and build my own long wave loop. It is my favorite band. A random long wire may be possible at another QTH, but there is a high noise floor there. I have a DX-375 with digital readout I used it to calibrate the TRF and SW-11 dials. It is nowhere near as sensitive as the analog models I use. Also have a Sony SRF-59 Walkman. Not too bad on MW. I am familiarizing myself with my LW and MW dials, but also check the very crowded tropical bands when I can. DX time is somewhat limited. A NOTE ON AFGHAN AND PAKISTAN MW STATIONS - These stations often sign off programming middays. Almost all I have heard so far leave their transmitters on with open carriers. Often 0530-1030 UT. Just no modulation. Several bad MW hets have been noted at night. The sync on the 2010 would have helped with those. 1305 kHz, Radio Kandahar. Here is an example of piss-poor frequency management. Adjacent channel to this, just 9 kHz away, is the VOA station in Kabul that is supposed to reach most of Afghanistan. The VOA station is on 1296 kHz with 400 kW, 291 miles from here. It puts in fair daytime ground wave coverage, and has a huge signal at night with no selective sideband fading. There are plenty of open frequencies where a local station could be assigned. I’m sure it is a mess at night on less selective consumer radios. This station runs audio that is so compressed, that when there is a pause, gain noise and a nice 50 hertz hum rises in their modulation. Radio Kandahar does take a midday break with open carrier. 7 kW, local. TRF (Brock Whaley, Kandahar, Afghanistan, Feb 25 for DX LISTENING DIGEST) Brock, Still nothing on 7200, have you kept checking? Until 1630 - (Glenn Hauser, 1622 UT Feb 25, to Brock Whaley, via DXLD) Glenn, I checked early in the week and heard nothing. I haven't been able to listen the last couple of evenings. I'll try tomorrow, and continue to check when I can. I tune in early as well, to see if the Pashto service is on. Nothing so far. Regards, (Brock Whaley, Kandahar, 1639 ut Feb 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dear Mr. Whaley, at least today R. Afghanistan seems to be on 7200 kHz at 1530 in English. But no trace of Turbat 981 kHz here, either. Thank you for the info about Afghan medium wave stations. Sounds that most are on only in the morning? I have heard a couple of them here in Finland: 1602 Khost (off now?), 1584 Mazar e-Sharif (also off?), 1500 R. Badghis, 1386 R. Paktin Voice and of course 1296, 1107 and 621 kHz. How late in the evening have you heard R. Kandahar? Does it sound like being on spot? Here Iran dominates on 1305.1 kHz and AIR Parbhani is heard often, but I haven't managed to hear R. Kandahar. Maybe still those very old USSR time transmitters? Best regards, (Mauno Ritola, Joensuu, Finland, Feb 27, to Brock, via WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DXLD) 7200, RTA External service - Kabul. Tuned in at 1525 prior to their English service. Station was already on with local music and M Pashto announcer. Not // the local 1107 MW outlet. Local instrumental music played up to 1530, then a few seconds of dead air followed by “This is the National Radio of Afghanistan” in English. Then anthem, followed by news in English. The Koran burning incident and its violent repercussions were just mentioned in passing. Odd, since it is a huge story here. Good carrier strength, but very low audio. Covered by splatter from 7205 at times as the modulation was so low. Feb. 26. SW- 11, DX-375 (Brock Whaley, Kandahar, AFG for WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DXLD) ** ANTARCTICA [non]. 15476, Thu Feb 23 at 1310, once again no trace of LRA36, nor on several other chex in the following bihour. If they were ever willing or able to turn on the transmitter again, it should have been on Feb 22, ``Argentine Antarctic Day`` celebrating 108 years of continuous inhabitance, according to LU8YD on the condig lista. I did not see this till later and did not realize it was AA Day, so did not dig for 15476, but certainly did not notice any sign of it as tuning across the area a few times Wednesday morning. This also happens (?) to be Antarctic Activity Week for the hams, 20- 26 Feb, involving special-event callsigns from several countries, but nothing from inside Antarctica? Per 425 DX news, see http://www.waponline.it (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. Hi Glenn. I don't know if this might be of interest for you and your readers, but me and a friend have been recollecting info about the AM stations broadcasting from Buenos Aires City and the Greater Buenos Aires Province. He (Gustavo Arabian) lives in Almagro, Capital Federal while I'm in Pilar, Buenos Aires Province. So here it is, a list of (most) radio stations in Buenos Aires, with info about their programming style and QTH. Greetings. 530 Radio de las Madres (talk/cultural) - Capital Federal 550 CW1 Radio Colonia (news/sports/variety) - Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay 570 Radio Argentina (brokered/Hot AC) - Capital Federal 590 LS4 Radio Continental (news/sports) - Capital Federal 610 Radio General San Martín (brokered/tango) - San Martín 630 LS5 Radio Rivadavia (news/sports) - Capital Federal 650 Radio Belgrano (brokered/tango) - Capital Federal 660 Radio Amplitud (brokered/Italian songs) - San Justo 670 Radio República (brokered/tango) - Lomas del Mirador 680 Radio Magna (brokered/oldies) - San Martín 690 K24 en Radio (sports/tango) - Capital Federal 710 LRL202 Radio Diez (news/talk) - Capital Federal 730 Radio General Güemes (sports/variety) - Capital Federal 740 Radio Rebelde (talk) - Capital Federal 750 AM750 (talk/eclectic) - Capital Federal 770 Radio Cooperativa (news/talk) - Capital Federal 790 LR6 Radio Mitre (news/sports) - Capital Federal 810 Radio La Gauchita (folk) - Capital Federal 820 LRI208 Estación 820 (Catholic/folk) - Lomas de Zamora 830 Radio del Pueblo (brokered/oldies) - Capital Federal 840 Radio General Belgrano (sports/tango) - Capital Federal 850 La Voz de América (Paraguayan songs) - San Miguel oeste 870 LRA1 Radio Nacional de Buenos Aires (public radio, National Government) - Capital Federal 890 Radio Libre (lotteries/brokered) - San Justo 910 LR5 Radio La Red (news/sports) - Capital Federal 930 Radio Nativa (folk) - Capital Federal 950 LR3 Radio Nueve (sports) - Capital Federal 970 Radio Génesis (brokered) - Capital Federal 980 AM980 (folk) - José C. Paz 990 LR4 Radio Splendid (brokered/tango) - Capital Federal 1000 Radio Sintonía (brokered/variety) - José C. Paz 1010 Onda Latina (variety/sports) - Capital Federal 1030 LS10 Radio del Plata (news/sports) - Capital Federal 1050 Radio Concepto (talk/eclectic) - Capital Federal 1070 LR1 Radio El Mundo (business) - Capital Federal 1090 Radio Décadas (oldies) - Hurlingham 1110 LS1 Radio Ciudad de Buenos Aires (public radio, Buenos Aires City Government) - Capital Federal 1120 Radio Sudaméricana (talk/variety) - San Martín 1120 AM Tango (tango/folk) - Capital Federal 1130 AM Contemporánea (brokered) - Capital Federal 1140 Radio Independencia (talk/sports) - Lanús 1150 LRI369 Radio Sagrada Familia (Catholic) - San Justo 1160 Radio Excelsior (brokered) - Capital Federal 1170 La Radio de mi País (folk) - Hurlingham 1190 LR9 Radio América (news/talk) - Capital Federal 1210 AM Doce Diez (news/Christian/brokered) - La Tablada 1220 Radio Cadena Eco (brokered/sports) - Capital Federal 1240 Radio Cadena Uno (brokered/Lite AC) - Capital Federal 1250 Radio Estirpe Nacional (folk) - Capital Federal 1260 Radio Oliva (Christian) - Capital Federal 1270 LS11 Radio Provincia de Buenos Aires (public radio, Buenos Aires Province Government) - La Plata 1280 Radio Punto (sports) - Capital Federal 1290 Radio Provinciana (folk) - San Miguel 1290 Radio Interactiva (tango) - Gregorio de la Ferrere 1300 Radio Identidad (folk/talk/sports) - Capital Federal 1300 Radio Plus (brokered) - Lanús 1310 Radio Antártida Argentina (tango/sports) - Capital Federal 1320 Área Uno (sports/oldies) - Tres de Febrero 1340 Radio Renacer (folk) - Moreno 1350 LS6 Radio Buenos Aires (talk/Lite AC) - Capital Federal 1370 La 13 70 (folk) - Capital Federal 1390 LR11 Radio Universidad Nacional de La Plata (talk/cultural) - La Plata 1400 Radio Gama (Latin/sports) - Lanús 1410 AM Folclorísimo (folk) - José León Suárez 1440 Radio Impacto (Christian/tango/sports) - Capital Federal 1450 LRI213 Radio El Sol (Lite AC) - Capital Federal 1460 Radio Contacto (sports/oldies) - Merlo 1470 Cadena 1470 (variety) - Lanús oeste 1510 RBN La Radio de las Buenas Nuevas (Christian) - Lomas de Zamora 1520 Radio Norteña (folk) - Los Polvorines 1530 Radio Eco Porteña (news/sports) - Capital Federal 1570 La Morena de Itatí (folk) - Grand Bourg 1610 AM Guaviyú (variety) - Gregorio de la Ferrere 1630 Radio Restauración (Christian) - Hurlingham 1650 LRI227 Radio Antares (talk/folk) - Pilar 1660 Radio Revivir (Christian/classical) - Gregorio de la Ferrere 1690 Cristo la Solución (Christian) - Capital Federal 1700 FM Fantástico (tropical) - Tigre 1710 AM1710 (brokered) - Capital Federal (Eduardo Peralta, Feb 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Great, tnx Eduardo. Always appreciate original research, and from people who know where the accents go! (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) ** ARGENTINA. Re 12-08: "ARGENTINA 13362,5 R.Continental (p), retransm. via F.Arm.Arg, B. Aires, 1849-1916, 19/2, prgr. de f/ball, propag. comercial; 15331." 13363.5! Colegas: Não vá pensar-se que o sinal foi, no período e data observados, ~362,5, 1 kHz abaixo do normal, cumpre-me dizer: tratou-se de erro meu, ao dactilografar, pelo que peço desculpa pela eventual indução em erro. A freq. correcta é mesmo 13363.5, no caso, em modo BLI (Carlos Gonçalves, PORTUGAL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 13363.5 LSB, Radio Continental, 2330-2355, Spanish play-by-play futbol coverage. ID. Weak but readable. Feb 25 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) Estaciones Costeras de Argentina, Hola colegas, Por favor una ayuda, ayer entre 00 y 01 UT pude escuchar dos estaciones costeras argentinas con tráfico telefónico Barco-Tierra operando en 13179 y 13363.5 kHz USB; en algún momento una de ellas se identificó como Argentina Radio. Me pueden decir qué estaciones pueden ser? Lo curioso es que en los 13363.5 han reportado y yo mismo escuché hace un par de semanas a Radio Continental. Gracias. Visite http://dxdesdecolombia.blogspot.com/ (Rafael Rodríguez R., Bogotá D.C. - COLOMBIA, Feb 26, condiglist yg via DXLD) Hola Rafael!! Para mi la de 13363.5 es LTA, operada por el Ejército Argentino para comunicaciones justamente con la Antártida Argentina e Islas del Atlántico Sur. Se la ha escuchado retransmitiendo a Radio Continental y otrora a Rivadavia e incluso a FM100 aunque lo que es habitual es que durante los fines de semana se retransmita alguna emisora que emita fútbol. 73 (Arnaldo Slaen, ibid.) The broadcast relays are usually on LSB, but his coastal comm was on USB (gh, DXLD) 13363.5/LSB, UNID relay; 2243-2316+, 25-Feb; Spanish game call; 2301 "Argentina presenta" into Spanish commentary by M&W before game call continued. Generally poor but improving. Not // 15345 also with game call. (Frodge-DXP) 15345.2, Radio Nacional; 2243-2315+, 25-Feb; Spanish game call; possibly La Plata vs Santa Fe of the Argentine Juniors League. SIO=3+43 with brief ute clatter. Not // 13363.5 also with game call (Harold Frodge, Michigan Area Radio Enthusiasts DXpedition, Brighton MI, Drake R8B + 500 ft. NEish unterminated beverage + 85 ft. TTFD, logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARMENIA. KBC Noratus - Armenia --- Salve a tutti. Nessuna trasmissione questa sera dalla stazione KBC da Noratus-Armenia. Problemi tecnici? Buon week end a tutti (Giovanni Lorenzi - IT9TZZ, QTH: Messina - Italy 38.11 N 15.32 E, 1844 UT Feb 25, bclnews.it yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DXLD) That`s the Saturdayly two-sesquihour DRM supposed to start at 1800 (gh, DXLD) ** ARMENIA. Is operating on 4810 more extensively in the evening than shown in the WRTH. But not heard yet on 1314, which has Radio Farda, plus Iran, plus Iranian jammer (Chris Greenway, Feb 29, Baku, Azerbaijan, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. Corrections to WRTH 2012. Australian section. PLEASE ADD as MISSING. SHORTWAVE: Radio Symban 2368.5 khz Hours 1900-1200. (do vary). power 1 kW, Leppington NSW. QSL via J Wright, 29 Milford Rd, Peahurst 2210, NSW, Australia. reply postage requested. Greek programming. NARROW CAST BROADCAST BAND 1611 to 1701 khz: 1611, 2UCB 0.4 Vision radio Network. Leppington 400w for address see No 164. 1611, 2??? Francis Greenaway School No 234. (sometimes on air during school hours 2200-0300). 1611, 2??? No 233 Traffic 1611 now defunct. 1611, 2??? "The Goanna". no 196. (Same address). change of station name.(2NTC defunct). Still same address and power. 1656, 2??? The Axe Broken Hill No 225 now defunct. 1674, 0.4 LionFM. parallel 96.1 Jewish radio Melbourne. http://lionfm.org street address not known at this time first on air 20/12/2011. Station says on air Sundays to Fridays 12pm to 12pm which is 0100 to 1300 UT. 1692, 4UCB Vision radio Network Nanango. is corrected address No 164, NOT 198. 1701, 2??? Voice of Charity. No 222 change of name and address. 22 Frank St, Mount Druitt 2770. email reports to brjohn @ hotmail.com languages Arabic and English. 1323, 2?? Defunct no 220 KIXFM. Now a Chinese language station CRI Canberra (March Australian DX News via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. 2310, VL8A, Northern Territory SW Service; 1200-1235+, 26-Feb; ABC Radio News in English with Aussie plus U.S. election news. Poor but copyable. Slightly better than // 2325 VL8T & 2485 VL8K (Harold Frodge, Michigan Area Radio Enthusiasts DXpedition, Brighton MI, Drake R8B + 500 ft. NEish unterminated beverage + 85 ft. TTFD, logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. 13630, Feb 24 at 0635, unusual music for RA, soon outroed as Gypsy/Turkish for a music festival in Melbourne. Best of the four 13/15 MHz frequencies, almost sufficient (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. Matilda Waltzes Away --- Hello Glen[n], newcomer to the group. I've been listening to Radio Australia on 9580 kHz since I've begun shortwave DXing in 1976. Back then before its programing began, it always signed on with the familiar Aussie tune "Waltzing Matilda" followed by the laugh of Australia's national bird, the kookaburra. But as the years went by and with the subsequent "dumbing down" of R.A., the "Waltzing Matilda" ID signal was reduced to just being heard 30 seconds prior to sign-on and the laugh of the Kookaburra, no more. And now, just a few weeks ago (2-13-12), I listened to R.A. at 0800 UT and discovered its ID signal was completely gone! In its 0759:30 sign- on, instead of "Waltzing Matilda", it joins in on a promo (similar to what the BBC does before its next program begins) follow by the usual R.A. signature fanfare tune. Talk about "scraping the bottom of the barrel"! Shortwave isn't what it was, Glen (J K Johnson, Feb 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. 15525, Feb 26 at 2259, ``HCJB Global Voice`` ID, Melbourne address, poor signal and into another language. Aoki shows this 2200-2430 transmission, 100 kW, 340 degrees from Kununurra, is mainly Chinese [Mandarin] except: 2230-2300 Japanese on UT Fri/Sat; Amoy 0000-0030 UT Mon-Fri. {BTW, whenever I hear Kununurra, I am suspicious it may be long-path, since this is the closest SWBC site to the antipodes from here beyond Madagascar, unlike Shepparton} (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. Vale Chris Hambly member 149 --- As per last month's shock news that Chris had passed away, we had a number of photos sent to us by Robert Copeman, also Chris's funeral was on Tuesday 7th February 2012 at Oakleigh in Melbourne's eastern suburbs. Those representing the ARDXC were Ian Stanley, Robert Copeman and his wife Ina and our public officer Keith Wilson, all long time associates of Chris's. The ARDXC sent a wreath of flowers, to honour Chris. Chris also had his neighbours and his friends from the Victorian railways attend. One of the anecdotes, during his service, was about the Papal Visit to Melbourne in November 1986. Pope John Paul II. (I had forgotten about this colourful episode in Chris's life, as Chris told this to me, - Johno Wright). Chris was given the task of carrying around a toilet roll, in a small bag, in case of, "your holiness, needs". Yes even the Pope, gets caught short. Yes that’s how far the Vatican goes to organise a Papal visit. I understand, from years ago, (my memory now...) Chris may have still the letter that was sent to him, after carrying out his duties, thanking him from the Vatican. You only have to look at the crowds every Sunday in St Peter's square, to see the Pope and to hear him speak to understand the enormity of the occasion. Chris would have had a clear view of Pope John Paul II. To receive a letter, would have been a dream for many Catholics. So good on Chris. Chris thought of others before himself, is the way I think of Chris, and I am sure many others feel the same. Enjoy the pictures of our friend, Chris's, radio set up. Also we have pictures from earlier days in the club, which we do publish from time to time (March Australian DX News via DXLD) ** AZERBAIJAN [and non]. IRAN 702 BEING JAMMED --- I'm in Baku. There's an interesting situation on 702. This has VIRI from Bandar-e- Kiashahr (listed 500 kW), just across the Caspian (an all sea path from Baku, so a strong signal here). It's being intermittently jammed by Azerbaijan when broadcasting in Azeri. Last night (27 Feb), during the 1430-1700 VIRI Azeri, a transmitter slightly off-channel (?deliberately?) on 702 was relaying Azerbaijani Radio (in parallel with Baku 891 and 105 FM). When checked later, during the 1830-1930 VIRI Turkish transmission, the jamming had gone. This morning (28 Feb), VIRI 702 was heard with an unjammed Hebrew transmission ending at 0300 (not listed in Hebrew at that time in WRTH), then the listed VIRI Russian (0300-0330), then the listed VIRI in Azeri, starting 0330. This was not jammed at 0330, or when checked again at 0400. But when checked at 0445 it was being jammed with an Azerbaijani signal (in parallel with 891), as last night. Again, the Azerbaijani transmitter was slightly off-channel, giving a low het to assist the jamming effect. I wonder how new this is. Perhaps one of our readers who specialises in MW offsets can say? (Chris Greenway, Feb 28, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Can you give any estimate how much off AZE is? I have recordings from this morning, but apparently 0500 is far too much in daylight. I will check older files, the few I have left (Mauno Ritola, Finland, ibid.) There's a long history of mutual jamming of TV and radio signals between Azerbaijan and Iran that can be traced to the beginning of 1960s. The efforts of the independent Azerbaijan to jam Iranian TV in Azeri have been widely reported since 2000 or 2001. I guess no one bothered to check what's going on with radio broadcasts. The last known DXer in Baku, Fuad Kuliev, died in the end of 2000. Here's a Russian text of DW's special broadcast about Fuad: http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,345646,00.html What I'd be curious to know if there's anything left of the External Service at Azerbaijani Radio. Is there still English radio service? The state-run AzTV supposedly carries English newscasts on weekdays at 2am and 7am (sometimes 7.30) local time. That translates into 2200 and 1500 UT. Online streaming at http://www.aztv.az/tvcanli.htm seems to be quite reliable. The joint phone number for State Radio and TV is (+99412)492-38-07. I also found the number for the Arabic External service: 439-7129 (provided that such service still exists). State Radio and TV's address is 1 Mehdi Huseyn str., Baku, Azerbaijan (Sergei S., ibid.) Thanks Sergei. I was last here in 2006. At that time Radio Dada Gorgud was still going (including in English) on 1296 (or was it 1295?) with a poor signal and bad audio. I think it disappeared shortly afterwards. I think I can confirm that the jammer on 702 is coming from the same site as the local 891 transmitter. I have noticed that whenever the jammer on 702 is on, a spurious signal with the same audio appears on 1080. 2 x 891 minus 702 = 1080. So, it is possible that they are using the old external service transmitter for the jamming! Last night (28 Feb), the jammer on 702 was still going at 1830. When I rechecked at 1910 it had gone. To answer Mauno's query, the jammer is a few hundred Hz on the high side of 702. If it regularly stays on the air until 1830 or later I hope you will have a chance to catch a trace of it in Finland. Finally, I will ask about AzTV's English news (though I don't think I will stay up until 2 a.m. to watch it!). (Chris Greenway, Feb 29, Baku, Azerbaijan, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also ARMENIA, TURKMENISTAN I checked yesterday, and had two carriers above 702 kHz and one below, drifting slowly from 701.90 to 701.95 kHz and signing off at 1708. Could it have been so close? Much weaker than Iran here and no chance for audio, so maybe local to cover Baki only? I haven't seen any reports by Russian DXers, either. BTW, the Hebrew transmission isn't really scheduled for 702 kHz, it is just typical for Iran to start early for any transmission, in this case Russian at 0300. See http://hebrew.irib.ir/home/frequencies (Mauno Ritola, Finland, Feb 29, ibid.) ** BAHRAIN. 9745, Radio Bahrain at 0352 in Arabic with a man with a possible commentary, Fair Jan 21 (Carolyn Lysandrou, Bloomington, IN. Kenwood TS-590 Gap Titan DX, Your Reports, March ODXA Listening In via DXLD) This is listed as 24 hours with 10 kW ND, a good catch anywhere. Aoki has a confusing entry also on 9745 for R. Cairo in Swahili at 03-05, 100 kW at 170 degrees, but not in HFCC or EiBI; and WRTH 2012 shows Swahili at 04-06 on 13650 instead (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9745, Radio Bahrain at 1556 in Arabic with a man with talk then ID at 1600 and into modern Arabic music to 1602 and a man and woman with talk and program highlights followed by vocal music to 1609 and off. Fair Jan 31 (Partha Sarathi Goswami, Darjeeling, INDIA, ICOM IC-R75, Your Reports, March ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** BELARUS. Re 12-08: Jammer Sites - Grodno --- So the Grodno site began on SW circa 1991. Is it a similar story for the 'Brest - Rakitnica' & 'Mahilioú (Mogilev)' SW (ex jammer sites?). Interesting material, although poor English (Ian Baxter, Feb 26, shortwavesites yg via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 4699.30, R. San Miguel, Riberalta, 31/01 1020-1125, 22222, news y ads, 19 minutos para las 7 de la mañana, programa Bolivia en Contacto, ID “Por Radio San Miguel…” programa Los Éxitos de San Miguel, ID Radio San Miguel y su tanda de noticias”. La recepción la he efectuado del 31/01 al 22/02 en compañía de mi sabueso Icom IC R72 acompañado del Mizuho KX-3, una grabadora Alesis Palm Track, una antena de hilo largo de 15 metros y una antena loop. Muchos 128´s (Pedro F. Arrunátegui, Perú, Feb Chasqui DX, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 5952.42, Radio Pio Doce, Llallagua, 1018 on 2/29 with Spanish news by two OM, alternating their items. Mentions of Bolivia with fair signal and musical stingers at end of items (Ralph Perry, Wheaton, Illinois, Drake R8B; Japan Radio NRD-545; Eton E1; Hallicrafters SX100; Knightkit Star Roamer, Dentron Super Tuner + Ameco PLF-2 + Palomar P-408 + customized (tropical bands) Quantum Phaser antenna unit, Longwires (150' + 100'); Tuned Multi-Turn 20" Small Loop; Single-Turn Coax Loop, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. Hi, I found this news about Radio San Gabriel: DOS PERIODISTAS DE RADIO SAN GABRIEL MUEREN ASESINADOS 27/02/2012 - 20:14:01 La Paz (Erbol).- Los cuerpos sin vida de Verónica Peñasco Layme, jefa de prensa de la radio San Gabriel de la Red Erbol, y de su hermano Victor Hugo, locutor de la emisora Pachakamasa, fueron encontrados en las últimas horas en la morgue del Hospital de Clínicas de la ciudad de La Paz. . . . http://www.hoybolivia.com/Noticia.php?IdNoticia=58513&tit=dos_periodistas_de_radio_san_gabriel_mueren_asesinados 73 from (Björn Fransson, Sweden, Feb 28, HCDX via DXLD) WTFK? Los medios de ese país cubren la noticia del asesinato de dos periodistas de la muy conocida emisora para los diexistas Radio San Gabriel. He aquí la nota aparecida en el matutino La Razón: (Arnaldo Slaen, condiglist yg via DXLD) Maybe once well-known to DXers, but off SW for three years now (gh): 6079.9v BOL R San Gabriel, La Paz [0858-1040/-0123](9.80-0.47) Mar09 W SS/YY *0851 (LA SW LOGS via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 6134.82, Radio Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, very nice signal strength 2/29 0924-0937 and even better at 1028 recheck. QRM gone from the frequency, at least this morning, tho plenty of static from local rainstorm. Some kind of morning world news show, mentions of "Noticiero Madrugada" and local time checks as "...cinco de la mañana y __ minutos, 5 y 27 en Santa Cruz . . ." Coverage of the Michigan presidential primary and also of an earthquake (terremoto). Occasional musical program breaks, e.g. a three minute song of Bolivian uptempo ballad with accordion and guitar at 0927 and then back to the news. At 1028 recheck, changed over to a female who mentioned "....en Bolivia!" over a charango riff (Ralph Perry, Wheaton, Illinois, Drake R8B; Japan Radio NRD-545; Eton E1; Hallicrafters SX100; Knightkit Star Roamer, Dentron Super Tuner + Ameco PLF-2 + Palomar P-408 + customized (tropical bands) Quantum Phaser antenna unit, Longwires (150' + 100'); Tuned Multi-Turn 20" Small Loop; Single-Turn Coax Loop, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 4865.00, BRASIL, R. Verdes Florestas, Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre, 14/02 22:45-23:20 mx romántica ID Radio Verdes Florestas..” La recepción la he efectuado del 31/01 al 22/02 en compañía de mi sabueso Icom IC R72 acompañado del Mizuho KX-3, una grabadora Alesis Palm Track, una antena de hilo largo de 15 metros y una antena loop. Muchos 128´s (Pedro F. Arrunátegui, Perú, Feb Chasqui DX, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 4877.38, 23/2 0245-0359*, Rádio Roraima, Manaus, Brazilian songs no stop, frequency drifting, utility QRM, clear ID at 0342. At 0350 QRG 4877.48. At 0356 hymn [national anthem?] and signal off, weak/fair signal (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italia, l'Excalibr Pro & antenna T2FD 15 m long, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4880.13v, Rdif Roraima, 0330-0401*, Brazilian pop music. Portuguese announcements. Closing announcements at 0400. Fair level, but still a wobbly, unstable, quite distorted audio. And now off nominal 4875 by a wide margin. Feb 29 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** BRAZIL. 4885, Feb 26 at 0649, funny song, better than usual signal S9+16 vs CODAR; 0652 partial ID caught mentioning SAm, kHz, no doubt the #1 60m ZY signal here overnight, R. Clube do Pará (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4885.02, R. Clube do Pará, Belém in Portuguese, 0134-0205 2/19, local fast ballad song program with usual M DJ; W/M talk (all with reverberation voice); clear IDs & frequencies quote at 0203; heard in SSB with S 9+10 peak & strong audio, lite slow QSB with mild rustle but increasing, good (Giovanni Serra, Roma, Italy, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Nice to hear again from Gianni Serra after quite a while (Glenn Hauser, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, My 22 years old Receiver JRC NRD 525 was under repair for long time, and the very rare snowfalls here in Rome during the first weekends of February did the rest (not possible to move from my home)... but as you see, troubles (audio & signal amplifier) were fixed. Till the next 73 (Gianni Serra, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. ?? Rádio Aparecida?? 5035, Aparecida?? Feb 25, 2012, Saturday. 0242-0245. OM and YL talking, unreadable but sounds Spanish. Very poor, much atmospheric QRN, would be impossible to ID Joburg sunrise 0359 (Bill Bingham, RSA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Portuguese? ** BRAZIL [and non]. 6059.94, Super Radio Deus é Amor, Curitiba, the one here at 0914 2/29 with a good signal, OM in Portuguese and ad for insurance company, time/checks and good morning show. Noted the telltale parallel frequencies of 9564.89 kHz (fair signal only) and 11765.00 kHz (terrific signal). This one has been quite stable on this precise off-frequency of 6059.94, so if you are hearing an LA station here before 1100 and can measure to that precise frequency, dollars to doughnuts you have Super Radio D E A. The Peruvian on this approximate frequency, Aroma Café Radio, only signs on sometime after 1100 and is very stable on its own signature precision frequency, a little higher up, of 6059.99 (Ralph Perry, Wheaton, Illinois, Drake R8B; Japan Radio NRD-545; Eton E1; Hallicrafters SX100; Knightkit Star Roamer, Dentron Super Tuner + Ameco PLF-2 + Palomar P-408 + customized (tropical bands) Quantum Phaser antenna unit, Longwires (150' + 100'); Tuned Multi-Turn 20" Small Loop; Single-Turn Coax Loop, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) BRASIL: 6060, ZYE726, Rádio Deus é Amor; 2259-2305+, 24-Feb; Portuguese religious program; ID at 2300+ as R. Deus é Amor -- no "Super" with list of frequencies. SIO=3+32+ in USB due to 6065 splash; // 6120, SIO=332+ in LSB; // 11725, SIO=343; not heard on 9565 (presume Martí here in Spanish with jamming), 11805 or 11965. 9564.87, ZYE727, Rádio Deus é Amor; 0611-0632+, 25-Sep; Sing-song preacher in Portuguese over music with occasional shouting & laughing. SIO=353-; // 6120 with strong 6115/6125 splash; // 11765, SIO=2+43. Not heard on 6060, 9595, 9595, 11805 or 11965; 11725 covered [by NZ] (Harold Frodge, Michigan Area Radio Enthusiasts DXpedition, Brighton MI, Drake R8B + 500 ft. NEish unterminated beverage + 85 ft. TTFD, logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 6119.99, SRDA São Paulo, This morning (Feb 28, 0640 UT) I was surprised by this signal which was in parallel to 9565 and 11765. This frequency (6120) is missing from the BRAZIL section of WRTH 2012 (p. 111) as well as another active SRDA frequency of 9585 (Sao Paulo). In the SHORTWAVE STATIONS OF THE WORLD section (p. 568 on) there is a former user of 6120 kHz - Radio Globo - listed. SRDA = Super Rádio Deus é Amor (Karel Honzik, CZECHIA, HCDX via DXLD) Until 0700 we have bigsigs on 6115 CRI Canada and 6125 RHC; and after 0700 on 6120 itself there is RNW via Vatican (gh, DXLD) DSWCI - Anker's list DBS-#13 shows: B 6120 75 B Super Rádio Deus é Amor, Sao Paulo, SP [¤Oct-Feb] 24hrs Port // 9592 kHz. MARch 2011. 73 wolfy dswci #1331 (Wolfgang Büschel, HCDX via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. Nacional Amazônica --- Sintonia em 6180 aproximadamente, hoje às 18:30 horário de Brasília [2130 UT]; com ótimo sinal (durval503, Brasil, Feb 27, radioescutas yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DXLD) Hoje, dia 28/2, também sintonizei em 6180 kHz faixa de 49m a Rádio Nacional da Amazônia, hora do noticiário matinal, sob o comando do Lucio Haeser, às 7h, hora oficial de Brasília ou 10h UT. Sinal bom. 73 (Luiz Chaine Neto, Limeira sp, 28-2-2012, WORLD OF RADIO 1606, ibid.) ! Has been off air for a long time, allegedly broken transmitter. Let`s hope they stay on 6180, not alternate and WRTH-listed 6185 where if up to the 250 kW or even quite a bit less, it will again ruin XEPPM if on into the night. We may now know what EBC did with the ex-R. Senado transmitter on 5990 --- even tho when it was vigent, they never used it at night and could have run RNA on 6180/6185 anyway except 09-21 UT or whenever Senado was on. Or maybe switching frequencies twice a day would not have been feasible. 6180 should be pretty good, as now there is nothing else significant on it within or near the darkside except DW English via Rwanda, natch, at 0400-0457 non-direxional. Aoki still has it listed, probably never x-ed out: ``6180 RN da Amazonia 0630-0300 1234567 Portuguese 250 344 Brasilia DF B 04755W 1546S RNAMA``. However, if the hours match // 11780, back on normal time it would be signing on between 0730 and 0800, not sure about sign-off time. Maybe still 0300, as nothing audible on 6180 at my first chance to check, 0347 UT Feb 29, aside big sig from Vietnam/Canada on 6175. Except UT Sundays, all-night (Glenn Hauser, radioescutas yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Lenildo da Silva, reports that the Rádio Nacional da Amazônia is back in the frequency 6180 kHz. I confirmed the listening at 1000 SINPO 35433. 6180 kHz, Rádio Nacional da Amazônia, português para o Brasil (desde Brasília, DF), 0900-0903 (UTC), quarta-feira, 29 de fevereiro de 2012. Notícia sobre as enchentes que atinge o Estado do Acre. De acordo com o locutor, o número de afetados já passa proporcionalmente, o número de atingidos pelas chuvas no Rio de Janeiro e Santa Catarina. Em seguida, um ouvinte liga para o programa. O apresentador pergunta-lhe se estar a ouvir pelos 49m, ele informa que não e afirma que é pela parabólica. SINPO: 55544 (Lenildo da Silva, São José de Piranhas- Paraiba, Brasil, via “no mundo do dexismo” via Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia 12 14´S 38 58´W - Brasil, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DXLD) (Olá! A teoria implicita do Glenn faz sentido. É curioso ver a R Nacional 6180 voltar pouco tempo depois de encerrado o contrato com a R Senado. Fico a imaginar se seria o mesmo equipamento? Ou um talvez houve.um 'transplante' de peças entre um transmissor e outro? (Huelbe Garcia, Feb 29, radioescutas yg via DXLD) Pelo que andei lendo no site da EBC, foi aberta uma licitação para compra de peças e serviços de manutenção dos transmissores das rádios Nacional da Amazônia e de Brasília. A EBC investiu na melhoria de seus parques de transmissão. Adquiriu transmissores novos para as rádios Nacional do Rio e MEC AM/FM (Rio). Quanto à Rádio Senado OC, a programação continua a ser emitida pela internet. Captei, em 29/02/2011, a Nacional da Amazônia em 6180 kHz, entre 20h30 e 21h00 (BR). Estava no ar o programa "No Mundo da Bola" ("O mais tradicional programa esportivo do rádio brasileiro, desde os tempos de Antônio Cordeiro"). O sinal era forte, mas havia muita interferência creio que da Rádio Internacional da China. A EBC precisa voltar com a Rádio MEC em OC. Os canais existem. Basta reativá-los. Os dirigentes da EBC devm ter se esquecido da função educativa do rádio. 73, (Fabiano Henrique, Niterói - RJ, ibid.) ** BRAZIL. Ascolti brasiliani --- Altri ascolti a Milano con discreti segnali brasiliani. Come Bandeirantes, 9 de Julho, Inconfidencia 9645.37, 23/2 0508, Rádio Bandeirantes, São Paulo, Brazil, talks, fair, better in USB 9665.02, 23/2 0517, Voz Missionária, Florianópolis, Brazil, songs & phone talks, fair 9819.59, 23/2 0425, Rádio 9 de Julho, São Paulo, Brazil, talks, religious song, fair 11764.98, 20/2 2110, Super Rádio Deus è Amor, Curitiba, Brazil, talks, fair rx Excalibur Pro - ant T2FD. li trovate anche sul blog SW: http://radiodxsw.blogspot.com/ Ciao (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italia, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 9820, Rádio 9 de Julho, São Paulo, 0758-0819, 26-02, Portuguese, male, religious comments: "Santuário Nacional", "Rede Aparecida de Radio", identification: "Rádio 9 de Julho, 1600 AM". 24322 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Sony ICF SW 7600G, Cable antenna, 8 meters, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 6080.04, 26/2 0205, Rádio Marumby, Talks in Portuguese with short pieces of religious music, then long talk giving thanks, weak but clear // web (Bernardini) 9564.82, 26/2 [time missing] Super Rádio Deus è Amor, Curitiba, religious sermon, // 11765 fair (Bernardini) 9819.6, 26/2 0350 Rádio 9 de Julho / Rádio Aparecida, transmit program Com a Mãe Aparecida by Rede Rádio Aparecida, so IDs as Rádio Aparecida, fair/good easy listening tonight! Nice signal for Rádio 9 de Julho that rebroadcasts Rádio Aparecida - Rede Aparecida. See my log image: http://radiodxsw.blogspot.com/ 11925.06, 26/2 0333, Rádio Bandeirantes, São Paulo, songs no stop, Bee Gees too, fair/good (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italia, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DX LISTENING DIGEST) And I was wondering why they kept saying "Aparecida" and there was no mention of 9 de Julho! Great signal in Romania too, here is a recording I made on Feb. 26: http://youtu.be/XU6wgP-ipjM (Tudor Vedeanu, (Gura Humorului, Romania, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 11780, Feb 23 at 0704, RNA is back in business, usual very good signal with glib wake-up DJ intoning ``Bom dia, Amazônia, bom dia, Brasil``, said he would be on until 7 am, ``até as sete``, phone numbers for call-ins, timecheck for 5:05. None of the weakerbras were inmaking it this time on 25m. 11780, Feb 25 at 2210, bigsig with continuous pop music from RNA, accompanying my afternoon nap to compensate for staying up too late and arising too early, all for the sake of DX. It`s hardly soporific, but did the trick for me; awoke at 2252 for an ID as R. Nacional A-M, as in relay of 980, rather than AMazonia. 0635 UT Feb 26, 11780 is already back on unlike last UT Sunday, when it normally runs all-night, same kind of lively music, VG signal vs Bandeirantes JBA on 11925+. Brasil is now back on normal time of UT+3 in the east, rather than UT+2, so on other mornings, 11780 should not be appearing until sometime between 0730 and 0800 UT, and stations carrying `A Voz do Brasil` hour live weekdays will be at 2200 instead of 2100 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 15190, 23/Feb 2355, BRASIL, R Inconfidência em português. Programa de música clássica. As 2355 final do programa “mestres da música”. 44444 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brasil, condiglist yg via DXLD) Reliable time to hear classical there (gh) ** BULGARIA. News from Bulgaria is kind of sad to me. Back in 1978, on a very hot, boring summer day, I pushed a button or two on my father's old Nordmende 1940s era radio, and was astounded to hear the woman announcer say that the program was coming from Radio Sofia, Bulgaria! It was my “eureka!” moment when it came to international broadcasting, and I have been hooked ever since. The radios, and the broadcast platforms have changed, but just the mention of Bulgaria brings back that happy memory. Not to mention another amusing anecdote. In 1978 or 1979, I entered one of those essay competitions that radio stations put on all the time. This one was sponsored by Radio Sofia, Bulgaria. First prize was probably a trip to Bulgaria. Followed by a number of 2nd and 3rd place prizes. One had to answer three questions. The first two were relatively benign history questions. I had just won the prize at my High School for highest marks in History, and being the geek that I was I was all over those two questions like stink on a monkey. The third question was more political, something to do with nuclear disarmament. Well, a few months later, I was informed that I had won a 3rd place prize. (I probably impressed them with the history questions but did not sell out NATO and the west sufficiently to score a trip to the workers paradise). Imagine my amusement when I received the prize(s). What else would an asthmatic non smoker win, but a marble ashtray and a (broken) marble cigarette case/holder. The case was damaged in transit by the postal authorities or customs or the RCMP. Thanks for the memories, Radio Sofia, Bulgaria/Radio Bulgaria (Fred Waterer, Programming Matters, Feb ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** CANADA. In Canada the rules are not much different when it comes to MW, FM and TV broadcast IDs. Instead of paraphrasing Industry Canada's rules concerning station identifications, I shall quote from Section 7.3.1, in relation to all Radio Communications IDs for MW, FM and TV: "Pursuant to the Radiocommunication Regulations, section 18 and to BETS-11, the holder of a broadcasting certificate shall identify the broadcasting station by a voice announcement in English or French, giving the call sign - by articulating each letter and number in the call sign, and by giving the principal city or community that is served by the undertaking. For TV undertakings, the voice announcement may be replaced by a visual announcement of not less than three seconds in duration that identifies the call sign and the principal city or community that is served by the undertaking. The announcement is to be made every hour, on the hour. Where a program is of more than one hour in duration, the announcement shall be made within 10 minutes of the hour, except where it is necessary to retain the continuity of a program in its entirety without interruption, in which case the announcement may be made at the beginning and at the end of the program." (Joe Robinson, Beginner`s Classroom, Feb ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** CANADA. I truly grew up listening to Toronto radio, especially CBC, via CBL, 740. I think the CBC was (and still is) a hell of a lot better than anything we have in the USA, even NPR, which is about all I find worth listening to nowadays. I think Canadians don't really appreciate what you have. (ed. note: After living in the United States myself, I tend to agree that we have some better programming here in the North!") "When I was small, I was fascinated by the CB* stations, and tried to DX as many of them as I could. Of course, CBL was practically a local for me. CBE was regular at night. I remember my thrill when I first heard CBM. More so when I heard CBW and CBH. A dream of this DXing kid was to hear CBO. I never did. Can either of you tell me why the CBC station in Toronto got the call CBL, rather than the much more logical call CBT, long before Grand Falls got it. CBM, CBF, CBW, CBH seem so logical! (Tim Hendel, AL, Helping Hand, Feb ODXA Listening In via DXLD) Now the ball came to my court to see if I could explain the "L" in CBL Toronto. My answer to both Tim and Fred was as follows: "I thought I had seen a short reason why CBL was given an 'L' from some research I did for call signs awhile back. I came across the following website: http://nelson.oldradio.com/origins.call-list.html It has a list of call letters in the USA and Canada that have meanings behind them, including sounds, abbreviations, cities, initials, etc. It seems, according to the Nelson Old Radio site that 'L' stood for Lakes, as Toronto was on one of the five great lakes and covered much of that area on mediumwave." I'm not sure that is the final, definitive and true answer for the "L" in CBL, so if anyone out there has a better solution to our query, please send it along! The website mentioned above is quite good for mentioning call letters and the possible meanings behind them, including our own CFRB and others like it. Thanks to Tim for a couple of wonderful questions and to Fred for a quick and informative reply! (Joe Robinson, Helping Hand, Feb ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** CANADA. Re: [NRC-AM] CKMO-900 going silent --- This is an unusual situation: the CJVI/CKMO 900 transmitter site is on a small uninhabited island off the "mainland" of Vancouver Island itself, and so it's a real bear to keep the site maintained, since engineers have to go out there by boat whenever something needs fixing. (That's not even taking into account the challenges of maintaining the power and telephone lines that run underwater to the island.) CKMO was only able to operate the site for the last decade because Rogers was footing the bill. It's way too expensive for CKMO to operate on its own. If I were running CFAX 1070, which also uses an offshore site on a different island, I might try to be a good citizen and offer to let CKMO diplex its 900 signal, but even the cost of that might be prohibitive. s (Scott Fybush, NY, Feb 23, NRC-AM via DXLD) When I called CKMO last week I talked to the PD or CE (I don't know his official position at the station), but Earl Thompson could not tell me what would be aired on the last day which is March 4th or what time of that day the plug will be pulled so whether a test will be done or not has not been established but I would think that the station will be putting on an official "goodbye" type shut down so all we can do is keep our fingers crossed that they schedule that at night. I would imagine that someone from Rogers Com will be there to get the keys back from the CKMO staff (Bill in BC Kral, ibid.) Just got off the phone with the programming manager at CKMO. A very nice fellow, and one who's understanding of DXing. He's a former ham. The sign-off (permanent) of CKMO is scheduled for 4 March 2012. The problem is that he has no idea exactly when this will occur! It's out of his control. I pointed out that for DX purposes it should be at night, or at least late afternoon for propagation purposes. He further told me that he couldn't just substitute programming, as there are regularly scheduled programs airing. BUT, he is planning a few "flourishes" to end CKMO's 900 existence. What exactly, he wouldn't say. He also said that he may not know until the last possible moment, when the plug gets pulled. Not very encouraging, but a glimmer of hope, I suppose. I asked him to call me if he hears anything further. I tried, fellas! (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC 28 Feb, IRCA via WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DXLD) Later developments: Morse code IDs are being inserted periodically, and the turnoff will be 0800 UT Monday March 5, per Walt (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. 6069.97v, 23/2 0130, CFRX Toronto, Talks, relay CFRB program // web streaming, IDs, weak to fair (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italia, l'Excalibr Pro & antenna T2FD 15 m long, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) CFRX 6070 QSL --- Ciao a tutti! In risposta a quanto chiedeva qualche settimana fa Luca (Botto Fiora) ed ai messaggi che sono girati, compresi i miei, posso ora affermare che la stazione conferma via l'indirizzo mail e il v/s ben conosciuti. Oggi infatti ho trovato la QSL nella cassetta postale per un rapporto di otto minuti, con allegato il file in mp3; come avevo già scritto gli ID erano almeno tre e sufficientemente chiari. Luca, non ti resta che riprovare, cerando di "indovinare" una mattina con un segnale più intelleggibile: in bocca al lupo! (Alessandro Groppazzi, Trieste, Italia, 28 Feb, playdx yg via DXLD) The v/s is not named Ben Conosciuti, but is well-known (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. Northern Relay Service relay of Radio Blue Litmus was verified with a full data E-QSL by Doc John who mentioned I heard “a coded program and if you ever hear it again record it and perhaps you will be able to decode it. I have no idea what it says but no doubt is related to pirate radio.” He provided the mystery translation table for future use. They ran this program because “A lot of DX'ers are into listening to Government code messages so we thought we would do our own.” He indicated they are located in “NW Canada, where it is mighty cold at the moment. We run 500 watts into phased verticals that favour more south than SE.” Interesting station with a very nice, quick reply. That’s it from Wyomissing! 73, (Rich D`Angleo, PA, [`musing`] in Shortwave Report, March Australian DX News page 19 via DXLD) [Rich`s comments are often almost duplicated in the same issue under the above heading and as below, which ADXN apparently do not notice, but we do, and here we have no page limit/space problem, viz.:] 6930.1, Northern Relay Service relay of Radio Blue Litmus was verified in one day with a full data E-QSL by Doc John who mentioned I heard “a coded program and if you ever hear it again record it and perhaps you will be able to decode it. I have no idea what it says but no doubt is related to pirate radio.” He provided the mystery translation table for future use. They ran this program because “A lot of DX'ers are into listening to Government code messages so we thought we would do our own.” He indicated they are located in “NW Canada, where it is mighty cold at the moment. We run 500 watts into phased verticals that favor more south than SE.” Interesting station with a very nice, quick reply (Rich D’Angelo, PA, QSL Review, March ADXN page 20 via DXLD) ** CHAD. 6165, 23/2 0203 African Music mixed with Radio Nederland talks in Spanish. Presumed R. Nationale Tchadienne extra schedule. Good signal. Later RNT was very good (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italia, l'Excalibr Pro & antenna T2FD 15 m long, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Chad, 6165, N'Djamena. Feb 25, 2012, Saturday. 0203-0210. French talk, with afro music. Fair-poor. Joburg sunrise 0359 (Bill Bingham, RSA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. 7105, 20/2 2212, CNR1 on ham band, China, Talks in Chinese, strong signal, // 6000, 6105, 6125, 7230, 9545, 9455, 9835, 11710 kHz so it is CNR 1 maybe used as Jammer (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italia, l'Excalibr Pro & antenna T2FD 15 m long, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) This one is a regular, vs. Sound of Hope, 22-23, 100 kW via Tanshui, Taiwan, per Aoki (gh, DXLD) ** CHINA. 15600, Feb 23 at 1253, I thought I heard an RFA riff, but then sounded like Indonesian, much weaker between Greenville 15590 open carrier prior to Spanish, and WEWN 15610. Aoki & HFCC show this must be CRI in Malay at 1230-1327 via Kunming (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also EAST TURKISTAN ** CHINA [and non]. Firedrake Feb 23, before 1400: 11500, good with flutter at 1320 12230, very good at 1321 13130, very good at 1323; none in the 14s 15500, good at 1326 with het from 15498, presumably VOT, Tajikistan; stayed on until 1336* 15535, fair from *1336, moved from 15500 or 15540? No hets audible now 15540, very good at 1324 with het from 15537 = V of Tibet, Tajikistan; went off at 1330* 15970, very good with flutter at 1323 16100, very good with flutter at 1328; none in the 17s, 18s Firedrake Feb 23 before 1500: none of the last hour`s mostly out-of-band frequencies reheard, but: 11970, good at 1437. Very little ever scheduled on 11970, nothing at all at this hour, let alone a likely target --- except in Aoki: ``11980 SOH Xi Wang Zhi Sheng 2000-1700 1234567 Chinese 0.1 ND ? TWN 11955E 2610N SOH b11 11950-12100`` -- i.e. anywhere in that range. Firedrake Feb 23 after 1500: 7525, surprisingly good at 1529-1530+, but no target scheduled after VOA Chinese via Tinang at 13-15 in Aoki, and EiBi shows that is normally jammed by CNR1. The closest we can come are Aoki listings for SOH via Tajikistan, 2200-2230 and 2330-2330 ranging anywhere from 7515 to 7640. Other CNR1 signals were still well audible on 7445, 7385, 7365, 7305, even 6145; also 9450, many of them no doubt jammers, plus 9790 and 9905 each with victims also audible underneath. Additional ChiCom jamming notes Feb 23: 15375, Feb 23 at 1327 Chinese with buzz jamming, 1338 mostly just the noise. Aoki shows RFA Tibetan via Tajikistan at 12-14 (also UAE 11- 12), so the Chinese may have been more jamming such as CNR1. 11625, Feb 23 at 1521, motorboat jamming vs algo, in Chinese? Once again nothing known worth jamming here, the closest being RTI in Amoy (Hokkein) at 13-14, per Aoki, and no wide-ranging jumparound for SOH listed anywhere around this one. However, EiBi shows a CNR1 jammer on 11625 at 15-16, but no known target (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also UNIDENTIFIED 15555 14970, 24/Feb 0040, Um irritante firedrake chinês com bom sinal (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brasil, condiglist yg via DXLD) Firedrake Feb 25, before 1330: 11500, nothing ever here today, just: 12230, fair with flutter at 1320 just after first found on 12300 12300, poor with flutter at 1320 Before 1400: 12230, good at 1346 12300, good at 1346 12670, good with flutter at 1346 during drumming-only passage, edit 12980, JBA at 1345 13680, good at 1347 15535, very poor at 1349 vs het from 15538 presumed V. of Tibet 15900, good with flutter at 1350 16100, fair at 1350; none in the 17s, 18s After 1400: 11970, fair at 1444 12230, very good at 1444 12670, very good at 1444 13130, fair at 1445 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) EAST JAMMERSTAN: 11500, Crash & Band [sic] Chinese Music Jammer; 0035- 0053+, 26-Feb; strong; // strong 12230, 12600, 13850, 14700, 15800, 16100, 16700, 16980; // moderate 12980; // weak 12300, No voice detectable on any (Harold Frodge, Michigan Area Radio Enthusiasts DXpedition, Brighton MI, Drake R8B + 500 ft. NEish unterminated beverage + 85 ft. TTFD, logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) Firedrake Feb 26: 11970, poor at 1421; no others 9-18 MHz by 1433 EiBi, HFCC and Aoki show no target on 11970, except Aoki under 11980: ``11980 SOH Xi Wang Zhi Sheng 2000-1700 1234567 Chinese 0.1 ND ? TWN 11955E 2610N SOH b11 11950-12100``, i.e. Sound of Hope 100-watt nuisance transmitter in Taiwan, anywhere in that range, but FD also heard recently on 11970. Firedrake Feb 27 before 1400: 13130, poor with heavy flutter at 1354, none lower 13920, equal to 13130 at 1355 15535, very poor at 1357; none in the 12s, 14s, 16s, 17s, 18s Before 1500: 12980, poor with flutter at 1452; none in the 13s 12670, very poor at 1453 11970, very poor at 1453 11500, very poor at 1458 While FE propagation conditions were very subnormal, Afroeurasians were incoming better than usual (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [and non]. Firedrake Feb 28: 9935, good at 1440 and until 1500* --- no target audible before or after closedown. Apparent new frequency, not in Harold Frodge`s latest Flaming Goose Report, nor in Steve Handler`s restricted charts of Chinese Jamming SW Broadcasts, both of which have only 9905 in the 9900s. As usual we go to Aoki for an idea of why FD could be here, but no likely target on 9935 or anywhere in the vicinity, not even a jumparound listing for Sound of Hope, but still the probable impetus, as they can land wherever they like and 9935 is surely a tempting open frequency --- until Firedrake finds it, which doesn`t take long. The only station anytime anywhere listed on 9935 is ERT3 Makedonia station --- HFCC has it for 10 hours from 250 kW Thessaloniki, which is surely imaginary, while Aoki has it from 1600 for less than 2 hours via 100 kW Avlis. 11500, JBA? at 1442 12300, good with flutter at 1444; no others up to 19 MHz by 1449 Firedrake Feb 29, before 1400: 12600, good at 1357 12670, good at 1357 12980, good at 1357; none in the 13`s 14970, good at 1358 15535, fair at 1358; nothing in Aoki or HFCC to account for this or the next one, but this area usually inhabited by jumparound V. of Tibet via Tajikistan, if not Sound of Hope 15570, good at 1358; none in the 16s by 1400 After 1400: 17560, fair at 1405, maybe something else underneath it. Unusual to be on air this soon after hourtop. But 1400-1430 is when V. of Tibet broadcasts via Madagascar. It`s been quite a while since I have heard either that or the Firedrake here. Before 1500: 12500, good with flutter at 1445; none higher or lower, off at 1500* (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [non]. 11885, Feb 25 at 1318, romantic song in Spanish; can it possibly be CRI via CANADA as scheduled with usual VG signal? Yes, it can, 1319 no back-announce, ID as ``China Drive on Easy FM``, into bear bile story in English. What next? Decimating all kinds of wildlife for imaginary benefits to humans of their organs, is surely one of the most despicable aspects of Chinese culture and its cousins (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. SHANGHAI DIALECT FIGHTS TO SURVIVE IN MODERN CHINA When professor Qian Nairong published his dictionary of the Shanghai dialect in 2007, he was in some ways documenting a dying language. The number of people speaking the rapid-fire language - a badge of identity for residents of China’s commercial capital of more than 20 million people - is shrinking. As the government maintains a decades-old drive to promote Mandarin Chinese as the official language, banning dialects from media broadcasts and schools, many young people are unable to fluently speak the native Shanghai tongue. An influx of migrants from outside Shanghai and the city’s drive to become more international have also combined to water down the local patois. In the 1990s, the local government pulled radio and television broadcasts using the Shanghai dialect as part of a national campaign. A popular Shanghai radio show “A Fu Gen” which featured discussions of current events was among the victims. Xiao Ling, a host for the show, struggled for 10 years before a sympathetic official revived the programme. Xiao is one of only two hosts at the radio station who have formal broadcast training in the Shanghai dialect. Last year, the programme was forced to hold open auditions to find candidates with Shanghai language skills to fill open positions. “My colleagues joke that we are giant pandas,” said Xiao. Shanghai is not alone. China’s southern province of Guangdong has announced plans requiring broadcasters to get special permission to use the Cantonese dialect in programmes from 1 March, causing a storm of controversy. (Source: ANP) Andy Sennitt adds: I recall that in the 1970s, Radio Station Peace and Progress from Moscow had daily programmes in the Shanghai and Canton dialects in addition to Mandarin. These are listed in, amongst others, WRTH 1978. (February 22nd, 2012 - 11:19 UTC by Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog via DXLD) 2 Comments on “Shanghai dialect fights to survive in modern China” #1 Kim Andrew Elliott on Feb 22nd, 2012 at 12:06 Radio Free Asia’s announcement of its 2012 Year of the Dragon QSL card states that it still broadcasts in the Wu (Shanghai) dialect. I’ll try to confirm this later today. #2 Glenn Hauser on Feb 23rd, 2012 at 01:30 And as you may have heard, the Mainlanders are trying to stamp out Cantonese around Hong Kong. (VOA will help). (MN blog comments via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. 5910, Alcaraván Radio; 0523-0534+, 25-Feb; M in Spanish with baladas y tropicales; TC & ID at 0533+. SIO=443 with ute blurp (Harold Frodge, Michigan Area Radio Enthusiasts DXpedition, Brighton MI, Drake R8B + 500 ft. NEish unterminated beverage + 85 ft. TTFD, logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5909.94, Alcaraván R., Puerto Lleras in Spanish, 0421-0445 2/26, M talking & ID as Alcaraván... at 0424; final ID with LA brief song; again LA ballads; announcement & continuing music program; heard in LSB with inter audio filter trying to muffle strong splats from 5915 very strong BBC in Arabic with local audio & S 9+35 !! (ID BBC, London); moderate rustle; almost fair/poor (Giovanni Serra, Roma, Italy. Equipment: JRC NRD 525 (22 years old ); Alpha Delta DX-SWL Sloper-S; RG 8 mini coaxial cable; JPS NIR 12 Noise & Interference Reducer-Dual DSP outboard audio filter; Intek PS-35 5 ampere feeder; JRC – NVA 319 external loudspeaker unit; Yaesu YH – 77 STA stereo headphones; Zoom Corp. H2 handy digital recorder MP3 & WAV files; Oregon Scientific radio controlled clock; Interkart framed wall board political world map (1: 46,400,000); the DX Edge-Xantek Inc. (daylight-darkness desk world map), DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5910.937, 26/2 0503, Radio Alcaraván [sic], nice songs, IDs, in LSB to avoid QRM, fair signal (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italia, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA. 6010.08, R.L.V. de la [sic] Conciencia, Puerto Lleras, 15/02 0950-1030, 33333, programa religioso. NOTA: lo he reportado antes 6010.80, ahora en 6010.08. Durante la escucha dan señal horaria, 5 de la mañana en Alcavaran [sic] radio (creo entender?) [no, it is *Alcaraván* – English speakers get it wrong too; just think of ``on a Caravan``???] La recepción la he efectuado del 31/01 al 22/02 en compañía de mi sabueso Icom IC R72 acompañado del Mizuho KX-3, una grabadora Alesis Palm Track, una antena de hilo largo de 15 metros y una antena loop. Muchos 128´s (Pedro F. Arrunátegui, Perú, Feb Chasqui DX, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6010.065, 23/2 0438, La Voz de tu Conciencia, Puerto Lleras, long talks in Spanish, also mentioning Colombia, fair (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italia, l'Excalibr Pro & antenna T2FD 15 m long, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 1620, Radio Rebelde FM, Guanabacoa, Ciudad de la Habana. 1759 February 26, 2012. "Rebelde F-M" ID and into Noticiero Nacional de Radio patch from 1800. I've probably noted it before such as logs of Rebelde FM on 96.7 MHz from the Florida Keys, but if so I forget; anyway Rebelde FM also patches NNdR, not that anyone much beyond Florida is likely to hear this over-the-air at local 1 pm ET. A very weak second Rebelde also audible under, only with "standard" AM Rebelde. Out of the news 1730 with "Radio Rebelde, la frecuencia modulada" by man (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [and non]. VOA, 9885 which is listed as using BOTH STP & Botswana, 3+354+2+ with the electronic goose honking QRM - Why? 0429- 0444 20/Feb (Ken Zichi, Port Hope MI, MARE Tipsheet Feb 24 via DXLD) Because 9885 is also the frequency used for VOA Spanish from Greenville in the mornings and evenings. Once a frequency is so tainted, the intolerant Cubans will leave at least residual jamming upon it much if not all the time (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 13670, Feb 23 at 1252, RHC is on here with VG signal, but not on 13780 yet. I thought 13670 did not start until 13 either, but current website schedule shows 13670 at 12-15, and 13780 at 13-16. However, they still haven`t corrected 6010 to 6000 at 12-13 so it`s as usual unreliable. Nor did the WRTH Feb 1 updater, which has 13670 at 12-15 and 13780 at 13-15. No one can agree on the details of RHC`s schedule, largely tnx to RHC not following its own published and/or announced sked. 11750, Feb 24 at 1434, RHC is missing from one of its minor frequencies, but soon found instead on 11705! Error in punching up the frequency, or an abrupt permanent change? Time will tell. RHC has used 11705 in the distant past. Will this be mentioned in the frequency announcement copied at 1502 on 11760 et al.? Of course not! Still says [as translated]: ``15380 and 15230 to 1600; 9540 to 1600; 13-16 on 9850; 13670 until 16 and 13780, 13670 [sic, repeated, as always]; 11760, 11840, 11690 until 16; from 13 on 11750 [sic!] until 16``. I also compared the 11 MHz frequencies: strongest 11760 and 11840 synchronized; 11690 and weakest 11705 a significant echo apart from the others; 11690 and 11705 very slightly apart from each other. 11750, Feb 25 at 1315, RHC is back on scheduled frequency after departure (punch up error?) to 11705, 24 hours earlier. Segment // 11760 et al., about Cuba`s support for the Saharans, including a clip of the RASD ambassador to Cuba speaking a strange variety of AfroSpanish. Does this mean Cuba has no relations with evil Morocco? Meanwhile their own SW outlet 6297v remains quelled; we surely miss it. RHC anomaly today: at 1322 Feb 25, 13670 is missing, but 13780 is on. By 1347, 13670 is also on. 9063, Feb 26 at 0639, S9+20 open carrier, no data burst until 0644, i.e. DGI spy transmission we also hear on different days of week on 11532, 9124 during this same hour. 12000, Feb 26 at 0646, and also at 1423, pulses from the DentroCuban Jamming Command totally uncalled for as VOA Spanish is on 12000 for only one sesquihour weeknights from 0030. RHC anomalies this Sunday Feb 26: 9850 missing at 1411, but 13750 is also absent. 11750 is on at 1422, day 2 of being on the correct frequency instead of 11705. At 1521, none of the `Aló, Presidente` frequencies 17750, 15370, 13750, 13680 are on, except 11690 but with RHC programming; all still off at 1655, 1812. SOUTH JAMMERSTAN: 6030, Buzz-Pulse Jammer; 1217, 26-Feb; Only audio was Chinese, presumably CNR1 from China; Radio Martí sked to go off here at 1200. (Frodge-DXP) 9955, Buzz-Pulse Jammer; 1236, 26-Feb; Covered audio is English huxter; WRMI or WYFR running late? (Harold Frodge, Michigan Area Radio Enthusiasts DXpedition, Brighton MI, Drake R8B + 500 ft. NEish unterminated beverage + 85 ft. TTFD, logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15370, Feb 26 at 2235 check, RHC is still in Esperanto this semihour on Sundays, with usual propaganda as in all other languages. 11750, Feb 27 at 1457, RHC Spanish achieves the correct frequency for the third day in a row instead of 11705 as on Feb 24. 7365, Feb 28 at 0631 as I am checking Vatican on 7360, usual residual pulse jamming, twice per second, long after R. Martí is finished with the frequency. RM has NO history of unexpectedly appearing out of schedule on its frequencies! But the paranoid DentroCubans are taking no chances! The also do it on other vacant VOA and R. Martí channels. It`s just like the neighborhood feral cat who keeps pissing on our front door to mark ``his`` territory (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Today`s missing frequency from RHC: 11750, Feb 29 at 1356, nor is it on 11705 by mistake; however at 1446, 11750 is back on (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENNG DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. Re 12-08: R Martí announces on FM 94.7, from where? As for the allocation request, there was someone on the Miami-Fort Lauderdale board that said that the petitioner had a station pending a little farther up the Keys at Islamorada, Florida. And according to several people there that the allocation request was separate from Radio Martí. In other words, someone is preparing to get a construction permit and build an FM station. If Radio Martí continues to use this frequency there will be some interference a little south of Key West over the water (Rich Lewis, Feb 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re: ``10 kW, is that ERP or transmitter? Oscar de Cespedes circa Miami was able to hear it last night by tuning to 94.55, presumably to avoid the local on 94.9 (Glenn Hauser, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)`` Not ERP, transmitter rated power (Terry Krueger, FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ESTIMADO GLENN: Hoy Martes 28 de Febrero pude sintonizar entre las 0202 y las 0210 UT a Radio Martí en los 94.7 FM. Por algunos minutos se escuchó con muy buena señal, pero luego se modulaba con estación de FM vecina. Le adjunto audio para que pueda valorar la calidad de la señal. 73 (Oscar de Céspedes, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Oscar, Lessening signal could be due to axual movement of the airplane, going slightly further away from you, as it makes a circle or maybe figure 8. I wonder if they try to keep the antenna aimed at Habana, or just non-direxional. There could be other factors of course causing the fading, but you might find a regular cycle coinciding with the flight route if you listen longer. 73, (Glenn to Oscar via DXLD) ESTIMADO GLENN: Hoy nuevamente hube de sintonizar a Radio Martí por FM. La grabación es más larga con mejor señal, pero algunos fading. Cambié el receptor, esta vez KAITO 1103 y antena telescópica y la frecuencia 94.67 FM. La grabación se inició a la 0157 UT hasta que cesó la señal a las 0228. Le adjunto archivo de audio para su valoración. 73. Oscar de Céspedes, UT March 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CYPRUS. R. Cyprus was having problems on Sunday 26 February during its usual 2215-2245 broadcast (Fridays-Sundays only) on 6135, 7220 and 9760. A carrier came on on all frequencies at 2215. At 2219 a single Cypriot(?) song was played (presumably as a filler), then nothing for a further 5 minutes or so until all three transmitters were switched off at 2230 (Alan Roe, Teddington, UK, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CYPRUS. Panoramio Image: Zygi, Cyprus http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/33480271.jpg (Ian Baxter, NSW, shortwavesites yg via DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. 270 kHz, Radiozurnal. Topolna. 1930 Feb. 23. My first European long wave station heard from here. F announcer with US pop music. Mention of Praha, so it’s not all news and information. Fair, steady signal and all alone. I still DX for thrills like this. Worth getting up for in the middle of the night. 650 kW at 2,753 miles. SW-11 (Brock Whaley, Kandahar, Afghanistan for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DIEGO GARCIA. BIOT, DIEGO GARCIA, 1485 kHz on the 18th of February was amazed to hear AFDG with NPR programmes at 1310 and whole evening here in S. Asia after about 2 years. I understand they have been off air on MW. Have heard it since a couple of times. SSB on SW continues on 4319. I am looking for an e-mail address as the one in WRTH bounced twice. Any help?? (Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, Feb 26, WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Is MW always // SW, or do they have any local programming whatsoever? (gh, WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DXLD) ** DJIBOUTI. 4780, RTD, Atta in local language and Arabic, 1727-1740 2/24, local chants with instrumental music; M talking in Arabic and sing-song chanting at times; heard in LSB with inter audio filter to null strong utes, slight QRN, good (Giovanni Serra, Roma, Italy, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4780, Radio Djibouti, *0300-0335, sign on with National Anthem. Arabic talk at 0301. Qur`an at 0303. Arabic talk at 0312. Indigenous music. Poor. Weak. Feb 26 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** EAST TURKISTAN [and non]. 12015, Feb 23 at 1250, interview in English, probably Thursdays` `Voices of Other Lands` on CRI, which is scheduled on 12015 this hour only. Despite southwards from Kashgar, would be quite listenable signal if it weren`t buried by the constant RTTY intruding on this frequency; serves the damn ChiCom jammers right. Fruitless search of various listings for source of the RTTY, but no doubt in North America, likely US military. One log said it was encrypted, anyway. 11785, Feb 23 at 1435 before I found real Firedrake on 11970, some similar music here, soon announced in Chinese, i.e. CRI to Europe via Kashgar (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Many of the Firedrake logs under CHINA are very likely from E.T., but we can`t be sure (gh) ** ERITREA. 7204.98, Voice of the Broad Masses of Eritrea - program 1, *0255-0315, sign on with IS. Vernacular talk at 0301. Local Horn of Africa music. Weak. Poor with adjacent channel splatter and ham QRM. Feb 26. 7175, Voice of the Broad Masses of Eritrea - program 2, *0255-0315, sign on with IS. Vernacular talk at 0301. Horn of Africa music. Poor to fair with ham QRM. Feb 26 (Brian Alexander, PA, WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DX Listening Digest) ** ETHIOPIA. 6110, Radio Fana, Addis Ababa. 2051-2101* 20/2, Horn of Africa vocals. Closing announcements and final ID at 2059 followed by choral National Anthem. Poor to fair. Also, noted in evening on 21/2 at 0328-0412+ with Horn of Africa music program with ID at 0400 followed by news. Fair but needed LSB to clean up signal (Rich D'Angelo, Ten-Tec RX-340, Drake R-8B and an Eton E1, 500-foot wire essentially north for the RX-340 and 250-foot wire essentially northeast for the R-8B and a whip antenna for the E1, Gifford Pinchot PA DX-pedition, March Australian DX News via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA. 9705, Radio Ethiopia, 2025-2101*, local Horn of Africa music. Amharic talk. Sign off with National Anthem at 2059. Good. Feb 23 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** EUROPE. Pirate logs & QSLs for past week (2/18-2/24) Really great week for listening! Not only were there a lot of pirates on last weekend, but I heard a few stations for the first time (MRI, Bogusman, Radio Tropiq, & Night Train), one station I hadn't heard in a decade or longer (WAZU), one that was reported for the first time in about a year (WEAK). I heard a few other shows, too, but I don't have the program notes here & I want to get these logs out…the other stations were Wolverine Radio, MAC, & more shows from Radio Ga-Ga. My apologies to these stations for not getting complete reports out! Also, I received all 7 QSLs and eQSLs in the past two weeks. About half of these arrived after a long time, so I'm really happy to have received them. Logs --- Europe Radio Tropiq (Hungary): 6307.5-USB, 2/18, 2241+ Weak, but entirely audible signal here! Mostly `60s/'70s rock/pop. ID per Iann's chat. Sorry for the lack of details, but I don't have my report or logbook with me right now. 1st pirate from Hungary for me. Bogusman (UK): 6294.8, 2/18, 2330+ Hammered by a ute, but Bogusman is there & coming through. Mostly a talk-based station, but some crooner- type mx between talk. Right on the threshold of copyability. I always enjoy listening to him on the Web receiver, but this is the first I've seen him on at a time when it's possible for his signal to make it to NA. Moved to 6285 at approx 2355 to avoid utes QSLs Radio Omroep Zuid (Holland): 21890 f/d Ren & Stimpy eQSL letter. Only 25 watts from a Rohde & Schwartz SK-010 transmitter. v/s Hans Radio Tropiq (Hungary): 6307.5U f/d antenna & tropical beach eQSL in less than 24 hours for e-mailed report. 50 watts! (Andrew Yoder, PO Box 109, Blue Ridge Summit, PA 17214, Drake R8 with inverted V cut for 6300 kHz, Hallicrafters SX-96 with a 30' random wire vertical, Hammarlund HQ-180C with 15' random wire, Cumbre DX via DXLD) See also NORTH AMERICA ** EUROPE. PIRATE. 6307.4 USB, Radio Altrex, 2320-2330, tentative ID. Pop music. Weak. Fair on peaks. Feb 24 (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg, PA, USA, 2336 it Feb 24, Icom IC-7600, two 100 foot longwires, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Correction and update: PIRATE. 6307.4 USB, Radio Tropiq, 2320-2345*, Tentative with pop music, country music. Weak. Fair on peaks. Feb 24. Back on the air: PIRATE. 6307.4 USB, Radio Tropiq?, 0015-0020+, tentative ID with pop music. Weak. Fair on peaks. Feb 25. PIRATE. 6307.5 USB, Radio Tropiq, 2320-2345*, 0015-0142*, ID. Pop music, country music. Weak. Fair on peaks. Feb 24-25 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** EUROPE. 6220.24, 23/2 0210, Radio Merlin, pirate, songs, IDs, weak- good, fading (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italia, l'Excalibr Pro & antenna T2FD 15 m long, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EUROPE. Unidentified Euro-pirate on 6306.08. 0120-0136+, Weak but fair on peaks. Pop music. Ballads. DJ chatter. Possibly Radio Altrex? Feb 26. Update: PIRATE. 6306.08v. Double Kilo Radio, 0120-0209*, Weak but fair on peaks. Pop music. Ballads. DJ chatter. ID. Contact information. Think they gave a Netherland’s address. Varying between 6306.09- 6306.07. Feb 26 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** EUROPE. PIRATE. 6375, Black Bandit Radio, 2250-2255, IDs at 2252, 2255. Pop music. Country music. Sign off around 2258. Weak. Fair on peaks. Feb 26 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** EUROPE. RE 12-08: ``Sunday February 26th, FRSH will be on 7600 // 6240 kHz for no less than 6 hours between 0752-1403 UT / 08.52-15.03 CET.`` FRS Holland now on air: *0753-0805, 26-02, tuning music, pop music and identification in English: "FRS Holland", SINPO 34433 on 7600 kHz and 13221 on 6240 kHz (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, 0816 UT Feb 26, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) [later:] HOLLAND, 7600, FRS Holland, *0753-0830, 26-02, Tuning music, pop music, identification in English: "FRS Holland". 34433. 6240, FRS Holland, 0756-0815, 26-02, pop music, comments, English, parallel with 7600. 13221 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Sony ICF SW 7600G, Cable antenna, 8 meters, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) PIRATE. 7600.5v, FRS - Holland, *0752-0837, sign on with music. Talk. Theme music from the movie “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”. Too weak to pull out any further program details. Barely audible at sign on, but occasional peaks up to a weak, somewhat readable level. Drifted from 7600.48 at sign on, up to 7600.59 by 0837. Only a threshold signal on // 6239.2. Feb 26 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** FRANCE [and non]. 162, France-Inter, Allouis, 0010 poor with alternative rock music and an interview in French. UnID (Russia?) underneath in roughly the same direction. 1,000 kW DA at this time with 800 kW in my direction. 3,455 miles from here. Feb. 29. SW-11 (Brock Whaley, Kandahar, AFGHANISTAN for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. B-11 of Radio France International in Russian from Feb. 26, all 500 kW ISSoudun: 1400-1430 NF 17850 / 055 deg, x 11860//15530 / 080 deg 1600-1630 NF 13640 / 055 deg, x 9805//11670 / 080 deg 1900-2000 NF 9480*/ 080 deg, x 7425// 5905 / 055 deg *unregistered frequency (DX Re Mix News 29 Feb via DXLD) 15530, Feb 26 at 1428-1430*, song in French, no announcements. Must be one of the RFI services which has not been canceled, Russian at 1400- 1430 via Issoudun. WRTH Feb update shows the // 11860 changes to 17850 in ``**March``. 21580, Feb 26 at 1434, long conversation in Persian about Pakistan, Iran, etc., fair signal. Nothing heard on 21580 previously during almost daily scans of 13m around this time; first wondered if new for R. Farda, but not // JBA 15410, while yes, // 17850 found at 1450 as scheduled for RFI Farsi at 1430-1500; 1455 with RFI e-mail address, jingle, 1458:25 RFI ID, frequencies, music to 1500*. And guess what, HFCC shows Feb 26 is the first day for 21580: ``21580 1430 1500 28S,29S,39N,40 ISS 500 80 0 217 1234567 260212 240312 D 17400 Fas F RFI TDF 4355``. WRTH Update shows 21580 replacing 15360 from ``March``, so that must be rounded off, with today Feb 26 the REAL schedule change date for RFI, likely also for Russian above, and several others. See DXLD 12-06 under FRANCE [and non] for all the single and double asterisks, as RFI makes its usual odd-date moves from lower to higher bands; can`t wait another month until A-12 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GABON. Africa No. 1, 9580, Moyabi, Feb 24, 2012, Friday. 1620-1703. French, OM talking but unreadable at first due to QRM from Radio Australia via Kranji. ID at 1631 "Africa Number One", followed by song in French. Another ID at 1643 by YL, "Africa Numéro Un" and continues with afro music. Time pips at 1700, into news. Fair after Radio Australia went off-air at 1630. Joburg sunset 1644 (Bill Bingham, RSA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9580, Africa #1; 2123-2201+, 25-Feb; M in French with peppy Afro music. Heard several spots sounding like "Africa Dos" (ridge, spine, back of Africa? program name?) Lengthy ANU spot with SIDs 2156+ to 2200 into French news. Repeated Africa Dos plus "Radio Africa" after the ANU spots. SIO=4+33+ with continuous buzz QRM centering about 9578 plus weak co-channel QRM. Have not heard this "Dos" thing before (Harold Frodge, Michigan Area Radio Enthusiasts DXpedition, Brighton MI, Drake R8B + 500 ft. NEish unterminated beverage + 85 ft. TTFD, logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. 177, Deutschlandradio Kultur-Oranienburg at 2030 with classical music with choir. Nice music to hear on long wave. Good signal. Only station on the frequency and was verified by local oscillator on other receivers (177+ 455=632 kHz and a nice 2 kHz het on the upside of the 630 MW stations). 500 kW at 2,966 miles distance. Feb. 26. SW-11 (Brock Whaley, Kandahar, AFGHANISTAN for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. Medium wave transmitter site Mainflingen, (1539 kHz) also demolished or sold --- Dear friends, For quite some time now I am involved in a radio project of which I am not allowed to reveal any details yet. The management of the project was trying to use the closed down Mainflingen transmitter (700 kW) to transmit programmes in the evening and night. Tonight my contact at the owner Media Broadcast told me that the decision was made that the site will be sold and in case that is not possible, it will be demolished in the near future. In 2006-2007 antenna at Mainflingen (a special Cross Dipole) was drastically changed. A complete description of the changes you can find here http://www.waniewski.de/1D-8920-808-DO_Dokumentation_MW%20Kreuzdipol%20Mainflingen_AE01.pdf Additional info (in English) is here : http://www.waniewski.de/id478.htm And documents about the radiation patterns you find here : http://www.mediafire.com/?zrsa2zw5m7ymx4t http://www.mediafire.com/?7h8oenkylbqiv5f General info about the station including pictures is here : http://www.waniewski.de/MW/Mainflingen/index.htm (Jan Oosterveen, Netherlands, Feb 26, shortwave[sic]sites yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DXLD) So much for the statement "it is not planned to shut down the transmitter" given just two months ago, as linked and discussed with announcements from that Dutch hobby project (if that's what you paraphrase) at http://radioforum.foren.mysnip.de/read.php?8773,970600 I already suspected in last year that the demolition of the 882 kHz facility at Wachenbrunn (with remarkably poor communications by Media Broadcast as well) could be a precedent and more AM facilities follow. Now one has really to wonder which will be the next one. Actually the cross dipole has been built completely new. In 2005 Evangeliums-Rundfunk gave, as quoted at http://www.biener-media.de/1539.html the costs for the antenna and a renewal of the transmission contract for another ten years as three million Euro. Quite a lot of money, entirely wasted. Transmitters were a pair of 400 kW Thomson S7HP, arranged this way to facilitate a 120 kW daytime service through the self-radiating lattice mast. The modulation was to my taste just awful, shrill from excessive upper-mids boost and anything below 200 Hz or so suppressed completely. It should be added that it was Evangeliums-Rundfunk who cancelled early, not Media Broadcast as was the case at Wachenbrunn (Kai Ludwig, Germany, ibid.) ** GOA. 15210, AIR Panaji. Very good signal of program in Arabic intended for ME. Speech and Indian music at very pleasant level. Azimuth reported as 120 degrees — strange for ME but favourable for Australia. 0507 6/2 (Charles Jones, Castle Hill NSW (Sony 2001D with 7m. vertical antenna, March Australian DX News via DXLD) ** GREECE. Feb 25, 15630 at 1600z, V of Greece with studio host and remote guest. Via Avlis, 100 kW at 285 , more or less toward Central America but HFCC shows target zones are 28 /29, from the Alps to the Urals, close enough for government work. Hollow, echoey sound, probably long path echo. The sunset terminator is close to Avlis, all daylight short path, 60% - 40% dark - daylight via the long path (Jerry Lenamon, Waco, Texas, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. A estação grega Radio marítima "Olympia Rádio" está de volta em ondas curtas, e mais forte! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyU5PAIkBfw&feature=related This is the Beautiful sound of Olympia Rádio. This is one of the last coast radio stations that running maritime service around the world, and keeps running. This record was made on 24 February 2012 at 19:00 UTC, 8743 kHz. 73 de (CT4RK Carlos Mourato - Sines - Portugal, 25 Fev, radioescutas yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DXLD) Had been off due to the troubles? (gh, DXLD) Essa e uma otima noticia, pois sentia falta do `beacon` com voz de YL da Olympia Radio em grego e ingles que eu usava a um tempo atras pra ver como estava a propagaçao. Muito obrigado pela noticia!! (Thiago P Machado, 28 Feb, WORLD OF RADIO 1606, ibid.) ** GUAM. 11675, Feb 28 at 1504, S Asian song by YL, fair, and figured it could be AIR, but only listed is KSDA in Telugu, 100 kW, 285 degrees at 1500-1530 daily. However, gone at 1524 recheck as conditions were worsening, but maybe closed early. 15320, UT Sunday Feb 26 at 2238, AWR Wavescan via KSDA in progress with David Ricquish on AEF (US armed forces) ``Mosquito Radio`` station in 1944 NZ, 1ZN, which morphed into different stations to this day; originally aired on RNZI Mailbox, here called ``South Pacific Panorama``; outro by Jeff White. Who, BTW has been the presenter of WS for a few years now; someone was wondering what happened to Adrian Peterson. He writes the show, Jeff voices part of the script, and puts together the pieces with continuity, for airing on WRMI, AWR. This Sunday 2230 broadcast from KSDA is more reliable here than any of the airings on WRMI 9955 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUATEMALA. 4055, Feb 23 at 1231, TGAV is on the air this morning, intonation sounds Japanese and may have caught them with canned ID, but too far down in the noise level to be sure it`s not just Spanish (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4055, Radio Verdad, 1108-1125, tune-in to IS on electronic keyboard. National Anthem at 1111. Opening multi-lingual ID announcements at 1116 along with contact information. Religious music at 1122 and Spanish talk. Fair at tune-in but poor in noise by 1125. Feb 24 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) 4055, Feb 25 at 0555, R. Truth in English signing off until 5 am [11 UT], with cowboy hymn music accompaniment, then a prayer(?) with music; 0558 into multi-lingual sign-offs accompanied by Hammond organ: Spanish, 0559 English, 0600 German YL, 0601 Italian, 0602 Swedish, 0603 Japanese, 0604 local vernacular including Spanish words, times approximate; 0605 starting multi-verse NA by children`s choir. Good signal as usual for less than 1 kW, and with BFO, carrier is slightly unstable. Feb 25 is the twelfth anniversary of R. Verdad. A quick look at the website http://www.radioverdad.org does not find any mention of this; however this note about last year: ``El sábado 26 de Febrero, celebramos nuestro 11º ANIVERSARIO, y tuvimos actividades especiales desde las 22:00 horas UTC.`` Might want to check the webcast around that hour this weekend (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4054.6, 25/2 0510, R. Verdad - Chiquimula, English, music, suff (Roberto Pavanello, Italy, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) I had not noticed them that far off frequency; must recheck that (gh) ** GUYANA. 3290, V Guyana With YL DJ playing rap music & OM screaming in English. It could have been a preacher, or it could have been the introduction to a boxing match, but it was probably more of the African rhythm rap stuff. Odd music. Kinda messy, 3+53+43 0306-0326 19/Feb (Ken Zichi, Port Hope MI, MARE Tipsheet Feb 24 via DXLD) ** HUNGARY [non]. IS IT TIME TO REVIVE RFE HUNGARIAN? Posted: 28 Feb 2012 Washington Post, 26 Feb 2012, Mark Palmer, Miklos Haraszti and Charles Gati: "In recent weeks, the Hungarian government led by Prime Minister Viktor Orban has frequently attacked Western media outlets but none more than CNN for its reports on the sorry state of Hungarian democracy. Hungarians can still watch CNN, but since January the network is no longer part of the package offered by Hungary’s largest cable provider. Klubradio, the country’s popular independent talk channel, has been even less fortunate. Despite widespread protests by its listeners, an effort supported by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and the European Union, the government’s one-party Media Council has not renewed the station’s broadcasting license. Absent a last-minute reversal, Klubradio will be unplugged this spring. ... With the fall of Hungary’s Western-style, pluralistic democracy, the time is right for the United States to reinstate Radio Free Europe’s Hungarian-language broadcasts. ... A new Hungarian channel, by making full use of gifted editors and reporters in Hungary, should become a hub for quality journalism, a provider of inclusive debates and fair information, inviting to all and detached from all. By cultivating rational and civilized debates, it should be a wellspring for democracy and good journalism. It should not revive the confrontational spirit of the early years of the Cold War, nor should it even turn into an opposition channel broadcasting only 'bad news' that gets omitted by the official and semi-official media." See previous post about same subject (kimandrewelliott.com via WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DXLD) The authors are certainly correct about avoiding the establishment of a "bad news" station. So how is the goal of providing independent journalism to Hungary best accomplished? In 2012, Hungarians won't huddle around their shortwave sets. They probably don't even have shortwave sets. They might, in limited numbers, listen to a medium wave frequency from a neighboring country. The radio station would also be available via satellite and the internet, but this still would not attract mass audiences. A website (with the obligatory accompanying social media outlets and mobile version) might seem more suitable for the present media environment. Again, the audience could be limited, especially because of the thousands of competing sources of information on the internet. Many Hungarians have access to satellite dishes. A channel on one of the popular European satellites could bring audiences larger than those for radio or internet efforts, but would also cost more than the other options. If it is a commercial channel that succeeds in selling advertising, those costs could be offset. Should this be an indigenous Hungarian effort, such as Klubradio using a grant from the National Endowment for Democracy and corresponding European organizations? On the other hand, the Radio Free Europe name does have stature, even if it also has a mixed historical legacy. The fact that RFE has been revived in Hungarian would itself send a message, inside Hungary and beyond. Of course, some member of Congress, perhaps forgetting that there ever was an RFE Hungarian Service, will slip in an amendment calling for the resumption of a Voice of America Hungarian Service, with the result being we will have both VOA and RFE broadcasts in Hungarian (Kim Andrew Elliott, ibid.) ** INDIA. 4990, AIR Itanagar, 1338-1449*, Feb 28. Yesterday only heard China here; today sub-continent music; 1415 the usual musical fanfare before the news in Hindi; 1420 again musical fanfare before the local news in English (could tell was in English, but too weak to make out any specific news items); 1425 final musical fanfare after the news followed by subcontinent music; light China QRM (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Eton E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. Hi Everyone, 26th Feb 2012, All India Radio Home News on 7235 at 0245 UT. The recording starts with a "jingle" or intro, not sure quite what, then a short section of Hindi (some has been cut) and YL into English news with ID at 1.05 secs, "All India Radio presents morning news". This is direct from Delhi http://www.box.com/s/dn3d612qoqln05r1xlls (Mark Davies, Anglesey, Wales, Feb 28, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi, yes it`s direct from Delhi: 7235 kHz 50 kW Delhi (Kingsway) 0215-0320 0330-0340 (Sun 0355) The part you recorded is community ads by government / ministries between Hindi http://www.newsonair.com/main-audio-new-player.asp?id=3351 and English News http://www.newsonair.com/main-audio-new-player.asp?id=3352 in morning. The schedule is 0230 UT community ads, followed by Hindi News till 0244:25, then two community ads and at 0245 English News till 0259:30 - the schedule is almost same regular. The part of News you heard can be listened / downloaded from http://www.newsonair.com/ precisely the file url is http://www.newsonair.com/writereaddata/broadcast/English-Morning%20news-Bulletins-3352.mp3 [later:] Link Error: I gave you links for 28th Morning news, I am trying to search the 26th News but the page is not properly working. You can proceed for QSL, although they are irregular to respond. (Partha Sarathi Goswami, Siliguri, West Bengal, India, ibid.) The broadcast monitored of AIR on 7235 kHz (and other frequencies) at 0245 etc. is actually standby feed from Delhi station for relay by other AIR stations. These transmissions will cease from A-2012 period as AIR is shutting down 6 nos of 50 kW transmitters at Delhi then. From A-12 period these newscasts etc. will be available on satellite only (for relay by AIR stations). 73 (Jose Jacob, India, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. 11670, All India Radio, General Overseas Service in English with YL news, ID as ”the GOS of AIR” at :05 into OM political commentary re the EU and India trade, into a Hindustani Instrumental Music Programme that I would describe as a scared cat trapped in a vuvuzela. In well 44+544 with only a HF Het marring reception. // 11620 much worse 2+443+2+ & 9445 also good at 44+4+4+4. 2103-2113 18/Feb (Kenneth Vito Zichi, Port Hope MI, MARE Tipsheet Feb 24 via DXLD) 11670, better than // 9445, Feb 27 at 2119 I intune AIR GOS, sufficiently listenable with some flutter despite (because of?) K- index just reported as 5 by new robofem WWV announceress, so since it happens to be Monday, once a classical music recital concludes, I settle in to listen to their weekly 2120-2135 mailbag `Faithfully Yours` with usual W&M hosts. It turns out they only deal with four reports; scarce listener input, or just very selective? I figure I will always recognize at least some of the names on any mailbag show, from the limited universe of active reception-reporting SWLs: To wit: 1, can`t catch his name, but from Assam, NE India. Says he is new host of the Indian DX Report on AWR Wavescan, congratulates the GOS on now having its very own QSL and wants one. This takes the entire first five minutes, as the hosts read and comment on his comments, etc. 2, Costa Constantinides, Cyprus; yes, we know him, 4.5 minutes. 3, Dennis Allen, Australia; we know him too, just got some of his items in Australian DX News; 2 minutes. 4, Alvin McCrory(?), USA; don`t know him, but report was from 10 November; are the others that old? He listened at 1909-1945 on 11670 with SINPO 54434; sent 4 IRCs but they reiterate that return postage is NOT WANTED. 2.5 minutes for him. Every one of them reported on a transmission which was not to their target area! and the OM found that ``very interesting`` each time. He filled quite a bit of the time by giving the schedules and frequencies where they ought to be listening, except of course the American who is not supposed to be listening at all, but admittedly they have got a lot of reports from North America lately. Concluding with W&M unison, ``Faithfully Yours!``. 2135 on to popular Indian vocal music, which was faded out abruptly at 2150 when it was time for `Economic Review` as MEGO caused tuneout. (E = ears) (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, re: your report on the Indian mailbag show, I believe in item 4 the report was from me, Ed McCorry. All the info checks out with my report. I was amazed to hear them here outside of Raleigh NC, but since then I have heard them quite often. BTW, I only sent them 1 IRC. I received a very nice and highly detailed QSL from that report a couple of days ago. So it looks like they may be that far behind. 73, (Ed McCorry, Feb 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Tnx, Ed, I was hoping my note about this would get a response from the real person! (gh, DXLD) AIR off frequency --- AIR GOS in English at 2200 UT on 11711.45 kHz (nominal 11715) // 11670 (strong) and 11620 (rather weak). 73, (Günter Lorenz, Freising, Germany, RX: Perseus, ANT: ALA1530+SSB, Feb 25, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15175, Feb 29 at 1521, AIR Gujrati is undermodulated, mostly a rumble and mixed with whine of slightly varying pitch. Since I can hear this with BFO on both the hi and lo sides, I conclude that it is not a het from something else, but coming out of the very same GOA transmitter, which had a lot of problems that were supposedly recently repaired (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENIG DIGEST) ** INDIA. NEW PRASAR BHARATI CEO FOR IMPROVING DD, AIR PRESENTATION Improving the presentation qualities of Doordarshan and All India Radio and filling up of key vacancies are the top priorities of the new Prasar Bharati CEO, Mr Jawhar Sircar, who assumed office today. Mr Sircar, who was Secretary, Ministry of Culture, before joining the Prasar Bharati, spoke about his priorities while interacting with presspersons here. He said though the news content and reach of Doordarshan and AIR were remarkable, the presentation standards were not up to the mark. “Presentation is an area where we need to give attention ....,” he said, adding, “We are high on content and could improve upon presentation of content.” Mr Sircar said he needed time to understand why presentation was not up to competitive standards. Another area he would pay attention to was staff-related issues, he said, and asked his colleagues to move ahead in a positive direction “My only appeal to my colleagues is that we have gone through a tough phase and now it is time to look positively,” he said. Referring to unfilled posts, he said, “I have been told that there are nearly 14,000 vacancies if you take the original sanction” and added that a task force had re-evaluated the number of critical posts to be filled up immediately. Mr Sircar succeeds Mr B. S. Lalli, whose tenure ended in the wake of allegations of irregularities. In the interim period, Mr Rajiv Takru, Additional Secretary in the I and B Ministry, was holding additional charge (Business Line 22/02 via Jaisakthivel, ADXC, India, dxldyg via DXLD) ** INDONESIA [and non] 3995, Feb 23 at 1304, all I can pull is a very poor carrier, with QRhaM, from presumed RRI Kendari as recently reactivated. There was a ham net circa 3997 involving reading chapter 21:18, presumably from some version of a Christian Bible which would be unacceptable to other faxions. Alan Davies in Indonesia reveals that RRI Palu, Sulawesi has also been reactivated around 3967, he heard until just before 2400* Feb 19, in the local morning; but far too much SSB QRhaM for us to have any chance at in the our mornings, if it is even on the air in their local evenings? It was last reported in Sept 2009; and last listed in WRTH 2010 as *inactive on 3961v (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 9525.96, V. of Indonesia, Jakarta, 1935-2000 Feb 20 English; W announcer with talk; Indo music program "...from the Voice of Indonesia".; various Indo pops; rock and power ballads; ID in passing at 1956; SCI; outdated frequency sked & English service s/off announcement; into French but severely QRMed by 9525-CRI Russian at *2000; first time I've logged an ECNA afternoon Indonesian in years! poor-fair (Scott R. Barbour Jr. Intervale, N.H. USA, NRD-545, MLB-1, 200' Beverages, 60m dipole, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9525-, Feb 23 at 1440 I am surprised to find fair signal and good modulation level from VOI, slightly on lo side, mostly music during presumed Indonesian hour, but unfortunately lots of IADs every few sex and each lasting longer than usual. Before 1400 I could not pull out any English vs 9530 ACI. While I was concentrating on breakfast of green & red grapes, English muffin with homemade apricot jam on one side, commercial mixed-berry packet on the other, VOI appeared to stay on after 1457, making lo het with CRI at 1516, instead of the more obvious hi het when it was on 9526-. 9525-, Feb 26 at 1414 cannot detect even a carrier from VOI, altho 9680 RRI domestic is in well. 9525- also missing 24 hours earlier. Atsunori Ishida, http://rri.jpn.org agrees that 9525 was last heard with a carrier on Feb 24 at 1100, not on Feb 25 or 26. (He still doesn`t have anything on RRI Palu 3967v). [and non]. 9526-, Feb 27 at 1348, VOI is back on the air and back on their 9526- instead of 9525- transmitter, very poor signal, but no doubt about the off-off-frequency carrier. At 1520 it is still on producing the almost-one-kHz het with CRI, both too weak for anything but the tone. Ishida agrees VOI is back on 9526 today from *0953 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9525.97, VOI. As Glenn, et al. have already noted, switched transmitters again; in Arabic at 1610 with IADs and good reception on Feb 28 (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. Winners of VOI`s Wonderful Indonesia Quiz were from India and Russia, were there last December Warm Greeting from Indonesia, We would like to announce that "Wonderful Indonesia Quiz", a joint program of RRI World Service and the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy of Republik Indonesia has been closed on 20th November 2011. Up to the closing date, the quiz which is published in VOI websites has been visited by more than 400 visitors from all over the world – of more than one hundreds have answered the quiz. We are also sure that more listeners have listened to the quiz as it has been broadcast through our SW transmitters on 9525 kHz. We would like to inform you that two lucky listeners out of the all entries, have been elected, namely Mr. Swopan Chakroborty from Kolkata, India, and Mr. Igor V. Sannikov from Kirov, Russia. Congratulations! We invite you to come and visit to Indonesia and enjoy the exotic view of Lombok Island, in West Nusa Tenggara province. The trip to Lombok is scheduled from December 6 – December 8, 2011. For the purpose we invite the two winners to arrive in Jakarta on December 5, 2011. We will be responsible for the tickets and the accommodation from December 5 until December 10, 2011. However, we cannot be held responsible for any cost arising, if you plan to stay in Indonesia after December 10th, 2011. Once again, congratulation to the winners! For those who have not been lucky, please don't be disappointed because we plan to organize another international quiz to our beloved and valuable listeners. Anyway, thank you for participating in the quiz. All your replies and feedbacks will be very much appreciated to redesign and improve our service to you all over the world. Best regards, M Kabul Budiono Director of RRI World Service, Voice of Indonesia (via JUAN FRANCO CRESPO * STAMP JOURNALIST (AIPET), via Yimber Gaviria, DXLD) Aha, now we know where they have been spending their money instead of on getting 9526v/9525v to work! Swopan already told us about his visit and linked to his blog with photos (gh, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL. I am in the habit of checking the 7 MHz band around 0630 UT, and it`s amazing how much things change from night to night. Here`s Feb 29, certainly a unique occasion: At 0625, nothing from: 7265 Romania French, 7245 Mauritania [q.v. for more], 7220 France Hausa (Yes, RFI in HFCC ended 7220 as of Feb 25.) At *0628, 7250 carrier on from SMG Vatican unlike yesterday, 0629 bells. 10 kW Gardens was not audible before this. At 0629* Tunisia goes off 7275, but unlike yesterday, no trace of Nigeria being uncovered. These are on before and after 0630: 7320 Magadan, 7335 Tunisia, 7360 Vatican, 7210 CRI Arabic via Albania. Among several others, of course On from before 0630: 7310 Romania English (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET. TOWARD WORLDWIDE GOVERNMENTAL CONTROL OF THE INTERNET On Feb. 27, a diplomatic process will begin in Geneva that could result in a new treaty giving the United Nations unprecedented powers over the Internet. Dozens of countries, including Russia and China, are pushing hard to reach this goal by year's end. As Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said last June, his goal and that of his allies is to establish "international control over the Internet" through the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a treaty-based organization under U.N. auspices. WSJ article, subscription may be required: http://tinyurl.com/InternetControl FCC NEWS BRIEF Here are the recently prepared remarks of FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski on cyber security. Learn about three gigantic Internet security holes - botnets, domain name fraud and IP hijacking - and discover how they are being addressed. http://tinyurl.com/ChairmanG-BotnetsEtc (CGC Communicator 27 Feb via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. NEXT SIRIUS XM RADIO SATELLITE FACING MULTI- MONTH DELAY --- Spaceflight Now By Stephen Clark February 27, 2012 http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1202/27siriusfm6/ Sirius XM Radio's next broadcasting satellite will remain on Earth several months longer than expected to address a technical concern on the spacecraft, according to a company spokesperson. "The planned launch of [the] Sirius FM6 satellite has been delayed in order to confirm its readiness status," Patrick Reilly, a Sirius XM spokesperson, said in a written statement provided to Spaceflight Now, adding the launch has not yet been rescheduled. Sirius XM satellites beam news, entertainment, traffic, weather and sports radio programming to more than 20 million subscribers across the continental United States. "The delay will not affect any of Sirius XM's services," Reilly said. "The existing fleet of Sirius XM satellites continues to operate well and provide uninterrupted services." Reilly did not disclose the specific reason for the delay, but a report by Russia's Interfax news agency said engineers will inspect Sirius FM6's solar array deployment mechanisms. The Interfax report from earlier in February said the power-generating solar panels on SES 4, a satellite launched Feb. 14, did not unfurl on an initial command. Instead, the spacecraft used a back-up propulsive method of extending one of the solar array wings. Yves Feltes, an SES spokesperson, said Monday the solar panels are now fully deployed, along with the satellite's communications antennas. Having accomplished its post-launch altitude-raising maneuvers, SES 4 is now in a circular orbit more than 22,000 miles above the equator, on schedule to begin service over the Americas, Europe and Africa. SES 4 and Sirius FM6 were both manufactured by Space Systems/Loral of Palo Alto, Calif. There has been no decision yet to transport the spacecraft back to California from its launch base at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, according to industry sources. SES 4 blasted off Feb. 14 on an International Launch Services Proton rocket. Before the delay, another commercial ILS Proton booster was due to launch Sirius FM6 as soon as March 5. The next commercial Proton mission is now scheduled for March 25 with the Intelsat 22 communication satellite, followed by the April launch of Yahsat 1B for the Al Yah Satellite Communications Co. of Abu Dhabi (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM [non]. 9955, WRMI, Radio Miami International; 1851-1901+, 25-Feb; Glenn Hauser's World of Radio; cut off last bit with Blues Radio International & WRMI spots. WRN spot at 1900 into English Radio Telefis Eirienne [sic] with Off The Shelf book review program. SIO=333- with moderate hiss jammer QRM? or just QRN? EZ copy. No change in the hiss when RTE came on (Harold Frodge, Michigan Area Radio Enthusiasts DXpedition, Brighton MI, Drake R8B + 500 ft. NEish unterminated beverage + 85 ft. TTFD, logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) More at USA: WRMI ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [and non]. 14340/USB, Mañana Net; 1920, 25- Feb; Pleasure craft net; control is WA6TLL in Riverside CA; check-in from NV. Heavy splash from KW1T on 14342.5 (Harold Frodge, Michigan Area Radio Enthusiasts DXpedition, Brighton MI, Drake R8B + 500 ft. NEish unterminated beverage + 85 ft. TTFD, logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN. Jamming on 702 kHz: see AZERBAIJAN [and non] ** IRAN. 747 kHz, IRIB Gonbad (yes they have-bw) 0530 Feb. 23. M in Farsi. “Radio Iran” heard and the odd, pounding, IRIB sounder heard at 0530. It sounds like something hitting an anvil, played off a noisy 78 RPM disc. It must have some historical background. I hear it on most all Iranian MW top of the hour ID’s. Fair signal. Daytime ground wave. 150 kW at 720 miles distance. Gotta love that TRF (Brock Whaley, Kandahar, Afghanistan for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN. Frequency changes of VOIRI/IRIB in Japanese: 1330-1427 NF 9470*SIR 500 kW / 060 deg to EaAs, ex 9625 NF 9580 KAM 500 kW / 060 deg to EaAs, ex 9585 * co-ch Voice of Russia in Russian (DX Re Mix News 29 Feb via DXLD) ** IRELAND. 13264/USB, EIP, Shannon Volmet, Eire; 1814, 25-Feb; Volmet to ID at 1815. Good, // 8957/USB, weak (Harold Frodge, Michigan Area Radio Enthusiasts DXpedition, Brighton MI, Drake R8B + 500 ft. NEish unterminated beverage + 85 ft. TTFD, logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) see INTERNATIONAL VACUUM ** ISRAEL [and non]. 9985, Feb 27 at 1459, fair signal with IBA IS, which means it must be preceding Persian as years ago they cancelled all other SW languages. Needless to say, 9990 WTWW was not on the air! Seems one or another of the WTWW transmitters has been missing sporadically lately (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN. 9595, Feb 29 at 1415, fair to poor, R. Nikkei`s unpredictable eclectic music mix today presents: Aretha with gospel or soul tunes, 1423 maybe joined by Poynter Systers? 1434, ``R-E-S-P-E-C- T``, 1436 ``Chain of Fools``, and she`s still going at 1452. R. Australia 9590 competed with rap at 1432 so I tuned right back to 9595 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN. 6145, Feb 23 at 0715 after hearing Karen Carpenter on RUSSIA [q.v.], NHK is playing ``Careless Whisper`` by Wham. This is Japanese service to eastern Siberia, where it seems they can`t get enough of old American pop music in English (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) A minor nit indeed, but I believe "Wham!" is British. Sincerely, (Earl Higgins, RX-321 and 15 m end fed wire thing outside, St. Louis, Missouri, USA (W 90.32 N 38.65), DX LISTENING DIGEST) "Careless Whisper" was an enormous hit in Asia, the first "Western pop hit" to sell millions of copies in China (Harvey Novack, yankeedog67, swl at qth.net via DXLD) ** JAPAN [non]. 11740, Feb 24 at 1434 while checking out Cuba changing from 11750 to 11705, noticed good reception in Burmese here, which is NHK, 250 kW, 330 degrees via SINGAPORE at 1430-1500 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN. NHK SPECIAL PROGRAMS MARKING ONE YEAR SINCE THE DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI via NHK website: http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/311/english/index.html NHK WORLD RADIO JAPAN will broadcast special programs during the period from March 6th to 11th, marking one year since the devastating earthquake and tsunami in March last year. This website will introduce contents of each program, and also solicit messages from our audience addressed to the disaster-hit region in Japan. We will introduce the messages received in the programs and on the website, and RADIO JAPAN will actually deliver the messages to the disaster-hit region. Please do send in your messages!! Your Comments Make Our Programs! On Air Schedule Programs' Line Up From March 6th to 11th On Air Date: March 6th One Year after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident - What is the Current Situation? At the end of last year, the government officially declared that the damaged reactors, at the Tokyo Electric Power Company's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear... detail at http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/311/english/rjfocus/program0306.html On Air Date: March 7th Building Towns Strong Against Disasters in the Quake-hit Region In the region hit by the last-March earthquake and tsunami, efforts have begun to build towns strong against disasters, by learning lessons from the quake and... http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/311/english/rjfocus/program0307.html On Air Date: March 8th Aid for Foreigners in the Disaster-hit Region Immediately after the devastating earthquake last March, many foreigners were forced to temporarily evacuate to their home countries. Now, one year after the... http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/311/english/rjfocus/program0308.html On Air Date: March 9th Wanting to Work for Onagawa ~ A Chinese Trainee ~ Returning to the Quake-hit Region A Chinese trainee, Cong-Wei, who submitted her Haiku poem for the RADIO JAPAN's "Haiku for KIBO" project which was completed at the end of last year... http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/311/english/rjfocus/program0309.html On Air Date: March 10th 1,131 Dreams of Children http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/311/english/dream/index.html On Air Date: March 11th Connecting Japan and the World - Messages One Year After 3.11 http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/311/english/message/index.html Beside NHK I also invite you to listen these programs, and now you can write messages to them for the programs or for the people of disaster- hit region, they may include it in their program... Only thing is the NHK contact form is a little uncomfortable!!! Thanks & Regards, (Partha Sarathi Goswami, Siliguri, Dist. Darjeeling, West Bengal, INDIA, Skype: dxinginfo, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KALININGRAD. Kaliningrad DRM Test --- Just scanned the 41 m band when I stumbled upon this 1-minute DRM test broadcast: http://www.eibispace.de/dx/DRM-Kaliningrad-Test-7325kHz-20120226-0732UTC.jpg It signed on at 0732, 26 Feb 2012 (I had just scanned 7325 a minute earlier when it was empty) and signed off again at 0733. The DRM tag "Label Service 0" and the ID FF0010 indicate that this originated in Bolshakovo/Kaliningrad, Russia, according to info from Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 24, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST via RUS-DX 210A. 73, (Eike Bierwirth, Leipzig, Germany, Perseus + DX- 10pro active antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KAZAKHSTAN. Bruce Jensen of Family Radio is reporting on Facebook that the Almaty, Kazakhstan transmitter relay station will be closing down permanently on March 1! If you do not yet have a log or QSL of a station from Kazakhstan, better strike while the iron is still hot! Both Bible Voice and Family Radio use the facility - but only one more week! :-( That’s a big station if I recall (Jonathan Marks, Feb 24, shortwavesites yg via DXLD) Re: Kazakstan - Last Days on SW --- Hi Jonathan, Thanks very much for the important news update. Last year we discovered that the Nikolayevka / Dmitriyevka site had appeared to have closed down from a visitor source (nothing received via official sources despite my requests). Closure date unknown. Now deleted in the WRTH 2012. Now this one too. This closure will also signal the end of another SW BC country. RIP KAZAKHSTAN. Yes, it is a sizeable transmitter site. I think Wolfy noted 14 curtain arrays. We don't have any photos from this site and only a poor low res GE 2005 image :-( My records show that RNW broadcasted from Almati-Qaraturiq site in 1993. 73's (Ian Baxter, ibid.) Let's wait a bit to see if it really is final. 73, (Mauno Ritola, ibid.) Re: Kazakstan - Last Days on SW > Last year we discovered that the Nikolayevka / Dmitriyevka site had > appeared to have closed down from a visitor source (nothing received > via official sources despite my requests). Closure date unknown. Now > deleted in the WRTH 2012 > Now this one too.... First: Which one? I suspect Family Radio may not even know that what they lease as "Alma-Ata" can be two different sites, dozens of kilometres away from each other. Enclosed what I posted to the DXLD list as reply to a report about "reliable informations" which could well be the Facebook posting pointed out by Jonathan. > My records show that RNW broadcasted from Almati-Qaraturiq site > in 1993. As far as I recall at least one of the two sites remained in use much longer until the transmissions in question had been moved to Tashkent due to persistent modulation problems. And Deutsche Welle used Karaturuk quite recently, just a few years ago. Not to forget the launch of Radio Free Asia, goofed up in Kazakhstan, in most cases only big carriers made it on air there. And a certain broadcast from Hilversum gave away all the details about the transmitter sites some agency in Washington would have liked to keep confidential. Ah, those were the days... ---------- [as in DXLD 12-08 not repeated here --- gh] (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Feb 27, ibid.) I bow to the expertise of Kai on this topic BUT during the last 3 years I clearly remember reading that Samara [RUSSIA] (the new one away from Novosemeykino) was earmarked for imminent closure. That site is alive and kicking - which backs up Kai's point. 73's (Dan Goldfarb, ibid.) Centro Emisor de Almá-Atá, Kazakstán será cerrado a partir del 1 de Marzo de 2012 --- Omar Ortiz jueves 23 de febrero de 2012 La República de Kazakstán, en Asia Central, cerrará su centro emisor de ondas cortas situado en las afueras de la ciudad de Alma-Ata, a partir del 1 de Marzo de 2012, según información suministrada por el veterano diexista ceilanés Victor Goonetilleke. Esta decisión ha sido tomada por motivos de índole económica relacionados con la imposibilidad de continuar sufragando los costos referentes a la energía necesaria para mantener en operación sus numerosas antenas transmisoras. En la actualidad esta estación ha sido utilizada en alquiler por diversas organizaciones de carácter religioso para difundir sus emisiones hacia lugares tales como India, China o Asia Central, entre algunas de ellas, cabe mencionar a Bible Voice y Family Radio de Estados Unidos. Durante la época de la Guerra Fría, la Unión Sovietica empleó este parque emisor para retransmitir los programas internacionales de la entonces denominada Radio Moscú, en función de cubrir con óptima calidad de recepción el continente asiático. Los interesados en reportar o sintonizar una de las últimas transmisiones provenientes desde este sitio-emisor, podrán hacer uso del siguiente esquema de horarios, frecuencias, emisoras y programas valido para la temporada B11, disponible en este enlace en inglés: http://www.dxinginfo.com/schedules/b11/almaty-kazakhstan-relay (via Ortiz, condiglist yg via DXLD) 9310, Family Radio (presumed); 1311, 26-Feb; English huxter talking about unclean places. SIO=322+ with whine QRM that LSB takes out (Harold Frodge, Michigan Area Radio Enthusiasts DXpedition, Brighton MI, Drake R8B + 500 ft. NEish unterminated beverage + 85 ft. TTFD, logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9310, YFR, Almaty, 1158-1232 Feb 27 listed Filipino; WYFR jingle music & contact info; filler music; IS at ToH; W announcer with ID & sign/on announcement; M in listed Filipino at 1202; music at 1219 with talk- over; presumed program intro at 1220; more M talk thru tune/out; fair. Kazakhstan supposed to go silent 3/1, though a few DXers monitoring on 2/28; V. of Orthodoxy & BVB; heard either nothing or very weak audio and pulled the plug mid-transmission (Scott R. Barbour Jr. Intervale, N.H. USA, NRD-545, MLB-1, 200' Beverages, 60m dipole, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7515, Voice of Orthodoxy no-show today from Kazakhstan --- Listened to 7515 to hear, possibly, the final broadcast from VofO from Kazakhstan, *if* Kazakhstan leaves SW at the end of the month. Tuned in at 1555 to see (on the Perseus SDR) a pretty strong carrier. No test tones, or anything, however. No audio at all between 1600 and 1630. The carrier left the air after 1630. Anyone else checking this one? Perhaps the audio was so low that I couldn't hear them. Kind of doubt that, though (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, 28Feb2012, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH. 6180, V. Of Korea, Kujang. English talk praising the new leader, complete with martial music at 1043 on 15/2. Ex 6185 possibly to avoid China Huayi (Dennis Allen, Milperra NSW (Icom R75, Realistic DX160, Dipole), March Australian DX News via DXLD) Was this all the way down to 6180.0? It subsequently was varying closer to 6185 producing het, as logged Feb 21 in DXLD 12-08 (gh, DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH [and non]. 6600, Feb 25 at 1339, // weaker 6518, V. of the People, from South to North, in Korean talk, free of jamming. 9335, Feb 25 at 1342, JBA carrier probably not VOK`s English to America, but R. Azadi (Free Afghanistan) via Kuwait; and nothing at all on 11710. The following French hour, however, was on the air at 1434, 9335 good with some CCI, // 11710 at 1438 now with choral music. It seems that a lot of jamming and VOK transmissions have been missing lately, due to electricity shortage. Martyn Williams, Tokyo, wrote DXLD yg Feb 24: >For the last couple of days, most of North Korea's jamming has been silent. Voice of Korea is also missing broadcasts and cutting others short. Electricity supply problems are the likely cause. http://www.northkoreatech.org/2012/02/24/dprk-radio-disappears/ That`s Martyn`s own blog which concludes, ``Earlier in February, Reuters reported that Pyongyang is facing its “worst electricity shortages in years,” quoting a foreign diplomat based in the city.`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yep, VoK Russian is off the air today. Both transmissions at 0800 and 0900 are missing. I guess if they need electricity elsewhere, I'm cool with that (Sergei S., Feb 25, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) See next Re: North Korean jamming, international broadcasts missing VoK Russian is still off the air today, February 26. What about DPRK's domestic radio? Are local channels still on? Yesterday I gave the wrong time for VoK's "afternoon" transmissions in Russian. They are at 0700 and 0800 UT targeting both Europe and Russia's Far East. VoK's "European" frequencies at these times are 15245 and 13760 kHz, "Asian" - 11735 and 9975. At 0900 there's Korean service that usually provides a reliable coverage of E&C Europe. VoK used to be missing off the air quite regularly due to electricity cuts about ten years ago. What surprising this time is that they even stopped jamming operations. If I remember correctly jamming would continue before even when [sic; something cut off?] (Sergei S. 0837 UT Feb 26, ibid.) 6600 and 6516, Feb 26 at 1406, V. of the People, once again hit by noise jamming, but well atop it; NK generators still not up to full bore? Jamming has been sporadic lately. 6348, however, Feb 26 at 1407, Echo of Hope is jamming-free. As for VOK, which has also been sporadic, 9335 at 1415 Feb 26 is sufficient in French over CCI (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. 9380, ARMENIA, presumed R. Free N. Korea, Yerevan, 1220-1233 Feb 20 Korean; W announcer with talk between music bits; brief music bit at BoH and more talk; poor & fading (Scott R. Barbour Jr. Intervale, N.H. USA, NRD-545, MLB-1, 200' Beverages, 60m dipole, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. 9950, OPPOSITION, Nippon no Kaze “il bon ue baram” via T8WH at Medorm, PALAU (Targeting DPR Korea), 1315-1330*. Korean M speaking at tune in, followed by M&W at 1318 interviewing a second M. 1323 musical bridge into W ID “il bon ue baram” 1325 W talking, possibly reading list of names, with background music, another ID at 1327, W giving web and email addresses followed by frequency/schedule and normal end of program “theme” music. At 1330 s/on in Japanese. Fair with increasing signal. 2-23-12 (Handler-IL) 9950, OPPOSITION, Furusato no Kaze via T8WH at Medorm, Palau (Targeting DPR Korea), *1330-1357*. S/on in Japanese right after end of the Korean “il bon ue baram” program. W in Japanese ID then speaking. 1334 W joined by M, music, talk, into what sounded like reading of names followed by background music and web and email address, frequency/schedule and then into normal end of program music. Today’s Japanese version of this broadcast is a 27 minute program whereas the Korean version was 30 minutes. Fair+ increasing to Good, one of their better signals in a while. 2/23/12 (Steve Handler, Buffalo Grove IL, Icom IC-7200 and Tecsun PL-660 with indoor wire antennas, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. 6135, Feb 24 at 1358, Sea Breeze with piano music, ID and contact info in English, ``time for all of us to come together against North Korean dictator Kim Jung-Il and his regime``, slightly outdated; pause and 1400 reopening with second half of English hour on Fridays only via JSR Tokyo, JAPAN (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Shiokaze Feb 24 in English from *1330 to 1400 on 6135 with “Today’s News Flash” and “Today’s News on North Korean Issues”; then repeated the very same program till 1430*; many IDs. Seven minute audio at http://www.box.com/s/ml1b145lmxj5cx5ha189 6135, Shiokaze/Sea Breeze via Yamata, *1330, Feb 25. The day before was in the clear, but today strong N. Korea jamming was already noted here at 1306, even though there was no jamming today on 3912, 6015, 6230 or 6600. Feb 28 (Tuesday) was in Chinese, which has become routine for Tue. (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA SOUTH. [Re 12-08 new MND schedule] KOREA (REPUBLIC OF), Observed MND Radio, from South Korea in Korean language at tune-in 0630 UT til close-down 0650 UT Feb 23. Stronger signal heard on remote network SDR units in Japan on 6300.004 kHz on S=8 level and clear audio quality from 0630 UT Feb 23, endless Korean speech by male announcer. Weaker signal on 5409.981 kHz at only S=5 level noted at 0643 UT Feb 23. Transmission ended by vocal music of woman chorus from 0648 til 0649:50 UT (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Feb 23, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) SOUTH KOREA: MND Radio - Chuncheon --- Has anyone been able to accurately locate this site? GE imagery is dated: 2004 (Too old) Site supposed to be around here somewhere: 37 56n, 127 46e Does anyone have records of the date broadcasts commenced? I see DX notes as early as July 2011. Perhaps monitor reports from Oct 2011 (Ian Baxter, NSW, Feb 26, shortwavesites yg via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN. 3975, A whistle as an IS from 0225 on 27/1, ID in Kurdish “Eira Radio Dengi Kurdistana”, followed by a hymn from 0230 and soon jammed with “tiutiu…” sound (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria (Sony ICF2001D and ant Folded Marconi 16 m long), March Australia DX News via DXLD) choo-choo? Or chirping? (gh) ** KURDISTAN [non]. 11530, UKRAINE, Denge Mezopotamya at 1427 in Kurdish with spirited male vocals with string and woodwind accompaniment. Fair to Good Feb 20 – their website is http://www.denge-mezopotamya.com They have a listen live portal that you can // SW reception with by clicking on “Zinoi” - ed (Mark Coady, Peterborough Ont., Your Reports, March ODXA Listening In via DXLD) And hear the wonderful PKK terrorist music better, I suppose, except without that SW flutter mystique. 11530, Feb 24 at 1420, V. of Mesopotamia via UKRAINE, continuous Kurdish vocal music to 1430 brief announcement, and then more music in a different style; fair signal but always enjoyable, with kudos to TDP and the PKK terrorists for providing this service with so much music; of course the words may well have some political significance unbeknownst to the rest of us (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KUWAIT. 11630, R. Kuwait (presumed). Now that Malaysia seems to have permanently abandoned this frequency (not heard here for 2 to 3 weeks), am now hearing this in Arabic with a lot of reciting from the Qur'an; Feb 18 and subsequent days from about 1400 to 1500; fair (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Kuwait, 13650, Sulaibiyah. Feb 24, 2012, Friday. 1848-1904. Arabic song. Good until ID time at 1900, when it was wiped out by a SAH and co-channel QRM in French starting up; presumably Radio Canada International from Sackville. Couldn't make out what either was saying after that. Fair-good until 1900, then wiped out, To North America (EiBi). Joburg sunset 1644 (Bill Bingham, RSA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 21540, Feb 27 at 1503, still hearing Arabic here after Spain has closed, usual overrun until cut off abruptly at 1503:18*. With only a month left in the B-11 season, R. Kuwait still hasn`t activated the frequency registered, 21520, preferring instead to collide with Spain for hours and hours (which also prefers to keep the collision going despite scads of open frequencies on 13m band). Kuwait has again registered 21520 for the A-12 season, but I`ll believe it only if I ever hear it (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) R. Kuwait 15540. I haven't heard Kuwait's English broadcast 1800-2100 much this season, but coming in 27 February quite strong with a mix of Middle Eastern and western music, and a feature on Martial Arts sportswoman at 1900 (Alan Roe, Teddington, UK, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Still inaudible here when checked after 2000 (gh, OK, DXLD) ** KYRGYZSTAN. 4050, R. Rossii relay, Bishkek, 0800, fair noon-time reception with two M announcers. They continued talking over the 0800 pips, and then a Rossii jingle that I have heard on the Pet/Kam Rossii LW and SW outlets that are regulars in Hawaii. This followed by M in Russian. Feb. 29. SW-11 (Brock Whaley, Kandahar, AFGHANISTAN for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBYA. 11600, Radio Télévision Libye - Radio Libye, *1756-1803*, Tentative. Sign on with instrumental music. French talk. Short breaks of instrumental music. No ID heard. Fair. Feb 25 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** LITHUANIA [and non]. Re 12-06: Re; VILNIUS, JANUARY 13, 1991 REMEMBERED... (and some other items you quoted from (Jonathan Murphy, UK? Making Contact, Feb World DX Club Contact via DXLD) Jonathan is in the Republic of Ireland (Mike Barraclough, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MADAGASCAR. 5010.18, RTV Malagasy Antananarivo in vernacular, 1921-2010 2/18; W / M talking with brief music breaks at times (not much clear); talk over Afropop chant, non stop Afropop songs from 2004; heard in USB with Nir 12, fast QSB, strong rustle (muffled with nir 12) & crackles QRN at times, from 1957 strong QRM voice splats at times in USB, so heard in LSB, almost fair/poor (Giovanni Serra, Roma, Italy, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAYSIA. 6050.02, Voice of Malaysia. During a portion of my Feb 3 reception of VOM, I heard the announcer DJ Ray (Ray Nagarajan ). His response to my emailed reception report: "Thank you very much. Truly appreciate your effort and time listening to the Voice Of Malaysia. I'm so glad to hear myself on the shortwave radio which you have posted on the mp3. Thank you Ron. I will send you the QSL to your mentioned address. Sorry for the late reply. Attached below here is the rtm website where you can get to listen us. http://www.rtm.gov.my/filtering/vom.php Keep in touch and spread the love. Your Friend. Ray" (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, Feb 25, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Thanks for the link to streaming VOM audio - Listening here to "Melodies and Memories" at the end of the English language broadcast at 1557 UT before the service switched to Malaysian. Gave the contact e-mail address as vom @ rtm.gov.my (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA, NASWA yg via DXLD) ** MALAYSIA [and non]. 6050-, very poor Feb 28 at 1423 past 1433, music and some talk with intonation suitable for Indo-Malay, presumed RTM Kajang. Trying to pinpoint the frequency with BFO, compared it to WEWN 12050 and decided it was on the hi side of 6050, but then stepping 5 kHz compared to several other 6 MHz signals, decided it was on the lo side, which is usual. So WEWN must also be off-frequency. As always, that has the squishy spurs to confuse things too. Confirming that same Malaysia site was propagating, but with ten times the power, the usual het on 5965v with CRI (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALI. 5995, RTV Maliènne, Bamako, 0749-0759* Feb 22, French; M announcer w/ continuous talk; bit of IS & pulled the plug; fair; quickly t/in to 9635 w/ IS at *0801 followed by same M announcer w/ FF talk thru 0809 t/out; poor (Scott R. Barbour Jr. Intervale, N.H. USA, NRD-545, MLB-1, 200' Beverages, 60m dipole, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9635, RTVM, *0757-0813, sign on with French talk. Off the air at 0758. Back on the air at 0759 with French announcements. Flute IS at 0759:30 and French ID announcements. Off the air again at 0800 and back on the air at 0801 with vernacular talk. Off the air again at 0804 and back on the air at 0805. Off the air at 0811 and back on the air at 0813. Low modulation and obvious transmitter problems. Feb 29 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** MALI. 15505, Feb 26 at 2234, open carrier with flutter, still at 2243 and until 2257:40*. Roughly same level as Australia but modulating on 15515. Never any modulation on 15505, presumed ``Bamako II`` relay of CRI in Mandarin as per Aoki, 100 kW at 85 degrees, 2230- 2257; EiBi and HFCC show 2230-2300. This must be the most dysfunxional of all CRI relay sites. And why would there be a single semihour broadcast when all other CRI Mandarin broadcasts are in 1-hour blox? Except: one sesquihour from 2230 on unchecked 11975 as in WRTH 2012 where 15505 is not listed (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALTA. Extinct Site: MALTA Cyclops Photos Newish imagery of the former DW/Radio Mediterranean site at Cyclops Xorb I-Ghagin Point. http://www.panoramio.com/photo/22219143 http://www.panoramio.com/photo/22219006 http://www.panoramio.com/photo/22218839 Does anyone in the group have an images of this transmitter site when it was in operation - pre 1996? (Ian Baxter, Feb 25, shortwavesites yg via DXLD) You can find some pictures here, Ian: http://www.waniewski.de/MW/Malta/id47.htm http://www.waniewski.de/MW/Malta/id46.htm http://www.waniewski.de/MW/Malta/index.htm (Ary Boender, Netherlands, ibid.) ** MAURITANIA. 7245, 26/2 0304, Radio Mauritanie, Arabic, talks, good (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italia, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) So there is one date is was on all-night (gh, DXLD) 7245, Feb 28 at 0626, IGIM is on and chanting, good signal tonight, and adjacent VATICAN 7250 never showed up to compete with another Abrahamic religion. 7245, Feb 29 at 0630, IGIM is not yet on, but at next check 0641, it is, marred by QRhaM blowing into mike with rude noises vs Arabic YL and music, eclipsing much weaker Vatican 7250 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: 7245, Radio Mauritanie, *0639-0650, abrupt sign on with Arabic talk. Short breaks of Arabic music. Local chants at 0642. Good. Feb 29 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** MEXICO. 1120, XETQE, La Morena, Tenosique, Tabasco. 1159-1215 February 26, 2012. Anthem from 1200, male briefly, then female DJ, very soft Spanish vocals, "La Morena" slogan by same female at 1214. Fair, with a second Mexican very poor underneath with anthem from 1201. Hoping for XERUY Radio Universidad, Mérida, Yucatán on that one, but too weak for any more copy. And a bit squeezed by power up from local 1110 at 1215 (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO [and non]. Today has been a good day DXing here. I logged five new stations bringing my ultralight radio total to 972. They were WRTO 1200, WMPS 1210, KTRC 1260, KPRV 1280 and XEAP 1290. It took me four days of listening to ID XEAP. Finally this morning I heard "Romántica Doce Noventa". It's Mexican #169 on an ULR. Thanks and take care (Richard Allen, Perry OK, Feb 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 1550, Feb 26 at 0858 tune-in, ``La Rancherita`` ID and such music, 0900 fading for TOH ID, but I do hear ``Tamaulipas, México`` mentioned, so it`s surely XENU, Nuevo Laredo, the only Tamaulipan on 1550 with that slogan, listed 250 watts night. One of the extra benefits of a DX test is forcing one to log other stations as well, in this case along with KRPI inserting Morse code IDs every pentaminute for a semihour (see USA). If any other programming could be made out, it was ranchera music, but never peaked as much as at the outset, generally just a jumble of signals. Recorded while I slept with longwire antenna unfavorably east-west (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 1700, Feb 25 at 1258 UT, orchestral Mexican NA is playing, 1259 ESPN promos in English, ``ESPN Radio 1700`` no callsign ID heard, but no doubt XEPE Tecate BCN, for all intents and purposes a San Diego station for Alta California Sur, no doubt the least interesting of all border stations (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO [and non]. 6010, Feb 25 at 1253, R. Rossii, Pet/Kam on new frequency with harp music and no trace of XEOI; and at 1340 no nothing on 6010. Julián Santiago Díez de Bonilla, DF, responded Feb 24 to our query, that it is off: ``Hola Glenn: por el momento está fuera del aire XEOI. Saludos, Julián`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MONGOLIA. 12085, V of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar. Good strength signal badly degraded by faulty audio on both speech in English and musical items. Speech virtually unreadable 1041, 11/2 (Charles Jones, Castle Hill NSW (Sony 2001D with 7m. vertical antenna, March Australian DX News via DXLD) 12085, *1029-1058* 20/2, IS followed by ID in Mongolian and then ID in English. News followed by mailbag program. Poor to fair. Also, noted next morning (Feb 21) at 1024 with close of Mandarin Service before English Service commenced at 1030. Seems mailbag program follows news every day. Much better today with everything audible. Fair (Rich D'Angelo, Ten-Tec RX-340, Drake R-8B and an Eton E1, 500-foot wire essentially north for the RX-340 and 250-foot wire essentially northeast for the R-8B and a whip antenna for the E1, Gifford Pinchot PA DX-pedition, March Australian DX News via DXLD) ** MONGOLIA [non]. 9750, Voice of Mongolia. In Russian via Voice of Russia in Russian facilities, // 7225, was noted from 0142 to 0152 on 12/2. Good time for listeners in Europe – in Moscow is 05:42 morning, by us 03:42 The program of VOM is on the air on Sun and Mon from 0142 (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria (Sony ICF2001D and ant Folded Marconi 16 m long), March Australia DX News via DXLD) ** MOROCCO. Today I woke to an overnight response from Wolfgang Büschel about Nador 171. I attach the following text: "> Scope of works includes renewal of three pylons and installation of two new 800 kW LW transmitters type S7HP. The transmitters replace equipment which has been in operation for 30 years. I guess has something to do with r e f u r b i s h i n g the three pylons replacement work at Nador site by Thomson engineers. So, in summer 2009 and 2010 the SW signal of 9575 was also very poor, according reserve mast unit in use then?? And now in late 2011 the LW 171 kHz could be use only a s i n g l e mast with non-directional pattern TEMPORARILY and reduced power during refurbishing work for some weeks. Yesterday before I checked the remote Perseus rx unit at Greece place, ... and the RMedit Int 171 kHz signal was much, much stronger than all three 153, 198, 252 kHz Algerian stations, as well as weaker MRC 207, RMC 216, France 162, RTL 234. > The three masts point at 346 degrees. Carlos suggested that the azimuth is probably at 90 degrees from this array i.e. at 76 degrees. ITU Genève figures show LW 171 is directed in 87 degrees, and minor in 242 degrees. These fed into the central mast, and reflected by the northern and southern mast. Between Google Earth measure figures 346 degrees and ITU figure 357 mast direction is a difference of 10 degrees! 73 wolfy (Wolfgang Büschel, via Dan Goldfarb, mwmasts yg via DXLD) Appended was a long history of discussion about LW/MW/SW sites in Morocco from BC-DX and DXLD (gh) ** MYANMAR. 7110, Myanma Radio (or whatever we're calling it today) Naypyidaw, 1109-1136 Feb 20, listed Burmese; Continuous format of W announcer between indigenous ballads; different W announcer at 1131 with repetitive, sing-song like talk thru tune/out; fair in ECCS-USB (Scott R. Barbour Jr. Intervale, N.H. USA, NRD-545, MLB-1, 200' Beverages, 60m dipole, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I don`t think Naypyidaw as site for 7110 has been confirmed at all tho quite possible, carrying regional services for and/or from Rakhine and Thazin which would be better served from a distance due to skip zone (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) 7110, 23/2 0119, Myanmar Radio, slow songs and few talks, weak but clear (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italia, l'Excalibr Pro & antenna T2FD 15 m long, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7110, Myanmar Radio, 1105-1130, local pop music. Vernacular talk. Weak but readable. Heard only a threshold signal when checked earlier around 1040. Feb 24 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) 7110, Thazin Radio (presumed), 1331*, Feb 29. In vernacular and playing EZL pop songs before final indigenous theme music and off. Regarding my 5985.85, Myanmar Radio reception from 1112 to 1146 on Feb 19: thanks to the very kind assistance of John Herkimer (NY), I received the following confirmation: "Dear Mr. Ron Howard, I am very glad to know your great interest on our station, Myanmar Radio. The programmes you received are from our station, I surely confirm that. That was our evening transmission of Myanmar Program exactly. There are evening news programme and songs request by phone from audiences programme. I really appreciate your letter and thank you for your intention on us. Now I send you our QSL and programme schedule. I hope you can enjoy. Sincerely yours, Ms. Htike Htike, one of our members from Myanmar Radio" In all the decades of my listening to Myanmar, I never QSLed them, so this is highly prized! (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. Dutch-based KBC Radio to broadcast daily in April Dutch-based KBC Radio says on its website: “The Mighty 6095 will soon broadcast daily for a couple of hours in April”. Currently the station is on the air every Sat/Sun at 0900-1600 UTC on 6095 kHz. (Source: http://kbcradio.eu )(February 27th, 2012 - 14:55 UTC by Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog via DXLD) ** NEWFOUNDLAND [and non]. 6160, 23/2 0146, three transmitters mixing on the same frequency, sometimes audible some English CKZN St. John's. Measured carriers: 6159.98 - 6160 - 6160.06. 6160, 23/2 0455 CKZN relay CBC Radio One, talks and news on the hour, fair (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italia, l'Excalibr Pro & antenna T2FD 15 m long, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) So which frequency was CKZN? (gh) ** NEWFOUNDLAND. A sort of sub-hobby of mine is listening to, and collecting National Anthems. In 1975, I visited Newfoundland. Of course, I HAD to take my radio. I heard for the first time 'Ode to Newfoundland.' Can you tell me if this was the official Anthem of NFLD before it joined Canada, in 1949, I think. Thanks to the internet, I can hear CBN, and some other NL stations. CBN starts its local morning programming by playing 'Ode to NL.' It seems that each morning, they play a different version. Since I must get up at 3:00 AM Central to hear this, it is hard for me to hear it often. I would like to know how many different versions they play, and, i.e., do they always play the same version on Wednesdays. It would seem to me that the best way to find this out would be to have a relevant e-mail address to someone in St. Johns. If either of you can help me with these odd questions, I'll be most grateful." (Tim Hendel, AL, Helping Hand, Feb ODXA Listening In via DXLD) Now Fred Waterer responded to both Tim and myself with "Ode to Newfoundland was indeed the National Anthem as it were of Newfoundland. I was reading the Wikipedia page about it which seems quite informative...." As Fred also stated, unfortunately he was trying to read much of this when there was the one-day Wikipedia shutdown because of the SOPA legislation that was going to be voted upon by the US Government (they shelved the legislation for the time being, by the way). Fred then sent us an article from the CBC St. Johns website from September 13, 2011, entitled "Walking with the Ode To Newfoundland". If you would like a copy of this article and cannot find it online, again, drop me a line and I'll send it off to you (Joe Robinson, Helping Hand, Feb ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. 15720, RNZI, Rangitaiki. In English. DX Programme by B. Clark followed by a survey of E-mails presented by Mira O [sic] and A. Sainsbury from 1133 to 1148 on 6/2. In their page in Internet (already for many years) still is given Mailbox or Spectrum programme on Fridays from 2035 but may be it is mistaken (in “ Schedules”) and absent in “Programmes“ (here at 0730, 1130, 1330, 1630, on Mon and 0330 on Tue only (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria (Sony ICF2001D and ant Folded Marconi 16 m long), March Australia DX News via DXLD) Would not be the only inaccurate, outdated info on their website. I have been meaning to try to confirm the Friday 2035 airing, by livestream if not SW, but time is inconvenient (gh, DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. 5950, R New Zealand with English News, tail item was about sports, then a programme promo for domestic service programming that was cut off mid sentence into Pacific news program designed for external use. Items re flooding in Fiji & Tonga, Denge Fever & other water-born diseases that have sprung up as a result & the flood damage to crops & towns. I have not heard about this before! In well 34+4+4+4 1304-1314 19/Feb (Kenneth Vito Zichi, Port Hope MI, MARE Tipsheet Feb 24 via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. 13725-13730-13735, Feb 26 at 0636, RNZI`s DRM noise is back here after several nights on wrong 11670-11675-11680 during this hour; I checked 13 MHz after finding 11675 was missing, while 11725 AM was in well, with YL discussing reincarnation (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Subject: DRM on wrong frequency? Hi Adrian, I hope you don`t think I am picking on you. Anomalies from lots of stations catch my attention and are reported since they are out of the ordinary, i.e. newsworthy. 73, (Glenn to Adrian Sainsbury, via DXLD) Viz.: NEW ZEALAND. 11670-11675-11680, Feb 21 at 0654, DRM noise noticed here after finding good signal from RNZI in AM on 11725. Usually the // DRM at this hour is 13725-13730-13735. RNZI`s own schedule shows: 0459-0758 11725 AM 13730 DRM Pacific Daily HFCC shows 11675 `N` DRM is also registered (as an alternate?) at 05- 07, so is this a change or a mistake? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST, to Adrian Sainsbury 22 Feb via DXLD) Hi Glen[n], Nothing unusual - daily we target Tonga on 11675 (DRM) 0650-0758 UT. Regards (Adrian Sainsbury, RNZI, Feb 27, to gh via DXLD) Hi Adrian, That`s what your how to listen page shows now, but not when I first heard 11675 DRM at 0654/0653 on Feb 21-22 and I copied at the time, ``0459-0758 11725 AM 13730 DRM Pacific Daily`` So there was no reason to expect a DRM frequency change at 0651 or so. It would be most helpful if when you do update the how-to-listen schedule, you would put the date of the latest change rather than leaving it effective from 30 October (in the case of B-11). 73, (Glenn to Adrian, via DXLD) The old web page design does not allow for updates from a current date. Regards (Adrian, ibid.) Here are the RNZI schedule changes posted to their website today: Base file: B11_RNZI_120226.txt Compared file: B11_RNZI_120227.txt 2c2,3 0459-0758 11725 AM 13730 DRM Pacific Daily --- 0459-0650 11725 AM 13730 DRM Pacific Daily 0651-0758 11725 AM 11675 DRM Tonga Daily 7,8c8,10 1551-1750 9765 AM 9890 DRM Cook Islands, Samoa Daily 1751-1850 11725 AM 11675 DRM Cook Islands,Samoa, Niue, Tonga Daily --- 1551-1750 9765 AM 7285 DRM Cook Islands, Samoa Daily 1751-1836 11725 AM 9890 DRM Cook Islands, Samoa, Niue, Tonga Daily 1837-1850 11725 AM 11675 DRM Samoa Daily (DanFerguson, SC, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) So the website schedule had just been belatedly updated Feb 27 as I was corresponding with Adrian about the disparity (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) Subject: Wrong frequencies again; comments? Re my Feb 11 report of RNZI on 15720 instead of 5950 at 1450-1550: Hi Glen[n], I can confirm there was a computer failure on Feb 11 and the 15720 11-13 UT transmission continued on. This went undetected as the fault occurred at 0200 local time. Around dawn a replacement computer was brought into service with a few glitches as systems were checked. Regards (Adrian Sainsbury, Feb 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Frequency change of RNZI to Samoa and Cook Islands from Feb. 27: 1551-1750 NF 7285 RAN 050 kW / 000 deg DRM mode, ex 9890 // 9765 AM mode (DX Re Mix News 29 Feb via DXLD) ** NICARAGUA. UNIDENTIFIED. This morning, 2/22/12, I heard an unidentified station on 720 kHz. A log of program contents are as follows (times are UT): 1037 Choral music in what sounded like Latin by a women's chorus. 1055 Woman speaking in either Latin or Spanish with choral music in background. 1059 Choral music. 1103 Woman speaking in Spanish, possibly included a station ID. 1104 Man speaking in Spanish. 1119 The signal faded away under QRM. 1122 Latin American music with native flute (música con flauta). 1129 The signal faded away under QRM. 1138 Woman speaking in Spanish. 1145 Choral music by women's chorus. 1149 Faded out under XEDE. Does anyone know what I was hearing? It sounded like religious programming. It was difficult to understand much of what was being spoken because of QRM from WGN and XEDE. The signal seemed to be strongest at 120 to 130 degrees, but this was also where the QRM was at a minimum. Receiver was a Sony SRF-T615. Thank you for your assistance (Richard Allen, 36?22'51"N / 97?26'35"W (near Perry OK USA), IRCA via DXLD) How about Radio Católica, Managua, Nicaragua, YNA3RC, 25 kW as in WRTH? Sign-on at 1000. 73, (Glenn Hauser, Enid, ibid.) Glenn: Radio Católica, Managua, Nicaragua, is one of the stations I've considered. The program of choral music was very similar to those heard on ETWN stations. I replayed the recording a couple times but couldn't pull an ID through the noise. The station wasn't audible this morning (Richard Allen, Perry OK, Feb 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I agree they would be a prime suspect. I hear them quite frequently in the late evening here if I null WGN. The next time you hear similar programming on 720, try checking their streaming audio at: http://www.radiocatolica.org/rcn/ (Barry McLarnon VE3JF Ottawa, ON, IRCA via DXLD) Glenn: After listening this morning, I'm sure the station is YNRC. It was heard this morning (2/24/12) at 1111-1200 UT with a better signal on my barefoot Sony SRF-T615. The final fade out coincided with the Managua sunrise at 1203 UT. XEDE, Satillo, broadcast an abbreviated himno nacional at 1200-1202. KSAH added into the QRM mix from 1208. I'm off to Enid now. Thanks (Richard Allen, WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGER. 9704.99, LV du Sahel, 2101-2301*, threshold signal heard when Ethiopia signed off at 2101. Improved to a weak but readable level by 2140. Vernacular and French talk. Wide variety of Indigenous music, Afro-pop and Euro-pop music. Qur`an at 2255:40. Short 20 second flute IS at 2259 followed by National Anthem. Some adjacent channel splatter. Feb 23 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) 9705, La Voix du Sahel (tentative); 2152-2209+, 24-Feb; M in French with talk over music -- mix of flutes, drums & vocals -- all not particularly African. Tentative LVdS ID at 2207. SIO=342 with minor splash from 9710 (Harold Frodge, Michigan Area Radio Enthusiasts DXpedition, Brighton MI, Drake R8B + 500 ft. NEish unterminated beverage + 85 ft. TTFD, logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA. 7275, Feb 28 at 0629 as TUNISIA goes off, a weaker but respectable signal is left on exactly the same frequency, but it`s just barely modulated, presumably FRCN Abuja as it continues to bury itself under Sfax most of the time. Since it`s zero-beat and JBM, hard to tell it is there while IWT is on. 15120, Feb 23 at 1525, not even a carrier detectable from anything or VON, which others occasionally log during this English hour. Is it only sporadically operative? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. Pirate logs & QSLs for past week (2/18-2/24) Really great week for listening! Not only were there a lot of pirates on last weekend, but I heard a few stations for the first time (MRI, Bogusman, Radio Tropiq, & Night Train), one station I hadn't heard in a decade or longer (WAZU), one that was reported for the first time in about a year (WEAK). I heard a few other shows, too, but I don't have the program notes here & I want to get these logs out…the other stations were Wolverine Radio, MAC, & more shows from Radio Ga-Ga. My apologies to these stations for not getting complete reports out! Also, I received all 7 QSLs and eQSLs in the past two weeks. About half of these arrived after a long time, so I'm really happy to have received them. Logs: Big Boobs Radio: 6925, 2/17, 2304* Just turned on the radio, heard a quick computer ID, then a bit of country music, & off. Probably about a total of 10-15 seconds. Nice signal. Not sure if it was USB or AM (and I was fortunate enough to have it tuned right on the carrier)? Please QSL Metro Radio International: 6925, 2/19, 2315-0000+? Sex Pistols "Pretty Vacant" & Devo "Uncontrollable Urge"at 2321, talking about Devo & this is a bootleg. Mentioned that Devo will be playing at SXSW and (also?) in Toronto. E-mail from DJ Formaldehyde said that QSLs will be going out next week. Not sure, but I think this might have only been 4 or 5 watts Night Train: 6925-USB, 2/18, 0224-0244 Very weak, seemed to go off and on along with some interference from pescadores. I couldn't copy any announcements, but it was IDed by Sea Lord as "Night Train." I listened to his recording and the ID is clear, but it's not copyable on mine Radio Ga-Ga: 6925-USB, 2/18, 1335-1356* Very nice sig this morning, peaking at S7 "This has been a live broadcast from Zipper Lake via Radio Ga-Ga. Thanks for tuning in" and off at 1356 Rave On Radio: 6925-USB, 2/18, 1358-1458 (approx) Really old country music. Decent sig, but mostly a few S units down from that of Radio Ga-Ga a few min earlier. After the show was over, I received an e-QSL from the station & a list of all of the songs aired in this show. All were recorded between 1927 & 1929! Thanks! WAZU: 6929, 2/18, 2145-2205* Really nice signal here. Tuned in while hearing Fearless Fred talking, then into Ted Nugent "Dog Eat Dog." Modulation sounded low on the R8, but really good on the SX-96. Great to hear again! WEAK Radio: 6925, 2/18, 0010-0023* Program for 1st anniversary of the FCC closure of WEAK Radio. Caught the end of Diarrhea Jones ad, talking about his dependable pants. Garage rock, Vox ad, ending talk with Peter Ivers, then funeral dirge. WEAK IDs throughout. Really great combo of entertaining show & huge signal...about S9+20 here. Thanks much to all involved! QSLs: Frederic Chopin Radio: 6940 f/d Chopin eQSL in 10 months for e-mailed report & MP3 file Rave On Radio: 6925U f/d 1927-1929 country music eQSL in about an hour for a logging on FRN or HFU Shrunken Head Radio: [WTFK?] f/d glossy logo QSL in a year for a follow-up report. Via WBNY Relay Service. Extremely cool and well-done and yet creepy/gross. V/s Head Shrinker Toynbee Radio: 6925 date/frequency Toynbee Tile eQSL in 11 months for a follow up WAZU: 6929 kHz f/d eQSL with the homebrew Franken-LuLu transmitter & bottles of Mickey's lager. v/s Fearless Fred. 20 watts. In about 12 hours for e-mailed report. Also received a hardcopy color letter QSL with a nice handwritten note in about 5 days (Andrew Yoder, PO Box 109, Blue Ridge Summit, PA 17214, Drake R8 with inverted V cut for 6300 kHz, Hallicrafters SX-96 with a 30' random wire vertical, Hammarlund HQ-180C with 15' random wire, Cumbre DX via DXLD) See also EUROPE ** NORTH AMERICA. [Pirates]. 6925, Radio Ronin Shortwave, *0121-0130, sign on with IS of Rolling Stones “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction". ID at 0124 and into pop music. Strong. Feb 25. 6935 USB, Radio Ga Ga, 0000-0010, pop music. ID. Fair. Feb 25. 6925 USB, WEAK Radio rebroadcast by Renegade Radio, 0240-0250, ID. Punk rock music. Fair to good. Feb 25. 6925.06, WBNY, *0615-0625, sign on with piano IS. ID. Talk by Commander Bunny. Weak. Feb 26 (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg, PA, USA, Icom IC-7600, two 100 foot longwires, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. 6925+ AM, Feb 26 at 0627, pirate Commander Bunny with his sidekick discussing handguns, or substitute weapon a good hard pencil; kept mentioning monkeys and The Rodent Revolution; ID in passing as WBNY, dialog continuing that `HD` radio is monkey-joke. Deep fades, but good on peaks to S9+18. I hit this as I was tuning down MHz by MHz from 11925 to 5925 to compare the off-frequency of Bandeirantes with France, and decided Band and Bunny were both slightly on the hi side of their frequencies, but not by exactly the same amount. Gone at next check 0645. As I was setting up to record the KRPI DX test, I was distracted by WBNY pirate on 6925+ AM, so also recorded Commander Bunny at 0629 Feb 26, about war with Iran, rodent revolution, HD radio a monkey-joke, as in my yesterday`s report: http://www.w4uvh.net/WBNY.rm (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. LOG: US-Pirat 6925 kHz USB 0120 UT O=3 (near4), "Wolverine Radio", many IDs (Roger, UT Feb 26, RX-OTH: Halle/S. Central Germany, Satellit 650sdr / Dipol for 43mB, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi, Roger. This fellow puts out very well right across the continent. I was listening the same time as you on the west coast of NA at very good levels (Walt (Victoria, BC) Salmaniw, ibid.) Shortly before 0200 UT "Wolverine Radio" sent a SSTV signal - maybe I can still decode it afterwards (I made a recording). At about 0200 then QRT. From 0204 then another station in AM, now came just an ID: "This is Captain Morgan on shortwave" - the signal is much weaker. But now I can hear it on 6925 kHz in LSB (QRM of IMR 6930 kHz - Irish Music Radio ....) "Captain Morgan" is not stable - the frequency drifts slightly downward. Signal O=2-3. RE: LOG 6925 kHz "Wolverine Radio" with SSTV --- decoded picture from audio-recording this night [black theme] at 0200 UT: http://www.rhci-online.de/2012-02-26_Wolverine_Radio_6925kHzSSTV.gif and one picture from last year (summer 2011, [alcohol theme] http://www.rhci-online.de/wolverine_radio_sstv_6925usb_mmsstv.jpg (Roger, Germany, ibid.) Thanks again, Roger. Yep, heard the same weak pirate after Wolverine's sign-off. For whatever reason, I'm having trouble decoding the SSTV with the MixW program I have, even though the level was strong (Walt Salmaniw, ibid.) ** NORTH AMERICA. [Pirate]. 1710, Undercover Radio, 0314-0337*, Dr Benway radio-drama about aliens and ghosts. Sound effects. Lite music. IDs. Email address. Merlin, Ontario mail drop. Weak but readable. “Broadcasting from the middle of nowhere“. Shoutout to the Michigan DXpedition team. Feb 26 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** NORTH AMERICA. [Pirates]. 6925 USB, Undercover Radio, 0404-0430+, lite music. IDs. Contact information. Shoutout to MARE DX-pedition group. Talk by Dr Benway. Said this was their First Anniversary Show featuring highlights of 2003 season. Good signal. Feb 26. 6925 USB, Radio Ga Ga, *0022-0050, sign on with 4 Non-Blondes mx. ID. Pop music by Beatles, Bob Dylan, Billy Joel and others. Fair. Feb 26. 6925 USB, Wolverine Radio, 0114-0120, oldies music. ID. Really booming in. Feb 26. 6925, Radio Ronin Shortwave, 2335-2345, music by Steve Miller Band. IDs. Strong. Feb 28 (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg, PA, USA, Icom IC- 7600, two 100 foot longwires, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. RIP KIRK ALLEN, Longtime ULR Member Remembered Hello Everyone: It is with a saddened Heart that I write this email informing The ULR and RADIO Community in general of the Passing of my Longtime Friend and DX Buddy, Kirk Allen of Ponca City, Oklahoma. According to the Obituary, which is attached in this message, Kirk Passed away on Feb/19/2012 at home. I am not aware of the details at this time. Kirk and I go a long way back into the Early 1980's when I first knew of Kirk as a fellow member of the old "Numero Uno" and "Fine Tuning" Radio Clubs. Kirk was also a Good Friend of the late ULR Group Co- Founder, John Bryant of Stillwater, Oklahoma and Richard Allen of Perry, Oklahoma. [and of gh!] Kirk was very active on the ULR Group and was an inspiration to us all with his Enthusiasm towards the ULR Hobby. Kirk had logged just under 900 Stations with his ULR Radios, and specialized in DXing LATIN Stations. Kirk also had a great Interest in Short Wave Radio and was a Leading DX'er in "Indonesian Regional Stations" back in the 1980's and 90's and had Heard and Verified many Hard to hear Low Powered Indonesians!! Kirk also had a fond spot for "PIRATE RADIO" and was the founder of one of the most Famous USA Shortwave Pirate Stations..." The Voice of Laryngitis". This was one of the FIRST PIRATE stations I ever logged back in the early 1980's. Everything Kirk did in the Radio Hobby was performed with Gusto....and I am one DXer who is happy to have been a RADIO BUDDY of his. I never met Kirk in Person, but through the years admired his radio artistry. I had not heard from Kirk in about 2 weeks, and it is a real shock to now find out why. The ULR GROUP I'm sure remembers Kirk's many Loggings and his wry sense of Humour in his Postings. Kirk, you will be missed... and say hi to our old buddy John when you bump into him!! If there's a DX Heaven....it just got a lot richer! http://www.poncacitynews.com/obits/Kirk-Stanley-Allen Regards. ROB VA3SW (Robert S. Ross, London, Ontario CANADA, ODXA yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DXLD) Viz., with portrait: Kirk Stanley Allen 2/23/2012 Kirk Stanley Allen, longtime resident of Ponca City, passed away Sunday, Feb. 19, 2012, at his home. He was 55. Kirk was born April 6, 1956, in Emporia, Kan., the son of Kerns Allen and Betty Young Allen. He was a graduate of Ponca City High School and had earned an associate degree from Northern Oklahoma College, Tonkawa. He was currently employed with Mertz Manufacturing of Ponca City. He was a member of Albright United Methodist Church. His enjoyments included the outdoors, fishing and short-wave radio communications around the world. He is survived by his son, Michael Allen and wife Jennifer, of Edmond; one brother, Tim Allen and wife Mary, of Moore; and three grandchildren, Corbin, Caden and Haley, all of Edmond. He was preceded in death by his parents and one grandson, Hunter Allen. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, at Albright United Methodist Church with Pastor Scott Spencer presiding. Arrangements are under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel. Memorial contributions may be made to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, for Leukemia and Lymphoma Research, 825 NE 13th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73104. Mr. Allen’s online guestbook may be signed at http://www.gracememorialchapel.net (via WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DXLD) This also comes as quite a shock to me; Kirk had recently been sending me mainly his Mexican MW logs, always with very friendly comments. I had not seen him recently, but met him years ago in OK DX get- togethers (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. OldTime Radio Theater on KCFO 970 --- Another nugget from radio.info.com: Long-time Tulsa radio personality Joe Riddle will be moving his Sunday evening "Old Time Radio Theater" from 99.5 FM to KCFO-970, beginning this Sunday 2/26 and expanding to 3 hours (from 6 - 9pm Central.) This should be very unique identifiable programming around SSS time on Sundays for those of you that need KCFO. Their 2.5 kW day pattern has major lobes to the NW, NE, E and SE and the 1 kW night pattern has major lobes to the NW, SE and SW of Tulsa (Bruce Winkelman AA5CO, Tulsa, OK, Feb 23, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. 6520, Feb 28 at 0636, ESPN sports talk // and synchro with local KCRC-1390, but this is not a harmonic. Math works for 4 x 1390 = 5560 plus KGWA-960 = 6520. I was also hearing a local mix on 7580 Feb 26 at 2057 which disappeared before I could tell whether it was from KCRC-1390 or KGWA- 960, also not a simple harmonic. FYI/FMI only; these may be receiver- produced or more likely re-radiation from some metal struxures in the KGWA-KCRC-WOR HQ area. We also get various weak combinations on 2350, 2780, 2880, 3310, 3740, 4170, 6950, some of which are true harmonix (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN. 756 kHz, PBC. Quetta. 0430 Feb. 25. This station has a real modulation problem. It sounds like a stereo signal wired out of phase. Only sibilant sounds come through. Almost nothing on the center carrier. Plenty of occasional sideband splatter. Is anyone listening? Is there an air monitor? I guess no and no. It’s been like this for two weeks. Nice strong carrier signal. Daytime ground wave 100 kW at 107 miles distance. TRF (Brock Whaley, Kandahar, Afghanistan for DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also AFGHANISTAN [and non] 1134 kHz, PBC Quetta. 0445 Feb. 25. Fair with male announcer and what I am learning is Pakistani traditional music. Certainly not pops, which is also aired. Not parallel the mess on 756. Daytime ground wave 100 kW at 107 miles distance. TRF (Brock Whaley, Kandahar, Afghanistan for DX LISTENING DIGEST) 981 kHz, PBC Turbat. I continue to monitor this, but nothing heard day or night. I’ve checked for a week. At 100 kW it should be audible on ground wave, and strong in the evening. TRF (Brock Whaley, Kandahar, Afghanistan, Feb 28 for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN. 11600, R. Pakistan, 0144 UT, Presumed to be R. Pakistan with Urdu vocals. Low modulation only audible thanks to Perseus noise reduction. 0158 announcement by OM. Signal varied above and below audibility. Music bumper at 0159:40, into possible news headlines at TOH. Pulled plug at 0212. Checked 2/25 & 2/26, but not a trace 24 Feb, (Jerry Strawman, Des Moines, Iowa, Perseus SDR, Wellbrook Loop, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) 15725, Radio Pakistan at 0600 with time pips and ID as “Radio Pakistan External Service” then news. Fair Jan 27 (Victor Goonetilleke Pillyandala [sic], SRI LANKA Perseus SDR and K9AY, Your Reports, March ODXA Listening In via DXLD) And it what language was the news? Presumably Urdu, tho they stick in English bits at other times, i.e. per WRTH at 0904 and 1100 during the next Urdu transmission to Europe rather than Mideast, also on 15725 (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** PAKISTAN. RADIO PAKISTAN LAUNCHES NEW SERVICE FOR US ISLAMABAD: Radio Pakistan has launched a new service for Pakistanis living in the United States to listen to its programmes by dialing a local number. All programmes on FM 93, FM 94, FM 101, National Broadcasting Service (NBS) the current affairs channel of Radio Pakistan could now be listened to by dialing 832-280-0683, which is a local US telephone number. People living in the United States can either call this number from landline phones or from their mobiles. Radio Pakistan already streamlines [sic] its programmes over Internet, satellite and mobile phones, which can be listened to all over the world. The new service has been launched for people who have Internet or smart phones app. SOURCE: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012%5C02%5C21%5Cstory_21-2-2012_pg11_10 (Via Yimber Gaviria, Colombia, Feb 24, WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DXLD) Hrmph; never any SW to US. 832 area code is the ring around Houston TX; presumably toll charges will apply elsewhere (gh, DXLD) NEW TAX PROPOSAL TO KEEP RADIO PAKISTAN ON AIR In a bid to pull the ailing Radio Pakistan out of a deep financial crunch, a National Assembly standing committee has approved recommendations by the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) to collect 2% tax on every recharge from cellular phone users and a one- time fee on the purchase of new vehicles. Read the story from the Express Tribune http://tribune.com.pk/story/341030/revenue-generation-new-tax-proposal-to-keep-radio-pakistan-on-air/ (February 24th, 2012 - 11:54 UTC by Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 7325, Feb 28 at 1411, during CRI break, very poor signal with talk in unknown language, mostly YL, 1417 with a particular sense of urgency; presumably preaching from Wantok Radio Light, which used to run gospel music all night, but no music heard today. About our only chance for verifiable details would be recognizable tunes, if they keep a playlist, but no luck so far. Better than usual, but it will take superb conditions to make anything here out of this 1 kW pipsqueak (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. EL CHASQUI DX PFA – FEBRERO 2012 --- Amigos, Para su información, adjunto el Chasqui DX PFA Febrero 2012. Cabe indicar que por cuestiones de salud, no he realizado nuestro DX como hubiese querido. 128's Pedro -- Vivo en una casa muy pequeña, pero, sus ventanas se abren hacia un mundo muy grande [tagline] CQ, CQ, CQ, Aquí Pedro F. Arrunátegui para compartir algo con los que disfrutan y aman el DX latinoamericano, todas las horas son UTC, desde la tierra de los incas, les informo mediante este Quipus lo siguiente: 4974.75, Pacífico Radio, Lima, 22/02 2345-0010, 44444, programa religioso, ID “Por Pacífico Radio” 4824.48, R. La Voz de la Selva, Iquitos, 2/02 1115-1150, 33333, advs ODIFESA motosierra de banda ID “Muy buenos días, amigos, de la Voz de la Selva” 5120.00, R. Ondas del Sur Oriente, Quillabamba, 8/02 2250-2330, 33333, ads Mutual Cusco, ID “Por Radio Ondas del Sur Oriente” NOTA: antes los he reportado en la frecuencia de 5120.40. Transmiten en // con Radio Felicidad desde Lima, quien por momentos da su ID “Por Radio Felicidad (música romántica LA) y de inmediato se escucha el ID de Ondas del Sur Oriente. También indican 96.5 FM 6059.99, Aroma Café Radio, Pichanaki, 15/02 1355-1430, 44444, programa Aroma Noticia, ads Centro médico Virgen de Guadalupe, ID “106.9 FM Aroma Café Radio…” 6173.90, R. Tawuantisuyo, Cusco, 8/02 2335-0005, 44444, programa Contra punto regional, news, ID “Por Radio Tawuantisuyo, la expresión de los Andes, trasmitiendo desde Cusco, Perú” 9674.80, Pacífico Radio, Lima, 16/02 1410-1430, 44444, programa religioso, ads, Centro de Comunicaciones, Agua Viva, Casa de la Biblia, ID “Por Pacífico Radio 640 kHz, la señal de la tranquilidad…” // 640 AM La recepción la he efectuado del 31/01 al 22/02 en compañía de mi sabueso Icom IC R72 acompañado del Mizuho KX-3, una grabadora Alesis Palm Track, una antena de hilo largo de 15 metros y una antena loop. Muchos 128´s (Pedro F. Arrunátegui, Perú, Feb Chasqui DX, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also BOLIVIA, BRAZIL, COLOMBIA 6059.99, Aroma Café Radio; 6059.94, SRDA: see BRAZIL. In 12-07 we had a report of ACR on 6059.54, probably really SRDA (gh, DXLD) ** PHILIPPINES. Re Poro Point, 12-08: Glenn, Kai Ludwig has it mostly correct. The old antenna system was modified to allow tests with one of the pattern configurations on 1170 and the CEMCO megawatt transmitter retuned for 1170 for those tests. The 1143 operation had experienced considerable interference from the Taiwan Fisheries co- channel transmitter. Then, when the new antenna site slightly further out at the end of the point was constructed, it was designed for 1170 operation. It has only two patterns (Ben Dawson, WA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES. 17700, R. Pilipinas/VOP, 0214-0330*, Feb 25 (Saturday). The weekend edition without the weekday segments of “Dateline Malacañang” and “Mindanao Update”; instead had “Music from the Region” with music and facts about “Burma”; list of countries that recognize the name “Myanmar” and those that don’t; “Philippine Trivia”; segment about Manila tourism: “It’s More Fun In the Philippines”; NA and off; mostly fair (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15190, Radio Pilipinas; 1730-1741+, 25-Feb; M with sked to 1733+ W commentary; ID at 1739; presume in Tagalog with occasional English words (also sounds like Pidgin) SIO=1+52+, SSB helps (Harold Frodge, Michigan Area Radio Enthusiasts DXpedition, Brighton MI, Drake R8B + 500 ft. NEish unterminated beverage + 85 ft. TTFD, logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PRIDNESTROVYE. QSL: MOLDOVA (TRANSNISTRIA), Radio Pridnestrovie, 9665, full-data QSL page with map and photo of rotating antenna structure in 144 days for English airmail report and 2 IRCs. 73 (Al Muick, Whitehall PA USA, Feb 26, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PUERTO RICO. 1660, WGIT, Canóvanas, briefly at 0201 EDT 2/26 "Radio Gigante" then a mumble, then back up briefly with "...en Puerto Rico", in Spanish topping back and forth for a while. I have not heard this since about the time they signed on several years ago. Drake R8, 1500' Eastern beverage, term[inated] (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, KGED QSL Manager, IRCA via DXLD) This and some other logs in same report were in `EDT` --- so I have no idea what he meant; but nice that WGIT made it all the way to OR. PR is on EDT yearound except they call it AST (gh, DXLD) ** ROMANIA. Central News Bulletin in Romanian at 1600 on 01. Febr. 2012 observed in village located approx 100 km north of Sofia: ID “Radio Journal de Radio Romania” and from 1610 different programs; for example on 558 kHz, Radio Romania Actualitatsi, on 153 kHz Radio Antenna Shatelor, etc. At 1600: 153 1 756 1 1314 2 or 3 531 2 855 1 1323 1 558 1 909 synchro 1332 1 567 2 945 1 1404 1 603 3 or 4 1053 1 1530 synchro 630 synchro 1152 1 1593 2 or 3 711 1 1179 synchro 720 2 or 3 1197 1 1=one sound , 2,3,4=number of echo sounds , synchro= one sound but different programmes from 1610 UT. Rxs: “ Symphony 10”(9 tubes, Bulgarian made in 1963) plus loop ant 1x1 m and “Selena B215 “ (Latvian made in 70s) with rod ant. “Sony 2001D” – only to confirm the exact frequencies (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria, Feb DSWCI SW [sic] News via DXLD) ** ROMANIA. 153, Antena Satelor, Brasov. A few seconds of dead air leading to 0000, then pips, and three minutes of news. Mentioned Sarkozy and the word Danube also understood. Then into music with a deep baritone singing what sounded like a slow Broadway tune. Huge signal and all alone. 200 kW at 2,342 miles distance. Feb. 29. SW-11 (Brock Whaley, Kandahar, AFGHANISTAN for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ROMANIA [and non]. 7265, Feb 28 at 0626 vacant instead of RRI French from 0600; but at 0629, 7310 was on about to start RRI English, after BBC Ascension had finished its French on 7305. These RRI signals are generally weakening with the onset of spring and earlier sunrises, more light on the path (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ROMANIA. Feb 25, 15190 at 1620z, IRRS Brother Stair via Tiganeshti, 300 kW at 100 . According to HFCC the target is just about everything east of the Red Sea plus central and eastern Europe. I hope the antenna is not too directional but then I'm listening almost directly off the back so maybe it will work. Brother Stair is // 9990 but 15190 content lags 9990 by about 59 seconds (Jerry Lenamon, Waco, Texas, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. 7210.79v, 23/2 0220, Voice of Russia, in Spanish, just terrible modulation! Strong signal (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italia, l'Excalibr Pro & antenna T2FD 15 m long, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Like that for months; Moskva site, per Aoki (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Ever wondered what the people who bring you the programs from the Voice of Russia look like? There is a new page at the Voice of Russia website which has pictures of many of the staff members at the station. It's nice to put a face to the voices as it were. Links are also provided to some brief biographical material and also to recent programs that they have done. Nice touch! [including] Longtime Voice of Russia presenter Vasily Strelnikov. http://english.ruvr.ru/radio_broadcast/persons/ (Fred Waterer, Programming Matters, Feb ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** RUSSIA [and non]. 6010, Feb 23 at 0709, R. Rossii on new frequency from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, having made an abrupt surprise move from 6075 the day before as discovered by Ron Howard in California. Perhaps to get away from the Vatican clash on 6075, which inherited this frequency from DW --- tho the clash with DW never bothered RR. But now it`s curtains for Mexico and Colombia who already have plenty of QRM at other hours on 6010, as RR is surely using it for their full 17-13 UT span as 6075 was. Yes: shown as such in latest Aoki, Ron outpoints. At 0709 lo het probably from HJDH can be heard, and bits of Spanish too mixing with the music and Russian; meanwhile 6075 is clear for Vatican still audible in Italian. At 0713 I find 6010 // much stronger 7320 Magadan with Karen Carpenter song, 0714 Russian announcement and reklam. 6010 next checked at 1225 and there is RR again playing a song involving whistling, making me remember and lament the old ``Es Radio Mil`` whistle jingle I haven`t heard in ages and probably no longer in use. Not a trace of XEOI which even before this event, had been inaudible, and I again wonder if it`s on the air at all, or underpowered from nominal 1 kW, Julián? 6075 for many years has been the B-season frequency for RR, Pet/Kam, and 5930 in the A-seasons. What about A-12? They still plan to go to 5930, but who knows, may have another surprise in store for us. And what about the Russian army CW marker which had been playing sometimes on 6074 as RR signed off at 1300? Would it also migrate, to 6009? I was listening with BFO on 6010 at 1300 Feb 23, and after few- sex-late timesignal, RR carrier stayed on about a minute but no CW. Quickly retuned to 6074, and there it was still on the old frequency with tail end of V/CQ marker de 2MTL running a bit past 1301. It was never reported however, 1 kHz from the summer channel 5930 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Russian army CW callsign 2MTL on 6074 kHz at 1300, Feb 24. MP3 audio: http://www.box.com/s/2bouok7ni33f3ox22km1 Nice to have this in the clear for a change (Ron Howard, CA, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAIPAN. 9360, Feb 25 at 1335, Russian talk from R. Svoboda/Liberty has some modulation breakup on otherwise sufficient signal. BTW, CSPAN2`s Book TV this morning featured the incredible story of ``King Larry``, founder of DHL, etc., etc., half-hour video/audio: http://www.booktv.org/Program/13159/King+Larry+The+Life+and+Ruins+of+a+Billionaire+Genius.aspx (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) BTW, there is a Saipan radio angle to this, q.v. (gh) ** SAINT HELENA. CONNECT ST HELENA TO A NEW BROADBAND FIBER OPTIC CABLE [more at:] http://www.connectsthelena.org A fiber optic cable is being pulled across the South Atlantic. As planned, the cable will miss the most isolated island of St Helena. Let's move it, and connect St Helena to the world! There are roughly 4,000 people living on one of the most isolated islands in the world, St Helena, a British overseas territory in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean. They lack an economy as well as proper internet access, and the passage to Cape Town takes five days. If the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was taken to land a planned super-fast transatlantic submarine optic fibre cable called South Atlantic Express (SAex) at their island they could finally join the information society, which would improve standards of education and healthcare, as well as offering new economic prospects. In order this to happen, we need to... - convince eFive Telecoms to change their cable's route [done??] - petition the British government to fund the cable's landing - find industrial sponsors to deliver affordable internet access Please support us in bringing affordable broadband internet to St Helena and improve life on this picturesque tiny island. Being separated by a distance of 2,000 km from the next hospital, library and university, reliable broadband internet access would mean way more to the people than just entertainment. There is probably no other place in the world that could profit so much from the merits of broadband telecommunications than St Helena. . . (Robert Kipp via Tibor Szilagyi, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DXLD) ** SARAWAK [non]. 15420, R. Free Sarawak via Koror. ID at 1001 sign- on. Speakers in listed Iban at good strength, clear and readable 1000, 4/2 (Charles Jones, Castle Hill NSW (Sony 2001D with 7m. vertical antenna, March Australian DX News via DXLD) ¦ Malay-sounding talk with mention of Malaysia at 1013, then more talk including English letters and words – e.g. ‘E’, ‘G’, ‘O’, “Political Secretary” and ‘DVD’. Then a local song and music at 1022, then a Malay phone-in at 1027. Heard on 15/2 (Dennis Allen, Milperra NSW (Icom R75, Realistic DX160, Dipole), March Australian DX News via DXLD) ** SAUDI ARABIA. 11820, Feb 26 at 2049, BSKSA fair signal with Qur`an; still audible but poor at 2245 recheck with even more Qur`an. HFCC shows this lasts from 18 to 23, 500 kW, 320 degrees from Riyadh to W Europe, NW Africa, but also USward. Times in Aoki are more precise, 1755-2255, and adds that it`s Holy Qur`an (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SERBIA. New frequency: International Radio of Serbia, 25 Feb 2012, 9640 kHz instead of 9635, in Arabic at 1540 UT. Numerous reports about Serbia and Kosovo. Strong signal, some QRM from Radio Vaticana on 9645. 9635 has a weak RCI via Xian, possibly the reason for the change, and also VTN/CHL/MLI listed. 73, (Eike Bierwirth, Leipzig, Germany, Perseus + DX-10Pro Active Antenna, Feb 25, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DX LISTENING DIGEST) International Radio of Serbia heard here February 26 on 9640, carrier already on 1340 tune in, interval signal from 1358, opening announcements in English and news. Strong signal, modulation slightly low and some interference from a utility station with what seemed to be a conversation between two people in an unknown language in USB on 9636.8 (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth Garden City, UK, WORLD OF RADIO 1606, ibid.) Yes, right, Eike, (at present joining negotiations in EU Brussels to have Serbia state back in international community after Kosovo separation by US-NATO efforts, 13 years back...} 9639.994, SRI [sic], Stubline old movable 16 kW puppet heard 5 kHz up now (ex 9635v), on Feb 27 at 1545-1548 UT in Arabic, played some typical Serbian songs, final announcement by female in Arabic at 1558 UT, then interval music 1548-1600 UT, short break of 10 seconds - seemingly changed the antenna from Muslim world target to Russian azimuth. Novosti in Russian at 1601 UT Feb 27, female news announcer. (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Febr 27, 2012, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SIKKIM. 4837.1v, AIR Gangtok (presumed), 1339, Feb 29. Seems they are again off frequency; this time on the high side; seemed to have a slight drift; nothing at all on their usual 4835.0 (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. Test transmissions of Brother Stair TOM in English from Feb. 20: 1400-1700 15750 tent. ERV to EaAf on Feb.20/21, from Feb.25 Sat only 1800-2100 7590 tent. ERV to WeEu with many interruptions day by day (DX Re Mix News 29 Feb via DXLD) ERV = Yerevan = Gavar, ARMENIA Surprised to find Brother Scare far out of synch Feb 23 at 1518: 85 seconds behind on WTWW 9990 compared to WWRB 9385 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) U S A. 5085, Overcomer Ministry via WTWW Lebanon TN (presumed); 0311, 25-Feb; B.S. asked me that if I didn't believe that God had sent him, why would I spend five minutes listening to him? (Entertainment value? Actually 5 min. is about all I can usually handle.) S35 + transmitter hum and studio bleed (Harold Frodge, Michigan Area Radio Enthusiasts DXpedition, Brighton MI, Drake R8B + 500 ft. NEish unterminated beverage + 85 ft. TTFD, logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5890, Feb 29 at 0637 tuning across Brother Scare via WWCR, there is mixture of audio, the other with a YL asking ``where`s the peanut butter?`` Quickly checked synchro // 3185 WWRB, and same thing there, but it took another minute or so for this to appear on the delayed feed via 5085 WTWW. Finally, something down to earth on The Overcomer Ministry! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN. ESPAÑA: "ESPAÑOLES EN LA MAR" AMPLÍA SU TEMÁTICA A CRUCEROS 24.02.2012 --- "Españoles en la mar", el programa dirigido a los profesionales y amantes del medio marino, sigue su andadura en Radio Exterior de España con novedades que potencian el servicio público que cumple el espacio. Tras cuarenta años de andadura, este mes se suma a partir de ahora a la información sobre cruceros, un ámbito en el que España destaca a nivel mundial. Y es que a pesar de los últimos accidentes en el mar relacionados con Cruceros, como el Costa Concordia o el buque 'Maverick Dos', este sector no parece afectarle la crisis y tras el parón por estos accidentes, las agencias confirman una reactivación de las reservas. España es uno de los países del mundo que más está creciendo en este sector turístico, al que se prestará especial atención. Expertos del sector y capitanes de cruceros hablarán de la seguridad de los buques, las principales rutas, las innovación tecnológica, las infraestructuras portuarias, o las posibilidades de ocio. De esta forma, el programa potencia su compromiso con el servicio público de RNE, al ampliar su abanico de temas y seguir muy pendiente de todas las noticias sobre pesca, recursos marinos, marina mercante, investigación oceanográfica, Armada, náutica deportiva y de recreo, e historia naval. ‘Españoles en la mar’ es el programa de Radio Exterior, la emisora internacional de RNE, dirigido a los profesionales y amantes del mar. Actualmente, Paco Arjona se encarga de la dirección y de la presentación desde Madrid, con dos sedes fijas en Valencia, a cargo de Antonio Fernández, y en Vigo, con Óscar González. Asimismo, el programa cuenta con la colaboración de todos los Centros Territoriales de RNE distribuidos por la costa española, incluidos Ceuta, Melilla, y las Islas Canarias y Baleares.‘Españoles en la mar’ se sirve de la onda corta para informar y entretener vía radio a los buques con bandera o tripulación española en todos los rincones del planeta. FUENTE: http://www.infoperiodistas.info/busqueda/noticia/resnot.jsp?idNoticia=12685 (Via Yimber Gaviria, Colombia, DXLD) This program `Spaniards at Sea` expands to cover the cruise industry; it`s about time. EELM is a staple here every weekday morning at 1405- 1455 on 17595 direct, 15170 via Costa Rica et al.; repeated at 0305 on 6055, via CR 9675, 3350, et al. Starts with Morse Code theme. Last 683+ programs audible here: http://www.rtve.es/alacarta/audios/espanoles-en-la-mar/ (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DGIEST) 11755, REE, Noblejas. Russian Mon-Fri 1700-1730. Observed from around 18th minute of programs: on 6/2 Radio Prague in Russian; 7/2 DX Panorama in Russian by Mr. Vadim Alexeyev (ex program called “Club DX” earlier compiled by Pavel Mikhailov and after his death by Alexeyev on Voice of Russia; 8/2 Musings by Mrs V. Krasnapolskaya from DW; on 9/2 Radio Slovakia International in Russian. All other times by REE in Russian. The ID in Russian (translated) was “Europe On The Short Wave” (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria (Sony ICF2001D and ant Folded Marconi 16 m long), March Australia DX News via DXLD) 6125, REE IS & English S/on with ID, to Europe, talk re the new Spanish government & deficit reduction efforts, etc. Into ’las mujeres de Jazz’ including renditions of These Boots are Made for Walkin` & I’m Feelin` Good with jazzed up versions. In OK 444+43+ *2200-2220 18/Feb (Kenneth Vito Zichi, Port Hope MI, MARE Tipsheet Feb 24 via DXLD) Altho REE has English at the same time 7 days a week to NAm, this transmission to Europe is only on Sat & Sun (gh, DXLD) [non]. COSTA RICA: 17850, Radio Exterior de España; 1624-1645+, 25- Feb; SS program `Amigos de [la] Onda Corta`; 1630 feature on the early days of space exploration; ID at 1645. SIO=554+; not // 21610 via Spain (Harold Frodge, Michigan Area Radio Enthusiasts DXpedition, Brighton MI, Drake R8B + 500 ft. NEish unterminated beverage + 85 ft. TTFD, logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) Really? Should be // out of synch a bit (gh) 11940, Sun Feb 26 at 2050, REE silly ballgame coverage in Castilian, much weaker than // 15110, both direct from Noblejas. I was thinking they used 11945, but HFCC shows 11940 at 19-23, 242 degrees; 11945 at 00-02, 230 degrees, both to CIRAF 12-16 = Latin America (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SRI LANKA. Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, 11750 Colombo, Ekala. Feb 24, 2012, Friday. 1809-1830. Sinhalese. OM talking, to Indian-style music at 1813, with song by YL. More talk and Indian- influenced songs. Cut off without ID as song ended at 1830 (as per Aoki and EiBi). Good. EiBi says it is from Trincomalee, but Aoki and HFCC say Ekala. To the Middle East. Joburg sunset 1644 (Bill Bingham, RSA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Feb 25, 15745 at 0230z, SLBC with Western pop/rock music, a bit fluttery but listenable. Via Ekala with 10 kW at 350 . Azimuth to my QTH is 356 . The path is daylight from Ekala to the Arctic Circle in Siberia, in darkness on to central Texas. HFCC lists antenna type 107 (AHR 1/2/0.8) which I think would be rather like a "Lazy H" with a reflector; one half-wave dipole over another, 0.8 wavelength above ground (Jerry Lenamon, Waco, Texas, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN. 7200, R. Omdurman. At 1430 on 27/1 ID in Arabic “Huna Omdurman“ with news and a speech from a meeting on square 1440-1450 and later. Only Sudan North was on 7200 (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria (Sony ICF2001D and ant Folded Marconi 16 m long), March Australia DX News via DXLD) 7200, 26/2 0250, RTVC Sudan, Holy Kuran, fair (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italia, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN [non]. via Woofferton, 17745, Sudan Radio Service, 1610- 1659*, tune-in to vernacular talk. Children’s chorus. Local tribal music. Into English at 1630 with IDs, contact information. News at 1631. PSA for measles vaccination. Local music. Talk about problems at local hospitals. News headlines at 1648 and closing announcements. Local music at 1649-1659*. Fair to good. Feb 23 (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg, PA, USA, Icom IC-7600, two 100 foot longwires, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN SOUTH. SOUTH SUDAN ---> On 21 February the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) assigned the callsign prefix block Z8A- Z8Z to the Republic of South Sudan (25 February 2012 A.R.I. DX Bulletin No 1086, 4 2 5 D X N E W S, Edited by I1JQJ & IK1ADH, Direttore Responsabile I2VGW, via Dave Raycroft, ODXA yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DXLD) ** SYRIA. 9330 - R. Damascus - Heard faint Arabic music on LSB side of WBCQ at 2132 than into YL commentary in English re: international reaction to current uprising in Syria. Many mentions of Arab League, UN and USA. Brief music bridges between paragraphs. Than into long selection of Arab music continuing past 2150. Increasing bleed over of WBCQ signal makes for challenging listening. First time I've heard them in months, perhaps over a year. YL announcer back at 2151 but too much BCQ to get anything. Despite interference, audio quality seems improved over what they normally were in the past (Steve Wood, Harwich, MA, Perseus SDR with 25 x 50 N/E superloop antenna, Feb 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hearing Radio Damascus in English with weak to fair modulation. Local music. 2130-2145+. Must use ECSS-LSB to avoid WBCQ (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg, PA, USA, Feb 25, Icom IC-7600, two 100 foot longwires, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9330, Radio Damascus, 1906-1934*, tune-in to French talk. Local pop music. Abrupt sign off. In the past their French service has signed off around 1930-1945. Mixing with WBCQ. Must use ECSS-LSB to avoid WBCQ as much as possible. Slight hum in audio. Fair to good levels on occasional peaks but an overall poor to fair signal. Feb 25. 9330, Radio Damascus, *2103-2204, sign on with a weak threshold signal but improved with weak to fair modulation by 2130. English talk. Instrumental music. Local music. Into Spanish at 2201. Slight hum in audio. Mixing with WBCQ. Must use ECSS-LSB to avoid WBCQ. An overall poor signal. Feb 25 (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg, PA, USA, Icom IC- 7600, two 100 foot longwires, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SYRIA [non]. 9330, Feb 28 at 2155 I find WBCQ has lapsed into dead air again, so this could be our big chance to hear Damascus! On the DX-398, I compare LSB to USB: with just the (reduced) carrier on, for some reason I am getting a higher signal meter reading on LSB that on USB. WBCQ modulation cuts back on at 2159, and now of course there is much more modulation on USB than on LSB --- where there is yet a little bit. When monitoring pure USB or LSB on this receiver, there is nothing at all on the opposite side, so does this mean WBCQ is really outputting some mod on the loside, or does the presence of a carrier confuse the receiver? What do others find in such a case? Never heard any trace of Syria, tho some in NE America get it with LSB vs WBCQ, where presumably its signal is weaker and overskipping unlike here (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN. 15070, 23/Feb 2347, Um fraco sinal com uma modulação de voz masculina ao que parece ser em chinês. Como de outros logs possivelmente a SOH. Aoki e Eibi dizem transmitir em 0.1 kW não direcional. Voltando na frequência às 0041 o sinal está bem melhor onde ouve-se muito bem a fala da YL que às 0041 reproduz um comentário externo, ou está fazendo uma entrevista. Interessante do porque que o firedrake não sobrepõe essa transmissão, aliás interferências propositais sobre a SOH não estão tão freqüentes como antigamente. 15800, 24/Feb 0038, Um sinal fraco onde eu ouço voz masculina em um idioma que parece ser o chinês e que portanto eu presumo ser a SOH. As 0039 curta música instrumental e YL talk (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brasil, condiglist yg via DXLD) ** TAJIKISTAN. 252 and 4765, Radio Tajikistan, Dushanbe, 0815. 252 fair at local noon time and // much stronger 4765. 252 is in all day and very strong at night with excellent modulation. 150 kW at 500 miles. 4765 very loud and steady all day. In random listening I usually hear a brief news bulletin at the top of each hour and local music, often very lively, for the rest of the hour. Both M and F announcers used during music programming. Feb. 29. SW-11 (Brock Whaley, Kandahar, AFGHANISTAN for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ?? Radio Tajikistan ?? 4765, Dushanbe?? Feb 25, 2012, Saturday. 0212- 0215. Tajik??, but really unreadable. OM talking, with Arabic / Indian style song by OM, difficult to pin down. Nothing from Aoki or EiBi fits timewise, but Steve Wood, MA, recently reported it at this time (Steve Wood, MA, Listeners Notebook, Jan NASWA Journal via DXLD 12- 02). Poor, lots of atmospheric QRN. Joburg sunrise 0359 (Bill Bingham, RSA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4765.07, Radioi Tojikiston (Tajik R.), Yangiyul in local language 0136-0150 2/26. Local slow chant with instrumental music; W long talk (till 0145); heard in SSB; moderate fast QSB & rustle; mild crackles at times; fair (Giovanni Serra, Roma, Italy, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAJIKISTAN. 11660, Feb 23 at 1247, good but somewhat unstable carrier with hum, and just-barely-modulated, so Dushanbe-Orzu is *still* SNAFUing the scheduled VOR 12-13 relay in English to S Asia, plus Hindi at 13-14, more English at 14-15. TJK has lots of other relay clients, so I wonder if any of them get this mistreatment? Such as V. of Tibet with all the ChiCom jamming to boot; see CHINA [and non] (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TATARSTAN [non]. 15105, Tatarstan Wave/GTRK Tatarstan, via Samara, 0414-0500*, Feb 27. Just missed their scheduled 0410 sign-on; program consisted entirely of songs & ballads; almost fair. Very enjoyable music! (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** THAILAND. 9720, Radio Thailand; 1250-1259:30*, 26-Feb; English feature on worldwide conflicts; 1258 lengthy spot for Thailand tourism & Bangkok Airways. Off abruptly. SIO=443 (Harold Frodge, Michigan Area Radio Enthusiasts DXpedition, Brighton MI, Drake R8B + 500 ft. NEish unterminated beverage + 85 ft. TTFD, logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TUNISIA. 17735, looking for IWT on new frequency I discovered Feb 20, Feb 24 at 1508, but so far nothing but Japanese from NHK via FRANCE. Does it still start later? Yes, by 1610 there is an equal mix of them in Japanese and Arabic producing SAH between 3 and 4 Hz. Other reports indicated IWT continues past 1700 when NHK is finished with 17735, but for how long? Aoki, EiBi, and HFCC still haven`t caught up with Tunisia being on 17735 at all. 17735, following up my last report, from 1600, how long is IWT on this frequency? Recheck Feb 24 at 1811, Arabic still audible with fair signal. Rerecheck at 1948, not heard, but could have outfaded meanwhile (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 25 Feb 2012, Tunisian Radio in Arabic at 1735 UT on 7225 (45444), 12005 (25432) and 17735 kHz (the latter not in Leipzig, but with S=2 on remote Perseus in southern Italy). 9725 remains empty. Also // behind the German relay of VoR on 630. 73, (Eike Bierwirth, Leipzig, Germany, Perseus + DX-10 pro active antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 10510-, Feb 26 at 1418, wobbly and fluttery carrier with hum, no modulation detectable. Not sure if it is utility or even local appliance radiation, but checking this since Nils Schiffhauer, DK8OK, Germany, reported to DXLD yg Feb 25: ``10510 kHz: strong carrier, weak modulated with "Arabic" music. 1725 UT, also yesterday. As no ID, any idea?`` My idea was possibly Libya, which appeared around this frequency during the revolution, especially since 11600 has been missing lately during the French bihour at 1600. However, Brian Alexander in Pennsylvania had a tentative R. Libye on 11600, Feb 25 at *1756-1803* only, French but no ID. Just in from Tarek Zeidan, Cairo Feb 26: ``Hello DXers, I checked that frequency today and I can confirm it is Tunis // 12005 kHz around 1745 UT with Egyptian songs. All the best`` What in the world are they doing on 10510?? Haven`t figured any mixing product formula. Is IWT still on new 17735? Yes, Arabic at 1811 check Feb 26, while 12005 and 10510 are inaudible here (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Wegen US Propaganda und begleitende Jammingaussendungen hat RTT Sfax 9725 kHz verlassen. Vor 10 Jahren war RTT Sfax schon mal auf 17735 kHz zugange, jetzt lassen die Ausbreitungsbedingungen wieder diese hohe Frequenz Richtung Arabian Peninsula zu. 17735 is a long-time famliar RTT Sfax frequency. 2001 A-01 schedule showed target at NE/ME/NoEaAF: 17735 1200-1600 38,39 SFA 500 100deg 250301-281001 TUN RTT ONT (wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Febr 21) 7225 1800-2210 27,28W SFA 500 340degr arabe TUN RTT ONT 17735 minus 7225 = 10510 kHz. 17735 plus 7225 = 24960 kHz, könnte im Sommer in der 1. Sendestunde auch 'gehen', auf der Backlobe Richtung Westeuropa. Ob man die 3. QRG 12005 auch noch in die Intermodulations Kalkulation einbeziehen kann? Dann wären 4780 und 5730 kHz die Favoriten. Sfax in der Nähe des Mittelmeeres mit den Salzablagerungen an den Antennen, war auch schon auf MW 1566 kHz 2 x 600 kW ein Problem. 73 wolfgang - - - - google translator: Due to U.S. propaganda and accompanying Jamming transmissions, RTT Sfax has left 9725 kHz. 10 years ago RTT Sfax was ever Blazed kHz to 17735 now allow the Propagation conditions again this high frequency direction Arabian Peninsula to. 7225 1800-2210 TUN RTT SFA 500kW 340degr arabe ONT 17735 minus 10510 = 7225 kHz. 17735 plus 7225 = 24960 kHz, could in the summer in the first Send hour 'go' well, on the back lobe towards Western Europe. Whether the 3rd QRG 12005 also in the calculation of intermodulation may involve? Then 4780 and 5730 kHz were the favorites. Sfax near the Mediterranean Sea with the salt deposits on the antenna, was already a problem too - on MW 1566 kHz 2 x 600 kW. 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re my previous log of hummy carrier on 10510, which Tarek Zeidan identified at another time with IWT audio: Wolfgang Büschel has the reason why it`s appeared on 10510: 17735 minus 7225 = 10510 kHz. There might also be a mix in the opposite direction but much less likely to propagate: 17735 plus 7225 = 24960 kHz. Of course this mix could not happen until they moved another transmitter from 9725 to 17735 recently (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also NIGERIA Frequency change of RTTunisia in Arabic: 1600-2110 NF 17735#SFA 250 kW / 100 deg to N/ME, ex 9725 // 12005 SFA 500 kW / 100 deg to N/ME 1700-2110 on 7225*SFA 500 kW / 340 deg to WeEu, ex 1800-2210 // 7345 SFA 500 kW / 265 deg to NoAf from 2000 # strong co-ch Radio Japan NHK World in Japanese til 1700 * co-ch Radio Liberty in Turkmen to CeAs til 1800 (DX Re Mix News 29 Feb via WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DXLD) ** TURKMENISTAN. As already reported on the WRTH website, appears to be inactive on 5015 (its last remaining SW outlet). (Chris Greenway, Feb 29, Baku, Azerbaijan, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. 198, BBC Radio 4-Droitwich. 1930. Heard a voice I recognized, that of satirist and writer David Sedaris, who I have seen in person and heard many times. He was reading his material on families and relationships. Fair but steady signal. No sign of the Russians on the frequency. In the U.S. this is always my most wanted long wave station, no thanks to co-channel beacon DIW, NC with 2 kW. Wish I had a better LW rig here. I do have a nice recording of the shipping forecast made several years ago in Atlanta. Probably my favorite “speech” formatted station in the entire world. I’m ready for “Brain of Britain!” 500 kW at 3,615 miles. Feb. 26. SW-11 (Brock Whaley, Kandahar, AFGHANISTAN for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [non]. ASCENSION: 7255, BBC; 0551, 25-Feb; English feature on women in religion; China has female imams. SIO=443+ with co-channel (Harold Frodge, Michigan Area Radio Enthusiasts DXpedition, Brighton MI, Drake R8B + 500 ft. NEish unterminated beverage + 85 ft. TTFD, logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) Would that be imamas? Vladivostok and Minsk are also registered here in HFCC between 05 and 06, but no Vlad in Aoki; apparently Nigeria is now using 7255 only in the evenings (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) 15510 and weaker // 13825, Saturday-only frequencies of BBCWS via CYPRUS, are usually in English, but Feb 25 at 1518 they are not! Presumed the language nominally scheduled, Somali, but still seems to be live coverage of a silly ballgame. I listen for a few minutes trying to decide which sport it could be. Football most likely, but crowd noises not hyper-excited. A bit more staid: could it be cricket? Tried to hear any batcrax, but not for sure. Is there a colonial legacy of cricket in British Somaliland? Is cricket in season in Britain itself? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 12095, Sat Feb 25 at 2138 I hear rock music, very poor signal, announcement intonation maybe in French? Surely not the BBCWS, playing music. Yes, it is! By pretending I am in Accra, Ghana, listening on SW, I can find the correct programme schedulle for 12095, 9915 and 9410 showing `Top of the Pops` during this hour, a weekend respite from talk3. 12095 is via ASCENSION (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, Is the pretending you're in Accra bit purely to make a point about the BBC WS website or do you really not know about the various regional schedules available to save you having to use the "search for a schedule" by "typing a city or country name" facility on the website? (Harry Brooks, England, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Harry, No doubt it works either way. I didn`t have a bookmark handy for your method, so feel free to send a link. I did want to be sure to get a SW schedule, as non-SW might be different (Glenn, ibid.) Glenn, I find it much more convenient to have all the schedules downloaded so I don't have to bother with bookmarks or be online to view them and they remind me of the schedules in London Calling magazine from many years ago. The link for the page to download them is http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/institutional/2010/03/000000_winter_schedules.shtml and the individual urls are http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/schedules/2011/winter/americas_v7.pdf http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/schedules/2011/winter/australasia_v7.pdf http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/schedules/2011/winter/east_asia_v7.pdf http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/schedules/2011/winter/east_and_southern_africa_v7.pdf http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/schedules/2011/winter/europe_v7.pdf http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/schedules/2011/winter/south_asia_v7.pdf http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/schedules/2011/winter/middle_east_v7.pdf http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/schedules/2011/winter/uk_v7.pdf http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/schedules/2011/winter/west_and_central_africa_v7.pdf The pdf file for West and Central Africa appears to be similar to the searched for Accra short wave schedule, As you say it is important to get the short wave schedule when searching for a schedule as the FM and Satellite and Cable schedules presented on the same page as short wave do indeed appear to be different from the short wave schedule. Well, I hope that helps you a little, Regards (Harry Brooks, ibid.) Harry, Tnx, but since your URLs have winter in them, I assume are generic for the `season` (winter a meaningless or inaccurate term around the equator and beyond?), whilst the sked I found was for that specific date and time (and frequencies). Their programming is certainly subject to change from week to week. 73, (Glenn, ibid.) ** U K [non]. 11810, Feb 26 at 2048, BBC Newshour ID in passing // 15400. 11810 is 250 kW, 65 degrees from ASCENSION at 18-21 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. POSSIBLE FUTURE USE FOR 648 KILOHERTZ IN THE UK By Bob Lawrence, Radio Caroline, February 2012 News from Ofcom: Ofcom are hopeful that they will soon be in a position to draft a consultation document regarding any possible future use for 648 kilohertz. Until last year the frequency was used to transmit the programmes of the BBC World Service but they have now confirmed to Ofcom that they have no intention of using the frequency for any purpose in the future. The regulator is now in discussion with the company who own the transmitting infrastructure for this channel and whilst this process may take some time, they have confirmed that their intention is to proceed with drafting the document which will invite the public to make Ofcom aware of how they would wish the channel to be used. We would ask that you register your support to the idea of the frequency being advertised for use by a regional station for the south east. If that option is taken up, you will then be asked to offer your support for our specific application. (Bob Lawrence) Station Manager Peter Moore said, “With our distinguished history, Radio Caroline clearly is a special case, but there is no provision in UK radio regulation to recognise this. Many politicians feel unable to support us since Ofcom are not legally empowered to give us special treatment, but they certainly ARE empowered to advertise a new licence once a frequency is found”. The MP For Chatham & Aylesford, Tracey Crouch, who presented the EDM to parliament calling for Ofcom to “exhaust all avenues in making the provisions available for Radio Caroline to celebrate its 50th birthday in 2014 ……", said, “It is important that we continue as a collective group to ensure that Ofcom think positively about Radio Caroline and changing tact will help. There is a lot of support for Caroline in Parliament and we need to keep fighting for the future release of appropriate AM licenses to bid for.” http://radiocarolineonair.com/ (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U K. BBC WORLD SERVICE - CELEBRATING 80TH BIRTHDAY LIVE ON AIR TODAY 29 FEBRUARY 2012 Celebrating our 80th birthday live on air. To mark 80 years of international broadcasting, we're hosting a special day of live programming on February 29. Join us for unprecedented behind-the- scenes access to Bush House, the home of the World Service in London. Find out what's on today http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/schedules/2012/02/29 Many messages on Facebook about the Bush House closure after 80 years. See photo "The Hackney Empire Community Choir - in Bush House to bid farewell to Bush House singing out Newshour" https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=599648472#!/bbcworldservice Fascinating feature about the BBC World Service with many audio clips on the Radio 4 "Today" programme from 0822. Catch on iPlayer. (via Mike Terry, Feb 29, dxldyg via DXLD) And you can DOWNLOAD exactly that segment of the show as a mp3 podcast MP3, 3.5 MB download link: http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/today/today_20120229-1101a.mp3 Regards, (Dragan Lekic, Serbia, ibid.) BBC WORLD SERVICE AT 80: A LIFETIME OF SHORTWAVE http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17155441 (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, Feb 29, dxldyg via DXLD; also via Terry Krueger, WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DXLD) BBCWS at 80: The Joy of Shortwave Interesting article just published: The BBC World Service - which marks its 80th birthday on Wednesday - was broadcast only on shortwave back in 1932. Today, audiences on FM, digital radio and the internet are growing fast while shortwave is in decline, but for millions it remains a lifeline. Four listeners tell their story. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17155441 (Mike Barraclough, swprograms via DXLD) The Media Centre has issued a 17 page Media Pack about 80 years of the World Service and the history of Bush House: http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/World-Service-Media-Pack.pdf (Mike Barraclough, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Compliments to the World Service for the willingness to embrace the role shortwave usage has played in the growth and popularity of the World Service over the decades, even though they have (rightfully) taken a lot of flack for abandoning shortwave as they have. These four stories show how intimate - how "connected" - shortwave enabled these listeners to be (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, ibid.) La BBC celebra sus 80 años de vida http://bit.ly/yjGvT8 (Via Yimber Gaviria, Colombia, DXLD) Jonathan Marks writes on Facebook: Lyse Doucet is hosting a very interesting two-hour programme on the future of International broadcasting, today at 20.05 GMT on BBC World Serivce and here http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/2012/02/120228_live_stream_80_anniversary.shtml It's buried in the schedule (for the moment at least) but guests will include Former Al-Jazeera Director Wadah Khanfar and Editor-in-Chief of RT (formerly Russia Today) Margarita Simonyan. Curious to know what either think is the specific role of radio in the cross media mix (via Mike Terry, Feb 29, dxldyg via DXLD) BBCWS - a slight mystery --- John Savage writes on the UK Radio Listeners newsgroup: ``. . .the World (formerly Empire) Service is 79 years, 2 months and 10 days old today. Anyone know why today has been chosen for the 80th anniversary celebration?`` (Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) "Not only celebrating 80 years of broadcasting, this special day of programming marks the start of the BBC World Service's move from Bush House, its iconic London home for over 70 years, to a new state of the art broadcasting centre in Oxford Circus." http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2012/150212bush80.html (Mike Barraclough, ibid.) In his private tweet to me BBC's informed me that this talk of the 80th anniversary is "nominal." The celebration is mostly due to BBC's eviction from the Bush House. Some interesting shows today. The Russian hour was good, filled with pointed and, at times, harsh questions. One of the opinions was that BBC abandoned its focus on education and enlightenment. "BBC's future is in its past." WHYS on Syria is on right now. The audience is diverse and critical (Sergei S., 1825 UT Feb 29, ibid.) FILM: WORLD SERVICE STAFF BID FAREWELL TO BUSH HOUSE The BBC World Service has been housed in Bush House since 1940. By summer it will be empty as its 27 language services relocate to Broadcasting House in the West End of London. To coincide with this week's 80th anniversary celebrations of the World Service, staff members past and present have been reminiscing about their time spent in the iconic building. Video produced by Thomas Hannen and Owain Rich. Watch the film at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-radio-and-tv-17198031 (Alan Pennington, Feb 29, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) My big regret with Auntie`s Empire, Overseas, External, World Service is the fact it's become rather boring - the programmes such as 'My Word' (a panel game) are happy listening memories it now seems simply news programmes, news features and news - the image of the chap sitting sweating in his tent in the tropics listening to a gardening programme '.. now's the time to put in your bulbs for the spring....' are gone; Celebrate what's left of what was once a lovely international station we British could be proud of, the slightly eccentric interesting parts of, when VOA and Radio Moscow were all propaganda, but now the smile's gone from the face of BBC overseas radio (Rog Parsons (BDXC 782), Hinckley, Leics, ibid.) A KUHF news feature I did with Ross Atkins on the 80th anniversary of the BBC World Service February 29th… http://app1.kuhf.org/audiolibrary/120229Ross-Atkins.mp3 Cheers! (Ed Mayberry, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 10000, Feb 27 at 2118, WWV propagation info has been converted from delivery by a variety of real human beings to a robofem voice! The stitches are not too bad, but still obvious: SF 106; A 18; K21 5!; last and next 24 hours, both with minor geomagnetic storms reaching G1 level. Now if they would only re-program `her` to ``repeat`` each number, as long as there be enough time in the half- sesquiminute available, which there usually is. Well, that didn`t last long. Next check for propagation report on WWV 10000, Feb 28 at 1518, was back to human male voice: SF 106; A 16; K15 1; minor reaching G1; none. Also the marine weather report at 1510 was still by a human YL. Enunciation by their various humans often leaves something to be desired (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Maybe `she` will be back, or during off-hours of humans? ** U S A. 7811-USB, Feb 28 at 0644-0646, AFN reconfirmed with Jim Hightower commentary, this time on Karl Rove`s problem with Clint Eastwood`s ``Halftime in America`` SuperBowl commercial; 0646 on to `NIH Health Matters` capsule (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 5446.5-USB, Feb 29 at 0644, AFN Saddlebunch Keys FL with reliable Jim Hightower commentary, this time about a pow-wow in Coachella Valley of billionaires against Obama. Referred us to http://www.united4thepeopole.org site vs such corruption. Reception is normally best here on 7811, but not much audible there, so tuned down to this //, and of course in the nightmiddle can`t expect to hear it on other // 12133.5 if it be on. However, 5446.5-USB had uncomfortably close ACI SSB QRM on the hi side, YL in English with numbers, maybe aeronautical (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [non] Glenn, It's probably RAF Volmet on 5450 which is apparently now broadcast from Ascension Island. See here http://dxinfocentre.com/volmet.htm Regards (Harry Brooks, North East England, UK, dxldyg via DXLD ** U S A. 11175/USB, AFS Offutt A.F.B., NE U.S.A.; 2217, 24-Feb; On with ID as "This is Offutt" working Hoist 91 of the 32nd Air Fueling Squadron looking for a phone patch to Nellis A.F.B. in NV to arrange a military taxi. Nellis told them that they were not on their list and not expected. Hoist 91 pilot said, "Oh great -- love this system." Apparently, they worked things out & patch terminated with "This is Offutt, out". Much more entertaining that the usual alpha-numeric messages (Harold Frodge, Michigan Area Radio Enthusiasts DXpedition, Brighton MI, Drake R8B + 500 ft. NEish unterminated beverage + 85 ft. TTFD, logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. STANLEY LEINWOLL --- I just learned this evening that Stanley Leinwoll, a retired engineer with RFE/RL, died yesterday, February 21, 2012 (Dan Ferguson, Feb 22, NASWA yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DXLD) obit He was also frequency manager, and I believe wrote about propagation. I met him once at a Washington meeting. He was also a frustrated urban tomato-cultivator (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/01/nyregion/l-the-heartbreak-of-tomatoes-659096.html?scp=2&sq=Stanley+Leinwoll&st=nyt&pagewanted=print (via Dave Walcutt, WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DXLD) Re the death of STANLEY LEINWOLL in DXLD 12-08. I remember in the mid 60’s I owned a book he authored on satellite transmission. It mentioned and had pictures of OSCAR-1, and explained how the synchronous coverage we now take for granted would take place. His name takes me back to the sounds of Soviet satellites around 20 MHz, and the early US weather birds on 108 MHz I recall retuning an FM radio (6U8), changing the bias on the limiter (6AU6), and shorting out one side of the ratio detector (6AL5), to hear the low speed data as those passed overhead. Remember, Popular Electronics used to list them by frequency (Brock Whaley, Kandahar, Afghanistan for DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dan Elyea of WYFR informs us that renowned shortwave engineer and frequency planner Stanley Leinwoll passed away on February 21, 2012. During his long career in international broadcasting, Stanley worked as frequency manager for the Voice of America, director of engineering for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and as an independent shortwave frequency consultant based in New York. He did frequency planning for at least two members of the NASB -- WEWN and WYFR. He wrote a well-known book titled "From Spark to Satellite: A History of Radio Communication." Stanley was a strong supporter of the idea of holding an HFCC (High Frequency Coordination Conference) in the United States -- a goal that was finally realized by the NASB in 2011 (Source : National Association of Shortwave Broadcasters Facebook Page via Alokesh Gupta, WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DXLD) Obit: Stanley Leinwoll, RFE/RL shortwave frequency manager. Posted: 28 Feb 2012 See also New York Times, 27 Feb 2012 (kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) Viz.: Obituary STANLEY LEINWOLL | Visit Guest Book LEINWOLL--Stanley, 85. Loving husband of Miriam for 60 years. Adoring father of Laura and Bobby Shapiro and Joanie Leinwoll. Generous, caring grandfather to Ellice, Alexandra, Jesse and Rachel. Stan lived his life for his family, yet found time to be a published author of seven books. Frequency Manager for Radio Free Europe for 27 years, valued consultant to WYFR Radio for 37 years. We cherished our time with him. He is, always and forever will be, our beloved hero. Published in The New York Times on February 26, 2012 (paid death notice via WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DXLD) 1 Comment on “RIP Stanley Leinwoll” #1 lou josephs on Feb 27th, 2012 at 18:41 Stan was the frequency planner for WNYW Radio New York Worldwide, a really nice guy, sad to hear about his passing. (MN blog comment via WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DXLD) ** U S A. Greenville is having transmitter problems during VOA Spanish: Feb 25 at 1322, no signals on 13750 or 15590 (no jamming either), so I wonder if VOA has decided to cancel 13-14 morning Spanish on weekends? No, there it is on the third frequency, 9885, which is heavily jammed, despite only inconsequential musical programming as usual on Saturday, playing a country hit from 1994 (in English, natch). At 1325, 15590 is now on the air with program, and 13750 is on with carrier only. At 1330, audio starts cutting on and off every second on 13750, then stays on. 17655, Feb 26 at 1441, big open carrier, no doubt Greenville tune-up for the 1700 broadcast in Portuguese; these often happen about half an hour earlier. [and non]. 17715, Feb 27 at 1359, VOA signing on, good signal, much better than usual poor level, 1400 plugging Music Mix to follow, then news. During this hour it`s 100 kW, 126 degrees from SÃO TOMÉ. 15580, Feb 27 at 1410, VOA music mix is poor, and then *1411-1415* covered by big carrier from Greenville, tuning up for much later usage of this frequency, but music still audible underneath. Weaker 15580 is 250 kW, 340 degrees via SOUTH AFRICA. [non]. 9705, Feb 29 at 1449, VOA Cantonese via SAIPAN has QRDRM, noise audible here and on 9710, but not on 9700 where CRI is. But nothing in DRM is scheduled. Theory: Ethiopia is running its 9705 transmitter in DRM, a mode which they normally employ only for jamming other frequencies. 9760, Feb 29 at 1500 I tune in for VOA news via Tinang, PHILIPPINES, and of course hear nothing, as they can`t retune immediately from the Korean service on 9555. Finally cuts on at *1501:42 in progress with report from Dan Robinson at the White House. Since this habitually happens, editors compiling the 1500 news ought to reverse the inverted-pyramid format, since the top story will never be heard at the beginning! But then, VOA news on SW is nothing but a teaser now for ``more news at voanews.com`` as always plugged (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Frequency change for Voice of America in Hausa Mon-Fri 2030-2100 NF 9690 WER 250 kW / 180 deg to CeAf, ex 11665/11670/7315/9780 (DX Re Mix News 29 Feb via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Updated B-11 schedule of R. Free Europe/Radio Liberty: Arabic Radio Free Iraq 0200-0700 on 1593 1500-1530 on 1593 1830-2000 on 1593 2100-2300 on 1593 Avari/Chechen/Circassian 0300-0400 on 5830 7425 1500-1600 on 11765 15130 Azeri 1600-1700 on 7480 11850 Belorussian 0300-0500 on 612 6105 6155 1500-1700 on 612 6120 9515 1700-1900 on 612 5930 9515 1900-2100 on 612 5840 5930 Dari Radio Free Afghanistan 0300-0330 on 1296 9335 12140 15335 0430-0530 on 1296 12140 15335 17530 0630-0730 on 1296 12140 17530 19010 0830-0930 on 1296 12140 17530 19010 1030-1130 on 1296 9990 12140 19010 1230-1330 on 1296 9335 9990 12140 1400-1430 on 1296 9335 12140 13835 Kazakh 0100-0200 on 1314 7235 9790 1300-1400 on 1314 9445 15530 Kyrgyz 1200-1230 on 11990 15265 17735 1500-1530 on 9445 11790 Pashto Radio Free Afghanistan 0230-0300 on 1296 9335 12140 15335 0330-0430 on 1296 9335 12140 15335 0530-0630 on 1296 12140 17530 19010 0730-0830 on 1296 12140 17530 19010 0930-1030 on 1296 12140 17530 19010 1130-1230 on 1296 9335 9990 12140 1330-1400 on 1296 9335 12140 13835 Pashto Radio Mashaal 0400-1100 on 621 12130 13580 15760 1100-1300 on 621 12130 13700 15760 Persian Radio Farda 0000-0200 on 1314 1575 5830 5860 0200-0230 on 1575 5830 5860 9430 0230-0300 on 1575 5830 5860 9550 9430 15690 0300-0400 on 1575 5860 9430 9550 15690 0400-0430 on 1575 5860 9430 9550 13615 15690 0430-0500 on 1575 5860 9430 9550 13615 15535 15690 0500-0530 on 1575 5860 9550 13615 15535 15690 0530-0600 on 1575 5860 9520 13615 15535 15690 0600-0700 on 1575 5860 9520 13615 15535 15690 17840 0700-0830 on 1575 5860 9520 13615 15535 15690 17840 21715 0830-0930 on 1575 5860 11975 13615 15535 15690 17840 21715 0930-1030 on 1575 5860 11975 13615 15690 17735 17840 21715 1030-1230 on 1575 5860 13615 15410 15690 17735 17840 21715 1230-1300 on 1575 5860 13615 13635 15410 15690 1300-1400 on 1575 5860 11750 13615 13635 15410 15690 1400-1430 on 1314 1575 11750 13615 13635 15410 1430-1530 on 1314 1575 11750 13615 13680 15410 1530-1600 on 1314 1575 11785 13615 13680 15410 1600-1630 on 1314 1575 7520 11785 13615 13680 1630-1700 on 1314 1575 7520 7580 13615 1700-1800 on 1314 1575 7520 7580 9850 13615 1800-1900 on 1314 1575 7520 7580 9850 1900-2000 on 1314 1575 7520 7580 9850 9965 2000-2130 on 1314 1575 5850 7520 7580 9965 2130-2230 on 1314 1575 5850 7520 7580 2230-2300 on 1314 1575 5830 7520 7580 2300-2400 on 1314 1575 5830 7520 Moldovian 0500-0600 on 5945 Mon-Fri 1600-1630 on 5910 Sat/Sun 1700-1730 on 6155 Mon-Fri 1900-1930 on 6135 Mon-Fri Russian 0300-0400 on 5925 7285 7435 17770 0400-0500 on 5925 6015 7435 17770 0500-0600 on 5925 7425 9430 17770 0600-0700 on 7425 9430 15250 17770 0800-1000 on 9360 11705 15555 1200-1300 on 9360 11785 15130 1300-1400 on 9360 11805 15130 1400-1500 on 9715 9840 11805 15130 1500-1600 on 7270 9715 12025 1600-1700 on 6180 9495 9715 1700-1800 on 7325 9405 9715 9785 1800-1900 on 6140 9405 9715 1900-2000 on 7225 9405 9715 2000-2100 on 5885 5895 9405 Russian Caucasus Echo 1700-1800 on 5885 9640 Tajik 0100-0300 on 7275 11795 0300-0400 on 9520 11795 1400-1500 on 7215 9695 1500-1600 on 7260 9695 1600-1700 on 9445 9695 Tatar 0300-0400 on 5975 7390 0500-0600 on 9535 1500-1600 on 9545 11720 1900-2000 on 7530 Turkmen 0200-0300 on 864 7390 12015 0300-0400 on 6000 12015 1400-1500 on 6060 12010 1500-1530 on 6060 11870 1530-1600 on 864 6060 11870 1600-1800 on 5820 7225 Uzbek 0200-0400 on 9680 12025 15590 1400-1500 on 9595 11995 12025 1500-1530 on 864 1600-1700 on 7550 9840 11805 (DX Re Mix News 29 Feb via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Updated B-11 schedule of Radio Free Asia: Burmese 0030-0130 12115 15700 17835 1230-1400 11795 12105 13595 1400-1430 11795 12105 1630-1730 7245 Cantonese 1400-1500 6025 7470 2200-2300 7250 9780 11775 Khmer 1230-1330 13810 15160 2230-2330 5790 11850 Korean 1500-1700 648 5855 7210 9385 1700-1900 648 5855 9385 2100-2200 648 7460 9385 11995 Lao 0000-0100 15690 17770 1100-1200 9325 15120 Mandarin 0300-0600 11980 13710 15665 17880 21465 Mon 0300-0600 11980 13710 15665 17880 21480 Tue 0300-0600 11980 13710 15665 17880 21495 Wed 0300-0600 11980 13710 15665 17880 21510 Thu 0300-0600 11980 13710 15665 17880 21525 Fri 0300-0600 11980 13710 15665 17880 21555 Sat 0300-0600 11980 13710 15665 17880 21450 Sun 0600-0700 11980 13710 15150 15665 17880 21540 1500-1600 6025 7445 9790 9905 11945 13725 1600-1700 6020 7415 7445 9455 9905 11945 13725 1700-1800 6020 7415 7445 9355 9455 9905 11945 13670 1800-1900 6025 7385 7415 7445 9355 9455 9905 11790 11945 13670 1900-2000 1098 5860 6025 6095 7385 9355 9455 9875 9905 11790 11945 2000-2100 1098 5860 6025 6095 7355 7495 9355 9455 9875 11900 11945 2100-2200 1098 6025 6095 7355 7495 9355 9455 9875 11900 11945 2300-2400 7540 9585 9825 11775 11975 15550 Tibetan 0100-0200 7515 9670 11695 15610 17730 Mon 0100-0200 7500 9670 11695 15635 17730 Wed 0100-0200 7530 9670 11695 15640 17730 Fri 0100-0200 7500 9670 11695 15645 17730 Sun 0100-0200 7530 9670 11695 15655 17730 Tue 0100-0200 7515 9670 11695 15680 17730 Thu 0100-0200 7545 9670 11695 15690 17730 Sat 0200-0300 7470 9670 11695 15520 17730 Mon/Wed/Fri 0200-0300 7470 9670 11695 15540 17730 Sun/Tue/Sat 0200-0300 7470 9670 11695 15220 17730 Thu 0600-0700 17515 17715 21490 21625 21695 Mon 0600-0700 17515 17715 21490 21640 21695 Tue 0600-0700 17515 17715 21490 21655 21695 Wed 0600-0700 17515 17715 21490 21670 21695 Thu 0600-0700 17515 17715 21490 21685 21695 Fri 0600-0700 17515 17715 21490 21695 21700 Sat 0600-0700 17515 17715 21490 21610 21695 Sun 1000-1100 9690 15140 17580 Mon 1000-1100 9690 15140 17585 Wed 1000-1100 9690 15140 17595 Sun 1000-1100 9690 15140 17605 Tue 1000-1100 9690 15140 17810 Fri 1000-1100 9690 15140 17815 Thu 1000-1100 9690 15140 17865 Sat 1100-1200 7470 9350 11510 15375 Mon/Wed/Fri 1100-1200 7470 9350 11545 15375 Sun/Tue/Sat 1100-1200 7470 9350 11590 15375 Thu 1200-1400 7470 9350 11590 13625 15375 1500-1600 5780 9955 11625 11905 2200-2300 6005 7470 9835 2300-2400 6010 7470 7550 9875 Uyghur 0100-0200 7480 9480 9645 9690 17805 Sun 0100-0200 7480 9480 9645 9690 17815 Thu 0100-0200 7480 9480 9645 9690 17825 Mon/Wed/Fri 0100-0200 7480 9480 9645 9690 17850 Tue 0100-0200 7480 9480 9645 9690 17870 Sat 1600-1700 7285 7470 9725 12035 Tue/Thu 1600-1700 7285 7470 9725 12065 Mon/Wed/Fri 1600-1700 7285 7470 9725 12075 Sun 1600-1700 7285 7470 9725 12085 Sat Vietnamese 1400-1430 1503 1400-1500 7245 9400 9455 11605 12130 13735 2300-2400 1359 2330-0030 9920 11605 11965 15145 Sun/Tue/Thu/Sat 2330-0030 9920 11605 11965 15170 Mon/Wed/Fri (DX Re Mix News 29 Feb via DXLD) ** U S A. WORLD OF RADIO 1605: first airing Thursday Feb 23 at 2200+ on WTWW 9479; 2230- on WBCQ 7490; 0430+ UT Friday Feb 24 on WWRB 3195. On WRMI 9955: Sat 0900, 1600, 1830, Sun 0900, 1630, 1830, Mon 0600, 1230. Also on WRN via SiriusXM 120, Sat & Sun 1830, Sun 0930. Full schedule including many more webcasts: http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html WORLD OF RADIO 1605 monitoring: first broadcast confirmed Thursday Feb 23 at 2200 on WTWW 9479; but the next broadcast, 2230 on WBCQ 7490 was replaced by something else. Allan Weiner wrote us at 2202 that the time had been sold at the last minute, and he will let us know when he finds a new time for WOR on WBCQ (so far no word). Also confirmed after 0430 UT Friday Feb 24 on WWRB 3195. (BTW, WWRB is still gone from 5050). More WOR airings: UT Sunday 0500 on WTWW 5755; UT Monday 0330v on Area 51 via WBCQ 5110v-CUSB. WRMI 9955 times: Saturday 0900, 1600, 1830, Sunday 0900, 1630, 1830, Monday 0600, 1230. Also on WRN via SiriusXM 120, Sat & Sun 1830, Sun 0930. WORLD OF RADIO 1605: On WRMI 9955: Sat 1830, Sun 0900, 1630, 1830, Mon 0600, 1230; on WTWW 5755: UT Sun 0500; on Area 51 via WBCQ 5110v-CUSB: UT Mon 0330v. On Hamburger Lokalradio 5980: Tue 1030. On WRN via SiriusXM 120: Sat & Sun 1830, Sun 0930 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) World of Radio on WBCQ --- Hello Glenn, Allan tells me that 7490 is full now with the addition of "The Watchman Program" Thursday 5:30 to 6 eastern time (2230-2300 UT). Unfortunately this displaces World of Radio. I suggested that we run WOR weekly on 5110 after Allan's show starting next weekend, since Ragnar's Pirate Spotlight ran its last show last night. Al's show usually runs about 75 minutes, so we will run WOR at 9:15 pm eastern time Fridays (0215 UT Saturday) on 5110. Jean Shepherd will follow at 0245. I'll run WOR 1605 Sunday at 0330 on 5110 and WOR 1606 will start next weekend. Regards, Lw (Larry Will, Feb 25, WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WORLD OF RADIO 1605 monitoring: 5755, WTWW, UT Sunday Feb 26 after 0500 --- off the air! Other Tennesseans on 5085, 5890, 5935 were inbooming. WOR was playing on the WTWW-1 webcast. By 0643 check, 5755 was back on. WBCQ: Larry Will advises that there is still no time available on 7490 for WOR, so from March starting with #1606, they are going to put it on 5110v-CUSB, right after `Allan Weiner Worldwide` at 0215 UT Saturdays (the pirate show has ended its run), to be followed by `Jean Shepherd`, originally on the *other* WOR, at 0245. That puts us in very good company before & after. #1605 will play this Sunday night, 0330v UT Monday on 5110; it`s not clear to me whether the new airing will also replace that, which has been fortnightly, odd-numbered WOR editions only. Of course, those times will be effective for only two weeks; once silly DST is in effect, WOR will have to shift to 0115 UT Saturdays. Remaining WRMI 9955 times this week: Sunday 1830, Monday 0600, 1230, (and maybe 0430 UT Thursday unless 1606 is ready by then) (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1606, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WORLD OF RADIO 1605 monitoring: Feb 27 at 0616, the new 0600 UT Monday broadcast via WRMI 9955 is audible OK at peaks, but with continuous noise/whine Cuban jamming instead of pulsing, which continues upon Praga after 0630. Tnx a lot, Arnie! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 5109.77/USB, WBCQ Monticello ME; 0313-0435+, 25-Feb; Replay of oldies from WHOT New York; Pirate Hall of Fame spot at 0322; ID at 0324+ into WOR Jean Shephard show from 1971. SIO=4+44 with occasional transmitter hum (Harold Frodge, Michigan Area Radio Enthusiasts DXpedition, Brighton MI, Drake R8B + 500 ft. NEish unterminated beverage + 85 ft. TTFD, logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9330-CUSB, Feb 23 around 0700, WBCQ was still modulating so I did not log it, but at next check 1240 it was open carrier = dead air again, why? Did not get it checked again until 1438 when modulating, but probably resumed much earlier. 9330-CUSB, Feb 28 at 0641, WBCQ with dead air again; around 1430 next check, Radio 2:11 back in business (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WTWW, The Overcomer Ministry, 5085, Lebanon. Feb 25, 2012, Saturday. 0246-0252. US accented OM preacher, mentioned "The Lord" at 0248. Poor. Joburg sunrise 0359. WTWW, The Overcomer Ministry, 5755 Lebanon. Feb 25, 2012, Saturday. 0254-0302. US accented OM preacher telling me that "some people like to lie and slander", then moved on to Deuteronomy 28. After that, he invited questions from his audience. Whilst talking about Luke chapter one, he was cut off in mid flow by the ID "From the upper banks of the Cumberland River, this is WTWW, Lebanon, Tennessee". Followed by a song from Johnny Cash?? "These boots are made for walking". Joburg sunrise 0359 (Bill Bingham, RSA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Unless there was a feed mixup, this was NOT Overcomer, but Scriptures for America Worldwide = ex-Pastor Pete Peters, which is 24/7 on WTWW-1 on 5755/9479 except for QSO with Ted Randall and World of Radio breakaways. Was it // 5085?? ``Johnny Cash`` song was probably PPP himself; you should hear his version of ``Rawhide`` (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) ** U S A. 11580, WWCR Nashville TN (presumed); 1623-1635+, 23-Feb; English huxter waxing about bearing fruit; no BoH break. SIO=534 with transmitter hum & studio bleed from 13845. 13845 carrying the Keith Stone Treasure Broadcast ragging on the evil U.S.A. 13845 break at BoH but no ID. 13845 not carrying Dead Dr. Gene who was on 11775 at the time. EiBi lists WWCR 11580 as "irr" 1500-1600. Aoki & PrimeTime do not list WWCR on 11580 at this time (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, MARE Tipsheet Feb 24 via DXLD) I have already ``listed`` 11580 as M-F 15-17 UT ``test`` of WWCR-4 (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) 15825 and 7490, WWCR, Sat Feb 25 at 1426 are both airing the same ``Why Not?`` hymn sung by Martha Garvin, but far out of synch. Must be separate playbacks instead of combined. Yep, the Feb 1 program schedule shows her `Musical Memories` on both WWCR-1 and -2, Sat at 1400. 9990, Feb 27 at 2117, WTWW-2 is missing again/still, while superstrong WWCR-4, 9980 does the honors of splattering around WWV [q.v.], presumably until 2200. Look for a possible change of programming on 9990/5085 from March 1 with a new client following test with Brother Scare in February (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WWCR, 4840 Nashville. Feb 25, 2012, Saturday. 0218-0223. OM preacher preaching. Several "hear what I'm saying"s at about 0220-0222, one "Jesus" at 0222, also a "Jesus said" and a "life and death". Poor. Joburg sunrise 0359 (Bill Bingham, RSA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 15345.15, KJES, Vado NM; 2025, 18-Feb; Spanish robo-kids singing; BoH ID by VYL in Spanish. SIO=453+. 11715.14, KJES, Vado NM (presumed); 1401, 19-Feb; Series of M&W reading Bible passages in English; quit listening when W repeated same passage 4 times. No robo-kids. SIO=343+ Did find English robo-kids at 1537 (Harold Frodge, Port Hope MI, MARE Tipsheet Feb 24 via DXLD) 11715.16, KJES, Vado NM (presumed); 1614, 23-Feb; Series of M&W in Spanish with religious readings. SIO=3+54 (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, MARE Tipsheet Feb 24 via DXLD) 7555.09, KJES Vado NM; *0200, 25-Feb; ID by VYL in Spanish at s/on into Spanish hymn and Spanish robo-kids at 0201+. Good in LSB due to strong roar QRM; OC came up at 0158:30. Best Places ranks Vado as the 17th most secure places to live and the 18th least stressful in the U.S. (Harold Frodge, Michigan Area Radio Enthusiasts DXpedition, Brighton MI, Drake R8B + 500 ft. NEish unterminated beverage + 85 ft. TTFD, logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) Vado name probably derives from Arabic wadi - dry wash, gulley. 11715.1, Feb 25 at 1441, KJES is undermodulated, distorted, catechisms mixed with guitar + hymnsing, SNAFU. Suffers by comparison to the robochoir from Pyongyang adjacent on 11710 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15385.14, KJES Vado NM (presumed); 1913, 25-Feb; English robo-kids. SIO=443+, fady & hint of distortion. Not one single mention of Simon's Cafe, Ernesto's Mexican Food, or the Doña Ana County Fair (Harold Frodge, Michigan Area Radio Enthusiasts DXpedition, Brighton MI, Drake R8B + 500 ft. NEish unterminated beverage + 85 ft. TTFD, logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15385-, Feb 26 at 2053, KJES VG signal but very undermodulated with hum, Spanish singing and reciting. Can turn volume up to wide open without overload; and also seems to be some even weaker crosstalk on the modulation (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 13570, WINB Red Lion PA; 2046-2101+, 25-Feb; English interview with Back to the Bible person -- said he can read the Bible in 72 hours (an English translation of it, no doubt); WINB spot at 2058; had problems getting the next huxterage program going. SIO=333 with ute trills + remnant QRM from downfreq International Windshield Wiper Synchronization Service (Harold Frodge, Michigan Area Radio Enthusiasts DXpedition, Brighton MI, Drake R8B + 500 ft. NEish unterminated beverage + 85 ft. TTFD, logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. GERMANY: 15260, AWR with Wavescan DX programme from AWR hosted by Jeff White (this week? -- is Adrian Peterson OK?) with mentions of the HFCC conference and the talk given ”The enduring importance of SW for International Broadcasting” as well as discussion of Kulpsville SWL fest. Started out OK 2+54+4+4 but slowly fading to 1+53+42+ by end. 1540-1600* 19/Feb [Sunday] (Kenneth Vito Zichi, Port Hope MI, MARE Tipsheet Feb 24 via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. 11690, AUSTRIA, AWR Mossbrun [sic, it`s Moosbrunn, everyone please note; I see it misspelt a lot --- gh], 1921-1931 Feb 20; M announcer in listed Hausa; ID & Lagos, Nigeria contact info at 1925; http://awrnigeria.com URL; filler music until pulled the plug at 1929; back at 1930 with IS; English ID into French service; fair (Scott R. Barbour Jr. Intervale, N.H. USA, NRD-545, MLB-1, 200' Beverages, 60m dipole, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. 15315, Feb 23 at +1425-1430, Rodrigo`s ``Concierto de Aranjuez`` is playing again, apparent favorite secular fill music of Family Radio, an excellent choice --- hey, why not change format completely from religious to classical?! But 1430 into a language service, i.e. amid listed Malayalam hour, via Nauen, GERMANY per HFCC, via Wertachtal per Aoki and EiBi. 13655, Feb 27 at 1451, horn and piano music with flutter, sounds religious; 1454 S Asian language, 1458 YFR theme and talk to 1459*. HFCC shows 14-15 Sinhala via Wertachtal, GERMANY, 500 kW, 90 degrees, then 15-16 Kannada via Nauen, 500 kW, 105 degrees but did not observe whether that was equally audible here (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Transmissions of WYFR Family Radio in Urdu to SoAs: 1600-1700 on 7505 A-A 300 kW / 177 deg, with strange co-channel of TWR to CeAs: 1600- 1610 TWR's IS signal; 1610-1625 probably in Kazakh; 1625-1640 probably in Turkmen; 1640-1700 probably in Uzbek, sometimes TWR's ID in Russian (DX Re Mix News 29 Feb via DXLD) ** U S A. WHP 580 DX Test --- WHP Radio, 580 kHz, Harrisburg, PA will conduct a DX Test on Monday morning, Feb. 27, 2012 at 12:05, 12:33, 1:05, 1:33, 2:05, 2:33, 3:05, 3:33, 4:05 and 4:33 a.m. Eastern Time for one minute. The test will consist of voice announcements and Morse code identifications. [or simplified in UT: for one minute at 5 and 33 minutes past every hour from 0505 thru 0934 --- gh] Operations Manager R.J. Harris is also investigating the possibility of using the WHP daytime antenna pattern during the test periods. More information regarding the DX Test will be provided as it is developed. Reception reports and digital audio recordings may be directed to RJHarris[at] ClearChannel[ dot]com DXers can receive a WHP QSL card for correct reception reports by sending their reports along with a self-addressed envelope and return postage to the following address: Mr. R.J. Harris, Operations Manager WHP Radio 600 Corporate Circle Harrisburg, PA 17110 Many thanks to Mr. Harris who is also amateur radio operator W3HP. (Jim Pogue, Feb 23, mwdx yg via DXLD) Tried for the first few Morse code ID times scheduled UT Feb 27 on DX tests from 580 WHP and 1460 WTKT both in Harrisburg PA, but nothing conclusive: At 0633 UT on 580, heard 2 or 3 wavering pitches when tuned to 584-LSB on the DX-398, but this may have been coming from some other station`s musical sideband (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 580, WHP, Harrisburg PA, heard at 0905 UT on 27 February with special DX test for IRCA, NRC, et al. Male announcement of test and its purpose, sponsors and station address along with QSL guidelines, all under a slow speed CW ID. Good reception here with minimal QRM from CFRA Ottawa, and no sign of WKAQ, San Juan PR (Al Muick, Whitehall, Pennsylvania, USA, WinRadio G303e, Wellbrook ALA1530P active loop, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. QSL: WSM Nashville TN, 650, very nice date/time Aircastle of the South folder card in 176 days for English first-class mail report and one mint stamp, and email follow-up. QSL came two weeks after email follow-up. V/s Robin Roberts Ladisa. Also sent huge refrigerator magnet, station brochure, sticker and a WSM guitar pick. Jason Cooper, CE of WSM steered me in the right direction with my follow-up email, saying that he had forwarded my report on to Robin Roberts Ladisa (robin(at)wsmonline(dot)com) who, in his words, "heads up the QSL ministry here." They never did say whether my first report made it, but I suspect it might have gotten buried under mounds of station paperwork. Glad to have this nice QSL! 73 (Al Muick, Whitehall PA USA, Feb 26, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Cooper used to be with WWCR but had problems dealing with SW (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. THREE CHICAGO 50KW TO BE OFF AT SAME TIME Hi all, I received this today, many of you might remember John from DX Party Line. If he send me more I'll post it. 73 (Wayne Heinen, Feb 29, NRC-AM via Earl Higgins, DXLD) ----- Forwarded message from John Beck ----- Hi Wayne. I have appreciated the work of the NRC through the years - especially the help given to me when I was a producer at HCJB in Quito. In an effort to perhaps pay back some of that help I wanted to pass along the following. It is my understanding that WGN, WFCR and WBBM in Chicago will be off air from 2 AM to 5 AM [CST? = 08-11 UT] Friday morning [March 2]. It isn't often that these power houses are all off at the same time. It might give some of us the chance to catch some stations that are normally covered by these signals. This scheduled outage may be cancelled due to weather or other conflicts. I will send more information as I hear it. Thank you. John E. Beck, WB0RX (via Earl Higgins, MO, WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DXLD) This is fantastic advance notice to many in the middle two thirds or so of the continent, thanks for forwarding it Wayne. I assume WFCR is actually WSCR (670). I'm wondering what would cause all 3 to schedule downtime at the same time - it's not like they share a tower or a transmitter site. Yes, they are near each other, but not that close. Proof of Performance maybe? Tower painting company offering a special for one night only? ;-) Does anybody on this list have any contacts at KBOI, KLTT, KDWN, KKOH, KNOM, KAZM, WJAG, WTME or WXME with whom we might be able to arrange a quickie DX test, hopefully with day pattern/power and Morse code? If this past weekend has taught us anything, it should be just how well 50,000w of Morse code can get out! And that was on a crowded channel (1550). Sincerely, (Earl Higgins, RX-321 and 15 m end fed wire thing outside, St. Louis, Missouri, USA (W 90.32 N 38.65), dxldyg via DXLD) Earl- WXME-780 ME ran a DX Test a few years ago. If you were to dig through old DXN's, or conduct a search on those that have been digitized, you could find the guy's name. Sorry I can't be more specific about the date - perhaps someone else can (Marc DeLorenzo, South Dennis, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, NRC-AM via DXLD) I've got a contact in management at WJAG 780. I've sent him an email giving him a heads-up concerning WSCR, WBBM and WGN's off air status, but this is probably too short notice for WJAG to do anything. But anything is possible. Don`t hold your breath though. And I've got a contact at KOTZ, I just asked to see if we could get a short, impromptu DX test. Doubt it, but it cant hurt to ask (Paul Walker, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Oh my, I've lived here almost 20 years and have never caught WSCR off. More often when WGN and WBBM are off, it is Saturday morning. WGN and WBBM tx are within 2 miles of each other so the other goes off when there's work to be done on the tower to avoid shock. WSCR is a few miles south of those two. I certainly hope this outage has nothing to do with returning the idiocy of IBOC to all sports WSCR !! KAZ (Neil Kazaross, IL, NRC-AM via DXLD) [Later: the date was wrong! Planned for Saturday morning, March 10 instead] ** U S A. 680, Sat Feb 25 at 1301 UT, good signal from KNBR San Francisco with its only significant hour intellexually breaking away from stupid ballgames, `Commonwealth Club`, introducing this week`s speaker, Dr Margaret Hamburg, US FDA Commissioner. I wonder if KNBR retains a modicum of public service donated time or if CC has to purchase it, even at 5 am local? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Hi Guys: I just added a new station to the ULR and OVERALL LOGS. This is a station I have been trying to log for 3-4 Years with no luck, but tonight it is in there!! Heard under Semi-Local CFTR Toronto, WNZK-n Dearborn Hts., MICHIGAN is an ETHNIC broadcaster owned by the Birach Broadcasting Company. This station is Unique as it transmits on 690 kHz during the Daytime, but switches over to 680 at night!! This is similar to the Old CHYR and CHYR-7 stations from Leamington, ONTARIO many years ago! With this log I have now heard WKZN on both of their Frequencies 680 and 690!! On 680 kHz, this a NIGHT TIME Only Station with 2.5 KW. I was also able to match this up to the Live Web Feed!! Very happy to finally log this one after many attempts!! RADIO USED: SONY SRF-T615 ULR Barefoot. ULR LOG TOTALS are now 992 Stations Heard. 73...ROB VA3SW 680, WNZK-n Dearborn, Heights, MICHIGAN Feb/23/12 2302 EST ARABIC FAIR heard under CFTR Toronto. Live program of Arabic string music and Arabic vocals from 2302-2330 EST. Some Arabic talk and program appeared to be a LIVE concert with clapping after each musical selection. Program was called "Islamic Karbalah" as per their webpage schedule. In parallel to live web feed. Previously heard on 690 during daytime hours. I believe this is the ONLY AM station left in North America that still uses 2 different frequencies, now that CHYR is gone??? NEW STATION ULR # 992 2.5 KW Nights Only (Robert S. ROSS, London ONT, ODXA yg via DXLD) ** U S A. KHWG 750 NV Once Again Being Heard in Madison WI --- I am hearing KHWG 750 Fallon NV once again tonight at my QTH in Madison WI. This time I got a good listen to the 0000 PST (0200 CST) [0800 UT] four-station LID reported by others on this list that includes the playing of the National Anthem. The four stations are: KHWG 750 Fallon, KHWG-FM 100.1 Crystal NV, K244CE 96.7 Pahrump NV and K261BZ 100.1 Las Vegas NV. Station coverage is described as eastern CA, western UT, southern ID and OR and Las Vegas NV. A message is given in support of the troops, and this is followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and the Star-Spangled Banner. Format the rest of the time is Classic Country. I hope that others benefit from this info and try to get this one in their logbooks. 73 (Bill Dvorak, Madison WI, Feb 23, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. WPLX/1180 Off the Air. And, it will be a while. For those who play on the AM bands: WPLX-1180, a 5 kW station just across the River from Downtown Memphis is off the air. Don't expect it to return anytime soon. The station is owned by Pollack Broadcasting, but was leased to Thaddeus Matthews, a gentleman who describes himself as "The Baddest Man on the Radio." His show often focuses on race and recently got national attention when Mr. Matthews is said to have insulted a former Congressional candidate when he refused to shake her hand as not to get her "whiteness" on him. By all accounts, things went downhill quickly from there. The owners pulled the plug. Matthews sued. Basic positions of the parties can be found in this brief news article: http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/feb/22/radio-talk-show-host-thaddeus-matthews-again-air/?partner=yahoo_feeds Mr. Matthews has continued doing his show on the Internet. Frankly, it has been interesting. But, it appears that Mr. Matthews will be without a signal for the foreseeable future. Business breach/tort cases are what I know best. Too bad I'm not working on this. Fascinating. Did this station get heard by anyone? PB (Peter Baskind, J.D., LL.M. N4LI Grid: EM55 Germantown, TN 38138 901-413-4006, Feb 22, WTFDA via DXLD) ** U S A. WTKT 1460 DX Test --- WTKT Radio, 1460 kHz, Harrisburg, PA will conduct a DX Test on Monday morning, Feb. 27, 2012 at 12:15, 12:45, 1:15, 1:45, 2:15, 2:45, 3:15, 3:45, 4:15 and 4:45 a.m. Eastern Time for one minute. The test will consist of voice announcements and Morse code identifications. [or simplified in UT: for one minute at 15 and 45 minutes past every hour from 0515 thru 0946 --- gh] Operations Manager R.J. Harris is also investigating the possibility of using the WTKT daytime antenna pattern during the test periods. More information regarding the DX Test will be provided as it is developed. Reception reports and digital audio recordings may be directed to RJHarris[at] ClearChannel[ dot]com DXers can receive a WTKT QSL for correct reception reports by sending their reports along with a self- addressed envelope and return postage to the following address: Mr. R.J. Harris, Operations Manager 1460 The Ticket c/o Clear Channel Communications 600 Corporate Circle Harrisburg, PA 17110 Many thanks to Mr. Harris who is also amateur radio operator W3HP (Jim Pogue, Feb 23, mwdx yg via DXLD) Tried for the first few Morse code ID times scheduled UT Feb 27 on DX tests from 580 WHP and 1460 WTKT both in Harrisburg PA, but nothing conclusive: 0516 UT on 1460, maybe heard a V, and maybe some code at 0615; generally dominated by weak S Asian music (maybe KBRZ Missouri City = Houston TX, the only ETHnic listed in NRC AM Log, but supposed to be only 125 watts at night). (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 1460, WTKT, Harrisburg PA, heard at 0848 on 27 February with special DX test, with announcement as in WHP above and Morse. Fair signal, but fading bad at times in the mix of other US stations on channel. It appears, at least this hour, that the test was three minutes late in this slot. I'm glad I stuck around on-frequency to see if anything was going to be heard! (Al Muick, Whitehall, Pennsylvania, USA, WinRadio G303e, Wellbrook ALA1530P active loop, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Geez, if you publicize you are going to be on for one minute at a time at specific minutes, you are obligated to adhere to that (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. 1480 KNIT --- Found an interesting thread on radio.info.com discussion boards regarding KNIT 1480. They have been silent for a while due to multiple copper thefts, including the entire ground system(!). The good news is at least one of the thieves is in jail, awaiting trial for the copper theft. They are rebuilding with a new CP with a "modified pattern" and a "new tower layout". The poster indicated they anticipated being on the air "in a few months". Another poster said they will have new call letters, assigned Friday (2/17): KBXD (Bruce Winkelman AA5CO, Tulsa, OK, Feb 23, NRC-AM via DXLD) That`s The Metroplex TX outlet (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. I got into it last night with someone on Star Chat who kept INSISTING that KFBK-1530 in Sacramento has the strongest groundwave signal of any station in the US!? Used something about 5632.70 mV/m at 1 km or somesuch as his rationale. Puh-LEEEEZE. KFBK doesn't get out much east of Reno/Carson City in the daytime, and that doesn't even BEGIN to touch the 450+ mile radius of KFYR-550 in Bismarck, ND, which wins that honor going away. 73, (Rick Dau, South Omaha, Nebraska, IRCA via DXLD) KFBK does have the highest RMS field at 1 km (and unless I'm calculating wrong it seems KSTP, which has a similar-type antenna, has the highest RfccMS field at 1 km for 1 kW of applied input power.? BTW KFBK's RMS field is actually 3126.79 mV/m @ 1 km nighttime, 3545.89 mV/m @ 1 km daytime, and KSTP is 511.77 mV/m @ 1 km @ 1 kW daytime (non-directional - nighttime they run directional from a different site that does not use Franklins).? All that is moot, though, with the high groundwave losses at that end of the band, even though Sacramento and surrounding area does have good ground conductivity. (I think part of it is "15" or "30" on the map.)? I have heard KFBK at noon in El Cajón, CA, but that was near-winter-solstice daytime skywave. OK so this isn't 450 miles... but how's this - http://www.mediafire.com/?fjne6cs5z524zu2 - for 16.4 watts ERP (actually 5 kW, but in a deep null) at 181 miles, using only a small radio's (SRF-59, then PL-606) built-in ferrite loopstick at 1:45pm PST (although it was on Dec 23)?? (There is a little competition from co- channel XECL off the back side of the loopstic's pattern.)? With efficiency like that, I wonder how far 50 kW on 540 kHz (or 2 MW on 153 kHz) with a Franklin antenna would go before the signal is undetectable even on a beverage?? BTW try beating *THAT* efficiency in the north central U.S. ;) 73, (Stephen Airy, south of El Cajón, east of La Mesa, CA, ibid.) ** U S A. DX Tests update - PLEASE GIVE WIDEST POSSIBLE DISSEMINATION I double-checked today to make sure we were on track all looks good for both tests. Here is an "edited" version of what I got back from Dave Harris (I don't want to give away too much as we want to ensure everyone stays honest): "Yes Jim, we are on track. The test will begin at 1:00 AM Pacific time on Sunday Morning and last for half an hour. There will be a full minute of Morse Code at the top of each five minute segment. The Morse Code text will be //deleted// at 1000 Hz followed by the same sequence at 1500 Hz. The speed is about 12 WPM. There will be an occasional announcement indicating that the station is engaged in a test, and there will be a mix of //unique music// and //more unique music//. We will be running day power (50 kW) and day pattern during the test. I am really looking forward to this event and hope it proves successful. 73, David" I also checked with RJ Harris at WTKT and WHP and he said everything is set to go for his tests too. Good luck everyone - I'm hoping many of us will log some new ones this weekend. 73, (Jim Pogue, Feb 23, mwdx yg via DXLD) In case anyone needs them, here are the details for this weekend's tests: KRPI 1550 DX Test --- KRPI Radio, 1550 kHz, Ferndale, WA will conduct a DX Test on Sunday morning, Feb. 26, 2012 from 4:00 to 4:30 a.m. Eastern Time [0900-0930 UT]. The test will consist of voice announcements, Morse code identifications, distinctive music, and audio tones. Chief Engineer David Harris has indicated the station will be using their daytime power and antenna pattern for the test. Reception reports and digital audio recordings may be directed to 1550radio[at] gmail[dot] com. DXers can receive a KRPI QSL card for correct reception reports by sending their reports along with a self- addressed envelope and return postage to the following address: Mr. David Harris, Chief Engineer KRPI Radio P.O. Box 3213 Ferndale, WA 98248 Many thanks to Mr. Harris who is also amateur radio operator AC7OB. (Jim Pogue, Feb 23, mwdx yg via DXLD) 1550, recorded the entire 0900-0930 UT Feb 26 DX test from KRPI Ferndale WA. Haven`t had time to listen to the whole thing with clock synchronized, but spot checking circa 0920, definite Morse code ``VVV VVV VVV DE KRPI KRPI KRPI`` copied several times, alternating at least two different pitches, the higher one coming thru much better. Very heavy QRM including Mexican music and multiple SAHs, so doubt anything else would have made it. Thanks for the test! Receiver FRG-7; antenna, usual mostly E-W longwire of about 30 meters (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I had not read about the two-tone code plans before I monitored them (gh) [later] 1550, now I`ve had a chance to listen to my entire recording of the KRPI Ferndale WA DX test, Feb 26 at 0900-0930 UT. This was on the FRG-7 with E-W longwire as I slept, so no manipulation of antenna or side-tuning. Dominant signal thruout was XENU with ranchera music, see MEXICO. But every 5 minutes could copy Morse code IDs: VVV VVV VVV DE KRPI KRPI KRPI. Alternated lo and hi pitches. Sometimes I heard it three times, or four, or finally, eight times in a row, tho may have missed some due to fading. 0905: lo/hi/lo; 0910 lo/hi/lo/hi but weaker; 0915 lo/hi/lo/hi also weak; 0920 lo/hi/lo/hi, better; 0925 best: lo/hi/lo/hi/lo/hi/lo/hi. Sometimes the lo pitch was clearest, sometimes the hi pitch. This may have been affected by the tone setting on my playback thru hifi amp and speakers. BTW, I only read later of the plans to alternate pitches. Never could make out any of the Punjabi music others have reported in between, with multiple SAHs from multiple signals, occasional ranchera peaks from XENU. Clip of the final spurt at 0925: http://www.w4uvh.net/KRPIdx.rm My time synch may have been slightly off but final part in clip seemed to start more like 0926, and lasted 3.5+ minutes; each ID sequence took a bit less than a semiminute. There were many reports of this, altho didn`t make it to PA, MA, east TN. KRPI got out better to the east due to direxional pattern, and I was about to claim to be the most southeasterly, but Jim Pogue in Memphis barely heard it too. Distance-between-cities calculator shows 1513 statute miles from Ferndale to Enid; the site-to-site would be slightly different (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) KRPI DX Test was received in East Japan (Ibaraki, Niigata, Kanagawa). http://nodatec.air-nifty.com/blog/files/120226_0904_1550.mp3 by Nodatec, Ibaraki-pref. http://homepage2.nifty.com/go-ya/mp3/1550AM535_120226_1827-31e.mp3 by Echigoya, Niigata-pref (S. Hasegawa, Japan, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Post-DX Test report from David Harris at KRPI Please share this with anyone who may be interested. Also, please note David's request for an SASE if you would like to receive a QSL card for the DX Test. From David: In late January, 2012 KRPI, AM 1550, was contacted by Jim Pogue from the IRCA/NRC Broadcast Test Committee asking if the station would consider conducting a DX test. My immediate reaction was YES! The management had no objections so the date was set. Our live broadcasting ends at midnight when we switch to pre-recorded programming, so it was easy to set up for the test. I made a recording of a brief announcement identifying the station and alerting listeners that a test was in progress until 1:30 AM PST and that normal programming would resume at that time. A microcontroller was programmed to send Morse code at about 10 WPM. The message was VVV VVV VVV de KRPI KRPI KRPI at 1000 Hz followed by the same sequence at 1500 Hz. Finally, an iPod was loaded with old time fiddle tunes. About 5 minutes before the test was scheduled we switched to day power and pattern (50 kW). At 1:00 AM the voice recording was played, followed by the Morse code segment, followed by a musical selection. That pattern was repeated every five minutes or so for the next half hour. At least once the musical selection was East Indian instead of a fiddle tune. In the middle of things I received a call from a listener in California - I would have loved to chat, but I had to be a bit abrupt since I had my hands full. After the test ended I received another call from a listener in Nashville and had a nice conversation. So far I have heard directly from listeners in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Michigan, Nebraska, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Manitoba, Ontario, and Japan. We often receive reports from the AM DX enthusiasts on vacation in Lapland with their extraordinary long wire antennas and NRD receivers but we rarely hear from domestic DXers. This has been an exciting experience for me and it has been my pleasure to participate in this DX test. All verified reports accompanied by a SASE will receive our QSL card which will fit into an ordinary business envelope. Best regards to all, (David Harris, AC7OB, ex K2RRH, via IRCA via DXLD) ** U S A. http://www.radio-info.com/news/kansas-citys-radio-bach-1660-am-to-become-kmbz-business-channel Monday, February 27, 2012 --- Kansas City's "Radio Bach" 1660 AM to become "KMBZ Business Channel" Entercom will use KXTR [sic] (1660) to extend the brand of its news/talk KMBZ-AM/FM (980/98.1), and will drop the classical music format in a matter of days. The report from Kansas City P.R. agency Bottom Line Communications is that there could be a soft launch this week, with an official launch on Monday, March 5. Featured on the air will be familiar Kansas City personality Mike Shanin, hosting "Power Lunch" from 11am to 1pm. Big sister KMBZ will function as the general newsroom and traffic supplier for the "KMBZ Business Channel." While 1660 will contribute business content back to KMBZ. National affiliations include the Wall Street Journal Radio shop and Bloomberg Radio. Entercom is donating 3,700 CDs in the current Radio Bach library to Kansas Public Radio. Entercom GM Dave Alpert says "we know classical music fans will be in good hands with Kansas Public Radio." (via Artie Bigley, WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DXLD) Another version: RADIO BACH REPLACED WITH KMBZ ‘BUSINESS CHANNEL’ --- John Landsberg February 27th, 2012 --- Mike Shanin [caption] http://www.bottomlinecom.com/radio-bach-replaced-with-kmbz-business-channel/ Kansas City’s classical music station, Radio Bach on AM 1660, will be going away and replaced with the new “KMBZ Business Channel on 1660,” reliable sources have told Kansas City Public Relations agency Bottom Line Communications. The station could go “live” this week with an official start date slated for Monday, March 5. Former KMBZ afternoon talk show co-host and Kansas City radio icon Mike Shanin will host a new show titled “The Power Lunch with Mike Shanin” from 11 am to 1 pm Monday through Friday. Radio Bach was known for several years as “KXTR.” Plans call for the new station to be a business extension of Entercom- Kansas City’s KMBZ brand and will entail a huge amount of cross promotion between the two stations. KMBZ Newsradio (FM 98.1/AM 980) will provide 1660 all of its local and national news updates, breaking news, weather, traffic, etc., while 1660 will provide KMBZ all of its business and market updates and business news. The all-business station is designed to build on the success of KMBZ with programming involving a mix of Wall Street Journal Radio, Bloomberg Radio and local shows with plans to add more local shows between 9-11 am right away, and in the future a local afternoon drive wrap up show. Radio Bach has already donated its musical playlist of 3,700 CD’s to Kansas Public Radio at the University of Kansas. “Kansas Public radio has seven stations and an HD station at KPR2 and they have a broad and modern platform,” says Dave Alpert, Vice President and General Manager of Entercom Kansas City. “We know classical music fans will be in good hands with Kansas Public Radio.” “The addition of these classics to our library will help us in some small way keep the spirit of KXTR alive here at KPR.” KPR’s classical music director said in a news release the donation will be a great addition to the KPR music library. “We’re thrilled that the people at Entercom so generously thought to donate the KXTR music library to Kansas Public Radio,” Mark Edwards says. “The addition of these classics to our library will help us in some small way keep the spirit of KXTR alive here at KPR.” (via Tim Kridel, NRC-AM via DXLD) Is that `our` Dave Alpert? Last we knew, he was in Los Angeles [NO]. Sigh, I knew it wouldn`t last. In fact, I am quite surprised classical 1660 lasted as long as it did. Apparently they are not going to keep it on an FM IBOC channel either, HD2 on 96.5, since they refer to KPR. Their website leads to nothing but a player which is still classical for now (Glenn Hauser, UT Feb 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I wish them luck with the business format. I think they'll need it due to the high position they have on the AM dial and in my opinion, many people don't listen to business formatted radio stations which may hurt them in the long run. The station is streaming its classical programming at http://www.radiobach.com (Larry Stoler, Feb 27, IRCA via DXLD) Wow, that format held for almost eleven years and three call changes. Sad to see it go, but I can see where it would have had few listeners (Steve Francis, Alcoa, Tennessee, ibid.) For what it's worth, the KXTR call letters (for many years on 96.5) were retired when KMBZ-980's programming replaced KUDL-98.1's soft rock format several months ago. The KUDL call letters then went to 1660 (Paul Swearingen, Topeka KS, ibid.) KC had a business-format station on 1190 around 2001 before flipping to Radio Disney. I've got to wonder if the local market for business news is any better today (Larry Stoler, ibid.) Larry, I would think that a business-talk format would at least bring in enough advertising dollars to pay the power bill - unfortunately more so than the classical music format, which was doomed when it left FM for AM, 1250 at first and then up the dial to 1660. With KMBZ's affiliation, that format may have a fighting chance to survive. On the other hand, I wouldn't be surprised if this latest programming shift was merely a placeholder for 1660. The original classical music KXTR-96.5 was locally-oriented, with local programming and news and public service announcements and survived nicely until the owners received an offer they couldn't refuse for the frequency. At least this newest change wasn't to Spanish, religion, or mindless sports talk. The AM market in and around KC is completely saturated with every permutation possible of those. What we REALLY need is a station that plays bluegrass! Okay, so we actually have that via KPR, or KANU-91.5, all Sunday afternoon, along with a nice mixture of folk music. So - anyone care to speculate what the next programming choice for 1660 might be? -Paul Swearingen, Topeka, NRC-AM via DXLD) Probably one of the 3 you mentioned the market was saturated with. That's what usually happens. Someone once said that when people were left to do as they pleased, they mostly imitated each other. In terms of Radio (or probably even TV) programming, that tends to be true as often as not (Russ Edmunds, 15 mi NNW of Philadelphia, ibid.) 1660, Feb 28 at 0648 UT, classical music from KUDL Kansas City KS audible beneath stupid sports talk about the Colts, either Fargo or Waco, both of which are ESPN. The *only* regularly audible classical station on AM in mid-America is doomed, as Feb 27 press reports emerged that Entercom is converting 1660 from ``Radio Bach`` to ``KMBZ Business Channel``, effective March 5, but ``soft launch`` expected sooner. The ex-KXTR classical CD collexion has already been given to Kansas Public Radio (go away, you elitists). Sigh, I knew it wouldn`t last. In fact, I am quite surprised classical on 1660 lasted as long as it did. Apparently they are not going to keep it on an FM IBOC [IBACH?] channel either; has been HD2 on 96.5. Their website http://www.radiobach.com leads to nothing but a player which is still classical for now, playing `Sleeping Beauty` ballet music which is hardly bachish (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1700, Feb 25 at 1309 UT, frequency dominated a few minutes earlier by XEPE is now with stand-up comedy in English about male prostitutes, ha ha, no doubt KKLF, The Metroplex TX with its new format since Feb 1 uniquely on this frequency (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. North American - Talking Things: 1710, Howell MI; 2346- 0051+, 24/25-Feb; Loop ad for Regal Recycling "on Lucy Road, just south of Grand River"; "Top dollar for scrap metal"; "If it's metal, it's money." Fair (Harold Frodge, Michigan Area Radio Enthusiasts DXpedition, Brighton MI, Drake R8B + 500 ft. NEish unterminated beverage + 85 ft. TTFD, logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. KMBZ Kansas City Adds "Coast to Coast AM" http://www.bottomlinecom.com/kmbz-lands-coast-to-coast-am Began yesterday and runs midnight to 4 a.m (Tim Kridel, Feb 28, ABDX via DXLD) It should be noted that this is part of a whole series of affiliate changes for Coast to Coast AM. Now that Cumulus has swallowed the old Citadel stations, it has pulled C2C from most of its talkers, replacing it with the in-house Red Eye Radio (which is itself a merger of the former Midnight Trucker Network out of WBAP and "Red Eye Radio" from KABC.) In addition to KCMO in Kansas City, other former C2C affiliates that have switched to Red Eye include WPRO 630/WEAN 99.7 in Providence, WMAL 630/105.9 in Washington and WNBF 1290 in Binghamton. I know C2C has landed on WHJJ 920 in Providence. Not sure about the other markets, and that's not a comprehensive list in any case. s (Scott Fybush, ibid.) ** U S A. PBS GREAT PERFORMANCES: MEMPHIS: RADIO ANGLE Friday February 24, 2012 @ 9:00pm on OETA Winner of the 2010 Tony Award for Best New Musical, "Memphis" turns the radio dial back to the 1950s to tell the story of a white DJ named Huey Calhoun (Chad Kimball), whose love of music transcends racial lines and airwaves. His romantic interest is Felicia Farrell (Montego Glover), a young black singer whose career is on the rise, but who can't make the break out of segregated clubs on her own. When the two collaborate, her soulful sound reaches radio audiences everywhere, and the golden era of early rock & roll takes flight. But as things heat up, whether the world is really ready for their music - and their love - is put to a test. With a Tony-winning book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro ("I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change") and Tony-winning score with music by Bon Jovi founding member David Bryan, the production is directed by Christopher Ashley ("Xanadu") and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo ("Jersey Boys"). TVPG This content was originally created in high definition This program is presented with 5.1 surround sound. Episode #3612 (OETA program guide in advance via DXLD) 2.5 hours, original airing Feb 24. Look for repeat or availability (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** U S A. 60 METERS NEWS (Recommended Practices). With new privileges on the 60 meter band beginning March 5th, the ARRL announced this past week "Recommended Practices" which were based on survey results and subsequent research. The committee declined to propose a specific band plan for 60 meters at this time, but instead created a "Recommended Practices" document now available at: http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Regulatory/Recommended_Practices_for_60_Meters%20-%20Version%206_4.pdf Also, look for the April issue of QST magazine tp include an article by ARRL Regulatory Information Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, that will offer a detailed discussions of the new 60 meter privileges and recommended operating practices (Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 1051, February 27, 2012, Editor Tedd Mirgliotta, KB8NW, Provided by BARF80.ORG (Cleveland, Ohio), via Dave Raycroft, ODXA yg via DXLD) ** U S A. 13348-USB, LDOC Air Transat and MedLink. 1746 February 26, 2012. Phone patch with MedLink and the Air Transat 520 pilot regarding a patient that became ill. MedLink advised to have the patient recline, give fruit juice and medics will meet upon arrival. Then operator, "New York terminating patch 1746." Excellent (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) So this transmission from NY Radio, I guess. What is LDOC? Louisiana Department of Correxions? (gh, DXLD) ** URUGUAY. Nueva captacion de 6075 CXA3 LV de Artigas, Artigas, esta vez desde Montevideo por el colega Rodolfo Tizzi, CX2ABP (lo conozco desde las epocas del DX Club del Uruguay/Grupo DX del Uruguay). Esta vez la fq es la nominal. En Feb 24, 2012 a las 1139. Ver http://youtu.be/iSv3zXuI4jk Como informaramos oportunamente, reactivada desde enero 2012. Algun splatter de Super Radio Deus es Amor (Brasil) en 6060 kHz. (Rodolfo Tizzi, CX2ABP, Montevideo via FB via YT via Horacio Nigro Geolkiewsky, Montevideo, Uruguay, Feb 24, lista condig yg via DXLD) ** UZBEKISTAN. See UNIDENTIFIED 17555 ** VANUATU. 3945, presumed R. Vanuatu, Port Vila, 0914-0946 Feb 28; Continuous talk in unID language thru BoH; mx at 0940; back to talk at 0945; very weak under band noise with the perpetual ham net on 3947- LSB not appearing until 1010 recheck (Scott R. Barbour Jr. Intervale, N.H. USA, NRD-545, MLB-1, 200' Beverages, 60m dipole, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VATICAN [non]. 5900, Radio Vaticana, Tinang. 2219-2245* 20/2, several long talks in Mandarin language with short instrumental music segments. Closed with a few minutes of the Vatican’s IS. Fair (Rich D'Angelo, Ten-Tec RX-340, Drake R-8B and an Eton E1, 500-foot wire essentially north for the RX-340 and 250-foot wire essentially northeast for the R-8B and a whip antenna for the E1, Gifford Pinchot PA DX-pedition, March Australian DX News via DXLD) [and non]. 7250, Feb 28 at 0628, expecting VR via SMG to pop on with bigsig replacing nosig from Gardens, but never showed up by 0634, 0654. Can`t be propagation as VR`s usual weaksig for Africa on 7360 was audible; and at 0654, 7225 TWR Polish was sufficient via AUSTRIA (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA [non]. See CUBA: no El Hugazo this Sunday Feb 26 either. We later learned that he was back *in* Cuba to have a tumor removed, so guess will again be out of axion for a few weeks (gh, DXLD) ** VIETNAM. 12019.3, Voice of Vietnam; 1336-1341+, 26-Feb; M&W in English with Vietnamese & world news; ID at 1339+ into Cultural Events in VN This Week. SIO=333- with ute clatter, which USB takes out (Harold Frodge, Michigan Area Radio Enthusiasts DXpedition, Brighton MI, Drake R8B + 500 ft. NEish unterminated beverage + 85 ft. TTFD, logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIETNAM [and non]. UNKNOWNISTAN: 9920, 1237, 26-Feb; Up/Down continuous siren jammer; audio sounds like religious program in Tagalog or Pidgin. FEBC Philippines listed. LSB cuts out the siren (Harold Frodge, Michigan Area Radio Enthusiasts DXpedition, Brighton MI, Drake R8B + 500 ft. NEish unterminated beverage + 85 ft. TTFD, logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** YEMEN. 9780, NORTH YEMEN, Radio Yemen (Sana’a) at 0015 in Arabic with talk, ID, and traditional Arabic music (Poor Jan 21 CL) (Carolyn Lysandrou, Bloomington, IN, Kenwood TS-590, Gap Titan DX, Your Reports, March ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ID, really? Has been off the air for a long time. HFCC still has it registered but at 03-19 only; Aoki shows several blox adding up to 24 hours, but with (x) meaning off the air. WRTH 2012 shows 03-22, but double-dagger for ``inactive at time of publication``. Not in EiBi at all, and none of them have anything else on 9780 at 0015, let alone in Arabic, nor on adjacent frequencies. Others please check this out. Not even a carrier here on 9780 at 0011 Feb 29. Possibly was reactivated as result of recent turmoil? But this log was before recent change of leadership. Last Yemen items in DXLD were from last Nov and Oct, but only for the other frequency 6135v, not even that one since then, and I haven`t yet searched how far back to find the last report of 9780 being heard. `North` Yemen in the sense of an historical separate radio country (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) History 2011 - my last Yemen log on 31 mb: YEMEN, 9780.148, Arabic singer of YRTC Radio Yemen, Sana`a. Tiny S=3-4 signal, hit later by REE Noblejas in DRM mode co-channel (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 19, 2011, dxldyg via DX LISTENNING DIGEST) ** ZAMBIA. Christian Voice. 4965 Lusaka. Feb 25, 2012, Saturday. 0225- 0233. Christian songs and a YL telling me to "Find healing in the name of Jesus". She wants to pray with me even though I don't think Jesus Christ is my Lord and Saviour. I have to admire her perseverance. No ID heard, but also no doubt. Good, but a bit fadey. Joburg sunrise 0359 (Bill Bingham, RSA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZAMBIA. ZNBC1, 5915 Lusaka. Feb 24, 2012, Friday. 1904-1909. Lunda (Fridays only), sounds like current affairs. Fair-good. Joburg sunset 1644. ZNBC2, 6165 Lusaka. Feb 24, 2012, Friday. 1909-??, Western pop songs. ID at 1914 "Music coming from the Zambian National Broadcasting Corporation". ID at 1927 "Radio Two". Fair, apart from a quite rapid but slight SAH caused by Chad. Listenable, fine to go to sleep with. Joburg sunset 1644 (Bill Bingham, RSA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE. Voice of Zimbabwe, 4828 Gweru. Feb 25, 2012, Saturday. 0217-0218. Strong open carrier. Gone at later check, 0315. Good. Joburg sunrise 0359 (Bill Bingham, RSA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 1190, Feb 25 at 1306 UT, something in Spanish, fragments of ID, ``esuchando la V [? or a rhyming letter], la estación más importante``, lost in too much QRM. By Googling on the frequency and the slogan, I was at first pleased to get some hits, on the Koje/komex list, but a single pdf page http://www.tapiokalmi.net/dx/koje/10OCT2011-KOMEX-1kW-or-more.pdf contains all the frequencies, and the only station shown for that is XEI 1300 Morelia. This could easily be a US station, such as the previously heard KNUV in Phoenix, [Feniz?] Arizona; do they call themselves that? Not on their homepage http://www.onda1190am.com/ but maybe would hear it by taking time to listen to their stream, if only the flash player would work (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. An unknown on 1610 kHz --- Heard that accordion music playing again last nite around 0430z, but was very weak and then faded away (KB7WOX, Pacific Northwest? Feb 24, ABDX via DXLD) Hi. You have not said where you are, I hear Dutch accordion music most nights from about 1610 up to 1656 all coming from Holland or Belgium, some of these stations - pirates run powers up to 5 kW using old US transmitters left from the second WW. I know this to be a fact as I have seem them stored down in there basement level, each station coming on for about 3 tunes then off, only to be replaced by another station doing the same, in all about 10-15 stations each evening (Mike Rae, England, ibid.) UNIDENTIFIED. 4050/usb, ’F-in’ Fishermen’ chatting with every other word as a cuss word from one of the guys. The other one was a bit tamer, only cussing every 4-5 words, but a good 90% of the cussing consisting of some variant of the ’F’ word & about 8% being a version of ’pain in the ass’. Most (F-ing) entertaining. 3+5443 0326-0331 19/Feb 4125/usb, Fisherman with a slightly cleaner vocabulary but like the other two, no location cues given to suggest where they may be. 4+54+4+4 0334-0336* 19/Feb (Kenneth Vito Zichi, Port Hope MI, MARE Tipsheet Feb 24 via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 4785, 1019-1035 Feb 27; LA music with M announcer between selections; presumed Spanish though not 100% sure; presumed ad/promo at 1029; (Tentative) ID & sounded like "..onda corta.." made it through; back to music at 1031; fair at tune/in and rapidly deteriorating under band noise; unusable by 1035; I see that D. Sharp- Australia, recently logged Campinas, Brazil here but I suspect either a Bolivian or Peruvian. GeoClock 9.0 grey line favored both, while Campinas, in eastern Brazil, was well into local daytime; monitored frequency on the 28th from 0930 to 1030+ & heard nothing; not even a carrier (Scott R. Barbour Jr. Intervale, N.H. USA, NRD-545, MLB-1, 200' Beverages, 60m dipole, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Nothing around 4785 listed for Bolivia or Peru. LA SW Logs has this now under things needing checking out: 4784.98v B UNID bras? [1007] And these in the inactive etc. file: 4785v B WS R Brasil, Campinas SP [0702-1110/2110-0310](4.45-5.0) Jul09 B PP (irr)(r)"Radio Brasil" 4785.1v B R Caiari, Porto Velho RO [*0850-1040/2130-0402](4.6-5.3) Oct07 B PP (skd Jul04 0900-1400/1900-0300) *0848->0857 0300->0958* (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) UNIDENTIFIED. UNKNOWNISTAN: 4855, OM talk in language (it had ’clicks’ in it -- what linguists would call ’bilabial plosives’ so either an African language or Quechua. The latter would make sense if this were Radio La Hora from Cusco Perú?). The talk had some LONG pauses, sounding like he was describing something but way too slow & unemotional to be sports play-by-play (unless he was describing a curling match!). A parade, perhaps? Who knows. Anyway, just OFF during one of those pauses with no fanfare obvious ID & this time doesn’t match with R La Hora’s sked, so something special? Something else? Any ideas? In Well 3+4+4 0400-0418* 19/Feb (Kenneth Vito Zichi, Port Hope MI, MARE Tipsheet Feb 24 via DXLD) [Full-throttle curling can get pretty exciting! -Harold Frodge?] It seems that R. La Hora has not been reported since Sept 2010, and then it was varying on 4857.3, according to DXLD archives, and LA SW Logs. Apparently nothing currently active on 4855; maybe a mixing product from ISWBC frequencies higher up? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Country ?? Radio Misiones Int., Honduras (Aoki) or Radio Pueblo, Dominica (EiBi) ?? 5010, Location ?? Feb 25, 2012, Saturday. 0233-0242. Definitely uncertain about this one. Something there, sounds Spanish but really unreadable. Latin American music, undoubtedly "La Bamba", heard "hariba hariba" (sp??), followed by OM talking. Very poor. Joburg sunrise 0359. [That`s Dominican Republic, a different country. arriba2 = ``upward``. Both these are VERY sporadic if at all. Altho I haven`t heard it, conceivably could be 15 kHz leapfrog mixing product of RHC 5040 over Rebelde 5025, which has been heard in the other direxion, 5055. Next time, see if there is an audio match. Very unlikely considering your next log at very poor level. Or maybe a further displaced leapfrog from higher bands --- gh] Cuba ?? Radio Habana Cuba ?? 5040 Habana ?? Feb 25, 2012, Saturday. 0245-0246. Spanish talk, but unreadable. Very poor, much atmospheric QRN, would be impossible to ID. Joburg sunrise 0359 (Bill Bingham, RSA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 6023, Feb 25 at 1430 a carrier here with no modulation detectable, poor but at least equal in strength to 6025, RFA TINIAN, in Cantonese which is a language normally not worth jamming. I previously observed the same on Dec 9 as in DXLD 11-50, but no explanations were forthcoming; standard remark about Avogadro`s number (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. NoAM Pirate, 6925 USB, Strange goings on! Twice today I have heard a pirate attempting to imitate a US Military EAM message (Emergency Action Message). From *2218-2223* a station that did not identify broadcast an Alfa-numeric message (predominately) letters, not numbers. "E2I" was used as the message prefix. Later when I tuned in at 2310 an alfa message was in progress that ended at 2314. 2/25/12 Also today an Unid Pirate on 6925 usb. I heard faint music at 1430 followed by another song and then silence at 1439 Poor signal. Also at 1446 faint music for about minute than gone. 2/25/12 (Steve Handler, Buffalo Grove IL, NASWA yg via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 7804 approx., Feb 28 at 0642, as I was tuning by feel for AFN-7811, heard some SSB music and figured this was it until I looked at the dial, but then it went off before I could nail the frequency (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 9750, Feb 29 at 0643* tone test and off a few sex after I intuned. Tho not known for such behavior, possibly NHK which is destined to start at 0655 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 10001, Feb 23 at 1244, continuous ute noise hash slightly on hi side of WWV/WWVH, preventing me from copying the propagation minute at 1245. Whence and what is this?? George McClintock has also noticed it and is no doubt relieved that it can`t be coming from WTWW 9990 which is not on the air yet. NIST needs to be more vigilant in protecting its frequencies (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Hello Glenn, I attach a clip from 13740 last Thursday. 1559 UT, it is the end of Key To The Kingdom religious program. Next is an address with a Lahore GPO address. I cannot find any AOKI listing for this transmission up to 1600 UT. There doesn´t seem to be any close-down ID in there, lingo is Urdu, writes Alokesh. Has Bible Voice extended with a new segment? Perhaps audio from the Canadian "Key To the Kingdom"? Any ideas on this one most welcome. Best regards, (Geir Stokkeland, N-6390 Vestnes, Norway, Sunday Feb 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I forwarded clip to dxldyg and: Geir, That certainly is a huge steady signal. I don`t know, but I see in HFCC as of Feb 23 that MBR has a Sunday-only transmission until 1515 that changed azimuth Feb 12, so likely that has been further extended. You might ask Walter Brodowsky. 13740 1500 1515 41,49NW WER 250 90 -30 217 1 301011 110212 D 14800 D MBR MBR 19699 A3wim 13740 1500 1515 41,49NW WER 250 75 -15 217 1 120212 240312 D 10700 D MBR MBR 19700 A3wim (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) 13740, 23.02 1559, unID ending "Key To The Kingdom" religious program in English, followed by sign-off announcement with a GPO Lahore box number mentioned in Urdu, followed by transmitter off. Thanx Alokesh and Glenn for checking the clip. No readily found online note for this transmission found, but likely an extension of the Bible Voice / Wertachtal schedule past the AOKI listed 1515 UT closedown. Audio clips of everything listed in my logs are normally available if someone would like to check (Geir Stokkeland, Vestnes, Norway, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 15190v, 1906, 1959, 22-Feb; at 1906 found weak preachy- sounding station centering about 15190.03; never improved to the point where I could detect language. Recheck at 1959 found very weak station (no copy of voice) centering about 15189.90 which is where I've found Inconfidência lately. Per EiBi & Aoki, R. Pilipinas is a possibility for the early signal (they disagree on language, but list them as signing off at 1930). Equatorial Guinea in the picture? (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, MARE Tipsheet Feb 24 via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 15340, 24/Feb 0006, sinal muito fraco onde ouço falas masculina e feminina que se alternam, mas eu não consigo identificar o idioma. Nada em Aoki e Eibi. Sem condições de gravação devido a fraca intensidade do sinal (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brasil, condiglist yg via DXLD) nor in HFCC. Maybe HCJB Australia`s night frequency by mistake in the morning?? (gh, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 15435, Feb 26 at 1427, in case it`s a weekly broadcast, no signal, seven days after I heard unID Arabic here, then carrier to 1429*. However, wish I had tuned in several minutes earlier to be sure. I had also checked several intervening days with nothing (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 15535, Feb 23 at 1330, very poor signal, I thought I heard a ``Voice of Turkey`` ID go by in English, but nothing is scheduled here, least of all VOT even before 1330, and their nominal English frequency at 1330, 12035 exhibited a JBA carrier when checked a bit later at 1333 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 15555, Feb 23 at 1256 poor signal with het or tone test. Nothing scheduled except in Aoki, V. of Tibet via TAJIKISTAN on 15558 at 1300-1316, which would normally get jammed by Firedrake on 15555 or 15560; see CHINA (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Where is WYFR's English relay on 17555 kHz at 1000 UT coming from? A powerful signal in E. Europe. I checked a few SW databases and tried to google it up but didn't find anything. The relay lasted to 1200 UT. I started listening at about 1002. Not sure if it starts at 1000 or earlier. Thanks, (Sergei S., Feb 25, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Vladimir Kovalenko from Tomsk writes in open_dx yg that he also listened to that transmission. He supposes it comes from Taiwan (instead of 9465 kHz which was silent). (Aleksandr Diadischev, Ukraine, ibid.) Family Radio 17555 kHz --- Dalle 1040 UT stò sentendo sui 17555 kHz i predicatori di Family Radio in inglese; non risulta nulla neppure sul loro sito http://worldwide.familyradio.org/graphics/schedules/ Ciao (Matteo, Italy? 1110 UT Feb 25, bclnews.it yg via DXLD) Ciao Matteo, mi arrivava bene anche a me ed ha chiuso alle 1200 UT. Quella è comunque una frequenza già utilizzata in passato da Family Radio da Okeechobee e può darsi che sia stata riattivata e non ancora aggiornata nella loro schedula. Tra l'altro non risulta nessun altra stazione su quella frequenza in nessuna ora della giornata. Si potrebbe monitorare per vedere se è stato un fatto sporadico od un cambiamento effettivo. Buoni ascolti! Roby (Roberto Rizzardi, 1217 UT Feb 25, ibid.) Yes, 17555 was once used by Okeechobee, but never as early as 1000. Conceivably the MUF eastward in sunlight would support the first hop and onward, but Okee has not been on the air at all at 0600-2145 for months (Glenn Hauser, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) YFR Paochung-TWN 9464.910 was always odd frequency. Footprint minus 90 Hertz. 17555 could also be from KAZ ex-13795 ? 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) Since satellite coverage areas are known as footprints, I think it would be more appropriate to call the above ``fingerprints`` (gh, DXLD) Was it just a test? I didn't have a chance to monitor the frequency yesterday and today (Feb. 27) 17555 is clear. Judging by the strength and quality of the signal that I received on Feb. 25 I would have guessed it was Wertachtal or Dhabbaya. Definitely not Okeechobee or Almaty-Nikolayevka. And I'm very doubtful it was Taiwan (Sergei S., Feb 27, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Apparently, it was a WYFR TEST transmission Feb. 23-25 only 0900-1300z on 17555 kHz via "TAS". I think that is actualy TAC = Tashkent, Uzbekistan (See .png picture as attachment) How I found out? I remember WYFR is using IBB Monitoring, so I went to http://amp.ibbmonitor.com/rmsweb/ui/sound_query.php and there I choose YFR TEST ALL ALL. They have recordings for Manila [MANI] only (for that transmission) and the reception was poor, but you can hear something there: http://amp.ibbmonitor.com/RMS_Data/Sounds/2012_02_25/TEST/YFR/MANI/1202251006@MANI17555YFRTEST.MP4 That is a recording on 25. Feb. at 1006z. Regards, (Dragan Lekic, Serbia, ibid.) Thank you, Dragan, for this DX-investigation! I guess we can consider the mystery to be solved. Yes, Uzbekistan still has some good SW transmitters and antennas for targeting Europe and it's willing to lease those out. NHK's English relays from there targeting Asia provide pretty good and reliable coverage of E. Europe. 73, (Sergei S., ibid.) Thanks Dragan Lekic, according to log file YFR on test on two days only, Febr 24 and 25, recorded 8 x MP4 files at Manila PHL, transmission log slot 0900 til 1300 UT. Seemingly YFR test at Tashkent-UZB site for 'move leave - close for ever' SOON from KAZAKHSTAN {95 kms north-easterly of Almaty-KAZ} Tolkyn Tolqin Radiocenter #7, Qaraturiq Qaraturuk, site. 73 wolfy df5sx (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ ACKNOWLEDGED ON WORLD OF RADIO 1606: Thanks for your continuing great work! (Robert AK3Q Gulley, with a contribution via PayPal to woradio at yahoo.com) TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED ON SUBSEQUENT PROGRAMS: I was looking for a possible means to make "subscription" payments each month to support WOR but didn't see anything. Do you offer this option as I would be glad to donate each month but as I approach "senior years" I fear it may slip my mind some months. Thanks (Dennis Sivert (sy-vert), with a contribution via PayPal to woradio at yahoo.com) Dennis, Thank you! No, I don`t have a subscription set up, and you`re the first to ask about it. Appreciate your wanting to do it that way, and hope you will remember. Or if you miss a month, you could send double the amount, hi. Regards, (Glenn to Dennis) Thanks Glenn for all the great things you do for shortwave (David Goren, with a contribution via Pay Pal) Thanks to Donna Kay Ring, Baltimore MD, for a check in the mail to P O Box 1684, Enid OK 73702 (gh) WORLD OF RADIO: This informative DX Program begins with an introduction by Glenn Hauser with a musical background. Glenn's long- running program (over 1600 editions!) consists of the latest news on shortwave stations, schedules, problems with listening to specific broadcasters, and much more. In the World Of Radio program, Glenn goes through a variety of news/schedule changes/happenings of stations in alpha order by country. Glenn always gives credit to people who have provided him with timely information and news of shortwave radio. You can access podcasts and texts of many past plus the present program and many other timely items at http://www.worldofradio.com (Joe Robinson, Beginner`s Classroom, March ODXA Listening In via DXLD) MUSEA +++++ DXERS` NOSTALGIA Guess what! I stumbled over some old and some not so old photos of DXfriends. A DXer yourself, you may know some personally or may know them through direct communication or through the DX-press. In any case, I hope you enjoy. http://www.krone-web.dk/Dxers%27%20nostalgia/index.htm (Finn Krone, via Drita Çiço, DXLD) indexed on this page; almost all from Europe Denver airchecks, DXLD 12-08, reavailablized [1 Attachment] Hi Bill, I missed getting your Denver airchecks before they came down. Also one of my readers in Serbia is asking for it. Any chance you could put it back up for a while? If so, please advise from when to when. Thanks, (Glenn Hauser (ex-Denver), to Bill Nollman via DXLD) Glenn, it should be available now. The attached file has a list of stations. https://www.yousendit.com/download/M3BuZXR4SU9rUm1ybHNUQw Enjoy! (Bill Nollman, Feb 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) i.e. until March 4, 41.5 MB (gh) LANGUAGE LESSONS See CHINA: Shanghai, Cantonese ++++++++++++++++ WORLD OF HOROLOGY +++++++++++++++++ THE MYTH OF THE EIGHT-HOUR SLEEP By Stephanie Hegarty BBC World Service 22 February 2012 Last updated at 11:58 ET Comments (321) We often worry about lying awake in the middle of the night - but it could be good for you. A growing body of evidence from both science and history suggests that the eight-hour sleep may be unnatural. In the early 1990s, psychiatrist Thomas Wehr conducted an experiment in which a group of people were plunged into darkness for 14 hours every day for a month. It took some time for their sleep to regulate but by the fourth week the subjects had settled into a very distinct sleeping pattern. They slept first for four hours, then woke for one or two hours before falling into a second four-hour sleep. Though sleep scientists were impressed by the study, among the general public the idea that we must sleep for eight consecutive hours persists. . . [much more] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16964783 (via Clara Listensprechen, DXLD) This is pertinent for us DXers and dedicated radio listeners keeping odd hours or tempted to `stay up all night playing with the radio`. A 2-hour DXing break at 3-5 am is now allowed (gh, DXLD) INTERNATIONAL DAY OF RADIO vs WORLD RADIO DAY 9510, IRRS via Romania. Program compiled by UN Radio in English from 0930 on 28/1 [Saturday] – speaking about the international Day of Radio – 13 February. In some Internet forums of Russian DXers some people there are pretending 7 May to be such of day (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria (Sony ICF2001D and ant Folded Marconi 16 m long), March Australia DX News via DXLD) Correct English name is World Radio Day on Feb 13, so the Russians can use the other name on May 7, I suppose with mezhdunarodnoye instead of mir in it (gh, DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DRM See ARMENIA; KALININGRAD; NEW ZEALAND; ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ USA; YEMEN DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- IBOC See USA: WSCR; USA: KUDL +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DTV ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ TV SPECTRUM RECLAMATION LAW -- SUMMARY Here are overviews of the TV spectrum reclamation legislation approved by Congress and signed by president Obama: http://tinyurl.com/DeborahMcAdamsOnTV-Reclamation http://www.bna.com/fight-spectrum-provisions-n12884907993/ That said, broadcasters have good reason to be wary of the way the FCC may conduct the voluntary spectrum reclamation according to this recorded interview with Mark Hyman, VP of Corporate Relations at Sinclair Broadcast Group: http://tinyurl.com/MarkHymanInterview OVER-THE-AIR TV RECEPTION CONTINUES TO GROW http://tinyurl.com/OTA-GrowthContinues (CGC Communicator 27 Feb, via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) NEW NYC VIRTUALS Yet another new virtual digital channel has gone on the air from Manhattan. Riding on the carrier of WCBS-DT on over-the-air Channel 33 comes the latest entry to a growing roster of stations. It's called 'CBS NY +' and features recycled clips from WCBS' local newscasts and lots and lots of commercials. Always remember that television is a business. If there is a way to sell more advertising, go for it! The on-air presentation is busy and cluttered. The motion video clips are pushed back to the upper left of the 16X9 palette. The right side of the screen carries still graphic tabs that chronicle today's events. Adding to the melee is a quick-moving lower fifth crawl of more news fact one-liners. I find it very hard to watch for any length of time. The content is very repetitive. CBS NY + has not yet been formally announced. You'll find no sign of it on the CBS local web site http://newyork.cbslocal.com/ Maybe this content is just a test before they launch the real thing! It all began back in November with a press release announcing a new channel would be launched before the end of 2011. In mid-December, a blank channel was noticed using virtual channel 2.2. The only clue to its identity was its metadata stating: "CBSNY+ News, Weather, Traffic and Sports." This lasted just a day or two then disappeared. Mid-January brought back the mysterious new channel but this time with a bouncing little blue box. CBS Engineering was testing the affect of the new channel's use of bandwidth compared to its main HDTV 2.1 channel. CBS has always held the highest quality picture standards for its HDTV presentation. They showed great caution adding this new secondary feed. The little blue box was shut off after just a brief test. A couple of weeks ago, Channel 2.2 once again reappeared, this time with full 16X9 color bars (in SD resolution) and a little white box moving in the center of it all. Finally, around 6 pm on Tuesday, February 21, CBS NY + was put on the air. Now we'll have to see how the channel develops! Another New York TV channel is about to offer a new network to over- the-air viewers. You'll soon be seeing Bounce TV on WWOR-TV's virtual channel 9.3. Bounce is a new network offering a variety of new and retro programming aimed at the African-American demographic. It has already been on the air over New Haven's WTNH-TV on their virtual channel 8.2 for many weeks. You'll see current shows like Judge Hatchett and re-runs of Soul Train. It's simply amazing how many programming choices can be jam- packed into the new world of digital television! (Karl Zuk, N2KZ, Katonah, NY, FN31eh Feb 23, WTFDA via DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ BEST CAR RADIO: DELCO UX-1 Some car radios I've had are absolutely crappy on AM, and not all that good on FM either (Mike Westfall, Lost Almost NM) The radio to scour the Junkyards for is a Delco UX-1, it is the Digital AM-FM-Tape with the 5 Band EQ. Not only is it a DX Monster, it is the best sounding radio you will ever hear on AM. It has AM Stereo and Hi-Fi Audio that meets the old NAB AMAX Standards. You will find them in '90s Model GM Cars and Trucks. 73, (Kevin Raper, KJ4HYD, CE WCKI WQIZ WLTQ, ABDX via DXLD) I had a UX 1 and it was an exceptional radio all the way around. It was one of the very best I have ever used (Kevin Redding, Crump, TN, ibid.) In the past I've used different car radios. My first one was a Stromberg-Carlson from a 1953 Studebaker. That was very sensitive and pretty good for selectivity. Obviously was AM only. The Delco in my 1988 K5 Blazer was also quite good. I swapped the FM IF filters from stock to 150kHz and it was remarkably good. AM was decent. I also bought a Blaupunkt San Francisco with the dual FM antenna/receiver. Very good, and also good on AM. The removable front screen went bad over time so it doesn't display anything. It's used at one of my clients to monitor a single station. Bought a Blaupunkt Bremen which I have in my Blazer now. Very good on AM and FM, and also has LW and 6MHz SW. Probably the best car radio I've had. Also bought Panasonic and Sony HD radios. They worked well, but not as good as the Blaupunkt Bremen. I also have a Palstar R30CC in the Blazer. At some point I'll replace it with an ICOM IC-7000. A friend out on Cape Cod has one in his car and it's quite good for AM DX. Also have a small Sony pocket radio, a ICF-SW100E. Literally fits in the pocket. Covers from 150 kHz to 30 MHz on AM/USB/LSB PLL synthesized and also AM sync mode. Covers 76-108 MHz for FM. Never saw a review of this, but it was pretty expensive compared to some that are around today (Craig Healy, Providence, RI, ibid.) Current vehicle is a 1988 K5 Blazer. I swapped in a Cummins 4BT diesel instead of the 350 gas V8. No ignition noise at all. Electrically dead quiet compared to most cars, though the diesel is [acoustically] noisy. http://www.craighealy.com/blazer/index.html In the Blazer I have a 24" ferrite rod antenna inside the fiberglass roof. That and an outside vertical whip. It's a phasing system similar to: http://www.am-dx.com/simple_phaser.htm > And I'd love to also have a Palstar but my budget says no > for right now..... It's a pretty decent radio. One thing that helped a lot was adding a DX Engineering preamp inside it. Pulled out the internal battery unit as I'd never use it. The preamp really woke up the Palstar. Even parked right near a transmitter site it's all OK (Craig Healy, Providence, RI, ibid.) Since the subject of good car radios has come up, I would like to pose a question about car antennas. But first, I will agree with Kevin that the Delco UX-1 is the best car radio I have ever heard. It seems like since the early 80s or so, nearly all cars have been made with antennas mounted in the pillar, making them at roughly a 45 degree angle. How smart is that when AM is vertically polarized, and FM is horizontally and vertically polarized? (Yes, many FMs are circularly polarized as well, I know.) From what I have read, having an antenna at an angle like that decreases the efficiency by 40% or more. I don't doubt that because I drove a car with a traditional vertical mast for a number of years using a Pioneer Super Tuner cassette/radio unit. I still have that radio from the late 70s because it is an excellent performer, especially for receiving weak FM signals. However, when I bought my first Honda Civic, it had one of those goofy angled antennas in the pillar. I transplanted my Pioneer unit into that car, and one of the distant FM signals I was used to receiving from about 175 miles away disappeared. The effective range of the station using my Pioneer in the Civic was cut by about 85 miles. The only difference was the antenna since I was using the same radio. Since the Civic I bought was already an old rustbucket, I was tempted to drill a hole in the fender to install a vertical mast, but I never did. I would be interested in hearing from other members of the list about similar experiences between vertical and angled antennas to find out how much of a difference has been noted. The auto manufacturers seem to be more concerned about aesthetics than performance when it comes to antennas. That's fine for people who live in urban areas, but for the rest of us who live and travel through sparsely populated expanses, it makes a big difference in what we are able to receive. Obviously, DXers would also be at a big disadvantage. 73, (Kit W5KAT, ibid.) I wish I could find one of those 55" telescoping antennas. All there are is 31" or little stubby rubber duck kind of things (Kevin Redding, Crump, TN, ibid.) My '71 Impala SS came with an AM only radio with a Windshield Antenna. It had fair reception until I broke the Windshield from Torque Twist, then had to use a Replacement Windshield with no Antenna in it, so I put one of those 55" Telescoping whips on the fender. That radio became a DX Monster! 73, (Kevin Raper, KJ4HYD, CE WCKI WQIZ WLTQ, ibid.) There is no limitation to the fidelity of AM radio. From a mathematical standpoint, AM does better in frequency response than FM. - Leonard Kahn (Kevin`s tagline) The GM windshield antennas were awful. Not only were they grossly inferior in terms of reception, there was a lot of interference when using the wipers. Each time the wipers would sweep across the elements, there was noise from it. Another case of aesthetics over performance, but fortunately those were abandoned after a few years (Kit W5KAT, ibid.) ANALOG PANASONIC RF-562D AM FM SHORTWAVE RECEIVER: REVIEW Hey there everyone, just a little post to let you know of a video review I just put on youtube. If you are interested in viewing it, just go to this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBU_74Mwknc I will also have a video showing reception of the am fm and shortwave band later today online. 73's all (Gilles Letourneau, PQ, DX LISTENING DIGEST) A SOURCE OF QUARTZ CRYSTAL Glenn, yesterday I was passing a modern (push buttons not piano keys and handle, circa 1985-1990) VHS VCR and while looking for quartz crystals inside it found one more. I broke off the delay line box pushing as near to the base as possible and immediately found a 1/2- inch by 1-1/8 inch quartz crystal in my fingers, instead of a glass thread apparatus in a vacuum bottle. The quartz crystal has some damping rectangles of plastic or sealing wax (shellac) with some thin wires, all waiting to be removed, maybe by sanding, maybe by alcohol. The thickness of the quartz seems to indicate that the resonant frequency of the quartz before grinding may be in the area of 2-1/2 MHz, lower than the usual 3.579 MHz color crystals in color TVs, although this is a very rough guess. Remember that rectangular (non- disk) elements are for non-harmonicized resonance (Fred Jodry, Feb 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) SPRAY-ON ANTENNA presented by Anthony Sutera Anthony Sutera is an entrepreneur in communications, specializing in radio, satellite and wireless communications systems. He is currently the CEO of Chamtech Enterprises, a company holding several patents on its nano, spray-on antenna technology. . . [11+ minute video] http://www.wesolveforx.com/#t=t&n=ac366b5b La antena del futuro? 73 (Jorge Enrique Knull - LU4YAO, CC 231, 8370 - San Martin de los Andes, Neuquen - Argentina, condiglist yg via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ QST de W1AW Propagation Forecast Bulletin 8 ARLP008 From Tad Cook, K7RA Seattle, WA February 24, 2012 To all radio amateurs We don't know if this is a significant trend, but solar activity has really leveled off recently. Not everyone is unhappy about this. During the recent long minimum, 160 and 80 meter operators sang the praises of great conditions. In response to my "we hope it isn't true" (prediction for a low solar cycle) comment in last week's bulletin, Ken Meinken, WA8JXM of Aberdeen, Ohio wrote: "Why would that be bad? You are showing your 20-15-10m bias. To those of us who prefer 160/80/40, the lower the sunspots, the better. Personally, I prefer the low part of the sunspot cycle to the peak. Of course I understand that other hams have various different opinions." The average indicators this week were almost exactly the same as last. Average daily sunspot number rose from 55.6 to 55.7. The average daily solar flux declined 2.6 points to 105, and in an unusual coincidence the planetary A index and mid-latitude numbers were the same this week as last, 8 and 6.7. For the numbers at the end of the bulletin, and had to check three times to make sure I hadn't just copied last week's numbers. The geomagnetic activity was concentrated around February 19-20, and was the result of a solar wind stream, causing aurora visible in the lower 48 states. Tim Goeppinger, K6GEP of Orange, California reports an amazing 10 meter aurora opening between the West Coast of the U.S. and Scandinavia last Saturday night, February 18, The latest prediction shows solar flux at 105 on February 24-25, 100 on February 26-29, 105 on March 1, 100 on March 2-4, 105 on March 5-11, 110 on March 12-13, and 115 on March 14-19. The prediction sees planetary A index at 5 on February 24 through March 1, 8 on March 2-3, 5 on March 4-6, 8 on March 7, and 5 on March 8-10. [. . .] CP6UA asked if there are any propagation prediction programs that work for 6 meters. I was pretty sure there are none, but I inquired with Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA for comments. Carl wrote: "None of our propagation prediction programs cover 6 meters - they stop at 30 MHz. The reason why is the extremely dynamic nature of the F2 region, which varies widely on a day-to-day basis due to other factors than solar radiation. Thus our understanding of the F2 region is statistical in nature over a month's time frame, and this ultimately results in extremely low predicted probabilities for 6 meters since the frequency is so high. Coupled with this is the fact that 6 meter propagation may not be simply refraction - it may involve scatter, help from the underlying E region, and some other things." Carl has an article on predicting 6 meter F2 propagation, which you can read at, http://myplace.frontier.com/~k9la/Predicting_6_Meter_F2_Propagation.pdf In the ARRL Letter we promised some comments by K9LA on recent solar activity trends, but that will have to wait. Carl ran some smoothed solar flux numbers for Cycles 19-23, to observe any double-peaks, and noted: "Cycle 19 didn't have a second peak (it didn't need one!). "Cycle 20 might have had a second peak - hard to tell. "Cycle 21 had a definite second peak. "Cycle 22 also had a very nice second peak. "And Cycle 23 had a second peak that showed considerably more 10.7 cm radiation than the first peak. That was a blessing for 6m DXers in the winter of 2001." [. . .] Sunspot numbers for February 16 through 22 were 41, 53, 63, 69, 72, 61, and 31, with a mean of 55.7. 10.7 cm flux was 103.2, 103.7, 104.1, 105.3, 111.1, 103.3, and 104.2, with a mean of 105. Estimated planetary A indices were 4, 2, 4, 16, 16, 6, and 8, with a mean of 8. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 4, 2, 3, 11, 14, 4, and 9, with a mean of 6.7. /EX (via Dave Raycroft, ODXA yg via DXLD) P.I.G. Bulletin 120226 Solar activity will remain relatively low with a tendency to slow growth over the next three months. In the shorter term is expected only low activity with a unique occurrence of C class eruptions. Geomagnetic field will be: Quiet on February 28 - 29, March 1, 8, 10, 15 - 16, 21. Mostly quiet on March 20. Quiet to unsettled on March 2, 7, 9, 11 - 12. Unsettled on March 3, 23. quiet to active on March 19, 22. unsettled to active on February 27, March 4, 6, 13 - 14, 18. active on March 5, 17. High probability of changes in solar wind which may caused changes in magnetosphere and ionosphere is expected on February 27, March 2, 4, 5 or 6, (10 - 11, 13,) 17 - 19, 21. F. K. Janda, OK1HH, Czech Propagation Interested Group (OK1HH & OK1MGW) e-mail: ok1hh(at)rsys.cz (via Dario Monferini, DXLD) Geomagnetic field activity was at unsettled to active levels with minor to major storm periods at high latitudes due to CH HSS effects. Activity decreased to quiet to unsettled levels on 21 February as CH HSS effects subsided. Quiet to unsettled levels were observed on 22 February with active periods at high latitudes due to the onset of another CH HSS. Activity dropped to mostly quiet levels on 23 February as CH HSS effects subsided. Mostly quiet to unsettled levels occurred during the remainder of the period (24 - 26 February) with the exception of isolated active to major storm levels at high latitudes on 25 February. A Sudden Impulse (19 nT) was observed on 26 February marking the arrival of the 24 February CME. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 29 FEBRUARY - 26 MARCH 2012 Solar activity is expected to be very low to low during the forecast period. No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at normal to moderate levels from 29 February - 17 March. Flux is expected to increase to moderate to high levels on 18 - 19 March due to effects from a recurrent CH HSS. Predominately normal to moderate levels are expected for the remainder of the period. Geomagnetic field activity is expected to begin with quiet to unsettled levels on 29 February as effects from the 24 February CME subside. Predominately quiet levels are expected during the forecast period. However, unsettled conditions are likely on 02, 05 - 07 and 11 March due to weak CH HSS effects and unsettled to active conditions are expected on 17 - 20 March due to a more prominent recurrent negative polarity CH HSS. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2012 Feb 28 1652 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 2012-02-28 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2012 Feb 29 105 5 2 2012 Mar 01 105 5 2 2012 Mar 02 105 8 3 2012 Mar 03 105 5 2 2012 Mar 04 105 5 2 2012 Mar 05 105 10 3 2012 Mar 06 105 10 3 2012 Mar 07 105 8 3 2012 Mar 08 105 5 2 2012 Mar 09 105 5 2 2012 Mar 10 105 5 2 2012 Mar 11 105 8 3 2012 Mar 12 110 5 2 2012 Mar 13 110 5 2 2012 Mar 14 115 5 2 2012 Mar 15 115 5 2 2012 Mar 16 115 5 2 2012 Mar 17 115 12 4 2012 Mar 18 115 15 4 2012 Mar 19 110 10 3 2012 Mar 20 110 8 3 2012 Mar 21 105 5 2 2012 Mar 22 105 5 2 2012 Mar 23 105 5 2 2012 Mar 24 105 5 2 2012 Mar 25 105 5 2 2012 Mar 26 100 5 2 (SWPC via WORLD OF RADIO 1606, DXLD) TIPS FOR RATIONAL LIVING ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Re 12-08: “P.S. Don't mess with the Brazilians. As you should know, God was born there, Brazil is the best country in the world, and the US wants to take the Amazon from Brazil. I know all this for a fact as I was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro. :))))” Não sei quem escreveu isso, mas o mundo já está muito cheio de problemas por causa do nacionalismo. O melhor lugar do mundo é sempre o lugar onde nos dá a oportunidade de vivermos com dignidade e de certa maneira estamos contentes. Isso pode ser de brasileiros que moram nos USA ou em qualquer outro lugar do mundo, bem como de qualquer estrangeiro que more em outro lugar e tenha encontrado essas condições. Eu estou bem no local onde vivo, apesar de reconhecer que deixa muito a desejar na condução política, não apenas do atual governo, mas de todos que já passaram por aqui. Ter ideia diferente, cultura diferente, raça diferente, mas ter em uníssono a ideia de respeito ao próximo e saber até onde a nossa escolha de liberdade irá afetar os outros. Somos seres humanos com as mesmas necessidades, pouca coisa é necessário para uma vida de qualidade. Apesar de sermos ávidos pelo conhecimento e a tecnologia que gera a integração do mundo, as defesas intransigentes das ideias são o maior mau para os seres humanos e causadora da miséria, guerras e conflitos pela defesa intransigente e egoísta delas. Então, que o dexismo seja uma “ideia” para unificar as pessoas. Muito obrigado Glenn, por publicar minhas escutas e comentários em seu boletim. Um abraço, (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana BA - Brasil, 12 14´S 38 58´W, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###