DX LISTENING DIGEST 12-25, June 20, 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 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 1622 HEADLINES: *DX and station news about: Antarctica non, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Egypt, Finland, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan non, Kiribati, Koreas, Kuwait, Laos, Micronesia, Myanmar, Netherlands, Peru, Romania, South Carolina non, Taiwan, USA, Uruguay, Vatican SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1622, June 21-27, 2012 Thu 0330 WRMI 9955 Thu 2100 WTWW 9479 [confirmed] Fri 0329v WWRB 5050 [confirmed] Sat 0130v WBCQ 5110v-CUSB Area 51 Sat 0800 WRMI 9955 Sat 1500 WRMI 9955 Sat 1730 WRMI 9955 Sun 0400 WTWW 5755 Sun 0800 WRMI 9955 Sun 1530 WRMI 9955 Sun 1730 WRMI 9955 Mon 0500 WRMI 9955 Mon 1130 WRMI 9955 Tue 0930 HLR 5980 Hamburger Lokal Radio Thu 0330 WRMI 9955 [or maybe 1623 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://www.wrn.org/listeners/#world-of-radio WORLD OF RADIO PODCASTS VIA WRN: http://www.wrn.org/listeners/customize-panel/addToPlaylist/98/09:00:00UTC/English OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO: http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html or http://wor.worldofradio.org DAY-BY-DAY ARCHIVE OF GLENN HAUSER`S LOG REPORTS: Unedited, uncondensed, unchanged from original version, many of them too complex, minutely researched, multi-frequency, opinionated, inconsequential, off-topic, or lengthy for some log editors to manage; and also ahead of their availability in these weekly issues: http://www.hard-core-dx.com/index.php?topic=Hauser 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/ ** ALBANIA. CHINA/ALBANIA, Summer A-12 of China Radio International from Cerrik: 0000-0157 6020 CER 300 kW / 305 deg NoAm in English >>2x150 kW in // 0000-0157 9570 CER 300 kW / 305 deg NoAm in English >>2x150 kW in // 0200-0257 6020 CER 300 kW / 305 deg NoAm in Chinese >>2x150 kW in // 0200-0257 9570 CER 300 kW / 305 deg NoAm in Chinese >>2x150 kW in // 0500-0657 9515 CER 150 kW / 240 deg NWAf in Arabic 0500-0657 9590 CER 150 kW / 140 deg N/ME in Arabic 0500-0657 11710 CER 150 kW / 140 deg N/ME in English 0500-0657 11775 CER 150 kW / 240 deg NWAf in Arabic 0700-0857 11785 CER 150 kW / 310 deg WeEu in Chinese 0700-0857 13710 CER 150 kW / 310 deg WeEu in English 0900-0957 7285 CER 150 kW / non-dir SEEu in Romanian 0900-0957 9440 CER 150 kW / non-dir SEEu in Romanian 1100-1157 7220 CER 150 kW / non-dir SEEu in Bulgarian 1100-1257 13650 CER 150 kW / 310 deg WeEu in English 1200-1257 7345 CER 150 kW / non-dir SEEu in Serbian 1400-1557 11920 CER 150 kW / 240 deg NWAf in French 1400-1557 13670 CER 150 kW / 240 deg NWAf in French 1500-1557 7345 CER 150 kW / non-dir SEEu in Turkish 1500-1557 9565 CER 150 kW / non-dir SEEu in Turkish 1600-1757 5970 CER 150 kW / 330 deg WeEu in German 1600-1757 7380 CER 150 kW / 330 deg WeEu in German 1600-1757 9555 CER 150 kW / 140 deg N/ME in Arabic 1600-1757 11725 CER 150 kW / 240 deg NWAf in Arabic 1800-1957 5970 CER 150 kW / 310 deg WeEu in French 1800-1957 6055 CER 150 kW / 240 deg NWAf in French 1800-1957 9480 CER 150 kW / 310 deg WeEu in French 1800-1957 11695 CER 150 kW / 240 deg NWAf in French 2000-2157 5960 CER 150 kW / 310 deg WeEu in English 2000-2157 7285 CER 150 kW / 310 deg WeEu in English 2000-2157 6185 CER 150 kW / 193 deg EaAf in Arabic 2000-2157 7235 CER 150 kW / 140 deg N/ME in Arabic 2200-2357 6175 CER 150 kW / 280 deg SoEu in Portuguese/Spanish 2200-2357 7210 CER 150 kW / 280 deg to SoEu in Spanish (DX Re Mix News June 18 via DXLD) ** ALBANIA [and non]. Romania and Tirana --- Glenn, HMMM! So Radio Romania is, perhaps, thinking of leaving shortwave? Wouldn't it be great it radio Tirana could hire time on those Romanian transmitters, and really have a good signal in North America? Just my opinion. I can see that one problem, if Tirana really wanted to do this, might be paying for the time, in an acceptable currency. Perhaps a swap? Those powerful MW transmitters on 1395 and 1458 might do well to serve the rest of the Balkans, where, perhaps, some Romanian speakers reside. I'm just floating this opinion out to the world (Tim Hendel, AL, June 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The SW budget at R. Tirana must be shrinking, and they have never shown any interest in being relayed. RRI could probably work in some times for RT right now, what`s left of it (Glenn to Tim, via DXLD) ** ANGUILLA. 11775, University Network (presumed); 1957-2002+, 9-June; Rev. Barbi waxing about the Devil and the flesh. (The Rev is an expert on the flesh, but she never mentions that. I still think she should incorporate her previous career into her new one. That would certainly spice up the services, and almost certainly increase attendance.) No break at 2000. SIO=3+64-. No sign of Harmonic Barbi on 23550 (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 85 ft. RW and 180 ft. center-fed RW, Icom R3 + duckie, All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANTARCTICA [non]. U.K.(and non), British Antarctic Survey Special annual mid-winter broadcast to staff in Antarctica will be on Wed or Thu or Fri, June 20 or 21 or 22: 2130-2200 on 5950 SKN 300 kW / 195 deg 2130-2200 on 7360 ASC 250 kW / 207 deg 2130-2200 on 9850 SKN 250 kW / 195 deg (DX Re Mix News, Bulgaria, 20 June via DXLD) [We have already confirmed it`s Thu June 21; see CALENDAR --- gh] Re: BBC winter (S Hemisphere) broadcast to Antarctica --- Actually, the broadcast is more likely to be 2130-2200, June 21 - test noted 6/15 2130-2145 by tuning remote Perseus receivers in Europe. Could only hear 9850 here on the SC coast before I left for an early session at a local juke joint (Dan Ferguson, June 15, NASWA yg via DXLD) Hello Glenn, Early this morning I contacted BBC World Service about the special broadcast to Antarctic. And here is the answer received this afternoon. Regards, (Christian Ghibaudo, Nice, France, DXLD) Viz: -----Message d'origine----- From: Letters Worldservice Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2012 4:38 PM Subject: RE: [BBC] World Service - - 000000_contact_us.shtml Dear Christian, Thank you for your email. Yes, the Antarctic broadcast will be taking place this year. The broadcast will be at 2130-2200 GMT on Thursday 21st, on: 5950 kHz from UK 9850 kHz from UK 7360 kHz from Ascension We hope that the above is of assistance. Kind Regards, (Audience Relations Team, BBC World Service, via Ghibaudo, WORLD OF RADIO 1622, ibid.) I received an email today from the BBC World Service Audience Relations Team. The Antarctic broadcast will be taking place this year at 2130-2200 GMT on Thursday 21st, on: 5950 kHz from UK 9850 kHz from UK 7360 kHz from Ascension. Regards (Harry Brooks, North East England, UK, WORLD OF RADIO 1622, ibid.) Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast 2012 today --- from BBC website: The BBC's Martin Redfern presents half an hour of music requests and special messages for the staff at the British Antarctic Survey. Produced and presented for an audience of just 44 - the brave and hardy scientists and technical staff who keep the Antarctic bases of the British Antarctic Survey running through the long, cold darkness of the polar winter - the Antarctic Specials are possibly the World Service's most unusual broadcasts. Once a year, on 21 June, in the dark days of the Southern winter, staff at the four Antarctic bases cluster round their shortwave radios to hear the BBC present half an hour of music requests and special messages from their loved ones back home. This year there are eight people stationed at King Edward Point on South Georgia, just four on Bird Island nearby. There are 18 at the biggest base, Rothera, on Adelaide Island near the Antarctic Peninsula, and 14 at Halley, the furthest South, on the Brunt Ice Shelf. Halley VI is a brand new base - the previous one was getting buried in snow and was threatened by a break-up of the ice shelf. [item has photo of Martin Redfern recording for BBC World Service inside an ice cave in the Rothera Glacier] There are special messages in the programme from surprise celebrity guests, and a selection of music that reveals a deep longing for sunshine! This year the broadcast is presented by Martin Redfern, who was fortunate to spend a month in Antarctica four years ago, reporting on research and visiting field sites and the Rothera base. As a result, says Martin, "We feel we are talking to friends. We can imagine the scene down there. "And, although we were only there for a few weeks in Summer, we know how food fantasies turn to salad and fresh fruit!" For more details about the work of the British Antarctic Survey visit the link on the right - http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/ First broadcast on 21 June 2012 http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/2012/06/120620_antarctic_midwinter_broadcast_2012.shtml?bw=bb&mp=wm&bbcws=1&news=1 [Scheduled 21 June: 2130-2200 UTC on 5950 kHz (via Skelton), 7360 kHz (via Ascension) and 9850 kHz (via Skelton) - presumably audio will also appear on the above linked page] Midwinter's Day this year was actually yesterday, 20th June, per this article on British Antarctic Survey's website: "Usually Midwinter's Day falls on 21st June, but because 2012 is a leap year, it will occur on the 20th June. The last time this happened was more than 30 years ago in 1975. Since it takes the Earth 365.25 days to orbit the Sun, every four years an extra day is added in February to prevent a gradual drift of date through the seasons." Full article at: http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/about_bas/news/news_story.php?id=1841 (Alan Pennington, June 21, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA [and non]. Várias estações audíveis diàriamente, acima dos 1610 kHz, v.g.: 1620, AM 16-20, Mar del Plata, 2230-..., 15/6; 25342. 1630, Diagonal AM, Mar del Plata, 2212-..., 15/6; 45333. 1640, R. Nueva Bolívia, B. Aires, 2214-..., 15/6; 35332. 1650, Antares AM 1650 (p), Pilar, 2228-..., 15/6, recitação do terço, indicação que talvez se trate da Antares AM; 35342. O BRASIL igualmente audível em várias fqs, pelas 2200 (Carlos Gonçalves, PORTUGAL, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DX LISTENING DIGEST) <1600 kHz, I presume (gh) ** ARGENTINA. 11710.62, RAE. Chime IS very weakly here at 0955 then into music. Don't think I've ever heard this here at this time. (15 June) (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, NRD-535D with T2FD antenna, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ARGENTINA. 11710.69, RAE, 0206-0233, June 19. In English with fair reception; chatting about whale watching in Patagonia; pop songs; review of an interview regarding the U.N. Committee on Decolonization and the disputed Malvinas Islands. MP3 audio at https://www.box.com/s/384bd64e2ab893dbffd1 15344.10, R. Nacional, random listening from 0140 to 0304*, June 18. In Spanish with usual Monday (UT) play/drama till 0228 ID and list of actors in the play; into program of nice jazz; almost fair. MP3 audio at https://www.box.com/s/9f58ab783a980effc93c (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Conferma E-QSL di RAE Argentina --- Ciao a tutti gli amici del gruppo! Ecco i dati relativi alle ultime conferme di fine aprile: R.A.E., 15345 kHz, 28/04 1948 UT - Radio Argentina al Exterior P. O. Box 555, 1000 Buenos Aires, Argentina, con QSL elettronica in 54 giorni. Rapporto inviato via web form raggiungibile all'indirizzo http://www.radionacional.com.ar/contacto.html La E-QSL è visonabile all'indirizzo seguente: http://acquamarina.blogspot.it http://acquamarina.blogspot.it/2012/06/e-qsl-card-from-rae-argentina.html 73 (da Treviso, Italy, N. Marabello, RX: SONY ICF SW7600G, ANT: VHF esterna azimuth 230 gradi, June 19, bclnews.it yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA [and non]. 4835, June 15 at 1158 immediately after WWCR cuts off 4840, with BFO I can detect a JBA carrier here, no doubt VL8A on its extended 60m schedule. Earlier around 1120 shortly after sunrise, I could also detect a JBA carrier on 2325, no doubt VL8T. BTW, the NT frequencies are still absent from HFCC along with RA Shepparton and Brandon. I wonder if ABC just didn`t want to pay the HFCC dues; who needs it? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4835, ABC, VL8A, Alice Springs. June 17 not on the air 24 hours; not heard at 1235 and 1328, but was fairly good at 1406 with religious program. When off was able to detect below threshold level from presume AIR Gangtok (Sikkim). (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4835, VL8A/ABC Alice Springs. On here again obviously testing at 0930 with promo mentioning Alice Springs and the Northern Territory, then ABC news by W. Fairly good with 4840 knocked down due to the disturbed conditions but nothing stops the dreaded CODAR. Have we seen the end of 2310?? (18 June) (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, NRD-535D with T2FD antenna, Cumbre DX via DXLD) 4835, ABC VL8A Alice Springs. June 18 back to a full broadcasting day, unlike yesterday’s shortened schedule; noted at 1147; fair; best in LSB (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. 15160, R. Australia, 0405, June 17. Live coverage of the Panthers vs Titans; poor with strong QRM; // 15240 (fair), 15415 (poor-fair) and 15515 (fair-good), all via Shepparton (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 17750, June 19 at 0510, RA in English saying ``it was a bit long``, long pause, then Indonesian, so it`s a LL; 0511 jingle and says ``English lesson from Australia``, I think. Poor signal way offbeam here (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. ABC RADIO PHILOSOPHER ALAN SAUNDERS DIES - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-06-15/abc-radio-philosopher-alan-saunders-dies/4073618 Sad news. He hosted programming with unusual themes - the Philosopher's Zone and By Design - that have been part of Radio Australia's offering over the years (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) obit Felled by pneumonia in less than 24 hours at 58 years old. Didn't know that could happen and wonder if there were other illness involved which so weakened him. His wisdom and wit will most certainly be greatly missed by anyone who had the honor of hearing him on RN (John Figliozzi, Halfmoon, NY, ibid.) Sad story and his broadcasts will be missed. Makes those warnings to see a doctor for any persistent cold or cough take on a whole new meaning. – (Rob de Santos, ibid.) ** AUSTRALIA. 16546-USB, June 20 at 0504, marine weather for coast of Victoria, 0506 South Australia citing timezone as ``Central Standard Time`` = UT +9.5, by masculine voice. Sounds human rather than robotic, but maybe too well emulated. Distracted by some 2-way SSB on 16540; retuned at 0507 and it was off, so missed an ID if any. Here`s a schedule by time of world`s marine weather broadcasts: http://www.hfunderground.com/wiki/Maritime_Weather_Transmissions showing this frequency is VMC Charleville, Queensland, at 0430 and 0530, etc. VMW Wiluna WA`s frequency on this band is 16528 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Thank you for the Maritimes info, that's very cool! Thanks, (Robin Springer, SF CA US, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. HCJB Kununurra, WA - New site --- I've just located the new HCJB Kununurra SW transmitter site as a result of new Bing Maps imagery. (Wish I received an advertising $1 for every time I've mentioned Microsoft's (Bing Maps) website.) Anyway, it's here using Google Earth (or a $1 from that lot) 15 48'45.01"S 128 40'0.95"E It's 2.5 km southwest from their existing site, new building & antennas; distinctly a new site. I'll call it: Kununurra [Site 2] or Kununurra 2. Also check out HCJB'S latest newsletter for more info http://www.hcjb.org.au/docs/HCJB_News.pdf 73's (Ian Baxter, NSW, June 20, shortwavesites yg via DXLD) Viz.: In the March 2012 edition of Voice and Hands we highlighted the transfer of one of our transmitters to our new broadcast facility — a milestone moment in itself. Over the last few months our team have been reassembling and installing this transmitter in the new transmitter building. On Thursday night the 19th of April, our antenna engineer Stephen Sutherland switched on our transmitter at our new broadcast facility and fed the signal into one of our antennas. All went well! The antenna tuning was almost perfect (just like your roof antenna needs to be matched to your TV for best reception, our transmitters have to be matched to the antenna for a good signal). Whilst there was cause among our crew for celebration and thanksgiving there is still much to be done before we can schedule regular transmissions from the new site. Tasks include: »» The ‘switcher unit’ still has to be automated (this device helps us select the antenna from which we want to broadcast – a bit like selecting a TV channel and a very complex part of our broadcast facility) »» We need to set up an alarm system that alerts our engineers should we have a problem with our broadcast [unlike some other stations - gh] »» A ‘back up’ broadcast system needs to be established so that if, for some reason, we lose the audio feed from Melbourne we’ll have a back up system in Kununurra that will take over — generally a pre- recorded program format. However, the major milestone of a successful first transmission is a proud and exciting moment for all who have been involved over the years in bringing it together. Our thanks go out to all of you who have made this big day possible. Praise be to the Lord who is our provider, our rock, whom we serve (June Voice & Hands, via DXLD) ** AZORES. AÇORES, 1503, AFN, Base Aérea das Lajes, Terceira, 2155- 2209, 17/6, inglês, texto, canções, noticiário, às 2200 22431, QRM da Espanha (Carlos Gonçalves, PORTUGAL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BANGLADESH. 4750, Bangladesh Betar, 1235-1242, June 18 (Monday); 1234 subcontinent music and then into the Monday only SAARC news bulletin in English; poor mixing with CNR1; still no sign of RRI Makassar (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BIAFRA [non]. CLANDESTINE, 11870, R. Biafra London (via Wertachtal, Germany). 2000 on with pleasant Afro instrumental music, then opening announcements in apparent Igbo language and a little English by round- robin announcers. Many IDs and mentions of Africa, "11.87 megahertz ?? meterband…Internet…R. Biafra London…. www.radiobiafralondon.com". "Welcome to the program". W with "Hello hello Biafra ?? welcome to the program", and M "…reception on the radio now. Biafra Nigeria, all people hello and welcome to the program", and phone 0044-783130837. Good signal and clear. (16 June) (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, NRD-535D with T2FD antenna, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Via GERMANY. 11870, Radio Biafra, London, *2000-2100*, June 16, sign on with local African music. Opening ID announcements at 2001 and discussion in vernacular. Occasional English. Sign off with Biafra National Anthem at 2059. Fair. Thur, Sat only (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** BOLIVIA. BOLÍVIA, 3310, R. Mosoj Chaski, Cochabamba, 2235-2247, 14/6, quíchua, texto; 24342 (Carlos Gonçalves, PORTUGAL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 4716.61, R. Yura, Yura, 0055-0111 June 18 Spanish; W announcer with talk & occasional music bits; ID at 0059; huayanos at 0100; IDs at 0103 & 0107; fair in ECCS-LSB (Scott R. Barbour, Jr. Intervale, N.H. USA, NRD-545, MLB-1, 200' Beverages, 60m dipole, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 5952.43, Radio Pio Doce (presumed), 0137-0151, June 19. In Spanish; indigenous songs; chatting on the phone; covered by QRM at 0149 from 5950; switched to USB, but not as good as heard up till then in LSB; poor with QRN, but better than usual (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 6134.8, R. Santa Cruz, St.ª Cruz de la Sierra, 2216-2239, 14/6, castelhano, boletim noticioso Bolívia en Contacto, anúncios comerciais; 334322 [sic], QRM no mesmo canal e de canais adjacentes (Carlos Gonçalves, PORTUGAL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6134.941, Radio Santa Cruz, 1003-1015 June 15, Noted a program of music with Spanish comments here and there. At 1009 a female and male take over duties of just presenting the news. The DX window is almost completely closed as the sun starts its climb. The signal, in the meantime, improves or drops from fair to poor and the noise does the same (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston FL, Excalibur, 26N 081W, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 6154.93, R Fides, La Paz heard at 0149-0158*, Jun 07, via a receiver in central Germany with a great antenna array with 4 mini- whip beverages. There was a vocal in progress, ann with background instrumental/vocal music until the program ended at 0157.5, the carrier stayed on until 0212:55. Both announcers were very muffled, even with LSB to enhance readability, 35433 (Bruce Churchill, CA in DXplorer via DSWCI DX Window June 13 via WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DXLD) 6154.90, Radio Fides (presumed), 0153-0200*, June 19. In Spanish; pop songs; 0155 choral National Anthem(?); weak with QRN. A good evening for Bolivia! (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOTSWANA. Alguien ha podido captar a Radio Botswana en 4820? Recientemente: http://shortwavedxer.blogspot.com.ar/2012/06/radio-botswana.html RGM (Ruben Guillermo Margenet, June 13, condiglist yg via DXLD) Viz.: Tuesday, June 5, 2012 --- Radio Botswana in Sebeli was logged on 5 June 2012. News in English and Setswana, presented by female announcers, was observed from 1830 to 1841 UT. Transmission occurred on 4820 kHz. Reception (SINPO) was 35443 -- fair signal strength, clear speech, some atmospheric noise and fading. NOTE: There appears to be some question regarding whether this station is actually Radio Botswana. It has been suggested the station may actually be either All India Radio Kolkata or PBS Xinzang, both of which operate on this frequency. While this is indeed true, the station heard at this time was neither one. If it is not Radio Botswana, it is definitely an African station. The website http://www.short-wave.info indicates Radio Botswana was on air at this time, although the sign- off time was 1841 and not 2200 UT as listed. All India Radio Kolkata or PBS Xinzang had signed off well before 1830. After 1900 no signal was detected until 2000 UT, which was PBS Xinzang. A reception report was emailed to Radio Botswana. Several email addresses were found at their website. Two of the four email addresses failed to be delivered. This is not surprising. Many of the African stations I have contacted -- at least in recent years -- have rarely responded, regardless if it is by mail or email. Posted by T. L. Breyel at 7:40 PM http://shortwavedxer.blogspot.com.ar/2012/06/radio-botswana.html (via DXLD) He`s in Malaysia, so why is his blog in Argentina? There he goes again, believing the GIGO data at the short-wave.info website, because it presents so nicely. Not even Aoki still has Botswana listed on 4820, tho both still show another long-dead station on 4820, Honduras. Of course, a reactivation is remotely possible, but we certainly need more evidence that this (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Estoy practicamente seguro que no opera más en OC (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, op. cit.) Ojalá se trate de una reactivación. Voy a ver qué se escucha este fin de semana, pero escuchar emisoras africanas en 60 metros a la tarde en Mendoza, es casi una proeza. Un abrazo (Miguel Castellino, ibid.) ** BRAZIL. BRASIL, 4877.9, R.Dif.ª de Roraima, Boa Vista RR, 2155- 2207, 15/6, canções; 25321, portadora instável, como se de um tx não utilizando sintetizador de freq. se tratasse. 15191.4, (!) R.Inconfidência, Belo Horizonte MG, 1158-1445, 17/6, programa musical,..., programa de humor; 15432. 15191.5, idem, 2118-..., 17/6, programa musical O Sertanejo Moderno, infos. horárias e da Agenda da Semana, concurso; 35443 (Carlos Gonçalves, PORTUGAL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Many more of Carlos` logs of Brasil et al. appeared in full in the dxldyg (gh, DXLD) Glenn, Here's something missing in my 19/6 report which I am sending just in case you choose to use it in your next DXLD bulletin: 5035, R. Educação Rural, Coari AM, 2226-2244, 14/6, weekly program Prosa Rural followed by a bulletin from the Serviço Florestal Brasileiro, at 2230, then ID + frequency announcement, some music; 34332, QRM de R. Aparecida, Brasil. Coari is best received via the 200 m/270º wire while Aparecida and others along the same beam are typically received via the 225º/300 m wire. 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, June 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 5940.045, Came across organ music of Voz Missionária, Camboriú, SC at 0622 UT June 15, just above threshold level, poor S=3- 4 (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 15, dxldyg via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 5970, R. Itatiaia. 0917 Portuguese talk by live M DJ with mention of Itatiaia, several Bom-Dia's, then ads, and return of DJ with mentions of Brasil, America, and greetings again. Fair signal during disturbed conditions. (18 June) (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, NRD-535D with T2FD antenna, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. [Cf UNIDENTIFIED 6075!] R. Cultural SW transmitter location in Google Earth / Google Maps? Dear Jorge, may you can ask Denis Zoqbi in São Paulo about the Radio Cultural São Paulo Shortwave transmitter l o c a t i o n in Google Earth / Google Maps ? 1200 kHz MW AM Radiodifusão Sonora Digital IBOC, is on 23 40'38.33"S 46 42'53.81"W http://goo.gl/maps/86Lo http://goo.gl/maps/SIyd BUT shortwave 6170, 9615, 17815 LOCATION ???????????????????? - - - BRAZIL R. Globo, São Paulo, Rua Hilea Amazonica, MW 1100 kHz 23 41 41.74 S 46 46 14.84 W ZYK522 R. Record, São Paulo SP, Av. Guarapiranga MW 1000 kHz 200 kW, SW 6150 9505 kHz 23 41 00.59 S 46 44 34.77 W (wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 17) vy73 wolfy df5sx wwdxc Germany (Wolfgang Büschel, via DXLD) - - - - So far cannot be said to be a Brazilian radio station 6075 kHz. Suspected to be a distortion of the signal Marumby in 6080 or Super Radio God is Love IPDA in 6070, but nothing confirmed yet. On a suggestion of Radio Cultura of São Paulo, Zoqbi his friend Denis, who lives in São Paulo and neighboring the station told me by facebook: "Hi George, I've been consulted on this QRG months ago, but it is not Cultura. By the way, is even in Portuguese, this is an issue in Spanish that I capto tds night. I went there to make sure since the transmitters are 5 minutes from my house, not the Culture does not return while the bidding for new equipment does not leave. This time has nothing to do with government but with suppliers who have formed a cartel and their prices played upstairs. Here in SP procure now work in a process called Electronic proclamation, those who make the lowest price wins and justify their costs. Nobody could prove that because 400% increase in spare parts, therefore, denied buying. In time, Marumby and God is Love remains steadfast in their channels and strong thanks to God Rs" (via Freitas via Büschel, ibid.) ** BRAZIL. RÁDIO APARECIDA APARECEU EM 49 METROS --- Após alguns meses sem ser sintonizada aqui na grande Porto Alegre, a emissora voltou a ser captada, embora à noite, com sinal fraquíssimo e ausência da emissora da Bolívia (yura, Pio Doce, ??). Certamente ainda devem estar com potência reduzida (era pra ser 25 kW em 6135) mas devem estar com 5 kW, pois as outras de SP, 10 kW 6120 e Record 6150 kHz, 7.5 kW quando estava no ar há pouco, chegam por aqui com sinal mais forte (Edison Bocorny, Jr., Novo Hamburgo - RS, June 19, radioescutas yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DXLD) Apparently he is saying the reactivated Aparecida frequency is 6135 -- - very bad news for Radio Santa Cruz, 6134.8v, which is the Bolivian in question, not the ones mentioned, which had benefited from a relatively clear channel much of the time (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. Nacional Amazônia fora do ar em 11780 e 6180 kHz --- Algum membro do DXCB saberia explicar o motivo dos 2 canais estarem sem sinal em mais uma das dezenas de vezes? Como está demorando não só a vinda dos 2 novos tx de 250 kW, mas até às novas válvulas. Parece incrível, mas já fazem 4 anos que estão nesta situação. Isto é uma tremenda vergonha! Já não bastasse a Rádio Senado não ter seu contrato de transmissão renovado e o Governo Federal não assumir esta emissora com novos equipamentos, incluindo a Nacional de Brasília 980 kHz, que deveria estar com 600 kW, mas não chega à metade (Edison Bocorny Jr., Novo Hamburgo - RS, June 14, radioescutas yg via DXLD) Edson, Não entendo porque o DXCB deveria saber desta informação. Você já fez contato com a Ouvidoria da EBC? Ou com seu representante na Câmara Federal? (Huelbe Garcia, ibid.) As pessoas que dirigem o sistema de rádio da EBC, são uma vergonha (Neto Silva, 15 June, ibid.) 6180, June 15 at 0448, RNA is reactivated here with Brazilian music, // 11780, much stronger than 6185 XEPPM, and much, much louder, as XEPPM continues to just-barely-modulate (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6180, 15/Jun 0205, BRASIL, Rádio Nacional da Amazônia, in Portuguese. Back on 6180. ID as “Rádio Nacional de Brasília” (Relay overnight). Music “sertaneja de raiz”. QRM from Voice of Vietnam in 6175 [Canada]. 33433 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6180.009, Slightly odd frequency Rádio Nacional da Amazônia from Brasília noted this morning at 0632 UT June 15, only S=5-6 signal in Germany, light Brazilian music / canzones of a half century ago! \\ 11780.0 even frequency on same signal level, also from Brasília. Thanks, Jorge (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 15, dxldyg via DXLD) [and non]. 6180, June 17 at 0434, no RNA tonight tho it`s VG on 11780; instead just something in English, no doubt DW RWANDA. 6180 and 11780, June 18 at 0433, RNA missing from both frequencies; 11780 usually manages to stay on, if 6180 does not. Brazilian DXers are exasperated with this behavior (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11780, 18/Jun 1705, Brasil, RNA in Portuguese, in air with good signal. No signal in 6180 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana BA - Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11780, June 19 at 0506, RNA madrugada show with only fair instead of usual bigsig --- QRP or propped down? While nosig on 6180. 11780, June 20 at 0520, RNA back up to VG signal tonight, and still absent from 6180 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. Record ausente das OC --- Desde à última semana, os canais 9505 e 6150 kHz, não tem siso mais captado por aqui, após vários retornos. Creio que infelizmente estão seguindo para o fim definitivo de seu ciclo nas OC, assim como a Gazeta em 5955, 9685 e 15325 kHz, como a emissora de Goiânia de 11830 Khz, Clube B2 6040, 9725 e 11935 kHz. Outras fora do ar são: Novas de Paz 11725, Marumby 11750, além da Aparecida 6135 com potência reduzida de aproximadamente de 5 kw (era 25 kW) e a Inconfidência 6010 (25 kW) chegando igual a Itatiaia 5970 com 10 kW (Edison Bocony jr., Novo Hamburgo - RS, 17 June, radioescutas yg via DXLD) Olá Edison e colegas, No feriado de 1º de maio no sitio do meu pai em silvânia-go. Onde atualmente faço minhas melhores escutas, Sintonizei tanto em 5955 quanto em 15325 a radio Gazeta AM. Uma semana depois ao feriado, voltei ao sitio e fiz questão de certificar tais escutas, novamente as escutei nas frequências referidas. Nessa semana que passou, estive lá no sitio novamente, e já não consegui mais captá- las. A rádio Anhanguera está no ar, 11830 portadora forte e audio bem baixinho. Abraço, (Cássio Santos, ibid.) ** BRAZIL. 10000, 2252 4 May, Observatório Nacional, OM repeated IDs in Portuguese, 24432 (Michael L Ford, Staffordshire, NRD515, NCM515, 20m wire E/W, June World DX Club Contact via DXLD) This is a tough one in NAm, depending on WWV/WWVH being wiped out (gh) ** BRAZIL. 11764.942, Super Rádio Deus é Amor in Portuguese. Male and female talk at 0540 UT June 15. S=6-7 here in Germany, time announcement too late at 0543 UT (... dos .. vamos a ir [sic]). (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 15, dxldyg via DXLD) ** CANADA. CJRN Modulation Problems --- CJRN is again having audio problems. Lots of carrier but instead of the audio missing this time, it is very low (Andy Reid, Ont., 1300 UT June 18, ODXA yg via DXLD) 710, Niagara Falls (gh) ** CANADA. 9625, June 15 at 0459, ending of the ``Midnight Edition of As It Happens`` from CBC Radio One, which I assume is just an edited- down version of the original sesquihour (or is it back to only one hour now as in most summers?); CBC NQ ID, frequency and contact info, even 877 toll-free phone number --- is that valid continent-wide? ACI from always stronger REE via CR on 9630. 0500 into CBC News in English prior to sign-off. It remains unclear whether this service will go off shortwave after June 24 like RCI, but plans are to replace it by strategically placed LPFM transmitters in the isolated NQ communities which need it. I thought they already had those, and SW was to reach even further into the outback (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. 15455, no signal June 15 at 0508, unlike 24 hours earlier, when RCI Spanish service via Hotbird satellite was being relayed from somewhere (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See JAPAN [non], VATICAN [non], UAE ** CANADA [and non]. 6045, KBS Seoul in Spanish via RCI Sackville relay site, proper signal of S=9 in 06-07 UT slot. Orchestra music and song at 0620-0625 UT, followed about commentary of social life in Korea in Spanish language. Much NOISY audio feed line from Asia into Sackville ... scratching annoying sound and many disconnects in between, bad performance on feeder path (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 15, dxldyg via DXLD) 6080, June 17 at 0517, CRI English via Sackville on wrong frequency again, instead of 6190 this hour; did not change from 6080 which is the right frequency before 0500. As a result, huge collision with NHK Warudo Radio Japón in Spanish via BONAIRE which is properly on 6080 during this semihour. Both signals very strong here. (NHK English via Canada remained on 6110 correctly.) 0525 R. Japón acknowledging reception reports including from someone in EE. UU. Will word ever get back to them about these periodic screwups by Sackville? Apparently, Sackville, or Montréal if remotely controlled from there, are increasingly in a don`t-give-a-damn attitude as they are about to self-destruct and lose their jobs. One would have hoped they could have remained professional to the very end, especially since such mistakes impact innocent bystanders (also their own relay clients). Despite all this, we must brace ourselves from June 25 for a lot of vacant spaces on the bands where we used to hear loud and clear relays via Sackville of China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and others. We know of one client which plans to switch to another site, but what about all of these? Do they have any such plans, or are they just going to let their NAm audiences go? China will still have Cuba, Spain and Albania, of course, even if they make no substitutes for Sackville. Cuba should be willing to help out Vietnam. Japan and Korea could use Bonaire lasting a little longer. 15330, 15235, 17735, Sunday June 17 at 2005-2059, the penultimate `Maple Leaf Mailbag` from RCI again presented by Terry Haig, substituting for Ian Jones. More mail from distressed listeners about the imminent demise of RCI, and some ironic musical selexions. At 2049, plugs the RCI Action Committee website, and a listener who is trying to set up a `Save RCI` website, allananderson91954@yahoo.com -- - except he did not spell Alan/Allen/Allan/Alun or Anderson/Andersen, so you may have to try all the combinations. I *must* listen to this on SW, but if you missed it, you will be forgiven for listening to the archived audio on demand via http://www.rcinet.ca This transmission is expected to be the very last English broadcast from RCI next Sunday June 24. 6080, June 18 at 0512 check, Sackville again tonight has put CRI English on wrong frequency instead of 6190, colliding horribly with NHK Spanish via Bonaire (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also CUBA [non]; VATICAN [non] ** CANADA. [Re 12-24] CANADIAN CABINET CUTS SHORTWAVE RADIO PROTECTION Via Thomas Witherspoon on Facebook. The Conservative cabinet has quietly changed a rule that could have prevented the CBC from following through on its plan to cut its international shortwave radio service. Supporters of Radio Canada International, which faces a near fatal 80- per-cent budget cut from the CBC, say that amounts to the government essentially ending all uncensored Canadian broadcasts to places like China and Russia. Heritage Minister James Moore recommended an order in council, approved on June 7, that deleted a requirement for RCI to maintain a shortwave service. That change removed an obstacle to the steep cuts the CBC had announced for RCI in April — $10 million of $12.3 million budget will disappear along with at least three-quarters of its work force. RCI had planned to file an injunction this past week to prevent CBC from shutting down its shortwave broadcasting facilities, but the new order thwarted their lawyers. Full article: http://metronews.ca/news/canada/265013/cabinet-cuts-shortwave-radio-protection (via Mike Barraclough, UK, dxldyg via DXLD; also via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** CANADA. CUTS TO SILENCE RADIO’S VOICE OF CANADA [sic] BROADCAST The Ottawa Citizen by Chris Cobb June 15, 2012 http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Cuts+silence+radio+Voice+Canada+broadcast/6791132/story.html In apparent collaboration with the Conservative government, CBC is slashing 80 per cent of Radio Canada’s budget and busting the venerable Voice of Canada international shortwave service down to an Internet radio station. The $10 million cut — from $12.3 million to $2.3 million — will shut out access to Radio Canada broadcasts for swaths of the world’s population — including China, where RCI’s Internet site is blocked, and to millions of people in India and South America — all major Canadian trading partners. In other developing nations, access to the Internet is either limited or non-existent, with vast portions of the population relying solely on radio for national and international news and information. That, coupled with Russian and U.S. surveys that show listening to Internet radio is one of the least favourite ways to access broadcasts in all parts of the world, has critics of the CBC furious. CBC says it is simply transferring existing content from radio to the web, which veteran RCI host Wojtek Gwiazda said gives a false impression. “As of June 25, most of the original content will disappear,” he said, “because we won’t have the people to do it.” Thirty of 45 permanent employees are being laid off, along with a dozen or more contract workers and other regular freelancers. Gwiazda, spokesman for a group inside RCI attempting to salvage the short wave service and its original programming, said a proposed injunction on behalf of RCI employees was thwarted last week when the Conservative cabinet quietly and quickly changed two key rules under which RCI operates. Under previous rules, RCI was legally obliged to provide a shortwave service and to consult regularly with the Department of Foreign Affairs. The government, in its June 7 rule change, has dropped both those requirements. A spokesman for the Department of Canadian Heritage confirmed the change had been made, but refused to say why. The Department of Foreign Affairs did not respond to questions about the issue. CBC has defended the cuts to RCI as necessary because the federal government has slashed its budget by 10 per cent over the next three years — to about $115 million. But Gwiazda said the real issue should not be money. “It’s about who should be deciding on how strong or how weak Canada’s voice to the world should be, he said. “We’re arguing for financial autonomy because, over the past two decades, CBC/Radio-Canada has shown it does not understand our international mandate.” NDP Foreign Affairs critic Paul Dewar accused the CBC and the Conservative government of “taking Canada’s voice off the world stage. “It is sneaky,” he said in an interview with the Citizen. “They are pretending they aren’t killing it, but they are. Our Commonwealth cousins and others in the G8 have made a commitment that the world should hear their voices. Why not Canada’s? “How will we keep people in other countries informed about Canada and how will Canada’s voice be heard by the international community.” Dewar says he’s hearing negative reaction to the RCI cuts from MPs in all parties, and the NDP has written to both Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird and Heritage Minister James Moore urging a reversal of the decision. “We are appealing to them to find the money and put this essential service back where it belongs,’ added Dewar. “Canada needs its voice heard and we have to figure out a way to do it. It’s not a lot of money. Let’s find it. Let’s not leave RCI orphaned.” (via Mike Cooper, DXLD; via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) Really dirty pool by the Conservative government. Phrases like "cutting off at the knees" and "shooting you in the back" come to mind readily. Wanton destruction of a long standing valuable institution and for what? 10 million dollars? I bet parliamentarians collect that amount for a few weeks' travel and meal reimbursement to Ottawa (John Figliozzi, Halfmoon, NY, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Looking at this from our side of the border, the only thing I'm blaming the Conservative government of is caving in to the demands of the CBC. I have always, and now more firmly than ever, believed that the CBC is the "bad guy" in all decisions, particularly these most recent ones, that have pushed RCI to the brink of extinction. I think it will only be a short matter of time before the CBC will be ready to lower the axe once and for all on RCI. Now, given these changes to the Order in Council, it seems that the government has merely sharpened the axe and pointed where to swing it. I firmly believe that the pressure to change the Order in Council, even to the point of providing them with the wording, came from the CBC itself. I don't give anyone in this government, or any of the governments before them in recent history, to have even had this Order in Council on their radar, given everything else they have to deal with. RCI had to have been way, way down on the laundry list. Only pressure from CBC, particularly given the cuts that they have had to endure in the recent budget, in my mind, no doubt was looking for table scraps from the Government and were probably dished out a plate with this change in the Order in Council. I have this vision in my mind of the specific government departments involved momentarily putting their heads together, looking at the CBC's request for the change, and rubber stamping it through before the summer break hits. Besides, what harm could it do and who will really notice anyway? Well, some astute people did notice, and we do understand the implications. Unfortunately those who have made the change, under pressure from the CBC, probably never took the time to totally analyze what the implications could possibly be. Supporters of RCI, from within and from outside, have fought the good fight with more stamina than anyone would have ever dreamed possible. The CBC themselves learned that as various lobby groups over the years since 1991 have succeeded in keeping RCI alive. Our numbers have dwindled and there seems to be a level of resignation and lack of will to continue to fight. I said a long time ago that this was CBC's plan from the beginning. RCI was a thorn in the side of CBC and they would continue to weasel their way around, managing the service for the government, with the ultimate goal of shutting it down, first by making it so irrelevant and so much of a shadow of its former self, that many, many people would lose their desire to fight and probably say, well, we aren't really losing anything of any great value now anyway. The conversion to a web-based RCI will probably, very quickly, lead to its ultimate disappearance as it sinks to the bottom of the Internet pool with few around to throw it a life-preserver. It is sad, very sad, particularly from a country where radio broadcasting began (Sheldon Harvey, Québec, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Nevertheless, it was this particular government which saw fit to perform the final cave-in; and in a manner so secretive that even the people most invested in knowing the situation didn't know what it was until too late. It is further likely that if this government holds office long enough, the demise of the CBC itself could very well be at hand. I very much recall your saying (along with others in the Committee) that this would be the end-game for RCI. The government that turned RCI over to the management -- and budget -- of CBC seemed to realize this potential, so it reserved to that government the final say on RCI disposition. I know you and others concerned saw this as wholly inadequate at the time inasmuch as RCI's raison d'être was never compatible with that of the CBC. And now that prophecy has unfortunately been fulfilled (John Figliozzi, NY, ibid.) ** CANADA. WEB-ONLY PRESENCE FOR RCI A SHORTSIGHTED DECISION, SAYS AMERICAN BROADCAST EXPERT An interesting angle on the CBC cuts. Interesting that the Ottawa government changed some of the rules as recently as June 7th. That broadcast expert is the VOA's Kim Elliott... http://www.ottawacitizen.com/technology/only+presence+shortsighted+decision+says+American+broadcast/6794663/story.html (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA, June 19, NASWA yg via DXLD) Viz.: === By CHRIS COBB, The Ottawa Citizen June 16, 2012 OTTAWA — If CBC carries through with its plan to reduce Radio Canada International from a shortwave radio service to an internet radio station, it will effectively be taking Canada out of international broadcasting, a U.S. broadcast specialist said Saturday. “Just having a web page or internet presence isn’t enough,” Kim Andrew Elliott told the Citizen. “You can build a website but they will not necessarily come. It’s easy to get lost among the thousands of other internet sites.” CBC is slashing 80 per cent of Radio Canada International’s budget, cutting dozens of full and part time jobs and and reducing the 67- year-old ‘Voice of Canada’ [sic] international short wave service to a website. The $10 million cut — from $12.3 million to $2.3 million — will automatically eliminate access to Radio Canada broadcasts for millions of people, including China where RCI’s internet site is blocked. In many developing nations, access to the internet is either limited or non-existent, leaving radio as the only alternative. And RCI is already in tough against BBC World Service, Voice of America (VOA) and well-funded international broadcasting alternatives out of Australia and France. “The audience for international broadcasting is looking for news and information in its own language that is more reliable than the news and information they are getting from their state controlled domestic media,” said Elliott, a VOA analyst and researcher. “Iran is [a] good current example. “And in the case of VOA and the United States, that’s where the value comes in,” he added. “It gives people trustworthy news sources means they are no longer totally under the sway of dictators or terrorists and can make their own decisions about current affairs. But producing a good international service costs money.” The internet is also vulnerable, said Elliott, who has his own website devoted to international broadcasting issues, adding that his views on RCI were his own and not VOA’s. “Shortwave is wonderful medium,” he said. “It can get through when the internet is blocked by a dictator, cyber war or a natural disaster like an earthquake — or extreme weather events that seem to be increasing.” CBC is also planning to end shortwave transmissions from its major relay station at Sackville, New Brunswick on June 26, a move that Elliott says is shortsighted and could be a major detriment to the country in the event of a major breakdown in internet communications. “They might want to think twice,” he said. “Nowadays, shortwave can send text or even formatted web pages and can always be available in emergencies when all else fails — as it did in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina.” Elliott, who says he began listening to RCI as a teenager in the 1960s and has been a regular listener since, said the Canadian service was a major international player, broadcasting news and current affairs in many languages. RCI, often the victim of budget cuts, stayed on the air during austerity periods of the 1990s by cutting the number of its broadcast languages. CBC’s latest cuts to RCI has been done with the cooperation of the Conservative government which on June 7 quietly changed the rules under which RCI was broadcast. Before June 7, it was legally obliged to provide a shortwave service and to consult regularly with the Department of Foreign Affairs. The government has now dropped those requirements. A spokesman for the Department of Canadian Heritage confirmed the change had been made but refused to say why. A spokesman for Foreign Minister John Baird contacted Saturday refused to say whether his department had been consulted on the issue. CBC has defended the cuts to RCI as necessary because the federal government has slashed its budget by 10 per cent over the next three years — to about $115 million. © Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/technology/only+presence+shortsighted+decision+says+American+broadcast+expert/6794663/story.html#ixzz1yLudALDz (via DXLD) I'm beginning to wonder if my letter to my Member of Parliament, Dean Del Mastro, who is also Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, may have had a reverse effect by waking them to the fact that the previous Conservative government under Brian Mulroney had protected RCI with legislative wording and moving funding for it under the Department of External Affairs. It wasn't until two years into the Liberal government of Jean Chrétien that relatively stable funding was restored to the CBC buget to operate RCI. Perhaps they chose to change things after being reminded what two previous governments had done. Now we can honestly say the Canadian government is wasting taxpayer's money because the $2.3 million left in RCI's budget won't accomplish anything because their listenership will drop to near zero (Mark Coady, Ont., NASWA yg via DXLD) Rally in support of Radio Canada International employees today at noon. Posted: 20 Jun 2012 RCI Action Committee Facebook Page: Solidarity rally with employees of Radio Canada International, today at noon. "On the terrace in front of CBC Montreal - 1400 René-Lévesque boul est." RCI Action Committee blog, 19 June 2012: "In March of 2008, the RCI Action Committee presented Hubert Lacroix, the president of Canada’s national public radio and television broadcaster CBC/Radio-Canada, with a four page document. We were welcoming the new president with an outline of our concerns of how Canada’s Voice to the World had been handled by the CBC over the previous years. It included observations and suggestions. It also included a sampling of answers from a survey we had carried out of RCI employees. He never got back to us." (kimandrewelliott.com via WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DXLD) ** CANADA. BUDGET CUTS RADIO CANADA INTERNATIONAL (RCI) - SOLIDARITY RALLY FOR RCI http://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/budget-cuts-radio-canada-international-163000862.html MONTREAL, June 20, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - More than a hundred people demonstrated in front of the Radio-Canada-CBC building in Montreal today at noon in solidarity with the RCI Action Committee, a union- supported lobby of Radio Canada International employees. At the rally the Committee called on the federal government to stop the budget cuts at the international service, and to give RCI financial autonomy from Radio-Canada-CBC. On April 4, 2012, Radio-Canada-CBC announced RCI's budget would be cut by 80%, dropping from $12.3 million to $2.3 million. The newsroom will be closed down. RCI, Canada's Voice to the World for the past 67 years, will stop being a radio broadcaster both on shortwave and by satellite on June 24. This decision was retroactively approved by Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore on June 7, when he changed the 2003 Order in Council and removed Radio-Canada-CBC's obligation to provide RCI's programming on shortwave, and to consult the ministry of Foreign Affairs about geographic target areas and broadcast languages. Listeners cut off from Canada In ending RCI's role as a radio broadcaster and limiting its presence to the Internet, millions of listeners will be cut off from uncensored news from Canada. This is because of limited access to the Internet, or as in the case of Chinese listeners, because the RCI website is blocked by Chinese authorities. In the case of China, however, the shortwave radio broadcasts are not jammed by the authorities. Minister Moore's decision now effectively does that for them. Many of Canada's important economic partners such as India, Russia and Brazil will also lose access to Canadian news because the services have been closed, or in the case of India, access to the Internet is limited. In addition, the Minister's decision to eliminate the need for consultations with Foreign Affairs opens the door to more slashing of the service such as those to Ukraine, Russia and Brazil. Enormous loss of expertise RCI Action Committee spokesperson Wojtek Gwiazda, a host and producer at Radio Canada International, says the federal government must step in and stop the drastic cuts to Radio Canada International, "We think it should be Canada's Parliament and not Radio-Canada-CBC that decides the strength or weakness of RCI. Even if we know the government does not want to get involved in the internal functioning of the Radio- Canada-CBC, we feel that the Corporation failed to meet its obligations under the Broadcasting Act." For SCRC president Alex Levasseur, "Canada's voice to the world is unique not because it broadcasts in different languages, but because it explains Canada to the rest of the world in these different languages. Our contextualized programming for people who may know little about Canada helps trade, tourism and immigration. And RCI's tradition of journalistic integrity has received worldwide respect and appreciation for 67 years." For more information, visit http://www.rciaction.org/blog The SCRC represents almost 1800 members in Quebec and Moncton, and is affiliated with the Fédération nationale des communications of the CSN. Contacts: Noémi Desrochers Service des communications de la CSN Cell: 514 216-1825 Office: 514 598-2162. Source : Syndicat des communications de Radio-Canada (SCRC) FNC-CSN (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) Same: http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/996467/budget-cuts-radio-canada-international-rci-solidarity-rally-for-rci (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** CANADA [and non]. RCI indicates the RCI transmissions and relays of other broadcasters from Sackville will end June 24 at 2359:30. The Northern Quebec Service will continue until October 31 at 2359:30 (Dan Ferguson, June 20, NASWA yg via DXLD) There's an updated HFCC file at http://www.hfcc.org/data/a12/index.phtml today. Running a comparison shows RCI entries now have an ending date of 6/24, with the exception of the entry on 9625 for the Northern Quebec Service and the entries for KBS. I now understand KBS, Babcock and NHK will stay until Oct 31, Vatican relays will end July 31, China R. Int'l relays end 6/24, República relay will end 6/25 at 0200 (Dan Ferguson, June 21, dxldyg via DXLD) Our inspexion of HFCC-all data as of June 21 disagrees: Everything from RCI via Sackville or elsewhere ending 6/24 (except via S Korea still showing until 10/28); República 9490 ends 6/25, but all the others are shown continuing the rest of A-12 to the end of October. But some of this info may not have been updated yet in this reference. See also http://www.hfcc.org/data/schedbyfmo.php?seas=A12&fmor=RCI (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Sadly, still no hi-res satellite or aerial imagery of the Sackville site - the clock will be ticking on this site. Anyone care to hire an aeroplane or hot air balloon over Sackville? Regards (Ian Baxter, NSW, June 20, Shortwavesites YG via DXLD) ** CANADA. CBC ABANDONING REMOTE NORTHERN VIEWERS - Winnipeg Free Press http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/westview/cbc-abandoning-remote-northern-viewers-157729125.html CRANBERRY PORTAGE -- One thought crosses my mind as I revisit the campground where I spent much of my pre-teen summers: it's a lot smaller than I remember. Still, it's familiar enough. That ancient tree still towers near the fireplace. The glorified outhouse remains visible across the gravel road. And, off in the distance, I can almost hear the familiar play- by-play of Hockey Night in Canada. Suddenly, another thought arises. If I am to bring my own children here some day, those spring and summer nights under the stars just won't be the same given a recent announcement by CBC. The People's Network will soon become The Certain People's Network, pledging to shut down its analog television transmitters in all rural and smaller urban centres effective July 31. The move will impact the hundreds of thousands of Canadians who still pick up CBC with rabbit ears on the nearly obsolete analog system rather than the digital system available in cities. Such a decision by a publicly funded broadcaster raises obvious questions of equality. That's particularly true in northern Manitoba, which, according to the Conference Board of Canada, has three of Canada's five lowest median income regions. Since low-income earners are less likely than other Canadians to have cable or satellite, a vast swathe of northern Manitoba is about to be cut off from television meant to unite our country across geographical and cultural boundaries. CBC argues that the move is necessary given a relatively minor budget cut being imposed by the federal government and the fact that the vast majority of Canadians already have pay TV. For her part, Churchill NDP MP Niki Ashton has pledged to do what she can to reverse the decision. Regrettably, though, she has politicized the issue, blaming the belt-tightening Harper government rather than the arms-length CBC bureaucrats who decide precisely how to prune costs. CBC will, over the next three years, lose $115 million of its $1.1- billion federal subsidy. The corporation expects to save $10 million a year from shutting down its analog transmitters. Some perspective: Cutting off rural Canada will save CBC eight per cent of the annual amount it is losing. And it will equate to just one per cent of the broadcaster's post-cut budget. Surely there are better ways to trim the fat within an organization that reportedly pays Don Cherry about $800,000 a year. By shutting down the transmitters, CBC will leave most of northern Manitoba with no gratis television of any sort. Thompson, The Pas, Flin Flon and Snow Lake will continue to receive one over-the-air channel, CTV. Of course there's the risk that CBC may set a precedent. Will CTV, accountable to shareholders, eventually see the public broadcaster's abandonment of rural residents as a chance to follow suit? Northern and rural areas won't be the only parts of Manitoba impacted by the decision. Indeed, all viewers outside of Winnipeg, including those in Brandon, will stare at blank TV screens come midsummer. Up north, the effect will be felt beyond low-income folks. Many northerners, content with tranquility, forego pay TV as part of their lifestyle. Others hook up portable TV sets at the abundant cottages and campgrounds that dot the regional map. All of them have a basic right to tune into a public service they are already funding without bearing the added cost of cable or satellite. At least that's how Karin Mosell McNichol feels. Born and raised here in Cranberry Portage, sandwiched between The Pas and Flin Flon, she and her family gave up cable some 15 years ago, content with one channel. "CBC is high-quality viewing and if that's not available, I would be disappointed," says the physiotherapist. Mosell McNichol has contacted both MP Ashton and Heritage Minister James Moore to voice her disapproval and is hopeful enough people will speak out to turn the tide. "If you don't say anything, how can you expect things to happen?" she says. Unfortunately, media coverage of CBC's plan has been limited here. Mosell McNichol happened to learn about it through a friend. Many others appear destined to find out only after seeing snow on their screens where Peter Mansbridge used to be. By then it will be too late. Northerners who care about parity from our public broadcaster must speak up. MPs like Ashton must push politics aside and acknowledge that CBC, at least on this issue, requires more oversight from its political bosses. It's not about me watching hockey under the stars. It's about fairness. Jonathon Naylor is editor of The Reminder newspaper in Flin Flon (via Kevin Redding, June 14, ABDX via DXLD) ** CANADA. CBC TV LEAVES THE NORTHERN ANALOGUE TV CBC TV going off the (analogue) air By CHRIS TALBOT, Northern Journal Reporter, Tue, Jun 12, 2012 http://srj.ca/cbc-tv-going-off-the-analogue-air-p7379-88.htm Television "rabbit ears" are a thing of the past in Canada's North, according to CBC/Radio-Canada, which plans to shut down free over-the- air CBC TV service in all but one community in the Northwest Territories. Citing federal budget cuts, CBC and Radio-Canada will switch off 620 analogue transmitters it owns across Canada on July 31, all but eliminating free over-the-air television signals in Canada. It only plans to keep transmitters operating in major urban centres. Of the 13 transmitters in the NWT, only Yellowknife's will remain operational. Forty-three transmitters are also being shut down in Alberta, leaving only Calgary and Edmonton transmitters. The shutdowns will have a huge impact on the North, said Catherine Edwards, a spokesperson for the Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations (CACTUS). She said in remote communities, 90 per cent of the population uses over-the-air TV service. CBC claims only 1.7 per cent of Canadians watch CBC/Radio- Canada using analogue signals, but Edwards puts that number at a 10 per cent average across the country. "It's the areas of the country that are already disadvantaged in active communications services that are going to get another hit," Edwards told The Journal. In the NWT, transmitters will be shut down in Aklavik, Deline, Fort McPherson, Fort Providence, Fort Resolution, Fort Simpson, Fort Smith, Hay River, Inuvik, Norman Wells, Rae/Edzo and Tuktoyaktuk. CACTUS believes the transmitters should be turned over to local communities that could - if they choose - manage the towers, rebroadcast CBC or develop their own programming. The towers were paid for with taxpayer money to bring CBC coast-to-coast in the 1970s, she added. Edwards accused the CBC of being too hush-hush about upcoming shutdowns and the public consultation process - a process that is coming to an end next week. "The hot deadline is that if anybody wants to have any input, they have to have it to the CRTC by June 18," Edwards said. "The CBC is not planning to run any PSAs or even tell the public until after that public consultation process is over." There is currently only hope for Hay River to retain its over-the-air CBC service. The Hay River Community (TV) Service Society currently re-broadcasts 12 radio stations for free over the air, as well as CBC French TV. Gary Hoffman, president of the society, told The Journal the society is in discussions with CBC to take over the equipment to continue broadcasting CBC television in English. Hoffman said he believes the shutdown will also affect the over-the- air transmission of the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) because CBC maintains APTN's equipment in Hay River. The Hay River Community (TV) Service Society is in discussions with both CBC and APTN to assume control of the equipment and continue broadcasting the stations. Edwards has other concerns about the transmitter shutdowns. In some communities, the towers are also hubs for rural broadband and cellular service, which could be impacted, she said. CACTUS recommends the CBC repurpose rural towers for broadband. CBC had planned to shut down all its analogue transmitters over time in a measured transition to digital signals, but the Crown corporation says cutbacks accelerated the process. CBC expects to save $10 million annually by 2013-2014 by shutting down the transmitters this summer. Anyone interested in writing the CRTC about the loss of CBC analogue service can visit http://www.friends.ca/free_cbc or http://www.openmedia.ca/lifeline (via Dan Say, alt.tv.networks.cbc via Mike Cooper, WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DXLD) ** CANADA [and non]. Radio Drama --- two stories in our wee little community paper http://www.vancourier.com/entertainment/Radio+heads/6786727/story.html article starts out: Last March, Canadian fans of audio drama were shocked. In the federal budget, the Harper government trimmed the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's funding by 10 per cent, and CBC management responded by cutting its radio drama completely. It spelled the end of an 85-year tradition. The most famous casualty was the long-running CBC radio show Afghanada, which followed the stories of our soldiers abroad and attracted almost half a million listeners. Dozens of prominent writers, actors and politicians protested the cut, to no avail. It was a major setback indeed-but it's not the end of the story, for audio drama still survives in many other forums in Vancouver and around the world. and http://www.vancourier.com/entertainment/Time+Radio+dramas+alive+well+Internet/6786749/story.html starts out For those who want to explore the vast world of Old Time Radio audio drama, there are hundreds of shows coming online each year for listening or free download, as copyrights expire after 50 years. Others are modestly priced (for instance, Twilight Zone 40-minute radio episodes are $2 each on iTunes), or can be purchased on CD. There is, sadly, a major historical gap: the CBC has not yet archived online the hundreds of fine audio dramas it produced during its Golden Age of 1944 to 1969 (unlike state radio networks in Britain and Australia have done for their shows). Yet a few can be found at cbc.ca/rewind, such as a quirky drama from the early 1990s called Midnight Cab. Notes on this topic are posted by the Canadian OldTime Radio Alliance at cotra.ca On live radio, Vancouverites can hear classic radio shows every midnight on CKNW, and Lights Out on Sunday nights at 10 p.m. on Classic Rock 101 (via Eric Flodén, BC, swprograms via DXLD) ** CANADA. CBC RADIO ONE SUMMER STARTS 22 JUNE 2012 Some years it is good, some bad. CBC execs have fled to the cottage on the lake for summer vacation and never listen. I see a good argument to extend the local noon shows past 1:00 pm as soon as possible to push out the present 1 pm dreck (Dan Say, alt.radio.networks.cbc via Mike Cooper, DXLD) http://www.cbc.ca/radiosummer/ A grid schedule at http://www.cbc.ca/radio/pdfs/Radio-One-Summer-2012.pdf ----- web page description and times. [times are local in each timezone: first airings in AT/NT are in UT - 3, e.g. Monday 11:30 am = 1430 UT, and on webcasts repeated 1, 2, 3 and 4 hours later for westward zones – gh] Babel A show about the uniquely Canadian mashup that results when old ideas about English collide with new Canada, where one in five people speak neither French nor English as a first language. Host Mariel Borelli takes us to the street, classroom and boardroom to explore our evolving language. Mondays at 11:30 a.m., Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. Fear Itself Fear Itself dives into the realm of our most profound terrors by exploring why we are equally drawn to and repelled by fear. Host Christy Ann Conlin lives in that world of fear as a writer of horror and ghost stories. The only thing you have to hear is Fear Itself. Mondays at 7:30 p.m., Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. Game Changer The Current's special series from this past season returns, hosted by Anna Maria Tremonti, with stories of the people, events and ideas that have fundamentally changed the world. Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 9:30 a.m. Global Perspectives An international documentary series hosted by Karin Wells. This summer, Global Perspectives explores the theme of Old School, New School. Mondays at 9:30 a.m., Wednesdays at 11:30 p.m. The Invisible Hand Think you understand economics? Think again. The Invisible Hand, hosted by Matthew Lazin-Ryder, explains why gouging is good, why non- profits should be profitable and how supply-and-demand governs the world of love. A defiantly non-dismal take on the dismal science of economics. Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m., Saturdays at 11:00 a.m. Metamorphosis From Jesus Christ to Ebenezer Scrooge, from Franz Kafka to The Biggest Loser, the world has always been captivated by tales of trouble, epiphany and redemption. Host Richard Syrett brings listeners 10 such stories of profound personal transformation in Metamorphosis. Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m., Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. Trailbreakers Host Don Kelly presents profiles of the Aboriginal activists and artists, educators and innovators, chiefs and youth who are pointing a new way forward. Wednesdays at 11:30 p.m., Fridays at 11:30 a.m. Vinyl Café Stories A new mix of favourite stories from the Vinyl Café vaults, featuring Dave, his wife Morely, and the crazy constellation of characters who inhabit Dave's life and second-hand record store. Thursdays at 1:00 p.m. Wachtel on the Arts A regular feature hosted by the celebrated literary and arts journalist Eleanor Wachtel. Eleanor is known for her revealing and illuminating conversations with authors on the award-winning Writers & Company. Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. The Wildside CBC Radio 3 host Grant Lawrence takes listeners to The Wildside in story and song, as Canadians walk, hike, swim, kayak, climb, canoe and skydive across our country - and live to tell the tale. Why? Because it's in our nature. Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m., Fridays at 7:30 p.m. (via Dan Say, alt.radio.networks.cbc via Mike Cooper, WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DXLD) ** CANADA [non]. GERMANY, Frequency change of Bible Voice Broadcasting Network in Persian: 1530-1730 NF 15300*WER 100 kW / 090 deg to WeAs, ex 13590, re-ex 12140 *from 1700 strong co-ch RFI in French (DX Re Mix News June 18 via DXLD) ** CHINA [and non]. EAST JAMMERSTAN: 14400, Chinese Crash and Bang music jammer; 2253, 12-June; Just barely audible; also on 14700, stronger than 14400 but weak. No others previously reported during 2200 heard (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 85 ft. RW and 180 ft. center-fed RW, Icom R3 + duckie, All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) /IBB, Fast spoken Chinese talk jamming against RFA IBB outlets in Mandarin and Tibetan in 06-07 UT slot on June 15. 15615, 15635, 17495, 17510Tib, 17615, 17765Tib, 17855, 21500Tib, 21690UAE-Tib, 21720 kHz, next door of Radio Australia Shepparton 21725 kHz in English. Firedrake music against SoH 17450 kHz heard also at 0645 UT. Noted also V of Russia's English on 21800 kHz at same time (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 15, dxldyg via DXLD) Firedrake June 15, before 1200: 12230, poor at 1131 12320, poor at 1131 13920, good at 1128; none in the 14s 15900, poor at 1133 16100, very poor at 1134 16980, very poor at 1134; none in the 17s After 1200: 15435, fair at 1211 Before 1300: 16980, good at 1247 just as a bad edit in the music occurs 16100, very good at 1246; none in the 17s 15900, poor at 1247 15555, fair at 1247; het on the lo side [when I say this, I am alluding to presumed target V. of Tibet 2 or 3 kHz off-channel] 13920, fair at 1250; none in the 14s 12230, very poor at 1251; none in the 11s, 10s Firedrake June 16, only one found in non-exhaustive check: 15545, poor at 1233 with flutter (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Firedrake scan, 0341-0353, June 17. 12230 very poor 14400 good 14699.9 good 15940 good 16100 good 16980 good 17250 good (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Firedrake, June 17 after 0400: 14400, very poor at 0422 16100, very poor at 0423; no others found 11-19 MHz during quite disturbed propagation Firedrake June 18 before 1300: 13920, poor at 1247 mixing with fax 13970, very poor at 1247 No others audible 10-18 MHz during very disturbed propagation. WWV reported at 1200 and 1500: ``Solar-terrestrial indices for 17 June follow. Solar flux 124 and estimated planetary A-index 39. The estimated planetary K-index at 1200 UTC on 18 June was 2. Space weather for the past 24 hours has been minor. Geomagnetic storms reaching the G1 level occurred. No space weather storms are predicted for the next 24 hours.`` Firedrake June 19, before 0500: 16100, poor at 0454; no others audible Before 1300: 11500, fair at 1238 with CCI, SOH or VOR? None in the 10s, 12s 11970, fair at 1238 13920, very good at 1242 13970, very good at 1242 14700, good at 1242, with lo audible het, QRM: hi-power Sound of Hope? [note Ron Howard`s report above of FD itself being on 14699.9] 14950, very good at 1243 15555, good at 1244, het on lo side 16100, fair at 1245 17250, very poor at 1245 17450, JBA at 1246; none in the 18s Firedrake June 20, before 0400: 16980, JBA at 0347. No others found Before 0500: 15980, JBA at 0459 with QRM de OTH radar up to 15983. No others found After 1200: 12320, fair at 1220; break a few sex at 1221, bad edit? 13920, fair-good at 1219 14700, fair-good at 1219 14950, fair-good at 1219 15445, poor at 1215, het on lo side 16100, very poor at 1217 16920, fair at 1217 Before 1500: 14700, very poor at 1442; none higher or lower 11-18 MHz (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, Thought you might find this article interesting. Take a guided tour of the Chinese Government`s Firedrake shortwave jamming facility. Inside Firedrake, a Tour of a Chinese Shortwave Jamming Facility http://shortwavereport.com/?page_id=585 (Steve Handler, June 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [non]. ALBANIA: 13710, China Radio Int'l via Cerrik; English show I THINK titled `The world according to words`, with two dudes discussing ‘jailbreaking’ iPods, iPhones, software pirating & the like. :55 into learn Chinese programme with birthday party phrases. Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed the ‘bumper tones’ used during the vocabulary lessons sounds a lot like the ‘bumper tunes’ used on the TIS stations at the Mackinac Bridge? Into news after an ID. Lead item was about the price of gasoline being reduced because of the lower crude oil price. You mean there is only one price for gas in all of China? I suppose they could have been talking in generalities (shorthand for ‘the AVERAGE price of gas’ e.g.) but it didn’t sound like it! Sure would make things simpler if you could fill the tank on one corner, and NOT see a station 3 blocks further on selling gas for 10 cents a gallon less! “Planned” economies have some advantages too, right? :) 3+54+44 0745-0805 9/June (Ken Zichi, Port Hope MI2, MARE Tipsheet June 15 via DXLD) See also ALBANIA 6080, UT Sunday June 17 at 0531, CRI English via Sackville on wrong frequency instead of 6190, just cleared as NHK Spanish via Bonaire has signed 6080 off at 0530. CRI starts `The World According to Words` program, explaining English neologisms, starting with ``gap-year``, i.e. taking a year off between high school and college, an idea which has not caught on in China; // 6020 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also CANADA ** CHINA. [Re 12-24] Re: more Philippines to CHINA FM Es If I'm allowed to, I'd like to speculate as to the purpose of that peculiar 91.3 MHz FM Chinese station. Media in the People's Republic of China has increasingly attempted to emulate styles popular in Japan and South Korea. I believe what this station might be emulating is either a Seiyu Drama or a Manzai. Manzai are traditional Japanese comedy acts that have become popular all over Japan, despite having once been more or less confined to the Kansai region. Seiyu are Japanese voice actors and actresses. Animated television programs are extremely popular in Japan and Korea, as are comic books (manga and manwha), and there are many radio dramas based around these series. When they've run their course, they're often released on CD or put up as digital files for sale online. I'm under the impression that the station you're talking about is some sort of knockoff of this, but I mean no disrespect and am only speculating. By the way, if it's all right for me to ask, by Chinese do you mean Mandarin or Cantonese? (John narvorr/wolfwere, ABDX via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. Antiguas QSL`s colombianas en ebay --- A través del conocido sitio de subastas ebay, he podido hacerme a QSL´s colombianas de las primeras emisoras que transmitieron desde mi país; una vendedora en USA puso a la venta una gran cantidad de tarjetas de los primeros años de la radiodifusió n mundial años 20 y 30 del siglo veinte. Para mi fue una necesidad intentar comprar estos materiales sobre la historia de la radio en mi país, lamentablemente no pude conseguir varias piezas únicas, ya que varias alcanzaron mas de los U$50 c/u. Las imágenes a través de http://dxdesdecolombia.blogspot.com/ (Rafael Rodríguez R., Bogotá D.C. - COLOMBIA, 17 June, playdx yg via DXLD) Rafael, Es igual con QSLs de muchas emisoras brasileñas. Hice lo mismo que tú, pero algunas alcanzaron más de US$60. De cualquier manera ya recibí varias que voy a disponer lo más pronto posible en mi blog. También recibi algún material del CPRV (todo de emisoras brasileñas). Yo pienso que en el futuro lo que tengo (grabaciones, calcos, banderines, QSLs) pueda ser útil para algún museo en mi ciudad. Aunque solo tengo 33 años, no quiero que en el futuro todo eso termine en el basurero. 73 (Ivan Dias Jr. - Sorocaba/SP http://ivandias.wordpress.com http://twitter.com/ivandiasjr radioescutas yg via DXLD) ** CONGO. 6115, RTVD Congolaise, Brazzaville, 1730-1814, May 23, increased time for soccer play reportage in French, usually close down is at around 1808, 25432 (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria, DSWCI DX Window June 13 via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. 17700-18000, June 15 at 1846, REE relay on 17850 is outputting modulation spike spurs to this 300 kHz extent, worst in the 17855-17900 range. 9430-9830, June 20 at 0515, REE relay on 9630 is putting out decreasing modulation spike spurs to this extent. 9630 itself is crackly, distorted. The crap was strong enough to be heard underneath Vietnam via Canada on 9555 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. IN CUBA, THE INTERNET IS BANNED, BUT NUMBER CONNECTED TO THE "INTRANET" INCREASES 40%. Posted: 19 Jun 2012 Reuters, 15 June 2012, Marc Franc: "The number of Cubans linked to the country's state-controlled intranet jumped more than 40 percent in 2011 compared to the previous year and mobile phone use rose 30 percent, the government reported, even as Cuba's population remained largely cut off from unfettered access to the Internet. ... There is no broadband Internet in Cuba and the relatively few Internet users suffer through agonizingly long waits to open an email, let alone view a photo or video, which also hampers government and business operations. ... Cuba reports intranet use as Internet use even though access to the Internet is banned without government permission. ... Access to satellite television is also severely restricted. Satellite TV access in Cuba is illegal without special permission from the government and authorities regularly raid neighborhoods and homes in search of satellite dishes." The Ledger (Lakeland FL), 16 June 2012, editorial: "Marco Rubio, U.S. senator from Florida, is right: America should use its technological prowess to extend affordable Internet access in Cuba. Rubio — a Republican from Miami — said during a recent Senate hearing that the United States has the capability to use satellites to provide Internet access in Cuba. Such access, Rubio contended, would enable pro- democracy Cubans to exchange information, mobilize politically and learn more about life off the island. ... The best ways to promote democracy and enable Cubans to gain the prosperity to afford technology would be to ease the embargo, and increase cultural and economic exchanges." AP, 21 May 2012: "It was all sunshine, smiles and celebratory speeches as officials marked the arrival of an undersea fiber-optic cable they promised would end Cuba‘s Internet isolation and boost web capacity 3,000-fold. Even a retired Fidel Castro had hailed the dawn of a new cyber-age on the island. More than a year after the February 2011 ceremony on Siboney Beach in eastern Cuba, and 10 months after the system was supposed to have gone online, the government never mentions the cable anymore, and Internet here remains the slowest in the hemisphere. ... Perhaps most maddening, nobody has explained what happened to the much-ballyhooed $70 million project. ... The cable was strung from Venezuela with the help of key ally Hugo Chavez." (kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) ** CUBA. 12060, June 17 at 0421, DentroCuban Jamming Command, at least two pulsers unsynchronized on 2 x 6030 where many, many, more pile up for a wall of noise against Radio Martí. Also pulses fundamentally jamming nothing at 0425 on 11930, 9490, 7365, 5980. At 0426, pulse jamming also on 9955 WRMI, but South Asian accent in English more or less readable, presumably in WaveScan. 9830, June 18 at 0429, weak RHC signal here // 9810, evidently spur from that, or mixing with 9790 China relay transmitter. 9965 & 9945, June 18 at 0430, matching pulsing spurs from wall of noise jamming centered on 9955 against WRMI. Neighbors of any jammed frequency, beware! 9820 & 9880, June 18 at 1219, RHC 9850 bigsig is putting modulation spike spurs out here. 9270, June 18 at 1222 as I tune across, hear a trace of RHC audio matching another receiver in the background on 9850, but this may have been receiver overload as could not get FRG-7 preselector to peak on it. The 9850/9550 mixing products should be on 9250, 10150 at 300 kHz intervals (the weaker transmitter on 9540 cannot mix with them as it`s from the other site an echo apart) (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. 13820, June 17 at 2003, big open carrier, with some noise --- is it jamming or a béisbol crowd? But never any talk, unlike 9565, 11930 R. Martí Greenville which is play-by-play. 13820 goes off at 2003.5* uncovering a much weaker signal with BB game. 2000 is when 13820 is supposed to be handed over from Greenville to Sackville for another bihour, but GB just helped the Cubans to block the signal via Canada. The RM Sackville relays are of course another casualty of the CBC`s decision to close Sackville. I suppose they were started for times when GB was at peak usage for other services, but a little juggling ought to allow IBB to run Martí three-frequencies-at-once all by itself from GB (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. 7210-LSB, June 18 at 1125, N1NR, Nelson Roig in Pennsylvania has his anti-Castro rants interrupted by rude noises he refers to as ``el burro``; apparently mechanically or electronically generated, but unclear whether a new form of DentroCuban jamming or one of his buddies playing around. Certainly an entertaining frequency every morning (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CYPRUS. 21600-21625, June 16 at 1751, intruding OTH radar pulses, presumed from here, just missing WHRI 21630, but seriously disrupting REE Spain on 21610. Who manages the OTH frequency selexion, anyway? 15798-15823, June 20 at 0345, OTH radar pulsing, presumed from here, matched by another one making the same noise at 15490-15515, barely missing R. Australia if you side-tune upward. Checking again at 0458, now one has shifted slightly to 15803-15832 or so; and the lower one has been replaced by 15958-15983, bothering Firedrake 15980, see CHINA (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CZECHIA [non]. USA, 9954.952, WRMI from Miami-FL performed Radio Prague's short English news program at 0600-0604 UT, weather report "... rain showers and overcloud predicted...", poor S=4-5 here in Germany (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 15, dxldyg via DXLD) ** EGYPT. 9315, R Cairo with Arabic music and then at :40 into YL in English talking about World Cup qualifying matches in Alexandria. She had a pretty thick accent, however--are you seated?--the modulation was not horrible so I could actually sort of understand what was said! It wasn’t GREAT, but it also wasn’t such that things were unintelligible either. On the other hand, 6270 which is listed as them in Arabic sounded like it had an ‘airplane jammer’ on channel with them & that was unintelligible! “That’s all for now” into Arabic bumper music at :45, long dead air pause then into more Middle Eastern music. At :52 into an OM standing about a quarter mile from the mike speaking English with interspersed Middle East bumper bits, but I have NO idea what he was saying. Into short items (news?) at :03 including an ID both read by the YL with the accent but the decent microphone, so I could understand more again. Arabic bumper music between items. Into Arabic music at :05. Headlines read by YL at :14 and then “I would like to say goodbye” at :15 but not off: into OM vocal crooner singing in a decidedly non- Arabic style, but in Arabic. “Radio Cairo Presents This is Islam” read by an OM who was afflicted with Cairo Mumblemouth Syndrome (CMS), but not so badly as the other OM at :19. 1 k tone at :28 (so they get the concept of testing the modulation, they just don’t know how to do it?) and off at :30. 3+5443+ for music and the YL, 3+5441+ for the OM. 0230-0330* 9/June (Ken Zichi, Port Hope MI2, MARE Tipsheet June 15 via DXLD) 17870, R. Cairo (presumed). Signal on at 1213 followed by Arabic music about 30 seconds later. Unreadable W announcer at 1215 briefly, then music, and W again. Koran at 1217. No distortion. Similar signal to R. Pakistan. Just too weak. (15 June) 6270, R. Cairo. 2326 ID by W ending news, Arabic music, then program "This is Islam". Horrible distorted audio makes for difficult copy. Massively strong though. (15 June) 9315, R. Cairo. Arabic music and English ID by W at 0200. Distorted but not as bad as 6270. (16 June) (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, NRD- 535D with T2FD antenna, Cumbre DX via DXLD) 9315, R. Cairo, Was hoping to get a nice recording of their English broadcast here following the controversial election, but found the audio was 'doubled' with the main feed 5 seconds behind a slightly weaker identical feed. The effect was noted from 0126 tune/in to at least 0408, and possibly as late as 0429 but it was hard to tell during music. The audio the night before was actually quite good. (20 June) (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, NRD-535D and T2FD antenna, Cumbre DX via DXLD It`s always something 13855, June 17 at 0037 hum and something JBM; 13620, buzz like an airplane propeller, much louder and higher-pitched than 13855. These two are the OSOB! in strange propagation conditions, obviously both R. Cairo as scheduled per HFCC: 13855 2330 0200 10,11 ABS 250 286 218 1234567 250312 281012 D Ara, Spa 13620 0045 0200 13,15 ABS 250 241 218 1234567 250312 281012 D Spa (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EGYPT. Frequency and other changes of Radio Cairo in near future: 1330-1530 15040 ABZ 100 kW / 070 deg WeAs Farsi, may be cancelled 1600-1700 13680 ABS 250 kW / 315 deg EaEu Bosnian, not yet active 1845-2000 17625 ABZ 200 kW / 245 deg WeAf Fulfulde, confirmed June 14 1300-1600 15080#ABS 250 kW / 241 deg WeAf Arabic 1800-1900 6270$ABS 200 kW / 325 deg WeEu Italian 1900-2000 6270*ABS 200 kW / 325 deg WeEu German 1900-2000 9280&ABS 250 kW / 005 deg EaEu Russian 2000-2115 6270*ABS 200 kW / 325 deg WeEu French 2115-2245 6270^ABS 200 kW / 325 deg WeEu English 2300-0030 6270!ABS 200 kW / 325 deg NEAm English 0030-0430 6270!ABS 200 kW / 325 deg NEAm Arabic 0045-0200 9315+ABZ 250 kW / 330 deg NoAm Spanish 0200-0330 9315+ABZ 250 kW / 330 deg NoAm English # can be changed to 15770 or 15800 $ can be changed to 9805 * can be changed to 11560 & can be changed to 9685 ^ can be changed to 11890 or 12050 ! can be changed to 9965 or 11510 + can be changed to 9720 (DX Re Mix News 19 June via WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DXLD) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. GUINÉ EQUATORIAL, 5005. RNGE, Bata, 1835-1910, 16/6, dialecto local, texto, canções africanas; 25342, áudio de má qualidade, sinal a melhor (Carlos Gonçalves, PORTUGAL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. 15190.0, R Africa (presumed) with preacher thumping about fornication & God being “the father of all”. Now correct me if I’m wrong, but how exactly do you become a father? This dude had a real issue with ‘urges’ because he kept talking about things like prostitution, bastards, concubines & being a “child of the promise”. You gotta wonder what makes these folks tick sometimes. 3+5443+ with a little clipping on audio peaks. 0630-0650 28/May [Evangelical "ticking" is greatly enhanced by people sending them money.] (Ken Zichi, Port Hope MI2, MARE Tipsheet June 15 via DXLD) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. 15190, R. Africa. 1933-1950 program "Let the Bible Speak". Next program was cut off later at 2024 for another program which was also cut off at 2026. Deadair and finally went off at 2033. Amazing strong and clear though. Good 19 mb reception today. (15 June) (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, NRD-535D with T2FD antenna, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** ERITREA. ERITREIA, 7160, Voz das Massas, Selai Dairo, 1750-1802*, 17/6, árabe, texto, música, fecho c/ hino nacional; 34332, QRM pontual, de estações de amador (Carlos Gonçalves, PORTUGAL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA. 5950, Voice of Tigray Revolution, *0257-0310, June 16, sign on with flute-like IS. Vernacular talk at 0301. Haunting local flute music at 0303. Fair until 0300 when covered by Radio Taiwan Int via Okeechobee at their 0300 sign on, but Ethiopia still audible under Okeechobee (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** EUROPE. PIRATE. 6240, Radio Spaceman, 2335-2355+, June 15, pop music. ID. Weak but readable. Occasional RTTY QRM. (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg, PA, USA, Equipment: Icom IC-7600, two 100 foot longwires, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) initial tip 6240, Radio Spaceman, 2335-0042*, June 15-16, pop music. IDs. Shoutouts. Woody Guthrie music. Weak but readable at tune-in. Fair to good by 0015 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) final log ** EUROPE. PIRATE. 6260 USB, Flying Dutchman, 2330-2340*, June 15, pop music. ID. Weak (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) 6300.1, R. Flying Dutchman. 0043 "Livin Thing" by ELO, then 0044 ID and mention of "good music" and "closing down". Into "The Final Countdown". Continued announcements at 0051 with mention of "Pirate". Poor and very noisy. Typical Summer reception. Was first heard over an hour earlier but just bits of audio then. Switched over to USB at 0052 and much better signal. More announcements at 0058. Nice ID announcement at 0059:30. (17 June) (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, NRD- 535D with T2FD antenna, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** EUROPE. 12000, 1025 15 April, Flashback Music Radio, non-stop music, OM ID in English, 35433 (Zdenek Elias, Czechia, Icom R75, 15, 57, 65m LW + mini-whip, June World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** FIJI [non]. WAS: GOVERNMENT SHORTWAVE RADIO. IS: ANTI-GOVERNMENT SHORTWAVE RADIO, E.G. TO FIJI. Somewhat comparable to Radio Free Sarawak. Is it really an "anti- government message," or more complete information that from Fiji's own media, allowing Fijians "to make up their own decisions"? It's interesting that as government funded stations such as Radio Netherlands Worldwide and Radio Canada International leave the air, "anti-government" stations are coming on the air. See also Fiji Democracy & Freedom Movement https://sites.google.com/site/fijidemocracyfreedommovement/ (Kim Andrew Elliott, kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) Fiji Democracy & Freedom Movement I meant to check this one this morning, 0830-0900, 11565, but didn't remember until 0855, by which time there was only a weak signal on the channel, ausio unusable. It did close at 0900, however, as FDFM has done in previous weeks. I surely would have heard this if it were on from Cypress Creek. Maybe they weren't on? Closed early? Or maybe they have moved this to Palau? Anyone else check this one this morning? (Jerry Berg, MA, June 18, DXplorer via Wolfgang Büschel, DXLD) Checked 11565 channel this morning. WHRI? program was on air, when checked about 0820-0825 UT. But very weak signal noted in CA. (5 Perseus net rx in CA / Vancouver Island). Also very weak signal in Tokyo, Japan. So I guess instead of Cypress Creek was coming probably from Palau today. It was pity, no remote unit in Australia on net accessible at present. 73 wolfy df5sx (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Too bad you did not listen to 11565 after 0830. I did not try it June 18, but WRN inform me they confirmed it by their monitoring; perhaps propagation was worse than usual. It certainly was: 11 MHz was barely open here by 1200 when I checked. And WWV reported at 0900: ``Solar-terrestrial indices for 17 June follow. Solar flux 124 and estimated planetary A-index 39. The estimated planetary K-index at 0900 UTC on 18 June was 3. Space weather for the past 24 hours has been moderate. Geomagnetic storms reaching the G2 level occurred.`` The MUF could well have fallen below 11 MHz at 0830. I think it is out of the question for them to use Palau due to unavailability of antennas aimed into the Pacific. It`s too bad that such misinformation ever got started (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FINLAND. Re Scandinavian Weekend Radio "Midsummer Radio" June 22- 23. Sadly their schedule for this broadcast shows they will not be broadcasting on their 25mb frequencies once again - just the 49mb frequency (6170 alternating with 5980) plus locally in Finland on 1602 kHz MW and their new FM frequency. Their 25mb frequencies are the ones more usually heard here in the UK. see: http://www.swradio.net/schedule.htm (Alan Pennington, Caversham, UK June 18, WORLD OF RADIO 1622, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FINLAND. 6170, R Hami next operation on Jul 12-15 on FM 94.7 MHz, MW 1584 and SW 6170; web: http://radiohami.fi/ (Simon-Peter Liehr, Meissen, Germany, June 9, DSWCI DX Window June 13 via DXLD) They did not verify my reception report during their former operation two years ago (Anker Petersen, Denmark, ibid.) ** GABON. 9580, Africa #1; 2116-2132+, 14-June; M in French with English soul tunes; numerous tune break-ins for announcements. Apparently Gabonese DJs also don't understand how aggravating this is. SIO=3+52+ (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 85 ft. RW and 180 ft. center-fed RW, Icom R3 + duckie, All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GAMBIA. GÂMBIA, 648, R. Gâmbia, Bonto. Ainda fora do ar, nesta freq (Carlos Gonçalves, PORTUGAL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) still off ** GERMANY. China Radio International wants to use 603 kHz for Berlin at the Zehlendorf (east of Oranienburg) transmitter site, the frequency used there by Voice of Russia until they replaced it by 693 kHz and last in 2010 by Oldiestar (now Radio B2) until they replaced it by FM. Allocation procedures have today been launched and will automatically result in a licence for an EU-based subsidiary of CRI if there will be no other applications, which is to be expected. http://www.mabb.de/zulassung/aktuelle-ausschreibungen/ausschreibung-der-verfuegbaren-mittelwellenfrequenz-603-khz-mit-senderstandort-in-zehlendorf-bei-oranienburg.html Btw, for July 1st another Berlin FM merry-go-round was planned, with Radio Paradiso moving to 106.0, Radio B2 to 98.2 and RFI to 96.7. But Radio Paloma, a Schlager station not considered in the allocation procedures that merely led to this merry-go-round, instituted proceedings against them, now Radio Paradiso succesfully applied for a court order to stay on 98.2 while the proceedings continue, and so Radio B2 sued, too, since their current 96.7 frequency has already been given away to RFI which now presumably will continue to put the rather poorish satellite feed (insufficient bitrate) of its irrelevant French world service on 106.0. So the affair now ended up in a perfect legal deadlock, probably to be solved only by a full-scale judgement (Kai Ludwig, Germany, June 19, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. 6140, 0931 6 May, MV Baltic R via Issoudun, Beatles music, German, SINPO 45544. 6150, 0622 29 April, Radio 6150 Shortwave, long song, German/English, 35533 (both: Zdenek Elias, Czechia, Icom R75, 15, 57, 65m LW + mini- whip, June World DX Club Contact via DXLD) These were in the sexion headed ``RADIO WITHOUT LICENCE`` along with real pirates. AFAIK, these new German low-power SW stations are *WITH LICENCE*, are they not? Some other European DX publications have a tendency to put legal private stations in with pirates, altho not calling them ``without licence`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. -------- Original-Nachricht -------- Datum: Wed, 20 Jun 2012 13:13:34 +0200 Von: "qsl@radio6150.de" Betreff: 6150 kHz > 6070 kHz Liebe Freunde von Radio 6150, wie einige vielleicht schon im Internet gesehen haben, haben wir eine neue Frequenz beantragt und zugeteilt bekommen. Ab sofort sind wir nicht mehr auf 6150, sondern auf 6070 kHz zu finden, und zwar haben wir diese QRG rund um die Uhr, sieben Tage die Woche. Unsere neue Frequenz ist national komplett frei, und ab dem 1.07., wenn Radio Vatican seine Sendungen auf 6075 kHz voraussichtlich beendet, frei von Nachbarkanalstörungen. Mit Testsendungen unsererseits ist kurzfristig zu rechnen; am Besten regel-mäßig mal auf http://www.radio6150.de nachschauen! Grüße aus dem sonnigen Bayern Dear friends of Radio 6150, maybe you already read it on the net; we have a new frequency. From now on we can no longer be heard on 6150, but on 6070 kHz, and we can use it 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The new QRG is completely free in Germany, and from July 1st, when Radio Vatican ceased using 6075 kHz, free from disturbances from adjacent channels. We will start testing very soon; it could be a good idea to have a look at http://www.radio6150.de regularly! Regards from sunny Bavaria (Radio 6150, June 20, via Harald Kuhl, BDXC-UK yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DXLD) please take note: Radio 6150 will QSY to 6070 kHz --- "completely free" only mostly during local daylight hours, one should add seems the name will stay the same: http://www.radio6150.de/ 73 (Harald Kuhl, WORLD OF RADIO 1622, ibid.) Unneeded QRM to CFRX if they really run 6070 all night. HFCC registrations for 6075 and all from VAT still show until Oct 28, except for a few pre-planned changes in Sept (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DXLD) ** GERMANY. 7265, Hamburger Lokalradio, very nice-looking QSL-card; mike, speakers, station name, frequency on front, full-data on back, incl. power (1 kW). In 10 days by postal mail for an e-mail follow-up to m.kittner @ freenet.de for an unanswered e-mail report covering Nov 2011 reception, MP3 file sent with both. I had already QSLed the broadcast via MV Baltic R, but it was still nice to get this (Jerry Berg/DXplorer, Lexington, MA, U.S.A., DSWCI DX Window June 13 via DXLD) ** GERMANY [and non]. [Re 12-24]. Wertachtal etc. --- So the Wikipedia article apparently bases on third-hand gossip, requiring to put a question mark behind the alleged transmitter move from Preiviiki to Issoudun, too. What's the current Wertachtal transmitter line-up? Putting together all the pieces of information that appeared here and there it appears to be * Six S 4005 transmitters, installed during the last expansion in the late eighties; * Two further S 4005 transmitters, moved in from Flevo; * Two S 4001 transmitters, moved in from Jülich; * One RIZ transmitter, installed as prototype for a large-scale modernization that never materialized (DW cancelled altogether instead); * Five of the SV 2500 transmitters installed during the seventies are still connected to the remaining inputs of the 16 x antenna matrix switch, the other five ones permanently decommissioned, either removed or still sitting dead on their places, being cannibalized step by step when spare parts are needed. Comments, corrections? Btw, the engineer from Hungary certainly is a former Jászberény staff member. Btw2, it had been intended to run Nauen on remote control already when the new equipment had been commissioned in 1997. But it remained continuously staffed instead after considering the compensations DW claimed or transmission failures, at a time when there were no idle transmitters that could immediately be thrown in instead. If not known yet: http://senderfotos-bb.de/nauen.htm First row = the huge building that once contained the utility transmitters, starting with VLF alternators -- Telefunken intended to install the new transmitters in the large hall there, together with classic antenna systems as they built in Norway, but then they were just barely able to at least deliver their newly developed S 4105 transmitters for installation in the ALLISS units which almost would have been outfitted by Thomcast, too (which partly bumped Telefunken out of the German mediumwave business as well; they delivered M2W gear for the Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk frequencies, Mainflingen was a S7HP system and the now dead Wöbbelin site had in its last activity period Thomcast gear as well). Third row = the Funkwerk Köpenick antenna which is all that remains of the former SWBC site known as KWZ. Until 2000 this antenna was used with its original transmitter, for DW on 6140 and at times also RNW English at noon on its second frequency (it changed between 41 and 31 mB as far as I recall), then in 2005/2006 the Nauen staff revived it with a S 4001 transmitter, taken away from Jülich and installed in the new building next to the antenna. Transmissions from this system can be easily noted by their 100 kW power level, as opposed to the 500/250/125 kW settings of the ALLISS systems. Fourth row = one antenna from the former shortwave utility operations, kept as museum piece when the antenna field had otherwise been cleared. Sixth row = the control room inside the old building. Bottom: Museal collection in the otherwise empty transmitter hall, including the 50 kW transmitter from 1958 which was the first broadcasting transmitter at Nauen (it became a SWBC site only because Zeesen was no longer available, required by MfS for its spy numbers transmitters). Note also the DW promo booth -- it was no longer there on the next open house day in 2006, for obvious reasons (Kai Ludwig, shortwavesites yg via DXLD) ** GERMANY [non]. Today, exactly at 2100 GMT, I tuned 11865 kHz and heard Deutsche Welle's strong signal in superb English. It was my first time, by sheer accident, to hear "Inside Europe" -- DW's weekly one hour "news magazine" on Sundays which originates in their Bonn studio (Germany). But the signal comes via the only SW relay station left in DW's entire SW system -- at Kigali, Rwanda, obviously built to service their large audience in Africa. The signal was strong, clear and stable in Dallas! My S-Meter (10 scale) was a steady 7-9 from 2100 to 2200 when their signal ended on 11865. This is their flagship weekly "news magazine" in English, and represents a journalism of superb quality, depth and interest in every way (Grayson Watson in Dallas, TX using a portable Sangean 909x with a 23' random wire antenna, June 17, cumbre dx via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Deutsche Welle User Questionnaire Dear Deutsche Welle user, As Germany’s international broadcaster, Deutsche Welle aims to bridge gaps between different cultures. In order to improve our impact on intercultural dialogue, we would like to get closer to you as one of our users. The following questionnaire provides you with the opportunity to express your point of view on Deutsche Welle’s services. Furthermore, we are interested in your opinion about political developments and your associations with the idea of cultural diversity. By answering our questions, you will help us account for your needs when designing our programming. All participants will have a chance to win one of three iPods nano or one of five Deutsche Welle backpacks at the end of the questionnaire. The questionnaire will take about 15 minutes. We assure you that all information will be kept anonymous and is subject to German data protection law. https://asp2.inquery.net/s.app?A=PNIMsnHO&L=EN Thank you for your support! Best regards (Your DW team, T 49 228 429- 4000, media-research @ dw.de http://www.dw.de June 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. 15650, V. of Greece. 0053 Greek vocal music. Usual IS with Greek ID by W at 0058 but only once, then Greek pop music which was abruptly stopped in mid-song and off air. Good signal. (16 June) (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, NRD-535D with T2FD antenna, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** HONDURAS. 3250, R. Luz y Vida, San Luis, 0343-0348 April 18 in Spanish, deep voiced OM followed by upbeat singing with OM vocal, then into hymn with OM reverb voice/over. Signals to 20 dB, fair-good (Richard W Parker, Pennsburg PA, Collins 51S-1, 55G-1 LF tuner, R-390A with Sherwood SE3, Yaesu FT-840, 120 ft center fed doublet in 40 feet fed with 2 inch spaced open wire line, 901B matchbox, 160 ft flat top random wire at 35 feet, running against ground with FC-800 autotuner at feed point; Alpha-Delta DX Sloper at 40 feet, 20m dipole at 35 feet, June World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** INDIA. Old habits die hard at Kolkata A --- noted on 19/2/2012 at 0215 UT on 657 kHz announcing end of transmission on 4820 kHz. Says shortwave transmission will resume from 0230 UT on 7210 kHz. In actual fact Kolkata A is not carried on 4820 kHz or any other shortwave frequencies at all and neither does 7210 kHz sign on at 0230. 4820 kHz was noted carrying Kolkata B during this time without break. For the past month 4820 carry Kolkata B from 0025 to 0400 UT. I wonder if it was a communication error between studio and transmitter or an old habit dying hard at Kolkata A studios (Supratik Sanatani, bangladx list, via Alokesh Gupta, June 18, dx_india yg via DXLD) ** INDIA. 15795, 18/Jun 1214, All India Radio in Chinese. Indian pop music. At 1215 YL talk. without the QRM of Chinese jammer. 25433 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, 12 14´S 38 58´W - Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. E-QSL for Kolkata Volmet reception ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Bimal Kumar Khamaru To: akbarigunawan @ yahoo.com Cc: d.ghowh @ aai.aero Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2012 12:45 PM Subject: Reception of Kolkata VOLMET - Request for Verification. Dear Sir, This has reference to your e-mail message dated 11/06/2012 10:18 PM on the above subject. This is to apprise you that all the information has reflected in your mail is verified and confirmed. Best Regards. Sincerely yours, (BIMAL KUMAR KHAMARU) For General Manager (CNS) AIRPORTS AUTHORITY OF INDIA NSCBI Airport. Kolkata-700 052 (via Akbar Indra Gunawan, location unknown, HCDX via DXLD) WTFK? ** INDONESIA. 17 June 2012, times in (z) GMT: 3325, RRI PalangkaRaya, Kalimantan; 1103z, theme music, ID, news by W in Indonesian. 4870, RRI Wamena, Papua; 1048z light vocal music, announcement by M in Indonesian, brief xylophone tune, brief theme music, news by M in Indonesian (Steven Wiseblood, Philippines, Degen DE-1102 50-foot random wire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I am here in Tuguegarao, CAGAYAN, Philippines; beginning next Sunday I will be in Tuao, about 30 km from here, a much more rural area, with a promise of crisp clear reception (Steven C. Wiseblood/AB5GP, Tuguegarao, CAGAYAN, Philippines, ABDX via DXLD) ** INDONESIA [and non]. 4869.96 RRI Wamena, 1144-1231, June 17. In Bahasa Indonesia; pop songs; 1159 played Love Ambon; into the Jakarta News relay; 1226 continues to play the patriotic song “Garuda Pancasila” instead of the usual “Bagimu Negeri” and will probably do so through to the end of June; news and song // RRI Palangkaraya (3325, with QRM from NBC Bougainville) and RRI Jakarta (9680, with QRM). RRI Wamena well above normal reception! (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 9525.98, V. of Indonesia. Came on at exactly 0956:00 this morning. (14 June) (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, NRD-535D with T2FD antenna, Cumbre DX via DXLD) 9526-, June 15 at 1215, VOI very poor and undermodulated but sounds like scheduled Japanese; also heard before 1200 in presumed Chinese. One can never rely on their broadcasting the correct language; see the log at http://rri.jp.org As always, frequency is very slightly on the lo side of 9526. BTW, I neglected to mention the VOI frequency on WOR 1621 this week, but surely everyone knows it (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9525.97, Voice of Indonesia, June 19 (Tuesday) back to the normal edition of the Tuesday only “Exotic Indonesia”, a co-production between Jakarta and RRI Banjarmasin. At 1301 only heard open carrier; at 1314 audio was on with news followed by commentary; 1322 program ID for “Exotic Indonesia” a co-production between Jakarta and RRI Banjarmasin (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) New additional transmission for Voice of Indonesia in Chinese: 1500- 1600 on 9526 JAK 250 kW / 010 deg to EaAs, but good reception in BUL (DX Re Mix News, Bulgaria, 20 June via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. "517 CHANNELS AND NOTHING'S ON": AN ADVENTURE IN INTERNATIONAL TV VIEWING. Posted: 14 Jun 2012 Gadling, 11 June 2012, Dave Seminara: "I found a beautiful, affordable two-bedroom apartment in Samos [Greece] at a place called Sirena Village and when they told me they had a satellite TV subscription with more than 500 channels, I almost wept in joy. Surely of those 500 channels, one of them would be showing the French Open, and the Euro 2012 soccer tournament, right? ... What did I find? ... [A] host of unwatchable programs from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Libya, Sudan, Iran, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Poland, Romania, Syria, Yemen and a host of other countries. Oddly enough, there were almost no Greek channels. At first, I was just angry. There were 517 channels, but only four I'd actually consider watching: BBC World, France 24 in English, CCTV and Al Jazeera International. But later, when I decided to indulge my curiosity in this truly bizarre satellite TV package, I was able to laugh at the absurdity of it all. I had more channels from Kurdistan than from the U.S. I had the Somali Network, but not CNN. I had Dubai Sports 3, which seems to show no actual sporting events, rather than ESPN or Eurosport." (kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) ** IRAN. I don't think there exists one completely correct list about Iran MW, because it has been a decade or so, when they last published a comprehensive update of the MW situation. All the lists they publish in the web are partly outdated, erroneous and contradictory against each other and actual monitoring gives yet another perspective in some cases. Best regards, (Mauno Ritola, Finland, June 12, mwmasts yg via DXLD) Re ``Yes, but as discussed previously, it is difficult to say if they are actually for expanding coverage or blocking frequencies.`` Mauno, I definitely put here some question marks. That's western propaganda in the shadow of the political Atomic rocket discussion latter which shall under construction in Persia. Even Germany was compliant, and stopped transmitting Teheran's English TV program on ASTRA satellite last month. Mediumwaves 1170 and 1350 kHz are "old" domestic frequencies of Iran's, already in the Geneva Plan of 1975 (as well as 1386 kHz from the IBB Kuwait upbuild discussion). If someone as "disturbing", then the Gavar, Armenia and UAE, which interfere with the propaganda station on the territory of Iran. It's a pity that most of MW dxers in NE/ME area ARE NOT SO KEEN ENOUGH, to report exact reliable information. Exception is Albert Muick, when reported extensively from Kandahar AFG camp in past few years. 73 wolfy (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) ** IRAN. 15480, June 20 at 0500, NA, 0501 Russian announcement, quickly into Qur`an, the standard MO of IRIB, as indeed scheduled, 0500-0530, 500 kW, 320 degrees also USward from Sirjan. Fair signal with flutter (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. 6973, Galei Zahal. Nonstop pops. 0124-0127 "More More More" by Andrea True Connection. 0127-0131 "Bang a Gong, Get It On" by T- Rex. 0156-0158 deep-voiced M announcer over instrumental music. 0158:40 alternating same M and W with IDs over March-like instrumental music. 0200 fanfare, time ticks, and ID by same W announcer then into presumed news to 0202. Into another music program with M hosting wide variety of pops. A lot of talk in Hebrew with song announcements. 0120-0123 "New York, New York" Frank Sinatra. 0125-0231 "Comfortably Numb" by Pink Floyd. Nice ID by W at 0231:10 and apparent news headlines. Ute bursts really bad and annoying at this time. 0232 soft jingle followed by canned ID promo. 0239-0241 "If I Needed Someone" by The Beatles. 0253-0256 "When a Man Loves a Woman". 0256 short canned announcement by W over music, then deep-voiced M announcer again to 0259. 0259 canned announcement by M and filler music to ToH. 0300 deep-voice M with presumed news. Gradually getting better and peaking around 0230. Heavy QRN and terrible ute burst QRM. (17 June) (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, NRD-535D with T2FD antenna, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** ITALY. 9999.995 kHz time signal announcement in Italiano. At present - Con una richiesta di aiuto. Chiedere la traduzione del segnale RTTY. 5 Hertz sotto 10 MHz. vy 73 wb df5sx (Wolfgang Büschel, Germania, 1553 June 16, bclnews.it yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DXLD) Am 16.06.2012 16:51, schrieb Nils Schiffhauer DK8OK: ``dafür auf exakt 10.000 kHz was rundfunkmäßiges, mit Zeitzeichen um 14:00 UTC und so. SIO 343.`` In USB, jede Minute mit Zeitansagen In Italienisch, dazwischen Musik? Hier z.Z. mit O=3 zu hören. 73, (Patrick Robic A-DX Austria June 16 via Büschel, WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DXLD) Non è che il tempo IBF Torino segnale falso, con la registrazione di registrazione, invece di orologio atomico. La posizione più probabile l'emissione radio di 26 000 Mary / 26 010 MHz in Andrate provengono? http://goo.gl/maps/pvsO 0,60 45 31'27 "N 07 53'31 .63" E Questo è stato segnalato per Natale. News dalla rete Perseus a Forlì e Genova bella. 73 wb (Büschel, ibid.) Radioattività bella ci sono in Italia, meglio degli EURO2012 minimalisti ... ``ITALY, 5000, Time Signal Station replica of IBF, Torino, at 1602- 1615 UT on Jan 5. Identification by male announcements in Italian, French and English:"IBF, IBF, IBF, Standard Frequency and Time Signal from the National Electrotechnical Institute, Turin, Italy". 24322. (Mendez-ESP, bclnews.it Jan 6, 2012)`` ... ja, schon seltsam, nicht? Zeitzeichen und dann etwas wie "hora ... e quatro", etwa jetzt, um 1504 UT. Hübsch kräftig jetzt. Sonderbarer Zeitzeichensender, wenn das denn einer wäre. 73 (Nils Schiffhauer, DK8OK, June 16, A-DX, via ibid.) Hi Wolfgang, I don't receive this signal here. Do you have a recording? Roby (Roberto Rizzardi, Italy, 1619 UT June 16, ibid.) Hi Wolfgang, nothing at present here in Forlì on 10000 kHz, apart from BPM; but it's much later than the reported time of the original reception. I've no idea about who can be sending this (pirate) signal. The Turin group in the latest weeks keeps on transmitting an open carrier on 5000 kHz, so the type of emission is completely different. Reckless transmissions on TS frequencies seem to be too fashionable in Italy, lately. I'll keep an ear to 5 and 10 MHz, of course. And 15 MHz too, just in case :-( 73 (Fabrizio Magrone, 1640 UT June 16, ibid.) A new experimental Italian time station is on 10000 kHz in USB. There are time announcements every minute by a male voice in Italian and at H+00, H+15, H+30, H+45 there is a longer announcement by a female voice in Italian. ID: "Italy Cable". Web: www.italycable.it (sounds like this but not found...) Each minute is filled with instrumental music, there are different compositions every minute. Sometimes even a national anthem of Italy. Heard for the first time on Sunday, June 17 2012 at 0720 UT (Karel Honzik, CZECHIA, HCDX via WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DXLD) Yes, the station was heard yesterday by Patrick Robic, in Austria. The mentioned web page is http://www.italcable.it Italcable was the old Italian point-to-point organization for international cable and radio telephone traffic. The site has only an old logo and no information at all. The ID says "Italcable, stazione radio Italcable, trasmissione sperimentale del segnale orario, frequenza dieci megahertz. Il segnale viene inviato in modalità SRC. Per maggiori informazioni www.italcable.it Locator JN53DV". ("Italcable radio station, experimental transmission of the time signal, frequency 10 MHz. The signal is sent in SRC mode. For further information www.italcable.it. Locator JN53DV"). The JN53dv locator corresponds to region Tuscany, somewhere near Viareggio, not far from the Tyrrhenian coast. The time announcements in Italian language are correct and correspond to Central European Summer Time (UTC+2). It is unclear at present if the station is a legitimate experimental operation or a pirate and if the location is correct or a fake (Fabrizio Magrone, Italy, WORLD OF RADIO 1622, ibid.) Heard yesterday June 16th, around from 1400 UT onwards. Could also be a joke fake pirate operation, read comment by Fabrizio, 5 Hertz lower on 9999.995 kHz. vy73 wb (Büschel, ibid.) Die Firma Italcable ging 1994 in der Telecom Italia auf. Die Domain ist wie folgt registriert: Name: Marco Volpe Organization: Marco Volpe Address: Via del Borgo, 6 Viareggio 55049 LU IT Lucca liegt im Locator JN53gw. Da hat jemand einen alten Utility "Voice Mirror" zusammengeschnitten und sendet ohne Lizenz. QSL-Adresse hätten wir ja... 73 wb df5sx (Büchel, ibid.) Hi Wolfgang, yes, I'm receiving it through the Perseus network, thanks to a tip by a DX friend ;-) The time signal is the one used the Italian national network Rai and it corresponds to real CEST. Location announcement with the highest probability is just a fake, as the phoney Italcable ID. A well organized pirate possibly mocking the 5 MHz operation? (Fabrizio Magrone, bclnews.it via WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DXLD) Grazie per l'interessamento alla stazione radio attivata dalla associazione Italcable, ottimo articolo, 3 piccoli appunti, 1) non si tratta di una stazione Pirata (so' che sono piu' affascinanti ma questa non lo e'), 2) nessuna "vacatio legis" anzi la normativa Italiana e Internazionale e' piuttosto precisa e non lascia spazio ad improvvisazioni, 3) per quanto riguarda il subentro della noia, beh diciamo che avendo iniziato adesso ed essendoci impegnati almeno per 10 anni con l'autorizzazione a trasmettere rilasciata dal ministero, non abbiamo nessuna intenzione di mollare, ne ci sarebbe possibile. Cordiali Saluti Italcable [Google? Translation improved by gh:] Thanks for your interest in radio station Italcable activated by association, good article, 3 small notes: 1) it is not a pirate station (I know that would be more fascinating but this is not one.) 2) no "vacatio legis" indeed, the Italian and international legislation is quite accurate and does not leave room for improvisation. 3) regarding the takeover of boredom, well let's say that having started now, with the authorization to broadcast issued by the Ministry, for at least 10 years, we have no intention of giving up, nor would it be possible. Best Regards Italcable see comments to: (June 18) (via Büschel, ibid.) Anonimo Marco ha detto... Grazie per l'interessamento alla stazione radio attivata dalla associazione Italcable, ottimo articolo, 3 piccoli appunti, 1) non si tratta di una stazione Pirata (so' che sono piu' affascinanti ma questa non lo e'), 2) nessuna "vacatio legis" anzi la normativa Italiana e Internazionale e' piuttosto precisa e non lascia spazio ad improvvisazioni, 3)per quanto riguarda il subentro della noia, beh diciamo che avendo iniziato adesso ed essendoci impegnati almeno per 10 anni con l' autorizzazione a trasmettere rilasciata dal ministero, non abbiamo nessuna intenzione di mollare, ne ci sarebbe possibile. Cordiali Saluti, Italcable 11:09 Blogger Andrea Lawendel ha detto... Grazie per queste ulteriori precisazioni. Non mi pare proprio di aver scritto che Italcable (io farei un controllo sulla possibilità di utilizzare un marchio come questo, potebbe essere ancora vincolato dopo la scomparsa della società nel 1994 per fusione con Telecom Italia) sia una stazione pirata. Ho parlato di una *sorta* di vacatio legis semplicemente perché fino a pochi mesi fa operare nelle onde corte fuori dalle bande concesse ai radioamatori è stato burocraticamente molto complesso per una "libera associazione". Ancora non sappiamo se Italcable è una associazione riconosciuta, se è iscritta nel registro delle onlus presso l'Agenzia delle entrate, chi siano i suoi soci, né quando e come sia stata protocollata la dichiarata "licenza" ottenuta dall'MSE, né con quale finalità sia stata concessa, né con quali termini, né per quali classi di emissioni e su quali frequenze, né con quali livelli di potenza. Sappiamo in pratica quello che in genere sappiamo delle emittenti pirata musicali, cioè poco e niente: a un certo punto c'è qualcuno che accende un trasmettitore su una frequenza strana e trasmette qualcosa. Le stazioni di tempo e frequenza campione sono nate per offrire un servizio molto importante. Una time reference precisa è sempre stata una questione di rilevanza nazionale (basti pensare alla criticità della variabile tempo in un contesto come il mercato borsistico). Diffondere tale standard di riferimento attraverso una emittente a radiofrequenza altrettanto precisa e controllata serviva a centrare anche un secondo obiettivo: fornire a laboratori, aziende di elettronica e strumentazione e a molti altri soggetti un campione altrettanto importante per la taratura degli apparati. Oggi tra linee dedicate, Internet, satelliti GPS e generatori di frequenza ad alta precisione e basso costo, il ruolo di queste istituzioni è diventato, diciamolo, piuttosto marginale, se non fosse per la necessità di tenere in vita la nicchia industriale degli orologi radiocontrollati). Una nazione come la Svizzera, patria dell'orologio a cucù, ha per esempio deciso di smantellare la sua stazione attiva per decenni nei dintorni di Losanna. La molto più modesta - sul piano del rispetto delle tempistiche - Italia, ha mandato in pensione IBF nel 1991. Cinque o sei anni dopo fu la volta di IAM. Se enti gloriosi come l'Istituto Nazionale Galileo Ferraris e l'Istituto superiore delle Poste e Telecomunicazioni decidono che trasmettere un segnale orario in onde corte è diventata (20 anni fa!) una impresa obsoleta, sarei molto interessato a conoscere le motivazioni di Italcable, in un momento in cui persino una emittente oserei dire non progressista come Radio Vaticana opta per un drastico ridimensionamento di questo mezzo diffusivo. Se la motivazione principale è la nostalgia, non c'è molta differenza tra Italcable e un pirata olandese che trasmette polka music in una banda marittima o areonautica. Se i presupposti fossero tecnici sorgerebbero perplessità ancora maggiori. Qual è la precisione della frequenza portante, quale la sua deriva nel tempo? E a proposito di tempo: che attendibilità ha il "segnale orario" trasmesso attualmente, quali sono gli obiettivi futuri? Qual è la fonte di questo segnale di tempo? L'INRIM? L'INRIM collabora in qualche modo con l'iniziativa? Se volessi regolare il mio orologio o il mio server sul vostro segnale, a quali margini di errore o deviazione andrei incontro? Italcable è un laboratorio accreditato per le misure? E' riconosciuta da Accredia? Rispetta le normative UNI, CEI e tutte le altre? Detto questo non sono affatto quel legalista che immaginate, in genere mi interessano tutte le stazioni radio, c'è sempre una storia dietro da raccontare. Proprio per questo l'improvviso revival di stazioni che dovrebbero essere molto serie e paludate mi sembra curioso. Ci andrebbe anche la semplice voglia di divertirsi con le antenne e le manopole di un trasmettitore, per carità. Auguro anche a questa iniziativa un grande successo. [google translation, which has an awful time with Italian syntax, slang:] 11:09 Blogger Lawendel Andrea said ... Thanks for this additional clarification. I certainly did not write that Italcable (I would do a check on the possibility of using a brand like this, it might screw still be bound after the demise of the company in 1994 to merge with Telecom Italy) is a pirate station. I have spoken of a *kind* of vacatio legis simply because until a few months ago to work out in the shortwave bands for radio amateurs has been granted bureaucratically complex for a "free association". Still do not know if Italcable is a recognized association, if it is registered as a non-profit organization with the Inland Revenue, who are its members, nor when and how it was recorded as the declared "license" from MSE obtained, nor what purposes has been granted, nor with such terms or for such classes of emissions and on what frequency, or by what power levels. We practice what we know in general broadcasters pirated music, that little or nothing: at some point there is someone who lights up a transmitter on one frequency and transmits something strange. The time and frequency standard stations were created to provide a very important service. A precise time reference has always been a matter of national importance (think of the criticality of the time variable in a context like the stock market). Spreading this standard through a radio broadcaster as precise and controlled needed to hit a second goal: to provide laboratories, electronics and instrumentation companies, and many other equally important subjects a sample to calibrate equipment. Today from leased lines, Internet, satellites and GPS frequency generators with high precision and low cost, the role of these institutions has become, frankly, rather marginal, if not for the need to keep alive the niche industry of radio-controlled clocks). A country like Switzerland, the home cuckoo clock, for example, has decided to dismantle its station which was on for decades in the area of Lausanne. The much more modest - in terms of compliance with the timing - Italy, IBF was sent into retirement in 1991. Five or six years after it opened IAM. If glorious bodies like the National Institute Galileo Ferraris and the Higher Institute of Posts and Telecommunications decided to broadcast a time signal on shortwave has become (20 years ago!) A company obsolete, I'd be very interested to know the motivations of Italcable, in a time when even dare I say, not a broadcaster as Vatican Radio Progressive opts for a drastic reduction of the medium diffusion. If the main motivation is nostalgia, there is not much difference between Italcable and a Dutch pirate polka music that conveys a maritime or aeronautical band. If the conditions were even more technical concerns arise. What is the accuracy of carrier frequency, which drifts over time? And speaking of time: how reliable is the "time signal" currently being broadcast, which are the future goals? What is the source of this signal of time? INRIM? INRIM in a way collaborates with the initiative? If I wanted to set my watch or my server on your signal, such as margins of error or deviation would go to meet? Italcable is an accredited laboratory for measurements? It's recognized by Accredia? Meets the UNI CEI and all the others? That being said are not you imagine that legalistic, typically interest me all the radio stations, there is always a great story to tell. Just why the sudden revival of stations that should be very serious and paludate seems curious. There should also be the simple desire to have fun with their antennae and knobs of a transmitter, for goodness sake. Also hope this project a success (Google translation via gh for DXLD) Marco Volpe amici - Italcable, please add 5 Hertz in frequency to quit standard frequency stations 10 MHz e v e n too. (Wolfgang Büschel, BC-DX June 20 via DXLD) http://www.italcable.it Above website says: ``Segnale Orario --- E' attiva la stazione amatoriale e sperimentale della radio trasmittente sulla frequenza 10 MHz Modulazione d'Ampiezza, 24 ore su 24 il segnale orario Italiano, Locator: JN53DV, in fase di sviluppo l'antenna, il trasmettitore e il sistema di controllo`` (via gh, DXLD) Timesignal. An amateur experimental radio station is active on 10 MHz AM, 24 hours a day with Italian timesignals. Locator: JN53DV, with antenna, transmitter and control system under development (gh`s translation for DXLD) see also UNIDENTIFIED 4940.5 ** JAPAN. 9595, June 18 at 1206, baroque Moog music, presumably Tomita rather than Carlos, which R. Nikkei often plays, much better than // 6055 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN [and non]. 6110, June 15 at 0501, NHK World Radio Japan, VG in English via Sackville, finally reactivated after a biweek. (Steve Luce heard it first 24 hours earlier, a rare occasion when I did not check for it.) Lead news item: arrest by Tokyo police of the last Aum Shinrikyo fugitive, Katsiya Takahashi, of the 1995y serin attacks. Never mentioned that they were a fellow SW broadcaster, via Russian transmitters! We`ll miss very much this very good and again reliable signal with the closure of Sackville. But something has to be amiss with NHK relays, and now it`s 6080 in Spanish via Bonaire that is absent at 0504 June 15. Another automation mixup?? 11815, June 15 at 1125, C&W song in English ``love, it is a flower``, 1127 segué another starting ``it must have been cool there in my shadow``, from NHK Japanese service direct. This early, it`s nice to hear it without Costa Rica colliding which starts at 1200; // 9750. The NHK ID at 1159 again is accompanied by steel drum music; how eclectic, and then the accurate timesignal ending at 1200:00 just as REE starts their delayed TS (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6080, June 16 at 0527, NHK Radio Japón via BONAIRE is back on tonight, and so is 6110, NHK Radio Japan via CANADA: both are playing exactly the same music fill, but 6080 finishes first and starts closing announcement, including full Spanish schedule until 0530*; 6110 cut off at 0529* just as the English schedule minute was starting. I don`t think Sackville has any immediate demand for this transmitter elsewhere at 0530 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN [non]. Radio Japan via AIR! Hello friends, Last night (15 June 2012) I was pleasantly surprised to hear Radio Japan in Hindi on our local AIR FM Rainbow station, Hyderabad on 101.9 MHz at around 1600 to 1630 UT. They were announcing details for next day`s program also so it seems to be a daily program. Hobbyists in India are requested to check on their local FM Rainbow stations at 1600-1630 UT and inform dx india about receiving any such broadcasts of Radio Japan. By the way after Radio Japan broadcast, Trans World Radio followed with their weekly broadcast of Friday at 1630 to 1645. Yours sincerely, (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Hyderabad, India; Mobile: +91 94416 96043, http://www.qsl.net/vu2jos June 15, dx_india yg via DXLD) ** KAZAKHSTAN. Qaraturyq SW/MW Site - BING MAPS Finally we get to see the Qaraturyq - 'Tolkyn' Radio Center. New BING Map imagery shows that the site actually has three transmission buildings. Two for SW & one located to the South East of the site, where it feeds four MW arrays (or are a couple LW?) Unless I have missed anything the SW centers feeds out to just SW curtain arrays. Good imagery here with feeders also seen. It's a real shame imagery dates can't be determined from Bing Maps. 73's (Ian Baxter, NSW, June 20, shortwavesites yg via DXLD) ** KIRIBATI. Radio Kiribati 1440 AM Verified --- The new 1440 AM transmitter is often heard here in northern New Zealand currently and I have received a QSL response by email from Betarim Rimon, General Manager of the Kiribati Broadcasting & Publications Authority who comments that they have also had a “report from some of our seamen travelling in the region of Alaska”. Separate email responses were also received from Tion Tiaon in the Marketing & Logistics Department, and Babera Marewenimakin in the Engineering Department who is planning “the first full maintenance test on the new transmitter and to do the repair on the old transmitter”, for which he requests approval for Bill Reiher to work with him. Bab says that 1440 is currently at 9 kilowatt but they won`t run it at full capacity to avoid overheating. 73 (Bryan Clark, Mangawhai, New Zealand, AOR7030+ and EWEs to North, Central & South America, June 13, RealDX yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. 2850, 0326-0331 April 18, KCBS, Pyongyang, f-g carrier but no audio heard (Richard W Parker, Pennsburg PA, Collins 51S-1, 55G-1 LF tuner, R-390A with Sherwood SE3, Yaesu FT-840, 120 ft center fed doublet in 40 feet fed with 2 inch spaced open wire line, 901B matchbox, 160 ft flat top random wire at 35 feet, running against ground with FC-800 autotuner at feed point; Alpha-Delta DX Sloper at 40 feet, 20m dipole at 35 feet, June World DX Club Contact via DXLD) Of course, it`s hi noon in Pyongyang, whence this MW signal won`t propagate much outside Korea, let alone to the other worldside, so maybe it was not really KCBS! See also his amazing log of Bhutan 5900 an hour later via DXLD 12-24 (gh, DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. 6135, Shiokaze/Sea Breeze via Yamata, *1330, June 15 (Friday). Scheduled: *1330-1430*; continuing with English on Friday; “Today’s News Flash” with news about N. Korea (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Shiokaze in various langs* 1330-1430 6135 YAM 100 kW / 280 deg alt. 5910, 5985, 6020, 6120, 6175 2000-2100 5965 YAM 100 kW / 280 deg alt. 5910, 5955, 6075, 6110, 6165 * Jap Mon/Wed/Thu; Chi/Kor Wed; Eng Fri; Kor/Jap Sat; Jap/Kor Sun (DX Re Mix News #735 19 June via Ron Howard, DXLD) Hi Glenn, June 19 (Tuesday) heard Shiokaze on 6135 with Chinese at *1330 and later in Korean at 1403; fair with light jamming. Still causing QRM for Laos (LNR) on 6130 while they are in English from 1400 to 1430 (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, Calif. WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA SOUTH. 5900, MND Radio, 1222-1231*, June 19. Assume this is ex: 6135; strong signal with slight hum; in Korean; 1227 Korean song till off; no jamming; also heard underneath strong white noise jamming on 6230 and assume //. MP3 audio posted at https://www.box.com/s/b7dc5da1f6d5458e13f1 5900, MND Radio, 1238*, June 20. Same Korean song as heard yesterday before going off; light jamming today which was not heard yesterday; very flexible with their sign off time; // 6230 (jammed) (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KUWAIT. 15540, June 16 at 2045, R. Kuwait with Arabic talk about Mubarak, and // 17550 which is slightly weaker and flutterier. Once again, RK has switched without notice from English to Arabic on 15540. (We are fortunate that it`s in English most of the time 1800-2100, since they insist on registering this block as Arabic anyway, and imagining in their announcements that English is still on 11990, abandoned years ago.) But guess what, at 2050, 15540 cuts back to English for the few-minute scheduled news headlines, but at 2054 it`s back to Arabic // 17550 until off around 2100*. Possible scenario: news is done live and for some reason the other English programming was unavailable, or control operator simply had brought up the wrong pot with Arabic instead of English programming elsewhen. 15540, June 17 at 1959, oh, oh, R. Kuwait has again switched from English to Arabic; at least the poor signal with Qur`an has to be in Arabic; 2055 recheck, inaudible with poor propagation. 15540, June 18 at 2036, R. Kuwait English service is again in Arabic instead, Qur`an // weaker 17550. And again today cut off the Q for English news headlines at 2050-2053 by YL with accent who speaks too fast (showing off her fluency?) and is hard to copy, and not // 17550; then back to Arabic, apparently with two or three program shifts by 2100 timesignal. 15540 stayed on the air with Arabic news until cut off at 2112*. I wonder if they also switch to English for the 1830 newscast when I am seldom listening. 15540, June 19 at 1914, R. Kuwait has again replaced English service with Arabic, i.e. Qur`an --- did they get religion? Still the same at 2023 and now // weaker 17550, altho interrupted by brief non-musical narrations. 15540, June 20 at 1820, R. Kuwait is back in English, just as I tune in, ``in the name of God, most gracious`` by pompous host of the Islamic evangelism show, still a rarity on SW compared to all the infidel Christians doing it. 1821 on to western pop music; 1830 & 1836 news theme bracketing YL in English, but too poor to copy; 1836 back to C&W song now, ``Tell Her I Love Her``. Next check 2040, still in pop music rather than Qur`an. Who knows what they will put on this 18- 21 UT transmission from one day to another (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LAOS. 6130, Lao National Radio, Vientiane. 1410-1424, June 17. No English today (Sunday). A change from their recently heard 1400 to 1430 English segment? Different schedule on the weekend? Today heard with indigenous songs; adjacent QRM. 6130, Lao National Radio, Vientiane. 1400-1410, June 18. Theme music; into English; ID “This is the Lao National Radio”; OM & YL alternating with the news items; poor. Yesterday’s non-English must have been due to it being the weekend. June 19 theme music and into English at 1402 (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LEBANON [non]. / VATICAN, 11715, Voix de la Charité (Sawt al- Mahabba), 0430-0456, Jun 09 and 11, daily broadcast in Arabic from Jounieh, Lebanon, with relay from Vatican R, fair signal (Christian Ghibaudo, Nice, France, and Hauser, DSWCI DX Window June 13 via DXLD) 11715, June 17 at 0425 very poor in Arabic, no doubt Vatican Radio`s own program as scheduled; 0428 VR IS; 0430 ``hunting call`` fanfare, ``Huna ---`` ID, presumably Sawt al-Mahabba relay, as also scheduled, but I have a hard time making out the full ID. Nothing on 9645 at this time. 11715 had faded out a few minutes later (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LITHUANIA. 11900, June 16 from *0159:20 with music repeated, IS? 0200 RMRC special report on the EDXC Conference, repeated one week after original messed-up airing, and intact this time; reception maybe slightly better. Mostly in English, included interviews with Dario Monferini, Max van Arnhem, Toshi Ohtake, Tibor Szilagyi (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Loud and clear here in upstate NY tonight on 11900 between 0200 and 0300. Steady S9+ signal. Glad they repeated it; I missed it last week (John Figliozzi, Halfmoon, NY, Eton E1XM, A/D DX Sloper, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Also here in SE Mass. Solid signal. Listening while watching Nik Wallenda walk over Niagara Falls (Stephen Wood, Harwich MA, ibid.) Note: The RMRC used to issue printed QSL-cards for an IRC (or 1 US Dollar banknote) for the return postage for reception reports sent to Rhein-Main Radio Club, RMRC e.V., Postfach 700849, D-60558 Frankfurt am Main, Germany, or for QSL by e-mail to MAIL @ RMRC.DE (Ed. Anker Petersen, DSWCI DX Window June 13 via DXLD) Special EDXC Broadcasts and QSLs --- Many DXers who sent reports via e-mail on receiving the special broadcast via Lithuania are receiving a standard e-card which is not a valid QSL card but a pretty thank you card which gives their sked but has in big letters QSL. So please don't mix this card for a valid QSL card. It is not valid as a QSL card. So if anyone expected a hard copy card for an e-mailed report to RMRC or a valid e-card like those sent out by DX-Antwerp and Guido, and radio stations who send PDF files as e-QSLs, please be advised THAT YOU WILL GET NEITHER. The CEO of RMRC Dr. Harold Gabler informs that individual cards will be sent to those who send postal reports. I have inquired from him whether these individual cards will have details to make it a valid card and what return postage is required if any for it. If there is no way to get such a valid QSL card from the RMRC, then this whole exercise would have been of very little use to DXers. -- (G. Victor A. Goonetilleke 4S7VK, "Shangri-la"' 298 Madapatha Road, Piliyandala. Sri Lanka, E-mail: victorg @ slt.lk victor.goonetilleke @ gmail.com Skype: victorgoonetilleke +941 12614098 Mob: +94 718328336, June 18, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) What`s ``valid`` or not as a QSL is a matter of opinion. Victor is obviously a hard-liner about this. Long ago I concluded that QSLs have no intrinsic value, and one may as well consider them as nice souvenirs and nothing more. In far too many cases the people issuing them for stations don`t diligently check or reject phony reports, and/or are not well-informed about their own station`s activities, about propagation, or radio in general. QSL-collectors are increasingly lucky that anyone bothers to issue them of whatever kind (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I think preparing full data e-QSL is not a tough job while they designed a nice graphic e-QSL, putting the reception/Transmission data properly will have much useful and expected from a DX club. Without proper data a QSL surely loses its beauty. In my opinion even an text email confirmation with full data is much valuable than a nice graphic based non data printed QSL! Against reception reports I am happy with e-QSLs - no hard bound requirement for printed mater which often get lost in mail but a e-QSL with full data is much appreciated (Partha Sarathi Goswami, Siliguri, W.B., India, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) The program was great, and selecting Lithuania was even greater. It is just that the program followed by a proper E-QSL would have made it absolutely flawless. 11900 kHz 1730-1757 was a poor choice to Asia with CRI blasting, and the E-QSL which can not be considered a QSL for awards and as a confirmation, sadly left a void in an otherwise fine effort. They could still correct that if they like to. 73 (Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dear Dr. Gabler, Thank you very much for your reply and nice QSL card but I think the proper verification card should look like the attached document. If you kindly take couple of more minutes of your valuable time and send the QSL cards with correct data - I think it will be much appreciated by report senders. I hope you don't find my thoughts offensive, Hi! Thanks again for all the work you all are doing. 73s, (Partha Sarathi Goswami, WB, India with two attachments, via DXLD) ** MALAYSIA. 11665, Wai FM 1034 canned ID jingle by M with laser SFX, then into Asian Pop song. Pretty good signal. (14 June) (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, NRD-535D with T2FD antenna, Cumbre DX via DXLD) 9835, June 18 at 1204, Qur`an with fair signal, no doubt the RTM relay from Sarawak via KL back to Swk. Must be vesper time? Sunset at Kuching was 1046, KL 1124 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, Believe you heard the call-to-prayer for the Isha prayer (night prayer), the fifth prayer of the day. In Kuching it was at 1159 UT (7:59 PM their local time). June 18, from about 1150 to 1400, I noted all the Malaysian stations with above normal reception: 5964.7 Klasik Nacional 6050 Asyik FM 7295 Traxx FM --- Islamic program in English “Reflections”; MP3 audio: https://www.box.com/s/a74cc2a59aa23e2602d9 9835 Sarawak FM 11665 Wai FM MP3 audio: https://www.box.com/s/9cd59a49ecb1bba33867 (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, Calif., ibid.) 11665, Wai FM via RTM, 1310, June 19. Good in vernacular with fun singing IDs and station promos. Unedited MP3 audio at https://www.box.com/s/f82b0de9844a0af1ea10 (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALI. 9635, RTVM, *0759-0810, June 16, sign on with flute IS and opening French ID announcements. Vernacular talk at 0800. Fair at 0759 sign on but dropped down to weak modulation at 0800 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) 9635, R. Mali, Kati, 1119-1223, 16/6, dialecto local, texto,..., programa em francês, às 1200, para rubrica musical; 35433, nível de intensidade de áudio a variar (Carlos Gonçalves, PORTUGAL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MAURITANIA. 7245, June 16 at 0531 fair signal in Arabish, not chanting yet, but IGIM is on the air earlier than usual, on this Saturday (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) MAURITÂNIA, 7245, R. Mauritânia, Nuaquechote, 1201-..., 18/6, árabe, programa falado,..., música de alaúde, mais tarde, programa em dialectos locais; 35343, mas em perda temporária, até recuperação, pelas 1600; esta recuperação vai coincidir com a aparição de outros sinais nos 41 m (Carlos Gonçalves, PORTUGAL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 6185, June 15 at 0505, XEPPM is nothing but a 5-kHz het to both 6180 Brazil and 6190 CRI via Canada, as the unmodulated transmitter has not been turned off quite yet. They might as well leave it off if they aren`t going to modulate. 6185, June 19 at 0458, Dixieland music, quite undermodulated, blocked at *0459:50 [not 0459:20 as typoed in original report --- every second counts!] by 6190 CRI English via Sackville, on the correct frequency for a change, but XEPPM is about to sign off, anyway (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. Estimado Sr. Hauser: Le escribo para informarle respecto a lo que dijo en su último reporte: * "Nuestro México del Futuro" es un movimiento social y político que recientemente ha causado polémica debido a que emplea niños en el papel de adultos simulando como debería ser un país ideal, lo cual no ha sido de agrado de los políticos (¿por que será? ¿eh?) lo cual hizo que diversos medios los presionaran para quitar sus promos de las señales de TV (¿pensarán lo mismo los políticos cuando los emplean su propia propaganda? ¿protestaron cuando emplearon niños en sus basuras de cine y TV? lo dudo). Su sitio es: http://www.nuestromexicodelfuturo.com.mx/ y en youtube puede ver algunos promos. * Por otra parte la señal de Foro TV que vió en el canal 2 es probable que sea de XHY-TV de Mérida ya que restransmite algunos programas de ese canal. Respecto a XHQROO en el "estado" de Quintana Roo retransmite el XEW-TV canal 2 de Televisa. * Once TV ya transmite en el canal 5 de Mérida, Yucatán, pero con mala señal ¿sería acaso el canal nuevo que tanto se decía? Atte: (Ing. Civ. Israel González Ahumada, M.I., Yucatán, June 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. Es analog TV DX, June 15, UT: 1355 on 2, turn on the TV to find opening in progress, CCI of various signals ranging from SSE to SSW. G7IZU map doesn`t show any 6m activity around here so I also check north, but it`s not from Canada. G7IZU later crashes, apparently from overuse, as does DX Sherlock. 1326 on 2, bits of audio finally as MUF creeps up to 59.75 MHz, but not positive yet it is Spanish. Signals in and out, mostly out. 1350 on 2, stronger CCI now with audio in Spanish including zero-beat video CCI, which I associate with Mérida vs Cancún. 1352 on 4, signs of video briefly, 67.25 MHz 1353 on 2, news about soccer; 1356 cycling; clock in LR says 8:56 = CDT; can`t make out bug in UR 1515 on 2, brief resurgence with hoy bug in LL, i.e. the Net-2 program 1552 on 2, some video starts to show again; 1554 adding Spanish audio, info/commercial for exercise machines; and so it goes Sporadic E analog TV DX June 17, UT: 1430 onward, bits of video CCI mostly on 2 from south 1630 on 2, baloncesto = basketball from south, Spanish narration 1700 on 2, CCI, also signs on ch 4 1700 on 5, dubbed movie with gringos, from S, net 5 bug UR; XHGC? 1705 on 3, béisbol in Spanish Nothing ever stayed in for long, and mostly gone by 1800 Sporadic-E analog TV DX June 20: Just as I am starting my WORLD OF RADIO 1622 recording session, June 20 at 1905 UT, notice CCI on ch 2 and 3 in Spanish from south. All I can do is keep one eye on the monitor and occasionally check as I pause, but nothing definite IDed, and it was a pretty good opening with signals soon up to ch 4 and 5 from 1907 for quite a while, in and out, all gone by 2037 (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MICRONESIA. 4755.48, PMA-The Cross Radio (presumed), 1218-1225, + 1319, June 15. Running later than normal; someone again forgot to turn off the transmitter; Christian songs; poor with RTTY QRM (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MONGOLIA. 12085, V. of Mongolia. Having tech problems today. Dead air at 1016 tune/in. Then audio on and was pulsing as if a reel to reel was half erased. However the effect continued even when the programs switched to English at 1030. Strange. (14 June) (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, NRD-535D with T2FD antenna, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** MOROCCO. MARROCOS, 711, SNRT-"R", El Aiún, 1220-..., 18/6, árabe, cânticos; mais tarde, antes das 1400, em paralelo com o canal "A"; 35343. 1114.8, SNRT-"A", QTH?, 2241-2245*, 18/6, árabe/canal "A", canções árabes; nível de áudio muito baixo; 44444, QRM da Espanha em 1116 (Carlos Gonçalves, PORTUGAL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MYANMAR. 7110, June 15 at 1115, JBA music, no doubt Kachin Radio. Aoki now unravels this frequency as all 356 degrees from a 50 kW transmitter at Naypyidaw capital but under three different identities: 1030-1430 Kachin Radio in Burmese/dialect 1430-1500 Thazin Radio Pyin Oo Lwin, in English 2330-0030 Rakhine Broadcasting Station in Chin 0030-0130 same in Kachin Rakhine has been the site of sectarian violence in the news, e.g.: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-18449264 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) On Apr 09, I heard Thazin R [7110?] and I sent a reception report to Myanma Radio and Television. By registered mail I received a letter from Win Aung, Director of Broadcasting, who told me that these Thazin R transmissions are not made by Myanma R. I am anxious to know, if somebody has a correct address of Thazin R (Max van Arnhem, Hoenderloo, The Netherlands, visiting Ochsenkopf, Sachsen, Germany, DSWCI DX Window June 13 via DXLD) ** MYANMAR [non]. 7200.1, Myanmar Radio. June 17 not heard at 1209 and subsequent checks. New frequency of 7200.0, Myanmar Radio. Ex: 7200.1. Not heard June 17, but at 1206 on June 18 seemed they adjusted the old transmitter; had been off frequency for a long time; NO SPUR heard! Perhaps someone with a Perseus can give us a more accurate frequency? Seems they are working on their transmitters now. 5985.0, Myanmar Radio, random checking from 1210 to 1345 found them on this exact frequency instead of the normally heard 5985.84, so perhaps maintenance work on the off frequency transmitter? June 20. 7200.0, Myanmar Radio, 1202, June 20 was off the air and also during subsequent checking (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MYANMAR [and non]. Aung San Suu Kyi listened to BBCWS on SW: see UK ** NETHERLANDS [non]. Re: Radio Netherlands announcement of end of English service. Latest update: We're also on air to Europe on 29 June! RNW's distribution department has arranged this frequency for you: 1900 UTC until 2057 UTC - 6065 kHz from Wertachtal This will allow listeners in a large area of Europe to share the last two hours of RNW English on air. http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/were-changing (Mike Barraclough, June 15, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/were-changing (via WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DXLD) More Bonaire frequencies for June 29 have been added, too. Altogether HFCC shows now these special farewell outlets: Bonaire: 0200-0257: 6165 (250 kW, 345 ) 0300-0357: 6165 (250 kW, 335 ) 0500-0557: 6165 (250 kW, 315 ) 0500-0557: 12015 (300 kW [see comment], 230 ) Wertachtal: 1900-2058: 6065 (500 kW, ND) In the 0300-0357 and 0500-0527 periods 6165 was, although with other antenna parameters, in use for Dutch, so it is in some way a one-off reactivation with different programming. 12015 is for Australia/New Zealand; how long ago have regular transmissions of RNW English to this area ceased? The 300 kW must be a mistake, or have they kept at least one of the original Philips transmitters until now? And did they want to leave 5955 in the grave, thus choose 6165 instead? Actually English to Europe was on 5955, too, until a continuous daytime format of Dutch had been introduced in the mid- nineties. The extra minute should prevent the transmission to cut out before the program audio ceases, as it happened with the Dutch farewell on 5955 due to the feed delay of more than ten seconds. An the complete RNW schedule as of July 2, both via Bonaire and both Mon-Fri only: 0930-1000: 6020, Dutch 1100-1157: 9895, Spanish 6020 is run on a quadrant antenna (HQ 1/0.3), thus in fact non- directional, serving the Carribean to which Dutch is supposed to continue and to remain in the public broadcasting system. So it is already now of interest who provides the programming carried on 6020 (is it NOS content now?), and it will be interesting to see if this shortwave outlet continues beyond Oct 28. Due to the closure of Bonaire this question concerns of course 9895 as well. And will Witte Kruislaan continue to operate the Talata Volonondry site beyond Oct 28? (Kai Ludwig, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) A bit of history: The one-off on 6065 is a final intended return of RNW English to Europe after almost nine years. "Intended" because there were numerous instances of it being put on by mistake instead of Dutch, the last one as recently as in last March. The shortwave service of RNW English to Europe ceased in October 2003, as part of a first general reduction of shortwave which eliminated about 40 percent of the transmitter hours. In its last incarnation it were two hours at noon via two 100 kW transmitters, one at Jülich and one at Nauen, the latter in 2000 (when the old Funkwerk Köpenick transmitter had been shut down) replaced by a Wertachtal 125 kW operation, and this all booked through the airtime exchange with DW that remained in place until last year. This last incarnation had been created instead of cancelling shortwave to Europe already in the nineties, when it had been brought to 1386 from Bolshakovo for which at RNW's wish the transmission power had been reduced from 2500 to 1200 kW. Later Bolshakovo was replaced by Marnach (1440), this again by a slot on the Wolvertem 1512 transmitter, booked through airtime exchange, and when VRT shut down 1512 the last harbour was a very late airtime exchange slot at Sölvesborg (1179) until mediumwave to Europe had been given up as well in October 2005. Back then as a replacement a slot on the British/Irish 28 deg. East DTH satellite position had been introduced but abandoned after a few years again due to too little listeners interest. Only Hotbird and Astra 19.2 remain until now. Shortwave to New Zealand (Australia appears to no longer have been an official target area by then, and for the upcoming swan song on 12015 again only CIRAF zone 60 is specified) was, if I see it right at a glance, still in place in 2005. Appears to have been gone away widely unnoticed. And shortwave to North America ceased in October 2008. I think it's not necessary to recap this rather recent story here. ----- A report about RNW Indonesian closing down: http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/radio-netherlands-says-goodbye-indonesia (Kai Ludwig, June 16, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. Cartas @ RN - Cartas@RN en vísperas del último programa. Emisión: 17 Junio 2012 11:50 - 19 Junio 2012 11:50 (Foto: Sergio Acosta) PENÚLTIMO PROGRAMA: TOM MEYER Y ANUNCIOS IMPORTANTES A petición de muchos oyentes entrevistamos al carismático Tom Meyer, quien hace 20 años se retiró de la conducción de La Estación de la Alegría. Tom nos recibe en su casa, nos cuenta anécdotas interesantes de su vida, de lo que ha hecho después de pre jubilarse en Radio Nederland. Recuerda a varios de los oyentes y algunas de las emisiones, como una que hizo desde un globo. La Estación de la Alegría, el programa que fuera antesala de Cartas@RN, tuvo su primera emisión por la radio PCJJ en 1928. Su primer conductor era el holandés Edward Startz, mejor conocido como Eddie Startz ("Don Eduardo"). Startz gustaba de hacer su programa en varios idiomas (holandés, inglés, alemán y español). La Estación de la Alegría dejó de difundirse en mayo de 1940 durante la invasión de Holanda por parte de Adolfo Hitler. En 1946 Eddie Startz reinició las transmisiones de la Estación de la Alegría, pero esta vez a través de Radio Nederland. Tom Meyer Eddie Startz se retiró en los años setenta. Thom Henrich Meijer fue su sucesor en las versiones en inglés y en español de la Estación de la Alegría, y reescribió su nombre a "Tom Meyer" para una proyección más internacional entre su audiencia. Después de la jubilación de Tom Meyer, por decisión propia, Jaime Báguena se hizo cargo de la versión en español. A finales de la década de los noventa la dirección de RNW decidió terminar con la difusión de la versión en español de la Estación de la Alegría, y el programa fue sustituido por Cartas@RN. En la recta final Al final del programa anunciamos como serán los últimos días de emisiones. La última edición de Voces con Juan Carlos Roque será el viernes 22; la de Cabildo Abierto con José Zepeda y Sergio Acosta el sábado 23, y la del programa final de Cartas@RN el domingo 24. De igual manera, el último Un Mundo Mejor con Cor Doeswijk y Patricia Karpovich será el lunes 25; la edición final de Gran Angular con Alejandro Pintamalli saldrá al aire el miércoles 27, y el último programa Ciencias, con Sergio Acosta se difundirá el jueves 28 de junio. Última emisión: viernes 29 de junio Nuestra programación regular finalizará el viernes 29 de junio. Ese día podrán escuchar La Matinal en su formato habitual, y en la tarde- noche emitiremos un programa especial de una hora con entrevistas, música, y recuerdos de nuestra programación y la participación de un gran número de colegas. Este programa podrán seguirlo en vivo en vivo por videostream o por audio en nuestra web radionederland.nl desde las 15:30 hasta las 16:30 hora de Holanda, o sea desde las 13:30 y hasta las 14:30 UT. Esa emisión final será difundida después en las horas habituales de la tarde y noche, por las frecuencias de siempre (RNW website via Horacio Nigro, condiglist yg via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. All transmissions of Radio Netherlands World Service in English and Indonesian on short waves will be terminated. Here the updated schedule English till June 29: 1000-1057 on 15110 PHT 250 kW / 283 deg to SEAs 1400-1457 on 9800 TRM 250 kW / 345 deg to SoAs 1800-1957 on 17605 SMG 250 kW / 144 deg to ECAf 1900-2057 on 7425 MDC 250 kW / 270 deg to SoAf 1900-2057 on 11615 ISS 500 kW / 192 deg to WeAf 1900-2057 on 15495 SMG 250 kW / 193 deg to WCAf English, additional transmissions on June 29: 0200-0257 on 6165 BON 250 kW / 345 deg to NoAm 0300-0357 on 6165 BON 250 kW / 335 deg to CeAm 0500-0557 on 6165 BON 250 kW / 315 deg to CeAm 0500-0557 on 12015 BON 250 kW / 230 deg to AUS 1900-2057 on 6065 WER 250 kW / 210 deg to Eu/Af Indonesian till June 29: 1100-1157 on 9720 SAI 100 kW / 225 deg to SEAs 1100-1157 on 9795 PHT 250 kW / 200 deg to SEAs 1100-1157 on 15650 TIN 250 kW / 256 deg to SEAs 2100-2157 on 9365 PHT 250 kW / 200 deg to SEAs Indonesian, additional transmission on June 29: 1000-1057 on 15300 TRM 250 kW / 105 deg to SEAs 1000-1057 on 15565 TRM 250 kW / 105 deg to SEAs 1000-1057 on 17840 MDC 250 kW / 085 deg to SEAs 1000-1057 on 21485 MDC 250 kW / 085 deg to SEAs Spanish Daily till June 29: 0000-0057 on 6165 BON 250 kW / 210 deg to Central and South America 0100-0157 on 6165 BON 250 kW / 290 deg to Caribbean and North America 1100-1127 on 9895 BON 250 kW / 320 deg to Caribbean and North America 1130-1157 on 6165 BON 250 kW / 210 deg to Central and South America 1200-1227 on 6165 BON 250 kW / 180 deg to Central and South America 1200-1227 on 9715 BON 250 kW / 290 deg to Caribbean and North America Spanish Mon-Fri from July 2, only one transmission: 1100-1157 on 9895 BON 250 kW / 320 deg to Caribbean and North America (DX Re Mix News June 18 via DXLD) Selexion of just some of the comments appended to http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/were-changing PeterNY 22 June 2012 - 7:32pm / USA Excellent. No more nihilism / cultural self annihilation / pro- islamization propaganda. Stu Younkin 22 June 2012 - 1:07am / USA As a young boy in the early 70's, I listened to RN regularly on my Hallicrafters shortwave radio back home in Pennsylvania. A lot of great memories there, and it helped to make me a much better informed adult later in life. I understand that technology changes, but I do miss those halcyon days of listening to the "Happy Station". Thanks for all those wonderful memories, and I will always cherish my 1977 QSL card from your station!!! KV Zichi 17 June 2012 - 7:00pm / USA A sad development. We are all poorer when diverse voices are 'silenced' because of 'money'. I fear it is too late for Radio Nederland, (I'm old, it is how I think of you) but there is a lesson here for others. Are the other International Broadcasters listening? It may not be too late for them! Dropping Shortwave made you drop off the 'radar' for international audiences, and once things disappear from consciousness, they become disposable. I've been saying for a while dropping SW is a 'foolish economy' and you are now helping to prove the point. I live work and play in an area where high speed internet is widely available, and yet, once you stopped broadcasting on SW to North America, I can't say I listened to your broadcasts more than a handful of times in the last few years (while I listened at least once or twice a week before) and most of that was when I happened to catch a broadcast aimed at Africa. The Internet -- in ANY form -- may be useful to augment and enhance SW broadcasting, it but cannot substitute for and certainly does not supplant actual voices from real broadcasters. Just as Television did not replace radio, and neither eliminated the need for print, the "Internet" may change the economics, but it does not eliminate the need for other media. I hope this is a lesson that we don't learn 'the hard way' because once these things are gone, it will be much harder to recreate them that it would have been to simply preserve them. Rob Kievit 15 June 2012 - 11:16pm / Netherlands Dear respondents, I would just like to say, on behalf of the Radio Netherlands English team, a very big thank you for sharing your appreciation of our work, both on the website and on the radio. Your reactions are heartwarming, and just what we need in these difficult times. Difficult, not because we're losing our jobs, but because we have to put a brutal end to a medium that has served the world for 65 years. It's great to know that you've appreciated what we've done online and on the radio. I gladly pass on the praise to my colleagues past and present, and to the memories of those who are no longer among us. We're aware that here at RNW we're standing on the shoulders of giants, in a country that appears to be ruled by dwarves. Please keep your reactions coming, whether via this website, by email letters@rnw.nl, via Facebook (/radionetherlands) or by paper mail to the RNW English Desk on the first floor at the back of the Radio Netherlands building - the address is simply PO Box 222, NL 1200JG The Netherlands. If you liked us as a radio station, make a note in your diary to listen to us on 29 June, online or via your local station, or on shortwave. It's your last chance. Warmest greetings, Rob Kievit, Senior Editor, RNW English John Figliozzi 13 June 2012 - 6:26pm / USA When I received a brand new Heathkit GR-54 shortwave receiver in 1967, one of the first stations I heard--loud and clear--was the one from Hilversum, which stood out from most of the others for its bright and positive tone. I became a young (teenage) fan of the Cowans and "His and Hers", the "DX Jukebox" (later Jonathan Marks and "Media Network") and, of course, "The Happy Station" on Sundays. Over the years, I've stayed with RNW through its opening of the Bonaire relay, its "occupation" of abandoned BBCWS frequencies, its decision to drop hf to NA, its broadcasts via WRN on Sirius/XM satellite radio and the institution of its 24/7 web stream. Now I am very sad to learn that RNW will no longer be able to stay with me. Thank you for all the joyful sounds, the unique and carefully crafted information and programming, the wonderful documentaries and the way you provided an always fresh and open perspective on things that otherwise would not have been "aired". This is a tragedy in the sense that one more voice--that of the Dutch, so important to the early history of my country and state (New York, formerly New Netherland)-- is now lost seemingly forever in what seems to me a very shortsighted, penny-wise but pound foolish decision by the authorities. Here's a glass raised to toast RNW, a fine friend throughout the years. You will be missed by many, including me. Unfortunately, now so many others will never know what they will be missing. Thank you for everything. Richard Talbott 12 June 2012 - 12:08am / United States After several centuries of Dutch international involvement, it is indeed sad to watch this station and the country it represents evolve into a thick shell of isolationism. First drop out of international communication, then what? Next drop out of air travel and other means of international personal contact? Eliminate the arts next, then drop education? Soon enough there will not be much of a society or country left. Unfortunately similar policies are being put in place elsewhere. So much for the forward march of civilization. Sad, sad, sad (via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. Bonaire and Madagascar Live On??? With the impending closure of RNW in less than two weeks, I queried them about the fate of the Bonaire and Madagascar relay sites - especially considering that RCI's Sackville site will definitely be closed. They replied via their Facebook page that they are not being closed but are definitely being "given up" - whatever that means. If it means that another entity is going to take them over and operate them then we don't lose two radio countries (Mark Coady, Peterborough, ON K9J 6X3, ODXA yg via DXLD) Who are ``them``? (gh) What it means is that RNW is still hoping to sell the Madagascar facility as a going concern. You will recall that they recently installed two transmitters formerly used at Hörby in Sweden, so it has at least another decade of life in its current configuration. I imagine that it may be later in the year before we know anything. The bulk of transmissions from Madagascar in the past few years have been of other broadcasters. There are only a few stations that can provide such strong single-hop signals into the whole of Africa, so I would be surprised if nobody is interested. Africa is one of the regions of the world where shortwave is still of significant importance. Bonaire is more of a problem, as the TDF facility on French Guyana has taken a lot of business from Bonaire, and North America is no longer an important target for shortwave broadcasters. That cuts down the number of organisations that might have been interested. When I left RNW at the end of April I had not heard of anyone wishing to purchase the facility. RNW had already planned to close Bonaire at the end of October 2012 before the massive government budget cut, and the staff there were given nearly two year’s notice. Please do not speculate in the meantime, it’s not fair to the people who work there. When there is something to report, I’m sure I will be told or learn of it from Dutch media sites, and I will pass on the information (Andy Sennitt, Netherlands, June 18, WORLD OF RADIO 1622, ibid.) I have uploaded few of my RNW QSLs from past - in Facebook but can be accessed without membership and login in the following URL http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150971424789038.436749.831214037&type=3&l=ea2b57679b (Partha Sarathi Goswami, Siliguri, W.B., India, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. / GERMANY, 6095, Transportradio, via Wertachtal (Cf. DX-Window no. 455. Ed). Just received their QSL for an earlier transmission during an exhibition for truck drivers in the Netherlands. The QSL says "500 kW (max)", so it might be less than that. They also sent a couple of stickers, one of them for the new "Onderweg" program. On http://www.kbcradio.eu/?p=1434 KBC Radio announces a new "shortwave scanner" and an active antenna to be introduced later this year for mobile reception of 6095 kHz. Here in Europe car radios with SW are rare these days (Harald Kuhl, Germany in DXplorer, May 30 via DSWCI DX Window June 13 via DXLD) ** NEW CALEDONIA. NEW ON RNZI - URBAN RADIO FROM NOUMEA Media Release, Radio Heritage Foundation, June 19 2012 RNZI Airs new Radio Heritage Feature - Urban Pacific Radio from Noumea, New Caledonia Join us from Monday, June 25 2012 to explore the world of breakfast radio on several of the few local FM radio stations in Noumea on the Mailbox program from Radio New Zealand International. With a population of some 165,000, Noumea is one of the most European and largest urban areas in the Pacific islands. This is not just the Pacific of golden beaches, swaying palm trees and the gentle roar of the distant surf. This is also high population density, traffic jams, shopping malls, and six radio stations competing for listeners in a tense political atmosphere. You can listen directly via shortwave radio from RNZI in New Zealand, or audio on demand [for the following month] with full details of current broadcast frequencies [both DRM and analog] and times possible for your area as well as audio downloads at http://www.rnzi.com We'll take you to the home of breakfast radio personalities Gege at Oceane FM, Robert Canal at Radio Rhythme Bleu, and JB at NRJ.... as well as introduce you to Radio Djiido, Nouvelle Caledonie Premiere and Radio O.... and tell you how you can join them all for breakfast! New Caledonia has blocked the airwaves to new stations for many years, and of these six, two are owned by the French government, one is part of a French commercial network, one has close connections with another French network, and just one fully serves the local Kanak people. Local listeners are denied the wide range of stations, formats and viewpoints found on the mainland, but this strange situation reflects local politics as New Caledonia struggles to find a way forward that satisfies those for and against independence from France. Each of the stations featured has a well designed website, usually a good Facebook page, and wonderful coverage maps to download and print as souvenirs of your visit to Noumea, the Riviera of the South Pacific. So join us from Monday, June 25 2012 as we enjoy breakfast with the radio DJ's from Noumea, New Caledonia on the Mailbox program from Radio New Zealand International. You can also use our Pacific Asian Listener and Pacific Traveller Radio Guides at our global website http://www.radioheritage.com Use our Google Search to find more features about broadcasting in New Caledonia. Radio Heritage Foundation is a registered non-profit organization connecting radio, popular culture, history and heritage with useful radio guides and features for free community use at http://www.radioheritage.com (David Ricquish, June 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEW ZEALAND. This morning (6:00 a.m. in Dallas, just after dawn) from 1100 to 1130 GMT I heard Radio New Zealand International, the voice of the Pacific, on 9655 kHz (31 Meter Band). Moderate but clear signal registering 4-5 on my S-Meter (10 scale). The program was "Hymns For Sunday Morning" (a weekly program for Sunday mornings, I think) consisting of great choral anthems and hymns from the Anglican tradition, with the slow, beautiful closing "Amens" sung at the end of all hymns. The choirs mentioned seemed to be from New Zealand and perhaps Australia, but I am not entirely clear about this. About 1125 GMT some background noise began, but I listened until the close of the program at 1130. Really quite beautiful, even elegant, music for a Sunday morning, to be enjoyed aesthetically by believer or non- believer (Grayson Watson in Dallas, TX using a portable Sangean 909x with a 23' random wire, June 17, cumbredx via DXLD) Odd time since it`s Sunday evening in NZ. Program schedule at http://www.rnzi.com/pages/schedules.php shows this title at 1108-1200 UT both Sat & Sun; also 1708 UT Sunday and 1910 UT Saturday, the last of which when it is really Sunday morning there (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** NIGER. 9705, La Voix du Sahel, Niamey, 0459-0600, May 23, at 0500 ID in French, National Anthem, times and frequencies, 0545 news in French, 35553 (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria, DSWCI DX Window June 13 via DXLD) NÍGER, 9705, A Voz do Sahel, Goudel, 2138-2214, 15/6, dialecto, canções tribais, programa em francês, com canções ocidentais, às 2204; 45433. 9705 idem, 1002-1205, 16/6, dialecto, texto, canções tribais, programa em francês, às 1200, para o noticiário; 25432, em perda (Carlos Gonçalves, PORTUGAL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA. NIGÉRIA, 1440, Adamawa BC, Yola, 2216-..., 15/6, dialecto, texto, refs. a Yola, informação de n.º de telef., canções locais; 44444, QRM do LUX (Carlos Gonçalves, PORTUGAL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA. 9690, Voice of Nigeria, *0830-0840, June 14, late sign on with talk in listed Hausa. Nigeria was on 15120 until approximately 0810 in Hausa. Fair (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) 15120, June 15 at 0454, VON with native instruments over the whine, in prélude to the 0500 English broadcast in analog. By 0509 during news, the signal had weakened considerably vs storm noise approaching from Kansas (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15120, BUZZY old Ikorodu sound signal in AM mode, Voice of Nigeria noted at 0545 UT June 15, in English program slot 05-07 UT. Two female announcers talk about conservative politicians. S=9+10dB fine morning signal into Germany. Poor tiny Chinese signal in background, but not at annoying level (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 15, dxldyg via DXLD) 15120, Voice of Nigeria, *0446-0510, June 16, sign on with IS/ID sequence. Short National Anthem at 0455. Opening English announcements at 0456 and preview of upcoming programs. News at 0501. “Listeners’ Letters” program at 0506. Fair signal strength but whine in audio (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg, PA, USA, Icom IC-7600, two 100 foot longwires, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15120, June 16 at 0536, VON starting `Weekend Magazine`, with whine, fading. Also at 1753, poor signal in Arabic, music. DX Re Mix News says Arabic in analog is now scheduled 1730-1830 from Ikorodu, then English in DRM at 1830-2000 M-F from Abuja. 15120, June 20 at 0502, open carrier, no modulation, fair signal. Despite the absence of whine or even some hum, surely it`s VON. Still mum at 0525 tune-out (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA [non]. CLANDESTINE, 9610, R. Hamada International (via Wertachtal, Germany) Fairly strong with nice clear ID by M over music at 0530 s/on. 0534 different M announcer with another ID, followed by another M announcer with ID and mention of Hausa. Music bridge, then continuous talk by M. 0556 came back and found canned ID announcement by W over instrumental music giving phonetics apparently for e-mail address, and mention of "radio Africa". (15 June) (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, NRD-535D with T2FD antenna, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** NORTH AMERICA. Pirate: Rave-On Radio: 6925/USB, 0348-0353+, 9-June; Stones and 60s bluesy rock tune; ID at 0351 with exaggerated claims. SIO=353-/QRN (Frodge-MI) 6925/USB, 0102-0110+, 14-June; Playing Dylan tunes; Said will play tunes till the generator quits. The Bring It On Back Home Show... broadcasting out here in the woods. SIO=2+43-, QRN and buzz burst (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 85 ft. RW and 180 ft. center-fed RW, Icom R3 + duckie, All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. 10790-FM, approximately, June 15 at 1255 UT, very distorted mostly talk show. Any wideband FM broadcast signals heard around 10.7 MHz are emanating from the IF of somebody`s FM receiver. Certainly none of mine, but some neighbor`s. On my FM, I start tuning for a match, and finally find it at 101.1, i.e. KWOX Woodward. Of course, on another occasion the unknown radio receiver-cum-transmitter could be tuned to any other station to relay (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. 91.7, Friday June 15 at 1235 UT, KOSU continues a 5- minute segment from yesterday at 1235, conservative commentator Neva Hill, and a guest from the ACLU. Friday 1235 (and repeated at 2144 UT), had been the sole spots for an Oklahoma liberal, Frosty Troy, of the Oklahoma Observer, and this is now billed as part one and two of a Neva & Frosty `special`, but Frosty is never heard this week! Announcer mentions that he is taking a break for the summer. What? Just as we are getting into primaries and a political year? What`s really going on here? Of course, public radio funding is always under threat from the Republican-controlled legislature and most of the rest of the OK state government. Frosty is untiringly critical of the Republicans. Format for his segment has been a discussion with KOSU`s Michael Cross, in which Frosty comes across as rather incoherent. It must be a nightmare to edit. He still writes coherently so KOSU ought to just let him read a prepared commentary each week (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. 93.1, the POS Enid translator, K227AT, ex-93.3, is again distorted and splattering between 92.7 and 93.5, June 15 at 1235 UT. Tnx a lot, Donald Williamson, licensee! (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN. 17720, R. Pakistan (presumed). Getting a carrier as early as 0920. No audio till about 1040 when music appearing. W announcer around 1048 nonstop till about 1057. Time ticks at ToH, then getting some slop QRM from China 17725. Gone at 1120 check. First time to get any audio and only barely. Nothing on 15725. (14 June) 17720, R. Pakistan. Bits of Arabic-sounding music at 0957, 3 time ticks at ToH, then W announcer in [unknown] language. Brief music then W again with mention of "R. Pakistan…" at 1001:25. M and W in discussion 1030-1036, then Arabic music with occasional brief announcements by W. Sounded like 6+1 time ticks at 1100 ToH, then W again. Off at 1102:40 seemingly in mid-sentence. Strongest and best signal yet on this. (15 June) 15265, R. Pakistan. VOA Botswana on top here till 1659. News fanfare music started just before VOA went off. 3 time ticks at ToH, then W with ID "This is R. Pakistan. The news read by ??". News headlines with news fanfare between each item, then news in detail after 1701 by same W. ID during news at 1705:25 "This is R. Pakistan", then continued news. 1710 ended with headlines and fanfare between each item again. 1710-1711 M announcer with ID and talk with mention of "…national broadcasting service…". Couldn't really copy what was being said though. Into mid-east music and apparent Urdu service then. Another ID at 1713:30 with mention of "Koran" and talk with mentions of Pakistan. First time to get positive ID on this frequency. Had to turn the AGC off to get enough signal strength. Pleased as Pakistan is really tough here in NE NA. (15 June) 17720, R. Pakistan. Found in English with news by W again at 1102. ID ending news, canned presumed promo 1105, then choral NA and off at 1106. Sometimes plainly audible, sometimes almost nothing. (16 June) (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, NRD-535D with T2FD antenna, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3305, R. Western apparently back on again. Just a signal and almost no audio though. PNGs a little better today. (18 June) 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, NRD-535D with T2FD antenna, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3325, NBC Bougainville (presumed), 1254-1302*, June 20. Definitely ex: 1200*. Heard mixing with RRI Palangkaraya; played pop songs; 1301 EZL instrumental till assume a very short sign off announcement. Am happy to have a positive sign off time which conforms to my June 4th log of 1302. 3915, Radio Fly, 1321-1340, June 20. Continue to have a short opening for this every day about this time; pop songs; 1328 several “Radio Fly” IDs; poor; unusable by 1340 (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 4747, R. Huanta 2000, Huanta, 0035-0056* June 19 Spanish; M & W announcers in discussion; music bridge at 0052 into "live" M announcers; pulled the plug mid-sentence at 005 [sic]; 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) ** PERU. 4986.34, Perú, Radio Manantial, Huancayo, noted at 0040 first time in several months. Should be audible in Europe. 73s (Bob Wilkner, Pompano Beach, Florida, Drake R8, UT June 20, WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4986.387, Radio Manantial, Huancayo. Tnx to Bob Wilkner, tuned R. Manantial (from Perseus network Germany) on 4986.387 kHz on June 20 from 0157 UT tune-in with what sounded like end of soccer or other sport match and into vocal music. At 0203.5 heard what sounded like a choir-sung anthem to 0204 UT, but carrier remained on to 0208. Sign/off timing seems similar to R. Fides on 6154.9 kHz (i.e. 0200 nominal s/off but carrier remains on for several minutes). S2 with QRM from R. Brazil Central (presumed) 4985 kHz that was notched out with no problem (Bruce W. Churchill-CA-USA, DXplorer June 20 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** PERU. Radio Tawantinsuyo --- me levanté a tomar algo para el dolor y prendí receptor: Radio Tawantinsuyo en 6173.80, en LSB para separarla bien, 1010 UT (Ernesto Paulero, Argentina, June 14, condiglist yg via DXLD) After a domestic accident (gh) Radio Tawantisuyu --- Estimados amigos DX: Tawantisuyo etimológicamente es la suma de dos vocablos quechuas, TAWA o TAWAN = 4 SUYO o SUYU = Región y/o división. TAWANTISUYO o TAWANTISUYU es la denominación de lo que fue el Imperio Inca; En este mapa verán la composición del mismo: http://mohacidleyrisandres.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/tawantinsuyu1.jpg El Cuzco está considerado como el Centro del Imperio. Recordando las clases de Historia del Perú de mi querido Colegio me despido de Ustedes. Datos de Radio: Radio Tawantisuyu Av. el Sol 806 Teléfono de la radio: (084) 228411 73! (DXSPACEMASTER, ALFREDO BENJAMIN CAÑOTE BUENO, Lima, condiglist yg via DXLD) ** PHILIPPINES. 15454.982, Checked that channel for strange RCI programs from likely Babcock Woofferton-UK site test til 0901 UT, latter which reported on past days by GH and from Ivo's Bulgaria Monitoring too. But today June 15 heard instead FEBC Manila program at 0557 UT, S=4 tiny level here in Germany (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 15, dxldyg via DXLD) ** ROMANIA. 17510, best of // 15210, 15430, 17670, Friday June 15 at 1136, RRI with folk music, 1137 opening `Listeners` Letterbox`. Only one name I recognized for sure, Christer Brunström in Sweden, more evidence that there are still *lots* of SWLs out there who are not in organized groups. Said they QSL and send other material only by post, not e-mail. Several new voices are heard on the service. ``Listeners` feedback is essential``; ``Don`t worry; we have no intention to give up on shortwave broadcasts``. But also promoted increased number of programs on demand at their website http://www.rri.ro now for one week, starting about two hours after broadcast, in all languages; times shown are local. Broke for a folk tune at 1142. 1149 closing with some bilingual rap (ugh), and 1151 on to a sports show about some game in Ukraine. I was listening carefully for any reference to the recent discovery by WOR/DXLD contributor Tudor Vedeanu in Romania that terminating the SW service is under consideration. Kai Ludwig investigated further and says that the RRI staff were assured in May that the SW service would continue at least until yearend. All the government cares about is whether Romanians abroad are served, not the rest of us. What a pity it would be if this station closes too, a few years after installing all those new transmitters and antennas which provide such great signals direct from Europe with RRI`s excellent programming (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [Re 12-24] Could it be the Romanian president intervened IN FAVOR of keeping these SW broadcasts on the air ? Seems unclear ---- given the facts posted here (Mike Bryan, STITTSVILLE, Ontario, ODXA yg via DXLD) That was the inference I had drawn (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA, ibid.) ** ROMANIA. On the coming weekend, there will be two alternative transmission slots for "Radio City" via Nexus / IRRS (via transmitter in Romania): Friday, June 22, 1800-1900 UT, 7290 kHz Saturday, June 23, 0900-1000 UT, 9510 kHz Usually, "Radio City" is on the air on the 3rd Saturday of every month. The slots mentioned above are a one-off for a failed programme playout during the usual slot (Thomas Voelkner, Leipzig, Germany, WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. 13775, June 17 at 0438, V. of Russia on its sole English frequency to NAm, DJ talking about keeping warm in the -50C Arctic by ``doing it, if you know what I mean``, and then a song to that effect (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA [non]. Voice of Russia cut transmissions on MW 1548 from Grigoriopol [PRIDNESTROVYE]: 1300-1500 in Russian WS and 1500-1700 in Serbian. Here is the new schedule: 1700-1800 VOR in Russian 1800-2000 TWR in various 2000-2130 VOR in Serbian 2130-2230 VOR in Italian (DX Re Mix News, Bulgaria, 20 June via DXLD) ** RUSSIA [non]. VOICE OF RUSSIA BEGINS U.K. BROADCASTS Radio World June 20, 2012 http://www.radioworld.com/article/voice-of-russia-begins-uk-broadcasts/214007 During a ceremony in June at the Russian Embassy in London, Voice of Russia celebrated the commencement of broadcasts in the United Kingdom. The Russian broadcaster, which now also produces on-air content in London, has been transmitting the new program destined to listeners in the country since March 26. The service is available weekdays from 4–7 p.m. via a DAB frequency. The remainder of the time, the regular radio service broadcasts from Moscow. Russian Ambassador to the U.K. Alexander Yakovenko explained during the event that the new service features various view points and topics, including politics, culture, and sports, and it also allows for an exchange of ideas between the different cultures and show guests. The goal, says the broadcaster, is to inform the world about life in Russia and to provide insight on Moscow’s opinions on global events. It also aims to promote the Russian culture and language so as to give a positive image of Russia to the world. Voice of Russia also produces programs in Washington, Kiev, Istanbul and Rio de Janeiro. The three-hour live talk show produced in London by a staff of 18 allows the British audience to receive news about world events but from a Russian perspective, continued the broadcaster. Every month about 200 Russian and British experts, political scientists, and journalists take part in these programs with their frequent opposing opinions forming the most objective view of modern events. Voice of Russia Chairman Andrei Bystritsky said that the broadcaster chose London because it serves as a bridge between Russia and the West. “London is an extremely important, vital city because it has always been an essential ‘communication junction’ between Russia and the West,” he said. “And London is a city and the capital of a country with its own unique traditions and history. So, we want to be heard and understood here. We want Russia to be perceived as a rational, comprehendible and interesting country. We want it to be understood better.” Voice of Russia today broadcasts to 160 countries in 38 languages on shortwave and medium-wave, FM, satellite and through global mobile communication networks. In many countries Voice of Russia programming is also available on local airwaves. Voice of Russia’s website is available in 37 languages. The site offers over 500 sections and visitors can choose from online reports, audio, video and multimedia material (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** SAINT HELENA. Digital TV Snag --- Glenn, From the St. Helena Sentinal of June 14, 2012. More troubles in paradise. DIGITAL TERRESTRIAL TELEVISION PROJECT UPDATE St Helena will not receive digital television until after July. Cable & Wireless South Atlantic announced there is a delay in delivery of the new DBV-T2 television rebroadcast service. The set-top boxes that are required to enable viewing failed Quality Assurance. It is likely the set-top boxes will arrive on St Helena no earlier than 3 August. The infrastructure and systems for the digital television service on the island is ready and will be commissioned once the set-top boxes are received. There is a waiting list for TV service but C&W no longer provides analogue decoders. These decoders are now obsolete and are no longer manufactured. Unless existing TV customers cancel and release their analogue decoders, new customers will have to wait until the digital set-top boxes arrive (via Joe Buch, FL USA, June 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SARAWAK [non]. "If you have a problem in your village ... tell the world about it through Radio Free Sarawak." Posted: 15 Jun 2012 Planetsave, 11 June 2012: "Peter John Jaban is a broadcaster with the independent radio station Radio Free Sarawak, which operates from a small flat in Covent Garden. The station is openly opposed to the government of the Malaysian state of Sarawak, which is led by Chief Minister Taib Mahmud. Chief Minister Taib has held power since 1981, amassing enormous wealth in this time. Broadcasting in Indigenous languages, Radio Free Sarawak highlights issues occurring in native communities across Sarawak. As mentioned on the Radio Free Sarawak website, 'if you have a problem in your village or if someone is taking your land, logging, planting or polluting your area… tell the world about it through Radio Free Sarawak.'" Free Malaysia Today, 10 June 2012, Peter John Jaban: "I’ve decided that my future is here. I was born here and I intend to remain here. There is so much work to be done, especially with crucial elections just round the corner. ... I started Radio Free Sarawak and moved to London mainly because freedom of expression here in my own country is lacking – something that I am trying to change. But, I just couldn’t stay away." The Economist, 9 June 2012: "[T]he [Sarawak] opposition is being greatly helped by the broadcasts of Radio Free Sarawak (RFS). Whereas most of the local media are controlled by government—and it shows—RFS, broadcasting on short wave from London, attacks the chief minister and his 'cronies' for maladministration and alleged corruption." (kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) Viz.: POLITICS IN MALAYSIA --- CRACKING OPEN THE FIXED DEPOSITS THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION WILL BE DECIDED FAR FROM THE CAPITAL Jun 9th 2012 | KOTA KINABALU AND KUCHING | from the print edition http://www.economist.com/node/21556617 Long house in need of short wave? [caption; also with a map] A THOUSAND or so kilometres east of what is called Peninsular Malaysia, across the South China Sea, lies the other bit of Malaysia, the states of Sabah and Sarawak. The two form the northern part of the island of Borneo, encircling the oil-rich mini-kingdom of Brunei. Most Malaysians know little about the remote territories (11 of Malaysia’s 13 states lie on the peninsula). Yet Sabah and Sarawak, out of all proportion to their small populations, contribute two essential ingredients to the running of Malaysia under the long-standing national government in Kuala Lumpur: oil and votes. Royal Dutch Shell, the Anglo-Dutch oil giant, first started pumping oil out of the ground in Sarawak in 1910. Since Sarawak and Sabah joined Malaysia in 1963, they have sent an outsize share of oil revenues to the federal government’s coffers. That the petro-charged government has remained in the hands of the same political coalition, the Barisan Nasional (BN), since independence is also largely thanks to the same two states. On the peninsula voters have gradually forced the coalition, led by the United Malays National Organisation and dominated by ethnic Malays, to loosen its grip. On Borneo, by contrast, the BN has maintained an electoral stranglehold. Indeed, Sabah and Sarawak are known as the BN’s “fixed deposits”. With the prime minister, Najib Razak, expected at any moment to declare a general election, the opposition coalition must find a way to raid those deposits if they are to oust the BN from power. As ever, the task looks daunting for the opposition and its leader, Anwar Ibrahim. Yet this time round, Mr Anwar’s foot soldiers have a secret weapon, a clandestine radio station. The electoral arithmetic is simple. At the previous election, in 2008, which produced the best-ever result for the opposition, Mr Anwar’s coalition of parties, the Pakatan Rakyat (PR), won 82 out of 222 parliamentary seats. To take power this time, Mr Anwar needs to gain about 30 more seats. In just Sabah and Sarawak alone, 56 seats are up for grabs, a quarter of the total. In these states, the BN’s grip is near-total. In 2008 it lost two seats on Borneo (although an opposition party has since picked up another in a by-election in Sarawak). Tian Chua, an MP and strategist for the PR, acknowledges that to win the election his side must add ten or more seats in each of Sarawak, Sabah and the state of Johor, facing Singapore at the tip of the peninsula. In Johor, at least, the prospects look fair, but in Sabah and Sarawak the task is daunting. There, away from the cosmopolitan lights of Kuala Lumpur, the darker political arts hold sway. One obvious way that the system works in favour of the ruling coalition is through the gerrymandering of constituencies. Throughout Malaysia, seats are skilfully carved up along ethnic lines to benefit the ruling party, but the practice is particularly strong on Borneo. Constituencies there tend to be rural and cover huge areas, but hold relatively few voters, usually ethnic Malays or other, local ethnic groups friendly to the BN. Potentially hostile voters such as ethnic Chinese, on the other hand, are lumped together into a smaller number of populous urban seats, where they are still often swamped by BN stalwarts. This way the BN maximises its number of seats with a minimum of voters. A local academic, Andrew Aeria, in a report submitted to the Sarawak parliament last year, underlined how the 16,000-odd voters in one rural constituency had as much clout as 67,000 voters in a semiurban one. Other countries attempt to equalise the number of voters in each constituency. The Malaysian constitution sanctions the gerrymandering. In Sabah, which lies near the Philippines, there is a further refinement. Critics claim that hundreds of thousands of mainly Muslim Filipino immigrants have been given identity cards as an inducement to vote for the BN. The BN-controlled governments of both Sabah and Sarawak operate well- funded patronage machines. In Sarawak, which has been run by the same chief minister, Abdul Taib Mahmud, since 1981 (when he succeeded his uncle), government funding is often linked to political affiliation. This can be quite brazen. One minister recently stopped welfare payments to a disabled man after he voted for the opposition. On the eve of elections, BN officials dole out cash to as many voters as they can find—“lunch money”, as it is known in Sabah. Opposition politicians cannot match the cash, so instead they promise that the people of Sabah and Sarawak will in future keep a larger slice of their oil revenues. Currently, the states get only 5% of revenues, with the balance going to the federal government. The opposition offers a 20% share should it get into power. The PR’s promise to cut corruption is a message that also goes down well. In this respect, the opposition is being greatly helped by the broadcasts of Radio Free Sarawak (RFS). Whereas most of the local media are controlled by government—and it shows—RFS, broadcasting on short wave from London, attacks the chief minister and his “cronies” for maladministration and alleged corruption. The station was founded in 2010 by a Sarawak-born British woman, Clare Rewcastle, who also happens to be the sister-in-law of a former British prime minister, Gordon Brown. A softly spoken and heavily tattooed disc jockey, Peter John Jaban, does most of the talking in a two-hour show every evening. Thousands of Iban and other ethnic groups now gather around radios in their longhouses in the forests to listen to him, which infuriates the state government. Radio Free Sarawak gives the PR a bit more hope. The opposition should pick up some urban seats in Sabah and Sarawak at the coming election. But to win it still has a mountain to climb (Economist via DXLD) CLANDESTINE, 15420. R. Free Sarawak (via Palau). 1000 on with pleasant instrumental music, long opening announcements by M with many IDs and mentions of Malaysia, the president, etc. past 1003. Good signal this morning. (16 June) (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, NRD-535D with T2FD antenna, Cumbre DX via DXLD) 15420, R. Free Sarawak via Palau, 1155-1159*, June 20. In vernacular with IDs and playing indigenous music before going off a few seconds before 1200. Interesting how I am able to hear this fairly well for a while and then it drops to threshold level for several days and today back again to fair reception (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAUDI ARABIA. 9714.924, Arabic NE/ME service of BSKSA Riyadh poor signal, fading out here in CEu around 0550 UT June 15. 15170.014, HQ prayer of BSKSA Qur`an program in Arabic in full power performance at 0552 UT, same program on \\ 15379.976 kHz. 15285.028, BUZZY distorted audio quality program in Swahili (from Jeddah?) at 0552 UT June 15, surprisingly S=9+20dB backlobe signal meant towards East Africa / talk by prayer on Tanzania over and over again (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 15, dxldyg via DXLD) ** SLOVAKIA. SLOVAKIAN PUBLIC BROADCASTER TESTS DRM+ http://radiomagonline.com/digital_radio/slovakian_public_broadcaster_tests_drm_0615/ Bratislava - Jun 11, 2012 - The public broadcaster in Slovakia, Radio and Television of Slovakia (RTVS), began a DRM+ test in Band II in the autumn of 2011 using a temporary license to test the performance of the DRM broadcast system. During the trial, conducted from the headquarters of RTVS in Bratislava, coverage and interference measurements were provided by the Research Institute of Telecommunications SR (VUS). DRM+ transmission tests of RTVS were evaluated as successful in terms of possible interference to existing networks, and the extent of the real coverage is "exceeding the expectations." After the evaluation of the initial results, new permission was granted in April 2012 to continue broadcasting in DRM+ for the next 10 years. More details are online. (via Kevin Redding, June 16, ABDX via DXLD) WTFK?? Band II = what we call the FM band (gh) ** SOLOMON ISLANDS [non]. 5019.90, SIBC. Not on the air about 1150 on June 18, nor 19. Believe also off on 17th. Normally goes off the air within 2 to 3 minutes after 1200. Earlier sign off or off the air? (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOMALIA [non]. CLANDESTINE, 11990, R. Damal (via Woofferton). OC on 1829, sudden Koran in progress at 1832, Koran cutoff for HoA music at 1834, continued Koran at 1835 oddly enough. 1843 M announcer. Different desperate-sounding M at 1855, then another M. Music on return 1825. Off in mid-song at 1929. Never did hear any ID. (17 June) (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, NRD-535D with T2FD antenna, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. 9385, WWRB Manchester TN (presumed); 2305- 2311+, 12-June; At least 2M with religious mumblage, "Ooooooo Jeezus", "Oooooooo God deliver us", etc. plus a moaner plus a baby? EZL religious music drowns out most of the mumblage. SIO=543+; no spurs noted anywhere on the huxter band (9265-9505...or thereabouts). (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 85 ft. RW and 180 ft. center-fed RW, Icom R3 + duckie, All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also USA: WINB Brother Stair TOM in English from European relays from June 1: via secret/hidden transmitter site, ex Yerevan 0400-0600 on 15750 SIE ??? kW / ??? deg to EaAf Daily 0600-0700 on 15750 SIE ??? kW / ??? deg to EaAf Sat 1600-1700 on 15425 SIE ??? kW / ??? deg to SoAs Sat 1700-1800 on 15425 SIE ??? kW / ??? deg to SoAs Daily 1900-2200 on 9400 SIE ??? kW / ??? deg to WeEu Daily [what means SIE? It is not in the site key lists. Why are you sure Yerevan on same frequencies has been canceled as below? --- gh] via Wertachtal 1400-1500 on 9655 WER 100 kW / 285 deg to WeEu Daily 1500-1600 on 13810 WER 100 kW / 120 deg to N/ME Daily via Yerevan, all cancelled 0700-1000 on 15750 ERV 300 kW / 192 deg to EaAf Sat 1600-1700 on 15425 ERV 300 kW / 125 deg to SoAs Daily 1800-2200 on 9400 ERV 100 kW / 305 deg to WeEu Daily via Tiganesti, all cancelled 1300-1500 on 15190 TIG 300 kW / 100 deg to AUS Daily 1500-1700 on 15700 TIG 300 kW / 100 deg to AUS Sat (DX Re Mix News, Bulgaria, 20 June via WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DXLD) ** SRI LANKA. 15745, SLBC Nothing here at 0126, but found anthem-like song at 0129. 2+1 time ticks. English announcement by M with numbers given (frequencies??), then MOR cabaret music. Short announcement at 0133, more music. Fairly strong but low modulation. Got 2+1 time ticks again at 0200, then partial ID "…Broadcasting Corporation", and presumed news. (15 June) 15745, SLBC, OC at 0126. 0127 choral anthem, usual drum IS, more choral music, 3 time ticks at 0130, M with rapid English announcement including transmission sked and upcoming program sked. (16 June) (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, NRD-535D with T2FD antenna, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** SWEDEN. SAQ 2012-07-01 Alexanderson Day FROM: Lars Kålland Tuesday, 19 June 2012, 9:43 REMINDER! We will remind you of the Grimeton Radio/SAQ transmissions on 17.2 kHz, CW, with the Alexanderson alternator on Sunday July 1, 2012 , “Alexanderson Day”, at 0900 and 1200 UT. We will start tuning up some 30 minutes before message. The radio station is open to visitors. There will be activity on amateur radio frequencies with the call "SK6SAQ" from 0915 to 1130 and 1215 to 1300 UT. Any of following frequencies: - 14.035 kHz CW - 14.215 kHz SSB From 07:00 UTC also on: - 3.755 kHz SSB QSL-reports are kindly received: - E-mail to: info @ alexander.n.se - or fax to: +46-340-674195 - or via: SM bureau - or direct by mail to: Alexander - Grimeton Veteranradios Vaenner, Radiostationen Grimeton 72 SE-432 98 GRIMETON, SWEDEN (NB: new address) Also read our web site: http://www.alexander.n.se/ Yours, Lars Kalland, SM6NM, sm6nm@telia.com (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** TAIWAN. 11915.15, R. Taiwan International. News by M in what sounded like Bahasa Malay. ID at 1010, then more talk by same M with mention of Taiwan. Another ID at 1014. Fair with co-channel QRM. (16 June) (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, NRD-535D with T2FD antenna, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Aoki says Indonesian; virtually the same (gh) ** TAIWAN. 14950, Sound of Hope, 1158-1215, June 15. In Chinese; religious music till ToH; news with musical fanfare between items; some sound bites in English; 1212 clear ID over soft religious song; spelled out: “w-w-w-s-o-u-n-d-o-f-h-o-p-e-o-r-g” followed by “Sound of Hope” in English; back to the news; poor; much better by 1321. 11300, Sound of Hope, 1212, June 19. Religious song and spelled out: “w-w-w-s-o-u-n-d-o-f-h-o-p-e-o-r-g” followed by “Sound of Hope” in English; poor. Consistent with their IDs! (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN [non]. PCJ Radio special shortwave transmission to North America and the Caribbean --- PCJ Radio would like to announce a special shortwave transmission to North America and the Caribbean on June 29th 2012 from 0200 to 0400 UT on 9955 kHz (local time June 28, 2012 from 10 pm to 12 am). For more details visit http://www.pcjmedia.com and you will find information on our home page (Keith Perron via Facebook via Partha Sarathi Goswami, Siliguri, W.B., India, June 14, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DX LISTENING DIGEST) = UT Friday Viz.: SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM PCJ RADIO PCJ Radio will present a special two hour edition of Happy Station Show targeting North America and the Caribbean on June 29th, 2012 from 0200 to 0400 UT (Local time June 28th, 2012 10:00pm to 12:00am) on 9955. This special is to coincide with the departure of Radio Netherlands Worldwide from shortwave and will be a tribute to what was once one of the most respected international broadcasters. A special QSL Card will be issued to those in the Americas who tune in on 9955. If your [sic] outside this area you can listen to the live stream on June 29th 2012 from 0200 to 0400 UT via http://www.wrmi.net I'm not going to tell you just yet what we have instore. The only thing I will say is you will need to tune in. Click here to listen to promo (via DXLD) Keith Perron on Facebook: Just going through the archives for some material for the special 2 hour program we are doing June 29th for the end of Radio Netherlands English Service. Some of the voices you will hear include Jerry Cowan, Nevil Grey and John van den Steen plus many others. We will take a listen to some moments from RNW from the late 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s. This includes a visit to the original Radio Netherlands building and more (via Mike Terry, June 19, dxldyg via DXLD) ! This is at exactly the same time when RNW is broadcasting its own Last Show via Bonaire --- rather cheeky to schedule it such, or a horrible coincidence? (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DXLD) ** TANZANIA. TANZÂNIA, 1377, R. África Livre, Mwanza, 2158-2215, 17/6, suaíli, música pop', vozes de criança, às 2200 seguidas de programa de música pop' africana; 33442, QRM de F, mas quase inaudível, em muitos momentos (Carlos Gonçalves, PORTUGAL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also ZANZIBAR! ** TATARSTAN [non]. RUSSIA, 15195, R. Tatarstan, 0805 UT, June 19, {via Samara site}. Carrier S=9+20dB. AOKI list: 15195 R. TATARSTAN 0810-0900 UT Tatar/Russian 250kW 295degr Samara RUS (Herbert Meixner, Austria, June 19, A-DX via BC-DX June 20 via DXLD) e-mail or P. O. Box 137 Kazan, Tatarstan, 120136, Russia QSL Manager is Ildus Ibatulin. (Ralf Ladusch, Germany, June 19, A-DX via BCDX 20 June via DXLD) ** THAILAND. 15275, June 17 at 0034, R. Thailand with news in English, surprisingly good now on N American service. I`m not often monitoring around this time (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TIBET [non]. 15495 [sic], 1337 7 May, Tajikistan, V. of Tibet relay, OM/YL discussion in Tibetan, 22432 (Michael L Ford, Staffordshire, NRD515, NCM515, 20m wire E/W, June World DX Club Contact via DXLD) I suppose it could happen, but the SOP MO of VOT is never to operate on an `even` 5/0 kHz frequency, leaving those to the jammers. Aoki shows: 15497*VOICE OF TIBET 1313-1338 1234567 Chinese 100 95 Dushanbe- Yangiyul TJK 06848E 3829N VOTi a12. Unfortunately WDXC logs are not into splitting channels, let alone kHz (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TOKELAU. TINY TRAP? Maybe this time, no. Four sq. mi. is rather small (Terry Krueger, FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: THE TINY ISLAND WITH A HUGE WEB PRESENCE ICANN --- June 13, 2012|By Tommy Andres, CNN Radio Residents unload goods from a barge in Nukunonu atoll, Tokelau, which has no airport or port. [caption] If you're among the companies vying for one of the nearly 2,000 new generic top-level domains, or gTLDs, you've got big pockets. The application alone costs about $185,000. But if you're just an average Joe building your own website or blog, there are much cheaper options out there. One of the most popular is .tk. It's a country code top-level domain, similar to .ca for Canada or .fr for France. But .tk stands for a country you've probably never heard of. It's called Tokelau . . . http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/13/tech/web/tokelau-domain-name-holder/index.html?hpt=hp_bn5 Actually it's a New Zealand Non-Governing Self Territory despite not being pointed out in the article. What was the shortwave radio equipment they refer to? Maybe just a receiver or a piggy transceiver that was set up? (via Krueger, DXLD) Why is .tk so desirable? And of course I`ve heard of it! I`m a philatelist as well as DXer! I don`t see anything about radio or shortwave in that article (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) There was also another small problem. ICANN, the group responsible for doling out ccTLDs, didn't believe that Tokelau really existed. Luckily for Zuurbier, an ICANN board member informed the rest of the group that he had installed the island's first shortwave radio equipment there in the late 1970s. So the two sides agreed to the deal (Terry Krueger, ibid.) ** TUNISIA [and non]. 7275, June 17 at 0432, IWT mostly music serves as BFO for some ham, probably American in LSB on exactly same frequency. This is a risky tactic, as a 500 kW broadcast transmitter could easily overpower a ham at one thousandth that much, but I guess it was working for the station he was contacting, as he went on and on about physical therapy and some medical procedure. This seldom happens with IWT usually unimpeded (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U A E. 15550, At 0557 UT heard instead Babcock's CELLO pause music on this channel, when Al Dhabbaya-UAE end program of Radio Tamazuj 0500 and Radio Dabanga 0530-0557 UT both in Sudanese Arabic, poor S=4 signal here in Germany on sidelobe (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 15, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U K [and non]. Another reason to continue shortwave Good afternoon, Mr. Hauser! I frequently enjoy listening to your "World of Radio" program on Sirius/XM. Used to be somewhat active in shortwave listening until business left me with so little time and apartment living made antennas so difficult. Now that I am approaching retirement, I keep thinking about getting into it again, but am disappointed to hear that more and more nations around the world are cutting back (or cutting off) their shortwave broadcasts, arguing that they are too expensive to continue. There is, of course, a great difference between just punching in a URL and listening online and trying to move your hand as slowly as the hour hand on a clock to fine-tune an elusive signal buried in interference. In some ways, one can see the argument for moving "broadcasting" to the Internet. Still, Internet "broadcasting" does seem to take much of the fun and much of the sense of accomplishment out of shortwave listening. However, I heard a story on the BBC this morning suggesting a very good reason why we still need shortwave. With despotic governments controlling access to the Web within their borders, it is often shortwave that is the only thing that can penetrate those new "iron curtains." Even the best jammers let a few things sneak through sometimes. And that can make all the difference. See what you think: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18493008 Thanks for your work and your weekly program! Best regards, (Tim Orr, Nashville TN, DX LISTENG DIGEST) Viz.: AUNG SAN SUU KYI PAYS TRIBUTE TO BBC ON TOUR OF UK Comments (310) Aung San Suu Kyi met former BBC Radio 1 disc jockey Dave Lee Travis (centre) and composer Jonathan Dove (left) Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has thanked the BBC World Service for keeping her "in touch", during her years of house arrest in Burma. On the first day of a UK tour, she met the BBC's director general and staff at the BBC Burmese Service in London. Earlier she stressed the "importance of the rule of law" in democracy, at a London School of Economics debate. She has arrived in Oxford - her home in the early 1980s - for a party to celebrate her 67th birthday. The pro-democracy leader was freed from more than two decades of house arrest in late 2010. 'Thrilled' On her visit to BBC Broadcasting House in central London, she paid tribute to BBC staff. "Because of the BBC I never lost touch with my people, with the movement for democracy in Burma and with the rest of the world," she said. Ms Suu Kyi also met former Radio 1 disc jockey Dave Lee Travis, whose BBC World Service show she listened to while detained. Continue reading the main story http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18493008 At the scene --- Tin Htar Swe Editor, BBC Burmese It was a real honour to receive Aung San Suu Kyi at the World Service. What was really striking was that she was genuinely pleased to see us here. She spoke about how she listened to the World Service during her years of detention. It was her link to the outside world, it kept her informed and she relied on the knowledge it provided. She even had some suggestions about programming. She told us that this visit to the World Service felt like coming back to a family. For everyone in the Burmese service this was an unforgettable experience. During a brief conversation, Ms Suu Kyi recalled how she was "thrilled" to hear a young Burmese boy speaking on his programme for the first time. "Well that's the World Service," Mr Lee Travis replied. . . (via DXLD) AUNG SAN SUU KYI PRAISES BBC WORLD SER­VICE Caro­line Davies, The Guardian, 20 June, 2012 Among the lifelines Aung San Suu Kyi has cited as helping her endure her long and lonely years of enforced detention, a piano and the BBC World Service featured large. Appropriately, both were in evidence as the Burmese pro-democracy leader began her UK visit... read more... http://www.pressdisplay.com/pressdisplay/showlink.aspx?bookmarkid=F0AGRLRATWP2&preview=article&linkid=dd727cfc-6411-44a6-a574-7235b6f0dce4&pdaffid=mlkcpz5QbCphv%2fc22HZPlQ%3d%3d (via Ricky Leong, AB, DXLD) ** U K. The last broadcast from Bush House will be 12 July. Many BBCWS language services are already originating their programs from New Broadcasting House (Kim Andrew Elliott, kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) ** U K. BBC asking public to tag audio archives --- From an email sent by the disgusting Vision Critical Ad agency (When BBC could do it all in house. Someone is being paid off.) (Day Say, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: OPENING UP THE BBC WORLD SERVICE RADIO ARCHIVE FROM: BBC Global Minds Sunday, June 17, 2012 5:01:55 AM Dear Sir, Today we would like you to take part in a short experiment for the BBC World Service radio archive. The World Service would like to make their English language radio archive open to the public and have teamed up with BBC Research & Development to improve the description of programmes. The big challenge is to make sure that every programme is well described so that people can find the programmes they.re interested in. [Graphic of 1960s BBC women reporter interviewing a nurse in front of an x-ray photogram] Programmes from the archive have been automatically tagged with descriptive words. You may be familiar with tags if you.ve ever used an online photo gallery like Flickr.com or bookmarking tools like Delicious.com. The exercise involves listening to a short radio clip (3 minutes in length) and then saying which tags you agree with and which you disagree with. We know that the existing tags are not perfect and would like to know what you think about them so we can improve the way we describe our content. This is our first time working with Global Minds, so we.d like to know how you think it went and we.ll also keep you posted as we gather the results from the experiment. The experiment will take about 10 minutes to complete. Please click here to take part. For more information, please visit the BBC Global Minds blog. Thank you, Theo Jones, BBC R&D Vision Critical | 1-7 Boundary Row | First Floor | London | England You are receiving this communication after having registered with BBC Global Minds. If you have decided you would no longer like to receive mailing from BBC Global Minds, click the unsubscribe link below (via Dan Say, June 18, DXLD) ** U K [non]. We watch BBC World News America almost every weekday as availablized on OETA, M-F at 2200-2228 UT (as everyone knows, nothing ever happens on weekends). Like other shows on public TV, it starts with underwriting credits which are increasingly difficult to distinguish from commercials, but for the first time today, June 19 at 2217 UT, there is a 2-minute break in the middle of the show for *real* commercials --- on noncommercial TV! First for ROSATOM (never heard of it either), and then for Emirates (the airline), plus two promos for other BBCWN programmes coming up which we won`t be able to see if we wanted to. Was this a fluke or a change in policy at BBCWN and/or OETA? (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, I do not know the answer to your question. If you saw the ads then I assume they are legal. In my opinion as the budgets for both the national PBS programming and local OETA programming continue to be cut we either have to put more ads on the air or we have to cut programming. I wish we could keep non-commercial television just that but this past year in the Oklahoma legislature more and more of the senators and representatives wanted us to find private money to fund our operations. They did not want to provide the $1 a year that OETA gets from tax payers to support the network. In fact some of them did not realize we were non-commercial and had limits on the ads we can air. I will see what programming has to say about these spots but I bet they are going to be added for more revenue (Mark Norman, Deputy Director, OETA, ibid.) ** U K [and non]. Summer A-12 schedule of Babcock relays. Part 1 of 3: Radio República 0000-0200 9490 SAC 100 kW / 227 deg to Cuba Spanish Sun/Mon Voice of Vietnam 0100-0128 6175 SAC 250 kW / 212 deg to NoAm English 0130-0228 6175 SAC 250 kW / 212 deg to NoAm Vietnamese 0230-0328 6175 SAC 250 kW / 212 deg to NoAm English/Spanish 0330-0428 6175 SAC 250 kW / 212 deg to NoAm English/Spanish 0430-0528 9555 SAC 250 kW / 277 deg to NoAm Vietnamese 1700-1728 9625 MOS 100 kW / 300 deg to WeEu English 1730-1828 9625 MOS 100 kW / 300 deg to WeEu Vietnamese 1830-1858 9625 MOS 100 kW / 300 deg to WeEu French 1900-1928 9890 WOF 250 kW / 075 deg to EaEu Russian 1930-2028 9430 SKN 300 kW / 090 deg to WeEu German 2030-2128 11840 WOF 250 kW / 114 deg to SEEu Vietnamese Adventist World Radio 0100-0200 15445 TAI 100 kW / 250 deg to Asia Vietnamese Sat Radio Canada International 0200-0230 7230 WOF 100 kW / 114 deg to N/ME Arabic 0300-0330 5990 WOF 300 kW / 114 deg to N/ME Arabic 1500-1530 15325 WOF 250 kW / 070 deg to EaEu Russian 1600-1630 15325 WOF 250 kW / 070 deg to EaEu Russian 1800-1900 11765 SKN 300 kW / 160 deg to EaAf English 1800-1900 17810 SKN 250 kW / 175 deg to NCAf English 1900-1930 15180 WOF 300 kW / 114 deg to N/ME Arabic 1900-2000 15320 SKN 300 kW / 180 deg to NWAf French Radio Payem e-Doost in Farsi 0230-0315 7460 KCH 500 kW / 116 deg to WeAs 1800-1845 7480 KCH 500 kW / 116 deg to WeAs EDC Sudan Radio Service Darfur Program 0400-0500 11800 DHA 250 kW / 225 deg to NEAf Arabic Daily, ex Sat-Thu 1600-1700 15500 WOF 250 kW / 137 deg to NEAf Arabic Daily, ex Sat-Thu EDC Sudan Radio Service 0400-0500 13720 DHA 250 kW / 240 deg to NEAf Arabic 1500-1600 17745 WOF 250 kW / 135 deg to NEAf Arabic Mon-Fri 1500-1600 17745 WOF 250 kW / 135 deg to NEAf English/Arabic Sat 1500-1600 17745 WOF 250 kW / 135 deg to NEAf Arabic/English Sun 1600-1630 17745 WOF 250 kW / 135 deg to NEAf Dinka Mon 1600-1630 17745 WOF 250 kW / 135 deg to NEAf Zande Tue 1600-1630 17745 WOF 250 kW / 135 deg to NEAf Nuer Wed 1600-1630 17745 WOF 250 kW / 135 deg to NEAf Bari Thu 1600-1630 17745 WOF 250 kW / 135 deg to NEAf Shiluk Fri 1600-1630 17745 WOF 250 kW / 135 deg to NEAf Arabic Sat 1600-1630 17745 WOF 250 kW / 135 deg to NEAf Moru Sun 1630-1700 17745 WOF 250 kW / 135 deg to NEAf English Radio Okapi 0400-0500 11690 MEY 250 kW / 340 deg to CeAf French/Lingala 1600-1700 11675 DHA 250 kW / 230 deg to CeAf French/Lingala Radio Damal (Voice of the Somali People or Odka Bulshada Somaliyeed) 0400-0700 15700 DHA 250 kW / 205 deg to EaAf Somali 1830-1930 11990 WOF 300 kW / 122 deg to EaAf Somali 1930-2130 11980 DHA 250 kW / 205 deg to EaAf Somali (DX Re Mix News June 18 via DXLD) Summer A-12 schedule of Babcock relays. Pt 2 of 3: BBC 0400-0600 3955 SKN 100 kW / 121 deg to WeEu English DRM 0600-0800 5875 WOF 100 kW / 114 deg to WeEu English DRM 0600-0800 7355 MOS 040 kW / 300 deg to WeEu English DRM Radio Japan NHK World 0500-0530 5975 WOF 250 kW / 140 deg to WeEu English 1100-1200 9760 WOF 060 kW / 105 deg to WeEu English/Russian Fri DRM 0400-0430 11730 TAC 100 kW / 238 deg to WeAs Farsi 1500-1700 12045 SNG 250 kW / 315 deg to WeAs Japanese 0130-0200 11740 TAC 100 kW / 163 deg to SoAs Hindi 1300-1330 15735 TAC 100 kW / 141 deg to SoAs English 1400-1430 15735 TAC 100 kW / 163 deg to SoAs English 1515-1600 13870 DHA 250 kW / 070 deg to SoAs Urdu 1300-1345 11685 SNG 250 kW / 315 deg to SoAs Bengali 0200-0300 11780 SNG 250 kW / 340 deg to SEAs Japanese 0800-1000 11740 SNG 250 kW / 000 deg to SEAs Japanese 0945-1030 6140 SNG 250 kW / 140 deg to SEAs Indonesian 1000-1030 9695 SNG 250 kW / 000 deg to SEAs English 1030-1100 11740 SNG 250 kW / 330 deg to SEAs Burmese 1100-1130 9695 SNG 250 kW / 000 deg to SEAs Vietnamese 1130-1200 11740 SNG 250 kW / 000 deg to SEAs Thai 1200-1230 9695 SNG 250 kW / 000 deg to SEAs English 1230-1300 9585 SNG 250 kW / 000 deg to SEAs Thai 1300-1330 11740 SNG 100 kW / 000 deg to SEAs Vietnamese 1315-1400 11705 HBN 100 kW / 270 deg to SEAs Indonesian 1400-1430 11705 HBN 100 kW / 270 deg to SEAs English 1430-1500 11740 SNG 250 kW / 330 deg to SEAs Burmese 0900-0930 6130 SGO 100 kW / 060 deg to BRA Portuguese 0930-1000 6195 SGO 100 kW / 350 deg to SoAm Spanish 2130-2200 11880 SGO 100 kW / 060 deg to BRA Portuguese KBS World Radio 0700-0800 9860 WOF 250 kW / 102 deg to WeEu Korean 1100-1130 9760 WOF 060 kW / 105 deg to WeEu English Sat DRM 1800-1900 15360 WOF 250 kW / 074 deg to EaEu Russian 1900-2000 6145 SKN 250 kW / 150 deg to WeEu French 2000-2100 13585 DHA 250 kW / 290 deg to NEAf Arabic 2000-2100 3955 SKN 250 kW / 106 deg to WeEu German 2100-2130 3955 SKN 250 kW / 106 deg to WeEu English Voice of Croatia 0800-1200 11675 SNG 100 kW / 140 deg to AUS Croatian & English news Radio ERGO (ex IRIN Radio) 0830-0930 13685 DHA 250 kW / 225 deg to EaAf Somali Eternal Good News 1130-1145 15525 DHA 250 kW / 100 deg to SoAs English Fri Radio Free North Korea 1200-1400 15645 DB 100 kW / 071 deg to KRE Korean 1900-2100 7530 ERV 100 kW / 065 deg to KRE Korean Radio Free Chosun 1200-1400 15720 TAC 200 kW / 056 deg to KRE Korean, ex 1200-1300 2000-2100 7505 DB 100 kW / 071 deg to KRE Korean CMI Voice of Wilderness 1300-1330 15630 DB 100 kW / 071 deg to KRE Korean Mon-Sat 1300-1430 15630 DB 100 kW / 071 deg to KRE Korean Sun Nippon no Kaze 1300-1330 9950 TAI 100 kW / 002 deg to KRE Korean 1500-1530 9975 HBN 100 kW / 345 deg to KRE Korean via T8WH Angel 4 1530-1600 9965 HBN 100 kW / 345 deg to KRE Korean via T8WH Angel 4 JCI Furusato no Kaze 1330-1400 9950 TAI 100 kW / 002 deg to KRE Japanese 1430-1500 9960 HBN 100 kW / 345 deg to KRE Japanese via T8WH Angel 4 1600-1630 9780 TAI 250 kW / 045 deg to KRE Japanese Shiokaze in various langs* 1330-1430 6135 YAM 100 kW / 280 deg to KRE, alt. 5910, 5985, 6020, 6120, 6175 2000-2100 5965 YAM 100 kW / 280 deg to KRE, alt. 5910, 5955, 6075, 6110, 6165 * Jap Mon/Wed/Thu; Chi/Kor Wed; Eng Fri; Kor/Jap Sat; Jap/Kor Sun Open Radio for North Korea 1400-1600 11570 TAC 100 kW / 065 deg to KRE Korean, ex 1400-1500 2100-2200 7480 DB 100 kW / 071 deg to KRE Korean North Korea Reform Radio 1500-1700 7590 TAC 100 kW / 076 deg to KRE Korean Voice of Martyrs(Freedom) 1600-1730 7515 DB 100 kW / 071 deg to KRE Korean Polish Radio External Service 1300-1330 15480 WOF 250 kW / 062 deg to EaEu Russian 1330-1400 15480 WOF 250 kW / 074 deg to EaEu Belorussian 1400-1500 15480 WOF 250 kW / 074 deg to EaEu Polish 1530-1630 11640 WOF 250 kW / 078 deg to EaEu Polish 1630-1730 11630 WOF 250 kW / 078 deg to EaEu Belorussian 1730-1800 11960 WOF 250 kW / 078 deg to EaEu Russian IBRA Radio 1700-1800 11915 WOF 300 kW / 114 deg to N/ME Arabic 1730-1800 11610 MEY 100 kW / 020 deg to EaAf Somali 1730-1800 11875 DHA 250 kW / 225 deg to EaAf Swahili 1800-1945 12070 WOF 300 kW / 140 deg to CeAf Arabic 1900-2000 11875 SKN 300 kW / 180 deg to WeAf Fulfulde SW Radio Africa 1700-1900 4880 MEY 100 kW / 005 deg to SoAf English/Local langs Radio Taiwan International 1900-2000 6185 WOF 250 kW / 078 deg to WeEu German 1900-2000 13620 DHA 250 kW / 315 deg to WeEu French RTÉ Radio 1 1930-2000 5820 MEY 100 kW / non-dir to SoAf English HCJB Global 2100-2145 12025 WOF 250 kW / 170 deg to NoAf Arabic (DX Re Mix News 19 June via DXLD) Summer A-12 schedule of BaBcoCk relays. Part 3 of 3: Trans World Radio Africa 1300-1315 13660 KIG 250 kW / 030 deg EaAf Afar Thu-Sun 1800-1815 6120 DHA 250 kW / 225 deg EaAf Tigrinya Mon-Wed 1800-1815 6120 DHA 250 kW / 225 deg EaAf Amharic Thu/Fri 1800-1830 6120 DHA 250 kW / 225 deg EaAf Tigre Sat 1800-1830 6120 DHA 250 kW / 225 deg EaAf Kunama Sun 1815-1845 6120 DHA 250 kW / 225 deg EaAf Tigrinya Mon-Fri 1830-1845 6120 DHA 250 kW / 225 deg EaAf Amharic Sun WYFR Family Radio 1700-1900 17690 WOF 250 kW / 102 deg SEEu Turkish 1800-1900 11875 ASC 250 kW / 065 deg WeAf Igbo 1830-1930 17550 ASC 250 kW / 065 deg WeAf Hausa 1830-1930 17585 ASC 250 kW / 085 deg WeAf French 1900-2000 11855 ASC 250 kW / 065 deg WCAf Yoruba 2000-2100 15195 ASC 250 kW / 065 deg CeAf English 2100-2200 12070 ASC 250 kW / 065 deg CeAf English 1700-1800 17545 ASC 250 kW / 085 deg EaAf English 1700-1800 9790 DHA 250 kW / 225 deg EaAf Amharic 1700-1800 15600 WOF 250 kW / 128 deg EaAf Somali 1800-1900 9610 DHA 250 kW / 225 deg EaAf English 1900-2000 5930 MEY 250 kW / 019 deg EaAf Swahili 1600-1700 6100 MEY 250 kW / 076 deg SEAf Malagasy 1800-1900 5905 MEY 100 kW / 015 deg SoAf English 1900-2000 9775 DHA 250 kW / 210 deg SoAf English 1900-2000 3955 MEY 100 kW / 076 deg SoAf Portuguese 1900-2000 6100 MEY 100 kW / 330 deg SoAf Portuguese 1300-1400 17735 DHA 250 kW / 100 deg SoAs Kannada 1300-1500 17715 DHA 250 kW / 100 deg SoAs Telugu/Tamil 1400-1500 9595 DHA 250 kW / 090 deg SoAs Hindi 1400-1500 15520 DHA 250 kW / 105 deg SoAs Marathi 1500-1600 13690 DHA 250 kW / 105 deg SoAs English 1500-1600 15520 DHA 250 kW / 090 deg SoAs English 1600-1700 11850 DHA 250 kW / 090 deg SoAs English 1100-1200 9955 HBN 100 kW / 345 deg EaAS Korean 1200-1300 17880 DHA 250 kW / 095 deg EaAs Thai FEBA Radio 2145-2215 11985 ASC 250 kw / 027 deg WeAf Pulaar/Hassinya Thu-Tue 1830-1845 15250 ASC 250 kW / 070 deg CWAf French 1600-1630 12125 ERV 300 kW / 192 deg EaAf Amharic Thu-Sun 1600-1630 12125 ERV 300 kW / 192 deg EaAf Guragena Mon-Wed 1630-1700 12125 ERV 300 kW / 192 deg EaAf Amharic 1600-1630 11655 KIG 250 kW / 030 deg EaAf Afar 1630-1700 9820 DHA 250 kW / 225 deg EaAf Tigrinya Sun-Wed 1630-1700 9820 DHA 250 kW / 225 deg EaAf Amharic Thu-Sat 1700-1730 6180 DHA 250 kW / 215 deg EaAf Somali 1700-1800 9630 KIG 250 kW / 030 deg EaAf Orominya/Tigrinya 1730-1800 7475 ERV 300 kW / 192 deg EaAf Silte 0800-0830 15280 MOS 300 kW / 115 deg N/ME Arabic 1800-1930 9550 KIG 250 kW / 030 deg N/ME Arabic 0230-0300 9790 DHA 250 kW / 045 deg WeAs Dari (Radio Sadaye Zindagi) 0300-0315 9790 DHA 250 kW / 045 deg WeAs Mixed lang 1500-1530 11755 ERV 300 kW / 100 deg WeAs Dari (Radio Sadaye Zindagi) 1530-1600 11755 ERV 300 kW / 100 deg WeAs Pashto 1200-1230 15215 DHA 250 kW / 085 deg CeAs Tibetan 0000-0030 9390 TAC 100 kW / 131 deg SoAs Bangla 0030-0100 9390 TAC 100 kW / 131 deg SoAs Hindi 0200-0230 9750 DHA 250 kW / 060 deg SoAs Urdu Sun 0200-0215 9750 DHA 250 kW / 060 deg SoAs Urdu Mon-Sat 0215-0230 9750 DHA 250 kW / 060 deg SoAs Mixed langs Mon-Sat 1400-1430 9500 TAC 100 kW / 143 deg SoAs Urdu 1430-1445 9500 TAC 100 kW / 143 deg SoAs Mixed langs 1500-1530 9390 TAC 100 kW / 131 deg SoAs Bangla Radio Australia 2200-2330 9695 DHA 250 kW / 105 deg SEAs Indonesian 2200-2400 9855 DHA 250 kW / 105 deg SEAs English 2300-2330 9490 DHA 250 kW / 085 deg SEAs Burmese 0000-0030 12005 DHA 250 kW / 105 deg SEAs Indonesian 0100-0130 11780 SNG 100 kW / 340 deg SEAs Burmese 1100-1300 6140 SNG 100 kW / 013 deg SEAs English 0400-0430 17800 HBN 100 kW / 270 deg SEAs Indonesian via T8WH Angel 4 0500-0530 11700 SNG 100 kW / 340 deg SEAs Indonesian 1300-1430 9965 HBN 100 kW / 318 deg EaAs Chinese via T8WH Angel 4 1600-1630 9540 SNG 100 kW / 340 deg SEAs English Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation, but air very irregular: 2215-2245 5925 CYP 250 kW / 314 deg SEEu Greek Fri-Sun 2215-2245 7220 CYP 300 kW / 314 deg SEEu Greek Fri-Sun 2215-2245 9760 CYP 250 kW / 315 deg SEEu Greek Fri-Sun Suab Xaa Moo Zoo 2230-2300 7530 TAI 100 kW / 250 deg SEAs Hmong (DX Re Mix News, Bulgaria, 20 June via DXLD) ** U S A. I was listening to WWV between 1300 and 1330 UT. The female announcer said as of June 30, 2012, there will be an extra second added to the NIST time scale (leap second). This also pertains to WWVH and WWVB (Vincent Kusek, Chicago IL, June 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 10000, June 19 at 0504, upcoming leap second announcement by YL voice, for 2359:60 UT June 30. Must be mentioning this more than once an hour. Since she doesn`t say ``aloha``, and is not masculine, this one was from WWV, tho following time announcement was equally well heard from WWVH (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. GERMANY/KUWAIT/SRI LANKA. Cf. BC DX # 1069. The programme called "Crossing" is a special edition of Radio Liberty aired on Sat-Mon for five Central Asian Republics in Russian language. It is in the broadcasts of RL in Kazakh, Kyrghyz, Tajik, Turkmen, and Uzbek. The programme is different from the main program in Russian and another also in Russian called Caucasus Echo (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, June 14, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 20 via DXLD) ** U S A. WFED/1500! Program heard at 0330 EDT, via remote receiver in New York City: "From Washington, The Voice Of America presents 'Issues In The News' ... your host, Martin Schram." Program continued into Schram-dominated discussion amongst various talking heads, re ongo9ing problems in Syria. Yes, this was a VOA program, heard over 50 kW WFED/1500, up & down the East Coast from Washington, DC. Very 73z (GREG HARDISON, CA, June 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. “WE ARE A COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY…?” --- No, Mr. Ensor, “we” are not. The Voice of America is still an agency of the United States Government funded by American taxpayers for a specific independent journalistic mission of providing uncensored news, explaining U.S. policies, offering diverse points of view on these policies, and being a window on American culture. Period. We don’t like the message we see conveyed in Mr. Ensor’s misrepresentation of the agency. It implies that the VOA director is unwilling to admit that VOA is a public institution that is part of the United States Government. As much as has been written about the agency he is the head of, this can’t be a mere lapse. In a public airing (the PBS Newshour), anyone who cannot accurately and properly identify a Federal agency, anyone who would deliberately project a false identity to the agency, what it is and what it does, cannot properly or effectively serve the agency and its mission as codified under law. Let us remember too that Mr. Ensor took an oath. That oath wasn’t to a “communications company.” It was to the United States of America. In the old days, an oath meant something; but maybe not anymore, at least as far as the officials inside the Cohen Building are concerned. From one point of view, we do not need someone as VOA director who lacks the necessary commitment to the agency, its mission and its true identity. In that regard, we believe Mr. Ensor should resign and apply to be the BBG’s CEO, a position that the board wants to create to help de-federalize U.S. international broadcasting. We don’t expect that he will. Not yet. But he should. And the Congress should either insist that the VOA Charter be protected, the CEO — if there should be one — nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate, or the Congress should let BBG members and their CEO run the whole enterprise as a private communications company, but on their own dime, not at U.S. taxpayers’ expense. Next, let’s move on to the program material provided by Ms. Beinecke, the person identified in Mr. Ensor’s quote. Ms. Beinecke does American idioms in Mandarin for a Chinese audience. No one doubts her exceptional talent, her appealing on-air personality or that she is very good at what she does — a real asset that BBG/IBB executives don’t know how to use. Included in the mix of short videos are what seem to be travelogues of Washington, DC monuments and memorials, along with some other sites. But, in general, lightweight stuff that is great to have to complement substantive programs as long as they still exist. With her talent, she could no doubt do much more. However, what she is most remembered for is a program in which she explained to her audience the meanings of “booger, zits and snot.”. . http://www.usgbroadcasts.com/bbgwatch/2012/06/14/broadcasting-board-of-governors-mistaken-identity/ (BBG Watch June 14 via DXLD) ** U S A. Decades ago, directors of the Voice of America supervised the programming, engineering, and administrative elements of VOA. The best VOA directors (like small radio stations owners) knew something about both the programming and the engineering components, and were able to combine the two for best effect. Now, with programming under VOA and engineering under IBB, that synergy may be more difficult to achieve (Kim Andrew Elliott, June 17, kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) ** U S A. VOA'S JAZZ MAN. NO, NOT WILLIS CONOVER. SIM COPANS, WHO PRECEDED CONOVER. Posted: 20 Jun 2012 French News Online, 20 June 2012, Ken Pottinger: "Americans GIs and one in particular - Simon (Sim) Copans - played an important role in cementing France's love affair with jazz. ... Thanks to Sim Copans the popularity of jazz in France blossomed after World War II. His remarkable tale is also recounted more briefly here by Richard H. Cummings author of several books including "Radio Free Europe's 'Crusade for Freedom': Rallying Americans Behind Cold War Broadcasting, 1950-1960" (2010) on his Cold War Radio blog. http://coldwarradios.blogspot.fr/search?q=SIM%2BCOPANS ... Copans participated in the liberation of Paris and then got a liaison job with French radio thanks in part to his involvement with the Armed Forces Network (AFN) which installed a station in Rueil- Malmaison outside Paris. ... His role in disseminating jazz to the new generation in France is universally recognized in France and hard to overestimate says [scholar Roscoe Seldon] Suddarth. 'Copans, who remained in France until his death in 2000, became a kind of American ambassador of culture: delegate and presenter with the Voice of America (he hosted a retransmission of the Newport Jazz Festival on French radio), head of the Franklin Roosevelt Cultural Centre [sic] (this in fact is the Benjamin Franklin Library at the American Cultural Centre in Paris), and founder of L'Institut d'Études Américaines in 1959, where he also lectured. He was a major force in creating the jazz festival at Souillac, near Lanzac, his home from 1963 and where he died in 2000.'" See also this film clip from August 1950. http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675044608_The-Voice-of-America_Simon-J-Copans_French-listeners_operator-acts-on-signal (kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) ** U S A. NEW HOST FOR VOA'S "LONGEST RUNNING RADIO PROGRAM," MUSIC TIME IN AFRICA. Posted: 17 Jun 2012 Voice of America press release, 11 June 2012: "Music Time in Africa, Voice of America’s longest running radio program, gets a new host this week, as Heather Maxwell takes over the award winning show. Maxwell, an ethnomusicologist and Afrojazz singer who has been working, researching and performing in Africa since 1987, will be producing and hosting the program, and writing for the companion blog, African Music Treasures. http://blogs.voanews.com/african-music-treasures/2012/06/11/welcome-to-the-new-african-music-treasures/ ... Music Time in Africa was founded in 1965 by veteran VOA broadcaster Leo 'Music Man for Africa' Sarkisian, whose dazzling and unparalleled collection of original African music is now housed at the VOA studios in Washington. ... Find the Music Time in Africa program page at www.voanews.com." -- If the PROGRAMS link is not visible at the top of the voanews.com web page, use the Radio Programs link at the bottom of the page. Or try this direct link to the Music Time in Africa page http://www.voanews.com/archive/music-time-in-africa/latest/706/1456.html (Kim Andrew Elliott, ibid.) Viz.: Schedule Saturday & Sunday 0900-1000 & 2000-2100 UTC/GMT Listen to a recent program Saturday show MP3 | Windows Media Sunday show MP3 | Windows Media (via DXLD) ** U S A. 25950/FM, KOA Denver CO, studio relay; 1458-1501+, 1943, 11- June; News Radio 8-50 KOA; This is the only place you'll hear Colorado Rockies BB, 8-50 KOA; KOA covers America after Fox News; Accu-weather at 1458; Fox News at 1500. Good with QSBs. No audio at 1940 recheck, but carrier there. Suddenly at 1943, "Rush now on 8-50 KOA". Apparently only local stuff is relayed, not net feeds (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 85 ft. RW and 180 ft. center-fed RW, Icom R3 + duckie, All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 25990/FM, WBAP Fort Worth TX (Dallas transmitter) studio relay; 1450-1458+, 11-June; News-Talk 8-20 AM and 96.7 FM WBAP; Ben Ferguson Show; ads for Dr. Booth laisic [lasik?] surgery and Blue Cross-Blue Shield of TX. // 25910 WQGY434. Both fair with QSBs; 25910 seems a tad cleaner. Both gone at 1940 recheck (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 85 ft. RW and 180 ft. center-fed RW, Icom R3 + duckie, All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WORLD OF RADIO 1621 monitoring: first airing confirmed on WTWW 9479, Thursday June 14 at 2100. Axually, playback starts slightly before 2100 instead of half a minute later, and my opening was interrupted by the WTWW ID. I`ve asked them to adjust the automation clock so the ID plays just before WOR starts. Second airing confirmed on WWRB 5050, UT Friday June 15 at 0329. Axually I was listening at first to the webcast. The SC preacher ended a bit early, circa 0327:30, followed by a respectful pause of more than a sesquiminute, including some hum, before WOR started. Further transmissions: UT Saturday 0130v on Area 51 via WBCQ 5110v- CUSB; UT Sunday 0400 on WTWW 5755; on WRMI 9955: Saturday 0800, 1500, 1730, Sunday 0800, 1530, 1730, Monday 0500, 1130. WORLD OF RADIO 1621 monitoring: confirmed on Area 51 via WBCQ 5110v- CUSB, UT Saturday June 16 when checked at 0145, presumably about on time from 0130 this week. Next: UT Sunday 0400 on WTWW 5755; On WRMI 9955: Sunday 0800, 1530, 1730, Monday 0500, 1130; WRN via SiriusXM 120: Sunday 0830, 1730. WORLD OF RADIO 1621 monitoring: June 17 after 0400, confirmed on 5755, WTWW. On WRMI: confirmed Sunday at 1545 amid webcast, nothing but a JBA carrier on unjammed 9955; further repeats: Sunday 1730, Monday 0500, 1130. On HLR 5980 Germany: Tuesday 0930. On SiriusXM 120: Sunday 1730. WORLD OF RADIO 1621 monitoring: missed checking the UT Monday 0500 on WRMI 9955, but unavoidably awake June 18 at 1131 so checked the next scheduled airing: some talk, but unsounds like me, under the jamming. Confirmed on webcast that WRMI was really airing WOR. Presumably YFR Korean via PALAU as allowed to be scheduled co-channel 9955. It`s off after 1200 and the jamming ramps up as WRMI is relaying R. Martí (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WTWW new evening frequency change --- Everyone, WTWW transmitter # 1 will change frequency at 8 pm CENTRAL time 0100 UT, starting Tuesday June 19, 2012 (0100 Wednesday morning UT). Everyone should make appropriate changes on their schedules and internet sites. The change will be from 9480 [9479v] to 5755 kHz. If there are problems with this change, please let me know immediately so we can adjust. Thanks for your help, (George McClintock, WTWW, June 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) i.e. one hour later; had been going from 9479 to 5755 at 0000, I believe. Original A-12 HFCC registration showed this change effective from 1 June to 31 August (gh, DXLD) Glenn, The evening time change is now in effect. 8 pm central. I will change the morning time on Thursday of this week. 9480 1200 0100 UT 7AM-8PM 5755 0100 1200 8PM-7AM (George McClintock, June 20, WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 13570, June 15 at 1130, no signal yet from WINB, nor on 9265, but at 1205 it`s on 13570 with Brother Scare. Still not on WINB`s program schedule; and TOM website still shows time incorrectly as 8-10:30 am, and not in the afternoon when we have also heard BS on 13570. Anyone who wants to be on that frequency must enjoy the soothing swishes of CODAR. 13570, June 19 at 1241, no signal at all from WINB (nor on 9265; nor at 1327), which last week started BSing us starting at 1200 weekdays filling unsold time with The Last Day Prophet of God; is that an experiment over already? 13570, June 19 at 1913, WINB is back on with Brother Scare; as in last report it had been missing earlier this day at 1241 and 1327. Also BS is back the next morning, June 20 at 1213 check (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 7490, WWCR Nashville TN; 1335-1400+, 13-June; Power Hour program with guest Arthur Furstenberg (sp?) representing Cell Phone Task Force; Claims that cell phones and wi-fi radiation is making us all sick -- 60-70% of the population has sleep problems due to this. (Never mentioned radio, TV or cosmic background radiation). W host heartily agreed with all claims and threw in a few of her own -- she's worried about her pets and plants. Arthur said we need to abandon the technology. Arthur also said he doesn't have a computer at home, and would prefer to take questions over the phone (presume via a land-line) rather than go to a library that has wi-fi computers. Survivalist product ad breaks at 1351 and 1359. ToH ID and back to Power Hour. SIO=3+53, better peaks but fady (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 85 ft. RW and 180 ft. center-fed RW, Icom R3 + duckie, All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 9825, WHRI, 0414, June 17 (Sunday); SW pirate report with audio clip from Chris Lobdell; ending announcement by Marie Lamb; 0416 filler jazz music till ID at 0429; good (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 11550, Sunday June 17 at 1401, WEWN Spanish frequency at tune in sounds like Polish, briefly, then into YL in English with OM in Spanish voice-over. 7555, Monday June 18 at 1208, Jezebel story in English, crackly modulation, on this Spanish frequency. Something about stoning-to- death. Kept expecting a voice-over to start but never did. Good for gringo WEWN fans as the only real English frequency, 11520 was JBA, as was the other Spanish, 12050 in very degraded propagation conditions. 1214 recheck still in English on 7555. By 1250, 7555 had YL in Spanish replacing the English (not just voiced-over), then resumed // improved 11520 for organ music fill. This is when they broadcast their own mass live, normally // except for voice-overs. Perhaps the translator overslept, still recovering from a weekend of debauchery, soon to be nullified by confession. (Please, I am not anti-Catholic, just pro- rational, as all ilx of wacky religionists are equally subject to contradixion.) 7555, June 20 at 0514, WEWN, R. Católica Mundial is gone again from one of its Spanish frequencies, still audible on the other, 11870, and English on 11520. Next check at 1206, 7555 is still AWOL (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. KCCV 760 Overland Park KS is being heard in Madison WI tonight at 2300 CDT at a strength rivaling WJR. Format is Bott Radio REL. Station is listed as 6 kW days, 200 W nights. 73 (Bill Dvorak Madison WI, 0414 UT June 19, IRCA via DXLD) ** U S A. HISTORIC WQBA TO GO SILENT; PERSONALITIES MOVED TO RADIO MAMBÍ http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/06/13/2848300/historic-wqba-to-go-silent-personalities.html In this file photo, City of Hialeah Mayoral Candidates former Mayor Raul Martinez - bottom right - and interim Mayor Carlos Hernandez, - bottom left -, take a break during a debate at WBQA's "Prohibido Callarse" (Forbidden not to speak), conducted by Helen Aguirre and Roberto Rodriguez Tejera. Thursday November 03, 2011. Pedro Portal / EL Nuevo Herald [caption] In a move that will reduce local programming at Spanish-language radio stations, historic WQBA will cease to exist next month while its most famous personality will join Radio Mambí, now the area’s main talk- station. WQBA 1140-AM, which since 1968 catered to Miami’s historic Cuban exile community, will immediately cancel its most popular show Prohibido Callarse (Silence Prohibited). One of the show’s hosts, Roberto Rodríguez Tejera, has been let go; the other, Oscar Haza, who is also a popular TV host, will move to Radio Mambí 710-AM. In addition to his own program, Haza will share the airwaves for an hour with well-known radio personalities at Radio Mambí Armando Pérez Roura and Ninoska Pérez Castellón, El Nuevo Herald has learned. A spokesman for Univisión Radio, which owns both stations, declined to comment saying the new line-up at Radio Mambí is still a work-in- progress. Come July 4, the four-decades-old WQBA, known among listeners as “La Cubanísima,” will disappear from the airwaves and become part of Univisión America, a station that will broadcast nationally. The only remaining local host on the Spanish-language AM dial will be Bernadette Pardo, host of Pedaleando con Berny (Pedaling with Berny), which airs daily from 9 to 10:30 a.m. "WQBA will disappear because it will become part of a national chain," said a source familiar with the changes, who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to comment. "Over the next few days, you will be able to hear the station identified as the voice of Celia Cruz for the last time." (via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) WQBA, HISTORIC CUBAN EXILE RADIO VOICE IN MIAMI, TO LOSE KEY TALENT TO RADIO MAMBÍ AS PART OF MAKEOVER By Daniel Shoer Roth and Patricia Mazzei http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/06/14/v-print/2850088/wqba-historic-cuban-exile-radio.html#storylink=cpy Oscar Haza will jump to sister station Radio Mambí, which long ago surpassed WQBA as Miami’s leading Spanish-language AM station. Host Helen Aguirre Ferré will be doing special projects for the revamped WQBA and Mambí. And host Robert Rodríguez Tejera, who recently began hosting a local television show, will be let go. The moves are part of an effort by Univision, which owns both stations, to launch a new, national AM radio network dubbed Univision America on the Fourth of July. The result for South Florida: shrinking local news talk-show programming on the influential Spanish-language airwaves — and the end as listeners knew it of WQBA-AM (1140), which for nearly two decades was the voice of Miami’s influential exile community as La Cubanísima, “the very Cuban.” “We are going to have less local issues discussed on the air,” lamented Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado, a longtime Spanish-radio reporter who was once a personality on Cubanísima. “The good news is that being on the network, we may be able to get local issues on the national [stage].” Claudia Puig, a senior Univision vice president and the stations’ general manager, said in a statement that the changes at WQBA will help Mambí “further strengthen its programming and grow its talent line-up to continue to deliver excellent journalistic coverage of the topics and issues relevant to Hispanics in South Florida, under the direction of [news director] Armando Pérez-Roura.” “Univision Radio’s priority is to serve our listeners, and we recognize that our community is rapidly growing and evolving,” she said. The question is whether the audience will follow favorite broadcasters. “The audience, they follow people,” said Regalado, who himself left Cubanísima for Mambí before entering politics. “But they also like [particular] radio stations, so that’s a risky experiment. But it may work.” WQBA dropped the Cubanísima handle about 15 years ago in an effort to appeal more broadly to younger Cubans and non-Cuban Hispanics. In recent years, WQBA had reinvented itself with a local-news focus featuring the Dominican Republic-born Haza, El Nuevo Herald columnist Bernadette Pardo and the broadcast team of Aguirre Ferré and Rodríguez Tejera, who typically dedicate one of their two hours on air to local issues. Univision has said WQBA’s overhaul was prompted by the company’s new national focus and not by the station’s local ratings, which remain high but not as high as Mambí’s — or as rival Radio Caracol’s, a Colombian station that appeals to South Florida’s burgeoning Central and South American population. Long before WQBA lost its dominance of the airwaves, however, it was the king of militant, anti-Fidel Castro news and commentary and, at one time in the mid-1980s, the most listened-to AM station in South Florida. Established in 1967, the station changed its call letters from WMIE to WQBA, the closest it could come to W-CUBA. Three years later, three gunmen in Army green pants and black hoods took two station employees hostage and broadcast a pro-Castro message before fleeing. In 1972, after Castro banned Christmas in Cuba, then-news director Emilio Milián proposed a Three Kings Parade in Miami — a celebration still held today. Four years later, after Milián aired editorials condemning terrorist activity in the United States by Cubans, he was almost killed by a car bomb that severed both of his legs. In the tradition of Cuban advocacy journalism, the station featured callers on the air who were sometimes cut off if they were rude or disagreed with the host. It rallied protesters, called for boycotts, raised money for causes and stirred long-coveted Cuban-American voters. In 1980, the station broke the news that Cuba would allow exiles to travel to the island by sea to pick up relatives — launching the Mariel boatlift. Two years later, the station purchased a new antenna to transmit into the heart of Cuba without Castro government interference. But eventually, the station lost ground to Mambí, which snatched some of Cubanísima’s most popular personalities, including Regalado. The stations became cousins when ownership consolidated in 1993 — a move opposed by advocates of dialogue with Cuba who feared the airwaves would be dominated by hardliners. The station continues to feature moderate conservative to conservative hosts. But it’s a far cry from its days of airing all Cuba news, all the time, though it still plays its catchy jingle recorded decades ago by the late Celia Cruz: “ Yo llevo a Cuba la voz, desde esta playa lejana ...” (I send to Cuba my voice, from this distant beach ...). The new WQBA, under the Univision America network, will continue to feature Pedaleando con Bernie (Pedaling with Bernie), Pardo’s morning drive-time show. Other local talent is being considered for Univision America projects in Miami. The remainder of the station’s programming, other than Miami Heat coverage, will come from Univision America, which will include stations in Chicago, Houston, Dallas, McAllen, Texas, El Paso, San Antonio, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. WQBA’s afternoon drive-time show, Prohibido Callarse (Silence Banned), co-hosted by Aguirre Ferré and Rodríguez Tejera, will be canceled. Armando Fernández Lima will move to Mambí as part of its sports coverage, and other projects are still being considered. WQBA’s existing early-morning show, Ahora con Oscar Haza (Now with Oscar Haza) will transfer to Mambí. Haza, who is also a popular local television personality, will then co-host En Caliente (In the Hot Seat) with Mambí fixtures Ninoska Pérez Castellón and Pérez Roura, that station’s news director. The more moderate Haza has been considered a rival of Pérez Roura, the voice of the first-generation Cuban exile community. Tomás García Fusté, a former WQBA news director who left after the station dropped its Cuban focus, said he’s intrigued by the changes and thinks consolidating Univision’s local personalities in one station could work well — as long as everybody gets along. The Spanish-language radio market has gotten increasingly crowded with stations, he noted, while WQBA and Mambí competed with each other. “There’s really a series of new radio stations that have high ratings,” said García Fusté, who leads a daily television show on TeleMiami. “I think now they’re really going to get Radio Mambí to function.” (via Brock Whaley for WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DXLD) Same: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/06/14/v-fullstory/2850088/wqba-historic-cuban-exile-radio.html (via Artie Bigley, WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DXLD) Glenn, I recall asking you about the strange noise on 1140 in 1969 . You told me it was Cuban jamming. I was trying to hear Virginia on the frequency from San Antonio (Artie Bigley, OH, DX LISTENING DIGEST) IIRC, it was something like ``bubble jamming`` on 1142 or so. I was quite pleased to DX WRVA sometime from OK (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** U S A. 1510+, June 18 at 0445 UT, slightly wavering het from off- frequency station with sports talk, phone 1-800-777-2951, looping NE/SW. This points to usual culprit, KCTE Independence MO, which is both a daytimer and a perpetual off-channel broadcaster. That phone number doesn`t google to anything significant, tho (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Somebody is slightly off frequency under WLAC with sports talk. If I remember correctly in the past this was KCTE (Tom Jasinski, Joliet, IL, 0636 UT June 18, IRCA via DXLD) That's the one. Regards, (Mark Durenberger ibid.) ** U S A. NEW HAR STATIONS IN CA/AZ/NM Noted on the car radio today, 5 new TIS/HAR stations: 1610, WQQA203, CA, Calexico? (or El Centro) - new CalTrans station for the border crossing at Calexico. Male announcers in English and Spanish describing the new "Ready Lane" for shipments with RFID tags. 530, "WPQ1786" AZ, Bowie, AZ DoT. Female announcer with highway conditions. I assume the real calls are probably WPQI786. 1610, WQNZ667? NM, Road Forks, Lordsburg and Deming - NM DoT station running the same message on 3 different stations at exit 2, 20 and 81 on I-10. Synthesized female voice. Impossible to make out hte 3rd letter of the calls. 73, (Tim Hall, on the road, June 16, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. [Re 12-24]: WACP-DT-4 Atlantic City --- Under the WACP call letters it says: ATLANTIC CITY - PHILADELPHIA (Chris Lucas - Poughkeepsie, NY - FN31bs, Insignia NS-DXA1-APT DTV Converter, June 14, WTFDA via DXLD) WACP's tower is located in Atco, NJ if I am correct. They are using a camera set, 2, it seems one overlooking the area and the other looking down from their tower towards a random building. They are now my killer for analog 4 eskip since they are so close (Lee Molineux, ibid.) WACP-DT4 is decoding again tonight. They are broadcasting a similar picture using a camera at some elevation, probably on a tower, fixed on a portion of Atlantic City. There is the white rectangular box with WACP in black and a "4" in red. Signal strength is about 60% on the Zenith box meter. I'm using the Winegard PR-5040 with a 25 dB distribution amp (Bob Seaman, Hazleton, PA, June 16, ibid.) WACP DT-4 Atlantic City noted at the hour with regular programming, infomercials on 4.1. Nothing on 4.2 (Chris Lucas - Poughkeepsie, NY - FN31bs. Insignia NS-DXA1-APT DTV Converter, Winegard YA-6260 VHF-Lo antenna @ 14', w/Chromstar 2000 pre-amp., 1414 UT June 18, ibid.) Another new low-V DTV soon? FYI, the owners of WACP-4 have now requested call letters for their other new station, WMDE-5 Seaford, Delaware. WMDE will use virtual channel 36 when it signs on. – (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66, WTFDA via WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DXLD) ** U S A. NASHVILLE AREA PIRATES. AFTER NOT HEARING A PIRATE IN YEARS, NOW WE HAVE TWO: - 87.9: Nashville Super Speedway, a drag race track a few miles east of Joelton. Seems to be relaying the track PA system, with long periods of dead air. Off the air entirely when not racing. - 87.7: "Clarksville Northside & Fort Campbell", uncensored hardcore rap. I think they have a name & IDs but I drove through their coverage area in the time between IDs. I've got some of the music recorded, but can't post it because it's full of F-words & N-words & other things you'll never hear on a licensed station. Indeed seems to be on Clarksville's north side. I'm guesstimating 20-50 watts ERP at 10-20 meters HAAT for both stations. They seem to have about 15 miles' coverage on a car radio, for Idable signal. (more like 7-8 miles for what an ordinary listener would tolerate) -- (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66, June 15, WTFDA via DXLD) That hip hop pirate will get shut down eventually. They'll get all smug and arrogant and forget that they *are* are a unlicensed station. -- (Fritze H. Prentice, Jr, KC5KBV, Star City AR EM43aw, twitter.com/fritzehp ibid.) Dunno. Did a bit of Googling & it seems they've been around quite a bit longer than I suspected (nearly two years). Name is "87.7 The Hood". Has a significant Facebook presence. OTOH, I visit Clarksville pretty regularly & have never heard of the station until today (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66, ibid.) Doug, If you have a contact at the local FCC Field office you can forward the information about the pirate including their website. Usually they will take action if you give them enough information about their location, website, operating hours, etc. When these stations have websites, it makes it easier for the FCC to gather more information about them. We sent information about a local pirate to the Philadelphia Field Office. They shut them down in a short time (Bob Seaman, ibid.) ** U S A. CLEVELAND'S GOT A RADIO STATION GETTING READY AT 87.7 FM June 13, 2012 at 4:25 AM (PT) 2 Comments http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/107093/cleveland-s-got-a-radio-station-getting-ready-at-8 Something's Coming --- VENTURE TECHNOLOGIES has launched WLFM-LP on 87.7 in CLEVELAND. The signal is an audio channel of TV's channel 6. OHIOMEDIAWATCH reports "WLFM-LP is most assuredly testing at this point, and the sounds coming out of 87.7 on the FM radio dial are a collection of historic 'fight songs' for the city's three professional sports teams -- vintage tunes like 'C'mon Cavs!,' 'Indian Fever' and that Browns fight song from the 1970s or so that most NORTHEAST OHIO adults know as well as they know the team." In addition to those sports-themed tunes, OHIOMEDIAWATCH notes MICHAEL STANLEY BAND's "My Town," often used at sporting events locally, is also being aired. The 87.7 FM stations use the audio of analog LPTVs to operate as de facto radio stations, at least until the low-power stations are required to transition to digital-only operation. Could the sports songs augur another FM Sports format in CLEVELAND, possibly a simulcast of GOOD KARMA Sports WKNR-A (ESPN 850) to compete with CBS RADIO Sports WKRK (92.3 THE FAN) ... or is something else in store for the channel? (via kevin Redding, June 13, ABDX via dxLD) ** U S A. CLASSICAL RADIO RETURNS TO FM » Naples Daily News http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/jun/12/classical-radio-returns-to-fm/ Classical South Florida, a nonprofit listener-supported public radio organization dedicated to broadcasting classical music, has begun airing its programming in Fort Myers and throughout Southwest Florida on WNPS 88.7-FM. CSF acquired the local frequency earlier this year. Classical South Florida's programming, which originates from Fort Lauderdale, will include classical listener favorites such as the live Metropolitan Opera Saturday broadcast, "Performance Today," "Symphony Cast" and "Pipedreams." There will be some Florida programing as well, such as "Backstage with the New World Symphony." The station can be heard on FM radio and can also be streamed online: http://classicalsouthflorida.publicradio.org/listen/classical/ The station brings classical music to a radio market that has essentially been without it since WGCU-FM in Fort Myers, also a public broadcasting station, switched to a news and interview program schedule on its FM frequencies in 2008. WGCU radio continues to broadcast classical music in an online format and on HD radio, which requires a format-specific receiver. "We're delighted to bring a full-time classical music service back to Southwest Florida's airwaves," said program director, Jason Hughes, in a news release announcing the on-air status of WNPS-FM. "Classical South Florida's programming can now be heard by more than 5.7 million people throughout all of South Florida — from the upper Keys to the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast, and from Fort Myers to Naples and Marco Island. We're proud of our continued growth, and we look forward to bringing our new listeners the very best in classical music programming for many years to come." For more information: http://www.classicalsouthflorida.org (via Kevin Redding, TN, June 14, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. Odd UNID solved from 6/7 --- Back on 6/7, I heard "Radio Free _____" & a fade out on 92.5 at 21:29 Eastern. The only thing to come up in a search on 92.5 was Radio Free Moscow in Moscow, Idaho. At first, I discounted this as the place due to distance/wattage. When I looked at a big map of the US I realized it would be about double the distance seeing the Es were coming from Iowa & the Midwest. I've been in touch since then with Leigh, the station GM, going back & forth seeing if we could nail this & come up with clues. We've been in touch almost daily for over a week. Leigh was on the controls at that time. He just came up with a new clue today that really helped. His transition happened at 18:29 (21:29 Eastern time) with an ID of his voice. He sent me a file with an ID that he did and the voice and tone were the same as what I heard. That was at the very end of the opening as the MUF was rapidly going down. Other clues: The only station on 92.5 with the slogan "Radio Free" is KRFP in Moscow, Idaho. There are others that Use "Radio Free" but I checked them all & none were on 92.5 and the rest were internet stations. This is what I heard: Faded in a voice with a tropical accent: "If you're listening in the Philippines...." then it faded out for about 5 seconds then heard fading up but low "On Radio Free..." then faded out again & came back with what sounded like a 40's instrumental. (Could have been another show starting) It faded quick after that and I didn't hear it again. We quickly figured out the first voice & the music were not KRFP. Those two fade-ins were the same at 60% & that's not what KRFP was running at the time. However in-between that was the Radio Free fadeup at 21:29 Eastern. That signal was a lot lower, at 20%. I'll never know what that first station was, but thrilled to log KRFP in Moscow, Idaho at 2113 miles on a double-hop on the evening of 6/7. KRFP is only 100 watts. My thanks to Leigh at KRFP for being such a huge help. I think I owe him big-time! 73's (Jim Knight, WTFDA via WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DXLD) Excellent! But where is Jim? Had to search other posts from him to find: Western Vermont. KRFP no doubt appreciates DXing since they are a longtime WORLD OF RADIO affiliate, Sundays at 6 am PDT = 1300 UT. Looking at their program grid, http://radiofreemoscow.org/weeklyschedule/ here`s another interesting one: What`s the Frequency, Kenneth? Mondays 12-1 am PDT = 0700-0800 UT: http://www.prx.org/series/31449-what-s-the-frequency-kenneth-a-newsical-series Series: WHAT'S THE FREQUENCY, KENNETH? A NEWSICAL SERIES Produced by Paul Fischer Caption: PRX default Series image WTF,K? IS NOW A WEEKLY SERIES WITH NEW EPISODES (MOSTLY) POSTED FRIDAYS. What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" is a "newsical" series from an award winning writer/producer.. who spent 24 years writing for Dan Rather on the CBS Evening News and has now returned to his roots in public radio. Newest Episode: "For Father's Day: On Being an Adoptive Dad." ( June 2012 Update/Remix) Each episode explores a single subject with narration... music.... and soundbites. Each episode is also designed to be a stand alone program...running about 55 minutes. Topics, music and moods vary. Some episodes are time sensitive. These "newsicals" are subject to the same rules that apply to any other streamed show with music. After my long stint writing for the CBS Evening News with Dan Rather, I returned to produce a type of radio program that I've not heard elsewhere. Individual episodes and weekly series have run on..among other places.. WBAI NY, WEER Long Island, WAZU in Peoria, WRFA LP in Jamestown, NY... WGXC in the Hudson Valley..KRFP LP in Moscow, Idaho and WYAP LP in West Virginia. I'm still adding new episodes WEEKLY on PRX; Pacifica Stations and affiliates may also obtain episodes from Audioport. EACH EPISODE IS HAND-MIXED FOR MAXIMUM FLAVOR (via DXLD) ** U S A. FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS on the brink Mr Glenn Hauser, World of Radio Hi, Glenn, Thank you so much for your fabulous coverage of every kind of broadcast. I used to hear World of Radio on RFPI and was lucky enough to get there to volunteer for James Latham and the other good people involved, for a week or two in 2002. An email recently arrived asking for help covering a remaining 30K dollar gap in the Free Speech Radio News operating budget by the end of this month. A major funding source temporarily dried up and they may have to shut down. $30,000 of the 75 thousand shortfall was still needed as of last Friday morning, and I was really worried; until I did some math. They're on over a hundred stations, and 30,000 divided by 100 would be just $300 per station IF listeners knew of the danger to this excellent program. But there are strict rules limiting programs wishing to appeal to listeners and many of the stations carrying the program are themselves in financial stress. That's why I thought of you and the broadcast- savvy listeners to your program. FSRN delivers news that the corporate and mainstream media would rather not dwell on, lest we get empowered to act like citizens rather than mere consumers. As you know, when the Pacifica Radio Network board drifted from its traditional moorings and wanted to censor content in order to be able to get easy money from the corporate world, the Pacifica reporters went on strike and started the independent Free Speech Radio News! This was in the late 90s thru 2002 or so. Imagine mainstream news network reporters striking over censorship / self-censorship! Making a fuss over the high proportion of fluff they dish up is not exactly in the cards. During the struggle, local Pacifica station supporters protested the antidemocratic acts of the national board, Free Speech Radio News replaced Pacifica Radio News, and Amy Goodman bravely stood up to a newly appointed WBAI station manager named by the national board. Through these joint efforts, the body and soul of Pacifica radio was kept intact! With a proud history like that, FSRN deserves support from those of us who love radio, whether we listen regularly to the program or not. The amount needed to meet this crisis amounts to $600 per state, if it were borne equally by people across the US. It's not a lot of money, and I'm contributing what I can. I hope you can spread the word! You might wish to interview Alan Searle, dvpmt director, contact info below, for an update. Best wishes! Jerry Markatos 919 542-2139 markatos @ mindspring.com Co-founder of media advocacy group, Balance & Accuracy in Journalism Alan Searle Development Director, FSRN 510-931-5775 admin @ fsrn.org Tax deductible contributions can be made via the website http://fsrn.org or checks can be mailed to Free Speech Radio News DEPT LA 23923 Pasadena, CA 91185-3923 Thanks, Glenn. Your spreading the word could be decisive in keeping this excellent program on the air! (Jerry Markatos, June 18, WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. NEW HITS NEEDED; APPLY TO NPR By ELIZABETH JENSEN Published: June 18, 2012 On an unseasonably warm spring night at the Bell House, a hip club in Brooklyn, a new NPR quiz show was taking shape. Like its hit older sibling “Wait Wait ... Don’t Tell Me!,” the new show, “Ask Me Another,” is taped before a live audience. But “Wait Wait ...” tapes at the likes of the august Carnegie Hall when it is in New York; this audience was sitting on metal folding chairs and drinking beer from plastic cups as contestants filed onstage to compete over obscure trivia like Weird Al Yankovic lyrics. The musician Jonathan Coulton, onstage at the Bell House in Brooklyn during the taping of “Ask Me Another.” The show is taped before an audience. Ophira Eisenberg, left, and Baratunde Thurston, a guest on “Ask Me Another.” This radio show began broadcasts in May. Enlarge This Image Damon Winter/The New York Times [caption] An episode of “Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me!” being taped in 2009. The show has been broadcast since 1998 [caption] “Ask Me Another,” which began broadcasts on some NPR stations in May (but not in New York), is part of a new land rush for precious public- radio weekend airtime. Developed on modest budgets, many of the newcomers are aimed at a decidedly younger audience than currently listens to NPR; some aim for diverse listeners. All face a big hurdle: limited open time slots and, some would argue, a risk-averse public- radio culture, where time-tested audience and money generators make it challenging for new shows to thrive. . . http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/19/arts/npr-looks-to-new-shows-like-ask-me-another.html?emc=eta1 (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) Interesting article and yes, as good as some of the programming is, it has been slow to evolve. There are lots of talented people out there (some of them are on this list!), and there have to be good programs that would find an audience. I'd add that if you peruse the programs on the Public Radio exchange there is a good set of candidates already. -- (Rob de Santos, internetradio via DXLD) Yep - I have long been an advocate of the resources of PRX. RNW and DW have posted content there over the years. As an aside, I haven't heard what role Jonathan Groubert has in the "new RNW". I could easily see him producing freelance documentaries and shopping them on PRX (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA, ibid.) ** URUGUAY. From yesterday, Radio Sarandí seems back on air on 6045 kHz (6044.95 in my rig). In parallel with 690 kHz MW. Now (0322 UT) on air. http://youtu.be/mHaz46jDjys Note is on LSB, not AM. This station hasn't AM transmitter, believe it or not. 73 de CX2ABP (Rodolfo Tizzi, UT June 20, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 3-minute recording was at 1925 UT June 19 (gh) AM: hace rato que no tienen trasmisor en AM. Fue sustituido por este equipo, hace unos años. Cuando tengas el video, si querías mandárselo como reporte al Sr. Gopar: fgopar34 arroba gmail.com a ver si sigue como técnico, ahí (Nigro, condiglist via WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DXLD) Amigos: Llegando por Santiago, 2120 UT, 6045.9 LSB, con aceptable señal (ce3BBC, Hugo López C., Santiago de Chile, June 19 ibid.) Entrando muy bien; Sonido metálico pero clarísimo. Escucho el informativo con avisos publicitarios intercalados. Dos malvivientes vestidos de policía con chalecos antibalas asaltaron la distribuidora de queso "La Figurita". En Uruguay ha comenzado con frecuencia este tipo de delitos ¿Argentinización de la delincuencia? La señal llega a 9 dB (R. G. Margenet, Argentina, 2156 UT June 19, ibid.) Son las 0318 UT y sigue en el aire por 6045 (6044.95) kHz. CX8 Radio Sarandí transmite las 24 horas en 690 kHz. No tengo idea si la frecuencia de onda corta estará en el aire todo el tiempo, habrá que monitorearla. 73 de CX2ABP (Rodolfo Tizzi, ibid.) Si no me equivoco, hace ya algún tiempo estaba las 24 horas en esa frecuencia también (Federico Fuleston, Argentina, ibid.) Yes indeed, audible at poor level here in New Zealand! I noted what I took to be a spurious image on 6045 LSB in passing around 0802 UT today Wednesday - no carrier, what appeared to be a utility transmission with conversation in Spanish. On reading the daily DXLD digest 4651 and posted messages from CX2ABP about 45 minutes later, I realised I might have a DX catch after all. The signal is very scratchy, audible from about 6043.2 up to 6045.5 with faulty modulation. But audio was best for me on 6044.98 and I was able to get a couple of identifications at 0900. Still audible 0953 but blocked by 6040 opening in Chinese at 1000 UT. Oddly, the signal was best received on my northeast EWE (aimed at North America) rather than my antennas that usually favour South America. Thanks for the tip Rodolfo - shortwave still has a lot of surprises in store! (Bryan Clark, Mangawhai, New Zealand, AOR7030+ with EWEs to North, Central & South America, June 20, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DX LISTENING DIGEST) OK Bryan, very cool DX. Congrats! The SWLing is not dead, is alive and kicking! (Now CXA61 is still broadcasting on 6045, 1504 UT). 73 de CX2ABP (Tizzi, June 20, ibid.) 300 watts, scheduled 24 hours. Congrats! (Horacio Nigro, Uruguay, ibid., WORLD OF RADIO 1622) Sarandí, llegando bien por Neuquén, señal S5 con QSB en LSB, sobre Icom R-75 +, antena dipolo media onda, QTR: 1110 Z. Alquien sabe la potencia de transmisión? (Alejandro LU8YD Alvarez, condiglist yg via DXLD) En efecto 24 horas, y la novedad es que estaban en USB y ahora emiten en LSB. El trasmisor es de 300 W. En principio, desde su lanzamiento en BLU, la emision iba dedicada a retrasmitir CX18; pero como con CX8, ellas son de la misma empresa; puede explicarse la retrasmisión de esta última actualmente. Pienso que cuando se den acontecimientos deportivos de relevancia nacional, se pase a hacer simulcast de CX18. Interesante que acaba de ser copiada en Nueva Zelandia, una vez más (Horacio Nigro, Uruguay, ibid.) Radio Sarandí en 6045 KHz LSB ahora 1925 UT. SINPO 33333 (Ernesto Paulero, Argentinga, June 20, ibid.) *Another* CX shows up on 49m --- ** URUGUAY. La Voz de Artigas, back on air on 6075 kHz. Due to national holiday, I think. Or not. Poor signal and some QRM from Brazil on 6080. http://youtu.be/y5pjdsU3Bwg 73 de CX2ABP (Rodolfo Tizzi, Uruguay, June 19, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Reception of CXA3 La Voz de Artigas (Artigas, Uruguay) on 6075 kHz by CX2ABP in Montevideo, Uruguay (GF15wc). June 19, 2012 at 1808 UTC. (YouTube caption on the 2:03 clip, via DXLD) See also UNIDENTIFIED 6075v, but that one is in Portuguese (gh) La escucho en 6075.10 USB con QRM de la brasileña en 6080. Llega con desvanecimientos prolongados, mejor intensidad 5 db. En este momento el pronóstico del tiempo. RX: Icom R75, Antena: Dipolo simple 7.5 m. de lado con Balún 1:1/1 KW (R. G. Margenet, Argentina, condiglist yg via DXLD) La Voz de Artigas, 6075 kHz --- En este momento (1739 UT), junto a la brasilera no identificada comentada por Glenn Hauser y otros. 73 de CX2ABP (Rodolfo Tizzi, June 19, Uruguay, ibid.) En 6075 pormomentos entra bien limpita y de a ratos QRM de la brasilera. Me olvidé de poner la hora UT; justo en este momento entra muy bien 6075 kHz Narrow, 1742 UT (Ernesto Paulero, Argentina, ibid.) A eso de las 1720 me puse a escuchar la frecuencia de 6075 y había un programa religioso en portugués, del estilo de los que ya conocemos en las emisoras evangélicas brasileras. Pero cual no sería la sorpresa al ver que al terminar, a las 1729, resultaba que era La Voz de Artigas. Esto me da que pensar. La emisora no identificada que se viene escuchando en esta frecuencia, ¿no será Artigas transmitiendo en portugués, en algún tramo del día? No hay que olvidar que Artigas se encuentra frente a la ciudad riograndense de Quaraí, de la cual la separa el Rio Cuareim, e incluso noté publicidad de muchos comercios del lado brasilero. 73 de CX2ABP (Rodolfo Tizzi, Uruguay, June 20, condiglist yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DXLD) That would seem to explain Thomas Nilsson`s unID, Uruguay in Portuguese, but see UNIDENTIFIED, he is still not convinced, as that had `Cultura` in the ID and on a slightly different off-frequency (gh) Dicho sea de paso, un amigo diexista alemán en Youtube me comenta que a La Voz de Artigas nunca la escucharon fuera de Sudamérica. No me da la memoria para recordarlo. Será así? 73 de CX2ABP (Rodolfo Tizzi, condiglist yg via DXLD) Yo no recuerdo si la han reportado o no; ahora 1756 UT, entra muy bien por acá, música tropical, jeje (Ernesto Paulero, Argentina, ibid.) Efectivamente, están con ese tipo de música. Y bueno, son sacrificios que uno tiene que hacer en nombre del DX, como tantas otras cosas que ha tenido que escuchar :) No escucho que la interfiera ninguna otra emisora. 6080 por ahora no molesta. 73 de CX2ABP (Tizzi, ibid.) Con mucha dificultad entra en 6076.05 USB minutos antes de las 1800 UT de este día feriado 20 de junio. Desde Rosario, Cuna de la Bandera Argentina. Cordiales saludos! (Rubén G. Margenet, ibid.) Buena recepción a la mañana por la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires y, por momentos, muy buena QSA (Arnaldo Slaen, 1923 UT, ibid.) "Los países que están bien, sin problemas, escuchan blues y rock and roll. Los países que caen en desgracia escuchan cumbia" (declaraciones del filósofo contemporáneo argentino Roberto Napolitano al diario Los Andes, de Mendoza. 9 de marzo de 2002) (Perdón por el off-topic, no podía evitarlo) 73 de CX2ABP (Tizzi, ibid.) Excelente reflexion!! Da para hablar bastante y este no es el ámbito pero una lectura rapida de esa frase no me permite más que estar de acuerdo. Yo añadiría el folklore de cada lugar como un símbolo de "estar bien" desde el terreno musical (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, ibid.) No, no la interfiere ninguna, Rodolfo; lo que pasa es que yo tenía el receptor al principio a eso de las 1715 UT en W[ide?] y ahí estaba la brasilera pero a partir de las 1730 no la interfirieron más (Paulero, ibid.) Acá llega más o menos pero llega. QSA pobre y mucho QSB. Igualmente, por la hora y la escasa potencia no deja de ser una buena escucha (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, 1921 UT, ibid.) Por acá por Buenos Aires, La voz de artigas en 6075 desde las 1712 UT hasta ahora 1928 UT, SINPO 34333 (Ernesto Paulero, June 20, ibid.) Para informes: RADIO LA VOZ DE ARTIGAS 73 (Horacio Nigro, Uruguay, ibid.) ** VATICAN [non]. 13730, June 15 at 1130, no signal from VR in Spanish via Sackville, but it cuts on before 1131 with programming already in progress. (They are scheduled to make an antenna switch from 163 to 189 degrees after the Portuguese broadcast until 1130.) At 1159, VR IS is cut off abruptly, news theme and 1200 opening English, top story being Egyptian parliament dissolved. As ever, before the quarter-hour is over, there is sectarian RCC ``news``, around 1210 about bishops in Atlanta vs the US government`s health insurance requirements. In case you haven`t heard, Vatican Radio is cancelling most of its SW broadcasts to America and Europe on July 1, reducing the load at Santa Maria di Galeria by 50% so it can then be reconfigured to serve remaining audiences in AfroAsia. No doubt the imminent demise of Sackville contributed to this decision; the only other English to Americas is 0250-0315 on 9610 and 7305, also Sackville, and the 1200 we have confirmed is daily except Sundays when Spanish continues another 15 minutes. 13730, June 18 at 1200, Vatican Radio, warped ``World News`` via Sackville, now makes no pretense of being secular, starting with a story about what Pope Benedict said at Sunday`s Angelus. Anchor is the appropriately-named Christopher Wells and he always opens with ``good morning``, when it`s afternoon in the See. Is he deliberately addressing his American audience, or is it several hours delayed? This and BS/TOM on WINB 13570 were the OSOBs with degraded propagation, and 15 MHz was totally dead; by 1225 only could hear 15230 Cuba there (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VATICAN. The Gulf Times adds: Hundreds of thousands of euros will be saved in energy consumption alone, as the giant antennas used for transmissions use a vast amount of electricity. The commission in charge of monitoring Vatican finances had warned the communication services on several occasions that it would have to cut costs. The radio will have cut the number of employees down from 400 to 340 by 2013 in a gradual reduction of staff numbers begun around 10 years ago ... http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=511879&version=1&template_id=39&parent_id=21 (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** VATICAN. 1530 kHz Santa Maria di Galeria? It seems that Radio Vatican has since increased the use of 1530 again. For a well known reason I took a look at http://www.oecumene.radiovaticana.org/TED/rete.asp which still or again shows 1530. Remembered to check late at 1838 when German had already wrapped up and only the IS ringing away on 6075 and 7250, but indeed it was on 1530, too, down in the mess. And the transmitter stayed on air also for the Latin prayers that started at 1840. The 2210-2230 repeat is particularly remarkable; it was earlier meant for a DRM transmission only and ended up also on 4005 by way of the Vatican garden transmitter staying on air when it was supposed to be off. And now 4005 again, instead of 3975? Needs to be monitored, although just for posterity. And what will go away in detail as of July 1? For starters: AM transmissions of the German service will cease altogether per http://www.oecumene.radiovaticana.org/TED/articolo.asp?c=595720 For reference see the enclosed thread from November 2010 (Kai Ludwig, Germany, June 14, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: ``R. Vatican's German broadcasts on 1530 provided a pretty good reception in Stuttgart region last winter and early spring. Of course, Stuttgart is much closer to Santa Maria di Galeria than Berlin. I was surprised to find the frequencies for R.Vatican's German broadcasts in a local weekly TV/Radio guide. Sergei S.`` ``A few days ago the German service of Radio Vatican started to apologize on air for their 1920 UT broadcast no longer being available on 1530. No further details or reasons have been given, also no one of the Radio Vatican webpages appear to have been updated so far. The schedule information on the German service pages is inconsistent enough to make me feel that one should not weigh their words too well and not conclude that the other way round 1530 is still on air in the morning. So it should be checked out from better located places if still at all and, if so, at which times 1530 is in use now. As well-known faces Radio Vatican for more than a decade now heavy pressure to close the Santa Maria di Galeria site. Some people believe that the true rationale behind this are attempts to use the station grounds as valuable building site. Radio Vatican says that since 2001 they make sure to not exceed the Italian limit of 6 V/m for the fieldstrength in inhabited areas. This requires excluding a few shortwave antennas from further use, but most of all reducing the power of 1530 from 600 to ca. 100 kW. This loss of almost eight decibels sank 1530 here in Central Europe into the mush of co-channel interference. As compensation used Radio Vatican from September 2001 the Roumoules transmitter on 1467, but left it again after five years because the airtime there was too expensive. Since then terrestrial reception of Radio Vatican in Germany is limited to shortwave. The 1530 kHz antenna system in detail: http://www.waniewski.de/MW/Vatikan/index.htm 1611 kHz antenna and transmitters for both 1611 (a new Thomson M2W, 50 kW) and 1530 (a Brown Boveri 600 kW, last generation of tube transmitters, should be the same model than Sottens-765 and Pori-963 still use, too): http://www.mediasuk.org/archive/vaticana.html Many historical photos of Radio Vatican, including the delivery of equipment for Santa Maria di Galeria (and check out also the videos and the museum collection): http://www.oecumene.radiovaticana.org/museo_tecnico/it/gal_fot.asp `` [end of Nov 2010 thread] The 1530/4005/5885 listings for the 2210-2230 transmission are obviously imaginary. They neither show up in the complete RV schedule, nor can any such signals be detected. Only the DRM on 1611, for which they introduced this additional repeat at all, still roars away. The complete schedule suggests that 1530 now comes on in the evening at 1840, so German is indeed no longer supposed to be on this mediumwave outlet, taken off it in November 2010. Tonight I could not really determine the situation. RV German (// 6075, 7250) could be recognized on 1530 at 1837 but not on earlier checks shortly after 1820. So either it faded in around 1830, or the transmitter has just been switched on a few minutes before a scheduled *1840. Co-channel Romania made it impossible to tell (Kai Ludwig, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Vatican Radio will remain on 9610 to North America (at least, in French, but probably in other languages) http://www.radiovaticana.org/FR1/Articolo.asp?c=596839 Extract: "Radio Vatican en Français continuera d’être diffusé sur l’onde moyenne 585 Khz et sur les ondes courtes 9610 Khz (Amérique du Nord) et 15595 Khz (Moyen-Orient)" (Jean-Michel Aubier, France, June 18, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9610 in French refers to 0230-0250 via BONAIRE. At 0250-0400, 9610 site switches to Sackville for English and Spanish --- for now (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DX LISTENING DIGEST) PROGRAMA BRASILEIRO COMUNICA PERMANÊNCIA DE UMA DAS TRANSMISSÕES VIA ONDAS CURTAS Cidade do Vaticano (RV) – Na última semana foi anunciado o fim das transmissões da Rádio Vaticano via ondas curtas para as Américas e a Europa, a partir de julho. Entretanto, uma das emissões do Programa Brasileiro será preservada. A reprise do Programa da Tarde poderá ser sintonizada via ondas curtas a partir das 21h30 (Horário de Brasília) na frequência 15.470MHz a 19m. A decisão de manter a transmissão reitera a importância que a mesma tem para a Rádio Vaticano e, principalmente, o reconhecimento da emissora do Papa à relevância das ondas curtas para os ouvintes no Brasil e Américas. É notório que a prática de sintonizar via ondas curtas é uma tradição bastante difundida no continente americano. Por este motivo, ela permanece sendo um canal de comunicação essencial mesmo diante das evoluções da tecnologia. (RB) (via Jorge Freitas, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DXLD) Tive conhecimento da notícia através de Denis Zoqbi, via “no mundo do dexismo”. “Programa Brasileiro comunica permanência de uma das transmissões via ondas curtas” http://www.radiovaticana.org/bra/Articolo.asp?c=597532 73 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana BA - Brasil, dxldyg via DXLD) 15470 at 0030 is via BONAIRE (gh) Transmisión en onda corta de Radio Vaticana para el Brasil. http://www.radiovaticana.org/bra/articolo.asp?c=597532 Al menos en portugués, permanecerá una transmisión en onda corta de Radio Vaticana para el Brasil. Es la que actualmente se emite vía Bonaire, a las 0030 UT. Pero durará hasta que Bonaire le llegue la hora de cerrar, creo. 73 (Horacio Nigro, Uruguay, DX LISTENING DIGEST) And what about Spanish, which follows on 15470 at 0100? (gh, DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. Venezuela ch 3 - the Siren --- The siren is back again, although very weak. It's varying from 61.249 to 61.251 MHz. Really looks weird moving across the WRG-305i demod screen. Also seeing carriers on 55.250 exactly and 55.250500. – (Mike Bugaj, Enfield, CT USA, 2302 UT June 19, WTFDA via DXLD) Unstable TV video sender (gh) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. ESTAÇÕES CLANDESTINAS: 1550, Frente POLISARIO, Rabouni, ALGERIA, 1211-1302*, 15/6, castelhano, texto, música, cânticos, fecho com hino "nacional"; 25342. 1550 Frente POLISARIO, *1757-1805, hino "nacional", oração corânica, programa em castelhano até às 1801, hora a que retomaram a programa em árabe; 25341, mas em franca melhoria. Após a estabilização do sinal, mais tarde, a qualidade é sempre 55444, até ao fecho (Carlos Gonçalves, PORTUGAL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZAMBIA. ZÂMBIA, 5915, ZNBC-Radio 1, Lusaka, 2144-2153, 16/6, dialecto local, programa falado, telefonemas de ouvintes; 33431, QRM adj. da Voz da Rússia, em português, em 5920. 6165, idem-Radio 2, Lusaka, 2149-2202*, inglês, músic pop', anúncios, às 2200, hino nacional; 35332, em perda e com aumento progressivo de QRM adj. minutos antes das 2200. Sem sinal do Chade, nesta mesma frequência. 73 (Carlos Gonçalves, PORTUGAL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZANZIBAR. ZBC Radio, 6015, June 15. Hi Glenn, Following several days of variable start time, ZBC Radio on 6015 is a no-show this morning, at least as of 0410 (supposed to come on air at *0300). I have been listening out for them since 5 am local time. Their absence is an inconsequential curiosity for me, tucked up in bed on a dark, frigid, South African winter's morning. But judging from its frequency and news coverage, ZBC Radio on 6015 is a regional station; Tanzania is a big country and the East African region is larger still. Being further east, at 6 am, people are getting up, their working day is starting. Huge chunks of the population are out of reach of FM stations, or have no electricity to power radio receivers or televisions anyway; they rely on battery-powered trannies; and don't get me started on internet "radio". Those millions of out-of-town people rely on shortwave for their "local" station, for their news, their early morning time checks, their Koran recitation, their music. It is sad to see them being treated with such contempt by the Zanzibar Broadcasting Corporation. This inept timekeeping has been going on for a week now; it seems that none of the big bosses at the ZBC cares (or, more likely, is even listening). No doubt, for them, being ensconced in comfort in Zanzibar City, Spice FM is readily available and more "fun" to listen to. Shame on them. Regards, (Bill Bingham, RSA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Zanzibar, 11735, noted today with late time pips at 2002, followed by nice music program. Over the past week or so, in listening to them a few times, it seemed as though they were pulling the plug before 2100, but today, 15 June, was an exception, programming continued past 2100 with mentions of "ZBC" and "Spice FM" at 2104, and into what seemed to be somewhat a different style of music. Then finally pulled the plug at 2108 (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, USA, June 15, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Have been observing ZBC at 1500 UT. Plays Indian film music too at times. Zanzibar seems a nice mix of Indian ocean and afro cultures. usual sign-off at 2100 UT. 11735 has a solid signal (Victor Gonnetilleke, Sri Lanka, June 15, ibid.) HI Glenn, Zanzibar is back today, and on time. I wonder if they have a different crew on Saturdays? Awakened at 0259 June 16 by very lively afro-pop music, not typical of ZBC Radio and so presumably Spice FM again although no ID heard (receiver volume was set low, so no idea what time it actually came on air). Faded out rapidly to 5+1 time pips at 0300 and ID "ZBC Radio", followed by brief talk in Swahili. At 0303, Koran, at 0308 OM talks and ID "ZBC Radio". More talk by OM until ID "ZBC Radio" at 0316, into now recognisable Indian-style jingle singing about "Zanzibar", and back to OM's talking. Brief Indian-style jingle and ID "ZBC Radio" at 0330, into OM reading news in Swahili, lots about Dar es Salaam today. Reception poor-fair, often quite noisy and fadey but generally readable. Back to sleep. Regards, (Bill Bingham, Johannesburg RSA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6015, ZBC. Bill Bingham (RSA) and I have been recently monitoring this and have found erratic sign on times (if they even turn on the transmitter!) and different starting formats. June 17 suddenly on at *0257 with music (IS or just a song? Too weak to be able to tell); 0301 start of the usual reciting from the Qur'an; not one of their better receptions; still heard at 0333 tune out (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Bill, June 18 clearly heard 6015 start up their transmitter at 0253, but audio below threshold level; never heard any audio through 0317. Unusable except for their open carrier. A very poor night for me. Best regards, (Ron Howard, Monterey, Calif., USA via DXLD) Hi Glenn, I tuned in late on both June 17 (Sunday) and 18 (Monday), 0303 on both days. Zanzibar was already on air both times, with Koran, so hopefully action has been taken and things are back to normal. June 17, I listened 0303-0310, reception fair, and today (June 18) I listened 0303-0305, reception poor. Just received an email from Ron; he heard their carrier from 0253 today, but he too found that reception was poor. Regards, (Bill Bingham, RSA, ibid.) Ref. the discussion in DXLD 12-24 on the IDs used by Zanzibar. A complication is that at certain times of the day (used to be 1700 and 1900), Zanzibar relays the news from Dar es Salaam, while at 1600 Dar es Salaam relays the news from Zanzibar. So, hearing a specific ID may not necessarily mean you are hearing that transmitter. It also means that TBC is still on SW via Zanzibar, even though the SW transmitters in mainland Tanzania closed several years ago (Chris Greenway, UK, June 19, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, ZBC Radio on just in time today. I wonder if they took the opportunity during their long absence to install a new transmitter? They no longer seem to give it any warm up time as they always used to. It seems to be a case of switch-on-and-go. ZBC Radio, 6015 Dole. June 19, 2012. Tuesday. *0300-0309. Carrier on at *0300, straight into 5+1 time pips and id "ZBC Radio". A few secs of OM talking and into Koran by 0301. Very poor, barely audible let alone readable. Jo'burg sunrise 0454. Regards, (Bill Bingham, DX LISTENING DIGEST) TANZÂNIA, 11735, R. Tanzânia, Dole, Zanzibar, 1509-1612, 17/6, suaíli, canções árabes, noticiários, às 1600; 24432, QRM adj., e sinal a fortalecer (Carlos Gonçalves, PORTUGAL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ZBC, Zanzibar, 11735, noted leaving the air at 2046 after a short talk by a woman announcer. 19 June (Steve Lare, Holland, MI USA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, Another type of Zanzibar start-up to further confuse the issue: ZBC Radio, 6015 Dole. June 20, 2012. Wednesday. 0255-0315. Tuned in at 0255 to find music, best described as afro-pop, with an OM doing a voice over. Surprised to hear him mention "ZBC Radio", but NO ID heard for Spice FM today. The music continued to 0300 when the time pips in 5+1 format were superimposed as it faded out. Followed by a YL with morning greetings and ID "ZBC Radio", brief talk and into Koran. Varying from good to bad reception, with a sort of cyclic atmospheric QRN coming and going. Jo'burg sunrise 0455. Regards, (Bill Bingham, ibid.) UNIDENTIFIED. 1430, June 18 at 0444 UT, ululating Balkan or ME music slightly dominant over the jumble, seems NE/SW. Normal suspect would be KZQZ St Louis, but would not expect such programming from ``Hot Talk/Cool Oldies``, tho it could be a Sunday night break away from format; lots of stuff on their website http://kzqz1430am.com/index.php not including a simple program schedule. Insane! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 3576, Spy Numbers (USB), 0410-0530 April 18, nonstop polytone activity, similar to ENIGMA X6. Various IDs in CW as well as occasional ``VVV``. Many stations transmitting, seemingly from various locations. Signals ranging from weak to walloping, often transmitting all at once producing a hodgepodge of tones (Richard W Parker, Pennsburg PA, Collins 51S-1, 55G-1 LF tuner, R-390A with Sherwood SE3, Yaesu FT-840, 120 ft center fed doublet in 40 feet fed with 2 inch spaced open wire line, 901B matchbox, 160 ft flat top random wire at 35 feet, running against ground with FC-800 autotuner at feed point; Alpha-Delta DX Sloper at 40 feet, 20m dipole at 35 feet, June World DX Club Contact via DXLD) Which does not make them spy numbers. We also hear `polytones` any night on 40m around 7075 or so, surely licensed ham operators. Can someone familiar with this mode explain it, and exactly what kind of intelligence is conveyed? I never notice any intelligible Morse code in the tones, if that is what RWP means by ``CW`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. In questo momento, 4940.5, Telegiornale Rai disturbato ma ben comprensibile parlano della vincità della Grecia sulla Russia e a seguire altre news sportive (Ivan Guerini, Italy, 2023 UT June 16, *# Swl I2 - 5759 # http://swl-i2-5759.blogspot.com/ bclnews.it yg via DXLD) La ricezione di [Rai] radio 1 a 4940.5 ora info traffico (Ivan Guerini, 2026 UT, ibid.) Pirata italiana su 4940 kHz? Ciao a tutti, stanotte verso le 0:30 [local time? = 2230 UT June 20] ho ascoltato sui 4940 kHz un programma musicale in italiano. SINPO 45444 da Roma con la DE 1103 e sua stilo. Lo speaker ha messo brani pop-rock ed anche qualcosa di italiano (Cremonini). Purtroppo sono stato poco all'ascolto e non ho sentito alcun ID. Stasera ci riprovo :-) (Antonello Romaniello, 0753 UT June 21, bclnews.it yg via DXLD) Ciao Antnello, in settimana ho postato la stessa frequenza, ma stava trasmettendo il radiogiornale della mezzanotte. Anche io stasera vedo di monitorare; se non crollo prima. Ciao (Ivan Guerini, ibid.) i.e. Rai programming (gh, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 6075.725 kHz UNID tent LA: The mysterious station on this frequency was back tonight, observed from 2258z until the recording stopped at 2336z [June 15]. The audio is very weak, just above noise level. Strongest on Flag Antenna in direction 300 degrees and a little weaker in direction 210 degrees. This station was noted at several occasions last year in Aug-Sept and was never identified. Back then also very weak at all occasions. You can listen to e few recordings here: http://www.thomasn.sverige.net/logbook.htm Please keep an eye on this mystery station. 73 (Thomas Nilsson, Engelholm, Sweden, June 16, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DX LISTENING DIGEST) String on 6075.725 kHz exact visible at 2310 UT June 16. Yes, Portuguese, heard around 0130-0140 UT June 17. 73 wb df5sx Stuttgart Germany vy73 (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Check if it`s a spur of 6180 (or any other 49m station). (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) Hello Glenn, Mauricio Molano Sánchez extracted the enclosed file from my recordings last year with a R Cultura ID. MMS thinks they say São Paulo and Henrik Klemetz thinks it might be Uberlândia. If it is a spur from another in the 49 mb the only one is R Cultura Filadélfia on 6105. I enclose also a recording of Cultura Filadélfia. Glenn, What is your opinion of the ID for the 6075.7 station when you have listened to the extracted recording? 73 (Thomas Nilsson, ibid.) It is a Portuguese language station with an ID including a definite R Cultura + ???. Updated info can be found on my website http://www.thomasn.sverige.net/logbook.htm 73 (Thomas Nilsson, Sweden, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) At the bottom of that page (gh) Thomas, 6075 clip could be R Cultura São Paulo, but that fade at the wrong instant makes it uncertain. Remember that R. Cultura SP used to be on 6170. Perhaps they are trying to make a comeback. If you ever get it well enough, try // the RCSP webstream (AM different from FM). Have you asked the Brazilians to listen on 6075? If not, I can (Glenn to Thomas, via DXLD) Vocês podem ouvir agora o sinal mistério en 6075+? 73, (Guilherme Glenn Hauser, June 17, radioescutas yg via DXLD) ¿Pueden escuchar esta señal misteriosa en 6075+? 73, (Guillermo Glenn Hauser, June 17, condiglist yg via DXLD) RES: [Lista ConDig] ¿Brasileña en 6075.725? Aqui em Feira de Santana- BA, às 2136 de 17/Jun, nada. Apenas alguns ruídos da minha rede elétrica. Nenhuma modulação ou sinal é ouvida. Ainda sobre o assunto: desde ontem, quando estava ouvindo rádio, não há sinal da RNA em 6180, como agora às 2142 de 17/Jun. 73 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana BA - Brasil, 12 14´S 38 58´W, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yo lo que tengo en 6075.723 kHz es lo mismo que en 6080. En 6075.723 si aplico Filter Narrow no la escucho, y la tengo que escuchar en 6080 KHz. Mencionan Sao Pablo [sic], dan la hora pero no la pude identificar todavía (Ernesto Paulero, Argentina, 2149 UT June 17, condiglist yg via DXLD) Hello all, Checked this PP-station again tonight, June 18, from 2230z - 2350z. Weak in the static with mostly music and only a short speech at 2325z. This station is definitely not in // with 6080 Marumby. Also checked that the following webstreams do no match: R Cultura Filadelfia, R Cultura São Paulo AM, R Cultura Foz, R. Capital. So obviously no spur from 6080 as suggested. It is a mystery that so few hear this station. More info at http://www.thomasn.sverige.net/logbook.htm where you can listen to the extracted R Cultura+ ??? ID (Mauricio Molano Sanchez, thanks for help with extracting this part). 73 (Thomas Nilsson, Sweden. 1605 UT June 18, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Must have meant June 17 for the log above (gh, DXLD) Thomas, 6170 used to carry the R. Cultura FM service, not the AM, so you should also check that stream. As in LA SW Logs: ``6170v B WS R Cultura, Sao Paulo SP [0740-1458/2151-0202] Jun09 B PP (r)FM103.3 // 9615, 17815`` However, the three were not all //. WRTH 2010 still listed them all, but not specifying which were with AM programming and which with FM. IIRC, 9615 had AM; 6170 and 17815 had FM (Glenn Hauser, via DXLD) Hello Glenn, R Cultura FM does not match the music heard. Cultura FM is classical and the music heard on 6075.725 is totally different. It sounds more like coming from a very small station, a little wild and almost no talk in between. Last night not there. Let's see tonight. 73 (Thomas Nilsson, June 19, ibid.) Até o momento não se pode afirmar que seja uma emissora brasileira em 6075 kHz. Suspeita-se que seja uma distorção do sinal da Marumby em 6080 ou a Super Rádio Deus é Amor da IPDA em 6070, mas nada confirmado até o momento. Sobre uma sugestão de ser a Rádio Cultura de São Paulo, o amigo Denis Zoqbi, morador de São Paulo e vizinho da emissora me disse pelo facebook: “Oi Jorge, eu já fui consultado meses atrás sobre esta QRG, mas não é a Cultura não. Aliás, sequer é em português, trata-se de uma emissão em espanhol que eu capto tds as noites. Fui lá para me certificar já que os transmissores ficam 5 minutos da minha casa, e não, a Cultura não volta enquanto a licitação de novos equipamentos não sair. Desta vez nao tem nada a ver com governo e sim com fornecedores que formaram um cartel e jogaram seus preços lá pra cima. Aqui em SP compras publicas agora funcionam num processo chamado Pregão Eletrônico, vence quem fizer menor preço e justificar seus custos. Ninguém conseguiu provar porque 400% de aumento nas peças de reposição, portanto, compra negada. Em tempo: Marumby e Deus é Amor se mantém em seus canais firme e fortes graças a Deus Rs” Assim, ainda estamos tentando descobrir esse sinal. 73 (Jorge Freitas, dxldyg via DXLD) See also URUGUAY, but that would not be in Portuguese (gh, DXLD) o yes it would, but --- Glenn, Thanks a lot for the info in DXLD. But I am a little confused with this latest info. LV de Artigas is on 6075.1 (max) and the unID heard here is on 6075.725. Not a big difference but still a difference. Also more than one R Cultura ID are heard from the files on my website by Henrik Klemetz, Carlos Gonçalves and Mauricio Molano Sánchez. I think there might be two stations and the Portuguese is not using the LV de Artigas transmitter. If you listen with wide ears and much hope, there might be a chance they say R Cultura Quaraí or something similar, not São Paulo and certainly not Uberlândia. The latter is checked by a Swedish friend living in that town since 30 years back. Conclusion is that a better signal and certainly a better ID is needed. Unfortunately closedown on June 19 was already at about 2255. The last days no sign of the signal. Hope we find a solution soon. It really is mysterious. 73 (Thomas Nilsson, Sweden, June 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 14950.68, 0005-0020+, June 17, Spanish music. Spanish talk. Reduced carrier USB. Weak. Fair on peaks (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg, PA, USA, Icom IC-7600, two 100 foot longwires, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Initial tip; final report: 14950.68, 0005-0120+, June 17, Spanish music. Mexican sounding music. Spanish talk. Carrier + USB. Weak. Fair on peaks. Very weak in noise after 0115 (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg, PA, USA, Icom IC-7600, two 100 foot longwires, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I checked for it after 0100 but nothing heard (gh, OK, DXLD) Re: Unidentified 14950.68 --- Just starting to fade in here in WI in the past 10 minutes. Music sounds Mexican to me (Don Jensen, Kenosha WI, 0113 UT June 17, NASWA yg via DXLD) Curious; faded up fast about 0100, peaked about 0110 but then faded down and soon disappeared below the noise floor. The several music selections I heard were definitely Mexican norteño, noting accordion, bajo sexto and drums, with vocals. Heard several announcements but other than noting it was Spanish, couldn’t make out much. Some sort of studio to transmitter link? An OOB XE ham just having fun? (Don Jensen, 0140 UT, ibid.) Fair copy, at least strong enough to maintain SAM on 14950.9, here on Long Island at 0202 UT. Definitely SS and I believe I just copied a station ID, although it’s going to take a fair amount of work to dig it out. Recorded via Perseus/Audacity. Antenna is an Alpha-Delta DX- LB+ with east-west orientation (John Schneider, 0204 UT June 17, ibid.) Fair at best at 0208. 0244 signal improved with OM vocal, then went down in the mud once again (Bob Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, S. Florida, ibid.) That’s pretty much the pattern here too; alternating fade in, fade below the noise, but never back to the level around 0100-0115 (Don Jensen, WI, 0328 UT, ibid.) So probably not 2 x 7475 Greece, but compare it anyway (gh, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Olá luiz e colegas, Sempe sintonizo aos domingos de manhã a Rádio Grey Line em 15010 kHz, músicas antigas/flashbacks. Hoje tinha muita QRM, mas ela estava lá presente. Vou monitorar essas frequências também (Cássio Santos - Goiânia-Goiás, Brasil, June 17, radioescutas yg via DXLD) Pirate? From what continent? (gh, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. [Re 12-24] 912 MHz: 3:55-4:02 PM EDT, 13-June; BBC America relays plus a kids' program; Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares and Dr. Who. Tom V sez this could be a Charter Comm. cable feed/relay frequency. It was not // BBC America on Charter at that time. Last time I caught this (seems to be about the same time daily), Fox News and JAG were alternating every few minutes (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 85 ft. RW and 180 ft. center-fed RW, Icom R3 + duckie, All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ ACKNOWLEDGED ON WORLD OF RADIO 1622: Glenn, this donation is in honor of Michael Ketter. Best regards, (Larry and Jane Will, with a contribution via PayPal to woradio at yahoo.com) TO BE ACKNOLEDGED ON NEXT WORLD OF RADIO: Many thanks to Gerald T Pollard, Raleigh NC, for a solstitial check in the mail to P O Box 1684, Enid OK 73702. Re: CALENDAR OF mostly SW SPECIALS, FAREWELLS [see WORLD OF HOROLOGY below] Thanks Glenn, these are a really useful feature well worth continuing if you have the time please. Thanks for all you do for the world of DXing, you deserve a medal! (Mike Terry, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ THE MW SOUNDS MUSEUM My new radio project --- Glenn, I'm sorry to steal a bit of your precious time, but I thought my last radio project could interest you: http://www.dxcoffee.com/ix1ckn/2012/06/the-mw-sounds-museum/ Consider me available for any further detail you might require. Thanks a lot for feedback and for spreading the voice, (Chris Diemoz, IX1CKN, June 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Lots of MW DX audio clips WORLD OF HOROLOGY +++++++++++++++++ LEAP SECOND IMMINENT The first leap second since 2008 is forthcoming. On 30 June 2012, 23:59:59 UTC will be followed by 23:59:60, and only then comes 00:00:00. Follow this time-shifting event live on your favourite time signal station! Official notification: http://hpiers.obspm.fr/iers/bul/bulc/bulletinc.dat The time shift occurs in UTC, and all time zones worldwide follow UTC at the same instant. So it happens at 2 am on 1 July in Braunschweig, 8 am on 1 July in Xian, and 6 pm on 30 June in Boulder. 73, (Eike Bierwirth, Leipzig / Germany, June 15, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) CALENDAR OF SW SPECIALS & FAREWELLS Since a lot is happening in the next few weeks, I have put together a day-by-day schedule so we don`t miss important events in the history of broadcasting. Besides re-posting it to various DX groups, the latest updates will be here: http://www.w4uvh.net/calendar.html (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re: Calendar of SW Specials, Farewells Very useful! Many thanks Glenn for the good job. Roby (Robert Rizzardi, June 18, bclnews.it yg via DXLD) So many stations leaving shortwave that Glenn Hauser compiled a calendar of final transmissions. Posted: 20 Jun 2012 The calendar is available at http://www.w4uvh.net/calendar.html It includes the last radio programs of Radio Netherlands Worldwide and Radio Canada International. Also the final relay transmissions from Sackville, New Brunswick, of Radio Japan, Radio Korea, Vatican Radio, Voice of Vietnam, and the anti-Castro Radio República. And, unfortunately, more. See also Glenn's worldofradio.com, especially the most recent editions of DX Listening Digest. Before Sackville and other shortwave transmitting sites are dismantled, they should try transmitting text and html, as described in The SWLing Post, 5 May 2012. No, it won't bring large audiences back to shortwave, but it will be a way to communicate news and information when the internet is disrupted. And it will be disrupted, at least temporarily, somewhere, sometime. See previous post with the final Radio Netherlands transmissions schedules for English and Indonesian (kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ TWICKENHAM MIDSUMMER MEETING - THIS SATURDAY 23RD JUNE. REMINDER Just four days away now, a great BDXC tradition since 2000, our "riverside radio rendezvous" is happening this Saturday afternoon and evening. Here's a reminder of the details Venue: "The Barmy Arms", Embankment, Twickenham, Middlesex, TW1 3DU Date: Saturday 23rd June 2012 Time: 4.00 p.m ONWARDS at the Barmy Arms- you can come and go at whatever time you can. You are of course welcome to arrive earlier if you wish, or perhaps enjoy some of Twickenham's many nearby attractions, such as the Twickenham Museum (50 metres from the pub) or the English-Heritage managed Marble Hill House and Gardens. Drinks and Refreshments: The Barmy Arms is a Taylor Walker pub with a fine selection of real ales, wines and spirits as well as tea, coffee and soft drinks. "I've never been: how will I find you?". Don't worry. The Twickenham Midsummer Meeting is very informal. We aim to grab a large table or two on the heated outdoor terrace on arrival, and there will be copies of "Communication" , WRTVH etc, and no doubt a radio or two, which will make it quite obvious this is anorak corner! English summer weather can of course be as unpredictable as sporadic e, but the present forecast for Saturday for Twickenham has only a 30 per cent chance of showers, and a temperature up to around 22. As far as possible, we aim to stay outside on the terrace to enjoy the unrivalled views and the peace of this part of the Thames,but if it does turn particularly chilly or wet, we may be found inside the pub. Food: At 7.15, many people like to adjourn for the traditional Indian Meal at The Delhi Durbar in nearby Church Street (TW1 3NJ). You can find their menu at http://delhi-durbar.co.uk/ PLEASE CONTACT ME BY E-MAIL OR TEXT TO BOOK YOUR PLACE FOR THE MEAL IF YOU WISH TO JOIN US, BY 20.00 GMT/UTC ON WEDNESDAY 20TH JUNE. While we will do our best to add any late bookings after this, it can't be guaranteed if the restaurant is already busy. The Barmy Arms also offers a great selection of "pub grub" all day, if you prefer a different choice of "dinner". You can either stay at the pub to eat while others adjourn to the Indian, or you can have some food earlier in the evening if you need to leave earlier. The Barmy Arms menu can be found at: http://www.taylor-walker.co.uk/tw/pages/food-and-drinks/new-menu/c After the meal, we usually aim to meet up again for a last jar or two at The Barmy Arms, or at The Fox nearby. Now that Hodgson's boys have done the business as group winners and got through to Sunday's quarter final in the UEFA Euro 2012 competition - rather than the runners up match on Saturday night, maybe if you've been wavering over coming this year, you need waver no more! Do join us if you possibly can for what is sure to be a great afternoon and evening of bevvies and banter about DXing and radio matters first and foremost, but much else besides. And perhaps we could even have a kind of pre-emptive wake for Radio Netherlands English Service...? To book for the Indian Meal, or for any further information including train, bus and parking details, please contact me at mark @ bdxc.org.uk or phone/text me on 07711 616908. Hope to see as many of you as can make it on Saturday, whatever the weather! (Mark Savage, Feltham UK, June 19, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DRM See NEW CALEDONIA; NIGERIA; SLOVAKIA; ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ UK; VATICAN DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DTV ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ IS MOST U.S. ATSC-MH ENCRYPTED ? I have a feeling it is. Since I recently got my ATSC-MH working, I can easily receive the 2 Canadian stations testing in my area (CBC,CTV) with 416x240 video. I have also received WKYC-MH Cleveland (NBC) and WDIV-MH Detroit (also NBC) - but without any video decoded. Although the regular ATSC signals were decoding, I could not get a picture from either of these stations. The signals were first detected at a much lower threshold then the regular ATSC, so I thought that might be the issue. But when the signals strengthened to the point of regular ATSC decoding, I still could not get a picture. With a little research, I found out that there is a company called "Dyle TV" that uses ENCRYPTED ATSC-MH to send to mobile devices. They show NBC, Fox, Qubo, Telemundo & Univision as being affiliated with Dyle. http://broadcastengineering.com/RF/Dyle-Elgato-ATSC-Mobile-TV-07192012/ http://www.dyle.tv/ If this is true, that much of the Mobile TV will be encrypted, it kind of defeats the purpose of it. Portable Mobile TVs can't receive Dyle TV, but only certain handheld devices that can load the Dyle "app". Another market silliness set to doom a standard. At least it's DXable - the Encrypted Channels can be detected. Hopefully Dyle will go bankrupt and the signals will be unencrypted. Bill H. (William R Hepburn (VEM3ONT22), Grimsby ON CAN 43 10 59.5 -79 33 34.3, June 20, WTFDA via DXLD) Yes, they are. RabbitEars can and will list them that way (Trip Ericson, http://www.rabbitears.info ibid.) KREG STILL OFF THE AIR [Colorado] Thursday, Jun 7 at 7:55 PM http://www.krextv.com/younews/157980815.html Two days after a power outage struck the Sunlight Peak broadcast tower farm near Glenwood Springs, KREG, the CBS affiliate owned by Hoak Media is still off the air. Little KDNK community radio was also blacked out but was up and running soon after the power outage struck. KREG, however, owned by media veteran and multi millionaire Jim Hoak of Dallas, is still dark. When avid and helpful CBS viewers called KREX offices in Grand Junction to alert the station management of the dark signal, they were told to "rescan your TV channels,"... a standard "it's not our problem... you must be doing something stupid" answer usually associated with cable company technical inquiries. One regular KREG viewer said they would be contacting the FCC tomorrow if the signal, broadcast on public airwaves, was not in service as required by KREG and KREX broadcast licenses (via Blaine Thompson, IN, June 12, ABDX via DXLD) The disgruntled viewer sounds a little crazy, or at least unreasonable. How much control does the station have over the electric utility that provides power for its transmitter? Not every station can afford to maintain a generator for emergency power. From what I have heard recently, some stations that had a generator capable of powering their analog xmtr are out in the cold now because they don't have enough power for their digital xmtr. A reality check is in order here. 73, (Kit, W5KAT, ibid.) I thought Digital Transmitters use LESS Power than Analog did. They certainly have less coverage area, on VHF anyway. 73, (Kevin Raper, KJ4HYD, CE WCKI WQIZ WLTQ, ibid.) They definitely have less coverage area on VHF and UHF, and dramatically so, but I read about a power failure at a site shared by two stations a couple of months ago where they had generators that could power their analog transmitters, but they couldn't be used for the digital transmitters because they couldn't power them. If that is the case, there must be hundreds of stations in the same situation. Just another down side of digital. I was happier with analog. 73, (Kit W5KAT, ibid.) Maybe the digital ones are far less efficient in power consumption vis-à-vis ERP? (gh, DXLD) It must be because of electrical noise made by the generators because looking at the spec sheets, Digital Modes on the same Transmitter uses less power then PAL or NTSC Analog. http://www2.rohde-schwarz.com/file_17489/NMNW8200_bro_en.pdf > I was happier with analog. Me too. I lost my ABC OTA TV with the Digital Transition, but I could get their temporary UHF Digital signal when it was on the air. I can get the UNC PBS station that is UHF on the same tower. I also lost my CBS OTA, but I can watch that CBS Station off of a secondary signal on their Co-Owned UHF. 73, (Kevin Raper, KJ4HYD, CE WCKI WQIZ WLTQ, ABDX via DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ DE DIALES ESTAMPADOS EN VIDRIO Este fue el dial que me vió crecer de chico en mi casa. A pesar de su perfil también internacional, nunca funcionó muy bien en Onda Corta, pero sí lo hizo en Onda Media…a la que los uruguayos siempre mal denominaron “Onda Larga”... Más en mi blog: http://lagalenadelsur.wordpress.com/2012/06/18/de-diales-estampados-en-vidrio/ Saludos, (Horacio Nigro Geolkiewsky, Montevideo, Uruguay, June 19, Noticias DX yg via DXLD) RADIO INCORPORATES FEATURES TO MAKE IT EASY FOR BLIND TO OPERATE http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/editorials/2012/06/10/radio-incorporates-features-to-make-it-easy-for-blind-to-operate.html Sunday June 10, 2012 5:04 AM Enlarge Image For years I’ve been wondering why manufacturers of consumer electronics wouldn’t just build universal design — accessibility for everyone — into their products. Finally, it seems to be happening. On May 18, Best Buy’s Insignia line of products rolled out its new tabletop radio. Capable of picking up any of the HD stations (about 4,000 of them now around the country) as well as standard AM and FM radio broadcasts, Best Buy’s Narrator radio is sleek in appearance and crystal clear in sound. The proverbial icing on the cake is that, whether you can see well enough to make use of the visual display or not, you can operate all of the radio’s primary features easily. Let me back up a few steps to highlight what makes this unusual. Take any radio in your house or car and think about how it works. You press a button to go up the spectrum of channels and another to go down. Those “buttons”, however, might be buttons in the usual sense, controls that can be felt without looking, or they might just as well be designated spots, detected only through vision, on a flat-screen panel. Once you’ve selected a given channel, once its music or conversation is coming through loud and clear, how do you find out which channel is playing? Well, if you can see the display clearly, the numbers are there. If not, you wait … and wait … and wait until maybe an announcer identifies the channel for you. If you really like that station and want to come back to it, again, you can mark it by pressing a “button” that maybe is discernible by touch and maybe not and, unless you can see that little display, you have no idea whether your action was registered. Most radios have a built-in clock. Again, you can only set it or make use of it if you can see the display. An organization called the International Association of Audio Information Services, a membership organization of reading services for people who are blind or have other print-related disabilities, compiled a document a few years ago outlining features that would render an HD radio accessible with or without usable vision. Best Buy built the Narrator according to those clearly detailed specifications. First and foremost, the Narrator is a great radio. If you have no difficulty reading the visual display, you will enjoy its clear sound and ease of use. If seeing the display is a problem, though, this radio is a market first in a fabulous package. By pressing a simple key combination when first powering on the Narrator, you enable all of its audio feedback features. Although many of its buttons are flush with the display surface, they are easily detected by touch and, with the audio feature activated, announce functions when pressed. When you press Seek Up or Down, Channel Up or Down, or a Preset button, the Narrator announces the frequency. Audio feedback makes a simple business of setting the time and two separate alarms and, when you press the Snooze button (whether the radio is on or off) the time is announced in a clear, digitized human voice. You can set up to 20 presets to mark your favorite stations or delete them at any time if you change your mind. Again, feedback is provided both through beep tones and spoken words, so that all functions can be performed with nonvisual methods. The Narrator’s Source button announces whether you are in AM, FM, or Auxiliary modes. (Auxiliary refers to a jack on the back of the radio to which another device can be connected and, thus, played through the radio’s speakers.) When you buy the Narrator, the usual print document containing all user instructions is included, but so is an audio CD containing a professional recording of the entire manual. At this point, it is available online only from Best Buy. Kudos to Best Buy for an innovative product — and the projection that this is the first in a line of universally designed products yet to come. Deborah Kendrick is a Cincinnati writer and advocate for people with disabilities (via Kevin Redding, June 14, ABDX via DXLD) Although I haven't seen this radio, thus can't verify it firsthand, Ms. Kendrick may have made an error in her article or have been given misinformation. (Or I may have.) I've been told that the radio defaults to speech mode. That would make sense because the visual display will always be present, and people who buy it for its speech feature could assume they have a malfunctioning radio if that guidance doesn't come up. The radio goes silent with the simultaneous press of two buttons. Also, the current frequency can be confirmed with a button press, so even for blind users generally conversant with radio, at times it might be more practical to leave speech off, activating it only when it's needed. The discontinued talking HD radio from Dice Electronics didn't have a way for users to operate it without speech (Rick Lewis, ibid.) Good for Best Buy! That is great news. It is unfortunate, however, that the buttons are flush with the display surface. As someone who has assisted a number of elderly patients (the customers most likely to have vision problems), I have become aware that for many elderly people, loss of feeling in the finger tips is a common malady. These elderly people reach a point where they literally cannot feel anything with their finger tips, and this renders most cell phones useless for them, regardless of the senior’s ability to memorize the keyboard. Best Buy should take another look at the button design, and include buttons that can be easily distinguished by seniors who have experienced loss of feeling in their fingertips. This is an extremely common problem with older seniors (Dick W., ibid.) Dick, What you say makes sense. However, apparently many people who work with radio reading services were consulted on the design. But Best Buy seems open to making further refinements, so maybe your suggestion can be added into the mix. I plan to order one of these, and provide input when I've seen and used it (Rick Lewis, ibid.) 4 FOOT PORTABLE MW TUNED PASSIVE LOOP DEMONSTRATION VIDEO Hello All, Designed to allow apartment dwellers and others to enjoy medium wave DXing with a large, effective box loop, a portable 4' PVC- framed loop has been developed which will fit easily in a crammed car trunk (or closet) when disassembled. This tuned passive loop (and its PVC base) can easily be assembled within a couple of minutes, and was the antenna used to receive 30 South Pacific DX stations (from Tahiti, New Zealand, Australia, Fiji and Tonga) on a $50 Ultralight radio during the August 2010 Lincoln City (OR) DXpedition. At a $50 construction cost, it is designed to provide maximum DXing fun for the cost. A demonstration video of the loop's 2 minute assembly and DXing effectiveness has been uploaded to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auu3OGI8rgk&feature=plcp In the video, the theory behind the loop's constant symmetry is explained, and a weird antenna fanatic assembles the loop and base quickly. The assembled 4' PVC loop them demonstrates its inductive coupling gain on a barefoot Sony ICF-2010 model, boosting the signal of fringe Canadian daytimer 1070-CFAX (10 kW at 99 miles) from no signal LED's at the noise level up to a strong-signal 8 LED level. This portable 4' PVC loop is a variant of the fixed 4' model described in the detailed PVC Loop experimental article kindly posted by Craig Healey at http://www.am-dx.com/ThePVCLoopOverallArticle.pdf For those interested, detailed construction procedures for this portable 4' version should be available shortly. 73 and Good DX, (Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA), NRC-AM via DXLD) GLOBAL TOPO MAPS FOR LOCATING MASTS I located this Topographic Map website recently that might be of interest to those of us interested in locating SW & MW TX sites. http://www.topomapper.com/ http://www.topomapper.com/images/topomapper-coverage.jpg Many of the maps are of Soviet or US Army corps from the 60's era, (the 70's era would have been more useful regarding the showing of masts). But from the era at least we don't have the distraction of cell phone towers. I understand that Olle Alm & others used the Soviet Maps to locate many of the Soviet Era SW/MW tx sites in the past. If you find something of relevance & interest please let us know. Best of 73's (Ian Baxter, swsites yg via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ SUNSPOT NUMBERS INFLATED? Regarding the link in last week's Propagation Forecast Bulletin to the researcher who believes modern sunspot numbers are inflated, Ken Grimm, K4XL of Amherst, Virginia wrote, "Regardless of what Prof. Svalgaard's charts and tables show, those of us who lived through the late 50s and enjoyed the benefits of something that he thinks didn't happen, know what we experienced. Nothing since has come even close to the conditions on the HF bands during those wonderful days. Fifty watts of AM on 10 meters was enough to work the world with honest 5x9 sigs! Twenty meters was open 24 hours a day and DX was commonplace, etc. Nothing can convince me that the late 50s weren't unusual!" An interesting article in the popular press appeared this week, suggesting that long term prediction of solar cycles is impossible. Read it at, http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120612/jsp/frontpage/story_15600043.jsp Also note toward the end of the article that the student, Bidya Binay Karak, authored a paper explaining why sunspots disappeared for a time in 2008-2010. When I look at his curriculum vitae I see a paper about the Maunder Minimum, but not about the more recent quiet Sun. You can check Karak's CV at http://www.physics.iisc.ernet.in/~bidya_karak/ Don't miss Carl Luetzelschwab' s interesting article in the current (July 2012) issue of QST, "Our Recent Solar Minimum and Sunspot Cycle 24 Progress." You'll find it on page 33 (QST de W1AW Propagation Forecast Bulletin 24 ARLP024 From Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, WA June 15, 2012, To all radio amateurs, via John D Raycroft, ODXA yg via DXLD) DOUBLE CME HITS EARTH, SPARKS AURORAS - GEOMAGNETIC STORMS Space Weather News 17 June 2012 http://spaceweather.com/ As predicted, a double CME hit Earth's magnetic field on June 16th. The impact strongly compressed Earth's magnetosphere, exposing geosynchronous satellites to solar wind plasma and sparking more than 24 hours of geomagnetic storms. (The storms are still in progress as this alert is being written during the middle hours of June 17th.) In the United States, Northern Lights have descended as far south as Wisconsin, Washington, Minnesota, and the Dakotas. Southern hemisphere observers are also reporting colorful aurora australis. Check http://spaceweather.com/ for photos and updates (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) Not much heard around 1800 other than major broadcasters. Found out there were R1 radio blackout with a solar flare at 1435. (14 June) (Dave Valko, Dunlo PA, NRD-535D with T2FD antenna, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Not one audible signal on 19 meters at 1000 this morning. And only about six audible and a dozen at threshold on 25 meters. (18 June) (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, NRD-535D with T2FD antenna, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Geomagnetic field activity ranged from quiet to major storm levels. Quiet to unsettled levels were prevalent from 11 June through late on 16 June with a brief period of minor storm conditions late on 11 June to early on 12 June due to a sustained period of southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) Bz. At 16/2022 UTC, field conditions increased to active levels and further increased to minor to major storm conditions through 17/1500 UTC and decayed to active levels through the remainder of the period. This increase in activity was a result of combined effects from the 13 and 14 June CMEs. On 16 June, three separate sudden impulses were observed at the Boulder magnetometer; 16/0957 UTC (28 nT), 16/2019 UTC (28 nT) and 16/2115 UTC (25 nT). ACE data indicated three shock arrivals at 16/0900 UTC, 16/1931 UTC and 16/2031 UTC. Solar wind speed increased from about 350 km/s to 425 km/s with the first shock, and further increased to around 560 km/s with the second and third shocks. With each successive shock, total IMF field strength reached 10 nT, 17 nT and 34 nT respectively. A magnetopause crossing was also observed by the GOES-15 satellite from around 16/2200 UTC - 16/2300 UTC. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 18 JUNE - 14 JULY 2012 Solar activity is expected to be at low to moderate levels through 21 June when Region 1504 will rotate around the west limb. Mostly low levels are expected through 25 June. Low to moderate levels are possible from 26 June - 14 July due to the return of old Regions 1494 (S16, L=198) and 1496 (N17, L=204) on 26 June and the return of old Region 1504 (S17, L=087) on 04 July. No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at high levels on 18 - 25 June, normal to moderate levels on 26 June - 03 July and return to high levels on 04 - 14 July. Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at unsettled to active levels with isolated minor storm periods on 18 June due to continued effects from the 13 and 14 June CMEs. Quiet to unsettled levels with isolated active periods are possible on 19 - 20 June due to effects from a recurrent coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS). Mostly quiet conditions are expected from 21 - 26 June. A return to quiet to unsettled levels with isolated active periods are possible on 27 - 30 June with isolated minor storm periods on 01 - 05 July due to a pair of recurrent CH HSS. Mostly quiet conditions are expected on 10 - 14 July. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2012 Jun 18 1335 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 2012-06-18 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2012 Jun 18 120 15 5 2012 Jun 19 115 8 3 2012 Jun 20 115 7 2 2012 Jun 21 115 5 2 2012 Jun 22 110 5 2 2012 Jun 23 110 5 2 2012 Jun 24 110 5 2 2012 Jun 25 115 5 2 2012 Jun 26 120 5 2 2012 Jun 27 120 8 3 2012 Jun 28 125 8 3 2012 Jun 29 125 5 2 2012 Jun 30 125 8 3 2012 Jul 01 125 15 4 2012 Jul 02 125 15 4 2012 Jul 03 125 15 4 2012 Jul 04 125 8 3 2012 Jul 05 125 8 3 2012 Jul 06 125 5 2 2012 Jul 07 125 5 2 2012 Jul 08 130 8 3 2012 Jul 09 135 8 3 2012 Jul 10 140 5 2 2012 Jul 11 145 5 2 2012 Jul 12 145 5 2 2012 Jul 13 135 5 2 2012 Jul 14 125 5 2 (SWPC via WORLD OF RADIO 1622, DXLD) ###