DX LISTENING DIGEST 15-15, April 15, 2015 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 2015 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html [also linx to previous years] 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 1769 CONTENTS: *DX and station news about: Antarctica, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Canada, Cuba, Eritrea, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Kashmir, Kurdistan non, Micronesia, Mongolia, Netherlands non, Nigeria non, Oklahoma, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Perú, Portugal, South Carolina non, Turkmenistan, USA SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1769, April 16-22, 2015 Thu 0330 WRMI 9955 [confirmed] Thu 1230 WRMI 9955 [confirmed] Thu 2100 WRMI 7570 [confirmed, also on 15770] Fri 2130 WRMI 7570 [confirmed; no longer on 15770] Sat 0730 HLR 7265-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio [suspended till May] Sat 1530 HLR 7265-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio [suspended till May] Sat 1930v WA0RCR 1860-AM Sun 0315v WA0RCR 1860-AM Sun 2100 WRMI 15770 [confirmed] Sun 2300 WRMI 11580 [confirmed] Mon 0300v WBCQ 5110v Area 51 [confirmed] Tue 1100 WRMI 9955 Wed 0630 HLR 7265-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio [suspended till May] Wed 1315 WRMI 9955 Wed 1430 HLR 7265-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio [suspended till May] Wed 2100 WBCQ 7490v Thu 0330 WRMI 9955 [or 1770 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 WORLD OF RADIO PODCASTS: Tnx to Dr Harald Gabler and the Rhein-Main Radio Club. http://www.rmrc.de/index.php/rmrc-service/podcast/glenn-hauser-wor ALTERNATIVE PODCASTS, tnx Stephen Cooper: http://shortwave.am/wor.xml AND ANOTHER PODCAST ALTERNATIVE, tnx to Keith Weston: http://feeds.feedburner.com/GlennHausersWorldOfRadio Also via [but still not back in service]: http://tunein.com/radio/World-of-Radio-p198/ 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. 9850, April 10 at 0127, R. Tirana IS is definitely here where it`s supposed to be for the English service, not 9855 as used for the 23-24 Albanian service. Only fair, 34-47 dbu in storm noise level, which on vacant 9835 reads 28-32 dbu on the PL-880 with short random wire. 9850-, April 11 at *0122:12, R. Tirana comes on with IS, up from the noise floor of 00-17 dbu to 10-24 dbu. During the following English to North America, Wolfgang Büschel measured it 27 Hz low (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9849.973 kHz heard at best in Florida, USA, at S=9+10dB signal level. But all others northerly locations in Kentucky, Illinois, Rochester - New York, New Jersey and Boston Massachusetts in USA, logged at poor S=7 fluttery level only. vy73 (Wolfgang Büschel, 0155 UT April 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9850, April 12 at 0124, R. Tirana IS, fair signal reading 15-26 dbu on the PL-880 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ALGERIA [and non]. Algeria 153 kHz ??? While Sergio Sarabia from Spain reports that Algeria 153 kHz is inactive, on SDRs all over Europe, three distinct carriers can be seen on 153 kHz. Obviously, Romania dominates the channel, and the Norwegian transmitter is also visible below 153.000. The third carrier, very close to nominal, shows distinct fades, so any local QRM can be excluded. Seems to operate 24h. Offsets: http://www.mwlist.org/mwoffset.php?khz=153 One theory is that Algeria is on air, but without or with very low modulation. Otherwise, there must be an unknown transmitter on 153, or a mixing product with a very wide "coverage". Any thoughts / observations are welcome. Two screenshots taken in Central Europe are available here: http://www.mwlist.org/public/4_carriers.png (March 11, 2015, 14:22 UTC) http://www.mwlist.org/public/153_why_fadeout.jpg (March 10, 2015, 17:41 UTC) 73, (Günter Lorenz, 25 March, MWCircle yg via DXLD) Romania seems to be off since about 0700 UT; I still see a carrier at nominal. 73, (Günter Lorenz, March 31, ibid.) ** ALGERIA. 9805: A group of Algerian radio enthusiasts was planning five days of tests from Mar 31 to Apr 04. Programmes will go out daily on a frequency of 9805 (+/- 5 kHz) at 1230-1300. They will be broadcast from a troller [sic] in the Mediterranean. There will be music and speech in Kabyl (Berber) and in French. The station calls itself R Amazigh (meaning Berber in the Kabyl language). The power is 5 kW and the antenna is a dipole. Reception reports are welcome to amazigh@netcourrier.com and will be confirmed with a QSL-card. Reports should be written preferably in French (Guerrero, via Bueschel) I listened to this frequency on Apr 04 at 1230-1255, but not even a carrier was heard in Denmark! There live 7 million Kabyls in Algeria, particularly east of the capital Alger. Kabyl belongs to the much bigger Berber language group, who actually prefer to call themselves Amazigh! The reason, I was told by a Berber guide in Morocco in January, is, that the invading Romans about 2500 years ago and later the invading Arabs called this indigenous people in northwest Africa ”Berber” which means barbarians! My photos of the Amazighs can be found in the new DBS-17 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window April 15 via DXLD) Altho nothing heard, Anker treats this as if it were not an April Fool joke. See previous DXLD under MOROCCO (gh, DXLD) ** ANGOLA. 4949.7, Rádio Nacional, 2350-0010, the surprise of the evening as this was coming in with a surprisingly good signal despite some severe QRN, tuned into a program of piano jazz, one song "Satan [sic] Doll," identifiable, M in English talked about a future program. This sounded much like a prerecorded VOA-type program but I cannot say that is what it was, M announcer into news in Portuguese at 00, W in apparent commentary in Portuguese at 0006 March 26/27 (XM, Cedar Key, Florida, NRD525D, R8A, E5 via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANGUILLA. 1610, Caribbean Beacon/University Network, 0025, Gene Scott, death cannot stop him March 27 (XM, Cedar Key, Florida, NRD525D, R8A, E5 via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANGUILLA. 11775, April 13 at 1406, no signal from CBB with PMS or DGS; ho, hum (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Has WHRI really overtaken 11775 at 20-22?? (gh) [non] USA: Additional transmission of WHRI Angel 1 in English: 0900-1000 11565 HRI 250 kW / 245 deg AUS Sun-Fri, ex 0800-0900 A-14 1000-1100 11565 HRI 250 kW / 245 deg AUS Mon-Fri, additional txion 2000-2100 11775 HRI 250 kW / 047 deg WeEu Mon-Fri, additional txion 2100-2200 11775 HRI 250 kW / 047 deg WeEu Mon-Fri, additional txion http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2015/04/additional-transmissions-of-whri-angel.html (Ivo Ivanov, dxldyg via DXLD) ??? BUT WHAT about Anguilla on 11775, previously until 2200? The schedule http://lesea.com/whr/frequencies/ continues to show 11775 only at 22-24 with Angel 1 shown on 11670 at 20-21, 17540 at 21-22 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANTARCTICA. 15476, LRA 36 Radio Nacional Arcángel San Gabriel, Base Esperanza, 2005-2016, 07-04, female comments in Spanish. 14321. Also heard 2004-2016, 08-04, with Latin American songs. 14321. Also 2002- 2045, 10-04, Spanish man and woman talks, Latin American songs, "boleros" and other songs, song "Si se calla el cantor", identification: "LRA 36, la radio". Weak but improving after 2015. 14321 to 24322 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Grundig Satellit 500, Sony ICF SW 7600G, cable antenna, 8 meters, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) LRA36, Radio Nacional Arcángel San Gabriel, 15476 now on air, 2001- 2025, 10-04. 14321 and improving to 24322 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Manuel y amigos, por Santiago de Chile, Sudamérica, está llegando bastante aceptable la señal desde Antártida Argentina a través de LRA36; 35333. Ahora mismo pasan música de Maná y se identifican (locutora) con cierre de transmisión. 2100 UT. Está entrando el atardecer por esas latitudes según Geoclock. Un abrazo, 73' (ce3BBC Hugo López C., Santiago de Chile, April 10, noticiasdx yg via DXLD) 15476, LRA 36, Radio Nacional Arcángel San Gabriel, Base Esperanza, good season to hear this station here in the North West of Spain; I can pick it up various days between Monday to Friday with weak to fair signal after closed Adventist World Radio at 2000 on 15480 kHz. 2003- 2015, 13-04, Spanish, female, comments, 14321. 2003-2040, 14-04, female comments, Spanish Argentine accent, "El sector antártico argentino, el observatorio meteorológico, el laboratorio", "Instituto Antártico Argentino", songs, at 2025 identification in Spanish and Portuguese: "Desde Base Esperanza, Sector Antártico Argentino, transmite LRA 36, Radio Nacional Arcángel San Gabriel, por la frecuencia de 15476 kHz, banda de 19 metros, transmitimos de lunes a viernes de 18 a 21 horas UTC...". 24322 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Log in Lugo, Grundig Satellit 500, cable antenna, 8 meters, April 15, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. 11710.73, RAE, 0325, surprised to find this with good level, local music and talk by a man, best in USB to escape het with weak unidentified station on nominal. April 2nd (David Sharp, NSW, FT- 950, NRD-535D, R8, R30A, Timewave 599ZX, various Palstar and MFJ accessories, Quantum Phaser, various Sangean and Tecsun portables, EWE aerials; via Bob Wilkner, DXLD) RAE, 6054.15v --- Found off-frequency and very distorted again at 2337 UT with usual music program hosted by M with infrequent announcements. Finally ID/IS/Jazz music routine at 2355, then the signal going off the air at 2356. But unlike the last time, they didn’t appear to jump up to their nominal 6060 this time. Strong signal. Here’s a link to a Youtube video I posted https://youtu.be/28UH81i8hiA (10 April) 73 (Dave Valko, PA, HCDX via WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DXLD) Awful --- not to be confused with R. Cultural Juan XXIII, Bolivia, 6054v but believed to be inactive until and unless Jamie Labadia gets the call to fix it up (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15345.080, Very nice TANGO music during German service from RAE Buenos Aires at 2140 UT, scheduled at 21-22 UT Mon-Fri, presenter announced Miguel Cantilo singer, - end of German service of technico performer Señor Muros (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, log 2130-2230 UT April 13, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARMENIA. April 9: Voice of Armenia in Arabic to ME 1922 on 4810 Yerevan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6dB1_yYRh8&feature=youtu.be (Ivo Ivanov, Blgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4810, Armenian Public Radio, Yerevan, *1900-1930*, 11-04, anthem, Arabic program, mentioned "Yerevan", Arabic comments. 24322 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Grundig Satellit 500, Sony ICF SW 7600G, cable antenna, 8 meters, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. ABC Radio Australia in English, instead of French on April 9 0800-0805 on 15240 SHP 100 kW / 030 deg to NPac French Mon-Fri 0800-0805 on 15240 SHP 100 kW / 030 deg to NPac English Sat/Sun 0800-0805 on 15415 SHP 100 kW / 355 deg to EaAs French Mon-Fri 0800-0805 on 15415 SHP 100 kW / 355 deg to EaAs English Sat/Sun 0800-0805 on 17840 SHP 100 kW / 070 deg to EPac French Mon-Fri 0800-0805 on 17840 SHP 100 kW / 070 deg to EPac English Sat/Sun My last recording of ABC Radio Australia in French, April 1 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2015/04/radio-australia-in-english-instead-of.html (DX RE MIX NEWS #905 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, April 13, 2015 via DXLD) April 9 was a Thursday, so is the point that they just missed one, or token French of 5 minutes x 5 days a week is canceled? Or maybe retimed due to irrelevant DST going off in Oz? (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) 9580, April 9 at 1305 after the news, I monitor what`s on R. Australia, where programming keeps changing. ABC Jazz mentioned, or is this just a promo? Do they plug into domestic networks at random, or do those vie one against another for additional shortwave coverage? At 1306 this Thursday I am pleased to hear `The Daily Planet` again, a world music show, which will include an Ethiopian pianist. But what happened to `Conversations with Richard Fidler` which had been during this hour lately? 1406 recheck, there it is an hour later than before, and replacing Triple J rock music, which can only be an improvement. So what does the current online RA program schedule show, once carefully reset for UTC instead of ``London`` time --- who cares what time it is in London where even there they refuse to observe GMT? I could have picked Tongatapu, Midway or many other islands in this drop-down skewed toward Pacificism. No, it isn`t. It`s a very long listing by continent/region, including many very obscure places not including Enid. Under America, only Indiana, Kentucky and South Dakota get separate subentries for places such as Vevay, Monticello and Beulah! The main America sexion has everything else from Adak on down except Argentina has its separate listings including Ushuaia. Back to the schedule: yes, for this Thursday it does show `Daily Planet` at 13, `Fidler` at 14. What about tomorrow Friday? 13-14 `Keys to Music`, 14-15 `Fidler`. We did hear the classical show `Keys to Music`, last Friday when it did not appear on the schedule. But what became of `Late Night Live`, another excellent interview show, which used to be at 12-13 Mon-Thu? Apparently nowhere on the RA schedule any more, shux. A good thing is getting rid of 3 or 4 weekdaily hours of Triple J `Unearthed`, except for Fridays at 15-18. BTW, at 1401 April 9 I compare the three frequencies: 9580 and 12085 are synchronized, at 70 and 30 degrees toward North America, but 12065, 355 from Shepparton toward Asia, is an echo apart, so suspect it is arriving by longpath; and also with CCI from Iran (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Oz changed from Daylight Saving Time to Standard in states/territories affected as of early Sun 5 Apr so domestic programming being relayed would now be an hour later UT (Theo Donnelly, BC, April 9, ODXA yg via DXLD) If they are relaying it on a non-delayed basis, anyway (gh) 9580, Friday, 10 April, 1200 UT with news and no "Keys to Music" classic music program like Friday, 3 April. Perhaps the program may have been special since it was on 3 April, Good Friday, an Australian holiday. Another thing I've noticed is their news program at this time in the morning sounds like it is coming from ABC television. The announcer would say: "You are watching the World" (Larry Zamora, Garland, TX, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Larry, `Keys to Music` was on one hour later April 10 at 1305+. Apparently this and other programs from domestic shifted one hour later with Australia going off DST for the winter the previous Sunday (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9580, 12085 & 12065, Friday April 10 at 1314, R. Australia amid `Keys to Music` appreciation show, discussing Chaikovsky, with some examples, guest being new conductor of the Christchurch Symphony; 1332 finally playing Francesca da Rimini complete to applause at 1359, no program outro but RA promo, 1400 news, 1406 `Conversations with Richard Fidler`, guest this time an astrophysicist/cosmologist, Alan Duffy, about colliding galaxies, etc. Lots of stimulating talk programming on the RA schedule now, so I go thru the entire week and pick out some of them with current timings, and update three of them on DX/SWL/MEDIA programs: `Late Night Live` is still on sked but only at 06-07 UT Tue thru Fri (when it really is late night in America at least). Make that 0605- `Download This Show` --- Fri 0430, Sun 1105, Mon 1730, Tue 1930 `Media Report` --- Thu 0730, 2230 `Future Tense` --- Thu 1930, Fri 0930, Sun 0130, Tue 0430 `Keys to Music` --- Fri 1305-1400, Sun 1805-1900 `Daily Planet` --- (world music) Mon thru Thu 1305-1400 Frequencies remain just: 09-21 12085, 12065, 9580; 21-09 17840, 15415, 15240 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15240, RA SHP S=8, but \\ 15415 kHz channel much stronger. and \\ 17840 powerhouse, the only station in 16mb at that time 2235 UT (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, log 2130-2230 UT April 13, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. 11590, RBA, 1445+ 31 March. Opening English // 15340 with "Sharing A Message Of Hope--Reach Beyond Australia", into "A Different Perspective". Not // after 1500, though -- 1/2/3 April check at 1408-1450 found 11590 off the air -- and a wiggle of my "boina para exitos en DX" to Glenn Hauser for his tip that RBA is on 12075 (as/of 3 April, apparently), heard with tuning signal/ID loop at 1326 on 4 April with opening announcement greeting listeners in South Asia at 1330 (and still listing 11590 kHz as the frequency) (Dan Sheedy, Moonlight Beach, CA, G5/PL606 + 6m X wire, via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) More and more frequency changes of Reach Beyond Australia, all to SEAs: [as of April 9] 1100-1115 9900 KNX 100 kW / 320 deg Tibetan Sun, ex 11590 1100-1115 9900 KNX 100 kW / 320 deg Vietnamese Tue/Fri, ex 11590 1115-1130 9900 KNX 100 kW / 320 deg Chinese Hakka Wed, ex 11590 1115-1130 9900 KNX 100 kW / 320 deg Chinese Falam Fri, ex 11590 1115-1130 9900 KNX 100 kW / 320 deg Burmese Sat, ex 11590 1115-1130 9900 KNX 100 kW / 320 deg English Sun-Tue/Thu, ex 11590 1130-1145 9900 KNX 100 kW / 320 deg Chinese Falam Sun/Wed, ex 11590 1130-1145 9900 KNX 100 kW / 320 deg Chinese Hakka Mon/Fri, ex 11590 1130-1145 9900 KNX 100 kW / 320 deg Burmese Tue/Thu, ex 11590 1130-1145 9900 KNX 100 kW / 320 deg English Sat, ex 11590 1145-1215 9900 KNX 100 kW / 320 deg Rawang, ex 11590 1230-1300 9720 KNX 100 kW / 315 deg Indonesian Mon-Sat, ex 9940 1230-1300 9720 KNX 100 kW / 315 deg Malaysian Sun, ex 9940 1300-1315 9720 KNX 100 kW / 315 deg Indonesian, ex 9940 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2015/04/more-and-more-frequency-changes-of.html (DX RE MIX NEWS #905 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, April 13, 2015 via DXLD) ** BAHAMAS. 810, ZNS-3 Freeport, 0021, program of Bahamian music, much better signal than // 1540 March 27 (XM, Cedar Key, Florida, NRD525D, R8A, E5 via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ZNS1 (Broadcasting Corp of the Bahamas), 1540 kHz, 2255-2325. Music followed by OM IDing as Bahama Radio Network at 2300 with timecheck as "7 PM". YL then began news. Lead story about rise in illegals arriving in Bahamas and a reminder that it is illegal to harbor them [very unique policy; maybe the US should follow it, too]. Break at 2303 for advert for local church, a PSA and then the church ad repeated (like on many US TV stations). News resumed till 2315 when sports started. Even mentioned the MSU/Duke game in progress. Followed by weather at 2322, timecheck and community announcements and funeral info. ID and timecheck at 2325 then music began. Good on 4/4 (Don Hosmer, [cruising] off coast of Cuba, MARE Tipsheet April 10 via DXLD) ** BAHRAIN. 9745-USB, I have been monitoring daily until solar disturbance on Thursday. Arabic music daily here from 2300 to sometimes past 0200, very weak. Peaks at time to fair. Usually one and sometime two English songs played. This week I heard Hotel California by Eagles, Iris by Goo Goo Dolls, Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd and Dave Guetta with Dangerous. Noted daily around 0105 plus-minus (Changing with local sunrise I suspect) the same tune played likely on a lute, followed by a brief announcement with low audio and then Qur`an for about 5 minutes then back to Arabic songs. Heard April 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8 and 9th around these same times. Best by far was April 6 with very strong signal including a nice ID as "Ninety-Eight point Four FM (echoed)" (Mickey Delmage, Sherwood Park, Alberta, Collins HF 2050; KLM 7-30 MHz Log Periodic, NASWA Flashsheet via WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DXLD) ** BANGLADESH. Strong reception of Bangladesh Betar on April 9: 1745-1900 on 13580 DKA 250 kW / 320 deg to WeEu English, videos http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2015/04/strong-reception-of-bangladesh-betar-on.html (DX RE MIX NEWS #905 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, April 13, 2015 via DXLD) ** BANGLADESH. Strong reception of Bangladesh Betar on April 9: 1745-1900 on 13580 DKA 250 kW / 320 deg to WeEu English, videos http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2015/04/strong-reception-of-bangladesh-betar-on.html -- 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DXLD) 4750, Bangladesh Betar, Apr 11 1301-1310, 33443, Bengali, Talk, ID at 1304. 9455, Bangladesh Betar, Apr 11 1323-1331, 34333, Nepali, News and Bangladesh music, ID at 1325. 15105, Bangladesh Betar, Apr 11 1234-1243, 35433, English, News, ID at 1240 and 1241. 15505, Bangladesh Betar, Apr 11 1403-1417, 25332-24332, Urdu, News and Bangladesh music, ID at 1415 (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC-R75, NRD- 525+RD-9830, NRD-345, Satellit 750, DE-1121; ANT, 130m Sloper Wire, 303WA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15505, April 13 at 1359, Bangladesh Betar IS, poor signal, but plenty to audiblize its mistimesignal ending today at 1359:47, opening Urdu (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGST) ** BERMUDA. 2582-USB, Bermuda Harbour Radio, 0035-0040 “… Bermuda harbour radio… showers… 65 degrees“ 6 April (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, South Florida, 746Pro, Drake R8, NRD 525, Sony 2010XA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 3310, Radio Mosoj Chaski, Cochabamba 1010-1025 silent 1 April; - 1013 YL in language to 1023 with strong signal 7 April 4409.8, Unid - Bolivia, Radio Eco, Reyes 0000 to 0012 very weak signal possibly Eco if still on. 6 April. 4451.2, Radio Santa Ana, Santa Ana de Yacuma 2320 to 2330 weak Spanish om 3 April; silent same time on 5 April. 4699.9, Radio San Miguel, Riberalta noted om in Spanish 0920 on 1 April; 2320 weak signal on 3 April, 2305 - 2355 fade up with om en español, deep fades with marginal signal on 5 April. 4716.65, Radio Yura, Yura 2330 to 2345 weak signal om in Spanish noted 3 April; noted 1012 sign on on 9 April (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, South Florida, 746Pro, Drake R8, NRD 525, Sony 2010XA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 6134.8, Radio Santa Cruz, 0014-0025, anuncios, pop Spanish music, in het with apparent 6135 R Aparecida, Brasil 27 March (XM, Cedar Key, Florida, NRD525D, R8A, E5 via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6134.80, Radio Santa Cruz, 2310 and recheck at 2355 with live sports event. Best on LSB 5 April (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, South Florida, 746Pro, Drake R8, NRD 525, Sony 2010XA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 6155, Radio Fides 0042, possible anuncio by W ancr, poor with QRN April 11th (XM, Cedar Key, Florida, NRD525D, R8A, E5 via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BONAIRE. I honestly can't recall seeing this anywhere but on TWR's own website http://www.twr.org/powerup they're trying to raise $3.8 million to boost power on PJB Bonaire-800 kHz from the current 100 kW up to 450 kW (just short of the 500 kW they used from sign-on in 1964 into, what, sometime in the 1990s?). No idea why they aren't going for the last 50,000 watts that would get it back up to the original 500 kW level. There's a video on the site that shows proposed directional patterns for the new transmitter -- the "north" beam will be farther west than currently, basically beamed right at Cuba, the Yucatán peninsula, northern México and up into the western U.S. The south pattern would blanket all of Venezuela and Guyana, the eastern half of Colombia, the western half of Surinam, and the extreme north of Brazil. There will also be a ND "Caribbean" pattern at some time during their broadcast day (or rather, night). Despite the tweaking of the DA pattern -- and the large amount of competition on the frequency -- presumably the power increase will make it an easier target for North American DXers once again. I don't think I've conclusively logged PJB here in Missouri since they cut power. Before that of course it was a nightly regular for many years. (Randy Stewart, Battlefield MO, April 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) We had this plan some months ago in DX Listening Digest. So does this cause any concern now among US or Canadian regulators? Does TWR have to do anything with NARBA or just go for it? Of maybe that`s why it`s `only` 450 kW? {this could blow away KQCV 800 OKC even here} WRTH shows no Cubans or Brazilians on 800, but there are several stations now in most other S American countries, the DR but nowhere else in Caribbean; in most Central American countries, numerous Mexicans. 73, (Glenn Hauser, ABDX et al. via DXLD) Glenn, I thought you might have, but I apparently missed it -- should have done a search! However, I don't recall seeing it specifically on the NRC or IRCA reflectors. It did take me by surprise, though -- I had just randomly surfed to the TWR website last night and there it was. As Bob Galerstein asked on the NRC list, didn't they power down because the 500 kW plant was such a power hog? I didn't see anything on their site addressing electrical grid or environmental concerns. On the TWR Facebook page they mention installation is planned for sometime in the summer, but I've never found a specific timetable anywhere. Their website does mention receiving a reception report/QSL request from New Zealand earlier this year. [Later:] Indeed, I just found it in DXLD 14-36, September 3, 2014. As it was a TWR press release about their 50th anniversary at Bonaire I recall I didn't read it all the way to the end, where the next-to-last paragraph mentions the $3.8 million 450 kW upgrade project (Randy Stewart, Arts Producer KSMU, 901 S. National, Springfield MO 65897, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Correct my memory if necessary, but didn't PJB-800 have to power down from 500 kW because of a (potential) shortage of electricity on Bonaire needed to power the 500 kW transmitter? (Bob Galerstein, WB2VGD, Monroe, NY, ABDX via DXLD) Back in the day, TWR had their own power house for the station. Ron Gitscher visited the site and took a series of pics. Of late PJB has been running 50 kW non-d at night and same with a two tower DA beamed south during the day with Spanish programming (Jerry Kiefer, Orlando, April 16, IRCA via DXLD) 800, Trans-World Radio, 0041, M preaching in Spanish, fair to good March 27 (XM, Cedar Key, Florida, NRD525D, R8A, E5 via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. This geomagnetic storm brought (this morning, Apr 16 before local sunrise here in the middle of Europe) a.o. a nice signal of Brazilian IPDA station on 1350 kHz, probably Rádio Capital, Rio Branco AC. Late David Miranda is not heard on IPDA stations anymore since his death (at least I have not heard him anymore), contrary to late Dr. Gene Scott who speaks daily on University Network several years after his death, like nothing happened (Karel Honzik, Czechia, MWCircle yg via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 3375.1, Brasil, Radio Municipal São Gabriel da Cachoeira, 1 April 1000 to 1012 om with Portuguese talk, very strong signal; - 0958 om in rapid Portuguese the brief music, a flute instrumental to 1003 , 7 April (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, South Florida, 746Pro, Drake R8, NRD 525, Sony 2010XA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 4785, Radio Brazil 5000 [sic], (Tentative), at 1010, on 9 April. A male announcer is talking but there is heavy CODAR. USB setting barely clears it up. On 11 Apr at 0950 the station just finished playing a song. A male DJ is speaking and the station is coming in Poor but readable. A song came on at 0951 with a female singer. Poor-JBA (John Cooper, Lebanon, PA, Winradio-G33DDC, CommRadio CR-1a, RF Space-SDR-IQ, Sangean ATS-909X with Clear Mod, Tecsun PL- 660, GAP Hear It In Line Module, Timewave ANC-4, Wellbrook ALA-1530S+, PARS-SWL End Fed x 2, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ? Where did you get that name? The listed 4785 ZY is R. Caiari (gh) ** BRAZIL. 4865, Brasil, R Verdes Florestas, Cruzeiro do Sul, 1103,M in talk, unable to ID language, poor with QRN March 29, one of the more regular morning Brasilians; I am surprised it does not get reported more often (XM, Cedar Key, Florida, NRD525D, R8A, E5 via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 4876, April 15 at 1012, talk in assertive Brazuguese, music, probably their version of the super-hype-voice-actors we hear from Mexico; very poor signal, but presumably Rdif Roraima, Boa Vista. Barely awake, did not nail the frequency vs 4875, but no het, and nothing on 4885 from either ZY at this late hour. Note: 4876 is not Acreana as per recent Pavanello log: that`s one of the 4885 stations (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 6040, Brasil, RB2 Curitiba, presumed, 2227-0002, // 6135, 9630, 11855; not heard 9725 and 11935, programs with both commentary and music in Portuguese, best on 6040 and 6135, at this time I am not sure if everything on these frequencies is RB2 or are some still R Aparecida, I was unable to get an ID (3/31) (XM, Cedar Key, Florida, NRD525D, R8A, E5 via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) If you hear R. Aparecida on 6040, 9725 or 11935, it`s merely RB2 relaying Aparecida network programming (gh, DXLD) 6040, Rádio RB2, Curtiba, 0655-0710, 12-04, religious program "Com a Mãe Aparecida". 14321. (Méndez) 9725, Rádio RB2, Curitiba, 0552-0630, 12-04, religious comments, Portuguese. 24322. (Méndez) 9819.8, Rádio 9 de Julho, São Paulo, 0703-0718, 12-04, religious program "Com a Mãe Aparecida". 23322. (Méndez) 11935, Rádio RB2, Curitiba, 0702-0716, 12-04, religious comments, program "Com a Mãe Aparecida". 24322 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Logs in Lugo, Grundig Satellit 500, Tecsun PL-880 and Sony ICF SW7600G, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11935, RB2, 0128-0203 22 March. Poor with Portuguese religious chat/interview, occasional Christian contem-pop, quick electronic zap stinger at 0200 with ID. Finally got a decent // on previously unheard 9725 (very poor) and even 6040 was making an effort this evening altho at a nearly imaginary level (Dan Sheedy, Moonlight Beach, CA, G5/PL606 + 6m X wire, via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 9565.05, SRDA, 0837, tentative with religious talk, weak. 23 March. 9565.05, SRDA, 0745, long winded sermon, // 9586.9. 26 March 9586.9, SRDA, 0735, sermon, fair signal but peaking to good level. 26 March (David Sharp, NSW, FT-950, NRD-535D, R8, R30A, Timewave 599ZX, various Palstar and MFJ accessories, Quantum Phaser, various Sangean and Tecsun portables, EWE aerials; via Bob Wilkner, DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 9645.38, Rádio Bandeirantes, 0730, lively conversation, into ads or similar, fair. 26 March. 9645.4, Rádio Bandeirantes, 0810, good with news or similar by man, causing weak harmonic [means het] with someone on nominal but completely readable in USB. 23 March (David Sharp, NSW, FT-950, NRD- 535D, R8, R30A, Timewave 599ZX, various Palstar and MFJ accessories, Quantum Phaser, various Sangean and Tecsun portables, EWE aerials; via Bob Wilkner, DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 9819.68, Rádio 9 de Julho, 0720, Brasopops, talk by a man, very good. 26 March, David Sharp NSW (David Sharp, NSW, FT-950, NRD- 535D, R8, R30A, Timewave 599ZX, various Palstar and MFJ accessories, Quantum Phaser, various Sangean and Tecsun portables, EWE aerials; via Bob Wilkner, DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 11780.11, RNdA, 0800, strong with news by a man. 26 March (David Sharp, NSW, FT-950, NRD-535D, R8, R30A, Timewave 599ZX, various Palstar and MFJ accessories, Quantum Phaser, various Sangean and Tecsun portables, EWE aerials; via Bob Wilkner, DXLD) 11815, Rádio Nacional Brasil spur, 0109, 4/6/15, in Portuguese. Crackly distorted spur of // 11780 fundamental which was very good. Weak (Mark Taylor, Madison, Wisconsin, Perseus, WinRadio g313e, Eton e1, Grundig Satellit 800 & G3, Sangean 909X with clear mod, Tecsun PL 660; 40 meters dipole, RF Systems Mk 2, Flextenna, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) I never hear one without the other matching: 11745 (gh, DXLD) 11815, 11745 and 11710, April 9 at 0644, extremely distorted crackling musical spurs from 11780.1v, RNA/RNB. 11770-11790, April 11 at 0056, RNA/RNB 11780.1v is splattering up and down, in addition to the usual separate crackling spurs circa 11815 and 11745. The RAE Argentina IS on 11711- is also marred by the weaker one. 11815 & 11745, April 12 at 0120, crackling spurs from 11780.1v RNA/RNB, and a weaker one detectable around 11710 but no RAE to QRM on a weekend. 11745 & 11815, April 14 at 0514, crackling spurs from 11780.1v RNA/RNB are audible but poorly while the extra 11710 one is not, general signal levels being lower than usual (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 11855, Brasil, R. Aparecida, 0135-0201 29 March. M/W Portuguese religious chat with occasional modern Christian-pop. Apparently a popular programme as also heard on RB2 11935, 6040 + bits/pieces on Aparecida-9630 (mostly covered by (presumed) CNR1- Geermu). Just a very weak carrier on 9725 with ACI from RRI-9730, while 6135 was all Santa Cruz this evening (Dan Sheedy, Moonlight Beach, CA, G5/PL606 + 6m X wire, via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 15190.15, R. Inconfidência, 0709, tentative with threshold bits of audio but never more than JBA. 26 March (David Sharp, NSW, FT- 950, NRD-535D, R8, R30A, Timewave 599ZX, various Palstar and MFJ accessories, Quantum Phaser, various Sangean and Tecsun portables, EWE aerials; via Bob Wilkner, DXLD) 15190, Radio Inconfidência, Belo Horizonte, 0700-0720, 12-04, identification: "Inconfidência", "Trem Caipira", program Trem Caipira, with typical Brazilian music "sertaneja", news and comments about Brazil, all days on air between 0700 and 1000, with Múcio Bolívar, more than 20 years on air. 24322 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Logs in Lugo, Grundig Satellit 500, Tecsun PL-880 and Sony ICF SW7600G, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) [and non]. 15190.0 and 15190.090 heavy co-channel mixture and 90 Hertz annoying BUZZ tone, RMI Okeechobee Florida's Radio Africa? program, 2100-2315 registered, and odd frequency Rádio Inconfidencia, Brazil, in BrasPort (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, log 2130-2230 UT April 13, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BULGARIA. SECRETLAND, Denge Kurdistan in Kurdish from very old Soviet transmitter in Secretbrod: 1300-1600 on 11510 SCB 100 kW / 090 deg to WeAs + 2nd harmonic 23010 [sic] + spurs 11490/11530 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2015/04/denge-kurdistan-in-kurdish-from-very.html (DX RE MIX NEWS #905 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, April 13, 2015 via DXLD) 2 x 11510 would be 23020, a mistake I did not catch before recording WOR 1769 (gh) April 9: Denge Kurdistan Kurdish to WeAs 1408 on 11510 Secretbrod + 2nd harmonic 23020 + spurs 11490, 11530 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqwzPxxGKGk&feature=youtu.be Denge Kurdistan Kurdish to WeAs 1500 on 11510 Secretbrod+2nd hx 23020+spurs 11490,11530 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bVflxiIy7g&feature=youtu.be Denge Kurdistan Kurdish to WeAs 1555 on 11510 Secretbrod+2nd hx 23020+spurs 11490,11530 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gV81gfZmPNU&feature=youtu.be Denge Kurdistan Kurdish to WeAs 1557 on 11510 Secretbrod+2nd hx 23020+spurs 11490,11530 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivucAghi6RE&feature=youtu.be (Ivo Ivanov, Blgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BULGARIA. PIRATES: 13800, R. Spaceshuttle, Apr 05 *1800-1810, 35332, English, 1800 sign on with music, ID at 1802, Music (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC-R75, NRD-525+RD-9830, NRD-345, Satellit 750, DE-1121; ANT, 130m Sloper Wire, 303WA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. New STEREO catch! Heard on a Chrysler Corp stock AM Stereo / FM Stereo / CD / Cassette radio in a 2002 Dodge Stratus R/T on Interstate 80 about 20 miles east of Evanston, WY: 4/27/15 [sic] 2130, 750, CKJH SK Melfort Heard "Classic Hits CK-750" liner and into Linda Ronstadt' s "You' re No Good" followed by a CK- 750 jingle. Been a while since I've had the pleasure of the stereo indicator lighting on my radio since my local KEVA was shut off (by yours truly at the direction of the owner) in July of 2014. It was a pleasure to hear this one pop up. Signal was fair, enough to light the stereo indicator and hear great separation! Have no clue where KOAL-Price, UT was, but it was nice to hear music in their absence (Michael n Wyo Richard, April 13, ABDX via WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DXLD) Now this is nice and it`s very rare. Congrats because I view getting DX in AM Stereo a real accomplishment. 25 years ago it was everywhere. Today is very unusual, Good going on this one (Kevin Redding, Crump, TN, ibid.) Thanks, Kevin! ANYTHING that lights the stereo indicator is a rarity; especially for me here in this neck of the woods. Tried again for it last night but instead had some SS station booming in. Not sure where that was coming from but figured conditions must have gone auroral and it was something from somewhere in Mexico (Michael n Wyo, ibid.) Your Spanish most likely is El Paso. They've been a known cheater for a year or so (Todd Skaine, Woodbury, MN, ibid.) ** CANADA [and non]. 1600, 0859, USA, KVRI, Blaine WA with Asian Indian vocals, brief English ID “This is KVRI… Portland…” 18/3. BCM (Bryan Clark, Mangawhai, Northland, North Island, New Zealand, April NZ DX Times via DXLD) [KVRI:] That Canadian-law-breaking ‘pirate’ on 1600 in Blaine, WA, huh? The CRTC has ordered their production company and the one for KPRI/1550 to cut programming feeds from Metro Vancouver locations but so far neither has budged, nor has the Commish acted. The third, KVRA/1110, a pip-squeak daytimer in Oak Harbor, WA, east of Victoria, obeyed.) (Theo Donnelly, Burnaby BC, April NZ DX Times via DXLD) ?? It couldn`t ID for Portland (OR), which is across from Vancouver WA, not Vancouver BC! (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. 2749-USB, April 11 at 0102, very poor signal but YL voice, presumably marine weather; then I check 2598-USB and hear more of same, probably not //, both too weak to read --- but first time I`ve heard either in months, not all winter, so suspected the Canadian Coast Guard may have closed them, but Bill Hepburn confirmed they were still on. His listings http://www.dxinfocentre.com/mb.htm show these must have been, on shared frequencies, at this hour: 2749, VCO, Sydney NS, starting at 0040 2598, VCP-4, Placentia NL, starting at 0048 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 2598-USB, VON, St. John's Newfoundland 0010 to 0015 “St John“ weather “5 knots …” om 6 April (Bob Wilkner, FL, WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also NEWFOUNDLAND ** CANADA. Former CBC Radio host and writer Jurgen Gothe died Thursday afternoon, his wife has confirmed. The cause of death has not been released, but he was understood to have been undergoing treatment for cancer. Gothe was born in Berlin in 1944. He was best known by many CBC Radio 2 listeners as the award-winning host of DiscDrive, the national afternoon radio show featuring classical and jazz music which he hosted from Vancouver for 23 years. He was also an award-winning food and wine writer for the Vancouver Sun, the Globe and Mail, Georgia Straight and NUVO magazine. His wife Kate noted that it was fitting that he passed after 5 p.m. PT, during happy hour http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/former-cbc-radio-host-jurgen-gothe-dead-1.3027822 (via Robert Catt, Canada, 10 April, alt.radio.networks.cbc via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** CANADA. Hey Glenn [Re 15-14:] -- RCI to return. Sadly, a few people did not see this for what it was: a joke. Wish it were true! Keep up the good work (Colin Newell, BC, April 1+ 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) When I first got into the hobby in the early 1980s, Radio Canada International was my favorite. Too bad we can't turn back time to the 1970s-1980s when the airwaves were full of interesting stations (Glenn Blum, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Canadian views on next TV transition --- Some interesting comments from broadcasters on Canada's plan to repack the TV bands in unison with US with _no_ compensation to broadcasters! http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/sf10962.html (Bill Hepburn, Ont., March 23, WTFDA gg via DXLD) What I find most interesting are the figures indicating that OTA viewership in Canada has been constant since 2009 (which seems to conflict with information the CRTC released last year) and has *increased* dramatically in Toronto and Vancouver (Doug Smith, TN, ibid.) ** CHINA. CHINA BROADCASTER TO PUNISH ANCHOR WHO INSULTED MAO VOA News April 09, 2015 http://www.voanews.com/content/china-broadcaster-to-punish-anchor-who-insulted-mao/2712351.html A Chinese state television broadcaster says it will punish one of its top anchors who was captured on video ridiculing Mao Zedong, the founder of modern China. In the video taken at a private dinner, China Central Television host Bi Fujian can be seen parodying a Cultural Revolution-era opera, Taking Tiger Mountain, before using an epithet to describe Mao. The video spread quickly on Chinese social media, prompting CCTV to suspend Bi, according to some Chinese media reports. In a statement late Wednesday, CCTV said Bi Fujian's remarks "have had a serious social impact" and vowed to "seriously handle the matter in line with related regulations and based on careful investigation." The 56-year-old Bi is known for hosting a talent show and the CCTV Spring Festival Gala, according to the state-run Global Times newspaper. His comments reflect a division within Chinese society about the legacy of Mao, who served as the chairman of China's Communist Party since its establishment in 1949. Mao, who died in 1976, oversaw the Great Leap Forward. During that period, China was transformed from an agricultural to an industrial economy, but millions died of starvation. In the years following his death, the party has acknowledged Mao made mistakes. Its official line is that Mao's policies were 70 percent correct and 30 percent wrong (via VOA Radiogram April 11 via roger, dxldyg via DXLD) ** CHINA [and non]. 15590, CNR1 (jammer) 1356-1400* 2 Apr. Crunching VoT-15587 (Aoki shows 15588, but VoT zero-beats to 15587 on the G5) also on 15540 v. VoT 15542 (Dan Sheedy, Moonlight Beach, CA, G5/PL606 + 6m X wire, via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15490, CNR1 (jammer) 1406+ 2 Apr. Loud vs (unheard) VoT 15492 (Dan Sheedy, Moonlight Beach, CA, G5/PL606 + 6m X wire, via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) CNR 1 Jamming and Firedrake vs Radio Free Asia and Voice of America from 0546 on 21650 PHT 250 kW / 315 deg to CeAs Tibetan Thu VOA from 0548 on 21690 TIN 250 kW / 309 deg to EaAs Chinese RFA from 0602 on 21550 TIN 250 kW / 297 deg to CeAs Tibetan RFA from 0604 on 21690 DHA 250 kW / 075 deg to CeAs Tibetan RFA from 0607 on 15720 DB 200 kW / 117 deg to CeAs Tibetan RFA http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2015/04/cnr-1-jamming-and-firedrake-vs-radio.html (DX RE MIX NEWS #905 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, April 13, 2015 via DXLD) ?? Are those ``froms`` when you happened to tune in or when they really came on?? Were some FD and some CNR1, or both at once, on some or all of them? (gh, DXLD) April 9: CNR 1 Jamming vs Voice of America in Tibetan 0546 on 21650 Tinang https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFSBtRw0DAg&feature=youtu.be CNR 1 Jamming plus Firedrake vs Radio Free Asia in Chinese 0548 on 21690 Tinian https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tNqdZo32JA&feature=youtu.be CNR 1 Jamming plus Firedrake vs Radio Free Asia in Tibetan 0602 on 21550 Tinian https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Us1gSNtZJCE&feature=youtu.be CNR 1 Jamming vs Radio Free Asia in Tibetan 0604 on 21690 Al Dhabbaya https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LtfGMPcppc&feature=youtu.be CNR 1 Jamming vs Radio Free Asia in Tibetan 0607 on 15720 Dushanbe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVDjMl01GFU&feature=youtu.be (Ivo Ivanov, Blgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) CNR1 Jammers: Conditions were very noisy here when I turned on the receiver/computer at 1030. Nothing new or unusual, but I did find a total of 17 frequencies with CNR1 jammers on Sound of Hope. It’s not the most ever noted at one time (I think I had 21 once). For your amusement, I made a video and posted it on Youtube. Here’s the link: https://youtu.be/x-WMzTeGWks (9 April) 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA USA, Perseus SDR, 153 foot triangular Delta Loop, Wellbrook ALA1530S loop, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) 9660, CNR 1 Jammer - TAIWAN. Radio Taiwan, (Presumed) at 1117, on 9 Apr. The station has a male and a female announcer talking, but there is Chinese Fire Dragon music playing in the background with an instrumental piece with chimes, gongs, drums, flutes and other instruments playing. I am presuming that two jammers are at work at the same time. Fair (John Cooper, Lebanon, PA, Winradio-G33DDC, CommRadio CR-1a, RF Space-SDR-IQ, Sangean ATS-909X with Clear Mod, Tecsun PL-660, GAP Hear It In Line Module, Timewave ANC-4, Wellbrook ALA-1530S+, PARS-SWL End Fed x 2, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) April 9: CNR 1 Jamming vs VOA in Chinese to EaAs 1345 on 13680 Saipan plus wrong NHK via Issoudun https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EHeFAImK-c&feature=youtu.be (Ivo Ivanov, Blgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) [and non]. 18990, April 9 at 1358 UT, JBA carrier only here in the 18 MHz band. The HFCC registered Thursday 13-14 frequency for RFA Tibetan via KUWAIT is supposed to be 19000, with 18990 on Wed & Sat instead. Could be I am only hearing trace of a ChiCom jammer on wrong frequency, as has happened before contrary to schedules. CNR1 jammers morning of April 10: 11500, April 10 at 1350, CNR1 jammer, very good with flutter; no 10s 11785, April 10 at 1350, CNR1 jammer, fair with flutter and close to matching 11500. This one is vs VOA via Philippines 11970, April 10 at 1350, CNR1 jammer, fair with flutter, not synch with 11500; Aoki shows 11500 vs Sound of Hope; and 11970 vs Radio Free Asia via SOH, Taiwan 12910, April 10 at 1353, CNR1 jammer, very poor with flutter 13920, April 10 at 1354, CNR1 jammer, very poor with flutter 15115, April 10 at 1355, CNR1 jammer mixing equally with VOA Thailand 15265, April 10 at 1355, CNR1 jammer with het. Aoki shows during this hour only, 15265 bears both RTI from Tainan, perpetually off- frequency; and RFA Tibetan via Tajikistan. None propagating in the 14s, 16s, 17s, 18s, 19s. K index 4 at 1200 & 1500. 15565, April 11 at 0051, CNR1 jammer, poor signal with low rumbling audible heterodyne, Chinese and CCI, this being the VOA via THAILAND hour (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9975, CNR 1 jammer // 4800 at 1652 mixed with another station (RFA Uighur) S10. 7730, unID at 1739 with Chinese talks (spur?) S0 (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, April 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 14800.000, CNR1, parking jammer for later SOH service, \\ 15480 14900.000, CNR1 program, parking jammer for later SOH service \\ 15480 15480, CNR1 reference program at 2213 UT (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, log 2130-2230 UT April 13, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7200, CNR1 jamming, 1203, April 14. // 6125; mixing with UNID station (not Myanmar) which seemed to also be in Chinese. The UNID was not SOH, based upon signal strength and program format. Thanks to Ralph Perry's alert while I was away on vacation. Not listed yet with Aoki. Probably both stations off at 1300. [Later:] Thanks to Mauno Ritola for this info: "It's for RTI in Chinese 1000-1300 per their A15 schedule" (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, E1 & CR-1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) CNR1 jammers morning of April 15 with degraded propagation: 10960, April 15 at 1317, CNR1 jammer, very poor with flutter 10870, April 15 at 1318, CNR1 jammer, poor with flutter 11430, April 15 at 1320, CNR1 jammer, very poor with flutter 13870, April 15 at 1321, CNR1 jammer, very poor with flutter 13830, April 15 at 1321, CNR1 jammer, very poor with flutter 14870, April 15 at 1325, CNR1 jammer, very poor with flutter; none in the OOB 9s, 12s, 15s, 16s, 17s (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. Summer A-15 of China National Radio 17 in Kazakh: 0000-1800 on 11630 LIN 100 kW / 286 deg to CHN Kazakh CNR-17 0000-1200 on 12055 LIN 100 kW / 298 deg to CHN Kazakh CNR-17 1200-1800 on 9630 LIN 100 kW / 298 deg to CHN Kazakh CNR-17 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2015/04/summer-15-of-china-national-radio-17-in.html (Ivo Ivanov, April 11, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also KUWAIT, 11630 collision ** CHINA. 6200, Voice of Jinling, April 14 still with their unique double sign on; *1236 on for 15 seconds; back on again after 65 seconds; much stronger than Tibet (PBS Xizang), which was almost fair before VOJ signed on (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, E1 & CR-1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [non]. 1520, April 9 at 1320 UT, fair and steady signal from CRI English about S. Korean stox, other financial news, ``21 past the hour`` timecheck; not // 9570 via Cuba which is `China Drive`. At 1327 UT, 1520 calls itself `Beijing Hour` with promos past 1330 UT. This is of course, KYND Cypress TX (Houston), 25 kW daytimer, supposedly broad circular lobe tangent eastward, but we are NNW. This is almost a sesquihour after sunrise here (1207 UT today), but still skywaving in. Facilitated by the absence of KOKC, and no doubt as good in OKC, where this ChiCom usurpation of 1520 must cause a bit of consternation among the uninformed. Every time I hear this or another CRI relay in the USA, I am ireful, for China does not allow any US station to broadcast inside that country, let alone a US government outlet, and in fact jams them when they try to broadcast into from outside. The ChiCom arrogantly take advantage of our democratic freedom of speech, the FCC not prohibiting anything to do with programming, without any thought of reciprocating; which the US ought to demand. By 1352 UT recheck, KYND is finally almost faded out, 105 minutes after LSR (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [non]. 15700, April 13 at 1401, CRI English via CUBA, with noise from self-imposed crackling --- antenna wires shorting in the breeze? A recurrent problem, one of countless at the Cuban sites. I compare to same program not crackling on 17630 via EAST TURKISTAN [not Mali], and find Cuba is two seconds behind (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [non]. Albania: 6020, CRI, 04-APR at 0124Z+ Cerrik, Albania (presumed), “The Beijing Hour” in accent-free English, inclusive of China and world-wide news, to worldwide weather reports for cities like Nairobi, Monrovia and Toronto, followed by learning English “one- word-at-a-time” by examining the word “selfy” [sic], including a technical definition of what “selfy” means, as well as a conversational male and female discussion of possible psychological labels for people who take selfies, almost like discussing a disease; some doers were described as “exhibitionists” and “narcissists”, followed by supposedly candid testimonials from people who did or did not take selfies and their reasons, then to learning some key Chinese words. SIO~433/het, R75 + 160’ indoor wire (Tom Root, Flushing MI, MARE Tipsheet April 10 via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. 5910, April 15 at 0536, no signal from HJDH, and come to think of it, have not heard it here for some weeks. The other HJDH appears still extant on 6010+ with music, Spanish. Has anyone heard 5910 anywhen? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CONGO. 6115, Radio Congo, 1822, just caught fill music they sometimes use at end of broadcast, plug pulled at 1825. Good. April 2nd, 1815, good with a man reading news, music snippets between some stories, into actuality. April 5th (David Sharp, NSW, FT-950, NRD- 535D, R8, R30A, Timewave 599ZX, various Palstar and MFJ accessories, Quantum Phaser, various Sangean and Tecsun portables, EWE aerials; via Bob Wilkner, DXLD) 6115, Radio Congo, Brazaville, 1803-1829*, 14-04, French, news and comments about Congo and other African countries, Vernacular songs. 14321 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Logs in Lugo, Grundig Satellit 500, Tecsun PL-880 and Sony ICF SW7600G, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 910, Radio Metropolitana, Villa María, Ciudad de la Habana. 1051 March 28, 2015. Male with news items, chimes with singing ID at 1052, back to news items read by man and woman. Good with the local on 910 easily nulled (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 950, April 10 at 0118 UT, as I have just logged XERN in Nuevo León [see MEXICO], I hear the Radio Reloj ``RR`` Morse code sounder, so I know it has to be Cuba, brought in a little better by rotating the DX-398, but still all I can copy are the minutely time tone followed by RR for the next two minutes, and compared to WWV, Reloj is 17 seconds slow!! Good enough for Commie government work? WRTH 2015 shows two CMBDs on 950, each 10 kW: in Camagüey and closer Arroyo Arenas, Habana (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 1070, Radio Guana, Guane [sic], 0047+, nice program of Spanish ballads by W, good but not as strong as // 990 Pinar del Rio March 27 (XM, Cedar Key, Florida, NRD525D, R8A, E5 via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) It`s really Guaná, per WRTH (gh) ** CUBA. 5040, Radio Habana Cuba. 2332 April 4, 2015. Conclusion of Science & Technology Breakthrough segment, "... I am Arnaldo "Arnie" Coro..." then a promo for those in Havana to listen to RHC on 102.5 FM (so do they alternate languages and/or feed the same time as airing on shortwave?). Into excellent The Jazz Place featuring the late Canadian pianist Oscar Peterson accompanying on songs with Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Getz and Billie Holliday. "We're back in two weeks... in Studio Six..." (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [and non]. 15370, April 9 at 1249, RHC still AWOL from this frequency, and not on 15730 either. Wolfgang Büschel has received a new A-15 schedule not effective until April 11, claiming that 15730 will then be the frequency at 11-15, or is that a transposition typo? Why would RHC move? In HFCC, wherein Arnie refuses to participate, for fear of having to deal with ---ugh--- Americans, there is one possible conflict on 15370: 1230-1300 only, Vatican in Russian via IBB Tinang, Philippines (violating Separation of Church and State), but no sign of it here. 15730, however, is registered to Pakistan in Chinese at 12- 13, but Ivo Ivanov axually heard that April 8 on alternate 15700 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1768, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6155-6175, April 10 at 0131, RHC English 6165 is totally out of whack, just huge crackling noise blob covering out to 20 kHz with no programmatic modulation detectable within it. Fixing that will require a lot more than wiggling a patchcord! English on 6060 is nominal, as is Spanish on 6060. 6165, April 10 at 0538, RHC is *still* totally out of whack, nothing but noise blob on this `English` frequency, and blocking three channels, as first noted at 0131. At least four hours of this and nobody notices at Bauta that 100 kW transmitter #4 on antenna #10 toward Chicago needs a bit of attention! 15370, April 10 at 1311, RHC is back on this frequency, which had been missing since last heard April 5. A-15 RHC sked effective tomorrow still shows 15370 as 100 kW Bauta #4, on antenna #8 toward San Francisco at 13-15; while 15730 will be new for 100 kW Bauta transmitter #1, on antenna #4 toward Rio de Janeiro at 11-15. So never mind my guess that 15730 might be a typo --- both are on the schedule. Also, 11950 at 15-18 UT nondirexional is labeled Esperanto Sunday only, but that would only apply to the first half hour, so not clear if it really be on daily otherwise in Spanish for the full period, but no other frequency, not even previous 11760, is shown during that midday trihour. Sorting out the three transmitter sites, everything is Bauta, {5 x 100 kW, plus #6 with unshown power on 5040}, EXCEPT: 5 x 250 kW at Titán: 11-13 9550; 11-15 15230; 21-05 11840; 22-05 15230; 23-07 6000. 2 x 50 kW at Bejucal: 11-15 9640, 21-04 9710, 2230-0030 15370; 1 x 100 kW (called #9) at Bejucal: 11-15 9820, 21-05 9535 6060, April 11 at 0045 UT, RHC with someone speaking ``church Spanish``, and sure `nuff, it`s the Pope`s portable voice, with official greeting to the President of Panamá, as the big-deal Seventh Summit is getting underway, seemingly live coverage. 17730, tuning around further, at 0052 UT April 11 I find this RHC frequency still on air with same, and holding up with a VG signal. Vatican spoxeman is finishing and at 0053 a childlike voice introduces the next speaker, Secretary General of the OAS, also greeting the Pan Pres & spouse. Also on 9710, 9535, 15230, 11760, 11840, 13740 at least. This must be pre-empting regular programming, and do not be surprised if there is more of this on Saturday, even causing some frequency extensions. According to the brand-new A-15 schedule, 17730 is supposed to finish at 2300 after European service from Bauta #1, and switch to 11670 for Rio de Janeiro until 0400. 17730 is still on at 0111 with someone speaking in English (a number of Caribbean countries are in this), but voice-over translation into Spanish, bummer. Anyhow, RHC is doing a lot more on the Summit than we can ever expect from VOA --- and I wonder how R. Martí will be playing it, as the Cuban-Americans are none too happy about Pres. Obama meeting with Pres. Castro. 6165 meanwhile is back in whack tonight, after last night`s total disaster of huge noise blob instead of English. But it`s normal RHC programming at 0111 // 6000, not Summit-live. [and non] 15370, April 11 at 1310, no signal from RHC, nor 15730, nor 15230, but this time it`s a propagation disturbance as 19m is almost dead except for something Arabish? weak on 15620 [no, it must be VOA in Somali via BOTSWANA]. But by 1323, 15370 is starting to fade in at very poor level, and also always even weaker 15230. By 1352, 16m is still dead [WWV says K index at 12 was 4, but ``no storms``]. By 1355, the CRI relay carrier on 15700 is on at good level, but still no RHC on 15730. Guess that NF will start April 12, maybe. 15730, April 12 at 1302, RHC on new frequency with its official 2- week-delayed start of A-15 schedule. VG but some deep fades, during Maduro anti-American speech clip from Panamá confab. So I check which other frequencies are on air and which not: Confirmed after 1302 also on: 15370, 15230, 13740, 11950, 11860, 9820, 9640. NOT on: 17730, 11760, 9550. However at 1418 check, 15730 and 13740 and 11860 are off. The latter two are now scheduled to close at 1400 but 15730 supposed to be 1500* New A-15 schedule grid indeed no longer shows 17730 in the mornings, so 15730 is a replacement for that. 11760 is no longer on the morning schedule at all, not starting until 1800, toward Chicago! I`m hearing something else on 11760 after 1300, now sked as CRI English via Kunming at 12-14. 9550 is now scheduled for RHC at 11-13 only, via Titán site to San Francisco, so it will still be colliding with CRI in Vietnamese during that same bihour. 9550 replaces 6000. 13740 replaces former usage of 11950, while 11950 replaces 11760. 11950, Sunday April 12 at 1502.5, RHC Esperanto starts late, but on new scheduled single frequency. The other weekly airings are listed as 0700 on 6100 (extended from 0700* English), and 2230 on 15370 (instead of French Mon-Sat). No change there except we know that the 0700 could appear on any one or two of the 6 MHz channels (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11-13 April 12: I heard all RHC according to the xls. schedule, the lower noted at remote Florida FL-USA post, the upper 15 and 17 MHz broadcasts heard at KS-USA far away post, also MEX / CeAM outlet too. 15230 kHz channel had multi-path echo reception around the globe - I guess. 13740 tx#2 was a little late on air, or had - probably - breaks in their transmission (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15730, April 13 at 1325, 1400 chex, no signal from RHC on its newest frequency which started and was heard yesterday. So much for that. 15370 and 15230 are propagating well with contentious speech from Raúl; also 15700 CRI after 1400. RHC not back on 17730 either (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RHC Spanish: 11760 excellent audio signal S=9+10dB, here in southern Germany. 11840 S=8 13740 S=7 at 2155 UT April 13. 15230 at 2204 UT, S=8 in southern Germany, RHC Portuguese to Brazil (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, log 2130-2230 UT April 13, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15730, April 14 at 1325, RHC is back on its new frequency today with a speech, as heard April 12 but not April 13. By 1408 it`s still on with music, but so are 11860 and 13740, which are supposed to close at 1400, as the sloppyrators at RadioCuba have not got around to turning them off. I also notice some CCI under 13740, which per HFCC would after 1400 be IBB in Chinese via TINIAN on Tue & Thu only; before 1400, Noel Green in England was getting QRM from RRI in Russian on 13740 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15730 is on air today (14th) at 1330 and // with 11860 15230 and 15370. 13740 has RRI in Russian at this time. All Cuban signals are weak but identifiable in Spanish (Noel R. Green (NW England), DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5040, April 15 at 0532, RHC in Spanish instead of English as now scheduled this hour; in fact, zero frequencies are supposed to be in Spanish after 0500. Why does RHC have such a hard time adhering to its own schedule? Low morale? Sheer incompetence? Dozing off in the nightmiddle? Blame it on automation? Unlikely, that. Still English on the rest of the overkill Cuban Five, 6000, 6060, 6100, 6165 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. Radio Habana Cuba A-15 finally. RADIO HABANA CUBA - HORARIOS, BANDAS Y FRECUENCIAS Periodo del 12 de Abril de 2015 a 8/15 de Noviembre de 2015. Sites: Ba = Bauta, Be = Bejucal, Ti = Titán Quivicán San Felipe ZONAS GEOGRÁFICAS FRECUENCIAS HORARIOS - UTC TRANSMISIONES EN ESPAÑOL - PERIODO A-15 Zonas Geográficas Beam to: North and Central/Sudamérica tx kW deg 11950 Ba 100 n-d 1100-1500, En Contacto 1335 Sun 11760 Ba 100 n-d 2100-0200, En Contacto 2235 Sun Nueva York 6060 Ba 100 010 0000-0500, En Contacto 0135 Mon 11860 Ba 100 010 1100-1400, En Contacto 1335 Sun San Francisco 9550 Ti 250 310 1100-1300 15370 Ba 100 310 1300-1500, En Contacto 1335 Sun Chicago 9850 Ba 100 340 1100-1300 América Central 9820 Be 100 233 1100-1500, En Contacto 1335 Sun 9535 Be 100 233 2100-0500, En Contacto 2235 Sun, 0135 Mon Antilles 9710 Be 50 160 2100-0400, En Contacto 2235 Sun, 0135 Mon 9640 Be 50 160 1100-1500, En Contacto 1335 Sun Río de Janeiro 11670 Ba 100 130 2300-0400 En Contacto 0135 Mon 15730 Ba 100 130 1100-1500, En Contacto 1335 Sun Buenos Aires 15230 Ti 250 160 1100-1500, En Contacto 1335 Sun 15230 Ti 250 160 2300-0500 En Contacto 0135 Mon 13740 Ba 100 160 1100-1400, En Contacto 1335 Sun 13740 Ba 100 160 2100-0400, En Contacto 2235 Sun, 0135 Mon Chile 11840 Ti 250 190 2100-0500, En Contacto 2235 Sun, 0135 Mon Europa 17730 Ba 100 053 2100-2300, En Contacto 2235 Sun {En Contacto schedule - probably - only assumed/provised - no details given yet by RHC, wb.} Tropical Band NVIS antenna Bauta 5040 / 60 mb non-directional 2100- 2300, 0100-0500, En Contacto 2235 Sun, 0135 Mon, to Cuba, Caribe, Sur de E.U./USA, Canada, México, América Central y Norte de Sudamérica. Mesa Redonda Internacional [Monday-Thursday night special] tx kW deg Washington 6000 Ti 250 10 2300-2400 Chicago 11950 Ba 100 340 2300-2400 Radio Habana Cuba A-15 finally. Radio Habana Cuba - Horarios, Bandas y Frecuencias TRANSMISIONES EN VARIOS IDIOMAS Periodo del 12 de Abril de 2015 a 8/15 de Noviembre de 2015. Zonas Geográficas Beam to: TRANSMISIONES EN IDIOMA INGLÉS (English) tx kW deg Chicago 11760 Ba 100 340 1900-2000 DXers UL at 1930 Tue, 1910 Sun New York Ba 100 010 6060 0500-0700 DXers UL at 0510 Mon, 0530 Wed, 0610 Mon, 0630 Wed San Francisco Ba 100 310 6100 0500-0700 DXers UL at 0510 Mon, 0530 Wed, 0610 Mon, 0630 Wed Chicago Ba 100 340 6165 0100-0700 DXers UL at 0110 Mon, 0130 Wed, 0210 Mon, 0230 Wed 0310 Mon, 0330 Wed, 0410 Mon, 0430 Wed, 0510 Mon 0530 Wed, 0610 Mon, 0630 Wed Washington Ti 250 010 6000 0100-0500 DXers UL at 0110 Mon, 0130 Wed, 0210 Mon, 0230 Wed 0310 Mon, 0330 Wed, 0410 Mon, 0430 Wed Washington Ti 250 010 6000 0500-0700 DXers UL at 0510 Mon, 0530 Wed, 0610 Mon, 0630 Wed Banda Tropical Ba 100 n-d 5040 2300-2400 DXers UL at 2310 Sun, 2330 Tue Banda Tropical Ba 100 n-d 5040 0500-0600 DXers UL at 0510 Mon, 0530 Wed Africa Ba 100 100(-30 slewed) 11880 2300-2400 DXers UL at 2330 Tue, 2310 Sun TRANSMISIONES EN IDIOMA FRANCÉS (FRANÇAIS) Europa Ba 100 053 17730 1930-2000 Chicago Ba 100 340 11760 2000-2030 Africa Ba 100 100(-30 slewed) 11880 2200-2230 Sudamérica Be 50 130 15370 2230-2300 - except Sun. Banda Tropical Ba 100 n-d 5040 0030-0100 TRANSMISIONES EN IDIOMA PORTUGUÉS Europa Ba 100 053 17730 2000-2030 Africa Ba 100 100(-30 slewed) 11880 2230-2300 Buenos Aires Ti 250 160 15230 2200-2300 Río de Janeiro Be 50 130 15370 2330-2400 TRANSMISIONES EN IDIOMA Árabe (Arabic) Chicago Ba 100 340 11760 1800-1830 Europa Ba 100 053 17730 2030-2100 TRANSMISIONES EN IDIOMA ESPERANTO, Sunday only San Francisco Ba 100 310 6100 0700-0730 NoCeSudamérica Ba 100 n-d 11950 1500-1530 Sudamérica Be 50 130 15370 2230-2300 - see French weekdays. TRANSMISIONES EN IDIOMA CREOLE Chicago Ba 100 340 11760 1830-1900 Buenos Aires Be 50 130 15370 2300-2330 Banda Tropical Ba 100 n-d 5040 0000-0030 TRANSMISIONES EN IDIOMA QUECHUA Buenos Aires Be 50 130 15370 0000-0030 (Arnie Coro-CUBA, CO2KK, RHC - Radio Havana Cuba, via / and DXers UL + En Contacto; items added by wb df5sx, April 8, wwdxc Germany BC-DX TopNews April 11 via DXLD) Contacto time 0235 changed to 0135 by gh; removed redundant kHz and UT thruout (gh) Subject: Re: A '15 schedule to start 11/12 April Many thanks for sending the latest A-15 summer schedule, dear Arnie in La Habana; I transformed all the information into our Worldwide DX Club Germany file format in pure text-format. See attached picture images, especially of the 1961 rhombic installations at Bauta site, til 2001-2003 scrapping action, and then removed by new China gear of Chinese 100 kW BBEF Beijing transmitters and new China designed curtain antennas in 2007-2011 años. I'm wondered on one specific schedule table entry: ESPECIALLY I HAVE ONE QUESTION ! on the Bauta A-2 Europa Antenna installation of 17730 kHz in 16 Meterband, at 1930-2300 UTC in question: I see nowhere a directional antenna Europe at either 41 or 53 degrees direction, towards Prague-Tbilisi or Barcelona-Rome azimuth path. Is this an A-1 / A-2 - 10 degrees antenna in use, +30 degrees slewed = 40 degrees mainlobe direction? May you can explain the secret mystery on this curtain antenna hardware? vy73 wolfy df5sx wwdxc germany (to Arnie, cc via DXLD) No answer?? (gh) Surprise, surprise, Soviet installation Bejucal of 1965, not totally scrapped. Uses in A-15 tx #1, #2, and #9. and still 12 curtains seen. But A-#31 is a non-directional to Antilles target area. RHC tropical-band 5040 kHz is via Bauta, - surprised me. Antenna A-#12 is omnidirectional in 25 mb! A-#14 is CT centre Tropical antenna, steep angle fountain angle. HQuadrant antenna at TITAN, not 5025/5040 kHz surprisingly, rather on 9550 kHz steep angle fountain like signal (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Ouch, technical data for Radio Habana Cuba?! But hell is freezing over now anyway. Bejucal should also be the origin on 4765 kHz, and I assume if the announced 90 mb test ever materializes it will be carried out from there as well. At least 4765 has been described as coming from a Sneg transmitter, and this perfectly fits the power level of 50 kW now specified for units #1 and #2. Unit #9 may be a pair of two Sneg's, just like the "4 x 100 kW" at Königs Wusterhausen [East Germany] were. As far as I know has Bauta in recent years always been hinted as origin of 5040 kHz, together with 5025 kHz (which is not RHC, thus not shows up in this document). The C in "CT" refers to "corner", and the satellite image quite nicely shows what this means. Otherwise consider that the antenna descriptions refer to target areas. Thus I see little point in interpreting it as exact azimuths which in some cases not really match what can be seen in the satellite image. And it is not really a surprise that only dipole walls are in use at the Titan facility ("HQ 2/2/0,2" is an apparent misprint). It appears to be completely designed in the USSR (just note the typical SGD-RA dipole walls), and there it was operational practice to use transmitters with more than 100 kW, such as the 250 kW units installed here, only for foreign services with directional antennas. Thus this site is not to be expected to be an origin of any 60 mB outlets. By the way, has anyone noticed something about RHC transmissions in about 2003...2005? This was the time when the Bauta site had been re- fitted with new Chinese equipment. And it seems they replaced just everything, all transmitters and all antennas. I suspect this involved a temporary cessation of all transmissions (i.e. shutting down the old stuff, scrapping anything, setting up the new gear and here we go again) while Bejucal had been used instead (Kai Ludwig, DX LISTENING DIGEST) No answer by Arnie yet; I asked for the 17730 Europa real or slewed azimuth soon. Chile azimuth also in question, 1961 rhombic 168 degrees, now Buenos Aires mast 160 degrees {rhombic 155) slewed to Chile azimuth {plus slewed?} CeAM MEX azi is real 260 degrees? Antilles is real 125 degrees? Tropical Band NVIS antenna Bauta 5040 / 60 mb non-directional 2100- 2300, 0100-0500, En Contacto 2235 Sun, 0135 Mon, to Cuba, Caribe, Sur de E.U./USA, Canada, México, América Central y Norte de Sudamérica. (Wolfy, April 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Habana Cuba in Spanish on Cuban Spy HM01 frequency 11462 kHz http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2015/04/radio-habana-cuba-in-spanish-on-cuban.html (Ivo Ivanov, Blgaria, April 14, dxldyg via DXLD) Much better signal of Radio Habana Cuba on new A-15 frequency 15730: 1100-1500 NF 15730 BAU 100 kW / 130 deg to SoAm Spanish, ex 17730 in A-14: http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2015/04/reception-of-whri-angel-1-tom-to-soam.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. CUBA/CHINA, CRI Cuba relay from Titán Quivicán San Felipe site, 250 kW transmitter #1, and partly tx #5 requested registrado with HFCC Prague list as HAB: 5990 0000-0057 10E,11W 250 n-d cross dipole ant #930 Spa CUB CRI RTC 15120 0000-0057 12,14,16 250 160 HRS4/4/1 dipole #218 Spa CUB CRI RTC 9580 0100-0157 8 250 010 HRS4/2/0.5dipole #206 Eng CUB CRI RTC 9580 0200-0257 8 250 010 HRS4/2/0.5dipole #206 Chi CUB CRI RTC 9790 0300-0357 6, 7SW 250 305 HRS4/4/0.5dipole #216 Eng CUB CRI RTC 9790 0400-0457 6, 7SW 250 305 HRS4/4/0.5dipole #216 CantCUB CRI RTC 9570 1200-1257 8 250 010 HRS4/2/0.5dipole #206 CantCUB CRI RTC 9570 1300-1357 8 250 010 HRS4/2/0.5dipole #206 Eng CUB CRI RTC 15700 1400-1557 6, 7SW 250 305 HRS4/4/0.5dipole #216 Eng CUB CRI RTC 5990 2300-2357 8S,10,11W250 n-d cross dipole ant #930 Eng CUB CRI RTC 13650 2300-2357 12,13,15N250 135 HRS4/4/1 dipole #218 Por CUB CRI RTC (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc germany BC-DX TopNews April 11, dxldyg via DXLD) ** CUBA. También notas la digitalización de Cuba. Han escogido la norma china. De hecho fui el primero en publicar detalles de su esquema de digitalización en inglés con base en la información disponible. Ya se encuentran transmisoras digitales en operación y pueden usar las bandas de UHF (14-51) y VHF (7-13). Su apagón analógico no será hasta 2021 (Raymie Humbert, AZ, April 8, WTFDA Forum via DXLD) To Smarin & Gargadon [in Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche]: Even after Mexico goes to 100% DTV, do not throw out the analog --- TV DX from Cuba, in analog, could still be available for at least the next 6 years; I would say even more. They still use channels 2 to 69 at this time. I had a signal from Multivisión on 56 from home about 2 weeks ago. And of course, your neighboring countries like Honduras & Guatemala are still very much using analog. cd (Chris Dunne, Pembroke Pines FL, ibid.) ** CUBA [and non]. 7405, Monday April 13 at 0605, R. Martí is on, plus wall-of-noise jamming; likewise 6030 with even heavier comparative jamming. So much for the Monday morning silent period 03-09 UT, which we observed a biweek ago as A-15 started, and which was confirmed in HFCC as 6030 and 7405/5980 were daily except 03-09 UT for Day 2. The latest edition dated 13 April still shows this, but effective as of 3 April rather than 29 March --- anyhow, no longer in effect, despite out-date still shown as being 24 Oct (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DX LISTENING DIGEST) R Martí on 11930 kHz jammed with a "buzz saw" sound noted at 1540. Tried to hear Martí's 1180 kHz Marathon FL MW outlet, but channel filled with Cubans. There at 34 Radio Rebelde stations on 1180 in Cuba. There is no way R Marti can reach any Cuban land via 1180 kHz (Don Hosmer [on a cruise near Cuba] MARE Tipsheet April 10 via DXLD) ** CUBA [and non]. ONE IN FIVE CUBANS LISTEN TO US-BACKED RADIO - BBG | Text of report by US Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) website on 9 April Washington: Twenty per cent of Cubans report listening to Radio Martí in the last seven days, according to an independent survey conducted in March among a nationally representative sample of 1,200 Cuban adults (18 or older) across the island. "We are providing objective news coverage that Cubans cannot receive anywhere else," said Carlos García-Pérez, director of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, which oversees Radio and TV Martí. "Through our call-in shows and audience engagement, we knew that we had a substantial audience in Cuba, and I am extremely happy to have this confirmed through independent research." Despite continuous jamming efforts by the Cuban government, the Martíes reach audiences in Cuba through a combination of high and low- tech approaches, such as satellite television and radio, shortwave and AM radio, online video, flash drives, DVDs, email, SMS, and the Piramideo social network. The survey, conducted by Bendixen & Amandi International for Univisión Noticias and Fusión, did not ask Cubans if they consumed Martí content on platforms other than radio. More than 61 per cent of survey respondents said they have a mobile phone, 16 per cent have access to the internet, most of them at internet cafes (43 per cent) or at work (34 per cent), and 9 per cent of adults (almost six in ten of those with internet access) use social media. This is in harmony with OCB's web analytics, which show 1,703,988 visits to martinoticias.com in the first three months of 2015, with 18,900 average daily visits, while Martí Noticias Facebook posts reach an average of 30,000 people. According to the new survey, 91 per cent of Cuban social media users reported using Facebook. When asked what the people of Cuba need most at this time, responses included: "To have the right to express ourselves without being seen as troublemakers," and "to have new generations in positions of power." The survey reports that 75 per cent of Cubans responded that they have to be careful about what they say, with only 19 per cent reporting that they feel they have the right to freedom of expression. "Our goal at Radio Martí is to provide a full spectrum of news and information programming that is not only balanced and reliable, but also relevant to the people of Cuba. We provide a forum for the Cuban people to openly express themselves through traditional methods such as phone calls, as well as through new media including Facebook, text messages and other evolving technologies," said Oscar Rodríguez, director of Radio Martí. Radio Martí programmes to the island include Al Duro y sin Guantes, Entre Nosotros, 1800 Online, El Revoltillo, Con Voz Propia, and Las Noticias Como Son. Programmes range from reporting the news to highlighting social issues in Cuba to exploring US policy towards the island. Source: Broadcasting Board of Governors website, Washington D.C., in English 0001 gmt 9 Apr 15 (via BBCM via DXLD) See also U S A. Commie government denigrates and dismisses the Martíes as run by hostile US government admins, when in fact they are run with little USG oversight, by even lower scum, or rather worms, Cuban exiles (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CZECHIA. Ceský Impuls on 981 kHz is now also transmit by a second synchronized transmitter with 5 kW at Domamil. This is a facility of Ceské Radiokomunikace, usually referred to as Moravské Budejovice and origin of the 1332 kHz signal. Gossip has it that after Country Radio, Radio Dechovka and Ceský Impuls a fourth private Czech mediumwave station is in the pipeline. (Source: Wolfgang Lill) Pictures of the Domamil transmitter: http://jihlava.idnes.cz/foto.aspx?r=jihlava-zpravy&c=A141114_152243_jihlava-zpravy_mv&foto=&thumbs=1 270 kHz is at Topolná meanwhile operated with the announced 50 kW solid-state transmitter. Sources within Ceské Radiokomunikace say that it is the very TRAM 50-L that between 1997 and 2000 was used on 261 kHz at Burg. (Source: Wolfgang Lill) (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 11, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also GERMANY ** EGYPT. 15535, R. Cairo (Abis), 1412 30 Mar. Throwing spurs +/- 10 kHz this morning with almost decent audio on nominal QRG. At 1425 1 Apr. Cairo with only a strong OC, no audio (no spurs, either, so I guess that's a plus). (Dan Sheedy, Moonlight Beach, CA, G5/PL606 + 6m X wire, via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [and non]. 9315, April 11 at 0113, R. Cairo, fair signal, open carrier/dead air instead of Spanish 9965, April 11 at 0113, R. Cairo, good signal with whine, Arabic is JBM, then BM with ID at 0114 12070, April 11 at 0114, R. Cairo, fair signal and suptorted, supposedly Spanish 11935, April 11 at 0116, the LAH under RB2 BRAZIL with its frequent IDs is presumably the other Cairo frequency, nothing on 12035. 9965.4, April 12 at 0055, R. Cairo with VG signal, Arab pop music, rather distorted but good modulation level, not suppressed 9315.0, April 12 at 0056, R. Cairo ``Spanish`` is open carrier/dead air but at least not off-frequency 12070+, April 12 at 0057, R. Cairo, fair with heavy flutter, dead air; only slightly on hi side, probably less than .1 11935, April 12 at 0057, LAH under RB2, Brasil, again presumed to be the other Cairo Spanish transmitter. One or both could be off- frequency. 13850, April 14 at 0515, R. Cairo signal is VG, but Arabic is suptorted and unreadable as usual; nor do I hear spurs plus/minus 10 this time (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA [non]. 17790, Radio Africa via WRMI Radio Miami Int'l; 1916-1930+, 7-Apr; English 3ABN religious program with baby- talking huxtress; nutrition bit between Jeezus talks; "Eat vegetables as raw as possible". 1929 Radio Africa spot (no mention of WRMI) with Somolu, Lagos, Nigeria addy. BoH into Jack van Impe Presents (another dead huxter) with Rexella. SIO=443+ with pulse burst QRM; sig fady S8- 30 (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 125 ft. bow-tie; 85 ft. RW & 180 ft. center-fed RW, All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA. 7175, VoBME, 1750, seems to switch between this and 7185v; good with nice local music. April 5th 7184.98, VoBME, 1726, talk by a man, HOA music, strong. April 2 (David Sharp, NSW, FT-950, NRD-535D, R8, R30A, Timewave 599ZX, various Palstar and MFJ accessories, Quantum Phaser, various Sangean and Tecsun portables, EWE aerials; via Bob Wilkner, DXLD). ** ERITREA [and non]. unID East African on 7200 --- Hi out there, I just listened to a Signal on 7200 with HOA music and talk (1645-1720 April 14), possibly in Tigrigna. No match of a Clandestine or Target station in Eibi. Who else might it be? Reactivated Eritrean was on 7175, not //. No match also with VoTR on 5950. Sudan used 7200 recently, but is now as scheduled on 9505. So another reactivated transmitter from ERI? Or ETH? No chance after 1720, as Iran of course dominating. 73 (Thorsten Hallmann, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DX LISTENING DIGEST) At 1830 closing with Eritrean National Anthem. 73, (Jari Savolainen, Finland, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, this sounded very much like the version of the anthem they use on the Eritrean national radio (the one found on intervalsignals.net recorded from Radio Bana is quite a bit different). I noted the transmitter on 7175 was already off just after 1800 - in contrast to 1830 recently. This seemed to be the pattern also in the past when they had both channels on SW: 7175 off at 1800, the other one [7100, 7205] at 1830 or later, except for a short while in-between when they had both channels until 2000. 73 (Thorsten Hallmann, ibid.) Very nice to see Eritrea back on HF. Surely this will evoke Ethiopian counter broadcasts and good music for all (Brandon Jordan, TN, ibid.) Or DRM style noise jamming (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) ** ERITREA [non]. CLANDESTINE: 11855, Dimtse R. Erena, Apr 11 *1700- 1710, 35333, Tigrigna, 1700 sign on with opening music, ID, Opening announce, Talk. CLANDESTINE: 15245, R. Assenna, Apr 09 *1700-1710, 34333, Tigrigna, 1700 sign on with ID, Opening music, Opening announce, Eritrean pop (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC-R75, NRD-525+RD-9830, NRD-345, Satellit 750, DE-1121; ANT, 130m Sloper Wire, 303WA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. CLANDESTINE: 15165, R. Risala, Apr 03 *1830-1836, 25332, Oromo, 1830 sign on with opening music, ID, Opening announce, Talk (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC-R75, NRD-525+RD-9830, NRD-345, Satellit 750, DE-1121; ANT, 130m Sloper Wire, 303WA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EUROPE. Hi Gents, The pirate bands have bee fairly active of late! The Easter saw many stations active. PIRATE-EURO. Radio Focus International, 6285 AM, 0158-0221+, 04-04-15, SIO: 333. Talk by OM, pop/rock tunes by Janis Joplin;in, AC/DC, Nickelback, Foo Fighters, etc. Full ID/web site by Om 0221 UTC. [Lobdell-MA] PIRATE-EURO. Radio Marabu, 6254.1 AM, 0223-0319+, 04-04-15. SIO: 232. Rock music, frequent talk in German, song "Somebody Told Me" by The Killers 0224, station ID in English 0231. [Lobdell-MA] PIRATE-EURO. Abu Dhabi, 6295 AM, 2331-2345+, 04-04-15, SIO: 444. Mr. Black Bandit playing song clips "One Night In Bangkok", etc. Talk about his trips to Thailand and Abu Dhabi. [Lobdell-MA] PIRATE-EURO. Radio Akenzo, 6400 AM, 2341-0015*, 04-04/5-15. SIO: 333. Pop tunes, frequent IDs in Dutch/English by OM announcer. Announced email as akenzoteam@hotmail.comn. Played tune by the Bangles. [Lobdell-MA] PIRATE-EURO. Radio Spaceshuttle International, 13800 AM, *1880-1900*, 04-05-15, SIO: 141. Test broadcasting with audio from Radio Hobart Intl. IDs, tunes by Linda Ronstadt, Bangles, Twisted Sister, Electric Light Orchestra, Itchy Poopzid. Spoken audio on the low side. [Lobdell-MA] This one hi power via BULGARIA; and NETHERLANDS [non], qq.vv. (gh) PIRATE-EURO. BarraQuda, 5880 USB, 2244-2316*, 04-05-15, SIO: 343. Non- stop music, no IDs, so ID is based on hfUnderground posting. Tunes by Nilsson, Creole & The Coconuts, King Harvest, etc. (Chris Lobdell, Box 80146, Stoneham, MA 02180 USA, Receivers: Eton E1, NRD-545, Aerials: G5RV, 40 Meter Dipole, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FINLAND. Westsound Finland, the operator providing relay of R. Gramox (WRTH 2015 p. 194) on 3960 kHz has stopped on that frequency, but plans a new operation on 7230 kHz (WRTH National Radio update Uploaded 10 April 2015, via WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DXLD) ** FINLAND. 25000, Time Signal Station Mikes, 1647-1652, 13-04, time signals, beeps with the seconds and silence at second 59. 24322 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Logs in Lugo, Grundig Satellit 500, Tecsun PL-880 and Sony ICF SW7600G, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. RADIO FRANCE PROPOSES TO CLOSE SHORTWAVE, ALSO MEDIUM AND/OR LONGWAVE French public radio in crisis as strike deepens, thelocal.fr April 9 On Wednesday, Gallet was to present the details of his plan to the broadcaster's employees. It calls for 300 jobs to be sliced from the group's 4,600-strong workforce, for webradio to take over from some of the more esoteric broadcasts, the halt of long- and shortwave transmissions, and the reduction in size of the group's two classical orchestras. http://www.thelocal.fr/20150409/strike-heightens-battle-over-future-of-french-public-radio L'article à lire pour comprendre la grève à Radio France, francetvinfo.fr, April 8 http://www.francetvinfo.fr/economie/medias/greve-a-radio-france/l-article-a-lire-pour-comprendre-la-greve-a-radio-france_869951.html 4th question down, 3rd paragraph "La suppression d'un des deux orchestres, un temps envisagée, est abandonnée. Mais leur taille sera réduite. Le plan prévoit aussi l'arrêt de la diffusion en ondes courtes et moyennes: 16 millions d'euros d'économies." Translates to short and medium wave. Long wave in French is grandes ondes. There are some areas of inadequate coverage for France Inter where longwave is the only option (Mike Barraclough, UK, April 9, dxldyg via DXLD) A closure of Radio France International's SW would result in big reduction of TDF's transmitter output from Issoudun. I doubt the site is in any danger of closing anytime soon; however in such a situation it could start to pull clients from competitors, or even corporate sibling Media Broadcast, which might result in the demise of other transmitter sites. Interesting situation. With the unstable situation in some French speaking African countries, I would think RFI would want to maintain at least a minimal SW service to those areas. In any case, it is obvious that cuts are on the way. (Stephen Luce, Houston, Texas, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) The quality of "The Local" as I remember it from RNW on its last legs, using it as source for media news from Germany because it was in English. Shallow and oversimplifying its stories, apparently lacking a deeper understanding of them. In this case "shortwave" must be read as "mediumwave". Indeed it is part of the planned cost saving measures at Radio France to shut down all remaining AM outlets (explicitly on both LW and MW), and it is obviously the least disputed of all the proposed measures. Radio France Internationale has nothing to do with all this. It was initially, when the ORTF had been broken up, part of Radio France but is no longer, instead now belongs to another parent organization called France Médias Monde (Kai Ludwig, Germany, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Martin Watkins, Digital Spy, April 9 in reply to my posting the same message there: Obviously I can only go on what I've heard and read, but a bulletin on France Inter itself yesterday mentioned - or so I thought - les ondes moyennes et les grandes ondes, and by way of confirmation there is this (amongst several other references). http://www.leparisien.fr/economie/radio-france-la-greve-continue-gallet-presente-son-plan-mercredi-07-04-2015-4673051.php Of course it all depends on how technical the journalists are, but certainly I've gained the impression that it's LW and MW that are in the firing line (Mike Barraclough, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. RFI resumes English on SW: April 13 at 0559 on 13725, fair signal, I am surprised to hear RFI introducing a ``Paris Live`` broadcast in English for Monday 13 April, still past 0602 -- mistake, wrong feed? No, apparently escaping our notice until now, RFI has registered four English broadcasts for A-15, all from ISSoudun, azimuths a variety, each a different target: 06-07 13725 170 16-17 15485 85 17-18 15690 160 18-19 5985 345 As in: http://www.hfcc.org/data/schedbybrc.php?seas=A15&broadc=RFI Perhaps from a few months` relay via Global 24, RFI discovered there is still an audience on SW? Mike Cooper had heard them online announcing new English broadcasts at 14 & 16, but said nothing about SW. Now Mike replies to the above news: `` Glenn: Thanks for pointing this out. I have been able to listen to "Paris Live PM" through the RFI English audio stream. The English- language hour airs at 1400 and 1600 UTC. The RFI English feed carries an hour of RFI Musique at 1500 UTC. Given this schedule, I don't know what "English" RFI would be broadcasting at 1700 and 1800 UTC, though it's possible they would just rebroadcast the 1600 UTC English hour. In listening, I have found that the "Paris Live PM" broadcast is largely a regurgitation of the earlier English broadcast, with little new content. In fact, I have heard some news packages repeated several times in the same hour. The last hour of the morning RFI English broadcasts is repeated on the English internet stream, meaning that I can listen from 1300 to 1500 UTC and hear a repeat of the last hour of the morning English broadcast and then hear the first live broadcast of "Paris Live PM." - Mike``. But beware: RFI previously registered as own English, broadcasts which were really TAIWAN relays, now cancelled? Ivo Ivanov replies: ``last 3 transmissions are former Radio Taiwan International broadcasts in A-14 -- 73! Ivo Ivanov`` (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [Later:] Utwente hears nothing on 15485 at 1600 or 1630 April 13 (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) Nothing heard on 15485 at 1600 UT or 15690 at 1700; no carrier detected (Mike Cooper, Apr 13, DXLD) I am not clear why they did this other than excess capacity at Issoudun but I'm not about to look a gift horse in the mouth either. Good to hear them back -- the 0600 transmission is hardly a convenient time here, but the band is open. Heard it this early AM despite my local noise that was giving the S3+ signal a run for it's money! In a quieter location it would have been easy listening. Now to send them off a letter so they know they aren't just talking to themselves! [That's a hint to anyone else who wants to encourage broadcasters to continue rather than just complaining about how 'nobody' listens to SW....] :) 73 from Michigan //Ken (-- Kenneth V Zichi Radioguy73@gmail.com D<== I'm not with stupid ==> R April 14, dxldyg via DXLD) Here in Copenhagen I cannot hear 15485 right now at 16. Also nothing on Twente. 73, (Erik Køie, Apr 14, ibid.) 15485: UTwente via gh hears nothing on 15485 at 1600 or 1630 April 13, one of the HFCC-registered hours for English from RFI. Mike Cooper adds: ``Nothing heard on 15485 at 1600 UT or 15690 at 1700; no carrier detected``. So as suspected in our last report, it appears that 06-07 UT on 13725 is the ONLY real English hour on SW from RFI, since I really heard it April 13. Yet undeconfirmed is the 18-19 on 5985, but presumably like the 15690 and 15485 listings, 1) NOT really on the air and 2) when they were, not RFI at all but Taiwan relays (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) So here comes the deconfirmation: No trace of any such carrier right now here in Germany. And of course this is the former slot of RTI English to Britain and Ireland. It would be very much a surprise if the other R*I would use it for own programming, let alone in English. Must have been back in the nineties when RFI took English to Europe off shortwave, I guess more or less at the same time than German where they did it in 1996 (Kai Ludwig, 1824 UT April 14, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) All CBS Taiwan VERY EARLY A-15 requests on RFI TDF relay ISS in mid December 2014, contract TDF / CBS ceased now in A-15 season, requests #832 to #933. 3965, 5915, 5985, 11955/13750, 11995, 15225, 15485, 15690 kHz. wb (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) Yet these three imaginary broadcasts in `English` (and probably others) are still in A-15 HFCC (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) Excellent reception of Radio France International in English on shortwave, 0600-0658 on 13725 ISS 500 kW / 170 deg to WCAf, new in A- 15, 6 videos on April 15 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2015/04/excellent-reception-of-radio-france.html (Ivo Ivanov, Blgaria, Apr 15, dxldyg via DXLD) ** FRANCE. VIVE LA RÉSISTANCE A STRIKE DEMONSTRATES OPPOSITION TO PUBLIC-SECTOR REFORM Apr 11th 2015 | From the print edition, Economist LIKE martial music after a military coup, France’s public radio stations have broadcast little but song tracks for the past three weeks. Since employees at Radio France, which runs seven public stations, began a strike on March 19th, a rotating playlist has been interrupted only for the occasional news update and apology for the disrupted service. The longest strike in French radio’s history, it has paralysed programming and exasperated listeners. It encapsulates the difficulties of reforming the French public sector. The strike began as a protest, mostly by production and technical staff, against a cut in the public subsidy and an attempt to control Radio France’s deficit, which will reach €21m ($23m) this year. This could involve 250-330 job losses as well as other rationalisation plans. Radio France, with nearly 5,000 employees, runs two symphony orchestras, for example; Mathieu Gallet, its new boss, has raised the possibility of merging them. But resistance to reform hardened after it emerged that Mr Gallet, who took over a year ago, had refurbished his office in Radio France’s headquarters at the cost of €100,000. This circular 1960s Paris landmark has itself cost €430m to revamp, twice the original estimate, including the construction of a brand-new auditorium for €42m. Mr Gallet apologised, insisting that the work on his office had begun before his arrival and that its wood panelling was “historic”. Part of the problem is a culture clash. Mr Gallet, who talks about branding and about a digital transformation, is regarded by journalists as a sharp-suited bean-counter. “It is not the purpose of public-service broadcasting to be profitable,” striking producers declared in an open letter. Soon, they claimed, there would be no budget to send reporters further than the Paris ring road. Many union activists want Mr Gallet’s head to roll. Yet disgruntlement over Mr Gallet’s taste for spreadsheets and new furniture masks a real problem at Radio France. A crushing report published this month by the public auditor pointed to a financing crisis and long-running management failures. Between 2010 and 2013 the payroll bill increased by nearly 10%, even as the headcount remained stable — and the audience dwindled at two flagship stations, France Info and France Inter. Strikes continue despite endless union consultation and perks. Journalists with over eight years of service, it noted, get nearly 14 weeks of paid holiday a year. Fully 388 staff are union representatives enjoying protected jobs. There were a staggering 622 works-council meetings in 2013. Only a tiny minority of the staff — about 6-10% — has taken part in the rolling strike. Many journalists have turned up to work on programmes, but because technical and production staff have stayed at home, they are unable to broadcast them. The government has urged an end to the strike and summoned Mr Gallet, supposedly an independent appointee, to explain himself. It ought to be possible to create consensus for change. “Everybody knows that reform must happen,” says one Radio France journalist. So far, though, this looks like a case study in how not to go about it. Comments: http://www.economist.com/node/21648035/comments#comments From the print edition: Europe (Economist via Gerald T Pollard, NC, DXLD) NO END IN SIGHT FOR RADIO FRANCE STRIKE AFTER DAYS OF TALKS | Text of report by Radio France Internationale website on 14 April This is the longest strike in a decade at France's public radio broadcaster. Radio France entered on Tuesday [14 April] its 27th day of the strike. It's been almost one month that the public national news stations have been paralysed - playing music - and the strike shows no sign of ending after three days of talks with a mediator failed to defuse a standoff over cost cuts. French Culture Minister Fleur Pellerin even made last night [13 April] a surprise entry at a meeting with the unions but gave a cold shoulder to Radio France chief Mathieu Galet, who has become very unpopular since press revelations last month that renovation work in his office cost 100,000 euros. "Fleur Pellerin came to support the social dialogue and renew confidence," said the culture ministry although the main issue over the planned schedules consolidation of the 44 local stations in the country remains unsolved. The strike stems from concerns over job losses and service reductions aimed to target a budget deficit expected to reach 21m euros in 2015. Radio France chief Mathieu Gallet has warned the group could run out of money within months if no measures are taken while unions have denounced a total of 87m euros in cuts to grants over the last three years. Gallet has targeted 50m euros in savings over the next three years and proposed cutting 200 to 300 jobs through voluntary redundancies. A meeting at the French Senate on Tuesday afternoon is expected to be a last chance to find a way out of the conflict which costs 1m euros a week. Radio France runs national stations France Info, France Inter and France Culture, as well as a network of local outlets. Source: Radio France Internationale website, Paris, in English 14 Apr 15 (via BBCM via WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DXLD) Why don`t they listen to RFI instead, which is not struck? (gh, DXLD) PROTRACTED FRENCH RADIO STRIKE SHOWS CHALLENGES OF REFORM By SYLVIE CORBET Associated Press Apr 15, 8:32 AM EDT http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_FRANCE_RADIO_STRIKE?SITE=AP&S PARIS (AP) -- Unions and the government are nearing agreement on the future of France's national radio company after a 28-day strike that exemplifies the challenges of loosening up labor rules. Broadcasts resumed Wednesday morning and staff at state-run Radio France met to discuss next steps. On Tuesday, four of five unions voted to return to work after progress on a compromise reform plan. Unions at Radio France, which includes several news radio stations and two orchestras, are fighting cost cuts and layoffs. Radio France chief Mathieu Gallet - very unpopular following media reports last month that the renovation of his office cost 100,000 euros ($106,000) - explained earlier this year that he expects a budget deficit of 21 million euros in 2015. Gallet notably proposed to cut 300 to 380 jobs through a voluntary departure plan, according to unions. The details of the cost cuts have not been publicly released. The reform focuses on structural issues and job cuts, but management is not talking about cutting benefits such as vacation that can be up to 68 days for some journalists, bonuses and a generous extra-pay policy for overtime hours and night shifts. Radio France currently employs 4,300 people in national stations such as France Info and France Inter and 44 local stations around the country. The cuts come amid broader government efforts to encourage hiring and reduce state spending. The Radio France battle has shown how hard it is to reduce worker benefits and protections seen by many in France as major accomplishments of the 20th century (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) RADIO STRIKE IS ENDING --- By DAVID JOLLY APRIL 15, 2015 Most of the striking employees of the public broadcaster Radio France returned to work on Wednesday, four weeks after they walked off the job to protest a proposed reorganization that would have resulted in hundreds of layoffs and the closing of the country's oldest orchestra. The broadcaster, which operates seven radio stations and two orchestras, is one of France's most trusted voices in news and entertainment. The strike had left listeners with canned music playlists and abbreviated news broadcasts since March 19. The strike ended after the government appointed a labor mediator and the culture minister, Fleur Pellerin, promised on Monday to work for a satisfactory outcome. Four of the network's five unions voted Tuesday to end the strike, and the last holdout, the CGT union, was expected to return to work this week. A version of this brief appears in print on April 16, 2015, on page A12 of the New York edition with the headline: Europe; France: Radio Strike Is Ending (NY Times via Mike Cooper, DXLD) The longest strike in a decade at France's public broadcaster Radio France ended Wednesday when the last union involved in the action accepted a compromise reform plan and voted to return to work. The month-long strike ended when the CGT (Confederation generale du travail) on Wednesday joined four other trade unions that had previously accepted a compromise deal. Normal broadcasting is set to resume Thursday at 1 pm local time. The latest strike at Radio France broke out on March 19 over a management bid to cut costs and implement lay-offs at the French public broadcaster, which includes several news radio stations and two orchestras. Controversial refurbishments Much of the acrimony over the past month has been focused on the persona of Mathieu Gallet, the new head of the Maison ronde (Round house), as Radio France's headquarters is popularly known. With the government scrambling to cut costs across the board, Gallet was tasked with plugging a 21-million-euro hole in Radio France's budget, 90 percent of which is covered by French taxpayers. Opposition to Gallet hardened when it emerged that the Radio France chief had spent 100,000 euros refurbishing his office. He swiftly apologised, noting that his office contained historic woodwork. But allegations he hired an image consultant to the tune of 90,000 euros a year gave his critics further ammunition. Gallet's office was not the only part of the Maison ronde in need of a costly upgrade. The 1960s riverside structure is both Radio France's most recognised asset and the source of many of its woes. A major revamp of the Paris landmark, in part to get rid of asbestos, has already cost more than 400 million euros - twice the initial estimate. With reconstruction far from over, the final bill may well reach 600 million euros. Round-the-clock tunes A well-loved institution, Radio France is broadly acclaimed for its diverse programming and thorough, professional news coverage. Over the past month though, Radio France's service has been disrupted, with the public broadcaster playing round-the-clock music instead of their usual programmes. Radio France currently employs 4,300 people in national stations such as France Info and France Inter and 44 local stations around the country. The cost-cutting effort is part of a broader government bid to encourage hiring and reduce state spending. But the protracted strike at Radio France battle has shown how hard it is to reduce worker benefits and protections seen by many in France as major accomplishments of the 20th century (FRANCE 24 with AP) Date created : 2015-04-15 (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** FRANCE [non]. 7300, Radio Akhbar Mufriha - Relay Woofferton - G - Recebido eQSL. 2 dias. V/S: D. Berger (Secretary). informe enviado por e-mail: email@akhbarmufriha.com QTH: L'Ami Média, Akhbar Mufriha, BP 337 – 75868 Paris Cedex 18 – France - RFP Recebi alguns eQSLs de Ham [sic] e alguns cartões QSL de emissoras de OC. As imagens estão em meu blog: http://www.dxreunion-br.blogspot.com.br 73! (Rubens Ferraz Pedroso - PY5-007SWL, Bandeirantes - PR. April 9, radioescutas yg via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Tarmo Tanilsoo writes on the PCJ Media and PCJ Radio Facebook group: April 11, 2015 About that DRM signal at 177 kHz that has been puzzling some DXers - turns out it apparently is German army radio Radio Andernach. Not much use for DXers though because the channel is only available for army members. Unless you are in Afghanistan or Kosovo where they have FM relays (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DXLD) The Zehlendorf transmitter on 177 kHz is since March regularly tested with a DRM signal. Or, perhaps, it already are more than just tests, considering the combination of two facts: The signal includes the encrypted Radio Andernach (German forces) signal that also goes out via the Nauen shortwave transmitters, last reported at noon on 49 metres, so hardly for the Horn of Africa as before. And the 177 kHz signal has a good reach into Poland and the Baltics, at least now, with 171 kHz being gone. http://www.rhci-online.net/files/2015-04-10_0815z_177kHz_DRM-Test.png This of course also means that the 177 kHz frequency allocation has not been surrendered, which it turns mean that the Felsberg transmitter can not be retuned to 180 kHz, if this was really pursued at all. Other gossip has it that now internal discussions of longwave as distribution platform are under way at Lagardère Active, triggered by the plans of Radio France to terminate all its remaining LW/MW outlets. It remains to be seen whether the Felsberg transmitter stays in operation beyond 2015 at all. Meanwhile the antennas of the Mainflingen/Zellhausen mediumwave transmitter (1539 kHz, shut down at yearend 2011) have been removed. Left behind are the buildings, it would cost at least 80,000 Euro to get rid of them and the lease contract from 1962 did not require the postal office to remove them when abandoning the facility. http://www.op-online.de/lokales/nachrichten/mainhausen/sendeanlage-mainhausen-stillgelegt-4811759.html This story has nothing to do with the Mainflingen longwave facilities (utility, 1962-1967 also broadcasting, kept as aux at least until 1982 when the Donebach facility had been extensively modernized). It was a separate site southwest of Zellhausen: https://www.google.de/maps/@50.002076,8.9758081,724m/data=!3m1!1e3 Three million Euros had been wasted here by installing a new Thomcast S7HP transmitter and a new antenna in 2005/2006, only to start phasing out 1539 kHz services already in 2009. http://www.waniewski.de/MW/Mainflingen/index.htm This is how the last set-up of 261 and 1575 kHz equipment at Burg was looking in 2005. Transmitters sat in containers, put underneath the 324 metres mast that from 1975 til 1991 was the carrier of an ARRT cage for 783 kHz, in 1996 removed and replaced by a longwave double- cone. http://www.radioeins.de/content/dam/rbb/rad/programm/medienmagazin/b/Burg%202005%20Container%201000.JPG.jpg/img.jpg (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 11, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also CZECHIA ** GERMANY. April 12: DPØ7 Seewetterbericht in German to CeEu 0733 on 9560 Kall https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHxbMWM4daY&feature=youtu.be (Ivo Ivanov, Blgaria, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Utilitarias: ALEMANIA, 9560, DP07 Seewetterbericht (Kall-Krekel), 0750-0800, escuchada el 13 de abril de 2015 en alemán a locutor con comentarios, “Informazionen..destin..Internet…Good Morning…Radio…”, termina la emisión con un fragmento musical que me recordaba a las típicas cajas de música, SINPO 44433 (Jose Miguel Romero, Sacañet (Castellón), Spain, 1011m altitud, Latitud: 39.8667; Longitud: - 0.7167; Grundig Yacht Boy 80, Antena hilo de 10m, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, utility-like but carried in a broadcast band on a broadcast transmitter, so not? (gh) ** GERMANY. 6070, Radio Spaceshuttle via Channel 292, Rohrbach, 0445- 0530*, 11-04, English pop music, identification "Radio Spaceshuttle", "...our colourful QSL card", at 0500 "This is Radio Spaceshuttle..., makes music different", postal address and e-mail address, song Sounds of Silent by Simon and Garfunkel, at 0729 identification and close down. 34433 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Grundig Satellit 500, Sony ICF SW 7600G, cable antenna, 8 meters, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also NETHERLANDS [non] ** GERMANY. April 6: DARC Radio in German to CeEu 1512 on 6070 Rohrbach Wall https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBmpwFd7RDc&feature=youtu.be (Ivo Ivanov, Blgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [non]. April 7: Deutsche Welle in English to WeAf 0712 on 15275 Issoudun, 15560 Ascension https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1o48maegf04&feature=youtu.be (Ivo Ivanov, Blgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. http://zliangaslogs.blogspot.gr/2015/04/logs-94.html 9665, Greek pirate of 1610.85 on harmonic, S3, April 9 (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) No time, but if it propagate, the exact 6x harmonic would be 9665.10 and the lower harmonix ought to be initially stronger, altho perhaps less propagable, depending. Or if it were on exactly 9665.00, the true fundamental would have been 1610.8333+ (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. 9420, ERT Open (or whatever they are calling themselves these days!) with 60's Rock (The Doors) and OM in Greek at 0059 mentioning The Doors, and at 0101 into "The Spy" by the Doors. At 0106 Procol Harum "A Souvenir of London" and at 0111 another Procol Harum tune, and at 0117 into Paragon's "Poets". Interesting stuff. At 0122 into Tom Waits` "Goodnight Irene" (He sounds drunk!). At 0129 into Nazareth` "Love Hurts", and at 0134 into a slow tune I didn't recognize and Tunatic didn't find either. At 0139 into another tune I didn't recognize and at 0145 into Deep Purple's "Hey Joe". Gradually morphed into Greek tunes and eventually to full-on Greek folk music. Occasional announcements by the OM DJ in Greek between songs. FINALLY an ID and their ident tune at 0201. I was enjoying the music so waiting for the ID didn't seem like 'work'! :) Into something that sure sounded like an ad block after the ID. Do they do that or was this program promos? 54+4+54+ with my local noise making it through even the killer signal. 0055-0205 8/Apr (Ken Zichi, Williamston MI, MARE Tipsheet April 10 via DXLD) Good reception in Hanwell, New Brunswick, Canada (east coast) yesterday of ERT Open on 9420 kHz. Noted at 2030 UT on 8 April with classical music and fair to good signal. Then again after about 0200 UT on 9 April with enjoyable eclectic DJ'ed music program of jazz, blues, easy-listening, soft rock, and Greek music. No signal on other known ERT Open frequencies could be detected. IDs at the top and/or bottom of the hour: "ert open" (pronounced as three syllables, one for "ert" and two for "open"). Transmission was in parallel to Internet streaming: http://www.ertopen.com/apps/radio/?name=ERA+Athinon&type=mp3&url=radio.ertopen.com/erasport but the online streaming was about 20 seconds AHEAD of the radio transmission. Transmission continued to about 0508 when transmitter switched off. Equipment: Tecsun PL-880 with built-in telescopic whip antenna (Richard Langley, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ERTOpen on two frequencies on April 15 & 16: April 15: from 1600 on 9420*AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek from 1600 on 9935 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg to WeEu Greek is off from 1600 on 15650 AVL 100 kW / 105 deg to SoAs Greek * co-ch VIRI IRIB in Arabic and CNR-13 in Uyghur April 16: till 0805 on 9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek till 0805 on 11645 AVL 100 kW / 182 deg to NoAf Greek or 9935 is off till 0805 on 15630 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg to WeEu Greek http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2015/04/ert-open-on-two-frequencies-on-april.html -- 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DXLD) ** GUATEMALA. 4055, Radio Verdad, Chiquimula. 2326 April 4, 2015. Soft Spanish gospel, fair in passing. And April 9, 1050 with US-accented male preacher, local level but audio very over-modulated (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4055, Radio Verdad 0005 to 0010 Christian chorale music with distorted signal 6 April: - 1019 “What a Friend We have in Jesus” chorus 5-5-5- on 7 April (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, South Florida, 746Pro, Drake R8, NRD 525, Sony 2010XA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUYANA. 3289.94, GBC Voice of Guyana, 0925 pop music under t-storm crackle “Dancing Girl” OM, “hits of the 60s and 70s” 1 April; — “there is no such trying as …” om 0945 Caribbean music later into “Guiding Light, God Bless you all that know Jesus”; 1002 News items regarding education in Guyana 7 April; - 1000 time pips in YL news on 9 April (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, South Florida, 746Pro, Drake R8, NRD 525, Sony 2010XA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 3290-, April 9 at 0642, JBA carrier, slightly on the lo side, signature of V. of Guyana still being on air, impossible copy vs storm and other noise now (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 3290, Voice of Guyana, at 0930, on 9 Apr. A male announcer was talking in English about the two most important days in your life. The day you were born and the day you find Allah. He then went on to give birthday wishes to listeners who had birthdays in April. At 0937 a song came on with a female singer in an unknown language. There was some QRN from thunderstorms heard. Fair (John Cooper, Lebanon, PA, Winradio-G33DDC, CommRadio CR-1a, RF Space-SDR-IQ, Sangean ATS-909X with Clear Mod, Tecsun PL-660, GAP Hear It In Line Module, Timewave ANC-4, Wellbrook ALA-1530S+, PARS-SWL End Fed x 2, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) That accounts for two religions recognized by VOG: also Hindu has been reported, any others? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HAITI. Radio 4VEH, 840 kHz, 1900-2000. Music program with French ID's and announcements. Joy to hear again as I remember hearing & QSLing them on shortwave many moons ago in the 1960's. Signal great from the ship, but we're docked just 20 km from their transmitter. 4/03 (Don Hosmer in Labadee, Haiti, MARE Tipsheet April 10 via DXLD) ** HAWAII. Recent changes courtesy of NRC DX News: 570, KQNG, Ele’ele is now KUAI in swap with 720 kHz on 17 March. 720, KUAI, Kekaha call change to KQNG 17 March. Station is silent for antenna repairs. 1600, Application for new station at Makaha (U1 5kw day & night) dismissed. KGU, Honolulu, 760 noted with new slogan “AM 760 Wall Street Business Network” (IRCA via April NZ DX Times via DXLD) KEWE, “The Spirit of Maui”, Kahului has started on 1240 kHz with 5 kW (WRTH National Radio update Uploaded 10 April 2015, via DXLD) ** HONDURAS. 630, Radio América, 1050, very strong this morning with phone numbers for Tegucigalpa and San Pedro de Sula April 8th (XM, Cedar Key, Florida, NRD525D, R8A, E5 via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HONDURAS. En pärla i etern: Radio Sepofán Vaya Yuger i Honduras! Så hördes den på nytt, efter många års misslyckade försök, den exklusiva stationen i Honduras på 4666 kHz, Radio Sepofán Vaya Yuger, som bara är igång detta datum! Vid 6-tiden i morse kunde en ganska klar signal lirkas fram, med en underlig musik, som påminde om gurgling. En koll på stationens hemsida avslöjade, att det var strupsång som sändes, och förklaringen fanns också att läsa. Stationens ägare, den något bisarre munken Luiz Vascobasco, har tillbringat många år som missionär i Mongoliet och Tannu-Tuva, där han gjort otaliga inspelningar av strupsång, som är en monglisk specialitet. Tyvärr lär QSL från den pittoreska ön Bahia, där stationen ligger, inte vara att vänta, Don Luiz är alldeles för upptagen av andra göromål - han lär syssla med att försöka införa en del mongoliska riter i den katolska gudstjänsten, ett projekt han lägger ner all sin kraft på att propagera för men som mötts av undran och avsmak i Vatikanen. Men har du lyckats höra stationen har du utfört en fantastisk dx-bedrift, det kan jag intyga! 73, (Ullmar Qvick via NORDX via SW Bulletin April 12 via DXLD) A pearl in the air: Radio Sepofán Vaya Yuger in Honduras! So it was heard again after many years of failed attempts, the exclusive station in Honduras on 4666 kHz, Radio Sepofán Vaya Yuger, only is on air this date! At 6 o'clock this morning a fairly clear signal could be pulled through, with a strange kind of music, reminiscent of gargling. A check on the station's website revealed that it was throat singing that was broadcasted, and a statement was also there to be read. The station's owner, the slightly bizarre monk Luiz Vascobasco, has spent many years as a missionary in Mongolia and Tannu-Tuva, where he made numerous recordings of throat singing, which is a mongolic specialty. Unfortunately you can't expect any QSL from the picturesque island of Bahia, where the station is located, Don Luiz is far too preoccupied with other work - he is trying to introduce some Mongolian rites in the Catholic church service, a project where he put all his energy in propagating, but met with astonishment and disgust at the Vatican. But if you managed to hear the station, you have done a fantastic DX achievement, which I can testify! 73, (Ullmar Qvick through NORDX, via SW Bulletin, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) As of April 1 only (gh) ** INDIA [and non]. Noted this afternoon (14 April) on 11670 kHz at 2030 UT that Bro. Scare (to use Glenn's epithet) via WHRI is co- channel with AIR, ruining reception of the latter, which, without the co-channel interference, typically comes in very nicely on the east coast of Canada on this frequency. Doesn't the dear brother have enough frequencies that he doesn't need to QRM the pleasant music provided by AIR? And, heaven knows, there are enough clear frequencies for all these days. Thankfully, the interference is only for the one- hour 2000-2100 UT period (Richard Langley, NB, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 3324.88, RRI Palangkaraya, 1256-1349, April 14. Frequent local singing IDs; program of EZL pop songs, many in English; "How Deep is Your Love?" by Bee Gees; fading up nicely for my local 1335 UT sunrise. Audio with IDs and Bee Gees at https://app.box.com/s/zx2t7al2uj0wimfixu9jstxak4cbak88 (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, E1 & CR-1, dxldy via WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 4869.92, RRI-Wamena, Apr 11 1017-1027, 35443, Indonesian, Music and talk, ID at 1018 (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC-R75, NRD-525+RD-9830, NRD-345, Satellit 750, DE-1121; ANT, 130m Sloper Wire, 303WA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL. Hope for shortwave --- Greetings, Every time that I listen I have the feeling there is a place for shortwave. I am in NH. I don't want this wonderful way of communication and media to die. So I keep tuning my Sony radio and listen. I have this hope that somewhere is a transmitter with the same feelings as mine. Best Regards, (Adrian LaRoque, April 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET. Seeking shortwave online streams ... with some English --- Thanks to great resources like the WOR Hitlist and Primetime Shortwave schedules I've been sleuthing across the Internet to find often very buried international broadcaster streams to my 1 Radio News Android app. I've expanded from English-only streams to streams with at least some English programming. I need help ferreting out live "open streams" for: 1. Voice of Nigeria (flash) 2. IBA Reka from Israel (flash) 3. Voice of Indonesia (audio-only) 4. India's General Overseas Service 5. Radyo Pilipinas DZRP 6. Bangladesh Batar (they have on-demand only) 7. Radio Cairo 8. Radio Kuwait 9. Voice of Mongolia (they have on-demand only) 10. Radio Sultanate Oman 11. Sudan's Voice of Africa 12. Radio Taiwan Intl (only on-demand) 13. Voice of Tajikistan 14. Radio Vanuatu 15. Radio Sanna from Yemen 16. North Korea If you have Internet streams for these (any format), please get in touch: comments@1radionews.com Note: http://1radionews.com There is a video for non-Android users: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEGAVRVo5Pw Here is what I added recently to the "pro" version: 1. Saudia Radio 2. Radio Prague 3. Radio Romania International 4. Iran IRIB 5. Radio Havana 6. Radio Exterior Spain 7. Radio Slovakia Intl 8. Radio Sweden P6 9. Radio Exterior Argentina 10. Voice of Croatia 11. International Radio Serbia 12. Radio Tirana 3 13. Voice of Vietnam 14. Voice of Turkey World 15. Radio Bahrain Finding the stream for each station and adding to the app takes up to three hours of digging. Some take just minutes while the Voice of Turkey took me hours to identify correctly. For quite some time that app has had: 1. Channel Africa 2. Radio China Intl 3. Radio Sputnik Russia 4. Deutsche Welle 5. KBS from Korea 6. World Radio Network 7. Voice of America 8. BBC World Service 9. Radio New Zealand International 10. Radio France Internationale 11. Radio Australia International [sic] 12. Radio Belarus 13. Ukraine Radio Intl 14. Radio Poland And loads more streams for domestic news services from English speaking countries including representative "samplers" of commercial talk radio and sports talk radio. I've also added a bunch of English-language local FM stations in non- Native English speaking countries which tend to have news/talk in morning local time. While many of these stations can be found buried in TuneIn (many with dead links), what I enjoy is the ability to quickly surf the dial to see what's on. While podcasts allow you to go into programs on-demand, there is something about "live" radio which I personally find more appealing and filled with unexpected surprises. Finally, people ask about an iOS version all of the time. I've set a challenge before I invest more into the app to get it to 10,000 active installs (up from 2,000 on the free version) or if community interest in a Kickstarter effort emerges to cover the development costs. If you want to help in some way, let me know: comments@1radionews.com Cheers, (Steven Clift, April 14, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) See also TURKMENISTAN ** IRAN [non]. April 6: R. Ranginkaman, R. Rainbow in Farsi to WeAs 1600 on 7575 Grigoriopol, 15630 Secretbrod https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9CsFSDD4RQ&feature=youtu.be R. Ranginkaman, R. Rainbow in Farsi to WeAs 1611 on 7575 Grigoriopol, 15630 Secretbrod https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWt2w8lJ77k&feature=youtu.be R. Ranginkaman, R. Rainbow in Farsi to WeAs 1627 on 7575 Grigoriopol, 15630 Secretbrod https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dh7ipINKrSo&feature=youtu.be (Ivo Ivanov, Blgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. 756 kHz carries now Galei Tzahal instead of R. Mashreq (WRTH National Radio update Uploaded 10 April 2015, via DXLD) ** ITALY. 15000.0, 1504-... 11/4, Associazione Amici di ITALCABLE, Massarosa. Italy, music pieces and TS + TCs. Carrier + USB transmission. 25342 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, JRC NRD-545DSP & NRD- 93; home made amp. (W7IUV version); 20 m T2FD, 30 m inverted V, 6x19x6 m EWE 135º, raised, 4 loop KAY, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ITALIA, 10000, Italcable, 1227, escuchada el 13 de abril de 2015 en italiano a locutor dando la hora cada minuto, emisión de fragmentos musicales, SINPO 44333 (Jose Miguel Romero, Sacañet (Castellón), Spain, 1011m altitud, Latitud: 39.8667; Longitud: -0.7167; Grundig Yacht Boy 80, Antena hilo de 10m, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KASHMIR. 4950, AIR Radio Kashmir, Srinagar (presumed), 1354-1400*, April 14. A rare day with actual audio; Srinagar sunset 1331 UT and my local sunrise at 1335 UT, for greyline reception which resulted in the strongest audio heard so far; 1357 tone to begin ad, with ending tone at 1400; no audio after 1400, just open carrier. Conforms to Jose Jacob's website http://www.qsl.net/vu2jos/ "On at around 1330-1400 only" (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, E1 & CR-1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. 6020, April 9 at 1332, very poor signal with YL in English, piano, contact info for Sea Breeze, so still here via JSR Tokyo, and still in English on Thursdays (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA SOUTH. 6015, Hanminjok Bangsong 1, 1419-1435+ 26 Mar. No NK jammer and doing well with zippy pop, M/W DJ chat, occasional IDs in passing + 1 "Radio.....Bangsong.." singing jingle. 1401-1435 27 March. Again no NK jamming at tune-in, interview with young pop singer, nice singing jingle, apparently some ads/news items, another (presumed) interview through BOH -- rumble jammer started up around 1435 (Dan Sheedy, Moonlight Beach, CA, G5/PL606 + 6m X wire, via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA SOUTH. COREA DEL SUR, 6250, Echo Of Hope-VOH (Hwaseong), 2032-2040, escuchada el 11 de abril de 2015 en coreano a locutor con comentarios, emisión de música coral y opera, SINPO 24332 (José Miguel Romero, Spain, dxldyg via DXLD) José, are you certain that it is this station? Pyongyang has been using 6250 for many years now and from your description it certainly sounds likely (Robin L. Harwood VK7RH, 20/177 Penquite Road, Norwood 7250 TASMANIA, ibid.) Well, I recall hearing Echo of Hope on 6250 a few days ago and checked today (Apr 13) around 1720 UT. To me it sounds [like] 6003, 6250 and 6348 are airing same program. All frequencies are jammed by noise jammer. In Tasmania I'd believe they are booming in (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, ibid.) ** KOREA SOUTH [non]. MONITORING SERVICE IN SOUTH KOREA I'm a Korean MW/SW listener. Is there anyone who is interested in how some stations are heard in South Korea? I'll give the recording files of your interesting stations and the reception reports to you for free. Please email me at bclman@hanmail.net Thanks (Sungchul Cho from South Korea, QTH: Anyang city, South Korea. Rx: G35ddc, nrd545, ar7030plusL Ant: 303wa-2, ala1530s+, April 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KURDISTAN [non]. CLANDESTINE, 11510, V. of Kurdistan, Apr 03 1440- 1451, 35332, Kurdish, News, Theme music at 1443, etc. (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC-R75, NRD-525+RD-9830, NRD-345, Satellit 750, DE-1121; ANT, 130m Sloper Wire, 303WA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) April 9: Denge Kurdistan in Kurdish to WeAs 1302 on 11510 Secretbrod + harmonic on 23020 + spurs 11490, 11530 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8i6jk7pz3mc&feature=youtu.be Denge Kurdistan in Kurdish to WeAs 1400 on 11510 Secretbrod + hx on 23020 + spurs 11490, 11530 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IW7cCoLTdJs&feature=youtu.be April 11: Denge Kurdistan in Kurdish to WeAs 1300 on 11510 Secretbrod+hx on 23020+spurs 11490,11530 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCj3-qLyFK0&feature=youtu.be (Ivo Ivanov, Blgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) See BULGARIA SECRETLAND, Denge Kurdistan in Kurdish from very old Soviet tx in Secrebrod: 1400-1600 on 11510 SCB 100 kW / 090 deg to WeAs + 2nd harmonic 23010 + spurs 11490/11530 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2015/04/denge-kurdistan-in-kurdish-from-very.html -- 73! (Ivo Ivanov, Blgaria, April 9, dxldyg via DXLD) Denge Kurdistan via Secretbrod, extended 1300-1600, ex 1400-1600 plus spurs and 2nd harmonic (Ivo, April 11, ibid.) Denge Kurdistan in Kurdish from very old Soviet tx in Secretbrod: 1300-1600 on 11510 SCB 100 kW / 090 deg to WeAs + 2nd harmonic 23010 [sic] + spurs 11490/11530 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2015/04/denge-kurdistan-in-kurdish-from-very.html (Ivo Ivanov, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DXLD) ** KUWAIT [and non]. CHINA vs KUWAIT, CNR-17 vs R. Kuwait Holy Quran 0000-1800 11630 LIN 100 kW / 286 deg CHINA, Kazakh China Nat. Radio 17 1015-1600 11630 KBD 200 kW / 230 deg CeAf, Arabic Holy Quran R. Kuwait http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2015/04/cnr-17-vs-radio-kuwait-holy-quran.html -- 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, April 9, dxldyg via DXLD) ** KUWAIT. 15515, R. Kuwait, Apr 11 0800-0810, 25322, Arabic, News and talk and Arabic music, ID at 0801 (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC-R75, NRD-525+RD-9830, NRD-345, Satellit 750, DE-1121; ANT, 130m Sloper Wire, 303WA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 17550, April 9 at 2056, R. Kuwait with ME music (rather than Qur`an), heavy flutter, but better than it was almost an hour earlier at sign- on. PL-880 on the porch with short random wire shows dbu ranges 26-43. It`s sampling once per second, so occasionally hits a peak or valley, while most readings are closer to the middle of whatever range (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MACAU. R. Vila Verde has closed MW 738 kHz and moved to FM 99.5 MHz (WRTH National Radio update Uploaded 10 April 2015, via DXLD) ** MADAGASCAR. 5010.79, Radio Malagasy, 1830, strong with local vocals, much better modulation than during prior log of April 2nd (David Sharp, NSW, FT-950, NRD-535D, R8, R30A, Timewave 599ZX, various Palstar and MFJ accessories, Quantum Phaser, various Sangean and Tecsun portables, EWE aerials; via Bob Wilkner, DXLD) Undated 5010, Radio Naciosaly [sic] Malagasy, Ambohidrano, 0315-0330, 15-04, Madagascar songs and pop songs in English. 24322 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Logs in Lugo, Grundig Satellit 500, Tecsun PL-880 and Sony ICF SW7600G, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) North Americans, at least, hearing something on 5010 in our evenings should be sure it doesn`t match 5040, as a leapfrog mixing product of RHC over Rebelde 5025 another 15 kHz lower. Also, MAD tends to drift considerably away from 5010 unlike Cuba and IIRC has been reported in SSB (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MADAGASCAR. 13840, April 10 at 0546, NHK in French is good, and hardly any Egypt on 13850 to spur here tonight. 13765, April 10 at 0545, Vatican Radio in Portuguese is good to very good here, also via Talata. Meanwhile, R. Dabanga on 13800 & 11650 are merely via Vatican, jammed, and much weaker than these; see SUDAN [and non] (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAYSIA. 6050, Salam FM (via RTM-Kajang) 1505-1514* 30 Mar. Running late with Qur'an recitations/commentary, nice singing jingle with spoken tag before usual abrupt s/off (Dan Sheedy, Moonlight Beach, CA, G5/PL606 + 6m X wire, via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAYSIA. 9835, Sarawak FM (via RTM-Kajang) 1410-1455+ 27 March. Broadcasting what sounds like another local/regional "Tilawah al- Qur'an" from tune-in to 1444 followed by big, zippy "Satu [One] Malaysia" promo/song with one English verse, ad string for banks, etc in Kuching, Sarawak FM tag, nice guitar instrumental leading into what sounded like a promo for one of the Sarawak FM DJs (Dan Sheedy, Moonlight Beach, CA, G5/PL606 + 6m X wire, via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9935 [sic; must mean 9835], Sarawak FM, 1747 with a Hindi song and nice S9 signal then mengerti of KRU [??]. More on this station and others in my ebook http://goo.gl/Pi87gp for only $5 (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, April 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MARSHALL ISLANDS. Eagle Christian Radio is a new station on 1170 kHz with 5 kW and 99.9 between 1800-1200. MW is operating irregularly. AFN Kwajalein 1224 kHz has been closed (WRTH National Radio update Uploaded 10 April 2015, via DXLD) ** MEXICO. 730, XEX, TDW Radio, México, DF. 1111 March 29, 2015. Long string of "W" promos, bumper music in English mentioning "We're going to the Super Bowl" into two male hosts talking about US fútbol. Do Mexicans really care, or are they targeting Mexican immigrants in the US with all their watts? (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 950, April 10 at 0117 UT, Mexican-sounding PSA, then ``La Mera Mera`` slogan (plus ``La Ranchera``? Not sure about that part), but I am sure an 8:17 timecheck followed and temp in Montemorelos. So it`s XERN, 5/1 kW in that Nuevo León city per Cantú, which however calls it ``La Jefa``. Even further off is the IRCA Log listing as La Jefa in Monterrey. Where will WRTH find it? Monterrey, but called ``Radio Naranjera`` --- at least that matched the call letters. Could that be what I heard, rhyming with mera? No, ``La Mera Mera`` was pretty clear and a slogan used by several Mexican stations, odd as it sounds. That ex-name obviously had something to do with oranges, but what, exactly? My Random House LA SS dixionary spells it out: naranjera is orange-seller (if feminine), but what`s that got to do with radio? Naranjal is orange grove; naranjada is orangeade; naranja is orange, the fruit; while naranjo besides meaning orange tree can also informally mean lout or blockhead. I guess the color naranj@ can be either gender, depending. Montemorelos is about 52 km SE of Monterrey on Carretera 85, so just about a suburb easily linked to the metropolis (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also CUBA Nice catch with XERN. Here's their website. http://radionaranjera.com.mx/ 73 KAZ (Neil Kazaross, ABDX via DXLD) ** MEXICO. 1030, April 14 at 1245 UT as I tune in, ``Radio Fórmula, Ciudad Juárez`` ID, quickly losing out to gospel huxtering in English, KCTA TX or KCWJ MO. It`s XEYC, 1/1 kW per IRCA, or 5/0.5 kW per Cantú and WRTH (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 1060.065, XEEP Radio Educación, México DF. 1038 April 12, 2015. Off-frequency again today (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. You're not the only one that's thought about Iguala in writing DX-related material. I'm surprised nobody has noticed this line buried in my (no really) constantly updated Mexico by-market digital readiness report: "Iguala: No stations on RF 43, and generally no stations." I also covered how a Televisa shadow channel in a town close to Ayotzinapa was destroyed by vandals. http://forums.wtfda.org/showthread.php?9113-OPMA-is-changing/page11 (Raymie Humbert, AZ, April 9, WTFDA Forum via DXLD) ** MEXICO. RAYMIE`S MEXICO BEAT posts this week: Will Grupo Radio Centro please come forward? You might recall they were having a bit of a hard time getting financing for that massive MXN 3.058bn payment for their TV network, a 69% premium on Cadena Tres. Well, time is running out to pony up. The deadline: 5pm Mexico City time tomorrow. They say it's like a telenovela, with the viewer waiting with bated breath for the exciting ending. If Radio Centro fails to come through, they lose their security deposit (some 400m pesos) and the thing gets to go to another call for bids! I speak Spanish so you don't have to (Raymie Humbert, AZ, April 9, Raymie`s Mexico Beat, WTFDA Forum via DXLD) In just over an hour time runs out on Grupo Radio Centro and its need to pay $200m (USD, upwards of 3 billion pesos) to start building its network. That's not cheap: the price is equal to its total assets and more than triple sales last year, according to filings. On the BMV (Mexico's stock market) shares in GRC fell 4.76% today. Experts say that if Radio Centro doesn't pony up, it will make Peña Nieto's telecom reforms far less successful. Grupo Radio Centro even trended on Twitter in Mexico earlier today. For more information on what this means for the investment side of the business, you can read this Bloomberg article (in English). http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-09/radio-centro-s-tv-dreams-could-come-at-high-cost-for-investors ——— 4:35pm Mexico City: GRC informs El Universal that it will announce its decision today between 6pm and 8pm. http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/finanzas-cartera/2015/radio-centro-comunicara-decision-entre-6-y-8pm-1091473.html 5:55pm Mexico City: GRC will release a press release at 8pm tonight. 6:23pm Mexico City: The BMV has issued a press release: http://www.bmv.com.mx/eventore/eventore_586862_1.pdf "Grupo Radio Centro, S.A.B. de C.V., one of Mexico's leading broadcasting companies, did not make the payment resulting from the television network auction; as such it will pay the security deposit awarded for that auction by way of previously considered liquidity operations." They'll be out $27.2m (USD, 415m MXN). 7:40pm Mexico City: We have an IFT press release, http://www.ift.org.mx/iftweb/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Comunicado-de-prensa-26-IFT.pdf which says little new but also notes that the IFT will analyze what to do with the 123 television station allocations left vacant. Last edited by Raymie; 04-10-2015 at 07:41 PM (Raymie, Apr 10, ibid.) It just kept getting worse for Grupo Radio Centro today. Their stock took an additional 18% fall on the BMV, losing US$42.3m in market cap. http://eleconomista.com.mx/mercados-estadisticas/2015/04/13/grupo-radio-centro-pierde-645-mdp-bmv As for the stock itself it has fallen 22% in two days and 29% since March 23. Analysts think this whole thing could drive GRC into bankruptcy reorganization http://eleconomista.com.mx/mercados-estadisticas/2015/04/13/radio-centro-muy-endeudado and that the company just was not in the right financial position to pull off such a move. They have a net debt to EBITDA ratio of about four, when most companies are in the 1 to 2 range. ...And if you're wondering what will happen to all those lost frequencies, how about the possibility of regional television networks? El Economista has the rumors that are flying: http://eleconomista.com.mx/industrias/2015/04/13/cadenas-locales-tv-abren-posibilidad-actores-regionales -6 to 9 regions would be possible. Of course the big, big prize would be Mexico City which commands 45% of the ad market. -It would take six months to get a bidding process up and running. -Could be attractive for companies (and advertisers) without the resources to go national. Mexican TV is very heavily centralized, of course. If this doesn't sound too new Cofetel proposed it before being replaced. http://www.sdpnoticias.com/economia/2015/04/13/perfilan-cadenas-regionales-para-licitacion-de-tv However, a barrier would be a transitory constitutional mandate to create two new national television networks. The Wall Street Journal noted this: The 49% restriction on foreign ownership included in last year’s telecommunications overhaul discouraged a number of international companies and was partly to blame for the lack of participants in the process, said Jorge Negrete, head of telecommunications consultancy Mediatelecom Policy & Law. Mr. Negrete defended the IFT, which has been criticized for the perceived failure in the bidding process. “In 50 years, no country in Latin America has tendered a television concession,” he said. (Mr. Negrete, Colombia 1997? Argentina in the 80s? Yes there have been new TV concessions tendered in Latin America. Colombia '97 was an absolute game changer for television there.) (Raymie, April 13, ibid.) 31 of Mexico's 32 states have digital television stations on air as TDT is confirmed to be on in San José del Cabo, BCS. The stations that are on are Azteca: XHJCC-TDT 24 and XHSJC-TDT 26 (analog 5 and 8). The temporary VCs are said to be 24.2 and 26.2 though I would not be surprised if it's 24.2/26.1 given Azteca's patterns. The viewer also reported receiving (in digital) Mazatlán 7 and 12. Surprised he doesn't get their 4 as well given it's technically identical to 12. Tlaxcala is the last state, and that requires that the TDT state network (heh) build its TDTs (Raymie, April 14, ibid.) Four months from now pretty much every TV station in Mexico will need to be on in digital. So how is the country doing? Well, a lot better since I began tracking digitalization status at the start of this year. Three analog shutoffs Three markets have shut off their analog stations: Nuevo Laredo, Matamoros-Reynosa, and Mexicali. These border markets were exceptionally ready (ready for years) and also the first to transition in the IFT era. Additionally, one station has opted to flash-cut to digital: XHPUE Puebla. They join XHCMO and XHILA as the only stations to ever turn off analog early. Marked national improvement Digital television service is now readily available in many urban areas of the country, and we're starting to see the spillover into rural Mexico. Some notable areas that have received multiple digital stations: Cd. del Carmen, Campeche, first city in southeastern Mexico to have all analog television stations also in digital Campeche, Campeche, which brought on all stations except its state network, authorized, and also added a new SPR transmitter Colima, Colima, which brought on five stations in a month and is only missing its state network, authorized Tepic, Nayarit, which has seen four of its six stations get on digital Oaxaca, Oaxaca, which got 6 of its 7 stations in a period from December to February Hermosillo, Sonora, which had one digital station and now has six Cd. Obregón, Sonora, which now has all commercial stations in digital Cd. Victoria, Tamaulipas, which had one station on and now has all of them (one of which is co-channel) More encouragingly, smaller markets are beginning to join the fray. San José del Cabo BCS (Azteca), Zacatlán Puebla (Televisa), Cerro Azul Veracruz (Televisa) and Valladolid-Tizimín-Kahua Yuc. (both) have digital television service, and in the case of Zacatlán and Cerro Azul it took semi-DX reception from others to confirm the presence of these stations. But still a long way to go That said, there are still quite a few cities where I don't think any digital television stations are operating. Here are some of the biggest: La Paz, BCS Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas Hidalgo del Parral, Chihuahua Northern Coahuila (multiple areas) Chilpancingo, Guerrero Tamazunchale, SLP There are also many, many state networks that face digitalization. These state networks are digitalized at least in part: Distrito Federal*, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Morelos*, Edomex, Nuevo León**, Puebla*, Querétaro* *All-digital networks **Monterrey xmtr only, co-channel operation These hold authorizations: Aguascalientes, BCS, Campeche, Colima, San Luis Potosí Digitalization appears near-ish for some others: Oaxaca, Sonora (Telemax) The rest of the states have no state network or no known authorizations or plans for digital television. Most of the states that are in digital have a bunch of transmitters that will need to be converted. State network laggards are holding some markets back from digital parity (notable examples: Aguascalientes, Villahermosa, Mérida). I expect the largest state networks to shed many transmitters, particularly Sonora and Oaxaca (the two nets combined represent about one in eight TV stations in Mexico). There are also several university television stations (XHUNES, XHUAD, XHUS) that don't have a clear path to digitalization. Yes, it's happening. A lot of us thought Mexico wouldn't get this far. They did, and it looks like the pressure of time has finally spurred the broadcasters to make the necessary investments. Sometimes it seems that this blog is little more than "a digital station signed on in city X, on channel Y with network Z". But it's happening and I have no doubt that Mexico will make the December 31, 2015 deadline (Raymie, April 14, ibid.) About 18 months ago the must carry/must offer policy went into effect in Mexico for the 2, 5, 7 and 13 networks. This created a big problem for Dish, which transmits a national feed of each network, come election time. Obviously we all know that election commercials pop up everywhere, and Dish almost was going to have to pay Televisa and Azteca for them to create a special Dish feed with just the federal-level commercials. Normally the retransmissions are done with the Mexico City feeds, but for election season they're going to switch from Mexico City...to Torreón, http://www.informador.com.mx/mexico/2015/586838/6/resuelven-a-favor-de-dish-en-retransmision-de-pauta-federal.htm because that city does not have any local elections or independent candidates to the Chamber of Deputies and thus is only running the federal-level commercials (Raymie, April 16, ibid.) ** MICRONESIA. Joy Family Radio operates also on 1260 kHz with 1 kW in parallel with FM (WRTH National Radio update Uploaded 10 April 2015, via DXLD) ** MICRONESIA. 4755, The Cross Radio, 1042, M in apparent religious talk, poor with QRN but better than it has been lately 3/24; The Cross Radio, 1107, carrier only 2 April (XM, Cedar Key, Florida, NRD525D, R8A, E5 via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4755.54, PMA-The Cross Radio. April 15 extended broadcast; heard before 1200 and as usual was off the air when checked shortly after 1200; so surprised to find they had turned the transmitter back on by 1228; on 24 hr.?; 1300 "It is midnight and this is the Cross Radio, 88.5 FM"; 1330 “The Cross Radio is a Ministry of Pacific Mission Fellowship. Find us on the web at radio dot pma pacific dot org"; still on at 1427 (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, E1 & CR-1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MONGOLIA. Mongolian R. is reported inactive on 4830 and 4895 kHz (WRTH National Radio update Uploaded 10 April 2015, via DXLD) ** MONGOLIA. New A-15 SW schedule for Voice of Mongolia from May 1: 0900-0930 NF 11999.9 U-B 250 kW / 178 deg to SEAs English, ex 12084.9 to avoid R. Australia 0930-1000 NF 11999.9 U-B 250 kW / 116 deg to EaAs Mongolian,ex 12084.9 to avoid R. Australia 1000-1030 NF 11999.9 U-B 250 kW / 116 deg to EaAs Chinese, ex 12084.9 to avoid R. Australia 1030-1100 NF 11999.9 U-B 250 kW / 116 deg to EaAs Japanese, ex 12084.9 to avoid R. Australia 1400-1430 on 12014.9*U-B 250 kW / 178 deg to SEAs Chinese, ex Mongolian 1430-1500 on 12014.9*U-B 250 kW / 178 deg to SEAs Mongolisn, ex Chinese 1500-1530 on 12014.9*U-B 250 kW / 116 deg to EaAs Japanese 1530-1600 on 12014.9*U-B 250 kW / 116 deg to EaAs English * totally blocked by Voice of Korea in Russian on 12015.0 (Bulgarian DX Blog April 13 via WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DXLD) Ivo assumes the new frequency 12000 will also be offset like the old ones (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) ** MOROCCO. 9575, R. Medi Un, Apr 05 0701-0714, 45444, Arabic and French, News and talk, 0708, etc (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC-R75, NRD-525+RD-9830, NRD-345, Satellit 750, DE-1121; ANT, 130m Sloper Wire, 303WA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. Radio Spaceshuttle on air this weekend 11th and 12th of April --- Very early 2 hours musical morning wakeup on Saturday morning, please test conditions that time in Europe and East of it: 6070 kHz, 49 mb on Saturday 11th of April 2015, 0330-0530 UT. And Sunday evening WorldWide tests on higher frequencies. Check and try to catch our signal: Radio Spaceshuttle, 13800 kHz, 22 mb on Sunday 12th of April 2015 1800-1900 UT. Wishing good audibility and lots of reports, thank you. Higher frequencies and hopefully free band will forward our signal very long way! Nice Saturday and Sunday music and Hobart Radio International from Tashmania with! Radio Spaceshuttle International P. O. Box 2702 NL: 6049 ZG Herten The Netherlands A little fee (2 euros) for return postage (for full info printed QSLs) is needed! Quick responce and communication is possible by e-mail: spaceshuttleradio@yahoo.com Best Regards! (Dick of Radio Spaceshuttle http:\\spaceshuttleradio.freeservers.com April 9, HCDX via DXLD) 6070 presumably low power German, 13800 high power Bulgarian (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ALEMANIA --- 6070, Radio Spaceshuttle via Channel 292, Rohrbach, 0445- 0530*, 11-04, inglés, música pop, identificación "Radio Spaceshuttle", "...our colourful QSL card", a las 0500 "This is Radio Spaceshuttle..., makes music different", dirección de correo postal e e-mail, canción Sounds of Silent por Simon and Garfunkel, a las 0729 identificación y cierre. 34433 (Manuel Méndez, Spain, April 11, noticiasdx yg via DXLD) Re: [HCDX] 13800 Radio Spaceshuttle --- Estuve esperando la emisión en 13800 a las 1800 [12 abril]; pude observar durante unos segundos la emisión de una portadora, comenzó emisión de música, la señal fue débil, y lo curioso fue escuchar la ID de “Dim[t]se Radio Erena” pronunciado por una mujer. Posteriormente siguió la emisión de la portadora; esperé varios minutos y se apagó el transmisor (José Miguel Romero, Spain, April 13, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DXLD) SECRETLAND Total failure of Radio Spaceshuttle via Secretbrod April 12 till 1800 13800 SCB 100 kW / 306 deg WeEu, end of Dimtse Radio Erena 1800-1803 13800 SCB 100 kW / 306 deg WeEu, open carrier, dead air from 1803 13800 SCB 100 kW / 306 deg WeEu, transmitter was off http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2015/04/total-failure-of-radio-spaceshuttle-via.html -- 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DXLD) Because of little technical difficulties our Sunday transmission on 13800 kHz was cancelled, very sorry :( Most probably everything is okay next weekend (Dick, Radio Spaceshuttle Info, April 12, HCDX via DXLD) New try of Radio Spaceshuttle transmission 19th of April Trying to power transmitter again next Sunday evening on higher frequencies and WorldWide tests. Thinking that everything is fine and operational. Please, check and try to catch our signal. Radio Spaceshuttle, 13800 kHz, 22mb on Sunday 19th of April 2015 1800-1900 UT. Wishing good audibility and lots of reports, thank you. Higher frequencies and hopefully free band will forward our signal very long way! Nice Sunday music, listeners mailbag and Hobart Radio International from Tashmania with! Radio Spaceshuttle International P. O. Box 2702 NL: 6049 ZG Herten The Netherlands A little fee (2 euros) for return postage (for full info printed QSLs) is needed! Quick responce and communication is possible by e-mail: spaceshuttleradio@yahoo.com Best Regards! (Dick of Radio Spaceshuttle http:\\spaceshuttleradio.freeservers.com April 15, HCDX via WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. Mighty KBC Radio Holland now on 7375 kHz --- Last week ran until 10 pm local [UT -5 = 0300 UT]. Rock oldies from '50s to '90s, hits & should've been hits, music trivia, listener letters. Transmitter in Germany (the Croatia xmtr?) said 125 kW. The only ad is for their communications store. A listener in Cuba requested Blaze of Glory by Bon Jovi (1991), the newest song heard. Another listener asked why can't we have a station like this in the United States? A listener in Woodruff, WI said "You're making my Hammarlund smile". 73 (George Sherman, MN, April 11, MDXC yg via DXLD) Thanks for the reminder they're on an extra hour. Been recording them for some time but forgot they went to an additional hour. The transmitter is in Nauen, Germany. Voice of Croatia used to use it until they went off. Same site when they're on 9925 kHz. https://www.google.com/maps/place/52 38'52.7%22N+12 54'30.6%22E (Greg Putrich, Plymouth, MN, ibid.) ** NEWFOUNDLAND. 2598-USB, VON, St. John's, 0010 to 0015 “St John“ weather “5 knots …” om 6 April (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, South Florida, 746Pro, Drake R8, NRD 525, Sony 2010XA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Saint John is the one in New Brunswick --- watch out for those `s (gh, DXLD) See also CANADA ** NEWFOUNDLAND. 6160, Canada, CKZN St. John’s, 2345-2350 talk regarding parking lot “out of Edmunton on line..” Jazz FM on 4 April (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, South Florida, 746Pro, Drake R8, NRD 525, Sony 2010XA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Edmonton is in Alberta; Edmundston is in New Brunswick (gh, DXLD) ** NICARAGUA. 720, Radio Católica, Managua, 1050-1103, pretty much in the clear until fade/out with only faint QRM from WLS [sic], apparent musical version of the Rosary, followed by brief talk in Spanish by M, mentions of Católica, rare here and best I ever had this 3/24 (XM, Cedar Key, Florida, NRD525D, R8A, E5 via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NICARAGUA. 8989-USB, "El Pescador Preacher" 2305-2311 with long talk in Spanish with intentional interference for [from?] second station 5 April, frequency covered ute, same time, on 3 and 4 April (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, South Florida, 746Pro, Drake R8, NRD 525, Sony 2010XA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA. 6089.87, FRCN Kaduna, 1800, noted as low rumbling het with decent copy in LSB - sounded like a speech or rally in local vernacular, some hi life. Not noted day earlier. April 5th (David Sharp, NSW, FT-950, NRD-535D, R8, R30A, Timewave 599ZX, various Palstar and MFJ accessories, Quantum Phaser, various Sangean and Tecsun portables, EWE aerials; via Bob Wilkner, DXLD) ** NIGERIA. Seitdem Belarus 7255 durch 11930 kHz ersetzt hat, ist um 18-20 UT Ikorodu schön zu hören. Heute am 10.4. um 1808 UT mit S=9+5dB, recht lustiges Programm. Bis 1805 UT Tibetanisch aus Lhasa, China, auf nahezu genau 7255 kHz. Auch nicht stärker (Wolfgang Büschel, 1815 UT April 10, A-DX via Büschel, DXLD) Re: [A-DX] 7254.921 kHz Nigeria 18-20 UT --> 18.35...UC, 10.04.15 (und: Livestream wieder da!). Nun ja, das Signal war in den letzten Tagen teils schon sehr schwach, und auch nicht durchgehend auf Sendung. Gleiches gilt für die DRM-Sendung, die zudem, wenn sie da ist, auch lange noch nicht decodierbar ist (kommt aber auch vor...). Die englischen Sendungen auf 15120 AM sind zuletzt erst recht unregelmäßig gewesen und so schwach moduliert, dass sie auch nicht besser verständlich sind (mit den anderen Sprachdiensten sieht es seltsamerweise oft etwas besser aus). Aber Hoppsala: Gerade mal wieder probiert. Der Live-Stream funktioniert: http://static.viewer.dacast.com/b/35454/c/48799 Das habe ich auch schon lange nicht mehr erlebt! Also wer regelmäßig sucht, findet zumindest hin und wieder eine Möglichkeit, Voice of Nigeria brauchbar zu hören (Thorsten Hallmann, Germany, I think, 1845 UT? ibid.) [and non]. Voice of Nigeria: Nach 1805 noch war auf 7255 nichts, jetzt gerade höre ich aber was. Bislang fehlt hingegen 15120 DRM. Der alte Sender aus Ikorudo war heute planmäßig, na ja, fast: Kisuaheli ab 1600 war auf 9690 statt 11770. Kaduna ist unter Amhara National State Radio zu erahnen (6089.9/6090), aber scheint erst ein paar Minuten vor 1800 den Sender angeworfen zu haben. Auch neulich habe ich ihn mal zwischen 1730 und 1800 erst mal kurz an- und abschalten hören, und dann erst "richtig" senden hören. 73 (Thorsten Hallmann, 1913 UT, ibid.) 7254.9 --> ja. Programm --> ja. Aber nur S 5 und O=1/2 mit USB. Mehr ist im Moment nicht drin' "im Linde" ;-) Mit Gruss, (Herbert Meixner, 3160 Traisen, NRD 535DG, MiniWhip, 1845 UT April 10, ibid.) V of Nigeria jetzt um 20-21 UT auf 9689.895 kHz. Am besten mit den Loops bei der DARC stn in Amberg Oberpfalz, mit S=8 sehr fluttery, die Beverage deutlich ruhiger, aber nur S=4 Signal, aber das geht auch. Mit dem Flutter springt das Signal im Perseus 2-3 Hertz hin und her. Um 20.47z ist Kaduna bei 6089.859 kHz auf der Flanke, vom nicht sehr starken IRIB VoIran in Albanisch (Wolfgang Büschel, 2051 UT April 13, ibid.) Um 2112z native Flötenmusik aus Ikorodu, 11769.875 kHz Hausa Program, fluttert hoch bis S=9+15dB, überhaupt ist das 25 Meterband heute Abend sehr voll von Signalen aus den unterschiedlichsten Ecken der Welt, downunder NZL, die anderen Pazifik-, und Asienstationen, dazu Kuba gehört auf 11760, die vielen Brasilianer usw. usw (Büschel, 2118 UT April 13, ibid.) 15120, Voice of Nigeria (Ikorodu), 0740-0750, escuchada el 13 de abril de 2015 en francés a locutor con comentarios sobre tema de música maliense que estaban emitiendo, presenta a técnico de sonido “Emmanuel ….”, programa de música africana, locutora con comentarios, SINPO 44444. A las 0800 comienza la emisión en inglés: la emisión fue terrible, sin comparación con la emisión en francés (Jose Miguel Romero, Sacañet (Castellón), Spain, 1011m altitud, Latitud: 39.8667; Longitud: -0.7167; Grundig Yacht Boy 80, Antena hilo de 10m, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Frequency change for Voice of Nigeria in Swahili in A-15 1600-1630 NF 9690 IKO 250 kW / 248 deg to ECAf, ex 11770 in A-14: http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2015/04/frequency-change-for-voice-of-nigeria.html -- 73! (Ivo Ivanov, Blgaria, April 15, dxldyg via DXLD) ** NIGERIA [non]. CLANDESTINE [sic]: 12050, Dandal Kura, Apr 01 *1800- 1808, 35433, Kanuri?, 1800 sign on with opening announce, Talk. 12050, Dandal Kura, Apr 02 *1800-1811, 35433, Kanuri?, 1800 sign on with opening music, Opening announce, Talk (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC-R75, NRD-525+RD-9830, NRD-345, Satellit 750, DE-1121; ANT, 130m Sloper Wire, 303WA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Interesting article on Dandal Kura Radio in last Saturday's Globe & Mail newspaper (one of Canada's national newspapers): NIGERIA`S WAR AGAINST BOKO HARAM TAKES TO THE AIRWAVES GEOFFREY YORK, KANO, NIGERIA — The Globe and Mail Published Friday, Apr. 10 2015, 8:12 PM EDT Last updated Friday, Apr. 10 2015, 8:14 PM EDT 4 comments http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/nigerias-war-against-boko-haram-takes-to-the-airwaves/article23887004/ While helicopter gunships and armoured vehicles have led the campaign against Boko Haram in northern Nigeria this year, the military hardware is now being reinforced by an unexpected new psychological weapon: radio broadcasts of soccer news and farm reports. In a bare-bones radio studio in this northern city, a small staff of broadcasters has entered the battle for hearts and minds in Boko Haram territory. Much of their work is basic reporting on mundane subjects such as farm irrigation and sports news, but it could still play a role in neutralizing Boko Haram’s propaganda and regaining support in the strongholds of the Islamist extremists. In the city of northern Kaduna, where 800 people were killed in violence after the last elections in 2011, supporters of election winner Muhammadu Buhari streamed onto the streets, waving flags, dancing and singing in celebration. [sidebars:] Folio: Nigeria Nigerian President quiets fears of violence as he concedes defeat Some 10 months after the Boko Haram extremist group snatched nearly 300 girls from a school in Nigeria, most are still missing, and the militants are said to be bragging about it to new captives. (Feb. 11) Video: Survivors say Boko Haram brags about mass kidnapping Scores of Nigerian refugees are crossing Lake Chad to find safety from Boko Haram violence but countries like Chad are struggling with the refugee influx. Mana Rabiee reports. Video: Nigerian refugees cross Chad Lake to flee Boko Haram violence The key to the radio strategy is its use of Kanuri – the language of an estimated 80 to 90 per cent of Boko Haram members and most other citizens in Borno state, the northeastern region that has been devastated by the radical Islamist militia. It’s also commonly spoken in the border regions of Cameroon, Chad and Niger, where the insurgents operate. Until now, the Nigerian government has neglected the Kanuri language, leaving few voices to counteract Boko Haram’s message in the extremist militia’s birthplace in the northeast. Those who live under the daily threat of Boko Haram attack often feel isolated and alone. “There’s a feeling of dejection, that nobody cares about them,” says Umar Tudunwada, general manager of Freedom Radio, the independent Kano-based station that hosts and produces the Kanuri-language radio program. “They’re not getting information from anyone. Nobody comes to them to hear their side of the story. But now they have a new sense of belonging, a sense that society cares. Radio is reaching them in their own vernacular.” The daily radio show is called Dandal Kura – “great hall” or “meeting place” in the Kanuri language. So far it broadcasts just one hour a day, using a former BBC frequency that listeners are accustomed to monitoring, but Mr. Tudunwada aims to expand it to three hours daily by June and eventually to a full station. It uses shortwave, a popular choice in northern Nigeria, where people buy cheap Chinese-made shortwave radios for a few dollars in the local markets. The radio program, launched in January, is financed by USAID, the overseas development agency of the United States government, but all of its editorial content and production is done by Nigerians without foreign involvement. It also broadcasts into the Kanuri-speaking regions of Chad, Cameroon and Niger. While it covers a wide range of subjects beyond the insurgency, Dandal Kura is unapologetic about its role in the propaganda wars. Its founders know that Boko Haram has been savvy about using social media to transmit its message, reinforcing the fearsome image that it spreads by word of mouth through its suicide bombs and village attacks. “People believe everything they hear about Boko Haram,” Mr. Tudunwada says. “They believe Boko Haram are invincible. It’s only through our program that they know that Boko Haram are not superhuman – they can be killed. It gives them courage.” There are a few other Kanuri-language programs on FM radio in the northeastern states, but they don’t reach beyond a very limited distance in the capital cities and are plagued by electricity outages. Dandal Kura, on the other hand, is so accessible that it can even be heard on cheap cellphones, through an “audio on demand” service, by dialling a short code and paying a nominal fee. One of its advisers is David Smith, a Canadian media consultant based in Johannesburg who helped set up radio networks elsewhere in Africa including in Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic. He says radio is essential in the regions where Boko Haram operates. “It’s an area that has very little infrastructure and a high rate of illiteracy, and there really is no outside information for the vast majority of people, aside from radio,” he said. A regional force of up to 10,000 soldiers – from Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger – is due to be deployed against Boko Haram in the next few weeks, with support from the African Union and the United Nations. “Dandal Kura will be a pillar in broadcasting the peacekeeping operation,” Mr. Smith said. “It’s important that it becomes a regional program, not just local, so that people know that Boko Haram is not just a Nigerian problem, and that people are banding together to defeat it.” Abdalla Uba Adamu, a professor of media and cultural communication at Bayero University in Kano, notes that the Kanuri language has traditionally been swamped by Hausa, the main language of northern Nigeria. “Millions of native Kanuri speakers are shut out of the discourse on counterinsurgency, as well as narrative conversation about current affairs, being almost always broadcast in the Hausa language,” he said. “So the idea behind Dandal Kura is quite welcome. It provides hope for those without hope.” (via WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DXLD) As a reminder (from WRTH B14 update: DANDAL KURA (New Entry) Email: dandalkuraradio@gmail.com Kanuri Days Area kHz 0500-0600 daily NIG 9440asc 1800-1900 daily NIG 12065asc (Richard Langley, NB, April 12, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) But A-15 changed to 7415 and 12050 (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DX LISTENING DIGST) 12050, Dandal Kura, Apr 01 *1800-1808, 35433, Kanuri?, 1800 sign on with opening announce, Talk 12050, Dandal Kura, Apr 02 *1800-1811, 35433, Kanuri?, 1800 sign on with opening music, Opening announce, Talk (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. PIRATE-NA. Wolverine Radio, 6940 USB, 0223-0235+, 04-05-15, SIO: 454. Rock tunes by Blind Faith, Creedence, etc. [plobdell-MA] PIRATE-NA. Radio Free Whatever, 6950 USB, 0229-0253*, 04-05-15, SIO: 555. Dick Weed broadcasting solo tonite [Assistant Stavin, ill, had suffered minor stroke]. Lots of great tunes, taking requests, etc. Tunes by Cracker, Bear Hands, The War On Drugs, etc. Said new t-shirt will feature their QSL design. Get well Stavin!! [Lobdell-MA] PIRATE-NA. Captain Morgan, 6950 AM, 2330-2345+, 04-05-15, SIO: 343. Male vocal, fanfare, ID (Chris Lobdell, Box 80146, Stoneham, MA 02180 USA, Receivers: Eton E1, NRD-545, Aerials: G5RV, 40 Meter Dipole, DX LISTENING DIGEST) PIRATE-NA. Radio True North, 6940 AM, 0202-0219 11 April. Fair on peaks with songs by Duran Duran, Pete Townsend, Paper Lace & IDs at 0212, 0215 (Dan Sheedy, Encinitas, CA G5/6m X wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. 960, April 12 at 0100-0105 UT, KGWA Enid with unexpected Fox-hole of dead air, audiblizing KGKL: See U S A 960 log (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. 1520, April 10 at 0057 UT, syndicated paranoid talkshow loops toward OKC, so KOKC already back on the air again? Only fair signal with plenty of QRM, KOLM et al. Yes, 0059 UT ID ``News-Talk 1520, K-OKC, Oklahoma City, 1560 KEBC Del City`` and into (bong) CBS News. So have KOKC finished the reconstruxion already? See also USA: 1560 1520, April 10 at 1320 UT, KOKC remains on air, and IDs as ``Your 50,000-watt news source, News-talk 1520, KOKC`` --- NOT HARDLY --- as we all know (but not ordinary listeners?), it`s not been 50 kW for at least a couple of years, but 12.5 and now only 10 kW. THEY LIE. Also at this hour with SAH from remnant of CRI via KYND TX. Slightly different angles allow KOKC to be minimized and KYND maximized by precise positioning of the DX-398 (Glenn Hauser, Enid, WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [and non] KOKC isn't going to give up its Class A clear channel allocation. I don't think it could be licensed with 10 kW non- directional at night. It could cause interference to KFXZ and KRHW, both of which are low power and highly directional to protect it. KFXZ runs 500 watts and KRHW runs 1,600 watts. Everyone's patterns are based on protecting it as a directional, WWKB, or both (Dennis Gibson, CA, ABDX via DXLD) And what I don't understand is KAAY [1090 LR/AR] may have to go off the air if it interferes with other stations but not a mention of that with KOKC as far as I can see (Todd Skaine, Woodbury, MN ibid.) KAAY's STA is for 10 kW nondirectional, which is what it applied for. Consulting engineers prepare engineering STA applications. They help decide what to apply for and must sign them. The FCC looks at the possibility of interference before granting any STA for facilities that are different than what is licensed. KOKC wasn't treated any differently than KAAY. There are very few stations on 1090 at night. It has a lot of daytimers and daytimers with critical hours authorization. Sent from my iPhone (Dennis Gibson, ibid.) ** OKLAHOMA. 1560, April 10 at 1820 UT on caradio, KEBC Del City is once again back on its own, no longer duplicating 1520 KOKC, where rebuild of a single tower must now be complete. Instead on 1560 I am hearing Oklahoma high school sports promos (same one twice?), and Oklahoma Dept of Health PSA, 1822 UT rejoining NBC Sports Radio (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. 91.7, April 9 around 19 UT I notice that KOSU is open carrier/dead air. Further random chex, at 2049 and past 2100 UT still find the same! I happen to be tuned in again at 2119 UT when the sound comes back at low level, then boosted up to normal level, as local host is lamenting that 91.7 is ``off in Oklahoma City and Ponca City`` due to a technical problem, but their other relays 88.3 in Stillwater and 107.5 around Tulsa are on the air. Unfortunate, since this hinders their current push to wrap up a fundraiser segment. Earlier at 2107 UT I had tried to hear both of them, and maybe there was a trace of low-power 88.3 KOSR modulating; it normally takes some tropo help to get 107.5 into Enid. I wasn`t aware they had a relay in Ponca City, as it never appears in the multi-station IDs that I have heard. WTFDA FM database shows: ``K235CG KOSU 94.9 PONCA CITY OK 0.25 0.25 78.0 0.0 36.4428 97.0338 ADULT ALTERNATIVE`` which means it`s a 250-watt ERP translator in both horizontal and vertical planes, but the vertical antenna height is 0 meters above average terrain while the horizontal is 78 meters up. Huh?? Many other entries have such anomalies. Evidently this alone relies on a direct pickup of the 91.7 signal. I`ve never heard this 94.9 in Enid, not that far away, altho with a bigger OKC signal adjacent on 94.7. Full-power OK & KS stations on 95.1. And the ``adult alternative` format is rather incomplete --- that`s the ``crazy`` part at night, while the ``smart`` part in the daytime is still news/talk public radio/NPR, etc. What a split personality! But KOSU management thinx it`s working for the bottom line. Are there any other KOSU translators we don`t know about? I try searching the WTFDA OK list, but keywords public radio are not specific enough, and adult alternative does not apply to all the KOSU frequencies, though they are really 100% identical in content. Then I try the entire Oklahoma list at FCC FM Query, and that leads only to 88.3 Stillwater, 91.7 Stillwater (really OKC), 94.9 Ponca, 107.3 Bixby and 107.5 Ketchum. Furthermore can`t find anything at http://www.kosu.org detailing all their stations, just a general coverage map for the two bigsigs on 91.7 and 107.5 (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. 94.3, April 9 at 2048 and 2108 UT, KLGB-LP Enid is dead air again like we caught it a few weeks ago, but it is in stereo! Turning volume all the way up, we can also again hear JBA bleedthru from 99.9 KVBN-LP which is really at the same site on the same tower. Still like that at 0135 UT check April 10 --- no one minding the store. 94.3, April 10 at 0548 UT, KLGB-LP, Enid is still dead air except for bleedthru from sibling station 99.9 KVBN-LP; with automated time and temp, and then at 0554 UT an hymnified version of 1812 Overture, of all things. Next check at 1349 UT, still dead air, etc. Ditto at 1706 UT, now in the twenty-first hour, at least, of negligence. 94.3, April 10 at 2008 UT, now it`s at least 24 hours of dead air from KLGB-LP Enid, deadline for license cancellation under gh`s proposed FCC rules. Still with bleed from 99.9 co-station. And still at 0340 UT April 11 --- make that 31 hours and counting. 94.3, April 11 at 1351 UT, KLGB-LP is still open carrier/dead air; and still at 2013 UT, i.e. at least 48 hours of it. By 0327 UT April 12 check, it`s finally back modulating, but can still hear KVBN bleed during pause (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OMAN. 15140, R. Sultanate of Oman, Apr 03 1417-1439, 25332-35333, English, Music, ID at 1428 (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC-R75, NRD- 525+RD-9830, NRD-345, Satellit 750, DE-1121; ANT, 130m Sloper Wire, 303WA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9740, Radio Sultanate of Oman, 0200, 4/6/15, in Arabic. Man and woman singing, woman announcer. Big Ben like Chimes, man announcer. National Anthem like song. Man with mention of Tehran, news continuity with male announcer over, fanfare, 2nd man announcer with music into what sounds like a story. Fair (Mark Taylor, Madison, Wisconsin, Perseus, WinRadio g313e, Eton e1, Grundig Satellit 800 & G3, Sangean 909X with clear mod, Tecsun PL 660; 40 meters dipole, RF Systems Mk 2, Flextenna, NASWA Flashsheet via WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DXLD) 9740, Radio Sultanate of Oman, 2340-2352*, Apr 8. man and woman announcers talking in Arabic language with very brief musical segment before more talking continued. This had been running late several nights but today carrier cut mid-sentence at 2352. Good signal (Rich D'Angelo, 2216 Burkey Drive, Wyomissing, PA 19610, U.S.A, Ten-Tec RX- 340, Drake R-8B, Eton E1, Eton E5, Alpha Delta DX Sloper, RF Systems Mini-Windom, Datong FL3, JPS ANC-4, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) 9740, April 11 at 0049, Qur`an, fair signal, presumed R. Sultanate of Oman, having failed to switch to 9500 at scheduled 0000. Registered time for 9740 is 22-24 UT only, and someone on the NASWA Flashsheet had an unID then which must have been this (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DX LISTENING DIGEST) OMAN vs INDIA: Radio Sultanate of Oman vs All India Radio on 15140: 1600-2200 15140 THU 100 kW / 315 deg WeEu Arabic R. Sultanate of Oman 1615-1715 15140 ALG 250 kW / 312 deg EaEu Russian AIR AM mode, ex DRM http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2015/04/radio-sultanate-of-oman-vs-all-india.html -- 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DXLD) ** PAKISTAN [and non]. Surprisingly broadcast of Radio Pakistan in Chinese on April 8: 1200-1300 on 15700 ISL 250 kW / 070 deg to EaAs, QRM powerful R.Farda 15690 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2015/04/surprisingly-broadcast-of-radio.html (DX RE MIX NEWS #905 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, April 13, 2015 via DXLD) April 8: 08 04 2015 Radio Pakistan in Chinese to EaAs 1229 on 15700 Islamabad https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYFCj9cdp4Q&feature=youtu.be 08 04 2015 Radio Pakistan in Chinese to EaAs 1245 on 15700 Islamabad https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRnvaRv5JQM&feature=youtu.be 08 04 2015 Radio Pakistan in Chinese to EaAs 1247 on 15700 Islamabad https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5ya2U6gMOc&feature=youtu.be 08 04 2015 Radio Pakistan in Chinese to EaAs 1255 on 15700 Islamabad https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEiq4_FgP7M&feature=youtu.be 08 04 2015 Radio Pakistan in Chinese to EaAs 1257 on 15700 Islamabad https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiJ8xSUTxUI&feature=youtu.be 08 04 2015 Radio Pakistan in Chinese to EaAs 1259 on 15700 Islamabad https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RlCuAXP0t4&feature=youtu.be (Ivo Ivanov, Blgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I assume no jamming will be heard on these? (gh, DXLD) ** PALAU. 9950, T8WH, World Harvest Radio; 1215...1300+, 6-Apr; Tune- in to English huxter ragging on snake handlers. After BoH, found huxtress Pastor Kathie Davidson of Water of Life from Plano TX. 1259 "T8WH Palau World Harvest Radio" into LL [unknown language] religious program. LSB helps with 9955 WRMI(presumed) splash. Not listed in Aoki/EiBi; listed on 9930 at this time (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 125 ft. bow-tie; 85 ft. RW & 180 ft. center-fed RW, All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) [and non]. 9950, April 9 at 1257, gospel huxtress in English I haven`t noticed before, stronger than and too close for comfort to 9955 WRMI sounding softer during WORLD OF RADIO 1768. 1259 ID as T8WH Palau and off, ceding 9950 to weaker TAIWAN with a Korean clandestine. Meanwhile, T8WH is also on stronger 9965 before 1300 and afterwards with `Water of Life`, some kind of Christian euphemism (R. Australia having abandoned that relay at that time on that frequency) (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Additional transmissions of World Harvest Radio via Medorn 1200-1300 9950 HBN 100 kW / 345 deg NEAs English Mon-Sat T8WH Angel 5 1300-1400 9965 HBN 100 kW / 318 deg EaAs English Mon-Sat T8WH Angel 3 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2015/04/additional-transmissions-of-world.html (DX RE MIX NEWS #905 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, April 13, 2015 via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3365, Milne Bay, 1045, 1105, carrier only March 24 (XM, Cedar Key, Florida, NRD525D, R8A, E5 via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3905, NBC New Ireland, 1101, carrier only 2 April (XM, Cedar Key, Florida, NRD525D, R8A, E5 via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 3905 tentative, NBC New Ireland 1018 to 1030 om seeming with some English mixed with ARO 1 April, 1005 om in English pick out a few worlds “those of the seventh” 2 April (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, South Florida, 746Pro, Drake R8, NRD 525, Sony 2010XA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 7324.96, Wantok Radio Light, 1402-1424, April 15. One of their strongest receptions; mostly Christian songs in English; 1406 short bible reading; 1411 ID; rare to hear them at this level. Audio at https://app.box.com/s/pfumc8ajplesansldwx3cggqpladitvj (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, E1 & CR-1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1769, - DX LISTENING DIGEST) Presumably still during China hiatus (gh, ibid.) ** PERU. 4747.5, Perú, Radio Huanta 2000, Huanta, Ayacucho, 2355 om under CODAR en español, 2359 vocalist briefly the om and yl chat 5 April (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, South Florida, 746Pro, Drake R8, NRD 525, Sony 2010XA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4747.52, Perú, Huanta Dos Mil, 1143, very strong with huaynos, LSB always good to escape 4750 slop. 2 April (David Sharp, NSW, FT-950, NRD-535D, R8, R30A, Timewave 599ZX, various Palstar and MFJ accessories, Quantum Phaser, various Sangean and Tecsun portables, EWE aerials; via Bob Wilkner, DXLD) ** PERU. 4775, Perú, Radio Tarma. Tarma 1043-1047 rustic Peruvian flauta andina, beautiful music, strong signal 6 April (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, South Florida, 746Pro, Drake R8, NRD 525, Sony 2010XA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 4789.79, R. Visión reactivated. First noted at 0945 with ”La Voz [de la] Salvación” program. 0955 break for ID by M giving frequencies and e-mail address, and what sounded like a sked, back to “La Voz Salvación” at 1001 to 1032 with stopped for canned announcement by M over “El Condor Pasa” bracketed by W giving TCs. 1038 nice canned ID by M after children signing, then W again with TC. Good signal but audio distorted, but not quite as bad as it was when it went off months ago. Here’s the link to a Youtube video I posted https://youtu.be/QUYEweMQzQA (11 April) (Dave Valko, Dunlo PA, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DXLD) Announcement heard on his clip refers to CRV website: http://www.cadenaradiovision.pe/ under frecuencias choose Lambayeque to find 4790 plus two MW (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4789.7-USB, Radio Visión, at 0935, on 11 Apr. At 0935, male announcer is talking in what sounds like a monologue. At 0955 he is still talking but I can pick it up as being in Spanish. There sounds like there could be another station underneath as I pick up some music at times. At 1002 the male speaker sounds like he is saying a mass. According to Dave Valko, this program is called “La Voz Salvación.” Dave V. picked up this station and confirmed it at 0945. Poor (John Cooper, Lebanon, PA, Winradio-G33DDC, CommRadio CR-1a, RF Space-SDR- IQ, Sangean ATS-909X with Clear Mod, Tecsun PL-660, GAP Hear It In Line Module, Timewave ANC-4, Wellbrook ALA-1530S+, PARS-SWL End Fed x 2, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) -USB? You mean transmitted on USB only, or you were just tuning it on USB? (gh, DXLD) 4790, Radio Visión, 1050, very good signal, typical religious program, used to be my easiest Perú to hear, but this was first time in quite a while April 11th (XM, Cedar Key, Florida, NRD525D, R8A, E5 via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4790-, April 12 at 0523, JBA carrier in heavy CODAR QRM, offset on the low side. Recheck at 1037, still low, now a bit of talk modulation audible, sermon? and less CODAR. I can also tell that the carrier is wobbling slightly. According to Dave Valko, this is R. Visión, reactivated as of April 11 at 0945-1038, and measured on 4789.79. WRTH 2015 still listed it as 24 hours with 1 kW, but it`s been off for many months. The new DSWCI Tropical Bands Survey issued a few days previous, now needs to be updated, and no doubt will be the following month, showing this was last heard in November 2014; B means Irregular. I thought it had been off longer than that: ``B 4789.9 0.5 PRU R Visión, Distrito José 0900-0200v S/Quechua rlg // 1350 MW, ID: "Desde Chiclayo la ciudad Leornardo Ortiz, Chiclayo, de la mistad [sic] en 1350 kHz amplitud modulada transmite Radio Visión, Lambayeque Radio Visión, una radio para todos"; Iglesia Pentecostal programme NOV14`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Estimado Glenn: El tema de 4790 Khz es R. Visión; "de la mistad" según transcripción, debe decir "de la amistad". 73! (Alf[redo] Cañote, Perú, condiglista yg via DXLD) ** PERU. 4790-, April 13 at 0612, presumed R. Visión, now with some music audible amidst the CODAR, and carrier still shaky (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DX LISTENING DIGEST) R. Visión en 4790 --- Aparentemente se ha reactivado esta emisora. La escuché por primera vez el sábado [11 abril] a la mañana con muy mala modulación (mejoraba bastante en LSB). El sábado a la noche y el domingo a la mañana ya se escuchaba mejor en AM, lo que podría indicar ajustes en el transmisor. Evidentemente ha habido cambios técnicos porque se escucha más fuerte y sí bien la modulación no es buena todavía, por lo menos es mucho más fuerte y audible que en la época anterior, que tenía una fuerte portadora pero la modulación se escuchaba apenas o no se escuchaba. 73's (Miguel Castellino, Argentina? 1652 UT April 13, condiglista yg via DXLD) 4790-, April 15 at 1007, I happen to awaken so check for R. Visión. Sounds like sermon in echoey chamber, best heard yet vs CODAR but still insufficient, and carrier still wobbling badly: maybe about to self-destruct again? (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 4810, Perú, Radio Logos, Chazuta, Tarapoto 0921-0925 flauta andina in the clear, with minor CODAR 1 April; - 1020 again flauta andina, enjoyable listening at 1045 religious message on 6 April (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, South Florida, 746Pro, Drake R8, NRD 525, Sony 2010XA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4810, Perú, Radio Logos, 1130, fair with talk by a man, no CODAR. 2 April (David Sharp, NSW, FT-950, NRD-535D, R8, R30A, Timewave 599ZX, various Palstar and MFJ accessories, Quantum Phaser, various Sangean and Tecsun portables, EWE aerials; via Bob Wilkner, DXLD) 4810, Perú, R Logos, 1048, M with religious program, fair despite non- CODAR ute QRM April 11th (XM, Cedar Key, Florida, NRD525D, R8A, E5 via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 4985.51, Radio Voz Cristiana, 1116, very strong with local music and comments by man. 2 April (David Sharp, NSW, FT-950, NRD- 535D, R8, R30A, Timewave 599ZX, various Palstar and MFJ accessories, Quantum Phaser, various Sangean and Tecsun portables, EWE aerials; via Bob Wilkner, DXLD) 4985.5, Perú, Radio Voz Cristiana, Huancayo, 1105 om en español with no rtty, music at 1109 April 10th (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, South Florida, 746Pro, Drake R8, NRD 525, Sony 2010XA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4985.5, Radio Voz Cristiana, tentative, 0008, as usual ute all over 4985, but something slightly north of that seemed to be trying to break through April 8th, — 23 at 2348, definitely there this evening, in the clear with strong threshold [sic] signal at 2348, at 2350 ute came on and gradually increased in strength but R Voz still getting through and seemed to get a bit stronger, 0008 found it still there and some real if unintelligible audio April 9/10 (XM, Cedar Key, Florida, NRD525D, R8A, E5 via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 5980, Perú, Radio Chaski, 1152, tune/in to convenient "Radio Chaski" ID by a man, poor. 2 April (David Sharp, NSW, FT-950, NRD- 535D, R8, R30A, Timewave 599ZX, various Palstar and MFJ accessories, Quantum Phaser, various Sangean and Tecsun portables, EWE aerials; via Bob Wilkner, DXLD) 5980, R Chaski, 0032, nice, soft Spanish ballads, fair but signal deteriorated after 0040, still on 0107 but off on 0145 check April 11th (XM, Cedar Key, Florida, NRD525D, R8A, E5 via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) If you had listened one more minute past 0107 you would have heard them cut off as I do (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) 5980, April 10 at 0054, JBA carrier from R. Chaski, so tune back at 0107 to clock its cutoff, which happens at 0107:53*. One quadrinite ago it was at 0107:27*, averaging 6.5 seconds later per, rather than the once-reliable 5.83 seconds. Now it`s ahead of our streetlite ignition RF burst at 0111 UT, clear sky at sunset, officially exactly 0100 UT. 5980, April 11 at 0046, JBA carrier from R. Chaski; autocutoff happens at 0107:58.5* which is 5.5 seconds later than last night, back to customary slippage. My streetlight RF burst and visible ignition haven`t happened yet, even tho sunset horizon is cloudy, but surely within the next few minutes when I miss it. 5980, April 12 at 0052, JBA carrier from R. Chaski, still at 0107 retune until cutoff at 0108:07* which is 8.5 seconds later than yesterday. My streetlite ignited already around 0105, which would have been later if the sky were not cloudy (and one lightning stroke later at 0124 which persuaded me to close down for now) (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 6173.95, R. Tawantinsuyo, 1148, noted in passing as het against nominal but fair copy of huaynos in LSB. 2 April (David Sharp, NSW, FT-950, NRD-535D, R8, R30A, Timewave 599ZX, various Palstar and MFJ accessories, Quantum Phaser, various Sangean and Tecsun portables, EWE aerials; via Bob Wilkner, DXLD) ** PHILIPPINES. Radio DZRH Diamond Jubilee --- By Christer Brunström PLAY-DX PHILATELIC APRIL 2015 At 6 AM on a day way back in 1939 Hal Bowie was sitting at the microphone of Philippine radio station KZRH. It was the station’s inaugural broadcast and Hal read out the very first announcement. At the time KZRH was the fourth commercial broadcaster in Manila’s radio market. The station was also known as Radio Heacock as it was sponsored by the H. E. Heacock Company, the largest department store in the Pacific at the time. This explains the choice of call letters. During the Japanese World War II occupation almost all radio stations were closed. One of few exceptions was KZRH which was used by the Japanese to broadcast propaganda to the Filipino people. After the war KZRH returned to the air on 1 July 1946 as part of the Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC). Another important date in the station’s long history was 15 July 1949. On this date shortwave was introduced in addition to the AM broadcasts. The United States had occupied the Philippines way back in 1898 and radio broadcasting in the country used the same call letter system as in the western part of the USA. Thus all Philippine stations had call letters starting with a K. [Rather, KZ- --gh] In connection with Philippine independence, the ITU decided to assign the letter D to all radio station call letters in the country. Thus the station’s new name was DZRH from then onward. DZRH soon developed into the main station of the MBC network. It offered news, information, music, drama and much more. The ensuing 30 years have frequently been described as the golden age of Philippine radio broadcasting. In the early 1990s DZRH initiated a new project called “One Nation, One Station”. The target was to reach the entire Filipino nation 24/7. 18 different relay stations throughout the Philippines take a satellite feed from DZRH. Thus DZRH programming now reaches some 97% of the island nation. DZRH broadcasts 24/7 on AM 666 with 35 kW of power. Today it is known as DZRH NEWS. They also devote time to traditional Filipino fiestas and sports. Last year DZRH celebrated its 75th anniversary with a gala dinner at the Hotel Manila in Manila on 15 July. On that day the Philippine Post Office released a 25-peso stamp marking the anniversary. It features the logo of the station's diamond jubilee. A total of 104.000 stamps were printed. Rather interestingly, station DZRH worked together with PhilPost to create this stamp issue [illustrated]. It is my guess that the MBC somehow subsidized this issue which undoubtedly will provide good publicity for DZRH NEWS (PlayDX Electronic April 12 via DXLD) ** PHILIPPINES. 11650, R. Teos via Philippines, Apr 03 *1500-1508, 44444, Russian, ID and address announce at 1500, Talk (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC-R75, NRD-525+RD-9830, NRD-345, Satellit 750, DE-1121; ANT, 130m Sloper Wire, 303WA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** POLAND. Video of Leszczynka facility https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-F78PiDNTg From 2011. I would not rely on Emitel still keeping it now, since in last year they had done with another facility last used by Radio Racja (1080 kHz, used to be listed as "Katowice" because in 1977/1978 it had replaced the Ruda transmitter near Katowice, which for its part had replaced the [in]famous Gliwice facility): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HN-sX4Ak9R0 And while we're at it: The once proud 225 kHz facility (particularly so for its 1/2 wavelength antenna) in 2012. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3d8fhvaDeis (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 14, shortwavesites [sic] yg via DXLD) ** PORTUGAL. 14497.0, 2115-... 09/4, R. Eldorado - pirate, English (for IDs only), electronic music. Occasional AC noise during pauses. USB transmission, 15 watts only. 35554 CG 7651.0, 2204-... 09/4, R. Eldorado - pirate, English (for IDs only), electronic music. USB transmission. Previously on 14497-USB, 10 watts only. 35453 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, JRC NRD-545DSP & NRD-93; home made amp. (W7IUV version); 20 m T2FD, 30 m inverted V, 6x19x6 m EWE 135º, raised, 4 loop KAY [sic], via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DXLD) ** ROMANIA. 9730, R Romania Int via Tsiganeshti with English programming including a Romanian language lesson focusing on tools using phrases like 'sharpen the sickle', and 'use the scythe to cut the reeds'. [Hmmmm -- FAR more practical than the Chinese Lessons with words like "I want to go to the hospital" or "I lost my Bank Card" right? ;) What exactly do they think tourists are going to do while visiting Romania?] Then into their food show with recipes for fish, which is 'allowed' even when fasting for the high holy days in Romania, and a music show with Romanian pop music. Both of these features are some of my favourite stuff on SW these days. Schedule and s/off in English with IS at 0055. Into French. 5554+4+ -- selective fading marring reception just a tad. Heard from 0030 to 0100 7/Apr (Ken Zichi, Williamston MI, MARE Tipsheet April 10 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Summer A-15 SW schedule of Adygeyan Radio: 1800-1900 7325 ARM 100 kW / 188 deg CeAs Ad/Ar/Tu Mon ex 1700-1800 A14 1800-1900 7325 ARM 100 kW / 188 deg CeAs Adygeyan Fri ex 1700-1800 A14 1900-2000 7325*ARM 100 kW / 188 deg CeAs Adygeyan Sun ex 1800-1900 A14 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2015/04/summer-15-sw-schedule-of-adygeyan-radio.html -- 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, April 13, dxldyg via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Comintern Radio was heard again, weak signal, but audible: 1434 and 1456 on 6989.9 with Russian songs. The power is only 1 kW. http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2015/04/comintern-radio-was-heard-again-on-69899.html (Ivo Ivanov, Blgaria, April 15, dxldyg via DXLD) ** RUSSIA [and non]. I thought you would be interested in the following story from The Wall Street Journal. Opinion --- COUNTERING PUTIN’S INFORMATION WEAPONS OF WAR -- Kremlin propaganda is far outstripping our ability to get the truth out. The U.S. needs a new approach. By Ed Royce, April 14, 2015 6:58 p.m. ET Vladimir Putin has a secret army. It’s an army of thousands of “trolls,” TV anchors and others who work day and night spreading anti- American propaganda on the Internet, airwaves and newspapers throughout Russia and the world. Mr. Putin uses these misinformation warriors to destabilize his neighbors and control parts of Ukraine. This force may be more dangerous than any military, because no artillery can stop their lies from spreading and undermining U.S. security interests in Europe. Neither can the U.S. international... To Read the Full Story, Subscribe or Log In http://www.wsj.com/articles/countering-putins-information-weapons-of-war-1429052323 (via David Cole, OK, DXLD) ** RUSSIA [and non]. Hearing: CONFRONTING RUSSIA'S WEAPONIZATION OF INFORMATION | House Committee on Foreign Affairs - Ed Royce, Chairman Thursday, April 16, 2015 12:09 PM http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/hearing/hearing-confronting-russia-s-weaponization-information 2172 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 | Apr 15, 2015 10:00am to 1:00pm View Archive Hearing Video: http://www.ustream.tv/embed/recorded/61136944?v=3&wmode=direct Opening Statements Rep. Edward R. Royce, Chairman [full text of opening statement] Chairman Royce's Opening Statement: IFRAME: https://www.youtube.com/embed/wxvrWfb3Qcc Witnesses Chairman Royce Questions Witnesses: IFRAME: https://www.youtube.com/embed/2LzvuiLbUvM Mr. Peter Pomerantsev Senior Fellow The Legatum Institute [full text of statement] [truth in testimony form] Ms. Helle C. Dale Senior Fellow for Public Diplomacy The Heritage Foundation [full text of statement] [truth in testimony form] Ms. Elizabeth Wahl Former RT Anchor Freelance Journalist/Public Speaker [full text of statement] [truth in testimony form] Any changes to witness list will be reflected above. Webcast [LINK] watch now >> (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** RWANDA. R. Rwanda has closed 6055 kHz (WRTH National Radio update Uploaded 10 April 2015, via DXLD) ** SEALAND. Tomorrow's Lives | 15 April 2015 ‘I rule my own ocean micronation’ by Rose Eveleth Technology Science & Environment Ocean [see original for many illustrations:] http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20150414-i-rule-my-own-ocean-micronation Life on Sealand used to be isolated, now it has the internet (Credit: Rex) Many dream of living in an ocean city, but what is it actually like? Rose Eveleth asks the ruler of Sealand, the unusual settlement off the coast of England. Michael Bates grew up seven nautical miles off the coast of England, on a platform made of concrete and metal. Michael, the son of Roy Bates, is the Prince of the Principality of Sealand, a contested micronation that, despite its size, has become a darling of adventurers and journalists alike. Sealand has a football team, its flag has been run up Mount Everest, and it offers personalised knighthood for a mere £99 ($145). We’ve had the German ambassador visit at one point — Michael Bates of Sealand [caption] Today, as futurists, tech billionaires and libertarians start looking to the sea for the next stage of cities and governance, Sealand serves as a tiny example, a strange and intriguing case study of all the good and the bad of living on the waves. What can the experiences of the Bates family tell those who dream about ocean living? The precise history of Sealand is contested, but here is, essentially, how it came to be. Sealand was originally called HM Fort Roughs or Roughs Tower, one of four naval sea forts designed by Guy Maunsell for the British Royal Navy to defend against the Germans in World War Two. During the war, somewhere between 100 and 120 naval officers were stationed on the tower, but in the early 1950s the tower was abandoned. Roy and Joan Bates settled Sealand in the 1960s (Credit: Rex) caption Fast forward to 1965. Roy Bates is a pirate radio operator on another one of Maunsell’s forts called Knock John. But Knock John was located closer to the shore, within the three mile radius that was, legally, British territorial water. In 1966 this fact finally caught up with Roy, who was convicted for illegal broadcasting from Knock John. His solution was to simply move further out, and he packed up and headed to Roughs Tower. He never did restart his radio station, but he did occupy Fort Roughs with his family. A year later, on 2 September 1967, Roy declared independence, raising a flag and making his wife “Princess Joan.” Thus the Principality of Sealand was born. Michael Bates, whose title is Prince of the Principality of Sealand (Credit: Rex) [caption] Since 1967 there have been all kinds of debates over whether or not Sealand is in fact a nation. Here’s what Michael told me when I asked: “We have never asked for recognition, and we’ve never felt the need to ask for recognition. You don’t have to have recognition to be a state, you just have to fulfill the criteria of the Montevideo Convention which is population, territory, government and the capacity to enter into negotiation with other states. We can and we have done all these things. We’ve had the German ambassador visit at one point to discuss something: that was defacto recognition. We’ve had communication with the president of France many years ago, but we have never asked for recognition and we don’t feel we need it.” Sealand, a bona fide micronation? (Credit: Rex) [caption] The Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States that Michael is referring to was signed in 1933 at the International Conference of American States. According to this, a nationhood requires four things: a permanent population, a defined territory, a government, and the “capacity to enter into relations with the other states.” Sealand supporters argue that Sealand has fulfilled all four of those requirements. Technically, only 16 states have ratified the convention, and all of them lie in the Americas, but according to the American Society for International Law, “the Montevideo Convention is generally regarded as the standard definition of the state". Things got a little bit more complicated in 1987, when the United Kingdom extended its territorial waters from three miles to 12. Sealand, sitting six miles offshore, was suddenly, technically, on British land. The Sealand family argues that their nation had fulfilled the requirements of the Montevideo convention before the UK extended its territory. The UK doesn’t seem to care. When asked about Sealand in 2000, a spokesperson for the Home Office of the UK said that they didn’t see any reason to consider Sealand a nation. "We've no reason to believe that anyone else recognises it either," the spokesperson told the BBC. Sealand stamps - collectors' items? (Credit: Rex) [caption] Today, few people live on Sealand (“normally like two people,” Michael told me) but when he was growing up it was home. “My family used to spend all our time out there for 20 or 30 years.” And when he was a kid, Sealand was just as isolated as you might expect. “When I was first there I was 14 years old, there was no mobile telephones, no communication at all. You would go there and be there until the boat came back in two weeks to get you. And it might not come back for six weeks. You would stare at the horizon waiting for it to come back.” Luxury living? Modern Sealand is equipped with phone and the internet. They have a gift shop, have issued passports (they stopped after 9/11, but Michael said they plan to start issuing them again soon), and even started a data haven called HavenCo in 2000. HavenCo closed down in 2008 amidst numerous problems, but re-opened in 2013 with the help of internet entrepreneur Avi Freedman. When I asked Michael what Sealand does to make its estimated GDP of $600,000 (where this number comes from is unclear, since Sealand is not included on most official lists of GDP by country), he said: “We’ve been involved in different things over the years, including internet data havens. We have our own stamps, coins, passports, right now we cover our expenses with our online shop. We market titles of nobility and T-shirts and mugs and stamps, coins, just about anything to do with our little mini-state. I travel on other business as well, I have other business interests involving shellfish and other internet stuff.” Life inside the ocean settlement isn't futuristic (Credit Rex) caption Modern Sealand also has a futuristic ideological heir: seasteading. The concept isn’t quite the same – seasteaders plan to build their own floating nations rather than commandeer existing structures. “So seasteaders think a lot bigger and more glamorously,” said Joe Quirk, the communications director for the Seasteading Institute, “we also like to think we’re very pragmatic.” But in many ways, they share the same ideals – independence, freedom, adventure. The Seasteading Institute is probably the largest face of the seasteading movement – although they are certainly not the only one. The group was founded in 2008 by economist Patri Friedman and Silicon Valley investor Peter Thiel with a pretty simple idea: create floating nations. The logistics are a bit more complicated of course – their structures will need to have energy and food, ways to create and recycle water, and systems to deal with waste. And most of those logistics haven’t been quite ironed out yet. Right now, the Seasteading Institute is in the research and design phase. Last month, they launched an architectural design contest for their Floating City Project – what is essentially a beta-test of the seasteading concept. Quirk said that as they work through the design and technology required of the city, they’re also trying to find a location – a nation that will allow them to build a floating community offshore. “We’re in talks with several nations at this point, they’re all in different stages of possibility.” As the experience of Sealand shows, a country like the UK might be unsuitable if it refuses to recognise the new nation's sovereignty or independence. Does the romantic dream of seasteading match the reality? (Credit: The Seasteading Institute) [caption] Quirk couldn’t say which nations were in the running, but he said that they had a few ways of narrowing down who to ask. “I think what makes a nation a good candidate is if they’re interested in creating start- up cities within their own territories. So a lot of people don’t know there are thousands of special economic zones created by countries all over the world.” Quirk pointed to places like China and Panama who each have special zones where different trade rules apply. “The key idea is experiments with new government cities. So the Seasteading Institute approaches nations like that.” Once they have a location, and a design, they’ll have to fill the city. “We’re seeking people interested in moving to the floating city project," said Quirk, "We’ve had about 2,000 people fill out our survey telling us what they want from a floating city.” Eventually, the plan is to move the floating cities away from the coast and into the high seas. “Once you get beyond 200 miles out, you’re in the high seas,” and Quirk said their legal scholars have advised that this guarantees true independence. If the Maldives disappear, could their people turn to seasteading? (Credit: Thinkstock) [caption] Quirk also pointed out that the idea of floating nations may become more accepted as the impacts of climate change are seen. Consider the Maldives, he said, which is sinking below rising sea level. “You can see this nation could be transitioning to a floating nation, and the question becomes, does the world recognise them as a nation?” Rule breaker Sealand and the Seasteading Institute share some core aims and values, but they’re also substantially different. Sealand was a quirk of history, a single man who flew in the face of rules he disagreed with. Seasteading has much of that in its heart, but with a more complex philosophy behind it, rooted in the principles of the free market. Unlike Sealand, which isn’t trying to build a population, the seasteads would have to compete with one another to attract people to live there. Quirk imagines a world in which citizens, unhappy with the infrastructure, laws or systems of one nation, can break apart and float over to another. “We think a market of competing services will unleash innovation in governance,” he said. When I asked Quirk what he imagines when he closes his eyes and thinks about a future seastead, he answered quickly. “Venice. I love the history… people were chased out of the places they lived in by warfare and they moved out into swamps and over time they built a civilisation on stilts that eventually became one of the wealthiest places on Earth.” In many ways, Venice began as an aquatic city, settled by rootless citizens (Credit: Thinkstock) [caption] Michael said he’s never actually talked to the seasteaders, and Quirk confirmed. “I’ve never talked to them,” Quirk said, “but Sealand is to me an example that the desire to start a new nation is always present among people. I think of seasteading as providing this escape valve for people who want to innovate in governance. Even if you provide the worst possible and isolated environment, people want to go out there.” When I asked Michael what he thought about the seasteading projects, he was a bit sceptical, but encouraging. “Great, good luck, we’ll see what happens.” But he also thinks Sealand is a novelty. “Sealand is a one off that could never be repeated in international law due to a unique set of circumstance,” he told me. “There’s nowhere else where you could do what we did. I think you’ll find everything is claimed now.” Coins issued by Sealand, featuring the head of Princess Joan (Credit: Rex) [caption] Today, Michael lives in the UK with his family. When he had children of his own, he wanted them to be educated in schools in the UK, and so they moved the family to the mainland. But the future of Sealand still lies in the Bates lineage. “With my new grandson Prince Freddy being fourth generation Sealander its future will be assured,” Bates said. And so far, the family line has remained interested in their odd little nation. “My sons enjoy being involved in it, it gives them an interesting life and they meet interesting people.” Bates isn’t sure exactly what will happen in the future, but he is confident that its legacy and ethos will live on. “I would hope there will be many more adventures.” (via Terry Krueger, DXLD) See also TINY TRAP [non] ! ** SOLOMON ISLANDS. 5019.9, SIBC, 1044+, threshold with occasional actual audio, Radio Rebelde was powered down this morning March 24, Solomon Islands, SIBC, 1105, carrier only 2 April (XM, Cedar Key, Florida, NRD525D, R8A, E5 via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5019.9, SIBC 1055 to 1100 weak audio, LSB 1.1k filter, too close geographically to Havana on 5025 on 2 April (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, South Florida, 746Pro, Drake R8, NRD 525, Sony 2010XA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5020.00, SIBC, Apr 11 1027-1039, 45444, Pidgin, Talk, ID at 1034, etc. (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC-R75, NRD-525+RD-9830, NRD-345, Satellit 750, DE-1121; ANT, 130m Sloper Wire, 303WA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOMALIA [non]. 17580, V. of Khaatumo, Apr 07 *1700-1710, 35333, Somali, 1700 sign on with opening music, Opening announce, Koran, Talk (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC-R75, NRD-525+RD-9830, NRD-345, Satellit 750, DE-1121; ANT, 130m Sloper Wire, 303WA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOMALILAND. 7120, Radio Hargeisa, 1738, very strong with local vocals. April 2nd (David Sharp, NSW, FT-950, NRD-535D, R8, R30A, Timewave 599ZX, various Palstar and MFJ accessories, Quantum Phaser, various Sangean and Tecsun portables, EWE aerials; via Bob Wilkner, DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [non non]. Noted this afternoon (14 April) on 11670 kHz at 2030 UT that Bro. Scare (to use Glenn's epithet) via WHRI is co-channel with AIR, ruining reception of the latter, which, without the co-channel interference, typically comes in very nicely on the east coast of Canada on this frequency. Doesn't the dear brother have enough frequencies that he doesn't need to QRM the pleasant music provided by AIR? And, heaven knows, there are enough clear frequencies for all these days. Thankfully, the interference is only for the one- hour 2000-2100 UT period (Richard Langley, NB, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I noticed it also on 4/13 as I was testing a new G5RV antenna. I agree: he has enough frequencies (Don W8SWL Hosmer, Michigan, ICOM IC- 7200, CommRadio CR-1a, Apr 15, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Surprisingly reception of WHRI Angel 1, Brother Stair on April 15, 1100-1300 NF 15320 HRI 250 kW / 152 deg to SoAm, ex 11700, weak signal -- 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [non non and non]. USA, Brother Stair via World Harvest Radio, according to program schedule: 0700-0900 on 7315 250 kW / 152 deg SoAm Angel 1 Daily, confirmed 1000-1100 on 9610 250 kW / 152 deg SoAm Angel 1 Sun 1100-1200 NF 15320 250 kW / 152 deg SoAm Angel 1 Daily, confirmed 1200-1300 NF 15320 250 kW / 152 deg SoAm Angel 1 Mon-Sat, confirmed 1300-1400 on 21600 250 kW / 085 deg CeAf Angel 1 Sat/Sun 1400-1500 on 21600 250 kW / 085 deg CeAf Angel 1 Sat 1800-1900 on 21600 250 kW / 085 deg CeAf Angel 1 Mon-Fri, confirmed 1900-2000 on 17610 250 kW / 085 deg CeAf Angel 1 Mon-Fri, confirmed 2300-2400 on 11775 250 kW / 047 deg WeEu Angel 1 Mon-Fri, confirmed 0000-0100 on 5920 250 kW / 047 deg WeEu Angel 2 Mon 0200-0300 on 5920 250 kW / 047 deg WeEu Angel 2 Daily 1600-1800 on 9840 250 kW / 025 deg ENAm Angel 2 Daily, confirmed 1900-2000 on 9840 250 kW / 025 deg ENAm Angel 2 Sun 2000-2100 on 11670 250 kW / 173 deg CeAm Angel 2 Mon-Sat 2200-2300 on 11670 250 kW / 173 deg CeAm Angel 2 Sat/Sun 2300-2400 on 7315 250 kW / 173 deg CeAm Angel 2 Sat 1600-1700 on 9930 100 kW / 270 deg SEAs T8WH Angel 4 Daily confirmed http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2015/04/brother-stair-via-world-harvest-radio.html (DX RE MIX NEWS #905 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, April 13, 2015 via DXLD) More and more transmissions of Brother Stair via US private stations: 2000-2100 11670*HRI 250 kW / 173 deg CeAm English Mon-Sat WHRI Angel 2 2200-2300 11775 HRI 250 kW / 047 deg WeEu English Mon-Fri WHRI Angel 1 2300-2400 5110vBCQ 050 kW / 245 deg ENAm English CUSB Mon-Fri WBCQ 0000-0500 5110vBCQ 050 kW / 245 deg ENAm English CUSB Tue-Sat WBCQ * very strong co-ch All India Radio in Hindi and English to West Europe http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2015/04/more-and-more-transmissions-of-brother.html -- 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, April 16, dxldyg via DXLD) ** SPAIN. REE relay RNE on three frequencies on April 11/12: 1400-1800 on 15490 NOB 200 kW / 110 deg to N/ME Spanish Sat/Sun 1400-1800 on 17715 NOB 200 kW / 230 deg to SoAm Spanish Sat/Sun 1400-1800 on 17855 NOB 200 kW / 290 deg to NoAm Spanish Sat/Sun 1400-1800 on 21620 NOB 200 kW / 161 deg to WCAf Spanish Sat/Sun is off http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2015/04/ree-relay-rne-on-three-frequency-on.html -- 73! (Ivo Ivanov, dxldyg via DXLD) REE Noblejas live coverage football soccer Paris vv Barcelona, and Porto vv Munich matches tonight REE 1850 UT April 15, not on 21620 kHz, but 15450 S=9 15490 S=9+5dB, 17715 S=8-9 17855 S=8-9, but later off air, when checked 1915 UT again. Many nights now the technicians in Noblejas have trouble with the 17855 kHz unit, switchen on, switched off. Here in southern Germany. Signal was much, much stronger yesterday night during derby Atletico vv Real Madrid match on April 14. wb (Wolfgang Büschel, April 15, dxldyg via DXLD) All 15450, 15490, 17715, 17855 are off at 1920 UT -- 73! (Ivo Ivanov, Blgaria, ibid.) Only 17855 kHz is off at 1925 til 1935 slot, but across Atlantic on Boston MA remote SDR post all three REE channels on air from Noblejas, 15450, best 15490 kHz S09+10dB, and 17715 too. Much bad fluttery propagation condition tonight! wb (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) ** SPAIN [non]. 6070, Radio mi Amigo via Channel 292, Rohrbach, *0600- 0605, 11-04, iniciando programa, música pop en inglés, identificación: "Radio Mi Amigo", muy débil, al iniciar programa redujeron considerablemente la potencia con respecto a la transmisión anterior de Radio Spaceshuttle, posiblemente pasaron de 10 kW a 1 kW. 14321. (Méndez) RADIO MI AMIGO, emite hoy sábado, 11 de abril, entre las 0600 y as 1200 por 6070 kHz via Channel 292, Alemania, presumiblemente con una potencia de 1 kW, y mañana domingo, 12 de abril, también entre las 0600 y las 1200 por 6005 kHz via Kall-Krekell, con una potencia de 1 kW, asímismo, mañana domingo por 7310 kHz, entre las 1200 y las 1600 via Kall-Krekell, también con una potencia de 1 kW. Confirma rápido los informes de recepción con tarjeta QSL por correo ordinario. e-mail: info@radiomiamigo.es (Manuel Méndez, Spain, April 11, noticiasdx yg via DXLD) ** SRI LANKA. 11905, April 11 at *0114:10.5, carrier on from SLBC (and no pre-burst since 0111 tune-in), prélude at 0114:49.5; 2+1 pips until 0115:19, right on mis-time, opening. Signal is only poor, not the good but fluttery one it habitually achieved in Feb and Mar. 11905, April 12 at *0110:52-0111:03*, SLBC pre-test of carrier, good signal level, then from *0111:32 or so, a much weaker carrier on, steps up a little, but not to original level. I`m getting a 26-44 dbu reading on the PL-880, but the carrier cuts on and off and on. Music prélude starts at 0114:53, but shortly cuts off the air, not back on until 0115:50, having hopped past the expected mistimesignal, more carrier cuts off and on, etc. What`s going on at Trincomalee? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENNG DIGEST) ** SUDAN. 9505.03, Voice of Africa, 1835, English, discussion by several men about South Sudan and other political issues, in the clear but modulation was distorted. April 5th (David Sharp, NSW, FT-950, NRD-535D, R8, R30A, Timewave 599ZX, various Palstar and MFJ accessories, Quantum Phaser, various Sangean and Tecsun portables, EWE aerials; via Bob Wilkner, DXLD) ** SUDAN [and non]. 11650, April 10 at 0544, tone jammer and R. Dabanga, both poor. 13800, April 10 at 0545, 2-tone jammer very poor and R. Dabanga is JBA here. At this hour both channels are via VATICAN (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN SOUTH [non]. April 9: Radio Miraya in English to EaAf 0516 on 11560 secret site https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5Lo5O_IAxM&feature=youtu.be (Ivo Ivanov, Blgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Miraya Transmitter Site? RADIO MIRAYA via UNKNOWN SITE 11560. April 9 at 0300 opening. Good signal on its new frequency, while 9940 was usually poor at best. So I thought possibly now from a different transmitter site — maybe Moldova/Pridnestrovia. But e-mail from Sergey Omelchenko, Pridnestrovsky Radiotelecentr Technical Director, says, like 9940, it’s not from their site. Mr. Omelchenko responded to my inquiry in just 2 hours. Of course broadcasters and transmitter operators have sometimes been known to deny certain relays. Mr. Omelchenko has been very good about responding promptly to reception reports and inquiries. As I previously reported, he responded to my reports of Radio Payam-e-Doost in 16 hours and Dengê Kurdistanê in less than 5 hours. And the very nice full-data e-cards were different but both depicted antennas. This allows QSLing 2 broadcasters that are difficult to verify directly. Of course Miraya can easily be verified via Fondation Hirondelle; last year they responded to my postal report with a QSL card in 9 days (Wendel Craighead, Prairie Village, Kansas, April 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re: UNIDENTIFIED STATION SITE - Radio Miraya Transmitter Site? {Comic FMO broker company policy? ? BRB Broadcast Belgium by Ludo Maes, requires the directors in Moldova, a denial of the Broadcast via Grigoriopol-MDA? wb.} (Wolfgang Büschel, BCDX April 11 via DXLD) ** SUDAN SOUTH [non]. 17600, Radio Tamazuj (Issoudun), *1500 1 Apr. Nice signal with opening info in Sudanese Arabic // 15150 (Talata- Volonondry), 15550 (Santa Maria di Galeria). (Dan Sheedy, Moonlight Beach, CA, G5/PL606 + 6m X wire, via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SURINAME. 4990, Radio Apintie, Paramaribo 0940 om in Dutch weak signal to 1000 on 7 April (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, South Florida, 746Pro, Drake R8, NRD 525, Sony 2010XA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWAZILAND. 6120, TWR Manzini, 1826, very strong with vernacular hymn, into IS x 2 at 1829 and plug pulled. April 5th (David Sharp, NSW, FT-950, NRD-535D, R8, R30A, Timewave 599ZX, various Palstar and MFJ accessories, Quantum Phaser, various Sangean and Tecsun portables, EWE aerials; via Bob Wilkner, DXLD) 15360, April 10 at 1359, TWR music box IS, poor signal, and ``Trans World Radio, Swaziland`` ID, into Urdu. This station knows where it really is, even tho in WRTH you have to find it under INDIA, and all other Manzini broadcasts under SOUTH AFRICA (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN. 9745, Voice of Han. As of April 14, have not had any trace of this station for a number of months now. Has anyone heard it recently? Thanks again to Mauno Ritola for this info: "See http://wrth.com/updates_national.html (misplaced by mistake under China): Voice of Kuanghua is inactive on 9745 kHz, but expected to return after antenna maintenance." (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, E1 & CR-1, dxldy via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN. CHINA [sic, oops]. Voice of Kuanghua is inactive on 9745 kHz, but expected to return after antenna maintenance (WRTH National Radio update Uploaded 10 April 2015, via DXLD) ** TAIWAN. 15340, SOH Chinese, tiny S=4 signal. 15775.226, SOH Chinese, S=4 15869.964, SOH S=3 15969.963, SOH at 2232 UT April 13. 16160.178, SOH (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, log 2130-2230 UT April 13, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 10960, Sound of Hope, 1209-1215, April 14. Seems that SOH has dropped the long standing ID in English at 1212. Is it now given at a different time? (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, E1 & CR-1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also CHINA for numerous jammers ** TAIWAN [non]. Saturday, April 18, 2015 PCJ Radio International broadcasts to WeEu SRI LANKA (non [sic]) From April 18 till April 24 PCJ Radio International will have a week of programs broadcast via secret/hidden site maybe Secretbrod [sic], 2000-2100 on 9405 SCB 100 kW / 306 deg to WeEu English + special QSLcard April 18 - The Happy Station Show April 19 - The Stuph File Program April 20 - Focus Asia Pacific and Switzerland In Sound April 21 - Jazz For The Asking April 22 - Nash Holos April 23 - Focus Asia Pacific and Vintage Media Network April 24 - Media Network Plus and Special Program (Bulgarian DX blog via DXLD) Hi Keith: Isn't it getting down to the wire for announcing the frequency for next week's PCJ European broadcasts? Or will it be a contest to find the frequency? ;-) All the best (-- Richard B Langley, NB, April 17 to Keith Perron, via DXLD) Hi Rich, Just got it, 9705 kHz, Time: 2000 - 2100 UT (Keith Perron to Richard Langley, April 17, ibid.) Thanks, Keith. I'll be listening to see if signals propagate to New Brunswick. Are you permitted to (or willing to) reveal the transmitter site? ;-) (Richard to Keith, ibid.) Rich, Just a note. I just got up and they changed it to 9405 kHz. It seems there would be spatter from Iran on 9705, which is using 9715. The site is one operated in Sweden. Radio Revival Sweden (Keith, April 18, ibid.) FYI. Low power so likely not much hope for North America (Richard, Sent from my iPod Touch, to gh, DX LISTENING DIGEST via dxldyg) ** TAJIKISTAN. 4765.06, Tajik R., Apr 04 1336-1346, 35333, Tajik, Music and talk, ID at 1339. 4765.04, Tajik R., Apr 10 1326-1333, 35333, Tajik, Music and talk, ID at 1326 (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC-R75, NRD-525+RD-9830, NRD-345, Satellit 750, DE-1121; ANT, 130m Sloper Wire, 303WA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAJIKISTAN. Final four minutes of Voice of Tajik and then transmitter switches off: 1600-1800 7245 DB 100 kW / non-dir CeAs Farsi, 1800 carrier from CRI 1800-2000 7245 DB 100 kW / non-dir CeAs Dari, not active at present 2000-2200 7245 DB 100 kW / non-dir CeAs Russian, not active at present 2200-2300 7245 DB 100 kW / non-dir CeAs Uzbek, not active at present 2300-2400 7245 DB 100 kW / non-dir CeAs Hindi, not active at present http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2015/04/final-four-minutes-of-voice-of-tajik-in.html (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, as of April 15? dxldyg via DXLD) ** TAJIKISTAN. 19800, 0305, RFA fair in Chinese. 17/3 (Phil Van de Paverd, Coopers Beach, New Zealand, R-71E, AOR 7030+. 8.84M Flag NE, 45m Sloper, April NZ DX Times via DXLD) Typo in frequency or 2 x 9900 or ???? In B-14 nothing was scheduled for this in the 18 MHz band nor on 9900 nor on 9800 ??? Conceivably Sound of Hope could have shown up on 19800 and consequently ChiCom CNR1 jamming, but not in Aoki (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TIBET [non]. 15525, V of Tibet (Talata-Volonondry) *1400-1407* 2 Apr., then 15530 *1408+ with CNR1 jammer JBA in the background (Dan Sheedy, Moonlight Beach, CA, G5/PL606 + 6m X wire, via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TIBET [non]. 15492, VoT (Dushanbe-Yangiyul) *1400-1408* 7 April. JBA and switching to 15498 (improving to very weak) at 1408-30* with CNR1 jammer hanging out on 15490. 15498 also heard with fair signal 1412-1430* 6 April. '492/498 seems to run a different programme from VoT (Talata-Volonondry) on 15525/15530 (Dan Sheedy, Moonlight Beach, CA G5/6m X wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15543 & 15568, April 9 at 1315, very poor hets of same pitch with carriers on 15540 and 15565, i.e. surely V. of Tibet via TAJIKISTAN on the split frequencies, and CNR1 jammers on the evens. Today`s Aoki agrees, with VOT on *jammed 15543 at 1305-1337, and on 15568 at 1307- 1335 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Frequency changes of Voice of Tibet in 1230-1400 UT 1230-1245 NF 15557 DB 100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan, ex 15587 1300-1315 NF 15568 DB 100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan, ex 15593 1315-1330 NF 15568 DB 100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan, ex 15593 1330-1345 NF 15548 DB 100 kW / 095 deg to EaAs Chinese, ex 15542 1330-1345 NF 15562 DB 100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan, ex 15587 1345-1400 NF 15548 DB 100 kW / 095 deg to EaAs Chinese, ex 15542 1345-1400 NF 15562 DB 100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan, ex 15587 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2015/04/frequency-changes-of-voice-of-tibet-in.html -- 73! (Ivo Ivanov, April 13, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TIBET [non]. April 6: Radio Free Asia in Tibetan to CeAs 1100 on 18930 Kuwait https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Omaz9O50QOM&feature=youtu.be Radio Free Asia in Tibetan to CeAs 1200 on 18980 Kuwait https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-9xPT3d3d8&feature=youtu.be Radio Free Asia in Tibetan to CeAs 1305 on 18930 Kuwait https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E67PQpGRZ_s&feature=youtu.be 06 04 2014 CNR Jammer 1303 on 18990 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IA9DXkfeE8k&feature=youtu.be (Ivo Ivanov, Blgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) KUWAIT: 18980, Radio Free Asia (list log); 1212, 6-Apr; M&W in oriental language; no jamming. SIO=252+ (Frodge-MI) 18990, Radio Free Asia (list log); 1320, 4-Apr; Uncopyable talk with grinder QRM; listed as Tibetan. (Frodge-MI) 19000, Radio Free Asia (presumed); 1219, 6-Apr; Weak oriental talk in unknown language + flute music; no obvious jamming. Nothing listed in Aoki for Mondays, so maybe an anti-jamming move (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 125 ft. bow-tie; 85 ft. RW & 180 ft. center-fed RW, All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKEY. 15450, April 9 at 1248, V. of Turkey, unreadable YL in English on poor signal, but at least confirming it`s back on A-season frequency. Once upon a time, this European service would be sufficient in North America; ever again? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKMENISTAN. State radio goes live on the web --- Turkmenistan has at last made its state radio available on the internet, the last of the former Soviet republics to do so! Turkmen Radio's four main services - Watan, Char Tarapdan, Miras and Owaz can be heard on live streams via the excellent WorldRadioMap portal at http://tinyurl.com/tmstan Owaz broadcasts round the clock in English, Russian & Turkmen and so far it appears the languages are on a 3-hour cycle, i.e. English was noted at 0600, 0900 UT, Russian at 0800, 1100 UT. Char Tarapdan (which shares a network with Miras) was noted signing-on today at 0200 UT, not 0100 as listed in WRTH. No website for the broadcaster found, but there's information at http://tinyurl.com/asgabat (David Kernick, Interval Signals Online, April 10, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also INTERNATIONAL INTERNET ** UGANDA. Do someone hears Radio Uganda on 7195 khz recently? Here in Hungary 7195 Radio Uganda transmitter was not audible in the past (Tibor, hungaroboy, April 12, dxldyg via DX LISTENINGT DIGEST) No propagation at HIGH NOON from Kampala Uganda transmitter towards Hungary Europe target though, only IARU bandwatch guy located in Nairobi Kenya in East Africa reported on this mid-day operation, ask "E.H.M.Alleyne" Ted 5Z4NU 73 wb df5sx (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DXLD) Friends, Yesterday I asked if Radio Uganda is using the frequency of 7195 kHz. I attach the answer from Ted (5Z4NU) who is located in Nairobi. My other question was if he hears tanzania on 531 kHz (Kunduchi, Dar es salaam, Tanzania). His answer was negative, it is too far for him to receive that frequency. Regards, Tibor ---------- Eredeti üzenet ---------- Dátum: 2015. április 13., hétfo, 05:57:25 Feladó: E.H.M.Alleyne , Címzett: Másolatot kap: Tárgy: RE: request for radio uganda 7195 khz Hello Tibor, I have not heard Radio Uganda on 7195 for some time now and believe they have left the frequency after many complaints - it is exclusively an Amateur frequency in any case. I am not sure about Kunduchi on 531 but will try to find it. That would be a legal frequency. 73, Ted 5Z4NU (via Tibor, ibid.) ** UKRAINE. 1277.994+ kHz odd frequency, R. Ukraine International is heard via Odessa Petrivka, at 1500-1900 UT \\ MW Mykolaiev Luch 1431 kHz. see schedule of RUI mediumwave, both at 15-19 UT time segment. (Mauno Ritola, Finland, mwoffsets yg, April 4, via BCDX April 11 via DXLD) Petrivka 1278 kHz with new transmitter on the air - at present RUI \\ MW Mykolaiev Luch 1431 kHz. Ostanni novyny Radiomovlennya, 02 kvitnya 2015 Z+hidno z informatsiyeyu nashykh vidviduvachiv, vidnovylosya movlennya NRKU na chastoti 1278 kHts u s. Petrivka Odes?koyi oblasti. Na danyy moment translyuyet?sya prohrama "VSRU" (spivpadaye z chastotoyu 1431 kHts). Zvuk shche ne zovsim yakisnyy, peredavach u Petrivtsi potrebuye nalashtuvannya. Takozh utochnyuyet?sya rozklad movlennya, ale skhozhe shcho rozklad movlennya takozh spivpadaye z chastotoyu 1431 kHts. Nahadayemo, shcho naprykintsi sichnya na tsiy chastoti u testovomu rezhymi movyv "1-yy kanal NRU" (yakomu i nalezhyt? litsenziya na dane chastotne prysvoyennya) According to our visitors resumed broadcasting NRCU frequency MW 1278 kHz in the village Petrovka Odessa region. Currently broadcast program "RUI" (the same as the frequency of 1431 kHz from Mykolaiev Luch site). The sound is not quite enough, the transmitter needs to Petrovka settings. Also specified broadcast schedule, but it seems that the broadcast schedule also coincides with a frequency of 1431 kHz. Recall that in late January at this frequency in said test mode "1st channel Rukh" (which it should license this frequency assignment) (ukrtvr.org, April 2 via ibid.) ** UKRAINE [non]. 11580, April 12 at 0048, RUI is back on WRMI, during mailbag, whew: 24 hours earlier, `Wavescan` was running instead during this semihour. An American asks if there are any Subway sandwich shops in Ukraine. Reply: subways in several cities including Kiev, but no sandwiches inside them: sandwiches may be found just outside some stations. He didn`t realize this was Subway with a capital S. Meanwhile, 5850 WRMI is relaying Slovakia (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [non]. PAKISTAN [non], 12075, BBC (Kranji [SINGAPORE]) *1459- 1503+ 5 April. With RBA now closing at 1445, BBC's 15-16 Urdu service is in the clear with OC, IS, "yeh (he?) BBC World Service, kiloHertz" and news headlines (Yemen, Pakistan). (Dan Sheedy, Moonlight Beach, CA G5/6m X wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. 15010, spur? 1815 of 15510, talks in Hausa? S2 >>IBRA Beja (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, April 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) At this hour WOOFFERTON site is on both 15510 and 15260, so 15010 would be a rare leapfrog mixing product from there, another 250 kHz lower. HFCC shows both in Arabic. Would appreciate reporters researching such things so I don`t have to (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 6823-USB, Thu April 9 at 1354, Texas Army MARS net in informal discussion after training session involving digital modes; abbr`d IDs heard include THN, 6XB, 6YD, and as NCS today, 6IA, all pronounced fonetikaly. Previously logged June 10, 2014 at 0125 as in DXLD 14-24; and before that during the 13+ UT hour, April & Sept 2013 as in 13-17 & 13-36. Strange that one of the abbr`d calls is numberless (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 7345-SSB, April 13 at 1307, NNN0HZS calling station after station in a Navy MARS net, last three of call always fonetikally so certain. Has some weak carrier from a broadcaster partly demodulating it (CNR1 Beijing and/or Myanmar), but need BFO too. NNN0HZS is apparently a substitute or relay for the NCS. Yahoo search on call goes nowhere, but switching to Google gets a single one: Jerry in Tennessee, logged on ``40 meters`` on 20121222: http://www.hamlog.eu/NT6H (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. No less than 11 NOV entries for fishing company vessels operating in the aero band at 8935 kHz. Sample: http://transition.fcc.gov/eb/FieldNotices/2003/DOC-332871A1.html (Terry L Krueger, FL, April 9, DXLD) excerpt: NOTICE OF VIOLATION Released: March 31, 2015 By the Resident Agent, Honolulu Office, Western Region, Enforcement Bureau: * This is a Notice of Violation (Notice) issued pursuant to Section 1.89 of the Commission's rules (Rules), to Cape San Lucas Fishing, LLC (San Lucas), licensee of ship radio station WDE3676, F/V Cape San Lucas, in Bellevue, Washington. Pursuant to Section 1.89(a) of the Rules, issuance of this Notice does not preclude the Enforcement Bureau from further action if warranted, including issuing a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture for the violation noted herein. * Between January 1, 2015, and January 13, 2015, the High Frequency Direction Finding (HFDF) Center of the FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau monitored transmissions by ship radio station WDE3676, F/V Cape San Lucas, on the frequency 8935.0 kHz lower sideband (LSB), operating between Hawaii and American Samoa, and observed the following violation: 47 C.F.R. § 1.903(a): "Stations in the Wireless Radio Services must be used and operated only in accordance with the rules applicable to their particular service as set forth in this title and with a valid authorization granted by the Commission..." The license for ship station WDE3676 does not authorize operation on the aeronautical frequency 8935.0 kHz. The HFDF Center has received complaints from Aeronautical Radio, Inc. (ARINC) that the unauthorized transmissions are causing harmful interference to ARINC's authorized operations (via DXLD) ** U S A. WWV's 25 MHz Signal Still Going Strong After 1 Year Back On the Air: http://www.eham.net/articles/34362 Time and frequency standard station WWV silenced its 25 MHz signal in 1977, but it returned to the air on an "experimental basis" a year ago, and it's still up and running. Resurrecting the long-dormant standard time outlet operated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) was Matt Deutch, N0RGT, WWV's Lead Electrical Engineer (Via Horacio Nigro, Montevideo, Uruguay, dxldyg via DXLD) viz Time and frequency standard station WWV http://www.nist.gov/pml/div688/grp40/wwv.cfm silenced its 25 MHz signal in 1977, but it returned to the air on an "experimental basis" a year ago, and it's still up and running. Resurrecting the long- dormant standard time outlet operated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) http://www.nist.gov/ was Matt Deutch, N0RGT, WWV's Lead Electrical Engineer. "We have been at 1 kW for the past year," Deutch told ARRL. "We have had a few hiccups, but nothing serious." Deutch said he was pleased to see the 25 MHz signal included in a recent QST article, "just like the good ol' days" (see "Measuring Frequencies at VE3GSO," in the April 2015 issue of QST, p 37). "Here at the site we have even been discussing giving the 25 MHz signal its own antenna again," Deutch said. "The ham in me wants to give it something more exotic than a plain ol' boring dipole. But what antenna could it be?" Deutch said he was inspired by the article "Amateur Radio Science" by Eric Nichols, KL7AJ, in the February 2013 issue of QST, which asked hams to do more to advance and contribute to the radio art, "but the gears in my brain are still turning," Deutch said. The return of WWV's 25 MHz outlet came about after Dean Lewis, W9WGV, lamented its loss last year in an e-mail to Deutch, who surprised him by putting the signal back on the air, initially temporarily. The 25 MHz signal not only provides another option to check your frequency calibration or the exact time, it also can serve to indicate the state of propagation on 12 and 10 meters. Deutch said the WWV 25 MHz signal still gets signal reports from across the Atlantic. WWV has invited wwv@nist.gov listeners' comments and signal reports. Read more http://www.arrl.org/news/wwv-s-25-mhz-signal-still-going-strong-after-1-year-back-on-the-air (via DXLD) ** U S A. [ham] 28273.2-CW, 1418 7 April. WF4HAM 6W 10M beacon from Altamont Springs, FL, one of the 2 non-CA beacons heard today. 28285.7-CW, 1419 7 April. WA4ROX 750mW 10M beacon from Largo, FL just popping thru the noise level (Dan Sheedy, Moonlight Beach, CA G5/6m X wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. VOICE OF AMERICA SPANISH WEBSITE STILL SILENT ON EXPULSION OF TV MARTI FROM CUBA PRESS CONFERENCE - BBG Watch Wednesday, April 15, 2015 12:09 AM http://bbgwatch.com/bbgwatch/voice-of-america-spanish-website-still-silent-on-expulsion-of-tv-marti-from-cuba-press-conference/ BBG Watch --- U.S. and International Media BBGWatcher April 13, 2015 0 Comments Featured News, Hot Tub Blog BBG Watch Commentary Two days after an incident involving American journalists from a related media outlet covering Cuban-American news, U.S. taxpayer- funded Voice of America (VOA) Spanish language news website, voanoticias.com, is still silent Monday afternoon (3PM ET, April 13, 2015) on the harassment of TV Marti reporters by Cuban security officials and their expulsion from a press conference in Panama (Saturday, April 11) following the meeting between President Obama and Cuban dictator Raul Castro. Voice of America Spanish Service is showing on its homepage a banner promoting coverage of U.S - Cuba rapprochement which leads to a page, "EE.UU. - Cuba" (U.S.A. - Cuba News), that as of 3PM ET Monday, April 10 has not been updated since April 10. As of 3PM ET Monday, April 13, the lead story on that page says that "before heading to Panama President Barack Obama spoke by phone with his Cuban counterpart Raul Castro." The VOA Spanish report, "Obama y Castro hablan antes de encuentro en Panama | VOA Spanish, posted on April 10, is showing only 2 Facebook "Shares," 6 Tweets, and 0 (zero) comments as of 3:48 PM ET, Monday, April 13. VOA Spanish Banner Featured image: Voice of America Spanish website banner promoting coverage of U.S - Cuba rapprochement. VOA Spanish U.S.-Cuba News Page Screen Shot 2015-04-13 at 3:48PM ET VOA Spanish Search Screen Shot 2015-04-13 at 3PM ET Voice of America Spanish Service has not posted anything about the incident on its Facebook page. It took Voice of America English language website, voanews.com, about 24 hours, to post a short news report on Sunday at 3:53 PM ET about the incident which took place on Saturday. But as of 2:00 PM ET Monday, Voice of America Spanish language website still has nothing about harassment and expulsion of U.S. journalists by Cuban officials. Both Voice of America and TV Marti (Radio and TV Marti are part of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting) are overseen by the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), federal agency in charge of all U.S. international media outreach. The BBG issued a press release on the harassment of TV Marti reporters by Cuban security officials in Panama a full day before Voice of America English website posted its news item. At least some if not all BBG board members are believed to be extremely unhappy with Voice of America executives over this and other VOA news reporting and management failures, sources told BBG Watch. Radio and TV Marti reported extensively on the incident and posted a video showing the expulsion shot by CNN Spanish. VOA's voanews.com English language website has been notorious for posting news late or not reporting at all or reporting superficially on important U.S. and international news stories. VOA's voanoticias.com Spanish language website has been observed to be even less timely with news posting and less frequently updated in recent years. VOA English News Report Screen Shot 2015-04-13 at 2:50 PM ET Critics blame these problems on senior Voice of America officials, declining staffing, and diminishing resources while VOA's and agency's bureaucracy kept expanding at a rapid rate. Voice of America Director David Ensor announced his resignation "after nearly four years leading the nation's international state broadcaster," according to an April 7 BBG press release. He is still in charge of VOA, but his departure is expected soon. VOA Executive Editor Steve Redisch has been David Ensor's top deputy. April 2 BBG press release announced that "Voice of America has named Clara Domínguez as Managing Editor of the VOA News Center, the main source of news-gathering and production for a weekly audience of more than 172 million people in nearly 50 languages." Prior to joining VOA in 2010, Clara Domínguez was News Director at the Office of Cuba Broadcasting. Domínguez moved to the News Center from the Latin America Division, where, according to the BBG press release, "she helped build a network of more than 350 television, radio, and on-line affiliates, reaching record audiences throughout South and Central America and the Caribbean." BBG's first CEO, Andy Lack, left his post recently after only a few weeks on the job. A VOA Newsroom reporter who wants to remain anonymous told BBG Watch: "After Andy Lack's departure, it seems that everything is falling badly apart. The agency is practically headless. God knows who is calling the shots these days." A VOA reporter told BBG Watch earlier: "VOA's top echelon must wake up. Congress is not going to let this situation to continue." A former VOA broadcaster observed: "In the not too distant past, VOA was a 24/7 operation, now it's 9 to 5 with weekends evidently off as if news suddenly stopped happening." "As a first step, it's time to admit that a part-time Board (BBG) and a suffocating bureaucracy (IBB) has to go to make U.S. international broadcasting relevant again." ### BBG Press Release APRIL 11, 2015 CUBAN SECURITY EJECTS TV MARTI TEAM FROM PANAMA PRESS CONFERENCE Panama City, Panama - (April 11, 2015) Cuban security officials forced TV Marti's reporter Karen Caballero and cameraman Rudy Hernández out of today's press conference with the Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez in Panamá. TV Marti reporter Karen Caballero talking to reporters after being ejecting from press conference by Cuban officials [caption] Caballero and Hernandez are fully credentialed to cover the historic summit including the meeting between President Barack Obama and President Raul Castro. Caballero is a well-recognized TV Marti host and reporter who was in place with her cameraman and sitting quietly prior to the start of the press conference. They were unceremoniously told to leave by the head of the Cuban press security. The Cuban official insisted that they could choose whom to include and wanted "unbiased, serious press that wants unity" to interview the Cuban delegation. "The fact that Karen and Rudy were forced out of the press conference is further indication of the ongoing lack of press freedom in Cuba," said Carlos Garcia Perez, director of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting which includes Radio and TV Marti. CNN en Espanol captured the events on video. Further footage and coverage is online at http://martinoticias.com The Office of Cuba Broadcasting oversees Radio and Television Marti at its headquarters in Miami, Florida. The Martis are a multimedia hub of news, information and analysis that provide the people of Cuba with interactive programs seven days a week through satellite television and shortwave and AM radio, as well as through flash drives, emails, DVDs, and SMS text. Combined with the online platform, martinoticias.com, the Martis are a one-of-a-kind service that brings unbiased, objective information to Cubans. For further information, please contact Natalia Crujeiras, mobile (305)984-4569, ncrujeiras@bbg.gov (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) TURMOIL AT VOICE OF AMERICA IS SEEN AS HURTING U.S. ABILITY TO COUNTER PROPAGANDA ---- By RON NIXON, APRIL 15, 2015 WASHINGTON -- When David Ensor announced last week that he was stepping down as the director of the Voice of America, critics saw the move as the latest sign of turmoil at the government agency that is charged with presenting America's viewpoint to the world. The resignation came just weeks after Andrew Lack, the first chief executive of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which oversees the Voice of America, left 42 days into the job to take a post at NBCUniversal. Lawmakers, foreign policy experts and former staff members say the Voice of America is floundering at the very moment when America needs to counter sophisticated propaganda machines that have expanded the influence of countries like China and Russia and terrorist groups like the Islamic State. "We are getting our butts kicked," said Glen Howard, the president of the Jamestown Foundation, a Washington think tank. "Countries like Russia are running circles around us, and our international broadcasting is in disarray." Photo: David Ensor announced his resignation last week as the director of Voice of America. Credit Mandel Ngan/Agence France-Presse -- Getty Images Mr. Ensor, a former reporter for NPR, ABC News and CNN, was recruited in 2011 to transform the Voice of America's Cold War-era operation into a state-of-the-art newsroom that some envisioned as a government- backed version of CNN. But shrinking budgets, questions about the agency's mission and a lack of oversight by the part-time Broadcasting Board of Governors limited Mr. Ensor's ability to overhaul the agency, according to interviews with current and former officials and to numerous government audits. In addition, much of the agency's programming is duplicated by other government broadcasters, like Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, wasting money that the Voice of America could use. As a result, critics say, the agency has been slow to cover major breaking news and even slower to respond to propaganda from other countries, particularly Russia. On Wednesday, the House Foreign Affairs Committee held a hearing on Russian propaganda and the American government's difficulty in responding effectively. Some public policy experts and Voice of America officials say the overarching problem is that Congress and the White House have not clearly defined the role of the agency in America's public diplomacy. "U.S. international broadcasting is not taken into account at any level of the government when strategy dealing with the national interest and foreign policy is being put together," said S. Enders Wimbush, a former member of the Broadcasting Board of Governors. "They give lip service to international broadcasting, but it's an afterthought." A report Mr. Wimbush helped write, based on interviews with more than 30 public diplomacy experts, said government international broadcasting should be "rebuilt from the ground up" so that it is fully aligned with foreign policy objectives. The report was financed by the Smith Richardson Foundation, a Connecticut-based group that provides grants to conservative causes but also to centrist and liberal organizations like the Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute. Founded in 1942 as a part of the Office of War Information, the Voice of America started with a goal of countering Nazi and Japanese propaganda. It was widely credited with helping to end the Cold War by providing unfiltered news to dissidents and countering communist propaganda in the Soviet Union and Soviet-backed countries. But the agency has been in decline since that time, pulled between providing credible news and supporting American policy. In 2013, Hillary Rodham Clinton, then the secretary of state, said that the Broadcasting Board of Governors was "practically defunct in terms of its capacity to be able to tell a message around the world." And in the Facebook and Twitter era, some have even asked if the Voice of America, whose budget is about $200 million a year, is still relevant. Mr. Ensor pointed to a string of successes during his time at the agency. It has expanded its reach through social media and mobile and has created new television programming in Russian, Ukrainian, Persian, Mandarin, Burmese and Creole, among other languages. According to survey data prepared for the Broadcasting Board of Governors, the Voice of America's international radio, television and online audience has reached 172 million people a week, an increase of 49 million during his tenure. "The V.O.A. is keeping itself renewed and refreshed to face the challenges of today's fast-changing media environment," said Mr. Ensor, who added that his resignation was not related to uncertainties on the board. Obama administration officials said the Voice of America and its sister agencies were vital to the nation's diplomatic efforts. "Given the challenges we have on a number of different fronts, from ISIS to Boko Haram, broadcasters like the V.O.A. are an important piece of what we are trying to do across the government," said Richard A. Stengel, the under secretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs, who represents Secretary of State John Kerry on the board of governors. "We need to have as much as we can out there trying to blunt the messages of these groups." Despite the criticism and resignations, board officials said they were forging ahead with plans to move the Voice of America more aggressively into digital media and to step up its efforts to counter propaganda. "There is a narrative out there that this agency is broken," said Robert Bole, the director of global strategy for the board of governors. "I can assure you that it is not." Still, many lawmakers remain unconvinced. The House Budget Committee recommended reducing funding to the board and its networks until "significant reforms" were made. And House lawmakers plan to reintroduce legislation that would revise the Voice of America's charter to state explicitly that the agency has a role in supporting American "public diplomacy" and countering propaganda from other countries. The bill, which is opposed by journalists within the agency, passed the House last year, but the Senate did not take it up. "Let's fix the agency and create opportunities with the existing budget to get more resources to the field," said Representative Ed Royce, Republican of California and chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, which has legislative oversight of the Voice of America. "We don't need to keep throwing more money at a bloated, ineffective bureaucracy." A version of this article appears in print on April 16, 2015, on page A16 of the New York edition with the headline: Turmoil at Voice of America Is Seen as Hurting U.S. Ability to Counter Propaganda (NY Times via Mike Cooper, David Cole, DXLD) ** U S A [non]. IBB changes: Voice of America, Studio 7 from April 9 1700-1800 15460 SAO 100 kW / 126 deg ZWE Eng/Shona/Ndebele, ex 15455 1800-1900 15460 UDO 250 kW / 300 deg ZWE Eng/Shona/Ndebele, ex 15455 Voice of America from April 10 0000-0100 13805 UDO 250 kW / 324 deg CeAs Tibetan Fri, ex 13740 1700-1800 7485 IRA 250 kW / 316 deg WeAs Kurdish, ex 7480 Radio Liberty from April 10 1900-2000 6120 BIB 100 kW / 063 deg EaEu Russian, additional 2000-2200 9540 UDO 250 kW / 335 deg EaEu Russian, ex 7475 Radio Farda from April 11 1800-2100 9815*IRA 250 kW / 316 deg WeAs Persian, additional * co-ch 1900-1930 VOA Afia Darfur in Arabic to Sudan via Sao Tome http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2015/04/ibb-changes.html -- 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, April 9, dxldyg via DXLD) More IBB changes from April 13: Voice of America 0000-0100 NF 13810 UDO 250 kW / 324 deg to CeAs Tibetan, ex 13780 Sun 1300-1400 NF 13690 SAI 100 kW / 310 deg to EaAs Chinese, ex 13680 Radio Free Asia 1000-1100 NF 13800 KWT 250 kW / 078 deg to CeAs Tibetan, ex 13680 1000-1100 NF 15330 TIN 250 kW / 295 deg to CeAs Tibetan, ex 15265 (Ivo Ivanov, Blgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. Jumping A-15 frequencies of Voice of America and Radio Free Asia: http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2015/04/jumping-15-frequencies-of-voice-of.html (DX RE MIX NEWS #905 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, April 13, 2015 via DXLD) ** U S A. VOA Radiogram, April 11-12 --- VOA Radiogram is all MFSK32 this weekend, except for the bonus mode Olivia 32-1000. News items: Anti-venom against sub-Saharan snakes New aluminum-ion battery Chinese TV broadcaster punished for comment Balloons send “The Interview” DVDs into North Korea Islamic State hacks TV5Monde Details and transmission schedule: http://voaradiogram.net/post/116032381297/voa-radiogram-11-12-april-2015-anti-venom The above link also has information about digital text and images from The Mighty KBC and from WRMI (Kim Elliott, April 9, dxldyg via DXLD) Total failure of the radio broadcast on 17860 kHz on Saturday 1600z for Germany - MUF here was significantly below 17 MHz. (==>NA) http://www.rhci-online.net/files/Dourbes_DB049_2015101160502_IO.PNG But the night show (for Europe) on 49m saved the weekend. ;-) http://www.rhci-online.net/radiogram/VoA_Radiogram_2015-04-11.htm (roger, April 12, dxldyg via DXLD) Roger's observations mirrored mine for the 1600 transmission. 10 or 15 minutes into the program, the signal just collapsed. 15670 upcoming at 1930 is only looking marginally better today. 73, (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, 1923 UT April 12, ibid.) ** U S A. 7570, WRMI, Radio Miami Int'l; 2141-2200+, 3-April [Friday]; Glenn Hauser's World of Radio #1767; WRMI spot at 2159+ into Bro. HyStairical at 2200. (I would have waited for some pearl of wisdom to comment on, but wasn't in the mood to cope with Olde Gravel Voice.) SIO=443 with warble & pulse burst QRM (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 125 ft. bow-tie; 85 ft. RW & 180 ft. center-fed RW, All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) [and non] WORLD OF RADIO 1768 monitoring: Thursday April 9 I am tuned to 7570 before 2100 to check out a new time in the online schedule. Carrier is on by 2058, music at 2059, Zanotti ID at 2059.5, and indeed into WOR at 2100. 7570 dbu reading on the PL-880 with short random wire is 29-36, while the noise floor on 7560 is 30-32. Then I check 15770 and find WOR is also on there in //, 34-45 dbu and sufficient. The schedule shows something else on that frequency as they are supposedly being split, but still really duplicating. Perhaps the same will happen this Friday as it did last week at 2130. WORLD OF RADIO 1768 monitoring: confirmed Friday April 10 at 2130.5 on WRMI 7570 and still also on // 15770. Also confirmed at 0130 UT Saturday April 11 on new outlet Radio Free Dishnuts, webcasts via http://www.radiodude.info/dishnuts/index.html Our other time is Tuesdays 1330. Their program schedule is outdated. Next on shortwave: Sat 0630 HLR 7265-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio Sat 1430 HLR 7265-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio Sat 1930v WA0RCR 1860-AM Sat 2130 Global 24 9525 via BULGARIA [not last week, no longer, or to be rescheduled?? Still no new sked at all on Global 24 website since March 30] Sun 0315v WA0RCR 1860-AM [last week started at 0337.5] Sun 2100 WRMI 15770 [NEW on schedule, but not last week; try 7570] Sun 2300 WRMI 11580 Mon 0300v WBCQ 5110v Area 51 Tue 1100 WRMI 9955 Wed 0630 HLR 7265-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio Wed 1315 WRMI 9955 Wed 1430 HLR 7265-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio Wed 2100 WBCQ 7490v Thu 0330 WRMI 9955 [or 1769 if ready in time] RUMANIA, 7290, IRRS Milano (Saftica), 1820-1900, escuchada el 11 de abril de 2015 en inglés, emisión de música rock y Jazz, fragmento del programa diexista de Glenn Hauser, locutor con ID, locutora con boletín de noticias, música pop melódica, locutor con entrevista a dos invitadas,locutor con ID y fin de emisión, SINPO 44444 (José Miguel Romero2, Spain, dxldyg via DXLD) I continue to send WOR to IRRS every week, as they are supposedly putting it on at unscheduled webcast times. This portion must have slipped onto SW on a Saturday; it is not my intention for WOR to be fragmented (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WORLD OF RADIO 1768 monitoring: Confirmed starting at 0328.5 UT Sunday April 12 on WA0RCR, 1860-AM, Missouri. Vern truncates our opening to minimize the music and the billboard, and inserts own IDs, such as at 0338. Next: Sun 2100 WRMI 15770 [NEW on schedule, but not last week; try 7570] Sun 2300 WRMI 11580 Mon 0300v WBCQ 5110v Area 51 Tue 1100 WRMI 9955 Wed 0630 HLR 7265-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio Wed 1315 WRMI 9955 Wed 1430 HLR 7265-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio Wed 2100 WBCQ 7490v Thu 0330 WRMI 9955 [or 1769 if ready in time] WORLD OF RADIO 1768 monitoring: confirmed new time of 2100 Sunday April 12 on WRMI 15770 (and this time something else on 7570: I was able to hear both on the G8 inside the Enid Symphony Hall during a performance of `Pirates of Penzance`; helps to be on the fifth floor balcony not far from windows). WOR also still Sunday at 2300 on 11580 WRMI. WORLD OF RADIO 1769, Tried 5109, WBCQ circa 0200 UT Monday April 13, and it was just barely audible, but sounded like Johnny Lightning. Listening instead to Area 51 webcast at 0302, wrong WOR 1767 starts playing, last week`s edition, and continues to 0331 or so. Even discounting storm noise level, 5109 must be from a much weaker transmitter than the previous one closer to 5110 (and having heard Brother Scare at various early and late hours on 5109, I check April 13 at 0610, but now appears to be off.) Next WORs: Tue 1100 WRMI 9955 Wed 0630 HLR 7265-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio Wed 1315 WRMI 9955 Wed 1430 HLR 7265-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio Wed 2100 WBCQ 7490v Thu 0330 WRMI 9955 [or 1769 if ready in time] WORLD OF RADIO 1768 monitoring: confirmed Wednesday April 15 at 1315 on WRMI 9955, sufficient without jamming. Next: Wed 2100 WBCQ 7490v Thu 0330 WRMI 9955 [or 1769 if ready in time] WORLD OF RADIO 1768 monitoring: confirmed on WBCQ webcast, Wed April 15 at 2100; 7490 only a JBA carrier by 2126. WORLD OF RADIO 1769 monitoring: confirmed first airing UT Thursday April 16 at 0350 on WRMI 9955; over lite pulse jamming, tnx a lot, Arnie! Clear on webcast from 0330. Also confirmed at 1257 Thursday April 16 on 9955, having started at 1230; now only poor signal and splash from stronger T8WH 9950 with YL gospel huxter, Kathie at Water of Life, Plano TX per outro before ID. (Then T8WH switches to 9965; 9950 apparently replaces 9930, where it was no QRM to WRMI; why such a move?) WOR 1769 also confirmed at new time of Thu 2100, sufficient on WRMI 15770, and // 7570 JBA in noise level. Next: Fri 2130 WRMI 15770 & 7570 Sat 0630 HLR 7265-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio Sat 1430 HLR 7265-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio Sat 1930v WA0RCR 1860-AM Sun 0315v WA0RCR 1860-AM [last week started at 0328.5] Sun 2100 WRMI 15770 [NEW; also try 7570] Sun 2300 WRMI 11580 Mon 0300v WBCQ 5110v Area 51 Tue 1100 WRMI 9955 Wed 0630 HLR 7265-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio Wed 1315 WRMI 9955 Wed 1430 HLR 7265-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio Wed 2100 WBCQ 7490v Thu 0330 WRMI 9955 [or 1770 if ready in time] (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 5110-, April 9 at 0640, WBCQ must be back on air, and now with Overcomer at much later hour than previously, test? Not of course, entered unto online schedule. Presumably means Area 51 will be back here on weekends. 7490v, UT Friday April 10 at 0040, WBCQ with `The Next Chapter`, host talking about the ``Rukeyser Effect`` on the old `Wall Street Week` program and how it`s just about impossible for ordinary investors to beat the market system today. See the WBCQ sked entry: http://schedule.wbcq.com/main.php?fn=show_program&id=279 which claims it`s on an hour earlier at 23-24 UT Thursdays! And Rabbi Yaakov Spivak during this hour. Don`t know if an anomaly, mistake, or permanent change as unfortunately like many stations, the online sked is not perfectly accurate and up-to-date (yes, this is despite the correct EDT/UT shift of 4 hours difference). For more on `The Next Chapter` including transcripts and audio of all 68+ programs, see http://radioalexandria.net 5110 I also check around 0040 April 10, but can`t detect it. By 0055, there is a weak unreadable AM signal closer to 5109.0, so this WBCQ is apparently on the air. Allan has previously mentioned some Thursday- night programming on 5110, but it`s yet to appear in the Program Guide. Besides local line noise and other sources, there is heavy storm noise really degrading reception up to at least 13 MHz, the lightning area ranging from NW Louisiana to Chicago. 5109+, April 10 at 0540, Overcomer // 5890 WWCR but not synched with it. Very slightly on hi side of 5109, nowhere near nominal 5110. Only fair in storm noise crashes. Once again this WBCQ transmitter is on late at night, but TOM sked for it unknown. Is there any ``5110`` entry in either SW schedule at the Overcomer website? Of course not! 5109, April 10 at 0039, WBCQ is audible but weaker than before; by 0042 I can tell that it`s Brother Scare, // 7570 WRMI but not synch. At 0059, 5109 breaks for WBCQ ID, and back to BS. 7490 meanwhile has Allan Weiner Worldwide, without AW. At 0040 VG signal, someone talking about reviving the Kennedy Space Center, and TimTron appears to be the substitute host. Goes to music around 0056, not sure if a break or program over, but by 0108 it`s BS here, about one word behind 5109. Normally during AWWW starting at 0000 UT Saturdays, both 7490 and 5109 would be carrying him. Checked 9330 and 15420 just in case, and still no signals there. 5109 should also carry Area 51 on UT Saturdays, but this weekend`s schedule at http://www.worldmicroscope.com skips Friday night: On-air, April 11-12, 2015 All on WBCQ 5.110 MHz and http://www.splatterbox.us:5110 Saturday, April 11, 2015 [into UT Sunday] 7pm 2300 Radio Timtron Worldwide 9pm 0100 The Lumpy Gravy Radio Show 10pm 0200 Zombo In Your Brain Sunday, April 5, 2015 [into UT Monday] 7pm 2300 Church of the Subgenius Hour of Slack 8pm 0000 John Lightning/11L-RNI 11pm 0300 Glenn Hauser’s World of Radio 1768 1130pm 0330 Grits Radio 5110-CUSB, April 15 at 0529, Brother Scare on WBCQ, fair-good. Seems they are back on original transmitter as it`s carrier plus USB, not LSB, and slightly on the lo side, ex-weaker 5109-AM DSB, slightly on the lo side of that. Larry Will visiting UK confirms: ``As for 5110, as you have heard, Bro Scare has bought Monday through Fridays 7 pm to 3 am Eastern [M-F 2300-0700 Tue-Sat]. The transmitter is supposedly on full power but I think it needs some tuning that will have to wait for Tim to make time to visit. 5110 is back on the CUSB exciter as well and I already miss the full AM. Regards Lw`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. 9525, April 11 after 2130, just in case, I check out the frequency via UTwente, since WORLD OF RADIO appeared there via BULGARIA two weeks ago but not one week ago. And not this week either, no signal. Are Global 24 still on the air via WRMI? 11825, Sat April 11 at 2200, Brother Scare finished, WRMI ID, Global 24 ID, and into `Feature Story News` headlines, only three of them, including Russian and American are blasting off to space station. That was on March 27, so here we have ``olds`` from more than two weeks ago. I am checking out Global 24, since it`s been that long since there has been any new info on their website or Facebook, i.e. program schedule for March 28-30. http://about.global24radio.com/programming-325-330/ Still on the air, yes, but back to the routine of more and more old stuff, apparently automation playing out from archives lacking anything new. After the headlines, into `Upstate Radio Theater`, introducing oldtime radio shows, starting with ``Johnny Dollar`` episode from 11/26/61, ``The Mad Bomber Matter`` That`s exactly the same episode which was on the Global 24 schedule for March 28, but then it was at 23 UT on 5850. Previously on 11825 Sat at 2203-2400 was `The Rock Pile`. This fortnight `Pile` starts instead at 2303, after 3 minutes of outdated news including Boehner will travel to Israel later this month (March). Not sure it`s `The Rock Pile` since started right off with ``Jump`` then another familiar classic rock tune, finally 2311 intro (or midtro) as `The Rock Pile`. Not checked again until 0051, when `Blues Radio International` is very good. That matches the old sked, when it was at 0030; and likewise `Travel with Rick Steves` after 0100 at 0110 check, discussing Cuba. What about 5850? That`s what previously carried `Upstate Radio Theater` at 23-24 Sat. Today at 23 I at first think 5850 is not on, but it`s just too weak on the ATS-909 next to my noisy computer. Later at 2338 UT check outside, it`s `Democracy Now`, which is normally on M-F only at this time. Maybe it`s yesterday`s episode, about Cuba, but then it`s often about Cuba, and could be as old as the other shows. Global 24 chex via WRMI Sunday April 12: 11825 after 2300 with Jazz, so apparently `from the Left` 5850 after 2300, `Democracy Now`, like Saturday, this weekday-only program is replaying from unknown date (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 9395, Sunpower Radio, via WRMI, 2255-0000, apparently brokering typical religious programs, one ID did note using the facilities of WRMI. I am wondering if Globalpower 24 [sic] was deliberately set up to help attract an audience to this frequency with the idea it would then be replaced (3/31) (XM, Cedar Key, Florida, NRD525D, R8A, E5 via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) That is really too far-fetched, especially considering how poorly 9395 funxions overall. This should really be TruNews which is sub-selling time to fill up 24 hours, or a sub-name of some of its own programming like ``Radio Paradise``. 11580, UT Saturday April 11 at 0057, surprised to hear AWR Wavescan on this WRMI frequency, which had been and is still scheduled to carry R. Ukraine International daily at 0030-0100; not // 9955 yet, but at 0110 check they both air the same gospel huxter. 7570 & 15770, April 15 at 2126 check, Thaïs White in Spanish, presumably `Viva Miami` on WRMI, just confirming that these two frequencies are not split but still // (as they would be 24h later for WORLD OF RADIO). (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. MARE Don Hosmer checks in with the following story and photo from his recent trips to warmer climes: "Docked in Ft Lauderdale and toured the WRMI transmitter site on 4/05. Now back in Michigan. Came home to find a bear trashed my deer feeder in the backyard. At least, he left the antennas alone. LOL. "WRMI is the largest HF transmitter site in the western hemisphere. VOA Greenville has more antennas, but less xmtr's. They still use the old WRUL xmtr that started in Mass with the old R New York Worldwide in the 1960's. The antennas are strung on 66 towers over 160 acres with cows grazing the whole area. And they have a few gators that show up occasionally. Average electric bills is just over $40,000 a month depending on time broadcasted." (MARE Tipsheet April 10 via DXLD) ** U S A. 7505.3, April 10 at 0129 check, no sign of WRNO. 7505+, April 12 at 0113, WRNO continues AWOL as it has been for a few nights now (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 15825, April 10 at 2007, no signal, not even a JBA carrier from WWCR-1, which per current sked is supposed to run until 2200. It might have been propped-out, except 15610 WEWN is very good at the same distance, different angle; and so is 13845 WWCR. Before 0100 UT April 11, I do notice WWCR-1 present on 6115 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Listening to some very nice country music WTWW 5085. Hi, Since about 0430 GMT I've been listening to some VERY nice country music on WTWW, 5085KCs. OOPs, it just signed off at 0508 GMT. I was listening on the #2 Zenith Royal 7000 TransOceanic (I say #2 as that's my latest acquisition, complete and VERY nice, as opposed to my #1 that has missing front doors etc. Both play well.) It sure sounds good. Why is it that Country Music sounds better when listening to it on a shortwave station that fades as opposed to your local FM country station I can say that as I'm a country music fan and Country Gospel musician – 73 de (Phil, KO6BB Atchley, [UT April 12, or 13?] http://www.qsl.net/ko6bb/ (Web Page) PRESENT RADIOS: Grundigs: S-350 (~2006), G6 (2011) & S450DLX (2014). Icom: R-71A With 250Hz CW filter (~1986). Icom: R-75 With Cascaded 250 & 125Hz CW Filters. (~2008) Icom: IC-7200 Transceiver (~2015). Radio Shack: DX-380 digital portable (~1990). Zenith: (2x) Royal-7000 Transoceanic Portables (~1968, ~1972). ACCESSORIES: Homebrew LF-MF Pre-Amp, MFJ-993B HF Auto-Tuner. Homebrew 8 Hz Audio Filter. ANTENNAS: 88 foot Long Ladder-line fed dipole at 35 feet AGL. Active Mini-Whip at 36 Feet AGL for LF/MW. 37 foot "Low Noise Vertical" at 11 feet AGL for LF/MW/SW. Merced, Central California, 37, 18, 37N 120, 30, 6W CM97rh, SWL at qth.net via DXLD) There really is a psychological/emotional vibe attached to listening to country that way, similar to "listening to baseball fading in and out on a station hundreds of miles away" --- it speaks to something in the American spirit (Harvey Novack, 13 April, ibid.) 5085, April 15 at 0243, tune in to WTWW-2 with big hum, then discussion of ham radio equipment. This must be the ``Live ham radio show Amateur Radio Roundtable every Tues night at 8:00 PM central (0200 [sic] UTC Weds) on W5KUB.COM`` which was going to add WTWW 9930 from UT April 8 at 0100. So the first hour was on 9930? And how much longer on 5085? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. Noted this afternoon (14 April) on 11670 kHz at 2030 UT that Bro. Scare (to use Glenn's epithet) via WHRI is co- channel with AIR, ruining reception of the latter, which, without the co-channel interference, typically comes in very nicely on the east coast of Canada on this frequency. Doesn't the dear brother have enough frequencies that he doesn't need to QRM the pleasant music provided by AIR? And, heaven knows, there are enough clear frequencies for all these days. Thankfully, the interference is only for the one- hour 2000-2100 UT period (Richard Langley, NB, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Additional transmission of WHRI Angel 1 in English: 0900-1000 11565 HRI 250 kW / 245 deg AUS Sun-Fri, ex 0800-0900 A-14 1000-1100 11565 HRI 250 kW / 245 deg AUS Mon-Fri, additional txion 2000-2100 11775 HRI 250 kW / 047 deg WeEu Mon-Fri, additional txion 2100-2200 11775 HRI 250 kW / 047 deg WeEu Mon-Fri, additional txion http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2015/04/additional-transmissions-of-whri-angel.html (DX RE MIX NEWS #905 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, April 13, 2015 via DXLD) ??? BUT WHAT about Anguilla on 11775, until 2200? It`s been missing a lot lately, so has WHRI really usurped the frequency. Be sure which one is hearing before 22 (Glenn Hauser, OK DX LISTENING DIGEST) Later: neither (gh) ** U S A. 700, ALABAMA, WCNF, Dothan. 0759 April 5, 2015. Nonstop modern black gospel, no ID across hour, fair-poor under WLW. Clearly a violator, as this is a 1600 watt DA. Listed silent in the current NRC AM Log and with a former format, now "Praise 107-7" in reference to translator W299BX, Smyrna, AL which is just east of Dothan. Confirmed by paralleling to iHeartRADIO http://www.iheart.com/live/praise1077-6800/?autoplay=true Thanks NRC Member John Santosuosso for logging and sharing this one (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 720, April 14 at 1240 UT, half a sesquihour after sunrise here, I start scanning MW from the bottom to find what`s still skywaving: here in Spanish is `Trabajos`, quick call-ins offering day- jobs such as ``decking, stucco, yardero`` with phone numbers mostly in 210 area code. Bits of music interspersed. Obviously KSAH Universal City (San Antonio) TX (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 810, Georgia, WZYN Hahira, 1053-1102, country religious music, into news, full ID on the hour for WZYN Hahira, Valdosta, and a third town I did not catch, back into music, March 29; also heard March 27 at 1101-1104, with area weather, local ad, and religious country music, apparently owned by a Valdosta Baptist church, heard here once a year or two ago when using the call letters WTHV (XM, Cedar Key, Florida, NRD525D, R8A, E5 via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 850, FLORIDA, WFTL, West Palm Beach. 1057-1125 March 28, 2015. Board (bored?) op asleep at the wheel, if even present, with a 15-second spot for the Craftmatic Adjustable Bed and toll-free number continuously looping, and no top-of-hour ID. Finally and thankfully it stopped at 1125, into a long string of almost as boring national organization PSA's (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 930, TENNESSEE, WSEV, Sevierville. 1040 April 12, 2015. Female, "Hey there, welcome to the Great Smoky Mountains... 865-366- 1111..." within the very long looping tourist information. This one is surely violating their 5000/148 watt requirement, as so often heard here (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 960, April 12 at 0101 UT, local KGWA Enid is in another Fox- hole! I.e. dead air during Fox newscast which we often find at local midnite 0500-0505 UT. I`ve long suspected there could be others, but have better things to do than monitor KGWA constantly. Anyhow, I can now hear something clearly with it nulled: GEICO ad and back to a silly baseball game, batter being some guy Hernández (ergo a multi-millionaire), finished already at 0103 (strike out?), and ID as Rangers Radio Network. That`s all I need. See affiliate map/list at: http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/tex/download/y2015/radio_network.pdf showing the only 960 is KGKL San Angelo TX (which I also have often heard in the other Fox-hole with ABC News). The only other 960 in TX is KIMP, but not on the list, which it could have been as the Rangers do have a few Spanish affiliates too (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1010, FLORIDA, WHFS, Seffner. 1050 March 29, 2015. Another fine example of weekend sloppiness, with audio for WHFS and 99.5 FM WQYK (usually simulcast, but not at this Sunday hour) running at equal levels together. All abruptly stopped when net news came up at 1100. (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1160, FLORIDA, WEWC, Callihan. 1100 April 11, 2015. Mexi- bannads, male canned "La Raza 92-9 FM" at 1108. http://larazalaraza.com/jacksonville/ confirms, so this must be W225BI, Stockade, FL (just east of downtown Jacksonville). Yet another station that touts a puny FM translator as their primary channel, embarrassed at owning an Amer (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1500, April 12 at 0104 UT, with KSTP nulled, CBS News making SAH of about 3 Hz; 0105 right into NWS automaton with local weather for ``Denison and surrounding locations``. Some nostalgic music and full sign-off by KJIM, Sherman TX, with 1000 watts power, owner and address, ``now leave the air`` until 6 am with CBS News, and ``the best songs and memories on the radio``. Official April SS/SR for KJIM are 0100/1200 UT (May: 0115/1130), so they figure it`s OK to run 7 minutes over. As for 6 am = 1100 UT, that would be their 500-watt PSRA, which is valid only April thru July. FCC Correspondence shows KJIM also has a hefty PSSA of 5 or 6 watts during the first quarter-hour post-sunset in May-June-July only, then boost up to a thrice-as-hefty 16 watts for the rest of the two hours. Really? All other months, their PSSA power is 0.0 watts. My second- closest 1500, not new, but always nice to hear this good local station (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1530, April 15 at 0553 UT, seems there is a carrier vs Brother Scare on WCKY; first think it`s Colorado from the NW, but then with WCKY minimized, promo for ``24 hours on 100.9 FM and 1530 AM; 0558 UT listing upcoming Christian events in the Little Rock and Pine Bluff areas, so once again it`s 2.5 kW daytimer KVDW England AR, which apparently believes it`s OK to run the AM 24 hours as well as the FM translator. Seems a bit undermodulated, unless there really is also a CO carrier suppressing KVDW as well as overcoming The Overcomer (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. After hearing KOKC reactivated on 1520 but still announcing duplication on KEBC 1560 [see OKLAHOMA], I also try to match it, but April 10 at 0101 UT, 1560 is already dominated by some skywaving gospel huxter, looping slightly clockwise from N/S --- at first I think of KKAA Aberdeen SD, 10/10 kW U4 Family Radio, but more likely it`s closer and clockwiser Wilkins` KLNG Council Bluffs IA, 10 kW ND daytimer. Into a rendition of ``Deep River``, but gone by 0103 UT. Indeed, KLNG`s official April sunset is 0100 UT (May: 0130 UT) (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Revilatize [sic] AM Try K-High 1580 --- Hi all, Had to happen sooner or later… Check it out at http://letstalkpot.com/ All Pot all the time! 73 (Wayne Heinen, Editor AM Radio Log, April 15 WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: Contact Us 1580 K-High Offices: 5050 East Edison Ave Suite 218 Colorado Springs, CO 80915 719-591-1064 office 719-591-1163 fax For sales inquires contact: derek@socoradio.com Feel free to drop us a line! Fill out this easy form: (via DXLD) So that is a 100% replacement for ESPN 1580, 10000/140 watts U1 from a different address in The Springs? Call change too, ex-KREL? Unlikely a 5-letter call would be OKed even for such a groundbreaking innovation. Yes, it`s now KHIG, as of April 7, says FCC AM Query, owned by Pilgrim Communications – were they pottiful? Ex-KREL, ex-KKKK, ex-KWYD, ex- KPIK for Pike`s Peak (gh, WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DXLD) Glenn et al, Yes slogan is K-High, call is KHIG. Typical noisy signal in Aurora at midday. Tape ToH at http://www.wayneheinen.com/USA/CO/KHIG-1580.MP3 73 (Wayne Heinen, Editor AM Radio Log, NRC-AM via DXLD) All I have to say is: Hey man Dave's not here man..... 73 Best of DX (Shawn Axelrod, VE4DX1SMA, VEPC4SWL, Winnipeg MB, REMEMBER ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN HEAR FOREVER, ibid.) ** U S A [and non]. 1620, April 10 at 0558 UT, I find that R. Rebelde, CUBA is unusually dominant, but nulling it I hear some rock music past hourtop, later non-ID by YL as ``double-play on U-93``. Therefore it`s WDND South Bend IN, which, BION, AFAIK has never been logged here before (I don`t keep a master log, but searching out my archived log reports this century). NRC AM Log shows WDND relays FM 92.9 by that name, really WNDV. 1620 is normally occupied here by news/talker WTAW TX and sportster KOZN NE, if not Cuba. Where are they? At next hourtop 0659 UT, I do pull out a WTAW ID amid the QRM, so it`s still there (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1670, April 12 at 0527 UT, sports talk looping almost E/W, toward ENE/WSW, definitely not from NNE/SSW, which would be the usual occupant WOZN Madison WI. Besides, this IDs as Fox Sports Radio at 0530 UT and talk continues, while Madison is CBS Sports. Therefore it is either KNRO in Redding CA or WPLA Dry Branch (Macon) GA, both FSR affils. I must go with GA as far more likely here; too bad there was no echo signifying them both. Meanwhile northerly Madison is quite weakened, barely audible with this nulled (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1680, April 15 at 0546 UT, Thom Hartmann promoing his program on WPRR, 0547 UT back to the ``Grand Rapids studio`` referring to an AP story. At peak, signal about equal to musical KRJO Monroe LA, mutually nullable, fast SAH between them. Didn`t catch time for Thom, but WPRR sked shows weekdays 9 am [EDT = 1300 UT], ``Renaissance thinking about the issues of our day with host Thom Hartmann``, via that hotbed of liberalism, Ada/Grand Rapids MI. But as we`ve found before, the WPRR program list is outdated, while the date-by-date program grid is presumably accurate, showing something else at 9 am; instead, Thom at 1-2 pm EDT M-F [17-18 UT], and later a different title, so different show or really a repeat? `Big Picture with Thom Hartmann` at 1-2 am Tue-Sat [05-06 UT]. I guess it`s different, originally at 9 pm [01 UT], ``Hosted by Thom Hartmann, the nation`s leading progressive radio and television host, The Big Picture presents news, opinions and debates on all of the most important topics [that] affect the world and your life.`` Hmm, this should have been what I was hearing at 0546 UT. A few months ago we also used to run across Thom on Enid`s public access cable TV channel, with his arm in a sling. Here`s the current week`s program schedule, lots more good stuff: http://www.publicrealityradio.org/schedule and they do webcast, http://player.liquidcompass.net/p/WPRRAM (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 2660+, April 11 at 0103 UT, some music audible and slightly on the hi side, i.e. 2 x 1330 harmonic of KGLD Tyler TX. The 2 MHz band noise level is surprisingly low (see also CANADA), so I step thru the frequencies with offset BFO for possible other MW harmonics to pursue: JBA carriers on 2840, 2680, 2620, 2610, 2520, i.a. But some of these could be SW mixing products within the DX-398 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 99.1, April 10 at 0553 UT, Christian rock in $tereo with K- LOVE on the DX-398 RDS, not noticed here before. WTFDA FM Database shows no Okies on 99.1, so this must be Kansas: KTLI El Dorado, 100 kW at 188 meters. El Dorado is just NE of Wichita on the Turnpike (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Checking Yellowstone Public Radio webcast, Monday April 13 at 1700+ UT for listed `Mad About Music`, as we suspected that series has expired, and now really heard, starting late as usual at 1705, is `Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival`. But it`s not the new 2015 series of 2014 concerts. Schubert`s Quintet for Strings plays after a long interview about it, but no Schubert happens to appear anywhere on this year`s or last years`s listings for SFCMF from syndicator WFMT. Never mind: it`s great music and presented here in 81 kpbs stereo. Finally at program outro mentioned as the last performance in the 40th season of the Festival: Since 2015 is the 43rd season, this must have been from 2012! whose broadcast rights would seemingly have expired by now. We`ll see if YPR gets into the current series during this hour from next week? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Arts --- STAN FREBERG, MADCAP ADMAN AND SATIRIST, DIES AT 88 By DOUGLAS MARTIN APRIL 7, 2015 http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/08/arts/stan-freberg-88-madcap-adman-and-satirist-dies-at-88.html (via Robin Harwood, Tasmania, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DXLD) In case you missed it, Radio humorist, voice actor and ad creator Stan Freberg died. His Obit from the NY Times: http://tinyurl.com/stan-f-obit Another one of the 'good guys' has passed (MARE Tipsheet April 10 via DXLD) ** U S A. $15,000 Pirate Fine Escalated Radio World April 9, 2015 A day after FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly called pirate broadcasters a “scourge,” the FCC escalated a $15,000 fine against José Alejandro Aguilar for operating a pirate radio station in Louisville, Ky. The Enforcement Bureau’s Chicago Office first proposed the penalty against Aguilar in April 2014 for operating an unlicensed station on 87.5 and 99.5 MHz in Louisville. Following up on a complaint, an Enforcement Bureau agent traced the unauthorized signals on both frequencies coming from a rooftop antenna of a commercial building in July 2013. The building owner told the FCC that the tenants who leased the space and ran the station were “Radio Pasion 316.” Aguilar showed up while the agent was talking with the building owner, and admitted he operated the station without a license — twice — according to the bureau. The agent warned him to stop transmitting immediately. He didn’t respond to the Notice of Apparent Liability, said the bureau in its decision, so the fine has now progressed to a forfeiture. “The fact that Mr. Aguilar continued to operate the radio station notwithstanding the warning demonstrates a deliberate disregard for the commission’s authority and its rules, warranting a significant penalty.” Aguilar has 30 days to pay. If he doesn’t, the case may be turned over to the Justice Department for collection. O’Rielly proposed that a law used to fight email spammers be modified to allow broadcasters to go after pirates directly, which may entail getting Congress involved. http://www.radioworld.com/article/-pirate-fine-escalated/275494 (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U S A. PIRATES BEWARE. WE'RE STILL HUNTING YOU! Thursday, April 16, 2015 6:53 AM Radio Ink April 15, 2015 Addressing concerns that the FCC will soon cut back from 24 field offices to eight, Wheeler said it's the reality of the times and that the FCC has to do the same thing every broadcaster does, reassess how they do business. But he wanted to emphasize that this is not a "diminution of our pirate radio efforts." In fact, Wheeler says, with more agents in Miami and New York City, where the majority of the pirate radio stations are, there will be more boots on the ground. "When concerns arise elsewhere, flying teams will descend on that market. And, by the way, under the new plan, all FCC field staff will have electrical engineering backgrounds." Wheeler said it's been 20 years since the FCC assessed its field operations. "If you had a manager that only reviewed operations every 20 years, he or she would be a former employee. Things have changed in those 20 years. Twenty years ago FCC field staff were knocking on your door to inspect your files; today that information is electronic. Twenty years ago the FCC operated on the assumption that you would fail to keep your towers painted and lit; today we operate with an affirmative assumption and technology has changed the nature of tower inspection. I am used to people complaining about government inefficiencies. It is a new experience, however, to hear complaints to maintain the inefficiencies." Wheeler said the FCC has too many people whose role in the field has been changed by time. "Maintaining the business-as-usual activity, however, costs us (meaning you) almost $10 million a year. Keeping a person in so many field offices costs 2-4 times as much as if we had centralized field offices. http://www.radioink.com/Article.asp?id=2917353&spid=24698 (via Mike Terry, UK, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U S A. PIRATE RADIO STATION SHUT DOWN BY LINDEN POLICE New Jersey 101.5 By Toniann Antonelli April 15, 2015 http://nj1015.com/pirate-radio-station-shut-down-by-linden-police/ An illegal pirate radio station allegedly operating out of a home in Linden has been shut down by city police. Authorities pulled the plug on the station, after being contacted by Townsquare Media’s NJ 101.5 FM radio station on Monday. Officials from the station filed a complaint indicating that another station, broadcasting at 101.3 FM, was operating illegally. Their transmission was “making listening virtually impossible in Linden, New Jersey and the surrounding area,” Brand Manager Eric Johnson wrote in a letter to Linden Police Chief James Schulhafer. “The pirate is causing interference on our frequency from Colonia NJ north to Elizabeth, and from east to west from Cartaret to Westfield,” Johnson told the police chief. According to Johnson, interference from the pirate station led to numerous complaints from listeners of NJ 101.5 who were having trouble tuning in to hear the news, weather, traffic and current topics being discussed. The station conducted an initial investigation of it’s own and discovered that the transmission was likely coming from a home located at 406 East Baltimore Ave. in Linden. Station officials sent pictures of the home, with what appeared to be a very strong antenna on the roof. The pirate was broadcasting Haitian talk and music. New Jersey State law makes it illegal for anyone to operate a radio station without a license from the Federal Communications Commission. The fourth-degree crime can carry a fine of up to $10,000 as well as up to 18 months in prison. The law also makes it a separate offense for an unlicensed broadcaster to interfere with a legally-licensed station’s transmissions. Linden police have contacted the FCC as well as municipal code enforcement officials, who found the home violated zoning ordinances, according to NJ Advance Media. “Under the ordinances, the unidentified station operators would not be allowed to run a business in a residential area. The antenna, more than 20 feet high, also qualified as an illegal structure on the roof,” NJ Advance Media reported, adding that “police notified the homeowner of the complaint and said that summonses and fines would follow if the antenna stayed up and the station continued operating.” Johnson said Wednesday that he is grateful to the listeners who contacted NJ 101.5 to report the poor reception in the areas affected by the pirate station. “New Jersey 101.5 thanks our listeners for reporting the reception problems in Union County. They helped us pinpoint the pirate broadcasters location,” Johnson said. “The Linden Police were very responsive and acted quickly in shutting the illegal broadcaster down. We thank them on behalf of our listeners in Linden, Elizabeth, Carteret, Rahway and Clark who can now once again to listen to us clearly. Posted by: (Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** VANUATU [and non]. 7260, R Vanuatu, 0958 carrier 3 April, 1104+, two carriers here, one stronger than the other, CRI Xian and Vanuatu suspected 2 April (XM, Cedar Key, Florida, NRD525D, R8A, E5 via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VATICAN [non]. Some hours ago I have received this message from Mr. Sergio Salvatori, Frequency Management of Vatican Radio: "starting from tomorrow Wednesday 15th April 2015 the frequency of our Spanish at 11:30 UTC changes to 9610 kHz. The change from 9700 kHz is necessary to solve a co channel interference with a service of Radio New Zealand particularly annoying in the lower part of South America." He kindly ask to monitor this new frequency and report the reception conditions. The e-mail to send reports is gestfreq@vatiradio.va (Eduardo PEÑAILILLO Barra, Santiago, Chile, April 14, dxldyg via DXLD; also via Edward Insinger, DXLD) That would be via Greenville. I already pointed out on March 14 that this could be a problem, as in DXLD 15-11 -- isn`t Salvatore reading it? Now 9610 would conflict with KNLS registered in Chinese if it ever come back (Glenn Hauser, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA. R. Nacional de Venezuela is reported on the following new frequencies and networks: El Informativo: Barinas 580 kHz, Güigüe 650 kHz & Mérida 1560 kHz and Musical: Güigüe 1510 kHz. The following R. Venezuela network stations are reported off the air: Puerto Ordaz 880 kHz, Acarigua 960 kHz and Barquisimeto 990 kHz (WRTH National Radio update Uploaded 10 April 2015, via DXLD) ** VIETNAM. 12001.26 approx., April 12 at 1324, VOV is even further off-frequency from nominal 12000, in Chinese for a few more minutes. As other Frog owners will be familiar, when tuned to the upper end of the 11-12 MHz band, the Wadley Loop birdie on 12000 makes a het with anything like this; but when tuned to the lower end of the 12-13 MHz band, there is no such birdie/het. On my FRG-7, however, the lowest 100+ kHz of any MHz band are much less sensitive than the overlap up to +055 kHz when tuned at the top of the band below; needs alignment (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Checked VOV in 13-14 UT slot on April 13. 12000.980, Chinese registered, S=8-9 at 13.18 UT April 13. 12019.050, Malay or Indonesian ? section, S=9+10dB, TX at Son Tay site s-off at 1327 UT, azimuth curtain array masts changed from 177 degrees to English on 57 degr azi at 1330 UT. 9635.000, Even frequency outlet at 13.31 UT, S=9+20dB in Vietnamese, 9839.841, Noted S=8 signal, disturbed audio around 1340 UT April 13. (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIETNAM. Good Morning Viet Nam Revisited --- In 1988 a film came out starring the late Robin Williams based on Armed Forces Radio DJ Adrian Cronauer's experiences in Vietnam. Williams' performance in Good Morning Vietnam earned him an Oscar nomination. Tomark the 40th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, Adrian Cronauer tells the true story of his time in Vietnam and a history of the conflict that divided America. The programme includes powerful archive, the music he used to play, as well as memories from other Vietnam veterans. BBC Radio 2 - Monday 13 April 22:00 BST (21:00 GMT) http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05q4jsj Posted by: (Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) on demand later assumed (gh) ** VIRGIN ISLANDS U S. This message from mv-eko an Fredrik Dourén in Borlänge: ``1690 USVI is ON. Heard a few days ago here. Cheers Fredrik`` Best wishes (Barry :-) Davies, Carlisle UK, March 31, MWC yg via DXLD) WGIT Charlotte Amalie is reported active on 1690 kHz. Relaying WGOD-FM 97.9 MHz. http://wgodvi.org/ (WRTH National Radio update Uploaded 10 April 2015, via DXLD) ** YEMEN. SAUDI AIRSTRIKES HIT YEMEN'S RADIO, TV STATION TEHRAN (FNA)- Saudi fighter jets targeted Yemen's radio and TV station in the capital Sana'a on Monday, local sources said. According to reports, the Saudi warplanes continued their deadly attacks on Monday, and bombed Yemen's radio and TV station building in the capital Sana'a. Saudi Arabia started its unauthorized aerial bombardments on Yemen on March 26. The Saudi-led attacks have drawn international criticism after claiming the lives of at least 1,042 people, mostly women and children, and razing thousands of housing units to the ground. Also, more than 2,500 people have been injured during the attacks as the Saudi offensive enters its 19th consecutive day. Some western countries, including the US, have backed the Saudi aggression despite international calls for a swift halt to the attacks. Monday 13th April (via Steve Whitt, MWCircle yg via DXLD) So is 6135 heard any more? SW transmitter surely at some other location but might need a studio too (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** ZANZIBAR. 11735, Radio Zanzibar, 1926, good with Swahili man, East African and Arabic vocals. April 2nd (David Sharp, NSW, FT-950, NRD- 535D, R8, R30A, Timewave 599ZX, various Palstar and MFJ accessories, Quantum Phaser, various Sangean and Tecsun portables, EWE aerials; via Bob Wilkner, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 699.88, 0945 March 31, 2015. Checking for the reported Venezuelan on 700.5 variable, nothing at this monitored time; however someone else is on the low side, no audio coming through, and a very rough measurement but quite apparent when on WLW in LSB mode. I see Glenn Hauser reported some anomalies from likely Mexican(s) around 700 kHz recently (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 1020+, April 9 at 0647 UT, I`m getting a low audible het slightly on the hi side against nearby KOKP Perry OK; also some unreadable modulation even as to language. Never heard such a het before on it. Very rough DF is NE/SW, but when KOKP to the SE is nulled, I am mainly hearing KDKA as usual. There are no Mexicans in the north or west of the country, in deference to licensed 50/50 kW U4 KCKN Roswell NM --- could this be it? In reality it has been running greatly reduced power for a long time, and could also have drifted off-frequency. KMMQ, Spanish in Nebraska, has always been with a Hz or two of KOKP. Possibly one of the Illinois 1 kW daytimers. Not much else it could be except for KJJK in MN, 2000/370 watts U2 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 1320, April 14 at 1249 UT, ``107.9`` in English mentioned in QRM, soon losing to something in Spanish, and usual LAH caused I think by my closest, KCLI, Clinton OK. Eyeballing thru the NRC AM Log 1320 listings, I don`t find any translator or other // on 107.9 mentioned. So let`s search thru all the WTFDA FM Database 107.9 listings, whether there are any matches with a 1320 station? Yes! KELQ Flandreau SD with KELO 107.9 Sioux Falls. W300BL Manchester TN with ``Thunder 1320`` [WMSR]. Certainly KELQ would be the one audible here on SRS. I remember from TVDXing of KELO or some SD station, that Flandreau is pronounced Flan- drew. However, when hunting thru the NRC Log I noticed a 107.1, possibly misheard as 107.9? That would be KVMC 1320 Colorado City TX, // KAUM 107.1 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 1610, April 14 at 0530 UT, open carrier with hum loops NE/SW, a new TIS transmitter around here? Not strong but too much and too steady to be CHHA Toronto. Not there when rechecked after sunrise circa 1300 UT. Possibly a local device, but haven`t heard it on 1610 before (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Not heard again UNIDENTIFIED. 3460 LSB --- Buona notte a tutta la lista; in questo momento 23.19 (loc) 2119 (UT) sulla frequenza in oggetto, disco music s 7-9, nessun ID da oltre 30 minuti. 73 (Ivan Guerini, Iw2kbk, Swl I2- 5759 http://swl-i2-5759.blogspot.it/ April 14, bclnews.it yg via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 7730, unID (possibly SOH) 1420-1440 24 March, *1400+ 26 March. 1405-30+ 27 March. Very weak in Chinese, chat-style and between-chat sounders sound very much "SOH-ish", so possibly a different SOH programme than has been heard on 11530/500/470/430. Definitely not CNR1 and nothing but WRMI/RTI (Okeechobee) sked in Aoki here (Dan Sheedy, Moonlight Beach, CA, G5/PL606 + 6m X wire, via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) At quite other times (gh) UNIDENTIFIED. UNIDentified station with Arabic music on 9600: till 1116 on April 10 and till 1111 on April 15 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2015/04/unidentified-station-with-arabic-music.html -- 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, Equipment: Sony ICF-2001D 30 m. long wire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Re: ``11600.2, PIRATE? 2225–2229, 3.28.15, in English. Suddenly on at 2225 with weak music, man with unintelligible talk with few English words audible, country music, same man, start of a country gospel tune, then suddenly off mid song. From what I can tell the whole broadcast was in English. Poor. There was a Radio Free Asia broadcast via the Taiwan Sound of Hope transmitter scheduled for 2230 (unheard) on 11600.2, but I don’t think this had anything to do with that. I presume this was a pirate (Mark Taylor, Madison WI, NASWA Flashsheet March 29 via DXLD)`` From the MARE Log Summary: SWBC 11600.2 Pirate? relaying Country 107.3; EE, 2214* Oct (HF) (Harold Frodge, MI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 2014y? WTFDA FM Database gets two hits on that slogan: WRWD-FM 107.3 HIGHLAND NY 0.33 0.33 295.0 295.0 41.4158 74.0011 83CB WRWDFM Title/Artist on WRWD - COUNTRY 107.3 COUNTRY KOMS 107.3 POTEAU OK 100.0 100.0 576.9 576.9 34.5747 94.2231 BIG COUNTRY 107.3 CLASSIC COUNTRY (via gh, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 13561, Unknown beacon sending V1RGO/B; 1929, 2205, 8- Apr; good copy; 0004 9-Apr weaker. No such call in qrz.com; cutesy form of VIRGO? Can near in CW & USB, not in LSB. Not detected at 1458 9-Apr; copyable under swiper at 1929 9-Apr (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 125 ft. bow-tie; 85 ft. RW & 180 ft. center-fed RW, All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) Have been hearing a new(?) HIFER beacon around 13561 or 13562 kHz, sending V1RGO/B --- anyone know where this is? Searches so far fruitless including in this group archives. Tnx, (Glenn Hauser, April 13, UDXF yg via DXLD) April 13 2015, Northwest Nevada USA. In the USA it`s an ISM frequency and I`m hearing 24/7 all kinds of data/telemetry noise (Bill Allen, ibid.) So do I but careful tuning with BFO in the 13550-13570 band turns up some HIFER beacons, about six known ones so far, plus this (gh, ibid.) No significant replies, from the thousands of knowledgeable members in many specialities of utility DXing (gh, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 15510, 1420-1423* 1 Apr. Possibly a Babcock test. Eclectic short music pieces (classical, Caribbean, Hindi), "You're listening to a test transmission.." with email address for reception reports. 1357-1358* 2 Apr. Tail-end of same test recording (Dan Sheedy, Moonlight Beach, CA, G5/PL606 + 6m X wire, via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 17700.25-LSB, April 9 at 2104, 2-way in colloquial Spanish, I think, but very weak and sporadic, intruding, anyway into the exclusive 16m SWBC band (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 88.1, KAWZ translator 1455-1500+ 7 April. Christian Satellite Network station with clear KAWZ-Twin Falls ID at TOH--W9WI shows 2 KAWZ translators in Northern CA (Los Gatos, Napa) which are unlikely to get down here. Only 2 other "reasonable" prospects: K201AR in Banning, CA listed as translator for KSGN, perhaps has changed to KAWZ programming or the Alpine, CA application "981019TA" may be on (Dan Sheedy, Encinitas, CA stock FM radio in the Xterra, DX LISTENING DIGEST) CSN used to be Calvary Satellite Network (gh, DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ ACKNOWLEDGED ON WORLD OF RADIO 1769: Tnx to Martin H Gallas, IL, for a contribution via PayPal to woradio at yahoo.com TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED FUTURELY: Tnx to Will Martin, St Louis MO, for a generous check to P O Box 1684, Enid OK 73702 Happy Birthday Glenn. Thank you for the amazing work you do for the DX fraternity, you are truly "Mr DXing". 73s (Mike Terry, England) Happy Geburtstag - an: GH Hello Glenn, happy 70th birthday to you, sincere congratulation on the occasion of your birthday. Hope you'll enjoy that special day surrounded by some close friends, have a nice delicious meal on the restaurant too. All best wishes to you, for the coming year, especially power, activity, energy and good health condition, that you will always be able to fulfill your obligations also on our hobby background. Good luck in the years to come and best wishes to you. and 73s de (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc Germany with a Heidi greeting card) Time for me to join the crowd. Happy birthday, Glenn, and many many more! Very 73 de (Anne Fanelli in springy-at-last Elma NY) I'll tag along, too! Happy Birthday, Glenn! May your special day be filled with exotic DX catches and gifts of super selective and sensitive boatanchor radios that will fill your shelves with unlimited hours of DX'ing happiness! 73 & Good DX, (Steve Ponder, N5WBI, Houston, Texas USA, dxldyg) Dear Glenn, Let me sincerely congratulate you on your milestone birthday! Many happy returns of the day, lots of vital power and best of luck in your DX activities! 73 from (Kazan/RUS, Dmitry Mezin, DXLD) Birthday greetings on your 70th. I hope you had a good day with many many more to follow. Thanks too for all of your hard work, radio wise. Best 73 from (Noel Green, DXLD) May I wish you similar Birthday greetings, and the hope that you can continue your irreplaceable contributions to the radio hobby! Sincerely, (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, dxldyg) Happy Birthday, Glen Hauser! We've been listening to your program World of Radio since 1982. Before that, your DX reports on Radio Canada International's SWL Digest since 1978. Happy Birthday, Glen! - (Josh & J.K., dxldyg) As one who was not online over the weekend, let me extend belated birthday wishes to Glenn! I look forward to another year ahead of logs, news, and up to the minute information! cheers, (~Rick in Arizona :)))) Barton) All week celebration! Feliz cumple Glenn!!!! (Horacio Nigro, Montevideo, Uruguay) Happy Birthday Glenn. We share a common Birthday. On that day in 1945, It was my twelfth birthday and I remember how shocked my mother was when we heard the news of FDR's death. Again Happy Birthday (Charles Hinkle, DXLDyg) Charles, and I was five years only on that special April 12, 1945, but remember very well, that the 1st US army V. corps arrived my home street well in Germany, no fights at all on the streets anymore, only surrender, white flags and humility. Freed us from 5 years long lasting dangerous bombardments of the US/British/Canadian airforce bomber formations on so many nights. US army people carried with Studebaker lorries, the first Black US army serving people seen ever in my life, with beautiful white teeth, I will never forget, I've got sweeties, chocolates and chewing gum gifts from friendly people. 73 regards de (Wolfie df5sx) What a thing to look forward to (?) -- a birthday close to IRS day. All the same -- Hippo, birdie, two ewes; Hippo, birdie, two ewes-- .....Hippo, birdie, deer ewe..... Hippo, birdie, two ewes! (Clara Listensprechen, dxldyg) I am overwhelmed by all the kind notes spurred by this recent event. Thanks so much to everyone for the wishes! (Glenn) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ WORLD OF RADIO HITLIST UPDATE Hi, Glenn, My latest Hitlist update. http://www.w4uvh.net/hitlist.htm 1) New Zealand: RNZI - Very minor update relating to UT offset notation 2) Russia: Sputnik - removed link to obsolete VoR programme details 3) Russia: Sputnik - added link to FMWL old VoR archive of programs 4) UK BBCWS - added another link for program skeds (this one for actual daily prog skeds for each region, as opposed to the six-month overview skeds (which still haven't been updated for A-15) 5) USA: WHRI - Updated links (whr.org seems discontinued, and now served via lesea.com) Unless there's a major change anywhere, the next update will be end of April. Best wishes and 73 (Alan Roe, England, April 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) SW DATABASES Estimados colegas, Les incluyo las últimas SW databases de Eibi y Aoki, en el zip se encuentra El programa visualizador de las mismas (Eibi view), descompriman el zip el que hará una carpeta. Luego ejecutar el programa Eibiview30.exe y aparecerá la pantalla principal de Eibiview con las bases actualizadas https://mega.co.nz/#!1EdkGApa!WS26StbYt QXoCDhfnjlN3pNgs oXchqW7kbYFz7bVG MM [sic as received with 3 spaces in it ??] Cualquier duda, consulten. 73 (Enrique Wembagher, Argentina, April 12, condiglista yg via DXLD) LINX TO A-15 SCHEDULES in various forms have now been updated on the WOR homepage: http://www.worldofradio.com (Glenn Hauser, April 14, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) A-15 SHORTWAVE SCHEDULES including most of the international and domestic broadcasters, compiled by Ivo Ivanov, may be found in the Bulgarian DX Blog. Summer A-15 schedules now available on our blog. Please visit: http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/ (Ivo Ivanov, April 15, Posted by: Georgi Bancov, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) SEARCHING THE FCC WEBSITE Searching the FCC website can be extremely frustrating. I just found a couple of web pages that have numerous links to topics that may be of interest to the DX'er or broadcast historian. Broadcast Radio Links: http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/broadcast-radio-links Directory of Media Bureau Pages: http://www.fcc.gov/guides/directory-media-bureau-pages (Dennis Gibson, April 14, IRCA, ABDX via DXLD) NRC DX AUDIO SERVICE CLOSES Sadly I have to report that the National Radio Club's DX Audio Service for April 2015 - Issue 363 - is the last. Fred Vobbe and his team have run this monthly online and CD (previously tape) service for 30 years and I considered it wonderful value at $15 a year. It covered many aspects of radio all of which were fascinating. Fred announced a few months ago that he could no longer commit to the service, he asked if anyone in the club would come forward and take over from him but sadly no one did. Some feel the NRC board could have kept the service running but for reasons best known to themselves they didn't (DXAS subscribers will hear more about the possible reasons on this month's Service). So, a sad time, thank you, Fred and everyone involved, you will all be very much missed. 73s (Mike Terry, April 8, mwdx yg via DXLD) LANGUAGE LESSONS See also MEXICO: Naranjera, etc. ++++++++++++++++ Symbol Ø [Re 15-14, GERMANY, new Wetterdienst station, callsign DP07]: What is this symbol Ø in the callsign? It is not an ordinary zero, crossed, but appears to be the Scandinavian letter crossed-oh, not used in German (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1767, DXLD) Crossed symbol Ø is used in ham radio community since many decades, see various QSL cards print out, or ham radio contest log programs. Is used widely to distinguish "O" Oscar, by/of [from] "0" Ø-Zero. wolfy (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Wolfy, OK, yes I know about crossed zeroes, but in some fonts it is really a zero which displays as crossed and is oval in shape. This one on the fonts I see including your reply show the crossed O is circular, so really a letter, not a number. 73, (Glenn to wolfy, ibid.) PORTUGUESE ORTHOGRAPHY Re: 5035.05, R. Educação Rural, Coari AM, 2236-2250, 26/3, canções, anúncio da freqüência, informações da hora, ao que se seguiu rubrica de mensagens de ouvintes; 34432, QRM da R. Aparecida (Carlos L R de Assunção Gonçalves, Portugal HF logs March 26-31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, See http://www.ciberduvidas.com/pergunta.php?id=29127 about the use of the "trema", diaeresis. Altough the use of the diaeresis was abolished (in 1945), I feel it shouldn't because it's an easy means to quickly know how a word should be read, otherwise one either knows it or is able to check it on a proper dictionary. See http://www.portaldalinguaportuguesa.org/index.php?action=acordo&version=1945 and then click on *Decreto-Lei n.º 32/73*; you'll find out yet another case I feel is wrong which is why I still write "agradàvelmente" instead of "agradável", for instance. _________________ Re: UNIDENTIFIED. Alguem tem idéia sobre uma tx em 7535 kHz, com programação musical estou ouvindo ela neste momento 1006 UT, sinais forte qdo aponto a loop para o Norte, somente musica continuamente, o operador deve ser fã do Zé Ramalho pois cada 2 musicas uma é do Zé (Dinan Rogerio, PU2UIB/PY2162SWL, Iracemapolis SP, April 7, radioescutas yg via DXLD) "Idéia", "Coréia" are mere Brazilian twists of the language, like in "Vietnã" or "Irã", instead of Vietname, Irão. "Canadense" instead of "canadiano" is also common down there while we prefer the latter, but in this case both coexist (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) LIST OF LANGUAGES Glenn, please forgive me for bothering you so much. I can’t find my way around these damned web sites. Adventist World Radio, I tried awr.org What I am looking for is just a list of all the languages. I can’t find one. I clicked on a couple of likely sounding links, but, they don’t make any sense. Radio beyond Australia, I have not heard you give their web site. Again, I wish I could just get a list of languages. radiohc.cu --- I can’t find a link for live audio streaming. I have tried searching for any likely Spanish term. There used to be a “button,” which would give you a sort of pod cast in Spanish. I used this to record for Carrie, who is diligently studying Spanish. Since about February, it was just repeating the same program. Now that same button seems to take you to faceBook. None of the people who help me know enough Spanish to make any sense of the screen. Any help with these three issues would be appreciated. At the same time, please don’t feel you have to use up too much of your time. best, (Tim Hendel, AL, [who is blind], to gh, via DXLD) Tim, Here`a pdf of the full schedule of AWR. It`s organized by regions from an accompanying map, the first letter on each line. And showing all the languages. http://www.awr.org/client_data/schedule/current.pdf Here`s the full current pdf program schedule grid of RBA: http://www.reachbeyond.org.au/site/DefaultSite/filesystem/documents/publications/Reach%20Beyond%20Australia%20A15%20Program%20Schedule.pdf language is in parentheses, italic, after each program title but they are 3-letter abbreviations, and some obscure ones may not be obvious. Stations participating in HFCC have their schedules in standardized format. Here is RBA --- called HCA for HCJB Australia: http://www.hfcc.org/data/schedbybrc.php?seas=A15&broadc=HCA In this case there is one column in the middle headed language --- but again they are all indicated by 3-letter abbreviations. These abbreviations can be looked up here: http://www.eibispace.de/dx/README.TXT The applicable ones are in the column on the far right between brackets []. In many cases the letters bear no relation to the language name, at least not the name we know it by in English, e.g. [hye] for Armenian. The abbreviations in Caps at the left of each entry are the mostly different more sensible abbreviations which Eibi uses for the languages in his listings. This is supposedly a link to RHC live, but I don`t get it to work either: http://media.enet.cu/radiohabanacuba With RHC, you hardly need anything but SW to hear and record it, no? Carrie could pick it up herself, too. There must be better SW stations in Spanish as to program content. Another reference you might find useful will be the free A-15 pdf update of the WRTH (not out yet, but soon). In that you could look up any language as used by SW stations. Here`s the one from almost a year ago if you want to try it out: http://www.wrth.com/files/WRTH2014IntRadioSuppl2_A14Schedules.pdf Hope that helps. 73, (Glenn to Tim via DXLD) WORLD OF HOROLOGY +++++++++++++++++ ELT Hi Glenn. I've seen it before, and googled for it, but I can't seem to find what the acronym ELT stands for. I assume it means the same thing as EST, but I can't find anything that confirms that. So, what does ELT stand for? Thanks! (Stan, April 10, WTFDA mwdx gg via DXLD) Eastern local time? Just a guess (Mike Bugaj, Enfield, CT, ibid.) Yes, ``Eastern Local Time``, which I consider an abomination, both in name and concept, but I have to deal with it as long as I am involved with ``traditional`` domestic MW DX reporting. Instead of logs being reported in a constant real time, such as UT, ELT means EDT whenever and wherever UT -4 is in effect, and EST whenever and wherever UT -5 is in effect. (Never mind that neither EST nor EDT applies anywhere outside the `Eastern` zone of North America.) No, that isn`t exactly right. Now it so happens that there are no states or provinces in Eastern which opt out of EDT, but there used to be, such as parts of Indiana, Michigan, and I believe even so DXers hearing stations in those states (or residing in those states?) still were forced to report in EDT = UT -4. What a mess, when it would be and would have been so simple to make UT Universal. 73, (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) THE TINY TRAP [non] See also SEALAND! +++++++++++++++++++ MICRONATIONS Glenn, Read this pair of AP articles in today’s local paper and thought you would enjoy them: ITTY, BITTY (FAKE) NATIONS AIM TO BE BETTER, SHOW OFF CAPES http://www.newsobserver.com/news/nation-world/world/article18084236.html A LOOK AT THE ITTY BITTY NATIONS COMING TO MICROCON 2015 http://www.newsobserver.com/news/nation-world/national/article18053471.html Sample text: The largest gathering of world leaders this side of the United Nations is convening Saturday at a decidedly less glamorous edifice: the Anaheim Central Library down the street from Disneyland. No one will be representing the United States, Great Britain or China, but you may catch a glimpse of the president of Molossia, decked out in a beribboned, full-dress uniform that would be the envy of any Third World dictator. There he'll be hobnobbing with kings, queens, dukes and barons from places like Slabovia, Westarctica, Vikesland and Broslavia. The occasion is MicroCon 2015, what organizers say is the first North American gathering of micronations, those itty bitty countries that pretty much nobody but the people who rule them believe really exist (via Jay Novello, NC, DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- IBOC +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ AM ALL-DIGITAL FIELD DRIVE TESTS COMPLETE by Leslie Stimson on 04.13.2015 NAB Labs has been conducting field tests, lab tests and allocation studies related to all-digital AM HD Radio transmission and reception. The goal is to understand the effect that all-digital AM transmission may have on the FCC’s current rules, according to NAB Senior Director of Advanced Engineering David Layer, should the industry decide to ask the commission to authorize all-digital AM HD Radio transmission. Field driving tests for nine stations are now complete. The big takeaways are that the coverage of the all-digital AM signal “greatly exceeds” the hybrid AM HD Radio signal, said Layer. The all- digital AM HD Radio signal is also more robust than its hybrid counterpart. NAB Labs also learned during the field tests that coverage is “highly dependent on co- and adjacent-channel interference” and nighttime performance “is an issue,” and needs to be investigated more thoroughly, according to Layer. “It’s unlikely a broadcaster would want to turn their analog off at night and replace it with this,” he said. We’ve reported if the FCC authorized all-digital AM transmission, it would probably be for daytime use first. Co-channel testing should be wrapped up in a couple of months and he hopes to present that material at the NAB Radio Show. See more at: http://www.radioworld.com/article/am-all-digital-field-drive-tests-complete/275551 (via Dennis Gibson, ABDX via DXLD) DEFAULT CHASING HD DECODE ON AM STATIONS I recently added a new twist to my old AM DXing hobby. Since many AM stations are using IBOC HD, it's interesting to see how many digital HD decodes I can receive, both during the day and at night. Some AM stations turn off their IBOC at night, but others don't - opening the way for some cool digital catches. Last night, caught WHAM 1180 in Rochester (about 200 miles) in digital just before they went into their night pattern. On daytime ground wave, I can always decode WTIC 1080 Hartford, and WCBS 880 New York. WELI 960 New Haven reduces power so much at night, that the HD is unlistenable with all the skywave interference. The radio is Sony AM/FM HD receiver, connected to a 180-foot long wire and fed through a Vectronics pre-selector (Pete Miller, Prospect, Connecticut FN31mm, April 13, WTFDA Forum via DXLD) My best skywave AM HD decode was 700 WLW a few years back at about 560 miles. I have a [flip phone quality video clip on Youtube] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNPqQj6Wdx4 Besides skywave fading in and out, stations on adjacent channels usually hinder HD locks via skywave. During the time 690 Montreal was off air it wasn't too difficult to get WLW to lock for a few seconds when skywave was good. DX Radios: Sony XDR-F1HD Sony XDR-S10HDiP Tecsun PL-390 (Spunker 88, 25MI SE Watertown, NY, April 13, ibid.) Best I've managed is a flashing "HD" indicator on a few skywave stations. I'm too far from the midwest/northeast skywave coverage areas and too close to Cuba's interference-plex. Even on groundwave I've only managed a brief lock on WDAE 620 in Tampa. For it and a few other stations I can trigger the flashing "HD" at least. One Fort Myers station used to run IBOC, but turned it off before I got my HD radio. ( :: Ryan Grabow :: egrabow.com/dx :: facebook.com/egrabow440 :: youtube.com/user/egrabow440 Fort Myers FL, ibid.) Same here. This is as close to skywave "HD lock" as I ever got: http://forums.wtfda.org/showthread.p...highlight=vzbr True, I oughta try WDAE 620 --- but there is a Cuban Rebelde giving it problems here (22 miles or so NW of Miami). I have had HD flashes on 700 & 1160 (WLW & KSL respectively, I would have to assume), but I think I'd be wasting my time trying to get a lock. FWIW, the only HD AM here now is WSUA 1260, and it runs HD 24 hours. cd (Chris Dunne, Pembroke Pines FL, ibid.) Two more new AM HD decodes last evening - WOR 710 in NYC and WBZ 1030 in Boston. I think if I monitor WGY 810 in Schnecedy [sic] (NY) long enough, I'll get a decode. Strong signal and the HD icon is flashing all the time (Pete Miller, Prospect CT, April 15, ibid.) I have found the best time to decode WBZ 1030 in HD is about 1 hour before sunset or so. At that time, WBZ'S IBOC hash starts destroying KDKA-1020 signal which is 60 miles west of me (Bill58, Johnstown PA, ibid.) DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DRM See ERITREA; GERMANY; NIGERIA; OMAN ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DTV See also CANADA; CUBA; MEXICO ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ QUESTION: CABLE NETS OVER AIR IN THE 90'S? I was browsing through Jeff Kadet's very impressive logbook online at http://www.oldtvguides.com/DXPhotos/TVDXLOG_CH-STATE.xls and one of the things that popped out at me was a number of major cable networks listed as programming for UHF translators, usually clusters of them in small out-of-the-way towns. I also remember seeing listings like that in the WTFDA TV Station Guide years back. Here are the ones Jeff reported: Name: CableOverAir.png Views: 36 Size: 95.8 KB Most surprising is the Spice Channel free-to-air in Iowa Falls! Did kids just flip around the dial and see that? So I assume these towns didn't have cable service and came to some agreement with the networks? It doesn't seem like something that would be done today. The only one I remember was MTV2, after it replaced The Box. I don't think any of those converted to digital. Does anybody remember seeing these translators or know what the story was behind them? ( :: Ryan Grabow :: egrabow.com/dx :: facebook.com/egrabow440 :: youtube.com/user/egrabow440 Fort Myers FL, April 9, WTFDA Forum via DXLD) The system in Alexandria, Minnesota is still operating. http://selectivetv.org/channel-line-up/ and is digital. I think the one channel that's still analog belongs to KSTP. I'm not entirely sure the Granite Falls system isn't also still operating. http://www.mvtvwireless.com/our-products/digital-tv-service/ It's not entirely clear how these channels are being delivered. I think some of these were scrambled. Note that K19DX shows the comment "Not STV" indicating it wasn't scrambled -- presumably the rest were? (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66 http://www.w9wi.com ibid.) Re: Alexandria MN: correct, it`s almost all digital. The one analog station (18) is owned by Selective TV. The reason they carry it is because KSAX tower is 26 miles down the road. Granite falls: They are all scrambled. I have a relative in that area and there is no free OTA from that (they own 12 stations there). The PBS and ABC can be had but not locally Canada has some too Fort St James, BC http://fsjtv.ca/TV.html Logan Lake, BC http://lltvs.com/pdf/Channel_List.pdf (toyinduluth, ibid.) Going back to the Alexandria setup (I stop at Fleet Farm on the way to my uncle`s and scan the TV's there to see if anything is new) they use to have "legit" cable stations; but dropped them due to $$ and the way the stations were beamed up on satellite 2001 (networks removed for sake of showing the cable offerings) 16 K16CO Alexandria TV Land 18 K18DG Alexandria GoodLife TV 32 K32EB Alexandria CBC North 50 K50DB Alexandria Weather Ch. 52 K52DZ Alexandria History 55 K55DI Alexandria FamilyNet 58 K58DS Alexandria Discovery 60 K60EJ Alexandria All News Ch. 62 K62AU Alexandria Odyssey 65 K65HD Alexandria C-SPAN in 07 21 CBC 32 FAMILY NET 34 RFDTV 47 DISCOVERY 50 WX 51 HALLMARK 52 HISTORY 55 GAC 58 MSNBC 62 C-SPAN 67 OUTDOOR (toyinduluth, ibid.) Yes, many of the systems were scrambled. Duncan, Arizona, used to have one of these systems. It had some stations from the Tucson and Phoenix markets plus a few cable networks. The system was an offshoot of the local electric co-op. And yes, they were scrambled: in the Duncan case, 39 was a premium channel and had extra scrambling. The only stations that weren't in this system were translators for KUAT and TBN. The KUAT translator is the only remaining broadcast TV station there and was converted to digital by the University of Arizona. KVOA might have at one point owned a Duncan translator and it once had a string of them stretching from Sierra Vista to Snowflake (almost all of that area in the Phoenix market but historically claimed by Tucson stations). In 2001, the Duncan system had these channels: 17: TBN 23: KUAT 33: KTVW 35: CNN 39: Showtime 41: KASW 43: KVOA 47: KTVK 49: KSAZ 51: ESPN 53: KPHO 55: WGN 57: TBS 65: KUTP 67: TNN 69: KGUN Apparently the area also received KOVT, the KOAT-TV relay in Silver City (then full-power; Hearst replaced it with an LPTV in recent years so as to not have to maintain a physical public file there). By June 2009 the service had been pared down significantly: 02 silent 07 silent 11 silent 17 TBN* 20 KUAT* 33 KTVW 35 silent 39 silent 41 KASW 43 KVOA* 45 KUTP 47 KTVK 49 KSAZ 51 silent 53 KPHO 55 KUAT 57 ARTS via satellite 65 KGUN 67 KMSB 69 KOBG The service changed slightly the next month and added KOVT, and it slid some channel assignments down. It also had TNT at one point. The need for such systems was greatly reduced with satellite, and then the technology became obsolete. It was gone by 2010 (the cable networks faded away first) and the remaining licenses were canceled in 2014. Almost all of the information here was compiled by David Hettesheimer (dhett) (Radio Discussions/Radio-Info) in his monthly Arizona TV Stations Update posts. As to the actual scrambling, he noted, "The signals have minimal scrambling - you can pick them up on a portable TV, but there's no sound, and it's like watching a negative image. In addition, they also scramble some of the local stations - IIRC, ch. 49 which translates KSAZ 10 Phoenix is also "scrambled". I would imagine that they pick up the non-local signals via satellite." These "wireless cable" systems were a semi-big deal and an intriguing target for DXers. Page through the older VUDs and you'll find references to them (Raymie Humbert, AZ, ibid.) I remember seeing some of the strange stuff out of Duncan AZ as I was traveling thru the area many years ago (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I thought about them being scrambled and told myself "nah!" It's a testament to how hardcore a DXer Jeff was that he IDed scrambled cable nets. Must be borderline impossible when the signal is weak. But the "normal audio" notes make since now (Ryan Grabow, FL, April 9, WTFDA Forum via DXLD) Consider that a lot of the pictures look like negatives. Here are some of the better examples from his analog image library. The cable systems, in order, are Iowa Falls, Columbus NE, Austin MN, and Little Falls MN: In Alexandria one of the TV stations had The Weather Channel, complete with an ancient Weather STAR system (a 4000). http://www.northpine.com/broadcast/captures/mn/k50db.html (Raymie, AZ, ibid.) So Granite Falls is indeed still being transmitted on UHF LPTVs. The website indicated they were scrambled but wasn't clear whether they were still transmitted on UHF or on some microwave service (Doug Smith, April 10, ibid.) Many years ago (late 70s? early 80s?) Philly had a channel 57 OTA, scrambled, pay service. I believe it was called, "WHT." It used a set- top box descrambler connected to a little UHF Yagi aimed at Philly. I may have one of those boxes buried out in the shed. I see if I can dig it out and take a picture of it. 73, (Ed NN2E, Otis KY, Owner / Operator - Murphy's Law Test Site & Thunderstorm Proving Grounds, ibid.) Quote Originally Posted by Raymie: In Alexandria one of the TV stations had The Weather Channel, complete with an ancient Weather STAR system (a 4000). They still did as of maybe 4 months ago (toyinduluth, ibid.) Quote Originally Posted by w9wi: So Granite Falls is indeed still being transmitted on UHF LPTVs. The website indicated they were scrambled but wasn't clear whether they were still transmitted on UHF or on some microwave service. It`s UHF. A tvfool report for GF http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3df1f0b9d8e50ef0 (toyinduluth, ibid.) UHF subscription television stations were common (similar type of equipment) in the early 80s in major markets, as some of these areas lacked cable. You're thinking of two stations with one stroke: 67 New York ("WHT") and 57 Philadelphia (which broadcast the local premium cable channel PRISM after running SelecTV 1981-83). Chicago at one point had multiple; while 66 "Spectrum" folded up, 44 "ON-TV" lasted into 1985. Boston (27, 68), Detroit (20, 31), Phoenix (15), LA (22, 52), DC/Baltimore (50/54), St. Louis (30), Cleveland (61), Dallas (33 and 27), etc. The most common scrambler was SSAVI by Zenith, but that was defeated relatively easily. It was the entrance of cable into these areas and the continuing piracy problems that marked the end for these services (Raymie Humbert, ibid.) Also there's a list of channels available. http://www.mvtvwireless.com/our-products/digital-tv-service/ Some channels require the "Expanded" STB and I have to wonder if they are using MPEG-4 compression and/or ATSC A/70 encrypted DTV standards. These are the multiplexes on the system: 2.x: KTCA 10.x: KWCM (this is not part of the system) 14.x: MVTV Channel, WCCO and five cable channels 16.x: HSN, KSTP, KARE and its weather subchannel 21.x: QVC, KSTC, some diginets, Hallmark and ESPN 22.1: AMGTV (odd that this is the only thing on the 22 multiplex) 24.x: ShopHQ, Fox Sports North, BTN, Weather Channel 29.1: BIZ TV 32.x: TBN but only three services 40.x: EWTN, CW, GRIT, FX and three Discovery networks 41.x: NASA TV, KMSP, WFTC, Fox Sports 1 49.x: Various cable channels. It's worth noting that only a couple of stations on each mux are available with the "Basic" box. Only one or two on the 14, 21, 24, 40 and 49 muxes are available in "Basic". I'm reminded of what Azteca did with HiTV, a failed service that used the bandwidth of its two (or three) stations in Mexico City, Toluca and Guadalajara to broadcast about 20 channels total and also used MPEG-4. It fell apart because the SCT ruled that they could not broadcast a pay service over a regular broadcast TV concession (Raymie Humbert, ibid.) So how do DXers ID these translators without decoding equipment? Does PSIP still work or is it necessary to use a tool like TSReader? (Ryan Grabow, FL, ibid.) They are definitely ATSC television services, and if they are using A/70 then they do need PSIP. (Page 25) http://atsc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Conditional-Access-System-for-Terrestrial-Broadcast.pdf This is the STB they use. http://www.mvtvwireless.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/MVTV-Set-Top-Guide-2014.pdf It combines reception of normal ATSC signals with A/70 conditional access support. And yes, the box (this is probably the recent box) supports MPEG-4. Are A/70 and A/72 (MPEG-4) even approved by the FCC for use in the US? (Raymie Humbert, AZ, ibid.) Apparently not. The four ATSC standards specified in the FCC regulations: A/52 (AC-3 audio) A/53 (the main ATSC standard) A/65 (PSIP) A/85 (audio level control - "CALM Act") A/54 and A/69 are recommended practices for implementing the rest of ATSC - they aren't part of the rules but are mentioned in the rules. That said, the rules for subscription services allow for any scrambling method that meets FCC approval after passing certain technical tests. The rules were written for *analog* scrambling methods but I suspect A/70 would pass the technical tests. And... These are LPTV stations. 73.682, the regulation which lists which ATSC standards must be observed, **does not appear** in the list of full- power regulations that are applied to LPTV stations. The way I read that, any transmission standard that complies with 74.735, .736, .750, .751, and .761 is legal for LPTVs. (remember, I am an engineer, not a lawyer, and could be very wrong!) The way I read those regulations, A/70 and A/72 would in fact be acceptable for use by LPTVs. ===================== The old analog scrambling system involved mixing the video with a sine wave signal of fixed frequency (I think the same as horizontal sweep) and occasionally varied phase. As noted, it didn't really scramble things very well. Some stations transmitted the audio on a subcarrier (like SCA for FM), others just carried it in the clear. It wasn't particularly difficult to build your own descrambler - and if there were R-rated things going on, you could usually figure it out even if you didn't have a descrambler. I'm sure A/70 is a LOT more effective! (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66 http://www.w9wi.com ibid.) These have to be the only stations in the US using either standard then. There's not a lot of A/72-compatible TV equipment floating around (at least in the US - I know some is in the Mexican market but even then A/53 is the minimum required for TVs, all stations must broadcast at least one channel in MPEG-2, and if you tune an MPEG-4 channel on MPEG-2 equipment you get audio only). (Raymie Humbert, AZ, April 11, ibid.) Found the box... Name: Pictures_015.jpg Views: 22 Size: 57.7 KB ... it appears to have a 1982 date-code on the back. ...and a little history to go with it... http://www.broadcastpioneers.com/bp4/channel57.html 73, (Ed NN2E, Otis KY, ibid.) Wow, that's an impressive photo. Interesting to see the ONTV logo on it even though the ONTV name was not used in Philadelphia (Raymie, ibid.) And that (audio only when tuning an MPEG-4 channel on MPEG-2 equipment) also occasionally happens with satellite feeds... My gut feeling is we're going to see more MPEG-4 compatible equipment. MPEG-4 is part of DVB-T2, increasingly used in Europe. A quick look at the chips available suggests the RF tuner, demodulator, and decoder are three separate chips -- so a North American standard design could add MPEG-4 by simply using a decoder chip that supports it -- the RF tuner and 8VSB demodulator would be unchanged (Doug Smith W9WI, ibid.) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ QUIET TRANSFORMER STYLE POWER SUPPLY/CHARGER FOR TECSUN PL-880 Just an FYI === I bought a transformer type power supply/charger for my Tecsun PL-880. I got it from C. Crane for only $9.95 and it's called the CC Witness Plus AC adapter. It makes no noise whatsoever when listening to a radio station. It's a high quality power supply made in South Korea. As everyone is aware the Tecsun 5 volt switching power supply makes so much noise you can't use it when you want to listen to a radio station. BTW I got very good customer service from C. Crane. And for that matter also from the Anon company that I bought my Tecsun PL-880 from in Hong Kong, China. For $149.99 I got the black matte colored receiver, an upgraded high quality protective case, the 5 volt switching power supply and USB cable and two 5 volt lithium batteries. I took the free shipping option and it took 5 days to get the package here in Lakeland, FL. Recently I also bought a rare hard to find Grove TUN4A preselector / tuner on eBay. It allows me to hook up my amateur radio antennas with no intermod / overloading problems. The antennas are a 300 foot long horizontal loop up at 35 feet and a 129 foot long inverted L with a 60 foot vertical section. The loop is fed with 300 ohm window line to a Comtek BAL-41130T 4:1 BALUN and then RG-8X to the preselector/tuner. The inverted L is fed with 80 feet of RG-213U coax to the preselector/tuner. My main receiver for SWLing is a Kenwood TS-590SG. It has an astounding receiver in it on LW, MW and SW. Surprisingly the Tecsun PL-880 hears almost everything that the TS-590SG does. The limiting factor is noise as the Tecsun has no noise blanker. The only negative for me is that the Tecsun PL-880 can't be used with an external receive antenna on LW and MW, really stupid. My Sangean ATS-909X can. But having said that the Tecsun PL-880 is pretty sensitive on MW and if I need more signal input I use the Tecsun AN- 200. Surprisingly it works better than the Select A Tenna loop. Take Care, (Thomas F. Giella W4HM, Lakeland, FL, USA, SWL Since 1965, April 9, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) BIGWHOOP: GLOBAL SPECTRUM MONITORING NETWORK WITH RTL-SDR DONGLES. http://www.rtl-sdr.com/bigwhoop-global-spectrum-monitoring-network-with-rtl-sdr-dongles/ The American space agency NASA runs a yearly challenge called the “International Space Apps Challenge”. The challenge encourages global collaboration in solving several space and Earth related problems. This year one of the challengers is creating a system called the “BigWhoop” https://2015.spaceappschallenge.org/project/bigwhoop-global-spectrum-monitoring/ which will be a global networked system of radio receivers that will be used to continuously monitor the radio spectrum. They write: [BigWhoop] is a full system for collecting data from small radio- receivers measuring everything within the radio spectrum around the world. BigWhoop schedules the monitoring, the collection of data via the internet, the database handling and the final analysis as well as visualization. As well as being able to constantly track aircraft through ADS-B signals, they write that BigWhoop will have the following other applications: We can detect places of high spectrum activities such as radio towers and tell you, when a new music channel starts its broadcast service. Or we can find sweet spots of radio silence where radio telescopes can be placed and listen to weak cosmic radio sources, that would have been drowned in man-made radio noise otherwise. The BigWhoop code is still in “pre-alpha”, but they are currently asking for volunteer testers with RTL-SDR dongles. https://github.com/aerospaceresearch/dgsn_bigwhoop Recently we also posted about some similar networked radio projects. One called ThumbNet http://www.rtl-sdr.com/thumbnet-a-low-cost-satellite-groundstation-network-using-modified-rtl-sdrs/ which has a greater emphasis on education and promotion of the sciences, and another called SatNOGs http://www.rtl-sdr.com/the-satnogs-story/ which focuses on the receiving and global networking of satellite communications. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnamC7pU1Ok More videos can be found here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnamC7pU1Ok&list=PL-lXf3kTWgqzmuL1gUb1QfBmIw6BnqXCw The post BigWhoop: Global Spectrum Monitoring Network with RTL-SDR Dongles http://www.rtl-sdr.com/bigwhoop-global-spectrum-monitoring-network-with-rtl-sdr-dongles/ appeared first on http://www.rtl-sdr.com/ 73 (via Horacio Nigro, Montevideo, Uruguay, April 12, dxldyg via DXLD) FCC COMMISH TALKS THE TALK OF AM REVITALIZATION (?) The current edition of the online industry talk-radio journal Talkers Magazine http://www.talkers.com/ mentions FCC Chair Tom Wheeler writing in a blog post about being “committed to taking action --- so that AM radio will flourish.” He says he’ll conclude the “open item” on AM technical issues “in the coming weeks with a Report and Order that will buttress AM broadcast service and ease regulatory burdens on AM broadcasters. The proposed Order would adopt specific measures to address practical problems and interference-related issues that have long plagued AM stations across the country.” Among the items in the proposed Order: giving “stations more flexibility in choosing site locations, complying with local zoning requirements, obtaining power increases, and incorporating energy-efficient technologies.” Wheeler claims “these actions will help to ease some of the technical limitations that have hindered AM stations in serving their listeners.” The NAB’s Dennis Wharton professes gratitude for Chairman Wheeler’s plans, and both he and Wheeler give props to FCC Commissioners Clyburn and Pai for laying some groundwork on this. I don’t know --- are they just putting Band-Aids on a lethal shotgun wound? Discuss, discuss --- (Randy Stewart, Arts Producer, KSMU, 901 S. National, Springfield MO 65897, April 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Probably. The "open item" is NPRM FCC 13-139, released October 31, 2013. (IMHO it's frustrating it took them so long to act, and I know at least one Commissioner concurs.) What it proposed to do: A. Open a filing window for new FM translators, available only to existing AM stations. B. and C. Relax community coverage requirements. D. Eliminate the "ratchet rule". E. Normalize "MDCL". F. Relax antenna efficiency requirements. G. Other proposals. A: Applications for new broadcast stations (of all kinds) can only be filed during "windows". These are frustratingly rare - they've gone ten years between FM translator windows, the next one might not be expected until 2024. Of course, many AM stations won't survive that long. On the other hand, there aren't any available frequencies for more translators in many places. Rumor has it the FCC has removed item A from their proposal. B & C: AM stations are theoretically required to cover their entire city of license during the day (in practice the rule will be waived as long as 80% of the city's population or area is covered). At night, Class A, B, and C stations are required to cover at least 80% of the city. (Class D - "daytimer" - stations have no such requirement. On the other hand, their nighttime signal receives no protection from interference.) If an AM station must move its transmitter, often it's difficult to impossible to meet this requirement. You could change the city of license -- but not if that would leave that city with no remaining stations. For nighttime coverage, you could convert to Class D, at the expense of losing interference protection. The FCC proposes to relax the standard to coverage of 50% of the city of license. D: If a Class A or B station wishes to make technical changes, it must reduce the amount of skywave interference it causes. This can only be accomplished by reducing power, at least in certain directions. The FCC proposes to repeal this requirement -- the station could not cause *more* interference but it could maintain its current level. E: MDCL = Modulation Dependent Carrier Level. An AM station must provide enough carrier to properly demodulate its audio -- to maintain 100% or less modulation. The amount of carrier required depends on how loud the audio is at any instant (a 50,000-watt station is transmitting 50,000 watts of carrier. If the audio meter reads -3, the station only needs 25,000 watts of carrier to demodulate properly. The other 25,000 watts is wasted.) MDCL allows stations to vary the strength of their carrier to save energy. The proposal is not controversial. It won't affect DXers or interference but will greatly reduce the utility bills of more powerful stations. F: An AM station must use an antenna of a certain minimum efficiency. A 5,000-watt station must deliver at least "x" millivolts per meter at one kilometer. This forces an antenna of a certain minimum height. Stations lower on the dial require larger antennas. It's difficult, especially at the bottom of the band, to install an antenna tall enough to meet these requirements. It's proposed to regulate AM stations by actual radiated signal, not by power. A 50,000-watt station using a 9%-efficient antenna would have the same signal (and interference potential) as a 5,000-watt station with a 90%-efficient antenna. There is concern that these less-efficient antennas would radiate more power above the horizon - causing more skywave interference. I don't know how much of this will be in the final Report and Order. Again, I'm hearing that proposal A has been removed but even that isn't official. == (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66, NRC-AM via DXLD) My opinion: This will accomplish little. MDCL and removal of the ratchet rule are a good idea but will have little effect on the health of the AM service. What really needs to happen is for as many AM stations as possible to go away. Unfortunately, most of these proposals will have the opposite effect -- will prop up marginal stations -- and prolong interference to those stations that are currently successful -- causing them to be *less* successful than they could be. Other than MDCL and removal of the ratchet rule, about all I'd do is allow stations on FM translators to silence their AM transmitters. == (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66, NRC-AM via DXLD) Without seeing any further specifics, my guess is that some of these changes will only compound the existing problems with interference and coverage (Russ Edmunds, 15 mi NW Phila, Grid FN20id, ibid.) We radio broadcasters know if this happens compound problems. I am in a bunkhouse convention in Las Vegas for broadcasters in this very subject was brought up. There's a lot of concern about what will happen if this absolutely goes through. The general consensus, obviously, is that it will just take the FCC longer to handle complaints and other issues (Paul B Walker, Jr., ibid.) Most of the injuries that have hurt radio in general, and AM radio in particular have been self-inflicted. In the mid 1970's, consultants, and programming gurus began to have an unhealthy influence on the industry. Listener surveys and focus-groups revealed that most of the audience didn't care about the Disc Jockeys, local news, etc.; they cared about the music. These surveys were taken as gospel, and owners who were quick to maximize profits began to lay off staff, automate their programming, and consolidate stations into large corporate groups. Record profits ensued, and some of those profits were funneled into lobbying efforts. This quickly resulted in deregulation, and the race was on to the bottom. Circa late 1990's, early 2000's, radio had indeed found that low point. With a single engineer standing watch over a small flock of stations, with empty offices -- and not a soul in sight except for some low paid administrative staff at most stations. Even the once proud local sales team had been cut in favor of the easy sell from national advertising, and a handful of local inserts. This system worked great for a long time, and the owners sold out to the corporate giants, and the giants enjoyed their profits. All was good, until alternative delivery of "music" became a reality. With the explosion of wireless technology, listeners were freed from the tyranny of radio in order to enjoy music while mobile. And since radio offered nothing except music -- or worse, right-wing hate speech propaganda, there was little reason to continue to listen. The real answer to radio's woes lie in something P. T. Barnum, and other great marketers have known for years. People often don't know what they really "want". Focus groups are flawed. Lightning cannot be captured easily in a bottle. Radio works best when it serves its listeners at the local level. Local news, local weather, local personality. Each part of our country is unique and different. Every small town, and big city has a character all its own. Yes, we share a lot in common, which is why networks have served us well in a variety of mediums. But the local voice is what is missing from radio -- and other wireless content. And those disc jockeys, well it turned out that they were more important than either the listeners or the owners knew. They were the arbitrators of taste, the all important editor of what was "cool" or at least what was appropriate for that local community. Strip them away, and with it goes the loyalty to that station. The "brand" is destroyed. And without the brand, no listeners. Technical challenges are not the issue. Content is and always will be king. If your local AM station wants to survive, the answer is simple. Hire some disc jockey's, cover the high school football team, talk about the dog catcher election. Hire some sales people too, and get your local business to run a few ads. Build your "brand" and possibly serve your community while you're at it. You know, do something to earn that license and the access to the airwaves entrusted to you by taxpayers. This isn't rocket science. It's radio. Done right, no wireless delivery system can match it. Done badly, it's doomed. -- 73, (Les Rayburn, N1LF, Maylene, AL EM63, Member NRC, IRCA, & Medium Wave DX Circle, Former CPC Chairman for NRC/IRCA, ibid.) However, and while I don't disagree with your points, I believe that AM may be past that point owing to decades of pursuing the above. We have now almost two entire generations who have never been exposed to what good local radio can be, we have one generation which rarely listens to radio at all, and we have multiple alternative means to obtain news, music, etc. I think the die is cast - the question is how long it will take for terrestrial radio to become an artifact (Russ Edmunds, 15 mi NW Phila, ibid.) WHEELER: LET’S MOVE ON AM RULES (With a Caveat) http://www.radioworld.com/article/wheeler-lets-move-on-am-rules-with-a-caveat/275594 Sent from my iPhone (Dennis Gibson, April 14, IRCA via DXLD) REACTION TO CHAIRMAN’S AM ANNOUNCEMENT MIXED http://www.radioworld.com/article/reaction-to-chairman’s-am-announcement-mixed/275596 Sent from my iPhone (Dennis Gibson, April 14, IRCA via DXLD) LOTS OF THINGS NEED TO HAPPEN BEFORE ALL-DIGITAL AM http://www.radioworld.com/article/lots-of-things-need-to-happen-before-all-digital-am/275597 Sent from my iPhone (Dennis Gibson, April 14, IRCA via DXLD) WHAT DOES RON RACKLEY THINK ABOUT THE AM RULE PROPOSAL? http://www.radioworld.com/article/rackley-rule-changes-could-be-very-good-news/275600 Sent from my iPhone (Dennis Gibson, April 14, IRCA via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ TWO-YEAR SOLAR SEASONS On April 8, Scott Bidstrup, TI3/W7RI wrote: "Don't know if you have seen this yet, but in case you haven't, it's some new research that suggests that the sun has 'seasons' of about two years that affect the activity within a solar cycle: http://www2.ucar.edu/atmosnews/news/15037/sun-experiences-seasonal-changes-new-research-finds Ted Leaf, K6HI reported a similar article: http://earthsky.org/space/scientists-report-seasonal-variability-on-sun I also found this: http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_27861091/new-study-from-boulders-ncar-details-suns-seasonal (ARRL Propagation report via dXLD) TRANS-ATLANTIC [MW] CONDITIONS INFLUENCED BY LUNAR PHASES? Hi, Did anyone notice any enhanced trans-Atlantic conditions on April 4th, March 20 or perhaps March 5th. There's an interesting theory that says atmospheric gravity waves can concentrate ions in the E layer at new Moon/full moon. I must admit that one is new to me, but should be fairly easy to test (Steve G0KYA, April 10, MWCircle yg via DXLD) Hi Steve, Was the report by an Avril Fuller published 9 days ago? 73 (Steve Whitt, ibid.) Nearly got me there - a touch of the lirpa loofs. No, someone says there could be a link between enhanced LF/MF propagation and the tidal pull of the sun/moon. You can read some of this at the bottom of: http://forums.thersgb.org/index.php?threads/welcome-to-the-radio-propagation-questions-forum.82/#post-932 My first reaction was to think this was crazy, but it would be wrong to just dismiss things out of hand. A gradual improvement of the Dst over that period would seem to be a better explanation as pointed out by Alan Melia G3NYK (Steve G0KYA, ibid.) Hi Steve, The hardest thing is getting good data to test correlation and then jumping the big hurdle to get to “cause & effect”. The correlation could be tricky because people might see 28 day correlation cycles but there’s not much to choose between the lunar month and the rotational period of the sun. Current wisdom suggests that the rotation of the sun can affect MF propagation because of recurrence of solar disturbances and sunspots as they rotate. This reminds me of the assertion that some people make that snow on the ground enhances MF propagation. This might be true but snow correlates with winter, and winter correlates with extended hours of darkness, which correlates with good long distance MF propagation. Additionally trying to infer anything from one period is fraught with difficulties. In my experience general trends of propagation behaviour can easily be confounded by exceptions. I think this is mainly because as DXers we are looking for the 1 or 2% of exceptional conditions (long-tail statistics) rather than the >50% “average/typical” propagation conditions that broadcasters look for to plan broadcast coverage areas and band plans. 73 (Steve Whitt, UK, MWCircle yg via DXLD) This idea (more about SW) was advanced 11+ years ago by Chuck Bolland, FL (hmmm, from whom we have not heard in quite a while), and discussed starting in Radio Equipment Forum of DXLD 4-151, http://www.worldofradio.com/dxld4151.txt and the next two issues. Chuck`s webpage about this is still up http://www.orchidcitysoftware.com/mooness.html (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) :Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts :Issued: 2015 Apr 13 0314 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/weekly.html # # Weekly Highlights and Forecasts # Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 06 - 12 April 2015 Solar activity was at low to moderate levels throughout the period. Region 2320 (S12, L=211, class/area=Dac/180 on 07 Apr) produced an M1/1b flare at 1443 UTC on 08 April and Region 2321 (N13, L=094, class/area=Ekc/610 on 12 Apr) produced a long-duration M1/Sf flare at 0950 UTC on 12 April, which were the largest events of the period. In addition to the R1 (Minor) radio blackouts, Regions 2320 and 2321 produced numerous low to mid-level C-class flares throughout the week and were the most productive active regions of the period. A coronal mass ejection (CME) associated with the M1/Sf flare from Region 2321 was first observed in SOHO/LASCO C2 coronagraph imagery at 0948 UTC on 12 April, but was directed well east of the Sun-Earth line. Region 2320 produced a C3/1f flare at 1906 UTC on 06 April, with associated Type-II and Type-IV radio emissions, which resulted in a CME that was visible in coronagraph imagery beginning at 1936 UTC on 06 April. This CME impacted Earth early on 10 April, causing periods of moderate geomagnetic storms. See "Geomag" portion below for further information. Toward the end of the period, Region 2320 produced a C6/Sf flare at 2329 UTC on 12 April with associated Type-II radio emissions. A subsequent coronal mass ejection (CME) was first visible in SOHO/LASCO C2 coronagraph imagery at 12/2348 UTC but analysis is ongoing to determine if this event has an Earth-directed component. No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit reached moderate levels on 06-09 April and at normal levels for the remainder of the period. Geomagnetic field activity was at quiet to unsettled levels for 06-09 April under a nominal solar wind regime. The 06 April CME impacted Earth just after 0000 UTC on 10 April, enhancing the geomagnetic field. As the 06 April CME passed the Earth, 10 April began with periods of G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storm conditions between 0000-0300 UTC and 0600-0900 UTC and an isolated period of G2 (Moderate) geomagnetic storm period between 10/0300-0600 UTC. Active conditions were observed between 10/0900-1500 UTC with quiet to unsettled levels observed over the remainder of 10 April. Active conditions were observed once again for the first half of 11 April as residual CME effects continued to subside but the latter half of 11 April was quiet to unsettled. Quiet conditions were observed on 12 April. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 13 APRIL - 09 MAY 2015 Solar activity is likely to be at moderate (R1-R2/Minor-Moderate) levels throughout the period, with the exception of 25-26 April, due to the flare potential of Regions 2320 (S12, L=211) and 2321 (N13, L=094). No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit, barring any significant flare activity. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to reach high levels on 21-24 April and 04-09 May, moderate levels on 17-20, 25-28 April, and 01-03 May, and normal levels for the remainder of the period. Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storm levels on 17 and 30 April with active conditions expected for 16, 25, 29 April and 01 May, all due to coronal hole high speed stream effects. Quiet to unsettled field activity expected for the remainder of the period. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2015 Apr 13 0314 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 2015-04-13 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2015 Apr 13 135 5 2 2015 Apr 14 135 5 2 2015 Apr 15 130 5 2 2015 Apr 16 130 15 4 2015 Apr 17 130 20 5 2015 Apr 18 135 12 3 2015 Apr 19 135 8 3 2015 Apr 20 130 8 3 2015 Apr 21 125 8 3 2015 Apr 22 125 8 3 2015 Apr 23 120 8 3 2015 Apr 24 120 8 3 2015 Apr 25 115 10 4 2015 Apr 26 115 8 3 2015 Apr 27 120 8 3 2015 Apr 28 125 8 3 2015 Apr 29 130 12 4 2015 Apr 30 125 18 5 2015 May 01 125 12 4 2015 May 02 125 8 3 2015 May 03 125 8 3 2015 May 04 125 8 3 2015 May 05 125 8 3 2015 May 06 130 8 3 2015 May 07 135 8 3 2015 May 08 135 8 3 2015 May 09 135 8 3 (SWPC via WORLD OF RADIO 1769, DXLD) GLENN`S PROPAGATION OUTLOOK FOR MEDIA NETWORK PLUS AS OF APRIL 16 2015 Keith, The GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION FORECAST from IPS Australia: normal to fair conditions at middle and hi latitudes, April 17; all latitudes normal on April 18. Spaceweather South Africa says: magnetic conditions will be quiet to unsettled on April 17 and 18; shortwave fadeouts unlikely; MUF stable. OK1HH in Czechia predicts the Geomagnetic field will be: active to disturbed on April 17, 29 quiet to unsettled on April 18, 21, 23, 30, May 1 quiet to active on April 19, 25 - 26 quiet on April 20, 27 mostly quiet on April 22, 24, 28 As of April 10, Natural Resources Canada`s 27 Day Magnetic Activity Forecast showed most unsettled conditions in the polar and auroral zones on April 19 and 30. The outlook from SWPC in Boulder: Geomagnetic field is expected to be at G1 (Minor) storm levels on April 17 and 30 with active conditions expected for April 16, 25 and 29 and May 1. A and K indices peaking at 20 and 5 on April 17; at 18 and 5 on April 30. Solar flux peaking at 135 on April 18 and 19; dipping to 115 on the 25th and 26th; back up to 135 by May 7. Bill Hepburn`s VHF-UHF DX maps show extreme tropospheric ducting between India and Oman again this week, and also around Bangladesh on April 19 and 20. Also along the coast of Nambia and Angola April 18- 21. Overland in North America, ducting very strong to intense from north Texas to Alabama the morning of April 19 (via DXLD) ###